"I accept."
Oranguru plucked a dark feather from its fan and used its sharp tip to write on the ground.
"As expected of an intelligent Pokémon. So, you understand human writing," Summer remarked, mimicking its posture and sitting cross-legged.
Corviknight and Rillaboom, however, looked less than pleased.
Wait a second. I'm the brains of Sunset Forest!
No—I'm the smartest one here!
Their gazes met, realization dawning. But instead of shaking hands and forming an alliance… they wordlessly began a contest.
The cunning ape! Corviknight lifted one leg, balancing perfectly like a noble warrior.
The foolish bird! Rillaboom stepped forward, raising a fist, exuding a dominating presence.
From the side, Milotic sighed, covering its face with its tail. Can you two stop embarrassing the forest?
Meanwhile, Hatterene waved a tendril dismissively. What's wrong with a little fun? A lively forest is a good forest~!
"You all get along well," Oranguru wrote calmly, its fingers tightening slightly around the feather. Right now, its entire gang was at this human's mercy. For now, it might as well try flattery to ease the situation. Humans loved that sort of thing.
At least… that's what logic dictated. Emotionally, though? Oranguru hated it. Its old Trainer had said those exact words once. And in the end, he abandoned it just the same. Always rejecting its battle strategies. Mocking it for studying human language.
"You told me to assist you… and then you threw me away like I was the problem."
"To me, it seems like you value your companions quite a bit," Summer said, watching it closely. "A smart Pokémon like you should already know—those Murkrow that entered the forest? They won't be coming back. But even knowing that, you didn't abandon them. You stayed behind to buy them time, didn't you?"
"Of course! Unlike you humans, we don't abandon our own!"
Oranguru's strokes became sharp and forceful, its anger bleeding into every written word.
"I see." Summer didn't argue. So, this was a Pokémon that had been betrayed by a human before.
"Then let me ask you this—why did you send those Murkrow into the forest?"
Oranguru almost wrote to take over the forest but hesitated. No, that wouldn't do. It needed a better excuse.
"...You don't want to answer?" Summer tapped his chin. "Then let me take a guess. You wanted to seize this forest, didn't you?"
"So, what were you planning to do with the Pokémon already living here? Let them stay? Or drive them out?"
"If it's the latter…" Summer's voice remained calm. "Then how are you any different from the humans who hurt you?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Oranguru furiously scribbled. "You act like you aren't controlling this forest through sheer strength!"
"You're not wrong," Summer admitted, shrugging. "But I am a ranger."
He slid his ranger ID toward Oranguru.
Name: Summer
Position: Ranger
Assigned Region: Sunset Forest
"A ranger's job is to protect the forest," Summer explained. "So tell me—was I wrong to stop you?"
Oranguru's eyes narrowed. No. If it were in Summer's position, it would've done the same thing. Damn it.
"You still haven't answered my question," Summer continued. "Tell me—what really separates you from those who abandoned you?"
Silence.
"...I'd rather not be wise at all," Oranguru finally wrote, gripping the feather so tightly it nearly snapped.
If I was just another dumb Pokémon, maybe I wouldn't have been abandoned in the first place.
"Gaah!"
Honchkrow suddenly flared its wings.
"Boss! If not for your wisdom, I'd be dead by now! You're the reason I evolved into a Honchkrow in the first place!"
"Meow!"
Perrserker bared its teeth.
"That's right! Don't you dare put yourself down! That scumbag trainer didn't deserve you, and that's his loss!"
The other Pokémon chimed in, their voices firm.
"Boss, you did nothing wrong!"
Oranguru clenched the feather, struggling to suppress the emotion welling up inside.
"...They really do care about you, huh?" Summer murmured. "Pokémon Gang Leader."
Oranguru's eyes widened.
He knows?!
This whole time… this human had just been toying with them?!
"Don't be so hostile," Summer continued. "You're too infamous in Galar to not be recognized. When I saw all those Murkrow, I wasn't sure. But seeing such a massive number of Meowth? Yeah, I was certain."
He raised a single finger.
"I have a proposal."
"Enough jokes!" Oranguru quickly wrote. "Our revenge isn't over! The ones who hurt us still live comfortably while we—!"
"And what exactly are you accomplishing?" Summer cut in. "You attack towns, stir up trouble, try to drive out Pokémon from their own homes… Tell me, how are you any different from the humans you despise?"
Oranguru's grip on the feather wavered.
"Pain doesn't justify causing more pain," Summer continued. Then, with a flick of his hand, he gestured to Hatterene.
"Let them go."
The weight pinning the gang down disappeared, and they slowly staggered to their feet.
"I don't know your reasons for trying to take over this forest," Summer said, arms crossed. "But if you just want a place to live, then I have no problem with that—so long as you drop the whole 'troublemaking' act."
"A place where you won't be abandoned again. That's my offer."
"Gaah! Gaaah?!"
Honchkrow squawked in outrage.
"WHAT?! You guys aren't actually considering this, are you?!"
Because… they were.
These Pokémon had been abandoned, mistreated, or cast aside. A part of them wanted to trust Summer.
And… wasn't he right?
If all they did was hurt others in return, what made them any different?
Oranguru sighed. It had seen this before. Humans… damn humans. Their most powerful weapon wasn't brute force.
It was sincerity.
It had been that sincerity that led it to trust its old Trainer once.
This time…
"Hooh!"
Oranguru looked toward its two closest allies.
"...Let's give it one last shot."
"Gaah!"
Honchkrow was livid.
"I'll never trust humans!"
"Hooh."
"Honchkrow," Oranguru said calmly, "our hearts are already shaken. We aren't strong enough yet. And to see what makes them strong… I think staying here is the best choice."
Honchkrow and Perrserker shared a look.
Then, for the first time, they both disagreed.
"Fine," Honchkrow muttered.
"We're done," Perrserker added.
"Today marks the end of the Pokémon Gang."
And with that…
The infamous gang of outlaws disbanded.