Bab 15: Chapter no.15 The Treasure Beneath the Soil
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As dawn broke, a sleep-deprived Austin carefully made his way along the path outlined on the map.
The soft light of early morning filtered through the trees, casting a gentle glow over the landscape. He walked slowly, holding his bike by the handlebars, mindful of any noises that might alert Team Rocket or disturb any potentially aggressive Pokémon.
"Pika," Pikachu squeaked softly from its perch on the bike, where it sat alongside Rattata. Vee, now transformed into Vaporeon, was cleverly concealed within a thermos to save space. Above them, Spearow circled, keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings.
The forest was mostly quiet, an advantage of traveling so early when most Pokémon were still asleep. Everyone was on high alert; after all, this was dangerous territory. Austin paused to consult the map again, verifying their location.
"We're here. So, let's start looking around; this is the place where the treasure is supposed to be," Austin instructed, as he leaned against the base of a tree to rest for a few minutes. His mind wandered to the map, pondering its origins.
Suddenly, he was snapped out of his reverie by a sharp cry from above.
"Spear!"
"Did you find something, Spearow?"
Spearow extended his wing, pointing towards the grass.
Austin followed the direction indicated and noticed an unusual sight—a patch of soil in the shape of a half square where the grass refused to grow. It looked distinctly unnatural, a clear sign that something was buried underneath.
"Everyone, come here! Spearow might have found the treasure."
The team set to work on the curious patch of ground.
Vee used Water Gun to soften the earth, spraying it until the soil was saturated and easier to dig through. Austin and his Pokémon then began the laborious task of digging, their hands and paws working in unison. Mud splattered and clung to their clothes and fur as they scooped and clawed at the damp earth. Dirt smeared their faces, and the physical effort required left them all breathless.
After several minutes of intense digging, their efforts were rewarded with a metallic clang.
They had hit something solid.
The object was partially buried in the ground, resembling the air supply drops Austin had seen in movies and video games—a large, metal crate with reinforced corners and a sealed lid, meant to withstand the impact of a drop.
Getting the crate out required a coordinated effort.
Austin, alongside Pikachu, Rattata, and Vee, grappled with the heavy object, their bodies straining under its weight.
Although small, Spearow contributed by attaching a strap to the crate and pulling upward as it flew, adding just enough lift to help the others maneuver the crate out of the hole.
Once the crate was finally on solid ground, everyone collapsed around it, exhausted and covered in mud and sweat.
They rested for a moment, taking deep breaths of the fresh forest air, which seemed even sweeter after their exertion. Austin pulled out some snacks from his backpack, and they all shared a much-needed meal.
As Vee directed a strong stream of water at the front of the crate, the mud washed away, revealing faded lettering that read "Northern Front Battle Items." Austin paused, a berry half-eaten in his hand, as he read the inscription.
"Let's open this puppy up," he declared, his fatigue vanishing as adrenaline surged through him. Grabbing a nearby stick, he wedged it into the crate's edge. The wood, aged and weakened by time, broke easily under the leverage, revealing its contents to the eager group.
The inside of the old crate was a sorry state: filled with dirt, water had seeped in over the years, creating a sludgy mess that had decayed its contents.
Austin began to empty the crate, his nose wrinkling at the stench of rot and rust.
One by one, he pulled out the items.
Expired potions, their labels peeling and contents spoiled, were set aside with a grimace. Bands or cloths—so deteriorated it was impossible to determine their original use or form—were gently washed by Vee's Water Gun, though it did little to salvage them. A few old rusted Pokéballs and a rusted dagger were also revealed.
As Austin sifted through the remnants of the crate, his hand closed around something unexpected. He held it up, mud-caked and obscured, until Vee's Water Gun streamed over it, revealing its true form. In his hands lay a sharp, elongated claw, slightly curved, with a smooth, shiny, beige surface.
"No way!"
Quickly, Austin placed the item in front of Rattata, who gingerly picked it up with her mouth.
"Run!"
In an instant, Rattata vanished from sight. The only evidence of her departure was the gust of wind she left in her wake, which tousled Austin's spiky hair and caused Pikachu and Vee's ears to flap wildly. Spearow, flying above, struggled to maintain balance as its feathers were ruffled by the sudden turbulence.
Thud!
Everyone turned sharply as Rattata abruptly stopped, her body slamming into the trunk of a tree with a soft thump. She stood there, slightly dazed but unharmed, the claw still securely held in her mouth.
Vee, Spearow, and Pikachu stared in awe at the display of incredible speed. Austin chuckled as Rattata's performance had confirmed his suspicion—the item was indeed a Quick Claw, a rare and valuable tool that significantly boosts the speed of the Pokémon holding it.
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Caterpie perched melancholically on a leaf, nibbling half-heartedly as he gazed up at the sky. The faint golden light filtering through the forest canopy made his tiny heart swell with longing.
Maybe one day, I'll get to fly, he thought, dreaming of soaring above the trees as a Butterfree. The idea seemed so far away, like a star he could see but never touch.
The underbrush rustled suddenly, snapping Caterpie out of his reverie. He froze, antennae twitching as he scanned the area. A human emerged from the bushes—Nobunaga—his intense expression somehow both comical and purposeful as he scoured the forest floor.
"Come on, where are you? Caterpie!"
Caterpie blinked. That's… me.
Curiosity and a spark of flattery prompted him to shuffle out of the bush. He waved a tiny limb, as if to say, I'm over here!
Nobunaga whirled around, his face breaking into a broad grin. "There you are!"
Caterpie felt his cheeks heat up (if Caterpie could blush, that is). He wiggled happily, doing a little dance on the leaf. But before he could fully bask in the joy of being so highly sought after—
Bonk!
Without so much as a second thought, Nobunaga hurled a Pokéball, hitting Caterpie square on the head. The little bug let out a surprised squeak as the ball engulfed him in a flash of red light. Inside, Caterpie had only a moment to think.
Can I at least finish my leaf?
The Pokéball wiggled once… twice… and clicked shut.
Nobunaga picked up the ball and chuckled to himself, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Austin was right. Caterpie's always hanging around this spot."
He turned the ball over in his hand, staring at its smooth surface. Catching Caterpie had been straightforward, but the decision to leave his cabin—and the life he'd built—was far from simple.
Nobunaga glanced back toward the forest trail leading to his old cabin. He clenched the Pokéball tighter, a faint shadow of guilt crossing his face. Leaving his home behind felt like walking away from everything he'd known, the only safe haven he had.
His parents had named him Nobunaga. He could still remember his father's booming voice on the day of his birth: "We have named you Nobunaga so that you will one day stand tall, a man of vision, strength, and greatness. The world will know your name."
But instead of rising to greatness, Nobunaga had spent his days weaving silk, trading thread for whatever coin he could scrape together. He wasn't a samurai. He was just a simple farmer—a nobody.
The thought stung.
Greatness? he scoffed inwardly. The only battles I fight are the ones against hunger and bad weather.
But something had shifted in the past few days. Meeting Austin had been like standing at the edge of a river, watching someone forge ahead without hesitation, despite the danger. Austin didn't have swords or armor, but he carried himself with a quiet resolve that Nobunaga envied. The boy had risked everything, even his life, to protect his Pokémon and those around him.
Now, as Nobunaga stared at the Pokéball containing Caterpie, he felt a stirring deep within him. Maybe his parents had been wrong about his destiny. Or maybe he'd been the one holding himself back.
As Nobunaga approached the outskirts of Viridian City, he was pulled from his thoughts by the sudden appearance of two police officers blocking his path. A Meowth stood between them.
"Hello there, kid," the male officer said, his tone brisk but polite. "I'm Officer James, and this is Officer Jessie."
"Don't forget Meowth," the feline added, crossing its arms.
Nobunaga blinked, confused but wary. "Can I help you?"
"We've received reports of trainers releasing invasive species into Viridian Forest," James explained, pulling out a laminated photograph. It was of an Eevee. "Have you seen or caught this Pokémon?"
Nobunaga felt his stomach tighten.
"No," he said quickly, then added, almost bitterly, "I just realized I could've caught an Eevee instead of a Caterpie."
Jessie gave him a long, skeptical stare before finally releasing his shoulders. "Oh."
With that, the trio quickly lost interest in him, moving on to question someone else. Nobunaga exhaled, relief flooding through him as he continued toward the Pokémon Center.
As he walked, his gaze fell once again to Caterpie's Pokéball. He held it up, staring at it as though it might contain answers to questions he hadn't yet asked.
The realization struck him like a blade. The rare Pokémon that Team Rocket had been so desperate to capture—the one that had put Austin's life in danger—was Eevee. Austin had gone to extraordinary lengths to protect it, knowing exactly how valuable it was.
Holding the Pokéball against his forehead, Nobunaga closed his eyes, his thoughts racing.
Don't worry, Austin. I'll keep my mouth shut. These people are dangerous, and they'll come after you. I'm not strong, and there isn't much I can do to protect you, but I can pray. I'll pray with all my heart that you'll stay safe.
The thought of praying made him scoff. Was that all he could do? Hide behind hope and faith while others risked their lives?
No.
Nobunaga opened his eyes, his jaw tightening with resolve. Prayers weren't enough—not anymore. His parents had given him a name steeped in legacy, in greatness. Maybe he didn't have swords or armor, but he had his own strength to find.
It's time I stop hiding and start walking the path I was named for.
Nobunaga tucked Caterpie's Pokéball safely into his bag. The threads of his old life—the silk, the farm, the safety—were unraveling. But maybe it was time to weave something new.
Something worthy of the name Nobunaga.
The thought brought a small, determined smile to his lips.
Austin had done more for him than he could have ever expected, and now Nobunaga felt the weight of that debt settle firmly on his shoulders. But it wasn't a burden—it was a call to action.
What can I do to repay my friend?
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Author's Note:
Okay, a quick note: Nobunaga now has Ash Ketchum's Caterpie in his team.
1- In the anime, Samurai Boy or Nobunaga was a one-episode character, but in this fanfic, I've significantly expanded his character and actions.
How did I do?
2- Regarding the "Northern Front Battle Items" air supply drop: It's quite clear what this entails alongside the map. Nobunaga's map was originally given to soldiers to indicate where supply drops would be deployed, and the crate was essentially meant to equip soldiers with items like choice bands (which were the destroyed cloths Austin pulled out), potions, and a quick claw to aid in the northern front of the war, now present-day Viridian Forest. Obviously, Austin will try to gather more information about the war, and don't worry, I won't go into too much detail unless you want me to.
What did you think about this chapter, from the ruthless introduction of Sird to Austin acquiring a quick claw?
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Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work.
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