Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 4: Trust Beneath the Leaves

Route 202 opened ahead of us with bright grass, low trees, and the kind of calm that made Dawn even more determined.

She had been trying to catch her first wild Pokémon since we left Sandgem, and every attempt ended with Piplup looking proud while the wild Pokémon escaped anyway.

A Starly flew away from her latest Poké Ball before it even shook once. Dawn stared after it, cheeks red with frustration.

"No need to worry," Dawn said, even though she sounded like she was saying it mostly to herself. "The next one will work."

She checked the empty Poké Ball in her hand, then tucked it away with exaggerated confidence under the bright morning Sinnoh journey sky. I knew that look too well.

It was the face someone made when they wanted the next try to erase the last mistake.

Piplup planted his feet and raised his beak. His meaning came fierce and small. "Next one stays. Dawn shines. No more escaping again today."

I smiled, but I did not repeat it. Dawn could not hear Pokémon the way I could, and Piplup looked like he would deny every word anyway.

Lillie walked beside me with our baby Piplup in her arms. Gladion and Umbreon kept near her, while Daniel's Meowstic and Girafarig watched the road.

Tox stayed near Dawn, not because she needed someone hovering over her, but because he noticed every scrape before anyone else did.

A soft melody drifted from the path ahead. We found a young man sitting beneath a tree with a Budew beside him, both of them calm enough to make the whole route feel slower.

"My name is Nando," he said politely after greeting us. "I travel while listening for the path that suits me best."

Dawn's eyes brightened. "Are you a Coordinator?"

"I am considering Contests," Nando said. "But Gym battles call to me as well."

"Then have a Contest battle with me," Dawn said quickly. "I want to practice before Jubilife."

Nando smiled and stood. "Very well. Budew and I would be honored."

Dawn sent Piplup forward with a confident command, but Budew moved with gentle precision. Razor Leaf curved around Piplup's Peck, and a burst of Grass-type energy forced him backward.

Piplup kept trying, but the matchup was rough. Each time he stepped in, Budew used the field more beautifully than loudly, turning battle into a performance Dawn could not quite catch.

Dawn tried to make Piplup's dodges look graceful, and for one moment, his spin beneath Razor Leaf almost looked like part of an appeal. Then Budew answered with Stun Spore, and Piplup stumbled out of rhythm.

Dawn finally called Piplup back, breathing hard. "You are really good."

Nando bowed lightly. "Your Piplup has spirit. Your stage will grow once your timing does."

Dawn looked disappointed, but she did not look crushed. That mattered.

I stepped forward. "Nando, if you are deciding between Gyms and Contests, battle me too. Sometimes the answer comes when you stop choosing only one road."

Nando considered that, then nodded. "A thoughtful invitation. Budew, shall we try?"

Budew's meaning came calm and curious. "Another rhythm. Stronger steps."

"Pikachu, let's go," I said.

Pikachu jumped from my shoulder with a spark in his cheeks. Budew opened with Stun Spore, and Pikachu used Quick Attack to rush around the drifting powder.