What will we do once we finish early, hmm? Linda teased Neko with a playful smirk.
"O-Oh, come on! You know I get shy when you're so direct," Neko stammered.
Linda chuckled, playfully hiding her face with her arm. Over the past decade, she and Neko had formed a close bond since their childhood. Neko often spent more time with Linda than with his own parents, frequently choosing to be at the orphanage where they first met, sacrificing precious moments with his family at home.
Although Neko sometimes wished he had spent more time with his family, the joy of playing and hanging out with Linda made it all worthwhile. His parents were supportive of this arrangement, as Neko could help keep an eye on Linda, especially in case Yamo or Haoli posed a threat when she was alone. It was generally safer for both of them.
As they veered off the usual path, they ventured down a worn trail leading into the forest. The woods were alive with various insects, quietly observing the pair as they moved. Team Dragonflies remained vigilant, aware of their surroundings.
Through the trees, they caught a glimpse of a Weavile adorned in what looked like a cape and hat, reminiscent of a Mismagius. The dark purple of the Weavile's outfit was accented by red-pink tufts on the hat, with matching colors and stripes on the cape. He also sported the standard rescue team bandana and badge, both in yellow.
However, Team Dragonflies couldn't discern the full scene. Linda thought she heard another familiar voice belonging to the Weavile, hidden among the trees.
All they could discern, apart from the evidently male Weavile, was a larger, fluffy Pokémon that, from Neko's limited perspective, resembled a blend of a mongoose and a cat. Its body was mostly covered in white fur, accented by striking red markings on its face and chest. It was a Zangoose—fluffy yet with a somewhat unkempt coat, likely a result of the chase. These weren't just random strangers to Neko and Linda; they were recognized as Jade and Toge. The two friends quietly moved to another bush closer to the action, gaining a clearer view of the threat.
Suddenly, a dark green dragonfly Pokémon appeared! Its enormous insect eyes glared menacingly at the four, while its delicate wings buzzed ominously. It was a Yanmega—a particularly massive one, to be precise. To make matters worse, it had gone berserk, just like many other lost souls trapped in the depths of the mystery dungeons for days. This raised a troubling question: how did that wild Yanmega escape? "We have to help!" Neko exclaimed, springing into action and darting out of the bushes. Linda swallowed hard, hesitantly following him as they both rushed to assist the pinned Weavile and Zangoose.
"Neko? Linda? What are you two doing here?" Toge asked, astonished.
"We're here to save you, considering how dire things look!" Neko retorted playfully. The Zangoose and Weavile exchanged nervous glances, nearly jumping at the sound of the hostile Yanmega.
The Yanmega stood firm, unleashing a terrifying screech to intimidate the group.
Neko quickly unleashed a torrent of flames aimed at the Yanmega, but to the Charmeleon's frustration, the attack barely fazed it. In an instant, the Yanmega seized Neko with its six powerful legs, constricting around the Charmeleon's waist. The Zangoose, Mismagius, and Weavile stood frozen in disbelief as Linda frantically started firing shadow balls at the massive insect.
"Don't just stand there! Help him!" she shouted angrily, prompting the Weavile and Zangoose to spring into action, assisting the Mismagius in freeing Neko.
Neko gasped for air, his complexion turning ashen as his blood fought to circulate. His sight started to blur and fade. In a desperate attempt, Neko gathered his remaining strength to unleash a fiery breath. The Yanmega responded with an angry screech, sinking its teeth into the Charmeleon in retaliation. Neko flinched from the pain, but the bite was only the beginning of his troubles. The venom coursing through him was far more concerning. In an instant, Neko succumbed to sleep, leaving the Charmeleon silent and allowing the Yanmega to focus on its next move.
....
Neko gradually regained consciousness, feeling the weight of exhaustion in every muscle. He found himself bound in a web of silk, tightly wrapped from his chest to his waist, with his arms trapped beneath the constricting material. His snout was equally restricted. As he looked around, he realized he was inside a tree and spotted the Rattata kid nearby, also ensnared in silk ropes, alongside the Charmeleon. Panic surged through him as he struggled to escape, but his efforts were futile from the outset. To his dismay, he noticed a Yanmega hovering near the tree entrance, intensifying his fear. Desperate, Neko attempted to breathe fire and wriggle free, but nothing worked; the silk was too tight, and his snout was completely covered.
The Yanmega crawled down from the entrance, its legs creeping along the walls, sending chills down Neko's spine. To his astonishment, he saw a figure riding the Yanmega—a scaly reptile. Upon closer inspection, it was a vantablack Kecleon, nearly indistinguishable except for its shape, resembling a living shadow. Its piercing crimson eyes fixated on the trapped Charmeleon. With a thunderous crash, the Yanmega landed in front of Neko, and the Kecleon dismounted from the large, dark green dragonfly. The mysterious Kecleon silently assessed the captured Charmeleon, arms crossed, shaking its head in disapproval.
"You're awake..." the Kecleon said softly, drawing a small, curved dagger shaped like a skull. It sliced through the silk covering the Charmeleon's snout, granting him some freedom. "W-What are you going to do to me?" Neko stammered in fear.
"You're coming with me, young Charmeleon~"