The source of the buzzing noise was a fearsome, predatory insect Pokémon. Were Airi to peer toward Petalburg Woods, she would see it: a Shiny Beedrill of great size, its blue eyes and green exoskeleton much easier on the eyes than the red and yellow, more common counterparts. As intimidating as it looked, the creature certainly wasn't behaving like a Beedrill. It seemed to mind its own business, bobbing and weaving above Route 104's grasslands and sandy beaches.

Were Airi to look more closely, she would be able to see another truly unusual sight: a green-haired girl, dressed in a gold-colored Ranger uniform, was astride the loud insect, reining the creature about like one would a Staraptor. The wind would grow more intense the closer the insect got to the ground, uprooting grass directly beneath them until they landed. The deafening drone suddenly ceased with it, Shalin waiting to slide down from her mount until she had recovered all feeling in her limbs.

Shalin set Queen Zing's reins down as she heard the traveling Ranger's adverse reaction. "It's okay! It's okay!" the Captain insisted. "Queen Zing is sweet as can be. She won't harm anyone unless I tell her to!" Even so, she did as the fellow Ranger requested, keeping her distance and staying seated until she felt steady enough to slide down. If Airi were to glance toward the Beedrill, she would be able to see that the Shiny predator was indeed wearing a saddle, much like a common Rapidash would. Just who was she? Wouldn't sitting next to two giant wings buzzing so loud and fast tickle?

It seemed Airi was afraid of Beedrill. Not an unreasonable fear; it was certainly more common than Shalin's fear of extreme, sustained speeds. Perhaps after another session or two with Thomas Benoit , she would catch an Arcanine of her own and be able to dash across the land without feeling dizzy.

Shalin understood where Airi was coming from. Beedrill were some of the most aggressive forest predators in the world, and they were disturbingly common. They also didn't come in Queen Zing's size too often. "If it makes you more comfortable, I can withdraw her!" If asked to do so, she would bring the Beedrill back into her Poké Ball. "Great to meet you, Airi! Captain Shalin Nariya, Petalburg. Is it Beedrill specifically that bother you, or is it any bug Pokémon?"

Before she could get an answer, Shalin's eyes drifted toward a Talonflame that was peacefully roosting, its eyes closed and completely oblivious to her surroundings. She raised a hand toward Airi before quietly approaching the fire-type from behind. Once she was right behind it, she leaped toward it and mounted it! The wild screeched upon feeling Shalin's weight upon its back, spreading its wings and leaping into the air. It looked like a red comet as it circled the beach, making wild turns in an effort to dislodge its unwanted passenger!

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD TIRTOUGA APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] SWIFT SWIM
[attr="class","wildtabox"]ANCIENT POWER	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]SMACK DOWN
[attr="class","wildtabox"]SHELL SMASH	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]AQUA TAIL
[attr="class","wildtabox"] WATER PULSE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]AIRI WATANABE Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD AZUMARILL APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] HUGE POWER
[attr="class","wildtabox"]DEFENSE CURL	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]TACKLE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]SPLASH	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ROLLOUT
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]AIRI WATANABE Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

AIRI WATANABE CAUGHT THE GLIGAR!

The friendly wasp gave chase as the wild fire-type rocketed forward, using its tail flames as propellant. Despite the swerving, the Talonflame could not wrench Shalin off. Growing angry, it shot upward, looking like a glowing speck in the sky. With a loud screech, Shalin's ride reversed course, tucked its wings inward, and dove like the species was known for. It looked like the bird was going to crash into the ground at meteoric speeds when it spread its wings abruptly, soaring upward. The Captain let out a loud whoop like a carnival-goer on the fastest roller coaster in the world.

Shalin shook under her multiplied weight, her energy sapped from her from the aerodynamic loads her body had not been trained to withstand for extended periods of time... and certainly not without her Sygna Suit. The Talonflame went back to swerving in the sky, launching its unwanted passenger upward. Seeing her trainer in danger, the saddled warp zipped beneath Shalin and caught her, ferrying her to the ground. By the time they had landed, the Talonflame was long gone. "Woohoo!" she waved weakly once the Beedrill had landed. "That was so much fun!"

Though Shalin had to catch her breath after the wild flight, she seemed perfectly fine otherwise. "I do!" she chirped after starting to breathe normally again. "I've caught a number of Pokémon like that! That's what I was aiming to do, but I didn't let go of the Poké Ball in time." She showed Airi the palmed capturing device to prove her point.

It seemed a pair of wild Water-types were impressed with the Captain's reckless acrobatics, as well. After watching the show, a wild Tentacruel's sacs flashed a brilliant red repeatedly, as to applaud her, before it and a nearby Dracovish swam away.