The Wilderness

"Starly, remember to keep your distance. Don't fly too far. If you spot a dangerous Pokémon, come back and tell me first. Don't charge in on your own!"

"I'm trusting you with my life!"

After their earlier desperate escape, Bai Shi was still shaken. He was unusually cautious on this trip.

The first thing he did upon entering the forest was let Starly out and give him those instructions.

He didn't want Starly getting carried away during reconnaissance, picking fights with other Pokémon and forgetting all about him.

"Star!" (Don't worry. Leave it to me!)

Entrusted with this important job, Starly patted his chest with a wing and answered confidently.

Under Bai Shi's slightly worried gaze, he flew up to scout the surrounding area.

He also kept watch over Bai Shi, ready to ward off any danger.

Only after Starly confirmed the way ahead was safe did Bai Shi follow his scouting route.

Perhaps his luck was decent today.

Or perhaps Starly had taken his words to heart.

Bai Shi had been in the forest for some time, and everything remained calm.

They hadn't encountered any particularly aggressive Wild Pokémon.

With the trip going so smoothly, Bai Shi gradually relaxed.

Some of his lingering fear faded as well.

He grew bolder, no longer creeping around as he had when he first entered the forest.

He began looking carefully for any rare Pokémon nearby worth catching.

He also hoped to pick some valuable Berries to help with expenses.

All the while, Starly scouted diligently.

Even when he encountered Wild Pokémon, he didn't provoke them.

Once he confirmed they posed no threat, he put them out of his mind and carried on with his duties.

After all, he had promised Bai Shi he would keep him safe.

Starly kept his word. No empty promises from him.

Before they knew it, noon had arrived.

"Let's stop here and find somewhere to rest!"

Having found nothing, Bai Shi rubbed his rumbling stomach.

He called Starly back from scouting.

He wanted to rest for a while and take care of lunch for them both.

Eventually, Bai Shi and Starly reached a fairly spacious clearing.

Bai Shi took some camping gear from his backpack and started cooking.

Starly perched in a nearby tree, remaining on alert.

Growing up as an orphan had made Bai Shi fairly capable with his hands.

Before long, a rich aroma rose from the pot.

"Star!" (Who goes there? Show yourself!)

Just as Bai Shi took out his bowl and chopsticks, ready to eat, Starly let out a sharp cry.

Bai Shi quickly turned and spotted a large yellow-brown rat darting out of a bush.

Drool dripped from the rat's mouth as it stared at Bai Shi's pot with red eyes.

Clearly, the drifting aroma had drawn it in.

"Is that... a Raticate?"

One look was enough for Bai Shi to recognize it as Rattata's evolved form, Raticate.

Before Bai Shi could decide how to send it away, hunger got the better of Raticate.

It used Quick Attack and charged toward Bai Shi, straight for the pot beside him.

This poor rat hasn't had a full meal in days!

"Star!" (How dare you! You won't hurt my Pokémon Trainer!)

Starly saw the rat charging and assumed it was attacking Bai Shi.

He immediately sprang into action, using Quick Attack to intercept it.

Raticate was about to reach Bai Shi when a powerful blow struck from the side and sent it flying.

The food that had been within reach grew farther and farther away.

It rolled across the ground several times before coming to a stop and scrambling back up.

It glared at Starly with bitter hatred, as though he were its mortal enemy.

It looked ready to tear Starly apart with its sharp teeth.

Opening its mouth, it sprang toward Starly in midair and tried to bite him.

"Starly, use Gust!"

With a fight now unavoidable, Bai Shi gave Starly his command.

At Bai Shi's order, Starly beat his wings hard, whipping up a powerful gust.

The wind knocked the charging Raticate to the ground.

"Now, Starly! Use Wing Attack!"

Starly spread his wings and struck Raticate across the head.

Raticate's vision went black, and it lost consciousness.

"Star!" (Just a rat. Did you really think you could take me on?)

After knocking Raticate down, Starly held his head high and cried out triumphantly.

"That Raticate was really weak!"

Bai Shi studied Raticate for a while longer, then shook his head.

He couldn't see anything about it that would be of use to him.

He had Starly carry Raticate farther away and left it to fend for itself.

As for catching it, Bai Shi simply wasn't interested.

The Pokémon League had expressly forbidden Pokémon Trainers from selling Pokémon to prevent Pokémon Hunters from becoming widespread.

Only licensed Pokémon Day Care facilities were allowed to sell Pokémon Eggs.

Someone like Suzuki could, at most, have employees voluntarily hand over Pokémon and compensate them with bonuses, skirting the rules.

Getting rich by selling Pokémon was out of the question, at least openly.

And Bai Shi had no desire to become a Pokémon Hunter or join a criminal organization like Team Rocket.

Even if he caught Raticate, he would have a hard time doing anything with it.

So Bai Shi decided to put it out of sight and out of mind.

"Better finish eating before anything else happens."

Afraid the food might attract more Wild Pokémon, Bai Shi quickly emptied the pot.

Then he took out some Pokémon Food and dried meat to reward Starly for his busy morning.

"It's the first day of my journey. I might as well check in to mark the occasion!"

"Check-In System, activate!"

With a moment to spare, Bai Shi remembered he hadn't checked in today.

He focused and pressed the Check-In Button in his mind.

"Congratulations, Pokémon Trainer. You have received one Stun Baton."

Instantly, a short black baton appeared out of thin air and fell in front of Tate.

"Oh, this thing could actually be pretty useful!"

Bai Shi picked up the Stun Baton and examined it closely.

Bzzzt!

When he pressed the switch, a powerful blue electric arc flashed.

"Not bad! Not bad!"

Bai Shi's eyes lit up, and he nodded in satisfaction.

It would be more than enough to deal with anyone who meant him harm, or with especially weak Pokémon.

After testing it a few more times, Bai Shi tucked it away where he could keep it close.

Once he and Starly had eaten, drunk, and recovered their strength, they set off again.