Kapitel 18: Chapter 18: The Forest’s Shadow(Blaze and Ash)
The morning air hung heavy with mist, curling through the Viridian Forest like a shroud of mystery. Even in the early hours, the towering trees blotted out the sun, leaving the campsite wrapped in twilight. The world was half-awake, half-dreaming. Caterpie, curled beside Misty, twitched, its little body rising and falling with each gentle breath.
Blaze leaned against the gnarled trunk of an ancient oak, his sharp, amber eyes fixed on Caterpie. The bug Pokémon's antennae twitched as it inched closer to Misty, its soft, hopeful chirps nearly lost in the ambient whisper of the forest. It was a silent plea, a desperate attempt to connect, to be accepted. Blaze said nothing, though a flicker of empathy stirred within him. He knew that hope could be fragile, especially for a creature like Caterpie.
The stillness shattered with a scream that sliced through the forest like a knife. Misty bolted upright, her face pale, eyes wide with horror as she spotted Caterpie beside her. Her scream echoed in the canopy, sending startled Pidgey into flight. Blaze was on his feet instantly, his hand instinctively moving to his belt where his Poké Balls hung. Tempest, his Riolu, dropped into a defensive stance, its eyes narrowing as it scanned the clearing for danger.
"Get away from me! Get back in your Poké Ball!" Misty's voice was shrill, panic-stricken. She scrambled back, almost tripping over her own feet as she pointed at Caterpie with a trembling hand. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, her eyes wild with fear and disgust.
Caterpie's hopeful chirps faded, replaced by a mournful whimper. It didn't understand why Misty recoiled from it, why the warmth it felt moments ago had turned into a cold rejection. Its tiny heart felt like it was being crushed, and it shrank back, its antennae drooping in despair.
Ash jerked awake, rubbing his eyes as confusion gave way to concern. He spotted Caterpie, now trembling on the ground, and Misty, her fear palpable. "Misty, wait—!" Ash rushed to Caterpie's side, scooping it up gently. His voice was soft, trying to soothe the trembling Pokémon. "Caterpie, it's okay… Misty didn't mean it."
But Misty's words had already done their damage. Caterpie's once-bright eyes were now clouded with sadness. It snuggled into Ash's arms, seeking comfort, but the hurt lingered. Blaze watched from the edge of the campsite, his fists clenched at his sides. He knew Ash's journey was only beginning, and moments like these would shape him, harden him, but they'd also teach him compassion—a trait Blaze knew was crucial in a trainer.
Blaze's gaze shifted to Tempest, who relaxed slightly, sensing that the immediate danger had passed. But the tension lingered in the air, thick and unyielding. Pidgeotto, perched high above in the canopy, ruffled its feathers and took flight, circling the clearing as if to assure itself that everything was under control.
"Misty, please, calm down," Ash pleaded, his voice cracking under the weight of Caterpie's despair. "Caterpie just wants to be your friend."
Misty's expression hardened, though the fear in her eyes betrayed her. "Keep it away from me, Ash. I can't… I just can't." She turned her back on him, arms crossed tightly, as if she was trying to shield herself from Caterpie's innocent gaze.
Ash's shoulders slumped, his hand gently stroking Caterpie's back. "Don't be sad, Caterpie. You'll see… everything will be okay." His words were kind, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Blaze noticed it, and his chest tightened with a mix of frustration and pride. Ash was trying, but the road ahead was long and filled with challenges that would test him in ways he couldn't yet imagine.
The forest around them was alive, watching with ancient, silent eyes. A rustle in the trees pulled Blaze from his thoughts, and his gaze snapped to the source. A wild Pidgeotto swooped down with a burst of speed, landing gracefully a few meters away. Its sharp eyes scanned the ground, oblivious to the humans nearby as it pecked at the earth in search of food.
Ash's eyes lit up with determination, his previous doubts melting away. "This is it!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose. He grabbed a Poké Ball, the tension in the air coiling tight like a spring.
Blaze's lips curled into a smirk, his tactical mind already analyzing the situation. He'd seen Ash's enthusiasm before, but capturing a wild Pokémon was never as easy as it seemed. Pidgeotto was a seasoned warrior of the skies, and it wouldn't go down without a fight.
Ash hurled the Poké Ball with all his might. It streaked through the air, straight towards Pidgeotto. But the wild bird Pokémon was quick, almost too quick. With a powerful flap of its wings, Pidgeotto generated a gust of wind that sent the Poké Ball spiraling off course. It bounced off a rock and rolled back towards Ash, who stared at it in stunned silence.
Blaze chuckled under his breath. "Looks like this Pidgeotto's not going to be caught so easily," he muttered to Tempest, who nodded in agreement, its keen eyes locked on the wild Pokémon.
Misty, still shaken from her encounter with Caterpie, crossed her arms and snapped at Ash. "You can't just throw a Poké Ball! You have to weaken it first!" Her frustration was evident, her tone sharp. Blaze nodded subtly, her words echoing his own thoughts. If it were his battle, he would have approached it with more precision, more strategy. But this was Ash's fight, and he needed to learn.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Vivid_Horizons
Vivid_Horizons "If you enjoyed this story, please add it to your library and vote. If not, thank you for reading! Your comments and suggestions for future changes are welcome!"
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein