Chapter 421: Mabe
Wendy's father is called Mabe.
Scrafty was already a Scrafty when he was captured by him.
That was the last year of Mabe's journey.
He was also the last Pokémon Mabe captured.
There are no special stories worth telling between Scrafty and Mabe.
Just ordinary battles, capturing, challenging regional Leagues together.
But just failed to win the championship in the end.
At that time Scrafty.
Because of rude personality and rough actions, often did things other partners didn't like, so appeared relatively withdrawn in the team, having no friends.
Until that day.
He came to Mabe's home for the first time, and also saw Wendy for the first time.
The little bean was very interested in this new partner of her father.
Pulling his tail, following him running around the house; even if fell down would stand up immediately to follow, always wearing a silly smile on her face.
Scrafty felt this little girl was a bit annoying, didn't pay much attention to her. Because there were too many things never seen before in the home, he couldn't help touching here and poking there, breaking quite a few things.
Some fragments cut Wendy's little foot.
Bloody footprints appeared on the floor.
At that moment.
Everyone was very angry, Mabe was no exception.
Scrafty also felt very uncomfortable in his heart, letting the trainer and partners accuse him.
But that little bean wasn't angry at all.
She just sat on the sofa hugging Scrafty's arm, pursing her lips, trying hard to endure the inevitable pain when treating the wound on her foot.
Cold sweat dripped from her forehead.
Scrafty wanted to reach out to help her wipe away the sweat, but worried the rude self would accidentally hurt her again,
The extended hand froze in mid-air.
But the next moment was grabbed by a pair of small hands.
"Doesn't hurt, it's okay."
Slurred words reached Scrafty's ears.
The pale face couldn't cover that gentle smile.
Gentleness.
That was the first time Scrafty understood the concept of this word so clearly since coming to this world.
From that moment on.
This unfamiliar house was regarded by Scrafty as his own home because of Wendy's existence.
He tried hard to change his clumsiness and heavy-handedness.
He learned to speak softly, became deft, and gradually became handy with various housework.
Anyone seeing it.
Would feel this Scrafty is full of sense of violation.
Scrafty himself felt very uncomfortable when learning at first, but he just wanted to learn these.
For nothing else.
Scrafty just wanted to respond to Wendy with the same gentleness.
Under the moonlight.
"Scraggy..."
I want to go out traveling with her.
Scrafty clenched his two hands tightly together, eyes downcast.
He has no particularly excessive extravagant hopes.
League Champion, tournament winner, Totem Alpha...
None at all.
He just wants to go out traveling with her.
Only this.
Will looked at the silent grassland in front of him, feeling emotional in his heart.
Scrafty.
They look like punk Pokémon with no upbringing.
But actually, they value their family, partners, and territory incomparably.
For these.
They can change themselves without hesitation, changing themselves beyond recognition.
There is a sentence in the Pokédex describing them: [Once he identifies his territory, he will spend his life there, never leaving until death.]
If not looking at appearance.
Scrafty is really a very excellent Pokémon.
And now.
The place where Wendy is.
Is already that "territory" identified in Scrafty's heart.
"When did Wendy's condition start? How could she suddenly fall ill?"
Will pursed his lips and asked.
"Discovered three years ago; doctor said it was inherited from her parents."
"Parents? Has her mother already passed away because of this illness?"
Will frowned.
Wendy's father Mabe can still challenge the League outside.
Presumably physical condition shouldn't be bad.
That means inherited from mother?
Will observed specifically after coming to Wendy's home; completely didn't see any adult female supplies, didn't even see any adult female appear in their family photos.
"Don't know; maybe? Mabe never met Wendy's parents."
"?"
"Wendy is not Mabe's biological child."
Scrafty knew Will's doubt, shaking his head and continuing, "Mabe never married or had children; he originally didn't have that plan either."
"His original idea was to walk on the road of challenging the League all his life, living a vigorous legendary life with his partners."
"Just when traveling back then, met abandoned Wendy in the ice and snow, soft-hearted picked up that girl only three or four years old."
"In the same year, before participating in the Unova League, he also met me; I became the last member to come to this home."
"The end of the Unova League that year was also the time Mabe's dream shattered. At the most ambitious age, he strangled his lofty ambition with his own hands, chose stable work, raising the family."
Will opened his mouth, then closed it.
Couldn't say other words.
"Mabe doesn't regret, nor unwilling; he said although different from the road yearned for in the past, current life is also very happy."
Scrafty grinned, then sighed, "Later knowing these things, I also regret very much not being able to help him get the championship in that last Unova League."
"Wendy knows these?"
Will thought of Mabe embarking on the journey of challenging the League again.
"Mm."
Scrafty nodded.
Now Will understands.
Why Mabe ran out to challenge the League even when Wendy was sick.
Not Mabe himself wanted to go.
It was Wendy forcing him to go.
That gentle girl didn't want her father to give up the dream of his youth because of herself destined to die.
She hoped her father could re-embark on that road of his youth.
This way.
After she dies, at least her father won't fall into confusion, finding nothing to do.
"Sigh."
Will sighed.
Thinking of the Aura felt from Wendy's heart before.
Turned out not because the illness is not serious so heart is relaxed.
Just looked past it, didn't care anymore.
"Cynthia, plans to challenge the League, right?"
"Mm."
"Then, we might meet on the arena."
"Yes."
Will nodded gently.
Speaking of this he is annoyed.
Wendy must want to see her father win the championship very much, right?
What to do?
Go easy?
"You guys, absolutely don't show mercy then."
Scrafty raised a hand clenching fist,
"We are very strong."
Scrafty is not joking.
Seven or eight years ago.
Mabe was already a senior trainer who had participated in five regional tournaments.
Today, seven or eight years later.
Pokémon levels are higher than in the past.
As for battle experience and feeling...
When challenging these Gyms, can gradually find back.
Will looked at Scrafty without speaking.
Not that he looks down on Scrafty.
According to the fluctuation on the opponent, around Lv. 60.
Indeed very strong.
If the whole team is at this level.
Entering the top four of the tournament is absolutely no problem.
But this level.
Can't beat Will who doesn't go easy.
Especially Scrafty's types are Fighting and Dark.
Moves of the former are very easy to dodge for Will; the latter completely cannot cause damage to him.
Not go easy.
How do you guys win?
Admittedly, Garchomp and others' levels are not high, but five Pokémon taking down Mabe's three Pokémon is absolutely no problem.
And the remaining three.
Will asks himself honestly, 1v3 is not a problem, let alone coming one by one.
Besides.
Still more than two months before the tournament starts.
Cynthia has to practice under Grandmother Dragon for at least more than a month.
More than a month later.
How far this team of theirs can go is another story.
"Mabe is a proud man, will absolutely not accept the victory let by others; and Wendy has a gentle personality, won't hope Cynthia who is already a friend deliberately loses because of her own reasons."
Scrafty extended fist to Will,
"Promise me, go all out."
"...Mm."
Will glanced at the other party, then extended fist to bump with him.
Cynthia won't go easy.
As for him?
He will listen to Cynthia's command.
This way, also counts as a fair and just duel.
"Thank you."
"It's okay."
"Home hasn't been so lively for quite a long time."
"Cynthia will stay in the Village of Dragons for a while, retreat for practice, at least more than a month; in the following days will often come to disturb you guys."
"Couldn't ask for more."
Next morning.
Cynthia pushed Wendy's wheelchair and ran out early in the morning.
She wanted to let Wendy see how she practiced.
Keldeo also carried N and Victini running out non-stop, charging on the vast grassland like a little calf, targeting those powerful Pokémon directly.
"Let's battle?"
Will turned to look at Scrafty.
"Oh? Spying on enemy situation? Come on."
Scrafty didn't refuse.
"Haha."
Will smiled.
He just wanted to help Scrafty recover battle state, find the feeling.
After all, Mabe took other Pokémon out to challenge Gyms.
Then Scrafty left behind has no battles to fight, also has to watch Wendy all the time; isn't it hard to find back the feeling of back then?
So Will decided to help the other party warm up.
As for.
Whether Scrafty can get familiar with Will's battle thinking and find his flaws during this time.
That depends on Scrafty himself.
Anyway for now.
Will only knows two obvious flaws of himself.
One.
Is crushing by stats.
This has no solution.
The other.
Is psychic power.
Psychic power can shield Will's Aura perception, making his "Observation Haki" fail; effect is no less than blinding an eye of ordinary Pokémon.
But this thing is not something Scrafty can master either.
Therefore.
Scrafty basically impossible to find Will's flaws.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter