Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 5: Village Behind the Waterfall

Route 202 looked calmer after Nando's music faded behind us, but calm never seemed to last long once our group started walking.

Dawn kept looking into the tall grass with Piplup at her side, still hoping her first wild capture would appear when she least expected it. Turtwig walked near my feet, listening better than yesterday but still glancing ahead like every sound might need guarding.

Lillie carried our smaller Piplup when the path grew rocky. Gladion and Umbreon watched the tree line, while Daniel checked the map with Meowstic and Girafarig beside him.

Tox walked near the back, scanning everyone's steps in that quiet doctor-in-training way. If someone tripped on a pebble, he noticed before the person even complained.

"You know," Dawn said, looking at the grass again, "I still need to catch my first wild Pokémon."

"You already have Piplup," Tox reminded her gently.

"That is not what I mean," Dawn said. "Piplup chose me as my starter. I want to prove I can make a real capture too."

Piplup puffed itself up beside her. His meaning came fierce and small. "Dawn captures soon. I help. No grass bird escapes forever."

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 glanced toward the trees. "Maybe we should not rush. Sometimes the Pokémon who needs us most is not the one we are looking for."

The path still carried signs of yesterday's chaos. Broken twigs marked where we had chased Team Rocket, and patches of trampled grass reminded me of Turtwig's first confused battles beside us.

Turtwig noticed those marks too. He lowered his head when we passed a snapped branch, and his meaning brushed my thoughts with quiet embarrassment. "Ran first. Thought later. Will think sooner today."

I crouched long enough to touch the leaf on his head. "That is all any of us can do. We learn, then we try again."

Lillie smiled at the two of us. "That is probably the best kind of training before Oreburgh."

The word Oreburgh made my stomach spark with excitement. The first Sinnoh Gym lay ahead, but the road kept proving that a journey was not only about reaching the next badge.

A sharp cry came from behind a large rock near the path.

I stopped at once. "Did everyone hear that cry?"

Pikachu's ears lifted from my shoulder. His meaning came across as worried and clear. "Small one. Hurt. Hiding nearby."

We moved around the rock slowly and found a Bidoof crouched in the shade. He flinched when he saw us, and a small cut marked the fur near his head.

Daniel knelt without crowding him. "It is a Bidoof."

"I wonder what happened to him," Lillie said softly.

Bidoof's meaning trembled as I stepped closer. "Lost. Rock hit. Big roar. Home far."

I lowered myself to his eye level and kept my hands open. "It is okay. We are not going to hurt you."

Tox opened his bag, already reading the wound more than the fear. "I have Super Potions. Here, Ash."

He handed me the bottle, but Bidoof scrambled backward when I raised it.

"Don't be afraid," I said gently. "It is just medicine. It will sting less if you let me help."

Pikachu hopped down and sat beside me instead of moving closer. His meaning came warm and patient. "Hat friend fixes pain. I stay here too."