- Vagabond - Male Reader x Pokémon

Chapter 8: Ash

[A FEW HOURS LATER]

[Route 202]

The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Two low-level grunts stumbled through the undergrowth, their heavy boots crunching on twigs and dried leaves. Each carried an overstuffed sack slung over their shoulders, bulging with stolen Poké Balls. Anxiety and frustration filled the air between them.

"Shit, where the hell is everyone?" the first grunt spat, glancing around the darkening forest with a scowl. "Weren't we all supposed to meet back here after the raid? This whole operation was a damn mess from the start!"

"Yeah, no kidding." The second grunt muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He shifted the sack on his shoulder, grimacing at its weight. "Half the crew's gone AWOL, and the other half probably got taken out by Rowan. I told you this plan was a joke. They didn't think it through at all."

The first grunt stopped abruptly, his eyes scanning the dense trees around them. His frustration was quickly morphing into unease. "This is bad. Really bad. If we don't regroup soon, we're screwed. You saw what happened back in town, Rowan wasn't holding back."

"Yeah, yeah, I saw..." The second grunt snapped, his nerves starting to fray.

"That old man's a beast. I'm just glad we were on the other side of town when he showed up."

Their argument faded into the oppressive silence of the forest, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. The raid on Sandgem Town had been chaotic and devastating, a desperate gambit to divert attention from the Hunters' broader operations. Homes had been destroyed, Rowan's lab reduced to smouldering rubble, and the majority of its Pokémon supply stolen.

But it had come at a cost. Rowan, the Champion of Sinnoh, had been far from idle.

Though the raid succeeded in sowing destruction, many Hunters had been captured or killed, while others, like these two, were lost in the aftermath.

The first grunt, his nerves fraying, jabbed a finger at his companion.

"This is your fault, you know. If you'd just followed the map like you were supposed to..."

"My fault?!" the second grunt snapped, shoving him back with both hands. "I'm not even from this dump! I'm just here for the payout so I can get the hell out of Sinnoh and back to Hoenn. This region is a lost cause, anyway!"

Before the argument could escalate further, a faint rustling from the nearby bushes froze them in place. Both men turned toward the sound, their earlier bravado evaporating. The first grunt whispered. "You hear that?"

"Yeah." the second replied, his voice barely audible. He swallowed hard, reaching instinctively for a crude stun rod at his belt. "Think it's one of Rowan's Pokémon?"

The rustling grew louder, and then, without warning, a small Turtwig emerged from the underbrush. It stood there, swaying slightly as if unfazed by the tension in the air.

Its bright eyes blinked up at the grunts, its expression completely blank.

The two men exchanged a glance.

"Is that one of the starters?" The first grunt asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Must be." The second replied, crouching down with a greedy glint in his eye. "Guess we're luckier than we thought. A wild starter like this? That's a payday waiting to happen." He extended a hand toward the Turtwig, his tone turning sickly sweet.

"Hey there, little guy. Come on over, nice and easy."

"Turt." The Pokémon responded simply, not moving an inch.