Toa Solaric: I don't own Pokémon. Welcome back to another chapter of my Sun and Moon: Michael's Journey. Like before we mine previous divergent chapter, there will be another one here since my friend pointed out something that might be getting a bit overboard relate with Mao's issue with Michael and I'm wrote this chapter in hope of resolved it.
Sun and Moon: Michael's Journey
Ch15: To Judge Someone
Michael is sitting at the same table with his classmates in Aina's Kitchen that happens to own by Mao's father. What is he doing here? Lillie hear that Mao invite others to try out something call a 'legendary dish' and decide to bring Michael along to try.
However, Michael does noticed that the moment he enter the place. He can swore that Mao shows a brief hostile expression upon him before greeting others who come into her family restaurant. He isn't scared of Mao since she is still a student in school compared to him. Though he doesn't bother by the way she react like he first come to the school and surprised that she kept it up… but it does constantly remind him of one thing that he always remember: He doesn't belong here.
Unlike Mizuki and everyone else here, Michael is far different from the rest of them. He been through war and endured the hardship of surviving every days. They never experienced what is like to have to live like that almost every day.
He only staying on this island until he can fixed whatever happens to Lillie. It does pleased him that she can finally touched Shiron, but she still cannot deal with other Pokémon due to her strange phobia. The only one who can give him the lead on what happens is Lillie's older brother. But so far, he hadn't find any leads on where Gladion be. Gladion is the only one who know what happen and Michael is determined to get him revealed the truth before pursued the true culprit for hiding the truth.
(I doubt that Mao is going to do anything in front of everyone here.) Espeon said, sitting with other pokemon. (If she end do something to dish, we can just file a complaint to her father as he is the owner of the place. That is what a customer supposed to do.)
Among the group happens to be Shiron the Alola Vulpix and Magnus the Jangmo-o. Michael thought it might be a fitting name… for Jangmo-o to live up since he know that he will be a strong dragon type someday. He still hadn't train him yet since he want him to get more used to his own body than causing an accident to happened. The two baby pokemons doesn't have issue with each other except Shiron is more withdraw from others and preferred to be with Lillie at all times.
I guess that I could do that if she does something wrong… Michael thought.
Soon Mao made the way to the group's table. She happens to be wearing a pink apron.
"Hello, everyone!" Mao greeted with her friendly smile. "Thank you for attending today's taste testing of our new menus item!"
"Oh, it's finally time?" Kiawe asked.
"Patience!" Mao said. "It'll be done in just a little bit, so please sit tight."
She soon returns to the back of the kitchen. Her cheerful expression is soon replaced with slight angry expression. But she also let out a small sighed of relief that she back in one place where she felt safe the most. 'Why did Lillie bring him here in the first place?' She thought frustrated… and angry.
Sure, she hadn't seen him anywhere near her family restaurant. But after what happened with the skull grunts she doesn't want to be near him. She didn't want him of all people came to rescued her in the first place. His presence still made her feeling uneasy. But she convinced that he is up to something by keeping quiet to himself. Though she keep it to herself since she doesn't have any clues since it will cause problems with Lillie who seem okay with him.
Unknown to Mao, her Bounsweet looks at her with worry. The grass type seem to have an idea on what it about but not sure if she can do anything to convinced Mao to give up this unhealthy grudge on the redhead. So far the fruit pokémon observed of Michael and squad, they didn't do anything worthy to get on Mao's dislike.
"Boun…?" Bounsweet asked.
Mao then hear a loud growl and hearing Mamane moaned about not eating anything for lunch, this get her out of her thoughts before focus on the dish that she try to make. After they try the dish, then they will leave her be and he will leave her alone... that is he certainly will.
She is almost finished with the stew. But she know that she is missing one key ingredient for the dish. But it impossible for her to get in the storage since it not the season for those flowers.
She looked among her classmates' pokemon before noticed Porygon peek nearby. She finds a substitute ingredient for the dish. Mao soon have an idea before she approached the data pokemon.
"Porygon, I need your help with something…" Mao said.
Everyone saw a bright flash of lightning from the kitchen. There were concerns and worry about what Mao doing. It wasn't long until Mao emerged with pot of stew in her hands. She and the stew seem to be burned from what happens earlier.
Michael have odd feeling about this dish as it sparks with electricity from Porygon's Zap Cannon. Espeon told him what occur from Porygon's thoughts. He finds it strange that she would use a devastation attack like that for a dish. Is it truly okay to eat it?
"The mystical Alola stew is done!" Mao announced. "Come on and digging in!"
"So it done?" Kiawe asked, excited.
It wasn't long as everyone's bowl full with the stew while Mao give the foods to the pokemon. However, Michael didn't eat it as he looks warily of the stew after what happened in the kitchen and let others take the fall to confirm his suspicious.
It wasn't long until Lillie and others get shock, but Michael got out his Charjabug to absorb the electricity presence on the table and prevent himself from being electrocuted in the process. His classmates' face fall straight to the table.
"I know it…" Michael muttered. So that is what Porygon's Zap Cannon was for.
"What is the matter?!" RotomDex exclaimed in shock.
"What do you think?" Mao asked to others. "Well? Isn't it good?"
"Mao… what did you do?" Kiawe asked, struggling to get his face up and looks at Mao.
"You could get addicted to that tingling aftertaste, couldn't you?" Mao asked. "It's precisely this aftertaste that characterizes Mythical Alola Stew!"
Lillie muttered, "I would not say it was tingling, but rather…"
"…shocking." Suiren finished.
"Michael… why didn't you eating it?" Mamane asked as he notices Michael didn't touch his food or being electrocuted.
"And why aren't you affected by the lighting?" Mizuki added in confusion.
"I am not getting myself electrocute. After the usage of Zap Cannon in it." Michael said, giving small portion of the foods to Charjabug. Though the electricity is gone, it better to be safe with Charjabug to make sure it safe from excessive electricity. It seems that Charjabug like the stew due to giving more electricity to her than before.
This information surprised others as Mizuki realized what she did and noticed Mao is slightly shakily.
"No way…" Mizuki uttered in surprised. "Mao, you didn't just used Porygon's-"
"That is right." Mao answered. "I used Porygon's Zap Cannon as the finish touch. Is it a bit too much?"
"It's too excessive and can make someone brain dead from eating them." Michael stated before taking a part of the soup after Charjabug deemed that it safe to eat. He also mentally noted that the stew is good; however, he wasn't a fan of getting shocked by the attack.
Unknown to him, Mao feel a stab from his comment about the stew to her gut and about to snap at him when her father returns.
"Papa…" Mao said, surprised to see her father return.
"Pardon us for the intruding." Lillie said.
"Mao's papa." Suiren said. "What's the Mythical Alola Stew?" she asked.
"Why are you asking about that?" Mao's father asked, confused. "Well… In the past, that stew was always made whenever there was a festival or a ceremony, but as time passed, it ended up getting completely forgotten about."
This seem to surprise them and Michael raise an eyebrow at the long lost recipe.
"Had you hear it before?" Suiren asked to Kiawe.
"No, never." Kiawe said.
"If this stew was completely forgotten about, then how did Mao make it?" Lillie asked.
"The thing is…" Mao said, showing a small booklet. "My brother translated it."
"If I remember right, Mao's brother is traveling on a culinary journey…" Suiren recalled.
"It looks like you need Saffron-color nectar to complete the stew." Mao said. "That's the invaluable ingredient that makes the stew leave a tingling aftertaste."
"Saffron-color nectar… but it not the season for them." Lillie said. "To get them is extreme rare."
"Exactly!" Mao said before she become nervous. "That's why I thought I'd try substituting it with something like Zap Cannon… but… well…"
"I don't get it at all! I don't get it at all!" Kiawe intervene. "Why Zap Cannon!? That is too extreme!" he scolded the forest haired girl who shivered.
"I want to finish it one way or another and make it the signature dish of Aina, Cafeteria, though…" Mao sighed before clean up the bowls.
Michael stares at Mao before he felt something rumbling in pocket and taking out his P*DA. He opens the silver slide and look at the message for brief second.
He soon got himself up from the chair and this got others' attention on the redhead.
"Michael, where are you going?" Suiren asked, curious about his leaving.
"There is somewhere I need to go. Espeon. Magnus. Let's go." Michael said calling to his starter and baby dragon.
Espeon stretching his arms before accompany Michael with the baby dragon out of the cafeteria.
Michael met up with a man who dressed in a hiker outfit at the café within the Pokemon Center. This person happens to be antique inspector. The redhead boy looks at the object he been searching: UpGrade Disk.
"It turn out that the small chest you find holds an UpGrade Disk within." The hiker man said, showing him the device.
Michael finds the chest in one of his oddest days when he was training with his pokemon before Magnus wander off that led him to find skull grunts digging for treasures. He had no idea on how the grunts even know there was treasure but force to intervene when they spotted Magnus after the scaly dragon bitten one of their behind.
Michael didn't know what to do with the chests he find, but he can certainly made a small fortune in selling the treasures especially get some of them open. However, he is surprised that he finds an UpGrade in one of the boxes.
Michael take the device and looks at it careful to see if it a genuine. After checking the device in his hand, the Orre native is certainly that this is a genuine and surprisingly old hardware. Though it strange that it among one of the treasures. But the question will it evolved Porygon or not?
"I will take it," Michael said, "What about the treasure… Those are mostly antiques how much did they cost?" he inquired.
"They're about this much…" The antique inspector said before revealing the price of how much the antiques worth and it made Michael's eyes slight widen.
"That is a surprised high." Michael remarked. The only thing he even sells back in Orre are those nuggets he find on the journey.
(He is telling the truth about the cost, but I don't get how an UpGrade got involved…) Espeon said.
"I know. If you met a crazy antique maniacs they will sell you more." The guy said before Michael ponder a bit.
It wasn't long until they finished talking as Michael was seen staring at the UpGrade disk.
At least Mizuki can get Porygon much strong and it will developed more personality, looking for Dubious Disk next will be difficult… Michael thought to himself. Not to mention he doesn't know what PorygonZ turned out like.
In the house of Professor Kukui, Mizuki is talking about her day with Professor Kukui. However, what caught the attention of the region professor is the behavior of his forest hair student.
"I see…" Professor Kukui said, "It sound like that Mao still dislike him…" he said. He didn't think that she will still hold her suspicious of him for that long. But he didn't think she will held this long and concerned that her behavior on the redhead might become… a bit too unhealthy.
"I am not surprised by that, Professor." Mizuki said. "It one thing that caused Mao to fall into the trap by the skull grunts before Michael saved her."
"What does Michael think of her?" Professor Kukui asked, curious about the redhead's thoughts.
"Michael doesn't let himself being bother… since he don't see any benefits when Mao doesn't want anything to do with him. Though I agree with him on some sense since Mao doesn't listen to me about Michael not being bad and got herself caught by skull grunts." Mizuki said. "What are you going to do about this, Professor?" she asked.
After all, Professor Kukui is the teacher and he might decide to intervene if things get out of hands between Michael and Mao being strangers to each other.
Professor Kukui is in deep thinking before something caught up. "So you are going with Mao tomorrow to find some Saffron nectar, right?" Professor Kukui asked. Mizuki nodded.
"I thought it will be good to see what the Mythical Alola stew is about." Mizuki said. Not to mention that she won't mind made it herself and refused to add Zap Cannon into the stew.
"What about inviting Michael along?" Professor Kukui suggested, making Mizuki blinks in surprise. "This can be a good way to get them to form a connection."
"You think that will work?" RotomDex asked, surprised.
"Hmm… I guess that can work…" Mizuki said, "but what will you do if it doesn't work?" she asked the teacher. Professor Kukui soon let out a smile.
"If that didn't work, I will have them bond over cleaning the classroom together period." Professor Kukui said.
(Next day)
Mao is having a bad day. She thought it going to be a normal and peaceful day on the search for the key ingredient. Though she did feel a little bad about leaving Mizuki behind before and surprised how Mizuki wants to help her get the ingredient.
But she feels that her day going down with him in presence.
"W-What is he doing here!?" Mao exclaimed in shock at the sight of Michael by the tree with Bulbasaur next to him. She didn't expect that Mizuki would invited him out looking for the saffron nectar!
"Mizuki invited me." Michael stated calmly. Though he only came to show her the UpGrade disk before she ask him for help in finding Saffron Nectar.
"Why didn't you told me that he is coming!?" Mao demands angrily. Michael doesn't seem to be fazed by her scary look.
"I forget… but we will have more eyes in our search." Mizuki added, smiling. This made Mao gritting her teeth before RotomDex appear.
"Not to mention that Professor is concerned about you two aren't getting along, this will promoted you to get along, bzzt!" RotomDex explained to the two.
Mao let out a 'hmph' sound before she moved on ahead with Bounsweet moving behind her. Michael and Bulbasaur glances at Mao before they look at Mizuki.
"I will still help before we try the UpGrade on Porygon, Mizuki." Michael said to Mizuki smiling. Though he don't know about cooperated with Mao… he don't see any reason about the need to get along with her even if she acts like this.
"I can't wait!" Mizuki said excited.
It wasn't long until Michael and Mizuki catch up with Mao despite her trying to keep a distance from the redhead as they're on the searched for the Saffron Nectar. Though they hadn't any way of locating the flowers as it wasn't the season, but the only ones who know to find them is a wild Oricorio Pom-Pom style.
So far, they didn't have any luck of locating the Oricorio within the woods itself. Mizuki has Rowlet goes to his family to help them looking for Oricorio, but they don't know where Oricorio be. Mao currently have Mizuki giving her a boost to see if an Oricorio resting in the tree.
Meanwhile Michael and Bulbasaur are looking at another part of the woods, but the two hadn't come back to them yet.
"Do you see any Oricorio?" Mizuki asked, looking up at Mao.
"No." Mao said, looking around the hole in the tree, but she cannot find any Oricorio.
"Hey Mao… why do you dislike Michael so much?" Mizuki asked while looking up at the girl who still on her shoulders.
"Can't you not talk about him right now…?" Mao said, getting angry at the girl below her.
"But why?" Mizuki asked, wanting to know what is her deal with Michael. "For months, he didn't do anything wrong out of ordinary that deem harmful to others. Not to mention that he saved your-"
"You may not have a problem, but what if he turned out to be a villain who is buying his time?!" Mao exclaimed angry at her. "There is no doubt that he is lying by making up a fake region and buying his time until everyone let his guard down!"
Mizuki looks surprised at her before she starting feeling her nose start twitching, "B-But that is not right… AAAHHH- Oh no… AAAHHH-" Mao's eyes widen as she realized what is going to happen even though she is still standing on Mizuki's shoulders and start to feel unbalanced.
"Wait, no!" Mao screamed before Mizuki let out a loud sneezed. "AAAACCCHHH!" she screamed before she was sent flying backward that Bounsweet couldn't stop her trainer.
Michael and Bulbasaur returned from the search that is a failure, but Michael was unaware that he walk in a really bad time.
"Mizuki—" Michael saw Mao coming toward his direction and cannot moved out of the way before the two collided.
When Mao tried to move her legs, the forest hair girl found that she could not move them. Mao then looked down, her cheeks began to burn red. The reason why the girl was unable to move was because her legs were trapped behind Michael's back, Michael's face was in between the forest haired girl's legs and was having difficulty in getting up since she was sitting on him.
Mizuki and RotomDex cannot help gasp at the unexpected predicament happened… after Mizuki accidently sneeze. Bulbasaur and Bounsweet cannot help being shocked of what happened to their trainers. Not to mention this will make things worse between the two.
Mao was very embarrassed and very angry, she began to lift her right arm to smack to the sense out of the redhead. "You pervert!" she screamed in rage.
But Mizuki intervene immediately by pulled Mao off of Michael and moved her away from the confused redhead before she can even hit him.
"That is enough, Mao!" Mizuki shouted serious.
"LET GO OF ME, MIZUKI! I AM GOING TO KILL THAT PERVERT!" Mao screamed as Mizuki still holding her back from Michael.
"I didn't know that Mao can be like that, Bzzt!" RotomDex said, slight nervous.
"Huh?" Michael looks confused at Mao's angry. Why is she angry at him and accused of him being a pervert when she was the one who unexpectedly dropped on him? "Why did you call me that?" he asked, confused.
"Don't play mind game with me, you pervert!" Mao barked angrily as this further confused him. It made her angry that Michael don't know what she is talking about.
"I had no idea on what you're talking about…" Michael said honestly.
Mizuki stares at Michael and suddenly it dawned to her that he didn't know what just happens when he was blind.
"Rotom… can you show Michael… what happens?" Mizuki asked, still holding Mao back from killing the redhead.
Rotom soon hurry toward Michael before showing him and Bulbasaur about what happened when he thought he was blackout. Michael blinks in surprised to why he was blind in the face because Mao fall on him and why she is upset. Sure, he is observing around teens of his age with opposite sex. But he never had deal with something like this… with another mother or anyone at home never had time to teach him anything about dealing with issue like this.
But still I didn't do anything weird while she was sitting on me… Michael thought before hears a faint mental chuckle in his head and it wasn't helping him in his strange predicament.
"What do you have to say for yourself, pervert?!" Mao growls angry.
"I won't ask for forgiveness for something that I had no control over. But, I will point out that you were the one who fall on me." Michael stated, making Mao looks angry at him.
"Are you saying that this is my fault, pervert?" Mao growl angry. Michael is unfazed by the way she growl.
"Yes, I did." Michael said calm.
"That is what they all says!" Mao shouted before released herself from Mizuki's grip and went charging at Michael with a fist.
Michael let out a sighed before he start dodging Mao's attempt of punching him and even when she trying to kick him in the place where sun never shined.
"Hold still and faced your punishment like a man!" Mao snapped angry. But Michael didn't say anything as he continued dodging the blows.
"Is that best you got?" Michael questioned before move to the side and dodging the punch.
Mizuki is surprised by Michael's Afloot behavior when it comes to Mao tried to get payback on him. Usually men ran away when they see women tried to attack them. But Michael seem to be except to that rule or not meeting someone who can scared him.
"Michael, how long are you going to do this?" Mizuki asked, confused.
"Until she calm down." Michael said before dodging another kick for between his legs. "What is it that girl trying to aim there?" he wondered to himself while dodging.
"Anyway, we checked my section and don't find any Oricorio." He reported to Mizuki before dodging another punch from Mao. Bulbasaur shakes his head in dismay.
"I see. We don't have any luck either. The chance of finding Oricorio becoming lower." RotomDex said.
"Hmm, this will be difficult." Mizuki said, rubbing her chin.
(Pokemon Communication On!)
Bulbasaur is watching Michael continued dodging Mao's attempts to hit him. He soon noticed Bounsweet approached him.
"Aren't you going to defend your trainer?" Bounsweet asked. Though she want to intervene on Mao's behalf, but Bulbasaur seem to be calmed about this and made the fruit pokemon confused.
"When he need it," Bulbasaur said. "There are some things he need to take care on his own." Another reason for Bulbasaur to watch is Michael always can predict movements and dodges as the grass starter wanted to attempt if they get separated.
This made Bounsweet frown at the Kanto Grass starter. She always know there is something odd with the redhead and that Espeon… is also strange with his ability to crack jokes.
"Isn't usually settle with pokemon battle?" Bounsweet asked. This made Bulbasaur glances at Bounsweet with one eye.
"Not after what happened between your trainer and skull grunts." Bulbasaur pointed out as this made Bounsweet feel ashamed about what happened on that day.
"I didn't get to say this before… but thank for getting me and Mao out of there despite Mao disliked your trainer." Bounsweet apologized awkwardly. Not to mention that she didn't bring this up to this to any of the redhead's pokemon.
"It's nothing." Bulbasaur said as he still focus on watching Michael dodging Mao's blows.
After a few minutes, Mao soon becomes exhausted before she is forced to sit on the rock. But she is still glaring intensely at Michael who helps Mizuki searched for Oricorio. It still hard to believe that he wasn't tired from her attempt to get revenge upon him.
"Mizuki, you know there is another way than wasting time of searching." Michael reminded to her.
Mizuki soon realized what Michael meant and facepalmed. "Oh yeah, we can just lured them out." She said.
"Bulbasaur, we need you to used Sweet Scent." Michael said to the Kanto grass type. Bulbasaur nodded before he climbed onto a stomp and released the pink powder into the air and into the woods.
Soon Mizuki's backpack starting to move as Rowlet popped out and flying toward Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur saw this and slapped Rowlet away with a Vine Whip. Bulbasaur goes back and focus on his job of spreading Sweet Scent once again.
It only draw out the local wild pokemons, even Rowlet who end up return and get beating by Bulbasaur's Vine Whip again. Mao looks surprised by Michael's idea even though she didn't think it will draw out many wild pokemon at once. It really a good idea.
I am not supposed to think his idea is good after what that pervert did… Mao reminded to herself.
"There is no sights of Oricorio among them!" RotomDex noted for them.
"Maybe Sweet Scent cannot reached out where the Oricorio be?" Mizuki wondered out loud.
But it wasn't long until Bounsweet jumps next to Bulbasaur and fired up her own Sweet Scent.
"I am not doing this to help you. I am only here to get the Saffron Nectar." Mao interjected as she getting her back up. She is still upset with Michael about what happened before.
But Michael choose to ignore her threat as it doesn't bother her and focus on the searched for the Oricorio now. However, there is no sight of Oricorio except for wild pokemon and Rowlet went crazy with twice amount of Sweet scent as if he was on high.
Mizuki is rubbing the unconscious Rowlet's head. "Poor Rowlet… you should take a rest." Mizuki said before returning him back to his pokeball.
"There it is, Bzzt!" RotomDex said, pointed to Oricorio who is pecking on Bounsweet.
"You did it, Bounsweet!" Mao said, smiling.
It wasn't long until the Sweet Scent were worn off as Oricorio starts to move away from them.
"It's getting away!" Mizuki shout before she and others went after the flying Oricorio.
Unknown to the three students and their pokemons, there is a six pair of large red eyes watching them through the bushes.
It didn't take long for them to reached through the waterfall and find themselves in the field of Saffron Nectars.
"That's Saffron Nectar!" Mizuki stated surprised.
"That's amazing! I can't believe we were actually able to find some!" Mao said, smiling at the sight of the flowers.
"It's a miracle!" RotomDex exclaimed.
Michael watches as RotomDex, Bounsweet, and Rowlet approached the flowers while Bulbasaur standing by his side as always. The Oricorio Pom-Pom style then meeting its fire counterpart. The Baile Style soon drinks some of the nectars from Saffron Flowers and changed into Pom-Pom style.
So that how drinking nectar work... Michael thought with slight surprise. He also hear RotomDex giving a brief explanation, but he didn't pay much attention to RotomDex's explanation.
Mao and Mizuki are fascinating by the flowers like the pokemons before they approached them. But Mao is pleased the most that she finally finds the Saffron nectar and that she can finally completed the Mythical Alola Stew. Michael suddenly hearing quiet buzzing sound before he turned around to see what making the sound.
The two girls about to gathering the nectar before Michael pushed them out of the way immediately. This made Mao turned around immediately and ready to yell at him.
But Mao soon stop immediately as she soon noticed Michael on one knee and there are two purple stingers on his shoulders. The ones who were responsible for the attacks are bipedal, yellow wasp pokemons.
Why did he…? Mao thought in shock. Even the pokemons in presence were surprised that Michael can easily picked up an attack from here.
"Michael!" Mizuki cried out in shock before hurry toward him.
RotomDex saw the ones who attacked Michael and scanned them immediately.
"Beedrill. The Poison Bee Pokémon. The Bug and Posion type. This is the final form of Weedle. Beedrill fly quickly and attack using poison stingers on their forelegs and tail." RotomDex said.
The Beedrill about to attack once again, but they were soon interrupted by vine whips attacked to one of their own by Bulbasaur and swing against their own kins.
"Bulb…!" Bulbasaur growls angrily at the ones who responsible for getting his trainer hurt.
Three Beedrills fired Pin Missiles at Bulbasaur, but Bulbasaur jumps out of the way and he wasn't finished with taking them down.
The Kanto grass starter then fired Seed Bombs from his bulb and land hard hits on three of them. Bulbasaur then firing at the other Beedrills in the presence.
"Michael, are you alright?" Mizuki asked, checking on the redhead's conditions.
"I am fine…" Michael said quietly, still feeling the pain from poison stingers. "They were following us for the nectar... but they keep their presence hidden until now." He explains before giving a cough due to the inflicted of the poison and nearly collapse onto the ground.
"Hang on, I will get the medicine out!" Mizuki said before reaching into her backpack. Though the medicine won't do much, but it will help Michael before they reach the Pokemon Center.
Meanwhile Mao cannot help watching Michael being helpless... for the first time. It remind her that he is still human in the first place.
Was I wrong the whole time…? Mao thought before she think back to when he pushed both girls out of the way from poison stings. If he didn't do it… then both of them were going to get poisoned instead. That wasn't something a secret villain would do for two inexperienced students…
Bounsweet soon watching Bulbasaur fighting against the Beedrills and cannot stand on the sideline after seeing the redhead saved her trainer's life as she bounced forward. Bulbasaur fired Magical Leafs at the Beedrill, but they keep dodging by flying around.
But one of the Beedrill didn't notices that Bounsweet jumps into the air and headbutt the Beedrill. However, the Beedrill used it's stinger like arms to knocked Bounsweet straight to the ground and result of a small crater. The Beedrills then fired barrage of pin missiles at both Bulbasaur and Bounsweet, the two grass pokemons cannot get out of the way as they were pinned down hard by the attacks and explosion covered the area.
Michael, Mizuki, and Mao cannot help but watching helpless to the two grass types being pummeling down by pin missiles from above.
"Bounsweet, get out of there!" called out Mao. But her pokemon cannot hear her as she was still under attack by the pummeling of pin missiles.
"I cannot watch this!" RotomDex cried out, covered his faces.
It wasn't long until the smoke become clear as Bulbasaur and Bounsweet seen on the ground with bruises. But Bulbasaur gets himself up quick while green aura radiating around him. Bounsweet slowly got herself up and propelled herself upward while released Sweet Scene into the area.
This seem to affect the Beedrills and drawn to Bounsweet.
"Bulb…" Bulbasaur growl before gathering energy from the sunlight and channeled through his bulb, it wasn't long until Bulbasaur adjust his bulb and point at the Beedrills before fires a white beam at three Beedrills.
"That was Solar Beam!" Mizuki recognized the attack.
"Something happened to both of them…" Michael whispered as they notice both Bulbasaur and Bounsweet are glowing.
When the light fizzled out, both pokemon had completely changed. Where Bulbasaur stood was something resembled his previous form in many ways, but he looked different. His body was fairly bigger and his pigmentation had grown darker. The bulb on his back had finally bloomed into a large, pink bud that wafted a slight sickly sweet aroma- a short brown trunk and four leafy, green fronds supported it. His legs were sturdier and stronger due to the need to support the large bulb on his back.
Michael and Mizuki are surprised to see Ivysaur before them.
Where Bounsweet was is a bipedal, plant like pokemon with that of human appearance in a dress. Her torso and legs are dark purple, while her hips, arms, and head are all white. She has dark purple eyes with purple, triangular markings over them similar to stylized eyelashes. On top of her head is a large, light green calyx. The calyx has short leaves on the front and back, two large leaves out to the sides similar to pigtails, and a short stem on the top.
"I cannot believed that you evolved…" Mao said.
RotomDex soon scanned them immediately.
"Ivysaur, the Seed Pokémon. Bulbasaur's evolved form. As Ivysaur takes in nutrients, a large flower blooms from the bulb on its back." RotomDex said before scanned Mao's pokemon, "Steenee, the Fruit Pokémon. A Grass type. Steenee's hard sepals are highly developed for protection, making its Double Slap move very powerful."
"Hoo…" Rowlet looks surprised to see that his fellow grass types evolved before him.
"Steeen!" Steenee jumps into the air and slammed Beedrill in the head with her leg and sending Beedrill to other Beedrills in the process.
Ivysaur then fired Seed Bombs at the Beedrills which caused explosion impact on them. But one Beedrill wasn't pleased before charging at him with Twineedle.
Michael felt the poison is lessen and giving him the time to give an order for his new evolved pokemon.
"Ivysaur, stop it with Vine Whip!" ordered Michael.
Ivysaur quickly extended his thick, green, vine-like appendages before swinging them at Beedrill like a sledgehammer. As the whips hit the wasp pokemon's hide, there was a smack!
Beedrill come to a halt, bellowing in pain from the powerful attack. But it regain enough sense and fired pin missiles at Ivysaur, who didn't need to be told to dodge the attack. Though the pin missiles hurling some of the Saffron flowers into the air and create dust explosion.
By the time the dust cleared out, a Solar Beam of immense proportions was formed in front of flower bulb. Michael can sense that Beedrill flinched in fear. "Release it,"
The Solar Beam shot towards Beedrill, making its way to the wasp's head. Beedrill dived down to avoid the attack, but it was too slow. The white beam exploded and struck the Beedrill in the process before made the wasp pokemon hits the wall hard.
After seeing the fight, the Beedrills decide to take their injury kinsmen and flee in the process before anyone of them attempt to catch him.
Ivysaur soon made his way to his trainer and Mizuki, but checking on Michael since he been hit by poison stings.
"Saur?" Ivysaur asked.
"I will be fine… since Mizuki used the medicine to make sure they won't spread." Michael said, "But it good that you finally evolved, Ivysaur."
"You did it, Ivysaur and Steenee." Mizuki said, feeling happy for the two.
Ivysaur smiled and nodded.
Mao cannot help watching the interaction before she remembered what she came here to get.
It wasn't long until Michael emerged out of the patient room in the Pokemon Center after getting a checkup for himself and Ivysaur. It didn't take long for them to finished, though he is planned on helping Mizuki with evolving her Porygon.
But he soon finds Mao waiting outside when he thought Mizuki will be around. It strange that she would be here since she already collects enough Saffron nectars from the flowers for her recipe. So why is she even here?
Mao, on the other hand, had a hard time of looking at Michael after seeing him coming out of the checkup room.
"Umm… how are you feeling?" Mao asked, nervous.
"It nothing." Michael responds flatly before leaving right now and search for Mizuki. But Mao immediately prevents him from moving away from her by grabbing onto his shoulder.
This made Michael look suspicious of her behavior, "What?"
Though his glare intimidated her, Mao soon lets out what been aching her for the whole time.
"I-I am sorry… for what happened." Mao apologized. "And I judged you wrongly… after the months you come into our class. I am sorry that I didn't try to know you better."
Michael remained silent while keeping his caution stare at her.
"I promised that I will be your cook every day and a reservation at the restaurant!" Mao begging in hope that he will accept that.
"No thanks. I don't need anything from you… or your cooking." Michael answered before remove Mao's hand on him and ready to leave to find Mizuki.
Unfortunately, this caused great turmoil in Mao after hearing his words. This is the first time anyone says… that they don't want her cooking. Everyone like her cooking! Nobody had ever say that to her before in her life until Michael refused to her cooking.
Before Michael know it… Mao starting to tears up.
Are you seriously…? Michael thought startled.
Mao sniffed with tears down her eyes. "W-Why…? I just want to say that I am sorry and… hope that we can become friends."
"I had no intention of staying on this island for that," Michael said. "I am only here to fix Lillie's phobia and completed the Trials of Alola before leaving the region—" Michael cannot finished his sentence due to Mao continued crying more. This made Michael gritting his teeth at the sound of crying coming from Mao.
"Would you stop that already?!" Michael shouted, looks angry at Mao who is still crying. Though he has the urge of slapping Mao for crying, but restrain himself.
"I am sorry…" Mao whimpered. "I-I just want to show that I am not a jerk… or biased against you… anymore. I really meant what I say… but I guess that I cannot get you trust me after what happen. Even when I don't deserved it…" she confessed with regret on her face.
"I can sort of see that..." Michael said. 'Even if you try to get to know me, there is no way I will let that…' he mentally reminded.
"Just don't get yourself into trouble again, okay?" Michael said. Mao didn't say anything. "I will be leaving now."
Michael didn't know what else to say and decide to leave for today. He assumed that things will go back to before with Mao avoid him like before and he can focus on his daily routines.
The next day in the mansion, Michael with Espeon and Magnus the Jangmo-o come down stairs for breakfast. He was expected to greet by either James or Lillie when he walks into the dinner room.
"Morning Michael!" Mao said, helping preparing his side of the table.
Michael is surprised to see Mao here in the mansion and this hour of the morning.
"What are you doing here?" Michael questioned to Mao.
"I am making you breakfast!" Mao answered cheerfully. The cheerful expression on her face, somehow made Michael irks and Espeon chuckled.
"It a surprised that Mao come this early in the morning to cook for you, Michael." Lillie said, holding a sleepy Shiron in her arms.
"Didn't I told you before that I don't need anything from you?" Michael asked to Mao.
"That doesn't mean I will give up because we will become friends!" Mao countered serious.
"I didn't say anything about being friends." Michael said.
"And we're going to become friends!" Mao said serious.
"Like that is ever going to happen." Michael said.
"And I certain that I will make it happen! You will get the chance of enjoying my cooking… then come to my restaurant!" Mao said.
"Unfortunately for you, I work at Snorlax Pancake. So I won't have time to visit." Michael stated. Sure it mostly part time that he work before reach the evening. This made Mao start thinking fast.
"Then I will bring you lunch when you're at work!" Mao exclaimed as this made Michael blinks in surprised.
(Oh. That sound like something a girlfriend do for their boyfriend at work.) Espeon teased, but Michael keep his composition.
"Won't this cause the rumors about you being a stalker come back?" Michael pointed out. This made Mao blushed as she realized what he referring to.
"U-Umm… I-I didn't think of that. But I still want to make it up to you… after what happened." Mao said embarrassed. "But why didn't affect you and Mizuki? She brought you lunch?" she asked.
"People can tell that we aren't that close." Michael said, "Like I say before I don't need anything from you—"
"Just accepted it already, Michael!" Michael stop as he noticed that Lillie is glaring at him, making his back shiver a bit. This is the first time he even see her glaring at him and he cannot help get a chill wind from it.
"Mao come all of the way here by herself to prove it!" Lillie said. Not to mention that Mizuki told her that Michael reject Mao's offer of cooking… which led to her friend cry!
Michael ponder about his decision of whether or not he accept it before looking at Mao who begging and then Lillie still have this cold glare upon him. Though there is a slight possibility of Lillie kicked him out of the mansion if he rejected her offer.
"Fine!" he sighed in exasperation. "Do what you want! But that doesn't make us friends."
"Why me…" he muttered under his breath.
To be continued…
AN: That is the end of this chapter. Anyway, be sure to review or message me for any questions, comments, or concern. And don't be afraid to look at my other stories.