Chapter 24
The drone flew back and forth over the forest surrounding Sandgem Town. Even from high above the trees, the video feed it sent back remained perfectly clear.
Mike had to admit that the equipment sent by Gholdengo Is Number One was extremely useful.
Especially the drone.
Its battery lasted a long time, and it could travel quite far without losing the connection.
"Found one."
Mike pointed at the Rotom Phone screen.
Between the leaves of a thick bush, a pair of short legs and half of a round black backside were sticking out.
Professor Rowan stood and looked at the image.
"Yes, that’s Tepig."
"Good. I’ll save the location first. Once we find the other two, we can bring all three back together."
Professor Rowan nodded.
"Mm."
It did not take long for Mike to locate Snivy in a tree and Oshawott beside a stream.
"Professor, let’s go."
Mike stood and looked toward Professor Rowan.
Professor Rowan finished the tea in his cup, rose from his seat, and followed him out of the laboratory.
Mike, Professor Rowan, and Gengar followed the directions on the Rotom Phone until they reached the bushes where Tepig was hiding.
Mike stopped a short distance away and stared cautiously at the half-exposed black backside.
Gengar turned to him curiously.
"Gar?"
[Why did we stop?]
"Fire-type Pokémon usually have pretty strong tempers," Mike explained. "Tepig is one of the gentler Fire-types, but it’s also a huge eater and hates being disturbed while it’s eating."
He paused before continuing.
"Let it finish first. Once it’s eaten too much and doesn’t have much strength left, we’ll approach."
Gengar nodded and floated back beside Mike, staring at Tepig’s exposed backside with him.
"Mike, you’re from Twinleaf Town, aren’t you?" Professor Rowan asked.
"Hmm... I suppose I am."
Professor Rowan looked at him curiously.
Mike briefly explained how Grandma had found him and how he had ended up living near Twinleaf Town.
"I see. So you came from somewhere far away."
Professor Rowan looked toward Tepig.
"Were Unova’s first-partner Pokémon found where you came from as well?"
Mike had no idea, so after thinking for a moment, he shook his head.
"Probably not. I never saw any."
"Then you know quite a lot about Tepig."
Mike kept a straight face.
"I really like Pokémon, so I’ve learned a lot about them."
At that moment, Tepig finally backed out of the bushes.
Berry juice covered the fur around its mouth. It released a satisfied burp, then noticed two humans and a Gengar staring at it from nearby.
Now that its stomach was full, Tepig seemed much bolder.
Small sparks burst from its nostrils.
"Tep!"
[You want a fight? Fine, I’ll take you on!]
Tepig pawed at the ground with its front hooves while sparks continued flying from its nose.
"Gengar, I’ll leave this to you."
Gengar nodded seriously and floated in front of Tepig.
Then he curled one finger toward himself.
’Come on.’
Tepig immediately became furious.
"Tep!"
[You dare to look down on me? Take this!]
Tepig charged forward with Tackle.
Gengar hovered in place until the last moment, then twisted his body aside and dodged.
Tepig missed, fell to the ground, and rolled several times before finally stopping.
When it looked back, Gengar had somehow pulled out a red cloth and was waving it toward Tepig.
"Bullfighting... No, pigfighting today?" Mike muttered. "He really is like a little kid."
Gengar spun gracefully in the air.
The red cloth fluttered as Tepig charged past it.
"Wait... Why does that cloth look so familiar?"
Mike narrowed his eyes.
Then he realized it was his bright red underwear!
"GEEEEEEEEEEEEEENGAR!"
Mike’s furious shout echoed through the forest.
Gengar performed another elegant turn and avoided Tepig’s charge.
As Tepig passed beside him, Gengar spoke softly.
"Gar—"
[Good night ma boy.]
Tepig looked confused.
It turned its head and found a large tree directly in front of it.
Its forehead struck the trunk.
THUNK!
The sound was surprisingly crisp.
Tepig staggered backward, shaking its head. When it looked at Gengar again, it wondered why there suddenly seemed to be several of him.
Then its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed unconscious.
Professor Rowan recalled Tepig into its Poké Ball.
When he turned around, he found Mike and Gengar wrestling with each other.
"Why did you take out my underwear?!"
"Gar!"
[Because I’m carrying all your clothes!]
"Then why did you choose that one?!"
"Gar!"
[It was the only red thing i could find!]
Mike and Gengar pulled at each other’s cheeks until Mike suddenly remembered Professor Rowan was still standing nearby.
He immediately released Gengar.
"You’re getting off easy today."
Mike walked over to Professor Rowan with an embarrassed expression.
"Sorry. I lost my temper and started fighting with Gengar."
Professor Rowan burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! You and Gengar really are very close."
Mike glared at Gengar.
Gengar immediately turned his head away guiltily.
...
When they reached the stream, Oshawott was lying on a large rock in the middle of the water, sunbathing.
"Hey."
Mike called out to it.
Oshawott stood and looked toward him, then took the scalchop from its chest.
"It’s time to go back," Mike said.
Water gathered around the scalchop, forming a sharp blade as Oshawott stared at him.
A proud swordsman had appeared—and was about to lose to Gengar!
"Osha!"
[Defeat my swordsmanship, and I’ll go back with you.]
Gengar’s eyes lit up.
"Gar?"
[Swordsmanship? You know swordsmanship too?!]
Before Mike could say anything, Gengar floated forward to accept the challenge.
A flash of red light appeared at Mike’s waist, and Weedle emerged from his Poké Ball.
When Gengar saw him, he floated back to Mike, handed over the bamboo staff, picked up Weedle, and returned to Oshawott.
Under Mike’s puzzled gaze, Gengar put on a cold expression.
"Gar!"
[This... is my sword.]
Weedle straightened his body.
Gengar gripped him by the tail and pointed the horn on his head toward Oshawott.
Mike stared at them in silence.
"Osha!"
[Doesn’t matter!]
Oshawott attacked first.
Gengar used Weedle to block Oshawott’s repeated strikes.
Professor Rowan watched the three Pokémon fighting back and forth, smiling the entire time.
"I never knew a Weedle could be used as a sword," he said with surprise.
"That’s something Gengar came up with on his own..."
Mike’s voice was filled with helplessness.
He really should not have told Gengar so many stories about wandering swordsmen.
As the fight continued, Gengar’s arms gradually began to feel heavier.
His expression did not change.
After moving aside to avoid one of Oshawott’s attacks, he thrust Weedle forward and pricked Oshawott’s neck with his horn.
Oshawott’s face immediately turned purple.
The scalchop fell from its paw as it pointed at Gengar and Weedle.
"O... sha..."
[You... used... poison...]
Gengar blinked at the accusation.
He tilted his head and placed Weedle on the ground.
"Gar—"
[Weedle and I are both Poison-type Pokémon. What else were we supposed to use? Fire?]
His voice was filled with genuine confusion.
"Wee—"
[A true swordsman wins with intelligence!]
Oshawott continued pointing at them as white foam began bubbling from its mouth.
Then its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed beside its scalchop.
Whether it had fainted from the poison or from anger was impossible to tell.
Professor Rowan recalled Oshawott into its Poké Ball and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Mike, you and your Pokémon really are interesting!"
Mike covered his forehead with one hand and said nothing.