章節 15: Chapter 15: Forest and Advice
I sat cross-legged near the edge of our camp, the flames casting shadows across the worn canvas of the tent behind me.
I poked at a marshmallow with the end of a stick, watching it sizzle over the fire's embers.
Alice sat nearby, quiet, her eyes on the flames as if they held all the answers she needed.
"Thanks for saving me," the kid—spoke up from across the fire.
He couldn't have been more than ten or eleven, his eyes wide with a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. "My name's Jack."
I bit into the marshmallow, letting the sweetness melt on my tongue.
"Ethan," I said casually, not looking up, "and that's Alice. My girlfriend and future wife." The words came out with a smirk.
She glanced over, her dark eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Give me some marshmallow."
I broke off a chunk, twisting toward her, and popped it into her mouth.
She chewed, then reached over and yanked the whole packet from my hands, like it was always hers to begin with.
I let out a small laugh, more at her audacity than anything else, and then laid back, resting my head in her lap.
The cool night air brushed over me as I stared up at the sky, the stars barely visible through the thick canopy.
"What were you doing in the forest, Jack?" I asked, my voice more curious than accusing, though there was a bite to the question.
Jack hesitated. "I'm a Pokémon Trainer."
I snorted, half-amused. "You should get some experience fighting before wandering into places like this. You're lucky we found you." Alice shot me a glare, a silent reprimand, but I wasn't wrong, and she knew it.
Jack lowered his head. "I'm sorry."
"You're lucky," I continued, "and I'm lucky I got Scyther." Jack's eyes widened, dumbfounded.
I caught Alice's glare again, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
She rolled her eyes and handed the rest of the marshmallows to Jack, who eagerly began to stuff them into his mouth.
"Only enough food left for tomorrow," she said quietly, her voice calm but laced with a hint of concern.
I shrugged, leaning back deeper into her lap. "I'll think of something."
She nodded, trusting me despite my tendency to dive headfirst into things without a plan.
There was always a way—there had to be.
"So, where are you headed?" I asked Jack, more out of habit than genuine interest.
"Pewter City," he said, between bites. "My dad's a researcher at the museum. Manages the place."
Alice's brow furrowed. "Does he know you're out here? In the forest?"
Jack hesitated. "No, he doesn't... but if you take me back, he'll reward you!"
Alice shook her head, her fingers moving to gently massage my shoulders. "We don't need a reward."
"Thanks... but it won't be a reward," Jack insisted, his voice more excited now. "It'll be a gift."
I grinned, feeling Alice's fingers tense slightly.
She was focused on the kid, but I couldn't resist.
I reached up, poking her stomach lightly, and she shot me a quick, sharp glare.
I grinned wider.
"What was that for?" she muttered, but her hands didn't stop massaging.
"Nothing," I said, biting back a laugh.
I pushed her shirt up slightly and licked her stomach, just to mess with her.
She shoved me off her lap, hard, sending me tumbling onto the dirt.
"Ethan!" she snapped, glaring down at me, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes despite the annoyance in her voice.
I laughed, lying there on the ground, looking up at her.
Jack just stared, clearly confused by the whole exchange.
I sat up, dusting the dirt off my clothes.
"We're lost too, by the way," I said, locking eyes with Jack. "But stay with us. We'll protect you."
Jack nodded eagerly. "Thanks, big brother."
I grabbed Charmander's Pokéball, tossing it up lazily. "Come on out. No training, though—just play." Charmander appeared in a flash of light, stretching before nodding at me and wandering off toward the fire.
Alice released her Bulbasaur and Poliwag, both of them sitting near her as if they were always on alert, especially Bulbasaur. Jack, not to be outdone, pulled out a Kabuto, its shell gleaming in the firelight.
"Your dad's, I assume?" I asked, watching the prehistoric Pokémon scuttle across the ground.
"Yeah," Jack said proudly. "My first Pokémon. A gift from him."
I smiled and pulled out Scyther's ball.
The bug Pokémon materialized, kneeling before me as soon as it appeared, its sharp eyes reflecting the fire.
It was injured, but still proud, still strong.
I pulled out a healing potion and sprayed it over the worst of its cuts.
Scyther nodded in appreciation before limping a few steps away and lying down in the grass.
I followed, lying down beside Scyther, staring up at the sky.
For a moment, the world was quiet, just the crackle of the fire and the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
Scyther looked at me, confused, but eventually relaxed, its sharp scythes resting against the ground.
Before I knew it, the exhaustion from the day hit me, and my eyes drifted shut, the last thing I heard was Alice's voice, soft but firm.
"Ethan... what am I going to do with you?"
---
The morning light slashed through the trees, warming the edge of the campfire where I sat with a half-eaten cup of noodles.
The steam curled lazily in the cold air, and the quiet hum of the forest wrapped around us.
I wasn't really awake yet.
Jack shuffled up beside me, his hands jammed into his jacket pockets.
He looked hungry, his eyes darting toward my noodles.
"Can I eat now too?" he asked, his voice still sleepy.
I raised an eyebrow, taking a slow bite before nodding. "Sure, kid. Dig in."
Jack didn't need a second invitation, ripping open his own cup and shoveling the noodles into his mouth.
He sat there, chewing his meal, glancing toward Alice and Bulbasaur in the clearing.
"What's she doing?" he mumbled, mouth full.
I swallowed. "Today's the last day. Bulbasaur needs to master Swords Dance."
Jack's eyes widened. "That sounds...hard."
"Yeah, it is."
We both watched in silence as Alice moved.
Her black eyes were sharp, focused.
Bulbasaur stood a few feet away, his sides heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
The leaves on his back trembled, betraying the strain of his efforts.
"Again," Alice said quietly, her voice flat but firm.
Bulbasaur growled low, a frustrated sound, but he planted his feet and steadied himself for another go.
His green skin glistened with sweat, muscles coiled and tight beneath the strain of endless attempts.
I felt a tug at my sleeve.
Charmander sat at my side, looking up with those bright eyes of his.
"Char-char," he muttered, nudging my arm.
I sighed. "Not now, buddy. Later. Just enjoy the morning for once."
He pouted for a second, but then nodded and went back to his food.
Alice moved closer to Bulbasaur, her gaze never leaving him. "Focus, Bulbasaur. It's not just about the movement. It's about hitting the exact moment, or you lose everything."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge.
Bulbasaur's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he seemed to gather himself, digging his claws into the earth.
Jack leaned closer to me. "She's really good at this, huh?"
I didn't even blink. "She's good at a lot of things."
Jack stared, dumbfounded, but I didn't elaborate.
I just kept eating, watching.
Bulbasaur huffed again, determination flickering in his eyes.
His movements shifted, smoother this time, more controlled.
There was something different in the air now—a faint pulse, a surge of raw energy swirling at his feet.
"Now!" Alice barked, her voice slicing through the quiet.
Bulbasaur roared, a deep primal sound, and his body moved like lightning.
The energy coalesced into a sharp aura, swirling around him in a blur.
The clearing seemed to vibrate with the power of his Swords Dance, cutting through the stillness like a blade.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, it stopped.
Bulbasaur stood there, panting, but victorious.
The aura flickered once before disappearing, but the look in his eyes said it all.
Alice crouched down beside him, her fingers brushing over his rough skin, feeling the residual energy pulsing beneath.
"You did it," she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips.
There was pride in her eyes, a spark of something deeper. "I knew you could."
Bulbasaur nudged her hand, a soft sound escaping him.
I couldn't resist. "That was good, but your training isn't as intense as mine, right Bulbasaur?"
Bulbasaur glanced at me and nodded, though exhaustion weighed heavy on him.
Alice scooped him up, her eyes briefly meeting mine before she carried him over to where Charmander and Poliwag were waiting.
She set him down gently, giving him food and water before taking a seat next to me, grabbing my half-eaten noodles.
She took a bite, then said without looking at me, "All finished."
I stood up, stretching. "I didn't say anything."
She gave me one of those smiles, the kind that was more about winning than amusement.
I turned to Jack. "Get ready. We're heading out soon."
Jack nodded, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Okay, bro!"
I walked over to Scyther, who was resting near the edge of the clearing.
He'd taken a beating the other day, and his body still bore the marks of the fight.
I pulled out a healing potion and carefully sprayed it over his wounds.
"You okay, buddy?" I asked quietly.
Scyther grunted, his wings twitching slightly.
"It'll take a couple of days before you're back to full strength, but you'll be ready for the next fight," I promised.
He nodded once, eyes serious.
I returned him to his Pokéball and walked back to Alice and Jack, who were already packing up the tent.
"Let's get moving," I said, glancing toward the horizon.
創作者的想法 
Vivid_Horizons
Vivid_Horizons "If you enjoyed this story, please add it to your library and vote.
— 新章節待更 — 寫檢討
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票