"Are you alright, Victor?"
Officer Jenny walked over to Victor's side, looking with concern at his wounded Pokémon.
Watching Salamence's retreating figure, Victor let out a breath, his lips pale and trembling.
"If you all had been any later, Jenny, I really wouldn't have made it," he said, his heart heavy as he looked at the fainted Vespiquen, Staravia, and Azumarill on the ground, and the trembling but still-standing Gengar, Dali, and Erli before him.
His very first real battle, and it was against Hunter J in a no-holds-barred wild encounter.
If it weren't for the help of his system, he didn't know how many times he would have died.
After watching the fainted Pokémon being carried onto an ambulance, he borrowed Jenny's phone and dialed the number for the Breeding House.
"Hello, Shana? Everything's okay now. You can go to sleep with your Tinkerbell and the others. I'll be back late. Sanli will be there to watch over you, so don't worry."
Victor took a moment to compose himself, put on a smile, and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Okay, uncle. You and Officer Jenny and the others be careful, too."
"Don't worry. Go to sleep. Goodnight."
Hearing the crisp, clear "goodnight" from the other end of the line, Victor's heart relaxed a little, and he hung up.
"You! Next time something happens, you call me first! If Shana hadn't been smart enough to call me in time, what would you have done?" Jenny scolded, forcefully twisting Victor's ear.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Jenny, now's not the time for this! We have to put out the fire!" Victor quickly begged for mercy.
Jenny finally let him go and turned to direct the firefighting efforts.
Victor noticed the massive Arcanine beside her; her Growlithe must have evolved.
He knew because it was panting and wagging its tail at him.
Gengar, Dali, and Erli refused to get on the ambulance to go to the Pokémon Center, staying by Victor's side without leaving.
Victor followed Jenny and joined the firefighting team.
"First, create a firebreak! Then, Water-type Pokémon, use Water Gun!" Jenny shouted, standing on her motorcycle with a megaphone.
In the face of the massive forest fire, humans and wild Pokémon had formed a partnership.
Psyduck, Golduck, Azumarill, and other Water-types were actively using Water Gun to fight the flames.
Other Pokémon were using Sand Attack, or were carrying containers of water.
Everyone, human and Pokémon alike, was cooperating with the fire department.
Seeing that the fire showed no signs of weakening, Victor went to Jenny's side and discussed an idea with her. After getting her nod, he walked over to the group of Psyduck.
"Any of you who know Rain Dance, stand up and come with me!" he shouted.
They exchanged glances. Two Golduck, three Azumarill, and surprisingly, even an Azurill stepped forward.
Victor nodded and led the charge into the forest. He ran up to a firefighter and, covering his mouth, explained his plan. The firefighter was stunned for a second, then nodded.
Victor pointed to a specific area and shouted, "Everyone, please use Rain Dance on the area I'm pointing to! Let the rain fall only in that spot!"
The Pokémon nodded and used Rain Dance. Some were more powerful, some were weaker, but they all concentrated their efforts on one area, creating a large, targeted downpour.
Raindrops began to fall, gradually growing heavier. The fire was fierce, but the combined volume of the Rain Dance was enough to extinguish it.
After one area was put out, Victor led them to another.
Just like that, with the cooperation of Victor, Jenny, and the firefighters, they divided the fire into different sections, concentrated their scattered forces, and extinguished them one by one.
"Everyone, keep it up! Just a little more to go! Use Rain Dance!" Victor roared, his throat raw and his voice hoarse from the smoke, as he pointed at the last section.
"Everyone else, let's lend the Azumarill and the others a hand!"
All the Pokémon squeezed out the last of their energy, until the very last flame was extinguished.
"We did it," Victor said.
The Pokémon all cheered, along with the people.
Victor looked at the charred trees and at the Pokémon that hadn't been able to escape.
A thousand emotions churned in his heart.
Only now did he truly understand, in a real sense, that Pokémon hunters would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. And that this... this was reality.
Gengar floated by Victor's side, quietly keeping him company.
Jenny saw their figures and walked over, patting his shoulder.
"If it wasn't for you this time, the damage to this forest would have been much greater, unimaginable even. Thanks to you, their homes didn't completely disappear."
She motioned for him to look around.
They were now surrounded by Pokémon, all of them looking at him.
"Graw—"
A chorus of cheers from the Pokémon echoed through the night sky.
Looking at their soot-covered but hopeful faces, Victor reached up to wipe his own face, instantly smearing it with black. He looked at his palm, which was pitch-black, and when Gengar wasn't looking, he wiped it on its face.
"Gengar?!"
You little... sneak...
"Gengar, thank you. Thank all of you."
Flashes of the battle went through his mind: the wounded but still-standing Dali and Erli blocking the Draco Meteor; the Vespiquen using its body to shield him from the Flamethrower; the Staravia refusing to give up and protecting him in the air; the fearless Azumarill; and finally, the Gengar that refused to let itself collapse.
Victor hugged Gengar tightly.
"Gengar..."
He released his embrace, looked at the surrounding Pokémon, and smiled, his voice hoarse but gentle.
"Everyone, I will help you rebuild your homes. I promise."
The Pokémon looked at each other, then spontaneously joined hands, formed a circle, and began to dance.
Under the moonlight, the Pokémon, hand in hand, surrounded the people who had helped them, jumping and dancing and singing.
The flying Pokémon above danced along with them.
It was a dance filled with the hope of new life, and it was the greatest blessing they could offer these people.
They would never forget that it was that human and his Pokémon who had driven away the forest's enemies. They would never forget that it was he who had led the others to help them save the forest.
They offered their most sincere blessings to these humans and their Pokémon.
[This Is Our Home: You drove away the enemies who set the fire, and you led them to extinguish the forest fire, protecting their home. They have offered you their most sincere dance and their most beautiful song. They will bless you forever. You have received the blessing of all the Pokémon of the forest.]
[Blessing 1: They now see the Breeding House as their greatest ally. The friendship level of all Pokémon in the forest towards you has been changed to 100.]
[Blessing 2: Every time you and your Pokémon step into the forest, you will receive small, varied, and colorful gifts from the forest Pokémon.]
[Blessing 3: No Pokémon from the forest will ever harass your Breeding House again. They will always remember that the Breeding House is their best partner. It seems all parts of the forest have now opened their doors to you?]
[The forest is our home. Thank you for helping us protect it. —The Pokémon of the forest.]
What a sincere blessing!
Victor looked at the singing and dancing Pokémon and smiled.
At the invitation of Gengar, Jenny, and the others, he joined the dance.
Dali happily came to his side, took his hand, and, to Victor's utter shock, suddenly launched him into the air.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
A beautiful sound echoed through the night.
Below is Gengar's translation of that sound.
Gengar, wearing its black glasses, glanced at Victor, who was being swung around in the air by Dali.
"Gengar—"
"I have no idea either."
Hehe.
Just kidding. He said he will always protect his little friends in the forest. Always.
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