{T/N: To those who haven't already, please drop a Review...}
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Without Poké Balls, players couldn't take Pokémon they fancied in a Scenario out with them...
This was a harsh and unyielding rule.
Caleb couldn't bring himself to deceive Riolu, nor did he want to imagine it left alone on the island after he departed.
So he steeled himself and pretended not to know its thoughts, saying: "Thank you Riolu, but we already have more berries than we can eat. Any more would just go to waste, so you don't need to bring us any tomorrow."
Riolu understood. It nodded silently, its determined eyes glimmering with a trace of hope as it gazed at Caleb.
Caleb couldn't stand that look. His chest tightened uncomfortably, but he forced himself to remain composed as he stood and waved at Riolu, "Goodbye, little guy. The forest isn't safe at night. Head back early, okay?"
With that, he turned and walked back toward the camp with Dragonite.
Riolu stood motionless, watching until Caleb's figure disappeared from sight. Only then did it lower its head, its disappointment unmistakable...
...
~Night of the third day~
After turning Riolu down, Caleb had lost all motivation to deal with the clams...
After preparing dinner for the Pokémon, he sat alone by the campfire, nibbling on his last piece of hardtack...
Mamoswine, with its massive two-meter frame awkwardly curled in a corner, lay on its side against the cave wall, its tusks digging into the ground as it glanced at Caleb's unusual mood and directed the question at Dragonite:
"Grunt grunt?" (What's wrong with your Trainer?)
"Wuu…" (I don't know either…)
Dragonite shook its head hesitantly.
After traveling with Caleb for so long, this was the first time it had seen him so visibly downcast.
Nearby, Sandshrew and Marill had also noticed. Sandshrew poked a claw out from the hole it had dug and flicked a small pebble at Marill.
"Meh-ruh!" Startled, Marill whipped its head up and glared at Sandshrew.
Sandshrew pointed a claw toward Caleb.
Marill turned its gaze to him, its cute little face scrunching up in concern, "Meru…"
After a moment's thought, it hopped over to Caleb and made a silly face at him, puffing out its cheeks.
Caleb chuckled softly and pinched Marill's round cheeks, "What's up? Didn't get enough to eat?"
As a responsible construction foreman, he could at least afford to provide his workers with three meals a day... well, except for Mamoswine, whose appetite was in a league of its own.
At that thought, Caleb glanced at Mamoswine and Sandshrew... He had made a deal with them... they helped him, and in return, he provided food and free healing.
Compared to Dragonite, he felt his relationship with Marill and Sandshrew was more like that of a zookeeper and his animals. He fed them, and they lent him their abilities.
Neither he nor Marill and Sandshrew had any intention of being caught or catching the other. Because of that, Caleb wasn't worried about how his departure would affect their lives.
But Riolu was different. When they had interacted, Caleb had clearly sensed its desire to go with him.
Riolu were proud Pokémon, and were fiercely loyal to their Trainers. They were even willing to lay down their lives if needed.
Once a Pokémon like that chose someone, it would never change its mind.
Caleb couldn't bear to imagine what would happen to Riolu if they bonded, only for him to leave.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered coming back for it after finishing this Instance. But he couldn't guarantee that this Instance and the next would even be set in the same world.
Even though the 'Bug Catcher' Scenario had seemingly confirmed the possibility, he didn't want to gamble. What if that was just a coincidence?
For him, it might only be a matter of a few Instance runs... but for Riolu, it could mean waiting years, or even decades.
Caleb refused to let Riolu become the Pokémon equivalent of Hachikō the Loyal Dog.
If he couldn't take it with him, then it was better not to get involved at all...
Pressing his lips together, Caleb steadied his emotions and got up to retrieve the Caterpie silk drying outside.
After a full afternoon under the sun, the silk had completely lost its stickiness. What remained was a soft and smooth sheet that clung together like cotton, even when dry.
This was the result of five Caterpie being thoroughly 'milked'... a thick layered blanket that was so big, that when spread over the grass bed, it still had sizeable excess.
Caleb lay down, draping the excess over himself to form a crude ㄇ-shaped sleeping bag. The moment he settled in, warmth enveloped him like lingering heat from the sun.
The island's temperature swung wildly between day and night. Though scorching in daylight, once darkness fell, ice cold sea winds howled through the camp.
The campfire crackled nearby. Mamoswine sprawled lazily on the ground, its thick fur and natural Ice typing making the cold night as comfortable as home.
Caleb didn't sleep immediately. He stared at Mamoswine for a long time, watching as the moon climbed higher. But no signs of Dynamaxing appeared.
'So Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon can't Gigantamax/Dynamax again after being defeated...'
With his theory confirmed, Caleb relaxed slightly. He curled up beside Dragonite and closed his eyes.
'Finally, a full night's rest...'
Or so he thought.
He had barely dozed off when noise jolted him awake. Blinking, he was met with the same furry bear face.
Caleb deadpanned for three full seconds before massaging his temples, "...Ursaring, is there another giant Pokémon invading?" he asked.
Ursaring shook its head, then whimpered pitifully while clutching its arm and belly.
Only then did Caleb notice the severe wounds covering its body and the patch of fur on the back of its head that had been singed bald by something.
It looked ridiculous...
Barely suppressing a laugh, he activated the Viridian Power to heal Ursaring while asking, "What happened? Did you pick a fight with a Fire-type?"
Ursaring flailed indignantly: "Roar roar!" (It was a group of humans with Pokémon! They're bad guys! They stole the honey and berries I hid in my tree hollow and set my fur on fire!)
Caleb immediately understood.
'Well, well. The other players have entered the area...' He rubbed his forehead.
Compared to dealing with other players, he much preferred interacting with Pokémon...
"Where are they now? When did you run into them?" he asked.
Ursaring: "Grrr!" (This afternoon! They're bad guys! They burned the fur right off my head! Look, I'm bald! Waaaah!)
'Poor Ursaring. The only insult it knows is bad guy...' Caleb mused.
He eyed the bare patch on the bear's head, "So you got knocked out and just woke up now?"