Chapter 58: The Lone Swordsman
"You understand, you understand."
In the void, a glowing figure kept repeating this phrase. Suddenly, Summer's eyes snapped open—it was a dream. Thwackey also woke up as someone entered the house, dragging something behind them.
"Yahsha~"
Was that a Nuzleaf's cry? Summer sat up and looked towards the sound. Two excited Nuzleaf stood there, a brown and black duck Pokémon asleep at their feet.
"Uh, Farfetch'd?"
To be precise, it was a Galarian Farfetch'd, identifiable by the large, sturdy leek it clutched—a leek unique to the Galar region.
"I told you to deal with those destroying the forest, so why did you bring back a Farfetch'd?" Summer asked, holding his forehead in exasperation.
Two days ago, Thwackey had become the leader of the Nuzleaf brigade. To harness their natural talents, Summer had asked Thwackey to conduct special music training for the Nuzleaf.
Thwackey had taken this task seriously, composing a lullaby that improved the overall effectiveness of the Nuzleaf's grass flutes by about ten percent, turning them into a highly mobile and control-oriented guerrilla squad.
This Galarian Farfetch'd had likely fallen asleep due to the two Nuzleaf's grass flutes.
Seeing Summer's confusion, one Nuzleaf stood straight, mimicking a tree, while the other pointed to the leek in Farfetch'd's hand and mimed chopping with a hand knife.
"Oh, you mean this Farfetch'd was chopping down trees with its leek?"
The two Nuzleaf nodded emphatically.
"Alright, I get it. Good job, I'll note your accomplishment. But next time a Pokémon is causing trouble, report it to me first. Please pass this on to the others."
"Yahsha~"
The two Nuzleaf agreed happily and left, leaving Summer to sigh at the Galarian Farfetch'd still sleeping soundly on the floor. It seemed he needed to refine the Nuzleaf's target criteria.
Their enthusiasm stemmed from Summer's incentive: the Leaf Stone. Over the next two months, the Nuzleaf who performed the best would earn the chance to evolve.
"Anyway, Thwackey, let's wake it up."
Summer dressed and looked at the floor. Thwackey took the sticks from its head and clashed them loudly.
The Galarian Farfetch'd's V-shaped brow twitched, and it quickly opened its eyes. The first thing it did was check its leek, sighing in relief upon finding it intact—Farfetch'd couldn't survive without its leek.
"Ahem, Farfetch'd, can you explain why you were chopping trees with your leek?"
Farfetch'd, confused, looked at Summer and Thwackey. It recalled passing through the forest, finding a fruit tree, and using its leek to knock some fruit down to eat. It had heard a soothing melody and then lost consciousness, waking up here.
"Gah gah gah~" Farfetch'd explained its experience.
Thwackey nodded, understanding, and tossed a fruit to Farfetch'd.
"So, it was just trying to eat some fruit?" Summer guessed, close to the mark.
Thwackey nodded again. Yes, that was it.
Summer watched the Farfetch'd devour the fruit, then said, "Farfetch'd, you're free to go once you're done. If you wish to stay in the forest, that's fine too, as long as you don't damage the forest."
Farfetch'd wiped its juice-covered beak with its wing, then gave a sharp look, pointing its leek at Thwackey.
"Gah! Gah! Gah!" It meant, "Thanks for the meal, but I won't stay here. Double swordsman, fight me!"
It was a wandering Farfetch'd from Galar, seeking battles with all swordsmen to hone its skills to the peak through countless fights.
Thwackey looked at its sticks, wondering if they counted as swords.
"Donhou?"
"Gah!" Farfetch'd declared, "Anything that looks like a sword is a sword if you wield it like one!"
"Thwackey, it wants to battle you. Go ahead, you might learn something new," Summer encouraged.
Since Summer approved, Thwackey accepted Farfetch'd's challenge.
"Let's move outside first; we need more space."
In the clearing in front of the cabin, Farfetch'd shouldered its leek, eyes sharp. Thwackey, on the other hand, kept its sticks aside, leaving its hands free.
"Thwackey, this time you decide how to fight."
"Donhou? Hou!" Thwackey was momentarily stunned, then nodded solemnly. It understood Summer's intent. Battles were unpredictable, and if Pokémon were mere puppets following commands, their fighting would become rigid and uninspired.
"Gah!"
Farfetch'd attacked first, swinging its leek, which emitted a yellow-green glow.
Thwackey leaped forward, clapping its hands loudly. The sudden noise startled Farfetch'd, giving Thwackey the opportunity to punch its chest.
It was a Fake Out, causing Farfetch'd to flinch. Thwackey drew its sticks to continue the attack, but a yellow-green slash came swiftly. Thwackey leaped back, noting the change in Farfetch'd's demeanor—it had become more agile and its leek more menacing.
Farfetch'd's ability, Steadfast, had activated, increasing its speed after flinching. Having hit Thwackey with its consecutive cuts, its next strike would be even more powerful.
Thwackey felt a surge of caution. Had something triggered? It felt more secure battling with Summer, but Summer was training its judgment. What would Summer do in this situation?
Thwackey gathered life energy, spreading it around. Grass grew lush underfoot. If the opponent was faster, then it just had to be faster.
Farfetch'd dashed forward, leek raised, but Thwackey's figure flashed aside like a green streak. Combat required flexibility; even attacks could be evasive moves.
Thwackey's body collided with a tree, the downside of the Grassy Glide move—it was hard to stop. Farfetch'd's leek lost its glow as it missed its target. Thwackey saw the opportunity to strike.
Using Grassy Glide again, Thwackey kicked Farfetch'd's chest. The opponent, suppressing its pain, unleashed its strongest move, Brick Break.
Farfetch'd knew it couldn't surpass Thwackey's speed, so it had gathered strength for this decisive moment.
But it miscalculated. Thwackey was a dual-wielder. Farfetch'd's eyes widened as Thwackey blocked the leek with one stick and struck with the other, hitting the same spot targeted by Grassy Glide.
In a daze, Farfetch'd saw a vision of its master—a noble white Sirfetch'd, shield raised, thrusting its leek like a meteor, finishing it in one blow. It lost consciousness again, but this experience would be invaluable for the future.
"Great job, Thwackey. Using Grassy Glide for evasion was a brilliant innovation," Summer praised, then smiled. "Don't worry, I'll cover your weaknesses. We're partners, after all."
"Donhou!" Thwackey cheered happily.
When Summer returned with healing herbs, Farfetch'd had already stood up, leaning on its leek, its willpower strong. It looked at Thwackey, quacked once, and turned to leave.
Suddenly, a rousing drumbeat sounded. Farfetch'd turned sharply to see Thwackey drumming, conveying its acceptance of the challenge and clarifying it wasn't a dual swordsman.
Farfetch'd smiled slightly, taking its first step. In its heart, it thought, "Not very straightforward, are you, dual swordsman?"
**(End of Chapter)**
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