Pokémon : The Perfect Path

The sun dipped below the treetops, casting long shadows over Viridian Forest. The dense canopy overhead swayed gently in the evening breeze, filling the air with the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of nocturnal Pokémon.

After their battle, Samurai led Velkris, Ash, and Misty to his secluded cabin, a small but well-maintained wooden structure nestled between ancient trees. The scent of burning firewood drifted in the air, giving the place a warm, rustic charm.

Inside, Samurai gestured toward a wooden platform covered with straw mats.

"You all should rest here for a while. My cabin may be humble, but it's a safe place in the forest," he said.

Velkris watched as Ash released Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and Metapod, allowing them to rest. Ralts appeared beside Velkris, stretching slightly before settling down. Misty's Starmie and Staryu were also out, their cores faintly glowing in the dim light.

However, Velkris kept Gible's Poké Ball hidden, clipped securely to the inside of his jacket. He hadn't revealed Gible's existence yet—not to Ash, not to Misty, not to anyone.

Samurai's cabin had a small, fenced-off section where his own Pokémon—Pinsir and Metapod—rested near a wooden training dummy. Ash eyed Samurai's Metapod with curiosity, briefly glancing at his own.

"You train with that Metapod a lot?" Ash asked.

Samurai nodded, arms crossed. "Of course. A true warrior must train all his Pokémon, no matter their form."

Velkris sat down near the fire as Samurai prepared a simple meal of roasted berries and warm herbal tea. Misty leaned against the cabin's frame, arms folded.

"So, Samurai," Misty started, "why exactly did you choose to be a samurai in the first place?"

Samurai placed his hands on his knees, sitting straight. "It is a path of discipline. The way of the warrior teaches honor, patience, and strength. Long ago, my ancestors were warriors of the land, and I vowed to uphold that tradition. Pokémon battles are more than mere contests of strength; they are duels of spirit and mind."

Velkris listened with interest. "A unique philosophy for a Pokémon trainer."

Samurai smirked. "And yet, one that has served me well. I do not battle for sport—I battle to test my limits and to honor my opponents."

Ash grinned. "That's cool and all, but I'm still gonna be the best trainer ever!"

Samurai chuckled, shaking his head. "Confidence is good, but experience will temper that fire, young one."

The fire crackled as Misty turned her gaze toward the forest outside. "Hey, speaking of history… aren't there myths about Viridian Forest?"

Samurai stroked his chin in thought. "Indeed. Many tales speak of the forest being home to something… ancient. Some say a powerful Pokémon watches over this place, hidden in the depths of the wilderness. Others claim a shadow moves through the trees, unseen by most, only appearing to those it deems worthy."

Velkris felt a small shiver run down his spine. Could it be Mew? Ho-Oh? Or something else entirely?

Ash huffed. "Bah, myths are just stories. If something cool was hiding here, I'd find it first!"

Velkris smirked. "Not everything reveals itself to people who just rush ahead blindly, Ash."

Misty nudged Ash playfully. "Yeah, maybe that's why you didn't even know what a Caterpie was until you caught one."

"H-Hey! I knew what it was!" Ash stammered.

Velkris chuckled softly but kept his thoughts to himself. He'd have to keep an eye out for anything unusual while they traveled.

As they finished their meal, Samurai placed his empty cup down and looked at them seriously.

"You all are strong in your own way. But tell me—before you, another trainer from Pallet Town came through here. I battled him."

Velkris and Ash exchanged glances. They both knew exactly who Samurai was referring to.

Misty leaned forward. "Wait, someone from Pallet? Who was it?"

Before Velkris could respond, Ash immediately jumped in, crossing his arms. "Ugh, that was Gary Oak. He's so arrogant, always acting like he's the best trainer ever. And don't even get me started on how he brags about being Professor Oak's grandson."

Misty blinked. "Wait, Professor Oak's grandson? I think I've heard of him…"

Velkris shook his head. "Ash isn't wrong, but that's only part of the story. Gary is arrogant, sure, but he's also a really skilled trainer. He doesn't just rely on brute force—he adapts. He learns from his opponents, changes his battle style in the middle of a fight, and always improves."

Samurai nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Our battle was short, but I could tell he was calculating, never making the same mistake twice. His ability to adjust mid-battle is… formidable."

Ash scoffed. "Pfft. Yeah, well, I'll still beat him one day."

Velkris smirked. "Maybe. But you're gonna have to work for it."

Samurai stood up, adjusting his armor. "Well, now that you've all rested, I won't let you leave without another challenge."

Ash grinned. "Another battle? You're on!"

Samurai raised a hand. "Not just you, Ash. Velkris, I challenge you as well. You both will fight me—one after the other. Let us see how you fare compared to the last trainer I faced."

Velkris nodded, feeling the weight of Samurai's words. He wasn't just another opponent—this was a test.

Misty folded her arms. "This should be interesting."

Velkris glanced at Ash. "You wanna go first, or should I?"

Ash grinned. "I'll go first. You can watch and learn from the future Pokémon Master."

Velkris chuckled. "We'll see about that."

The fire crackled as the battle was about to begin. The forest around them stood still, as if even the wild Pokémon were watching.

The air in the Viridian Forest clearing was thick with tension as Ash and Samurai faced off, their gazes locked. Misty and Velkris stood at the sidelines, watching closely.

Samurai unsheathed his wooden practice sword and pointed it toward Ash. "A warrior's strength is measured in battle. Ash of Pallet Town, prepare yourself!"

Ash grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Bring it on! Pikachu, I choose you!"

With a spark of electricity, Pikachu leapt onto the battlefield, his red cheeks crackling with energy.

Samurai smirked and threw his Poké Ball. "Then face my Pinsir!"

In a flash of light, a massive Pinsir emerged, slamming its pincers together with a loud clack! Its beady eyes locked onto Pikachu, analyzing the opponent before it.

Ash clenched his fists. "Alright, Pikachu, let's start this strong! Use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu shot forward in a blur, moving too fast for the eye to follow.

Samurai reacted immediately. "Pinsir, Harden!"

As Pikachu struck, Pinsir's exoskeleton gleamed like steel, absorbing the impact. Pikachu rebounded, landing gracefully, but the attack had done little damage.

Samurai's expression remained sharp. "Now, Vice Grip!"

Pinsir lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive pincers snapping shut like a bear trap.

"Dodge!" Ash shouted.

Pikachu barely managed to leap to the side, but Pinsir twisted its body mid-motion, catching Pikachu by the tail!

"Pika?!" Pikachu yelped as Pinsir lifted him high into the air, tightening its grip.

Ash's heart pounded. "Pikachu, shock it with Thunder Shock!"

Electricity surged from Pikachu's body, zapping Pinsir at point-blank range. Pinsir roared in pain but didn't release its grip.

Samurai's eyes glinted. "A warrior endures! Pinsir, Seismic Toss!"

Pinsir spun in place before hurling Pikachu toward the ground!

BOOM!

A cloud of dust exploded as Pikachu crashed into the dirt.

Velkris' eyes narrowed. "That's bad. Seismic Toss deals damage based on the opponent's strength…"

Misty gasped. "Ash, Pikachu looks really hurt!"

Ash clenched his fists. Pikachu lay still for a moment, his body trembling from the impact.

Then—his ears twitched.

His small frame wobbled as he forced himself to stand, panting but determined.

Samurai gave a respectful nod. "Impressive resilience."

Ash gritted his teeth. "We're not giving up! Pikachu, Thunder Shock—full power!"

Pikachu growled, sparks flaring wildly before unleashing a massive jolt of electricity!

The bolt struck Pinsir dead-on. Its exoskeleton crackled, its body stiffening as the electricity surged through it.

"Endure, Pinsir!" Samurai commanded.

Pinsir gritted its teeth, trembling, but its legs started to buckle.

Ash's eyes blazed. "Let's finish this! Quick Attack!"

Pikachu became a golden blur, dashing forward with breakneck speed.

Samurai's eyes widened. "Pinsir, block it!"

Pinsir raised its arms—but Pikachu feinted left at the last second, dodging around Pinsir's defenses and ramming into its side!

Pinsir let out a deep groan as its legs finally collapsed.

A moment of silence.

Then Samurai exhaled and withdrew Pinsir.

"You have bested me in this round," he said, bowing. "A true warrior accepts both victory and defeat with honor."

Ash grinned. "Alright! We did it, Pikachu!"

Pikachu wobbled, clearly exhausted, but let out a weak yet victorious pika!

Velkris crossed his arms. "That was closer than it should've been. You need to work on Pikachu's endurance."

Ash huffed. "Hey, we still won, didn't we?"

Samurai chuckled. "That is true. But now, let us test a battle of endurance in another way."

He reached for another Poké Ball.

"Ash… let us see whose Metapod is superior!"

Ash's confidence wavered slightly. "Uhh… right. Let's do it. Metapod, I choose you!"

Ash's Metapod landed on the battlefield with a soft thud.

Samurai smirked and tossed his own Poké Ball. "Come forth, my own Metapod!"

Another flash, and Samurai's Metapod appeared. It stood completely still, staring blankly at its opponent.

Velkris sighed. "Let me guess… this is gonna be a Harden battle."

Ash, however, had other plans. "Metapod, use Tackle!"

Samurai raised an eyebrow. "An aggressive strategy? Very well. Metapod, counter with Bug Bite!"

Ash's Metapod lunged forward, but Samurai's Metapod moved quicker, clamping onto it with a sharp bite. Ash's Metapod shuddered from the attack and was knocked back.

Ash's jaw dropped. "Wait—Metapod can use Bug Bite?!"

Samurai nodded. "A true warrior does not limit himself to a single technique."

Ash grit his teeth. "Alright then! Metapod, keep using Tackle!"

His Metapod tried to ram into Samurai's again and again, but Samurai's Metapod always landed a Bug Bite first, gradually chipping away at its endurance.

After a few exchanges, Ash's Metapod wobbled, then fell onto its side.

Ash sighed. "Aww, man…"

Samurai gave a respectful nod. "Your spirit is commendable, but in the end, this battle belongs to me."

Misty shook her head. "I can't believe I just watched a battle between two Metapod and actually found it interesting."

With that, the two-on-two match was a draw—one win for Ash, one win for Samurai.

But Samurai turned to Velkris with a knowing smirk.

"Now, Velkris, I challenge you."

Velkris raised an eyebrow. "Alright, but what Pokémon do you have left?"

Samurai's smirk widened. "I have been saving my ace for you."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a hidden Poké Ball. With a swift motion, he tossed it into the air.

A sharp cry rang through the clearing as a battle-hardened Scyther appeared, its twin scythes gleaming. It crouched low, wings buzzing, eyes locked onto Velkris.

"This is my strongest warrior," Samurai declared. "I did not use him against Ash's Pikachu—it would have been unfair. But against you, Velkris… I wish to see your true strength."

Velkris narrowed his eyes, gripping his own Poké Ball. "Then let's see if you can handle it."

Just as Velkris and Samurai were about to start their battle, the tension in the air was electric.

Velkris' Ralts floated into the battlefield, its small form radiating psychic energy, its eyes glowing with determination. Opposite it, Samurai's Scyther spread its bladed arms wide, its sharp scythes gleaming under the fading sunlight. The rapid buzzing of its wings sent a small breeze through the clearing.

Samurai smirked, gripping the hilt of his practice sword. "A warrior's battle is not just about strength. It is about skill, discipline, and—"

A low, ominous buzzing echoed in the distance.

At first, it was faint—almost blending with the natural sounds of the forest. But within seconds, it grew into an overwhelming roar, like a thousand tiny wings slicing through the air in unison. The sound wasn't just loud—it was threatening.

Samurai's confident expression instantly shifted. His eyes widened in sheer alarm.

"No… Not now!" he muttered before spinning around to face the source of the noise.

Then he saw them.

Far beyond the treeline, a massive swarm of Beedrill burst into view, their black-and-yellow bodies flashing through the gaps between the trees. Their red, compound eyes burned with fury, and their massive stingers gleamed in the dim light. The swarm wasn't just moving—it was rampaging.

"Beedrill stampede!" Samurai shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

Velkris' eyes sharpened. "Something must have disturbed their nest."

Samurai didn't hesitate. He recalled Scyther and Metapod in an instant. "Everyone, RUN! Get to the cabin—NOW!"

Without questioning, Velkris, Ash, and Misty sprinted after Samurai. Their feet pounded against the forest floor as they raced toward the safety of the wooden cabin.

But then—halfway there—Ash suddenly skidded to a stop.

His heart dropped. "Metapod!"

The others turned to see Ash standing frozen, staring back at the battlefield.

In the chaos, he had forgotten to recall Metapod! The green cocoon Pokémon lay still in the grass—completely vulnerable—as the horde of Beedrill rushed closer like a tidal wave of buzzing wings.

Misty gasped. "Ash, you can't—"

But Ash had already turned on his heel and dashed back toward Metapod.

"Pikachu, come on!" Ash shouted.

"Pika!" Pikachu didn't hesitate, leaping onto Ash's shoulder as they charged toward Metapod.

The Beedrill were already almost upon them.

Velkris clenched his jaw. "Dammit."

He rushed forward as well.

"Velkris, what are you—?!" Misty shouted after him, but he was already moving.

His mind raced. I can't send out Gible—I can't reveal him yet…

"Ralts, use Confusion!"

The Psychic-type's eyes flashed blue, sending out a telekinetic wave that slammed into the leading Beedrill, momentarily staggering them.

It barely slowed them down.

Ash was mere feet away from Metapod now.

"Almost—"

But then, out of nowhere, another figure burst through the trees, running directly into the Beedrill stampede!

A man in a lab coat, glasses slightly crooked, holding a notepad in one hand and a Poké Ball in the other. His messy brown hair was unkempt, as if he had been too focused on his research to care about appearances.

Velkris' breath hitched. "Professor Light?!"

The researcher didn't even seem panicked. Instead, he was frantically scribbling notes on the Beedrill's behavior even as they barreled toward him.

"Fascinating… The aggression patterns are more intense than anticipated in this area of the Viridian Forest…! And the response to foreign intrusion—remarkable!"

Ash, still running, gawked. "Is this Guy CRAZY?!"

Professor Light adjusted his glasses. "Ah. Perhaps I should move."

He barely dodged as a Beedrill's stinger sliced through the air inches from his face.

Velkris gritted his teeth. "This is getting out of hand."

Ash reached Metapod, scooping it up just in time.

"Pikachu, Thunder Shock!"

Electricity crackled, zapping the nearest Beedrill, stunning them briefly. But the swarm kept coming.

Velkris turned toward the professor. "Professor Light, we need to GO!"

Professor Light blinked at him, then gave an awkward smile. "Ah, Velkris! Fancy meeting you here. I was just observing—"

"LESS TALKING, MORE RUNNING!" Misty yelled.

Professor Light chuckled. "Fair point."

With that, everyone turned and sprinted for the cabin, the furious Beedrill right on their tails.

The moment Velkris, Ash, Misty, Samurai, and Professor Light barreled through the cabin door, Samurai slammed it shut behind them.

BANG! BANG!

The entire wooden structure shook violently as the Beedrill slammed into the walls and windows, their furious buzzing drowning out all other sounds. Their massive stingers stabbed against the wooden planks, scratching and denting the surface.

"What were you THINKING?!" Samurai snapped, rounding on Professor Light with narrowed eyes. His usual composed demeanor was gone, replaced by pure frustration. "You disturbed a Beedrill nest?! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

Professor Light, still catching his breath, pushed up his glasses. "Now, now, before you accuse me of crimes against nature—"

"Then explain why we're trapped inside my cabin with an angry swarm of Beedrill outside!" Samurai cut in, folding his arms.

Professor Light sighed, adjusting his lab coat. "I assure you, I did not disturb the Beedrill nest. Rather, I was pursuing the true culprits—individuals who have been stealing Kakuna from Viridian Forest."

Velkris' eyes sharpened. "Stealing Kakuna?"

Professor Light nodded. "Exactly. Someone has been abducting entire clusters of Kakuna, disrupting the local hive structure. I caught them in the act, but before I could identify them, they used a pheromone disperser to artificially agitate the Beedrill swarm. Then, to make their escape, they threw the pheromones at me, effectively making me their scapegoat."

Ash groaned. "So you got stuck running for your life, and now we're stuck with you?!"

"Essentially, yes," Professor Light said with a sheepish smile.

Velkris, breathing heavily, leaned against the cabin wall, deep in thought.

So it wasn't just random aggression… Someone planned this. But who?

His first thought was Team Rocket. But no, if it were just Jessie and James, they would have already fumbled their way into getting blasted off again.

No, this wasn't their style.

This was the work of someone else.

Could it be… another branch of Team Rocket? The ones who are actually serious about stealing and smuggling Pokémon?

His stomach twisted at the thought. The Team Rocket that lurked in the shadows—the real criminals, not the bumbling duo they had encountered before.

He clenched his fists. If that's the case, then this isn't just some petty theft. This is organized. And that means…

Before he could finish his thought, Samurai spoke up, his expression tense but determined.

"We can't just sit here waiting for them to break in." He gestured toward the windows, where Beedrill were slamming their bodies against the glass, their stingers piercing just a bit deeper each time.

"If we wait too long, they'll tear the cabin apart."

Misty paled. "They wouldn't actually break in, right?"

CRACK!

A Beedrill's stinger pierced the wooden door, puncturing straight through to the other side.

Misty screamed and jumped back. "WE'RE DOOMED!"

Velkris forced himself to focus.

There had to be a way out.

They needed a solution—fast.

The cabin creaked under the force of the chaos outside. The furious buzzing of Beedrill filled the air, their sharp stingers slamming into the wooden walls in rapid succession. Some of the weaker planks splintered slightly, and it was only a matter of time before they broke through.

Samurai gritted his teeth, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "We can't just sit here! If we don't act fast, they'll tear their way in!"

Velkris's mind raced. He knew Beedrill were relentless when provoked. A direct fight would be suicide, but running out blindly would get them skewered. There had to be another way—something to throw them off.

That's when he noticed something near the edge of the cabin—an old wooden incense burner.

"Incense…?" Velkris murmured.

Samurai nodded. "I follow traditional ways, so I keep special incense as part of my daily training. It's mostly for meditation and purification, but some of it burns thick and heavy—it could make a good smokescreen."

Velkris's eyes lit up. "That's perfect! If we create enough smoke, we can cover our escape."

Samurai quickly retrieved a bundle of thick incense sticks and a few scraps of old cloth.

Misty frowned. "That's not going to be enough to create enough smoke to cover our escape."

Velkris smirked. "Then we make it enough."

Without hesitation, he grabbed a few of Samurai's old clothes from a trunk, dumping them onto the pile. Samurai's eye twitched in irritation as his belongings were sacrificed.

"You better pay me back for this," Samurai muttered.

"Oh, don't worry," Velkris said, grinning. "I'll send Professor Oak the bill."

Samurai rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

With no time to waste, they quickly lit the incense and cloth on fire, feeding it with more kindling. Thick, black smoke billowed into the air, filling the cabin within seconds. Outside, the Beedrill hesitated, their buzzing growing erratic as they found their vision obscured by the sudden smog.

Velkris turned to Ash. "Alright, Ash! Get Pidgeotto out here! Have it use Gust to blow the smoke outside!"

Ash nodded and grabbed a Poké Ball. "Pidgeotto, let's go!"

The large bird Pokémon emerged in a flash of light, its wings spreading wide.

"Use Gust!" Ash commanded.

Pidgeotto flapped its wings rapidly, creating a powerful current that forced the thick smoke out through the cracks and gaps in the walls. In moments, the entire clearing outside was drowned in a dense, swirling haze.

"Good! Now, Misty, we need even more! Starmie's Rapid Spin should help spread the smoke even further."

Misty nodded, tossing her Poké Ball into the air. "Starmie, Rapid Spin!"

With a flash, Starmie materialized and immediately began spinning at high speeds, whipping up the smoke like a powerful fan, making it swirl through the battlefield even faster.

The Beedrill, now completely disoriented, started flying in random directions, some even retreating out of sheer confusion.

Velkris exhaled sharply. He had one last thing to add to this plan.

Reaching for a Poké Ball, he hesitated for just a moment. Gible's existence was still a secret. But in this situation, there wasn't any room to hide it.

With a flick of his wrist, Velkris released Gible into the battlefield.

The small, shark-like Pokémon emerged, blinking at the chaos around it. Ash and Misty stared in shock— this was the first time they had seen Velkris' second Pokémon.

"Wait… what is that?" Misty started to ask, but Velkris cut her off.

"No time for questions—Gible, Sand Tomb!"

The moment Gible's feet touched the ground, the ability within it activated instinctively.

The air shifted. The loose dirt and sand on the forest floor began to swirl violently, forming a whirling vortex of sand that spread outwards, surrounding the cabin like a protective barrier. Any Beedrill that tried to break through the smoke found themselves caught in the churning Sandy trap, struggling to stay airborne.

With the Beedrill now completely disoriented and slowed, Velkris saw the perfect opening.

"Alright—Ralts, Confusion! Pikachu, Thunder Wave!"

Ralts' eyes glowed blue, and a pulse of psychic energy rippled outward, disrupting the Beedrill's movements even further. Many of them veered off course, crashing into each other as their tiny minds struggled against the attack.

At the same time, Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity.

"Pika-chuuu!"

A wave of paralyzing electricity surged through the battlefield, striking multiple Beedrill at once. Some of them fell from the air, their wings twitching as paralysis took effect.

The plan had worked. The Beedrill, confused, slowed, and unable to see clearly through the thick smoke, finally broke apart. The swarm began to scatter in different directions, retreating deeper into the forest.

Velkris exhaled sharply. "Alright… NOW we run!"

With the threat neutralized, the group burst out of the cabin, making a break for safety.

Ash looked back at Velkris while running, still processing the fact that he had another Pokémon. "Dude, when were you planning on telling us about that?!"

Velkris smirked but didn't answer.

Misty crossed her arms. "You better explain later."

For now, they focused on getting as far away from the Beedrill nest as possible.

The group ran as fast as their legs could carry them, the rush of adrenaline pushing them forward. The dense trees of Viridian Forest blurred past them as they sprinted deeper into safety, their breaths ragged from exhaustion.

Velkris could still hear the distant buzzing of Beedrill, but it was fading—they had successfully outmaneuvered the swarm. The smoke and status effects had worked perfectly.

After what felt like an eternity, Samurai finally slowed down, skidding to a stop near a large, fallen tree trunk. "This should be far enough," he said, panting heavily.

One by one, they all stopped, some doubling over as they caught their breath. Ash collapsed onto the grass, arms sprawled out as he gasped for air. "Man… I've run from Spearow before, but that was something else."

Misty sank to her knees, brushing sweat from her forehead. "I swear… if we run into another swarm today, I'm just gonna let them take me."

Velkris leaned against the trunk, hands on his knees, trying to regulate his breathing. Gible stood next to him, barely fazed by all the running, looking at the group with a confused expression. Ralts, on the other hand, was exhausted, resting against Velkris' leg.

Samurai adjusted his headgear, his expression tense. "I still don't get it. Why were the Beedrill so aggressive? They don't usually attack unless their hive is threatened."

Ash clenched his fists. "Sounds like Team Rocket's behind this kind of thing."

Velkris, however, wasn't so sure. He had been thinking about it ever since they got inside the cabin. If it were just Jesse and James, they could've taken care of them easily. But this… this was different.

There are more dangerous people in Team Rocket—the ones who don't just steal… but kill.

He kept that thought to himself for now. They were still in the middle of the forest, exhausted, and had no idea who they were up against.

After a moment of silence, Ash suddenly looked at Professor Light, as if something had just clicked in his head.

"Wait a second." Ash frowned. "You're a Professor, right? Why didn't you just use your Pokémon to fight back?"

Professor Light sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Because I don't have them with me."

Ash blinked. "Huh?"

"I always carry weaker Pokémon when I go out researching," Professor Light explained. "If I bring strong ones, it disturbs the local Pokémon, making it harder to study them in their natural environment."

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Then where are they?"

Professor Light let out a deep breath. "In my tent."

Velkris blinked. "Wait… what?"

"I left my lab coat in my tent when I went out to observe the Beedrill," Professor Light admitted. "And my Pokémon were in the coat's inner pockets."

Ash smacked his forehead. "Oh, come on! Seriously?!"

Professor Light gave a sheepish chuckle. "I didn't exactly expect someone to throw pheromones at me and make an entire Beedrill hive go crazy."

Samurai shook his head. "So you're telling me we just risked our lives running from Beedrill, when all this time, your Pokémon were back at your tent?!"

Professor Light raised a finger. "Correction: My Pokémon and my coat are somewhere in the ruins of my tent."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"…We're going back there, aren't we?" Misty deadpanned.

Professor Light adjusted his glasses. "Absolutely."

Misty groaned, while Ash sighed in frustration. Velkris, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of his nose.

With no other choice, they started heading toward the remains of Professor Light's tent. The forest around them was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves. The tension from their escape still lingered, but at least they had some breathing room now.

As they walked, Ash and Misty subtly slowed their pace.

They both turned slightly, looking over their shoulders at Velkris.

Velkris immediately noticed.

"…You two have something to say."

Misty crossed her arms. "Oh, we definitely do."

Ash pointed at him. "That Other Pokémon."

Velkris said nothing, simply looking at them.

The forest was quieter now. The buzz of Beedrill had long since faded into the distance, leaving only the natural sounds of rustling leaves and distant chirps of wild Pokémon. The sun had begun its slow descent, casting long shadows through the canopy above.

Velkris walked slightly ahead of the group, keeping his focus forward. He knew this conversation was coming. It had only been delayed.

Ash and Misty exchanged another look before stepping forward to walk in sync with Velkris.

"So…" Ash began, tilting his head toward him. "About that Pokémon."

Velkris sighed. "I knew you guys weren't going to let this go."

Misty crossed her arms. "Obviously. You suddenly pull out a New Pokémon, have it use a Move like you've been training it for a while, and you expect us to just—what? Not ask questions?"

Velkris struggled for an answer.

He had known he'd have to explain Gible eventually—but after everything that had happened today, his mind was still racing. He opened his mouth to respond, only to hesitate, glancing toward Professor Light for help.

Professor Light, sharp as ever, caught the look immediately.

The researcher adjusted his glasses and stepped in smoothly. "Oh, I can explain that," he said casually. "Actually, I was the one who gave Velkris the Gible."

Misty blinked. "Wait, what?"

Ash frowned. "You? But I thought you were handing out Ralts, Zorua, and Buneary?"

Professor Light nodded. "That's right. But sometimes, trainers come across Pokémon in the wild that form a connection with them. Velkris happened to come across an abandoned Gible egg, and after doing some research, I confirmed it had been left behind. It had no mother, no nest, no one to return to. So I advised him to raise it."

Ash and Misty's eyes widened.

"…An abandoned Gible egg?" Misty repeated.

Velkris, finally finding his footing in the conversation, nodded. "Yeah. When I found it, I wasn't sure what to do, but after talking to Professor Light, he convinced me that raising it myself was the best choice."

Ash still looked skeptical. "And you never thought to mention it?"

Velkris sighed. "It wasn't exactly a planned capture, Ash. I just wanted to train it in secret for a while before introducing it to everyone."

Ash and Misty exchanged another glance before slowly nodding. "Alright… I guess that makes sense," Ash admitted.

Misty, however, narrowed her eyes slightly. "Okay, fine. But that still doesn't explain why you kept it a secret."

Velkris immediately froze.

His mind went blank.

That was… a good question. Why had he been so insistent on keeping Gible hidden?

Velkris' hesitation was all Misty needed to see. "You don't even have an answer, do you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Velkris opened his mouth—then shut it.

Professor Light watched him carefully but didn't step in this time. This was something Velkris had to figure out on his own.

Velkris scrambled for an answer, his mind racing.

Velkris finally sighed. "I Did it because Gible aren't just any Pokémon."

That seemed to get their attention.

Velkris took a breath and began explaining.

"Gible is a Dragon- and Ground-type Pokémon," he said. "It's naturally aggressive, territorial, and strong. Even as a baby, it has sharp instincts and a powerful bite. But more importantly, it evolves into something even stronger."

He glanced at them to see if they were following.

"Gible evolves into Gabite," he continued, "which gets even stronger and more aggressive. And then, at its final stage, it evolves into Garchomp."

Ash's eyes widened slightly. "Wait—Garchomp? As in…the Youngest Champion Cynthia's Pokémon?"

Velkris nodded. "Yeah. The same one."

That fact alone made both Ash and Misty pause.

Even Misty, who hadn't been too familiar with Gible before, knew about Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion.

"That's… pretty insane," Ash admitted.

Velkris folded his arms. "Exactly. Garchomp is an incredibly powerful Pokémon—even some of the strongest trainers struggle to handle it. And while Gible is just a baby, it's already strong and aggressive."

Professor Light chimed in at the perfect moment.

"In fact," he said with an approving nod, "Velkris' Gible is one of the most phenomenal specimens I've ever seen. Its instincts, power, and attachment to Velkris are remarkable. But that's exactly why Velkris had to be careful."

Misty tilted her head. "Careful how?"

Velkris looked at her seriously.

"I wanted to be sure I could train it properly before introducing it to everyone," he admitted. "I needed to be sure that I could control it—so that it wouldn't attack anyone."

That answer made both Ash and Misty pause.

"It was just born recently," Velkris continued. "It's still aggressive toward anything that isn't me. I didn't want to risk it hurting someone because it sees them as a threat."

Professor Light nodded. "That's right. From the moment it hatched, Gible imprinted on Velkris. It sees him as its guardian. That bond is strong—but it also means Gible doesn't trust others yet."

Misty and Ash exchanged another glance.

"…Okay," Misty finally said, sighing. "That actually makes a lot of sense."

Ash rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess I get it now." He looked at Velkris. "Man, you've really got your hands full with that thing, huh?"

Velkris smirked. "You have no idea."

Ash grinned. "Well, now that we know, you better not keep any more secret Pokémon from us."

Velkris shrugged. "I make no promises."

Ash groaned, while Misty just shook her head.

With that, they continued onward—back to the wreckage of Professor Light's tent, where more surprises surely awaited.