The Embodiment of the North Wind (Please Keep Reading!!!)

Chen Yan emerged from his tent with an aching back and stretched his limbs.

He really wasn't used to sleeping in a tent. The sleeping bag restricted his movements too much. He would have to buy a sleeping mat when he reached Sandgem Town. At least then he could roll around as much as he liked.

Exhausted from the day before, Chen Yan had slept until almost noon.

He raised his head and gazed up at the forest canopy. Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves in dappled patches, while the cries of all kinds of Pokémon echoed around him.

Another new day, Chen Yan thought, his hands on his hips.

After spacing out for a while, he came back to his senses and looked for Gengar and Weedle. Gengar was lying in the hammock he had made with String Shot, while an excessively plump Weedle dangled beside Gengar from a strand of silk, swaying back and forth.

Chen Yan walked over and discovered that Gengar was telling Weedle a story, though Gengar had twisted its contents beyond recognition.

He listened carefully for a while. When Gengar said that true masters were always cool and aloof, he suddenly recalled Weedle's change in behavior yesterday.

"So... Weedle, you weren't talking yesterday because you wanted to act cool and aloof?"

Chen Yan's voice interrupted Gengar's storytelling.

Weedle looked at Chen Yan with those adorably vacant eyes and nodded that chubby head.

"Weee-"

Boss said I'd become an unrivaled master just like Gengar, but masters have to learn to be cool and aloof.

Chen Yan looked at Gengar, who flashed a guilty grin.

"Why aren't you acting cool and aloof?" Chen Yan asked Gengar.

"Gengar..."

I tried too, but I'm a chatterbox... remember?

"You..." Chen Yan stared at the utterly unashamed Gengar, at a loss for words.

Then he turned to Weedle and asked, "Will you protect me when I'm in danger?"

Weedle nodded without hesitation.

"Then, to me, you're already the greatest master in the world. So you don't have to act aloof and stay silent."

Weedle blinked those adorably vacant little eyes, thought for a moment, then shook that head with difficulty.

"Weee-"

No! A lofty master! A lofty attitude! That's how it has to be!

"Why?"

Because they're both lofty.

"..." Listening to Weedle's explanation, Chen Yan felt utterly helpless. He scratched behind his ear and said,

"All right. As long as you're happy, I'll support whatever you do."

"Weee~"

Hehe~ I love Chen Yan the most~

After Chen Yan caught Weedle, the Miracle Leaf had won Weedle over completely.

Besides, traveling with Chen Yan and Gengar had brought Weedle more fun than ever before.

How come no bug ever thought of throwing themselves out and then pulling themselves back?

Gengar said Chen Yan taught that trick too.

Humans are amazing. No wonder only humans catch Pokémon, and Pokémon don't catch humans.

"Oh, right. Have you two had breakfast?"

"Gengar-"

Yep. Had berries.

"Weee-"

Had leaves.

"Berries? Where did you get berries?"

"Gengar-"

Borrowed them nearby.

"Didn't I buy plenty of breakfast food? Why did you go robbing someone again?"

"Gengar-"

Gotta save money!

"Fine, then. I'm going to have breakfast. Want some more?"

"Gengar..."

Hmm... yep! I want a sandwich!

"Then set up the table and get the breakfast out yourself. I'll go brush my teeth and wash up first."

With that, Chen Yan pulled Weedle down from the silk, cradled Weedle in his arms, and headed toward the lake.

Gengar sprang out of the hammock and happily followed Chen Yan.

After breakfast, Chen Yan checked the clothes he had washed the night before. They were still a little damp. To pass the time while they dried, he found a suitable angle, set up the camera, and started playing dodgeball with Gengar and Weedle using a beanbag.

Their laughter soon attracted some of the gentler Pokémon. They cautiously gathered around, watching the game from the trees or from a distance.

One bold Aipom approached Chen Yan, glanced at him, then jumped up and caught the beanbag with that tail. Under Chen Yan's gaze, Aipom copied his throwing technique and tossed it back out.

The nimble little chubby bug twisted that waist with a boyish wiggle and dodged the beanbag, and Aipom officially joined the game.

With Aipom taking the lead, the other Aipom, Pachirisu, Bidoof, and various Pokémon joined in too.

During lunch, the wild Pokémon who had played with them generously shared their berries with Chen Yan. In return, he made a big pot of food suitable for wild Pokémon and shared it with them.

Taking advantage of how close he had grown to these wild Pokémon, Chen Yan grabbed a Pachirisu that was nibbling on a berry, lifted Pachirisu up, buried his face deep in that belly, and took a hearty sniff.

With Growlithe absent, Chen Yan had finally gotten his fix.

From sniffing dogs to sniffing squirrels-getting his fix sure wasn't easy.

However, a Pokémon living in the wild had rather coarse fur, and it also left him feeling a little tingly. Chen Yan's face was still numb, and even the hair on his head had stood on end.

Once his clothes had dried, Chen Yan stood up and clapped his hands, then told the wild Pokémon living nearby that he was about to leave and that they should all head home.

After the wild Pokémon left, Chen Yan and Gengar packed up. Once everything was put away, Gengar suddenly remembered something, floated over to the lake, and reached into the water to rummage around.

Chen Yan was about to ask what Gengar was looking for, but before he could speak, Gengar pulled the makeshift fishing rod he had made yesterday out of the water.

Chen Yan shook his head with a helpless smile. "That's really easy to make. We can make another next time we need one. If you want, we can buy one in Sandgem Town too."

"Gengar-"

That's different.

Gengar put the fishing rod away. Hearing that response, Chen Yan let Gengar have that way.

As the human and ghost talked, a breeze blew in from the north, carrying a hint of moisture.

Leading that breeze, a pale blue, almost white Pokémon came riding the wind, stopped beside the lake, and lowered that head to drink.

Two white, ribbonlike tails curled around the Pokémon, with a blue, gemlike crest atop that head and patches of white markings across that body.

Gentle and elegant, this Pokémon truly lived up to the title of the embodiment of the north wind.

Suicune quietly drank from the lake, surrounded by a soothing north wind.

The embodiment of the north wind, Suicune? And a shiny one?

Chen Yan stared at the figure drinking from the lake, his mouth slightly open. Snapping out of his daze, he hurried over to the camera, picked it up, stopped the video recording, and switched to photo mode. He found a reasonably suitable position and quickly pressed the shutter.

The shutter clicked rapidly, one sound after another.

Suicune raised that head and looked at Chen Yan with amber eyes, staring silently at the camera in his hands.

Seeing this, Chen Yan lowered the camera, walked to the lakeside, and cautiously greeted Suicune.

"Hello, Suicune."

Suicune studied Chen Yan for quite a while before slowly nodding.

As one of the legendary beasts, Suicune was much friendlier toward humans than the other two, and also had the gentlest temperament.

Many people had been saved by Suicune before.

That was why, upon seeing Chen Yan taking photos, Suicune hadn't immediately left, instead staying to observe him.

Chen Yan also took the opportunity to study the shiny Suicune before him.

Suicune probably had the most drastic reversal in reputation of any legendary. Early on, Suicune had been portrayed so well: the embodiment of the north wind, capable of instantly purifying polluted water, elegant in appearance, gentle in nature...

But after being caught in that net and then captured with a Poké Ball, Suicune had been reduced to a "water dog."

But what does that matter? The one turned into a "water dog" was a regular Suicune. What's that got to do with a shiny Suicune?

Suicune gave a soft cry, asking what Chen Yan wanted.

"Could I take a few photos of you? Just a few. It'll be quick."

Suicune looked at the device in his hands and slowly nodded.

Chen Yan seized the opportunity and began taking photos of Suicune. Eventually, he simply walked right up beside Suicune and took close-ups of that face.

My first time seeing a legendary Pokémon, and it's even shiny! What does that mean? It means I'm definitely in for some good luck!

Chen Yan lost track of how many photos he had taken. When he noticed Suicune growing a little impatient, he stopped.

"Sorry. I got a little carried away."

Suicune nodded lightly and turned to leave.

"Um... Suicune."

Suicune looked back, eyes narrowing.

Chen Yan flashed Gengar's signature grin, pointed at the camera, and asked, "Could you say hello to everyone watching?"

The ribbons beside Suicune fluttered gently. A north wind blew in from afar, gathering into a small swirl that swept up the fallen leaves nearby. It circled in front of Chen Yan's camera a few times before finally dispersing.

With that done, Suicune rode the north wind away, continuing the search for the next source of pure water.

Chen Yan looked at the footage on his camera, immensely satisfied.

[The shiny legendary beasts of Crown City: The shiny legendary beasts are Crown City's guardians, constantly protecting it from harm. How lucky-you encountered one of them, Suicune, today and took photos. Gained 500 View Count.]

[The embodiment of the north wind: The north wind should be known and remembered. Share your recorded photos or videos of Suicune so that more people can learn about this Pokémon. Reward: 300 View Count.]

[Three as one: As their name implies, there are three legendary beasts. Find the other two and photograph them. You might receive other "generous rewards."]

(Note: The three legendary beasts must belong to a matching set. A shiny Suicune must be matched with the shiny forms of the other two.)

Wow! There are quests too.

Chen Yan looked at the quests the system had given him. The first was practically a freebie. All he had to do was post the photos or video to earn 300 View Count. No reason to turn that down.

As for the second quest, he would be traveling around the Sinnoh Region for a long time anyway. He could look for the other two along the way. Who knew? He might actually find them.

Generous rewards... just how generous are we talking?

Chen Yan was filled with anticipation.

After Suicune left, he packed up his belongings and continued toward Sandgem Town with Gengar and Weedle.