The entrance to Viridian Forest announced itself gradually, the open grasslands of Route 2 giving way to scattered trees, then clusters of trees, and finally the solid wall of ancient forest that had stood for thousands of years. Sasuke slowed the Mobile Home as they approached the official forest boundary, marked by a large wooden sign and a small ranger station.
"Viridian Forest," Miyuki read from the sign. "Established as protected wilderness three hundred years ago. Home to over two dozen Bug-type species and countless other Pokemon. Trainers advised to stay on marked paths."
"How long to traverse it?" Sasuke asked.
"Main path is approximately forty kilometers. At our speed, maybe six hours of driving with stops." Miyuki consulted her tablet. "But given Kiyomi's interest in the historical sites and the fact that there are documented rare berry species here, we should probably budget the full day."
In the living room, Kiyomi was already pressed against the windows, her tablet in hand and her eyes bright with excitement. "There are ruins throughout this forest. Ancient shrine structures dedicated to Bug-type Pokemon. Some date back over three thousand years."
"Three thousand years?" Kasumi repeated. "That's older than most of the cities in Kanto."
"Bug-type worship was one of the earliest forms of Pokemon veneration," Kiyomi explained, not taking her eyes off the forest. "Ancient people saw Bug Pokemon's ability to transform, caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly, as sacred. They believed it represented spiritual evolution and rebirth."
Sasuke pulled into the ranger station's check-in area. A uniformed ranger emerged from the small building, approaching with a friendly wave. He appeared to be in his forties, weathered by years of outdoor work, with a Butterfree perched on his shoulder.
"Morning, travelers. Heading through the forest?"
"Planning to," Sasuke confirmed. "Any conditions we should know about?"
"Main path is clear and well-maintained. Some wild Pokemon are more active than usual this season, Pinsir and Scyther populations are competing for territory, so you might encounter battles in progress. Best to give them space if you see them fighting." The ranger pulled out a map and marked several locations. "These are rest areas with facilities. This section here has particularly aggressive Beedrill nests, don't stop there unless necessary."
"What about historical sites?" Kiyomi called from the Mobile Home entrance. "Are the ancient shrines accessible?"
"Some are. Others are off-limits due to structural instability." The ranger added more marks to the map. "The Old Shrine of Transformation is about fifteen kilometers in, right off the main path. That one's safe to visit if you're interested in archaeology."
"Very interested," Kiyomi said. "Thank you."
The ranger handed over the marked map and a pamphlet about forest safety. "Have a good journey. And if you encounter any injured Pokemon or dangerous situations, contact the ranger station immediately."
Sasuke navigated the Mobile Home onto the forest path. The change in atmosphere was immediate and striking. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in shifting patterns, creating dappled shadows that moved as wind stirred the leaves. The air smelled of earth and green growing things and the particular mustiness of old forest. Bird Pokemon called from the branches, Pidgey and Pidgeotto singing their territorial claims.
The trees were enormous. Some had to be fifty feet in diameter, their trunks scarred with age and covered in moss. The canopy rose so high that individual leaves were barely visible, just a general sense of green density that blocked most direct sunlight.
"It's beautiful," Miyuki said quietly. "And ancient. You can feel the age of this place."
"Bug Pokemon everywhere," Kasumi observed. A Caterpie crawled along a branch near her window, its bright green body moving in rhythmic waves. "And look, there's a whole group of Weedle!"
Indeed, several Weedle occupied a clearing beside the path, their red poison stingers gleaming as they fed on leaves. A Kakuna hung from a low branch, its hard shell completely still as it underwent its transformation stage.
Victini had plastered itself against the windshield, watching the forest with rapt attention. The Victory Pokemon chirped excitedly every time a new Bug-type appeared, apparently cataloging species.
They drove deeper into the forest. The path wound between massive tree trunks and over small streams crossed by sturdy bridges. Other trainers passed them going the opposite direction, some on foot, some on Pokemon, a few in their own vehicles. Everyone moved carefully, respecting the forest's majesty and the wild Pokemon that called it home.
About an hour in, Kiyomi called out, "Stop! That's the shrine entrance!"
Sasuke pulled the Mobile Home to the side of the path where a small clearing provided parking space. A weathered stone marker indicated "Old Shrine of Transformation - Historical Site - Visitors Welcome."
They exited the vehicle and followed a narrow walking trail that led away from the main path. The forest grew denser here, the trees pressing close and the undergrowth thick with ferns and flowering plants. The trail was well-maintained despite its age, someone, probably the rangers, ensured access remained clear.
After a five-minute walk, the trail opened into a larger clearing. The shrine stood in its center, ancient stone construction partially reclaimed by nature. Vines covered much of the structure, and moss grew thick on surfaces, but the basic architecture remained intact. A central platform with pillars supporting what had once been a roof. Carved reliefs decorated the pillars, depicting Bug Pokemon in various stages of evolution.
"This is incredible," Kiyomi breathed. She immediately began documenting everything with her tablet, photos from multiple angles, measurements of the structure, detailed images of the carvings. Ninetales emerged from her Pokeball and stood guard while her trainer worked, the Ice-type understanding this was important.
Sasuke examined the carvings more closely. One pillar showed a Caterpie transforming into Metapod and then Butterfree. Another depicted Weedle's evolution line. A third showed Pokemon that Sasuke didn't immediately recognize, possibly species that had gone extinct in the thousands of years since the shrine's construction.
"These carvings tell a story," Kiyomi explained, moving from pillar to pillar. "See how they're arranged? It's a narrative about transformation as spiritual metaphor. The ancient people believed that Bug Pokemon's metamorphosis represented the potential for profound change in all living things, Pokemon and humans alike."
"What's this symbol?" Miyuki asked, pointing to a recurring mark carved into the stone, a circle with radiating lines like a stylized sun.
"That's the Symbol of Transformation. It appears in multiple ancient Bug-worshipping cultures across different regions. Some scholars think it might be connected to energy similar to what we now call evolution stones, but much more primitive in understanding."
Kasumi had wandered to the edge of the clearing where several wild Pokemon watched the humans with cautious interest. A Butterfree hovered near a flowering bush, and a Beedrill guarded a tree hollow that probably contained its nest.
"Do you think they understand this place is special?" Kasumi asked quietly.
"Probably not in the way we do," Kiyomi replied. "But wild Pokemon have excellent spatial memory. They might recognize this as a place where humans don't typically disturb them. Generations of Bug Pokemon have probably taught their offspring that this clearing is safe."
Kiyomi spent nearly an hour at the shrine, taking samples of the stone composition, documenting every carving in detail, and cross-referencing what she found with her research databases. Sasuke watched her work with genuine fascination, this was Kiyomi in her element, professional and focused, her typical cool demeanor transformed into passionate engagement.
"This site dates to approximately 2,800 years ago," she concluded finally. "Pre-Pokeball era by at least a thousand years. These people formed bonds with Bug Pokemon through ritual and mutual respect rather than capture technology. The shrine served as a meeting place where humans could encounter wild Pokemon in sacred space."
"Did it work?" Miyuki asked.
"Based on other evidence from similar sites, yes. Ancient trainers who participated in shrine rituals often formed deeper bonds than those who used more forceful methods." Kiyomi saved her data and looked satisfied. "This is excellent material for my next research paper."
They returned to the Mobile Home and continued through the forest. The path remained clear and well-maintained, but the forest itself grew denser, the trees larger, the undergrowth more tangled. This was old-growth forest, areas that had never been logged or significantly altered by human activity.
Around midday, Kasumi spotted something that made her gasp. "Stop stop stop! Those are Qualot berries! Growing wild!"
Sasuke pulled over again. Kasumi practically bounced out of the Mobile Home, Gardevoir following with considerably more grace. She approached a bush covered in distinctive blue berries, examining them with the care of a professional botanist.
"These are perfect specimens," she said, pulling out a small notepad and sketching the bush's arrangement. "Qualot berries are rare in Kanto, they usually only grow in specific Hoenn climates. But these have adapted to forest conditions."
"Can you harvest them?" Miyuki asked.
"I need permission first." Kasumi turned to survey the area. Several Bug Pokemon watched from nearby branches and bushes. "Hello! Is anyone responsible for these berry bushes?"
A Butterfree descended from the canopy, landing on a branch near the bush. It regarded Kasumi with intelligent eyes, clearly understanding the question.
"Would it be okay if I took some berries?" Kasumi asked. "Not many, just enough for seeds and samples. I want to try cultivating them in my portable greenhouse."
The Butterfree considered, then chirped what sounded like agreement. It flew to the bush and used its small legs to pick several berries, offering them to Kasumi directly.
"Thank you so much!" Kasumi accepted the berries carefully, placing them in specialized containers she'd brought for exactly this purpose. "I promise to take good care of the seeds and share any successful cultivation techniques with other berry farmers."
The Butterfree seemed satisfied with this arrangement. It returned to the canopy while Kasumi practically danced back to the Mobile Home, clutching her containers like precious treasure.
"This is amazing," she said. "If I can successfully cultivate Qualot berries in different climate conditions, it could expand their availability across regions. And they're particularly good for Contest performances, they enhance Pokemon's natural luster."
She immediately disappeared into the Mobile Home to set up her portable greenhouse, muttering calculations about soil composition and germination periods.
They continued driving. Early afternoon brought an unexpected encounter.
Miyuki had been watching the forest when she suddenly said, "Stop. Something's wrong."
Sasuke hit the brakes immediately. "What is it?"
"There." She pointed to a clearing about thirty yards off the path. "I saw movement. And there's blood on that tree."
They exited carefully, Sasuke releasing Victini while Miyuki brought out Shaymin. Kiyomi followed with Ninetales, and Kasumi emerged from her greenhouse setup with Gardevoir.
The clearing showed signs of recent battle. Torn earth, broken branches, and, as Miyuki had spotted, fresh blood marking several trees. Two Pokemon squared off near the clearing's center: a Scyther and a Pinsir, both showing obvious injuries and both radiating aggressive territorial instincts.
"Territory dispute," Kiyomi said quietly. "The ranger mentioned this was happening. Both species compete for the same resources in the forest."
As they watched, the Scyther and Pinsir clashed again. The Scyther's blade-like arms met the Pinsir's massive horns with a crack of impact that echoed through the forest. Both Pokemon were strong, both were determined, and neither seemed willing to back down.
The Scyther took a hit from X-Scissor that sent it crashing into a tree trunk. It tried to rise but one of its blade-arms wouldn't support its weight properly, damaged during the fight.
"We should help," Miyuki said.
"Help which one?" Kasumi asked. "They're both hurt."
"Both, if they'll let us. But we need to stop the fight first." Miyuki stepped forward, Shaymin floating beside her shoulder. "Shaymin, Aromatherapy! Gentle intensity!"
The Gratitude Pokemon released soothing fragrance across the clearing. Both the Scyther and Pinsir slowed their movements, the calming scent affecting their aggressive instincts. They didn't stop fighting entirely, but their attacks became less frenzied.
"Gardevoir, Psychic!" Kasumi commanded. "Separate them!"
The Psychic-Fairy type lifted both Bug-types with psychic energy, holding them apart. They struggled briefly, but exhaustion and Shaymin's aromatherapy were taking effect. After several seconds, both Pokemon stopped fighting and just hung in Gardevoir's psychic grip, panting heavily.
"Lower them gently," Miyuki instructed.
Gardevoir complied, setting both Pokemon down on opposite sides of the clearing. Miyuki approached the Scyther cautiously, medical supplies already in hand. The Bug-Flying type eyed her warily, its good blade-arm raised defensively.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Miyuki said softly. "I want to help. Your arm is damaged, if you don't get treatment, it might not heal properly."
The Scyther didn't lower its guard, but it also didn't attack. Miyuki took that as permission to approach closer.
She worked with the calm efficiency of someone who'd treated hundreds of Pokemon. Quick assessment of injuries, cleaning wounds with antiseptic, applying bandages where necessary. The Scyther's damaged blade-arm had a deep crack running through its length, not immediately threatening but potentially limiting its hunting ability.
"This will heal on its own," Miyuki assured the Pokemon. "But you need to rest it for at least a week. No heavy fighting, no hunting with this arm. Can you manage that?"
The Scyther made a low sound that might have been agreement.
Meanwhile, Kasumi had approached the Pinsir with similar medical supplies. The Stag Beetle Pokemon had multiple gashes and one of its horn pincers had cracked near the base. Kasumi treated the visible wounds while speaking softly to keep the Pokemon calm.
"You're both very strong," she said. "But this territory isn't worth killing each other over. There's enough forest for everyone if you're willing to share."
Whether the Pokemon understood her words or just responded to her tone, both the Scyther and Pinsir had calmed significantly by the time treatment concluded. They eyed each other across the clearing with less hostility, still wary, but no longer actively aggressive.
"We should go," Kiyomi said. "Give them space to decide what happens next."
They returned to the Mobile Home and continued driving. Sasuke watched through the rearview mirror as the Scyther and Pinsir remained in the clearing, neither attacking the other. Maybe Miyuki and Kasumi's intervention would lead to them finding a way to coexist. Maybe they'd resume fighting once humans were gone. But at least they had a chance to choose something other than constant conflict.
"That was impressive," Sasuke told Miyuki. "The way you treated the Scyther. It could have attacked you at any point."
"Pokemon generally don't attack people who are helping them," Miyuki replied. "And I learned from my grandmother that sometimes the best medical care means respecting a Pokemon's independence. I could have tried to catch the Scyther, it was injured and vulnerable. But that wouldn't have been right. It's a wild Pokemon that deserves to remain wild."
"Not everyone thinks that way."
"No. But I do."
By late afternoon, they'd traveled deep enough into the forest that finding a proper camping spot became priority. The ranger's map showed a designated rest area about five kilometers ahead, a clearing large enough for vehicles with access to water and basic facilities.
They reached it just as the sun began setting. The rest area was empty, apparently they'd timed their arrival perfectly to avoid crowds. Sasuke parked the Mobile Home in the clearing's center, positioning for optimal morning departure.
Evening in the forest felt different than at the campground. The sounds were wilder, Pokemon calls that didn't sound friendly, rustling in undergrowth that suggested large creatures moving nearby, and the constant background hum of thousands of insects. It wasn't threatening exactly, but it carried an edge that reminded them this was genuinely wild territory.
"It's eerie," Kasumi said, standing outside the Mobile Home and looking at the darkening forest. "Beautiful but eerie."
"Ancient forests have that quality," Kiyomi agreed. "Humans have lived alongside Pokemon for thousands of years, but places like this remind us that we're guests in their territory."
They ate dinner inside the Mobile Home rather than setting up outside, the forest felt too wild for casual outdoor dining. Sasuke prepared a simple meal, and they ate while discussing the day's discoveries. Kiyomi showed them her shrine documentation in detail, explaining the significance of each carving. Kasumi reported that her Qualot berry seeds were already beginning the germination process in controlled conditions.
As night deepened, the forest sounds became more pronounced. Sasuke sat in the driver's seat with Victini on his lap, looking out at the darkness beyond their clearing. The Victory Pokemon was unusually tense, its small body rigid and its ears constantly twitching toward sounds Sasuke couldn't identify.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
Victini chirped softly, a sound that conveyed unease. Through their bond, Sasuke felt what his Pokemon felt: the sense of being watched, of attention focused on them from somewhere in the dark forest.
He scanned the tree line carefully. Moonlight filtered through the canopy in patches, creating pools of silver light among deep shadows. At first, he saw nothing unusual, just trees and undergrowth and the occasional gleam of Pokemon eyes reflecting light.
Then, for just a moment, he caught a glimpse of something that didn't belong. A human figure standing between two massive trees, just barely visible in the darkness. Too far away and too shadowed to make out details, but definitely human. Watching them.
Sasuke blinked and the figure was gone. He stared at the spot for several more minutes but saw nothing else. Maybe it had been a trick of light and shadow. Maybe his eyes had assembled a human shape from random forest features.
But Victini's tension hadn't eased. The Victory Pokemon continued to stare at that section of forest, small body coiled like a spring ready to release.
"Should I wake the others?" Sasuke asked.
Victini chirped negative. Whatever it sensed, it wasn't an immediate threat. Just observation. Attention. Interest.
Sasuke remained in the driver's seat for another hour, watching the forest with Victini on alert beside him. Nothing else moved in the darkness. Eventually, exhaustion forced him to retreat to his bed, though he kept Victini close and his Pokeballs within easy reach.
The forest settled into deeper night. Their Mobile Home sat in its clearing like a small island of human presence in a vast ocean of wilderness. And somewhere in the darkness beyond, something or someone continued to watch.
Morning came with pale light filtering through the canopy. Sasuke woke to find Victini still tense, though the Victory Pokemon's anxiety had decreased with daylight. Nothing had happened during the night, no attacks, no disturbances, just the constant sensation of observation that had eventually faded toward dawn.
He decided not to mention the figure he'd seen. It might have been nothing, and worrying his companions over a potential illusion seemed unnecessary. But he filed the information away, added it to the growing list of concerning observations about their journey.
The Aether Foundation facility near their route. The theft on the ship. And now possible surveillance in Viridian Forest. Pieces of a pattern that hadn't yet revealed its full shape.
They departed the forest rest area as the sun climbed higher. The morning forest was completely different from the night version, bright, cheerful, filled with Pokemon activity and bird calls. The eerie quality had vanished with darkness.
"How much further to the forest exit?" Miyuki asked, checking her map.
"About three hours," Sasuke estimated. "We should reach Pewter City by early afternoon."
"And then gym battle preparation," Kiyomi said from the living room. "This is where your journey really begins, Sasuke."
"Our journey," he corrected. "All of us."
Behind them, the ancient forest watched them depart with the patient awareness of something that had witnessed thousands of years of human and Pokemon interaction. And somewhere in that forest's depths, a figure in white recorded information about the Mobile Home, its occupants, and particularly the young trainer with crimson eyes and a Victini.
The Aether Foundation was monitoring the Four Supernovas with great interest. And Sasuke Uchiha had just confirmed that his group would be traveling to Pewter City.
That information would reach headquarters within the hour.