After leaving Donphan Valley, Ash and his group continued toward Violet City following the directions on their map.
However, they soon realized they had stepped into a forest that looked ordinary at first glance, yet carried an unsettling atmosphere, the Forest of Illusion.
"Strange... Haven't we seen this tree before?" Brock stopped for the third time, frowning as he examined a twisted old oak tree nearby.
Misty held Togepi in her arms and nervously looked around. "I think so too... Everything around us looks the same. I can't even tell which direction we're going anymore."
A faint mist drifted through the forest, while the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy became fragmented and hazy, creating the illusion that they were endlessly walking in circles.
Even Pikachu looked restless, its ears constantly twitching.
"Looks like we're lost." Ash sighed. As expected, he still couldn't avoid this classic "beginner village maze" scenario.
Just as they were trying to find a way out, a familiar arrogant voice suddenly came from nearby.
"Hmph. You can't even get out of the Forest of Illusion? Looks like your skills as a so called honorary trainer are only good enough for a place like the Orange Islands."
Everyone turned around and saw Gary standing casually against a tree with his hands in his pockets, wearing his trademark smug grin.
"Gary? What are you doing here?" Misty asked in surprise.
"Obviously heading to Violet City to challenge the Gym." Gary raised an eyebrow. "As for you guys, spinning in circles here seems pretty entertaining."
Ash ignored the teasing and asked directly, "You know how to get out?"
"Of course." Gary pointed at his head. "Knowledge. The reason people get lost in the Forest of Illusion is because the area is filled with a special magnetic field and mist that messes with your sense of direction. To get through, you either need an exceptional sense of direction, or..." He paused dramatically.
"Or what?" Brock quickly asked.
"Or you borrow the help of the locals, Hoothoot." Gary explained. "Hoothoot have a special biological clock and an incredible sense of direction. They aren't affected by the environment here. They can accurately guide people through the forest."
He then pointed at the Hoothoot perched on his shoulder.
"But it looks like you guys didn't prepare one in advance. Good luck. Try not to stay here until dark. I heard the Forest of Illusion gets even more interesting at night."
After saying that, he waved stylishly and walked off in a certain direction with ease, quickly disappearing into the mist.
"That guy is still so full of himself!" Misty puffed her cheeks and made a face in the direction Gary had vanished.
"But what he said about Hoothoot..." Brock muttered thoughtfully.
Right then, a cry echoed from deep within the forest.
"Hoot hoot! Hoot hoot!"
"It's a Hoothoot!" Ash's eyes lit up. "Let's follow it!"
They chased after the sound and soon spotted a brown owl Pokémon with a huge tuft of feathers on its head perched on a branch.
However, it seemed very cautious. The moment it noticed Ash and the others approaching, it immediately flapped its wings and flew away.
"Don't run!" Ash quickly chased after it, while Pikachu, Misty, and Brock hurried to follow.
Following the Hoothoot through countless twists and turns, they unexpectedly ran out of the thickest part of the fog and arrived at a small wooden cabin on the edge of the forest.
A wooden sign hung outside the cabin, painted with a Hoothoot symbol and the words "Hoothoot Rental."
Hearing the commotion, an elderly woman dressed plainly and wearing an apron walked out from inside. It was Hagatha.
"Oh my, are you trainers who got lost?" Hagatha smiled kindly.
"Hello, ma'am. We'd like to rent a Hoothoot to guide us through the Forest of Illusion," Ash politely explained.
"All the reliable ones have already been rented out. Right now, only Dizzy is left."
As she spoke, she called toward the house, "Dizzy, come out and greet the guests."
Soon, a Hoothoot that was slightly smaller than normal slowly flew out from inside the cabin. Its eyes looked timid and nervous.
The moment it saw Ash and the others, it immediately shrank back and hid behind Hagatha, only peeking out with half its head to secretly observe them.
"This is the one." Hagatha helplessly patted Dizzy's head. "This child... its sense of direction is perfectly fine, but it's far too timid. Whenever it gets nervous, it easily makes mistakes, and it doesn't listen well to strangers either. That's why nobody really wants to rent it."
Misty looked at the trembling Hoothoot with concern. "Can it... really guide us out?"
But Ash stared at the unusual Hoothoot as certain memories surfaced in his mind.
He remembered that this Hoothoot wasn't incapable at all. It just had a rather special... preference.
Smiling slightly, he said to Hagatha, "It's fine, ma'am. We'll rent this one."
After paying the rental fee, Dizzy reluctantly followed Ash and the others back to the edge of the Forest of Illusion.
Facing the thick mist once again, Dizzy immediately became nervous. It anxiously spun in circles on the spot, letting out uneasy cries of "Hoothoot!" while completely unable to focus on guiding them.
"See? I told you it wouldn't work." Misty sighed in disappointment.
"Relax." Ash looked completely confident. He leaned close to Misty's ear and whispered a few words.
Misty looked at him suspiciously. "Seriously? You think this'll work?"
"Just give it a try." Ash encouraged her.
Taking a deep breath, Misty walked up to the panicking Hoothoot and crouched down. Using an especially gentle tone that even she found a little embarrassing, she softly said,
"Dizzy, don't be scared, okay? You're amazing. You can definitely guide us out of here, right? We all believe in you."
She carefully reached out, trying to stroke Dizzy's feathers.
And then, a miracle happened.
The restless and frightened Dizzy slowly calmed down after hearing Misty's gentle voice and encouragement.
It raised its head to look at Misty, the fear in its eyes fading considerably. It even rubbed its head against her palm on its own initiative!
"Hoothoot!"
It let out a cry far more energetic than before, flapped its wings confidently, and started walking firmly in a certain direction!
"Wow! It actually worked!" Brock exclaimed in surprise.
Ash revealed an expression that clearly said, "Just as I thought."
From then on, under Misty's constant gentle praise and encouragement, Dizzy seemed like an entirely different Hoothoot. It proudly held its head high, walked with steady confidence, and accurately guided them through the complicated forest paths.
The confusing fog and twisting trails that had made them completely disoriented earlier now seemed meaningless before it.
Less than half an hour later, the fog ahead suddenly dispersed, and bright sunlight poured down as they successfully exited the Forest of Illusion!
Before them stretched a vast plain, and in the distance, they could already see the outline of Violet City.
"We did it! We're out!" Misty happily picked up Dizzy and rubbed her cheek against its face, while Dizzy chirped joyfully in return.
When they returned to Hagatha's cabin to give back the Hoothoot, Misty finally voiced the question that had been bothering her.
"Ash, how did you know Dizzy... listens to girls?"
Ash smiled and explained, "I noticed that even though it was scared of us, it depended a lot on Hagatha. Since Hagatha is a woman, I guessed this Hoothoot naturally feels safer around female voices and scents, making it easier for it to trust women. It's not an issue with its abilities, just... a tiny personality preference."
Nagatha(Hagatha's Sister) nodded approvingly. "That really is how this child is. Young man, your observation skills are impressive."
Ash scratched his head awkwardly, then looked at Misty and added,
"And besides, your voice is really gentle when you encourage others."
"Eh?" Misty clearly hadn't expected Ash to suddenly say something like that. Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and her heartbeat uncontrollably sped up.
She lowered her head and muttered softly, "I-Idiot... why would you suddenly say something like that..."
Watching the scene beside them, Brock revealed a knowing smile and silently turned his gaze toward the distance.
Under the glow of the setting sun, the boy's unintentional words sent ripples spreading across the girl's heart.
And so, along with their new journey, subtle feelings quietly began to bloom.
....
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