Chapter 54: Arriving at the Water Source

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As soon as the sunlight hit Gloom, she immediately began using Synthesis. Her flower and leaves emitted a soft white glow, followed by a gentle green light that enveloped her entire body.

Under the glow of this green light, Gloom's injuries began healing at a visible speed. Her Synthesis lasted for about 30 seconds, and by the end, her wounds were fully healed, and her energy was restored to peak condition.

"Grass-type Pokémon really do have incredible recovery abilities. If Zubat had taken that kind of damage, it would've taken hours of healing items and rest to recover," Sato thought, somewhat in awe as he watched Gloom's quick recovery under the sunlight.

By this time, Sato had put on a gas mask. It was part of his field gear, originally intended for protection against toxic gases in the forest, but it was now proving useful against Gloom's stench.

Earlier, Sato hadn't used the mask because he wanted to build rapport with Gloom. Now that he had earned her trust, he didn't need to endure the stench any longer. With the gas mask filtering the air, he no longer felt the discomfort he had before.

Of course, Sato didn't have any prejudice against Gloom. He treated all the Pokémon he captured equally. But under the influence of her overwhelming smell, it was difficult for him to maintain focus. To continue navigating the dangerous forest, he had to take precautions.

Once her injuries were healed, Gloom returned to Sato's side. She noticed the mask on his face but didn't seem to understand what it was and didn't give it much thought.

Knowing that Sato and Zubat were now her companions, she began to close up her flower, doing her best to contain the stench she emitted.

Having lived a lonely life for so long, Gloom had developed a resilient and sensitive heart. She knew how rare it was to find companions who accepted her, so she was determined to treasure them. She wanted to do everything she could to not cause unnecessary trouble for them.

Though she still emitted a smell, it was nowhere near as overpowering as before—no longer strong enough to knock out nearby creatures.

Noticing the reduced stench, Zubat returned to Sato's side, and Sato quickly removed the gas mask and stored it back in his Team Rocket watch. Over the next few days, he knew he'd need to get used to Gloom's scent.

"Let's keep moving, Gloom," Sato said with a smile to the Gloom, who was trying hard to suppress her odor. He gestured for Zubat to lead the way, heading toward the water source.

"Mm, mm," Gloom happily nodded, following closely behind Sato. From now on, she wouldn't have to live alone anymore—she would go wherever her companions went.

Thanks to Gloom's Stench ability, their journey proceeded smoothly, with no wild Pokémon obstructing them. Even the Beedrill patrolling the area turned a blind eye, ignoring them because of the strong smell surrounding them.

After about half an hour of walking, Sato and his team finally reached the water source. They had crossed the forest and arrived at the banks of a fast-flowing river.

The riverbank was covered in pebbles, and the sound of the rushing water echoed in their ears. A breeze carried the mist from the river toward them, and before long, Sato's clothes were damp as he collected water from the river.

After filling several large bottles with river water, Sato quickly moved away from the riverbank and began preparing lunch in a clearing near the forest, shaded by large trees.

As they walked and paused along the way, the time had already passed noon. Both Sato and Zubat were extremely hungry by this point, and the young Nidoran inside the PokéBall was likely feeling the same.

"Come on out, Nidoran," Sato said, releasing Nidoran from the PokéBall after Gloom had spread her foul-smelling liquid around the area to mark their territory, and Zubat had used echolocation to confirm their safety.

After two days of careful care, the young Nidoran had grown quite a bit. What was once a tiny creature that could fit in the palm of Sato's hand had now grown to about fifteen times that size.

As soon as Nidoran emerged, he dashed straight into Sato's arms, his eyes welling up with tears—a clear sign that he was about to throw a tantrum. Sato, who had been taking care of Nidoran for the past two days, recognized the signs immediately. With a practiced hand, he produced an energy PokeBlock and popped it into Nidoran's open mouth just in time.

Satisfied with the delicious treat, Nidoran's mood changed instantly. He happily nuzzled his little head into Sato's chest, showing his affection.

"Let me introduce you to a new companion," Sato said after a brief moment of cuddling. He lifted Nidoran from his arms and turned to Gloom. "This is Gloom, your new teammate. Be sure to get along well. And Gloom, this is Nidoran. He's still a child, so I hope you'll take care of him."

Nidoran, still a young and innocent Pokémon, was thrilled to meet a new friend. He paid no mind to Gloom's lingering stench and eagerly approached her, greeting her with enthusiasm.

Gloom, equally pleased to have another companion who accepted her, was overjoyed. She tried her best to suppress her odor and even offered some of the sweet nectar she had stored as a gift for Nidoran.

Before long, the two Pokémon were getting along and playing happily. Gloom, with her gentle nature, played the role of a caring older sister, indulging Nidoran as they played together.

Zubat, on the other hand, remained his usual calm and composed self. He didn't join in the play but stayed perched upside down on a tree branch, dutifully following Sato's orders and using his echolocation to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings.

A few minutes later, Sato had finished preparing lunch for his Pokémon. Zubat's meal consisted of rich blood, Nidoran's was a bottle of Miltank milk and a premium Poison-type Pokémon food, and Gloom's was a bowl of fresh water along with some nutrient-rich river mud.

It's worth mentioning that to avoid attracting strong, carnivorous Pokémon due to the smell of blood, Sato had taken extra precautions with Zubat's meal. He had pierced a small hole in the lid of the bottle containing the blood and inserted a straw that fit perfectly into the hole. This way, Zubat could enjoy his meal without the scent of blood leaking into the air.

As for Gloom's food, Sato had initially thought of giving her the same high-quality Poison-type food that Nidoran loved, but Gloom seemed to prefer water, sunlight, and soil. So, Sato had no choice but to provide her with fresh water and rich riverbank mud.

When Gloom ate, she behaved like a typical plant Pokémon. She buried her roots into the soil and absorbed the water and nutrients from the ground, while also using sunlight for photosynthesis to produce organic matter and fulfill her nutritional needs.

Sato figured that, since Gloom was a Grass-type Pokémon and her entire body was plant-based, her biological structure was surely different from that of other flesh-and-blood Pokémon. As he thought about how to care for her in the future, he realized that fertile soil and top-quality fertilizer would be essential for her growth.

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