18

Pathways

Ash's POV

"Fort Willow is amazing," I awe at the town, city, whatever you call this place. I look straight up the hollowed out tree, following a staircase etched in the side. 

There's many balconies that mark where the doors to people's homes and stuff are. One of the lower ones has the Pokémon Centre logo on it. There's a few dim lights up and down the tree.

"It's beautiful," Serena awes. Her honey blonde hair looks really nice in the light right now. "A lot better than the tunnels we just went through."

"Don't diss the tree roots," A girl around our age walks up with a butterfly net in her hand. "It may be called Route 4 but the tunnels are actually the roots of this tree. And in my opinion they are beautiful too."

"Wow," This tree is crazy big aboveground and underground. 

"I'm Netty," She extends a tanned hand. She has long wavy lime hair and an explorer top on. Netty also has beige shorts and she's pretty fit, must spend a lot of time outdoors.

"Ash," I shake her hand. "This is Serena."

"Hi," Serena smiles.

"What brings you here?" The girl asks.

"The 18 challenge," I can feel myself getting pumped. "Just need to find the leader."

"Well you already did that," She winks.

"You're the gym leader!" I exclaim. "You look our age."

"Well thanks," Her face turns red, the humidity from the swamp must be getting in here. "I inherited the gym from my grandfather."

"Awesome," I glance at Pikachu on my shoulder. "Are you ready?"

"Just wait," Netty smirks. "I'm going to assume you came from the normal section where the rules get a little loosy goosy if you know what I mean. You have to use the type of the challenge, or else the 18 challenge would be a piece of cake with type advantage."

"Good thing we just caught some bug types then," Serena says and I nod.

"Let's go," I smile at Netty.

We follow her to the very top of the tree. I realize that the battlefield is going to be a glass floor, letting anyone inside the tree watch from below. Above is a canopy of branches with the purple willow leaves falling around us.

I can see Pokémon peeking their heads out from the branches. "Those are mine," Netty catches me looking at them all. "Go pick your opponent."

"What?" I raise an eyebrow.

"The Pokémon you'll face will come out when you walk over there," Netty gestures to the tangled leaves. I'm surprised they're sturdy enough to hold. Granted the branches are probably huge. "Serena you should watch from the side and not the middle of the field."

"Right," Serena laughs. "Good luck Ash."

"Thanks," I give her a thumbs up.

I walk over and try to pick out a Pokémon. Of course they're all hiding now.

I notice a glint of steel poke out. "Got you!" I exclaim and a Pokémon flies out. I should've kept looking.

A Beedrill glares at me with its big red eyes as it flies towards Netty. The Pokémon has two giant stingers at the end of its arms and one coming out the back. Its yellow and black striped body and big wings offer as a warning to anyone near.