1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 95: Poison Shadows

Route 36 looked too peaceful after Ilex Forest.

The trees thinned, the road opened, and the strange pressure around Celebi's shrine finally faded. Tohjo Falls still stayed in my head, though. Giovanni's voice, Ariel's anger, and the moment Celebi stopped me kept returning whenever the road went quiet.

Pikachu rode on my shoulder with his ears lowered.

Pikachu pressed one paw against my cheek, "You're still angry about Giovanni, but you're listening to us again."

"I know," I whispered. "I don't want to make that mistake again."

Lillie heard enough to look at me with concern, but she did not push. Ethan, Kris, Reisa, East, and Ariel walked close behind us. Ariel had stayed after the Celebi event because she did not want to be alone immediately after facing her father again.

We had stopped at a roadside Pokémon Center before continuing. Nurse Joy checked everyone from the Giovanni battle, cured the remaining poison, and warned us that Koga would probably make status conditions part of his strategy instead of treating them as side effects.

Lillie noticed me looking down at my hands.

"You're still thinking about the cave," Lillie said quietly.

"I almost let him decide what I did next," I answered.

Ariel kept walking, but her voice came from a few steps ahead.

"That's what he wants," Ariel said. "If you're angry enough to keep thinking about him, he still gets your attention."

Pikachu leaned against my neck.

Pikachu's ears lifted again, "Then keep looking at us instead."

I rubbed behind one ear.

"I can do that," I said.

East stopped first and raised one hand.

"Training ahead," he said. "Two people. Fast movement. Hidden angles."

We followed his gaze and saw Koga and Janine in a clearing beside the route. Janine moved lightly between marked posts, throwing thin practice darts at wooden targets. Koga stood in the shadows of a leaning tree, appearing and vanishing between breaths as if the light itself had trouble keeping him visible.

Janine noticed us first and lowered her practice dart.

"Ash!" she called, breaking into a smile. "Nice to see you again."

"Same here, Janine," I answered while stepping into the clearing. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm training with my father," Janine said proudly.

Koga emerged from the tree shadow with his arms folded. His scarf barely moved in the breeze, but something about him made the whole clearing feel watched from every side.

"Indeed," Koga said. "I heard from my daughter that you saved the Fuchsia Gym from Team Rocket. You have my gratitude."

"Well, it was mostly Misty's Psyduck that did the trick," I admitted.

Janine laughed before trying to hide it behind one hand.

Koga's mouth twitched as if he almost smiled.

"Good," Koga said. "A Trainer who remembers who helped him is less likely to become careless."

I touched Will's Psychic Medal in my pocket.

"I'm here to challenge you," I said. "I beat Will, so you're next."

Koga suddenly laughed, and the sound filled the clearing like smoke.