Chapter 11 Dullfern Forest

"Ash! Alice!" Before Ash and Alice can continue toward the next city, a familiar voice calls out, stopping them in their tracks. Keira, full of energy, rushes toward them, her smile as bright as ever.

"Great to see you, Ash! Alice! How are you doing?" Keira asks, her excitement evident.

Ash proudly holds up his new badge, the light catching on the polished metal. "Good! I just got my first badge," he says with a grin.

Keira's eyes widen in admiration. "Wow! You've already won your first Gym Badge? That's amazing! I'm planning to challenge the Gym Leader as soon as Rodney's done." She pauses, as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, before I forget, take this!"

With a quick motion, Keira pulls out a small, unfamiliar device and hands it to Alice. Both Ash and Alice examine it curiously.

"What's this?" Alice asks, tilting her head slightly as she inspects the gadget.

"This is an Exp. Share," Keira explains, her tone filled with the eagerness of sharing something valuable. "It's a machine that allows one of your Pokémon to gain experience, even if it didn't participate in the battle! You should give it a try!"

Ash nods, appreciating the gift. "Sure, we'll definitely try it out."

Keira beams at them. "Anyway, I better get some training in before my gym battle! I'll see you soon, Ash, Alice!" With that, she waves enthusiastically and hurries off, no doubt heading toward her next challenge.

Alice chuckles softly as she watches her go. "Keira, Rodney, and you— all three of you are so excited about these gym battles."

Ash smirks, knowing the thrill all too well. "I can tell. Once we get past here, we'll be heading into Dullfern Forest."

Alice nods in agreement, and with renewed determination, they move forward, stepping outside the city gates. However, their progress is soon halted when they find Rick standing in front of a cluster of thick spider webs, blocking their path.

"Hey! You!" A sharp voice breaks the silence, drawing Ash and Alice's attention. They turn to see Rick, standing with a confident smirk on his face. "You're that trainer with the rare Pokémon, like Pikachu, back in Serpentine City."

Ash crosses his arms, unimpressed. "So?"

Rick glances at Ash's badge, a glint of something like respect in his eyes. "I see you won the gym badge... maybe you're not as weak as I thought."

Alice's eyes narrow, her protective instincts kicking in. "Excuse me, who are you to judge him?" Her voice is sharp, fueled by the audacity of this stranger.

Rick's attention shifts to her, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "And who might you be, lady?"

Alice steps forward, her stance firm. "I'm Alice, and I'm traveling with Ash. So don't you dare badmouth him in front of me."

Ash sighs, placing a calming hand on Alice's shoulder. "Alice, calm down. It's not worth it." He then turns back to Rick, his expression serious. "Why are you here? Are you just here to brag about how strong you are?"

Rick chuckles, clearly enjoying the tension. "You see this web here?" He points to the thick, intricate web blocking their path. "It was made by a Spidox. If you want to get through, you'll have to cut it down. But, if you do, it's very likely you'll get attacked by the Spidox. I mean, you're destroying its home..."

Ash gives a small shrug, unfazed by the warning. Without hesitation, he pulls out a pair of clippers and cuts the web. As the last strand falls, a Spidox suddenly appears, its multiple eyes glaring with fury. Without warning, it launches a Poison Sting attack at them.

"Pikachu, dodge it and then use Thunderbolt!" Ash commands swiftly.

Pikachu leaps into action, gracefully evading the attack before unleashing a powerful Thunderbolt. The electric surge shocks the Spidox, sending it crashing to the ground.

Ash steps forward, taking out a Poké Ball as he approaches the fallen Spidox. "I'm sorry we broke your home, but we need to get past these woods. How about this—I'll give you a new home, so you won't have to block the road again."

With that, Ash tosses the Poké Ball at the Spidox. The ball absorbs the Pokémon in a flash of red light. After three tense shakes, the Poké Ball clicks shut, signaling the capture.

Spidox: The Toxic Spider Pokemon: Poison and Bug Type. A single bite from Spidox can cause nausea and drowsiness for several hours. They will often attempt to web whatever they bite, regardless of size.

Alice cheers excitedly, her eyes sparkling with pride. "You did it, Ash! You've got a new capture!"

Rick smirks, though his praise is laced with condescension. "See? I told you. But the Spidox around here are pretty weak anyway." He shrugs, then his expression shifts to one of challenge. "Well, since we're both here, how about a battle? I want to see if you're a good competition or just a waste of my time. Your battle against that orange-haired boy wasn't impressive... Let's see if you're a match for me!"

Ash's eyes narrow with determination. "You're on."

Rick wastes no time and sends out his Pokémon—a Paracaw. Ash quickly recognizes it as a Flying type.

"If that's the case, Elecritter, I choose you!" Ash calls out, releasing his own Pokémon.

As soon as Elecritter appears on the battlefield, Paracaw launches a Growl attack, attempting to lower its opponent's defenses. However, Elecritter counters with a Tail Whip, enduring the effect of the Growl and maintaining its composure. Without hesitation, Ash orders, "Thundershock!"

Elecritter obeys, sending a jolt of electricity surging through Paracaw. The bird Pokémon squawks in pain as it falls to the ground, struggling to recover.

Rick's eyes narrow as he adjusts his strategy. "Focus your energy, Paracaw, and then use Scratch!"

Paracaw, though weakened, focuses its energy, then lunges at Elecritter with a sharp Scratch. The attack lands, dealing some damage to Elecritter, but it remains standing, ready for more.

Ash, not missing a beat, commands, "Thunder Wave, then use Pound to finish it off!"

Elecritter swiftly paralyzes Paracaw with Thunder Wave, rendering it nearly immobile. Taking advantage of the situation, Elecritter follows up with a powerful Pound, knocking Paracaw out of the battle.

Rick's eyes widen in surprise as he recalls his fainted Pokémon. "Just because you defeated one of my Pokémon doesn't mean you're strong. Let's see how you handle this—Jumple!"

Ash watches as Rick sends out another Pokémon, Jumple, a small but agile creature that immediately starts bouncing around Elecritter. Without wasting a moment, Jumple uses Double Team, creating multiple illusions of itself, confusing Elecritter. Then, in a swift motion, it lands a powerful Quick Attack, knocking Elecritter out.

"Return," Ash says calmly, recalling Elecritter. He quickly grabs another Poké Ball. "Cheepip, I choose you!"

Cheepip emerges, taking to the sky to gain an advantage. However, Jumple's agility proves to be a challenge as it leaps high enough to strike Cheepip directly with another Quick Attack.

Alice watches the battle intently. "Those jumps sure are something..." she murmurs, impressed by Jumple's agility.

Ash narrows his eyes, thinking quickly. "Cheepip, use Grass Whistle!"

Rick's confident expression falters as Jumple, unable to resist the soothing melody, falls asleep mid-jump, crashing to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Ash orders, "Now, Wing Attack!"

Cheepip swoops down, its wings glowing as it strikes the sleeping Jumple repeatedly, ultimately defeating the Pokémon.

Rick clenches his fist, frustration evident on his face. "I was going easy on you. Now it's time to face my true ace—Dinomite!" He sends out his final Pokémon, a sturdy and powerful-looking Dinomite.

Ash takes a deep breath, studying his new opponent. "Dinomite... looks like a tough one."

Dinomite wastes no time, launching itself into the air with a powerful jump before landing a Power-Up Punch on Cheepip. Though the attack isn't very effective, the boost in power and the Black Belt Dinomite wears give it the strength to follow up with a devastating Arm Thrust, knocking Cheepip out.

Ash recalls Cheepip and takes out his last Poké Ball. "Sylveon, I need your assistance!"

Sylveon emerges gracefully, smiling at Ash before turning to face Dinomite, her ribbon-like feelers ready. She lets out a soft growl, though it doesn't seem to faze Dinomite.

Rick scoffs, a smirk forming on his lips. "I've never seen that Pokémon before... but don't you think it's a little too girly for you?"

Ash's expression hardens, feeling the sting of the insult. "Say what you like. I treat my Pokémon with love and respect, and I won't tolerate any insults towards them."

Dinomite charges forward with another Arm Thrust, but Sylveon stands firm, seemingly unaffected by the attack. Taking advantage of the moment, Ash calls out, "Sylveon, use Fairy Wind!"

Sylveon gracefully whips up a sparkling gust of wind, sending it towards Dinomite. The attack hits with full force, and despite Dinomite's strength, it's unable to withstand the powerful Fairy-type move. With a final cry, Dinomite falls, defeated.

Rick recalls Dinomite with a frustrated expression. "I'm still better," he mutters, refusing to acknowledge his loss. "You got lucky! We're just tired after the Gym battle... But whatever, I'm out of here. I'll definitely see you later, and next time you won't be so lucky!" With a final glare, Rick turns on his heel and leaves, disappearing down the path.

Alice shakes her head in disbelief. "He just can't admit defeat, huh? Not to mention Donna said he defeated her yesterday. Didn't he go to the Pokémon Center after that battle?"

Ash lets out a sigh, a mix of frustration and resolve in his voice. "Who knows? But if he keeps acting like that, then I'll just have to beat him again."

As they continue their journey, the tension from the battle begins to fade. A short while later, they come across a tree where two birds are perched. Both birds are predominantly white, but one has a soft blue belly, while the other sports a pink one.

Alice's eyes light up at the sight. "Aww... they're so cute..." she says, her voice filled with adoration.

Ash nods in agreement, curiosity piqued. "Yeah, what are they?" He quickly takes out his Pokédex and scans the Pokémon, eager to learn more about these new creatures.

Doveheart: The Peaceful Pokemon: Fairy and Flying Type. It's said that the very presence of a single Doveheart can calm even the tensest situations. If both a male and female appear, mortal enemies become life-long allies.

Ash, still pondering the information, remarks aloud, "Mortal enemies becoming lifelong allies, huh? But who is my mortal enemy?"

Alice giggles softly at his question. "Well, Ash, there's something about the aura history that I might have forgotten to tell you. In the past, the Mache Family and the Ketchum Family were enemies."

Ash gasps in surprise, and Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, mimics his reaction. "Huh? But why?"

Alice takes a deep breath before explaining. "It all goes back to the Rota Kingdom. Queen Rin of the Rota Kingdom was from the Mache Family. But when she met your ancestor, Sir Aaron, they fell in love. Eventually, she decided to give the kingdom to the Ketchum family. Rin's family was furious with her for what they saw as a betrayal. They forbade her from doing it, but she defied them, leading to a war between the Mache and Ketchum Families. Neither Aaron nor Rin wanted the war, so Sir Aaron sought help from Mew to end it..."

Ash, deep in thought, suddenly has an idea. "Hold on a second... Let me try to confirm something."

He reaches for a Poké Ball and releases Lucario. The aura Pokémon appears, instantly sensing the tension and Alice's presence. With a protective stance, Lucario steps in front of Ash.

"Master, what's wrong?" Lucario asks, his voice filled with concern. He glares at Alice, misunderstanding the situation. "Did this Mache member attack you? Don't worry, I won't let her harm you."

Ash quickly intervenes, his voice calm. "No, Lucario. This is Alice; she's my current traveling partner." At Ash's reassurance, Lucario relaxes, lowering his guard but still wary.

Ash turns to Alice, a look of understanding on his face. "I'm sorry, Alice. But this is Sir Aaron's Lucario. If what you said is true, then he might know about it as well."

Alice's eyes widen in realization. "Wait... You mean this Lucario has lived for several hundred years?"

Lucario nods solemnly. "My former master, Sir Aaron, did not want me to accompany him when he sought to stop the war. To protect me, he imprisoned me within his staff, where I remained until my current master, Ash, freed me."

Alice nods in understanding. "I see. It's good to meet you, Lucario. You don't need to worry anymore; both of our families have rekindled their relationship with the help of our parents."

As she finishes speaking, the two Doveheart birds, which had been observing from the tree, flutter down and land gently on Ash and Alice's shoulders.

Alice feels a gentle nudge from the bird perched on her shoulder. "Are you sure you want to come with us?" she asks softly, looking at the Doveheart.

Both birds nod in response, their tiny heads bobbing eagerly. With smiles, Ash and Alice each take out a Poké Ball and capture the Doveheart. Ash captures the male one, while Alice catches the female.

Alice looks at her new Poké Ball in awe. "Wow... my first Pokémon that isn't an Ice Type. But my mother specializes in Fairy Types, so I guess it suits me as well."

Ash smiles warmly at her. "I know, but I'm sure you can train it to be a strong Pokémon too."

Alice notices his encouraging smile, and a blush creeps onto her cheeks. She quickly looks away, focusing on the Doveheart she just captured. Together, they decide to start training Doveheart, curious about its unique move, Mystic Wave.

Doveheart gracefully shoots out a mysterious energy, which hits Pikachu. However, Pikachu merely shakes it off, unaffected by the move's lack of direct damage.

Ash checks his Pokédex, which provides the explanation. "So Mystic Wave lowers all of Pikachu's stats by one stage... That's good to know."

Alice nods, adding her own knowledge. "Yeah. And Ash, if you didn't know, Doveheart has a special move called Amity Wind. It's a really powerful move that prevents the opponent from using any damaging moves for three turns."

Ash's eyes widen with interest. "That's incredible! That could be really useful in battles."

Ash nods with determination. "Alright, Doveheart, let's try to learn this move." His Doveheart chirps in agreement, and Alice's Doveheart mirrors the gesture, ready to train as well.

The two spend the entire afternoon focused on training, their Pokémon working hard to master new techniques. As the day fades and the sun sets, a soft blue glow begins to emerge in the darkening forest around them. Intrigued, Ash and Alice decide to investigate the source of the glow.

They walk cautiously through the twilight, and soon, they come across a group of black-colored bug Pokémon, their bodies emitting a gentle, mesmerizing blue light.

Alice's eyes widen in awe. "Those are Glowig... and they're so beautiful." Her voice is filled with wonder as she watches the delicate creatures.

Ash, equally captivated, takes out his Pokédex to scan the Pokémon. "Glowig, huh..." he murmurs, eager to learn more about these fascinating new Pokémon.

Glowig: The Glowing Pokemon: Bug Type. Glowig live in dark forests, with a main diet of leaves. Their glow, while essential for their sight in the dark, make them easy picking for Bird Pokémon.

As Ash and Alice admire the Glowig, one of the luminous Pokémon approaches them, its soft blue light shining brightly. The gentle glow reflects off their faces as they smile back at the friendly creature.

Alice leans down slightly, speaking kindly to the Glowig. "You're so nice. Are you helping us see in the dark?"

The Glowig nods, its tiny body bobbing in agreement, and then it flutters ahead, guiding them through the forest with its glowing light. The forest, once shadowed and mysterious, becomes easier to navigate with the Glowig leading the way.

As they continue their journey, they suddenly come across a boy who looks terrified, his eyes wide with fear.

"Hey! You!" the boy calls out, his voice trembling. "There are some mysterious people in the northern part of the forest. I'm too scared to check it out. Can you go and see what's happening?"

Alice furrows her brow, concerned. "Mysterious people? Should we check it out?"

Ash nods, his expression serious. "I think we should. Let's go." Without hesitation, he turns and starts heading north, leaving the boy behind as he and Alice move quickly to investigate the situation.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, Ash and Alice met Rick again and they have their first rival battle. Rick is one of those rivals who always taunts the player, so just ignore him most of the time. I hope you like this chapter and we'll be introducing the new evil team in the next chapter.

New Pokemon: Spidox, Doveheart, Glowig

Dullfern Forest:

Land: Hamstar:20% (LV:7~9), Cheepip:20% (LV:6~8), Spidox:20% (LV:6~8), Glowig:20% (LV:5~7), Tadart:10% (LV:6~8), Feva:5% (LV:5~7), Jumple:5% (LV:6~8)

Headbutt: Doveheart:35% (LV:5~7), Glocoon:30% (LV:8~10), Elecritter:20% (LV:7~9), Moonky:10% (LV:7~9), Bugray:5% (LV:7~9)

Static: Spidox: Cut the webs (LV:10)