We continued travelling and made good time. After a quick pit stop in the small town on the border of the forest to get a new pillow, because someone clearly won’t let me have mine, we were of into the forest again.

It was around midday, we were walking in the forest enjoying the sight of the Pokemon world. There are Pokemon everywhere Zigzagoon zipping through bushes, Taillow lying overhead and the cocoon Pokemon hanging in trees here and there. This peaceful and idylic scenery was rudely interrupted by something jumping out of a bush with a loud cry.

“HYAH!!!” causing me to jump back, dropping Seedot in the process. Absol and Poochyena took a defensive stance in front of me. I looked at whatever jumped out of the bush and let out a big sigh. Standing before me, with a cocky smirk on its face, hips at the waist was the stereotypical bug catcher.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” I deadpanned at him. Absol gave the trainer a glare and promptly ignored him. Poochyena barked angrily at the bug catcher and Seedot turned to me with a disgruntled expression.

“Sorry Seedot, I was surprised. Here let me lift you up again.” I apologised to my Pokemon. The bug catcher just looked confused at me.

“Huh? I want to battle of course, what else would I be doing?” cue my renewed deadpan.

“And because you want to battle you nearly give me a heart attack? Just walk out of the bush like any normal person.” I grumbled, what’s up with the anime tropes in this world?

“Huh?” the bug catcher responded, still confused. I sighed again.

“Look here kid. I’m on my way back to Petalburg, I already got my badge. I would have humoured a battle if you just asked me, but now I will decline. Have a nice day.” I concluded and walked on. Absol gave a smirk to the bug catcher and turned up her nose at him, Poochyena barked one more time and followed me. Seedot just appeared to be content with being carried again.

The bug catcher bristled. “What?! I challenge you to a battle! You can’t decline.” He demanded.

I just looked over my shoulder, having already walked past him. “You just saw me do it.” shaking my head I walked on.

Yeah that locking eyes thing from the games? It isn’t a thing here, while young trainers often do battle everyone that they see, it is not a requirement.

Around the early evening we were searching for a good camping spot when I heard a caw echo in the woods. I stopped walking and looked around, a bit confused because I never heard that sound. “Be alert guys, I don’t know what that sound is.”

Absol and Poochyena took a stance to be ready for battle and I let my Seedot down who also readied himself. Another caw came, this time it sounded mocking for some reason. Wings fluttered to our right, causing me and my Pokemon turning to see the one responsible. Only to be greeted by the lonesome trees of the forest, cue another mocking caw.

“Ok, that’s it. Whatever caws, hit it with taunt if it shows itself. You can see better than I in this twilight. Seedot ready a Leech Seed.” I commanded my Pokemon, a suspect for the caws forming in my head. My Pokemon nodded and surveyed the surroundings.

Another flutter of wings was heard, together with the scraping of wood, coming from our left. “Close in, surround it!” I called to my team, now I was pretty sure of what we are dealing with here.

Poochyena disappeared into the bushes to the side, while Absol advanced towards the source of the sound, Seedot following in her wake. I could only follow them.

After pushing past a few bushes and navigating around some trees, all the while being subjected to the mocking caws, we arrived at a clearing. On one side a Berry tree was seen with the culprit snacking on the berries. A Murkrow, how the hell did a Murkrow ended up here? Shaking my head of those thoughts I called out to Absol.

“Start, take it down. Show the Murkrow what happens if it mocks you.” Absol displayed a vindictive expression and stalked towards the berry tree. On the approach she called out to the Murkrow.

“Absol.Sol.Absol!” the Murkrow narrowed it’s eyes and fluttered it’s wings in agitation.

“Crow!” it cried back. Absol just stalked forward until she was halfway through the clearing. Then she disappeared in the white light of Quick attack. Murkrow looked startled at that and let out another mocking caw, dark energy building on it’s beak. Nothing happened with the energy, it just dissipated. Murkrow looked alarmed at that and tried to take flight only for Absol to slam into it with the Quick attack.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Murkrow impacted the ground and shook itself, a small bundle of fur came barrelling through a bush to it’s left slamming into the Murkrow. The Murkrow skidded along the dirt and was hit with an Iron Tail from Absol midway through it’s path.

That caused the Murkrow to slam into the ground, out cold. ‘Dark types never play fair’ I smirked while readying a Pokeball. I threw it at the Murkrow, my Pokemon surrounding the shaking sphere. It only took a few agonizing moments of shaking before it clicked, signifying the capture. I broke a wide smile at that.

“Looks like we found ourself a new team member guys.” I laughed and picked up the Pokeball. My Pokemon nodded and called out their names. Just as I wanted to scan the Pokeball, with my new Murkrow inside, I heard a new sound. Many new sounds to be precise.

“Dustox. Dus!” came the cry from a small swarm of Dustox that arrived at the Berry tree. ‘What was that Pokedex entry again from the games? Ugh can’t remember, not relevant.’ I shook my head. “RUN!” I shouted at my Pokemon and recalled Seedot, he would slow us down too much.

Me and my Pokemon broke out in a full sprint away from the clearing, angry bug types at our heels. Poison Stings impacted the ground just behind us, spurning us to be fast. To be honest, they spurned me to be faster.

After what felt like an eternity of being chased through the forest, the Dustox swarm finally let us go. I just sank onto the ground and heavily sucked in air to get my breathing under control. My Pokemon were panting beside me.

“That Murkrow must have known that the Dustox swarm claimed that tree. Cheeky little bugger.” I got out between my heavy breathing. My Pokemon nodded, already back to breathing normally.

“Well let me just set out your food and then I will turn in for the night. That was enough excitement for the day.” I chuckled, finally being able to breath normally.

‘Murkrow will need to be checked at a Pokemon Center after all those hits. Also I will need to call the ranges after that to let them know what happened. Ugh let’s hope there is a Pokemon Center at the small ferry town.’

I was out like a light after setting out the food for my Pokemon and crawling into my tent. I managed to engage the safety feature on Murkrow’s Pokeball, that forced the Pokemon to stay inside. It can only be activated once every month and holds for three days, it is usually used when someone catches a Pokemon that is potentially aggressive and the trainer needs time to confront it. In my case it is more so that the Murkrow can’t cause mischief while I sleep.

The next morning saw me performing my chore in a sluggish way, it appears that all that running left me drained. After finally getting back onto the road I saw that my Pokemon were not bothered by yesterdays events in the slightest. ‘So I will have to get into shape huh?’ I mused while walking with them. That evening I finally checked out my new Murkrow’s move set.

Species: Murkrow (female)

Stage: 1 / Final

Health: Hurt (please visit a Pokemon Center)

Probable Attacks:

- Peck

- Astonish

- Haze

- Wing Attack

- Thunder Wave

- Torment

‘So Murkrow did have a trainer before me, I don’t know about Torment or Wing Attack, but Thunder Wave clearly is a TM move.’ I thought while rubbing my chin. Absol nudged me and looked at me with a questioning gaze.

“Oh, right. Murkrow did have a trainer before me, but hopefully we can get her to cooperate with us. She has some really nice moves, especially Torment. That one can be learnt by all of you I think.” I explained the newest member to my Pokemon.

“We will have to wait until we are at a Pokemon Center though, you guys did a number on her.” I chuckled, my Pokemon just looked proud at that. I smiled at them fondly and prepared their food.

My new Pokemon won’t impact my training plans, I highly doubt that Brawly can be beaten with one flying type Pokemon after all. We got out of the forest and into the small town, where the ferry was located, after three more days. The delay was because of my exhausted state. Thankfully I saw a Pokemon Center after a few minutes of walking, I had recalled all my Pokemon already as nurse Joy will check them over.

Walking into the Pokemon Center and to the front desk I greeted the nurse. “Hello nurse Joy, could you give my Pokemon a check up? Also I have a new capture that probably needs a firm hand. It is likely that she was owned by a trainer before.”

Nurse Joy just smiled and nodded. “Of course, just place the Pokeballs on the tray.” she said while gesturing to the standard six slot tray. I placed my Pokeballs in there and went to the video phones. The number I needed was on display directly beside the screen, I dialled and waited.

“Hello, you called the Hoenn Ranger HQ. This is Terence speaking.” came the somewhat bored voice from the speaker.

“Hello, my name is Iruni and I’m one of Professor Birch’s lab trainers. I just wanted to inform you that I caught a Murkrow, that was probably owned by a trainer before me, in the Petalburg woods. She led me right into a Dustox swarm, that little bugger.” I trailed of muttering at the end.

“A Murkrow you said? That’s unusual. Stay where you are please, tomorrow the Rangers responsible for this area will come over the interview you.” came the reply, it sounded a bit rehearsed to be honest. I let out a sigh, I wanted to start training dammit.

“Alright, I will stay put for now.”

“Good. Have a nice day.” said Terence and hung up.

‘He did not even wait for a reply? Weird.’ I shrugged and called the lab, explaining what was going on at the moment. They were pleased that I gave them a call and we finished up shortly after.

“Iruni Inei, please come to the counter.” came the voice of nurse Joy through the announcer.

‘Let’s see what I have to deal with this time.’ I sighed and stood up, already dreading another nurse Joy lecture.