Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 16: Dark Grass Guidance

The road out of Aspertia felt different after the Basic Badge rested inside my case.

It should have been a small piece of metal, but I could feel it through my bag as we walked. One official badge. One real step. After so many delays, unofficial battles, frightened Pokémon, Team Rocket machines, and Team Plasma shadows, the simple fact that the badge counted made the road feel steadier under my shoes.

Pikachu sat on my shoulder, tail brushing my back with every step. His meaning came bright but careful. "First badge is real. Do not run so fast that it falls behind."

"I will try not to," I murmured.

Alice walked beside me, close enough that she heard. "Trying is acceptable today."

"That is generous," I said.

"It is conditional," Golly added from behind us. "Trying becomes unacceptable if you ignore everyone when conditions change."

Iris laughed, and Axew copied her from her hair. Cilan lifted one hand as if presenting the whole route to an audience.

"Route 20," he said. "A transition course after Aspertia's foundation. The path to Virbank begins here, but every good course needs preparation before the strongest flavor arrives."

Eve looked at him. "You mean walking."

"I mean walking with appreciation," Cilan replied.

Herdier trotted ahead of us, nose low to the ground. He had been quiet since Floccesy Ranch, but not unhappy. He moved like the route itself was something he could read. Every footprint, broken grass blade, and faint scent trail seemed to tell him whether the road ahead was safe.

His meaning reached me in steady little pulses. "Old scent. New scent. Group scent. All here."

I let that settle in my chest. For once, all here sounded true.

We were not far from Aspertia when Cheren's voice called from the path ahead. He stood near a patch of grass darker and taller than the rest, with Hugh beside him and his arms crossed like waiting itself insulted him.

"There you are," Cheren said. "I wanted to speak with you before you went farther."

Hugh looked at my badge case. "You beat him. Good. I am going to get stronger than him too."

Cheren adjusted his glasses, not offended. "That is one reason I asked him to meet us here."

Rosa and Nate were not with him this time. Maybe they were still helping at the school, or maybe Cheren had decided this lesson needed fewer familiar faces. He pointed toward the dark grass beside the path.

"This is dark tall grass," Cheren said. "Sometimes two Pokémon can appear at the same time. The Pokémon hiding there are also often stronger than those in normal grass."

Iris leaned forward immediately. "So it is more dangerous and more exciting."

"It is more dangerous," Golly said. "The exciting part is not a safety category."

Cheren smiled faintly. "Golly is correct. Excitement does not replace caution."

Hugh stared into the dark grass as if something inside it might teach him how to catch up to every loss in his life. "If stronger Pokémon are there, then that is where I should train."

"Only if you understand what you are doing," Cheren said. "Strength without awareness becomes carelessness."

Hugh looked away, but he did not argue as loudly as I expected.

Cheren handed us several Pecha Berries. "If you are heading toward Virbank, these may help. The next Gym uses Poison-type strategies, and the route itself can still surprise you."