Toxtricity Band

After calming down the excited Pokémon that had gathered around him, Naoki returned to the house with his bag. He plopped onto the sofa with a long sigh of relief. 

Seeing Naoki come back, the brother-and-sister Indeedee welcomed him warmly. 

The younger Indeedee smiled sweetly and placed a warm cup of tea in front of Naoki. Then, she turned to the table, picked up two small photographs, and handed them to him. 

Naoki raised an eyebrow, instantly recognizing the two familiar, tiny paw prints stamped on the back of each photo. He didn't need to think twice to know exactly who had sent them.

With a curious smile, Naoki accepted the photos and asked casually, "When did these arrive?"

The younger Indeedee made a quick gesture, holding up three fingers and then one: "Aiee-!"

Naoki nodded in understanding. One photo had arrived three days ago, and the other just the day before.

His curiosity piqued, Naoki turned his attention to the photos.

The first image revealed the vast, endless expanse of the ocean, with clear blue skies above and soft white clouds drifting lazily across the horizon. 

At the center of the photo were two familiar little faces: Mew and Teddiursa. Both Pokémon looked adorably distressed, their eyes filled with concern. It seemed as though they had lost their way, unsure of where to find land.

Naoki chuckled at the sight. "Two poor little adventurers..." he murmured, amused yet concerned.

He remembered the last time these two had sent a letter—it was from the Orange Islands. They hadn't mentioned any plans to leave, so Naoki was surprised to see them drifting far away from those sunny shores.

He imagined what the Orange Islands must look like: vast oceans dotted with tiny tropical islands, scattered across the sparkling blue waters. It was clear that Mew and Teddiursa had gotten lost. Their worried faces told him they'd been searching for land for some time.

Curious to know how their little adventure unfolded, Naoki flipped to the second photo.

In the next image, the setting was still the same—the endless ocean stretched as far as the eye could see. But this time, something had changed.

Mew and Teddiursa were no longer floating in the air. Instead, they were perched happily on the back of a Lapras, gliding smoothly across the water.

Ahead of them, a lush, tropical island came into view, its greenery contrasting beautifully with the ocean's blue.

Both Mew and Teddiursa had big smiles on their faces. It was clear they were thrilled to have finally found a place to rest.

Naoki smiled warmly at the sight. "Well, at least they found somewhere to settle down," he whispered to himself.

Lapras had turned its head toward the camera, its large eyes glinting with kindness. Naoki could almost feel the warmth and friendship radiating from the Pokémon.

"I wonder what those two said to Lapras," Naoki mused with a chuckle. "It must've been something sweet to get such a friendly look."

Naoki couldn't help but feel relieved and happy that Mew and Teddiursa had found an island to call home. 

"You know," he murmured with a soft chuckle, "they really have a sense of adventure." 

He glanced at the friendly Lapras in the photo, its kind eyes reflecting the bond it shared with the little explorers. 

"Lapras..." Naoki whispered. "This Pokémon is rare these days."

Lapras, often known for its gentle heart, had once faced the threat of extinction due to illegal poaching. But that seemed like a distant memory now. Thanks to conservation efforts by Pokémon alliances worldwide, Lapras populations had recovered, especially in the Alola region. 

Naoki recalled hearing rumors about Alola's Bewear population. "I guess overprotection has made them a bit of a nuisance there," he mused with a wry smile. "Some regions are drowning in Pokémon, while others barely have any to spare. Funny how that works." 

In the Paldea region, Pokémon like Dragonite were hard to come by, adding to the uniqueness of Naoki's experiences.

...

After settling back into life on the ranch, Naoki's days returned to their familiar rhythm—tending the farm, basking in the warm sunlight, sipping tea, and playing with his Pokémon.

The wild Pokémon he had rescued and nurtured gradually emerged from their past traumas, slowly adapting to their peaceful new life. 

One bright morning, Naoki decided to take them on a walk to the back mountain, where many of them had once lived. They had not returned since the forest fire that changed their world forever.

As they reached the mountain, they were met with a heartbreaking sight. 

The aftermath of the fire left the forest in ruins. Charred trunks stood bare, jagged and lifeless, like eerie black sentinels. Ash blanketed the ground in a thick, powdery layer. Once-thriving trees now lay twisted and broken, and the vibrant greenery that had once defined this place was gone. 

The Wattrel, whose wings had finally healed, flapped its feathers and perched on a burned branch, lowering its head in sorrow. 

The Minccino, with its bushy tail fully regrown, scampered up a few charred trees. It leapt from one sturdy branch to another, searching in vain for familiar landmarks. 

The Petilil and several Foongus stood silently. They remembered when this forest had been filled with life, vibrant grass, and towering trees.

All the Pokémon wore expressions of sadness, their once-joyful eyes clouded with sorrow at what had been lost. 

Naoki sighed, feeling the weight of their emotions. Then, he knelt beside them, gently brushing his hand through the ashy soil. 

"You know," he began with a warm, reassuring smile, "these ashes aren't just the remnants of destruction." He held a handful of the soft, gray powder in his palm. "They're full of nutrients and trace elements that plants need to grow."

Naoki's eyes softened as he addressed the confused Pokémon gathered around him. 

"These ashes," he explained gently, "will make the soil richer. Everything that was lost—the flowers, the trees—they'll nourish the earth and come back stronger next year. Nature always finds a way to restart." 

The group of Pokémon seemed to listen intently, though a few still glanced around uncertainly. Naoki's words planted the seeds of hope. He smiled, imagining how new buds would sprout from the charred forest. 

Among the Pokémon, Kricketune, standing tall, seemed to catch the meaning of Naoki's words. Inspired, it raised its forelimbs like a seasoned conductor and began playing a haunting melody, characteristic of the species' emotional connection to music. 

The tune began low and somber, resonating with the sorrow of the burnt forest. But, like a wave gathering strength, it rose into an uplifting crescendo, filling the space with warmth and encouragement. 

Naoki stood in silent awe. The once-troubled Pokémon around him perked up, encouraged by the melody. Their eyes grew bright, and their spirits lifted. They exchanged determined glances—ready to rebuild their home, together. 

As Kricketune's final note echoed into the still air, applause erupted from nearby. 

Naoki turned to see a man with long hair approaching. Slung over his shoulder was a guitar, and beside him slithered a Toxtricity, strumming its chest strings like an electric bass. 

The man grinned, nodding appreciatively toward Kricketune. "That's some real talent your Pokémon's got!" 

Naoki chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not mine. I took in these Pokémon after a fire burned down their home." 

The man listened quietly, his face softening at the story. "The fire must've been tough... But it's good to see kindness, even in hard times." He gave a cheerful bow. "I'm Bess, a traveling musician! I'm roaming the world with Toxtricity, chasing music wherever it takes me." 

Naoki had never met anyone quite like Bess before. "I'm Naoki," he replied with a friendly nod. "I run a ranch nearby. But... how did you end up here? This forest hasn't seen many visitors since the fire." 

Bess shrugged, an easy smile spreading across his face. "I heard folks—people and Pokémon alike—were stuck in sadness out here. I thought maybe my music could lift their spirits a little." 

Naoki blinked, a bit taken aback by the stranger's optimism. 

Sensing his confusion, Bess added with a playful wink, "Music speaks emotions—it carries sorrow, joy, excitement. Whatever you feel, music can reach others too." 

Kricketune twitched its antennae, clearly moved by Bess's words. 

Naoki smiled awkwardly, muttering under his breath, "Artists... They're a unique breed." 

Bess knelt down and glanced at the Pokémon around them, an idea lighting up his face. "How about it? What do you say to a concert right here, right now?" 

The Pokémon exchanged puzzled looks. 

But Kricketune's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Seeing the scene unfold, Naoki thought for a moment and then smiled. "Alright, let's head to my ranch!"

"Thank you so much, Mr. Naoki!" Bess beamed with excitement, thrilled that someone was willing to enjoy his performance.

Upon arriving at the ranch, Bess marveled at the peaceful surroundings, glancing around with childlike curiosity. But soon enough, he shook off his distractions and focused on preparing for the upcoming show.

In the pasture, a row of Pokémon settled on the soft grass, their interest piqued. They sat in order from the tallest to the smallest, eagerly awaiting what was about to unfold.

Naoki stood at the back with Koraidon, both watching the scene with quiet curiosity.

Once the Pokémon were ready, Bess tossed a Poké Ball into the air and shouted, "Everyone, come on out!"

In bursts of white light, another Toxtricity and a Rillaboom appeared by Bess's side. With his guitar slung across his chest, eyes full of passion, Bess raised a hand dramatically toward the sky. 

"Introducing… the Toxtricity Band! We're here to spread hope, joy, and music!" he announced with flair. "Everyone, let's hit it!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rillaboom slammed his wooden drum with fervor. 

"Bam, bam, bam, bam!"

The deep, rhythmic beat of the drum reverberated through the pasture, followed by the buzzing bass lines of the two Toxtricitys. Their electric sounds filled the air, blending with the strum of Bess's guitar and his enthusiastic singing:

"Let's go! 

Let's keep moving!

Travel the world, let the music flow!" 

Koraidon winced at the racket, letting out a small groan.

"Raao…"

Naoki pinched the bridge of his nose. "…Ah."

It wasn't that Naoki didn't appreciate the effort—it was just that, well, music wasn't exactly his thing. A glance around the pasture confirmed his suspicions: the Pokémon wore expressions ranging from mild discomfort to outright confusion, except for Kricketune, who was positively beaming. Its antennae waved in time with the music, as if it had found its life's calling.

Seeing the mixed reactions, Bess faltered, and the music trailed off. Rillaboom lowered his drumsticks, looking sheepish, and the Toxtricitys scratched the backs of their heads with awkward grins.

Bess let out a sigh, his previous energy now dampened. "I knew it… I just can't seem to get it right."

The Toxtricitys gave sympathetic hums, and even Rillaboom looked crestfallen.

Naoki walked over to him. "Hey, are you alright?"

Bess looked at Naoki with gratitude and said, "Thank you so much for listening to our performance, Naoki." 

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "But I don't think I'm ready yet… Honestly, I've even made Pokémon faint with my music before. I guess I'm not even half-baked as a musician… more like raw dough." 

Naoki struggled for a response, offering a hesitant compliment. "Uh… Well, your performance just now was full of passion." 

Bess's eyes lit up. "Really?" 

Naoki: "…Uh…" 

Seeing Naoki's forced smile, Bess chuckled. "You're a kind soul, Naoki." 

He straightened up with a renewed grin. "But it's fine! A dream you can easily reach isn't a dream at all! Even if no one likes us, we'll keep going, because we're the one and only Toxtricity Band!" 

Rillaboom gave an enthusiastic "Bam! Bam!" on his drum, punctuating Bess's statement. 

At that moment, a melodic hum echoed from nearby. 

Naoki and Bess turned to see Kricketune, swaying gently, emitting a soothing, musical hum. 

Bess blinked in surprise. "Wait… You liked our performance?" 

Kricketune gave an affirmative chirp, "Driii~!"

Bess beamed. "Thank you, Kricketune! You've got real talent! If you're willing, I'd love to have you join my band." 

Kricketune's antennae twitched in excitement, and it gave another enthusiastic chirp. 

Naoki smiled as an idea popped into his mind. "Kricketune, do you enjoy playing music?" 

The Pokémon nodded cheerfully. 

"How would you feel about joining Bess's band and traveling with him?" Naoki asked gently. 

Kricketune chirped with joy, clearly delighted by the idea. 

Bess looked stunned and then glanced at Naoki in disbelief. "Wait… Are you serious?" 

Naoki nodded. "Kricketune's only been staying here temporarily. If playing music with you will make it happy, then that's what matters. Will you take good care of it?" 

Bess gave an eager nod. "Absolutely! I'll take care of Kricketune like family!" 

Naoki handed Bess a Poké Ball. "Alright, go ahead and catch it."

With a flash of light, Kricketune entered the Poké Ball, which rocked twice before clicking with finality. 

Bess grinned from ear to ear. "It accepted me!" 

Releasing Kricketune from the ball, Bess gave a small bow. "Kricketune, let's do our best together!" 

Kricketune chimed happily, "Drii~!"

At lunchtime, Naoki invited Bess to join him for a meal at the ranch. 

After their meal, Bess prepared to leave. He stood at the gate with Rillaboom, the Toxtricitys, and Kricketune by his side, ready to continue his musical journey. 

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Naoki," Bess said earnestly. "I promise to take good care of Kricketune." 

Naoki smiled. "By the way, where's your next stop?" 

Bess thought for a moment. "I'm heading to Kosaji Town, and then on to Casseroya Lake in the north." 

Naoki gave a thoughtful nod. "I've heard that heavy metal rock is really popular in Spikemuth, over in the Galar region. You might find your audience there." 

Bess's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Spikemuth? That sounds amazing! I'll definitely check it out!" 

Naoki gave him a reassuring nod. "Keep chasing your dream. I hope that the next time we meet, you'll be a famous band." 

Bess clenched his fist in determination. "We'll give it everything we've got!" 

Kricketune added a melodic farewell, "Driii~!"

With one last wave, Naoki smiled warmly. "Take care, all of you!"