Chapter 50: Perfect Conquest
Eevee had already settled into Lu Ye's home. Its wound was wrapped with a ribbon-tied bandage, which didn't quite match its dirty appearance.
Several times, Lu Ye wanted to give it a bath, but thinking about the risk of infection, he gave up.
Eevee made its own little nest in the courtyard. None of the potted plants survived, but Uncle Lu seemed unbothered.
"It's fine; it's still a kid, hahaha…"
Crash—
The sound of another potted plant shattering. Uncle Lu raised an eyebrow, his hand trembling as he picked up his chopsticks. Finally, with a thud, he put them down.
"I'm going out for a walk."
Lu Ye chuckled awkwardly. "Mom, I'll replace the plants for Dad later."
"What kind of plants do you plan to give him?" Liang Fang asked in surprise.
"There's one from the south called Sudowoodo. It doesn't need watering."
As he entered the messy courtyard, the filthy Eevee was sharpening its claws on a rock. Hearing footsteps, Eevee's ears twitched, and it looked over warily.
When it saw Lu Ye, Eevee's tail gave a slight wag before drooping again.
"Bui…"
Eevee let out a weak cry and lazily flopped down, licking its bandage.
"The wound itching means it's healing," Lu Ye said with a smile. "Hold still, I'll change your bandage."
It was the 3rd day Eevee had stayed with Lu Ye. Eevee's recovery was quick; the wound had already started to heal.
The effectiveness of the world's Pokémon medicine was remarkable. Even though it was just a spray, it worked wonders—but only on Pokémon.
Eevee's meals were also prepared by Lu Ye. Thanks to Lu Ye's Pokéblock Crafting Lv5 skills, even Hoopa wouldn't resist!
Eevee lay on the ground reluctantly, letting Lu Ye lift it onto his knee.
"It might hurt a little. Bear with it."
"Bui…" Eevee turned its face away disdainfully.
As he changed the bandage, tears welled up in Eevee's eyes, but the little creature didn't make a sound.
Lu Ye couldn't help but smile and ruffle Eevee's head. Eevee stiffened, baring its teeth, but in the end, it let out a low purr.
"After a couple of days, how about a bath?"
"Bui!!"
Eevee squirmed out of Lu Ye's hand in protest.
"Come on, girls like being clean. Even if we go to the Pokémon Center…"
Suddenly, Eevee jumped out of Lu Ye's arms, glaring at him in anger.
"Bui!"
Lu Ye froze, then sighed helplessly. "Alright, I get it… But, would you let me capture you?"
"Bui."
Eevee shot Lu Ye a cold glance and turned back to its little nest.
Shut out, Lu Ye felt a bit dejected. His uncle was waiting at the door, nervous. "Still not letting you capture it?"
Lu Ye nodded and sighed. "I think I said something wrong."
"What now? We'll have to send it to the Pokémon Center…"
His uncle scratched his head. "Maybe I can ask the neighbors if they want to adopt it?"
Lu Ye glanced back at the courtyard.
"Forget it, let's just release it back to the wild."
Lu Ye never intended to become a Trainer, and this Eevee clearly had a strong fighting spirit. Capturing it wouldn't be fair to it.
"Gengarrr…"
Sensing his mood, Haunter also looked glum. It had hoped for a new partner and had even practiced its greeting punches with Zigzagoon.
(Zigzagoon, by the way, was currently in the Pokémon Center… It was immune to Shadow Punch—don't ask!)
As the week of revision ended, Eevee grew even colder toward Lu Ye. When Lu Ye entered the courtyard and found the bowl of Pokéblocks untouched, he sighed.
Changing the bandage one last time, he tied it with a ribbon.
"You can go now."
Lu Ye stood at the courtyard gate and spoke to Eevee.
"Bui?"
Eevee looked confused but quickly got up and walked shakily toward the gate. Without a hint of hesitation, Eevee pushed past Lu Ye and headed into the fields.
It was dusk.
Lu Ye followed Eevee until the sky darkened on both sides of the path.
"If you find your way back, you're welcome anytime," Lu Ye called out.
But Eevee kept walking, its shadow fading into the twilight.
Finally, Lu Ye couldn't help himself and pulled out a Poké Ball.
"If it turns back, I'll throw this," he said to Haunter.
"Gengarrr." Haunter nodded solemnly.
Lu Ye hoped it would turn around. If it looked back, he could capture it without any guilt.
But Eevee disappeared at the end of the path.
Lu Ye felt a hollow ache in his chest, a sadness he couldn't quite describe.
"Let's go, Haunter."
"Gengarrr…"
Haunter drooped, floating listlessly.
In the reeds by the path, Eevee watched Lu Ye until he vanished from sight. Then, it turned and disappeared into the shadows.
That night, Uncle Lu found Lu Ye, grinning like he had big news.
"I had an expert look—those saplings weren't chewed by Eevee!"
"Really." Lu Ye was unmoved.
"Why aren't you happy? Now you can capture Eevee without guilt!"
"It just left today." Lu Ye sighed. "It still refused to let me capture it."
Uncle Lu's eyes widened. "Why didn't you just throw the ball at its head?"
"I wanted to, but it didn't give me the chance… It didn't even look back."
If Eevee had no attachment, Lu Ye wouldn't force it. Respecting a Pokémon's will was Lu Ye's principle.
Uncle Lu stroked his chin. "Well, tonight you're coming up the mountain with me. I figured out what's been eating the saplings."
"What is it?"
"Rattata!" Uncle Lu said bitterly. "They like to gnaw things. Big trees are hard to chew, so they went for the saplings!"
Lu Ye, frustrated, gritted his teeth. "Can we burn the little punks?"
"Better not. Just teach them a lesson…"
"Haunter!" Lu Ye called. "Grab the fire extinguisher—we're going up the mountain!"
The night was starry and clear after a rain. Lu Ye led the way, with Uncle Lu shivering behind him.
"Should I stop him later…?" Uncle Lu muttered.
Before they arrived, they heard sharp screams from the forest.
"Rattata!"
"Bui!"
The sounds of fierce battle. Lu Ye rushed in and froze. In the moonlight, Eevee was surrounded by a group of Rattata and Raticate, looking utterly defiant.
Seeing the familiar ribbon, Lu Ye's breath caught.
"Bui!"
Eevee dodged a Hyper Fang with a flash of light, slamming a Rattata away.
Breaking through the encirclement, Eevee flung a handful of sand at the lead Raticate's face.
"Rattata!"
The fat Raticate screeched, clawing wildly at its face. Eevee nimbly dodged.
With bared teeth, Eevee bit down on Raticate and stomped it into the ground!
Uncle Lu was stunned. "This Eevee is that strong?"
"Bui!"
Two Rattata charged. Eevee hesitated, but a familiar voice called out.
"Flash of Light, dodge!"
"Bui?"
Eevee's body reacted before its mind did. It glanced back, tears welling up.
"Focus," Lu Ye said. "Left side—Swift!"
"Bui!"
Sniffing, Eevee dodged and spun, unleashing a storm of stars that knocked out the Rattata!
Seeing their leader defeated, the Rattata scattered. Eevee started to chase them, but Lu Ye stopped it.
"Eevee!"
Eevee stiffened, wiped its face quickly, and kept walking. Suddenly, it flinched.
A Poké Ball struck its head.
Tears in its eyes, Eevee glared at Lu Ye before the red light pulled it in.
"Are you sure it won't break out?" Uncle Lu swallowed nervously.
That glare didn't look cooperative at all!
Lu Ye sighed.
"I should've known…"
"It's just a tsundere!"
The night fell silent. A soft click echoed.
Perfect capture!