Chapter 90
Over the next few days, Leafeon would leave the area around Mike’s tent every night and only return during the day.
Mike remained there for so long because he had discovered that far more Pokémon gathered near this river than in other parts of the forest.
Grass-type Pokémon in particular appeared here in greater numbers and variety.
To gather better footage of both Grass- and Water-type Pokémon, Mike pitched his tent beside the river and devoted himself to his grand filming project.
"Damn it. Having a Zorua would make this so much easier. Then I wouldn’t have to stalk Pokémon whenever I wanted to film them."
Mike lowered his camera and sighed.
Whenever he filmed especially wary Grass types, he had to crouch in the same place for ages before quietly following them around to capture any useful footage.
He finally understood why wildlife photographers in the videos from his previous life waited in one spot for such a long time.
Wild animals were simply far too cautious.
Mike had considered using the drone, but the forest was filled with mischievous Pokémon that immediately tried to catch it whenever they saw it.
Just the day before yesterday, an Aipom had nearly destroyed the drone with Focus Punch.
Since then, Mike hadn’t dared use it in the forest. At least, not until he found some way to camouflage it.
Mike nodded to himself, hung the camera around Beedrill’s neck, and stretched.
Then he brushed the leaves from his hair and picked the burrs clinging to his clothes.
"We’ve finished filming Breloom. Once we find some Shroomish, we’ll have completed another entire evolutionary family."
As Mike continued pulling burrs from his clothes, he glanced at Beedrill beside him.
"By the way, why did you come with me today? Where’s Gengar?"
He removed the final burr and held it between his fingers while looking at Beedrill curiously.
Beedrill shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know either.
"Fine, forget him. There probably aren’t many Pokémon in this forest capable of bullying him anyway. Let’s head back first."
Mike turned and started walking toward the tent with Beedrill.
"Gar—"
Gengar’s cry suddenly came from the distance.
Mike and Beedrill looked up and saw him running toward them with several jars of honey clutched in his arms.
The moment Mike saw the honey, his brows furrowed.
Before he could say anything, Gengar had already raced past them and disappeared into the distance.
Mike immediately chased after him, his furious shouting echoing through the forest.
"Gengar, you fat bastard! Did you rob someone’s home again?!"
[Hehehe.]
...
Glameow was lying on a rock beside the river while enduring Leafeon’s persistent attempts to cuddle against her.
Suddenly, a loud splash came from nearby.
She turned curiously and saw Gengar perform two complete rotations in midair before crashing into the river.
"Sp—"
A large swarm of furious Beedrill appeared moments later.
They hovered above the river and searched the area, but couldn’t find Gengar or Mike anywhere.
Beneath the surface, Gengar took the jars of honey from his arms and handed them to Mike.
[I watched them for days! I finally waited until they left their nest before sneaking inside. Who knew they’d come back so quickly? I only managed to take half.]
Gengar looked deeply regretful.
"Half still wasn’t enough? Were you planning to empty their entire home?"
Mike grabbed Gengar’s cheeks and pulled them apart.
After letting go, he swam to the bank, removed his clothes, and jumped back into the river.
"Snivy, could you bring me some clean clothes, shampoo, and the rest of my things?"
Before long, Snivy arrived at the river carrying Mike’s clothes.
She used Vine Whip to pass him the towels and toiletries, then picked up the clothes he had removed and carried them away.
Mike slapped the surface of the water and looked toward Beedrill.
"Come down and take a bath with us."
Beedrill let out a dismissive scoff and turned around, only to find Gengar lunging at him from behind.
He easily dodged, leaving Gengar to fall into the river alone.
Beedrill gave them a cold look.
’What a joke. You think either of you can catch me?’
"Snivy, pull him down!" Mike shouted.
Two vines burst from beneath the water and wrapped around Beedrill’s legs.
Before he could react, Snivy dragged him straight into the river.
Beedrill flailed in the water for a moment before Mike and Gengar pinned him firmly beneath the surface.
Glameow and Snivy watched from the bank.
Leafeon lounged nearby, lazily sunbathing.
Ignoring the spectators, Mike and Gengar swam toward Beedrill.
The instant he tried to rise from the water and fly away, Mike grabbed his abdomen and pulled him back down.
Beedrill finally managed to stick his head above the surface.
"Bee!"
[Beedrill don’t need baths!]
"You said the same thing when you were a Weedle and a Kakuna. Did that ever help you?"
Mike sneered, filled his palm with body wash, and slapped it onto Beedrill.
After playing in the river for a while, Mike climbed onto the bank and got dressed.
He used a towel to wipe Snivy’s and Glameow’s faces, then dried Glameow’s body before sitting in a chair and watching the two troublemakers catch fish in the river.
"I told you Beedrill only pretends to be aloof. He kept insisting that ’Beedrill don’t need baths’ and fought with everything he had, but look at him now. He’s having more fun than anyone."
Mike laughed, then fell silent and closed his eyes to rest.
After bathing, drowsiness began to set in. He waved toward Snivy, who was sitting by the bank.
"I’m sleepy, Snivy."
"Sni~"
Mike closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.
When she heard his quiet snores, Snivy used Vine Whip to retrieve a small blanket from the tent and gently covered his stomach.
Then she lay beside him and looked up at the sky.
Mike rolled over in his sleep, wrapped one arm around Snivy, and continued snoring.
As she gazed at the clear blue sky above them, Snivy yawned as well and closed her eyes.
After catching fish with Beedrill, Gengar floated out of the water and shook himself dry.
He picked up the towels Snivy had prepared in advance and wiped down his body.
Then he found a suitable spot, skillfully cleaned the fish with a small knife, washed his hands with soap, and carried Mike’s clothes to the river to wash them.
Beedrill hovered beside him, listening to Gengar tell stories while watching him beat the clothes against a washboard.
Glameow found a warm place, curled into a ball, and fell sound asleep.
’As long as nobody makes me take a bath, everything is negotiable.’
...
Perhaps the day’s filming had exhausted him, because Mike slept until evening.
Of course, it also helped that they had chosen a secluded place where no wild Pokémon came to disturb them.
After enjoying a wonderful nap, Mike sat up, looked at the darkened sky, and rubbed his eyes.
"You must all be hungry. Give me a moment and I’ll cook."
The Pokémon gathered around the campfire turned toward him.
Mike noticed that they already seemed to be chewing something.
Gengar picked up several items, floated over, and handed them to Mike.
Mike looked curiously at the steaming mushroom soup and two skewers of grilled fish.
The fish was probably safe. Gengar knew how to grill fish, and Snivy had been watching him, so nothing should have gone wrong.
But the mushroom soup...
Mike stared suspiciously at Gengar.
"Gar—"
[Snivy cooked that! It wasn’t me!]
Gengar shrank back guiltily.
Mike tasted the soup.
"Mmm... As expected of you, Snivy. Your cooking is really good."
He gave Snivy a thumbs-up.
He hadn’t expected her to know how to cook, even if she had only made mushroom soup.
Mike glanced at Gengar, who was frowning beside him.
Gengar: (o´・ェ・o)`
Mike picked up the grilled fish and took two bites.
"Whoa! This tastes great too! Did you put honey on it?"
Gengar instantly grinned and nodded.
"That’s amazing. Even I didn’t think of adding honey to grilled fish. As expected of the great hero Gengar!"
Mike praised him without holding anything back.
Delighted, Gengar returned to the campfire and continued grilling the fish in his hands.
...
Once everyone had finished eating, Leafeon raised her head and looked at Mike, then glanced at Glameow beside her.
Her light-brown eyes blinked as though she had suddenly remembered something.
Then she stood and ran into the night.
Glameow watched the direction in which Leafeon had disappeared for a long time before finally looking away.
She rested her head against one paw and remained motionless.
A large, warm hand came down on her head.
Glameow turned and looked at Mike in confusion.
He gently stroked her head.
"Don’t want to see her go?"
Glameow ignored him, though she allowed him to continue petting her.
After a while, she quietly cried, "Meow."
[I don’t know.]
[She’s so stupid that someone could easily trick her. Whenever she sees a pretty Pokémon, she immediately tries to rub against them like an idiot.]
"That’s what it means to be reluctant to part, Glameow."
Mike smiled and stroked one of her ears.
Glameow extended the sharp claws from her pale paw and raked them through the weeds beside the blanket.
Only after uprooting every last one did she pull her head away from Mike’s palm.
’Don’t know. I don’t know anything. This is so annoying!’
Glameow stepped elegantly across Mike’s body and entered the tent.
What reluctance?
Impossible.
She would never miss a Grass-type Pokémon she had only known for a few days!
Mike watched her disappear into the tent and smiled before reaching out to stroke Snivy’s head.
Her scales felt smooth and cool beneath his palm.
Though they had only known Leafeon for a few days, the feelings Pokémon shared could still be completely sincere.
Grass types really were remarkably purehearted creatures.
Although Mike had slept until late that afternoon, lying beside his Pokémon and listening to their steady breathing soon made him yawn.
He closed his eyes.
In his half-asleep state, a familiar warm body crawled into his arms.
The corners of Mike’s lips lifted slightly. He rolled over and pulled her against his chest.
A fluffy, spring-shaped tail naturally curled around his arm.
...
In the darkness, Leafeon hid among the bushes and stared at the entrance of a cave.
She hesitated for a moment before emerging and cautiously approaching it.
The inside of the cave was completely dark.
The sounds of impacts and the cries of Grass-type Pokémon echoed from deep within, making her tremble uncontrollably.
Leafeon stopped.
Two figures appeared in the darkness ahead.
They looked at each other, then immediately resumed the argument they had been having.
...
Elsewhere, far out in the waters surrounding Sinnoh, a pink figure looked back toward the mainland.
Mew remembered the people and Pokémon it had met there and covered its mouth as it giggled.
It thought of the man traveling with Gengar.
Before leaving, Mew had secretly placed a present inside that man’s camera.
After floating upside down for a while, it dove directly toward the sea.
Just before striking the surface, Mew transformed into a Sharpedo and sped into the distance.
When it saw a Wailord rising from the depths to breathe, Mew transformed again, becoming a Pokémon almost the same size.
It spread its enormous fins and flew over the stunned Wailord before crashing into the water with an enormous splash.
Then it vanished without a trace.
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