ALL NOVEL Chapter 157 – Rescue
(AN: Surprise Mothe* Fuck*r)
Floyd's eyes carefully surveyed the lush canopy, where amidst the foliage, he noticed numerous berries with a distinctive brown hue. It was immediately apparent to him that these were Apricorns.
As he observed the scene, Floyd felt a peculiar sensation, as if he were being watched. Turning his attention to the source, he locked eyes with an Oddish. The small creature appeared on high alert, its gaze fixed intently on Floyd and the somewhat menacing Pokémon accompanying him.
Floyd's attention then shifted back to the Apricorns, and his eyes caught sight of one that seemed different - it was spoiled. He realized that this particular Apricorn was the object of Oddish's interest.
Understanding the situation, Floyd carefully picked up the spoiled Apricorn. The Oddish, observing this, displayed a visible sense of alarm. It seemed the creature was in a state of desperation, reliant on the spoiled Apricorn as a food source. Given the harsh realities of the wild, where frightening predators were an ever-present threat, options for sustenance were limited for a small Pokémon like Oddish.
In a surprising move, Floyd gently tossed the spoiled Apricorn towards the Oddish, making it clear he had no intention of taking the Pokémon's food.
He then turned his attention to the other Apricorns, particularly one that seemed intact. Upon touching it, Floyd confirmed his suspicion; the Apricorn was exceptionally hard, almost like metal.
He mused that this characteristic deterred most Pokémon from eating it directly, leaving them to wait until the Apricorns spoiled and softened enough to be edible.
Just then, Kanraku approached Floyd, a look of curiosity etched on his face. "Floyd-san, what is this?" he inquired, eyeing the Apricorn in Floyd's hand.
Floyd responded, "I know this well. I call it the Apricorn berry. It's a rare find in the wild, particularly unique because of its extreme hardness. Here, feel it for yourself." He handed the Apricorn berry to Kanraku.
Kanraku accepted the berry, immediately noting its surprising weight and the toughness of its outer shell. He attempted to press the berry, his efforts confirming its remarkable hardness.
Then, exerting his strength, he gradually managed to apply enough pressure. Moments later, the shell began to yield, revealing the pulp inside.
Meanwhile, Oddish, who had been quietly observing from a distance, was dismayed to see Kanraku seemingly waste the Apricorn as it was crushed. Overcome by a mix of desperation and courage, Oddish emerged from its hiding, seemingly to scold them for their actions.
However, as it stepped forward, it quickly remembered the intimidating Pokémon accompanying Floyd and Kanraku. Frozen by fear, Oddish found itself unable to flee, paralyzed by the presence of the formidable Pokémon.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is this your food? I will compensate you," Kanraku said, his voice laced with a tinge of concern as he observed the Oddish. With a gentle toss, he offered a few pieces of pokeblock to the small creature.
Oddish eyed the peculiar, small cubes that landed near it. The scent was inviting, tempting Oddish to move closer. It wanted to inspect, perhaps even taste the odd cubes, but an overwhelming sense of intimidation held it back. The presence of Floyd and Kanraku, along with their formidable Pokémon, cast a shadow of fear over it.
Meanwhile, Floyd, keenly observing the situation, decided to engage further. "Let's take some of this and experiment with it. I'm also curious," he suggested with a hint of pretense. Emulating Kanraku, Floyd also threw a few pokeblock pieces towards Oddish, as a form of compensation.
"Let's go!" Floyd announced decisively. With those words, he and Kanraku, along with their Pokémon, promptly departed, soaring into the sky.
Left behind, Oddish watched in bewilderment as the figures of Floyd and Kanraku dwindled into the distance. A sigh of relief escaped it; a sense of gladness washed over the small creature, grateful for its survival. Its attention then shifted back to the curious cubes.
Cautiously, it approached and sniffed one of the pokeblocks. 'Smells good!' The delightful aroma was irresistible. Giving into temptation, Oddish tentatively tasted one. Its reaction was immediate and joyful, "So Good!"
As it continued to eat, Oddish's delight grew. This was perhaps the most satisfying meal it had ever experienced. After eating its fill, Oddish looked at the remaining pokeblocks. Realizing there was still a plentiful supply, it became cautious. Surveying its surroundings, Oddish hurriedly hid the remaining food for safekeeping.
...
Deep within the forest, a cherry-like creature scampered frantically. With its round, deep-pink body and two stubby feet, it was an image of distress. This was Cherubi, and it was in dire straits, pursued relentlessly by a Murkrow.
In its desperate bid to escape, Cherubi cried out pitifully, "Cheru-bi~ Cheru-bi~" Its plea was a bargain for mercy. It begged Murkrow to spare its life, offering its small head in exchange for the rest of its body.
Murkrow, intrigued by the offer, bit off the small head, causing Cherubi immense pain. The smaller head was not merely an appendage; it was a part of Cherubi's very being. As Murkrow savored the taste, it gazed at Cherubi with a hint of greed. However, it refrained from going further, recognizing Cherubi as a primary source of sustenance. With its appetite partially satisfied, Murkrow swiftly flew off to rejoin its troupe.
Alone and in pain, Cherubi wept, "Cheru~ Cherubi~ Cheru~" Tears streamed down as it mourned the loss and pain it endured. This tragic event was not just its own sorrowful tale but a shared experience amongst its group, a harsh reality of life in the wild.
In the early hours of dawn, the air was filled with the anxious chirps of Cherubi and Cherrim. They lived in constant vigilance, wary of the Murkrows that prowled their area.
These birds had a particular appetite for the berries that occasionally grew on the Pokémon, plucking them mercilessly when found. Although not lethal, the process was agonizing for the Cherubi and Cherrim.
As a Cherubi cried softly, its lament was interrupted by a rustling noise. Peering through the ground, it spotted two figures approaching. Its heart raced with fear at the sight of Floyd and Kanraku, who carried a net teeming with Weedle and Kakuna. The Cherubi, already traumatized by its encounters with Murkrow, now faced a new threat.
Kanraku, observing the scene, noticed the solitary Cherubi. "It seems alone," he remarked, unaware of the Cherubi's growing panic.
Floyd noticed that a small part of the berry attached to Cherubi was missing. "The second head is missing," he observed.
"This Cherubi must be hurt. Wait, I'm coming," Kanraku called to Pidgeot, quickly landing and rushing towards the frightened Cherubi.
"Cheru~" Cherubi trembled, unsure of Kanraku's intentions.
Meanwhile, Floyd secured the net behind Gyarados and hopped in, following Kanraku as they landed.
"Easy there, don't be scared. I'm here to help, not to harm you," Kanraku said soothingly, reaching out to gently touch Cherubi and activate his power.
Cherubi, comforted by Kanraku's kind tone, felt a sense of ease and drew closer.
"Are you okay? Can you tell me what happened?" Kanraku asked gently.
"Cheru~ Cherubi~" Cherubi, now trusting Kanraku, began to recount its story, revealing the ordeal it had been through.
A few moments later, Kanraku cradled the now-sleeping Cherubi, explaining the situation to Floyd. "We need to rescue the others," Kanraku declared.
…
Then they witnessed a group of Cherubi engaged in a struggle, with three Cherrim already unconscious. The Honchkrow and Murkrow troupe had departed, but now they faced a new threat: a pair of Nidorino and Nidorina, whose eyes glinted with greed as though they intended to devour the Cherubi and Cherrim.
The desperate situation was evident; the once numerous Cherubi and Cherrim were now dwindling in number, steadily hunted by various predators.
In this dire moment, some of the Cherubi and Cherrim seemed to have given up, closing their eyes as if accepting their fate. However, hope flickered as they spotted a group of Pokémon rapidly approaching to their aid.
...
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