Chapter 195: With You and I Together, We're Invincible
There were about thirty or forty Ariados in the swarm, and at least ten of them were above Lv. 40. This group was, most likely, the rulers of this small forest.
"Scizor," the Scizor glanced at them. He felt it was a bit troublesome, but he wasn't afraid. In the past three years, he had already reached Lv. 45. The important thing was that he had learned so many powerful moves from his master and senior sister.
"Meow..." Meowscarada, on the other hand, was just yawning. Her own level had already reached Lv. 60, just stepping into the Gym Leader tier. She wasn't afraid of this swarm, even if she had to fight them alone.
"Scizor (Should we fight)?"
"Meow (Of course)."
Meowscarada patted her cheeks to wake herself up. Will had told her: no matter how strong you are, you can always stumble.
"Scizor (How)?"
"Meow~ (Just watch~)" Meowscarada said, leaning down. "Meow~ (Don't worry~ With you and I together, we're invincible~)"
The moment her voice fell, she vanished in a flash. With the boost from [Agility], her figure almost blended into the forest, making her nearly impossible to track. Before the Ariados even knew what was happening, she was already behind them.
Slash!
The Flying-type move [Acrobatics] was super-effective. With just one hit, an Ariados was knocked out.
At the same time, the moment Meowscarada had moved, Scizor had also prepared for battle. After three years of fighting together, he knew her opening move. He immediately swung his arms, sending out multiple [Vacuum Waves] to harass the other Ariados, while Meowscarada went for the killing blows. Just like the old Scyther and Will, their coordination was flawless.
A short while later, the battle was over. The Ariados swarm retreated. Meowscarada and Scizor looked at each other and smiled, their eyes full of trust and rapport. They then bumped fists.
On a nearby tree branch, Will sat quietly, a hint of both relief and melancholy in his eyes. The era when he had fought alongside his Scyther... it felt like yesterday. But it had also been so long ago.
"Hey," he called out to the two of them.
"Meow?" Meowscarada saw him and immediately ran over, playfully swatting at his tail.
"Scizor," the Scizor, however, was much more respectful. He bowed deeply and said, "Master."
Will had never accepted the title, but Scizor had always considered him as such. My master is the strongest Sceptile in the world. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little smug.
"Scizor, it's time for us to leave."
"Scizor?" He was stunned, but then he nodded. Three years. That was the time they had agreed on.
"Do you want to come with us? I can take you to Mt. Silver."
"...Scizor." The Scizor hesitated, then shook his head. He had a debt to repay to an old man in Laverre City who had given him the Metal Coat and told him the stories of his ancestor.
"Is that so? Then, walk us to the port?"
"Scizor."
On the way, the forest was quiet. Meowscarada, usually so lively, was also silent. After three years of living and fighting together day and night, they had become like family. Parting was, of course, difficult.
"What's your dream for the future?" Will asked the Scizor.
"...Scizor (After I repay my debt, I will go to Mt. Silver)."
"I see. Well, go then," Will nodded.
"Meow (And after Mt. Silver)?"
"Scizor (I'll come find you)," he replied without hesitation.
"Meow (It's a promise)."
...
At the port, an old fisherman was waiting for them with a speedboat. "Yo~ Sceptile~ Ready to set off?"
"Yes," Will nodded.
"Meow," Meowscarada looked at Scizor, but she turned away, trying to look cool and indifferent. But her little tail was drooping.
"Go on, say goodbye. You have to do it properly, with no regrets," Will murmured in her ear.
She pouted, then stole a glance back.
Honk!
The boat departed, slowly heading north.
"Meowscarada, life is unpredictable. We can't guarantee we'll see everyone again," Will said, looking up at the sky. "Sometimes, when you say 'see you again,' it's really 'goodbye.'"
Meowscarada's ears drooped. She turned and looked back at the port. Scizor was standing there, staring blankly at the sea, just like the statue of his ancestor in the town square. The fishermen on the dock were all waving. Only Scizor stood there, looking sad.
"MEOW! (Scizor!)" Meowscarada suddenly shouted, her voice carrying across the water.
"Scizor?" He snapped his head up, looking at her.
"MEOW~ (Let's battle together again someday~)" she waved her paw, her face breaking into a bright smile.
"SCIZOR~" Tears welled up in the Scizor's eyes. He didn't wipe them away, just raised his arms and waved with all his might.
Behind her, Will smiled faintly, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes. When he had left Mt. Silver, what had he said to his friend?
It was... Let's battle together again someday.
"Lan," Liz's voice sounded from beside him.
Will turned. He saw Liz's phantom, looking at the port and waving. She then turned to him. "You should say goodbye properly, too."
"...Me?" Will looked at her, confused. He followed her gaze back to the port and froze.
There, standing in a shadow of the port where the sun did not reach, was a stooped, scarred old Scyther. Its one remaining eye was cloudy and gray, as if it had witnessed the endless passage of time. And yet, it had found Will's gaze, and it was slowly, gently, waving one of its scythes.
Tears streamed down Will's face. His nose burned, and snot ran down shamelessly. He lowered his head, trying to hide his expression from Meowscarada.
But... he looked up again, at that lonely old Scyther.
"Goodbye."
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