Chapter 25: Shadows in Viridian Forest

The wind whipped through the dense canopy of Viridian Forest, rustling the thick underbrush at my feet. I glanced around, every nerve on edge, trying to shake the nagging sense that we were being watched. The scent of damp earth and pine needles filled the air, but it wasn't calming. Not today.

I crouched low, fingers brushing against the Pokéball hanging at my side, its cool surface grounding me for just a moment. "Ivysaur, be ready," I muttered, my voice barely more than a breath. Beside me, Alisha knelt by her Squirtle, Splash, applying a healing potion to the small, playful turtle. Her usual smile was absent, her brow furrowed with the tension in the air.

A sharp rustle came from the bushes again, and my eyes snapped to the movement, heart pounding in my chest. I remembered the attack on the cliff outside Viridian City like it had happened minutes ago—the shadowy figure, their Pidgeotto striking from the clouds without warning, and then disappearing into the chaos. I'd barely caught a glimpse of them before they vanished. And now, here in the depths of the forest, that same unsettling presence gnawed at me, the memory refusing to let go.

Alisha seemed oblivious, too focused on her Squirtle. "You sure you don't want any healing for Ivysaur?" she asked, not bothering to look up from Splash. 

I shook my head. "He'll be fine."

But Alisha was persistent. "You say that, but he's looking pretty rough after our last battle." Her playful tone was there, but it was subdued, and for once, she didn't tease.

Before I could respond, a blur of movement above us caught my eye—a Pidgeotto perched on a branch high above, its feathers ruffled, and eyes sharp as it stared down. My breath caught in my throat. That wasn't my Pidgeotto.

I stood, gripping Ivysaur's Pokéball tighter. Alisha looked up, noticing my sudden tension. "What's wrong?"

"Get ready," I said, voice low. "That Pidgeotto... it's not friendly."

Alisha's eyes widened. "You mean—?"

Before she could finish, the bird launched itself from the branch with terrifying speed. "Ivysaur, now!" I barked, throwing his Pokéball into the air. In a flash of light, Ivysaur stood before me, his stance wide and ready, despite his fatigue from the earlier battle.

The Pidgeotto dove, its wings cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. I barely had time to react before it kicked up a storm of sand, the gritty particles whipping across the clearing. I ducked just in time, but Alisha, too slow, was hit squarely in the face. She staggered backward, rubbing her eyes, disoriented.

"Splash!" Alisha cried out, her voice strained with panic. Her Squirtle sprang into action, firing a Water Gun wildly, missing the Pidgeotto by a mile.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. Without thinking, I lunged forward, grabbing Alisha's wrist and yanking her to the ground as the Pidgeotto swooped in for a Tackle. We hit the dirt hard, rolling to the side just as the bird's talons tore through the spot where we'd been standing.

"Why the hell do you keep attacking me?" I shouted into the chaos, but there was no answer, just the eerie quiet that followed the bird's attack.

Then I saw him—a shadowy figure stepping out from the trees, dressed head-to-toe in black, face obscured by a hood. His voice was cold and detached, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Quick Attack and Gust."

Pidgeotto moved like a bullet, ramming into Ivysaur before he could react, sending him stumbling back. The bird followed up with a powerful Gust, the wind howling through the trees, whipping leaves and debris into a chaotic storm.

"Alisha, stay low!" I barked, pushing her down as I scrambled to my feet. Ivysaur shook off the hit, his vines twitching with anger. "Leech Seed and Poison Powder!" I commanded, my voice firm.

Ivysaur crouched low, his vines unfurling with precision, launching the Leech Seeds toward Pidgeotto. They latched on, pulsing with a sickly green glow as they began draining the bird's energy. Ivysaur didn't stop there—he unleashed a cloud of Poison Powder, the purple mist spreading through the air, enveloping Pidgeotto.

The bird screeched, its movements slowing as the poison took hold, its body faltering mid-flight. The figure in black didn't seem fazed. "Tackle and Sand Attack," he ordered with a snap of his fingers.

Pidgeotto, though weakened, obeyed, slamming into Ivysaur with a desperate burst of energy. Ivysaur staggered, but he was still standing. Before he could recover, another cloud of sand erupted from Pidgeotto's wings, blinding him.

"Razor Leaf and Vine Whip!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice. Ivysaur shook off the sand, his resolve hardening as he fired a barrage of razor-sharp leaves toward Pidgeotto. At the same time, his vines lashed out, coiling around the bird's legs and yanking it down from the sky.

Pidgeotto thrashed, wings flapping wildly, but Ivysaur's grip only tightened, the Leech Seeds continuing to sap its strength.

"Finish it," I growled. "Seed Bomb and Takedown."

Ivysaur's bulb glowed an intense green, a Seed Bomb launching high into the air before crashing down with a deafening explosion. The ground shook, and before Pidgeotto could recover, Ivysaur charged forward, slamming into the weakened bird with full force. The impact sent Pidgeotto crashing into the dirt, motionless.

I exhaled, relief flooding through me. The battle was over.

Or so I thought.

The man in black stepped forward, his expression hidden but his voice oozing arrogance. "You're getting stronger, Setia," he said, his tone mocking. "Keep it up—you'll be useful to my organization soon enough."

My blood ran cold at his words.

Before I could respond, he tossed another Pokéball into the air, and a massive Pidgeot appeared, its wings spanning wide as it landed beside him. He mounted the bird, turning to me with a sneer.

"Enjoy your peace while it lasts," he called, his voice fading as he soared into the sky.

I watched him disappear, my fists clenched at my sides. Alisha, still rubbing her eyes, finally spoke, her voice shaky. "Who... who was that?"

"I don't know," I muttered, my gaze fixed on the horizon. "But it's going to be trouble."

I knelt beside Ivysaur, pulling a potion from my bag. His tired eyes blinked at me, and I gently applied the spray to his wounds. "Good job," I whispered, handing him a handful of premium Pokémon food as a reward.

Beside me, Alisha stayed quiet, her Squirtle, Splash, by her side. I tossed her a bit of the food as well, but she just stared at it, her usual energy subdued.

"Did you take out a starter trainer loan from the Pokémon World Bank or something?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence with a hint of her old teasing tone.

I shook my head, too focused on the growing sense of unease that had settled deep in my gut. Something was coming, something big. And I wasn't sure we were ready for it.

As I scanned the forest, waiting for any sign of my Pidgeotto returning with news of the poisoned Pikachu, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

Trouble was brewing, and it was only a matter of time before it found us again.