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Red's Adventures

Chapter 2 - An eventful travel !

The four Pokémon had been walking for a day and a half. The pace was steady, almost military. Shin and Riley led the way, attentive to the terrain, while Red deliberately stayed behind, always within Blue's reach.

The Ninetales's wounds had almost completely disappeared; only a few slightly darker patches of fur betrayed what would have been fatal for many others.

They crossed Blue's familiar forest, forded a river via an old wooden bridge, and emerged into a vast clearing. In the distance, between the hills, Red thought he could make out geometric shapes—too regular to be natural. A town.

The atmosphere remained tense. Blue, unable to bear the silence any longer, attempted an attempted approach:

« So... what were you doing so far from your town? » Shin turned its head slightly but didn't answer. Riley spoke up, cheerfully:

Riley spoke up, his tone cheerful: « A patrol. We're checking to make sure everything is calm in the area. »

« A... patrol? »

« Exactly. We're watching over our guild's territory to protect weak Pokémon, » Riley explained with a smile. Then, glancing intently at Red: « A bit like your nine-tailed friend, right? »

Red didn't react. His attention was elsewhere, his senses constantly on high alert.

« Is that all you do? » Blue asked. « Help other Pokémon? »

« Most of the time, yes, » Riley replied. « And sometimes, we explore dangerous or unfamiliar places. Dungeons, ruins... to collect useful items. »

Red's pace slowed slightly. « Useful items... » he repeated in a deep voice. « You mean what wild Pokémon have. Or even their eggs. »

A heavy silence fell over the group. Riley turned around abruptly, clearly stung. « Oh, Foxy, don't insult us. We're not monsters. That kind of thing is done by savages. No self-respecting guild would stoop to that. Besides, why would you want a wild egg, they're... »

Red stopped abruptly. « Watch what you say. » He interrupted. His voice was low, rough.

« I've never stolen an egg. Never. And I've never killed for pleasure. » His claws dug slightly into the earth. « You talk about 'protecting,' but I know what some guilds do. You healed me, yes. Thank you. But that doesn't mean I trust you. »

« Ohh. And this wound wouldn't have killed me. » He raised his head defiantly. « I'm not weak. »

« You hear that Shin? » Riley muttered sarcastically. « Some exemplary gratitude... »

« Red... » Blue murmured, lowering his ears. « That wasn't nice. » Red took a deep breath. In front of anyone else, he would have exploded. But not in front of Blue. …Sorry.

He resumed his walk without another word.

After a few minutes, Red broke the silence: « You said the town was a three-day walk away. » « What’s it called? » Shin answered immediately, as if the question had been expected.

« Berry Valley.A sprawling, well-organized town. »

The Luxio observed Red carefully, assessing each reaction. « There are a lot of different types of Pokémon there. Your friend should like it there. »

Then, after a short silence: « On the other hand… we’ve never seen a Ninetales there. » Red frowned. « I’d rather say right away I’m not an attraction. I’m just accompanying Blue, that’s all. I’ll leave afterward. » Blue’s ears immediately drooped.

« Oh, what a tragedy! » exclaimed Riley, laughing. « We’re going to be inconsolable. » Red gave him an icy look.

« You could stay a few days, » added Shin. Calmly.

« Wildlife is unpredictable. And you attract attention, whether you like it or not. »

« Too weak to live alone, » Riley blurted out. « There won’t always be someone to save you. »

A low growl rose in Red’s throat. « I can prove you wrong. »

« And if I got hurt, it’s because… » He trailed off and glanced at Blue. « It doesn’t matter. »

Blue, silent, watched everything. He didn’t understand everything… but one thing was clear: he would stay with Red, no matter what.

Evening slowly fell over the clearing. Riley tended the fire with obvious ease, coaxing a few bright flames that chased away the dampness in the air. Meanwhile, Shin and Red returned from their foraging. The Luxio carefully placed a pile of berries and fruit near the hearth.

Red, for his part, placed something else. A Rattata.

Silence fell immediately. Riley grimaced, taking a step back as if the prey might suddenly move. « You... you're really going to eat that? » he asked with barely suppressed revulsion.

Red shrugged. « Sure. Why? »

He tilted his head slightly. « Do you want some? »

« Ugh! No! » exclaimed Riley. « We don't eat other Pokémon. » Shin watched the scene without intervening immediately. His gaze flickered back and forth between the prey and Red, analyzing. « In our way of life, » Luxio explained calmly, « we eat plants. Fruits, berries, roots, mushrooms or even insects. It’s more stable and more predictable. »

« And above all, more civilized, » Riley added with a hint of disdain. « Only savages eat other Pokémon. » A short laugh escaped Red’s throat.

« You remind me of myself… when I was little. » He paused. « Me neither, I didn’t want to eat meat. » He looked down at the Rattata. « Then I grew up. And to survive, you have to eat. It’s nature. »

Riley gritted his teeth. « I don’t like being compared to you. »

Red frowned, ready to retort… then stopped. « So what? » he finally asked. « What exactly do you eat? »

« Cultivated or foraged food, » Shin replied without hesitation. « And sometimes prepared meals from town. »

Blue, who had been silent until then, tilted his head. « And… fish? he asked innocently. »

« Do you eat it? » Riley smiled at the little Vaporeon. « Some Pokémon, yes. But not in our town. »

Blue’s ears drooped slightly. « Oh… » he murmured. « I think I’m going to miss it… »

He simply stood up, grabbed the Rattata, and walked away from the fire.

« Where are you going? » Blue asked, worried.

« Just a little further, to eat in peace. » Sitting apart, Red ate in silence.

He found it strange that a world could exist without meat. He could do without it for a while…but not forever.

Yet, he stopped before he had finished.

By choice, he wanted to accompany Blue to town and didn’t want to be a problem.

Night fell. Riley and Shin took their sleeping bags out of their saddlebags and settled down by the fire. Red sat some distance away, but still close enough to Blue to feel him breathing.

« Even in the wilderness… » he thought, « they don't know how to keep things simple. » In the dead of night, Red felt a light weight on his tail. He opened one eye. Blue had shifted in his sleep and lay down next to him, his head resting on one of his silky tails.

A growl rose in Red's throat. Ninetales hate having their tails touched. They're precious. Intimate. He should have pushed him away, but he didn't. He simply sighed, adjusted his position slightly…

and let Blue sleep.

For tonight at least, considering the horrible thing he'd done to him a few days earlier, he could allow him this…

For Blue, the warmth was reassuring. The touch of Red's soft, warm fur felt infinitely more pleasant than the cold, damp ground. He drifted back to a deep sleep, completely unaware that he had disturbed his friend.

At dawn, Red was the first to open his eyes. He remained motionless for a few seconds, attentive, then slowly sat up. With almost excessive care, he freed Blue from his tails and gently placed him on the ground, careful not to wake him. Then he wandered off toward a bush.

When he returned, he didn't lie down again; he watched Blue sleep. He was so small and vulnerable. Yet, he was surely the Pokémon capable of causing Red the most pain.

A silent sigh escaped his muzzle. More than an hour later, the camp stirred. After a quick meal, they set off again toward the city.

The forest was gradually changing. The trees were becoming more sparse, the light more diffuse. Then they opened into a wide clearing, carpeted with thick grass and purple flowers with fleshy petals.

Red slowed down; something was wrong.

It wasn't a specific smell, nor a distinct sound. More like… a feeling. The air seemed heavier. Too quiet; the insects had fallen silent.

His ears perked up. « Wait, » he said suddenly.

Riley rolled his eyes. « What now? Did you smell a ghost? »

« There's something here, » Red replied, his voice low.

« I can't hear anything, » Riley said, continuing onward. « And I can see even less. »

Shin, on the other hand, stopped. The Luxio observed its surroundings, analyzing the vegetation, the arrangement of the flowers, the way some seemed slightly closed despite the light. « Riley… » the cat murmured. « Slow down. »

Too late. A sudden breeze swept across the clearing. The Oddish, until then motionless, reacted as one. Their leaves trembled and released a thick cloud of purplish spores, almost invisible from a distance, but dense enough to saturate the air.

« Back off! » Shin began. The spores were already there; they weren’t burning, they were seeping in.

Riley gasped before she understood, coughed violently, and staggered. « Tch… poison…! »

Red didn’t hesitate. « Blue, behind me, and don’t move. »

He inhaled deeply and projected a wide curtain of flames in front of them. The heat swirled the air, gradually dissipating the cloud before it reached Blue. When the spores had dispersed, Red asked Blue to put out the fire.

Shin and Riley were in bad shape. The Luxio had also been hit by the attack. The poison hadn't struck them down instantly—it had settled in. A heavy torpor slowed their movements, their muscles refusing to fully obey.

« Not... badly played... » Riley grunted. « A passive attack... they waited for the wind... I don't like poison types, they're treacherous. »

Shin nodded weakly. « Oddish... territorial defensive strategy... » murmured. « We went in... too deep... »

« Blue, stay here, » he ordered. « I'll take care of them. »

Red approached. « You should have sensed the change, » he said sharply. « The forest held its breath. »

« We analyzed... but too late... » Shin replied. « You sensed it before... without thinking. »

Red didn't reply. He simply watched the purple flowers, already still again.

And for the first time since the beginning of the journey, Shin clearly understood one thing: This Ninetales wasn't surviving because it was stronger. It was surviving because it listened to the world like an animal. It's a type of Pokémon that has always been known for its cunning and survival skills.

Red glanced around the clearing.

The Oddish had gone still again, but he knew that meant nothing. This territory wasn't safe. Not after that attack.

« We're not staying here, » he said firmly. « They could do it again at any moment. »

Without waiting for a reply, he leaned toward Shin. The Luxio was conscious, its golden eyes open, but its body refused to obey. Red tucked one tail under its chest, the other around its hind legs, then forced itself forward.

« Tch... You're heavier than you look. » A muffled growl escaped the feline Pokémon. Shin wanted to protest, but no sound came out. An unpleasant heat rose to his cheeks.

Red settled it behind a thick bush, a safe distance from the clearing, then immediately returned to Riley. This time, he used his tails more to lift the poisoned hedgehog, its body tense with pain.

« Don't fall asleep here, » he murmured. « Not yet. » He placed them side by side, sheltered from the wind and out of sight of the purple flowers. Only once he was sure they were no longer in immediate danger did he stand up.

« Blue, come here. Help me. » Red quickly rummaged through the bags and pulled out two Pecha berries.

« Take one. Crush it well, and make the insufferable hedgehog swallow it. »

Blue blinked in surprise. « Um... can't I just press it against its mouth like I did to you? »

« No. That won't work. » Red inhaled slowly. « I wasn't poisoned. » The Oran berry only accelerated something my body was already doing. This is different. The poison is paralyzing them little by little. If they don't chew, they won't survive.

Blue swallowed, then nodded. While he was tending to Riley, Red approached Shin. The Luxio was watching him, understanding everything, hearing everything. But couldn't move.

Red held his gaze for a few seconds. « Sorry, » he murmured.

Silence.

« This is going to be strange. For you... and even more so for me… Hmmm, ok, maybe not » He took the Pecha berry in his mouth and chewed it for a long time. The bitterness made his eyes narrow. Then, gently, he opened Shin's mouth slightly, slipped his snout inside, and released the crushed pulp, mixed with saliva. With a precise movement of his tongue, he forced the berry down the back of the throat of Shin.

Shin had no choice but to swallow. A burning heat rose to Luxio's cheeks. To be fed like this… helpless… like a kitten too weak to fend for itself.

Red immediately stepped back.

« There, rest. The poison will recede, but it will take time. »

He sat up. « We're not moving today. I'll go find something to eat. Blue, you stay with them. »

Blue, for his part, had imitated Red, with more difficulty but eventually succeeded.

The two injured Pokémon quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Later, Red returned with a pile of berries. The sun was beginning to set. He sat down next to Blue, silent.

« Anything new? » he finally asked.

« No… They're still sleeping, » Blue replied. He remained thoughtful for a moment, then raised his head and looked Red straight in the eyes, a wide smile on his lips.

« You know… Red, I think meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m having so much fun with you. We’ve already seen so many new things, and we’re going to see so many more! »

This innocent declaration—which should have been comforting, almost soothing—had the opposite effect on Red. A painful pinch tightened in his chest, followed by a deep, suffocating emptiness. The guilt he had been trying to bury for several days resurfaced brutally, even heavier than before.

He looked away slightly, unable to bear Blue’s genuine enthusiasm.

Then the little Vaporeon’s expression changed, his smile faded, and his voice became lower, hesitant, almost fragile.

« Tell me… Red… you’re not going to abandon me, are you? » His ears drooped gently as he waited for the answer, his eyes fixed on the fox with an anxiety he didn't even try to hide.

Red froze. Seeing Blue so serious was… unsettling. This Pokémon, who laughed constantly, who moved forward without thinking, who seemed to live only in the moment, had just asked a question far too weighty, far too weighty.

The silence stretched on.

Red opened his mouth, then closed it again immediately. He didn't know what to say. Because deep down, a cruel thought took hold: he had stolen this little Pokémon's innocence. Worse still, he fancied himself its protector… when, if they had never met, Blue might still be safe, unaware of danger, unaware of fear.

And that thought hurt him more than any wound.

And then there was the use of that word, 'Abandoned'.

The word resonated strangely in Red's mind. They had known each other for such a short time. Just a few days. Each would eventually go their separate ways, wouldn't they? That was how things worked. Always.

Red couldn't understand how this little Pokémon could have become so attached to him so quickly, especially considering how soon they met. This sudden attachment didn't do well; Red could only be harmful to this lively little Pokémon.

But for Blue, everything was different. Red was the first Pokémon he had met since his parents. The one who had pulled him out of his monotonous daily life, who had taken him away from his quiet stream. His savior, his guide. And above all… his friend.

This difference in perception created a chasm that Red didn't know how to bridge; he had never anticipated this. It all stemmed from a primal reaction.

Then, he simply wanted to accompany Blue to the city. Nothing more, then leave and disappear. Act as if nothing had happened.

Before he could find an answer—or even a way out—Shin straightened up and calmly approached the two Pokémon.

« Hello to you both… » said Luxio calmly. « I wanted to thank you. Without you, Riley and I probably wouldn’t have survived. »

Shin’s gaze lingered briefly on Red, evaluative but sincere. « And I also wanted to clarify something: I’m not heavy. I weigh exactly the average for a healthy Luxio. »

Shin turned his head slightly, visibly annoyed. Red blinked… then burst out laughing. Shin had unwittingly managed to relieve Red.

The laughter escaped him, genuine, almost relieved. Watching Shin pout while maintaining that calm, serious, and perfectly controlled tone was somewhat absurd. The previous awkwardness had lessened a little.

« It’s not funny, » protested Shin, even more pouty.

Red shook his head, smiling. « Yes, a little. And besides… you’re normal too. » It always worries me to see you so impassive, but you do have emotions after all, little boy.

« Little boy?" » Shin thought. « He's talking about me... » This thought made Luxio smile.

« Is that what you say? » Shin replied, glancing sideways at him. « I'm crossing the entire forest without saying a word, it's the first time I've ever seen you laugh. »

The two Pokémon burst out laughing together.

Red realized then that he hadn't laughed like that in a very long time. Yet, Blue's question continued to nag at him, dull and insistent.

What to do?

He had sworn never to get attached again. Never. « For now, let's think about something else, » he told himself. « I still have some time. »

Riley woke up a few minutes later. Visibly ashamed, he simply joined the others without a word and began to eat.

« So... we have a day's walk left? » asked Red.

« A little less, » replied Shin. « If we keep up this pace, we should arrive tomorrow by late afternoon. »

Red glanced at the Quilava. « So, it wasn't me who slowed you down after all, » he said in a mocking tone. Detached.

Shin and Riley looked away, embarrassed. Neither answered.

After the meal, fatigue returned. Red and Blue lay down to sleep. This time, Red made sure to keep a certain distance between them.

Too many things were troubling him. Blue's question remained unanswered, and this inability bothered him more than he cared to admit.

Shin and Riley, despite the enforced rest of the previous day, struggled to fall asleep. « Shin… » Riley murmured. « I think I just had the worst day of my life. »

« Oh? » Shin replied calmly. « It could have been worse. We're still alive. »

« Exactly… » Riley sighed. « We were saved by a Pokémon we thought was weaker than us. And what's more… it warned us. » His voice held genuine shame.

Shin remained silent for a moment, then said,

« I don’t think he’s weak, after all. There are many kinds of strength. Saving someone doesn't necessarily mean you're stronger than them. » Luxio's gaze fell upon Ninetales' sleeping silhouette. A slight warmth rose to his cheeks as he recalled the Pecha Bay incident.

« I don't understand what Blue sees in him, » Riley grumbled. « What a waste... such a kind Pokémon. »

« In my opinion, » Shin replied calmly, « if he were really what you think, Blue would have disappeared a long time ago. »

Riley watched him, intrigued. « You know... you've been acting strangely since we met them. It's minor, but I find you a little... different. »

« Really? » Shin asked, surprised.

« You're more... » He hesitated. « Never mind. »

The next day, the journey proceeded without incident. The group made good progress. Small villages sometimes appeared in the distance, silhouetted Blurry images that brought back painful memories for Red.

Then, finally, Bay Valley appeared on the horizon.

And with it… a new chapter that neither of them yet knew how to face.

The four Pokémon had been walking for a day and a half. The pace was steady, almost military. Shin and Riley led the way, attentive to the terrain, while Red deliberately stayed behind, always within Blue's reach.

The Ninetales's wounds had almost completely disappeared; only a few slightly darker patches of fur betrayed what would have been fatal for many others.

They crossed Blue's familiar forest, forded a river via an old wooden bridge, and emerged into a vast clearing. In the distance, between the hills, Red thought he could make out geometric shapes—too regular to be natural. A town.

The atmosphere remained tense. Blue, unable to bear the silence any longer, attempted an attempted approach:

« So... what were you doing so far from your town? » Shin turned its head slightly but didn't answer. Riley spoke up, cheerfully:

Riley spoke up, his tone cheerful: « A patrol. We're checking to make sure everything is calm in the area. »

« A... patrol? »

« Exactly. We're watching over our guild's territory to protect weak Pokémon, » Riley explained with a smile. Then, glancing intently at Red: « A bit like your nine-tailed friend, right? »

Red didn't react. His attention was elsewhere, his senses constantly on high alert.

« Is that all you do? » Blue asked. « Help other Pokémon? »

« Most of the time, yes, » Riley replied. « And sometimes, we explore dangerous or unfamiliar places. Dungeons, ruins... to collect useful items. »

Red's pace slowed slightly. « Useful items... » he repeated in a deep voice. « You mean what wild Pokémon have. Or even their eggs. »

A heavy silence fell over the group. Riley turned around abruptly, clearly stung. « Oh, Foxy, don't insult us. We're not monsters. That kind of thing is done by savages. No self-respecting guild would stoop to that. Besides, why would you want a wild egg, they're... »

Red stopped abruptly. « Watch what you say. » He interrupted. His voice was low, rough.

« I've never stolen an egg. Never. And I've never killed for pleasure. » His claws dug slightly into the earth. « You talk about 'protecting,' but I know what some guilds do. You healed me, yes. Thank you. But that doesn't mean I trust you. »

« Ohh. And this wound wouldn't have killed me. » He raised his head defiantly. « I'm not weak. »

« You hear that Shin? » Riley muttered sarcastically. « Some exemplary gratitude... »

« Red... » Blue murmured, lowering his ears. « That wasn't nice. » Red took a deep breath. In front of anyone else, he would have exploded. But not in front of Blue. …Sorry.

He resumed his walk without another word.

After a few minutes, Red broke the silence: « You said the town was a three-day walk away. » « What’s it called? » Shin answered immediately, as if the question had been expected.

« Berry Valley.A sprawling, well-organized town. »

The Luxio observed Red carefully, assessing each reaction. « There are a lot of different types of Pokémon there. Your friend should like it there. »

Then, after a short silence: « On the other hand… we’ve never seen a Ninetales there. » Red frowned. « I’d rather say right away I’m not an attraction. I’m just accompanying Blue, that’s all. I’ll leave afterward. » Blue’s ears immediately drooped.

« Oh, what a tragedy! » exclaimed Riley, laughing. « We’re going to be inconsolable. » Red gave him an icy look.

« You could stay a few days, » added Shin. Calmly.

« Wildlife is unpredictable. And you attract attention, whether you like it or not. »

« Too weak to live alone, » Riley blurted out. « There won’t always be someone to save you. »

A low growl rose in Red’s throat. « I can prove you wrong. »

« And if I got hurt, it’s because… » He trailed off and glanced at Blue. « It doesn’t matter. »

Blue, silent, watched everything. He didn’t understand everything… but one thing was clear: he would stay with Red, no matter what.

Evening slowly fell over the clearing. Riley tended the fire with obvious ease, coaxing a few bright flames that chased away the dampness in the air. Meanwhile, Shin and Red returned from their foraging. The Luxio carefully placed a pile of berries and fruit near the hearth.

Red, for his part, placed something else. A Rattata.

Silence fell immediately. Riley grimaced, taking a step back as if the prey might suddenly move. « You... you're really going to eat that? » he asked with barely suppressed revulsion.

Red shrugged. « Sure. Why? »

He tilted his head slightly. « Do you want some? »

« Ugh! No! » exclaimed Riley. « We don't eat other Pokémon. » Shin watched the scene without intervening immediately. His gaze flickered back and forth between the prey and Red, analyzing. « In our way of life, » Luxio explained calmly, « we eat plants. Fruits, berries, roots, mushrooms or even insects. It’s more stable and more predictable. »

« And above all, more civilized, » Riley added with a hint of disdain. « Only savages eat other Pokémon. » A short laugh escaped Red’s throat.

« You remind me of myself… when I was little. » He paused. « Me neither, I didn’t want to eat meat. » He looked down at the Rattata. « Then I grew up. And to survive, you have to eat. It’s nature. »

Riley gritted his teeth. « I don’t like being compared to you. »

Red frowned, ready to retort… then stopped. « So what? » he finally asked. « What exactly do you eat? »

« Cultivated or foraged food, » Shin replied without hesitation. « And sometimes prepared meals from town. »

Blue, who had been silent until then, tilted his head. « And… fish? he asked innocently. »

« Do you eat it? » Riley smiled at the little Vaporeon. « Some Pokémon, yes. But not in our town. »

Blue’s ears drooped slightly. « Oh… » he murmured. « I think I’m going to miss it… »

He simply stood up, grabbed the Rattata, and walked away from the fire.

« Where are you going? » Blue asked, worried.

« Just a little further, to eat in peace. » Sitting apart, Red ate in silence.

He found it strange that a world could exist without meat. He could do without it for a while…but not forever.

Yet, he stopped before he had finished.

By choice, he wanted to accompany Blue to town and didn’t want to be a problem.

Night fell. Riley and Shin took their sleeping bags out of their saddlebags and settled down by the fire. Red sat some distance away, but still close enough to Blue to feel him breathing.

« Even in the wilderness… » he thought, « they don't know how to keep things simple. » In the dead of night, Red felt a light weight on his tail. He opened one eye. Blue had shifted in his sleep and lay down next to him, his head resting on one of his silky tails.

A growl rose in Red's throat. Ninetales hate having their tails touched. They're precious. Intimate. He should have pushed him away, but he didn't. He simply sighed, adjusted his position slightly…

and let Blue sleep.

For tonight at least, considering the horrible thing he'd done to him a few days earlier, he could allow him this…

For Blue, the warmth was reassuring. The touch of Red's soft, warm fur felt infinitely more pleasant than the cold, damp ground. He drifted back to a deep sleep, completely unaware that he had disturbed his friend.

At dawn, Red was the first to open his eyes. He remained motionless for a few seconds, attentive, then slowly sat up. With almost excessive care, he freed Blue from his tails and gently placed him on the ground, careful not to wake him. Then he wandered off toward a bush.

When he returned, he didn't lie down again; he watched Blue sleep. He was so small and vulnerable. Yet, he was surely the Pokémon capable of causing Red the most pain.

A silent sigh escaped his muzzle. More than an hour later, the camp stirred. After a quick meal, they set off again toward the city.

The forest was gradually changing. The trees were becoming more sparse, the light more diffuse. Then they opened into a wide clearing, carpeted with thick grass and purple flowers with fleshy petals.

Red slowed down; something was wrong.

It wasn't a specific smell, nor a distinct sound. More like… a feeling. The air seemed heavier. Too quiet; the insects had fallen silent.

His ears perked up. « Wait, » he said suddenly.

Riley rolled his eyes. « What now? Did you smell a ghost? »

« There's something here, » Red replied, his voice low.

« I can't hear anything, » Riley said, continuing onward. « And I can see even less. »

Shin, on the other hand, stopped. The Luxio observed its surroundings, analyzing the vegetation, the arrangement of the flowers, the way some seemed slightly closed despite the light. « Riley… » the cat murmured. « Slow down. »

Too late. A sudden breeze swept across the clearing. The Oddish, until then motionless, reacted as one. Their leaves trembled and released a thick cloud of purplish spores, almost invisible from a distance, but dense enough to saturate the air.

« Back off! » Shin began. The spores were already there; they weren’t burning, they were seeping in.

Riley gasped before she understood, coughed violently, and staggered. « Tch… poison…! »

Red didn’t hesitate. « Blue, behind me, and don’t move. »

He inhaled deeply and projected a wide curtain of flames in front of them. The heat swirled the air, gradually dissipating the cloud before it reached Blue. When the spores had dispersed, Red asked Blue to put out the fire.

Shin and Riley were in bad shape. The Luxio had also been hit by the attack. The poison hadn't struck them down instantly—it had settled in. A heavy torpor slowed their movements, their muscles refusing to fully obey.

« Not... badly played... » Riley grunted. « A passive attack... they waited for the wind... I don't like poison types, they're treacherous. »

Shin nodded weakly. « Oddish... territorial defensive strategy... » murmured. « We went in... too deep... »

« Blue, stay here, » he ordered. « I'll take care of them. »

Red approached. « You should have sensed the change, » he said sharply. « The forest held its breath. »

« We analyzed... but too late... » Shin replied. « You sensed it before... without thinking. »

Red didn't reply. He simply watched the purple flowers, already still again.

And for the first time since the beginning of the journey, Shin clearly understood one thing: This Ninetales wasn't surviving because it was stronger. It was surviving because it listened to the world like an animal. It's a type of Pokémon that has always been known for its cunning and survival skills.

Red glanced around the clearing.

The Oddish had gone still again, but he knew that meant nothing. This territory wasn't safe. Not after that attack.

« We're not staying here, » he said firmly. « They could do it again at any moment. »

Without waiting for a reply, he leaned toward Shin. The Luxio was conscious, its golden eyes open, but its body refused to obey. Red tucked one tail under its chest, the other around its hind legs, then forced itself forward.

« Tch... You're heavier than you look. » A muffled growl escaped the feline Pokémon. Shin wanted to protest, but no sound came out. An unpleasant heat rose to his cheeks.

Red settled it behind a thick bush, a safe distance from the clearing, then immediately returned to Riley. This time, he used his tails more to lift the poisoned hedgehog, its body tense with pain.

« Don't fall asleep here, » he murmured. « Not yet. » He placed them side by side, sheltered from the wind and out of sight of the purple flowers. Only once he was sure they were no longer in immediate danger did he stand up.

« Blue, come here. Help me. » Red quickly rummaged through the bags and pulled out two Pecha berries.

« Take one. Crush it well, and make the insufferable hedgehog swallow it. »

Blue blinked in surprise. « Um... can't I just press it against its mouth like I did to you? »

« No. That won't work. » Red inhaled slowly. « I wasn't poisoned. » The Oran berry only accelerated something my body was already doing. This is different. The poison is paralyzing them little by little. If they don't chew, they won't survive.

Blue swallowed, then nodded. While he was tending to Riley, Red approached Shin. The Luxio was watching him, understanding everything, hearing everything. But couldn't move.

Red held his gaze for a few seconds. « Sorry, » he murmured.

Silence.

« This is going to be strange. For you... and even more so for me… Hmmm, ok, maybe not » He took the Pecha berry in his mouth and chewed it for a long time. The bitterness made his eyes narrow. Then, gently, he opened Shin's mouth slightly, slipped his snout inside, and released the crushed pulp, mixed with saliva. With a precise movement of his tongue, he forced the berry down the back of the throat of Shin.

Shin had no choice but to swallow. A burning heat rose to Luxio's cheeks. To be fed like this… helpless… like a kitten too weak to fend for itself.

Red immediately stepped back.

« There, rest. The poison will recede, but it will take time. »

He sat up. « We're not moving today. I'll go find something to eat. Blue, you stay with them. »

Blue, for his part, had imitated Red, with more difficulty but eventually succeeded.

The two injured Pokémon quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Later, Red returned with a pile of berries. The sun was beginning to set. He sat down next to Blue, silent.

« Anything new? » he finally asked.

« No… They're still sleeping, » Blue replied. He remained thoughtful for a moment, then raised his head and looked Red straight in the eyes, a wide smile on his lips.

« You know… Red, I think meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m having so much fun with you. We’ve already seen so many new things, and we’re going to see so many more! »

This innocent declaration—which should have been comforting, almost soothing—had the opposite effect on Red. A painful pinch tightened in his chest, followed by a deep, suffocating emptiness. The guilt he had been trying to bury for several days resurfaced brutally, even heavier than before.

He looked away slightly, unable to bear Blue’s genuine enthusiasm.

Then the little Vaporeon’s expression changed, his smile faded, and his voice became lower, hesitant, almost fragile.

« Tell me… Red… you’re not going to abandon me, are you? » His ears drooped gently as he waited for the answer, his eyes fixed on the fox with an anxiety he didn't even try to hide.

Red froze. Seeing Blue so serious was… unsettling. This Pokémon, who laughed constantly, who moved forward without thinking, who seemed to live only in the moment, had just asked a question far too weighty, far too weighty.

The silence stretched on.

Red opened his mouth, then closed it again immediately. He didn't know what to say. Because deep down, a cruel thought took hold: he had stolen this little Pokémon's innocence. Worse still, he fancied himself its protector… when, if they had never met, Blue might still be safe, unaware of danger, unaware of fear.

And that thought hurt him more than any wound.

And then there was the use of that word, 'Abandoned'.

The word resonated strangely in Red's mind. They had known each other for such a short time. Just a few days. Each would eventually go their separate ways, wouldn't they? That was how things worked. Always.

Red couldn't understand how this little Pokémon could have become so attached to him so quickly, especially considering how soon they met. This sudden attachment didn't do well; Red could only be harmful to this lively little Pokémon.

But for Blue, everything was different. Red was the first Pokémon he had met since his parents. The one who had pulled him out of his monotonous daily life, who had taken him away from his quiet stream. His savior, his guide. And above all… his friend.

This difference in perception created a chasm that Red didn't know how to bridge; he had never anticipated this. It all stemmed from a primal reaction.

Then, he simply wanted to accompany Blue to the city. Nothing more, then leave and disappear. Act as if nothing had happened.

Before he could find an answer—or even a way out—Shin straightened up and calmly approached the two Pokémon.

« Hello to you both… » said Luxio calmly. « I wanted to thank you. Without you, Riley and I probably wouldn’t have survived. »

Shin’s gaze lingered briefly on Red, evaluative but sincere. « And I also wanted to clarify something: I’m not heavy. I weigh exactly the average for a healthy Luxio. »

Shin turned his head slightly, visibly annoyed. Red blinked… then burst out laughing. Shin had unwittingly managed to relieve Red.

The laughter escaped him, genuine, almost relieved. Watching Shin pout while maintaining that calm, serious, and perfectly controlled tone was somewhat absurd. The previous awkwardness had lessened a little.

« It’s not funny, » protested Shin, even more pouty.

Red shook his head, smiling. « Yes, a little. And besides… you’re normal too. » It always worries me to see you so impassive, but you do have emotions after all, little boy.

« Little boy?" » Shin thought. « He's talking about me... » This thought made Luxio smile.

« Is that what you say? » Shin replied, glancing sideways at him. « I'm crossing the entire forest without saying a word, it's the first time I've ever seen you laugh. »

The two Pokémon burst out laughing together.

Red realized then that he hadn't laughed like that in a very long time. Yet, Blue's question continued to nag at him, dull and insistent.

What to do?

He had sworn never to get attached again. Never. « For now, let's think about something else, » he told himself. « I still have some time. »

Riley woke up a few minutes later. Visibly ashamed, he simply joined the others without a word and began to eat.

« So... we have a day's walk left? » asked Red.

« A little less, » replied Shin. « If we keep up this pace, we should arrive tomorrow by late afternoon. »

Red glanced at the Quilava. « So, it wasn't me who slowed you down after all, » he said in a mocking tone. Detached.

Shin and Riley looked away, embarrassed. Neither answered.

After the meal, fatigue returned. Red and Blue lay down to sleep. This time, Red made sure to keep a certain distance between them.

Too many things were troubling him. Blue's question remained unanswered, and this inability bothered him more than he cared to admit.

Shin and Riley, despite the enforced rest of the previous day, struggled to fall asleep. « Shin… » Riley murmured. « I think I just had the worst day of my life. »

« Oh? » Shin replied calmly. « It could have been worse. We're still alive. »

« Exactly… » Riley sighed. « We were saved by a Pokémon we thought was weaker than us. And what's more… it warned us. » His voice held genuine shame.

Shin remained silent for a moment, then said,

« I don’t think he’s weak, after all. There are many kinds of strength. Saving someone doesn't necessarily mean you're stronger than them. » Luxio's gaze fell upon Ninetales' sleeping silhouette. A slight warmth rose to his cheeks as he recalled the Pecha Bay incident.

« I don't understand what Blue sees in him, » Riley grumbled. « What a waste... such a kind Pokémon. »

« In my opinion, » Shin replied calmly, « if he were really what you think, Blue would have disappeared a long time ago. »

Riley watched him, intrigued. « You know... you've been acting strangely since we met them. It's minor, but I find you a little... different. »

« Really? » Shin asked, surprised.

« You're more... » He hesitated. « Never mind. »

The next day, the journey proceeded without incident. The group made good progress. Small villages sometimes appeared in the distance, silhouetted Blurry images that brought back painful memories for Red.

Then, finally, Bay Valley appeared on the horizon.

And with it… a new chapter that neither of them yet knew how to face.

Riley wakes up a few minutes later. He felt humiliated, he went to sit down with the 3 other pokemon to eat.

“So, we only need 1 more day of driving, right? » asks Red “A little less, if we hurry, we should get there tomorrow late afternoon” replies Shin

Red looks at the Qulava “In the end, it’s not me who slowed you down” he says condescendingly. Shin and Riley blushed with shame.

The 4 pokemon ate, Red and Blue were sleeping, this time Red kept his distance from Blue, they slept far from each other, Blue's question remained in his head and not being able to answer was very disturbing. Has he changed that much in just a few days? Shin and Riley couldn't sleep, the 2 pokemon had already slept a lot before.

“Shin, I think I just had the worst day of my life.”

“Ohh? It could have been worse, we’re still alive”

"That's the problem, we were saved by a pokemon weaker than us, plus, he warned us..." Riley had a pitiful expression.

"I'm not sure he's weak..." Shin looks in the direction of the ninetales and blushes remembering the indirect kiss with the pecha bay.

“I don't know what this Blue sees in him, what a waste, such a nice pokemon with... HIM!!! »

“In my opinion he's a lot better than he lets on, otherwise he would have been gone a long time ago. »

"Shin... You know, you've been acting weird ever since we found them."

"Ohh? What do you mean?"

"You're more..." He hesitated. "Never mind."

The next day, there were no problems, the small group moved forward, they could see small villages in the distance, which brought back old painful memories to Red and finally, BerryValley was in sight.