"Beedrill, have we... been here before yesterday?"
Natsuhiko stood at a fork in the tunnel, staring at the rock walls that bore no remaining marks, lost in thought.
"Sssbee?"
Beedrill tilted its head, indicating it wasn't quite sure either.
But since there were markings left, theoretically, this place shouldn't have been visited before.
Could it be an illusion?
Natsuhiko felt increasingly uneasy.
He didn't think his luck would be so good, walking in this place where direction couldn't be discerned, where day and night couldn't be distinguished, for so long without ever retracing his steps?
It didn't make sense.
This wasn't a matter of probability; it was fundamentally impossible for such a thing to happen.
Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, Natsuhiko quickly ran forward.
Beedrill didn't understand what was happening, but it still followed closely beside Natsuhiko.
"Togepi?"
From afar behind them, the figure with sly little eyes watching them was slightly startled to see Natsuhiko suddenly run.
Then, panicking a little, it started moving its short legs, chasing after them with a "bup, bup".
Soon, it saw Natsuhiko and Beedrill disappear around a corner, afraid of losing them, it quickly picked up speed.
Finally, it reached the corner.
With a hint of caution, it didn't follow directly but instead lay against the rock wall, carefully poking its head out.
However.
Just as it poked its head out, it saw in the dim light, under the faint glow of luminous moss, Natsuhiko with folded arms and an expressionless face, and Beedrill with its scarlet eyes glowing red in the dark.
The person and the Pokémon just stood there silently waiting for its appearance.
"Togepi!"
The little thing jolted, quickly withdrawing its head, its little hands patting its body repeatedly, appearing startled.
Illusion, it must be an illusion.
Hesitating for a moment, it poked its little head out again.
Natsuhiko and Beedrill were gone.
"Togepi..."
The little creature let out a long sigh, rubbing its rapidly beating little heart.
It was indeed an illusion...
But when it turned around, it saw that Natsuhiko and Beedrill had already appeared before it.
The luminous moss cast a greenish glow on Natsuhiko and Beedrill's faces, making them look particularly eerie.
"Togepi!"
The little one couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
While Natsuhiko's face showed no expression, the changes in his eyes revealed his inner unrest.
Togepi!
The moment he laid eyes on this Pokémon, he recognized it.
Fairy Type!
A mysterious attribute yet to be discovered and unearthed by the alliance, lurking within many Pokémon, capable of perfectly countering the formidable attributes of Dragon-type Pokémon.
Ever since the Fairy Type was discovered.
The Dragon Slayer Shell gradually lost its formidable reputation of dominance over Dragon-type Pokémon.
A new Dragon Slayer Warrior was slowly being accepted and recognized.
One could say the emergence of the Fairy Type significantly reversed the dominance of Dragon-type Pokémon among many Pokémon, though it couldn't dethrone them, it undoubtedly shook the standing of Dragon-type Pokémon.
Since the appearance of the Fairy Type, many have speculated why this attribute was not discovered sooner, despite many General Type Pokémon that should have originally been Fairy Type.
Some say it's because the alliance didn't delve deep enough into Pokémon Attributes, yet despite the many Fairy-type Techniques, they were never seen before.
When Dragon-type Pokémon faced off against General Type Pokémon that ought to be Fairy Type, no attribute countering was seen, nor the immunity of Fairy Type against Dragon-type Techniques.
Some suggest it's because the Fairy Divine Beast in the Pokémon Realm hasn't awakened, causing the Fairy Energy of the entire world to fall into slumber.
This possibility cannot be completely ruled out.
The true Divine Beast of the Fairy Type, Xerneas, who commands Fairy Energy and holds great authority over life, might indeed still be in slumber.
Therefore, the Togepi appearing before Natsuhiko shouldn't yet be considered a Fairy Type Pokémon, but rather a General Type Pokémon.
But this didn't hinder Natsuhiko's astonishment at seeing Togepi.
Celestial Blessings Togekiss, also jokingly called the "Poke Plane," paired with a move like Air Slash, did indeed become a hot Pokémon in the game for a short period.
And now, a Togepi was right before his eyes.
The reason he'd been puzzled, why he hadn't seen any of his left behind markings, was very likely the doing of this playful Togepi.
"Sssbee!"
Beedrill's sharp Long Needle pointed at Togepi, its scarlet eyes filled with indifference.
"Togepi!"
Togepi was startled by Beedrill's Long Needle.
The little thing wore a sheepish grin, raising its hands in a gesture indicating no hostility.
Along the way, Togepi had already seen Beedrill easily defeat many large creatures it usually deemed formidable, knowing its small body was no match for Beedrill, it decisively admitted defeat.
Natsuhiko squatted down, attempting to pet Togepi's little head, but it dodged away.
Its small eyes rolled around, pursing its lips, raising the corners of its mouth, and slowly moving its steps.
Beedrill appeared in the direction it wanted to leave.
"Togepi..."
Togepi's expression changed once more, becoming pitiful, pouting its lips, its small eyes blinking a few times, squeezing out a few tears.
Coquettish.
Beedrill was visibly taken aback seeing Togepi in this stance.
Then, it saw Togepi, with a pained expression, take out a small box from behind, not knowing where it had pulled it from, and sheepishly push it in front of Beedrill.
Wearing a face full of an apologetic smile.
Beedrill hesitated as it glanced at the gift box on the ground, appearing to be greatly attracted to it.
However, just as it was about to open it, Natsuhiko placed his hand directly on the small gift box, gazing at Togepi with a slightly teasing look.
As Natsuhiko looked at Togepi this way, a flicker of panic passed through Togepi's eyes.
"You really are a crafty little fellow, quite clever indeed."
First, using Coquettish to confuse Beedrill, then feigning weakness to offer a gift, Beedrill nearly opened it instinctively.
This wasn't an ordinary gift, but rather the Technique known as Gift, a move whose result is entirely dependent on luck, with a high probability of triggering an explosion when opened, with no small amount of power.
If luck was particularly bad, this little gift's destructive power could rival some ultimate techniques in terms of power.
"Togepi... pi..."
Togepi waved its hands, grinning awkwardly as it slowly retreated.
Bang!
The shell around Togepi's body leaned against the rock wall with a crisp sound.
The next second, it playfully stuck its little tongue out at Natsuhiko and Beedrill, lightly patted the rock wall with its palm, and Secret Power unexpectedly opened a tunnel behind it, leading who knows where.
Then it curled its body, gathering the five spikes on its head, transforming into an egg-like shape, and rolled down the tunnel.
"Gift, Secret Power, these are already two HEREDITARY techniques..."
Watching Togepi quickly disappear into the passage, numerous thoughts flashed through Natsuhiko's mind.
Under Beedrill's hesitant gaze, he took a leap and jumped into the tunnel.
"Let's go!"
Beedrill hurriedly followed after.