Pond

"The Pokémon that fits all those conditions... could it be Tangrowth?"

Tong Hua carefully followed his train of thought. "Judging by its shape, that tentacle was most likely a Vine Whip, which would mean it was a Grass-type Pokémon.

"Among Sinnoh's Grass-type Pokémon, the Turtwig family, the Budew family, and Carnivine are all possibilities too.

"But only Tangrowth would have that kind of dark blue Vine Whip."

The more Tong Hua thought about it, the more convinced he became that his guess was right.

"The biggest question now is why it did that. Was it just playing a prank? Or was it trying to get my attention and tell me something..."

Tong Hua closed his eyes, and the scene of that tentacle beckoning to him surfaced in his mind again.

Taken on its own, that gesture could have been a provocation, or it could have been asking him to come closer.

"But why wouldn't it just show itself? I don't get it. I really should go back and take another look."

Tong Hua immediately decided to return to the stream to investigate. Turtwig and Minccino, who had just woken up, insisted on going too.

Unable to dissuade them, Tong Hua could only remind them to stay close to him.

"Miltank, Bounsweet, please keep watching the house. Remember not to open the door to strangers."

"Milu!" "Ama!"

Miltank and Bounsweet nodded. They certainly wouldn't open the door to strangers.

"I'm counting on you, then. We'll be back soon!"

Tong Hua rushed out of the house with Turtwig and Minccino, running toward the Small Stream where he had been fishing earlier.

The two Celebi followed on either side of Tong Hua. They were also very curious about the true identity of that tentacle that had appeared so suddenly.

"If I remember correctly, that should be..."

Holding an umbrella, Tong Hua jogged along with the four Pokémon and soon returned to the area near the Small Stream.

Rather than easing up, the rain was gradually getting heavier.

As soon as Tong Hua and his companions reached the vicinity of the Pond, they heard a commotion coming from its waters nearby.

"Game!"

Turtwig suddenly grew agitated and sped toward the Pond.

"What's wrong?" Tong Hua looked in that direction. Water was splashing around the Pond, and he could faintly hear the sounds of Pokémon fighting.

"Oh no!" Tong Hua's heart clenched. "Could something have happened to the Bibarel family?"

He immediately changed direction and ran toward the Pond with his Pokémon.

At that moment, only a few Bidoof were struggling desperately in the Pond.

Something unknown was lurking beneath the water, extending numerous thick tentacles and churning up the Pond!

Bibarel, the head of the family, and the other Bidoof were still out catching fish. Only these Bidoof, the first to return, had happened upon the scene.

It had all started a little over ten minutes earlier, when the first Bidoof to return accidentally discovered that creature and curiously tossed a pebble at it to test its reaction...

The creature had suddenly begun churning the water as though it had gone berserk, spinning all the fish in the Pond dizzy!

Several Magikarp leaped onto the bank as though fleeing a disaster. The ordinary fish had no way to resist at all and could only be swept along by the currents...

"Lili!"

Seeing this, the Bidoof jumped into the water, hoping to drive the creature away, but not a single one could get close.

Those tentacles were powerful and moved extremely fast even underwater. Not even the Bidoof, normally so adept at moving underwater, could dodge them all.

Just as the Bidoof were at their wits' end, Tong Hua and his companions finally arrived.

The sight before him made Tong Hua draw a sharp breath. Even in his previous life, he had never witnessed anything like it firsthand.

A huge mass resembling aquatic plants lurked in the Pond, with countless curved tentacles flailing wildly beneath the surface...

"This is seriously draining my sanity..."

Still, it also convinced Tong Hua that the creature was most likely Tangrowth!

"We need to calm him down first!" Tong Hua stopped the Bidoof beside him from jumping back into the water, then looked at his companions.

"Labi!" The pink Celebi volunteered to help ease Tong Hua's worries.

Even she had recognized that the creature underwater was undoubtedly the Tangrowth who lived in the forest.

He was supposed to be a gentle Pokémon. She had no idea why he had ended up like this.

"Sorry for the trouble, Celebi. Please calm that Tangrowth down!"

"Labi!" The pink Celebi lightly flew toward the center of the Pond, a soft green glow beginning to radiate from her body.

She slowly released Heal Bell, and rings of tangible, healing sound waves rippled across the water.

Seeing this, the green Celebi joined in. Their bells intertwined, forming a warm curtain of light that enveloped the entire Pond.

The wildly flailing tentacles gradually slowed, and the ripples on the surface eased as well.

Tong Hua seized the opportunity to step forward and call down into the Pond. "Tangrowth! We mean you no harm! Please calm down first!"

"Game!" "Lili!"

Turtwig and Minccino called out loudly too, both little Pokémon doing what they could to help Tong Hua.

"Lili!" The Bidoof on the bank also joined Tong Hua and his companions in coaxing him. With everyone's efforts, the Pokémon beneath the water finally responded.

The shadow in the water slowly rose, and an enormous figure finally broke the surface.

Just as Tong Hua had thought, he was indeed a Tangrowth.

But something about his condition was strange. His big, watery eyes were bright red, looking for all the world as though he had just been crying.

"Momo..."

Even his cry sounded so aggrieved that Tong Hua became all the more certain this Tangrowth had run into some sort of trouble.

"What happened? Tell us. We can help you."

Tong Hua slowly approached the edge of the Pond and crouched down, trying to make his voice as gentle as possible.

Tangrowth's tentacles swayed lightly across the water. Some had become tangled together, and he simply tore them off.

Large numbers of loose vines floated across the surface, nearly turning the water blue-green.

"Momo..." Tangrowth hung his head, a few tentacles unconsciously stirring the water. He looked deeply uneasy.

The pink Celebi gently flew over to Tangrowth and patted his head with her tiny hand, as though comforting him.

The green Celebi came closer too, using Heal Pulse to soothe his emotions.

"Momo?" Tangrowth seemed to recognize the green Celebi, and his wariness vanished at once.

"Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you," Tong Hua said softly. "Have you run into some kind of trouble?"

After thinking for a long while, Tangrowth nodded, then walked out of the Pond and beckoned to Tong Hua.

"Are you asking us to follow you?

"Bidoof, sorry, but could you take care of things here?"

"Lili!"

"Thank you."

After receiving their agreement, Tong Hua and the four Pokémon followed Tangrowth, leaving the Bidoof to clean up the mess in the Pond.

"Lili!"

The Bidoof returned all the Magikarp that had leaped out of the Pond to the water, while also gathering up the vines Tangrowth had torn off.

Those vines made pretty good food for them. They were also sturdy and durable, so they could save some to use as building materials.

Not a bad deal.

With that thought, the Bidoof put even more energy into their work.

Meanwhile, Tangrowth led Tong Hua and his companions into the Wind-Circling Forest, where damp branches and leaves kept brushing against them.

Raindrops slid down the leaves, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and fresh grass.

"Momo..." Tangrowth suddenly stopped, pointing his tentacles ahead.

Tong Hua pushed aside the branches blocking his view, revealing a waterfall before him.

At that very moment, someone else had also arrived there.

"Damn it, the trail ends here. Are there no more clues?"

Tong Hua looked toward the voice and saw someone muttering to themselves beside the pool beneath the waterfall.

Judging by their clothes, they seemed to be a Ranger.