The Beedrill buzzed angrily, its stingers twitching as it hovered in the air. For a moment, Isabelle thought it might dive again, but instead, it gave a sharp, agitated hum and darted back toward the forest. It wasn’t beaten—far from it—but something about the scrappy Pancham and its determined Trainer had convinced it this wasn’t worth the fight. Maybe it realized it had ventured too far from its territory. Maybe it simply had better things to do. Whatever the reason, the noise of its wings faded into the distance, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake.

  Isabelle released a shaky breath, her hands still trembling as she pushed herself to her feet. Her pulse was still racing, her limbs feeling sluggish from the adrenaline dump. For a moment, she swore the buzzing of the Beedrill’s wings still lingered in her ears, even though the forest had gone eerily silent.

  You're weak. You don't belong here.

  The thought lodged itself in her mind, an unwelcome whisper. She gritted her teeth and shoved it away.

  Azzy bounced to her side, her tiny frame quivering with energy as she looked up at Isabelle with wide, concerned eyes.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” Isabelle murmured, kneeling to rub the soft fur on Azzy’s head. “We’re fine. Thanks to... uh...” She trailed off, her gaze lifting to the boy who was now stepping fully into view.

  He looked… normal. Ordinary, even. Messy dark brown hair, a patched-up jacket that had clearly seen better days—he gave off the vibe of someone who had spent more than his fair share of time outdoors. Not exactly the dashing hero her panicked brain might’ve expected to show up in the nick of time.

  Not that she was expecting one. Arceus, did she even like guys? That stray thought made her brain spiral for a second before she shoved it aside. Focus. You almost got skewered. Now’s not the time for an identity crisis.

  "Uh, hi," she said awkwardly, brushing dirt off her knees. "Thanks for, you know, saving me from getting impaled."

  The boy scratched the back of his head, his expression somewhere between sheepish and amused. “No problem. Beedrill are no joke out here. You’re lucky it didn’t sting you—most Trainers don’t walk away that easily.”

  Isabelle snorted, unable to help herself. “Good to know my ‘flail and scream’ strategy worked wonders.”

  The boy chuckled. “Hey, if it gets the job done.”

  He gestured toward his partner, who was striking a victorious pose, fists on its hips. “Pancham deserves the credit, really.”

  Isabelle glanced at the little Pokémon, who puffed out its chest proudly. Azzy chirped beside her, seeming both impressed and slightly envious of Pancham’s heroics.

  “I’m Isabelle,” she said, offering a small wave. “And this is Azzy.”

  “Collin,” the boy replied, returning the wave. “And this little guy is Pancham.”

  He paused, glancing around at the forest. “Are you traveling alone? Cinder Hollow Woods isn’t exactly the best place to wander without backup.”

  Isabelle frowned, brushing more dirt off her pants. “I didn’t mean to wander into the woods,” she said defensively. “That Beedrill kind of... chased me here.”

  Collin winced. “Yeah, that happens. These woods are full of bugs—and not the friendly kind.”

  “Great,” Isabelle muttered. “Good to know.”

  After confirming that the Beedrill had truly retreated, Collin led Isabelle and Azzy to a small clearing nestled under a canopy of trees. A modest campfire crackled in the center, its warmth chasing away the growing evening chill. The orange glow of the flames flickered against the bark of towering evergreens, casting shifting shadows across the campsite.

  Collin gestured toward a log bench he had fashioned near the fire as he crouched to stoke the embers.

  “You’re camping out here?” Isabelle asked, eyeing the sparse setup. A simple tent stood a few paces away, flanked by a sturdy backpack and a foldable cooking stand. The whole scene screamed practical, not cozy.

  “Yeah,” Collin replied, tossing a few sticks into the fire. “Been here about two months. I’m looking for a new Pokémon partner, and there’s this rumor about a Fire Shrine hidden somewhere in Cinder Hollow Woods.”

  Isabelle tilted her head. “A shrine? Like, an actual, ancient shrine?”

  Collin nodded, his tone casual but his eyes sparking with curiosity. “That’s what the forums say. Supposedly, it’s tied to legendary Pokémon or something. There’s no proof, though—just vague accounts of people seeing lights or hearing strange sounds around here.”

  Isabelle raised an eyebrow. “And you think it’s real?”

  Collin smirked. “Who knows? Even if it’s just a story, it gives me something to work toward.”

  He poked at the fire with a stick before adding, “But I’m not the only one looking for it. There’ve been other Trainers sniffing around lately. Some of them were... sketchy.”

  Isabelle frowned. “Sketchy how?”

  “Rumors,” Collin said with a shrug. “Some people say Team Eclipse’s been poking around the area.”

  Isabelle’s stomach twisted. Team Eclipse. She didn’t know much about them, but she had heard enough from passing conversations in Lumora City. A bunch of dangerous extremists with a bad habit of showing up where they weren’t wanted.

  “Wait, are you serious?” Isabelle asked, voice lower now.

  Collin nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know if they actually found anything, but if they’re interested in this place, there’s got to be more to it than just a myth.”

  Well, that was just fantastic. She had barely been on her journey for a full day and was already hearing about them.

  As the fire settled into a steady crackle, Collin pulled out a small pot and began heating water. “Tea?” he asked, holding up a tin.

  “Sure,” Isabelle said, sliding onto the log. Azzy curled up beside her, watching the flames with a mesmerized stare.

  Collin poured the tea into simple metal mugs, handing one to Isabelle. The steam curled upward, carrying a faint scent of mint and berries. She took a tentative sip, letting the warmth seep into her.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  “So, what’s your deal?” Collin asked, leaning back on his hands. “First time out on the road?”

  “Yeah,” Isabelle admitted, her gaze fixed on the fire. “I just got registered yesterday. Azzy’s been with me forever, but this whole ‘trainer’ thing is new. I guess I’m still figuring it out.”

  She hesitated before adding, “Honestly? I don’t even know if I’m cut out for it.”

  Collin raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

  Isabelle exhaled. “I don’t know... some people train their whole lives for this. I’m just... kind of winging it.”

  Collin considered her for a moment before smirking. “That just means you’re like the rest of us.”

  Collin’s smirk lingered as he sipped his tea, his gaze drifting up toward the trees. The canopy above was thick, blotting out most of the night sky save for a few scattered stars peeking through. Isabelle followed his gaze, her mind still circling his words.

  Just like the rest of us.

  She wasn’t sure if that was reassuring or unsettling.

  Azzy let out a soft yawn beside her, curling up into a ball. Isabelle absentmindedly stroked the small Pokémon’s fur, letting the warmth of the fire seep into her bones.

  “So… what’s the plan?” she asked finally. “Are you just gonna wander around until you run into this shrine, or do you actually have a lead?”

  Collin huffed, setting his mug down. “A little of both. I’ve mapped out some weird areas over the last couple weeks—places where the temperature fluctuates or where wild Pokémon behave strangely. I was going to check out one of those spots tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like a lot of walking,” Isabelle muttered, stretching out her legs.

  “You’re not wrong.” Collin grinned. “But you’re welcome to tag along if you want. Better than accidentally running into another Beedrill nest, right?”

  Isabelle scoffed. “You make one bad decision and suddenly you’re branded as the ‘Beedrill Bait’ girl forever.”

  Collin chuckled, tossing another stick into the fire. “Hey, could be worse. You could be the ‘fell-in-a-Swadloon-pit’ guy.”

  Isabelle blinked. “That… happened to you?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “…I’m going to need that full story.”

  Collin let out a deep sigh, shaking his head with a grin. “Alright, but you have to promise not to laugh.”

  Isabelle raised an eyebrow. “Oh, now I definitely have to hear this.”

  Collin huffed in mock exasperation, tossing another stick into the fire. “Fine. So, a few months ago, I was trekking through Embergrove Forest—it's up near Maydew City, kind of a mix of grasslands and deep woods. I was looking for a Grass-type to add to my team, right? Thought I’d go for something cool, something strong. Maybe a Breloom or a Lurantis.”

  Isabelle nodded, sipping her tea. “Sounds reasonable.”

  “Right?” Collin gestured animatedly. “So, I see some movement in the bushes—like a whole bunch of leaves shifting around, real subtle. I think, oh, this is it, rare Pokémon time. I creep forward, totally convinced I’m about to encounter some badass Grass-type… and then the ground vanishes beneath me.”

  Isabelle blinked. “Wait, you fell?”

  Collin exhaled through his nose. “Yup. Straight down into a hidden Swadloon pit.”

  There was a moment of silence before Isabelle snorted, slapping a hand over her mouth.

  Collin shot her a betrayed look. “You promised.”

  “I did not promise! And how was I supposed to not laugh at that?” Isabelle grinned, barely holding back another laugh. “A Swadloon pit?”

  Collin crossed his arms. “Hey, they work together in the wild, alright? They weave leaves, make little burrows—it’s a whole thing. I just happened to walk into their equivalent of a Swadloon condo complex.”

  “I—okay, but how did you even get out?”

  Pancham, still sitting nearby, puffed out its chest and dramatically flexed its arms.

  Collin chuckled, reaching over to pat his partner on the head. “Not thanks to Pancham. He was not as tough back then. He panicked and tried to wrestle a branch off a tree to ‘save me.’ Didn’t work.”

  Pancham immediately let out an indignant huff, crossing its arms.

  Azzy watched him curiously before tilting her head. “Azurill?”

  Pancham straightened and nodded solemnly, clearly interpreting this as an invitation to recount his own heroic feats. He flexed again, then jabbed a finger toward the sky in dramatic emphasis.

  “Oh no,” Isabelle muttered. “What’s he saying?”

  Collin smirked. “He’s trying to tell you that he absolutely helped against that Beedrill earlier and that you should be thanking him.”

  Rotom buzzed overhead, flashing a small digital thumbs-up on its screen. “Analyzing muscle density… impressive! For a Pokémon that weighs approximately 18 pounds!"

  Pancham scowled, punching at the air as if to prove its strength.

  Isabelle grinned, watching the little Fighting-type huff and flex. At least someone around here had confidence.

  Collin continued, “Anyway, getting back to the Swadloon thing—so, I’m stuck, right? And these Swadloon? They are not happy about me crashing into their home. They start throwing leaves at me.”

  “Leaves?” Isabelle deadpanned.

  “Razor leaves.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah.” Collin rubbed the back of his neck. “So now I’m dodging these attacks, still knee-deep in a pile of Swadloon, and guess what my brilliant partner here does?”

  Pancham sat up straighter, eyes gleaming with importance.

  Collin shook his head. “He jumps in after me.”

  Isabelle choked on a laugh. “No.”

  “Oh yeah. And guess what? The Swadloon just buried him under leaves. I had to fish him out while getting pelted by Razor Leafs. By the time I finally climbed out, I was covered in leaves, bruises, and zero rare Pokémon to show for it.”

  Isabelle couldn’t hold back her laughter this time. “So let me get this straight—you didn’t find a cool Pokémon, got attacked by a swarm of Swadloon, and your Pancham nearly got suffocated in the process?”

  Collin nodded solemnly. “One of my finest moments.”

  She laughed again, shaking her head. Okay, maybe she judged this guy too quickly. He wasn’t just some wandering trainer with a patched-up jacket—he was easygoing, self-aware, and, above all, genuinely nice.

  The kind of person who laughed off bad situations instead of spiraling into frustration.

  A normal trainer.

  Someone who wasn’t constantly overthinking everything, or feeling like they had to prove themselves.

  She felt something loosen in her chest, just a little.

  As night fell, the forest came alive with the sounds of chirping Kricketots and the occasional rustle of leaves. Collin handed Isabelle a spare blanket, gesturing to a spot near the fire. “You can crash here tonight. Safer than wandering around in the dark.”

  “Thanks,” Isabelle said, settling down beside Azzy. The little Azurill yawned, curling into a ball on the blanket.

  Collin stretched, glancing up at the canopy of stars visible through the trees. “You’re lucky, you know.”

  Isabelle blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “Not getting stung by that Beedrill,” Collin said, his tone serious. “Most Trainers who do end up sidelined for weeks, or worse, they drop out of the Circuit altogether. Those things don’t mess around.”

  Isabelle shivered at the thought. “Yeah, well, I’ll add ‘avoid giant angry bugs’ to my list of survival tips.”

  “Good call,” Collin said with a grin. “But seriously, you’ve got guts. Most new Trainers would’ve frozen up in a situation like that.”

  Isabelle flushed at the compliment, scratching the back of her neck. “Thanks, I guess. But I had help.”

  Rotom zipped into view, its screen displaying a winking face. “Don’t forget to credit your trusty navigator! Without me, you’d still be searching that stump for hidden treasure!”

  “Sure, Rotom,” Isabelle said dryly. “You’re the real MVP.”

  Collin chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got an interesting crew, Isabelle.”

  “Tell me about it,” she said, smiling faintly.

  As the fire burned lower, Collin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know, this forest isn’t just about the shrine. There’s a lot of history here—old trails, hidden landmarks, stuff that doesn’t show up on official maps.”

  “Like the tree stump?” Isabelle asked.

  “Exactly,” Collin said. “They say there are shrines like the one I’m looking for all over Virelia, tied to the legendary Pokémon. But finding them isn’t just about luck—you have to be... worthy, or something.”

  “Worthy?” Isabelle repeated, skeptical.

  Collin shrugged. “That’s what the stories say. I don’t know if I buy it, but it’s worth exploring. At the very least, it makes for a good adventure.”

  Isabelle considered his words, her gaze drifting to Azzy, who was snoring softly beside her. Maybe this journey was about more than just Gym Badges and League rankings. Maybe it was about discovery—of the world, of herself, and of the bonds she’d build along the way.

  As the fire dwindled to glowing embers, a sense of calm settled over the clearing. For the first time in days, Isabelle felt a little less uncertain.

  “Alright,” she said softly, more to herself than anyone else. “Let’s see where this road takes us.”

  Azzy stirred, chirping faintly in her sleep, while Rotom hummed quietly, its screen dimming as if preparing for rest.

  Tomorrow was another day, and the forest still held its secrets. But for now, Isabelle allowed herself to simply be—safe, warm, and ready to face whatever came next.