It isn't a very far distance between Bark Village and Grove Town, despite the difference of culture. Half a day travel usually, but that all depends on the blockades along the way. For example, Tass is entirely focused on the trees and the Pokemon all around, so she failed to notice the particularly large rock right in front of her.
"DAMMIT!" Tass yells out, stubbing her big toe directly onto the rock. She grips her foot in pain for a few seconds before Yanma flies over and peers around. It buzzes frantically once again, rubbing its face on Tass' leg.
She rubs its head and smiles softly, "It's okay, I'll be alright. Just a rock, nothing we can't-" she's suddenly stopped by a crashing sound from behind a group of trees to her right.
Are you kidding me? Not even 20 minutes into this shit, and trouble already....
Seconds pass before Tass hears rhythmic beating, followed by footsteps. Rapid footsteps, like someone is running fast. Tass prepares herself, wraps Yanma in her arms, and gets low- ready to sprint. Before she gets the chance to run, she recognizes the beating sound.
"That's...."
From the bushes, a dirt covered, chubby young man runs as fast as he can towards Tass. He flies past her at breakneck speeds before turning his head and yelling, "BUTTERFREE!" Tass is already on his heels by the time he finishes the warning.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING, HUST!"
Hust was, in fact, not kidding. As they break through small shrubs and dive behind a few trees, Tass peeks her head around and waits. Almost like an electric shock, a thought shot through her brain.
Elder Olive said to keep track of what I see.
She hurls her sack onto the ground and rummages through, searching for something she can't quite find. That is, until....
"YES! A NOTEBOOK!" She exclaims, holding up a well-crafted leather notebook, a decently sized inkwell, and a green glass ink pen. Elder Olive is very thorough, thankfully.
Tass carefully opens the inkwell, dips the pen inside, opens the notebook, and waits patiently. Hust knows better at this point and wouldn't risk his safety by trying to interrupt Tass. He reaches forward, grabs Yanma, and wraps his arms around it the same way Tass does.
Yanma buzzes inquisitively, tilting its head at Hust. "Ssssshhh, little guy. No fighting yet. Watch closely..." He whispers back. Yanma looks back just in time to see a hoard of over 20 Butterfree break through the trees, belting at a high-pitched tone. At the front is a particularly large Butterfree, with wings at least 2 meters long each.
"Holy Arceus, that thing is HUGE!" Hust says in a strained whisper. Tass nods her head and begins writing, responding back just as quietly. "It's an Alpha, I'm almost certain. Look at the color too...is that a shiny?" Tass asks aloud, more to herself than Hust.
In fact, the colors on the Alpha Butterfree were strange. Green eyes, pink hands and feet, and a slight pink hue to the usually white wings. Hust thinks for a moment before whispering, "I don't know much about shiny Pokemon, but I definitely haven't seen a Butterfree like THAT."
Tass nods again and keeps writing. The Alpha Butterfree looks around before shrieking again, flapping violently with great force. Its pinkish wings begin to glow with a bright light, appearing as if it's bracing for something.
"OH SHIT GET DOWN!" Hust yells, covering Tass and Yanma with his body. Tass, ready to beat Hust to death for almost ruining her notebook but still grateful for his help, keeps an eye poking out. She needs to record this.
With a deep inhale, the Alpha Butterfree spreads its wings wide and shrieks for the final time. The glow of its wings grows blinding, as barely visible blades of wind are flung with spectacular speed towards the trees that surround the Alpha. Whole trees are toppled, sliced all over, or plain cut in half during this rampage. For a full 20 seconds, the Alpha Butterfree decimates the area, clearing a 5-meter radius around itself.
The other Butterfree hid above the Alpha, watching from above. After it's done, the Alpha investigates the area one final time before quietly flying into the sky, back towards the mountainous area to the North.
As soon as it disappears over the tree line, Hust and Tass pop up from behind the tree and fist bump each other.
"That was badass, right?! Did you SEE that thing? Holy WOW that was impressive! What move was that?!" Hust jumps up and down, obviously very excited.
Tass smiles back and chuckles before dusting her robe off, "My guess? Air Slash. But a waaayyyyy stronger version. Not surprising for its size, but incredible nevertheless. As for my notes..." she looks down and grins with joy.
Perfect
BUTTERFREE
~ 1 METER TALL
TYPE: BUG, FLYING(?)
NORMALLY PURPLE AND BLUE, SHINY IS PURPLE AND PINK
NOTES: OFTEN TRAVEL IN GROUPS, NOT USUALLY VERY DANGEROUS BUT NOT TO UNDERESTIMATED, STRONG MOVES WITH DECENT ATTACKING POWER, VERY DEFENSIVE TOWARDS EVO LINE AND BERRIES.
ALPHA HAS BEEN OBSERVED MOVING WITH HERD NEAR DARK CAVE
With a clap, Tass closes her notebook and glares at Hust. "Did you at least get the berries...?" Without missing a beat, Hust reaches behind him, grabs a loose burlap sack, and grins. "More than enough. I ditched the baskets; they couldn't hold as many as I wanted and I didn't wanna risk coming back a second time."
Tass pulls open the sack and her eyes shine with wonder. Easily over 20kg. "Wow Hust, why so many? I thought you only needed a few?" she asks.
"Well..." He looks away and blushes a little, "You aren't the only one with a mission. I can't tell you who, I'm not allowed!" He interrupts himself. Tass holds up a hand and shakes her head, "No need for an explanation, Hust. I get it. If you're going somewhere dangerous, please be careful. I might not be able to save you...AGAIN."
Hust doesn't say anything back, just tears up a little bit and brings Tass in for a tight embrace. She hugs him back just as tight and lets out a little laugh before standing up. She holds out her hand and helps her best friend up as well, "You know, you're gonna need a Pokemon out there. You need a way to defend yourself, and a friend."
"I know, I know. I'm already on it. Elder Olive already said she's probably going to lend me one of the older Miltank. A few of them are out of breeding age but still have LIFETIMES worth of fight in em." He flexes dramatically on the emphasized "lifetimes".
"Just keep in touch, okay? If you find a Mail Carrier, be sure to send me something, anything to let me know you're alive. Okay?" Tass furrows her brow. Hust nods and throws up a middle finger before he laughs loudly, practically skipping away towards Bark Village.
"Don't worry, Tass. I'm stronger than you think I am! Promise! You'll hear from me soon!"
And with that, her lifelong friend, little brother, annoyance, and responsibility left her view. She balls her fists and chokes back a few tears, taking a sharp, deep breath.
You can't save them all
Tass turns and looks at Yanma, still on the ground after sheltering from the Butterfree swarm. She picks it up, gives it a light toss into the air, and giggles as it does a quick backflip. Yanma poses surprisingly similar to Hust, with its 2 front legs flexing and a furrowed brow. Tass can't contain herself, and bursts into laughter for a few seconds.
"He really is so silly, isn't he?" She ponders. "I wonder where he's going. I know he'll be okay. After all, he doesn't NEED me there. He just..." Tass pauses. Thoughts of her parents flash through her mind- The screams. The frantic running, trying their hardest to get her to safety.
I can't do that again
Gritting her teeth, Tass turns around and forces a smile. She waves a hand forward, gesturing for Yanma to lead the way. Yanma recreates the same action, waving Tass forward.
"You learn fast, huh?" Tass scratches her head. "Come on, let's keep going. We only have a few hours of light before the sun starts setting. And personally, I don't want to be out here when the Zubat wake up," Tass kicks her feet, one in front of the other.
With the sun barely passing the top of her head, Yanma at her side, and after narrowly escaping certain doom dressed at a butterfly, Tass feels both empowered and afraid. Can she handle what's coming next? Could she even find out what's coming next? If she can't...then what happens to everyone else?
"Guess I'll find out eventually, for better. Or worse."