---
Everything unfolded before Nemona's eyes.
She couldn't tear her gaze away from Dragonite's overwhelming power and Eric's calm demeanour. Eyes wide, she let out a small gasp, overwhelmed by the sight.
'So this… this is what it means to be a Trainer?'
Her mind flashed back to the helplessness she felt when the kidnappers captured her. In that moment, a seed of determination sprouted within her heart.
Eric, unaware of Nemona's inner resolve, checked his phone to confirm that his message to the local police station in Little Spoon Town had been successfully delivered. He then glanced toward the rundown warehouse ahead.
"This side is taken care of," he murmured. "Luxray and the others should be wrapping things up too."
Sliding off Dragonite's back, Eric turned to lift Nemona down as well. Nemona, her arms wrapped tightly around Eric's neck, felt her cheeks flush as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
'He's so reliable' she thought, her ears tinged with red.
Suddenly, Nemona's sense of comfort shattered. From the shadow Eric cast in the sunlight, a pair of eerie, violet claws emerged, creeping toward his legs.
Her pupils constricted in alarm, and fear gripped her.
Neither Eric nor Dragonite, who had its attention fixed on the warehouse, noticed the danger.
---
Earlier…
Luxray and the other five Pokémon had charged toward the warehouse as soon as Eric sent them out.
As they approached, Luxray's golden eyes began to glow. Its special ability, X-ray Vision, activated, allowing it to see through the iron and stone barriers of the warehouse.
Everything inside became clear:
By the east and west windows stood a few Pokémon, likely acting as guards.
In the centre of the warehouse were five people: two adult kidnappers and three weak, terrified children tied up on the floor.
Luxray narrowed its eyes, formulating a plan. A direct assault would be too risky. Their size and power would immediately alert the kidnappers, and any reckless action might endanger the children.
The solution was to apply targeted pressure. But neither Luxray, Swampert, nor Aegislash could fine-tune their abilities to such precision. Only one Pokémon could: Serperior.
Luxray growled softly, communicating its strategy to the others. Serperior responded with a confident hiss: "Serp! (No problem!)"
The plan was simple:
Aegislash and Swampert would handle the guards at the western window.
Luxray would deal with the eastern side.
Serperior would use its precise control over Intimidate to paralyze the kidnappers, creating an opening to rescue the children with its vines.
---
The execution was flawless.
Luxray, cloaked in an electric aura, barreled through the eastern wall, its Wild Charge knocking out three Golbat in an instant.
On the western side, Swampert launched Aegislash into the air with a powerful throw. Aegislash descended with its fiery Sacred Sword, cleaving through three Raticate and the wall itself.
The kidnappers, stunned by the sudden destruction, froze in place.
Taking advantage of their shock, Serperior unleashed its controlled Intimidate, forcing the two men into submission while carefully sparing the children.
With a flick of its vines, Serperior snatched the three terrified kids, pulling them to safety.
---
Amid the chaos, Mimikyu stood near the entrance, unnoticed as always.
Luxray and the others hadn't deliberately ignored it; Mimikyu's naturally weak presence simply made it easy to overlook. Still, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
Raising its shadowy claws, Mimikyu scratched them together in frustration. Feeling overlooked again, it decided to seek comfort from Eric.
Slipping into the shadows, Mimikyu used its ability to travel through them and emerged in Eric's shadow.
---
Back in the present…
Mimikyu extended its claws from Eric's shadow, intending to tug on his shorts for attention.
But before it could, Nemona, still perched on Eric's arm, noticed the shadowy claws. Her face paled in panic, thinking some terrible monster was about to attack.
"Kyuu?" Mimikyu tilted its head, puzzled by her reaction.
Hearing the familiar sound, Eric immediately realized what was happening. "Mimikyu? When did you get here?"
Nemona froze, her fear giving way to confusion. She stared at the small Pokémon in Eric's shadow.
"…Mimikyu is your partner?" she asked, her voice uncertain.
Eric smiled. "Of course. Mimikyu's been with me for a long time."
Realizing she had panicked over nothing, Nemona's expression turned sheepish. 'At least he didn't notice how scared I was…'
Mimikyu, meanwhile, crawled onto Eric's shoulder, basking in the warmth of his presence. Though its heart felt slightly mended, it couldn't shake the strange feeling it got from Nemona.
Unlike others, she had noticed Mimikyu almost immediately. How?
---
Moments later, sirens wailed in the distance.
The police finally arrived, accompanied by a sleek, expensive car pulling up behind them.
Eric glanced over at Nemona, who was comforting the other three children. She had already earned their trust with her warm demeanour.
His gaze then shifted to the three tied-up kidnappers, who lay on the ground, thoroughly restrained by Serperior's Frenzy Plant. Their mouths were gagged with vines, sparing everyone from their foul language.
With a smirk, Eric quipped, "Congratulations, gentlemen, on your brand-new silver bracelets!"
---
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