บท 10: Chapter 10: Evergreen Forest
As Heath looked at the majestic Arcanine beside him, he reached out and petted its fur with a smile. This was Maple's ace Pokémon, very powerful and extremely fast.
"Arcanine, help dry me off," Maple commanded naturally, and Arcanine breathed a small flame that circled around Maple, instantly drying her previously sweat-soaked clothes.
Heath smirked. Maple hadn't changed a bit. Judging by Arcanine's demeanor, it seemed it wasn't the first time it had done this.
Heath sighed and sat down to have dinner with Maple.
"Sis Maple, do you know of any interesting Pokémon or rumors in Evergreen Forest recently?" Heath asked after swallowing his mouthful of rice.
"Evergreen Forest? You young folks really call it that now? We always called it Viridian Forest," Maple responded, looking at Heath with a nostalgic expression.
Heath chuckled awkwardly. The name Viridian Forest did indeed fit the area better, but the League had renamed it Evergreen Forest.
"In Evergreen Forest, there are usually bug-type and bird-type Pokémon. I've heard some people even spotted Pikachu there," Maple said, putting down her chopsticks. She never spoke while eating.
"But I did receive a few reports about strange occurrences in the forest—like encountering a doppelganger in the fog or seeing a white figure floating overhead," Maple recalled, and Heath pondered.
It seemed a new Pokémon had appeared in Evergreen Forest, but these eerie stories sounded more like a horror movie. Heath was curious about what was happening there.
"Don't tell me you plan to go to Evergreen Forest. That place may be safe, but you've only just established a bond with Farfetch'd, right?" Maple looked at Heath warily. Heath quickly put on an innocent smile.
He did plan to visit Evergreen Forest, but not if he had to bring Maple along.
"What's that Poké Ball on your belt?" Maple noticed the Poké Ball on Heath's belt and asked curiously.
"This? I found it while rummaging through my old stuff. It won't open," Heath explained, touching the GS Ball he had acquired earlier.
"Won't open?" Maple was even more curious. She took the Poké Ball from Heath and pressed it several times, but it wouldn't open.
She then took a device from her pocket and attached it to the GS Ball. Heath recognized it as a tool used to force open Poké Balls, usually to rescue Pokémon from hunters.
But even with this tool, the GS Ball remained inert, like a dead object.
"How strange. I've never seen a Poké Ball like this. Could it be an experimental product from Silph Co.?" Maple speculated, perplexed.
"Silph Co.?" Heath was momentarily stunned. He knew of Silph Co., the leading corporation in the Kanto region, capable of producing the powerful Master Ball.
"Yes, Silph Co. recently introduced their latest Poké Balls to the Jenny family for registration purposes," Maple said, pouring soup into her rice bowl.
Heath sighed inwardly. He disapproved of Maple's habit of mixing soup with rice, but she always ignored his advice, leaving him helpless.
After reclaiming his GS Ball, Heath continued chatting with Maple about the day's events before finishing dinner and heading out for a walk and some exercise.
This was Maple's requirement. Until Heath decided on his life's goal, she insisted he maintain physical fitness. Heath understood her intent—she wanted him to join the police force—but he ended up becoming a chef instead.
Nevertheless, Heath kept up the exercise routine. This time, however, he wasn't heading to his usual spot. He intended to check out Evergreen Forest.
Evergreen Forest, located north of Viridian City, was a naturally formed maze. Fortunately, the Indigo League had built a path through it, increasing foot traffic.
At night, the forest wasn't crowded. As Heath entered, he felt a chilling sensation. Evergreen Forest at night was dark and eerie, even with moonlight.
The trees ahead loomed like clawing demons in the darkness, but Heath was unfazed. He curiously shone his flashlight around.
Open flames were prohibited in Evergreen Forest, though fire-type moves were allowed as long as trainers ensured they didn't start a fire.
"There sure are a lot of Pokémon here," Heath marveled at the abundance of Pokémon in the forest.
Caterpie and Weedle were the most common along the path, but Heath avoided areas where Weedle gathered, knowing the aggressive Beedrill colonies lurked there.
"Leek, leek!" Farfetch'd, flying beside Heath, chirped excitedly.
The sound startled the Caterpie, which wriggled desperately into the underbrush and trees to hide. Bird Pokémon were their natural predators.
"There doesn't seem to be anything special around here," Heath mused, puzzled. His gut feeling couldn't be wrong, and Maple had mentioned strange incidents.
Just as Heath hesitated whether to turn back, fog suddenly enveloped Evergreen Forest.
Fog wasn't unusual in the forest, but this fog was different. It appeared abruptly and quickly blanketed the forest, obscuring everything.
"Farfetch'd!" Heath called out, alert.
"Leek!" Farfetch'd, gripping its leek tightly, stood by Heath's side, ready and watchful.
Then, Heath saw a little girl in white emerge from the fog, clutching a tattered teddy bear and staring at him with an unsettling gaze.
(Chapter End)
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