The sun has risen higher in the sky, casting dappled light through the trees. The forest has an almost enchanted quality to it, and Mia's beginning to feel more at ease. Audino and Chansey walk alongside her—Chansey leading the way with its usual gentle bounce, while Audino occasionally glance around ear twitching.
The thought of a warm shower and real food gives her a small flicker of hope.
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[FOREST – DAY]
Mia steps carefully through the dense forest, keeping her pace steady. The soft crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot is the only sound accompanying their journey. Every so often, a rustle in the bushes catches her attention, and she tenses, expecting a wild Pokémon to jump out. But surprisingly, none are aggressive. If anything, they seem... curious. Even friendly.
She pauses, peering through the trees as another soft rustling reaches her ears. A few small Pokémon emerge from behind the bushes—round, blue bodies with bright red eyes and tufts of green leaves sprouting from their heads. Their eyes are wide and gentle as they look up at Mia, not with fear or suspicion, but curiosity. It almost feels like they're... 'greeting' her.
The small creatures blink up at her, some nearly hidden among the undergrowth. Their leaves sway gently as they waddle forward. Mia recognizes them immediately—Oddish. Just like the ones she used to see on TV.
She hesitates, unsure if they're truly harmless, but her thoughts are interrupted when one of the Oddish hops closer and extends a tiny leaf in what seems like an invitation.
'Okay... I guess you're friendly.'
She slowly reaches out, allowing the Oddish to brush its leaf against her hand. The touch is warm and strangely comforting. It chirps softly—a gentle, musical sound like a happy greeting. Mia smiles, uncertain of their intentions, but willing to trust them for now.
'This... this is so strange. They're not attacking me.'
She watches as the small group of Oddish circle around her, chirping and nudging one another with excitement. Audino stays close, his calm presence grounding her. Chansey stands just ahead, watching the interaction with a soft smile, as if understanding what Mia is only just beginning to feel.
"Maybe they like you and Chansey. You're both so nurturing... maybe that's why they're not hostile?"
Audino gives a soft "Audino!" as if in agreement and steps beside her, his large ears twitching gently. The Grass-type Pokémon seem drawn to both of them, gathering in small clusters and occasionally nudging at Chansey's egg pouch with innocent curiosity.
"I didn't expect this. I thought Pokémon in the wild would be more… aggressive."
'Maybe some are aggressive, were just lucky to encounter friendly ones'
They nuzzle against her legs and chirp happily, surrounding her in a bubble of unexpected warmth. She had watched the Pokémon world through a TV screen as a kid, but this—this is different.
One of the Oddish, with a slightly larger leaf than the others, approaches her and nudges a small berry toward her foot. She hesitates, unsure if it's a gift or a trick. But when the Pokémon chirps again, she picks it up.
The berry she picks is a small, heart shape fruit with a vibrant pinkish-red color. It has a smooth, slightly glossy surface and a slight shine to it.
'Looks like a strawberry'
"Well... thank you"
She said unsure. The berry smells sweet. Her stomach growls again, and the offering feels like a small miracle.
She takes a bit, surprise again by the flavor, its very different from the blue berry we eaten earlier. The berry earlier only have mild sweetness but this one have a more pronounced fruity sweetness.
As she eats, soft echoes of "Chansey!" and "Audino!" come from behind. She turns to see that both of her companions are now surrounded by the Oddish, being gently poked and sniffed by their leafy admirers like old friends reunited. She chuckled
"Looks like you two are the popular ones here."
She watches, still a bit skeptical, but undeniably comforted. Maybe the Pokémon world wasn't as dangerous as she feared. Still, she keeps her guard up—habits die hard.
The Oddish begin to drift back into the trees, their chirps fading into the rustle of leaves. Mia stands in the clearing, a little dazed, but more at ease than she's felt since she arrived.
Taking a deep breath, she watches the last of the Oddish disappear into the foliage.
"Alright... let's keep going."
She glances ahead. The forest begins to thin, and in the distance, through the breaks in the trees, she can just make out the outline of a town. Small, but real. Buildings dotting the horizon like a promise.
"Finally. A town."
Her heart races with cautious hope. She doesn't know what she'll find there, but it's something. Civilization. Answers, maybe. Food, definitely.
With Audino and Chansey walking steadily at her side, Mia takes her first steps toward the town, but as her mind begins to quiet, one thought persists.
The encounter with the Oddish was... gentle. A rare moment of kindness, it seemed. But she knew better than to let her guard down. She remembers Ash's journey, the countless evil organizations that had lurked in every region. Team Rocket. Team Magma. Team Plasma. There are always people who would exploit Pokémon for their own gain. Just because this encounter was safe doesn't mean the world is.
Mia's grip on her bag tightens. This world may seem peaceful right now, but that doesn't mean it's safe. I have to stay cautious.
But then, as she walks, another thought surfaces—her mind feels distant. 'It's been so long since I watched Pokémon. So many years... I've forgotten a lot.' She racked her brain, trying to recall the details, but it felt like everything was slipping through her fingers. 'The Pokémon, the plots, the side characters... I used to know so much. But now? I don't even remember half the names. There's so much I've forgotten. I don't know what's going on here, who the key players are. I can't rely on memories that are fading.'
Her pace slows for a moment as that realization sinks in. 'I don't know what's out there... what might be watching me.'
But as she straightens her back and takes another step forward, a quiet sense of resolve settles over her. 'I may not remember everything, and I don't know what's waiting for me, but I'm not going to let that stop me.'
For the first time since her arrival, she feels a spark of something more than fear. There's a glimmer of hope, yes, but also a quiet, steady confidence. 'Maybe, just maybe, there's more to this world than just danger—and I'm going to find it.'
With Audino and Chansey by her side, she lifts her chin and takes another step toward the town. This world might be full of unknowns, but she's ready to face it, one step at a time.
To be continued...