Viridian Forest, where daytime is as dark as night.
The enormous tree canopy blocks out the sky, with thick trees and dense undergrowth everywhere, combined with the dim environment, making this a paradise for Bug-type Pokémon.
Here, Caterpie and Weedle are as numerous as stray dogs on the roadside.
After leaving Viridian City, Fuyuki and Entei officially entered this famous location inhabited by countless wild Pokémon.
But... Fuyuki looked at the fork in the road ahead and couldn't help but ask, "Dad, why aren't we taking this path?"
According to the map, this path would be a shorter route to Pewter City.
Entei: "..."
Of course, it couldn't take that path because Raikou was waiting ahead.
If they encountered each other, Raikou would replace it in accompanying Little One.
Thus, Entei told the first lie of its life.
"I sense danger on that path," it said.
"Huh?" Fuyuki was confused. Danger? What danger?
Could Zapdos be blocking the way? But Zapdos should be nesting in the Abandoned Power Plant right now?
Entei didn't explain, just kept walking forward: "This path will be safer."
"Alright." Fuyuki quickly shifted his attention to the Bug-type Pokémon inhabiting the surroundings.
Caterpie, so many Caterpie! Come to think of it, Ash's Butterfree was caught in Viridian Forest. I wonder where he is now.
Seeing this, Entei breathed a sigh of relief in its heart.
The members of Ho-Ohs Guard have a very subtle connection.
They can sense each other's locations.
For example, right now, Entei could clearly sense that Raikou was waiting ahead on the neighboring path for them to pass by.
Suicune's presence flickered faintly in the west, and even Lord Ho-Oh's presence hovered in the sky dozens of kilometers away.
As for Marshadow... it was right now in the shadow beneath Fuyuki's feet.
Its position was truly precarious! Entei sighed helplessly, thinking to itself.
However, the only relief was that if Fuyuki encountered danger, whether it was Raikou, Suicune, or Lord Ho-Oh, at such close distances, they could arrive immediately.
"Gurgle gurgle~"
After walking a distance, Fuyuki's stomach suddenly started rumbling.
It was nearly noon, so Fuyuki found a clearing in the forest.
"Alright! We'll rest here for lunch!" Everyone, come out!"
With two flashes of white light, Squirtle and Gastly appeared in the clearing.
"Squirtle Squirtle~"
"Gastly Gastly~!"
The two Pokémon made happy cries.
"Squirtle, Gastly, you two play for now. I'll prepare lunch for everyone!"
Fuyuki actually knew how to cook. Since he gained self-sufficiency, he hadn't bought food from the System Shop but instead exchanged ingredients to cook for his beloved Pokémon himself.
With the Space Backpack, Fuyuki directly took out tables, chairs, benches, and various camping equipment from it.
Then, with Entei responsible for lighting the fire, Fuyuki started cooking.
Squirtle and Gastly gathered around curiously watching. This experience of camping with their Trainer, with a human, was a very novel experience for them.
"Squirtle, do you like these?" Fuyuki took out a basin of small shrimp, crabs, shellfish, and other seafood to ask.
Squirtle sniffed it, then happily nodded repeatedly: "Squirtle Squirtle!"
"Great." Fuyuki prepared to make a seafood rice dish for Squirtle, adding Sacred Ash to ensure Squirtle grew plump and healthy.
After handling the ingredients, Fuyuki put them in a pot with rice to steam.
Gastly seemed very curious about these things it had never seen before.
It floated around inspecting, watching Entei's Sacred Fire. Gastly couldn't resist getting closer, but nearly got burned by a sudden flare-up, scaring it into jerking back violently.
Seeing the flames didn't follow, Gastly let out a very human-like sigh of relief.
"Gastly..."
Fuyuki couldn't help but laugh. Seeing him laugh, Squirtle started laughing too.
Gastly, not understanding anything, thought it was fun and joined in the silly merriment.
Looking at this scene, Fuyuki couldn't help but think, if this Gastly was truly the soul of the Meowth their family used to raise transformed, then this could be considered a good ending, right?
The Meowth that waited at their former home for its owner's return finally waited for him.
Forget it, forget it, no more thinking. These things are in the past!
Fuyuki shook his head. After these days of interaction, he found both of his Pokémon were quite special.
Squirtle, due to poor physical development, unskilled energy control, and no Trainer willing to choose it as their Pokémon, actually had a somewhat inferiority complex.
Gastly, because it was too young and had lived alone for a long time, was very curious about everything outside and enjoyed playing like a child.
He reached this conclusion because yesterday at the inn, Gastly didn't sleep at night, came out of its Poké Ball, and pestered him to play together.
Fuyuki bought a Substitute Dinosaur Doll from the System Shop and handed it to Gastly, saying, "Go play!"
At first, Gastly was startled by the doll, but soon, upon discovering it was just a toy, happily started playing with it and quickly grew fond of it.
And now, Squirtle's Sacred Ash seafood rice was finally cooked.
Fuyuki served it in a special dish and placed it before Squirtle.
"Alright, eat up!"
Squirtle hugged the plate, happily enjoying it. The delicious taste made it so excited it wanted to cry.
"Squirtle Squirtle..."
Fuyuki was truly great. Not only did he not disdain its weak strength like other Trainers, but he also made such delicious meals for it.
Squirtle had no way to repay him. For its Trainer, it must train even harder in the future. Since its strength was weak, it would put in ten or a hundred times more effort than other Pokémon!
Squirtle wasn't afraid of hardship or fatigue; it only feared Fuyuki would abandon it.
As the delicious food entered its mouth, Squirtle suddenly felt its body getting warm.
"Squirtle..."
No, something's wrong! It's not an illusion!
Its entire body was heating up! As if a flame was burning fiercely inside!
Squirtle was shocked. It tried to endure, but its cheeks turned red from the power, and its breathing gradually became rapid.
Fuyuki noticed something was wrong and couldn't help but pause: "Squirtle?"
"Squirtle..."
No, no, can't hold it in anymore!
"Squirtle!"
With a loud shout from Squirtle, a fierce stream of water shot violently from its mouth, instantly piercing through a small tree.
....
Power Stones PLZZZZZ
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