An irregular glade stood several trees ahead of Kenji and was blooming with color. The magnificent display of flowers, shrubs, and other plants distracted him as he studied the clearing. His companion, Flutter, was bouncing through the air as it dodged a near invisible attack from the defending beast.

And it was defending, Kenji was sure. A second glance around the clearing was enough to help him understand how Flutter arrived here and why the Pokémon did not simply retreat. The butterfly was almost certainly attracted by the sheer number of blooming flowers. Whatever beast cared for the glade likely took offense to Flutter's presence and attacked to protect its lovingly cared for field.

As Kenji looked around, he searched for the attacking creature. He was certain that the Pokémon had to be Grass aligned for no other energy was able to encourage such growth so thoroughly. Unfortunately, he could make out nothing besides an array of flowers and plants from this distantance. The colorful and vibrant field was the perfect cover for a Grass Pokémon.

Realizing that he would have to move closer, Kenji nervously checked the surroundings trees. The only movement he saw was caused by the wind stirred up by Flutter's wingbeats. He could not make out any shapes or shaking branches that normally indicated something moving. When he was sure that the territorial Pokémon, or any other beast, was not residing amongst the tree limbs, Kenji quickly darted to the nearest trunk.

He hid behind the large tree and listened intently for a response.

All he could hear was the pained trills of the butterfly Pokémon and the rustle of the wind. The cries urged him to action but he restrained himself. Not only would a rash response endanger him, Flutter was the one responsible for its current predicament. Perhaps this would help the ranging butterfly think before acting next time.

Kenji breathed deeply before readying himself once more. Like this, he moved from tree to tree, stopping to recover and listen in case the hostile beast noticed his presence.

Flutter's squeals of pain drove him on. He could faintly hear Sprout warble in fear as the butterfly's cries grew louder.

Kenji prayed to whatever Guardian or Holy Beast watching that nothing would happen to young Pokémon. He worried about leaving the small turtle behind. The beast was easily frightened and he could only hope that it stated on the sled where he left it.

Now that he was closer, Kenji was able to better see the battle. Flutter was swinging its round, segmented body around to evade an attack. While the movement was keeping its main body free from damage he could see that its wings were fraying, with small holes tearing through the delicate scales. At first he had trouble seeing what the large bug was dodging but his eyes caught the sunlight as it briefly glinted off something flying through the air.

After seeing it, Kenji was better able to pick out the strange reflections. Narrowing his eyes, he studied them intently. It appeared as if there was a short spray of thorns that flew at the persistent butterfly. As he suspected the shot thorns originated from the flowering glade. However, when Kenji understood what he was seeing he regretted moving so close.

Thorns were often used for melee as beasts tore at their prey or defended themselves from attackers. However, some species found another use for their sharp growths in the form of a delivery mechanism. More than that though, it put his certainty in the Type of creature he was facing in question.

Poison was a tool used by ninjas, ronin, and other dishonorable Warriors. As a cultivator of Grass energy his father rarely had to worry about such underhanded methods harming him. For mortals, however, a simple sting was enough to leave one bedridden for days, or worse. It was partly why he avoided the worm Pokémon that crawled along the trees. In the wild, bright colors were often an indication of potential poison or other dangers.

Unfortunately for Kenji and Flutter, the spray of thorns flying through the air was not a single needle or even several. Instead short bursts flew through the air in an effort to strike the dodging butterfly.

He followed the spray of needles back to their source and was frustrated when he only found flowers spinning in the wind. His eyes struggled to see past the plants blocking his vision. However, he found his gaze returning to the oddly spinning flower petals. They were a bright red and blue, with ruffled edges that caught the air. Peering closer, he realized that the large flowers were not actually being affected by the wind at all.

Cursing his lack of awareness, Kenji debated on how to help Flutter. With the potential of poison infecting his body, he was entirely unwilling to physically intervene. He had no aura to defend himself against the foreign Energy that would infest him. Perhaps if he shared a link with the bug it would be different.

Though maybe there was another way he could assist.

Kenji took one more look at the needles harrying Flutter before he turned and dashed back to the sled. While he made sure to keep a tree between himself and the clearing, he focused more on speed than stealth.

He quickly arrived back at the ladder edge frame to find Sprout standing up. The small turtle was trembling in fear and warbled at him when he neared. Kenji stayed only long enough to hush the young beast and pat it on the head before snatching up a cocoon. He spun around and ran back to the edge of the clearing where he once more hid behind a wide trunk.

He was breathing quickly from the short but frantic run back to the sled. However, instead of controlling his breathing, he used the hurried breaths to spur himself on. Clutching the large cocoon in his hands he stepped out from his cover to hold it in the air.

"Flutter!" He shouted. "Your string, use your string!"

Both the flying Pokémon and the spray of thorns paused momentarily as he revealed his presence. The butterfly beast trilled happily with a beat of its wings while it waved its stubby limbs. Kenji was too distracted to respond further as a he saw the flowers spin in his direction.

Eyes wide in panic, he dove behind the tree with a yelp.

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Cowering behind the thick trunk, he was still able to the hear the soft thuds as the poisonous thorns struck the bark. Paling slightly, Kenji waited for another attack to come. He gripped the silk orb with shaking hands, nearly crushing it, as he struggled to control his fear.

He could hear an angry trill from around the trunk. Standing up in a crouch he peeked around the tree.

The large butterfly was still bobbing in the air but instead of evading it was furiously waving its arms. The beast's proboscis was extended to a needle point that it pointedly jabbed as it squealed.

Kenji frowned in confusion. If he were not mistaken then it appeared as if Flutter was scolding the flowery beast still in hiding. He wanted to giggle hysterically at the sight before a spray of poisonous thorns was used as a rebuttal. Fortunately, the butterfly was able to dodge in time to save its fragile body. Instead it took the damage on its scaly wings. The delicate membranes tore further from the assault. Kenji winced at the harsh reminder of their current situation.

Looking down at the cocoon in his hands, he grabbed a loose string of silk and roughly pulled on it. When he had enough length, Kenji jumped out from behind the tree once more. With the cocoon held up in one hand, used the other to bring the piece of silk to his mouth.

"String, Flutter, string!" He shouted. To help the Pokémon understand, he mimed shooting the silk from his mouth the orb in his hand. "Cover the field!"

This time, Kenji's actions seemed to have the desired affect, for the flying beast flapped its wings and pointed its proboscis forward. The bug did not create an elaborate web, focusing instead of shooting out a continuous string to entangle the field.

Kenji had never felt more like a Warrior than when the Pokémon followed his commands. Though they did not share a link, the creature was still able to effectively understand him and, more importantly, listen. After all, not every Warrior was so respected or authorative for their bonds to obey so freely.

The flying thorns quickly petered off as the disguised beast attempted to evade the sticky silk.

Kenji held his breath in anticipation as Flutter drifted down to inspect the flowers. Thick threads of silk weighed down the plants, some breaking entirely from the additional weight. He felt a bang of regret as the beautiful field was ruined but he was quickly reminded of the danger.

A swarm of leaves, rippling with color, flew out of the flowers. They cut apart the silk with ease, not even slowly as they sliced through the air.

Flutter was too close to avoid the attack, its segmented body taking a strike for the first time. The leaves easily cut through its carapace and wings, leaving a thick ichor to drip free. Several of the colored petals rounded in the air after not having struck the Pokémon. They rushed through the sky to strike at the bug in a second, noticeably smaller swarm.

The butterfly squealed in pain and surprise as the sudden attack tore at its body. Its round limbs flailed from the shock and it had to rapidly beat at the air. The colorful leaves inflicted enough damage that Flutter was having difficulty staying in the sky. Small holes were torn wider and the edges of its wings split further.

Kenji jerked back in shock. He knew intellectually that Pokémon battles were brutal affairs, often ending with one triumphing while the other suffered from lethal wounds or shattered links. However, knowing about it and experiencing a serious fight, even from the sidelines, was an entirely different thing. He was sweating from the nerves and he wanted to do nothing more than run away.

He forced himself to work past his shock. If he did not help, and quickly, then it was likely Flutter would be the one to suffer in defeat. His eyes landed on the quickly moving wings and he remembered the sight of the swarming butterflies.

"Your wings, Flutter!" He cried out. "Use your wings." He spread his arms and waved them up and down in imitation of flight. "Flap harder!"

As Kenji pleaded with the Pokémon he saw a pair of flowers begin to move. The thick web of silk was torn apart by the sharp leaves. The creature damaged the plants further in exchange for freeing the trapped beast.

The red and blue flowers danced, summoning another swarm of deadly petals. The leaves were reinforced by the Pokémon's aura in a wrathful display of color.

At the display, Kenji waved his arms frantically.

"Flap your wings! Fly!" He shouted desperately.

The leaves, no longer still as the beast focused on gathering them, pointed toward the flying bug and shot through the air.

Flutter, now expecting the attack, rapidly beat its wings. The effort pushed the butterfly back through the air.

Wind gathered around the Pokémon, disproportionate to movement of its delicate wings. It was not strong enough to rip free the plants filling the glade but the gust was powerful enough to disrupt the colorful leaves. They were blown aside to strike the ground and surrounding trees. Several managed to avoid destruction and reorientated on the bug to cut at it.

Meanwhile the gust of wind continued on through swarm of leaves to rip at the delicate plants. The power was diminished from having to disrupt the opposing aura coating the petals. However, enough remained to harm the disguised beast.

A high pitched squeal of pain pierced the air as the red and blue flowers shook.

Kenji was encouraged by the sight and went to order Flutter to attack again. However when his eyes took in the state of the flying bug, the command died on his lips. The once iridescent appendages were now ragged and pale. The Pokémon struggled to stay in the air as its damaged wings were unable to fully support it. Generating the gust of wind must have torn its wounds open further as it was dropping in the air and forced to quickly flap to regain height.

"Flutter, string again. Use your string." He instructed instead. Kenji held up the cocoon in case the beast did not understand.

Fortunately the bug grasped what he was saying and directed a stream of silk at the moving flowers. Kenji could not help but notice that the silk seemed thinner and slower than before. Still, it was enough to entangle the plants once more.

With the silk holding down the hostile Pokémon, Kenji used the time to think. The battle only served to show how vulnerable he would be were he to involve himself physically. Turtwig was still far too young and weak to fight not to mention its near constant state of fear. Looking up at the flying bug, Kenji felt guilty for having to rely on it to fight. Though the guilt only lasted until he remembered why they were here in the first place.

"Flutter, attack." He said. "Get in close and fight." Kenji held one hand up to his face and extended a finger. With the other, he raised the cocoon to jab at it with his face and finger. He could only hope that the creature understood his meaning.

The butterfly trilled in confusion at his words but as he demonstrated what he wanted it to do, the beast acted.

It jerked back slightly before using its wings to fly forward. The Pokémon let out a determined squeal as it did so. When it neared the sticky silk, a faint halo seemed to surround its body.

Flutter struck the flowers with force and Kenji heard another high pitched squeal of pain.

"Yes," Kenji cheered. "Again!"

The large butterfly leaned back to extend its probiscis. The beast then speared forward with its shape appendage to wildly strike at the plants. With each jab, the bug released a short but fierce trill.

"Ti. Ti. Ti." It squealed.

Eventually, another cry rung out from the enemy Pokémon and Flutter halted its attack. Kenji was confused slightly but quickly understood.

Two flower bulbs tugged at the silk and seemed to present themselves to the butterfly. The bug Pokémon trilled eagerly, and perhaps a bit smugly, Kenji thought, before carefully dipping its probiscis into each flower. It spent several minutes enjoying the nectar and pollen from the flowers before slowly pulling away.

Satisfied with the outcome, Flutter lifted off the ground with several beats of its wings. The Pokémon was still able to navigate through the air, even if its flight resembled a clumsy series of stutters and bounces rather than its previous graceful drifting. Regardless, the butterfly moved on to eagerly explore the clearing before it.