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[Pokemon] Chapter 49: Hatenna
🕑 Added 2024-09-11 16:43:57 +0000 UTCNote: Please be aware that this contains a bit of original interpretation regarding evolutions that haven't been covered in the Pokémon anime yet.
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The day after receiving information from Kabu in Motostoke City, while Murdock was preparing breakfast, Jin and Roy were diligently performing their morning training routine. On the wing deck, Fuecoco and Aggron stood facing each other.
"Fuecoco! Use Fire Blast!"
Fuecoco swung its body back, channeling the fire energy within. After about five seconds, it released a large, fiery blast shaped like the character 大 (dai).
"Block it!"
"Groooar!"
Aggron braced itself, thrusting its arms forward to intercept the incoming Fire Blast. As the fiery attack reached Aggron’s arms, it endured the heat and then hurled the flames into the sky. The Fire Blast shrank, changing shape from large to medium, then small, before finally dissipating into the air.
(The power is fine... but the charge time is too long.)
Although Fire Blast was powerful, Fuecoco took too long to release it. Even in an uninterrupted setting like this, it required about five seconds to charge. In an actual battle, factoring in exhaustion or interruptions from the opponent, it would likely take twice that—about ten seconds.
If that much time was needed, unless Fuecoco was able to stop the opponent's movements perfectly, Fire Blast wouldn't be usable. Worse, mistiming it could leave an opening for the opponent to exploit.
(But once it evolves...)
If Fuecoco evolves, its size and abilities will improve, reducing the charge time for Fire Blast. It would also be able to learn more types of moves, benefiting overall.
However, Roy’s Fuecoco had a particular problem.
(I guess I should talk to him about it.)
Jin had hoped that time would solve the issue on its own. But after what happened with Liko, where postponing things only hurt her more, he didn’t want to make the same mistake again. Instead of leaving it to chance, he decided it was best to address it sooner rather than later.
"…Let’s stop here for now."
"Huh… already? We still have plenty of time, though."
"Today we’re heading to the Galar Mines, right? You should save your energy."
According to Kabu's information, it was uncertain whether Rayquaza would be there, but they needed to be prepared just in case. Based on past experiences, there was a high chance they’d get caught up in some kind of incident.
"Besides, I’ve got something I want to talk to you about regarding Fuecoco."
"About Fuecoco?"
"Fueh?"
"Yeah. Fuecoco has learned Flamethrower and now Fire Blast too. Based on its level, it’s probably not far from evolving."
In terms of level, Fuecoco likely already met the conditions for evolution. With the right trigger, it, as well as Sprigatito, could evolve.
"Evolution?!"
"Fue?!"
At the mention of "evolution," Roy and Fuecoco’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Watching them, Jin’s expression became slightly complicated. He took out his Rotom Phone and pulled up the pages of two specific Pokémon.
The first was Fuecoco's evolved form. Its body was slightly larger, and the fire energy leaking from its head had expanded into a sombrero-shaped flame orb. This was Crocalor, the first stage of Fuecoco’s evolution, the Fire Crocodile Pokémon.
The second form had a skull-like appearance with its flames burned out atop its head. Its limbs remained the same, but its mouth, torso, and tail had lengthened, giving it a more crocodile-like shape. The most significant change was its transformation into a quadruped. This was Skeledirge, the Singer Pokémon.
"This is what Fuecoco evolves into."
Roy gazed at the two Pokémon displayed on the Rotom Phone, his eyes still sparkling. However, the Fuecoco that was supposed to evolve didn’t seem as excited.
"Fuecoco? What’s wrong?"
"…Fuehhh."
"…As I thought, it’s a little different from what you imagined, huh?"
"Huh? Huh? What do you mean?"
Roy didn’t understand, but Fuecoco had a strong admiration for Charizard. It had always dreamed of becoming like Charizard someday, and it had been enduring Jin’s tough training in the hope of growing stronger.
However, the evolved form is entirely different from Charizard. Charizard, with its dragon-like appearance and wings that allow it to freely fly through the sky, stands in stark contrast to Skeledirge, which has no wings and walks on all fours, giving off a somewhat slower impression. It's no wonder that Fuecoco feels a gap between the ideal it imagined and the reality.
"…Is that how you feel?"
"…"
Jin's guess seemed to be correct, as Fuecoco nodded silently in affirmation.
"Fuecoco…"
Seeing Jin’s explanation and Fuecoco’s demeanor, Roy finally seemed to understand how Fuecoco was feeling. However, while Roy could sympathize with Fuecoco's struggles, he had no idea how to solve the issue. No matter how hard Fuecoco worked, even after evolving, it wouldn’t grow wings or be able to fly.
"…You might not want to hear this, but I’ll be blunt. Fuecoco, you won’t become like Charizard."
"Jin!?"
Roy raised his voice, criticizing Jin for adding to Fuecoco’s already downcast mood. However, Jin raised a hand to stop Roy, signaling that he wasn’t done speaking yet.
"But if you evolve into Skeledirge and master a battle style that suits it, it’s not impossible for you to surpass Charizard. That’s what I believe."
Hearing this, Fuecoco, who had been looking down, slowly lifted its head. The words "surpass Charizard" were something it couldn’t easily ignore.
"Sure, Skeledirge may not be as fast as Charizard. But in return, it has defensive strength and durability that Charizard doesn’t."
If Charizard is a fast attacker with balanced physical and special offenses, then Skeledirge could be considered a heavy tank with excellent special attack, defense, and endurance.
(T/N: Whatever you say Jin Boy, Charizard is fucking Charizard, No one can compare to him..
Of course, Except Ash-Greninja hehe~)
"You’ve seen how troublesome strong defensive Pokémon can be, haven’t you? Like Aggron or Milotic. You know from training with them how terrifying it is when an opponent can just keep taking hits, right?"
As Jin spoke, Fuecoco recalled the grueling training sessions. Neither Aggron nor Milotic had a type disadvantage, but no matter how many attacks Fuecoco landed, they withstood them without breaking a sweat, leaving Fuecoco feeling intimidated. With this reminder, Fuecoco nodded once more.
"Enduring hit after hit and then landing a devastating blow—that might not be as flashy as Charizard’s style, but if you perfect that approach, you could potentially defeat Charizard."
Jin wasn’t lying. Fuecoco’s dream might be different from the battle style Skeledirge could master, but Skeledirge was suited to this particular style. And Jin was convinced that this approach could lead to victory.
"…"
It wasn’t the evolution they had hoped for, but Jin had shown Roy and Fuecoco that there was still a path for them to grow stronger in their own way. Both Roy and Fuecoco now wore serious expressions as they began to contemplate their future.
"Well, it’s not like evolution is going to happen today or tomorrow. You’ve still got some time. Until that moment comes, think about what you really want."
***
After their morning training, breakfast, and online classes, Jin, Liko, Roy, and Friede set off for the Galar Mines.
"Looks like it's a mountain path for a while. Are you three okay with that?"
"Yeah! Rayquaza might be waiting for us!"
"Fuee!"
Given what happened during this morning’s training, Jin was initially worried about Roy and Fuecoco, but it seemed his concern was unnecessary. While Jin was taking his online class, the two had a serious discussion about their future.
Fuecoco still harbors a strong admiration for Charizard and wrestles with the thought of evolving. However, they've come to terms with themselves and are determined to grow stronger and surpass their limits. That seemed to be their conclusion.
(…They’re strong.)
Compared to when he first met them, both Roy and Fuecoco had grown stronger—not just physically, but mentally as well. Seeing their growth, Jin couldn’t help but smile warmly.
"…"
On the other hand, Liko, watching Roy and Fuecoco, seemed lost in thought and began to look down.
"Liko? What’s wrong?"
"Huh?"
"You’ve been looking down for a while. Are you tired?"
"No, I’m fine… I was just thinking about what kind of Trainer I want to be."
"Oh, that. You can be anything you want. There are all sorts of Trainers. You could aim to be a Champion like me, chase Legendary Pokémon like Roy, or seek adventure and the unknown like Friede. Like I said yesterday, take your time and find your path at your own pace, Liko."
"…Yeah, you're right. Jin… thank you!"
"Hurry up, you two! We're leaving you behind!"
While Jin and Liko were talking, Roy and the others had gotten quite far ahead. Realizing this, Jin and Liko quickly began to chase after them.
"Huh?"
"A fork in the road… Which way should we go?"
"Hmm… this way!"
Without much thought, Roy chose the right path and started running.
"Roy! Are you sure that’s the right way?"
"When you don’t know, just move forward and you’ll figure it out!"
"…You’ve got a point."
"Well, if it's wrong, we can always go back and take the other path."
Jin and Friede followed Roy down the right path. Though Liko felt a bit uneasy about relying on gut instinct, she had no choice but to follow the others rather than stay behind.
About ten minutes later…
"Hurry! We need to head back to the other route!"
They had taken the wrong path. To make matters worse, it suddenly started raining.
"I should’ve chosen the other path…"
"Don’t sweat it. Two-choice decisions usually go wrong. It’s just how things are."
For the record, Jin almost never picks the right path when faced with such choices without a map. Some unknown force always seems to steer him wrong, leading him into trouble. This time, however, it was just rain, so by Jin's standards, they were pretty lucky.
"The forecast said it would be sunny, but now it's raining!"
"The weather in the mountains changes quickly. Hmm… Maybe if I turn my Rotom Phone into a tablet, it could double as an umbrella… no, that’s not going to work."
"Of course not! It’d definitely get broken!"
"Enough talking! We need to run! Head for the mountain lodge!"
Prodded by Friede, they hurriedly ran down the opposite path. Before long, a mountain lodge came into view, and the four quickly rushed inside.
"Excuse us."
"Is anyone here?"
"Mountain lodges are for everyone. Anyone can use them in emergencies."
"Exactly. But it doesn’t look like the rain’s going to stop anytime soon."
The rain outside was heavy, with no signs of letting up. It was clear that if they kept going, they'd just get drenched and tire themselves out. Roy was visibly frustrated, but with no other options, he agreed to wait and rest for a while.
"Nyaa?"
"Sprigatito? What’s wrong?"
While they waited, Sprigatito started playing with one of the wooden boxes inside the lodge. Curious about Sprigatito’s behavior, Liko went over to take a look and found a Pokémon inside the box.
"A Hatenna. It’s rare to see one in a place like this."
"Hatenna… a Galar-region Pokémon. This is my first time seeing one."
Jin pulled out his Rotom Phone to look up detailed data on Hatenna.
"Hatenna, the Calm Pokémon. Psychic-type. It senses the emotions of living things. Prolonged exposure to strong emotions can wear it out, so be careful."
"Strong emotions? Like crying or being angry?"
"Maybe it’s like how people feel sad when someone nearby is crying?"
"Yeah, something like that. But… something seems off. It doesn’t appear injured, and there’s no sign of any status conditions… hmm…"
Jin gave Hatenna a quick check, but nothing seemed wrong on the surface. It appeared fine, but his instincts told him something was off and that leaving it alone could be dangerous. And Jin wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
"Sorry, everyone, but I’m going back to the ship."
Liko, who had also sensed something wrong with Hatenna, gently picked it up.
"You’re going to have Mollie check on it?"
"Yeah. I can’t just leave it like this."
"…Alright. I’ll go with you."
Jin took out a Pokéball containing Gardevoir and sent it out. Running back through the rain wasn’t safe, so he decided it would be best to use Teleport to get back quickly.
"Liko and I are heading back to the ship. What about you two?"
"…Well, there’s no way we can explore in this rain. Roy, are you okay with that?"
"Of course! Let’s head back."
"Alright! Gardevoir, take us back to the ship with Teleport."
"Gardevoir!"
***
After returning to the Brave Olivine via Gardevoir's Teleport, Jin and the others brought the Hatenna they found at the mountain lodge to the infirmary, where Mollie began her examination.
"Hmm... just as Jin thought, there doesn't seem to be any injuries or status conditions."
Even with her expertise as the ship's doctor and a certified Pokémon doctor, Mollie couldn't find any physical injuries on Hatenna. However, the Pokémon still showed no signs of making any sounds or reacting.
"If that's the case... it might be a psychological issue."
"A psychological issue?"
"Yeah, just like with humans. Sometimes, even when there's nothing physically wrong, we still feel down or unmotivated. It could be the same for Hatenna."
(This is going to be tricky…)
If it were a physical injury or illness, it could likely be treated, but psychological problems aren't easily solved. There isn't a clear-cut solution. Even for Mollie, as a Pokémon doctor, this situation was no different.
"Liko... if you're willing, could you take care of Hatenna for a while?"
"Me? Take care of it?"
"I think it's a good idea. Having someone nearby could really help Hatenna. I agree."
"Yeah, and when we brought it here, Hatenna didn't seem to resist at all. I think being around you makes it feel safe."
In fact, when Jin briefly touched Hatenna at the mountain lodge, it showed no reaction. However, when Liko held it, the Pokémon gave a faint smile. Considering this, Liko was clearly the best person for the task.
"...Alright! I'll take care of Hatenna until it feels better. Sprigatito, you’ll help too, right?"
"Meoww!"
And so, it was decided that Liko would take care of Hatenna while they were on the ship. Afterward, Liko left the infirmary to retrieve her jacket, which had been drying in the engine room.
"So, you're not going with her?"
"Not right now. I want to give it some space and see how things go."
Jin remained in the infirmary. There wasn't anything wrong with him physically, but considering Hatenna's nature, being around too many people could cause it to sense overwhelming emotions, potentially making things worse. For now, Jin decided to keep his distance.
"I told her to call me if anything happens. In the meantime, I'll head back to my room and get started on some homework."
***
"...That should do it."
After returning to his room, Jin finally finished all the homework that had piled up. For him, the problems were fairly easy. The one-question-one-answer problems barely took ten minutes, but some of the writing assignments had been a bit more troublesome.
Standing up from his chair, he stretched and looked out the window. It was still raining, with no sign of stopping anytime soon.
"...Well, in the end, maybe this rain was a good thing."
Thanks to the rain, they had encountered Hatenna. Liko was also taking active steps to care for it. Jin had a strange feeling that meeting Hatenna might bring about some significant change in Liko.
"Jin! Are you there?"
Lost in thought as he gazed out the window, he heard a knock on the door, followed by Liko calling out to him from the other side.
"Come in."
"Jin! Have you seen Hatenna?"
"Is something wrong?"
"It’s gone!"
Once Jin gave her permission, Liko and Dot entered the room and explained the situation in more detail. After Liko left the engine room, she had headed to Dot's room. While they were talking about Hatenna, they had taken their eyes off it for just a moment, and in that brief time, Hatenna had disappeared.
"I'm sorry... It’s my fault..."
"No, I wasn’t paying enough attention either..."
"Don't worry, both of you. We'll find it right away."
Seeing the downcast faces of Liko and Dot, Jin decided to quickly locate Hatenna. He summoned Gardevoir from its Poké Ball once again.
"Gardevoir, can you help us find Hatenna?"
Gardevoir closed its eyes and began to focus its psychic powers. It had once used its clairvoyance to search an entire building for Sprigatito. Searching inside the Brave Olivine wouldn’t take more than a few seconds.
"Gardevoir!"
As expected, Gardevoir quickly found Hatenna. Jin closed his eyes and synchronized his vision with Gardevoir. What appeared in his mind was the familiar sight of the observation room with its telescope and Noctowl—there was no doubt Hatenna was there.
"...Found it. Hatenna's in the observation room."
"The observation room... Jin, Gardevoir, thank you!"
"You're welcome. So, what will you do? Want me to come with you?"
"...No, I’ll go alone."
"Are you sure, Liko?"
Dot thought it might be better for Liko if Jin came along for support. While Liko might feel more at ease with Jin by her side, Hatenna likely wouldn’t.
"Yeah... There’s something I want to tell Hatenna."
"Something you want to tell it?"
"When I first came to this ship, I was full of anxiety. I felt safe because Jin was there to protect me, but when Sprigatito was kidnapped, I felt lost again... I think Hatenna must be feeling just as lost as I did back then."
Liko probably understood Hatenna's feelings better than anyone else on the ship. She was naturally kind, but perhaps, on a deeper level, she and Hatenna shared something in common.
"That’s why I want to tell it... I understand how it feels. I want Hatenna to know that while it's on this ship, I’ll be here to support it, and that tomorrow, we’ll take it back to where it belongs."
(...She’s going to be fine.)
Jin had been a little worried, but seeing Liko now, he realized his concerns were unnecessary. Her words came from the heart, and both Jin and Dot were sure they would reach Hatenna too.
After leaving Jin's room, Liko headed to the observation room. A short while later, she returned to Jin’s room. In her jacket's hood was Hatenna, fast asleep, looking more relaxed than it ever had.
***
The next day, after the rain had cleared, Jin and the others set out toward the Galar Mines, where they believed Rayquaza might be. At the same time, they returned to the mountain cabin to release Hatenna back into the wild.
"Goodbye, Hatenna. Stay well..."
Upon reaching the cabin, Liko gently lifted Hatenna from her hood and lowered it to the ground, saying her farewell. Hatenna slowly started walking toward the forest.
"Meow?"
Sprigatito looked up at Liko's face. Though she was smiling, to Sprigatito, it seemed as if she was holding back some sadness. Suddenly, Sprigatito ran ahead of Hatenna, cutting it off.
"Meow! Meowww!"
Sprigatito spoke to Hatenna. After listening for a moment, Hatenna turned around, ran back to Liko, and leapt into her arms.
"Hatenna... are you coming with us?"
"Hatena!"
Liko gently caught Hatenna and, sensing its feelings, asked the question. For the first time since they met, Hatenna, who had been silent until now, responded with a clear nod and spoke up.
"Liko, use this."
From behind, Jin, who had been watching, pulled an empty Poké Ball from his pocket and handed it to Liko. She accepted it, crouched down, and offered it to Hatenna.
"Thank you for taking the first step. From now on, I’ll make sure you’re always happy."
Liko expressed her gratitude to Hatenna. In response, Hatenna touched the Poké Ball and was absorbed inside. The ball shook in Liko’s hand two or three times before making a soft click, signaling the capture.
"Hatenna, I’ve caught you!"
"Congratulations. Your first catch."
"Yeah! Thank you... Hatenna, come on out!"
Hatenna happily emerged from the Poké Ball and immediately started shaking hands with Sprigatito, Liko's other Pokémon. Although Sprigatito had a tendency to be a bit jealous, it seemed like the two would form a good relationship.
"For Hatenna to open its heart to you... that's impressive."
"Liko's the only one who could’ve done it."
"Yeah, that’s Liko’s gift."
It wasn’t easy to get Hatenna to open up. Likely, among the Rising Volt Tacklers, only Liko could have done it.
When it came to Pokémon knowledge, Friede might be superior, and Jin might be stronger in battles, but Liko had a unique strength—kindness. If used poorly, it could hurt others, as it had in the past, but in moments like this, it could save someone. Liko had that strength more than anyone else.
"Ah..."
Hearing Jin and Dot’s words, Liko realized she had a special talent of her own. By thinking deeply about Hatenna, she felt like she had also come to understand herself a little better.
"I love Pokémon! I want to understand their feelings more. That’s the kind of Trainer I want to be!"
Her path was still a little unclear, but Liko had begun to discover her own way as a Trainer. She didn’t know exactly where that path would lead, but she would walk it one step at a time with Sprigatito and Hatenna by her side.
With Hatenna now as a new companion, Jin and the others once again set off toward the Galar Mines.
***
As Jin and the others welcomed Hatenna to their team and headed toward the Galar Mines, a submarine was approaching the coastal inlet nearby.
"It’s finally here. The Black Rayquaza is supposed to be here..."
"All the effort we put into gathering reports from different sources paid off."
Without support from headquarters, getting this far hadn’t been easy. As Zirc and Onia discussed the long, difficult journey they had taken, the door opened, and their superior, Amethio, appeared.
"You two did well. I’ll take care of the rest."
His words shocked them, but they also revealed his kindness. Amethio had been removed from the mission, and continuing to accompany him could put Zirc and Onia at risk of punishment.
"Don't say such cold things now!"
"Exactly! We’ll continue to assist you!"
However, neither Zirc nor Onia had followed Amethio this far out of mere whimsy. Quitting now wasn’t an option for them.
"...Do as you like."
Respecting their determination, Amethio accepted their resolve. Though he had intended to search alone for their sake, exploring the vast mines solo would be too much. Having skilled and trustworthy companions would increase the chances of success. There was no reason to refuse.
"Amethio, I have one more report."
"What is it?"
"Well... while scanning social media and the web for information on the Galar Mines, I found something interesting."
Onia pulled out her Rotom Phone and opened the relevant page. It showed a photograph of Sprigatito using a powerful Scratch attack, adorned with some form of decoration.
"...No way."
"Yes. It appears to have been taken by an employee at a place called Battle Café in Motostoke, and it shows what seems to be the pendant girl and her partner, Sprigatito."
The Battle Café had a tradition of posting photos of challengers who battled its owner, Mitchell. Judging by the time the photo was taken, there was no doubt that they, too, were in the vicinity.
"It can’t just be a coincidence, right?"
Amethio and his team had come here based on information about Rayquaza. The Rising Volt Tacklers were also deeply connected to Rayquaza. The chances of this being a coincidence were slim.
"No, this can’t be random."
Amethio clenched his right fist tightly. A black wristband was wrapped around his arm, with a stone bearing a genetic pattern embedded in its center.
"This is perfect. Finally, I can fight him... Jin... just wait. With this new power, I will defeat you this time!"
// END
Author Note: Although the story is tagged "Yandere," with the capture of Hatenna, I plan to tone down Liko's jealousy moving forward.
4k Words! 🥵
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