8.

Bug Catching Contestants

Liko is frozen, not knowing what to do. Sprigatito, seeing a chance, uses a quick attack taking the Beedrill by surprise. A leafage to the face distracts the bug type enough for Liko to react, holding the bird with one arm and grabbing Sprigatito with the other before hightailing it out of there, clumsy leg and all. Her partner struggles against her hold but Liko is stronger in a panic, and soon enough, the Beedrill is left behind.

Squawkabilly, of all the Pokemon…

Liko is reminded of the man's words, about what he told her of her grandmother's past and what her mother knew.

What if it's all a lie?

What if it isn't?

Her grandmother gave her the pendant, and that thief came calling for it.

What's the truth?

And if it wasn't a lie?

The Squawkabilly coughs, hurt and tired.

Liko stops thinking for a while, focused instead on helping the bird in her arms.

The Oran berries don't help Squawkabilly; the pecha berries are spit out; there's no signs of poison and Liko doesn't know what to do. A good night's sleep might help but what if it doesn't? What if Liko wakes up and the bird Pokemon stops breathing?

They have no choice.

They need to get to the Pokemon Center in Viridian City.

They meet someone on the path.

He's a bug catcher, net and all. He doesn't seem surprised by Liko's disheveled appearance but he gets worried for the little bird in her arms. "Holy Miltank! You lost a fight!?"

"So-something like that…listen…I…"

"No, no! It's cool! I got just the thing…I think! Here's a potion!" The bug catcher takes out a small thing from his bag and sprays the bottle all over Squawkabilly's blue feathers, healing most of the scrapes and bumps. Squawkabilly shakes awake, stares at Liko for a bit before it closes its eyes, asleep without pain. "See? That's a trooper!"

"Thank you!"

"Here! Kitty, try it too!" The boy kneels and sprays the leftover on Sprigatito, who purrs, content. "Always keep them handy! You never know what bugs you're going to run into when you hunt!"

"Ah…thanks again, umm…"

"It's Joey! Joey, bug catching master! First rank!" Joey boasted. "You were out on the hunt, right? I can tell!"

"Umm…"

Liko didn't want to lie but she wasn't sure what telling him the truth would do. He'll probably think she was crazy.

"...I…well…what are you doing?" Liko asks.

"On the hunt! Like you!" Joey points to the trees. "There's a nasty Beedrill patrolling the woods! He's huge! Like, really, really big! He's been the talk of the town…uh, city! Talk of the city!" Joey waves his net. "But he's not going to be free for long! My bugs won't lose to a wannabe giant!"

"Oh…"

"But you have the worst luck, right?" Joey asked, finally taking note of Liko's appearance.

The girl tried her best; she removed her jacket, tied it around her waist, tried to hide the tears and holes as best of she could, the dirt in the white shirt was a lost cost, the ribbon that she wore she used it as a makeshift bandage for her leg that didn't hurt but was stiff.

Liko looked like she had fallen down a cliff.

"Well…"

…you see, Mr. Master Bug Catcher…a guy tried to kill me before my pendant teleported me and my Pokemon to the middle of Viridian forest…and…

Right.

Like he'll believe that.

"...got curious…" Liko managed to mumble.

"A rookie mistake," Joey nodded sagely, believing the little white lie. "But that's not fair to your Pokemon, you know?"

"Oh! I…the Sprigatito is mine…the other is a wild one. I…" Liko shrugged.

"Ah!" Joey blinked. "Guess I shouldn't be too hard on you…but…" The bug catcher stared closer at the bird in Liko's arms. "What an unusual colored Pidgey…unless it's not a Pidgey."

"It's not…it's a Squawkabilly." Liko should know. Her mother's partner is a yellow feathered one.