Upon returning home, Luke's mother was busy making a fire and cooking. As she noticed their arrival, her expression shifted to one of incredulity.
"Mom, what's on the menu for dinner?"
Luke sat down with a grin, picking a bayberry from a basin and offering one to Haunter as well.
"Just some simple dishes," Lisie replied, dusting off her apron and taking a seat beside Luke. "How's school been?"
"Everything's going well. Where's Dad?"
"He's gone to your uncle's mountainside to collect berries. He'll be back later."
Lisie had already observed Haunter happily munching on bayberries, but she didn't inquire further, simply offering a kind smile to the ghost Pokémon.
"Your Pokémon?" she asked.
"Yes, I've caught it."
"Just let it eat more, and it will slim down eventually."
Luke glanced at Haunter, who appeared well-fed and robust, and couldn't help but scratch his head.
While chatting, Luke's father rushed in from outside the house, a large sack slung over his shoulder, his eyes lighting up at the sight of them.
"Hey, Little Luke's back!"
"Dad, how many berries did you gather?"
Luther chuckled. "Not a lot—just a small harvest from your uncle's place."
Originally as a teacher, Luke's father returned to the village and became a village official due to his difficulty of adapting to the fast-paced city life.
At home, they had a Zigzagoon, and the yard featured a potted Oddish. Occasionally, he would playfully interact with the neighbor's Lilipup, and sometimes he'd head to the river to catch Magikarp. This simple life was quite enjoyable.
Upon seeing the grinning Haunter, Zigzagoon's dark eyes widened, and it retreated nervously behind Luther.
Luke's father playfully kicked Zigzagoon, saying, "Don't be scared. Go over and say hi!"
With a boxer-like stance, Haunter waved its fists in greeting towards Zigzagoon.
However, since Shadow Punch didn't affect Normal-types, Luke had his two Pokémon practice their moves together.
"How long are you staying this time?"
"Just two days, then I'll head back. I have exams at school."
"Your uncle mentioned seeing you on TV—something about the Piplup Cup competition?"
"Yeah, it's just a water-themed competition. Nothing too big."
Luke chatted with his father for a while and learned that the mountainside now mainly featured berry cultivation. The high profits and steady demand for berries made them a popular choice, but they also attracted a significant number of wild Pokémon, causing headaches for Luther as the village official.
"You're here today, so you'll head up the mountain with your uncle tonight."
Luther stubbed out his cigarette. "Check on the newly planted saplings and make sure they're not eaten by wild Pokémon. Keep an eye out."
Luke asked, "Are the Pokémon on the mountain really that aggressive?"
"Well, they've killed quite a few saplings," Luther replied with a hint of frustration.
"I've been advising your uncle not to use traps. At this rate, it's impossible to maintain."
Luke nodded. "I'll take a look tonight."
With Haunter's strength, handling a batch of wild Pokémon wasn't a problem. After all, the location wasn't far from the county seat. If there truly was a powerful wild Pokémon, the Pokémon Association would have sent someone to deal with it.
As the day progressed, the smoky aroma of dinner wafted through the air. Luke's mother kept feeding Haunter, which made Luke feel rather amused.
After dinner, Luke took Zigzagoon out to eat and brought Haunter along to play with the village children. Despite their initial fear, the kids quickly warmed up to Haunter's playful antics.
"Big Brother Luke, don't hog the swing!"
"Ahhh, I want a turn on the seesaw too. Brother Luke, can you come down first?"
Luke took Zigzagoon and visited homes one by one, gathering fruit snacks for Haunter.
By evening, he was knocking on watermelon seeds nonstop.
Being a village tyrant was simple, unassuming, and, to be honest, a bit dull.
"Ga—"
Murkrow were a common sight in the village. These Pokémon were rare in the city but appeared in groups during the evening in the countryside. Although Murkrow were considered beneficial birds, Pidgey were seen as pests.
However, these distinctions were subjective and based on personal preferences, rather than accurate assessments of nature.
As the sky darkened, Luke's uncle approached, ready to head up the mountain with him.
"Your dad filled me in on everything," his uncle said with a smile. "It's tough for you. You've come home for such a short time, yet I'm asking you to help guard the forest at night."
"It's alright. I'm used to staying up late," Luke replied with a smile.
Following behind his uncle, Luke noticed a grinning Poochyena. The Pokémon approached Haunter while barking nervously.
Unaware of its actions, Haunter playfully pulled back its mouth with its fingers, creating comical expressions.
As darkness settled in, the mountain forest grew dim, with no light to guide the way.
His uncle switched on a flashlight and instructed Poochyena to lead the way.
"Stay close, Little Luke. I've set up a lot of trap cages nearby."
Luke nodded and followed his uncle. Partridge calls and low roars echoed through the forest. Several saplings in the sparse berry tree forest suddenly shook.
"Damn it, not again!" his uncle muttered, visibly irritated. Suddenly, a dark figure darted through the bushes.
"Poochyena, go after it!"
"AO!!!"
[Spirit Vision detected: Score - 61, Judgment - successful!]
The darkness made it difficult for Luke to discern the figure, just a dark mass moving swiftly. He couldn't determine what kind of Pokémon it was.
Poochyena dashed into the bushes, prompting Luke to command, "Haunter, follow and use Confuse Ray!"
While it might accidentally hit Poochyena, Confuse Ray was still the best choice in this situation.
With a mischievous grin, Haunter soared towards the grass, its ghostly glow casting an ethereal radiance that illuminated the entire Berry Tree forest, resembling daylight.
Luke narrowed his eyes, but his attention was quickly drawn to a piercing scream emanating from the bushes.
The uncle clenched his fist angrily. "That lad triggered a trap!"
Reacting swiftly, they rushed ahead, only to find a trail of blood leading from a bitten-off cage, its contents scattering around.
A peculiar expression crossed the uncle's face. "This cage was bitten through! How strong must its jaws be!"
"This Pokémon isn't too big," Luke mused, his brows furrowing. "Uncle, stay here for now. Haunter and I will pursue it."
If they couldn't capture this elusive thief tonight, there'd be no peace in the village!
"What? Be careful, Little Luke!"
"It's alright. I am one of the top four in the tournament, after all!"
Amidst the rustling of cicadas, Luke's surroundings remained eerily quiet, with a few plump Caterpie tumbling from a tree and spinning strands of thick silk.
Despite the chill, Luke prompted Haunter, "Use Substitute to lead the way, and I'll follow."
Haunter nodded in response.
Creating a mist, Haunter ventured deeper into the forest, while the familiar scream echoed once again.
With cautious steps, Luke advanced along the path, the dry branches creaking underfoot.
Thanks to the 'Eagle Eye' effect granted by Spirit Vision, the series of green bloodstains began to fade away.
The final trace of blood led to the thick trunk of a camphor tree.
Looking up, Luke's gaze was met with a sharp growl as a shadow descended from the treetop.
"Haunter, Protect!"
Squatting behind Haunter, Luke was enveloped in a dense haze as the protective barrier formed around him. The blue fire spark ignited with a shiver.
"Confuse Ray!" Luke commanded, squinting his eyes. "And then, Hex!"
Thick mist emanated from Haunter's form, radiating with a luminous glow. Simultaneously, the haze seemed to move towards the shadowy figure of its own accord.
Despite Haunter's efforts, the mysterious Pokémon effortlessly cut through the haze and lunged towards Haunter!
"No effect? It's actually a Normal-type!"
Cursing under his breath, Luke urged, "Haunter, use Protect!"
Employing the Dark-type move 'Bite,' this opponent could pose a threat to Haunter's vulnerable body.
"Approach and release some haze!"
Haunter expelled a thick cloud of fog in the direction of the shadowy figure, causing it to cough and sputter.
"Without igniting the area, use Will-O-Wisp!"
Although Will-O-Wisp's flames weren't intense, they exceeded the ignition point of a few nearby trees, proving potent enough to set this toxic haze ablaze.
"Vui~ ——!"
A piercing cry resounded as a cluster of blue Will-O-Wisp ignited in the darkness before dissipating once more.
Thud!
The shadowy figure crashed heavily to the ground, emitting a hoarse, low sound.
Equipped with a branch, Luke cautiously approached the fallen form.
Ka-cha ——
In an instant, the branch he'd extended was bitten clean through.
At that very moment, the Pokémon's details appeared on Luke's system's Pokédex.
Staring blankly at his Pokédex, Luke looked back at the singed, fur-covered figure before him.
In disbelief, he uttered, "Eevee?!"