26.
Giovanni, she realizes, probably wanted her to get tough up here. Her still thin hands and soft face tell her that likely failed.
However, what she lacks in grit, she has figured out how to be smart. She learns the patterns pokemon take when they think they are safe. She has heard the cries of the dying and when to help them. She has learned her body's rhythm changes after a healing.
The forest endures, whispers the mountain. The mountain shatters. The forest defeats.
She barely feels a chill anymore.
She ventures further and suddenly, the world fills with warmth. Warmth and light suffuse the sky, wrapping around her. And yet-
Her body won't go any closer. Fear wraps her tight, and she suddenly feels small and stepped over.
Yellow bites her lip and lifts each foot one at a time until a great, beautiful bird is peeking one eye open at her.
And she is engulfed in burning fire within the next second.
Yellow nearly panics but grabs hold of Nel's pokeball, releasing the ponyta who has already gone off into a stern gallop.
The pure speed Nel pours out sends them flying out of the cave and nearly into Lance.
"Troublemaker," he says wryly as she picks herself up. "I want to show you something."
Yellow resists, but with her team, she can maybe escape.
She hopes.