In the Eternal Forest under the twilight, Vespiquen was tallying the nectar harvested by her Combees today. It seemed that the recent upbeat music had greatly boosted their work efficiency.
The honey was stored in hexagonal containers, neatly arranged around Vespiquen's throne.
The bright yellow honey was nearly overflowing. Vespiquen dipped a claw into it, tasted a bit, and revealed a blissful expression. Settling in the Sunset Forest had indeed been a wise decision.
She carefully sealed the honey with beeswax, ensuring that it would stay fresh for a long time.
"Bzzz~"
As night fell, Vespiquen released her unique pheromones. All the Combees immediately stopped their work, landed on the ground, and pressed tightly together, forming a circular barrier around the honey containers.
The remaining Combees orderly landed on top of them, stacking layer by layer like bricks. A yellow wall quickly formed.
Vespiquen's pheromones also summoned the remaining Combees still out foraging. The last group returned, forming a lid in mid-air and dropping down to seal the circular wall.
Thus, a hive made of Combees was formed. They huddled together, sharing warmth to fend off the night's chill.
Inside the hive, Vespiquen enjoyed the cozy environment, nurturing her new brood and feeding them sweet honey.
Each night, Vespiquen and the Combees performed this same routine to safeguard their future and ward off intruders.
Moonlight bathed the Eternal Forest. Near the hive, a pair of jet-black eyes peeked out from behind a tree. The Teddiursa, which had been trailing the Combees all day, finally saw its chance.
It licked its paw absentmindedly, but the stored honey on it had long been depleted.
The dry taste made it anxious. Staring at the sweet honey just within reach, the Teddiursa decided to take a risk. Since it couldn't break in head-on, it would dig its way in from underground.
It began to dig a tunnel straight to the hive, planning to sneak in and feast.
However, the inexperienced Teddiursa failed to realize a critical point: Vespiquen would never leave her hive undefended against such a strategy. The Combees closest to the ground were the most sensitive to vibrations.
By morning, Summer was awakened by the buzzing sounds. Last night's concert had lasted until midnight, with three encores that left Peirs and Roxie completely drained, forcing them to end the performance.
As the music stopped, Marnie also decided to bid farewell to Summer.
She needed to take care of her exhausted older brother. Based on past experience, Peirs would likely be bedridden for three days before recovering, and Marnie had to step in to handle subsequent matters.
A faint blush hidden under the neon lights, Marnie smiled and said goodbye, her fingers brushing her cheek as she softly said:
"Today was amazing. Thank you so much, Summer. Bye-bye!"
"I feel the same. I'll never forget tonight," Summer replied immediately.
Marnie's blue eyes flickered slightly before she turned away, lowered her hands, and walked off with a cheerful stride, her face still glowing with a smile.
After seeing Marnie off, Summer prepared to head home as well. There was work as a ranger awaiting tomorrow.
Carrying the drowsy Ogerpon and Rillaboom, Summer returned to Sunset Forest. He pushed open the wooden door, settled Ogerpon in, and collapsed into bed himself.
Recalling the events of the night, Summer cleared his mind slightly before getting up.
Outside, Vespiquen was holding a pitiful Teddiursa. The little one had been caught red-handed trying to steal honey last night, so she had come to Summer for an explanation.
Since Summer had helped her colony settle in the Sunset Forest, and the thief was a bear, a species he seemed to have close ties with, Vespiquen had refrained from taking immediate action.
"It's your fault for stealing honey, so don't play the pity card. And you're not even a resident of Sunset Forest, are you?" Summer quickly pieced together the situation and stared at the Teddiursa.
Vespiquen understood and revealed her sharp claws. That was her way of saying she was free to deal with the intruder however she pleased.
The Teddiursa's tear glands couldn't hold back any longer. Large drops of tears flowed down its face. It was used to humans falling for its cuteness, but this human was so cold-hearted. It thought, My life is over!
"However, Vespiquen, let me remind you of something. Without your guard, your hard-earned honey might attract even more dangerous creatures," Summer said.
Hearing this, Vespiquen's amber eyes widened. Oh no! Her children wouldn't stand a chance against that big bear!
She immediately tossed the Teddiursa aside and hurriedly flew back to the hive, praying that the intruder hadn't eaten too much.
The Teddiursa, narrowly escaping death, wiped its tears. Summer sighed and said, "Really, you should check the opponent's strength before making a move. If this weren't Sunset Forest, you might have already become Vespiquen's next meal."
The Teddiursa finally realized that the human had just saved it. Overwhelmed with gratitude, it hugged Summer's leg, proving that playing cute still worked.
"Oh, Rillaboom, you're awake. Great timing—come with me to check on this little guy's elder," Summer said, pointing to the Teddiursa clinging to his leg before looking inside.
Ogerpon was lying on her back, sound asleep. With a fond smile, Summer said, "Let her sleep a bit longer. Let's go."
Rillaboom nodded silently, picked up the Teddiursa, and followed Summer. Since it was a bear, it was best to leave it with Ursaluna.
In the Eternal Forest, the Combees were doing their best to fend off the thick-skinned Ursaluna. Faced with empty honey containers, Ursaluna patted its stomach in satisfaction.
"Sunset Forest honey never disappoints!" it exclaimed.
When Vespiquen arrived, she was furious. A command to attack merely tickled the Ursaluna's sturdy Mud Armor.
"I knew it," Summer sighed as he arrived late to the scene. "Ursaluna, aren't the berries in Sunset Forest enough for you?"
Ursaluna scratched its head sheepishly. "We bears just can't resist honey," it seemed to say.
Vespiquen, exasperated, turned to Summer for help. She didn't want to leave this magical forest, nor did she want this big bear stealing her honey freely.
"I've got it. Here's what we'll do," Summer said.
He had already considered a solution: Ursaluna would work for Vespiquen in exchange for honey. Its strength could fend off any Pokémon eyeing the honey.
Vespiquen reluctantly agreed but declared that Ursaluna wouldn't get another drop of honey until it repaid what it had taken.
Ursaluna, knowing it was in the wrong, accepted. It didn't want the Combees to leave, as losing access to honey would be devastating. An occasional taste of honey wasn't a bad compromise.
With the agreement in place, Summer handed the Teddiursa over to Ursaluna. Seeing it always alone without its kind, he thought it was good to give it a companion.
As Summer left, Teddiursa looked up at Ursaluna and asked, "Elder, why do you respect Summer so much?"
Ursaluna simply smiled. "Because he provides us with food."
Teddiursa licked its sweet paw, thinking, If it were me, I'd feel the same.
Ursaluna said no more. To it, the food Summer provided wasn't just sustenance; it was a token of great kindness.