Beside it, Beedrill and the Black-Patterned Beedrill were eating Pokémon food together.
Nincada observed Beedrill with great curiosity. Although there were two Beedrill, the aura radiating from each was completely different. Specifically, their power could be distinguished just by looking at their eyes.
Since its birth, it had never encountered such a powerful Beedrill. A while ago, the Ariados tribe had fought a battle against a Beedrill swarm, but they had only won by relying on superior numbers. Even the leader of that Beedrill swarm wasn't as strong as the Ariados leader.
Beedrill naturally noticed Nincada watching it. In fact, back when they rescued them, it had seen Nincada's gaze. It was very similar to its own—that unforgettable look of someone who hungers for true strength.
"Ariados, how did Nincada end up with you?" Eichi asked, looking at the Nincada nearby.
The old Ariados looked at Nincada and began to recount Nincada's past. When Nincada first arrived at the Ariados tribe, it had already shared its history with the elder. Eichi listened quietly as the old Ariados told the story.
As it turned out, Nincada once had a trainer. The reason it was with the Ariados tribe was that it had been abandoned.
Originally, while Nincada was still an egg, its trainer had found it in a forest in the Hoenn region. Later, the trainer hatched it while traveling through the Kanto region. The first two weeks after its birth were the happiest times of its life.
However, in the third week, its trainer forced it into battles. Bug-type Pokémon are inherently very weak before they evolve. Furthermore, because its trainer didn't know how to command properly, it suffered defeat after defeat.
Its trainer blamed these failures on the Pokémon, believing Nincada was simply useless. Consequently, one evening in this very forest, the trainer released Nincada and simply walked away. Nincada tried to chase after him, but it was attacked and injured by the trainer's other Pokémon. It fell unconscious, watching its trainer abandon it and leave.
When Nincada woke up, it was hungry and injured. It wandered aimlessly through the forest, lonely and without help, unable to find food. At that time, a dozen Houndoom happened to invade the Ariados tribe's territory.
During the battle, the old Ariados nearly died while facing a Houndoom alongside other kin. Nincada knocked it aside, saving it from a fatal blow. To show its gratitude, the old Ariados brought Nincada back to the tribe.
When they first arrived, the other Ariados were very opposed to the idea. However, because the old Ariados held a high status, no one said anything. Back when the current leader's father was still alive, the old Ariados was the second strongest in the tribe. Its status was so high that no Ariados except the leader was its match. Later, the former leader passed away due to severe injuries sustained in battle.
As the current leader grew stronger, the elder aged, and its combat power declined significantly. Even so, with it there, the other Ariados didn't dare to complain. Nevertheless, in their daily lives, the other Ariados and Spinarak weren't very friendly toward it.
Over time, however, as they lived together, everyone realized Nincada was quite decent, and their relationship gradually improved. Eventually, Nincada fully integrated into the Ariados tribe.
Unfortunately, despite Nincada's great talent, its former trainer had never trained it properly. This was even truer within the Ariados tribe; its talent was completely wasted. Therefore, its strength progressed very slowly.
That was Nincada's past until the battle with the Crobat tribe today—a journey that was both difficult and bitter.
Eichi looked at Nincada. It was currently trying to chat with Beedrill, and the admiration in its eyes was impossible to hide. Nincada was truly fascinated by Beedrill and wanted to know why it was so strong.
Beedrill told it that the reason was Eichi. Under Eichi's guidance, any Bug-type Pokémon would become exceptionally powerful. After hearing Beedrill's words, Nincada looked at Eichi with a gaze full of longing. It wanted to become stronger; it wanted to follow Eichi.
Yet, the experience of being abandoned made it hesitate. It didn't know if it should leave with Eichi.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was late at night. The old Ariados and Nincada stayed to sleep nearby. Nincada lay quietly in a pile of grass. The campfire in the center of the clearing emitted an orange-red glow. Across from it was a green tent where Eichi was sleeping.
It then glanced at Beedrill. Earlier, it had asked Beedrill what kind of person Eichi was. Beedrill didn't give a specific answer but simply told it that Eichi was someone who could lead Bug-type Pokémon to become stronger, and he would never abandon his Pokémon.
Hearing this, it had made its decision. However, it then looked at the old Ariados. It was hesitant; if it left, there would be no one to keep the old Ariados company. Lying in its grass pile, it found it hard to fall asleep.
While Nincada was torn, the "sleeping" old Ariados opened its eyes, glanced at Nincada, and then closed them again. Eventually, Nincada calmed down and drifted off into a daze.
It had a dream. In the dream, under Eichi's training, it evolved into an incredibly powerful Pokémon and defeated countless opponents. The Pokémon that were usually so strong in the forest were powerless against its attacks. Finally, on a stage watched by ten thousand people, it defeated one opponent after another and won the championship.
Then it woke up, shaken awake by the old Ariados. Nincada still remembered the dream vividly—it felt so real. The battles in the dream made its blood boil; it craved to become strong.
Eichi woke up in the morning and washed up. After cooking a little food and packing his things, he prepared to leave. The Ariados leader brought a group of Ariados to see Eichi off.
Nincada watched Eichi get on his bicycle, feeling both anxious and hesitant. Suddenly, it felt a force push it forward.
Nincada looked back and saw the old Ariados. The elder looked at Nincada, nodded, and pointed a leg toward Eichi. Nincada understood its meaning and nodded back. Finally making up its mind, it let out a sharp cry and chased after him.
Riding his bicycle, Eichi sensed something chasing him from behind. He stopped and turned around to see Nincada catching up.
Nincada arrived in front of Eichi, hoping Eichi would take it with him. It wanted to become strong so it could one day return and protect the Ariados tribe.