Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 3: Sand Beneath the Road

I thought Iris would leave after the Pokémon Center, but she was still walking beside us when Route 1 opened ahead again. Axew sat in her hair like it was the most natural place in the world, and she moved with the confidence of someone who had already decided the road belonged to her.

Golly noticed before I said anything. She walked with the travel folder under one arm while Zorua padded beside her boots, tail swishing in quiet amusement. "Iris, why are you continuing with us?"

Iris looked offended by the question. "Excuse me? I am not continuing with you. You are continuing with me. There is a difference."

Eve's Purrloin gave Iris a long stare from beside Eve's leg. Eve folded her arms and glanced at the single road stretching through the grass. "There is one road."

"That makes it easier for you to follow me," Iris said proudly.

Alice gave me a look that said she was deciding whether this counted as funny or exhausting. Absol walked at her side, still watchful after Team Rocket's last attack, but his tension had lowered enough that his claws no longer scraped the dirt with every step.

I sighed and kept walking. "There is no point arguing about the road."

Iris grinned like she had won anyway. Axew copied her expression badly, which made it harder to be annoyed with either of them. She had the kind of wild confidence that did not wait for permission, and part of me envied that.

Back in Kanto, every step had felt measured by grief, law, and the empty place where Mom should have been. Iris moved like trees, wind, and Pokémon were enough proof that the world still wanted motion.

Golly did not look convinced. "If you are guiding us, we should establish where you are guiding us, what local risks are nearby, and whether you have any actual route plan."

Iris put her hands behind her head. "My route plan is simple. We keep walking until something interesting happens."

"That is not a plan," Golly said.

"It works for Dragon Pokémon," Iris replied.

Eve glanced at Alice. "I think we found the opposite of Golly."

Alice's mouth softened. "Maybe that is not a bad thing."

Iris hurried ahead, then turned around and walked backward in front of us. "Exactly. Besides, you people clearly need someone who knows Unova. You almost got shocked by a legendary thundercloud, fought Team Rocket twice, and caught a Route 1 lookout before lunch."

"That is not our usual pace," Alice said.

Pikachu looked at me from my shoulder, and his meaning came dryly. "It is close enough."

I decided not to answer that.

A rustle came from the bushes behind us. Patrat popped out of his Poké Ball without being called and stood alert, tail raised like a signal flag. Pidove fluttered down from a nearby branch, eyes fixed on the same patch of leaves.

Something white and blue burst from the grass and tackled my leg.

"Oshawott!" I said as the little Water type looked up at me, eyes shining like he had discovered treasure.

Iris clasped her hands together. "That is the Oshawott from Professor Juniper's lab! He followed you all the way out here?"

Oshawott climbed onto my shoulder before Pikachu could object. Pikachu hopped to Alice's shoulder and gave him a flat look. Oshawott puffed out his chest, holding his scalchop like a badge.

Alice smiled at him. "You came looking for us. Thank you for helping with Team Rocket before."

Oshawott's meaning splashed into my thoughts, bright and eager. "I helped because heroes need someone brave beside them, and I am very brave."