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[Pokemon] Chapter 35: Restoration of the Forest
🕑 Added 2024-08-20 18:30:02 +0000 UTCAfter descending to the ground from Arboliva, Jin explained to Mollie how the forest was far more damaged than they had initially anticipated. He then proposed that they work to restore the forest to help the Pokémon living there return to their former way of life.
"Restoration of the forest... I don’t disagree, but is it really possible?"
Mollie agreed with Jin's idea, but she seemed to have some doubts about whether such a plan could be realistically accomplished. Liko and Roy seemed to share her skepticism.
"Yeah, if everything goes well, we might be able to restore a significant portion by the end of the day."
Of course, Jin wasn’t making this suggestion on a whim or out of temporary emotion. He had assessed the forest's condition and considered the capabilities of the Pokémon they had, leading him to believe it was possible.
"By the end of today!?"
"Is there really a way to do that?"
"Yes, I'll explain the steps, so listen carefully."
Jin began to outline his plan to restore the forest to the three of them.
First, Liko and Mollie would be responsible for gathering as many berries from the forest as possible. Ideally, they would collect berries that could help the Pokémon living there recover, such as Oran Berries or Sitrus Berries, which restore health, and Lum Berries, which cure status conditions.
Meanwhile, Jin and Roy would work on tilling the scorched areas of the forest. The burned areas were vast, so it would be impossible for just the two of them to manage, but they would get help from their Pokémon. Once Liko and Mollie brought the berries, they would plant them as part of the preparatory work.
"But what about water? In this season in Paldea, we can’t expect rain."
"That's why I plan to use Rain Dance."
Jin planned to use the Pokémon move Rain Dance to artificially create rain clouds and water the newly planted fields. Given the current climate in Paldea, this was the only viable option to bring rain.
"However, none of the Pokémon I currently have with me know Rain Dance. I’m planning to trade for one using my Rotom Phone as soon as the communication network is restored. That should solve the issue, right?"
"...The plan itself isn’t bad, but this will take time, won’t it? How are you going to restore the forest by the end of today?"
"The key to that lies... with Arboliva."
Jin turned around, looking back at Arboliva, who was staring sadly at the devastated forest. The others followed his gaze, focusing on Arboliva.
"We'll use Arboliva’s ability to restore the forest."
Arboliva's ability, Seed Sower, activates when it takes damage, causing the surrounding plants to grow rapidly, turning the area into a Grassy Terrain. Given Arboliva's enormous size, they could expect this effect to be significantly amplified.
"That’s true... If we do that, it might work!"
"Yeah! Let's give it a shot!"
Liko and Roy, now convinced that Jin’s plan was feasible, were eager to proceed, but Mollie hesitated.
"Jin, you really are amazing. But there’s a problem with this plan, and that is..."
"Arboliva’s stamina, right?"
"...Of course, you'd notice that."
"Yeah... this is, in a way, the biggest challenge."
"W-What do you mean?"
"Explain it to us too!"
Jin and Mollie looked up at Arboliva with serious expressions, prompting Liko and Roy, who couldn’t follow the conversation, to ask for an explanation.
"Arboliva has been sharing its nutrients and healing weaker Pokémon like Wooper, who couldn’t survive on their own. As a result, Arboliva itself has become very weak."
"That’s probably true. And also..."
"I know. Arboliva sustained even more severe injuries during the battle earlier."
In that situation, a battle was unavoidable. No matter how fast Sceptile was, simply fleeing would have led to defeat. Fighting back was necessary, but from a stalling perspective, their role ended when they tripped Arboliva with Grass Knot. The relentless X-Scissor attack at the end, however, was a bit excessive.
"That can't be..."
However, Liko and the others couldn't bring themselves to blame Jin. He was the only one who could stand against Arboliva in that situation, and they had no choice but to rely on him. If there was any blame to be had, it wasn't just Jin's burden to bear—it was something everyone present should share.
"Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the battle wounds."
With that, Jin approached Arboliva and spoke loudly enough for her to hear.
"Arboliva, please listen!"
"...Vaa..."
"I’m sorry for earlier. I attacked you more than necessary without considering your situation or feelings. But please, believe this much—I want to restore this forest, to bring it back to the lush, green place it once was for the Pokémon that live here!"
As Arboliva listened to Jin's words, she lowered her gaze and looked at him. While her expression had softened considerably compared to when they were battling, there was still a hint of wariness in her eyes.
"But to do that, Arboliva, I need your help."
"...Rii..."
"If you trust me, even a little, let me help you regain the strength you've lost."
"........."
Arboliva silently stared at Jin for several moments. Then, after a few seconds...
"Vaaaa..."
Arboliva extended one of her arms toward Jin as if to shake hands. Her expression was now free of hostility and suspicion. Instead, it was a calm, gentle smile.
"Thank you. Now, hold still—Gardevoir! Healing Wish!"
"Garde!!"
Gardevoir raised both arms toward Arboliva and emitted a pink aura. The aura enveloped Arboliva, concentrating on the wounds she had sustained during the battle and began healing them.
(Sigh... If only we had talked like this from the start instead of focusing on battle... No, Arboliva was already on the verge of losing control, so maybe it wasn’t possible... But still...)
Jin felt a renewed sense of the importance of communication, something he had perhaps forgotten. Looking back, in all their past journeys, whenever there was a problem involving Pokémon, they would fight first and talk later. That approach had become their default, and it was likely why things had turned out this way.
It wasn’t that Jin was unwilling to listen. But when he reflected on himself, he realized that, being skilled in and fond of battles, he often resorted to his preferred method of solving problems.
(I thought I’d let go of my arrogance... but it seems I’m still too lenient with myself.)
"Arboliva’s wounds..."
"They’re healing so quickly!"
"Riiiva!"
Soon, all of Arboliva’s battle wounds were completely healed, and she let out a lively cry. Seeing this, Jin nodded in satisfaction before turning his attention back to Liko, Roy, and Mollie.
"Jin... you made up with Arboliva!"
"Yeah, now it’s up to us."
"Yes! I’ll do my best too!"
"There’s no reason to oppose anymore. I’ll help as well."
With Arboliva’s healing complete, Jin's plan to restore the forest became even more feasible. Now, it truly seemed possible to achieve their goal. With hope in their hearts, they each set about their assigned tasks. Liko and Mollie ventured into the forest to gather berries, while Jin and Roy moved to till the scorched earth.
"Sceptileee!"
"Roonnn!"
Sceptile and Aggron began tilling the scorched earth, stomping it down step by step with Stomping Tantrum. Although the burnt area was vast, the two Pokémon were working with such intensity that it wouldn't take long to finish the task.
"Roy, Fuecoco."
"What's up?"
"Fue?"
Hearing Jin call out, Roy and Fuecoco, who had been moving rocks that were in the way, paused their work.
"You can take a break for a bit. Watch Sceptile and Aggron closely. Stomping Tantrum is one of the few Ground-type moves that Fuecoco can master. From now on, we're going to focus on learning that move, so keep that in mind."
Roy and Fuecoco nodded in agreement. They had realized during the battle with Brassius's Sudowoodo that they lacked an effective move against certain types. Although Stomping Tantrum wouldn't be effective against Rayquaza, their ultimate goal, it was still worth learning. Moreover, if Fuecoco evolved in the future, it could potentially learn the powerful Ground-type move Earthquake.
(Well, that's something for much later... But practicing Stomping Tantrum on an airship isn't really feasible. While we're still in Paldea, I want to make sure Fuecoco at least gets the basics down.)
"Good job, Fuecoco!"
"...Oh, come on."
Fuecoco started mimicking Sceptile and Aggron, stomping its feet in place and trying to replicate Stomping Tantrum. At first, it was just a crude imitation, but gradually the technique improved until it became an actual move.
"Look, Jin! We did it!"
Just as Jin had noticed with Sprigatito, Fuecoco also had immense potential. Despite it being a non-STAB move, Fuecoco had quickly grasped it, likely due to watching the live demonstration. It was impressive how rapidly Fuecoco was learning—especially considering that when they first met, it could barely use any moves. It absorbed new skills like a sponge.
Fuecoco eagerly started using Stomping Tantrum, tilling areas that Sceptile and Aggron hadn't touched yet. This would save even more time. However, Liko and Mollie, who were gathering berries, were still taking a while. Jin thought about getting some extra help and reached for his smartphone.
"...The communication problem is fixed?"
He wondered why it had suddenly been resolved but decided to prioritize the forest restoration. With that in mind, he dialed Friede’s number. Friede answered after just one ring, sounding a bit flustered.
"What's up? Did something happen?"
"Yeah, I'm glad I could reach you. Actually..."
Jin explained everything: the encounter with the giant Arboliva, the forest fire, and their efforts to restore the forest. He also requested backup.
"Got it, I understand the situation. Okay, leave it to me! I'll bring a few people and head over to help right away!"
"Thanks... By the way, there was a communication disruption around here earlier. Do you know anything about that?"
"Ah, that was because of some mischievous Magneton."
According to Friede, a lone Magneton had been emitting powerful electromagnetic waves around Artazon Town, causing the communication disruption.
"............"
"Jin? What's wrong?" Friede asked.
"No... it's nothing. Thanks for the backup. I'll be counting on you."
"Got it. Hang tight."
With that, Friede ended the call. He was probably hurrying back to the ship to prepare. Jin, thinking this, returned to the task of moving rocks.
"...A Magneton, huh... Could it be...? No, maybe I'm just overthinking it."
There have been criminals who have exploited the abilities of Magnemite and Magneton to disrupt machinery and communication systems for malicious purposes. Jin had encountered such tactics before in the Hoenn region, where criminals used them to attack Pokémon Centers.
(Just in case, I'll keep it in mind...)
A little while after contacting Friede, Jin's group was joined by Friede, Orla, and even Ludlow, who had come along this time to help. While Jin and the others continued tilling the field, Friede's team met up with Liko and helped with gathering and planting berries. With the extra hands, the work progressed efficiently, and the field was quickly completed.
"Alright... that should do it," Jin said.
"Yeah, now we just need water. Hang on a bit while I swap out for a Pokémon that can use Rain Dance..." Friede started.
"No need," Ludlow interrupted.
With the communication issue resolved, Jin could now use his Rotom Phone's function to switch Pokémon. He reached for his phone to bring Milotic, which he had entrusted to Professor Birch, back into his party. However, Ludlow, reaching into his chest pocket, pulled out a Dive Ball typically used to catch Water-type Pokémon.
"They say even dead trees add to the scenery. I suppose it's time I dust off my old sword and give it a swing," Ludlow said, tossing the Dive Ball into the air, releasing a Quagsire.
"Quagsire! Bestow upon us your great blessing—Rain Dance!"
"Quaaaagsire!"
Quagsire raised its arms to the sky and let out a call. The clouds began to gather, and soon, rain started pouring down. The parched land absorbed the water, becoming moist and fertile once more. With this, all the preparations Jin and his team could make were complete. Now, restoring the forest depended on Arboliva’s cooperation.
"Arboliva..."
As Jin turned his gaze toward Arboliva, the Pokémon raised both arms toward the sky, emitting a green aura from its body. The aura spread, enveloping the entire forest, and soon, sprouts began to emerge from the seeds they had just planted. These sprouts quickly grew into trees, and the forest started to reclaim its former glory.
"Amazing! The forest is back!"
"Look! The Pokémon are returning!"
Before long, Pokémon began to reappear in the restored forest, thanks to Arboliva's power. With the forest revived, there would be no more Pokémon like Wooper, who had lost their homes and been injured. They could now live safely and peacefully.
(Still, this is beyond what I expected...)
Using Arboliva’s abilities to restore the forest had been part of the plan, and while Jin was confident it would work, he hadn’t expected it to succeed so easily. He had thought that even if only half of what just happened occurred, it would be more than enough. Once again, he was amazed by the mysterious power of Pokémon.
“...Vaaa…”
As Arboliva softly cried out, watching the Pokémon return to the forest, Liko’s pendant suddenly began to glow.
“Oh… the pendant…”
“This is just like with Rayquaza!”
“No, something’s different.”
Although the pendant's glow was similar to when the black Rayquaza had emerged from the ancient Poké Ball, something was distinctly different this time. From the center of the light, the pendant began to sprout something like legs, gradually changing shape.
“Pa-go…”
As the light subsided, a Pokémon that resembled a turtle, one no one had seen before, appeared.
“The pendant… turned into a Pokémon?”
“So it really was a Pokémon all along…”
While it wasn’t completely unexpected given what Liko had witnessed earlier, seeing the pendant transform into a Pokémon in real time left everyone stunned, their attention fixed on this mysterious creature. Arboliva was no exception. However, unlike the others, Arboliva didn’t seem surprised. Instead, she immediately took action.
“…Riiiivaa…”
Upon seeing the mysterious Pokémon, Arboliva’s body began to shine, and she condensed her energy into a glowing sphere. She then slowly moved it towards the mysterious Pokémon, as well as towards Liko and Roy.
“Liko! Roy!”
Jin reached out in a panic, but it was too late. The two were enveloped in the sphere. From the outside, it was impossible to see them. The members of the Rising Volt Tacklers worried about their safety, but only for a moment. The sphere quickly vanished, and the mysterious Pokémon returned to the pendant while Liko and Roy reappeared.
“Are you both okay?” Jin asked.
“Y-yeah…”
“We’re fine…”
“What happened in there?”
“There was someone in the mist… Roy, did you see it?”
“Yeah, I saw it too. But… I’m not sure what it was…”
It seemed they had seen something within the sphere of energy, but they were still too bewildered by the sudden event to fully understand what they had witnessed.
“…Vaaaaa…”
Just as they were about to ask more questions, Arboliva suddenly let out a loud cry. The ancient Poké Ball around Arboliva’s neck began to glow, and Arboliva was drawn into it. Once Arboliva was inside, the ancient Poké Ball fell to the ground.
“Did it just go in by itself…? Does that mean it wants to come with us?” Liko wondered.
“Well… only Arboliva knows for sure,” Jin replied.
The phrase “mystery begets mystery” was often used, and in this case, it fit perfectly. They had managed to obtain the ancient Poké Ball, but Arboliva’s true intentions and the nature of the pendant remained a mystery.
“Arboliva must have had her reasons. But one thing’s for sure—she recognized you two,” Jin said.
Given that Arboliva had voluntarily entered the ancient Poké Ball, it was clear that she acknowledged Liko and Roy. This meant that the ones who should hold onto the ball were obvious.
“Liko, Roy… you two should keep this ball,” Jin said, picking up the ball and handing it to them.
“Us? No way, Jin, you should be the one to keep it!”
“Yeah! You were the one who battled Arboliva and came up with the plan to restore the forest. It should definitely be you!”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s clear this ancient Poké Ball has some connection to the pendant. I’m not confident I could make full use of it if I kept it.”
“But…,” Liko started.
“Even if it’s not much use to me, it might be useful to you two. Don’t hesitate—just take it. You know what they say: take anything you can get unless it’s an illness.”
“But… Wait, hey! Where are you touching? Okay, okay! I got it!”
Jin, noticing that Liko was still reluctant to accept the ancient Poké Ball, took matters into his own hands. He grabbed the shoulder bag at Liko’s chest and forcefully opened it, attempting to place the ancient Poké Ball with Arboliva inside.
Flustered, Liko’s face turned bright red as she hurriedly stopped him. Reluctantly, she accepted the ball and tucked it into her bag, all the while holding her chest protectively and glaring at Jin with a sharp look.
“Ugh... Jin, you perv!”
“You didn’t know?”
“…I guess I should’ve seen it coming.”
“Right?”
“...You two, please stop flirting in front of me,” Friede groaned, unable to tolerate the sweet atmosphere between them any longer. Roy seemed a bit confused, but Mollie, Orla, and Ludlow watched the scene with amused expressions.
“S-sorry!”
“My bad, my bad. We’ll save the flirting for when it’s just the two of us, sneaking it past everyone.”
“Jin!”
“Alright… well, as long as it’s not in front of me. Everyone, it’s time to head back to the Brave Olivine,” Friede announced.
Having completed everything they needed to do here, the Rising Volt Tacklers began their journey back to the Brave Olivine. Liko, still embarrassed and fuming from being put in such an awkward situation by Jin, kept her face red and refused to look at him as they walked.
(This is for the best… that ball belongs with Liko and Roy.)
Although Liko and Roy insisted that Jin should be the one to keep it, Jin was convinced they were wrong. He didn’t know what Arboliva had shown them in the end, but it seemed intentional that she had shown it only to them.
(I’m not sure what criteria Arboliva used to choose Liko and Roy, but it’s clear I wasn’t chosen. That makes the most sense.)
Liko and Roy had great potential, but when it came to knowledge and skill as Pokémon Trainers, Jin and Friede were far more experienced. Arboliva, having battled Jin, would have recognized that. The fact that she still chose the two of them suggested that there was a specific reason behind it.
(It’s disappointing, but it seems it just wasn’t meant to be.)
As rare as Arboliva was, Jin couldn’t deny wanting to have her. However, it seemed his destiny was to battle against formidable opponents like the black Rayquaza and Arboliva, but not to be their trainer or partner.
Jin already had a wonderful group of companions. While he felt a tinge of disappointment, he wasn’t upset. It was just that the role of being their trainer wasn’t meant for him.
(There are solutions beyond just battling. But when a battle is necessary, I’ll be the first to step up. That’s my role…)
This journey wasn’t just about encountering powerful Pokémon like Arboliva; there were also clear enemies like the Explorers. If his role was to fight them, he would gladly do so. However, as with Arboliva, some problems couldn’t be solved by battling alone. To address those issues, it wasn’t enough to simply get stronger.
(As both a Trainer and a person, I need to grow even more…)
A journey brings growth. This was true not only for Liko and Roy but for Jin as well. He was ready to take new steps, meeting many new people and Pokémon, and growing as both a Trainer and a person.
// END
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