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

Chapter 23: Dancing Water

The deeper path through Ilex Forest bends downhill after Nurse Joy's outpost, following the sound of water hidden somewhere beyond the fog. The trees grow wider here, their roots twisting above the ground like sleeping Onix tails, and damp leaves shift beneath every step.

Lillie's Oddish walks close to Chikorita, staying in the shade whenever the path opens too much. Chikorita pretends she is not guiding the smaller Grass-type, but each time Oddish hesitates near a bright patch, Chikorita moves just enough to block part of the light with her leaf.

Pikachu notices too and gives me a knowing look from my shoulder.

"I am not saying anything," I whisper.

Chikorita snaps her head toward me. "Good. Keep watching the path instead. Something has been following us since yesterday."

Lillie hides a laugh behind one hand. Oddish looks between us, puzzled by Chikorita's sudden annoyance.

Kris walks a little behind us. Before we left the outpost, she released Parasee, and the Paras now picks careful steps between patches of moss while Kris watches how both small Pokémon react to the forest floor.

"Oddish keeps choosing shade, and Parasee keeps choosing the softer fungal patches," Kris says. "This part of the forest stays damp enough for both of them."

East studies the trees ahead. "And damp enough to make every root slippery. Watch where you step."

Ethan checks the Egg case against his chest while Exbo walks beside him, still outside from yesterday. "After everything that happened with Ash's backpack, I am watching everything."

Reisa walks beside Croconaw and Marill. Marill hops over a root and lands neatly on the other side, earning an approving rumble from Croconaw.

Oddish pauses when a thin shaft of sunlight reaches the trail. Chikorita moves ahead of it without being asked, and Oddish uses the shadow from her leaf to cross the brighter patch. Lillie notices but wisely says nothing this time.

Parasee stops near a rotting stump and taps one harmless mushroom before following Kris again. Kris does not take it, only sketches the cap shape in her notebook and marks the place on the edge of her map.

"You're already helping me find things I would have walked past," Kris tells Parasee.

Parasee clicks its claws softly. "I know these damp places. I'll show you the safe ones I recognize."

I translate for Kris, and she smiles down at her new partner before closing the notebook.

A splash sounds somewhere ahead.

Marill immediately perks up. Croconaw straightens too, although he tries to look far less interested.

The fog parts around a hidden pond tucked between old trees. Water lilies drift across the surface, reeds tremble along the bank, and broken reflections of the canopy move whenever something passes beneath the water.

Poliwag vanish under lily pads when we approach. A Wooper pokes its head from the far bank, blinks at us once, and slips into the reeds before Reisa can point it out to everyone. Even the water feels busy without being noisy.

Marill trots straight to the edge until Reisa catches her gently around the middle. Croconaw plants himself behind them both, watching the ripples with obvious interest.

Lillie steps beside me and lowers her voice. "This looks like a good place to rest."

"It also looks like a good place for something to splash us," I answer.

Pikachu's ears turn toward the pond. "There are several Pokémon in the water. One of them is moving closer."

Ethan puts the Egg case on a folded cloth beneath a tree root. "If we're stopping, I want to try fishing. Kurt gave us Lure Balls, and I haven't used mine yet."