Chapter 16
Mike stepped out of the tent with an aching back and sore shoulders.
He stretched until several joints popped.
Sleeping in a tent was going to take some getting used to.
The sleeping bag held him so tightly that he could barely move, and Mike liked to roll around far too much for that.
’When we reach Sandgem Town, I’m buying a proper camping mat. At least then I can toss and turn without fighting for my life.’
He had been so tired the night before that he had slept until nearly noon.
Mike looked up at the forest canopy.
Sunlight slipped through the thick leaves, scattering bright patches across the ground, while Pokémon cries echoed all around him.
’Another new day.’
He stood there with his hands on his hips for a moment before remembering that Gengar and Weedle were nowhere in sight.
Mike looked around and soon found them.
Gengar was lying comfortably in the hammock Mike had made with String Shot.
Beside him, an unusually fat Weedle hung from a strand of silk, gently swinging back and forth.
Mike walked closer and found Gengar telling another story.
At this point, the original plot had been changed so badly that even Mike could barely recognize it.
He listened for a while.
When Gengar claimed that all true masters had to be quiet, cold, and mysterious, Mike suddenly remembered how strange Weedle had acted the day before.
"So that’s why you barely spoke yesterday?" Mike asked. "You were trying to act cool?"
His voice interrupted Gengar’s story.
Weedle turned his innocent little eyes toward Mike and nodded his round head.
"Wee—"
[Boss said I’ll become a great swordsman like him, but a great swordsman has to be silent and cool.]
Mike slowly looked at Gengar.
Gengar gave him a guilty grin.
"Why don’t you act silent and cool, then?" Mike asked.
"Gar..."
[I tried, but I talk too much. Did you forget?]
"You..."
Mike stared at Gengar’s completely shameless face and found himself unable to argue.
He turned back to Weedle.
"Would you protect me if I was ever in danger?"
Weedle nodded without hesitation.
"Then you’re already the greatest swordsman in the world to me. You don’t have to stay quiet and act cold."
Weedle blinked and thought seriously about it.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"Wee—"
[No. Great swordsmen have to act cool! That’s what makes them great.]
"Why?"
"Wee—"
[Because top-tier swordsmen have to act top-tier. It’s in the name.]
Mike fell silent.
"That isn’t how words work..."
He scratched behind his ear and gave up.
"Fine. As long as you’re happy, I’ll support you."
"Wee~"
[Hehe~ I love Mike the most~]
Ever since Mike caught him, Weedle had been completely won over by the Miracle Leaves.
More importantly, traveling with Mike and Gengar was more fun than anything he had ever experienced.
He had never known you could let someone throw you through the air and then pull you back with your own silk.
Gengar said Mike had taught him that too.
Humans were really amazing!
No wonder humans caught Pokémon instead of Pokémon catching humans.
Mike suddenly remembered something.
"Did you two already eat breakfast?"
"Gar—"
[Yeah. I had Berries.]
"Wee—"
[I had leaves.]
"Berries? Where did you get them?"
"Gar—"
[I borrowed them nearby.]
Mike narrowed his eyes.
"I bought plenty of breakfast yesterday. Why did you go rob someone again?"
"Gar—"
[We have to save money!]
"Fine. I’m going to eat now. Do you want anything else?"
Gengar thought for less than a second.
"Gar..."
[Hmm... Yes! I want a sandwich!]
"Then set up the table and take breakfast out. I’m going to wash up first."
Mike pulled Weedle down from his silk, held him in one arm, and walked toward the lake.
Gengar bounced out of the hammock and happily followed behind him.
...
After breakfast, Mike checked the clothes he had washed the night before.
They were still a little damp.
Since he had to wait for them to dry, Mike found a good angle, set up his camera, and started playing a simple beanbag dodge game with Gengar and Weedle.
Their laughter soon caught the attention of several gentle wild Pokémon.
They carefully moved closer, watching from the trees and bushes.
One brave Aipom approached Mike.
After studying him for a moment, it jumped into the air and caught the beanbag with its tail.
Then, while Mike watched, Aipom copied his throwing motion and sent it flying.
Gengar twisted his round body aside at the last second.
The beanbag barely missed him.
And just like that, Aipom officially joined the game.
Once one Pokémon joined, the others became braver.
More Aipom, several Pachirisu, and a few Bidoof soon joined in as well.
By lunchtime, Mike and his Pokémon had become friendly with the whole group.
The wild Pokémon happily shared their Berries, and Mike returned the favor by cooking a large pot of food made especially for them.
While everyone was eating, Mike spotted a Pachirisu nibbling on a Berry.
He quietly moved closer, grabbed it, lifted it into his arms, and buried his face deep in its fluffy belly.
Then he took a long breath.
At last.
Since leaving Growlithe behind, Mike had been suffering from a serious lack of fluff!
He had gone from hugging a warm puppy every night to desperately sniffing a wild squirrel.
Life on the road was cruel.
Unfortunately, a wild Pachirisu’s fur was rougher than Growlithe’s.
It was also slightly electric.
Mike’s face remained numb for several minutes, and all his hair stood straight up.
Once his clothes had dried, Mike stood and dusted off his hands. He told the wild Pokémon that they were leaving and said goodbye.
The group slowly returned to the forest.
Mike and Gengar began packing.
When they were almost finished, Gengar suddenly remembered something. He floated toward the lake and began feeling around under the water.
Mike was about to ask what he was searching for when Gengar pulled out the homemade fishing rods from the day before.
Mike shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Those are easy to make. We can build new ones whenever we need them. We can even buy proper fishing rods in Sandgem Town."
Gengar held the crude rod close.
"Gar—"
[That wouldn’t be the same.]
Mike paused.
Then he smiled and let Gengar keep it.
While they were talking, a cool wind swept in from the north, carrying the fresh scent of water.
A pale blue Pokémon came riding on that wind.
It landed beside the lake and lowered its head to drink.
Two long white ribbons flowed around its body. A blue crystal shaped like a crown rested on its forehead, and pale markings covered its graceful form.
Every movement was gentle and elegant.
It truly looked like the living form of the north wind.
Mike stared with his mouth slightly open.
’Suicune?’
’And it’s Shiny?!’
The Shiny Suicune quietly drank from the lake while a calm northern breeze moved around it.
Mike finally snapped out of his shock.
He rushed toward the camera, stopped the video recording, switched to photo mode, found the best angle he could, and began pressing the shutter.
Click. Click. Click.
The sound rang out again and again.
Suicune slowly raised its head.
Its amber eyes settled on Mike, then moved to the camera in his hands.
It said nothing.
Mike carefully lowered the camera and approached the water’s edge.
"Hello, Suicune."
Suicune studied him for several long seconds before slowly nodding.
Among the Legendary beasts, Suicune was known for being calmer and gentler toward humans than the others.
There were even stories of it saving lost travelers.
That was probably why it had not immediately left when Mike began taking pictures.
Instead, it stayed and quietly watched him.
Mike used the chance to admire the Shiny Suicune in front of him.
Suicune had probably suffered one of the funniest reputation changes among all Legendary Pokémon.
At first, it had been shown as the graceful embodiment of the north wind—a mysterious Pokémon that could purify dirty water in an instant.
Elegant, gentle, impossible to catch...
Then one net and one regular Poké Ball later, the internet decided it was just a very fancy water dog.
But that was regular Suicune’s problem.
This one was Shiny!
Completely different from that one.
Probably.
Suicune gave a soft cry.
"Cune—"
[Do you need something?]
Mike raised his camera slightly.
"Can I take a few pictures of you? Just a few. I’ll be quick."
Suicune looked at the camera, then slowly nodded.
Mike’s eyes lit up!
He immediately began taking pictures.
At first, he stayed at a respectful distance.
Then he moved closer.
And closer.
Before long, Mike was practically pointing the camera straight at Suicune’s face.
It was his first time meeting a Legendary Pokémon, and not just any Legendary Pokémon—a Shiny one!
That had to mean his luck was about to improve.
Mike had no idea how many pictures he took.
When Suicune finally began to look annoyed, he quickly lowered the camera.
"Sorry. I got a little carried away."
Suicune gave him a calm nod and turned to leave.
"Wait, Suicune."
Suicune looked back, narrowing its eyes slightly.
Mike gave it the same wide grin Gengar often used and pointed toward the camera.
"Could you say hello to everyone watching?"
The ribbons around Suicune began to dance in the wind.
A northern breeze swept toward the camera, gathering fallen leaves into a small spiral.
They circled the lens several times before scattering gently across the lake.
After that, Suicune stepped onto the wind and disappeared into the forest, continuing its search for another clean water source.
Mike stared at the footage on his camera with complete satisfaction.
Then the system appeared.
{Crown City’s Shiny Legendary Beasts: The three Shiny Legendary beasts are guardians connected to Crown City. You were lucky enough to meet Shiny Suicune and capture it on camera. Reward: 500 Viewership Points.}
{Embodiment of the North Wind: Suicune deserves to be known and remembered. Share the photos or video you recorded so more people can see it. Reward: 300 Viewership Points.}
{Complete the Trio: There are three Legendary beasts for a reason. Find the other two and record them as well. A special reward may be waiting for you.}
{Note: Only Shiny Raikou and Shiny Entei will count toward the trio.}
Mike’s eyes widened.
"There are quests too?"
The first new task was basically free money.
All he had to do was upload the pictures or video and collect another 300 Viewership Points.
As for finding the other two...
He would be traveling around Sinnoh for a long time.
Maybe he really would run into them someday.
Mike stared at the words "special reward" with growing excitement.
’How special are we talking?’
After Suicune disappeared, Mike finished packing and continued toward Sandgem Town with Gengar and Weedle.