Returning home, Natsume's mother was busy lighting the fire to cook. Upon seeing him, she was visibly surprised.

  "Mom, what's for dinner?"

  Natsume casually sat down, grabbed a Bayberry from the bowl, and handed oo Haunter.

  "Oh, just some simple dishes," Misuzu said, brushing off her apron before sittio Natsume. "How's school?"

  "It's fine. Where's Dad?"

  "He went to pick Berries on your Uncle's hill. He'll be back soon."

  Misuzu had already noticed Haunter mung on the Bayberry but chose not to ask, simply watg it with a kind smile.

  "Is this your Pokémon?"

  "Yeah, just caught it."

  "Let it eat more. It looks so thin."

  As they chatted, Natsume's father came in, carrying a rge sack over his shoulder, his eyes lighting up when he saw Natsume.

  "Hey, Natsume's back!"

  "Dad, how many Berries did you pick?"

  Makoto, with graying temples, chuckled. "Not much, just a few from your Uncle's pce."

  Natsume's father used to be a teacher but couldn't adapt to the fast-paced city life, so he returo the vilge to bee a Vilge Official.

  The family had a Zigzagoon, and an Oddish took care of the potted pnts in the yard.

  Occasionally, they would py with the neighbor's Lillipup o fishing fikarp by the river. Life here had its own unique charm.

  Seeing Haunter's sinister grin, Zigzagoon wides bulging white eyes and timidly hid behind Makoto.

  Makoto gave Zigzagoon a light kid ughed. "Don't be scared, go say hello!"

  Haunter mimicked a boxer, pyfully throwing pu Zigzagoon.

  But Shadow Punch couldn't harm a Normal type, so Natsume let the two Pokémon py together.

  "How long are you staying this time?"

  "Just a couple of days. I have exams at school."

  "Your Uncle said you were on TV, something about a Piplup Cup. What kind of petition was that?"

  "Just a fan tour, nothing to worry about."

  After catg up with his father, Natsume learhat the forest on the hill was now mainly used frowing Berries.

  Berries were profitable and sold well, but they often attracted Wild Pokémon, which was a headache for Makoto, the Vilge Official.

  "You came at the right time. Go up the hill with your Uonight."

  Makoto took a puff from his pipe. "Che the nelings, make sure the Wild Pokémon haveen them all."

  Natsume asked curiously, "Are the Pokémon on the hill really that fierce?"

  "Absolutely. They've already destroyed several saplings," Makoto said, clearly distressed.

  "I always tell your U to use traps, but at this rate, we have no choice!"

  Natsume nodded. "I'll go take a look tonight."

  With Haunter's strength, dealing with a few Wild Pokémon shouldn't be a problem.

  After all, the vilge wasn't far from town. If there were any powerful Wild Pokémon, the Association would have already taken care of it.

  As the suhe smoke from the eys rose.

  Natsume's mother kept serving Haunter, making Natsume feel a bit ed.

  After dinner, Natsume took Zigzagoon for a walk and brought Haunter along to tease the local kids.

  But the kids were lively and soon started pying with Haunter.

  "Natsume, don't take my swing!"

  "Ah, I want to py on the seesaw too, Natsume, get off!"

  Natsume then visited each house with Zigzagoon, colleg fruits and snacks.

  By nightfall, Natsume was still mung on watermelon, his mouth opping.

  Life in the vilge was simple.

  And monotonous.

  "Murkrow—"

  A Murkrow perched on a power line, letting out a hoarse cry.

  As night fell, Uncle found Natsume, and they headed up the hill together.

  "Your dad told yht?" Uncle said with a smile. "It's tough on you, ing home and having to guard the forest at night."

  "It's fine, I'm used to staying up te," Natsume replied with a grin.

  Uncle was followed by a snarling Pooa, which barked nervously at Haunter.

  Haunter, oblivious, pulled its mouth wide, making crazy faces.

  The forest grew darker, the derees blog out any light.

  Uurned on a fshlight a Pooa ahead to scout.

  "Natsume, stay close. I've set up a lot of traps around here."

  Utered, "I know you sight think it's cruel... but we have no choice. If we don't catch the thieves, we'll starve."

  The Berry Orchard was the livelihood of many families in the vilge, but it was stantly pgued by Wild Pokémon.

  Natsume hadn't iigated, so he had no say, silently following behind.

  The forest echoed with the calls of partridges and low growls.

  The view suddenly opened up, revealing a sparse orchard where several saplings had already been damaged.

  "Darn it, not again!"

  Uomped his foot in frustration when a shadow darted through the bushes.

  "Pooa, go after it!"

  "Pooa!!"

  [Spirit Vision check—61, success!]

  It was too dark for Natsume to see clearly, just a bck blur, impossible to identify.

  Pooa plunged into the bushes, and Natsume shouted, "Haunter, follow it, use fuse Ray!"

  Though it might hit Pooa, fuse Ray was the best option in this situation.

  Haunter flew into the bushes with a sinister grin, and a eerie light suddenly illumihe orchard, turning it as bright as day.

  Natsume squinted, hearing a sharp cry from the bushes.

  Uncle ched his fist. "That brat stepped into a trap!"

  They rushed forward, following a trail of blood from a broken trap.

  Uncle looked puzzled. "It bit through the trap! This guy's teeth must be something else!"

  "This guy 't be too big," Natsume frowned. "Uay here. Haunter and I will go after it."

  If they didn't catch the thief tonight, Natsume wouldn't get a peaceful night's sleep in the vilge!

  "Ah? Natsume, be careful!"

  The forest was quiet except for the rustling of cicadas. A few plump Caterpie fell from the trees, hissing as they spun thick silk.

  Natsume cautiously moved along the path, stepping on dry brahat snapped loudly.

  Uhe 'Eagle's Eye' effect of Spirit Vision, the green blood footprints gradually disappeared.

  The st trace of blood was orunk of a rge camphor tree.

  Natsume looked up.

  A sharp cry rang out as a shadoed down from the tree.

  "Haunter, Protect!"

  A thick bck mist enveloped Natsume, and a barrier rose, sparking with a pale blue light!

  "fuse Ray!" Natsume squinted and shouted, "Hex!"

  Bck mist spread from Haunter, glowing eerily as it exteoward the shadow.

  But the Pokémon easily broke through the mist, lunging at Haunter!

  "Invalid? It's a Normal type!"

  Natsume cursed under his breath. "Haunter, Protect!"

  This was the Dark-type move "Bite." With Haunter's fragile body, it might not survive.

  "Spit Gas at it!"

  Haunter suddenly spewed a thick fog, causing the oppoo choke.

  "Don't set the surroundings on fire, use Will-O-Wisp!"

  Will-O-Wisp wasn't hot enough to ighe arees nearby, but it could light the dense Poison Gas.

  "Eevee—!"

  A cry of pain echoed as a blue Will-O-Wisp burst in the night, then vanished.

  Thud!

  The shadow fell heavily to the ground, letting out a hroan.

  Natsume picked up a brand carefully approached.

  "Eevee—"

  Natsume used the branch to part its fur, but it she bran an instant.

  At that moment, the System's Pokédex finally identified it.

  Natsume stared at the Pokédex in disbelief.

  He looked back at the bck ball of fur, covered in burn marks.

  Natsume muttered in astonishment:

  "Eevee?!"

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