Chapter 41: Just This?

Perhaps due to the unintentional aura released by Dragonite earlier, the area around Maki and his companions remained undisturbed by any wild Pokémon during their rest. The surroundings felt unusually serene.

However, this tranquility was soon disrupted. Countless white "cotton balls" began drifting aimlessly through the gaps in the trees, carried by a gentle breeze.

Maki knew these weren't actual cotton balls but a species of Pokémon—Cottonee.

These Pokémon were round and white, with fluffy cotton adorning their heads and undersides. Each side of their body bore a curled, leaf-like appendage with small notches.

While Cottonee themselves weren't particularly strong, they always traveled in large groups. Known for their love of drifting with the wind, they were generally amicable. Their sheer numbers meant that other wild Pokémon rarely dared to provoke them.

Adding to the group's deterrent aura were a dozen or so Whimsicott flitting among the Cottonee. Their presence further discouraged any potential troublemakers.

Although Cottonee looked like pure Grass-types, their Fairy dual typing made their collective aura unsettling, even for Dragonite.

"So many Cottonee?" Maki was surprised. A group of this size was indeed a rare sight.

The leader of the Whimsicott pack glanced curiously at Maki and the nearby Charmander. It had sensed a strong presence here just moments ago, but now the aura had vanished.

Being a peace-loving species, the Whimsicott didn't linger on the matter. After a brief moment of thought, it gently floated away with the rest of the group.

Maki observed their movement calmly, unbothered by the possibility of an attack. At most, a few mischievous Cottonee might attempt some harmless pranks.

In both Kanto and Unova, Cottonee were quite popular among trainers. Their fluffy, snow-white appearance was irresistibly cute, especially to girls. Their soft, cottony bodies made them delightful to hug.

Even for those uninterested in battles, Cottonee made excellent pets. Being Grass-types, they didn't require much food, which was an added convenience.

However, their mischievous nature, influenced by their Prankster ability, could be a handful. Cottonee seemed to have a natural talent for playful antics. And whenever they were caught in the act, their teary-eyed expressions made it hard for anyone to scold them.

"Troublemaking starts young," Maki mused.

Lost in thought, Maki was suddenly jolted back to reality by something soft bumping into his chest.

"Cotton!"

A gentle, high-pitched voice came from the source of the impact. Looking down, Maki saw a dizzy little Cottonee, seemingly separated from its group. It swayed in place, looking disoriented.

"Are you with them?" Maki asked, picking up the small Pokémon. Its body was so soft and fluffy that Maki couldn't resist giving it a light squeeze.

The Cottonee shook its tiny head to clear its daze, then glanced around as if realizing it had been left behind.

"Cotton!"

It flapped its leaf-like appendages anxiously, trying to rejoin its group. Unfortunately, its flying skills were still clumsy. Despite its frantic efforts, it couldn't gain any altitude.

Maki chuckled. No wonder it had bumped into him—while the others had soared overhead, this one had barely managed to stay airborne. Judging by its smaller size, this Cottonee was likely just a newborn.

Exhausted from its attempts, the Cottonee began to fall. Quick on his feet, Maki caught it before it hit the ground.

"Lost your group, huh? Want me to help you catch up?" Maki asked with a smile. The tiny Pokémon nodded, looking pitifully at him.

Just as he prepared to call out to the others, one of the Whimsicott suddenly broke away from the group and flew toward them.

Seeing this, Maki relaxed. "Well, I guess that saves me the trouble."

The approaching Whimsicott swiftly reached them, its movements agile and confident. Recognizing the situation, it nodded at Maki in gratitude.

"Whim!"

As a sign of thanks, the Whimsicott rummaged through its fluffy body and pulled out a small tuft of cotton, placing it in Maki's hand.

Maki stared at the gift, bewildered. "Really? No Sun Stone or Leaf Stone? Just… this?"

The rescued Cottonee looked back at Maki as it was carried away by the Whimsicott, its expression filled with gratitude. Maki found the situation amusing and waved goodbye.

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