Chapter 16

The forest was alive with a quiet intensity as Felicia stood at the head of a group of thirty-five Pokémon, each one poised and ready for battle. The air was thick with tension, and though the sunlight filtered softly through the canopy above, it did little to ease the anxiety of what lay ahead. Felicia's sharp eyes flicked to Wyzin, who stood nearby, his towering Leafeon form casting a long shadow over the gathered force.

Wyzin's gaze swept over the group, taking stock of the various forest Pokémon that had been assembled for this mission. They were a diverse mix—everything from Nuzleafs and Butterfrees to larger, more powerful fighters like Mightyena and Ursaring. Each one knew the stakes: a Beedrill nest this close to their village posed a serious threat, and the aggressive nature of the scout Felicia encountered meant there was likely an even bigger danger lurking in the depths of the forest.

Felicia, ever the disciplined leader, remained calm despite the weight of the mission. She had fought and defeated the scout, but now she was tasked with leading this group to the location of that encounter—and then finding and eliminating the entire Beedrill nest.

Wyzin, standing tall beside her, broke the silence with a deep, authoritative voice. "Felicia, you know where the Beedrill scout was found. Lead the way to that location. Once we're there, we'll locate the nest and deal with it. We can't afford to let this problem grow any larger."

Felicia gave a curt nod, stepping forward to take the lead. Her mind was already racing through the details—how far they had to travel, the terrain they'd be crossing, and how many Beedrill they might encounter before reaching the nest. But she kept her thoughts to herself as she moved swiftly, her paws barely making a sound as she guided the group deeper into the forest.

The other Pokémon followed in a disciplined line, their senses alert for any sign of danger. There was little conversation, only the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a distant bird. The forest felt unnervingly peaceful, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for the storm to break.

After some time, Felicia slowed her pace, signaling to the others that they were nearing the area where she had fought the scout. "We're close," she murmured, just loud enough for Wyzin and the others to hear. "Stay sharp. The nest can't be too far from here."

Wyzin moved up beside her, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Good. Once we get a sense of where the nest is, we'll split into smaller teams to surround it. We can't afford to let any of them escape."

Felicia nodded, her ears twitching as she listened for any unusual sounds. They moved carefully now, the group spread out slightly to avoid making too much noise. Felicia's mind was focused on the mission, but a small part of her couldn't help but think of Arcane, back at the village. He was safe, and for that, she was grateful. This mission was too dangerous for someone as inexperienced as him.

As they entered the clearing where Felicia had fought the scout, the tension in the air grew thicker. The area looked peaceful, the only sign of the previous battle being a few disturbed patches of grass where the Beedrill had fallen. But something wasn't right. Felicia's instincts flared, and she halted abruptly, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the clearing.

Before she could issue a warning, the air buzzed with a menacing hum.

"Get ready!" Felicia barked, her voice sharp and clear. She barely had time to finish the command before they were surrounded. From the trees, eight Beedrill soldiers descended, their wings buzzing furiously as they prepared to strike.

The Pokémon behind Felicia reacted instantly, moving into defensive stances and preparing for the fight. The Beedrill soldiers were larger and more heavily armored than the scout Felicia had faced earlier, their stingers gleaming dangerously as they circled the group.

But Felicia wasn't worried. They had the numbers.

"Take them down!" Wyzin's deep voice boomed through the clearing, and the group of forest Pokémon sprang into action.

The battle was fierce but quick. The Beedrill soldiers, though fast and aggressive, were outnumbered and overpowered by the sheer size and strength of the assembled force. A Mightyena leaped forward, its powerful jaws clamping down on one of the Beedrill, while a Nuzleaf launched a flurry of Razor Leafs, cutting through the wings of another.

Felicia herself moved with practiced precision, darting through the chaos as she engaged one of the Beedrill directly. Her speed gave her the upper hand, allowing her to dodge its furious strikes and deliver a series of quick, decisive blows. Within moments, the Beedrill crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

All around her, the other forest Pokémon were making quick work of their enemies. An Ursaring swiped a Beedrill out of the air with a single powerful strike, while a Butterfree disoriented another with a well-placed Sleep Powder, causing it to crash into the ground.

Within minutes, the battle was over. The Beedrill soldiers lay scattered across the clearing, their bodies still and lifeless. The victorious Pokémon gathered themselves, taking stock of any injuries. But the damage had been minimal, and it was clear they had won this skirmish.

Wyzin approached the fallen Beedrill, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied them. "These weren't just ordinary Beedrill. They're too organized," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "An aggressive queen must be in charge. If they're able to send out a squad this large, there could be even more nearby."

Felicia, still catching her breath from the fight, looked up at him. "Do you think there's a larger nest than we anticipated?"

Wyzin's expression was grim as he stood to his full height. "It's possible. A Beedrill queen that's this aggressive could have more soldiers stationed deeper in the forest. And if that's the case, we might not be able to handle it alone. We'll need to appeal to the other rulers of the nearby territories for help."

Felicia frowned, as she considered the implications. Asking for help from the neighboring rulers wasn't something they did often. It could complicate things, but if the Beedrill threat was larger than expected, they wouldn't have a choice.

"We'll need to move quickly then," Felicia said. "The longer we wait, the more time the Beedrill have to regroup and birth more soldiers. If there's a queen commanding them, she'll likely send out another wave soon."

Wyzin nodded, his gaze hardening. "You're right. We'll send scouts to the nearby territories to ask for assistance. In the meantime, we'll need to fortify our defenses and make sure the nest doesn't grow any larger. This is just the beginning."