Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Golden Caregiver
As one of the most common Pokémon in the forest, Beedrill has always been a species trainers would rather avoid.
Defeating one Beedrill often means inviting a second and third until their overwhelming numbers force you to retreat.
For this reason, novice trainers instinctively avoid Beedrill when spotted—hiding or fleeing to avoid direct confrontation.
Today, however, that unspoken rule was broken by Ron, a trainer with less than two months of experience.
"Go, Machoke! Just get enough honey; that's all we need."
Carefully steering clear of the areas where Beedrill could use him as a weak point, Ron commanded Machoke to charge toward the Beedrill hive. Their goal: the sweet honey inside.
When dealing with Beedrill swarms before, Ron had to execute his plans step by step meticulously.
But now, with Machoke's sheer power, he could easily sweep through an entire swarm if he wanted to.
Fortunately, Ron held no such reckless ambition. Machoke had only recently evolved, barely half a month ago. Pushing it to reach elite-level strength prematurely would risk leaving much of its potential untapped.
Upon receiving Ron's command, Machoke disappeared from sight with Soru (Shave).
In the blink of an eye, the Beedrill swarm's alarm rang out, though the enemy's sudden and mysterious approach unsettled them.
Machoke didn't bother attacking the Beedrill. Instead, he used the high-speed mobility granted by Soru to bypass their defensive perimeter and reach the hive.
Moments later, the Beedrill swarm turned to see their hive shattered and Machoke holding handfuls of their precious honey.
The sight of their home being raided sent the Beedrill into a frenzy.
Machoke remained unbothered, using the same swift techniques to evade their furious assaults. When he couldn't avoid a strike, he would counter and knock them aside.
In less than two minutes, Machoke completed his mission and retrieved the honey.
Watching from a safe distance, Ron didn't regroup with Machoke immediately. Instead, he headed to their designated rendezvous point, leaving Machoke to shake off the enraged Beedrill swarm on his own.
About an hour later, Ron and his team returned to their temporary campsite.
Retrieving a container obtained from other challengers, Ron carefully processed and bottled the honey, saving it for when Nidoran hatched.
While awaiting the Nidoran's arrival, Ron's Pokémon kept busy.
Machoke continued training diligently, adding the Moonwalk (Geppo) technique from the Six Powers to his regimen. Occasionally, Nidoking would spar with Machoke, honing both their skills.
Meanwhile, Meowth and Gloom focused on combat training, their levels rising rapidly.
Meowth had reached level 26 and learned Taunt, while Gloom showed even more significant growth, likely due to battling stronger opponents, climbing to level 24 and learning Lucky Chant.
Time always seemed to fly during the trials, leaving Ron feeling like he couldn't give Machoke and the others enough training.
But now, as he waited, time stretched endlessly, giving him a rare chance to truly appreciate how exceptional his Pokémon had become.
After five long days—one month remaining before the trial's end—the Nidoran egg finally hatched.
If the dazzling light of evolution symbolizes a Pokémon taking the next step in its growth, then the glow of a hatching egg radiates pure vitality.
When the light faded, Nidoran's first sight was of Ron.
Much like some animals, Pokémon instinctively bond with the first being they see upon birth.
Since Nidoking hadn't been present for the unpredictable moment of hatching, Ron became the object of Nidoran's attachment—something that would make it easier for Ron to bring Nidoran along when they eventually left.
"Welcome to the world, Nidoran," Ron whispered, gently stroking the tiny horn on Nidoran's head. He also offered a bottle of the prepared honey.
Drawn by the sweet aroma, Nidoran began licking it eagerly, letting out satisfied little hums as it ate.
As Nidoran enjoyed the honey, Ron took the chance to observe it more closely.
Standing about 40 centimeters tall, its body was covered in purple fur with darker spots scattered across its back.
Sharp purple spines along its ears and back provided both offensive and defensive capabilities, while its bright red eyes and slightly elongated front teeth gave it a resemblance to a rabbit.
Before Ron could examine Nidoran further, Nidoking appeared, its gaze landing on the newly hatched Pokémon.
Though it spent most of its time nearby, Nidoking had still missed the birth. It sighed, accepting this as the workings of fate.
Adjusting its emotions, Nidoking approached Ron and the others. Before Nidoran left, it would do everything in its power to teach the young Pokémon and ensure its path forward would be smooth.
Ron modified the backpack that had once held the egg, turning it into a pouch to carry Nidoran on his chest. Several bottles of Beedrill honey were stashed alongside it, always ready for use.
If not for Meowth currently locked in battle with a Raticate, the scene would have been entirely heartwarming.
For its part, Raticate couldn't believe it was facing a trainer who juggled battling Pokémon and taking care of a baby.
If only it could break through Meowth's defenses, it would teach this human a lesson!
Unconcerned by the Raticate's frustration, Ron felt as though the past few days had drained him completely.
Newborn Nidoran's daily routine consisted of eating, sleeping, playing, and the occasional mischievous prank to release its boundless energy.
Ron even set aside his usual training to care for Nidoran, ensuring the little Pokémon grew up healthy and happy.
Thanks to Ron's care, Nidoran quickly outgrew its infancy within five or six days, ready to begin basic training.
Awakened by the noise of battle, Nidoran, still half-asleep, nuzzled against Ron's chest.
Skilled in handling its needs, Ron promptly offered another bottle of honey, which Nidoran happily devoured before drifting back to sleep.
Meanwhile, Meowth seized an opening in Raticate's defense and ended the battle with a decisive Iron Tail.
Now at level 27, Meowth was on the brink of evolution.
Once Nidoran completed its infancy, Ron planned to evolve Meowth, train Machoke to master its power, and push it toward elite strength before the trial ended.
Gloom's strength would also need to rise, serving as a cover for Machoke, Ron's trump card, and giving Ron more tactical flexibility.
Even Nidoran's training plan was already in place.
Unaware of what lay ahead, Nidoran finished its honey and slipped back into a contented sleep.
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