"The champion of this year's Silver Conference is competitor Natsui from the Kalos region!! This is his second championship trophy since the Indigo Conference! Let's congratulate him!!"
The announcer's booming voice echoed across the field, signaling that the dust had settled and the conference was truly drawing to a close.
Next, the obligatory photo session with his championship team.
Natsui released Gardevoir, Dragonite, Scizor, Tyranitar, Crystal Steelix, Jolteon, Blastoise, and Venusaur—all the Pokémon that had participated in this conference. Even Gengar couldn't resist, floating next to Natsui with a huge grin.
The numerous Pokémon surrounded Natsui, who held the giant trophy. With a 'click,' the moment was permanently captured.
Leaving the stadium, Natsui returned to the waiting room.
Although he had prepared himself before entering, the moment he opened the door, he was showered in party streamers.
"Congratulations, Natsui!"
"Congratulations on winning the championship!"
"Congrats!"
His ears were filled with a cacophony of congratulations. Natsui brushed the streamers from his hair, his eyes meeting the familiar faces, all smiling with genuine happiness for him.
"Thank you, everyone."
Surrounded by the group, Natsui entered the waiting room. He hadn't felt overly excited before, but now, enveloped by their well-wishes, he felt light-headed, as if floating on a cloud.
Next, naturally, came the much-anticipated celebratory feast.
After winning the Silver Conference, Natsui received another sum of prize money, similar in amount to the Indigo Conference, replenishing his wallet significantly.
With his current wealth, even if he stopped being a trainer, he could live a comfortable life in some quiet little place.
Of course, that was a path Natsui hadn't considered for now.
If one day he grew tired and wanted to settle down, that would be a different choice.
The large group paraded to a restaurant. Misa, Masa, and their gang, having gotten word, were already waiting there.
This meal lasted late into the night. The worst part was Misa, Masa, and the bikers kept pouring drinks for Natsui. Elated with his win, Natsui couldn't help but have a few too many.
The result was that, by the end, Natsui didn't even know how he got back.
When he woke up again, it was 11 AM the next day. The hangover gave him a splitting headache, and he reeked of alcohol. He took a cold shower, which made him feel much better.
"Here."
Erika handed Natsui a glass of warm water. Watching him drink it sip by sip, she said softly, "Professor Elm's family and Miss Satsuki and the others have already left. You weren't awake, so they didn't come to say goodbye."
Placing the glass aside, Natsui emptied his mind. He couldn't think; just the slightest mental effort felt like something was stirring inside his head.
"Where are Misa, Masa, and the others?"
"They just left too. I gave them the medal and trophy to take to the Sakuragi Institute. The luggage is also packed. Only Ash and his friends are still waiting for you."
Glancing around, Natsui saw the room was already tidied up, ready to leave at a moment's notice. This was the benefit of having a capable woman; you didn't have to worry, they always handled things perfectly for you.
Getting dressed, they grabbed their luggage and went downstairs to the first-floor lobby of the Athlete's Village.
The village felt completely deserted now. Aside from the staff, only Natsui's group remained.
All the defeated competitors had left long ago with their regrets.
"Natsui, you're awake?"
Hearing footsteps, Misty was the first to turn around, seeing the drained-looking Natsui.
"You really slept in," Ash said. "We already finished lunch!"
"Can you blame me?" Natsui said irritably. "It's all their fault for forcing drinks on me all night. My head is still killing me."
After regrouping, they didn't linger and left the building together.
They had already agreed at the party yesterday to leave Silver Town together, head to a small town nearby, and part ways there.
Silver Town was located in the Indigo Plateau, and the terrain wasn't easy to navigate. Ash's group needed to get to lower ground to return to Kanto more easily.
Natsui and Erika also needed to go there first before heading to a nearby port to take a ship to the Hoenn region.
That's right, he was once again heading to a new region before Ash. Although Ash was anxious to follow, he had to return to Pallet Town first to spend a few days with his mother.
Chatting as they walked, after more than an hour, the group descended from the plateau and entered a dense forest.
While walking on a narrow path, as Erika walked ahead, Misty dropped back next to Natsui and said softly, "Natsui, don't forget you promised to travel with me!"
Looking at her, Natsui teased, "What? You don't want to travel with Ash anymore?"
"Who would want to travel with that guy!" Misty quickly shook her head. Seeing Natsui avoiding the subject, she grew anxious. "You promised me, you can't go back on your word!"
"Don't worry," Natsui laughed, patting her head. "Go home and let your sisters know you're safe, and then you can come find me in Hoenn."
Perhaps because it was rarely tread upon, the forest below the Indigo Plateau was very pristine, filled with towering, dense trees that almost blocked out the sky.
They passed a majestic waterfall and followed the mountain path for a long time, finally arriving at a village nestled in the forest just before sunset.
This village was very interesting. It wasn't large, but most of the buildings were constructed in the giant trees. As far as the eye could see, there were treehouses filled with natural style.
"Let's rest here for the night."
However, perhaps because it was too remote, as they walked into the village, they couldn't find any inns or restaurants, let alone people.
Fortunately, after wandering for a bit, a woman hanging laundry on the balcony of a treehouse saw them and waved.
"Over here, over here! Can I help you?"
Natsui looked up and called out to the woman, "We're just passing through and looking for a place to eat and stay. Is there an inn here?"
"Oh, it's you!" Recognizing Natsui's face, the woman looked extremely surprised. "I just watched your match yesterday! I can't believe you came to our village. But we don't have any places to host travelers. If you don't mind, you can stay at my house."
Stay at her house?
Natsui glanced at Erika and Ash's group. Seeing them all nod, he and the others walked to the base of the tree and climbed the stairs.
The treehouse was connected to the ground by several wooden staircases, not difficult to climb, much like a regular building. When they reached the terrace outside the treehouse, they saw the woman up close.
She was about twenty-six or twenty-seven, very pretty, with long, light-green hair styled in twin tails. She wore a pink tank top and jeans, looking youthful and vibrant, almost out of place in this rustic, natural village. The most striking feature was the necklace she wore, made of three shining gold coins.
"Welcome to Arborville. Hello, my name is Miku."
"Hello, I'm Natsui."
"I'm Ash!"
"I'm Misty."
Erika was about to speak, but suddenly a figure flashed past her. Brock was suddenly kneeling before Miku, his eyes filled with passion. "My name is Brock. I never imagined I would meet a lady as beautiful as you in such a village!"
Erika: ...
Fortunately, Misty quickly landed a sharp blow on Brock, saving everyone from further embarrassment.
After greeting Miku, they accepted her invitation and entered the treehouse. Although it looked novel from the outside, the interior was no different from a regular wooden cabin.
Inside the treehouse, an elderly woman looked up in surprise as Miku led Natsui's group in.
"Miku, who are they?"
"Grandmother," Miku stepped aside to introduce them. "They are travelers passing through. This gentleman here is Mr. Natsui, who just won the Silver Conference yesterday. They were looking for a place to stay, so I brought them here."
Miku then introduced her grandmother to Natsui's group. "This is my grandmother, Towa, the guardian of the forest entrance."
"Guardian of the entrance?" This was a title Natsui and the others had never heard before, and they looked puzzled.
Towa looked at Natsui's group. Seeing it consisted of a man and a woman, two children, and a dark-skinned follower, she judged by the group's composition that they weren't bad people.
"Welcome. But I must warn you: if you enter the forest tomorrow and hear the 'voice of the forest,' you must not move."
Compared to Miku, the elderly Towa wore traditional clothing, including a headscarf, and held a long wooden staff, looking somewhat like a shaman from a tribe. Unlike Miku, Towa's necklace was strung with five gold coins.
Perhaps the difference represented their status in the village.
"Um..." Erika asked, "Excuse me, which forest are you referring to? We didn't hear any voices when we came through the forest just now."
"I'm not referring to the ordinary forest you came through, but the enchanted forest behind us."
Towa turned to look out the window. Natsui and the others followed her gaze and saw a much larger, denser, primeval forest in the other direction from the village.
Enchanted forest?
Erika asked tentatively, "Is there something magical about that forest?"
"It's just a village tradition," Miku waved her hand, answering for her grandmother, but then added seriously, "But I advise you to listen to my grandmother if you don't want to get lost in the forest."
Hearing how serious they were, Natsui's group looked towards the forest again.
If they didn't take a detour, that 'enchanted forest' was the shortest path to the next town. But both locals had made it sound so ominous. Did the forest really contain something, or some mysterious power?
"That just makes me more excited!" Ash said softly. "I really want to go check out that forest now. I wonder if there are any amazing Pokémon in there!?"
Towa: ...
Miku: ...
Looking at the inexplicably excited boy, Towa and Miku were both speechless. They had spelled out the danger, so why did this kid look so thrilled?
Doesn't he know fear?
That evening, Towa and Miku prepared a lavish local feast for them. The main dish was a vegetable and mushroom stew, so delicious it was unlike anything they could find in a big city.
"I really should take these seeds back with me!"
This was what Erika said softly to Natsui after the meal, and Natsui fully agreed.
However, Natsui felt bad. Their group was eating and staying here, yet Towa and Miku adamantly refused any payment, making them feel quite awkward.
"Don't worry about it," Miku smiled, perhaps sensing their unease. "It's our custom here to treat travelers as guests. Please just make yourselves comfortable."
Late at night, Miku arranged for them all to stay in a vacant treehouse. Lying on the futons on the floor, Natsui had Erika on his left, by the wall, already fast asleep. On his right was Misty, who, perhaps too excited to be lying next to Natsui, kept tossing and turning.
As for Ash and Brock, the two were sound asleep on futons on the other side, especially Brock, who was already snoring.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, landing on Natsui's face.
In fact, during dinner, Natsui had already remembered where he was.
Although the memory was vague, this was undoubtedly the village from the movie where Ash met Celebi and a young Professor Oak!
Does this mean he might get to see Celebi too?
Pulling his backpack over, Natsui rummaged inside for a moment and took out the GS Ball.
Hearing the noise, Misty turned over. Seeing the Poké Ball in Natsui's hand, she gasped.
"Huh?" she asked, surprised. "Natsui, isn't that the GS Ball? Why do you have it?"
"Mr. Kurt gave it to me," Natsui said softly. "Unexpected, right? After all this time, the ball ended up in my hands. And I believe the time to use it is coming very soon."
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