Pokémon Warrior: Lost Adventures

Now that he was no longer focused on the battle and avoiding any incoming attacks, Kenji was able to better study the other Pokémon as it extracted itself from the silk string.

The beast was surprisingly small, close in height to Flutter's main body without the wings and antennae. Two flowers, one red and the other blue, were either held in the small creature's hands. Or perhaps growing from them, it was difficult to tell. Atop its head grew a crown of green thorns.

Kenji received a clear view of its expression as the flowered creature looked around the glade. Despite being unfamiliar with the species, he could clearing see its face as it fell.

"Roooooose," It released a mournful cry and slumped its flowered limbs to the ground.

Flinching in surprise, Kenji followed its gaze around the clearing.

Before, the glade was blanketed in flowers and blooming shrubs. The colorful petals were arranged in carefully with similar species and colors growing together. However, the battle between the two Pokémon destroyed all that.

Or rather, Flutter's uncaring gusts of wind ruined it.

Now, entire plants torn apart and broken. Leaves were scattered around the clearing along with a few sticks that were picked up by the butterfly's strong wind. The area surrounding the poisonous Pokémon was particularly devastated. Silk covered a large portion of the nearby plants and created an entangled mess.

As he watched the creature mourn the damage to its territory, Kenji could not help but feel pity for it. This battle was tame in comparison to other fights, ones that decided whether one side lived or died. Neither the butterfly nor the thorny Pokémon suffered lethal wounds. While it was true that Flutter was preying upon the flowers grown by the beast's body, draining its nectar would not leave it crippled.

However, Kenji could not help but remember the gardens decorating the family grounds. His father would return home and work for hours in the soil tending to his favorite plants. Meanwhile his mother would care for each Pokémon that visited or grew in the gardens. Together the three of the would care for a field just like this.

It was likely that this glade functioned in a similar, wilder fashion. Most likely, other wild beasts would visit for the vibrant nature aligned energy in the air and earth. Flutter found the clearing and, in its eagerness, immediately began to fight over the nectar. Fortunately, battles between those that cultivated Grass energy were rarely as deadly as ones conducted with other Energy Types. Grass Pokémon had a tendency to work together to create a wider, more energetic ecosystem.

Still, Kenji could not help but recognize the part he played in destroying the beast's clearing. Without his intervention, Flutter would not have used its affinity for the air to attack. Nor would it have sprayed the glade with silk. Instead, the butterfly would have been driven off by the poisonous thorns or strange, colorful leaves.

Turning his head, Kenji searched for the sled he left behind. It was difficult to see from here but he could see Sprout's large head as the turtle looked from around the tree trunk. The beast was gazing at the sun filled glade with longing and envy clear in its large eyes.

Sighing, Kenji gave up on trying to stay hidden. He slowly stepped out from behind the trunk.

"Flutter," he called out softly.

The butterfly Pokémon was wobbling through the air to inspect the undamaged flowers. At the sound of his voice, the beast awkwardly spun around.

At the same time, the other Pokémon in the clearing jerked around in alarm. It raised its flowered hands in clear threat while bowing its thorny head warily.

"Ro," it cried out.

Kenji raised my hands to show that he was no threat but hastily dropped them when the green creature visibly tensed. It twirled its petals slightly and he crouched further, making sure to keep his head straight.

"Flutter," he called again, panic creeping into his voice. Kenji watched the bug move in his peripheral as he was unwilling to take his eyes off the scared Pokémon.

"Beau. Ti, ti." the butterfly cried out. The bug bobbed through the air as it flapped its wings. It appeared to be adapting to the state of its tattered wings, though it was clear it still had difficulty moving through the air.

The thorny Pokémon lowered its flowers morosely when it saw the other Pokémon fly towards him. Kenji winced at the stricken expression on the beast's face as its flowers wilted further.

When his trouble making companion neared, Kenji took a moment to inspect the wounds the beast was suffering from. As he feared, the wings were in a dreadful state with small holes and large tears breaking the colorful panels making up its delicate scales. A thick ichor dripped from its segmented body, clotting already to seal the broken carapace.

Fortunately, the Pokémon appeared unbothered by the injuries. Kenji had little experience in caring for beasts and he was unsure of how to tend to it. He knew enough to know that he should clean the cuts on its main body and seal them with silk but he would not be able to do the same for the delicate wings. Water and silk would only weigh the light scales down, leaving the butterfly unable to move.

Kenji shook his head as he recognized there was little he could do. However, while he could do nothing for one Pokémon, perhaps he could help the other. He used his hands to gently maneuver the butterfly away as he turned his attention back to the flowered Pokémon. Kenji was careful to keep his arms lowered and head turned away from the beast for fear of appearing threatening.

"Greetings, tender of the glade." he said formally. "I apologize for my companion's reckless battle and the state it has left your territory in. Perhaps I could earn a small respite for the two traveling with me and assist in repairs?" he offered.

While the Pokémon would not be able to understand his words, it was still polite and safer to speak as though it could. If he had a healthy and more developed sprit with an aura to match, it would be easier to communicate his intentions.

Kenji waited a moment for a response.

The creature stared at him uncertainly, its tiny eyes flickering between Flutter and Kenji.

Seeing that it did not understand, he slowly began to move. He was careful not to appear as a threat while he crouched and began cleaning up the surroundings.

At first the beast was alarmed, raising its limbs in a clear threat, so Kenji paused slightly after each action until the thorny Pokémon lowered them. The process repeated several times before he believed the creature understood.

The hours spent with his parents tending to their fields was put to use, the experience working with delicate plants having him taught how to care for them. Sticks were gathered and tossed into the forest along with plants that were far too damaged to be regrown. Only a few times did the flowered beast have to chirp in warning for Kenji to realize that his assumptions regarding the state of a particular plant were wrong. Or perhaps the Pokémon was able to restore it where Kenji could not.

Either way, he eventually made a full circuit of the clearing. When he was done, the green beast was less hostile but still wary of his presence. Kenji took it as a good sign and retreated back to the sled to retrieve wooden frame and Sprout.

The young beast had quieted and stilled its trembling, though the fact that it did not feel comfortable enough to dig into the ground betrayed its fear.

Kenji quickly returned to the clearing and lifted the small turtle for the Pokémon to see.

"This is my other companion, Sprout," he began. "The beast is still young and injured. Could he spend some time under the sun to regain his strength?" Kenji asked.

"Lia," it chirped. Kenji could tell that beast was surprised at Sprout's presence and it held its flowers up towards the sky.

The creature inspected Sprout carefully. The turtle was scared, of course, but the other Pokémon did not move threateningly.

Observing it as the thorny beast studied the turtle, Kenji saw what he believed to be a flicker of disgust cross its face. The tense form relaxed, and it was clear to his eyes that the Pokémon believed that Sprout could not be considered a threat to it.

Kenji felt that he should be insulted on Sprout's part, though he had little justification for the feeling. Yes, the turtle was young and weak yet that was no reason to be so annoyed or indifferently hostile.

Soon the glade tender lowered its limbs and Kenji relaxed. He knelt and set the small turtle on the ground. The beast immediately rushed to cower behind his legs. Seeing the terror afflicting the young Pokémon, Kenji sighed before starting a low hum as he whispered to it. He did not want to risk disturbing the poisonous beast but unless he managed to calm Sprout down, their time in the glade would be wasted.

After all, there was more to gain from the open clearing than just sunlight. Even with his spirit compressed as it was and no aura growing from it, Kenji could sense the vibrant energy filling the glade. It was not overbearing as only holy land could be but the difference was noticeable when compared to the greater forest. It was perfect for a young beast coming into their aura to visit. Even a short time in the clearing would hopefully be enough to set him on the path to recovery.

Or at least lead him to it.

Focused as he was on Sprout, Kenji missed the other Pokémon's reaction to his soft humming. When he glanced over to assure himself that the beast was not going to attack, he was surprised to see it swaying to the simple melody. The petaled limbs drifted back and forth as it rocked.

Comforted that the Pokémon was enjoying his admittedly off tune humming, Kenji raised the volume. He wanted to be loud enough to be heard yet still soft enough he could maintain the gentle sound.

As he increased the soft music, the creature's movements became more exaggerated. The flowers lifted up in a twirl and the beast spun in a slow circle. Kenji continued humming as the green and thorny Pokémon started to dance. Despite his intention to soothe the scared turtle he quickly grew entranced by the Pokémon's movements.

At a first glance the twirling petals and swaying of the body seemed a simple dance to a simple song.

A second look revealed something deeper.

The flicks of its limbs followed the unfurling of a flower as it sought the morning sun. The twisting of its body mimicked the growing stem lifting the leaves to greater heights as it reached for the sky.

Not only was the dance both beautiful and smooth, it was in tune with the Energy of nature in a way that humans would have to take years to perfect.

Kenji followed the flow of the Grass Pokémon's body as he committed it's movements to memory. If he could understand and replicate it, then it was entirely possible for him to reach a deeper understanding of his path.

He ached to repeat the beast's moves but at the same time he was scared of disturbing the wary creature. So instead, Kenji relegated himself to merely studying the thorny Pokémon.

All too soon the beast remembered his presence and it hurriedly spun around to glare at him.

Kenji tensed in preparation to dodge. The beastly plant's flowers were twitching in warning but they stilled and pulled back. He relaxed slightly in response and had to hold himself back from bowing.

"Thank you for the performance, one of flowers and thorn," Kenji said. "My obligation only grows, which I wish to repay."

He crouched down carefully after his words to begin tidying up the surrounding area. The Pokémon was wary at first but as he continued to repair the clearing it quickly relaxed. Sprout calmed as well, especially when Kenji and the other beast moved away from the turtle. As he hoped, the young Pokémon settled into the ground to cultivate in the sun and natural Energy blooming in the glade.

Meanwhile, Kenji stepped carefully around the flowers as he was followed closely by the petaled beast. Scattered twigs and larger branches were gathered to be tossed into the forest along with piles of torn leaves. Occasionally he came across a broken or uprooted plant that he avoided touching for fear of ruining it.

After a section of the clearing was cleaned, the thorny beast gracefully stepped up. The Pokémon inspected each plant, bush, and flower. It's flowered limb delicately caressed the plants to rearrange the placement of leaves and petals so that they were orientated on the rays of sunlight.

Kenji watched on with open envy at the apparent ease with which the beast cultivated its territory. Even his mother and father would have difficulty matching the Pokémon's skill. Part of it was due to the sheer size difference, with the green creature standing only lower than his knee. However, more than size was the Pokémon's knowledge of each species within its domain.

Stems were carefully positioned to support the full weight of the plant while at the same time avoiding a unresolvable tangle. Most of the leaves followed the sun while flowers were partially turned to avoid burning. Where the beast passed, the plant life became revitalized. Faded colors grew bright again and bent stems smoothed into the more natural lines found in nature.

As the beast used its energy to heal the plant life, Kenji let himself fall into a half-meditative state. It allowed him to retain awareness of his surroundings at the cost of risking a distraction disturbing him.

The first thing he felt was the ethereal shroud clinging to his spirit and separating him from the world. Yet as the moments passed, it felt as the shroud grew shear and he was able to more strongly sense the Energy in the glade.

The Grass Energy bloomed in the clearing as it soaked into the plants and soil. The Pokémon tending to the clearing was bright with it yet the beast freely offered its power to even the most meager of flowers, all so that the petals could recover.

It was vibrant and alive, almost painfully so when felt through the ghostly veil. Part of his mind wanted to shift to study the thinning power but he refused. Not only would it dredge up memories he ached to forget, he had no desire to seek an affinity with the more mystical power.

Instead, Kenji forced himself to focus upon the vibrant power misting the bright clearing. Inhaling deeply, Kenji imagined the Grass attuned energy moving towards him. Not in a rush, as water would falling off a cliff but more as was absorbed by fibrous wood soaking up the rain water.

His will was but the first root of a seed not yet sprouted, testing the soil. Only when he found the perfect land would he begin to grow.

The change from pulling on the energy to instead seeking it out and absorbing it was sudden. The exercise was entirely mental, for every Warrior cultivated differently yet it was even more vitally crucial. No two Warriors cultivated the same, even those specialized in the same Energy.

The mental shift was as startling as it was stimulating. The image of his cultivation method felt right in a way that he could not explain. Kenji felt his brow begin to furrow as he tried to further understand his interpretation. The effort risked breaking his concentration so he forced himself to refocus once more.

He felt the moment Energy flowed through this new style. It moved smoothly, with little of the turbulence he was used to. Without his spirit fighting the power and the Energy fighting itself, he could cultivate far more than before. The strength of nature flowed with his will, ignoring the shroud clinging to him, and joined with his compressed spirit.

The Energy was invigorating, almost like a splash of cold water or a bitter tea in the morning. It was a shock to his system, drained as it was, and he felt like a mortal stepping onto the path of Warrior once more.

At first Kenji was elated at his success in cultivating the ambient Energy of the glade. The power suffused his spirit, swirling around it in the barest hints of an aura. He easily envisioned resting here, visiting it regularly to regain his strength.

However, that elation quickly morphed to horror and then despair when he realized what was truly occurring.

Instead of healing his spirit and regrowing his aura, the mist of Energy suffused the seed and worked to compress it further. The change was miniscule yet obvious to his senses. After so long sensing only his spirit, he was more familiar with it than his own body. If that was not evidence enough, the pain, as much as he wanted to forget, was a familiar companion as his soul began to ache once more. It faded quickly yet the brief resurgence was enough to bring a cold sweat to his skin.

It appeared that his sudden change in his style of cultivation did more harm than good. Rather than a dense orb he could not help but view his aura as a seed.

A seed that would not sprout until it found the perfect land.

Shaking, Kenji broke off from his meditation. Continuing would only reinforce the style he found, ensuring that he could no longer follow the path of the Warrior.

Energy fed the Spirit, enriching the Body and giving birth to Aura. It was a race to keep the Spirit or the Body stronger, never allowing them to equalize. For that spelled the end of a Warrior's path.

He clenched his hands until they ached and he could feel his nails digging into his palms. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes as he remembered the warning his father gave him.