Chapter 39: Into the Moonlit Path

The rocky path up to Mount Moon stretched out before us, each step kicking up dust that settled back down with the weight of our boots. Raichu perched on my shoulder, its tail flicking in sync with my every step. I glanced behind me, a habit more than anything—Alisha was keeping her usual carefree pace, bouncing as if the trail was a dance floor. Lucy, on the other hand, trailed behind her, each step measured like she was afraid the ground might swallow her whole.

"Hey, Punit, if you're gonna stare at me that much," Alisha called out, her voice teasing, "why not come up close? You know, just so you can get a better view."

I rolled my eyes, my voice dry as I shot back, "Nice try, Alisha."

She flashed me a smirk, but there was something in her eyes. A glint that made me pause for a fraction of a second. Her tone softened, just barely, as she added, "Who says I'm joking?"

I brushed off the moment, pushing it aside as I turned back toward the path ahead, quickening my pace. Behind me, Alisha's laughter echoed, playful but sharp, and I could hear her nudging Lucy. "Relax, he's not so bad," she said, her voice dropping just a touch to comfort the shy girl. "I'm just messing with him."

Lucy gave a small nod, her face flushed, her gaze glued to the dirt as if it could hide her from the teasing.

We walked for another thirty minutes before I checked my Pokégear. "It's 5 PM," I announced, stopping to take stock of the area. The towering mouth of Mount Moon loomed ahead. "We'll rest here for a while and head into the cave around 7 PM. Alisha wants to catch a Clefairy."

Alisha grinned, practically glowing at the mention of her goal. "You care about what I want so much," she teased again, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

Ignoring her, I found a clearing and set Raichu down from my shoulder. Kneeling beside him, I scratched his head lightly, watching as his ears twitched in delight. "You still good up there, buddy?" I asked, smirking as Raichu nodded eagerly.

"Don't you feel bad leaving two girls behind like that?" Alisha piped up again, poking me lightly in the back. I didn't even bother turning around.

"No."

"You're so cold," she pouted, but her tone never lost that mischievous edge. She looked to Lucy, her smirk widening. "Hey, Lucy, don't you think we make a cute couple?"

Lucy's face went beet red, her hands fumbling with the scarf around her neck. "A-are you two…?" she stammered, her words crumbling under the weight of Alisha's teasing.

"No," I replied flatly, not giving Alisha the satisfaction of a reaction. But of course, she wasn't done.

"Yes," she shot back with a wink, the lie slipping from her lips just to watch Lucy's face flush even deeper. I could practically hear the gears in Lucy's head grinding to a halt, her shy confusion mixing with a growing unease.

I sighed, exasperated. "Stop messing with her," I warned, finally turning to give Alisha a sharp look. "You just met her. You want her to hate you already?"

Alisha laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Relax, Punit. It's just a bit of fun."

"Fun for you, maybe," I muttered, already busying myself with setting up the tent. I pressed the button, and the compact tent unfolded with a satisfying whoosh.

Alisha, predictably, never missed a beat. "Oh, look at you, all manly with your camping skills. Darling, I'm starving. How about some roasted meat? Lucy would love it too, right, Lucy?"

Lucy flinched at the sudden attention, her eyes darting between me and Alisha. "N-no, I'm fine…" she whispered, her voice so small it nearly disappeared into the air. But Alisha, as always, pressed on.

"She nodded! See, she's fine with it."

I shot Alisha another warning glance. "Stop messing with her."

Alisha shrugged, still grinning. "Fine, fine. I'll go gather firewood." She whistled sharply, releasing her team of Pokémon—Squirtle, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Butterfree, and Pikachu. Her voice shifted, taking on a commanding tone. "Alright, team. Firewood. Let's go."

With that, her Pokémon scattered into the trees. I released my own Pokémon—Venusaur and Pidgeotto—and watched as Raichu bounded over to play with them. As Venusaur plodded toward Lucy, I caught a glimpse of her fidgeting by her satchel.

"I-I want to help," she murmured, barely above a whisper.

I glanced at her, weighing her quiet determination. "Take care of your Eevee first," I reminded her. "She was hurt before, remember?"

Lucy's face softened, her hand instinctively reaching for her Eevee's Pokéball. "O-okay," she said, giving a small nod before turning her attention to the timid creature. She knelt beside Eevee, her touch gentle, and I could see the bond between them—one of quiet understanding and care.

As I turned back to the camp, I called Pidgeotto down. "Find some firewood," I instructed, and he took off into the trees. Raichu followed me as I walked into the woods, gathering sticks and fallen branches.

By the time I returned, the sky was tinged with the orange hues of sunset. Lucy sat quietly with all the Pokémon, her shyness evaporating as she tended to them with practiced care. I dropped the bundle of wood onto the ground, and before I could even take a breath, Alisha jumped in with her usual jabs.

"Took you long enough," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, I'm practically starving over here."

"Sorry," I muttered, not looking at her.

"Then give me a kiss," she shot back, her voice playful but relentless.

Lucy's face flushed again. "K-kiss?" she squeaked, her words tumbling out in a confused rush.

"See?" Alisha grinned, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Even she wants one."

Lucy's hands flailed in panic, her face a picture of embarrassment as she stammered, "N-no, I d-don't—"

I sighed, feeling the weight of exasperation settle in. "Don't tease her," I warned Alisha. "She's not used to it."

Alisha grinned wider, clearly enjoying every second. "Fine, fine. Spoilsport."

Together, we set up the campfire. As the flames flickered to life, I leaned back, watching the sparks fly into the evening sky. We sat around the fire, the warmth casting a soft glow over the clearing. Lucy fed her Eevee, her gentle nature shining through in the way she handled the timid Pokémon, while Alisha's team huddled together, Splash already starting to doze off.

I glanced at Lucy. "Could you share some of your Pokémon food with the others?"

Lucy nodded, her movements delicate as she handed out food to the team. Her Eevee stayed close to her, still shy but visibly relaxing as it watched the others.

As the evening wore on, we ate in a comfortable silence, the fire crackling softly. The warmth settled over us, pushing back the cool evening air. I lay back on the grass, staring up at the stars, their light dotting the darkening sky.

"We'll rest for a bit," I said, my voice quiet as the fire crackled. "We'll head into the cave at 7 PM."

Alisha, as usual, grinned. "Always on schedule, huh?"

But for once, I didn't bite back. The stars were too bright, and the moment too calm. The playful back-and-forth could wait until later.

For now, we rested.