Walking through the night Anya arrived at the edge of the human town, tired and not having slept at all after leaving the burrow.

The golden rays of sunshine have started to peek from beyond the horizon. Anya drowsily stumbled around the townscape. She arrived at a place she could faintly recognize as a park of sorts with an open cut grassy plains, few trees and benches littering around. Tired and spent she sat down under a tree some distance away from the main path and somewhat hidden behind some bushed and fell asleep hugging her knees.

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Morning had arrived, the town was in chaos as the police were informed of a pure white ghost being spotted moving creepily through the town early in the morning just moments before sunrise. These news had reached the ears of many locals and travelers alike and caused some eager trainers to look for the unidentified pokemon located somewhere inside the town's boundaries. It was always a big thing when something happened around small towns like these.

The local officers were quickly mobilized to search and assess the threat, especially whenever an unidentified pokemon has been sighted. Handled incorrectly the pokemon might cause damage to the community infrastructure or cause unwarranted casualties.

These news were also heard by the former champion, Samuel Oak, who at first dismissed these news as hearsay but as his eyes caught the piece of mysterious white cloth that once was used to blindfold him, he was reminded about his surprise encounter few months ago when he was exploring near the Beedrill territories during their known hibernation period. He also noticed that it was around this time of the year when the Beedrill hives become active again.

He realised that his saviour might have stumbled into town to escape the aggressive Beedrill swarms, he looked at the local map on his wall where he dragged his finger along the stream marked on the map towards the town, his finger stopped at the edge of the forest for a moment while and soon continued tracing his finger through the plains still following the stream and finally the stream ending by the town entrance. He thought for a moment and wondered why, the odd pokemon didn't just stop at the plains.

Samuel figured that something had to have happened, his face contorted for a moment and he called for his friend, an additional might shed some light on things.

The phone rang for a while and then there was an audible 'click' noise, the call had connected.

"Well, well, well it has been a while since we last talked, what do you want?"

"Hey, do you have some time now?" Samuel asked

"Yeah, sure, Is this about the new ghost pokemon spotted near your place?"

"Heh, leave it to the ghost expert to sniff every possible ghost sightings, but" he answered

"But what?" the other continued

"I believe, I might know the pokemon in question. I was wondering why is it so far from its home and would like to hear your opinion"

"Sure, Tell me what you know"

"Remember, around 2 months ago I told you about the mishap near the Beedrill territory"

"Yeah, You told me you slipped and lost consciousness, but you managed to wake up before anything happened."

"Well, about that, that's not exactly what happened. I did slip and fall, but I didn't wake up by myself..."

"And that has something to do with the mysterious ghost spooking around?"

"It...it's not a ghost, It's a bug-type. A *wild* bug-type saved my life Agatha."

There was a moment of silence on the phone when Agatha spoke again.

"You sure? Wild and untamed bug-types are known for being extremely hostile and aggressive towards anyone not of their own species. Hell, Even I have had my fair share of Beedrill ambushes or accidentally stumbling on a Butterfree mating grounds only to find myself instantly paralyzed."

"Well, this one is different I tell you, It dragged me to its nest, a burrow in the ground, cocooned my body and-" Was all he could say when Agatha interrupted him

"COCOONED YOUR BODY! Hold on am I missing something? Why would you say that it is a good thing!?" Agatha questioned Samuel

"I was getting to that, The cocoon was made to insulate myself from the cold air, it even started a fire to warm me up slowly..."

"A bug starting a fire?"

"No, the burrow I was taken had a Ninetales, young Vulpix and an Eevee living together. They even had a fireplace to prevent the fire from spreading, and a hole in the ceiling to let the smoke escape" Samuel corrected

"That's..." Agatha was in a loss of words

"Incredible I know, I think, the pokemon are much smarter than we actually realized... or at least this one in particular"

"Do you know what would happen if this goes into the public!?" Agatha said

"There would be riots, the pokemon league is already threading a fine line with the 'forced battling' clause as it is. If, if they found that the pokemon were as intelligent or even close to the same level... Who knows what could happen..." she continued.

"Ahem, well that was not my point right now, I asked your help figuring out why this pokemon had left the Beedrill territory and headed towards the town instead of staying at the plains."

"Oh, yes, We went a 'bit' out of tangent. So, our bug-type has left its own nest for some reason?"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Yes, but the reason is likely the re-activation of the Beedrill hives, making the forest practically a deathtrap to almost anyone living there."

"So you asked me why it did not stay on the plains between the town and the forest?"

"Yes, I looked through the information I had on the plains and came to a conclusion that there should be enough food, water and cover for a new burrow or a nest in the plains."

There was a soft noise of paper pages being turned heard from the phone.

"You, idiot... Do you know why the Beedrill population doesn't expand to the plains?"

"'Cause there are no trees?"

"Wrong, its because the plain is full of Growlithe packs with few Arcanine seen every now and then"

A while passed as Samuel connected the dots

"Ah ha, You think it couldn't stay because the plain's Fire-types are extremely aggressive towards the Beedrills and hate any bug-types by default?"

"Yes, Now that your problem solved, nice talking to you" Agatha said before hanging up the phone.

Samuel soon went outside, looking around, he saw many local trainers that he recognized running here and there, most likely searching for the mysterious 'ghost' pokemon. Samuel chuckled a bit as it has been a while when he had seen the town so lively before. Even if the news were 'bad' in nature he could see that many of the people around had a smile on their face, a true smile, a smile of excitement and of conviction to brace the unknown that is required to be a pokemon trainer.

As Samuel strolled around the townscape, he overheard many rumors about the mysterious pokemon, each more exaggerated than the last, of how the pokemon had left deep gouges on the side of some building or how some holes were poked through the walls. These rumors seemed quite true as the sides of the buildings had some odd markings left on them.

Samuel had wandered for a while and had decided to eat his lunch at the local park. Waiting on his turn at a food stand and walking to the park afterwards, he sat down at a bench next to a young boy around the age of seven.

The boy looking at Samuel with bright eyes as he had recognized him.

"Hey, there, mind if I eat my lunch here?" Samuel asked the boy, who just shook his head.

"Thanks, how has your morning been? Looking for that mysterious pokemon?" He asked between bites of his sandwich.

"I have been looking all over the town" answered the boy eagerly "I don't think it exists" he continued downcast.

Samuel gently laughed "It does exist, but it is not a ghost my boy. It's a important friend of mine"

The boys eyes lit up again as his idol comforted him.

There were few bites remaining on his sandwich when he heard an unnatural shriek nearby, alerted, he took a quick look around to see multiple trainers having gathered around a tree, near the edge of the park.

Samuel hurriedly took of, clutching his remainder of a sandwich in his hand. When he arrived near the trainers, he could finally see what the ruckus was about. A familiar white cloaked pokemon was engaged in a battle against a pair of Growlithe, a Pidgey, a Rattata and an Ekans. The beautiful white cloak was already dirty and in tatters, black spots, holes and tears dotting the outfit, the trainers laughed while giving commands to their pokemon. Tears seemingly streaming down the bug-type's face and clearly in panic.

The more Samuel observed the more he came to a conclusion that this was highly unsporting. The trained pokemon attacking in turns against their opponent, who seemingly is not even fighting back, only evading by sheer reflex. The pair of Growlithe pelting the pokemon with multiple embers where every hit caused it to visibly jolt in pain. Samuel was surprised by the sheer amount of endurance the pokemon had, not yielding at all.

Samuel clenched his fist, squishing the remains of his sandwich. Not feeling the ingredients bursting between his fingers. He summoned the first pokemon that came to his hand and threw the pokeball in the air. A huge Dragonite appeared in front of everyone and the fighting ceased.

Samuel said out loud his voice cracking.

"Protect that one"

It didn't take long for the massive pokemon to recognize who he had to protect, he gently scooped up the wounded barely conscious pokemon in his arms and put it on top of his shoulder.

"HEY! What gives! That was our catch" Shouted one of the trainers

"You can't just use your pokemon to strong arm the situation" shouted another

"That pokemon was rightfully ours" The third one shouted in clear agitation.

"Is this how you elite trainers honor the rules" spat the fourth

The fifth one took a look at Samuel and quietly recalled his Ekans and left, clearly not wanting any trouble.

The situation escalated and the police was called to intervene. The four remaining trainers holding their grounds against Samuel. The bug-type still being held by his Dragonite.

"What seems to be the problem here" the police officer said.

"This trainer took our catch!" the first one spat with hate while pointing at Samuel

"Is this true?" the officer looked at Samuel, recognizing the former champion instantly.

"I wouldn't call it a catch" Samuel said while shaking his head

"It looked like bullying when five trainers use their pokemon together to unnecessarily beat up another pokemon" he continued

"The pokemon league rules state that the one who starts the battle has the first rights to catch the pokemon" The officer stated and the trainers nodded in agreement.

Samuel grunted, he knew he was in the wrong, he was the one who made these rules. The League rules and conducts are simple and fresh, only stating about the Trainer's rights and not including anything about pokemon welfare. He sighed and threw a question at the trainers.

"Which one of you was going to capture it? Who had the right to claim it?"

None of them spoke up at first, they looked at each other doing some kind of eye based communication. Soon after one of them walked forward. "I, Jeremy claim the rights of capture"

"Put it down" Samuel told his Dragonite and the gentle giant hesitantly put the now unconscious pokemon down.

"Now please proceed to catch that pokemon" He gestured

Jeremy put his hands into his pockets, searching for something. Some time had passed and he still couldn't find a single pokeball, he turned towards his pals and asked "Hey guys lend me a pokeball will ya?" One of the three told him that he didn't bring any with him, the second one told Jeremy that he couldn't find it even rummaged through his backpack, the last one emptying his pocket fiercely. Calling out that someone had robbed him.

Due to sheer happenstance, Dumbfounded, Samuel looked at the officer who was patiently waiting for the situation to resolve peacefully.

"Since they cannot capture that pokemon, then I have the rights, right?" he asked the officer

"Yes, since the first party is incapable of capturing the pokemon they forfeit their rights to the next party in line" the officer answered as a matter of factly.

"Thank you officer, I want to take this pokemon without a pokeball as I want to officially ask it to be captured by me."

"Understood, I will escort you both to the station, there we will let the pokemon rest all by itself and wait for it to wake up. During that time I would like you to give a full statement of the situation from your point of view." Then the officer looked at the other trainers and asked them "Do you want to come to the station and give a statement on your side of this situation, if you do not come, you will automatically forfeit all and every claim you have on this pokemon."

Most of the young trainers shook their head and Jeremy even said "Keep that pokemon, it was too weak anyways, I only would have liked to have the reward for registering a new species"

"All clear, please follow me to the station" The officer said "You must either use a smaller pokemon or carry it yourself" he pointed at the still unconscious pokemon.

Samuel thanked his Dragonite and recalled it back to its pokeball, then he easily lifted the pokemon in question, surprised at how light it was. Weighing less than he expected, even though it was over half of his own height.

He followed the officer and carried the unconscious pokemon around the town and arrived at the police station, He though 'What a day' when entering the police station.

He heard the surprised murmurs from the side as the young trainers finally found out who Samuel really was.