Pokemon: Becoming A Pokemon Master

Chapter 19: Misty Forest, Meet the Sundae

The next morning, Alex got up early, the sun just beginning to filter through the Pokémon Center window.

"Ready to go again." Alex stretched his back and yawned.

After a hearty breakfast with Lorelei, Ash, Misty, and Brock, Lorelei stood and gave Alex a nod. "Your Pokémon Prosecutor's license will be delivered shortly—via Messenger Pidgeot, of course."

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, regional delivery systems like Messenger Pidgeot and Fearow are standard for League communications. Alex found this method extremely efficient quick, accurate, and directly to the recipient.

"Safe travels, Lorelei," Alex said as she waved and left the center.

"Alex, let's travel together!" Ash suggested brightly. "We're all heading toward Saffron City's Gym for a challenge!"

Alex considered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Looking forward to it."

"Awesome!" Ash leapt into the air with joy.

So the four of them Alex, Ash, Misty, and Brock gathered their gear and set out for the journey ahead.

As they entered a thick woodland path, Misty nervously looked around. "This forest gives me the creeps. It's way too dark… not even any wild Pokémon around. Not a single Pidgey or Caterpie in sight."

"It's because the canopy here's too thick," Brock reasoned. "It blocks out most of the sunlight. But even then... yeah, it's unusually quiet."

Alex furrowed his brow. "It is strange. This forest is way too vast to be this empty. Even in the manga, forests like Viridian or Ilex had at least some wild Pokémon active."

Misty pulled her jacket closer. "You don't think there are ghosts here… do you?"

"Come on, Misty," Brock chuckled. "At worst, Ghost-types like Gastly or Misdreavus. They're just Pokémon."

"I've never seen one before!" Ash said, eyes wide with excitement. "I wanna catch one!"

Suddenly, a thick silver mist began to blanket the forest floor, curling around their ankles.

"Where's this fog coming from?" Brock asked, squinting into the distance.

Alex narrowed his eyes. He had a thought. "Wait a second... I remember something from the manga's side lore. This fog isn't natural. It's part of a field survival test created by the Verdant Academy, a private trainer school in this region."

In Pokémon Adventures, several elite academies were known for simulated training environments including fog manipulation through Pokémon like Weezing or Aromatisse.

Misty's anxiety spiked as the mist thickened, making it difficult to see five feet ahead. "I don't like this at all... I can't see anything!"

Alex turned serious. "Everyone, stay close. If we get separated, we're in real danger. This isn't the anime world where you faint and wake up fine wild Pokémon can be deadly in real life."

That statement sank in quickly. Ash, Misty, and Brock nodded silently.

To Alex, it wasn't a threat he had system-based power, Mega Evolution, and elite-level Pokémon. But to the others, it could be fatal if things went wrong.

Just then, faint crying echoed from deep within the fog.

"D-Did you hear that?" Misty asked, clinging to Togepi. "Someone's crying..."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "Let's check it out. Might be someone playing tricks or someone in real trouble."

Inspired by his confidence, the group followed Alex toward the source of the crying.

Eventually, they came upon a clearing in the mist where a young boy, no older than seven, sat on the ground weeping. He was neatly dressed in a school uniform. Clearly from a well-off background.

"Oh, you poor thing," Misty said, instantly going into big-sister mode. She knelt beside him. "What's your name, sweetie? Where's your family?"

The boy looked up, sniffling. "My name's Shotaro... I'm a student from the Pokémon Academy nearby. We were doing survival training, but I didn't pass the last test… so they left me behind."

"What?!" Ash shouted, fists clenched. "That's awful! You're classmates, how could they just leave you?"

Brock shook his head. "That's inhumane. Even training has limits."

Alex, however, had heard of this school. In the manga, there were mentions of elite academies where only rich kids were accepted many of whom looked down on average trainers.

"Of course," Alex thought. "It's that snobbish Pokémon Academy funded by the Silph Group's cousin division. All talk, no real experience. Always acting superior."

He crouched down beside Shotaro. "Hey. Take us to your academy. We'll help you get justice."

Shotaro's eyes lit up with hope. "Really? But they're really strong. Especially Yongtai's Hitmonchan and Zhengke's Oddish. You can't beat them."

Alex smirked. "Leave that to us."

Hearing this, Alex couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. These two sounded exactly like arrogant brats from the elite academies typical of what he'd read in reports and seen in the Adventures manga. Clearly, a lesson in humility was overdue.

"Lead the way. We'll help you get justice," Alex said confidently, giving Shotaro a reassuring smile.

"But… with all this fog, I can't see the path back," Shotaro said anxiously, squinting at the mist.

"That's an easy fix." Alex stepped forward and tossed a Poké Ball into the air. "Go, Pidgeot!"

In Pokémon Adventures, Red's Pidgeot famously used its wind techniques to clear weather conditions. Mimicking that, Alex commanded, "Pidgeot, use Hurricane!"

Pidgeot soared high, its massive wings glinting in the mist. With a powerful Dual Wingbeat, it unleashed a roaring Hurricane, ripping through the fog like a storm. Within seconds, the path ahead was crystal clear.

Shotaro looked at Alex with wide eyes, stunned. He hadn't expected such overwhelming power. Alex quietly enjoyed the admiration he didn't mind looking cool once in a while.

"Alright, Shotaro. Lead on."

"Y-Yes, right this way!" Shotaro replied quickly.

The group followed Shotaro for about thirty minutes before arriving at a gated estate hidden within the forest. The gate gleamed with gold filigree and precious stones, with a large emblem of the Verdant Academy a private Pokémon institution known in side manga material for producing snobbish, wealthy trainers.

Just as they passed the threshold into the courtyard, a grating voice rang out. "Stop right there, Shotaro! You dare come back? We didn't give you permission!"

Another voice chimed in, equally unpleasant: "Yeah, get lost! You failed the trial!"

Alex turned and saw two boys about ten years old, both with smug expressions and polished uniforms. Judging by their behavior, these had to be Yongtai and Zhengke, the bullies Shotaro had mentioned earlier.

"You two must be Yongtai and Zhengke," Alex said, stepping forward.

"Heh, you've heard of us? Our fame's growing," Yongtai boasted. "Told you we're elite!"

"We're here for Shotaro," Misty snapped. "You left him behind in a fog-covered forest. That's cruel!"

"Hmph, the weak have no place in the academy," Zhengke sneered. "Miss Sundae says if you can't complete basic training, you're not worthy."

Alex's expression darkened. That was it.

"If that's your logic, then let's test your strength," he said. "If you're so confident, battle me."

"Ohhh?" they laughed. "You'll regret this! Hitmonchan, Oddish go!"

From behind them, their Pokémon appeared. Hitmonchan threw a few practice punches, while Oddish looked oddly out of place, clearly chosen just to fill a roster.

"Pidgeot, teach them a lesson—Hurricane!"

Pidgeot responded instantly. The storm it whipped up lifted both Hitmonchan and Oddish into the air, slamming them into the far academy wall. They collapsed with spirals in their eyes fainted instantly.

Yongtai and Zhengke froze. "Wh-What?!"

Alex walked forward, smirking. "Scared now?"

"B-Big sis! We got beaten!" they shouted, running toward the academy building like scolded children.

"What's with the shouting?" came a clear, sharp voice.

A girl with cropped brown hair stepped out. She was dressed in a custom blazer with the Verdant Academy emblem on the sleeve. Her presence was commanding despite her petite size.

"That's her," Alex thought. "Sundae still as arrogant as her counterpart in the Pokémon manga. A prodigy with attitude."

Sundae crossed her arms and looked at Alex. "Beating those two doesn't make you special. You don't look that impressive."

Alex shrugged, wearing a cheeky grin. "Care to test that in battle? Or are you all talk?"

Sundae narrowed her eyes, a flush creeping into her cheeks. "You shameless!"

"Miss Sundae, I just meant a Pokémon battle," Alex replied, faking innocence. "Why call me shameless?"

Misty giggled behind him, while Brock looked away with a smirk.

Sundae clenched her fists. "Fine! I accept your challenge!"

Only Ash scratched his head in confusion. "Huh? What did Alex even say to make her that mad…? The world of girls is too hard to understand."

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