"Chop!"
Scyther's scythe dug into the ground as it struggled to force itself upright.
"Uh, should I go up and say something?" Steven asked, glancing curiously at the Metagross beside him.
"..."
Metagross pondered for a moment, then shook its head in refusal.
"I think if you approach them now, it might trigger some kind of 'outburst' reaction."
"But I feel like, if they're badmouthing me, shouldn't I at least clear things up?"
Metagross didn't hesitate and continued to shake its head firmly.
"Ah… I really wish I understood Pokémon language," Steven said helplessly, scratching his hair in frustration.
"Screech!"
Taillow flew over with an Oran Berry clutched in its talons and handed it to Scyther.
Scyther glanced at Taillow, then stabbed the berry with its scythe and brought it to its mouth.
As the Oran Berry's restorative energy flowed into Scyther's body, the mantis Pokémon recovered some stamina and stood up once more.
Despite Scyther's earlier dismissal, this group of Pokémon still refused to back down.
In their eyes, Scyther wasn't the only powerful Pokémon in the forest, but it was undoubtedly the strongest in their hearts.
And in reality, it was.
The weaker Pokémon neatly positioned themselves in front of Scyther, forming a protective line.
Scyther grew anxious. No matter how much it protested, they firmly blocked its path.
"Scyther, they have their own resilience too. They're not weak."
Steven understood one thing clearly: everything Scyther did was to protect this group of Pokémon.
"Chop!"
"Shut up!"
What he received in return was Scyther's angry rebuke.
"It seems it really has a serious problem with me." Steven turned to Metagross. "I've only met it twice. Have I done anything that bad?"
Metagross chose to shake its head once more.
"Wait a minute—is its hostility directed at me specifically, or toward humans in general?"
"Metagross." Metagross raised two of its golden claws.
"Toward humans in general, huh? I was wondering how it could have such intense hostility toward me personally."
Most likely, Scyther held such strong animosity toward humans because it had been abandoned.
In that case, this should be easy to handle.
Just use "compassion" to reach it.
After all, what Steven had seen before was using words to influence others, especially creatures like Pokémon who were particularly sensitive to emotions.
So, if he simply told Scyther what was in his heart with sincerity, it might just work.
"Scyther, not all humans are deceitful. I believe most people genuinely love Pokémon."
"Some people use Pokémon as tools, but others treat Pokémon as partners, companions, and family."
Family? Partner? Tool?
Scyther's eyes became vacant, and when it looked at Steven, it noticed a boy's figure standing behind him.
When Scyther focused more closely, that figure took a step forward.
Steven saw Scyther's expression change and thought this might actually be working.
So he continued:
"I've lived alone since I was young, so I understand the feeling of loneliness. It was when I met Metagross that I truly understood the meaning of family."
From Scyther's perspective, the figure whose face remained unclear opened its arms and said to Scyther:
"Scyther, I've been alone my entire life. Since meeting you, my world is no longer just me…"
Scyther's thoughts returned to the day it first met him.
That time, he had said the exact same thing.
"They also have moments when they want to protect what they cherish, don't they?"
The corners of the illusory figure's mouth curved slightly upward, and he said:
"Thank you for protecting me, Scyther… From now on, I want to protect you too. After all, you are my most precious treasure!"
Scyther gritted its teeth, staring intensely at the phantom figure.
The figure slightly raised its head, revealing those lifeless eyes, and the corners of its mouth slowly pulled downward.
A cold voice entered Scyther's ears.
"But I don't need you anymore, you useless piece of trash."
Scyther's body trembled violently, beginning to shake uncontrollably.
"I don't need you anymore…"
"Useless trash…"
"What's happening?" Steven felt an ominous premonition rising within him. This wasn't the intended effect at all.
Scyther's aura surged dramatically, even revealing a hint of killing intent.
Metagross quickly positioned itself in front of Steven, shielding him with its metallic body.
In Scyther's vision, that figure walked forward until it stood directly in front of Scyther, leaned down, and whispered into Scyther's ear:
"You haven't made any progress in all these years. You really do seem to be nothing but trash…"
The figure grinned, and its entire being was consumed by darkness, transforming into something like a malevolent spirit that coiled around Scyther's body.
"Admit it! You are complete and utter waste!"
"Shut up…"
"Shut up!"
Scyther's ears filled with that once incredibly familiar voice, with mocking and insulting words constantly swirling around it.
"I said… shut up!!!"
"Chop!!!"
In reality, Scyther roared toward the sky, its expression becoming extremely anguished.
The Pokémon that had been blocking its path now surrounded Scyther, their worried and comforting sounds continuously entering Scyther's ears.
In Scyther's mental world—
Scyther was entangled by a black viscous liquid, unable to move.
The viscous substance covering its body was constantly corroding Scyther. Its eyes were lifeless, silently watching as this disgusting liquid was about to swallow it completely.
Suddenly, the viscous liquid began to stir, as if it was being peeled away.
Scyther's eyes regained a glimmer of light, and it looked down.
It was those young Pokémon who were constantly pulling at the black viscous liquid covering its body. Even though their own bodies were being affected by the dark substance, their eyes remained focused only on Scyther.
"Give up…" Scyther whispered weakly.
"No! When you taught me to fly, I already told you! When I grow up, I want to take you flying for once!"
"You also promised me that you would accompany me to collect nectar in distant places!"
"Don't give up! I haven't caught you even once in hide-and-seek!"
"You said I would become very strong when I grew up, and that the future would depend on me to protect everyone… But I haven't grown up yet!"
"So you can't give up yet!"
"You all…" Scyther paused, then said dejectedly, "Thank you for keeping me company during this time, but I don't seem to have the strength to prove myself anymore…"
An ethereal and pleasant voice suddenly entered Scyther's mind.
"Is that why you're giving up?"
Scyther looked up ahead. In the pitch-black space, a white-dressed girl with long white hair flowing freely stood barefoot in the hollow darkness.
Her entire body seemed to emit light, and her white eyes possessed a special magic that drew Scyther in.
"Hiss…"
In reality, Steven's head began to throb with pain. The things he saw started to blur, and a sudden wave of weakness swept through his body, causing him to half-kneel on the ground, panting heavily.
"Meta?!"
Metagross looked panicked. Seeing Steven's sudden distress, it quickly used Psychic to check Steven's condition.
In Scyther's mental world—
The white-dressed girl snapped her fingers.
Scene after scene appeared in the pitch-black hollow darkness.
The protagonist of these scenes was a young child only a few years old.
With silver-blue hair, his identity was easily recognizable.
The boy sat at a desk covered with various Pokémon books.
Looking out the window, several children his age were playing in the distance.
Their joyful laughter seemed to reach the boy's ears.
The boy walked out of the study and descended the stairs.
In the vast villa, he was completely alone.
At lunch and dinner, a butler would come to deliver meals.
In the morning, a maid would arrive to clean.
He ate luxurious meals and lived in a clean, spacious villa.
But for some reason, the house always felt incredibly empty.
Because of his special status, no children nearby were willing to play with him.
The first time he played with them, he accidentally got hurt—just a small scratch, a very minor injury.
But the next day, their parents brought them to find the boy and apologized profusely.
After that, the boy had no friends there.
The boy spent his days moving between the study and the collection room, fantasizing about playing with the Pokémon in his books, and hiding in the collection room gazing at the exquisite stones.
Every year on his birthday, there were only gifts and cake. He even had to hum the birthday song to himself.
When facing the butler, the boy behaved with dignity and grace, always wearing a smile on his face.
When alone, the boy's face seemed to lose all expression.
His favorite thing was to curl up in the collection room, looking at the strange yet beautiful and mesmerizing stones.
The boy grew older, but the expression on his face never changed.