Pokemon Paldea [305-306] (Patreon)

Chapter 305: Suicune on the Highlands

Cianwood City's Safari Zone is divided into six areas, but within each area there are many more biomes and modules.

Grasslands, rocky fields, wetlands, forests, wastelands, swamps, lakes, even deserts and mountains—who knows how they managed to cram so many environments into one place.

Lucas's main goal was to search the grasslands, wetlands, and forests for signs of Shuckle. Considering Shuckle's Rock typing, he also put the desert and mountain areas on his backup list.

Even though Cianwood City's Safari Zone had only just opened, business was booming. If Lucas hadn't arrived early—judging by how packed it was when he entered—he would've had to wait in line.

In the vast grasslands, he could faintly make out many trainers' silhouettes.

There were quite a lot of Pokémon around here. Aside from the Shinx Lucas had just seen, there were Raticate, Stantler, Zigzagoon, Manectric, Zangoose, Nidoran♀, and Nidoran♂.

"Vii~!"

Victini suddenly pointed at a lone tree in the grassland. Under its canopy, a small fox-like yellow Pokémon with its eyes closed was quietly resting there.

"An Abra too?"

Lucas looked surprised. It seemed this Safari Zone really had something special.

Psychic-type Pokémon are famously versatile and rare—just like the Girafarig not far away that was surrounded by a bunch of kids trying to win it over with treats, which it completely ignored.

You could tell the Girafarig had gotten sick of ordinary Pokémon food and was coldly indifferent to the kids' attempts.

This helped Lucas realize something: since you can't battle to capture here, the Safari Zone Pokémon have probably long grown tired of human-offered food. Without novelty or standout flavor, you'll likely leave empty-handed.

Fortunately, this was exactly his strong suit.

With a slight smile, Lucas turned to leave the increasingly crowded grassland.

He wasn't that interested in Abra. These days, he followed three principles when capturing Pokémon.

Pokémon suitable for farm development.

Leave it to fate.

Ones he personally liked.

Soon after Lucas left, a pair of trainer lovebirds found the Abra under the canopy. Flipping through their Pokédex guide, they saw that Abra evolves into the powerful Psychic-type Alakazam. They looked thrilled to have struck gold and planned to quietly approach and tempt it with food.

But just as they tried to get close, psychic ripples silently warped the space around Abra, and its small body vanished in the blink of an eye.

As the couple stood there regretful, above them a Hoothoot flapped its wings—wings smaller than its round body—flew past, shot them a mischievous "gotcha" grin, and then headed toward the forest.

…

Shuckle likes quiet places. In forest tree hollows, under rocks, and in mountain caves, they sit safely and calmly, slowly fermenting the berries or herbs stored in their shell-like urns.

So Lucas's first stop was naturally the forest area.

There were plenty of Pokémon in the forest. Upon seeing Lucas, the outsider, timid Pokémon ducked back into their nests, while others cast wary looks, ready to pounce if he got closer.

Ignoring their stares, Lucas called upward, "Victini, quit playing. Time to go."

"Vii~"

Victini suddenly poked its head out from the canopy above. It didn't startle Lucas, but it did frighten the Vulpix in his arms.

Reluctantly bidding farewell to a brown little bird perched on a branch—Pidgey—Victini hurried to catch up to Lucas, who had already walked ahead.

Seeing Victini happily loop-the-looping in front of him and ignoring Vulpix's cute-but-fierce grimacing glare, Lucas smiled and asked, "Had fun with your new friend?"

"Vi Vi!"

Victini nodded vigorously, answering Lucas's question.

Just remembering flying around and playing for a while with the new friend Pidgey in the sky made Victini very happy.

After leaving Eindoak, it learned just how big the world is, how many lives there are, how beautiful the scenery is, and how many friends it could meet.

Of course, for every Pokémon that showed kindness to Victini and Lucas, there were others lying in wait to attack.

One reason Mr. Baoba allows trainers to bring their Pokémon into the Safari Zone is that not all Pokémon here are pure-hearted and friendly to humans and Pokémon alike.

There are also wild Pokémon who were hurt or abandoned by humans, or captured by poachers and forced apart from their families, harboring deep hostility toward humans.

Half an hour into the forest, Lucas, Victini, and Vulpix encountered their first openly hostile wild Pokémon that initiated an attack.

"Hissss—"

A purple serpent, like a massive cobra, with abdomen markings scary enough to stop kids crying at night.

The perennial villain—known as Jessie's partner—the Poison-type cobra Pokémon, Arbok.

Arbok flicked its split tongue and hissed coldly. The pattern on its belly writhed with its movements, looking almost alive.

Lucas wasn't scared. Victini wasn't scared. Vulpix, the pampered little princess, had never seen this kind of scene and buried her head in Lucas's chest, and if she didn't still need his protection she might've dug a hole in there.

Arbok's eyes were full of hatred toward Lucas—as if humans had once hurt or betrayed it. Lucas could understand its pain, but that didn't mean he'd be saintly enough to surrender and let Arbok vent on him.

He glanced at Victini above his head. Since they were in a forest, it'd be best if Victini didn't battle lest they accidentally start a fire.

As for Victini's Psychic abilities—honestly, its use of them was crude. Lucas preferred it as support.

Which made it clear who would fight the itching-to-strike Arbok.

He bent down and set the clinging Vulpix on the ground. Seeing her confusion, Lucas smiled. "Vulpix, go defeat Arbok."

"Myau!?"

The small Vulpix trembled, glanced at the nearly four-meter Arbok, then at Lucas.

You want Vulpix to fight that thing!?
Under Arbok's cold, hostile stare, Vulpix felt like she wouldn't make it through today.

Lucas wasn't going to throw Vulpix under the bus. He had no interest in abusing his Pokémon.

But in a forest, better to freeze than burn. It was a blazing summer—maybe some chill would even cool the woods down.

That Arbok was probably a local alpha-tier even in the wild. Vulpix alone couldn't beat it. But… this is the wild; no rule says you can't bring support, right?
Though afraid, Vulpix knew Lucas was serious. She recalled her mother's sacred, stern, powerful figure on the snowy mountain, and how she herself had previously one-shot the Shadow Triad and their even more vicious Pokémon.

Her racing little heart gradually steadied. Determination, fighting spirit, and defiance rose in her almond-shaped gradient eyes.

Lucas's lips curled. He winked at Victini. Victini happily floated behind Vulpix. As a golden aura rose, Vulpix felt power filling her body—greater even than back in Eindoak.

Nothing to be afraid of now!
Arbok glared coldly, furious that Lucas threw a cute little thing in front to take the hit. It decided to let this human taste its poison. As for the two little ones—one Big Snake Tail or Big Snake Wrap would crush them.

Arbok opened wide. A stinking, purple glob of venom shot out like an arrow toward Lucas at high speed.

Judging by its speed, Lucas didn't doubt it could punch a hole in him if it hit.

Poison-types are a top cause of accidents for rookie trainers. Inexperienced newbies often fall to Poison-types.

Thoughts flashed through Lucas's mind in an instant, but he still called out, "Extrasensory!"

"Myau—"

Vulpix let out a cute, low cry. A mysterious pink-violet light flashed in her gradient blue almond eyes. An invisible force, bolstered by Victini, spread out and halted the arrow-like venom midair.

Arbok's smooth, confident motion faltered. Surprise flickered over its cold visage.

Its Venoshock was stopped… by that seemingly frail little thing?

Having blocked the attack, the "frail little thing," Vulpix, brightened in delight and grew more confident.

Victini's golden aura swelled again. Ice-blue energy gathered in Vulpix's mouth—

"Powder Snow!"

As Lucas's voice fell, Vulpix exhaled the energy in one breath.

In the next moment—

Though it was midsummer, Arbok felt bone-deep cold. A bitter wind laced with intact snowflakes howled, as if the gale were a warhorn and the snow its iron hooves. With unstoppable might, it swallowed Arbok's massive body in an instant.

Before the extreme chill froze it solid, Arbok's brain—slowed by the cold—had only one thought.

You call that "Powder Snow"?
The entire forest was ravaged by a frost wind blowing in from the north. Some trainers stared in disbelief and exclaimed, "But it's summer!"

Soon, word spread throughout the Safari Zone.

A very powerful Ice-type had appeared in this forest. Its frost wind could sweep the whole woods. If you captured it, forget the Silver Conference—you might even beat Johto's Flying-type champion, Lance!
Crowds swarmed in, clogging the forest.

…

Deep in the woods, a noble, elegant, and unique Pokémon lifted its head.

Its form resembled the qilin in the myth. Mostly azure, with white, blocky patterns, a crystal-blue crest gleaming atop its head, and ribbon-like tails drifting in the frost wind.

Suicune's ruby eyes gleamed with surprise. What was this power—

The frost wind's Ice-type energy wasn't unusual, but it was overlaid with a strange golden energy. Perhaps the source was…
Recalling the Pokémon it met in the mountains not long ago, Suicune lowered its head in thought, then, without hesitation, followed the aura to track it down.

…

"Vi Vi?"

Perched on Lucas's head, Victini swung its little feet and asked its mount, Lucas, a curious question.

Lucas knew what it was asking. He thought of the Arbok frozen into an ice sculpture and shook his head. "Leave it there. It's basically the boss of this forest. Even weakened by the ice, nothing will threaten it."

"Besides, it showed hostility to us—correction, to me—and attacked first. I'm not so kind or idle as to heal it and throw myself at changing its view of humans."

"Let someone with more power handle that."

Anyway, he had Victini melt some of the ice with a Fire move, and after feeling the texture of Arbok's scales with his hand, Lucas now spoke quite boldly.

After explaining to Victini, Lucas looked at the Vulpix in his arms and praised, "Our Vulpix did great today. Really brave. You must be rewarded. For dinner tonight, order whatever you like~"

Vulpix, tilting her head and listening closely, first lifted her chin proudly under his praise, then heard the free-choice dinner.

"Myau!"

Her eyes lit up like stars. Just for a support-boosted one-shot battle, she could get perks like this!?
She had already started pondering which lavish feast to demand tonight.

To be honest, besides her mother's encouragement, what really lured Vulpix away with Lucas was the food he provided—

Watching her excitement, Lucas smiled helplessly. These little ones were all gluttons. Good thing he could make money, or they'd eat him into bankruptcy.

He'd let Vulpix battle mainly to build her confidence, fighting spirit, and courage. In fact, when he sent her out, he already had Serperior's Poké Ball in hand—not to mention Victini's support.

Once Vulpix took the first step, the second and third would be easier.

On that basis, give positive feedback—"order anything for dinner"—to boost her motivation.

Pokémon are like children to trainers. Parenting wisdom really works!

Smiling, Lucas left the forest—where there were no signs of Shuckle—and headed for other areas.

This time, even he didn't notice that he was being tailed by a light-bodied, noble Pokémon.

A short while later—

At 5 p.m., after searching the grasslands, wetlands, forest, and desert all day, Lucas still hadn't found any trace of Shuckle.

With only three hours left before the Safari Zone closed, he had to switch to his final backup option—the mountain area.

The mountain area lay at the northernmost edge of the Zone, full of towering peaks and highlands. If you don't climb, you'd need to ride a Flying-type to get up in one go.

With faint hope, Lucas arrived at the mountains. Seeing the lowest plateau still around twenty meters high, he knew climbing would waste time. He needed Dragonite's help.

Just as he pulled out Dragonite's ball, the Pokémon that had tailed him all day—watching him share food with hungry wild Pokémon, save a poisoned one that ate toxic mushrooms, and help a bullied one escape its oppressive group—Suicune, made a decision.

A cool breeze blew from behind Lucas. A blue figure vaulted over his head. With a few light bounds, wrapped in the north wind, Suicune appeared on the high ground. Its ruby eyes calmly watched Lucas.

Lucas, stunned: !?
What just leapt out?

Victini on his head and Vulpix in his arms stared dumbstruck at Suicune, whose flowing purple mane waved in the north wind, its whole body radiating elegance, nobility, and purity.

Only one thought remained—

So cool. What an entrance.

Lucas hadn't expected Suicune to suddenly appear before him. Had he done anything to attract Suicune's attention?

After a beat, as if remembering something, Lucas reached to his chest, revealing a silver-feather pendant he wore as a necklace—glinting in the light—alongside his Key Stone. It caught the eye of Suicune, who was busy striking a pose.

Lucas wondered if Suicune sensed the Lugia aura from the Silver Wing and came for that.
What he didn't see was Suicune almost losing its dignified posture the moment the Silver Wing appeared, its heart tossing like a stormy sea.

The Sea Guardian, Lord of Ocean Currents and Monsoon—Lugia's feather, on this human!?

Could it be… he's the human chosen by Lugia?

Suicune had intended to remain noble and distant, guiding Lucas to rescue a certain Pokémon. But now, even though it was the north wind it had summoned, Suicune felt itself completely blown off balance.

Chapter 306: Suicune and the Shuckles

Seeing Suicune's conflicted look, Lucas glanced at the Silver Wing he wore as a pendant alongside his Key Stone.

He confirmed his guess.

Looks like… Suicune sensed the Silver Wing's aura and came because of it.

"Oooh————"

Suicune broke the silence first, letting out a clear, ethereal call, then motioned with its eyes for Lucas to follow.

Forget whether this human was chosen by Lugia—a being equal to Ho-Oh—Suicune had picked him for his character. The urgent thing was to bring Lucas to treat that little one.

Lucas was briefly taken aback by Suicune's gesture, but he somehow understood: it wanted him to come along.

Which surprised him. Did Suicune have some other matter for him, besides checking out the Silver Wing?

Or was it taking him to Mount Tensei, the highest mountain in the Raizen Mountain Range, to meet Ho-Oh?

On second thought, Cianwood City was probably one of the farthest Johto cities from Kanto's core. Suicune likely had another purpose.

He summoned Dragonite, mounted up, and in a blink rose to Suicune's level.

Noting the powerful aura and the similar vibe to Lucas's Silver Wing radiating from Dragonite, Suicune was a bit surprised. It turned away, called the north wind, and bounded lightly toward a spot in the mountains.

With Dragonite along, Suicune didn't worry about Lucas keeping up.

Suicune finally stopped by a cliff near the summit of the highest peak in this area.

There was a cave there that seemed to be some Pokémon's lair.

Dismounting, Lucas felt a sudden inexplicable sadness, which made Suicune glance at him a few times.

Do humans shift emotions this quickly now?
Instant mood swings.

What Suicune didn't know was that during the flight, it was as if all of Lucas's luck exploded at once. He saw a Riolu practicing martial arts on a boulder by a cliff, a carefree Bagon running around, and a silvery Beldum blended into a cluster of Magnemite—

Having to pass up such cool and powerful Pokémon left him a bit dejected. He was actually handling it pretty well.

He could only deal with Suicune's matter first, then circle back to see if there was another chance.

Suicune led the daydreaming Lucas into the pitch-black cave.

The cave wasn't big—about Lucas's height tall, but a bit narrow. Lucas could walk in fine, but Dragonite, being a bit rotund, couldn't squeeze in and now sulked outside.

After twenty or thirty paces, Lucas could barely make out Suicune's back ahead. In this absolute silence, the cave felt cool and damp despite the summer heat.

Just as Lucas thought to have Victini light a flame, Suicune stopped. Water-type energy surged around it, condensing into dewdrop-like beads.

Under Suicune's control, the beads spread across the interior. They glowed faintly aqua, illuminating the cave.

In the center sat a huge, irregular rock, pocked with holes about sixty centimeters across, like something had burrowed them.

It was too dark inside to see anything.

Surely not Suicune's eggs, right?

"Oooh~~~"

Suicune let out a drawn-out call, as if summoning something.

But after a minute, nothing emerged.

Unable to contain its curiosity, Victini floated up. Just as it leaned in to peek, a smooth yellow… turtle-like head timidly poked out.

The look that had nearly haunted Lucas's dreams made his pupils shrink. He was struck dumb by the sudden joy.

But the surprise wasn't over. From another hole, another identical smooth yellow head poked out.
They were the heads of the very Pokémon Lucas had come to Cianwood City for—Shuckle!

As Suicune's water beads flowed into the hollow rock, the two Shuckle's pained expressions—and their bodies—were revealed.

Lucas's excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water.

It was replaced by heaviness—and understanding.

Sensing the shift, Victini's smile faded, and Vulpix's eyes softened with pity.

Lucas said gravely, "Suicune, is this why you brought me here?"

Suicune nodded slightly.

"Oooh~~~" (I rescued them from a forest fire yesterday. I'm not good at healing, so I can't cure their severe burns.)
Its noble, elegant voice rang in Lucas's mind.

"A forest fire… yesterday."

Lucas, used to legendary Pokémon chatting telepathically at the drop of a hat, nodded and quickly searched his phone.

Sure enough, a small forest on the other side of this mountain had been set on fire by arsonists.

The blaze was put out by a sudden downpour—clearly the miracle Suicune had summoned.

So Suicune had doused the fire, then found two severely burned, critical Shuckle. Distrustful of humans, it brought them here and went off to find a trustworthy human or Pokémon who could heal them.

In the end, it probably chose him because of the Silver Wing.

With the situation clear, Lucas didn't ask why this noble legend didn't just heal them—

Ironically, though Suicune is a Water-type and has some Psychic proficiency, it can't learn any move that heals other Pokémon's injuries or status.

Like how Lugia can't learn Teleport, and Garchomp can't learn Dragon Dance.

Suicune can purify water and cleanse filth, but it can't heal pure injuries or status ailments. It could only use its purification to keep the Shuckle from deteriorating.

Which forced Suicune—who had parted with humans alongside Ho-Oh—to show itself and seek Lucas's help.

Without hesitation, Lucas took out a Poké Ball and said softly, "Comfey, please."

"Comfey~"

A pleasant floral fragrance filled the cave as Comfey's small body appeared.

A healer's intuition and professionalism instantly alerted Comfey to two critically injured patients. Its cute face turned serious as it floated over the severely burned Shuckle—shells charred black—and hovered above their heads.

Sweet aroma and pink energy harmonized. Under Comfey's Floral Healing + Aromatherapy, the Shuckle, who had endured burn agony, finally showed a hint of relief.

Seeing their changed expressions, Suicune's visage softened with visible relief. Watching Lucas deploy Comfey to heal wild Pokémon, Suicune felt even more certain about him.

Comfey's healing was just as effective as it had hoped.

As the Pokédex says, Suicune holds a gentleness like spring water. Aloof and elegant outside, it treats all things with kindness.

After nearly twenty minutes of continuous treatment, the Shuckle's condition stabilized and improved.

But by then Comfey was a bit exhausted.

Healing two critical patients at once had taxed its energy and focus.

Small hands settled over Comfey.

Startled, Comfey looked back to find Victini with a "leave it all to Victini" grin.

Victini's golden aura flared, lighting the cave. Not only were Comfey's energy and stamina replenished, but its treatment efficiency soared.

Comfey gasped in wonder, then refocused, continuing the Shuckles' therapy.

Suicune stared at the tiny Victini. So the strange energy riding the forest-wide frost wind was closely tied to this one.

With an energy reserve perhaps rivaling even Lord Ho-Oh's, and with incredible versatility—both empowering and replenishing—Victini seemed the very embodiment of miracles.

It might even supply the natural energy needed by those two super-ancient Pokémon across the nearby sea and in the deep ocean.

Watching Comfey's turbocharged healing, Suicune couldn't help but feel sincerely grateful.

It seems its luck had been good lately—it found the right person fast.

"Comfey~"

Comfey's voice was a little weak—even with Victini's help, treating two critically injured patients who survived only on their Pokémon vitality was draining.

"You've worked hard. Rest in your ball for now."

Lucas spoke gently, already planning a dinner that would satisfy Vulpix's open menu and nourish the tired Comfey and Victini.

With a flash of red, he recalled Comfey, clipped the minimized ball to his belt, then looked at the two now-restored, lively Shuckle playing hide-and-seek with Victini and Vulpix inside the huge hollow rock, smiling slightly.

Suicune stepped lightly to Lucas's side, a barely noticeable gentleness in its eyes.

Unlike complex-minded humans, it favored pure-hearted Pokémon, roaming the world to purify waters and support Pokémon living in balance with nature.

"Oooh~~" (Among humans I've met, you're one of the better ones. Thank you for saving those two children.)
Suicune transmitted telepathically.

If Lucas hadn't already formed a bond with Lugia, Suicune might have observed him longer after this and then reported him to Lord Ho-Oh, asking for the Rainbow Wing to initiate the Rainbow Hero's trial.

Thinking that made Suicune feel a bit regretful—and envious on behalf of its superior of Lugia, who rarely intervened and hadn't shown itself since sundering the Whirl Islands and parting from humans.

Lucas chuckled at the praise. "It's nothing. Since I can help, and you came to me, it was just lending a hand."

"By the way, should we send the Shuckle back to the forest? I can have Dragonite fly them there."

Suicune gave him a long look. When Lucas first saw the Shuckle, Suicune had sensed emotional ripples from him, enough to judge he was very interested in them.

He'd likely come to this human-run reserve specifically to find Shuckle.

Even so, he resisted his desire. Suicune appreciated him even more.

"Oooh~~" (I regret that by the time I sensed an abnormal concentration of Fire energy in the air and reached the forest, my slow movement had cost dearly. Most of their colony had perished; I could save only these two.)

Suicune shook its head, tinged with guilt, and revealed that the Shuckle were now homeless, without a clan.

"Oooh~~" (So I'd like to ask you to take them in. Will you?)

Suicune made an offer Lucas couldn't refuse.

After a brief silence, Lucas didn't make a show of hesitation and accepted.

Indeed, he needed Shuckle. In front of this emblem of purity, better to be honest.

The two Shuckle were timid, but grateful and somewhat trusting of the human who sent out a Pokémon to heal them.

With Suicune as witness, Lucas took out Safari Balls and temporarily captured them.

Since all empty Poké Balls must be handed in upon entry—to prevent disguised criminals from poaching—he had no standard balls on him for the capture.

He could transfer them after leaving.

…

Outside the cave, Dragonite gave Lucas a wounded look for taking so long.

Lucas asked, "Are you leaving?"

This time Suicune didn't use telepathy. It nodded, leapt off the cliff, and vanished in a few bounds.

Staring at the mist-wreathed drop of unknown height, Lucas sighed, "Suicune is like a wandering hero—coming and going without a trace, purifying polluted waters across the world, saving countless Pokémon."

Dragonite, Victini, and Vulpix nodded.

Perhaps that's why legends endure: among those whose very existence spells calamity, there are also Pokémon who inject new vitality into the world and guide it along the right path.

In this moment, Suicune, which Lucas had once thought of as a "legend caught by a hunter's net," returned to the awe he'd felt when first seeing its artwork, deeds, and myths.

As for a certain rich guy's Suicune—that must be the clan's embarrassing cousin.

Feeling oddly tired despite not having done anything major, Lucas stretched and muttered, "Time to head back."

Before riding Dragonite off the cliff, he glanced down one last time. Though weary, he smiled. He was in good spirits.

After all, in this world, partings are always for better reunions.

In the end, he couldn't resist and had Dragonite retrace their route.

But perhaps he'd used up his luck—having caught two Shuckle and even met the elusive Suicune.

The Riolu, Bagon, and shiny Beldum were nowhere to be seen.

After handing in the Safari Balls and exiting the Zone, Lucas hurried back to his hotel.

From his spatial pack, he took sand he'd bought for Arcanine's sand baths to clean off the sooty black from the two Shuckle.

But after his labors and seeing the two Shuckle blissfully enjoying their sand bath, Lucas froze.

Of the two Shuckle, one looked normal, with a red shell and cute soft limbs and head.

The other had a blue shell!

Which meant… it was a shiny!

A massive surprise smashed into Lucas.