Chapter 76: The Timid Zubat
"Zubat~"
The newborn bit down on the berry but couldn't even break the skin. The little guy pulled his head back in pain and buried it in Ryū's belly.
Ryū fell silent. He hadn't expected that a newborn Zubat couldn't even pierce a soft fruit skin. He thought for a moment, then took a small bite out of the berry himself.
"Try again."
He held the broken berry to the Zubat's mouth. This time, its tiny teeth sank into the soft pulp, and it finally began to suck the juice. After finishing three or four berries, the little guy stopped and leaned against Ryū, ready to sleep.
'What should I do? I can't stay here forever,' Ryū thought, looking out at the scorching summer sun.
Zubat nest in dark caves because their thin skin gets sunburned easily. This meant Ryū couldn't take the baby out to train during the day. It also meant that, for the next few days, the newborn would be stuck to him like glue.
'Does that mean I'll have to go out to level up at night? I'm not used to that...'
He decided to wait for the Scyther to return. If the Zubat wasn't averse to them, he could entrust the baby to their care.
Near evening, the six Scyther returned, looking tired but accomplished. With them, Ryū's den was now guarded by seven powerful Pokémon, a force strong enough to explore deeper into the mountain.
"Scyther?!"
Upon their return, they saw the Zubat curled up in Ryū's arms and excitedly gathered around, squinting their eyes to get a better look at the tiny ball.
"Zubat?" The little one was woken by the commotion and lifted his head. Because he had no eyes, he wasn't immediately startled by the six giant, bladed insects looming over him.
"ZUBAT!!!"
It wasn't until he released a Supersonic wave and received the feedback that he was truly startled. He flapped his wings in a panic, burrowing deeper into Ryū's arms.
"Alright, alright, they're not bad guys," Ryū said, helplessly wrapping his tail around the Zubat. This one's personality was definitely Timid.
Surrounded by Ryū's large tail, the Zubat immediately felt safe and gradually calmed down, cautiously observing the auras of the big guys around him.
Under Ryū's guidance, the Scyther skillfully used their scythes to cut berries into a fine pulp, which they then fed to the Zubat. The baby could eat the paste-like fruit easily, and it immediately developed a fondness for the Scyther.
That night, Ryū planned to sleep, but the Zubat, having slept all day, was wide awake. Not wanting to disturb its 'Dad,' the energetic newborn just couldn't stop moving, making it impossible for the vigilant Ryū to rest.
"Forget it. I'll take you out for a walk and let you 'see' this world," Ryū sighed.
He placed the little Zubat on his head and flew out of the cave. The summer night on Mt. Silver was not peaceful; it was filled with the tense and exciting sounds of battle as nocturnal Pokémon began their activities.
"Zubat..." The baby sat obediently on Ryū's head, sensing the environment with his Supersonic waves.
"From now on, you'll sleep in the cave during the day with the Scyther," Ryū explained. "I'll go out, but I'll come back to accompany you at night."
"Zubat, Zubat." The baby agreed obediently, though he hugged one of Ryū's wing-like fins to show his reluctance.
"When you grow up and evolve, you'll have eyes. Then you can come out with me, and I'll show you the world."
When a Zubat evolves into a Golbat, it grows eyes and becomes much stronger, able to withstand sunlight.
"Zubat," the little one nodded, looking forward to that day. He wanted to grow eyes, not to see the world, but to see Ryū.
"Alright, let's go back. You need to sleep more to grow big and strong."
"Zubat." Hearing that, the baby immediately agreed. He had to sleep hard and grow up quickly!