The afternoon sun slanted down upon the countryside path, its golden light dancing across the road like mischievous children playing hide-and-seek. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. Two Butterfree fluttered lazily out of the flower bushes, seemingly enchanted by the serene afternoon atmosphere.
Walking side by side, i and Natsu strolled along the path, their elongated shadows intertwining, much like the quiet joy they shared at this mont.
Beside them, Mightyena followed closely at Natsu’s heels, ever watchful of their surroundings.
Further ahead, Ogerpon and Absol frolicked about like children on a field trip, chasing each other playfully along the trail.
i and Natsu chatted as they walked, their conversation andering without any particular direction. It seed as though they could talk endlessly, never running out of things to say.
Natsu had a habit of gesturing unconsciously as he spoke, as if he couldn’t quite express himself properly without moving his hands. Whenever he let his hands fall back to his sides, their fingers would brush against each other—only for both to instinctively pull away again.
Each fleeting touch sent an electric current through their bodies.
Soone once said that the period before a relationship is defined, when two people linger in that delicate ambiguity, is the most intoxicating ti of all.
The cautious probing, the hesitant yet hopeful responses, the nervous excitent of every outing together.
If a reply took too long, the mind would race with overthinking; yet, the simplest of cute emojis could bring a rush of warmth.
So things lose their charm the mont the veil is lifted, but before that, when everything remains hazy and uncertain—that is when emotions run the strongest.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting flickering shadows on Natsu.
As he moved forward, the light swiftly retreated, falling away behind him.
“...I was half-asleep, and then that little bastard Zorua suddenly stood up and gave two good punches.”
As they walked, Natsu brought up Zorua’s antics.
At the farm, his earliest Pokémon partners had always shared a close bond with him. Even Butterfree, who had recently settled into retirent, still maintained a strong connection with him.
But the Pokémon that had joined later tended to be more distant. So were friendly enough, but most had a relationship with him that was more akin to tenants and a landlord.
It was inevitable.
As the farm grew, such things were bound to happen.
It wasn’t a matter of seniority among the Pokémon but simply a fact of reality.
Natsu’s attention and affections were limited—there was no way to share them equally with everyone.
Sotis, he wondered if he should do sothing to change that.
But after thinking it through, he realized there was probably no need.
“Zorua really likes you, doesn’t it?”
i chuckled at the thought of Zorua’s usual behavior.
Rather than calling Zorua Natsu’s Pokémon, it would be more accurate to say they were friends.
Their interactions were based on equality rather than a typical trainer-and-Pokémon dynamic.
“Its stomach likes more than anything.”
Natsu waved a hand dismissively. He had no illusions about Zorua’s so-called loyalty—it was clearly food-driven.
Every ti he saw Zorua happily munching away, he always had the urge to give it a kick.
And, well, sotis he didn’t resist the urge.
It had cost him a great deal of treats and desserts to make peace afterward.
At this point, the Alcremie from the local bakery already recognized him on sight.
Their conversation soon drifted to other topics.
From the Pokémon on the farm, they moved on to childhood mories, then to thoughts and dreams about the future.
It’s funny how real feelings often slip out in casual conversation, hidden in jokes and passing remarks.
Fortunately, so far, their perspectives aligned well.
They had different interests, but nothing that clashed.
If this were a matchmaking interview, they’d be considered exceptionally compatible.
After all, one could never be sure what kind of strange characters might show up at a matchmaking event.
Having soone normal already felt like a blessing.
“Is this the place?”
Stopping at the edge of a desolate field, Natsu turned to Mightyena.
Yesterday, the Pokémon had been here with Hisuian Zorua.
Not to fool around, but to keep an eye on things in case trouble arose.
If Mightyena had joined in on the mischief, it would have been punished by now.
Thankfully, Natsu could always count on its responsible nature.
“Woof!”
Mightyena’s ears perked up, its body tense as it surveyed the seemingly empty wasteland.
Pawing at the ground uneasily, it positioned itself protectively in front of Natsu.
It clearly rembered—this barren field was teeming with Ghost-type Pokémon.
Especially in those abandoned brick houses up ahead, long devoid of human presence.
“I see.”
Scratching his chin, Natsu considered how to approach the situation.
According to Hisuian Zorua and Mightyena, the Ghost-types here had already claid this area as their territory and were looking to expand.
And their first encounter had not gone well.
To put it bluntly, both sides had bad tempers.
It didn’t take more than three exchanges before they were hurling insults at each other.
Who started it? Hard to say.
But based on Mightyena’s account, the argunt had escalated quickly.
Trained by Corviknight itself, Hisuian Zorua had taken on a whole group single-handedly, verbally roasting them until they snapped.
The wild Ghost-types, lacking exposure to the world, were outmatched in both vocabulary and verbal combat techniques.
anwhile, Hisuian Zorua, raised under Corviknight’s influence, had been shaped into a master troll.
The difference in skill was like night and day.
Having reached their breaking point, the enraged Pokémon had charged at Zorua in a full-blown brawl.
If not for the tily intervention of the farm’s Pokémon, Zorua would probably be in the middle of a reincarnation process by now.
This was a real headache.
By all rights, this land was practically an extension of the farm.
If Natsu hadn’t been preoccupied with other matters, the fences would have been expanded to this area already.
If negotiations didn’t go well… they’d have to resort to force.
Ah… so in the end, it would still co down to a fight.
But that was just how it was.
For wild Pokémon, strength was the ultimate rule.
Only the strong had the right to speak.
The weak didn’t even have the right to make a sound.
“Ogerpon, Absol—cut it out for a mont.”
Glancing at the two Pokémon still roughhousing nearby, Natsu called them over with a sigh.
There were other strong Dark-types on the farm, of course.
In fact, there was one in particular—Ting-Lu.
While it listened to Natsu, it preferred to stay in its quiet little corner rather than get involved.
Still, it was good to have as a backup.
If things went sideways, he could always call it in.
“Sol!”
“Wooma!”
Hearing their nas, Ogerpon and Absol skidded to a halt in front of Natsu, eager and expectant like children awaiting instructions.
Absol aside, Ogerpon had always been extrely attached to Natsu.
It would never take action without first checking in with him.
At alti, Ogerpon would always say, "I'm eating now," to Natsu. Before training, it would announce, "I'm going to train now."
Even before bed, it had to run over and say, "I'm going to sleep now," and only after receiving Natsu's "Good night" would it obediently return to its resting spot.
"Alright, let's try talking to them first."
"If that doesn't work, we'll just fight. Once we beat them up, proper communication will follow."
Pokémon are adorable creatures, but that doesn’t an harmony and kindness are the only ways to communicate.
Sotis, violence is the shortcut to mutual understanding.
"Wooma!"
Got it!
Ogerpon saluted energetically, signaling its readiness.
Absol, standing beside it, attempted to salute as well.
But after multiple tries, it just couldn’t get it right.
In the end, it awkwardly placed a paw on its forehead—looking more like it was mimicking Sun Wukong’s classic pose than saluting.
After a few more failed attempts, Absol gave up.
Fine, better to maintain its signature aloof deanor.
With a stoic expression, Absol regained the cold and enigmatic aura characteristic of its species.
So beings naturally exude an air of mystery, while others, no matter how hard they try, only co across as the quiet, socially awkward kid in class.
Then there are those who do absolutely nothing, yet simply standing there makes them look like they have a deep, untold story.
"During the battle, don't worry about . Focus on taking down the enemy first."
"Ogerpon, you can charge ahead, but Mightyena and Absol, don’t go too deep into enemy lines."
"i, release Serperior and Pignite."
After instructing Ogerpon and the others, Natsu turned to i.
Serperior and Pignite were strong—not enough to wipe out all the enemies, but definitely capable of holding their own.
And right now, his side lacked a defensive unit.
Maybe he should look for a Pokémon with a solid defensive role in the future.
After all, Corviknight was primarily an aerial combatant, which sotis had its limitations.
"Alright."
"Co out, Serperior, Pignite."
With a flick of i’s hand, two Poké Balls burst open, releasing Serperior and Pignite in flashes of light.
Serperior didn’t wait for i’s command. Its elegant, snake-like body slithered across the grass before curling into a protective coil around i and Natsu.
That was the advantage of snake-like Pokémon—they made excellent bodyguards.
With preparations complete, Natsu turned toward the seemingly empty field behind them.
"Greetings."
The afternoon sunlight was shrouded by a faint mist.
Silhouettes flickered in the distance, and hushed whispers filled the air.
Within the swirling black fog, pairs of crimson eyes glared at Natsu—
Or rather, at Mightyena.
They still rembered.
Yesterday, it was this Pokémon that had shown up with that shaggy little fox.
Recognizing this, the Ghost-type Pokémon grew restless.
Had it not been for the intimidating presence of Ogerpon, they probably would have attacked already.
Even so, the standoff was barely being maintained.
The hostility of the Ghost-types was evident.
Then—
A Shadow Ball suddenly shot out from the mist!
Ogerpon had been ready.
With a swift leap, Grass-type energy surged through its body.
Thorn-covered vines rapidly entwined into a formidable club.
And then—
BANG!
Ho run!
Instead of deflecting it back, Ogerpon smashed the Shadow Ball apart entirely.
Dark energy scattered into the air, dissipating into nothingness.
As it landed, Ogerpon glared at the figures hiding within the mist.
So you wanna die that badly? Fine, I'll grant your wish.
If Ogerpon's feelings could be sumd up in a sentence, it would be:
"Not only do they refuse to surrender, but they actually dare to fight back?"
Taking a deep breath, Ogerpon planted its feet.
A surge of energy radiated outward, forming an invisible aura.
Focus Energy.
Then, vibrant green light spread across the ground.
The once withered grass suddenly sprang to life, turning lush and verdant.
Grassy Terrain.
A rare battlefield move—it not only restored Pokémon’s HP but also boosted the power of Grass-type moves.
"Wooma!"
To hell with you all!
With a mighty stomp, Ogerpon lunged forward, shattering the revitalized grass beneath it.
Dirt and grass clippings scattered into the air.
"Ssshh..."
"Kiehh!"
The Ghost-types, once brimming with aggression, suddenly panicked.
What the hell is this thing?!
Small body, massive attitude, terrifying strength—
Where did this living grenade co from?!
"Wooma wooma!"
Go to hell, all of you!
Wielding its thorny club, Ogerpon charged into the mist, unleashing its pent-up frustration.
Every move was executed with ruthless precision—
Power Whip! Phantom Force! Solar Blade! Giga Impact!
I WILL SET THE OCEAN ABLAZE (crossed out)
anwhile, Absol, following behind, did not rush in.
Instead, it took a position on the flanks, ready to provide support.
If there was one thing Absol had learned after getting wrecked by Ting-Lu, it was that its strength still had a long way to go.
This ti, it wouldn’t blindly rush into battle!
…Probably.
Watching Absol, clearly itching to jump in and start slashing, Natsu wasn’t so sure.
Mightyena, however, remained steady, positioned not far from Natsu.
It had no intention of charging into battle.
Its role was to intercept any enemies that got too close to Natsu.
It was the second line of defense.
Within monts of Ogerpon's assault, the dense fog began to thin.
One after another, Ghost-type Pokémon were sent flying out of the mist.
Judging by the bruises on their bodies, Ogerpon had not held back.
"Shuppet, Duskull, Drifloon, Phantump, Gourgeist, and Trevenant..."
"Quite a mix of Ghost-types gathered here."
Scanning the fainted Pokémon strewn across the ground, Natsu was slightly surprised.
"What's wrong?"
i followed his gaze, noting that they all seed to be "common" Ghost-types.
Well, common compared to other Ghost-types.
Most Ghost Pokémon were elusive by nature—encountering them was rare.
Take Gastly, for instance.
While it appeared frequently in ani and stories, finding a floating gas cloud that could pass through walls in real life was no easy feat.
"Ghost Pokémon do tend to congregate."
"But there’s nothing around here that would attract them. No abandoned amusent park, no eerie forest."
For Ghost-types, environnt and energy sources were crucial.
Take a certain infamous forest in Japan, for example—
It was said to be the world’s largest gathering ground for Ghost Pokémon.
Not just due to the lingering resentnt of the departed, but also because the fear of the living constantly nourished the Pokémon within.
Both in numbers and strength, it was unmatched.
In a way, that was a resource advantage.
But this empty field, located in the middle of nowhere, had no legend attached to it and saw little human activity.
A few stray ghosts might be expected, but such a large gathering?
It didn’t add up.
"Sothing must be drawing them here."
That was the only explanation.
And aside from logical deduction—
Natsu could feel the warmth emanating from his chest.
Natsu took out the pendant hanging from his chest. The feather attached to it began to glow faintly, as if reacting to sothing.
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