"Chako-ee!!"
Togetic widened its eyes and looked around.
Why did it feel this place was so familiar, yet it couldn't find the marks it had left before?
If this familiar feeling only came once, it would be understandable, but it had happened many times.
"Chako-ee."
Togetic looked to Natsuhiko for help.
Natsuhiko frowned as well; his feelings were quite similar to Togetic's.
He couldn't help but recall the scene when he first met Togetic under the tunnel of Dark Ruins.
A sense of déjà vu.
With this thought in mind.
He said to Togetic, "Togetic, do you remember how you treated me and Beedrill back then?"
"Chako-ee."
Togetic also realized instantly and understood Natsuhiko's intention.
In the next second, Togetic flew up, swiftly moving forward.
Beedrill and Natsuhiko exchanged a smile.
That's how they had treated Togepi back then.
After running a certain distance, Togetic suddenly stopped and quickly ran back in the direction it came from.
Natsuhiko's method was more straightforward and rough compared to before.
But it was also because Togetic didn't have to worry about the strength of the one it might encounter if it turned back, whereas Natsuhiko was concerned at that time about encountering Togepi, whose strength might be too much, so he chose to run to a blind spot.
With this kind of turning, the Pokémon hanging far behind surely couldn't react in time.
Indeed.
Soon, Yujira really discovered the Pokémon trailing behind them, which had entered its Super Sensing range.
"Yongji."
'Found it.'
"Chako-ee!"
Togetic puffed up its mouth, astonished that someone was using its own tactic against it.
It couldn't tolerate being paid back in kind!
Accelerating speed.
"Yongji."
'It found out and started running away.'
Yujira timely reminded.
That Pokémon seemed not to be slow, and its sensing range was quite large, quickly escaping after realizing it was discovered.
However, no matter how it ran now, it couldn't escape Yujira's sensing range.
The distance between them shrank.
But slowly, Natsuhiko discovered that the Pokémon didn't seem to be fleeing in panic but had its own target.
"It is quite familiar with this forest."
After chasing for some distance, the surrounding fog grew denser, visibility dropped again and again, compounded by the darkness, they could only see two or three meters around themselves.
Nonetheless.
Now they were not far from that Pokémon, at most not exceeding thirty meters.
They could even faintly hear the chaotic sound it made passing through shrubs and grass.
"Beedrill." Natsuhiko called softly.
"Hiss-pi."
Beedrill understood the meaning.
Its wings vibrated faster, detaching from the group, chasing alone ahead, and accelerated to the extreme.
Buzz——
Leaving only a streak of golden arc.
Quickly.
At Beedrill's speed, it caught up with the other, and soon the sound of collision came through.
The result was unknown.
But evidently, Beedrill had successfully halted the other's escape.
Natsuhiko and several Pokémon quickly caught up.
The Pokémon confronting Beedrill also appeared in their sight.
"Sableye?"
Natsuhiko looked at the Pokémon with surprise.
A small Humanoid Pokémon with deep purple skin. Its pair of gem-like eyes allowed it to see its surroundings even under very faint light; it had a gemstone on its chest, though the eye's gemstone was blue and the chest's gemstone was red.
It was a Pokémon that was expected yet unexpected.
Sableye is a Dark Type and Ghost Type Pokémon. This type of Pokémon is one of only two that possess these attributes, giving it decent resistance, and before the Fairy Type appeared, it practically had no weaknesses.
The other one he had seen before.
Hilona's Spiritomb.
The Dark Type and Ghost Type offer good resistance, allowing immunity to General Type and Fighting Type Techniques, but if a Fighting Type Pokémon masters the "Odor Sleuth" or "Foresight" Technique, it can still cause significant damage to them.
Legend has it, one should not gaze directly into a Sableye's eyes, as souls would be stolen.
However, as technology developed, this claim was debunked, proving that these Pokémon are quite friendly, only doing mischief to travelers to garner attention.
Though their pranks sullied their reputation, it was merely due to their long-term isolation in dark environments.
These traits were very fitting for Sableye's antics with Natsuhiko and the group.
In its perspective, it might have been just an insignificant prank.
And judging by Sableye's environment and habits, it was quite similar to Togepi's life before Natsuhiko met it.
Back then, Togepi survived on moss or bugs found within the tunnel, whereas Sableye's food was minerals.
"Chako-ee."
Togetic rushed between Sableye and Beedrill, putting its hands on its hips, looking at it angrily.
"Kie——"
Sableye glanced at Togetic, its blue gemstone eyes sparkled, and it couldn't help but chuckle.
Indifferent to Togetic's questioning, instead, it looked grimly at Beedrill.
It felt a massive threat from Beedrill.
In the prior clash, it held a significant disadvantage.
Natsuhiko stepped forward, blocking Togetic.
Patting it on the head as consolation, he said to Sableye, "You can go."
"Chako-ee?"
"Kie?"
Togetic and Sableye simultaneously looked at him with confusion.
"It meant no harm, just habitually played a prank." Natsuhiko explained to Togetic.
And he added, "Think of your past self."
Upon hearing this, Togetic opened its mouth, recalling its tough, lonely days in the underground tunnel, only able to attract attention by doing pranks, adding some fun to its mundane life.
Suddenly, it felt a bit of sympathy for Sableye.
Only those who have experienced it know how that feels.
Its head lifted arrogantly, it waved dismissively at Sableye.
Indicating it held no grudges anymore.
But the corner of its eyes always kept Sableye in sight.
Sableye looked at Natsuhiko, then Beedrill, and finally scanned Togetic, feeling inexplicably that it and the opponents seemed to want to express something, but "face" prevented them from speaking out.
Remembering the scene of Natsuhiko and the Pokémon interacting harmoniously, its eyes glimmered as it turned and left, disappearing into the mist.
"Jaa~"
Honedge emerged from Natsuhiko's shadow, softly calling.
"I know, I felt it too." He said, looking towards the direction Sableye had fled.
In the darkness, through the fog's cover, tall, vague outlines appeared before him.
"Since we're here, let's have a look."
After Sableye left, Togetic lowered its head, putting away its "arrogance."
Natsuhiko chuckled and patted it, "Don't worry, we'll run into it again."