Chapter 6: The Sunny Valley
Chapter 6: The Sunny Valley
From a high vantage point in this world, the view of the central continent was expansive. The vast land stretched out, showcasing a wide variety of landscapes.
Looking from left to right, the land could be divided into several regions.
On the western side of the central continent, the most striking feature was the array of islands along the coast. Each island had its own unique terrain.
At the center of the continent lay a massive expanse of land, dotted with deserts, volcanoes, and snowy fields. To the north of this central area, a towering spire reached straight into the sky.
To the east of the continent, lush forests and mountain ranges flourished, displaying the breathtaking beauty of nature.
The various regions were separated by a continuous mountain range, steep and rugged, stretching across the continent like its spine.
At the southern tip of the central continent lay a smaller, yet vast enough, landmass. The central continent and this southern region were connected by numerous railways built by humans.
The New Moon Forest, on the other hand, was the largest forest in the East Region, supported by the Central Mountain Range, brimming with a diverse range of species.
Pokémon flitted through the forest, and after walking along a stream for a while, they arrived at the entrance to a valley.
Having grown tired of the similar scenery of the forest, Riolu was surprised to step out of the woods and find himself in front of a valley. The cliffs on both sides of the valley were steep, with a 4- to 5-meter-high opening between the rocky walls. A stream flowed from the forest through this gap and meandered into the valley.
"Swish, swish."
Before any of the Pokémon could react, a green figure suddenly dashed out of the bushes, flying directly toward them.
Riolu, feeling the wind rushing past, was startled. Instinctively, he raised his paws to protect himself.
"Stop."
The Squirtle leader called out in a commanding voice, and the speeding figure immediately froze mid-air.
Looking up, Riolu saw a praying mantis-like Pokémon—a Scyther.
Standing over a meter tall, the Scyther hovered in the air, its insect wings buzzing loudly, with its sickle-like arms gleaming menacingly. The cold, indifferent eyes gave off a fierce aura.
Feeling a sense of danger, Riolu's fur bristled, and a nervous tension washed over him.
At the same time, the Pokédex displayed the information about the Scyther:
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[Pokédex]
Encounter Progress: 7/10
Battle Progress: 0/10
[Real-time Analysis]
Pokémon: Elite - Scyther (Male)
Level: Lv21
Type: Bug + Flying
Ability: Bug Synergy (Boosts Bug-type moves when HP is low)
Special: Blade Arms (With years of training, Scyther's sickle arms have become incredibly sharp)
Moves: Quick Attack (Lv3), Slash (Lv3), Double Team (Lv2), Leer (Lv1), Wing Attack (Lv1)
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Seeing the tense atmosphere between the Pokémon, the Squirtle leader approached and patted the Scyther's shell.
"No enemies, no need to be so tense."
The Squirtle leader then gestured toward Riolu.
"This little guy is someone I found. He should be our new companion. I'll take them in first."
The Scyther gave the Glooms and the slightly jittery Riolu a cold glance before swiftly vanishing from sight.
"You're right to be cautious, though. I've been sensing some unrest in the forest lately," the Squirtle leader muttered to the Scyther before turning to address the other Pokémon. "Alright, the troublesome Glooms are back. Let's head back now."
Just as the words left his mouth, Riolu heard a cheer from the Squirtles nearby, who immediately jumped into the stream and swam toward the valley. The Glooms, initially hesitant, quickly started bouncing toward the valley with excitement, leaving the Squirtle leader and a slightly stunned Riolu behind.
The Squirtle leader chuckled and waved to Riolu. "Let's go, I'll show you our 'Sunny Valley'."
They entered the valley through the narrow opening, passing through a tunnel-like passage flanked by rocky walls. After a while, they emerged at the valley's entrance.
The sight that greeted Riolu was breathtaking.
It was a wide-open space, and the first thing that caught his eye was a large pond in the center. The clear, deep water rippled gently in the evening breeze. A few Squirtles, floating lazily on their backs, basked in the fading sunlight, occasionally splashing around with tadpoles and Magikarp.
To the left, a lush forest stood with trees teeming with familiar Pokémon like Metapod and Kakuna. Beneath the trees, Caterpie and Weedle were munching on fallen leaves, while a few Glooms buried themselves in the dirt, absorbing nutrients.
Suddenly, a "humming" sound reached Riolu's right ear. He looked toward the left side of the valley and saw some small buildings made of stone and wood. In front of the buildings was a well-maintained open space, where Machop, Mankey, and Geodude were training. The sound of punches and kicks echoed through the air as they practiced their moves.
"What do you think? Not bad, right?" The Squirtle leader asked, clearly proud of the place.
"It's really great." Riolu nodded in agreement. Whether in his past life or present, the peaceful beauty of this place was undeniable.
The Squirtle leader led Riolu around the valley, and everywhere they went, the other Pokémon stopped what they were doing and eagerly approached, chattering away in excitement.
The Squirtle leader greeted them all with a warm smile, responding to their friendly gestures.
After spending most of the day exploring the valley, they reached the area where the training Pokémon were. The Squirtle leader pointed toward the Pokémon working out and said, "Go over there. You'll stay there for the night."
"Got it." Riolu nodded, feeling a sense of belonging.
As they approached, the training Pokémon took notice. A well-built, muscular gray Pokémon—Machop—paused its workout and walked over to greet them.
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[Pokédex]
Encounter Progress: 16/25
Battle Progress: 0/10
[Real-time Analysis]
Pokémon: Elite - Machop (Male)
Level: Lv25
Type: Fighting
Ability: Guts (When afflicted with a status condition, its attack increases)
Special: Fighting Expertise (Extremely skilled in combat with great technique)
Moves: Low Kick (Lv3), Bullet Punch (Lv3), Karate Chop (Lv2), Focus Energy (Lv2), Seismic Toss (Lv2), Vital Throw (Lv1)
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"Leader, the troublesome Glooms are back?" Machop greeted with a grin.
"They were sunbathing in the Pidgey's territory, causing some trouble… but we'll leave that for later. Let me introduce our new companion."
The Squirtle leader paused for a moment. For the first time, a rare look of embarrassment crossed his face.
"I forgot to ask your name. What should we call you?"
Riolu raised his paw.
"Rio, Riolu, a Fighting-type Pokémon."
"Riolu?" The Squirtle leader was taken aback by the unfamiliar name. Machop was similarly surprised, but then smiled broadly and extended his hand.
"Welcome, welcome! Let me show you to your resting spot."
Riolu eagerly shook Machop's hand, grateful for the warm welcome.
Suddenly, a notification appeared on Riolu's Pokédex screen.
Just as he was about to check the details, he heard the Squirtle leader's voice.
"Alright, you should rest for now. We can talk more tomorrow. I'll head back first."
The Squirtle leader exchanged a glance with Machop, and then, using a graceful wave of his paw, the water-blue energy around him surged. Waves formed beneath his feet as he glided across the ground toward the pond.
Watching the scene, a familiar move name and a slew of questions filled Riolu's mind.
Riolu turned to Machop and asked, "The Squirtle leader just used Surf, right? But how can Surf work on the ground? Isn't it supposed to only be usable on water?"
Machop chuckled. "When Pokémon use their moves, there are two ways to channel them. One is using external energy sources, and the other is relying on your own energy. So as long as you have enough energy, theoretically, you can use any move anywhere."
"Grrr—"
Riolu's stomach growled in protest.
"Oh, sorry, you must be hungry. Come on, I'll take you to try our valley's special fruits…"
After a satisfying meal, the sky darkened. Machop led Riolu to a wooden hut, where he had prepared a cozy "bed" made from soft straw and large leaves.
"This is better than any mattress," Riolu thought, settling into his new resting spot, paws behind his head, and soon fell asleep.
As Riolu drifted off, a pair of red eyes in the darkness watched silently for a moment. Seeing no unusual movement, the figure quietly slipped away.