15. Beedrill Swarm

Dennis wasn't sure what he expected from Robert when he made his request, but it wasn't this. They had been travelling through the eastern jungle for an hour now and Robert showed no sign of slowing down. Robert seemed to get more anxious the further in they got and he only kept their current pace because of Dennis warning that if they rush it will only make them take longer.

Robert knew he was being impatient, but he couldn't help it. The further in they got the clearer he could feel the call. He was sure it was something calling out now. It wasn't directed at him but seemed to be a loud cry for help, and he desperately wanted to do that. He knew Dennis was right though and they couldn't rush, they could attract unwanted attention.

What made matters worse is that this jungle was too thick for Dennis's large Pokémon to travel through without causing a lot of noise and trouble. Both Pokémon had to remain in their Pokéball's. left with no choice they had to travel cautiously on foot, with Pokéball at the ready. Robert secretly took note that it wasn't always a good idea to have the biggest and toughest Pokémon.

After travelling for another half hour, they started hearing erratic buzzing sounds. Robert was both excited and nervous. He could tell that they were close but that they were heading straight for that noise, he couldn't tell what it was but he could tell it was quickly getting louder. Dennis knew exactly what that noise meant and it sounded like there were a lot. What had him more worried was the fact that they were getting close to the mountain range.

Dennis had heard plenty of stories about that place and none of them were good. He was confident he could protect his son from most things in this jungle, but he didn't think he would even be able to protect himself in those mountains. He secretly decided that if Robert wanted to go in there, he would forcefully bring him away.

Luckily Robert didn't go much further before stopping, hidden behind some bushes with Dennis one step behind. The buzzing was so loud now it sounded like it was directly in their ears. Dennis looked past the bushes they were hiding in and saw exactly what he expected, a swarm of Beedrill. Luckily Beedrill were an uncommon sight around here and their numbers were rather low unlike the swarms in Ilex forest. There were still 10 Beedrill, a rather large number for around here. Dennis noticed these Beedrill were acting a bit odd. while Beedrill can be active at night they are normally active during the day, they also appear to have been stirred up by something.

The Beedrill seemed to be nesting in a large tree with all but a few bushes cleared out from under it. the Beedrill were trying to attack something at the base of the tree. Before Dennis could study what it was he felt something beside him.

Dennis looked over and saw Robert was shuddering. So much that he almost attracted the attention of the Beedrill. It was dark but even in the dim light Dennis could tell Robert had paled like all the blood drained from him and he'd broke out into a cold sweat. Dennis thought Robert was reacting to the Beedrill but then he noticed he wasn't even looking at them. He was staring intently at what the Beedrill were trying to attack at the base of the tree.

Dennis focused there and when he saw what the Beedrill were trying to get to he was overwhelmed with shock. At first all he could see was a bit of pale silvery brown colour splotched with patches of red, then it jumped out and revealed itself to land an attack on a Beedrill. Hiding in the roots of this large tree was a shiny Pokémon! And it wasn't a Weedle or even a Beedrill. This was an Eevee, Eevee's were not a common sight anywhere and this one was even a shiny! Then it hit Dennis why Robert was having such an intense reaction. This should be the first shiny he's seen since the night Kurt died.

Indeed, Robert was on an emotional roller coaster right now. This whole time he had been following that call, that cry for help. The moment he got here and discovered the source of that cry, his body froze up with his mind going blank. "A shiny Pokémon, another shiny Pokémon." That was all Robert could think of, over and over again.

What Robert hadn't told anyone is that besides feeling responsible for Kurt's death by leading that goon over to his cabin. There was also someone else's fate he blamed himself for. The shiny Miltank. Pokémon are just as sentient as people and he does not doubt that Miltank is suffering many horrors at the hands of Team Rocket. While Kurt's death was tragic at least his suffering was short if there was any at all. That shiny Miltank had no such luxury.

Robert constantly thought about that Miltank and it pained him every time he did. Now there is another shiny in front of him again. It's also suffering all alone just like that Miltank must be and again there was nothing he could do other than watch. Slowly Roberts's eyes turned red. NO!!

He was not going to sit here without doing anything AGAIN! He would do something. He was going to save that Eevee.

Dennis watched as these changes took place in his son. The shuddering got worse, and he seemed to get weaker like he might collapse soon. His eyes slowly filled with pain and despair.

Dennis secretly sighed. he knew he could save that Eevee as none of the Beedrill appeared high level but he restrained himself. seeing the initial reaction of his son he knew that while this was painful for him it could also be a chance. He hoped Robert could use this to push past his fear and trauma for good. Although Robert was young he had surprised him many times before and he hoped he would do it again.

As Robert seemed to get weaker and slip further into his self-blame, Dennis was worried he had been too rash and hurt his son further.

Suddenly a determined glow erupted in Roberts's eyes. It seemed to burn away all the previous pain and despair, his body straightened with renewed strength. Before Dennis could think anything else he shot out straight towards the Eevee in the middle of all the Beedrill!