The path ahead narrowed into a canopy of towering trees, their branches woven together like an emerald ceiling that let only fragments of sunlight pierce through. The Viridian Forest had a stillness that was deceptive; beneath its hush, the constant hum of hidden Pokémon carried in the air.
Tharion led the way, boots pressing quietly into the mossy ground, while Nina followed close behind with Luxio and Roggenrola by her side. Her eyes darted everywhere, wide with wonder. "It's so green here… like a big, endless garden," she whispered, clutching her small pack tighter.
"It is a place where many trainers come to find their first partners," Tharion explained, his gaze scanning ahead with practiced calm. "But we are not here for just any Pokémon. We are here for the one I promised you."
Nina's face lit up instantly. "Butterfree!"
Tharion gave a slight nod. His eyes, sharper than most, caught even the faintest shift of movement among the leaves. And then—he saw it.
Just a few feet off the trail, resting on a low branch, was a Caterpie. But not just any Caterpie. Its body gleamed with a golden sheen instead of the usual green, as if the forest itself had given it a blessing of rarity.
Tharion stopped, his aura sharpening. "Nina. Look."
She gasped when her eyes fell upon the little worm Pokémon, shimmering faintly under a shaft of sunlight. "Brother—it's shiny!"
The Caterpie blinked its large eyes curiously at them, antenna twitching as though testing the air. Tharion extended his hand slowly, summoning a Pokéball from his belt. "This one… will be yours."
He released Charmeleon, whose tail flame flickered brighter at the forest's dimness. "We will do this quickly. Caterpie is fragile. Charmeleon—smoke veil."
Charmeleon exhaled a light puff of smoke, surrounding the area in a thin haze that masked sudden movements. The Caterpie panicked, firing a String Shot blindly. Tharion's eyes narrowed, gauging the angle.
"Claw, but restrain."
Charmeleon lunged forward, one claw glowing faintly as it pinned the Caterpie gently to the branch without harming it. The shiny worm squirmed but was caught. Tharion, calm and precise, tossed the Pokéball.
Click. Wiggle. Wiggle. Ding.
Nina's cheer rang through the forest like a bell. "We got it! Brother—we really caught a shiny Caterpie!" She rushed to hug him, bouncing with excitement. Luxio barked happily, tail sparking faintly in response. Even Roggenrola gave a rumbling hum.
Tharion handed her the Pokéball with a rare softness in his gaze. "This Caterpie will one day evolve into the Butterfree you wanted. You will raise it."
Nina cradled the ball like a treasure, whispering to it. "We'll be the best friends ever…"
But Tharion's focus did not waver from his greater plan. Every step in this forest was opportunity. Along the winding trail, he systematically began capturing pairs of Pokémon—a male and female Weedle, two Pidgey, a pair of Nidoran. Each time, he would mark the location in his mind, teleporting the captured Pokémon later to his mountain villa, where they would be sorted into their respective territories to train and grow stronger.
By the time the group reached the heart of the forest, Nina's joy had yet to dim. She skipped along, humming a tune with Luxio padding proudly beside her, Roggenrola bumping rocks out of the way, and the shiny Caterpie safe in her care.
For Tharion, however, the deeper they went, the sharper his senses grew. The forest grew darker, older, more alive. The feeling of being watched pressed faintly against his mind.
He knew better than to dismiss it.
The deeper they went, the more alive the Viridian Forest became. Rustles in the underbrush, flashes of wings above, the faint buzz of Beedrill patrolling their hive grounds. Tharion kept his pace steady, but Nina's steps were lighter, filled with excitement.
At a small clearing where sunlight broke through, he finally stopped. "This is a good place," he said, scanning the canopy. "Nina, it's time to train your Caterpie."
Nina almost jumped in place. She held the Pokéball close to her chest before tossing it forward. Pop! The tiny golden Caterpie appeared, blinking up at her with curious eyes. Its shiny body gleamed brighter in the open light, antenna swaying gently.
"Hello again!" Nina crouched low, her voice soft, as she reached out a hand. The Caterpie sniffed her fingers before crawling onto her palm. Her smile widened. "He likes me!"
Tharion gave a short nod. "Good. That is the first step. Trust. Now… commands."
Nina looked down at her partner. "Um… Caterpie, use String Shot!"
The bug Pokémon obeyed instantly, shooting a thin strand of silk that stuck to a nearby branch. Nina giggled at the sudden tug, her eyes sparkling.
"Good," Tharion said calmly, though his gaze was already shifting to the surroundings. "Now, Tackle that stump."
Caterpie wriggled forward, jumped slightly, and bumped against the wooden surface. It wasn't much, but the determination in its small body was clear. Luxio barked approval, tail sparking lightly. Roggenrola gave a low rumble of encouragement.
But before Nina could call another move, a faint green glow wrapped around Caterpie. Nina gasped, clutching her hands together. "B-Brother! What's happening?"
Tharion's eyes sharpened. "It is evolving."
The Caterpie's body stiffened, light enveloping it as its form shifted. In moments, the glow faded to reveal a hard green shell—Metapod. It blinked slowly, its glossy body catching the light, but the determination was still there, unshaken.
"Already?" Nina whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. She picked it up gently, hugging it close. "Metapod! You're amazing… we'll get to Butterfree together!"
Tharion allowed a small curve at the corner of his lips. "This forest accelerates growth for bug-types. With proper care, it will not take long for your Metapod to reach its final stage."
As Nina celebrated, Tharion's attention shifted again. The underbrush rustled more than once. His hand drifted to his belt. "We are not alone."
He released Larvitar beside Charmeleon. The little rock-type stomped the ground, glaring at the trees. Charmeleon's flame tail burned brighter, eager for battle.
From the bushes burst a pair of wild Mankey, their shrill cries echoing through the forest. They were aggressive, fists pounding against their chests as they leapt forward.
"Charmeleon—Ember volley. Larvitar—Sandstorm."
Charmeleon opened his mouth, firing rapid bursts of flame that scattered through the air, forcing the Mankey to jump back. At the same time, Larvitar stomped the earth, stirring a swirl of dust and grit that filled the clearing, reducing the monkeys' vision.
The Mankey shrieked angrily, blinded by sand and heat. They lunged wildly, but Tharion's voice cut sharp.
"Counter. Charmeleon—Slash. Larvitar—Rock Throw."
Charmeleon's claws glowed as it intercepted the first Mankey mid-leap, slashing across its chest and knocking it aside. Larvitar hurled a chunk of stone from the ground, striking the second Mankey square in the face. Both wild Pokémon crumpled, groaning in defeat.
Tharion wasted no time. Two Pokéballs flew from his hand, striking the weakened foes. Click. Wiggle. Ding. Both were caught.
He exhaled slowly, scanning the treeline before returning his focus to his partners. Charmeleon flicked its tail, eager for more. Larvitar stomped proudly, a competitive gleam in its eyes.
"Good," Tharion said firmly. "You are growing stronger."
Behind him, Nina hugged her Metapod close, her face glowing with pride. "Brother… we all did it together."
Tharion glanced at her and gave a rare, soft nod. "Yes. Together."
But as his eyes returned to the shadowed forest, his senses sharpened once more. He could feel it—something deeper awaited them in the Viridian Forest. Stronger. Older. Watching.
This was only the beginning.