Normally speaking, shiny Pokémon—
As special individuals within a group—
Really do have certain traits that far surpass others of their kind.
But!
This Buneary in front of Shiko—
Her potential and talent were honestly a bit too good!
[Species: Buneary]
[Type: Normal]
[Ability: Limber (Because its body is flexible, it won't become paralyzed.)]
[Level: Starter beginner (Lv. 2, 30/100 Experience Points)]
[Status: Weakened, thigh injured]
[Potential: Elite Four-level]
[Base Stats: HP 50 (55), Attack 96 (66), Defense 39 (44), Sp. Atk 39 (44), Sp. Def 51 (56), Speed 105 (85), Total 380 (350). Note: the values in parentheses are the normal six base stats.]
[Moves: Quick Attack, Agility, Double Kick, Extreme Speed, Baby-Doll Eyes...]
[Description: A shiny Pokémon—one in ten thousand within its group—with outstanding potential. Exceptional strength and speed talent, simple personality. Currently seems to have fallen in love.]
...
Ridiculous.
Shiko couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Elite Four-level potential—
Even stronger than he was right now!
Sure, in the four stats of HP, Defense, Sp. Atk, and Sp. Def,
Her base stats were a bit worse than a normal Buneary.
But what she lost there—
She more than doubled back in Speed and Attack!
This kind of distribution—
Was practically the perfect, brutally strong physical attacker!
When Shiko's eyes landed on the move list,
His eyelids twitched.
Learning Quick Attack at only Level 2—
Already counted as seriously gifted in the speed department.
But what was this Extreme Speed!?
She could learn that too?
What kind of absurd, heaven-defying talent was this?
No wonder the Rattata couldn't catch her even with an injured leg.
Shiko finally understood why.
After all, even if every Rattata had mastered Quick Attack,
They still couldn't compete with Extreme Speed!
As he kept reading,
The corner of Shiko's eye twitched again.
"Fallen in love"!?
What was that supposed to mean?
Could it be...
He subconsciously lowered his head.
And met Buneary's gaze again.
Their eyes collided in midair, faint sparks seemingly bursting out.
Buneary lowered her head again,
Hiding her face in her long, pink fluff.
Even her wheat-colored ears had turned red with embarrassment.
Seeing that,
Shiko understood.
So it was true!
This cute little Buneary—
Really did seem to like him!
This...
The whole "hero saves the beauty" routine—
Apparently worked not only on humans,
But on Pokémon too. It had lethal effectiveness.
So, was gaining an Elite Four-level-potential little fangirl one of today's strokes of luck?
Shiko felt like laughing for no particular reason.
"I'll help you treat the injury."
As Shiko spoke,
He opened the backpack Himeko had left behind.
After rummaging around for a bit,
He found a bottle of wound medicine spray and some bandages.
He parted the pink fluff on Buneary's thigh,
And carefully sprayed the medicine onto the wound.
The green spray spread across the injury,
And the wound's edges visibly healed a bit.
Thump-thump-thump!!
Shiko had just set the spray down and picked up the bandage to wrap the wound,
When he heard a rapid sound—like drumbeats.
Shiko's hand paused.
He perked up his ears and listened closely.
That drumbeat-like sound was actually getting faster and faster.
He suddenly raised his head—
And realized it was Buneary's heartbeat!
Tch.
Shiko didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He had to admit—
This Buneary really was cute.
Charmander's arms were short and thick, and his hands weren't as nimble as a human's.
So when Shiko tried to wrap the bandage,
He struggled quite a bit.
Watching Shiko's serious, slightly clumsy effort,
Buneary felt like she was being completely wrapped up in happiness.
She was so happy she felt like she might faint.
This must be what Mom meant by love!
Buneary silently repeated to herself.
"Done."
After spending a huge amount of effort,
Shiko finally managed to tie a crooked, lopsided knot and let out a breath.
.....
Inside Wintergreen Forest.
"Squeee-squeee!"
The charred-black Raticate sprinted madly toward the depths.
Every so often,
A small flicker of flame would flare up on his body.
Each time the flames rose,
Pain twisted across Raticate's face.
And then—
Shiko's figure appeared in his mind again.
And recalling that Flamethrower that had shattered his incisors,
He trembled all over in fear.
"Raticate, you're back! Done visiting family?"
"How did you end up looking like this?"
"Where did your incisors go?"
Deep in the woods,
An intelligent-looking woman wearing black-rim glasses
Stared at the Raticate running toward her, shock on her face.
She'd only just let her Pokémon go back to its group to play around and reunite—
And in the blink of an eye, it had become this pitiful, miserable mess.
Its fur was singed black, it was filthy-dark all over, and even its teeth were gone!
What happened!?
"Squeee-squeee!"
Seeing the woman,
Raticate lunged into her arms, wailing and flailing as it cried out.
Two thin streams of tears spilled from its tiny, bean-like eyes.
"Alright, alright, don't cry, don't cry. I told you to stop being so arrogant all the time—see, you finally got taught a lesson!"
The woman comforted Raticate as she spoke,
Then took out a burn heal
And began treating the horrifying burns on its body.
"Good thing there are still two months before the entry-level Trainer Exam. By then your teeth will have grown back. Otherwise I wouldn't even know what to do."
She muttered a couple of lines,
And skillfully finished treating the wounds.
"Alright—let's head back."
Then,
Holding Raticate in her arms,
She headed in the direction of Wintergreen City.
On her chest,
A badge symbolizing the Wintergreen City Pokémon Academy
Glittered brilliantly under the sunlight.
(End of Chapter)
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[[email protected]/Zukooo]
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