MID-MORNING
I watched from the far, heart hammering in my chest as Lopunny crouched low beside me, her warm fur brushing my arm.
The sun had been up for a few hours now, bright morning light pouring over the open fields, the tall grass swaying gently in the breeze.
She glanced at me, eyes sharp, and tapped her long ear twice, our signal for THEY'RE GETTING SUSPICIOUS.
I nodded once. "Let's get out of here… fast."
Lopunny gave a quick, firm nod back. "Lop"
…
"This is getting suspicious," one of the poachers, Hoba, muttered.
"First the tire… now this?" another growled. "No way this is just bad luck."
Koba clicked his tongue, clearly pissed.
"Enough," Jax snapped. "Let's see who's messing with us."
He grabbed a Poké Ball and threw it forward.
"Go, Raticate!"
A red flash lit up the clearing, and Raticate landed with a heavy thud, fangs bared, nose already twitching.
"Raticate," Jax ordered, pointing toward the disturbed ground. "Smell it out. Find who did this."
Raticate lowered its head and sniffed the hole, nose moving fast as it tracked the scent.
Then it froze.
Its ears shot straight up.
Slowly, it lifted its head and stared directly toward Ryan's hiding spot.
A low, threatening growl rumbled from its throat.
"RRRRAAA…"
Raticate snapped its head toward the tall grass.
"In that direction," Jax said coldly.
Raticate charged forward at once.
The other poachers followed right behind it.
….
Although we were already running at a fast pace, we were still slower than the poachers, who were charging without anything holding them back.
Lopunny glanced back over her shoulder and cried out, "Lopun! Lop!"
"They're chasing us."
Lopunny nodded firmly, ears bouncing with the motion.
"Then let's just run!"
We stood up straight and ran forward.
"There!" Viktor shouted, pointing straight at us. "In the grass!"
Heavy boots pounded the ground, coming fast.
Viktor grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it high.
"Go, Fearow!"
A sharp screech split the air as the red light burst open. A Fearow materialized, wings spreading wide, sharp beak glinting in the sunlight.
It shot upward instantly, powerful wings beating as it climbed into the sky.
"Fearow!" Viktor yelled. "Chase after them! Circle and hit them with Aerial Acee… don't let them get away!"
The Fearow let out a piercing "SKREEEEE!" toward us like a predator locking onto prey, eyes fixed on us as its wings sliced through the air, ready to dive.
We were still far ahead, legs burning as we ran across the grass, but Fearow was flying,
it closed the gap in just 30 seconds, wings beating furiously.
The whoosh grew louder, its shadow falling closer overhead.
Once it was over us, it used its move, Aerial Ace.
"Lopun!" Lopunny cried, spinning around mid-run, body dropping into a fighting stance, paws clenched and ready.
Fearow tucked its wings tight and dove like a missile, body glowing white as it rocketed straight at Lopunny with Aerial Ace.
Lopunny sprang upward in the same heartbeat, "LOPUNNY!" legs coiling and then launching her forward with HI JUMP KICK.
Her knee smashed dead-center into Fearow's glowing chest.
A loud CRACK echoed across the grass
Feathers burst everywhere.
Fearow let out a pained "SKRAAAA!" and tumbled wildly through the air, crashing hard into the ground in a cloud of dust, wings twitching but unable to rise.
Lopunny landed lightly on her feet, ears still up, breathing steady, ready for whatever came next.
The poachers had come closer… I had also stepped forward as Lopunny stopped in her tracks, planting herself firmly between me and them.
"Useless," Viktor muttered under his breath, scowling as he pointed the Poké Ball at the dazed Fearow.
"Fearow, return."
A flash of red light pulled the bird back inside. He clipped the ball to his belt and reached for another one.
Koba narrowed his eyes, pointing straight at Lopunny.
"Look at that… I've never seen a Pokémon like this before."
The others leaned in, greedy smiles spreading across their faces.
"It must be rare," Hoba muttered, licking his lips. "Realy rare."
They all turned their hungry stares on me.
"Kid," Jax said slowly, voice low and threatening, "hand over that Pokémon nice and quiet, and we'll forgive you for those little pranks you've been playing."
His eyes were fixed on Lopunny, greedy and cold, like he'd already decided she was his.
The other poachers spread out a little more, closing the circle around us.
My fingers brushed Lopunny's Poké Ball on my belt, ready to recall her if things got too bad.
Lopunny shifted her weight, ears flattening against her head for a second before flicking back up, she wasn't backing down.
Not yet.
Not ever.
Seeing I wasn't giving up, Hoba shrugged with a cold grin.
"Well, we warned you. We're not responsible for what happens next."
All the poachers reached for their Poké Balls at once.
Four more balls flew through the air, red light bursting across the grass.
Raticate was already out, ready to strike.
A massive Nidoking appeared in a flash of red light, letting out a deep roar as it landed heavily on the ground.
A Machop materialized with a flex, fists clenched and ready.
A Beedrill burst out, buzzing loudly into the air with its sharp stingers gleaming.
A Pinsir emerged with a sharp click of its huge pincers, stepping forward aggressively.
My hand was already moving slowly toward Lopunny's Poké Ball on my belt.
One of the poachers, Jax, stepped closer, another Poké Ball gripped tight in his hand.
"You three take care of the rabbit," he told the others. "I'll deal with the kid."
The rest nodded.
Poachers turned to their Pokémon. "All of you, attack that rare Pokémon! Take her down now!"
Raticate snarled and crouched low.
Nidoking let out a deep roar.
Machop cracked its knuckles.
Beedrill's wings buzzed louder.
Pinsir snapped its pincers, stepping forward.
I wondered what to do. My heart pounded, my finger on the ball, I was about to withdraw her and make a run for it.
Jax pointed his own Poké Ball right at me, grinning wide.
"You think you can get away after messing with us?" he laughed.
He pulled his arm back, ready to release whatever was inside.
Just as the red light started to flash from the ball,
A sharp hiss cut the air.
Something purple shot out from the tall grass.
The glowing sharp sting slammed straight into Jax's hand.
He yelled in pain, fingers jerking open.
The Poké Ball slipped and fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Jax staggered back, clutching his hand as purple toxin spread across his skin.
Everyone froze.
"Whoo…."