Chapter 34 – Forest Trails and Unexpected Friends
The morning sun filtered softly through the trees of Viridian Forest, golden streaks illuminating the dew on leaves and the occasional flutter of wild Pokémon. Kai adjusted the strap of his backpack and glanced at Misty, who was carefully picking berries from a low bush.
"I still can't believe you made us carry all this gear for a 'casual hike,'" Misty muttered, brushing a leaf off her shoulder.
Kai grinned. "Casual, yes… but you never know what kind of adventure the forest will throw at us."
Riolu bounced ahead, sniffing the air and calling out in chirps. Blaze padded alongside Kai, tail flame flickering, blending with the early sunlight.
The group moved quietly, enjoying the forest's calm, yet Kai felt that familiar pang—the absence of Shiny Moon. Her light hadn't appeared for weeks, and he had grown accustomed to her distant presence, pulsing faintly across the space she now called home.
"She'll come back… when she wants," he said softly, more to himself than anyone else. Misty glanced at him.
"Yeah," she said, "but it's weird not having her around."
Kai nodded. "I know. But that's how she is now. She's learning patience, watching us… testing us, maybe."
The forest opened into a small clearing where the sunlight poured over a crystal-clear stream. Riolu immediately started chasing reflections of leaves on the water, making small splashes that echoed pleasantly. Blaze sniffed the fresh air and let out a low, contented rumble.
Misty sat down on a flat stone, brushing grass off her legs. "This is… actually kind of peaceful. I almost forget we're trainers on a mission to become champions."
Kai smiled and knelt beside her, picking up a smooth stone and skipping it across the water. "Every journey needs moments like this. Training isn't just battles—it's learning, exploring, and enjoying life along the way."
Riolu yipped in agreement, leaping over a small log with unmatched enthusiasm. Blaze flicked his tail, sending a soft flare of light dancing across the water.
Kai felt his heart tighten slightly, imagining Shiny Moon watching from her distant space—smiling faintly, proud, but invisible.
The peaceful morning wasn't entirely without excitement. A small herd of wild Mareep emerged from the brush, grazing and flicking their tails. Riolu froze mid-hop, ears twitching, fascinated.
"They're adorable," Misty whispered. "We can't catch them all, but I don't think they'd mind a snack."
Kai chuckled. "No battles today. Let's just observe."
Riolu crept closer, tail wagging, and Blaze stepped gently between him and the Mareep. One of the woolly Pokémon blinked at them curiously, and Riolu let out a happy squeak. It was a quiet, harmonious moment—the kind of day Kai treasured.
Later, as the group followed a winding path deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon a clearing dominated by ancient ruins, stone columns moss-covered and crumbling, faint carvings still visible.
"Whoa…" Misty whispered. "This looks old… really old."
Kai stepped forward, brushing away vines. "Maybe from the old region legends… could be a good place to train, if we're careful."
Riolu bounded ahead, hopping from one broken column to another, while Blaze followed, sniffing the carvings. The forest around them seemed alive—leaves rustling, the wind weaving patterns through broken stones, birds calling from the heights.
"This feels… magical," Misty said softly, crouching to inspect a vine-covered carving. "Like the Pokémon themselves remember this place."
Kai nodded. "Places like this… they teach patience. Observation. Respect. You can learn as much from exploring ruins as from battling champions."
By afternoon, they stopped to rest beside a small waterfall cascading into a crystal pool. Misty handed out berries while Riolu tried, unsuccessfully, to balance them on his head, earning gentle laughter from Kai.
"Next time," Kai said, "we're bringing fewer berries. Riolu might eat half before we even get started."
Riolu yipped indignantly, and Blaze gave a soft chuckle-like growl.
Kai looked up at the sky. Even in her absence, he could feel Shiny Moon's presence somewhere in the cosmos. He smiled faintly. "She's watching. Always."
Misty nudged him. "You talk to her a lot, don't you?"
Kai shrugged. "I guess I do. It helps… keeps her close."
"Even if she's far away?"
Kai nodded. "Even then."
As the sun dipped lower, painting the forest in orange and pink hues, the group made camp in a small grove, the ruins casting long shadows around them. Blaze curled up near Kai, tail warmth radiating. Riolu lay next to Misty, dozing lightly, exhausted from a day full of exploration.
Kai unpacked a small dinner, sharing berries and dried meat, careful to let the Pokémon eat first. Misty hummed softly, watching Riolu's tail wag with happiness.
The forest around them seemed alive, protective, as if acknowledging their presence. No battles, no interference from Shiny Moon, just life in balance.
Kai leaned back against a tree. "You know… one day, when she comes back… she'll see everything we've learned."
Misty smiled. "And she'll be proud."
"Exactly." Kai paused. "Until then… we keep training, exploring, and growing. That's our job."
Riolu yawned, curling closer to Misty, and Blaze's tail flickered gently over the campfire.
Kai closed his eyes, imagining the golden shimmer of Shiny Moon floating somewhere in space, faintly pulsing, laughing silently at the chaos she'd left behind. And for the first time that day, he felt a strange peace.
Adventure didn't always need danger. Sometimes it was just walking together, learning, and enjoying the world—with or without gods.
Chapter End