Lucien arrived at the farmland just in time to see a small, fast-moving mound darting through the freshly plowed soil.
The knights were already there, shouting and spreading out in formation, trying to intercept it.
But every time they closed in, the creature veered sharply, slipping past them with surprising speed.
"Damn it!" one of the knights cursed, stomping in frustration as the intruder tore another line through the furrows.
Another knight lunged forward, shovel in hand, but the moving mound vanished beneath the dirt before he could strike.
"Snivy, stop it!" Lucien ordered, his tone firm.
"Snivy!"
The Grass-type's eyes narrowed. Its slender body tensed like a coiled whip, then crack! A glowing green vine lashed through the air.
The strike landed precisely on target.
The mound froze mid-motion, shuddered violently, and a moment later burst upward from the ground, sending clods of soil flying.
Three small brown heads popped out of the hole, each with a red nose and beady black eyes.
"Dugtrio," Lucien murmured.
The Ground-type glared at Snivy, its three heads wobbling in indignation. Then, puffing up, it retaliated, flinging clumps of mud toward its attacker.
Snivy, however, was quicker. It leapt gracefully aside, the mud splattering harmlessly where it had stood.
"Vine Whip, again!" Lucien commanded.
Snivy flicked its tail and lashed out once more.
Snap, snap, snap!
The vine struck three times in rapid succession.
"Dig-dig!" The Dugtrio cried out in pain, recoiling.
Seeing that it was outmatched, the mole tried to retreat underground, but Snivy was already a step ahead. The grass beneath the soil writhed to life, knotting together to bind the creature's body.
"Got you now, you little menace!" one of the knights exclaimed, running forward.
Several others joined him, forming a tight circle around the trapped Pokémon.
Lucien stepped past them, inspecting the field. Only a small section of the crops had been damaged, thankfully, the losses were minimal.
He exhaled softly and approached the bound Dugtrio.
The creature struggled in panic, squeaking frantically as the vines held it tight.
"Your Highness!" the knights said, stepping back to give him space.
Lucien nodded and knelt to meet Dugtrio's gaze.
Dugtrio, a Ground-type Pokémon that lived most of its life underground. In the distant future, he knew, farmers would cultivate them intentionally; their tunneling loosened the soil, and their droppings enriched it with vital nutrients.
But wild Dugtrio, without guidance, was another matter. They could devastate a field overnight, uprooting vegetables and chewing through roots.
Still… if trained and well-fed, they could become invaluable to the territory.
Lucien's eyes softened, though his voice remained stern.
"Dugtrio," he said quietly, "you've damaged our crops. These fields are the only food we have left."
"Indeed! It's unforgivable!" one of the farmers shouted.
"Your Highness, don't let this monster go!" another added heatedly.
"Dig-dig!"
The little mole squeaked desperately, trembling all over. Through its frightened cries, Lucien could sense a flicker of understanding, an apology, perhaps.
It hadn't meant to cause trouble. It was simply starving after a long, barren winter.
"We can't just let you off so easily," Lucien said, his voice firm and even. "You've caused harm to our fields, and you must make up for it."
"Woo!" Dratini bobbed its head, adding a supportive cry as if to second his words.
A farmer stepped forward, his face pale. "If we hadn't discovered it in time, Your Highness, our crops would've been ruined! Without food, we'd all have starved!"
Hearing that, the little Dugtrio wilted visibly.
"Squeak…"
It looked around at the humans encircling it, guilt flickering in its three pairs of eyes. It hadn't meant to cause harm. It had simply been hungry, its belly empty after months of hibernation underground.
The tension in the air grew thick, until Lucien finally broke the silence.
"There is a way for you to make this right," he said calmly.
"Squeak?" Dugtrio looked up, startled.
"You will stay here," Lucien continued, "and work for our territory until the damage you've caused has been repaid."
That pronouncement stunned everyone present.
"Your Highness?" a knight blurted, unsure he'd heard correctly.
Even Dugtrio seemed frozen in disbelief.
But Lucien merely folded his arms, his tone measured. "If I'm not mistaken, you're quite adept at loosening soil and turning the earth. We're preparing the fields for planting. So, help us plow the land, till the soil, and repay your debt that way. Does that sound fair?"
For a long moment, Dugtrio trembled, unsure what to do.
Then, with a small, resigned nod, it let out a soft cry. "Squeak…"
A flicker of light shimmered across Lucien's vision as a familiar system prompt appeared.
[Pokémon: Dugtrio]
Type: Ground
Gender: Female
Ability: Sand Veil
Moves: Scratch, Sand Attack, Screech, Sucker Punch, Rototiller, Mud-Slap
Friendship: 0
Birth Record: Born in the 146th Year of the Royal Calendar
148th Year: Evolved into Dugtrio while hibernating underground
149th Year: Driven by guilt, Dugtrio chose to remain in Lucien's territory to atone by helping with fieldwork
Lucien blinked at the text hovering before him, momentarily speechless.
"You're a rather honest little one," he murmured at last.
He couldn't bring himself to truly blame her. After all, it had been a long, brutal winter. A hungry Dugtrio emerging from the thaw to nibble on tender shoots was only following instinct.
Softening his tone, Lucien said, "Since you're willing to take responsibility, I'll forgive you this time."
Then, turning to a nearby knight, he added, "Bring her some berries and roots."
The knight hesitated, puzzled, but obeyed.
Moments later, he returned carrying several wild Pomelo Berries and a few leftover tree roots from the lumberyard.
Lucien placed them gently before the Dugtrio. "Eat," he said.
"You'll need your strength to work."
"Squeak?"
The three Dugtrio stared at the food before them, wide-eyed, as if unsure it was truly meant for them.
Lucien's voice softened. "As payment for your work, you'll receive meals like this every day."
For a moment, the Dugtrio trio hesitated. Then, their eyes lit up.
"Squeak!" they chirped excitedly in unison.
Behind Lucien, a few farmers exchanged uneasy glances.
"Your Highness…" one of them began, worry etched across his face. "Are you sure it's wise to trust them? What if they… turn on us? What if they ruin the fields again?"
Lucien met their gazes calmly. "Patience," he said gently.
He turned back to Dugtrio, folding his hands behind his back. "Now then, show me your strength. Let's see what you can do with the soil."
"Dig!"
Reinvigorated by food and purpose, the three Dugtrio burrowed into the earth.
A tremor rippled through the field, soft at first, then swelling into a steady pulse as the ground began to shift and heave like waves on a gentle sea.
Wherever they passed, the packed dirt loosened, turned over, and broke apart.
In moments, the frozen, compacted earth became soft, dark, and rich, perfect for planting.
The Dugtrio moved in rhythmic unison, plowing row after row, until the once barren field had been transformed into fertile farmland.
The farmers stared, open-mouthed.
"What… what in the world…" one whispered, clutching his hat.
Lucien smiled faintly, pride glinting in his eyes.
"Rototiller is a Ground-type move. It turns the soil, making it easier for plants to grow. It even strengthens Grass-type Pokémon by nurturing the earth's life energy."
He looked at the now-tamed trio of Dugtrio, who were chirping happily as they worked.
'With a move like this, we'll be able to cultivate our fields faster and healthier than ever before. The soil will grow richer, the crops stronger.'
....
Bonus @300
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