Chapter 58: Caught in the Rain

It wasn't the kind of forest that welcomed you. The trees loomed overhead, thick with twisted branches, a blanket of mist curling around the roots. Every step crunched with the brittle remnants of leaves, and the only sound beyond that was the distant rustle of something—probably a wild Pokémon—moving through the underbrush. I glanced ahead, seeing Ash and Brock walking with the ease of kids who'd done this a thousand times. Behind me, Misty and Erin whispered to each other, or rather, Misty whispered and Erin stood stiff, her calm eyes betraying nothing.

I moved up next to Brock, the air between us settling into a comfortable silence before he finally spoke. "What do you think they're talking about?" His voice had a curious edge, like he was expecting something juicy.

I didn't break stride, answering casually, "I don't care."

Ash, being Ash, turned around, eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"

"Because," I said, shrugging, "whatever Misty says, I'll just dump it on her. And since she's traveling with you, that means you'll get smacked around by Professor Oak and your mom."

Ash's eyes widened in horror. "My mom? No!"

"Relax." I gave him a mischievous grin. "I'm just messing with you."

Ash nodded, but still, the thought had clearly spooked him. Brock, who had been watching this exchange with mild amusement, asked, "How far do we have to go?"

"Not far," I replied, eyeing the distant trees. "We're almost at the Pokémon Center."

Brock nodded, satisfied, and we kept walking. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for all of us, and the mist was starting to thin out as we approached the clearing.

I glanced over my shoulder at Erin. "Erin, come here."

She moved toward me without hesitation, her expression as neutral as ever. Misty followed, clearly annoyed. "Don't order my sister around," she snapped, folding her arms.

I turned to Erin, speaking evenly. "Did I order you around?"

Erin blinked, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "No, Punit didn't."

Misty's glare softened, but only slightly. "Give me a few more days, and I'll make sure she has more romantic sense. Maybe even some common sense while I'm at it."

Before I could respond, Ash's voice cut through the air. "What is that? Is it a big Pokémon?"

I turned, my pulse quickening. Ash was standing still, staring ahead at a small figure perched on a rock. I stepped closer, seeing the familiar orange scales and the flicker of a dying flame. A Charmander, its tail flame weak, body slumped. Injured.

Ash clenched his fists. "I'm going to catch it."

I reached out, stopping him in his tracks. "I want to catch it too."

Ash spun toward me, fire in his eyes. "I saw it first!"

Brock stepped in between us. "Hold up, look at it. Its flame is almost out. It's injured."

From behind, Erin's calm voice rang out, blunt as always. "Is Charmander dying?"

Brock's face darkened. "If we don't do something, yeah. One of us should catch it and get it to the Pokémon Center."

Misty took a step forward, rolling a Pokéball in her palm. "Let me handle it. I've got water types. Then you or Ash can catch it, or I'll take it myself."

I glanced at Erin, her hazel eyes fixed on the struggling Charmander. I could see the question forming in her mind, the tension in her jaw. "It's not dying," I told her, my voice low, steady. 

She tilted her head, lips touched by her fingers in that weird way she did when thinking, then nodded. "Okay," she replied calmly.

Ash, meanwhile, had already thrown a Pokéball. "Go, Pokéball!"

The Charmander weakly slapped the ball away, sending it skittering across the ground. I laughed, my fingers itching for my own Pokéball. I was about to release one of my Pokémon when suddenly Erin… hugged me. Arms wrapped tight around my waist, pressing her head into my side.

I blinked, dumbfounded. "Misty!" I called over Erin's shoulder, "Why do I feel like you're teaching her everything but common sense?"

I looked down at Erin, my voice softer. "I'm not catching the Charmander. Could you… maybe stop hugging me?"

Erin, her calm demeanor never breaking. "nope."

Ash tried again, tossing another Pokéball. This time it hit the Charmander's side, absorbing it in a flash of red light. But no sooner had the ball clicked than the Charmander burst out, the Pokéball rebounding off Ash's face, leaving a bright red mark.

Misty and Pikachu were laughing hard, but Erin wasn't even fazed. Instead, she looked up at me with those calm, hazel eyes and said, in the same unsettlingly straightforward tone, "Punit loves me."

I froze. My mind blanked for a moment before I took a deep breath, trying to process what just happened. Beside me, Misty was still in hysterics, and Pikachu had collapsed into the grass, clutching its sides. 

Turning to Erin, who stood uncomfortably close now and started to get more closer to me , I gave her a mischievous grin. Before she could react, I leaned in and kissed her lips. When I pulled back, Erin blinked, her expression one of shocked excitement, like she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Misty's laughter died instantly. "What did you just do?!" she shrieked, storming toward me. "You...!"

I licked my lips, turning to her with a smirk. "You saw it yourself."

"I'm gonna kill you!"

Brock, meanwhile, was completely unfazed. "I also want to kiss Nurse Joy."

Misty gagged, clearly overwhelmed.

Ash, ever oblivious, was focused on Pikachu, who was now inspecting the Charmander. Pikachu's eyes softened as it darted back to Ash, motioning with rapid gestures. It was trying to tell us something.

I released Kadabra. Erin immediately moved to stand behind me, her gaze locked on the Psychic-type, but there was no fear in her eyes. Only that ever-present calm.

Kadabra's voice echoed in my mind. "Master, how may I assist you?"

I kept my tone even. "What's Pikachu saying?"

Ash gaped at me. "You have a Kadabra?!"

"Are you blind?" I said, raising an eyebrow. 

Kadabra's voice came back. "The Charmander is waiting for its trainer."

I relayed the message. "That Charmander's waiting for its trainer to come back. We shouldn't interfere."

Everyone nodded, even Misty, who was still glaring daggers at me. Pikachu went back to staring at Kadabra's spoon, fascinated. I recalled my Psychic-type, and Brock spoke up again. "Your Kadabra can talk to you?"

I shrugged. "It learned telepathy after its last trainer abandoned it as an Abra. I caught it after that."

Ash frowned, fists clenched. "There are a lot of terrible trainers in this world."

Brock motioned forward, and we resumed our trek. The Pokémon Center wasn't far now. But then, as if on cue, the sky opened up, and rain began pouring down in sheets.

"Run!" Brock shouted.

I grabbed Erin's hand and pulled her forward, her feet slapping the wet ground as we sprinted toward the center's doors, the rain soaking through my jacket.

We finally reached the Pokémon Center, dripping wet but alive.