บท 2: Forest Danger
As we ventured deeper into Gravel Forest, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of buzzing and chirping intensified. Ella and I stayed alert, eager for more wild encounters. I kept glancing at Houndour, who walked beside me now, his red eyes scanning the area for potential threats. He seemed to enjoy being out here, in the wild.
"I wonder if there are any Flying-types in this part of the forest,"
Ella shrugged, her Eevee hopping around playfully. "Could be. Maybe even some rare ones if we're lucky."
We kept moving forward, carefully stepping over roots and weaving through thick foliage. Just as I was about to suggest taking a break, we heard another rustle in the bushes. This time, the noise was louder, heavier.
"Did you hear that?"
Suddenly, a small, bird-like figure burst from the underbrush, flapping its wings frantically as it darted across the clearing. It was a Pidgey! Its wings fluttered wildly, disturbed by something behind it.
Before we could react, the ground trembled slightly, and a larger creature lumbered into view. It was an Ursaring, its massive form towering over the undergrowth, clearly agitated. The Pidgey had probably disturbed it, and now it was looking for something to take out its frustration on.
Ella's eyes widened. "That's an Ursaring! It's too strong for us right now! Let's run—"
Without hesitating, I grabbed Ella's arm and bolted down the path, with Houndour sprinting at my side and Eevee right behind us. The Ursaring's roars echoed through the forest as it started to give chase, its powerful footsteps thundering behind us.
"Why is there an Ursaring here?" I asked, breathless as we darted between trees. Ursaring weren't supposed to be this close to Gravel Town, especially not this deep into the forest.
Ella, keeping pace beside me, gasped out her response. "They usually stick to the mountains further north. Something must have driven it down here!"
"You should fight it! You have an experience as trainer, right?!" I shouted to her.
"No way! Back then, my dad used to lend me his Snorlax, but I only have an Eevee now!"
"Alright, then just stay behind me! Houndour and I will handle this!" I shouted back, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
The Ursaring was gaining on us, its powerful legs pounding the ground like thunder. I knew we couldn't keep running forever, and it was only a matter of time before it caught up. Houndour growled, sensing the tension as well.
"Max, are you sure about this?" Ella asked, her voice trembling.
I didn't respond immediately, instead scanning the area. We needed to find a way to weaken Ursaring or slow it down long enough for us to get away. Running would only delay the inevitable.
We reached a clearing with a cluster of large trees, and that's when the idea hit me. "Houndour, let's try to lead it towards the trees. We can use the terrain to our advantage!"
Houndour barked in agreement, ready for a fight. I turned to Ella. "You and Eevee stay behind those bush. I'll try to lure it in."
"But Max—"
"No time to argue! Go!"
Ella hesitated for a moment before nodding and rushing toward the bush with her Eevee in tow. Once she was out of immediate danger, I focused on Ursaring, which was now closing the distance between us.
"Alright, Houndour, use Smog! Let's blind it!"
Houndour growled and spewed out a thick, black cloud of smoke, enveloping the Ursaring as it charged forward. The massive Pokémon stumbled, letting out a confused roar as it struggled to see through the toxic haze.
"Now, Ember! Keep it distracted!" I shouted.
Houndour unleashed a flurry of fiery embers, the small flames hitting Ursaring through the thick smoke. The enraged Pokémon swatted wildly at the air, trying to locate its attackers. But with the thick cloud obscuring its vision, it only grew more confused and frustrated.
I could feel the ground trembling with each step Ursaring took, and I knew we couldn't keep this up much longer. Houndour was giving it everything he had, but Ursaring was a fully evolved powerhouse. We needed to change tactics fast.
"Max! It's not enough!" Ella yelled from behind the bush, her voice filled with concern. I glanced over at her and saw the worry etched on her face. Eevee was huddled close to her, clearly sensing the tension.
I gritted my teeth. I had to do something. But what? Just then, a flash of inspiration hit me as I remembered a lesson from Professor Gabriel about Ursaring. They had incredible strength, but they weren't particularly agile, especially in rough terrain.
"Houndour, lead it into the thicker part of the forest!" I called out. "We need to slow it down more!"
Houndour barked in response and began darting through the denser area of the forest, weaving between trees and thick bushes. Ursaring, in its blind rage, followed, crashing through the undergrowth. Its massive body plowed through smaller trees and branches, but the more it pursued, the more tangled and slowed it became.
It worked. Ursaring's movements were sluggish now, hindered by the tight space and heavy foliage. But it still wasn't enough to stop it.
"Just a little more..." I muttered under my breath, desperately trying to think of a final move to give us the upper hand.
Suddenly, the forest around us lit up with crackling energy. I whipped my head around just in time to see an Electrike dart into the clearing, its body sparking with electricity. The air buzzed with power as it charged up a strong Thunder Wave attack.
Electrike's sudden appearance caught me off guard, but I quickly realized it was here to help. With a fierce bark, it unleashed Thunder Wave, sending crackling electricity through the air and striking Ursaring dead-on.
"Just." A voice comes from a certain distance. "What are you kids doing, fighting an Ursaring?"
I whipped my head toward the voice, and a figure emerged from the thick foliage, tall, with a weathered look and a serious expression. It was an older trainer, likely someone who had experience in the wilds. He had a Pokeball in hand, already prepared to jump into the fight if necessary.
The Ursaring, still paralyzed and struggling from the combined efforts of Houndour, Electrike, and the forest terrain, let out a frustrated roar but couldn't muster the strength to charge any further.
"That Ursaring's clearly agitated," The man said, walking closer. "Must have been driven out of its normal habitat by something bigger." He gestured to Electrike, who stood by his side, sparks still crackling around its small frame. "But you kids are lucky I came by. Now stand back. I'll finish this."
He tossed his Pokeball into the air. A flash of light revealed a powerful-looking Arcanine, its fur glowing with an aura of confidence. The Ursaring, still enraged, tried to stand, but the paralysis kept it from moving fast enough.
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!"
The Arcanine unleashed a stream of intense flames toward the Ursaring, not to injure it severely but enough to force it to retreat. The flames surrounded Ursaring, and after a few tense moments, the wild Pokemon let out a final roar before retreating into the denser part of the forest.
Ella and I let out a collective sigh of relief.
The man turned to us, his expression softening slightly. "You two did well, given the circumstances, but that was reckless. A wild Ursaring isn't something you should take on at your level."
I nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, we didn't expect it to be in this forest. Thanks for the help."
Ella, still shaken, chimed in. "We were just exploring, and things got out of hand."
The trainer smiled slightly, his stern expression easing. "Exploring's part of the journey, but always be prepared. Pokemon have been more agitated lately, especially around these parts." He gestured to the forest around us. "Something's been disturbing their usual habitats."
"Disturbing? What could it be?" I asked, feeling curious about it.
The man crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "That's the thing—I'm not sure yet. But it's not just Ursaring. Several Pokemon species around Adele Region have been acting out of character recently, leaving their usual territories and wandering into unfamiliar areas."
Ella perked up at that, her curiosity piqued. "Like what? Any other big ones like Ursaring?"
The man nodded. "Some trainers have reported seeing Aggron in the lower mountains, and even the occasional Onix closer to town. Those Pokemon usually keep to themselves unless something drives them out."
I exchanged a glance with Ella. "What do you think it could be?"
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "It could be a number of things—changes in the environment, a powerful Pokemon asserting its territory, or even... human interference. I've heard rumors of strange figures lurking deeper in the forest. Could be nothing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's connected."
"Strange figures?" I asked, my interest growing.
"Yeah," The man replied. "Some say they've seen cloaked people with odd-looking Pokemon, not from around here. If you kids are gonna keep exploring, I'd be careful. Whatever's going on, it's making the wild Pokemon unpredictable."
I nodded. "Thanks for the heads-up. We'll be extra cautious."
He smiled a bit, then turned to leave. "Good. Stay sharp out here, and train hard. You've both got potential, especially you." He points at me.
With that, the older trainer and his Arcanine disappeared back into the forest, leaving Ella and me standing in the quiet clearing.
"Hey, Ella. What do you say we continue going into the next town?"
"I think that's a good idea. We've had enough excitement for one day." She glanced down at Eevee, who was just as relieved to be out of harm's way.
We started walking again, the path winding through the forest, the air still cool and refreshing. Houndour stayed close by, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any more surprises.
As we moved forward, Ella spoke up. "Do you think there's really something strange going on? Pokemon don't just leave their territories for no reason, right?"
"It's hard to say, but after hearing what that trainer said, it makes sense. Ursaring shouldn't have been anywhere near here. If more powerful Pokemon are getting driven out of their homes, something big must be happening."
Ella nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "It's a bit unsettling, isn't it? I wonder what could be causing all this chaos."
"Well, whatever it is... I don't have time for it." I said, staring at the sky. "I want to become stronger, and to do it, I need to beat all the eight gym leaders in Adele Region."
As we continued our trek through Gravel Forest, the atmosphere felt charged with the weight of the unknown. The rustling leaves and distant calls of Pokemon kept me on edge, making it hard to shake off the encounter with the Ursaring.
"I get that you want to become stronger, Max," Ella said, her tone more serious now. "But we should also be careful. We can't take on everything ourselves."
"We can... No, I can, If I train harder."
Ella looked at me with concern, she was about to say something but stopped herself.
We walk until we make it to the other side of the forest, where the trees began to thin out, revealing a wider path that led toward the next town. The sun peeked through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground, creating a contrast to the tense atmosphere we had just left behind.
"So, this is the town? I thought it would be bigger." I frowned slightly, "But the air is fresh here."
Ella scanned the area, her eyes lighting up. "Welcome to Willowdale! It might not be as big as Gravel Town, but it's known for its friendly people."
I nodded, taking in the scenery. "It feels peaceful here. Let's see if we can find a Pokemon Center, Houndour could use some rest."
We made our way down the main street, passing by small shops and vendors selling everything from potions to freshly baked pastries. I could see trainers chatting and sharing stories about their adventures, which made me feel a sense of camaraderie.
"Look, there's the Pokemon Center!" She pointed, leading us toward a pink building adorned with a large red roof. The familiar sight of the center's logo brought a sense of relief.
As we entered, the warm, welcoming interior greeted us. Nurse Joy stood behind the counter, her bright smile instantly putting us at ease. "Hello! How can I help you today?"
"I'd like to heal my Pokemon, please," I said, holding my two Pokeballs close.
"Of course! Just place your Pokeballs on the tray, and I'll take care of them," Nurse Joy replied. I set Houndour's ball and Caterpie's ball down, and she took it with gentle hands.
While we waited, Ella wandered over to a bulletin board filled with colorful flyers. "Hey, Max! Check this out!" She pointed to a notice about a local Pokemon Tournament happening soon. "It says trainers can showcase their Pokemon's skills. We should enter!"
"A Tournament? I don't have time for that. I need to take on my first gym leader."
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