Hi guys, how are you? I hope you are doing great, after being a few days very busy with several things in my life I've been able to make this chapter and the truth is I had a lot of fun writing it hehehehe. Enjoy it uwu

The sun began to peek out in the morning over the forest, bathing the treetops with a golden glow. Rays of light filtered through the bare branches and brown leaves, creating tiny sparkles on the dew drops resting on the bushes. The timid song of a Pidove echoed in the distance, accompanied by the crunch of dry leaves stirred by the cold seasonal breeze.

Inside his burrow, Pikachu slowly opened his eyes, shaking off the last trace of sleep. He stretched with a soft yawn, his ears twitching at the fresh morning air sneaking through the entrance. He glanced sideways at the corner where Snivy was still sleeping peacefully, curled up in the nest of dry leaves she had made herself. He smiled to himself. "It looks like today will be a good day," he thought.

Careful not to make any noise, Pikachu got up and walked towards the small storage chamber. He observed some of the empty apple baskets and the few remaining berries, frowning slightly. "Hmm, we're going to need more supplies," he murmured. Shaking himself again to wake up fully, Pikachu looked around the small storage chamber. His gaze settled on one of the empty baskets, the largest of them all. He approached it and, with a determined gesture, carefully tilted it to lift it. Although it was clearly larger than him, Pikachu managed to carry it on his back with both paws, making sure to maintain his balance.

"Hmm, it might be a little heavy, but I can handle it," he murmured, a small smile forming as he adjusted the position of the basket on his back. He walked with firm steps toward the entrance of the burrow, his ears tilting slightly forward as he braced for the cold outside.

The fresh morning air hit his fur as soon as he stepped out. With the basket still on his back, Pikachu took a deep breath, letting the golden light of dawn fill him with energy. "It's time to get started," he thought, determined to return with more than enough provisions for himself and his new friend.

As he walked, he looked around. The forest seemed a bit lonely, but he quickly caught the sound of some Pidove at the top of the treetops. Alongside them was a Tranquill stretching its wings, basking in the sunlight. The sound of its wings extending filled the air for a moment, blending with the light murmurs of the Pidove.

Pikachu paused for a moment, observing with interest. "It's nice to see others enjoying this peaceful day too," he thought with a smile as he adjusted the basket on his back. As he continued walking, he made sure to tread carefully, his steps barely causing a crunch in the dry leaves under his paws to avoid disturbing the calm.

Further ahead, he encountered some Petilil playing hide-and-seek. Their small green bodies moved nimbly among the bushes, giggling as they tried to hide from one another. Pikachu paused for a moment, his gaze following one that quickly ran toward a mound of fallen leaves, only to be discovered seconds later by another.

"How adorable," Pikachu thought, smiling as he adjusted the basket on his back. One of the Petilil, noticing his presence, turned its head toward him with curiosity, as if evaluating him. For a moment, it seemed like it wanted to approach, but laughing, it quickly went back to hiding among the roots of a nearby tree. Pikachu shook his head slightly and continued walking, feeling that although winter was approaching, the forest was still full of energy and life.

After several minutes of walking, Pikachu reached a clearing filled with bushes, hoping to find enough berries to fill his basket. He wasn't alone. A group of Patrat were working meticulously among the bushes, each carrying small handmade baskets similar to Pikachu's. Their movements were quick and organized, diligently searching for any remaining berries on the low branches.

One of the Patrat glanced up upon noticing Pikachu's presence. Its small eyes shone with curiosity for a moment but quickly returned to its task, just like the others. Pikachu watched them silently, not wanting to interrupt their work. "Wow, it seems they're already well-organized," he thought as he adjusted the basket on his back and moved on to a nearby bush.

After searching for a few minutes, Pikachu found a bush with only a few berries hanging from its dry branches. The surrounding leaves were withered, and the remaining berries looked smaller and less juicy than he had hoped. He let out a small sigh of disappointment as he carefully picked them and placed them in his basket.

"This won't be enough," Pikachu thought, frowning slightly as he picked the few remaining berries from the bush. His paw carefully placed them in the basket, though his disappointment was palpable. But as he thought of Snivy, resting peacefully in the burrow, his expression softened. "I have to do this for us. I'm not alone anymore," he reflected, a faint smile lighting up his face.

It had been a day since Snivy had joined his home. Pikachu had generously offered her his own nest, insisting that he would have no problem building a new one for himself. However, Snivy, with her independent spirit, had politely declined the offer, assuring him that she could do it on her own. "I don't want to inconvenience you," she had said with a calm smile before getting to work. Using dry leaves and soft moss, Snivy had created a cozy and perfectly organized nest.

While picking the berries, Pikachu couldn't help but recall that moment, feeling deeply grateful. For a long time, he had been alone, preparing his days without thinking of anyone else. Now, with Snivy in his life, everything felt different. The space that had once been quiet and solitary now had a special warmth, an energy that gave him purpose and companionship. "It's as if the forest has changed since she arrived," he thought as he adjusted the basket on his back. Despite the scarcity of berries, Pikachu felt hopeful. As long as they were together, he knew they could face anything.

Pikachu looked to his right and found another bush, this one much fuller with berries than the last. Wasting no time, he dragged the basket in front of him and prepared to pick them. However, as his paws touched the branches, his mind began to wander into deeper thoughts.

"I wonder how my mom is doing…" Pikachu thought as he delicately picked a berry. The image of Sawsbuck appeared in his mind, always serene, guiding the Pokémon who relied on her wisdom and care. "She's probably busy attending to the sick with the assistants who joined her. Has she had time to rest? How is she managing everything without Audino by her side?" he reflected, feeling a slight nostalgia as he remembered the warmth his mother always radiated.

While his mind wandered in those thoughts, his paw grabbed a berry without looking, absorbed in concern for his mother. "Maybe she's too busy to rest… I hope the assistants are helping her properly…" he thought, his gaze lost in the bush. But then, he felt something strange.

The berry he held didn't come off the bush as he expected. There was a slight pull in the opposite direction. Confused, Pikachu blinked, slightly turning his head to the left… And then, his eyes met those of a Patrat. His ears twitched slightly in an automatic reflex. Then he lowered his gaze…

And confirmed the horror. His paw was pressing against Patrat's, who also had its paw firmly gripping the same berry. The air grew dense. Both Pokémon froze, their gazes alternating between the fruit and the absurd situation they found themselves in. A single bead of sweat appeared on Pikachu's temple. Patrat, for its part, didn't react at all.

The contact lasted for an eternal second. Pikachu felt a chill run down his back. "Uh…" Without wasting more time, Pikachu let out a nervous chuckle and quickly withdrew his paw, as if he had just touched something cursed. "Uh… this one's yours, buddy, take it," he said, releasing the berry and stepping back a bit, trying to escape the immediate awkwardness.

Patrat blinked a couple of times, then simply grabbed the berry, placed it in its own basket, and continued with its task, not changing its expression at all. Pikachu stared at him for a few seconds before shaking his head with an amused smile. "Well… first silly thing to happen to me today," he thought, as he checked his basket, now full of berries.

Suddenly, a small growl interrupted his thoughts. His ears moved instinctively at the sound, and he blinked, confused. He looked around, expecting to see some hungry Pokémon nearby. He didn't notice anything unusual. That's when his stomach growled again, louder this time.

"Ahhh, of course, the hungry Pokémon is me…" he thought with a chuckle, placing a paw on his belly. With the basket full and his stomach demanding attention, he decided it was time to return to the burrow. He also needed to bring food for Snivy.

However, just as he tried to lift the basket onto his back like before, his smile faded. He barely raised it a few centimeters before the heavy load made him wobble to one side. "…Oh no."

His ears drooped slightly as he looked at the large pile of berries he had gathered. He rubbed his neck with a paw and, resigned, grabbed the edges of the basket and began dragging it along the ground, leaving a trail of leaves and dirt in his wake.

"Of course, this had to happen," he thought, sighing as he moved forward with effort. "Being a gatherer is harder work than it seems."

And so, with determined, though slightly frustrated steps, Pikachu set off on the path back to the burrow. With his enormous basket on the ground and a stomach that kept reminding him food couldn't wait much longer.

Meanwhile, in the electric mouse's burrow, Snivy was slowly waking up. Her eyes opened lazily, blinking a few times before adjusting to the dim light filtering through the entrance. Her body was still relaxed from sleep, but something felt… different.

She calmly turned her head toward Pikachu's nest, expecting to see him there, but the soft layer of leaves was empty. For a moment, her gaze narrowed slightly as a thought crossed her mind. "He's not here…"

Pikachu's absence brought her a new feeling. Long ago, being alone wasn't something that worried her; she had accepted it as her reality. However, now that she had grown accustomed to his presence, the silence in the burrow felt different. Less comforting, more… empty.

She shook her head slightly, trying to dispel the sleepiness and the discomfort of the thought. There was no reason to worry; Pikachu had probably just gone out early for some reason.

With a soft sigh, Snivy stretched gracefully, extending her small legs and arching her body slowly before standing up. Her tail swayed gently in the air as she adjusted her muscles, feeling her body fully awaken. Now alert, she looked around the burrow, carefully examining the corners before taking her first steps. Her movements were light and quiet, and although her expression remained calm, her eyes revealed a small spark of curiosity.

"Where could he have gone so early?" she wondered, advancing through the burrow in search of answers. She headed to Pikachu's food storage chamber, observing the various baskets he had stored. Some were filled with berries and apples, while others remained empty. As she wandered through the area, her gaze rested on the spot where Pikachu had shown her the largest basket the day before. But now… that spot was empty.

Her expression shifted slightly. "So he went out to gather more provisions… alone." The idea of Pikachu leaving without her gave her a small heaviness in her chest. She crossed her arms for a moment, reflecting silently. "I could have gone with him… It would've been better if he wasn't gathering everything by himself."

Instinctively, she slid her small arm across the surface of one of the filled baskets, feeling the texture of the berries inside. The burrow felt quiet, but this time it wasn't the kind of silence she was used to when living alone. It was different, more noticeable, as if Pikachu's absent presence made a difference in the atmosphere. She exhaled softly, keeping her paw still on the basket for a few seconds. "Maybe I should help him more… It's not fair for him to do everything."

She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind, and resumed her steps inside the storage chamber. Although she wasn't yet sure what she would do, something inside her told her she would soon find a way to make things a bit more balanced. Just as she was about to leave, her gaze stopped on an object on the ground.

A small red yo-yo rested among the baskets, its string neatly wound. Snivy blinked, remembering that Pikachu had shown her that toy the day before, while she was busy building her nest. At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to it, but now that the object was there, right in front of her, curiosity crept in. She had never played with a yo-yo.

She had seen it only a few times, usually when smaller children used them, moving them quickly and with control. She recalled watching with a mix of indifference and mild interest, though she never had a reason to try it herself. But now, she had one right in front of her.

She leaned down and picked it up in her paws, feeling its light weight. Then, calmly, she sat on her nest, holding it between her fingers as she analyzed it. "Pikachu spun it so easily…" she thought, recalling how her friend had shown a few moves with the yo-yo, tossing it and pulling it back with precision.

Inspired by the image in her mind, Snivy gripped the string firmly and confidently tried to imitate one of the tricks she had seen. Nothing. The yo-yo dropped clumsily, hitting the ground before coming to a halt.

Snivy frowned slightly and picked it up again, adjusting her grip. "Maybe it's all about momentum," she told herself, attempting another motion with more energy. The yo-yo spun a bit more this time… but instead of returning, it wobbled and got tangled in the string, completely out of order. Snivy stared at it in silence.

She exhaled patiently and rewound the string neatly. Then she tried again. And again. And again. Each time, convinced that at some point she would manage to make the yo-yo work as she had seen in Pikachu's hands. Finally, after several failed attempts, Snivy was left staring at the yo-yo in her paws, her eyes narrowing and her expression a mix of determination and playful frustration.

"How does Pikachu make this work?" she sighed, turning it between her fingers, still focused on unraveling the mystery of the object.

Without realizing it, her wait for Pikachu was turning out to be more entertaining than expected. Suddenly, a strange noise at the entrance of the burrow made her pause. Her body tensed, and she quickly placed the yo-yo aside near her nest.

Wasting no time, Snivy extended two vines, keeping them ready as a warning. Her gaze sharpened, focusing on the exit and analyzing every movement. Seconds passed in silence until finally, Pikachu's figure appeared…

Dragging an enormous basket full of berries, panting and moving his paws with effort, clearly more focused on dealing with the weight of his load than his surroundings. Snivy blinked. She slowly lowered her vines. She stared at Pikachu in absolute disbelief, her eyes scanning the scene: the electric mouse struggling with the huge weight, grunting under his breath, completely unaware that he had almost been attacked by his own friend.

Pikachu let out a tired sigh and muttered in an exhausted voice, "Why did I do this alone…?" Snivy remained silent for a moment longer before closing her eyes slightly, exhaling, and retracting her vines. "I thought you were something dangerous… though that basket seems like it's about to defeat you."

Pikachu looked up for a moment, only to see Snivy standing with her arms crossed beside her nest, one eyebrow slightly raised in a mix of calm and sarcasm. He let out a slight huff and continued dragging the basket inside, muttering under his breath, "Don't underestimate me. I can handle this… probably." Snivy watched the entire scene in silence, not moving, until she finally shook her head slightly with a small smile. She sighed, uncrossed her arms, and with a quick motion, extended her vines again. Without saying a word, she grabbed the edges of the large basket and began pulling it effortlessly.

Pikachu felt the load suddenly become much lighter and blinked, surprised to see Snivy helping him without even asking. "You could've done this earlier," he remarked with a tired smile as they moved together. Snivy, without looking at him, simply responded in a calm tone, "I could've… but then I wouldn't have enjoyed your performance."

Pikachu let out a snort of laughter, unable to argue the point, and together they brought the basket inside the burrow. With a deep sigh of relief, Pikachu collapsed onto the ground, stretching his paws to recover some energy. As he did so, he leaned back to stretch his spine and…

Crack!

Snivy, who was approaching the basket at that moment, slightly turned her head at the sound. "So you went to gather berries all by yourself, huh?" she asked, glancing at the basket and then turning to face the electric mouse. Pikachu froze for a second, then let out a low grunt. "Yeah, and it was quite the challenge," he muttered tiredly, rubbing his back with one paw before sighing again.

Snivy kept her gaze fixed on him for a few seconds, as if silently assessing the situation. "I found a good bush," Pikachu continued, "but most of the berries were already being collected by some Patrat. I couldn't take more… Although, looking on the bright side, at least I don't have to carry any extra weight."

Snivy looked back at the basket and then turned her gaze toward Pikachu with a slight tilt of her head, processing his response. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she studied the basket, then turned to Pikachu with a faint smirk. "So, this whole battle was against some berries? Hmm… I have to say, it was quite the interesting spectacle."

Pikachu huffed with a mix of exhaustion and amusement. "Hey, don't underestimate how tough it is to gather food in winter," he replied, stretching his paws with another sigh. Snivy shook her head slightly, her expression blending mockery with resignation, then settled next to the basket. For a few moments, they both stayed silent, until Pikachu leaned toward the basket and picked up two berries. He examined one carefully, turning it slightly in his paw, and then offered the other to Snivy with a warm smile. "Here you go, Snivy. You must be hungry. If you want, take as many as you'd like—I brought this for the two of us."

Snivy looked at the berry for a moment, then calmly accepted it, holding it in her small hands. It was a simple gesture, but Snivy didn't overlook the thought behind it. She observed Pikachu for a moment longer before giving him a slight nod of gratitude, bringing the berry to her mouth and beginning to eat in silence.

Enjoying the quiet moment, Pikachu, still with his mouth full, glanced at Snivy. For a moment, he looked thoughtful. Then, after chewing a bit more, he lowered his ears slightly and scratched his cheek with his paw, as if carefully choosing his words. "Hey, Snivy…" he began in a tone a little softer than usual. He paused briefly. "Ehm… I was wondering if… well, if you'd like to join me later to pick some apples. Only if you want to, of course."

Snivy paused mid-bite, turning her head toward him, surprised by the invitation. Her eyes lit up slightly. "Really?"

Pikachu nodded, smiling a bit, though still with a hint of nervousness. "Yeah, I already got berries, but I didn't manage to find any apples. And, well… if we go together, at least I won't have to drag another big basket on my own." Snivy looked at him in silence for a moment, but this time her reaction wasn't reserved.

A brighter smile appeared on her face, and her tail swayed gently, reflecting her excitement. "Really? I've been waiting for this, Pikachu. Of course I'll go with you!"

Hearing her response, Pikachu immediately got up with a big smile on his face. "Then it's decided! Let's finish eating, and then we'll go get those apples." Without thinking much, he raised his left paw, curling it into a fist as a friendly gesture. Snivy, seeing the motion, couldn't help but smile. Without hesitation, she lifted her small right arm, curled her paw into a fist, and bumped it against Pikachu's. A simple gesture, but one full of meaning. The expedition was officially underway.

So, what did you think? I really enjoyed making this chapter, I laughed a lot with the Patrat part. I was writing this chapter in the morning when this came to my mind and I said "Oh my god, I have to put this in the chapter xddd" hahaha. But hey guys. I'll have the fourth chapter done in a few days, but if some setback happens I'll probably have it ready next week, anyway I thank you very much for supporting my story, it really encourages me to keep writing this story. Uncle Hyrolax says goodbye comrades, from here I send you a big hug and until next time :D