Professor Oak pointed to a small yellow, segmented Pokémon with a sharp white horn atop its head.
"This little one is called Weedle. Its final evolution is Beedrill, one of the most dangerous Pokémon in this entire forest."
He lightly tapped the horn for emphasis.
"Remember this well—when you begin your journeys, never provoke a Beedrill unless absolutely necessary.
A single Beedrill may not be too strong… but they never travel alone.
They move in swarms.
And when they swarm, they are among the deadliest Pokémon in these woods.*"
The children gasped in a mix of fear and fascination.
Soon they crowded around the Weedle.
"Whoa! So this is Weedle? We don't have these where I'm from!"
"That horn looks scary… is it poisonous?"
"It's fine! I'm from Kanto. These guys are weak. If you don't bother them, they won't attack."
"Yeah! I saw tons of them playing outside before!"
One fearless child reached out and touched Weedle.
Seeing no reaction, the rest boldly followed.
Weedle stared blankly into the void.
It could feel Metagross's psychic pressure suffocating it from above.
The poor bug didn't dare twitch.
If it moved even a millimeter, it might get blasted into Weedle purée.
Truly, life was suffering.
High above, Chen Shi stood on Metagross's head, scanning the forest with practiced vigilance.
Inside, though… he was secretly thrilled.
So this is how Steven Stone feels all the time? Standing dramatically on a flying steel behemoth?
Not gonna lie… this is cool.
The only thing ruining this majestic scene…
Was the Eevee clinging to his shoulder.
A.K.A. the pink menace.
Mew refused to leave him, refused to enter a Poké Ball, and refused to behave anything like a mythical Pokémon.
A clingy, freeloading, sweet-craving gremlin.
And it wasn't going anywhere.
Then—
Chen Shi spotted something concerning.
Several kids slipping away behind the group:
Ash
Goh
And Serena, who had wandered off without realizing.
Parents had been told to remain behind for this part of the camp so the children could learn independently.
Which meant—
They were unsupervised and instantly emboldened.
Chen Shi exhaled sharply.
"Wonderful," he muttered.
He summoned Dragapult, Charizard, and Togekiss.
"You three—follow the runaway kids and protect them. Do NOT let them see you."
He pointed at the trees.
"Togekiss—find Serena. Don't let anything happen to her."
"Ba-ru-aah!"
"Roar!"
"Togekiii~!"
The three split off instantly in different directions.
Deep in the Forest…
Serena limped anxiously through the clearing, eyes trembling.
"W-where is everyone…? Why did they leave me…?"
She tried calling out:
"Everyone…? Anyone…?"
No answer.
A sudden rustle from a bush nearly stopped her heart.
She stumbled backward, tripped over a rock—
And fell hard.
Pain shot through her knee. Tears welled up.
From the bushes bounced a carefree Poliwag, chirping innocently.
"Poli! Poli!"
Serena burst into soft, frightened sobs.
"Mama…"
Another rustle.
She froze—
Expecting danger—
But instead, a familiar messy head popped out of the leaves.
Ash.
"Huh? What are you doing here?
I'm Ash! Who are you?
Why are you crying?"
Serena sniffled.
"I… I fell… my knee hurts…"
Ash brightened with simple determination.
"Don't worry! That's easy!"
He took out his handkerchief and tied it around her wound with surprising care.
"There! Try standing. I'll take you back to Professor Oak!"
Serena tried…
And immediately fell again.
"Ah… it still hurts…"
Ash held out his hand again, unwavering.
"You can't give up before the end!"
He gently pulled her up—
and she tumbled straight into his arms.
Up above, Togekiss froze.
Then dove like a white, judgemental missile.
"Toge-kiiiii!!"
Ash jumped three feet into the air.
Serena lit up instantly.
"Togekiss!"
Togekiss flapped her wings and conjured a soft glowing droplet—Life Dew—touching it to Serena's scraped knee.
Warm light spread.
Serena gasped.
"It doesn't hurt anymore! Thank you, Togekiss!"
"Toge~"
Togekiss shook her head sweetly, then lowered herself to offer a ride.
Serena hugged her like the world's most precious gift.
Togekiss lifted into the sky with a soft trill.
Ash stood alone, stunned.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What was I doing again?
Before he could recover—
A Dragapult appeared beside him, grabbed the back of his shirt, and ascended toward the sky.
"Oh! Dragapult! Hi!!"
Dragapult side-eyed him.
No comment.
Meanwhile…
Professor Oak was on the verge of cardiac arrest.
"Xiao Shi! Three children are gone! Have you seen them?!"
Chen Shi shrugged lightly.
"They wandered off. Kids do that."
Oak nearly fainted.
Chen Shi lifted a hand calmly.
"Relax, Professor. I sent Dragapult, Charizard, and Togekiss.
They're watching the kids right now. Nothing will happen."
Professor Oak exhaled so hard his soul nearly left his body.
If even one child went missing during his summer camp…
He might as well retire immediately.
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