By the time I finished adjusting my gear and double-checking my inventory, the afternoon sun was already beginning its descent. I knew better than to rush; forgetting supplies on a journey like this could be fatal. My next destination: Mauville City.
After a quick stop at the Pokémon Center to ensure my team was in peak condition, I departed Rustboro City. The route was lively. On the way, I encountered several wild Pokémon. I engaged in a few battles to keep my team sharp, but I made sure to let the wild ones retreat once the winner was clear. These skirmishes were precious experience, not a hunt.
Eventually, the paved road gave way to the dense tree line of Route 116. I approached the woods with caution. The memory of the incident in the Petalburg Woods lingered in my mind, a stark reminder that I could not underestimate the risk of a sudden Pokémon assault.
"Wingull, come out," I whispered, releasing the gull Pokémon. "Stay high and stand sentry. If you see any movement or hear anything suspicious, alert me immediately."
Flying-types are invaluable for expanding a trainer's field of view in terrain like this.
"Wing!" Wingull responded with a spirited cry, flapping its wings and ascending to the tree canopy.
"Okay, let's start." I took a deep breath and stepped into the shade of the forest.
The trek proceeded smoothly for the first hour until a cacophony of chirping broke the silence.
"Wing!" Wingull cried out, circling and pointing its wing toward the left. Something was rushing toward us.
Before I could react, a blur of dark blue feathers swarmed me. It was a flock of Taillow.
"Tail! Tail!"
They weren't attacking me directly—they were aiming for my bag. I rolled to the side instinctively, but the clasp of my side pouch came loose. A canister of Pokémon food tumbled out, spilling onto the forest floor.
The flock descended instantly. In the blink of an eye, the food was gone.
"Run, Wingull! If they finish eating, they might chase us for more!" I sprinted in the opposite direction, signaling Wingull to follow.
However, the chase never came. I skidded to a halt and looked back. Instead of pursuing us, the flock had taken to the air, flying back the way they came with a sense of urgency.
"Wing?" Wingull hovered near me, tilting its head, as if asking why we weren't being hunted.
"Hmm... that's strange," I muttered, catching my breath. "Usually, they are more territorial. Maybe they just needed the stamina?"
I looked at the direction they vanished. "We can't just cross the woods blindly. If there's a reason they are so desperate for food, we might run into it further down the path. It's better to figure out the cause than to be surprised by it."
"Wing!" Wingull agreed.
"Alright, follow them. Let's see what's happening."
We tracked the flock through the dense undergrowth until the trees began to thin out, revealing a rocky clearing near the base of the mountain range. The sound of battle reached us before the sight did—the distinct, jarring sound of metal clashing against bone.
I hid behind a large boulder, peering over the edge.
The flock of Taillow was swarming a single, large bird Pokémon: a Skarmory.
The Armor Bird Pokémon stood like a fortress in the center of the clearing. Its steel body gleamed in the patchy sunlight. The Taillows were diving at it bravely, using Peck and Quick Attack, but their attacks simply bounced off Skarmory's steel-hard feathers with metallic clinks.
"Skaaaar!" The Skarmory screeched, swinging its jagged steel wings. A gust of wind knocked three Taillow out of the air.
"They can't win like that," I whispered. "Normal and Flying attacks barely scratch a Steel-type."
One Taillow, however, was different. It was slightly larger than the others, likely the leader. It refused to back down. It dove from high up, its body glowing with faint white energy, attempting a slashing maneuver.
Skarmory easily parried the strike with its wing, sending the leader tumbling into the dirt. But the leader shook its head and took flight again, eyes burning with determination. It was trying to use a specific move—a move that relies on speed and unavoidable precision.
"That's... Aerial Ace," I realized. "But it's imperfect. The angle is too wide."
If that Skarmory decided to counterattack seriously, the flock would be wiped out. I couldn't just watch.
"Wingull, we have to help," I said firmly. "That Taillow needs a guide, and you need to buy it some time."
"Wing!"
I stepped out from the boulder. "Wingull, use Water Gun on Skarmory's eyes! Distract it!"
Wingull swooped down, firing a precise stream of water. The sudden splash blinded the Skarmory momentarily. It shrieked, thrashing its wings in annoyance.
The Taillow leader froze, looking at me with suspicion.
"I'm not your enemy!" I shouted at the leader. "You can't pierce that armor with brute force! You're trying to use Aerial Ace, right? You have to be faster! Don't look at the armor—look for the gaps in the joints!"
The Taillow leader hesitated, then nodded.
"Wingull, show him the wind current! Create a Tailwind!"
Wingull flapped its wings rhythmically behind the Taillow leader, creating a stream of accelerated air. The Taillow caught the updraft.
"Now!" I commanded, pointing at the Skarmory, which was just shaking the water from its eyes. "Don't hesitate! Cut straight through!"
The Taillow leader folded its wings, diving faster than it ever had before. The white energy around its body intensified, turning into sharp, glowing streaks of light. This time, there was no wide turn. It was a straight, unavoidable line.
Aerial Ace.
The Taillow struck the Skarmory right at the junction of its wing and shoulder—a weak point in the armor. The Skarmory cried out in pain, stumbling back. Seeing the leader land a hit, the rest of the flock rallied, chirping aggressively.
Outnumbered and now injured, the Skarmory decided the meal wasn't worth the fight. With a grunt, it took off heavily, flying toward the higher peaks of the mountains.
The clearing fell silent. The Taillows landed, chirping excitedly around their leader. The leader, panting heavily, hopped over to me. It looked at the empty spot where my food bag usually sat, then looked up at me with a soft chirp. It seemed apologetic.
"Don't worry about the food," I smiled, crouching down. "That was a great Aerial Ace. Just make sure you don't steal from the next trainer, okay?"
The leader nodded. It fluttered into the air, circling twice, and then flew toward a narrow path between two cliffs that I hadn't noticed before. It hovered there, looking back at me.
"Wing!" Wingull landed on my shoulder. "It's showing us the way out."
We followed the Taillow leader. The path cut through the dense foliage that had been confusing me earlier. Within twenty minutes, the trees broke completely, revealing the main road of Route 116 stretching out under the twilight sky.
The Taillow leader chirped one last farewell and flew back to its flock.
"We made it," I sighed, checking my watch. The sun had completely set, and the sky was now a canvas of deep indigo and stars. Attempting to navigate the upcoming Rusturf Tunnel at night would be dangerous, and my Pokémon were tired from the day's events.
"Let's call it a day, Wingull."
I found a flat, dry area near a large oak tree, just off the main road. I set up my small tent and started a small, contained campfire. As the flames crackled, warming the cool night air, I released my team to give them their dinner—guarding it carefully this time.
Looking at the fire, I thought about the Taillow. It wasn't the strongest Pokémon, but its desire to protect its flock allowed it to break its limits.
"Another lesson learned," I murmured, leaning back against the tree trunk