Lord Sentret Was in a Bad Mood (Please Bookmark!)

When Dian returned to the lakeside carrying a pile of Berries, he found his Misdreavus circling Hoppip, while Hoppip covered its eyes with its leaves as though it were shy around strangers.

"Mis."

"Hop-hop, hop-hop."

Hoppip suddenly moved its leaves aside and cried out twice.

"Mis-mis!"

Misdreavus laughed happily, then stretched the corners of her mouth apart, making a funny face.

"Hop-hop, hop-hop!"

Hoppip bounced happily, only to be swept up by a little breeze when it let its guard down. "Hop~"

"Mis!"

Seeing Hoppip take flight startled Misdreavus, and she quickly caught it with her shadow to keep it from blowing away.

Nearby, Beedrill glanced over before returning its attention to its training.

Dian nodded. It seemed his three Pokémon got along pretty well.

After all, managing the relationships between his Pokémon was part of a Trainer's job.

With them getting along so well, he had much less to worry about.

Dian had barely set the Berries on the ground when he heard a piercing scream.

He sighed, knowing trouble would be arriving shortly.

Sure enough, a panicked young woman soon came running out behind him. Had Brock, with his weakness for older women, been there, he probably would have gone straight over to flirt without a second thought.

Unfortunately, Dian was currently in his little-girl-loving phase and had little interest in older women.

Liyin breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of a clearing ahead and hurried out into it.

"It's not following me anymore."

She glanced back, then immediately slumped to the ground. Without even looking around, she took the chance to catch her breath.

"The forest is so dangerous. What are those Trainers thinking, always wanting to run into places like this?"

Something suddenly occurred to Liyin, and her expression dimmed. She let out a silent sigh, tinged with helpless sorrow.

Unfortunately, the nearby Sentret could not understand—or simply could not be bothered to consider—the sadness of this two-legged creature.

Besides, it was very angry right now. Liyin had taken its spot, one it was particularly fond of. It was neither too damp nor too dry, but just right.

Shing!

A pair of sharp claws slid out, gleaming coldly.

"..."

Sentret had already extended its claws in front of the two-legged creature that dared provoke it, hoping she would know better and back off. Instead, Lord Sentret had been ignored. Ignored!!

Sentret froze for a moment, then its long ears stood upright and it bared two sharp teeth.

Liyin came back to her senses and sighed. The past was the past, and there was no undoing it. Hadn't she decided to give up and gone traveling for that very reason? Why dwell on it again?

She shook her head, ready to change her mood and look at something else.

But as soon as she raised her head, she found a creature with rabbit ears, a squirrel's tail, and a white ring on its chest staring at her intently. Its eyes even seemed a little red.

Wait, red eyes. That probably wasn't eagerness, but...

Cold sweat beaded across Liyin's forehead, and her legs went numb. "H... hello?"

"..."

Sentret propped itself up on its tail and raised both claws high, staring coldly at this brazen villain. First she had ignored it, and now she dared speak to it so arrogantly. Unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable!!

Lord Sentret had made up its mind. It would teach this two-legged creature a lesson. Otherwise, what would become of its dignity? How could it show its face around this lakeside again?

Scratch!

It swung its right claw fiercely, producing a shrill whistle through the air.

Whoosh!

A dark shadow flashed past, and Liyin was swiftly yanked aside.

"Sen-tret!"

Sentret was about to chase her with Quick Attack, but the sight of Misdreavus and Beedrill made it stop short. It waved its claws resentfully, then settled back down quietly to enjoy a comfortable sunbath by the lake.

"Sentret really is incredibly high-strung. That description couldn't be more accurate."

This Sentret had come over to provoke them every so often before, but once it realized it was no match for either Misdreavus or Beedrill, it had started pretending they did not exist.

It really was rather temperamental.

"Th-thank you!"

Liyin spoke somewhat sheepishly. The boy before her, much younger than she was, had saved her life earlier, and now it seemed he had saved her again.

"Misdreavus, take her and her ride out of the forest."

Dian ignored Liyin entirely, opting to send this enormous headache away instead.

"Mis!"

Misdreavus cried out, then quickly pulled the dazed Liyin into the air.

"Huh! Don't. I'm afraid of heights!!! Aaaaaah!!"

Coming to her senses, Liyin looked at the ground receding beneath her and hurriedly spoke up.

Unfortunately, it did no good whatsoever. Instead, it piqued Misdreavus's interest.

"Mis!"

Misdreavus looked at Liyin wrapped in her shadow and grinned at the success of her prank. She flew higher and higher, swaying from side to side as she went.

"Aah!!!!"

Liyin closed her eyes, feeling weightless all over. Fear flooded through her body and seized her heart in a merciless grip.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Liyin could clearly hear her heart protesting as it pounded violently.

She kept her mouth tightly shut—not because she did not want to scream, but because she could not open it at all.

Soon, Misdreavus found Liyin's motorcycle as well. And so, above the forest flew a Misdreavus having the time of her life, along with a person gradually overcoming her fear of heights.

"Mis?"

Misdreavus looked at Liyin below her and gave a bored cry. She glanced around, then flew swiftly in one direction.

Liyin stared numbly at the rapidly changing scenery below. Just as she gave up struggling and surrendered herself to the experience, she suddenly realized the ground was getting closer.

Misdreavus gently set Liyin and her motorcycle down on a small path outside the forest, then quickly flew back into its depths.

Only a thoroughly bewildered Liyin and a very cool black motorcycle remained.

"Is this Route 307?"

Liyin rested for a long time before finally standing up. Trembling, she steadied herself against her beloved motorcycle and barely managed to get her bearings.

"Boy!! I'll remember you! And you too!!!"

She turned to look at the gradually disappearing dark figure and sighed. Whatever else had happened, they had saved her.

Vroom!

Liyin put on her helmet and glanced back once more, suddenly feeling an inexplicable interest in Pokémon.

A smile curled at the corners of her mouth. Then she hit the throttle and sped away.