As our team finally stepped past the last line of trees, the cool night air met us with a strange mix of relief and tension.
Because waiting for us at the forest exit—
—was an armed response team.
Full gear. Riot shields. Tranq launchers. Poké-proof vests.
But the moment they saw twenty-two Rhyhorns marching behind us in perfect formation, helmets tilted, jaws dropped, and several forgot to breathe.
We must've looked like an invading cavalry unit.
The team leader—a stern woman with forest-camouflage armor—hurried forward and saluted sharply.
"Welcome back, sir! We've been waiting for your safe return. If you hadn't emerged in the next thirty minutes, we had orders to march into the forest."
Her eyes trailed over the Rhyhorn herd again, visibly shaken.
"DCP sir and Colonel Rawat are waiting for you inside the command tent."
I nodded.
"Understood. Rhyhorns—stay near the edge. Don't wander. I'll be right back."
The entire herd rumbled in acknowledgment, forming a loose semicircle to rest.
My team followed me into the command camp, where bright lanterns lit the canvas tents and papers rustled under anxious hands.
As soon as I entered the main tent, the DCP and Rawat looked up—equal parts relief and frustration evident.
The DCP sighed loudly."Aakash… kid… do you know the kind of heart attacks you gave the country today?"
I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly."Yeah… sorry about the stream cut. Arbok's tail didn't exactly ask permission before hitting the drone."
Rawat pinched his nose."We'll talk about that later. For now—good work. And good job not dying."
"Thanks, Colonel. I try my best."
A bit of laughter eased the tension.
But I didn't waste time.
"Listen—we need to inform the state government. Arrange an assembly meeting. Two days from now."
Both men exchanged glances.
Rawat nodded immediately.
"I'll handle the central communication."
The DCP straightened up.
"And I'll deal with state coordination."
"Good."
I continued, my tone firm:
"DCP sir—day after tomorrow, you can take PI Kadam and Rohan. They'll begin training police officers for the next month."
He blinked. "Already? That soon?"
"Yes. And I'll need ten more officers to join the Pokémon Department full-time."
Rawat raised an eyebrow.
"Poaching or staff already?"
I shrugged.
"Colonel, please. You'll get your turn. Captain Sethi will handle military training. Same requirement—ten personnel from the armed forces."
Rawat smirked.
"Fine. We'll give you ten of our best."
I nodded.
"We need strong initial members from existing departments. Once the structure is stable, we can cultivate the rest ourselves."
Then I turned slightly.
"Oh—and Bhavesh should train the remaining forest rangers. He's ready."
Bhavesh almost choked behind me.
"Wait—M-me?!"
"Yes, you. You're good with them. And you understand forest dynamics better now."
He slowly puffed up with a shy, proud smile.
I continued, addressing both leaders:
"And before I forget—if any personnel stationed here want some extra cash, tell them to register tonight. The work isn't dangerous as long as they follow my instructions strictly."
The DCP blinked. "Extra cash… for what?"
"You'll know tomorrow."
Rawat muttered, "I swear this boy is going to run the entire country at some point…"
After a bit more polite debrief and reassurance, I stood up.
"Alright. Long day. Let's wrap it."
My entire team followed me outside—tired, bruised, but excited. They dispersed toward the resting area.
I turned to Rawat, lowering my voice.
"Colonel… craftsmen status?"
He straightened.
"They're ready. They trained basic forging patterns all night yesterday and whole day today."
"Good. Tell them to rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, I'll teach them the actual forging process."
Rawat blinked.
"You're telling me… tomorrow… we start making Pokéballs for real?"
"Yes."
He let out a long breath.
"This nation isn't ready for you."
I chuckled, waving as I headed toward the car waiting for me.
"I'm going home. Mom must be going crazy since the stream cut off. See ya."
He went to the edge of the forest instructed rhyhorn to stay here tonight. he couldn't travel with a rhyhorn on city streets. he with mankey, tangela, and two pikachu left for home in military jeep. Pidgeotto was in he pokeball.
_____________________________________________________
Home
The gate hadn't even fully opened before—
"Aakash!"
My mother burst out of the house, dupatta flying like she was about to sprint into a hurricane.
She grabbed my face with both hands, eyes brimming.
"Do you have ANY IDEA—ANY IDEA—what I went through today!? The stream cut off! The drone exploded! People online were saying—saying—"
She shook her head violently, refusing to finish the sentence.
Her hands trembled as she pulled me into a crushing hug.
I winced. "Ma—arm—injury—"
She stepped back instantly, glaring.
"You got HURT!? Show me!"
"It's healed, Ma!"
She inspected the arm anyway.
"…Evergreen healed it."
She exhaled shakily.
"Next time," she warned, "you message me first before fighting giant snakes!"
"Yes, Ma…"
Before I could breathe, Dad appeared behind her—still in his office shirt, glasses halfway down his nose.
He crossed his arms.
"Aakash Patil."
That tone.
Ah.
"Dad, listen—"
"No."
He pointed at me like a school principal who had just caught me setting a classroom on fire.
"What did I tell you? Hm? 'Be careful,' I said. 'Don't do anything reckless,' I said. And what do I see on national news today?"
"…Snake?"
"AN SNAKE THE SIZE OF A LOCAL TRAIN COMPARTMENT!"
I blinked. "It wasn't THAT big—"
"It broke the drone! And you were standing TEN FEET AWAY!"
I said nothing.
He closed his eyes, inhaled shakily, then pulled me into a tight hug.
"You scared us."
His voice cracked.
"Just… don't do that again."
"I'll try," I whispered.
"…No, you WILL."
"Okay, Dad."
____________________________________________________________________
Sagar came out of the bedroom like a thunderbolt.
Phone in hand.
Eyes little red.
"Bhai… bhai… you are back? Mom was so scared."
He stopped.
Because Pikachu peeked out from behind my shoulder.
His entire brain short-circuited.
"That… that… THAT IS THE POKÉMON ON THE STREAM! THE SMALL YELLOW ONE!"
Pikachu tilted his head.
"Pika?"
Sagar screamed.
"IT MADE A SOUND BRO IT MADE A SOUND—AAAA—"
Mom: "Lower your voice before the neighbours think we brought a tiger."
I lifted the second Pikachu gently from my lap.
"Relax. There's more."
The second Pikachu blinked at Sagar, confused.
"…Pika?"
Sagar froze.
"What do you mean—more?"
I put in front of him the second Pikachu.
"This one is yours."
Silence.
Sagar stared at me. Stared at the Pikachu.
Then back at me.
"Mine…? M-mine? Bhai… a real Pokémon? You're… giving me one?"
I nodded.
"it's time you got your partner."
The little Pikachu walked up to him and gently tapped his foot.
"Pika~"
Sagar covered his mouth.
He actually teared up.
"Bhai… this is… the greatest day of my life."
The Pikachu hopped into his arms.
Mom finally smiled.
Dad sighed.
Mankey stole a banana from the kitchen.
Tangela still hugging My leg.
Finally my heart was able to relax after thee scare in the afternoon.