ABOUT HALF AN HOUR LATER,
We reached the place.
Just like I suspected, no one was there anymore.
But the signs were obvious.
Deep truck tracks had crushed the tall grass flat in wide, ugly lines. Mud was churned up where tires had spun hard.
The ground was torn and messy, hoof prints scattered everywhere,
some small and frantic, others large and deep, left by Rapidash trying to fight or flee.
We followed the trail carefully.
Almost ten minutes later, we found it.
A camp.
Two large white trucks dominated the area.
Each one was massive, big enough to carry an entire herd of seven or eight Rapidash, with tall reinforced sides and heavy cargo compartments built for transport.
They were parked a short distance apart.
Two simple tents were set up nearby.
A small campfire was still warm, supplies scattered around carelessly.
The trucks were silent.
Closed.
No way to see inside.
But they were still here.
The poachers hadn't moved on yet.
My heart started pounding.
We weren't too late.
We could still save them.
…
Near the camp, two Pokémon stood guard.
A Raticate crouched beside one of the trucks. Its sharp red eyes scanned the tall grass constantly, nose twitching as it searched for any strange scent.
A Machop leaned against the other truck's wheel, gray muscles flexed, arms crossed like it was just resting.
But its eyes narrowed and alert, ready to spring the moment anything felt wrong.
They hadn't noticed us yet.
I crouched low and signaled everyone to stop.
…
Ponyta froze the moment the camp came into view.
Her small body began to tremble again, harder than before.
She stared at the two large trucks, ears pinned flat, legs shaking as if she could already feel her family trapped inside, smell their fear, hear their voices.
A low, frightened cry slipped from her throat, barely louder than a whisper.
I stepped closer and gently placed a hand on her warm neck, fingers sinking into her soft cream fur.
"Easy… you're safe," I whispered, keeping my voice low.
She took a shaky breath, chest rising and falling too fast.
Her wide eyes stayed fixed on the trucks, but she leaned just a little into my touch, letting the warmth of my hand ground her.
Lopunny moved to her other side, resting a fluffy paw on Ponyta's shoulder with a soft, comforting "Lopuu…"
The trembling eased, but only a little.
We were here.
Her family was so close.
But the danger was closer.
"This is dangerous," I whispered. "Can you stay inside a Poké Ball for a while?"
Ponyta tilted her head, ears twitching in confusion.
She stared at the red-and-white Poké Ball in my hand, then at me, clearly not understanding what it was.
To show her, I took out Lopunny's Poké Ball.
"Lopunny, return."
A soft red light wrapped around Lopunny, and she vanished inside.
Ponyta jumped back a step, flames flaring in alarm as she stared at the empty spot.
A frightened little "P-Pony…?" slipped from her mouth.
I released Lopunny right away.
The red light flashed again, and Lopunny reappeared beside us, calm and steady.
She gently brushed Ponyta's neck with her paw, reassuring her.
Ponyta's ears twitched, then relaxed a little. She leaned into the touch, letting out a quiet, trusting breath.
"Like that," I said softly. "It's safe inside. I promise. No one can hurt you there."
Ponyta hesitated, eyes flicking between me, Lopunny, and the distant trucks.
Her legs still trembled, but after a long moment, she dipped her head in a tiny nod.
Unsure, but trusting.
I raised a Poké Ball carefully.
Ponyta leaned forward on her own, pressing her warm forehead gently against its surface.
It opened with a soft flash.
A warm red light wrapped around her like a blanket, and her body turned to light without any struggle.
The ball gave a single soft shake,
not from resistance, but from her settling inside,
then clicked quietly.
Caught.
I stared at the warm Poké Ball in my hand, heart still racing.
Ponyta was safe now.
I closed my fingers around it for a moment, then clipped it to my belt.
"You'll be safe," I whispered. "I promise."
I looked at Lopunny.
"Let's go."
---
We dropped low and slipped into the tall grass, moving careful and silent.
I pressed myself almost flat to the ground, crawling through the golden blades.
Lopunny mirrored me perfectly, body low, ears folded back as she glided forward like a shadow.
This wasn't a fight.
Not yet.
I stayed hidden, watching the camp closely from the edge of the grass.
I studied the trucks, the tents, the guards, trying to guess which direction they would move.
If they took a path, I'd circle ahead and slow them down by setting up traps.
Lopunny crept closer on her own.
Her sharp ears twitched as she listened to voices from the camp, counting how many men were talking, watching their movements.
Every few seconds, she glanced back at me, calm and focused.
We waited.
Silent.
Hidden.
Ready.
…
Four men came out of the tents as time passed, stretching and yawning.
Two more Pokémon joined them,
a Primeape and a Golem.
Their voices carried through the clearing.
"If this goes well, we'll be rich," one said, rubbing his hands together.
"Yeah. A whole herd like that? Easy money," another laughed, kicking dirt over the dying campfire.
…
Lopunny listened to the poachers' voices drifting across the clearing, her long ears angled forward, catching every word.
Then she turned to me, brown eyes dark with anger, and explained with her soft voice and gentle hand gestures.
"Lop… lop… lopuu…"
Every movement of her paws made my anger grow.
They were bragging about selling the Rapidash and Ponyta for big money.
"Rare Fire-types like these sell fast overseas," one of them said.
Another laughed about keeping the strongest Rapidash for underground battles.
"It'll make good money."
Someone else joked about "breaking the young ones so they won't burn the buyers," laughing like it was funny.
To them, Pokémon were just things to sell or use.
Prizes. Toys. Money.
I dug my fingers into the dirt, jaw clenched tight, and forced myself to stay hidden and quiet.
We had to stop them.
No matter what.
I nodded to myself.
I'd already slipped ahead while they were busy packing, setting the first part of my plan.
…
Eventually, the poachers started moving.
They packed fast:
tents folded, supplies tossed into the trucks.
The Pokémon vanished in flashes of red light.
Engines roared to life, trucks turned onto the rough trail heading northwest.
I crouched low in the tall grass, heart pounding, watching them come right toward my trap.
Lopunny pressed close beside me.
The first truck rolled closer.
Any second now.