Urged on by their


    successful capture of the Gyarados, Henry managed to convince Jared into


    another daring endeavor. The rain had passed, albeit slowly, and wild Pokémon


    were beginning to leave the safety of their nests.


    "You owe


    me," he told the silent man. "That was my fight, and you had no


    business interfering." Henry wanted to snap more, but he held himself


    back. For one, doing so would amount to little. For another, well, the man


    could be terrifying at times.


    Jared paused


    considering his words before begrudgingly nodding in agreement.


    During the fight


    with the wild Gyarados, Henry and the battling Pokémon were shocked into


    inaction. The overwhelming light and noise kept them from reacting properly.


    However, while they were blinded and deafened by the powerful Thunderstrike,


    the Hitmonchan was not. While the explosion of lightning from Gyarados''s


    unexpected Thunderbolt caught them by surprise, the two were quicker to


    recover.


    Before the giant


    serpent realized what was happening, Hitmonchan was standing atop it. Henry


    regained his sight in time to see the boxing Pokémon landing a rapid series of


    Thunder Punches on the hard scales. The swollen fists struck with crackling


    booms, the Gyarados jerking with each strike.


    After a series of


    highly super effective attacks, the Gyarados was twitching into


    unconsciousness. Lingering muscle spasms from electricity caused the Pokémon''s


    to jerk randomly, until Jared lazily captured it.


    An anti-climactic


    end to a fight that he was waiting for over the years.


    It took Henry a


    while to calm down, ending in them moving away from the Bibarel dam. The


    structure was too damaged to hold the river back as it did before. There was no


    point staying, the wild Pokémon already having run away.


    However, he was still high off the adrenaline from the battle, and pushed for


    another raid. Even over a day later, after the storm had passed, his blood was


    singing. He was itching for another fight, even though he knew it was far too


    likely there would be anything near as exciting.


    The nearest Pokémon


    of note were the local hives, and none of the Vespiquen were recorded as


    burgeoning Alphas. Not that Henry was foolish enough to fight a Pokémon as


    monstrous as the rulers of the wilds.


    Rather, it was the


    highly protective Combee that made battling the queens a difficult endeavor.


    The swarms surrounded their matriarchs jealously, often going so far as to


    prevent their evolved counterparts from leaving the hive. While individually


    weak, a swarm of Combee was not a threat to take lightly.


    Which was why the


    two men were traveling in the direction of a newly settled hive instead.


    Reports indicated that this one was established before the primary matriarch


    was ready. The scouts noted the young Vespiquen as showing signs of an early


    evolution.


    With the


    introduction of another queen, a small hive was forced to split off lest the


    two begin to clash.


    While it was a prime


    opportunity to claim an evolved Vespiquen, even the Team''s administrators


    recognized a failed attempt could ruin their long term operation. A single


    escaping Combee would rile the other hives, drawing the attention of the


    Rangers as the bees zealously hunted for their missing queen.


    Instead, Henry was


    aiming for female Combee.


    The honey producing


    Pokémon were easier to train and raise from a Combee, rather than its more


    imperious evolution. More importantly, females were often among the first grubs


    to be born in a newly formed hive. The few that survived would remain as Combee


    due to the presence of the Vespiquen''s pheromones.


    Henry looked up when


    his companion grunted lowly. Looking around, he was surprised to see how far


    they traveled. Already, he could see signs that they were nearing the hive''s


    territory.


    Dots of honey clung


    to trees, likely from the bumbling Combee running into the trunks. Plants and


    flowers were abundant, the pollination that the bugs engaged in bringing the


    forest into bloom.


    Moving slower, Henry


    kept a hand near his slot of Poké Balls. If they were not too close to the


    hive, then there was little risk of being assaulted early.


    "You


    ready?" Henry asked his companion in a low voice.


    The man nodded in one sharp movement.


    "Ok, remember,


    we want the females," Henry said. "Alive," he added in warning.


    Jared''s hand curled


    into a fist and Henry sighed internally. It seemed the event at the river was


    stirring up the other man as well. Nevertheless, they could not afford him to


    run off the Route, especially so close to the hive.


    "After this,


    we''ll move to a drop off point and take a break," he offered.


    Henry recognized


    that they both needed it, albeit it irked from having to do so. Fortunately,


    with the capture of a freshly evolved Gyarados and hopefully a few Combee, the


    payout from this patrol would more than make up for the lost time.


    Jared grunted,


    likely feeling the same as him, though for different reasons.


    "We already set


    up the net and, after you catch the bugs, we''ll race towards it," he said,


    restating their plan to help refocus his partner. "We''ll have to be quick


    in loosing the net, or we''ll be forced to abandon entirely if the swarm shows


    up."


    Jared nodded


    silently, staring in the direction of the hive.


    Henry eyed him


    silently, trying to gauge his companion''s state. It was already normally


    difficult to do so, the burn scars and his intense demeanor serving to hide


    much of his disposition. Shrugging his shoulders, Henry continued.


    "All right, if


    you''re ready, then I''ll wait for you to circle around," he said. "You


    should hear me start to battle, then that''s your cue."


    Instead of


    responding, Jared set off. He easily disappeared into the forest with the help


    of his camouflage and natural skill.


    "Scary,"


    Henry muttered with an exaggerated shiver, hoping the man was still close


    enough to see him. He snickered when a twig snapped, the other man not careless


    enough to make such a simple mistake. Instead, it was simply his partner


    telling him that the other man was still close enough to catch his words.


    Henry crouched in


    place, pressing against a trunk to wait. He kept a close eye on his watch, the


    matte color ensuring that it would not reflect the light while it blended in


    with his gear. The device was entirely mechanical, so as to avoid the curiosity


    of the forest''s Pachirisu. The electric squirrels had a habit of investigating


    electronics, often giving away their position or being a general nuisance.


    When he judged that


    enough time had passed, Henry stood up into a crouch and started to move. He


    was careful to avoid any sign of the bees or the few individuals he saw flying


    around. The female Combee would stay closer to the hive. Not to mention the additional


    difficulty in battling so close to the hive.


    However, against his


    intentions, he did not manage to make it much further before he was challenged.


    A small collection


    of Combee, gathering pollen and patrolling their territory, spotted him. Their


    hexagonal bodies contained three faces each, granting the giant bees excellent


    perception.


    This close to their


    hive, the group did not hesitate to attack. It released a Gust, crying out to


    warn the others of the small swarm. Before Henry could release his Hitmonlee,


    the other Combee added their own power.


    "Combee!"


    What was originally


    a strong breeze quickly grew into a storm of air. It slammed into him, shoving


    Henry backwards. Errant leaves and branches were picked up by the wind and


    thrown towards him.


    "Ha!"


    Henry barked out a short laugh and threw up his arms, leaning into the combined


    Gust.


    "This is


    ju-" he was abruptly cut off when a leaf flew into his mouth, causing him


    to choke. When he finally managed to spit it out, Henry continued as though


    nothing occurred. "This is just training!" he shouted.


    Nevertheless, Henry


    could feel the air begin to bruise his arms and body. While the swarm of Combee


    were not enough to blow him away completely, they could definitely hurt him.


    Giving in, he reached for his Poké Balls and unclipped one.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Pointing it away


    from him, he released Golbat out of the brunt of the combined Gust. He had to


    hold the sphere tight, lest it be blown out of his hand. Not wanting to risk


    losing it, he kept hold of the loaned Poké Ball instead of attempting to clip


    it back in place.


    The giant bat


    emerged with a near-inaudible screech, pushed back by the wind before she


    managed to recover. Unlike Hitmonlee, the Golbat was fully rested. So far,


    Henry only used the Pokémon to ward away others, or released it to feed at


    night.


    This would be the


    first test of the bat''s abilities. His Hitmonlee was still recovering from the


    battle with the Gyarados, not to mention the Type disadvantage against the


    flying bugs.


    The Pokémon flapped


    her leathery wings quickly, struggling to hold itself in place. The giant bat


    looked disgruntled at being forced into a serious battle. Up to this point, the


    Pokémon was primarily used to scare off undesirables or released to feed at night.


    "It''s time to


    see what you got," Henry shouted at the Golbat. "Interrupt them with


    a Supersonic." he ordered.


    The giant bat


    screeched her displeasure before directing the vocals to the swarm of Combee.


    The sound disappeared beyond Henry''s hearing, but not the bug''s. Several


    faltered, the painful noise their enough to disrupt the attack.


    Henry had to catch


    himself from the sudden loss of wind, lest he fall on his face. Meanwhile,


    Golbat ended up shooting forwards, her efforts to stay aloft in the tunnel of


    wind propelling her closer.


    "Channel your


    energy into a Payback," he called out as the Pokémon faltered. "Aim


    for the ones still fighting."


    The bat screeched,


    shadows seeming to gather in her large mouth. The Golbat singled out a Combee,


    flapping to rise above the bug. She dropped towards the Pokémon, wrapping her


    wings around the beast to hold on.


    Dark shadows lashed


    out as the giant bat bit into her prey, using an impromptu Poison Fang as she


    rode the bee towards the ground.


    "Bee!" the


    faces wailed, the bug''s honey filled carapace cracking from the force of the


    bite. The clear, yellow fluid turned discolored as poison seeped through its


    body.


    Despite the success


    of the attack, Henry frowned at the loaned Pokémon. While it was excellent she


    followed through with another attack, he would have preferred that the giant


    bat use her wings to bash the bug instead.


    Now she was on the


    ground, with enemies in the air around her. Worse, the Pokémon''s innate poison


    was spoiling the Combee-honey. The bees would not be worth capturing if he was


    not careful.


    "Gol'', get back


    in the air," Henry shouted with authority. He had to act quickly before


    the bat''s instincts overpowered her, admittedly little, training. "You''re


    exposed. They''re going to attack you."


    Indeed, the Combee


    were recovering from the sudden assault and turning to face their downed


    member. Her prey was trying to fight back, weakly struggling against the bat. A


    low hum started to build, causing the back of Henry''s teeth to ache.


    "Golbat, get


    out of there!" he shouted. "Use Double Team."


    The giant bat looked


    up, dazed by the feeding. Fortunately, she still had the presence of mind to


    listen to his commands and lifted into the air. Her body started to blur as she


    tried to evade the attack.


    For all that, the


    Golbat was still too close and the Combee too wide spread. The rapidly


    vibrating wings shifted into a harsh buzz that shook her body. Golbat screeched


    in pain and surprise, dropping back to the ground as the beating of her wings


    faltered.


    "Fight through


    it, Gol''," Henry shouted encouragingly. "Shake it off."


    While his choice of


    words was probably not the best, Henry could tell that the Bug Buzz was not


    nearly as strong as it should have been. Especially if all of the Combee were


    making use of the move. Likely, one of the bugs figured out the move and the


    others were merely mimicking it.


    At least, he hoped


    so.


    Golbat struggled


    back into the air, the vibrations still shaking her body.


    "Good


    girl," he said. "Take them out with an Air Cutter."


    The Pokémon bobbed


    in place before lashing out with her wings. With the training Henry was putting


    the bat through, her musculature was improving. As such, the slices of wind


    emerged easier and faster than they did when he was first assigned the Pokémon.


    While accuracy was


    still an issue, quantity was not. Henry dodged the few that were sent his way


    with a smile, recognizing a new training regimen for the three of them. The


    blades of air carved into the bees, interrupting their tooth-grinding buzz.


    Eventually, Golbat


    had an easier time staying aloft and rose into the air. From above the small


    swarm, she kept up a steady stream of Air Cutter until the remaining Combee


    fell to the ground.


    "Excellent,"


    Henry said with a clap of his hands. Pulling free a sack of Net Balls, he


    captured the bugs worth doing so. "Now, feed and heal up. We''ve still got


    some fights ahead of us," he instructed.


    The Pokémon


    screeched with eagerness, only registering the instruction to feed. The giant


    bat latched onto the remaining Combee and settled into a Roost.


    Putting her Poké


    Ball away, Henry released his Hitmonlee with a grin.


    "Alright buddy,


    we''re going to need your help," he told the fighter.


    The Pokémon was


    still not fully healed, with discolored bruises across his body. Several of his


    muscular coils were misshapen, the sprains from the battle with Gyarados


    keeping them from compressing properly.


    Nevertheless, the


    Pokémon was eager to battle.


    "Hit, hi,"


    he vibrated, wincing slightly from the lingering pain.


    "Don''t worry,


    we just need to support Golbat," he said.


    Henry could hear a


    growing buzz in the forest, as the other Combee flew to investigate. He roused


    the Golbat with a smile, and readied an ambush.


    Together, the three


    of them fended off waves of Combee. Golbat was liberal with Air Cutters and


    Henry''s skull ached from the multiple Supersonics she used to disorientate the


    bugs. Hitmonlee jumped around, never staying in one spot too long. He only landed


    a few blows, but the ones he did were debilitating.


    Even Henry managed to get in on the action, distracting the bees or fighting


    with his own body and baton. A simple stick of wood, the weapon was more for


    self-defense as most Pokémon able to battle would only be annoyed, or at most


    distracted, by being hit.


    When there was


    enough of a lull, he instructed Golbat to rest and recover while Hitmonlee did


    the same. He captured Combee and put their balls away. The female Combee would


    have an easier time evolving and settling into a new hive with familiar members


    to assist.


    Eventually, they


    were interrupted mid-fight by Jared running through the trees.


    "Time to


    go," he barked shortly, his voice rough from disuse and scars. The man did


    not bother to slow as he bulldozed through the battle, lashing out violently to


    any Combee unfortunate enough to be in his way.


    "Hitmonlee,


    return," Henry said as he snatched up the Pokémon''s ball and returned the


    fighter. He did so with a noise of complaint, wanting to finish his opponents


    off. "Next time, buddy."


    Chasing after Jared,


    he called after Golbat over his shoulder.


    "Gol'', cover


    our retreat with Supersonic." he shouted, not bothering to lower his


    voice. "Then Double Team towards us."


    Huffing after his


    companion, Henry heard the bees wail as they were bombarded by the high-pitch


    sound waves.


    Racing through the


    forest, the two barreled through obstructions and dodged around those they


    could not push through. There was no point trying to hide as the Combee''s


    pheromones clung to his body, and likely Jared''s as well. While the chemical


    signals were nearly undetectable to most, any Combee or Vespiquen would be able


    to track them for days.


    Fortunately, they


    already had a plan for that. Sprinting through


    the forest, Henry was pleased to see Golbat catch up, the illusionary doubles


    lingering behind her. He did not bother returning her, both due to the


    difficulty doing so while in a sprint and so she could deal with any Combee


    that evaded their trap.


    As the one in the


    lead, Jared was the first to see the tag they wrapped around a tree to denote


    the location of the trap. Slowly, he carefully navigated through and hid behind


    a tree. Henry followed, making sure to touch plants and trees in an effort to spread


    the clinging pheromones.


    Golbat settled on an upper branch while Henry and Jared panted from the long


    sprint. They were past the trap, with the manual trigger close to hand.


    Well, I''m panting, Henry thought as he eyed


    his partner.


    The man barely


    looked out of breath. The only indication of the run was his expanding and


    contracting chest, moving in a controlled, regular rhythm. The sight was enough


    to make Henry frown and think himself out of shape.


    It took a surprising


    amount of time for the angry buzz of the Combee to be heard. A strange noise


    heralded the swarm, light thumps and rustling of bushes, that he attributed to


    a Pokémon fleeing. Unable to contain his curiosity, Henry leaned around to spy


    the creature in question.


    His eyes widened


    when he spotted the figure racing through.


    A child, a boy if he


    was not mistaken, was dodging behind trees and looking back at the rapidly


    approaching swarm. The Combee bore expressions of fury, humming violently as


    they chased him. There was an odd bundle in his arms, slowing him


    significantly. More eye catching was the colorful Beautifly that flew just


    ahead, crying out to lead to the kid.


    Henry clenched his


    jaw, realizing the outcome if the swarm were to catch the boy. He heard Jared


    shift beside him as the other man spotted the kid as well. Cursing internally,


    Henry eyed the swarm''s distance to the trap.


    Suddenly, the boy


    screamed in pain and Henry snapped his head around. The kid was on the ground,


    his only indication the desperate Beautifly whining as it bobbed over him


    anxiously.


    Lunging at the


    trigger for the net, Henry started to cut it free. Jared watched him work with


    a blank face, the eyes painfully unexpressive.


    "I know,"


    he snarled at the man.


    Not a moment too


    soon, as the Combee were readying to bombard the fallen kid, the capture net


    fell.


    It dropped from the


    forest ceiling, catching the swarm by surprise. The expanded Net Balls


    immediately started to capture the bugs, dematerializing them in flashes of


    light. As the Combee struggled, they continued to disappear and the net bound


    them tighter.


    Henry waited, his


    chest tight, until he saw the kid stand up. The boy stumbled, shouting


    something intelligible to the concerned butterfly. As he stumbled away, limping


    heavily, several Combee rose into the air. He seemed unaware of their presence,


    but the same could not be said for the bugs.


    "Golbat,"


    he shouted up to the Pokémon. "Take out the rest of them." A few


    managed to avoid the net by virtue of the swarm''s size and the bat eagerly


    attacked with Air Cutter.


    Henry stepped up the


    net and used free Net Balls to catch the Combee still stuck. They wailed with a


    buzz, their multiple faces creating a migraine inducing cacophony. He spotted


    the boy jerk around in surprise with wild eyes before he ducked behind a tree.


    Jared stood and


    watched, his face still blank. His eyes moved from where the kid was hiding to


    Henry and back.


    "Don''t even


    think about it," Henry warned quietly.


    "Dangerous,"


    the man said lowly.


    Henry leapt up and


    strode towards the man. Standing in front of him, he ignored the charred skin


    and permanent grimace to stare into his partner''s empty eyes.


    "I know,"


    he snarled. Placing a hand on Hitmonlee''s Poké Ball, he continued. "But


    I''m a poacher, not a killer."


    Jared met his glare


    evenly, unfazed by Henry''s clear threat. After a beat, he bowed his head once


    and brushed past Henry to begin removing the Net Balls.


    Henry released a


    shuddering breath, cold sweat dripping down his face. Swiping it away, he


    cleared his throat and moved to quietly help his partner. Working with ease


    born of long repetition, they packed away the Poké Balls and wrapped up the


    capture net.


    With only a


    lingering glance at the hidden kid, Henry followed Jared into the forest.


    "We''re


    definitely taking that break," he muttered.