"Heracro!"
The frost of unfamiliarity between the beetle and the performer had finally melted. Heracross no longer hesitated when Guinaifen spoke of "us"; he responded with a resonant, metallic shout that shook the leaves above. His eyes, once clouded by the shame of defeat, were now twin lanterns of fighting spirit.
To the netizens watching the stream, this felt like a classic underdog arc. Usually, "revenge" was a human concept, but seeing a Pokémon level up specifically to reclaim its home was a narrative hook that drew in thousands of new viewers.
When the pair returned to the hidden thicket to pick up their scout, the little Smoochum had already woken up.
"Bocha... Bocha!"
The moment she saw Guinaifen, the psychic baby launched herself forward, intent on a celebratory shower of affection. Because Heracross was encased in hard, chitinous armor, he barely felt the "kisses," but Guinaifen wasn't so lucky. Smoochum latched onto her cheek with a suction-cup grip so tight it felt like her face was being vacuumed.
"I... I thought Smoochum was cute in the anime... but I was careless!" Guinaifen wheezed, finally prying the little one off once it ran out of breath.
The chat was dying of laughter.
"I was going to catch a Smoochum, but after seeing that, I'm good. My face is precious.""Guinaifen's facial expressions are the best part of this stream.""Wait, if Smoochum is this clingy, imagine a Jynx... actually, let's not imagine that."
Despite the chaos, a sense of duty took over. Smoochum, sensing the impending battle, tried to follow, but Heracross stepped in. He let out a stern buzz, and Smoochum stopped. It was clear that the little psychic was the "babysitter" of the group—the one responsible for keeping the toddlers safe while the adults went to war.
With Bayleef staying behind to fortify the nursery, Guinaifen and Heracross set out. This time, they took Noctowl. In a forest this dense, they needed an eye in the sky.
The Rematch
It didn't take long. Following the trail near the berry trees, Noctowl suddenly let out a sharp "Hoothoot!" and began circling a patch of ancient oaks.
ROAR!
A jagged rock whistled through the air, narrowly missing Noctowl's wing. The Ursaring had spotted the scout.
The sound of that roar acted like a physical trigger for Heracross. His wings buzzed into a blur of motion, and before Guinaifen could give a single tactical instruction, he charged into the foliage, a blue streak of pure rage.
"Hey! Wait for me! Don't go in alone!"
Guinaifen scrambled after him, breathless. She knew this was a side effect of their low "Bond" level. Heracross was still fighting his own war; he hadn't fully realized that with a Trainer, he was twice the warrior.
By the time she burst into the clearing, the two were already locked in a grapple. Despite his new levels, Heracross was struggling. In his fury, he had forgotten the refined footwork Guinaifen had taught him, reverting to a desperate, instinctive brawl against a larger, heavier opponent.
Guinaifen opened her mouth to shout a command, but then she paused. She looked at Heracross's strained expression. She remembered her own past—that stubborn, youthful desire to prove you could protect what you loved with your own two hands, without help.
She softened her tone, calling out not as a commander, but as a reminder: "Heracross! Remember the rhythm! Don't just hit him—use his own strength against him!"
Heracross, pinned under a heavy paw, heard her voice. The frantic fog in his mind cleared. Counter.
As Ursaring raised its other claw for a finishing Slash, Heracross didn't try to roll away. He braced his legs, his fighting energy glowing with a dull, orange light. He took the hit squarely on his shoulder—absorbing the impact—then he lunged.
The energy he had stored from the bear's attack surged back twofold. Heracross dipped his shoulder and drove his horn directly into the white circle on Ursaring's belly.
BOOM!
With the Fighting-type advantage and the Counter multiplier, the hit was devastating. The 600-pound bear was lifted off its feet and sent crashing through a thicket. It didn't get back up.
"Heracroooo!"
Heracross stood in the center of the clearing, his horn high, venting a roar of victory that echoed through the trees. He had won. He had taken back the grove.
Guinaifen walked over, patting his metallic shell. "You did it, partner. Let's go tell the little ones the home is safe."
The True Alpha
They turned to leave, but the victory was short-lived.
ROOOOOOARRRR!!
A sound ten times more violent than the previous roar shook the forest. The birds in the canopy took flight in a panicked cloud. From the shadows of the deeper forest, a second Ursaring emerged.
This one was different. It was scarred, its fur matted with dried sap, and it stood nearly nine feet tall. The first Ursaring—the one they had just defeated—whimpered and crawled toward the newcomer like a shamed cub.
Guinaifen's heart dropped. She raised her Pokédex, her hand trembling slightly.
[Lv. 46 Ursaring]
"A level 46... that's not just a stray," Guinaifen whispered, her face pale. "That's the parent. No... that's the Alpha of the entire woods."
The massive bear locked eyes with the "small" beetle and the human girl, its claws digging furrows into the earth as it prepared to retaliate. The waves of trouble had only just begun.
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