Edge of Hiyori Forest
The breeze stirred the bushes, setting leaves dancing in gentle rustling waves.
Whoosh—
A different sound joined the quiet rhythm—the rustle of fabric pushing through undergrowth.
"It seems... we're lost again~"
A gentle older sister figure with an emerald side ponytail parted the foliage blocking her path. She tilted her head at the intricate maze of trails before her, confusion softening her features.
According to the map in her hand, there should be tall cedar landmarks here. Several of them. Distinctive. Unmistakable.
So why were they all... missing?
"Woo~"
Beside her, a pink, egg-shaped Pokémon echoed her uncertainty with an ignorant tilt of its own head.
Three days ago, they had set out from En City—treasure hunters following an old map through Hiyori Forest, aiming for the foot of Mt. Coronet. Somewhere out there, a cave waited. A cave filled with precious stones.
But somewhere along the way, things had gone wrong. The cave remained unfound. And now? Now they couldn't even find their way out.
"Hmm... wait a moment~"
The side-ponytailed older sister paused mid-deliberation. She lifted her nose slightly, sniffing the breeze.
A look of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes.
"Happiny—do you smell that? Fresh cream?"
"Woo~?"
Elsewhere in the Forest
After departing the farm, Wade had quickly discovered a complication.
The cave's exact location remained a mystery. Even Gardevoir, with her mastery of [Teleport] , couldn't transport them directly to an unknown destination. Which left only one option: follow Skitty and walk.
Unfortunately, Skitty hadn't visited the mine in quite some time. Her memory of the route had grown... fuzzy.
Wade surveyed the clearing before him—a spot he'd now seen approximately seventeen times.
We're walking in circles.
He sighed.
"Alright. Let's rest here. We'll have lunch, then try again."
The treasure could wait. Lunch could not.
"Meow Meow~!"
Skitty's eyes lit up like constellations. She launched herself into the Trainer's arms with shameless joy.
Wade rubbed her fluffy cat ears, his expression indulgent but firm.
"When we get back to the cabin, you're going to obediently present that plump bottom and receive some very thorough special training."
"Meow... Meow~!"
The gluttonous cat girl's eyes filled with tragic tears.
Noooo—
She could already picture it. Days of being ravaged so thoroughly she wouldn't be able to leave bed. The horror. The delicious horror.
"Boo~!"
Nearby, Tinkaton's amber eyes went wide.
What?! The Trainer was giving Skitty private lessons?! The kind that made those strange slap-slap sounds she'd heard outside the door days ago?!
Her little mouth formed a pout of profound dissatisfaction.
Unfair! I want special training too!
Satisfied with Skitty's appropriately terrified expression, Wade turned to lunch preparations.
"Gardevoir—firewood, please."
"Sha~"
Within moments, dozens of branches, gently lifted by Psychic energy, drifted from the forest and settled beside their camp.
Wade unpacked supplies from the backpack. Set up the pot. Lit the fire. Waited for the pre-filled clear water to boil.
Then, slowly, carefully, he slid noodles along the pot's edge.
"Na~"
Little Milcery busied herself nearby, arranging pre-cut Oran Berries on a plate and decorating them with sweet, fresh cream. The contrast of blue fruit and white swirls was almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
Soon, the entire clearing filled with a mouth-watering aroma—savory broth, fresh cream, the subtle sweetness of berries.
"Hello~ Do you know the way out of here? Toward Mt. Coronet?"
A gentle female voice interrupted just as Wade prepared to call everyone for lunch.
A graceful, slender figure emerged from behind the tall bushes. Her face was delicate and fair, framed by that distinctive emerald side ponytail. Dark green eyes, calm as an unrippled spring, held a hint of hopeful uncertainty.
Perhaps worried her question was too abrupt, she bowed slightly—a small, polite gesture. A delicate flush crept across her exquisite features as she began to introduce herself.
"I apologize for the intrusion. My name is Yamei. And this is my partner, Happiny."
Wade's gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary.
Light green silk dress, hugging her delicate figure. Slender waist cinched by a moon-white ribbon. Hip line full and ripe as a harvest moon, the silk hem swaying softly against her fair curves with each small movement.
Another traveler. Lost, by the sound of it.
He smiled warmly.
"Lucky timing. We were just about to eat. Join us, and we can compare notes on directions."
Of course, what drew the eye most was her "dangerous" side ponytail—though "ponytail" hardly did it justice.
Her emerald hair cascaded like a waterfall, braided into three delicate strands that draped diagonally below her fair collarbone. The style framed her gentle features perfectly, accentuating that soft, charming demeanor with every small movement.
"My name is Wade. I'm a farm owner from nearby."
He paused, offering an apologetic smile.
"As for your question... as you can see, we're also lost at the moment."
It was true. While he could always return to the farm via Gardevoir's Teleport, navigating Hiyori Forest on foot was proving beyond his current abilities.
"I see..."
The emerald-haired gentlewoman lowered her head, disappointment rippling across her fair, delicate features. Her dark green eyes dimmed slightly.
She knew time was against her. In the past few days, word had spread—other treasure hunters had caught wind of the cave. If she didn't reach it soon, someone else would claim everything.
Then her gaze caught something.
The pale blue-white figure beside Wade. Gardevoir.
Hope flickered.
She fumbled for her backpack, withdrawing a tattered, well-folded map.
"Mr. Bai—Wade. Could I trouble you for a favor?"
Wade blinked at her sudden pleading expression. Then he looked down at the paper she'd pressed into his hands.
His eyebrows rose.
The terrain. The landmarks. They looked... strangely familiar.
Before he could ask, Yamei began explaining, her voice soft and earnest.
"I'm a treasure hunter by profession. I collect maps, search for hidden caches—that sort of work." She gestured to the paper. "Three days ago, I acquired this map. It leads to a cave at the foot of Mt. Coronet—a cave filled with precious stones and items."
She glanced hopefully at Gardevoir.
"With the location clearly marked, a Psychic Pokémon like yours could take us there directly with Teleport."
Then, as if anticipating refusal, she added quickly, "Afterward, I'll only take one Oval Stone. Everything else is yours."
One stone. The rest for me.
Wade looked at the map. Then at the pitiful, hopeful gentlewoman before him.
Realization dawned.
He chuckled softly.
"Well... to be precise, I'm here for that same cave. Just like you."
"Eh?!"
Yamei's beautiful eyelashes fluttered like startled butterflies. Her eyes went wide, then brighter than the sun breaking through clouds.
No way—!