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Although Misty and Brock were surprised by what they had witnessed, they weren't completely shocked. After all, there were indeed people with special powers in this world, just like Sabrina whom they had encountered before.
They simply felt that Yellow's power was very magical and remarkably convenient at the same time.
However, Ash could tell that even with the assistance of nature's energy, using the Power of Viridian still placed a considerable burden on Yellow's body.
In any case, the crisis had been resolved. The three of them invited Yellow to join them at their camp. It was far too dangerous for a young girl to be alone in the forest at night.
"So you're from Viridian City?" After arriving at the camp, they gathered firewood and Brock started building a fire to prepare dinner.
With everyone working together, the meal was ready quickly. The four of them gathered around their makeshift dining area and began getting to know each other better.
All four of them came from different places, and Yellow's hometown was Viridian City, which lay just outside the forest, so she wasn't too far from home.
"That's right!"
"So, are you on a Pokémon training journey?" After hearing Yellow's response, Brock asked with interest.
"Well... to be completely honest, even though I have Chuchu, I still don't really know what I want to do. And truthfully, I'm actually very scared of seeing Pokémon get hurt."
"So until now, I'm still not sure whether I want to be a Trainer or not!" Yellow responded somewhat embarrassedly after hearing Brock's question.
Even though she was a trainer, being afraid of this sort of thing was unusual, but thankfully no one laughed at her for it.
To be a Trainer meant having to battle against others or capture wild Pokémon. Whether it was her own Chuchu, other people's Pokémon, or wild Pokémon, injuries were inevitable.
She loved Pokémon deeply, so she didn't want to see any of them suffer.
"What about you, Ash? Why did you decide to become a Trainer?"
It was just their first meeting, but after seeing how easily Ash had handled Beedrill's attack, she could tell that Ash must be a very skilled Trainer.
Since she wasn't sure yet what path she wanted to take, she hoped to learn something from Ash's perspective.
"Me? Of course it's because I love it! I love Pokémon and I love battling!" After hearing this, Ash responded without a moment's hesitation.
"Aren't you worried about your Pokémon getting hurt?"
"Of course I worry about them, but no matter what happens, I'll always be there with them."
"I know what I can do is limited, but if there's ever real danger, I'll do everything in my power to protect them." Ash said with a warm smile while looking at his Pokémon, who were also enjoying their dinner nearby.
In official battles, injuries were usually minor, but in situations like encounters with Team Rocket, his own protection might not always be enough. Still, that was part of a Trainer's responsibility.
"Besides, didn't you do exactly that just now?" Seeing that Yellow remained quiet, Ash smiled and then glanced at Chuchu on the other side, who was sitting with his Pikachu.
Chuchu looked a bit shy, but Pikachu didn't seem to notice anything unusual. Like a caring older sibling, Pikachu pushed some of his own food toward Chuchu, which only made Chuchu more flustered.
Ash couldn't help but smile at the scene. It seemed that not only people could be oblivious to romantic feelings, but Pokémon could be too.
Though Pikachu probably didn't fall into that category! He simply didn't think about such things, and was genuinely friendly to all Pokémon.
When Yellow heard Ash's words, she also looked over at her Pikachu, understanding that Ash was referring to how she had protected Chuchu earlier.
"No! I just did it on instinct. After all, Chuchu is my first Pokémon." Yellow's cheeks flushed slightly at Ash's praise.
"It wasn't just Chuchu though—you protected Beedrill too!"
"You have such a special power that lets you heal Pokémon, but you used your own body as a shield to protect it! Even after Beedrill attacked you, you still healed its wounds!"
"Whether you become a trainer or choose an ordinary life, I think that kind of compassion is more important than anything else."
After saying this, Ash shook his head gently. He wasn't trying to pressure her into becoming a Trainer, nor would he discourage others from that path. After all, everyone had their own dreams and goals. He simply sensed Yellow's confusion and wanted to offer some perspective.
"Thank you, Ash!" Yellow felt considerably more at ease after listening to Ash's words.
He was right! Having this power was already a precious gift.
Whether it was her own Pokémon or wild Pokémon, she could use her ability to help them in many ways.
"You're welcome! I'm just sharing a bit of my own experience. You still have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do!"
Ash smiled warmly. Although the regulations in this world allowed children to begin their journeys at ten years old, most people gradually discovered their true calling during their travels.
"Yeah!" Yellow nodded slightly after hearing this, feeling more hopeful about the future.
The four of them enjoyed dinner together, and afterward they chatted around the campfire. Yellow learned about many of the experiences the other three had shared during their journey so far.
There were thrilling moments and delightful surprises. Although she hadn't witnessed these events herself, she could vividly imagine them as they spoke.
Originally she had just been out for a casual walk, which was why she had lingered in Viridian Forest for so long. But after listening to what Ash and the others described, she began to feel drawn to the wider world beyond.
As the night grew late, the Pokémon all settled down to rest, and the four travelers retreated to their tents as well.
Inside the tent, they all lay in their sleeping bags. Ash and Brock quickly drifted off to sleep, while the two girls—Misty and Yellow—chatted quietly for a while before eventually falling asleep as well.
But even after everyone else had fallen asleep, Yellow remained awake. She lay with her hands behind her head, staring at the tent's ceiling for a long time, unable to quiet her racing thoughts.
Eventually, she didn't even realize when sleep finally claimed her. When she woke the next morning, she discovered that Ash and Brock were already gone and everything had been packed up. Only Misty remained in the tent, carefully arranging her hair.
"Good morning, Misty!!"
"Good morning!" Misty returned the greeting cheerfully.
"Where are Ash and the others?"
"They got up early to prepare breakfast! You should get ready quickly!" Misty responded with a friendly smile.
"Okay!!"
After hearing this, Yellow quickly got up and started gathering her things. She felt embarrassed that Ash and the others had helped her so much, yet she was the last one to wake up and hadn't been able to help with anything at all.