Work Text:
Ever since that mysterious stranger had shown up a few days ago, trying to run off with Ash’s Heracross, there had been an aura of nervousness around Oak’s lab. The professor was running all-nighters, trying to figure out the mysterious temporary form of evolution that the stranger had mentioned. Heracross had spent nights awake, shaken from his ordeal.
Tracey had also spent many sleepless nights patrolling the grounds of the lab, making sure that the mysterious stranger wasn’t coming back, and even Misty would occasionally come down from Cerulean to join the watch.
They were usually accompanied by Tracey’s Venonat and Marill—the Pokémon that had served as his eyes and ears during his Pokémon watching expeditions. But, lately, Tracey’s Scyther had also taken to patrolling the grounds at night, much to the concern of everyone. In spite of protests, Scyther was slowly walking across the grounds, his battle-scarred wings too tired to allow him to fly for very long. Bulbasaur was patrolling nearby, keeping an eye on Scyther just in case he would need help.
“Is it… safe for him to be out there, doing that?” Misty asked, looking to Tracey and the professor before staring back at the aged mantis.
“Well, you saw him refuse when I asked him to go back to his Pokéball,” Tracey sighed. “He insists on patrolling.”
“If Tracey tried to forcefully recall him, it could lead to Scyther getting stressed,” Oak added. “At his age, that’s something we ought to avoid.”
“I guess so,” Misty agreed. “You know, I once teased Ash by telling him that all of his Pokémon are really stubborn, just like him.” She managed a wan smile. “I guess we all have a stubborn streak—and stubborn Pokémon to go with them.”
“A Pokémon can take on the traits of a trainer,” Oak agreed. “But there’s more to it than that, in this case.”
“Really?” Misty asked, surprised.
“Yes. Tracey, you told me that your Scyther used to be the leader of its swarm, correct?” Oak asked.
“That’s right,” Tracey agreed. “It was defeated by a younger Scyther who wanted to lead the swarm, and the younger one was just way more agile and had more stamina.”
“Even so, it would seem that old habits are not so easily forgotten,” Oak mused.
“Old habits? Oh, I think I get it!” Misty exclaimed.
“Me, too,” Tracey realized. “As leader, Scyther was responsible for looking out for the rest of his swarm.”
“That’s correct,” Oak said. “In this situation, Scyther feels enough of a kinship towards the other Pokémon that they’ve essentially become his swarm—and he feels just as responsible for them, as well.”
“Oh, look!” Misty exclaimed.
Tracey and the professor looked in the direction she pointed in to see Scyther approach Ash’s Heracross, who was fretting quietly beneath a tree. Scyther said something to Heracross, who replied; they continued to converse briefly, until Heracross finally nodded and, to everyone’s surprise, crawled up the tree trunk to sleep—something he hadn’t done since his unfortunate encounter with the mysterious stranger.
Scyther then took up a post in front of the tree, standing guard.
“…That’s so sweet,” Misty said. Again, she was able to put aside the fact that Scyther was a bug; he was more than that—he a friend and protector to those he felt responsible for.
“Yes, I do believe Heracross is in good hands,” Oak agreed. He sighed. “Well, I’d better get back to the research.”
“Yeah, and Misty and I will continue patrolling the grounds.”
“Right!” she agreed.
They split up to cover more ground, Misty’s path taking her past the tree where Heracross rested and where Scyther stood guard.
“All quiet?” she asked.
Scyther nodded.
“Keep up the good work,” she encouraged.
As she turned away, she could’ve sworn she saw the traces of a smile on Scyther’s face.