'Water Pulse coming your way, little lady!

Leavanny glanced up as he heard Buizel calling out, watching as a powerful Water Pulse was sent flying towards his target. The sphere of water was intercepted by a silvery Hidden Power, the two attacks colliding mid air. Small rays of rainbow light were scattered from the attacks, the droplets of water gleaming as the light from the Hidden Power hit them.

'Razor Leaf!' A voice cried, a shape charging through the remained of the attack, the Bayleef swinging the leaf on her head around. A half dozen sharp leaves formed, the attack being launched at Buizel. He responded with a Sonic Boom– the shockwaves knocking leaves off course. Buizel landed on his feet, grinning at Bayleef.

'Not too bad, little lady,' He said with a grin. 'But can you handle this? Ice-Aqua Jet!'

He raised his front paws above his head, each one glowing with an Ice Punch. A torrent of water surged to life at his feet, encasing the Buizel's whole form. He launched himself straight at Bayleef, the frozen energy of his Ice Punch spreading across the water as he flew forward. The water of the Aqua Jet froze as he spun around, the large icicle crashing straight into Bayleef's side.

Leavanny flinched as the grass type was hit by the powerful combination, the force of the move sending her flying back across the clearing. Leavanny knew that he couldn't just sit there, even though she was just engaging in a friendly battle, but before he could even stand up a green blur bolted behind Bayleef.

Sceptile broke out of his Quick Attack, clawed arms wrapping across Bayleef before she could crash into the trees behind her. Sceptile grunted as he slammed into trunk of the tree himself, both he and Bayleef crashing into the ground. Leavanny tensed as Sceptile opened his eyes, looking down at the Pokemon that was still wrapped in his arms.

'Are you okay?' He asked uncertainly, and Bayleef nodded.

'Yeah,' She said as Sceptile gently set her on the ground. 'I'm good– nice Ice-Aqua Jet, Buizel!'

The water type puffed up proudly. 'Just about perfected, I'd say!'

Leavanny didn't understand why she was congratulating the Pokemon that had just left the forming bruise on her side, but he was careful to keep quiet and continue his weaving of the leaves he had gathered. The others didn't mind him living the clearing as long as he kept quiet, he had seen how their attitudes shifted whenever he spoke to them.

The clearing had become quite lonely for Leavanny ever since Bayleef had joined the rest of Ash's Pokemon that lived there, the quartet actively training and battling among each other. Snivy was currently acting as judge between the match of Bayleef and Buizel, while Sceptile watched on. And as powerful as a battler Bayleef was, she was clearly the weakest of the four of them– and Leavanny hated watching her get pummeled in every battle she had against them.

He too had once loved the thrill of battle, though that competitive nature had seemed to fade upon evolving into a Leavanny. There was nothing more calming for him than sitting on his rock, soaking in the sun and to carefully stitch his leaves into a brand new creation. Of course what he sewed never lasted long, the plants wilting in just a few days.

He watched all of them wither away, the clothes going unworn in a rotting pile right next to his rock.

'You should be more careful with your attacks,' Sceptile said to Buizel, the large lizard crossing his arms.

'It's a battle, bro,' The water type said, flicking his tails. 'It's supposed to be rough!'

'You could have hurt Bayleef!'

'Um, guys, I'm fine,' Bayleef said, waving a vine uncertainly.

'Snivy's taken a few of my Ice-Aqua Jets and she's been fine, what difference does it make with Bayleef?' Buizel asked, tilting his head. 'I mean, she's even evolved.'

'Well, I know that, but–'

Leavanny punctured the holes into his current project with just a bit more force than normal, harshly tugging his String Shot through as the small argument continued. Bayleef wasn't something that needed to be protected and dolled– but yet that's how Sceptile seemed to be acting ever since Bayleef had forgiven him for his horrible attitude against her. As if attempting to play hero when she was more than capable of handling things herself would fix what he had done.

A Leaf Storm cut between the bickering friends, Snivy standing there with her hands on her hips. 'Really you two? Bayleef is just fine– so why don't we let them finish their battle?'

Though at times Leavanny did understand why Sceptile could be so concerned, because he didn't like seeing Bayleef in the rough fights anymore than he did. But Bayleef clearly enjoyed the battles, and the company that came along with them, and so as long as she was happy then Leavanny would be content.

He glanced down at his rock, looking at the place Bayleef had once always sat, where the two of them had once happily chatted away about nothing. She had been his only escape from the loneliness, and he had been hers. And while she didn't ignore him now– happily greeting him each morning with a friendly wave of her vine, he missed the times they used to spend together.

'Ready for round two, Buizel?' Bayleef asked, lowering herself into a charging position.

'Bring it on!' The water type called– and Bayleef charged forward with a Body Slam. Buizel fired a Water Pulse to try to deter her, but she charge right on through and crashed into Buizel. This time it was the water type being sent flying back– slamming into a trunk of a tree.

'No rescue for me, huh, Sceptile?' Buizel asked, a slight groan as he pulled himself to his feet.

'It's a battle, it's supposed to be rough,' Snivy said with a smirk, repeating his words from earlier.

Buizel glared at her. 'Shut up, you little viper.'

Snivy grinned, and a small smile flickered over his face. Bayleef beamed proudly at her attack, looking back at Sceptile, who gave her a thumbs up with his claws. Leavanny watched them for a moment, ready to wave at Bayleef encouragingly if she were to look his way. Several moments passed, but her gaze didn't flicker in his direction, the grass type merely firing a Razor Leaf as her battle with Buizel continued.

Leavanny's eyes flickered away, looking down at the his current project in his blade-like arms. He stared down at it for a moment– before tossing it over his shoulder, joining the pile of the rest of his forgotten projects.

Leavanny knew something was wrong as he returned to his rock.

An assortment of leaves were gathered in his arms, having been carefully organized by size and quality. The clearing around him was quiet as he headed towards his rock, which wasn't uncommon. Bayleef and her companions often went to different parts of the ranch to train, but yet he entered the clearing feeling as if he weren't alone.

Red eyes glanced about, antennae waving around slightly, but he didn't see anything. Frowning he continued over to his rock, laying out his materials he had just gathered. He hummed, stroking each leaf as he set it out. They were each a canvas waiting to be painted– an art he could not yet see, and he didn't want to misplace a single one.

A flicker of green caught his eye though, making Leavanny pause. He set the rest of his stack of leaves onto his rock, peering around at the other side uncertainly. Eyes widened as he realized that the green was his pile of unwanted clothes– having been scattered in the most disorderly manner.

'Oh dear!' Leavanny said in alarm, scurrying over to the other side of his rock and gathering up his wares. He had such a simple system in place for his pile– the oldest articles of leaf clothing on the bottom, and the newest on top. As the older ones rotted away into fertile soil he'd take them to the plants he gathered leaves from, using the compost so the plants would grow strong for the next time he gathered from them.

But now his projects were scattered around his rock, new ones laying next to dried and crumbling ones. Leavanny hurried and tried to gather them up, but the older ones merely deteriorated away as he tried to pick them up. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm himself. Letting them naturally decompose was something he could handle, it was something that would happen to them in time anyways, but watching them fall apart... it hurt.

He spent so much time on each item he made, and even if it was never worn he still wanted it to last as long as possible. To watch it crumple under his touch hurt almost as much as watching someone rip the outfit off, often tearing it to do so... which was something he had seen many times before.

Why was his pile all over the place? Had the wind blown it this way? But he had set it up on the this side of his rock so that wouldn't happen...

He tried to put them all back, to carefully layer them as they had been before, but it wasn't an easy task. His heart was heavy as he worked away, softly stroking each item as he set them back on the pile. He would wear them all himself if he could, but he more often found himself making designs that wouldn't fit him– just getting inspired as he looked at the Pokemon around him.

As he worked he couldn't help but notice a few of his works were missing– his mask from last week was gone, and the cape he had made two days ago wasn't there either. Leavanny desperately search the clearing, wondering if the wind had blown them farther, but yet there was no sign of the projects. In his desperation he even searched the nearby woods, knowing that they couldn't have gone far.

Unless the wind hadn't blown them away at all.

Tears stung his eyes as he slowly returned to his rock, the realization hitting him. It hadn't been the wind, it must have been Pokemon... Pokemon had come into his home, had scattered his projects and had even taken some away. He curled up slightly, not sure of what he should do. Wasn't ignoring him enough? Did they have to ruin his hard work as well?

He stared down at the leaves he had gathered, but for once he didn't feel like making anything.

'Hello, friends,' Leavanny said as warmly as possible the next morning, slowly approaching Bayleef and her companions as they all talked away under the morning sun. 'Lovely day isn't it?'

Buizel shifted uncomfortably as he approached, while Snivy gave him a nod of acknowledgement. Bayleef was the only one that seemed to perk up as he approached, waving a vine. 'Hi Leavanny! What's up?'

'I just have a question for you all,' Leavanny said, waving an arm towards his rock. 'I was wondering if you have seen anyone near my dear home. You see someone has been scattering all of my projects, a few are even missing, and I do not know why.'

'I haven't seen anything,' Snivy said. 'Most 'Mon don't come wandering through here with Sceptile around.'

'I haven't seen anyone either,' Bayleef said.

'Who'd be desperate enough to steal from you?' Buizel muttered under his breath– and Snivy whacked him on the head with a Vine Whip.

Sceptile frowned. 'Maybe flying types of some kind? Birds use leaves to build their nests, don't they?'

'Nests?!' Leavanny cried, the thought of his hard work being torn up into nests...

'Or maybe food,' Buizel said. 'Lots of Pokemon eat leaves, maybe they just saw a free snack and took it.'

He paled further– that being even a bigger insult than nests. Yes, he ate plants himself, but what he ate he gathered from trees and bushes– he didn't take something that someone had made! He felt tears stinging his eyes, his arms wrapping around himself. They were surrounded by plants, they didn't have to destroy his work...

'It's okay, we'll figure out who it is,' Bayleef said, reaching out with a vine. He went still as she touched him, and he peered up into her eyes. 'We'll all keep an eye on your rock when we're around and let you know if we see anything, okay?'

'Thank you, friend,' He said quietly, though the distress still remained.

It had been a week since he had first discovered that someone was stealing from him– and the horrible thief had returned two times since then. More of his projects have gone missing, though the robber seemed to be a bit more subtle and not tear apart his pile as they slunk off his with outfits– but still he noticed that they were missing.

And tonight Leavanny was going to catch them.

Well, that was the plan, but for that to work the thief needed to show up again. But if they did, he would be more than prepared. He had made himself a cloak from purple leaves, using the darker color to help him blend into the night. For once he wasn't asleep down on his rock, but rather he was perched up in a tree on the edge of the clearing, as close to his rock as he could get. Carefully laying in his hands was his latest project, one that didn't require any leaves. Meant to mimic the web of a Joltik the net was folded carefully in his arms, the woven String Shot ready to entangle whoever was stealing from him.

However it was hard to stay awake in the calmness of the night, soft snores coming from the other residents of the clearing. His body knew that it was time to sleep, and that's what he wanted to do. It didn't take himself long to catch himself starting to drift off, Leavanny jerking awake as he began to fall of his branch.

Finally he secured himself to the tree with his String Shot, just in case he actually did fall asleep.

His eyes settled down onto his rock, several pieces of "bait" sitting out. He had noticed there was a pattern with the type of outfits his thief stole from him. He wasn't sure if it was the type of leaves he was using that made his work taste better or what not, it was most definitely their favorite. So with them sitting in plan view on his rock he hoped that would be enough to lure them out– and then he could throw his net over them and– and...

And tell them not to ever steal from him again?

...He'd cross that bridge when he got to it.

Leavanny was awoken by a rustling sound.

His eyes snapped open, confusion rushing about him as he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings. He sat straight up, a piece of String Shot looped about his waist that strapped him to the branch he had drifted off on. He glanced around at the dark night about him, then at the mass of webbing in his arms.

The thief!

His head whipped down towards his rock, his heart skipping a beat when he saw a figure standing on top of the boulder. He stared down at the Pokemon as they examined the leaf outfits that Leavanny had left out. He couldn't make out what it was in the darkness, but the Pokemon seemed to be about his size, currently holding up one of the leaf capes he had made.

Leavanny swallowed, using his arm to cut away the String Shot around him, standing up with his net in hand. All he needed to do was throw it over the Pokemon. He watched as the Pokemon below shuffled about, and with a deep breath he held up the net– throwing it down at the thief.

The Pokemon tensed as it heard the rustling– before leaping off of the rock as the net came flying down. Leavanny's eyes widened, watching a pair of wings opened, the Pokemon glided away with ease. The net fell across his rock, his thief remaining uncaught. The Pokemon's eyes drifted up towards the branch that Leavanny was resting on, and even through the darkness he knew that their eyes had met. He saw the Pokemon's wings open up again, and he knew that it was now or never.

Leavanny fired an Energy Ball down at the Pokemon below, before leaping from his branch, arms glowing with an X-Scissor. It had been some time since he had battled, but he was no weak Pokemon either.

The thief moved quickly, the tips of his wings glowing a light green. He slashed through the Energy Ball with the attack, before meeting Leavanny's X-Scissor with one of his own. He saw a glimpse of feathers as their attacks met, before Leavanny was thrown back to the ground. The Pokemon spread its wings once more, leaping up into the trees, gliding from branch to branch as he fled– leaf cape in hand.

'You're not getting away, fiend!' Leavanny shouted, bolting after the fleeing figure. Even in the darkness he knew these woods, he had wandered through them many times before, and was able to bolt after the Pokemon gliding above. He didn't know why he didn't just take to the sky, but it was easier to track him this way.

Moonlight shone down from between the branches, orange feathers gleaming as the Pokemon gilded through the forest. Leavanny was in hot pursuit, adrenaline pumping through him. The Pokemon was much swifter than him, but he knew he couldn't let it get out of his sight. He watched as the thief got farther and farther ahead, at times the only way he was running after him was by listening to the rustling of his wings.

Leavanny broke through the bushes and into a glade, and saw the Pokemon pausing up on a branch. He fired a String Shot up at it, the thread wrapping around the Pokemon's leg as it tried to glide off to the next tree. Leavanny held tight, his weight throwing the Pokemon off course, and it came crashing into the ground. The Pokemon let out a small grunt of pain, and Leavanny quickly prepared another X-Scissor.

He paused, panting, before slowly approaching the Pokemon. It looked up at him, allowing Leavanny to make out a bird-like face as it regarded him– before a loud screech filled the air.

Leavanny immediately tried to cover his ears at the horrible sound, but froze as he saw a huge shadow swooping down from above. It apparently resembled a Swoobat in shape, but it was more as if a Dragonite was descending upon him. A powerful Dragon Claw flared to life, slashing him away from the Pokemon he had downed, another snarl filling the air. The giant winged creature pounced on him, pinning him to the ground, the dark figure pulling in close to him. Jaws parted, a low growl filling the air–

'Leave my Daddy alone!' A voice cried– one much different than what Leavanny was expecting.

'Noivern, let him up,' Another voice said, the thief having pushed himself to his feet, throwing the Sting Shot off of him.

'But the meanie was attacking you, Daddy–' The Noivern said, but the other one raised a clawed wing, and the Noivern stumbled away.

'Are you alright?' The thief asked, his voice deep and full of concern. He held out a clawed wing, causing Leavanny to blink in confusion. He placed his arm into his wing though, allowing the Pokemon to pull him to his feet. 'My name is Hawlucha, and this is my son Noivern.'

'Is he a meanie, Daddy?' The Noivern asked, the dragon scurrying behind Hawlucha, as if he could hide behind a much smaller Pokemon, peering over the bird's shoulder.

'No Noivern, he's another one of Ash's Pokemon, just like us,' He replied, placing a clawed wing on his son's head calmly.

One of Ash's Pokemon...? These were Ash's Pokemon as well? The one that had been stealing from him? He eyed them suspiciously, he was a bird Pokemon– had he been stealing his outfits to make a nest for the dragon? The bug type tensed, antennae quivering unhappily.

'Are you the one that's been stealing my outfits?' Leavanny asked.

'So you're the one that's been weaving those,' The Hawlucha remarked, nodding slowly. 'Yes, I have taken a few.'

'You think you can take my outfits to make a nest out of!' Leavanny shouted– an action quite unlike himself. 'Do you know how long it takes me to make those– they're important to me!'

'Important enough to you that you throw them aside as if they are nothing!' The Hawlucha snapped. 'Beautiful masterpieces and you just let them rot! I couldn't stand seeing them go to waste like that, so of course I took them!'

Leavanny froze up, eyes widening for a moment. 'Wh-wha–?'

The Hawlucha held up the cape he had taken from Leavanny's rock. 'Look at this beautiful craftsmanship– and you just throw it away as if it's nothing!'

The little bug type couldn't believe his ears, and he just stared at the two Pokemon in front of him. Beautiful...? A masterpiece? His outfits? He loved his work, he spend so much time on everything he made, but it had been so long since someone else had appreciated his work. Aside from Bayleef no one had said a good thing about his art since his journey, and he was sure that she was just trying to be nice.

Tears stung Leavanny's eyes, his voice hushed. 'You think my outfits are beautiful?'

'How could I not?' Hawlucha said, admiring the leaf cape in his arms. 'It is almost like human cloth with how the leaves are woven together! And the order they were placed in, the darker leaves fading into the lighter ones, it just flows so gently. Of course it is beautiful!'

He hadn't been destroying his clothing, he had been wearing them. Leavanny's heart was pounding, and he looked up at Hawlucha one more time. 'No one likes my leaf outfits, I put them in the pile because no one ever wants to wear them...'

'Daddy loves wearing outfits,' Noivern chirped. 'He had aunty Serena make him some when we battle in the league!'

'C-could I make you something?' Leavanny cried, stumbling forward a step. He had so desperately wanted to make something specifically for someone, to design something for one that would want to wear it, but the only one that he could do that for was himself. He was aware of the desperation in his voice, but...

Hawlucha's eyes lit up. 'You would truly want to?'

A burst of excitement ran through Leavanny. 'Oh yes, if you would wear it!' He fired a String Shot, grabbing the thread and holding it out. 'I could take your measurements right now, though I must wait until morning so I can properly see your colors. We must get leaves that match your feathers perfectly...'

He didn't even realize he was trembling until he held out his arms, and saw how the thread he was holding shook. He couldn't believe what was happening, there was someone that was willing to let him create something just for them. And not only that, they truly wanted to wear it. Someone wanted to wear one of his outfits!

'I want one too!' Noivern called out happily.

'Now Noivern, we don't want to burden anyone with work all at once–'

'Yes!' Leavanny squeaked. 'Yes little friend, I shall make one for you as well! I shall make an outfit for both of you! And if you like it, and will happily make you another one!'

'You're right Daddy, he's not a meanie!' Noivern said happily. 'He's nice– super nice!'

'You're right Daddy, he's not a meanie!' Noivern said happily. 'He's nice– super nice!'

'And you would truly do so?' Hawlucha asked again. 'Make us one of your beautiful outfits?'

'Anytime!' Leavanny said. 'You don't know what this means to me, to know that someone wants one of my creations... that is something words cannot describe! Is there anything you want? A color or a pattern you want on it?'

His mind was already racing with hundreds of ideas.

'A mask!' Hawlucha said, eyes gleaming.

'I want the same thing as Daddy!' Noivern said, flapping his wings.

'Of course, friends,' Leavanny said, already knowing what tree would have the perfect leaves for a mask. 'And perhaps a billowing cape to fall across your wings...'

'Yeah, like yours,' Noivern said, inching closer and brushing a claw against the purple cloak Leavanny was wearing. 'It's really pretty.'

He could already picture it in his mind, though he would need time to gather the supplies. Leavanny looked forward to every outfit he created, but yet had he never been more excited. To realize that he wasn't just going to be creating something, but making clothes that were actually going to be worn, outfits that were wanted...

It was something he just couldn't describe.

'You're leaving the clearing?!' Bayleef cried, her eyes wide as Leavanny stood in front of her mossy rock.

'Yes, friend,' Leavanny said, looking up into her beautiful eyes. He hesitated for a moment, but offered her a smile. 'I've been here a long time, since Professor friend placed me here, but I've been very lonely.'

'But– but I'm going to miss you!' Bayleef said, and hearing her say this filled Leavanny with a warm feeling– her friendship had been something he had always treasured.

'I am not leaving the ranch, dear friend,' Leavanny said. 'I am not even leaving this forest, we can still see each other often,' He paused. 'It will not be much different than now, we do not see each other much now, do we?'

Bayleef looked away.

'You are a dear friend, Bayleef, a very dear friend,' Leavanny told her, placing an arm on her leg. 'You were my friend when no other Pokemon was my friend. But you have dear friends here, and I now have dear friends elsewhere.'

'...I haven't been a good friend, have I?' Bayleef asked quietly.

'You are great friend,' Leavanny replied. 'And even if we're not in the same clearing, you will still be a great friend,' He hesitated, before holding out a mass of leaves that was in his arms. 'I know... I know you do not care for clothes– but I made you another scarf.'

He held up the scarf, which was made from dozens of small diamond-shaped leaves. They had a faint spice-like smell to them, and Bayleef took the scarf in her vines. She placed it over her neck, which made Leavanny beam.

'What is it made out of?' She asked.

'Bay leaves,' Leavanny replied.

'What?!' Bayleef cried, eyes widening, and he let out a chuckle.

'Not the Pokemon, but the herb,' Leavanny replied. 'Humans use it in their cooking, or so that's what Oshawott told me.'

'Thank you,' Bayleef said, laying a vine over the scarf. 'I wish I had something for you too, but...'

'You wearing it is enough, friend,' Leavanny said happily, and his eyes flickered towards the sky. 'It looks like it's time for me to go.'

Everyone looked up as a shadows fell across the clearing, two Pokemon gliding down from the sky. Hawlucha was riding on Noivern's back, a proud gleam in the Pokemon's eyes as they landed on the very top of Sceptile's tree. The grass type stiffened as they did so, but the branches weren't strong enough to support them, and so with another flap of his wings Noivern landed on the ground.

Hawlucha leapt off of Noivern's back, landing in a dramatic pose. His face was covered with a mask of purple leaves, a cloak of dark green leaves billowing out behind him. Noivern's outfit mirrored his in coloring, though Leavanny had used larger leaves for the larger Pokemon.

"Hey-a mister Leavanny!' Noivern said happily. 'Are you ready to go? Because guess what– we get to fly home!'

'Hello little friend!' Leavanny chirred.

'Goodbye, Leavanny,' Bayleef said quietly, and Leavanny turned towards her, giving her a friendly wave. He would miss her, very much, but he knew that this was something he needed to do.

No longer would he silently sit in his corner of the clearing, listening to the others as they battled and mingled among each other. No longer would he tense whenever Sceptile drew close to Bayleef, or long for her to once again join him on his rock. No longer would he have a pile of his outfits by his side, only to rot away as forgotten.

Leavanny happily vaulted onto Noivern's back, Hawlucha joining him. He held out a closed fist, and Leavanny bumped it with his blade-like arm, unable to make a fist himself. He looked out over the clearing he had called home for so long. Buizel and Sceptile were chattering away by the tree, looking at the dragon with an impressed look, but held no concern for his departure. Snivy had drawn up to Bayleef's side, laying a reassuring hand against her, before giving Leavanny a small nod. He waved to his teammate, his eyes flickering to Bayleef once more.

He could see the distant look in her eyes, but she was smiling.

Noivern opened his wings, and Bayleef raised a vine in farewell. Leavanny waved to her, and with several flaps of Noivern's wings they were up into the sky. He peered over the wing of the dragon, watching as the clearing became smaller as the dragon rose up. He sped across the forest, racing towards the part of the ranch that they called home– and that would soon be Leavanny's home as well.

'You care a lot about her, don't you?' Hawlucha asked as they flew, tilting his head to the side. 'Are you sure you still want to come with us?'

'Very sure,' Leavanny said with a nod. 'You make me very happy, you and little friend. You care about me, and you care about what I love too. And Bayleef is a very dear friend, but her heart has always been elsewhere,' A faint smile passed over his face. 'And if that's what makes her happy, then it makes me very happy as well.'