RedX43
patreon
[Pokemon] Chapter 32: Arboliva's Forest
🕑 Added 2024-08-16 18:30:18 +0000 UTCAfter gathering information from Brassius in Artazon Town about a sighting of a black Rayquaza in the forest, Jin and the others returned to the Brave Olivine. They immediately called a meeting with all members of the Rising Volt Tacklers (Dot participated via screen) to share the information they had obtained. It was decided that they would explore the forest the following day.
“I didn’t expect to get information this quickly…”
After leaving the meeting room, Jin returned to his quarters and sat down, sorting through the information they had gathered that day.
Based on the vague information from Alex, they investigated and managed to obtain valuable eyewitness accounts of the black Rayquaza on the very first day. Although Dot, an information specialist, had confirmed that Rayquaza was in Paldea, this early discovery could only be described as a miracle.
“I trust Brassius’ information, but I can’t shake the feeling that a Pokémon like Rayquaza wouldn’t stay in one place for long…”
Rayquaza is known to inhabit outer space and the ozone layer, where it feeds on atmospheric moisture and dust, rarely descending to the ground. Even if it was still in the forest, it could easily fly back to space at any moment.
“Even if we do find it…”
Roy and Fuecoco are steadily growing stronger. This was evident from the battle with Brassius.
However, at this stage, there’s no way they could stand a chance against Rayquaza. Capturing it is a far-off dream. Given the vast difference in power, catching it would be impossible without something like a Master Ball.
“That leaves us with the second piece of information…”
The second piece of information is about Oliva of the Forest. According to Brassius, the black Rayquaza was spotted in a forest where this Arboliva resides. For reasons unknown, Arboliva was said to have shone in resonance with Rayquaza.
If this Arboliva has some connection to Rayquaza and could provide clues to its whereabouts, it could be invaluable when Roy eventually gains the necessary strength. Betting on this lead is much more realistic than hoping Roy can catch Rayquaza now.
“A black Rayquaza and Arboliva's Forest…”
Jin took out his Rotom Phone and searched for information on Arboliva.
“Arboliva: The Olive Pokémon. Grass/Normal type. Calm and very benevolent. Shares its nutritious and delicious oil with weakened Pokémon.”
“It’s clearly a regular Pokémon compared to Rayquaza…”
Arboliva is the evolved form of Smoliv, the Pokémon Brassius had with him. As the final evolution of Smoliv, it’s not exceedingly rare but not something you’d find just anywhere. From the Pokédex entry alone, there doesn’t seem to be any connection to Rayquaza.
“…I should probably investigate further, just in case.”
Since Roy and Fuecoco were given the night off from training as a reward for their hard work in today’s battle, and to prepare for tomorrow, Jin had plenty of time.
He decided to use this time to gather all the information he could about Arboliva, plan their strategy, and then rest in preparation for the next day.
***
The next day, Jin, Liko, Roy, and Mollie—who had requested to join this time—met up with Nemona, who had offered to guide them. Together, they headed toward the forest where Brassius had mentioned Arboliva resided.
"What is this…?"
"This is terrible…"
However, instead of the lush, green forest they had expected, they found a landscape that had been reduced to a charred wasteland.
As they took a step into what had once been the forest, the soil crumbled beneath their feet, and the trees fell apart with the slightest touch.
"There was a wildfire here not long ago."
"The news said it was caused by lightning. Everything’s so dry this time of year."
"What about the Pokémon that lived around here?"
"They're fine. It seems most of them moved to the other side of the hill where it’s still safe."
"I see…"
In this situation, they likely had no other choice. If they had stubbornly stayed, they would have struggled to survive in an environment that no longer suited them. It was better to leave behind a place they were familiar with, even if they had sentimental ties to it, than to suffer in a habitat that had become inhospitable.
(This is going to take a long time to recover…)
Jin's homeland of Hoenn, like Paldea, was a place rich in nature. During his travels, he had seen lands devastated by wildfires similar to this one, and he had heard that it could take many years for them to recover. This place would likely be no exception.
"Well, I need to report Brassius's reinstatement to the Pokémon League, so I'll be heading back. Jin! Let's battle again next time we meet! I'll win for sure!"
"…Yeah, I'll be ready whenever you are."
Nemona promised a rematch with Jin and left with a smile. To most people, her smile would appear to be that of a cute, cheerful girl, but to Jin, it felt like the unsettling smile of a predator eyeing its prey.
"……"
As Jin, who had suddenly gone from being the hunter to being the hunted, watched Nemona's retreating figure with a mix of anticipation and unease, Liko quietly approached and wrapped her arm around his, gently steering him back toward the scorched remains of the forest.
"Liko?"
"…It's nothing. Shall we go?"
"Ah, yeah…"
With that, Jin and Liko followed Roy and Mollie into the devastated forest. They walked for some time, hearts heavy with the sight of the forest’s transformation, until they reached the other side of the hill, where—just as Nemona had said—a lush, green forest stretched out before them.
"I'm going ahead to scout!"
Having grown up on a small island surrounded by nature, Roy was visibly excited the moment they entered the forest. The thought that the black Rayquaza might be here only heightened his excitement.
"Be careful!"
"I will! I'm used to being in the forest."
"Roy! Even if you find Rayquaza, don't start a battle on your own. Make sure to contact us first."
"Got it! If we get separated, let's meet up under that big tree over there!"
Roy and Fuecoco, full of energy, decided on the largest tree in the forest as their rendezvous point in case they got lost, and then they enthusiastically set off into the woods.
"Do you think he'll be okay?"
"…He should be fine. Roy's familiar with forests, and we’ve set a meeting place. Besides, we have Sceptile, a forest expert, with us, and if it comes to it, Gardevoir's psychic abilities and Salamence can help search from the air."
"You're right…"
The main concern was if Roy were to encounter Rayquaza unexpectedly and alone. Even though he had agreed not to engage, knowing Roy’s personality, there was a strong possibility he might challenge it to a battle.
If that happened, not only would Fuecoco be at risk of getting hurt, but the forest could also suffer significant damage.
"We sure worry a lot. Alright, let’s get moving too."
After searching the forest for a while, the three of them found a conveniently fallen tree. Jin, still full of energy, decided they should take a break there, considering Liko and Mollie’s stamina.
As they sat down and drank the fresh water they had brought, they began observing the forest more closely. They could see Fletchling singing in the trees and Skiddo nibbling on the young leaves.
"Wow… There are so many Pokémon deep in the forest…"
"Isn’t this your home region, Liko?"
"Yeah, but I’ve never been this deep into the forest before."
"A real sheltered girl, huh…"
"N-No, it’s not that! Back then, I didn’t have Sprigatito, and both my parents were really busy."
"That makes it even more so. My parents told me not to go into the forest, but I still sneaked in just to meet Pokémon."
After disobeying his parents and venturing into the forest, there were numerous times when Jin’s parents and others had to search for him, worried because he didn’t return.
However, in most cases, Jin would reappear in the village while his parents were still searching, resulting in them almost getting lost instead.
"Unlike Jin, Liko wasn’t a troublesome child or a delinquent who caused her parents grief…"
"That’s rude. I prefer to think of myself as a curious boy."
"Hmph… So, Liko, what do your parents do?"
(That was a blatant change of subject…)
Jin wasn’t a delinquent. He was just so curious about anything Pokémon-related that he couldn’t rest until he’d thoroughly investigated whatever piqued his interest. As a result, his parents occasionally suffered secondary consequences, but that was all.
"My dad writes picture books, and my mom’s a school teacher."
"Which one are you more like?"
"Hmm… I don’t think I’m like either of them. It would’ve been easier if I were more like one of them, though."
"Huh?"
"Both my parents always had something they wanted to do, something they were passionate about. I thought that was really nice because I had no idea what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do."
"It’s pretty rare to know what you want to do at your age. That’s something only a few exceptions figure out."
"…Could you not look at me while you say that?"
Mollie glanced at Jin as if he were some strange creature.
Jin had once shared his dream with Alex—to become a strong Trainer who wouldn’t betray the expectations of those who had placed their hopes in him, those who had given up on battling after losing to him.
This dream was already known to all the members of the Rising Volt Tacklers. When Jin and Liko stayed at her home, Alex had brought it up, piquing Liko’s interest, so Jin reluctantly shared what he considered his "dark history." Word spread quickly, with Liko telling Roy, Roy telling Friede, and soon everyone knew.
"A-Ahaha… Sorry about that. I didn’t expect it to spread so quickly…"
"…It’s fine. It’s a good reminder for me."
He had no intention of making the same mistakes he had in the past. But now, not only he but also his comrades knew about his history. Jin believed that this shared knowledge would help him keep himself in check.
"I’m the same as Liko. I had no idea what I wanted to do. The only difference is that a path was already laid out for me."
"…The path to becoming a doctor."
"Correct. You got it right."
This was something Jin had felt for a while and had almost confirmed when he saw Nurse Joy up close in Artazon Town the other day. The Joy family, known for their medical background, and the Jenny family, known for their police background, both have strong genetic traits. So much so that it's often said that unless you're close to them, it's hard to tell who is who just by looking at family photos.
(Mollie’s eyes are a bit sharper, though…)
"A doctor… that’s amazing."
"It’s not. When I was around your age, Liko, I wasn’t thinking about the future at all. I just did what I was told. But I did love Pokémon, and I found my work fulfilling… still, I quit."
She kept the reason to herself, but since the journey began, there had been several visits to Pokémon Centers. However, Mollie only visited when Sprigatito was kidnapped. Other times, she made excuses not to go. Jin felt like he caught a glimpse of the reason why.
"Meow, Meow~!"
As Jin and the others were talking, Sprigatito poked its head out from a nearby bush, calling out to them. Worried something might be wrong, Jin approached and found a small tree beyond the bush, laden with berries.
"Oran Berries… They’re ripe for the picking."
"Yeah. If you find any more, gather them."
Oran Berries are not only edible but also useful for restoring a Pokémon's health and making Pokéblocks. They're easy to carry, making them very handy for Trainers on a journey. Since they could also serve as medicine, Mollie suggested that they split up into two groups—Jin and Liko in one, and Mollie in the other—to gather the berries.
Jin and Liko, guided by Sprigatito's sense of smell, ventured deeper into the forest. After weaving through the trees, they found themselves in a small clearing where many small trees bearing Oran Berries were growing.
"Looks like we found them."
"Yeah, there are so many!"
Liko approached the trees, took off her backpack, and began stuffing it full of Oran Berries.
(With this many, we won’t have to worry about Oran Berries for a while.)
Oran Berries were always in high demand due to their versatility. Considering the financial situation of the Rising Volt Tacklers, Jin wanted to gather as many as possible while they could. He moved closer to start picking the berries as well, just as something unexpected happened.
"Liko!"
"Huh? Ahhh!"
At almost the exact moment Jin approached, the large tree near Liko suddenly shook violently. Instinctively sensing a strong hostility, Jin reached out, grabbing Liko’s shoulder and yanking her back behind him.
"RAAAAGHHH!"
With an angry roar, a Pokémon leaped down from the tree and slammed its fist into the ground where Liko had just been standing, kicking up a cloud of dust. As the dust began to settle, Jin could make out the silhouette of the Pokémon, which soon revealed itself.
"Primeape… no, that’s not right."
At first glance, it looked like a Primeape, but upon closer inspection, it was clear this Pokémon was different. Its muscles were bulkier, and the armbands that should have been on both arms were gone from one side. Its appearance also featured long, disheveled gray fur, eyes glowing an intense red, and dark circles under its eyes—distinct characteristics that a Primeape didn’t have.
(Could it be…?)
Jin quickly pulled out his Rotom Phone and began searching for information on the Pokémon in front of him.
“Annihilape: Fighting/Ghost Type. Rage Monkey Pokemon, An evolved form of Primeape. When its rage surpasses the critical threshold, it gains power unbounded by the limitations of its physical body. It channels the fury it harbors into its fists, crushing its opponent to the very core.”
“So, it really is…”
Jin had realized after his battle with Nemona that he lacked knowledge about Paldean Pokémon and their unique moves. So, after finishing his report last night, he asked Friede, a Pokémon Professor, to give him a private lesson. One of the Pokémon he learned about was the Annihilape standing before him now.
The fact that it’s an evolved form of Primeape already piqued his interest, but what intrigued him even more was its rare dual-type combination of Fighting and Ghost, which Jin knew to be incredibly rare.
“Buggya! Bugga! Buhii!”
(…It’s angry.)
Annihilape’s enraged cries echoed through the forest, its hostility evident as it swung its fists wildly in Jin’s direction. There was likely only one reason it was this furious.
“…I see, this must be its territory.”
Since entering the forest, they had encountered many wild Pokémon, but there were none around the Oran Berry trees except for this Annihilape. In hindsight, it was strange that there were no wild Pokémon in a place with so many berries. It made sense to assume that this area was Annihilape’s exclusive feeding ground.
“Jin…”
Liko, who had been pulled close to Jin, called out to him in a worried voice. It was understandable—if Jin hadn’t yanked her away, Annihilape’s fist would have struck her directly. Judging by the Pokédex entry and the damage the ground had taken, Liko would not have escaped unscathed.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Jin gently placed his hand on Liko’s head, softly stroking her hair to calm her. He then gave her a reassuring kiss on the forehead, uttered those words, and gently moved her behind him.
“Now then…”
Annihilape had clearly decided that Jin and Liko were enemies. Even if they ran, it would likely chase them down. Escaping would be easy with the help of Gardevoir or Salamence, but if they did, Annihilape might direct its fury at the forest or the other wild Pokémon living there.
Running wasn’t an option. A battle was inevitable.
(Heh… That’s just an excuse.)
The truth was, Jin didn’t really care about the potential damage to the surrounding area. The real reason he wanted to battle Annihilape was simple—he was enraged that it had tried to harm Liko, the person he cared about most.
“Annihilape, I don’t blame you.”
“Bugga?”
“Even though we didn’t know, we stepped into your territory and started taking your food. It’s only natural that you’re angry. So, I don’t hate you or hold a grudge. But…”
Jin’s heart burned with anger, but he knew that once the battle was over, he’d be able to forgive Annihilape. For now, though, just for now…
“Are you ready, Annihilape? Because now, I’m about to get angry.”
// END
The first half followed the anime's plot, but I ended up writing that last line on a whim. It felt like a good idea at the time, but now that I’ve read it, it seems a bit like a joke, doesn’t it? Haha.
Next time, I’ll be serious about the battle. I hope you’ll read it too.
---
