Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Lostlorn Forest

"Pikachu, which dress do you think looks better on me? Or maybe this one?"Shu Wan stood in front of the mirror, holding up yet another dress to herself. The floor was littered with clothes she had tried on throughout the evening. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from excitement and indecision."Pika, Pika~"Pikachu sat quietly on the bed, tail flicking now and then, watching his trainer with tired eyes. Ever since Renjiro had agreed to accompany Shu Wan to Lostlorn Forest, she had been obsessing over what to wear. Now night had long fallen, and she still hadn't made up her mind.---By the next morning, Renjiro had arrived at the high-speed rail station, exactly as promised.As soon as he stepped onto the platform, he spotted Shu Wan. She stood near one of the station pillars, looking around with anticipation. The moment she saw him, her face lit up."Renjiro, over here!"Renjiro smiled and made his way over, their eyes meeting and sharing a quiet joy that was hard to conceal."Pika Pika!" (Here, here!)Pikachu, perched on Shu Wan's shoulder, waved one tiny paw enthusiastically."Long time no see, Pikachu."Renjiro chuckled softly as he approached, glancing fondly at both Shu Wan and her companion."It must've been quite a wait," he said gently."Pika Pika!" (Yes, we've been waiting a while!)Shu Wan's eyes widened a little as she heard Pikachu's response. She hurriedly added, "No, no! I just got here too!"Renjiro's grin widened. It wasn't hard to figure out the truth — Shu Wan must have arrived early, eager and unable to wait, but didn't want him to know. Pikachu, of course, had unknowingly given her away."Let's go then."---Once they found their seats on the train, Renjiro glanced at Shu Wan."So, what kind of Pokémon are you hoping to catch this time in Lostlorn Forest?"Shu Wan leaned on her hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement."My dream is to become an Electric-type Gym Trainer. So of course, I'm looking for an Electric-type Pokémon!"Renjiro nodded thoughtfully."An Electric-type, huh? That's a solid choice."Electric Pokémon were known for their speed and offensive power, though most were pure Electric-type, with a small range of type advantages or resistances. And of course, they were vulnerable to Ground-type moves, but beyond that, they had few natural enemies."If I remember right, Lostlorn Forest is home to Helioptile," Renjiro said after a moment of reflection."Heliolisk, its evolved form, has a Species Strength of 481. Its Speed and Special Attack are well balanced, both at 109. Definitely not a bad pick at all."Shu Wan smiled brightly."I did some reading last night too. Helioptile would be perfect. If I see one, I'm going to try my best to catch it."Renjiro nodded in approval."Good plan. And since Helioptile is Electric-Normal, it can learn a variety of Normal-type moves. That could really help when dealing with Ground-types — more ways to fight back."---Their conversation was interrupted by voices from the aisle."Bro, look at this! What kind of company is this Devon? They're claiming their Poké Balls have a capture rate one-third higher than the best on the market. Ridiculous, right?"Renjiro's ears perked up at the mention of Devon. He glanced over and saw two students watching a promotional video on their phone — a flashy ad for the Ultra Ball."The space compression tech they talk about sounds fake as hell," one student scoffed. "Definitely a scam company trying to take advantage of people's hopes.""Yeah, I've given up on domestic Poké Balls altogether," the other muttered, clearly bitter. "It's all just a money grab."Shu Wan sighed quietly."I saw that video yesterday on Weibo. The comments were brutal. I wish what they said could be true…"Renjiro smiled gently."Don't worry — that day will come. Sooner than you think."Shu Wan looked at him with surprise, but something in his tone reassured her, and she nodded firmly.---The train raced along the tracks. Shu Wan, who had been too excited to sleep the night before, gradually felt drowsy. Without thinking, she leaned into Renjiro, resting her head on his shoulder.Renjiro froze at first but quickly relaxed, sitting perfectly still so as not to disturb her.The countryside whizzed past as the minutes ticked by.Before long, an announcement chimed through the cabin."Dear passengers, we have arrived at Yingchuan City. Passengers traveling to Lostlorn Forest may alight at this station."Renjiro gently nudged Shu Wan's shoulder."Shu Wan, we're here."She stirred, blinking sleepily."Already?" she asked, rubbing her eyes."Yup. Lostlorn Forest is just outside the city."Shu Wan's sleepiness vanished in an instant."Great! Let's go!"---Outside the station, the air was filled with energy."Poké Balls on sale! Best price in town!""Fresh honey from Lostlorn Forest! Get it while it lasts!""Wild berries — just picked this morning!""Rent a Pidgeot or Fearow! No more getting lost in the woods!""Hiring guides — high pay for those who know Lostlorn Forest!"Shu Wan looked around, wide-eyed and delighted at the bustling scene."It's so lively here," she said, spinning around slowly to take it all in.Renjiro smiled at her enthusiasm."Lostlorn Forest draws trainers from everywhere. A lot of rare Pokémon live here, so everyone wants a shot at catching one."Just then, a young woman in sunglasses approached them."Hey there, handsome guy, beautiful girl — need a guide? I know the forest like the back of my hand. Just 5,000 Alliance coins."Renjiro shook his head politely."Thanks, but we'll manage on our own."He gently guided Shu Wan past the woman.The reason Lostlorn Forest earned its ominous name was clear to any who ventured inside. Stantlers roamed the forest, and their antlers could emit a strange phantom light that disoriented travelers. Add to that the heavy mist that often cloaked the woods, and it was no wonder people frequently got lost — sometimes never returning at all.Still, the danger didn't stop eager trainers from trying their luck."Renjiro, maybe we should hire a guide…" Shu Wan said hesitantly."It's our first time here, after all."Renjiro smiled reassuringly."No need to worry. I'm here. We won't get lost."Of course, what he didn't mention was his secret — with the power of Evergreen, he could communicate with the forest's Pokémon and always find his way.Shu Wan nodded, trusting him completely.---Behind them, the young woman scowled as they walked away."Damn it! They didn't fall for it. What kind of idiot refuses help in Lostlorn Forest?"She had pegged Renjiro as someone loaded with cash — surely 5,000 Alliance coins would've been nothing to him.Frustrated, she adjusted her sunglasses and quietly began to follow them into the forest.---And so, with the rustling of leaves and the cries of wild Pokémon echoing through the trees, Renjiro and Shu Wan stepped into the heart of Lostlorn Forest — unaware that danger, and perhaps opportunity, were not far behind.---