Chapter 12: Lake Camp

The late afternoon sun filtered through the thick canopy of Viridian Forest, casting long shadows that twisted and swayed with the wind. 

The trees loomed over us, ancient and silent, as Alice and I walked side by side along the narrow dirt path. 

Leaves crunched beneath our feet, the only sound breaking the stillness.

"So," Alice's voice cut through the quiet, sharp but steady. "Did you train my Bulbasaur today?"

I glanced over at her, trying to read her expression, but her face is composed. 

I shoved my hands into the pockets of my hoodie, feeling the rough fabric brush against my fingers.

"It's gonna take at least four more days to master Swords Dance," I said, shrugging. "If you stick to the three-hour sessions each day."

Alice nodded, her black eyes flicking toward the trees as if calculating something in her head. "I figured. It's a tricky move. You planning on catching any Pokémon while we're out here?"

"Yes. No. Maybe," I muttered, kicking a stray rock. "It depends."

She shot me a sidelong glance, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. "Always unpredictable."

I couldn't tell if she was amused or irritated by that. 

Probably both.

We walked in silence for a few moments. 

Alice suddenly slipped her arm through mine, her grip firm but not tight.

"My Charmander mastered Mega Punch today," I said, more to fill the quiet than anything else.

Her gaze snapped to mine, her interest piqued. "So what's next? You know we might have to face Flint soon—Brock's father. He'll be using Rock-types, no doubt."

"Toxic."

Alice blinked, clearly caught off guard. 

"Unpredictable… but a good choice." She nodded approvingly. "Ember won't do much against Rock-types anyway, but combine Toxic with Mega Punch, and you've got a real shot."

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'm planning to catch a Water-type," she said, her voice calm, calculating. "I suggest you do the same."

She pulled out a crumpled map from her bag, smoothing it out with precise movements. 

Her fingers traced a path along the paper. "There's a lake if we keep going. We can get there in a few hours."

I studied the map over her shoulder. "Which Pokémon are you hoping to catch?"

Alice folded the map with a snap and slid it back into her bag. "I already have my team planned out. Six Pokémon. That's all I'll need."

"Six?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why stop there?"

"Quality over quantity," she said simply. "We don't have time to train too many. A well-trained team of six can be a powerhouse compared to a chaotic mess of half-trained Pokémon."

I couldn't help but grin. "I'm thinking Gyarados."

She stopped dead in her tracks, her arm pulling me to a halt. 

She stared at me like I'd just said I was going to challenge the Elite Four with a Caterpie.

"Are you crazy?" Her voice was sharp now, her calm exterior cracking just a little. "Don't you remember the last time? We nearly got killed!"

I laughed and pulled her into a hug, feeling her tense for a moment before she relaxed against me. "Don't worry. I'm just going to catch a Magikarp. Nothing dangerous."

She sighed, exasperated but familiar. "I know. Fine. You're always like this."

When she pulled back, there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something soft, something she hid. 

Her hand brushed at her cheek, but I beat her to it, wiping away a tear she probably didn't want me to notice.

"I'll stick to six too," I said softly.

She glanced away, her expression tight as she nodded. "We should keep moving."

We walked on, the air between us thick with unspoken words.

"We'll need at least two strong Pokémon each if we want to win the Boulder Badge," I said after a while.

Alice kept her gaze forward, her steps measured. "But Gyarados can't help you in that battle. You'll need something else."

"I've got something in mind," I said, though I wasn't sure if that was true yet. 

But I'd figure it out.

---

After hours of trekking through the dense Verdian Forest, the lake finally came into view, its surface still and serene, catching the fading sunlight in a shimmer. 

I stopped, leaning against a tree and letting out a heavy sigh. 

"Finally," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "I can rest."

Alice shot me a sidelong glance, her lips barely twitching. 

"We've still got a bit to go," she said, her voice is composed. 

She never seemed tired, always focused. 

While I was ready to drop, Alice still moved with that careful, measured grace, her black ponytail swaying behind her. 

We reached the edge of the lake, and without a word, she laid down on the grass. 

I followed her lead, but instead of lying beside her, I slumped my head onto her lap, letting the tension drain from my body. 

The ground felt cool beneath me, the scent of damp earth and pine needles filling the air.

"When we're at the Pokémon Center," I said, staring up at the sky, "and there's nothing going on… we should do five hours of training a day. If we want to get stronger. Maybe more, if we get more Pokémon." 

Alice stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes scanning the horizon. 

"You want something to eat?" she asked, ignoring my suggestion entirely.

"Yeah," I grunted, "I'm starving. What do we have?"

She didn't answer immediately. 

Instead, she shifted, lifting my head gently off her lap and placing it on the grass with a kind of practiced ease. 

"We should set up camp first," she said, standing up and dusting off her jacket. "A little farther from the lake. We don't know what's in there. Could be a Gyarados lurking."

I snorted. "Gyarados won't attack unless we provoke it."

"Still," she said, eyes narrowing. "Better safe than sorry."

I wasn't going to argue with her logic. 

She rummaged through her bag and pulled out the tent, tossing it to me.

"You set it up," she said, her tone leaving no room for debate. "I'm going to check around the lake. Last time, remember?"

I scowled. "Let me come with—"

"Last time, Ethan."

Her words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the last time I'd gotten too close to danger. 

I bit my tongue and stood up, resigned to setting up the tent. 

As I worked, the rhythmic rustling of leaves and the occasional splash from the lake were the only sounds that filled the quiet between us. 

Once the tent was up, I headed into the forest, gathering a bundle of dry sticks. 

By the time I returned and set the campfire, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a deep orange glow across the sky. 

The lake reflected the colors, making it look like the water was on fire.

Alice came back, her boots barely making a sound on the grass. 

She sat down, cross-legged, a small smirk on her face as she took in the sight of the campfire.

"There are a lot of Pokémon around the lake," she said. "We might catch some tomorrow before we head out."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the day press down on me. "Sure."

I reached for my Pokéball, pressing the button that released Charmander. 

He materialized in front of me with a bright flash, immediately bounding over to hug my leg, his warm body comforting in the growing chill of the evening. 

Alice followed suit, releasing Bulbasaur, who plodded over to sit beside her.

"Charmander," I said, gesturing to the fire. "Start it up for me."

He nodded eagerly, his tail flame flicking onto the pile of sticks, and within seconds, the fire roared to life. 

I flopped onto the ground, exhausted, watching Charmander and Bulbasaur chase each other around the campsite.

Alice broke the silence. "What are you thinking about?"

I hesitated. 

The truth hung heavy in my chest. "It's gonna be tough to win the Boulder Badge."

She looked at me, her sharp black eyes catching the fading light. "Why do you think that? You've won every battle you've ever gone into."

"Not this one," I muttered. "Not without teaching Toxic to Charmander. If I don't, my chances are next to nothing."

She didn't flinch, didn't show any sign of worry. "You've always figured it out. You will again." 

I wanted to believe her, but the nagging doubt refused to leave. 

I stood up, the firelight casting long shadows as I stretched my arms. "You stay here. I'm gonna go train him. He'll eat and sleep after."

She raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you already train him today?"

"I did." I called Charmander over, and he trotted up, his wide eyes gleaming with that unwavering loyalty. 

I knelt down, resting a hand on his head. "I need your help to win the Boulder Badge, bud. That means we need to train—five hours a day, maybe more. Will you do that for me?"

Charmander stared at me for a long second, then nodded, licking my cheek with his warm, rough tongue. 

I chuckled, standing back up. "I'm heading into the forest. You take care of the camp."

Alice's voice was softer than usual. "Don't go too far."

"I won't," I said, casting one last look at her.