The sign depicting the entry to the area known as the Viridian Forest was a busted up, old, and was more taken with ivy and vines than wood anymore. It likely had some sort of depiction to inform people to stay on the path due to the dangerous Pokémon that inhabit the forest or something similar in nature. With how dark it was last night I had no idea I had camped out near it. It's rather early in the morning, it had to be to stay ahead of Ash and Misty. I'd rather not be stuck with Ash and company right now. Especially with how slow Ash is. While I would love to see some of the things Ash bore witness to accompanying them now wouldn't do me any favors.

  At least not right now, perhaps later. I'd actually like to see the events of Mewtwo but I plan to be invited on my own merit. Being a part of something like that would truly be a challenge. Now that I pointed Lance towards Team Rocket early who knows if it would even happen though. I shook my head looking around the path I had been walking on for several long minutes at this point. I really should have a Pokémon out for general safety, but the forest has been unusually quiet this morning. No birdsong, no rustling of leaves, and not even a peep of other Pokémon.

  The feeling I'm beginning to get doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. No forest is quiet unless something is wrong. Letting Morgana from her ball she looks up at me with an excited sound only for her ears to perk up. She joins me looking around the surroundings from the middle of the path. Something inside me is telling me I really shouldn't stay here but I'm curious, what could quiet the entire forest and make the inhabitants hide? This is when someone jumps from the bushes with a battle cry.

  "I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!" I'd be inclined to answer him if Morgana didn't practically leap out of her fur and attach herself to my face. I have an idea who this is. I can't see due to the fluffy Pokémon so I can't be a hundred percent positive on my guess. Prying Morgana off my face I am greeted with a boy wearing an armored helm and brandishing what looks to be a sword. Just because I know the sword is just a plastic replica doesn't mean a damn thing. Challenging people like that is far and above too much.

  "What are the terms of the battle?" I ask putting Morgana back on her paws. The forest isn't as quiet but perhaps it's because the inhabitance is wary of this kid.

  "First are you a trainer of Pallet?" I shake my head in the negative. "Then where do you hail from?"

  "I'm from Celadon City, the name's Nathan and this is Morgana my Eevee."

  "Well Nathan of Celadon City and Morgana the Eevee. I, the Samurai of Viridian Forest challenge you to Pokémon battle. We will be allowed to use two Pokémon each in a one-on-one setting. Are you prepared?" He sheathes is replica sword at his waist and takes a Pokéball from his belt. "Pinsir, to the battlefield!"

  "Morgana, you up to it?" A resolute 'Vee!' was the answer I got. "Alright then. Morgana to the battlefront."

  We didn't have anyone to officiate and we stared one another down for a few moments to see who would make the first move. It seemed Samurai was not one to be patient cause he started things off.

  "Pinsir use Take-Down!" The giant bug charged towards Morgana with predatory look in its eyes.

  "Use sand attack and dodge to the left." Morgana jumped to the left using her tail to throw sand in Pinsir's face. The big brown bug slammed face first into the dirt before standing up and trying to run the sand out of its eyes. "Now tackle!" Morgana headed my call and slammed herself into her opponent pushing the bug onto its back.

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  "How dishonorable! Pinsir get up and use vice grip!"

  "Morgana back off and use Growl."

  The bug managed to roll itself into its front and push itself to stand up as Morgana jumped back twice and used Growl. The Pinsir hesitated a bit but charged at Morgana to attempt a Vice grip.

  I shake my head as it charges forward with a lowered head. It can't see Morgana if it's like that.

  "Jump over then Tackle." Morgana jumped over the Pinsir as the huge barbed pinchers closed where Morgana was a moment before just to be hit by a Tackle from behind making the Pokémon's face become associated with the dirt once again. I watched the stage beetle like Pokémon lift itself from the dirt again. It seems that it was getting frustrated, I should try to slow it down more. "Yawn."

  Morgana opened her mouth as Pinsir turned around and she yawned. It only took a moment but I could see the actions of Pinsir slightly slow from their previous speed. It moved around more and more like it was struggling to stay awake. It stumbled like a drunk trying to close the distance only fell flat on its back instead, going straight to dreamland. I was about to have Morgana Tackle Pinsir again but it was cloaked in the red light of a Pokéball's recall function.

  Samurai's face was a grimace of displeasure. It's clear he wasn't at all thrilled how his ace got trounced by who he thinks is a 'beginners' Eevee. His second Pokéball is sent out and low and behold it's as I thought, a Metapod.

  "Say does your Metapod even have any attacking moves?" I ask looking at the cacoon Pokémon with a bit of a frown.

  "No, it does not." I could barely resist the urge to facepalm at his blunt response and sheer stupidity. Why in Arceus name would he send out a Pokémon that cannot defend itself?

  "Are you serious right now? You would have your Metapod fight when it is incapable of doing so?" The guy just nods and it makes me want to punch him in the face. I click my tongue and look at Morgana. "Use Yawn and put it to sleep." Morgana moves next to Metapod and uses Yawn without any form of resistance other than Samurai telling Metapod to use harden. The cacoon Pokémon fell asleep and I gave Samurai a deadpan look. "Recall your Pokémon, you have lost. There is no point in continuing. It wouldn't even be fair to have Morgana hit Metapod when it can't fight back."

  "Then our battle ends in a draw." I again look at the idiot and wonder if he's just that stupid and then confirm that he is indeed just that dumb as he grabs his Pokéball to recall his Metapod.

  "Not even close. I still have one unused Pokémon. Even if we count Metapod and Morgana as a draw which I refuse to agree with. Morgana still beat Pinsir meaning you lost, accept it. I'm not going to have my Pokémon bully a Pokémon that can't fight back because it's trainer is an idiot." I scoff and reach down, picking up Morgana and walking away from the braindead kid. "One would think you see your Pokémon as tools instead of friends with a mindset like that."

  Traversing my way through the forest, even on the most direct path, took about a week. I saw several different Pokémon while traversing but none of them really spoke to me. I even saw a Scyther and a Pinsir duking it out, likely over territory. Narrowly avoiding a swarm of angry Beedrill. A brief meeting with a young girl named Green who was traveling with a Bulbasaur. Also a jerk of a guy named Damien with a Charmander. Yes that Damien. I'm going to be keeping tabs on him one of the reasons it took me so long to get out of the forest. If I follow behind him that way when he abandons Charmander I can pick it up instead of Ash. He never truly respected it, nor did the Pokémon ever fully listen to him once it became a Charizard.

  I got a fair bit of training with all four of my Pokémon to prepare for the gym as best I can in the meantime. I think I'm going to have Morgana and Tiamat take on Brock. I will have to bond more with Eir and Prometheus before battling with them in a gym setting.

  I'll focus on battling the gym tomorrow. Now at the Pokémon Center, all that is on my mind is a nice hot shower and sleep in a nice soft bed.

  Current Team: