Pursuing Cynthia

Chapter 5: Deep in the Forest

The eerie quiet of Eterna Forest shattered as Dax tossed out his first Pokémon, a Staravia that spread its wings and let out a piercing cry. Its sharp gaze locked onto me like I was already beaten.

"Still using Staravia?" I said, reaching for Gible's Poké Ball. "Hope you've got a better plan this time."

Dax grinned. "Oh, don't worry. You're in for a surprise."

I tossed out Gible, who landed on the forest floor with a low growl, its tail wagging slightly in anticipation.

"Gible, Dragon Rage!"

Gible fired off its signature blast of energy, but Staravia darted into the air, the attack missing by inches.

"Staravia, Double Team!" Dax commanded.

The bird split into multiple images, circling around Gible in a dizzying display.

"Stay focused, Gible!" I shouted.

Gible growled, snapping its head from side to side as it tried to track the real Staravia.

"Now, Quick Attack!"

Staravia darted in from behind, slamming into Gible and knocking it off balance.

"Counter with Dragon Rage!"

Gible whipped around, unleashing another blast. This time, it hit one of the images, dispersing it but leaving the real Staravia unharmed.

"Don't let it get to you, Gible!" I called.

But it was too late—Staravia swooped in for another Quick Attack, and Gible collapsed with a grunt.

"Gible is unable to battle!" Dax said smugly.

"Great," Chatot muttered from my shoulder. "This is going well."

I ignored it and sent out my next Pokémon. "Psyduck, let's go!"

Psyduck waddled onto the field, its expression as blank as ever.

"Psyduck, Confusion!"

Psyduck's eyes glowed blue, and a wave of psychic energy rippled outward. Staravia squawked in alarm as it was hit, tumbling to the ground.

"Quick Attack again!" Dax shouted.

Staravia tried to dart forward, but Psyduck hit it with another Confusion before it could land the attack. This time, Staravia went down for good.

"Not bad," Dax said, recalling his Pokémon. "But let's see how you handle this. Go, Luxio!"

The electric-type appeared with a flash of light, its fur bristling with sparks.

I hesitated. Psyduck was already looking tired, and I wasn't sure it could handle another battle.

"Luxio, Spark!"

Luxio charged forward, electricity crackling as it slammed into Psyduck. Psyduck let out a startled quack before collapsing.

"Psyduck is unable to battle!"

That left me with one option.

"Bidoof, you're up!"

Dax burst out laughing. "You're kidding me. You're seriously sending a Bidoof against Luxio?"

"You'll see," I said, trying to sound confident.

Bidoof trotted onto the battlefield, looking as determined as ever.

"Luxio, Bite!"

Luxio lunged forward, sinking its teeth into Bidoof. But Bidoof shook it off, planting its feet firmly.

"Bidoof, Rollout!"

Bidoof tucked into a ball and started spinning, slamming into Luxio with surprising force. Luxio staggered back, growling.

"Keep it up, Bidoof!"

Bidoof hit Luxio again, the repeated attacks growing stronger each time.

"Luxio, Spark!" Dax shouted.

Luxio charged forward, electricity surging, but Bidoof dodged at the last second and landed one final Rollout. Luxio collapsed, fainted.

"Luxio is unable to battle!"

I couldn't help but grin as Bidoof trotted back to my side, looking as proud as ever.

Dax recalled his Pokémon, his expression unreadable.

"You got lucky," he said, his voice tense. "But don't think this is over. Next time, I'm taking you down for good."

He stormed off without another word, leaving me alone with my team.

"Well, that was dramatic," Chatot said.

"Let him be," I replied, kneeling to pat Bidoof on the head. "You were amazing out there, buddy."

Bidoof burped happily.

I continued deeper into the forest, the dense trees and twisting paths making it feel like I was walking through a maze. Every so often, I'd catch a glimpse of movement in the shadows—wild Pokémon darting out of sight, their glowing eyes watching from the undergrowth.

It was clear that this wasn't a place to take lightly. My team needed time to recover, and I wasn't about to push my luck with unnecessary battles.

The eerie silence of the forest was broken by a faint rustling sound nearby. I froze, my hand instinctively reaching for a Poké Ball.

"Don't panic," Chatot whispered. "It's probably just the wind."

The rustling grew louder, and I turned just in time to see a pair of Shroomish hopping into view. They stared at me with wide, unblinking eyes, their stubby feet shuffling nervously.

"They don't look aggressive," I said, relaxing slightly.

"Yet," Chatot added.

One of the Shroomish let out a soft chirp and hopped closer, sniffing at my bag. It didn't seem hostile—just curious.

"Looks like it's interested in the berries," I said, reaching into my bag.

I pulled out a handful of berries and placed them on the ground. The Shroomish hesitated for a moment before cautiously inching closer and nibbling at the offering.

"There you go," I said, smiling.

The second Shroomish joined in, and soon they were both happily munching on the berries.

"Well, this is a nice change of pace," Chatot said. "No battles, no explosions, just peaceful bonding. Who are you, and what have you done with the real you?"

"Very funny," I muttered.

As the Shroomish finished eating, they looked up at me, their eyes shining with gratitude. One of them let out a cheerful chirp and hopped onto my foot, nuzzling against my leg.

"Looks like you made a friend," Chatot said.

I crouched down and held out my hand, and the Shroomish climbed onto my palm.

"You want to come with us?" I asked.

The Shroomish chirped happily, and I couldn't help but grin.

I pulled out a Poké Ball and gently tapped it against the Shroomish. The ball clicked shut immediately, and I added it to my team.

The second Shroomish chirped once before hopping back into the undergrowth, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

"Well, that went better than expected," I said, slipping the ball into my bag.

Chatot sighed. "Don't let it go to your head. You still have no idea where you're going."

"Details," I said, brushing it off.

With my new teammate in tow, I set off once again, ready to face whatever the forest had in store.

"Where do you think you're going?" Chatot squawked, fluttering down to perch on my head as I wandered aimlessly through the tangled mess that was Eterna Forest.

"I'm forging my path," I said confidently.

"Forging your path?" Chatot echoed. "You've walked past that same stump three times. At this rate, you're going to be the first Trainer to accidentally evolve into a Zubat from living here too long."

I paused, looking around. Sure enough, there was the same oddly-shaped stump I had passed earlier. "Okay, maybe I'm a little lost."

"A little?" Chatot said, exasperated. "You're about one wrong turn away from becoming a forest cryptid. People will tell legends about you—'Beware the Trainer with no sense of direction, forever wandering, forever screaming about Bidoof.'"

"Hey!" I snapped. "I don't scream about Bidoof."

As if on cue, Bidoof emerged from its Poké Ball with a cheerful burp, waddling up to chew on a patch of moss.

"Bidoof!" I said, pointing dramatically. "Lead the way!"

Bidoof stared at me, then flopped onto its belly and began rolling aimlessly in the dirt.

Chatot let out a sigh that could've powered a wind farm. "Great leadership, truly inspiring."

As we pressed forward—or sideways, or possibly backward—the forest seemed to grow darker, the trees pressing closer together as if conspiring to trap me forever. Every few steps, I'd hear a rustle or a snap that sent my heart racing.

"What was that?" I whispered.

"Probably your imagination," Chatot said. "Or something very real that's going to eat you. Either way, you should definitely panic."

"I'm not panicking," I lied, clutching Gible's Poké Ball like it was a magic charm against the unknown.

A sudden rustling nearby made me jump about three feet into the air. I whirled around, holding the Poké Ball like a weapon.

From the bushes emerged… a Wurmple.

"OH NO!" I shouted before realizing what it was.

Chatot tilted its head. "Did you just scream at a bug? Impressive. Cynthia will definitely be impressed when she hears about this."

I glared at the Wurmple, which didn't seem remotely bothered by my reaction. In fact, it crawled forward, slowly and steadily, as if it had all the time in the world.

"Should I catch it?" I asked.

"You really think Cynthia's going to look at a Wurmple and say, 'Wow, that's the team of a Champion'?!" Chatot squawked.

I sighed, stepping over the Wurmple. "Good point. You're free to go, little buddy."

The Wurmple turned and slowly crawled back into the bushes, probably off to tell its friends about the screaming idiot it had just encountered.

Hours—or maybe days—later, I still hadn't found the exit.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered, swatting at a branch that had no business being that close to my face.

"You've been saying that for hours," Chatot said. "At this point, it's like you're narrating your own slow descent into madness. 'This is ridiculous,' he said for the seventeenth time, stepping on a root and falling on his face again."

"Can you not?" I snapped, tripping over a root and falling on my face.

"See?" Chatot said. "I should start charging for these predictions."

As I lay on the ground, questioning every decision that had led me to this point, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

I sat up just in time to see a woman with dark green hair and a casual outfit stepping into view. She carried a lantern and looked completely unfazed by the forest's oppressive atmosphere.

"Are you lost?" she asked, tilting her head.

"No," I said quickly. "I'm… exploring."

Chatot snorted. "He's lost."

The woman chuckled. "I'm Cheryl. I guide Trainers through the forest sometimes. Do you need help finding the exit?"

"No, I'm fine," I said, trying to salvage what little dignity I had left.

Cheryl glanced at my team—Bidoof chewing on a stick, Psyduck staring at nothing, and Chatot looking like it had given up on life. "You sure?"

I sighed. "Okay, maybe I'm a little lost."

"Good choice," Chatot said.

With Cheryl leading the way, we made much faster progress. She seemed to know the forest like the back of her hand, pointing out hidden paths and avoiding wild Pokémon with ease.

"So," she said after a while, "what brings you to Eterna Forest?"

"Training," I said. "And, uh… catching strong Pokémon. Building a team worthy of… someone important."

"Oh?" Cheryl asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who's that?"

"Cynthia," Chatot blurted before I could stop it.

"Chatot!" I hissed.

"What? It's true."

Cheryl laughed softly. "So, you've got your sights set on impressing the Champion, huh? That's a big goal."

"I'm working on it," I muttered, my face heating up.

"Well, good luck," Cheryl said. "If nothing else, you've got determination. And a Bidoof."

Bidoof let out a triumphant burp, as if to confirm this.

By the time we reached the exit, I felt like I had aged ten years, but at least I was finally free of the forest.

"Thanks for your help," I said to Cheryl as we stepped into the sunlight.

"No problem," she replied. "Just try not to get lost again. And maybe invest in a map."

As she walked away, I turned to Chatot. "Don't say it."

"Say what?" Chatot asked innocently. "That you needed an escort to survive a forest that children pass through all the time? Wouldn't dream of it."

"Good," I said, brushing myself off.

"But Cynthia's definitely going to hear about this," Chatot added.

I groaned, wondering if I could train Chatot to keep its beak shut. Probably not.

With the forest behind us and the next town on the horizon, I felt a renewed sense of determination. Sure, I had a long way to go, but if I could survive Eterna Forest, I could survive anything.

Right?

As Bidoof tripped over its own feet and Psyduck sighed deeply, I decided not to answer that question.

"Freedom!" I yelled, throwing my arms up as we finally stepped out of Eterna Forest. The sunlight felt like a miracle, even if it did blind me for a solid three seconds. "I thought we were gonna die in there."

"Don't act like you weren't halfway to tears back there," Chatot said from my shoulder. "Remember when that Caterpie moved too fast and you screamed? Pure bravery."

I glared at Chatot, who tilted its head innocently.

"Do you know what would happen if anyone else could hear you?" I muttered.

"I'd be famous for my comedy," Chatot said. "Trainers would line up for wisdom like, 'Maybe don't step on your own foot when running from a Wurmple.'"

I took a deep breath and ignored Chatot. This was fine. Everything was fine. The important thing was that we had made it out of that twisted nightmare of a forest.

Bidoof rolled onto its back nearby, chewing on a stray stick like it had conquered the forest single-handedly. Psyduck sat next to it, staring into the middle distance as though it had seen horrors it could never describe.

"Good work, team," I said, kneeling beside them. "We made it out alive, and I only tripped, like, eight times."

"Let's round that up to twenty," Chatot said, preening its feathers.

I stood up and stretched, looking toward the path ahead. The faint outline of Eterna City could just barely be seen in the distance. Finally, civilization. A proper Pokémon Center. Food. Maybe some other Trainers who didn't look like they were silently judging me every time I battled.

We started down the road, the forest fading into the background behind us.

"You know," I said after a while, "it wasn't all bad. We caught a Shroomish. That's progress."

"Sure, if progress is defined as feeding berries to a plant mushroom and hoping it doesn't regret its life choices," Chatot said.

"Shroomish is gonna be great," I insisted. "It has potential. It'll evolve into Breloom and be a powerhouse."

"It's probably already plotting its escape."

I groaned and picked up my pace. Chatot flapped lazily behind me, clearly enjoying my frustration.

As the path curved, we came across a small pond surrounded by tall grass. A family of wild Psyduck waddled near the water's edge, occasionally dipping their bills in.

"More Psyduck," I said, staring at them. "Why do I feel like they're silently judging me too?"

"Because they are," Chatot said. "It's a Psyduck thing. They're born knowing how to look disappointed in humans."

One of the Psyduck glanced over at us, its expression as blank and unimpressed as my own Psyduck's. My Psyduck stared back at it, and for a moment, it felt like they were having some kind of deep, telepathic conversation.

"Do you think they're bonding?" I whispered.

"Definitely plotting to overthrow you," Chatot said.

The wild Psyduck eventually waddled off, leaving mine to resume staring at nothing in particular.

"Well," I said, clapping my hands together, "let's keep moving. Eterna City is waiting!"

We hadn't made it far when I spotted a Trainer standing in the middle of the path. He was tall and lanky, wearing a jacket that looked way too warm for this weather, and had a confident smirk plastered across his face.

"Let me guess," I muttered. "Another rival?"

As we approached, he stepped forward, tossing a Poké Ball in his hand like it was a yo-yo.

"Hey," he said. "You look like you could use some practice. How about a battle?"

Chatot perched on my shoulder and leaned closer to my ear. "Practice means 'I think I can stomp you and feel good about myself.'"

"Quiet," I whispered.

"Talking to your bird?" the Trainer asked, raising an eyebrow.

I froze for a second. "Uh, yeah! Motivational pep talks, you know. Very advanced Trainer strategy."

The Trainer blinked, then shrugged. "Whatever works for you. Let's do this!"

I sighed and reached for Gible's Poké Ball.

The Trainer sent out a Buizel, its sleek fur glistening in the sunlight. It looked fast—like, really fast.

"Gible, let's go!"

Gible appeared on the field, growling low in its throat.

"Buizel, Aqua Jet!"

Before I could even call a command, Buizel shot forward in a burst of water, slamming into Gible and sending it skidding backward.

"Gible, Dragon Rage!"

Gible recovered quickly, firing off a blast of energy. Buizel tried to dodge but wasn't quite fast enough. The attack landed, knocking it off its feet.

"Don't let up!" I shouted. "Use Dragon Rage again!"

Gible charged up another attack, but the Trainer smirked.

"Buizel, Quick Attack!"

Buizel darted forward, hitting Gible mid-charge and interrupting the attack. Gible let out a growl of frustration, shaking its head.

This wasn't going great.

"Don't panic," Chatot said casually. "You'll figure it out. Probably."

"Not helping," I muttered.

"Buizel, Water Gun!"

The jet of water hit Gible squarely, and I could tell it was on its last legs. I clenched my fists, trying to think. Gible's Dragon Rage wasn't landing consistently, and Buizel was too fast for a direct approach.

"Wait," I muttered, an idea forming.

"Gible, Sand Attack!"

Gible dug its claws into the dirt and flung a spray of sand at Buizel, catching it right in the eyes. The water Pokémon stumbled, shaking its head as it tried to clear its vision.

"Now, Dragon Rage!"

Gible roared, firing off another blast of energy. This time, it hit Buizel dead-on, sending it tumbling.

Buizel struggled to get back up, but after a moment, it slumped to the ground, fainted.

The Trainer recalled his Pokémon, looking genuinely surprised. "Huh. Not bad. I didn't think you'd pull that off."

"Thanks," I said, trying to sound casual even though I was ready to pass out from stress.

He nodded and walked away, leaving me alone with my team.

"See?" I said to Chatot. "I handled that just fine."

"Barely," Chatot replied. "But sure, let's celebrate the victory. Maybe a parade for Bidoof while we're at it."

I let out a long sigh and turned toward the road again. "Eterna City. Food. Rest. That's the plan."

Chatot snickered. "I'll believe it when we're not lost again."

As we started walking, Bidoof burped loudly, waddling ahead of me like it was leading the charge. I wasn't sure how I kept ending up in these ridiculous situations, but one thing was certain—Sinnoh wasn't ready for me.