Pokemon: Champion's Path

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In the dense, shadowy forest, Eldegoss was on the verge of collapse. Its expression was desperate as it desperately deployed Cotton Spore to block the purple, toxic liquid spewing from the tail of a vicious Skuntank.

The moment the toxic liquid hit the air, an unbearable stench spread across the area a stench worse than wearing socks for a month and locking them in an airtight space for a year.

The foul odour was nauseating to the point of agony.

Eldegoss struggled to breathe, its face turning purple. Even inhaling felt like a punishment.

But it couldn't fall.

Between each desperate move, Eldegoss glanced back at the two Cottonees behind it, who had already collapsed from poisoning.

The poor creatures were unconscious, their small forms tinged with a sickly purple hue.

They hadn't meant to invade the Skuntank's territory. It was a cruel twist of fate a sudden gust of wind had blown them straight into its domain.

The Skuntank, fiercely territorial, had attacked them without hesitation, poisoning the Cottonee almost instantly.

Now, Eldegoss fought with everything it had, but it was losing ground fast. Poison was spreading through its system, and its strength was rapidly draining.

As it released another Cotton Spore to shield against the incoming toxins, Eldegoss silently prayed:

Please… someone… anyone… save us!

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"Ugh! Serperior, what kind of shortcut is this? It reeks!"

A man's voice broke the tense silence, startling both Eldegoss and the Skuntank.

"Skkkrrrrr!!"

The Skuntank growled, its fur bristling as it turned to face the intruders.

For Eldegoss, that voice was a beacon of hope. Its eyes sparkled with a faint glimmer of relief.

"Cough!, cough!—what is that smell?!" Arven choked, doubling over as he struggled to breathe. The noxious fumes assaulted his senses, burning his throat and nostrils.

Even Mabosstiff, ever the loyal protector, had tucked its tail between its legs, desperately covering its nose with its paws.

Serperior flicked its tail in frustration, snapping Eric out of his momentary panic.

"Right. Not the time to complain about the smell," Eric muttered, shaking his head. His eyes scanned the scene quickly.

The two Cottonees were clearly poisoned, their small bodies limp and purple. Eldegoss wasn't faring much better, its trembling form barely holding back the relentless Skuntank's attacks.

Eric inhaled sharply, already forming a plan.

"Serperior, let's take care of that stench first. Use Sweet Scent!"

Serperior hesitated for a brief moment this wasn't a move it liked to use, but even it couldn't deny the situation called for it. With a sigh, Serperior coiled its body and released a wave of floral, grassy fragrance.

The overpowering sweetness began to mask the Skuntank's stench, creating a bizarre combination of odours.

Eric covered his nose with his sleeve. "That's better… relatively speaking."

The Skuntank hissed, clearly agitated that its primary weapon had been neutralized. It raised its tail high, preparing to launch another spray of venomous fluid.

But Serperior was faster. With a flick of its tail, it summoned a small cyclone of razor-sharp leaves Leaf Tornado.

The tornado intercepted the toxic spray mid-air, shredding it into harmless droplets that splattered onto the ground. The grass beneath immediately withered, but the area was safe for now.

The Leaf Tornado didn't stop there. It surged forward, engulfing the Skuntank and battering it relentlessly.

The wild Pokémon screeched in pain, its eyes darting to Serperior's unyielding gaze. At that moment, it knew it was hopelessly outmatched.

Without hesitation, the Skuntank turned tail and fled, vanishing into the underbrush.

"Wild Pokémon are incredibly pragmatic," Eric explained to Arven, who was still trying to process the sudden retreat. "When they realize they're outclassed, they don't waste time sticking around to fight a losing battle."

"Then why didn't Eldegoss run away?" Arven asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Eric's expression softened. "Because they're family. When you have a bond like that, running isn't always an option."

Arven nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the injured Eldegoss.

---

Eric crouched beside the Cottonee, his hands steady as he applied an antidote to their tiny forms. The purple tint in their skin began to fade, replaced by a healthier hue.

"There we go," Eric murmured, his lips curving into a small smile. "They're going to be okay."

Turning to Eldegoss, he continued, "Now it's your turn. Trust me, I'll take care of you."

Eldegoss hesitated for only a moment before closing its eyes and leaning forward, allowing Eric to tend to its injuries.

The antidote worked quickly, neutralizing the poison in its system. Eric then used a potion to treat the cuts and bruises left by the Skuntank's attacks.

Watching Eric work, Arven felt a strange sense of admiration. There was something undeniably cool about how calm and collected Eric was, even in the face of such chaos.

'Maybe someday' Arven thought, 'I can be that dependable, too'

Meanwhile, Serperior was having an internal crisis. It flicked its tail indecisively, debating whether to fake an injury to get some of Eric's attention.

But… wouldn't that be too obvious?

Serperior sighed. It would have to settle for watching.

---

Once the treatment was complete, Eldegoss stood tall again, its body fully healed. It looked at Eric with gratitude, its eyes brimming with unspoken thanks.

Eric met its gaze and smiled. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

Taking a deep breath, he decided to seize the opportunity. "Have you ever thought about living on a farm? A safe place where you and your family can grow and thrive without fear of attacks like this?"

"El-goss?

The Eldegoss tilted its head, clearly intrigued.

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