In this strange era, hearing the name of someone he actually knew stirred in Raven a sudden impulse to meet him.
But when he calmed down, Raven realized how difficult that would be.
Even if they could somehow locate Aaron, just crossing the sea was already an impossible barrier.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Perhaps the Beastmaster will visit the royal capital again someday," Aelif consoled him.
Raven, however, thought it unlikely. From what he knew, Rota—far across the sea in the Kanto region—was constantly wracked by wars, and Aaron would surely remain there aiding Queen Rin, searching for a way to end the conflict.
Still, it wasn't hopeless. Once his Dratini evolved into Dragonite, Raven could secretly fly across the sea to Rota himself.
He could meet Aaron… and perhaps even see the Tree of Beginning, maybe even encounter Mew.
"Your Highness Raven! Your Highness Raven!"
From not far away came Lyon's voice.
Raven turned and saw him running over, holding an unconscious, wounded beast in his arms.
When Raven saw the creature clearly, he froze.
That was… Snivy?
Compared to how he remembered it, though, this Snivy was in terrible shape.
Its eyes were shut tight, its body covered in vicious claw marks—gruesome to behold.
Raven frowned.
"We found this beast while patrolling near the border," Lyon explained. "It had collapsed in the snow. Bennon said you'd recognize it, so I brought it back!"
Bennon, one of the knights, had been present the first time Raven tried approaching Snivy.
Raven nodded. "Leave it to me."
"Yes, sir!"
Lyon carefully handed Snivy over.
Raven examined its wounds, then brought it to the healer, Lila.
"Your Highness, this is…?" Lila asked, startled by the small unconscious beast.
"Lyon brought it in from outside. I'll need medicine for injuries and frostbite." Raven laid Snivy on a bed.
"Yes!"
Lila fetched two bottles from a shelf and handed them over.
Raven propped Snivy up, first treating its external wounds with the healing salve, then feeding it the frostbite remedy.
The medicine, brewed from energy roots Anna had gathered, worked instantly—the cuts on Snivy's body began closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The bruises of frostbite also started to fade.
Before long, Snivy's eyelids twitched—it was waking.
"…Sni…vy…"
A faint murmur slipped from its mouth.
As consciousness returned, Snivy's mind lingered on last night.
It had been searching for a den to shelter from the coming blizzard, when suddenly a pack of Sneasel ambushed it.
After a desperate battle, Snivy was gravely injured. Only its agility and the moves Vine Whip and Grass Knot had allowed it to barely escape.
But it had paid dearly—its strength was nearly gone, and alone it had no way to find healing herbs.
In that moment of weakness, it remembered what it had seen days earlier with the Minccino:
Those humans who intruded into their grove hadn't harmed them, but instead had treated them kindly.
Snivy didn't want to die. Clinging to that faint hope, it forced its way through the snowy forest toward the humans' settlement.
But in the end, it collapsed from exhaustion in the snow.
Now, as it opened its eyes, it realized—it had been saved by humans.
Blinking, Snivy lifted its gaze—only to see a familiar face.
It froze.
"You're awake?" Raven smiled gently. "We meet again, Snivy."
"…Sni…vy."
"I don't know what happened to you, but judging by your wounds, it must have been something terrible," Raven said.
"Snivy…" Memories of the ambush returned, and its eyes grew cold.
If not for those cowardly Sneasel striking from the shadows, it never would have lost.
Raven studied Snivy's expression. Clearly, it had fought a fierce battle with some wild beast last night.
He didn't know the details, but the scars spoke volumes.
And perhaps, in a way, his own arrival had forced Snivy out of its home, leaving it vulnerable. That thought left Raven with a pang of guilt.
He steadied his expression and said solemnly, "I'm sorry, Snivy."
"…Sni?" Snivy blinked, startled, then lifted its gaze to him.
"Because of us, you lost the home you depended on. I truly am sorry. The blizzard is coming, and soon the cold will make food nearly impossible to find."
"So… consider my offer again. Stay here with us—and with the Minccino. Spend this winter in our settlement. I'll provide you with food and shelter."
"And when spring comes, I'll help you build a new berry grove to serve as your home."
Raven's words were steady and sincere.
Pokémon were always perceptive—especially Snivy, known for its intellect and calm judgment.
It gazed into Raven's eyes for a long time.
This human really was remorseful. He truly wanted to make amends…
At last, Snivy averted its gaze.
"…Snivy."
"Then welcome, Snivy," Raven said with a smile.
A notification appeared: the number of Pokémon subjects in his territory had risen from 18 to 19.
At the same time, Snivy's status panel unfolded before him:
[Pokémon: Snivy][Type: Grass][Gender: Female][Ability: Contrary][Moves: Tackle, Leer, Vine Whip, Growth, Wrap, Grass Knot][Friendship: 30][Pokédex Record: Year 147 of the Kingdom—Snivy was born.][Year 148—Snivy was attacked by five Sneasel, gravely wounded, and saved by Raven. It has temporarily joined Raven's domain.]
(End of Chapter)