Chapter 67: Pokémon and Pride

The dirt road beneath our feet crackled with every step, the sky above an intense, burning orange as evening settled in. I watched the sun dip lower, its rays casting long shadows through the trees that stretched on either side of us. It was one of those moments where everything felt too still, too quiet, but I didn't mind. Erin, clinging to my arm like she always did, her slim figure hugging close, seemed to find comfort in that stillness. I glanced down at her, her oversized hoodie bunched at her wrists, those big hazel eyes staring ahead but clearly lost somewhere far deeper.

Ash, Pikachu on his shoulder, and Brock and Misty were walking ahead, their voices mingling with the rustling leaves and the distant hum of wild Pokémon. I noticed Ash's sudden stop. He turned, his expression serious, more curious than anything else.

"Punit," he started, his tone light but probing, "I know you have the same badges as me, but how many Pokémon do you have? What are their names?"

I caught Misty and Brock turning too, and even Erin's grip tightened slightly. All their eyes were on me, and the weight of expectation hung heavy in the air. But I didn't flinch. Instead, I spoke, my voice calm and collected.

"I have five," I said, barely breaking a sweat.

Ash's face lit up with pride as he launched into his own list. "I have Pikachu, Pidgeotto, Butterfree, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle." He puffed out his chest. "Caught them all myself."

Before he could finish boasting, Misty slapped him across the back of the head. "Caught them yourself? Please! You got most of them handed to you. Except Pidgeotto and Butterfree."

She wasn't wrong. I could see the frustration flash in Ash's eyes as Misty continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And those badges? We helped you get them out of pity."

Ash mumbled something incoherent, but before the tension could rise, Brock, always the peacemaker, chimed in. "What Pokémon do you have, Punit? If you don't mind."

Erin still had her arms locked around mine, but I nodded. My tone stayed level, as if this was just another walk in the park. "Venusaur, Pidgeot, Raichu, Gyarados, Alakazam."

Ash's mouth hung open, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. Misty was just as stunned, her jaw dropping, while Brock raised an eyebrow, curious but impressed. Pikachu, on the other hand, tilted its head like it was just another day in the life. And Erin, well, she barely reacted. As always, she acted like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ash was the first to snap out of it. "How… how do you have so many fully evolved Pokémon? Gyarados? Alakazam? How?"

Misty's voice cut through his rambling. "Did you catch a Magikarp and evolve it?" Her eyes searched mine, as if waiting for some wild story.

I simply nodded, keeping the moment as mundane as possible. "Yeah."

Brock leaned in, his tone curious but cautious. "Alakazam, though. Isn't that a new evolution for Kadabra?"

I gave him a short nod, the conversation already feeling redundant. "It's rare. Ancient, even. Hardly seen these days."

Brock mulled that over, nodding as he fell back into step with the group. But before he could dive into another question, Ash's voice rang out, excitement filling the air again.

"Krabby! I see a Krabby!" He bolted ahead, his energy impossible to contain. "Pikachu, Thunder Shock!"

Without hesitation, Pikachu unleashed a bolt of electricity, stunning the poor Krabby before Ash tossed a Pokéball. It clicked shut, and Ash beamed. "Caught it!"

As he celebrated, Erin tugged on my sleeve. I glanced down to meet her calm, unflinching eyes. "Carry me," she said, her voice an odd mix of deadpan and unfiltered honesty.

I blinked, not quite sure if I heard her right. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, completely serious. "Misty told me."

"I did not tell you that!" Misty shot back, glaring at Erin, but Erin just blinked, her calm demeanor unshaken.

"She doesn't lie," I said, already scooping Erin up into my arms without hesitation. She felt light, her small body leaning into me without complaint.

Ash's victory shout cut through the awkward silence. "Wait! Where's my Pokéball? Where'd it go?"

Brock chuckled, shaking his head. "Ash, you can only carry six Pokémon at a time. Your new catch must've gone back to Professor Oak."

Ash's face fell. "I don't trust Professor Oak! What if he eats my Krabby?"

Misty smacked him again. "He's not going to eat it, Ash. Get a grip."

As we walked, the beach finally came into view, the distant roar of waves crashing against the shore. Pikachu had already scampered ahead, its sharp ears twitching as it spotted something in the distance. A lighthouse perched high on a cliff.

"We'll find a phone there," Brock said, clearly more excited about the prospect of cooking than anything else.

Misty chimed in, stretching her arms over her head. "And maybe I'll finally get to sleep in a real bed."

Ash, his panic already fading, lit up at the thought of a phone. "And I can call Professor Oak about Krabby!"

I shifted Erin in my arms as she rested her head against my chest. "I just want to watch the sky."

Everyone stopped for a moment, their gazes shifting to me like I'd said something bizarre. Even Ash, caught in his own world, blinked in surprise. But Erin, still nestled against me, didn't react. She simply whispered, her voice as calm as ever.

"Let's go."

Pikachu darted ahead, leading the charge toward the lighthouse. Ash, Misty, and Brock hurried after it, and I followed, Erin's quiet presence still anchored in my arms. The orange sky melted into twilight, and as we ran, the waves crashed louder, the tension of the day trailing behind us.