1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 46: Mist and Kind Hands

Fog covered the Wild Area so thickly that the ground seemed to appear only after we trusted it enough to step forward. The Flying Taxi had left us near a safe landing marker, but beyond that circle, the world softened into pale gray shapes, quiet grass, and distant calls that never showed their source.

After Glimwood Tangle, I thought I understood enchanted paths a little better. The forest had taught us to move slowly under mushroom light, and Ponyta still walked beside Alice as if reminding us that gentle places could still test patience. The fog made the Wild Area feel like another kind of Fairy path.

Alice touched Ponyta's mane, watching the mist curl around its glow. "We could look for more Fairy-type Pokémon here."

"That was the plan," I said. "Glimwood gave us Ponyta, but the Wild Area feels like it is hiding its own kind of magic."

A small shape moved beyond a patch of pale grass, then vanished before we could see more than a rounded outline and a flicker of pink. Gloria almost stepped after it, but Ponyta lifted its head, and the shape disappeared into the fog.

I raised one hand. "No chasing. If a Fairy type wants to meet us, it can choose the pace."

Alice nodded. "After Ponyta, that feels right."

Pikachu sat on my shoulder with his ears angled forward, "The mist is not empty. It is asking who walks kindly when no one sees."

I smiled. "Then we answer with our steps."

Gloria squinted into the fog, Raboot close beside her. "I like Fairy types, but I do not like not seeing where my feet are going."

Elena adjusted Feebas's tank straps, while her Indeedee moved calmly beside our newly caught Indeedee pair. "Fog makes people show habits. Some rush. Some wait. Some blame the path."

"That sounds like a Fairy lesson already," Flora said.

We had barely checked the map when a familiar voice called through the mist. "Ash? Alice? Please tell me that is actually you and not the fog making friendly shapes."

Minami stepped out from behind a waystone with a small laugh, her academy scarf tied carefully against the damp air. She looked older than the last time I had seen her in an academy setting, but the same sharp warmth stayed in her eyes.

"Minami!" I said. "You are out here for the Fairy assignment?"

She held up her Rotom Phone. "Hammerlocke Academy asked me to help supervise today's practical. Foggy weather, Fairy-type work, and travelers who think they can find everything by confidence alone. Somehow, they thought I should be present."

Alice smiled. "That sounds like they know us."

Minami grinned. "I did not say names."

A soft chime opened on all our Rotom Phones, and the Fairy-type job board appeared through the foggy screen. Daily Discovery needed Fairy-type Pokémon to help create clothing that was cute but a little mystic. Galar Taxi wanted pure-hearted Fairy Pokémon to help judge the true characters of workers.

Sonoqui wanted cute and charming Pokémon to attract customers. Jetsetter wanted magical cloth. HIJKI OKA wanted adorable clothing pieces. Rose of the Rondelands needed housekeeping services from Pokémon quick enough to clean like little house fairies.

MC Brokerage wanted cute, delicate Pokémon for a front desk. Northern Delights wanted Fairy Pokémon to emphasize light and fluffy products. At the bottom, Budew Drop Inn requested help cleaning guest rooms and asked for thirty cute and pure Fairy-type Pokémon.

The board made Fairy types sound gentle in nine different ways, but I knew better than to mistake gentle for harmless. Opal's Gym waited ahead, and every story I had heard about her made one thing clear: Fairy-type tests often smiled before they struck the truth.