When Raven hurried to the farmland, he saw a small bulge darting swiftly beneath the soil.
The knights of the Order had surrounded the moving bump, trying to cut it off.
But whenever they neared, the thing twisted aside with ease, slipping away into another direction.
"Damn beast," one knight muttered, stamping the ground in frustration.
Others tried intercepting it from ahead, but all failed. Not only did they miss, they ended up muddied by the churned soil.
"Snivy, stop it," Raven ordered.
"Teng teng."
Snivy's eyes narrowed. A Vine Whip lashed out from its neck, cracking through the air with a sharp swish.
The strike hit. The bulge jolted to a halt, and a shape burst from the ground—three small brown heads, each with a red nose.
Dugtrio.
The triple-headed mole glared at Snivy. Then, with a sudden jerk, it counterattacked—spitting mud toward the Grass-type.
Snivy was quicker. It sprang aside, landing neatly on clear snow.
"Whip again," Raven said.
"Teng teng."
Snivy dashed forward. Its vine lashed down in a sharp three-hit combo across the mole's heads.
Crack, crack, crack.
Dugtrio squeaked in pain. Realizing it couldn't win, it tried to dive back underground—only to be bound by Snivy's Grass Knot.
"We've finally caught it," a knight muttered as they closed in, surrounding the wriggling beast.
Raven checked the fields. Fortunately, only a small patch had been damaged. He stepped forward and studied the trembling Dugtrio.
"Your Highness Raven!" the knights stood back respectfully.
Raven's eyes narrowed. In the world he remembered, farmers raised Pokémon like Dugtrio on purpose. Their burrows aerated the soil, and even their droppings enriched the fields. Properly managed, they were a blessing.
But wild ones caused real harm, gnawing through crops and ruining harvests.
A problem—and also an opportunity.
"Dugtrio," Raven said evenly, "you destroyed our fields. These crops are the only food we have left."
"Yes, too much," one farmer added bitterly.
"Your Highness, don't let the beast off," another cried.
"Dugtrio, Dugtrio…" the mole squeaked pitifully, explaining it hadn't eaten all winter—it was starving.
Raven's tone stayed firm. "You can't be released without consequence. You'll have to make amends."
"Minimini." Dratini echoed softly.
"If we hadn't stopped it, the whole field would be gone. We'd all starve," a farmer said with fear.
Dugtrio's heads drooped.
"…Dugtrio."
Raven let the silence stretch, then spoke. "But there is another way. Stay here and work for us—plow the land until your damage is repaid. Do that, and we'll forgive you."
"Your Highness?" knights and farmers exchanged surprised looks.
Dugtrio blinked in disbelief.
Raven continued steadily, "You're skilled at loosening soil, aren't you? Help us plow, and your debt will be settled."
The three heads bobbed weakly. "Dugtrio."
A ripple of acknowledgment echoed in Raven's mind.
Pokémon: Dugtrio
Type: Ground
Gender: Female
Ability: Sand Veil
Moves: Scratch, Sand Attack, Astonish, Tri Attack, Plow, Mud-Slap
Friendship: 0
Record: In 148 Royal Calendar, this Pokémon evolved into Dugtrio during hibernation. In 149, guilty for damaging crops, it pledged to remain in the territory and work to repair the loss.
Raven sighed inwardly. So simple-minded. Pitiful, really.
Its hunger after hibernation had driven it to desperation. Hardly its fault alone.
His voice softened. "Since you've chosen responsibility, we'll forgive you—for now."
He motioned to a knight. "Bring some berries and roots."
The man hesitated but returned with wild pomelo fruit and scraps of tree roots.
Raven set them before the mole. "Eat. You'll need strength to work."
Dugtrio stared, then bent down eagerly. "Dugtrio!"
"As long as you help the fields, food like this will be yours daily," Raven said.
Its eyes lit up, filled with sudden hope.
Some farmers still looked uneasy. "But what if it sneaks back and eats our crops?"
Raven calmed them with a glance. He waited until the mole finished its meal before speaking again.
"Now, show me your strength. Plow the land."
"Dugtrio!"
It burrowed under, power rippling outward like waves. The soil heaved and loosened. Hard ground turned rich and fertile as the Pokémon surged forward.
Within minutes, barren earth had become tilled farmland.
The farmers stood frozen in awe.
Raven allowed himself a small smile. With Plow, the fields will be richer than ever. This changes everything.