Misdreavus, become my Pokémon!

"Myao!"

The sudden cry shattered the silence, and Pachirisu, already thoroughly spooked by Xia Chi's horror story, jumped.

It collided head-on with a dark figure that had leaped out of the bushes.

"Pachi! (A ghost!)"

"Myao! (A ghost!)"

Both Pokémon mistook the other for a ghost. After crashing into each other, they sprang apart like repelling magnets and scrambled for shelter.

Pachirisu naturally ran to Xia Chi's side.

The dark figure had intended to dart back into the bushes, but the story it had just heard made it stop short. In the end, almost despite itself, it ran over and huddled against Xia Chi too.

Sprigatito had been frightened as well, but seeing a Pokémon pressed against each side of its Trainer, its jealousy overpowered its fear. Two vines extended from around its neck and hoisted them both up.

Only then, in the light of the campfire, did Xia Chi get a clear look at the dark figure.

It had a light, ghostlike body of dark grayish purple, with a purple mane drifting above its head like ghostly flames. A string of red spirit beads glowing with an eerie light hung around its neck, and its huge yellow eyes were squeezed shut in fear.

It was a Misdreavus!

Although Xia Chi had known a Ghost-type Pokémon was behind the mischief, he was still rather surprised.

If Ghost-type Pokémon were among the rarest Pokémon, then Misdreavus was an especially rare species even among them.

These little creatures loved playing pranks. They hid in dark places during the day to rest, then came out at night to scare people wherever they went.

This was more than just entertainment for them. They could also feed on the fear their victims produced and convert it into energy.

The jade pendant around its neck-no, the red spirit beads-was where Misdreavus stored that fear.

But are you sure you're a Misdreavus that enjoys feeding on people's fear, and not a Wimpod wearing a Misdreavus costume?

Xia Chi was honestly a little speechless as he watched the little creature curl into a terrified ball with its eyes tightly shut.

He poked the Misdreavus bound in Sprigatito's vines and asked, "Hey, are you the one who's been scaring the Oddish every night?"

Questioning a suspect while it was frightened might have been a little underhanded, but Xia Chi felt no guilt whatsoever.

You can scare the Oddish, but I can't scare you?

You've only scared yourself senseless because you're bad at this but insist on playing anyway. You brought it on yourself.

Misdreavus knew Xia Chi was on the Oddish's side too. Its eyes darted around, and it unleashed Confusion at the Sprigatito holding it captive.

It used Confusion quite cleverly, targeting not Sprigatito itself, but the ends of its vines.

Under the impact of the Psychic-type energy, Sprigatito instantly lost control of its vines.

As soon as they loosened, Misdreavus nimbly slipped through the gap and escaped.

Before fleeing, it turned back, bared its two little fangs, and made a face at Xia Chi, then darted toward the bushes.

"Spriga! (You launched a sneak attack!)"

Sprigatito was about to give chase indignantly, but Xia Chi stopped it.

"No need to chase it, Sprigatito."

Xia Chi raised a finger, a mysterious smile on his face. "Five, four, three..."

Before he could count the last two numbers, Misdreavus came shooting out of the bushes.

Its mischievous grin was gone, replaced by utter terror.

Xia Chi couldn't hold back his laughter after all.

I knew this little coward wouldn't dare go back into the bushes.

Sometimes, psychological damage hurt far more than physical injury.

"Myao! (How can you still laugh?!)"

Watching the culprit laugh so shamelessly, Misdreavus ground its little fangs in fury.

"All right, you're not leaving anyway. Come have something to eat with us."

Following the stick with a carrot, Xia Chi beckoned Misdreavus over for a late-night snack.

A pot of rich, milky-white cream of mushroom soup bubbled over the campfire, giving off an enticing aroma.

He had learned this in his elective Pokémon care class: most Ghost-type Pokémon had a sweet tooth, and this dish suited their tastes perfectly.

Xia Chi certainly didn't have the cooking skills for it, but concentrated soup stock did.

Food safety standards in this world were excellent, though, so this pot of soup really was clean and hygienic.

Misdreavus couldn't help swallowing at the aroma, but its pride left it hesitant. It didn't particularly want to accept a humiliating handout.

It turned to look into the pitch-black depths of the forest, its expression uncertain.

Xia Chi didn't pressure it. He merely said in an ominous tone, "You wouldn't want to run into Banette on your way back, would you..."

Misdreavus's expression froze. Its defenses crumbled completely, and it obediently came over to the campfire.

As it turned out, once Misdreavus stopped causing trouble, the eerie, unsettling atmosphere became peaceful and serene.

Misdreavus couldn't actually change its surroundings. What had changed wasn't the environment, but the state of mind of Xia Chi and the Pokémon.

Seeing that the problem had been resolved, the Oddish emerged from the soil and sat in rows, basking in their beloved moonlight.

Xia Chi didn't force Misdreavus to apologize to the Oddish.

Just as Pokémon competed for resources to survive, the fear of other Pokémon was something Misdreavus needed.

Misdreavus scaring the Oddish to feed on their fear was a normal part of the ecosystem of wild Pokémon.

It was just like when the swarm of Beedrill had bullied Pachirisu before. Without strength, everything you did was wrong.

Reason with a powerful Pokémon?

All you'd get were answers like, "Sorry, I thought it was a Caterpie, so I stepped on it," "Go home and tell your mom," or "We're all just doing our best to survive."

Xia Chi's intervention was no different in essence from their actions. He had simply taken Pachirisu and the others' side.

Of course, exposing Misdreavus hadn't completely solved the predicament Pachirisu and the Oddish faced.

There was still one final step.

"Misdreavus, become my Pokémon."

Xia Chi's sudden invitation made the peaceful late-night meal feel a little off.

Pachirisu looked at Xia Chi with a hint of hurt, its gaze saying something along the lines of, "But I was here first."

Sprigatito turned its head away, suppressing its jealousy.

It knew Xia Chi had come here to catch a new Pokémon.

But why does that line sound so familiar... Can't you phrase it differently?

Misdreavus, which had been happily drinking soup from a bowl held up with Confusion, stared blankly at Xia Chi.

"Myao? (Huh?)"

Xia Chi earnestly laid out his reasons. "First, if you come with me, you'll get to hear more horror stories like that."

Misdreavus was the sort of Pokémon that was terrible at something yet couldn't stop playing. Although it had been frightened, its excitement while listening to the story had been genuine too.

"Myao."

Misdreavus's crimson eyes darted around. It looked slightly tempted.

Xia Chi continued, "Second, if you come with me, you'll get to drink more delicious mushroom soup like this."

"Myao. (Gulp.)"

Misdreavus swallowed, even more tempted.

"Third, I'll raise you to be incredibly strong, just like my Sprigatito."

Trainers weren't the only ones who longed to grow stronger. Wild Pokémon living in a world where the strong preyed on the weak wanted it even more.

Misdreavus glanced sidelong at Sprigatito and muttered, "Myao."

That one? It isn't even that strong.

Sprigatito's fur immediately bristled. "Spriga! (I've put up with you long enough!)"

Seeing this, Xia Chi knew neither would accept the other unless they had a battle.

He simply made the call. "Then let's battle. Misdreavus, if you lose, you'll become my Pokémon."

Misdreavus answered with absolute confidence, "Myao!"

Sprigatito replied with a sneer. "Spriga!"