Barbara, still trying to be friendly, raises a hand in greeting. "Hello there," she says, her voice calm and non-threatening. "I'm just passing through. You're a very cool Pokémon."
The Beedrill doesn't respond to her friendly overture. Instead, it tilts its head, its compound eyes narrowing. It lets out a shrill, angry buzz, its stingers twitching menacingly. It misinterprets Barbara's approach as a threat to its territory, its instincts overriding any chance of a peaceful interaction.
Without any warning, the Beedrill lunges forward, its stingers aimed directly at Barbara.
"What gives?!" Barbara shouts, startled by the sudden assault.
Her Batgirl reflexes kick in instantly. Years of training and countless battles have honed her senses to a razor's edge, allowing her to react to danger with lightning speed. She throws herself backward, narrowly avoiding the Beedrill's initial strike. The stinger whistles past her face, close enough for her to feel the rush of air.
No harming the Pokémon. No harming the Pokémon, she thinks, her mind racing. Orion's warning echoes in her head, a stark reminder of the rules of this strange place. She can't fight back, not in the way she usually would. She has to find a way to defend herself without hurting the creature.
The Beedrill doesn't relent. It hovers in the air, its wings buzzing furiously, and prepares for another attack. Barbara knows she has to move, and fast.
What follows is a frantic, almost comical scene of evasion. Barbara uses her agility and acrobatic skills to dodge and weave through the trees, narrowly avoiding the Beedrill's relentless attacks. She ducks under low-hanging branches, leaps over fallen logs, and spins around thick tree trunks, her movements fluid and graceful despite the chaos.
The Beedrill is relentless in its pursuit, its stingers darting out with incredible speed. Barbara can hear the buzzing of its wings getting closer and closer, the sound a constant reminder of the danger she's in.
She struggles to find a way to defend herself without breaking the rule about harming the Pokémon. She considers using her grappling hook to swing away, but the trees are too dense. She thinks about using her smoke pellets to create a diversion, but she worries about disorienting the Beedrill and causing it to crash into something.
As Barbara continues her acrobatic dance, more Beedrill appear. Drawn by the commotion, they emerge from the shadows of the forest, their buzzing wings filling the air. The swarm of Beedrill begin to pursue Barbara through the trees, their menacing stingers and glowing eyes creating a terrifying spectacle.
Barbara realizes she's in serious trouble. She's outnumbered and outmatched, and she can't even defend herself properly. The swarm is closing in, and she knows she can't keep dodging forever.
Just as she's about to be overwhelmed, a figure emerges from the trees. Zygarde 10% Forme appears, its eyes glowing with a powerful, otherworldly light. It stands between Barbara and the swarm of Beedrill, its presence radiating an aura of immense power.
The Beedrill hesitate, their buzzing wings faltering. They sense the power emanating from Zygarde, and they know they're facing something far beyond their capabilities.
Zygarde unleashes a wave of energy. The swarm scatters, their formation broken, they fly away in different directions.
With the Beedrill swarm dispersed, Zygarde turns its attention to Barbara. Without a word, it gestures towards the entrance to the Sanctuary, urging her to leave.
Barbara doesn't need any further prompting. She nods her head in gratitude and starts running. Zygarde follows close behind, its presence a reassuring shield against any lingering threats.
Zygarde swiftly escorts Barbara out of the forest, depositing her safely near the entrance to the Sanctuary.
Barbara sighs in relief, her heart still pounding in her chest. "Thanks," she says, her voice slightly breathless.
Zygarde simply nods its head once, then disappears back into the trees, its mission complete.
Barbara takes a moment to catch her breath, trying to process everything that just happened. She can't believe she was attacked by a swarm of giant bees in a place that was supposed to be a sanctuary.
She meets back up with Orion and Pikachu, who were alerted by the commotion. They rush towards her, their faces etched with concern.
"Barbara, are you alright?" Orion asks, his voice filled with worry. "We heard some commotion. What happened?"
Barbara recounts her experience in the forest, describing the Beedrill attack and her unexpected rescue. "I was just trying to be friendly, but they didn't seem to appreciate it," she says, shaking her head in disbelief. "Then all of a sudden there were a bunch of them."
Orion listens intently, then bursts out laughing. "Oh, Barbara," he says, "I'm so sorry. I should have warned you about the Beedrill. They're very territorial and aggressive, especially when they feel threatened. You just happened to wander into their territory. You were just unlucky."
He explains the nature of the Pokémon ecosystem, emphasizing that not all Pokémon are friendly and cuddly. Some, like Beedrill, are wild and dangerous, and it's important to respect their space.
"They are not like your regular Earth insects. Everything is dangerous if you don't know how to approach them."
Barbara nods slowly, absorbing his explanation. "Well, that's good to know," she says. "I guess I won't be trying to make friends with any giant bees anytime soon."
"Speaking of which, who or what was that green and black dog that saved me?" Barbara asks.
Orion's expression becomes guarded. "That was the guardian of the Sanctuary," he says, his voice vague. "It's here to protect the Pokémon and ensure the balance of the ecosystem. You don't need to know anything more than that."
Barbara raises an eyebrow, sensing that Orion is being evasive. But she decides not to push the issue. She has a feeling she wouldn't get a straight answer anyway.
"Well, whatever it was, I'm grateful," she says. "It saved me from becoming Beedrill food."
Orion smiles. "I'm glad you're safe," he says. "Now, do you still want to continue exploring the Sanctuary? You still have some time left."
Barbara shudders at the thought. "No, thank you," she says, her voice firm. "I think I've seen enough for one day. It's beautiful, but it's also a little too dangerous for my taste."
"Alright," Orion says, "if you say so. Let's head back to the main lobby then. Pikachu, you coming?"
Pikachu nods, hops onto Orion's shoulder, and the trio turns back towards the portal, leaving the Sanctuary behind. Barbara wonders about the Pokemon, and about what she learned about the ecosystem. She needs to rethink how she views them, but she still doesn't know what to make of them.
Back at the portal, they step through it, and they are back in the lobby of Pokemon Home. Latias is still at the front desk, and she looks relieved to see them. "What was that all about?" she asks.
"Just a little misunderstanding with some Beedrill," Orion says with a laugh. "Barbara got a little too close for comfort."
"I see," Latias says, giving Barbara a sympathetic look. "Well, I'm glad you're alright."
"It's a shame you weren't able to connect with any of the Pokémon in the Sanctuary today. It can be difficult to find the right fit," Orion says, then snaps his fingers. "Say, Barbara, have you considered trying your luck with the lottery? You might find a Pokémon that's a better match for you."
***
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