Early morning.
"Riolu~ Riolu~"
Cynthia's call echoed through the house.
The noise was unbearable for Gible, who rolled on the bed and wrapped herself in a thick quilt.
"Riolu ran out again."
Cynthia sighed with disappointnt, then sat back on the bed.
She really liked Riolu.
But Riolu didn't seem to like her.
Except for the first two days when they played together.
In the past few days, Riolu ran out early every morning and only ca back at night.
This made Cynthia feel that Riolu didn't want to be with her.
So she felt a little sad.
And today.
Was Cynthia's birthday.
She thought Riolu would stay by her side.
But he still ran out.
"Gible, do I lack charm?"
Cynthia looked at the dumpling on the bed and asked uncertainly.
It had to be said.
Will had really dealt a blow to Cynthia.
Cynthia loved Pokémon very much, but being treated like this by Will made her start doubting herself.
But Will didn't intentionally neglect Cynthia.
Currently.
Will was carrying a small bamboo basket, strolling through the Celestic Forest.
"Should have enough money, but just in case, I'll work for another afternoon. Getting back before evening should be fine."
Will clutched a few crumpled banknotes in his hand.
He had been picking berries in the forest these days, then walking to Celestic Town to exchange them for money with the uncles and aunts there.
Sotis.
So unscrupulous vendors, seeing he was a Pokémon, would try to trick him, wanting to swindle his berries or even capture him.
But Will wasn't stupid.
Not to ntion having a human soul.
Even as an ordinary Riolu, he could distinguish good from bad through Aura.
Trying to trick a Riolu?
Pure clown behavior.
Although Will didn't ask the stall lady about the price of the black ribbon before, how expensive could street stall items be?
Will felt the money he earned these days was more than enough to buy that black and gold ribbon hair accessory.
"Hm? Is that a Spelon Berry?!"
Suddenly.
Will's eyes lit up.
A casual glance revealed a tree bearing fruit shaped like Wurmple (Spelon Berry shape) a few dozen ters away.
Spelon Berry was an extrely spicy berry.
It was said that even non-Fire-type Pokémon would want to breathe fire after one bite.
The key was its rarity.
In the Sinnoh region, it was a material used to make "Poffins," a Pokémon snack, and was very famous.
And if sold in other regions, it could fetch a high price.
Will didn't expect to find Spelon Berries here.
Although they wouldn't sell for a very high price in Sinnoh, it was enough for Will.
If he had found Spelon Berries earlier.
He wouldn't have had to work hard picking berries for several days.
A puppy born only a month ago, carrying a basket alone to pick berries to earn money.
Who wouldn't tear up seeing this?
If you don't believe it, go ask around the Celestic Town night market.
Will was already known as the "poor little treasure" among the uncles and aunts there.
Sotis after strolling around.
Will could walk out holding a round belly.
That feeling reminded him of his days in Azalea Town.
"After picking these Spelon Berries, I'll go straight to town. See if there's anything else I can buy to bring back, as thanks to Carla for saving my life."
Will approached the Spelon Berry tree. After celebrating Cynthia's birthday, he should probably return to Mt. Silver.
Been out for almost a week.
Wolf Mom might be going crazy with worry.
Will wasn't too reassured about the situation with the Mightyena clan either; he felt uneasy not watching over them personally.
However.
Before leaving, he had to express his gratitude to Carla.
Arriving under the tree.
Just as Will prepared to climb up and pick so berries.
Suddenly, he stomped on the tree trunk, using the force to leap backward.
THUD!
The next mont, a red figure smashed into the spot where Will had just stood.
Kricketune.
Damn, you Pokédex filler dare to block , King Riolu?
Will curled his lip.
But in reality, he didn't relax his vigilance much.
Reality isn't a ga.
If Mightyena could be kings, why couldn't Kricketune?
Did a base stat total of 384 an it wasn't worthy?
Joke!
Maybe it was a hardworking genius.
"Among wild Pokémon, it should be considered the first tier in this forest."
Will sized up the Kricketune in front of him.
He put the bamboo basket aside and got serious.
There were many strong Pokémon in this forest.
But mostly Pokémon raised by the Celestic clan.
The levels of wild Pokémon weren't very high.
But based on Will's observation and analysis of Kricketune's speed just now, he estimated this Kricketune was at least Lv. 35.
Over ten levels higher than him.
Indeed needed to be taken seriously.
Kricketune crossed its knife-like arms and rubbed them together, making a teeth-grinding friction sound.
Its aning was clear.
This Spelon Berry tree was its property; Will should scram.
Will didn't plan to waste words.
He lifted his foot and kicked forward. Low Sweep (or similar fighting move).
Startled by his speed, Kricketune raised its arms to block.
Thud.
The not-so-strong force pushed Kricketune back two steps.
Before it could react.
Will followed up with a claw scratch. tal Claw.
Kricketune was angry.
It crossed its arms, forming a cross shape, and slashed at Will. X-Scissor.
Clang!
The clash sounded like tal colliding.
Will grimaced, quickly retracting his hand.
Looking down.
One of his claws was broken and bleeding.
'Strong power.'
Will pressed his lips together.
Because he had 2x resistance (actually 4x resistance: Bug resists Fighting, Fighting resists Bug - wait, Riolu is pure Fighting, Bug is neutral against Fighting, Fighting resists Bug. So 2x resistance) against Bug types, he had indeed underestimated Kricketune a bit just now.
The level gap of over ten levels wasn't easy to bridge.
He also hadn't expected.
That this Kricketune mainly trained its strength.
He was certain.
Among Kricketune of the sa level, this one's strength was definitely ceiling-level.
'Can't fight head-on.'
Will used Aura Power to slightly heal the external injury on his hand.
Will beca much more serious in the subsequent battle.
Although it took so effort.
He still managed to knock Kricketune down.
However.
Will had more or less sustained so external injuries.
Although they were basically "scrapes," or even just ssy fur, he looked a bit miserable from the outside.
Will estimated that when he went to Celestic Town later, he might be forcibly taken to the Pokémon Center by passing kind-hearted trainers.
But he didn't think too much about it for now.
After climbing the tree and picking so Spelon Berries, he carried the bamboo basket toward Celestic Town.
With Riolu's short legs.
It indeed took a lot of ti to get to Celestic Town.
Even Will was panting when he arrived, despite using the Sea Crown to fly part of the way.
"Oh my! Why is this little Riolu injured so badly?"
"Exactly, this won't do. Riolu, co here, Auntie will take you to the Pokémon Center to see Nurse Joy."
"Oh dear, isn't this the Riolu who often appears at the night market recently? Uncle will buy the berries in your basket; go ho quickly, you don't look well."
As Will expected.
As soon as he appeared, he was surrounded by a bunch of uncles and aunts.
Although Celestic Town was a relatively obscure rural town in the Sinnoh region, the people living here were very kind and simple.
It even gave Will the illusion of living in League Year 20.
But Will didn't forget he had important things to do.
So after bowing to thank everyone for their kindness, he carried the bamboo basket into the town alone.
There was about an hour left before the night market started.
He first sold the Spelon Berries in the basket to the fruit shop he had frequented these past two days.
Then he went to the park near the night market alone, sitting on a bench and waiting quietly.
"Hmm... don't know how much money to keep. Maybe buy the ribbon first and then stroll around the night market."
Will held a few banknotes in his hand, looking up at the clouds drifting across the sky.
Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened.
An aunt pushed a small cart to a nearby spot to set up a stall.
Seeing her, Will ran over quickly, helping her place the items one by one on the cloth on the ground.
Seeing the puppy's cute appearance, the aunt felt her heart lt.
Thinking how great it would be if Riolu was her baby.
"Riolu? You ca today too."
Seeing Will, the aunt reached out and rubbed his head.
"Woof! (Want to buy this)"
Will pointed to the black and gold ribbon hair accessory.
"Hm? You want this? Ah, I know, you want to give it to the girl who ca with you that day, right? Hehehe.
I was wondering why you ca to Auntie's stall every day these past two days."
Realizing what was going on, the aunt grinned. She picked up the ribbon from the ground and tied it to one of Will's big ears.
"Here, it's a gift for you. It's not expensive anyway. But you, go ho quickly; you just fought with other Pokémon, didn't you?"
"..."
Will was stunned, obviously not expecting the aunt to give him the ribbon directly.
After hesitating for two seconds.
Will still placed half of the money in his hand on the stall, then walked alone toward other stalls.
"Sigh~ This child is so cute."
Looking at Will's retreating small figure, the aunt couldn't help but smile.
At the sa ti, she envied that little blonde girl.
To be liked so much by a Pokémon.
She must be a very gentle and kind child, right?
She would definitely beco an excellent trainer in the future.
After that.
Will used the remaining money to buy a ceramic mug with a Piplup pattern at another stall.
Seeing his injuries, the stall owner uncle gave him a 50% discount.
Will was in a great mood.
Carrying the ribbon and the ceramic mug, he happily headed toward Cynthia's ho.
~~~
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