Theo's pace was neither hurried nor slow as he walked through the mountains and forests, stopping from time to time along the way.
After a full day of travel, the path beneath his feet had long since left the hot reach of Mt Chimney behind, and he had officially stepped into the outermost edge of the hilly forest near Fallarbor Town.
At this moment, only Metang floated beside him, quietly accompanying and guarding him, while the other three Pokémon rested peacefully inside their Poké Balls.
Unlike the dry, warm environment near Mt Chimney, where the air carried a faint scent of sulfur, this place was completely different.
Here, lush green trees stretched endlessly, their dense layers of branches and leaves overlapping one another and almost completely blocking out the sky above.
The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of soil and vegetation. Taking a deep breath felt as though it could wash away all the fatigue accumulated during the journey.
From time to time, crisp bird calls or the cries of unknown Pokémon echoed through the forest, breaking the silence.
Yet instead of disturbing the peace, these sounds made the forest feel even more vibrant and full of life.
Not long after passing through a winding forest trail, Theo noticed that the entrance to the forest ahead was unusually lively.
A large group of Trainers dressed in all kinds of outfits had gathered there, forming a long queue.
Every single one of them wore smiles filled with anticipation, chatting quietly among themselves. The atmosphere was cheerful and lively, as if they were all waiting for some kind of event to begin.
As Theo walked closer, he quickly realized that most of these Trainers were paired as male and female couples.
The girls were mostly holding maps, chattering excitedly as they discussed routes.
The boys, on the other hand, listened patiently, nodding from time to time in agreement. Their faces were all filled with longing and excitement for what was to come.
Beside the queue, several rangers dressed in dark green uniforms were maintaining order in an organized manner, handing out maps and Poké Balls to each registered participant.
Curiosity rose in Theo's heart, so he stepped forward and politely asked one of the older-looking, more experienced rangers,
"Hello, may I ask what kind of event is being held here?"
The ranger looked up, his gaze first landing on Theo before being drawn to the differently colored Metang floating beside him. A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.
However, he quickly withdrew his gaze and smiled kindly.
"Oh, judging by your appearance, you must be a Trainer from out of town, right? Today is the weekend, and we're hosting the 'Spinda Forest Love-Searching Event.'"
"Spinda Forest?"
Theo repeated the name, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes.
He knew about Spinda as a Pokémon. Its round body was covered in irregular spots, and its temperament was gentle. However, he had not expected there to be a forest named after it.
"That's right. It's actually just a nickname for this forest," the ranger explained, pointing behind him at the lush woodland.
"There are a lot of Spinda living here. Over time, everyone just started calling it Spinda Forest.
As everyone knows, the spots on a Spinda's body are like snowflakes. It's almost impossible to find two that are exactly the same.
But in this forest, there's one very special Spinda. The spots on its face form a complete heart shape."
As he spoke, the ranger's tone took on a slightly romantic note.
"There's a legend here. If a couple can find this heart pattern Spinda in the forest, it symbolizes that their love will be sweet, happy, and long-lasting.
So every weekend, many couples come specifically to participate in this event, hoping for a good omen."
Only then did Theo understand. No wonder so many couples had gathered here.
Looking at the line of people, he saw them tightly holding the maps they had just received, clearly preparing to enter the forest to search for Spinda. The anticipation on their faces was practically overflowing.
"But even if you're not a couple, you can still participate alone," the ranger added, inviting Theo.
"For solo participants, the entry fee is 1,000. For couples, it's 1,888.
Don't think it's expensive. If you're lucky enough to find that heart-shaped Spinda, you can transfer your chance to couples who want it.
Two months ago, there was a solo participant who got incredibly lucky and found it. He earned quite a substantial transfer fee."
He paused for a moment before pointing at a display rack beside the registration desk.
"Once someone finds the heart pattern Spinda, we also award a set of custom-made heart-shaped necklace and bracelet as a souvenir. You can see the design right there.
But there's one rule we must make clear.
In the end, the Spinda with the heart-shaped mark must be returned to the forest. And participants are not allowed to use their Pokémon to help. You can only rely on your own observation and effort to find it."
Following his gesture, Theo looked at the display rack.
Several sets of silver jewelry were placed there. The pendants of both the necklaces and bracelets were small heart shapes, engraved with Spinda patterns, delicately and beautifully designed.
So that's how it is.
Theo immediately understood why so many people had gathered at the forest entrance.
However, he had no intention of participating.
Being alone while joining an event clearly designed for couples would feel rather awkward.
Moreover, participants were not allowed to bring Pokémon along, which made the event even less appealing to him.
Just as Theo was about to thank the ranger and leave, he heard the ranger speak again.
"Oh, right. Besides Spinda, there are also Ursaring and Teddiursa living in the forest. But don't worry, they won't attack people casually."
Hearing the name Ursaring, Theo's heart stirred slightly.
He knew very well about Ursaring's temperament.
Especially when they had cubs, Ursaring were extremely territorial. If disturbed, they could easily become irritable and highly aggressive.
Logically speaking, a forest inhabited by Ursaring should be quite dangerous. If these participants entered without bringing their Pokémon, wouldn't that be risky?
A look of confusion appeared in Theo's eyes as he looked at the ranger, waiting for an explanation.
The ranger seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled.
"Feeling puzzled? It's true that Ursaring will attack passing Trainers or pedestrians if they're disturbed.
But ever since Fallarbor Town started hosting this Spinda event, the rangers have specifically 'communicated' with every Ursaring in the forest.
Through battles and interaction, we reached an agreement with them."
"An agreement?"
Theo asked with interest. This was quite an intriguing matter.
"That's right," the ranger said, a hint of pride appearing on his face.
"We agreed that the Ursaring would be responsible for protecting the Spinda in the forest.
At the same time, they would work together with us rangers to ensure the safety of participants, preventing anyone from encountering danger inside the forest.
In return, their daily food supply is provided by Fallarbor Town.
You could say they've even obtained an officially recognized 'position' from the Pokémon League."
This explanation amused Theo.
The idea of humans and Pokémon forming a cooperative relationship through agreements was quite fascinating. Fallarbor Town certainly had its own unique approach.
"And also," the ranger's smile grew wider,
"As for the Teddiursa in the Ursaring group, they've also joined this game together with the Spinda.
Can you guess what role they're playing?"
(End of Chapter)