Chapter 372: Forbidden Forest
After leaving the Professor Birch's Laboratory, Ash's group continued their journey toward Viridian City.
Fate always seems to cycle back; this day, while traversing a forest, they got lost again!
"That's it, we're done for. It seems we're completely lost!"
Ash unleashed his full Aura, but there wasn't even a shadow of a person within a ten-kilometer radius. All he could sense were wild Pokémon. Even after expanding his Aura to scan the terrain within three kilometers, he couldn't find any suitable reference points.
"I can understand the Pokémon Navigator losing signal, but why did the compass fail too?"
Brock stated an even more desperate fact.
"Ah! Does that mean we're going to be wandering around in this forest for a long time?"
May's little face immediately fell.
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from the bushes nearby.
The group looked in the direction of the sound, and a Skarmory suddenly darted out from within, lunging straight at them.
"Pikachu..."
Just as Ash was about to have Pikachu attack, May's Skitty suddenly popped out on its own, blocking the path in front of the Skarmory.
"Skitty!"
Seeing this, May hurriedly lunged forward to protect Skitty.
Skitty was saved, but May herself was grabbed by the Skarmory by her backpack strap and carried into the sky.
This familiar scene couldn't help but remind Ash of the original work he had seen in his past life; it seemed that May's Bulbasaur had been brought together by this very Skarmory.
Thinking of this, he wasn't in a rush to rescue May. "Latias, go look after May. We'll find our way there soon."
Hearing this, Latias returned to her own form and soared into the sky, chasing after the Skarmory.
With her speed, she caught up to the Skarmory in less than three seconds. Because Ash had said "look after" rather than "rescue," she turned invisible after taking off.
Ash and Brock also immediately chased in the direction where May had been taken.
The Skarmory carried May for a while before dropping them onto a barren mountain.
Watching the Skarmory fly away, May let out a long sigh. "Phew, saved! Are you okay, Skitty?"
"Meowth~~"
Skitty cried out twice to indicate it was fine.
"Geez, in such a dangerous situation just now, how could you just run out like that?"
After saying that, May took out a Poké Ball and recalled Skitty.
Suddenly, movement by the cliffside caught her attention.
It was a Bulbasaur using Vine Whip to reach for something down the cliff.
May walked closer and realized that the Bulbasaur was trying to pick flowers on the cliff.
Just as the Bulbasaur picked the flower, its foot slipped, and it looked like it was about to fall. May, acting on impulse, lunged forward and reached out to grab the 'bulb' on the Bulbasaur's back.
After pulling the Bulbasaur up, May exclaimed, "Whoa, that was so dangerous!"
"Dane~~"
After seeing its savior clearly, the Bulbasaur instinctively shrank back a step.
"Dane!"
Seeing how vigilant the Bulbasaur was, May quickly explained, "Hello Bulbasaur, my name is May. I'm not a bad person, I won't do anything to you, don't worry!"
Feeling May's kindness, the Bulbasaur extended another Vine Whip and rubbed it against May's face to show its response.
But in the next second, several Grass-type Pokémon suddenly appeared, blocking the path between the Bulbasaur and May, and made gestures forbidding May from getting close to the Bulbasaur.
Meanwhile.
Ash and Brock tracked them to an area protected by a fence.
Two people wearing cloaks reached out to stop them: "Wait! You cannot go any further!"
"You cannot enter the other side of this gate; that is the rule here. Please leave this forest immediately."
"I'm afraid that won't work. Our companion was taken inside by a Skarmory," Ash said.
"What?!" The two gatekeepers were shocked.
After some conversation, Ash and Brock understood why one couldn't trespass into the other side of the forest.
The other side of the forest was a gathering place for Grass-type Pokémon. They were very resistant to outsiders and would attack and expel anyone they saw.
Upon learning this, Ash gave Brock a look. Brock understood and distracted the two gatekeepers, allowing Ash to quickly climb over the fence and enter the other area.
Realizing the situation was not good, the two gatekeepers immediately took Brock to find their village elder to report.
Meanwhile, May was being chased by a swarm of Grass-type Pokémon. She hadn't run far before they released Stun Spore, forcing her into a circle.
Looking at the hundreds of wild Grass-type Pokémon in front of her, May couldn't help but step back. "I have no malicious intent, why is everyone..."
Just as a Gloom was about to attack, Ash appeared in time to save the day. "Alright, everyone calm down. She really has no malicious intent!"
Possessing Natural Power, after entering this forest, not only was he not attacked, but he was actually welcomed by a group of Grass-type Pokémon.
Those Grass-type Pokémon surrounding May, upon hearing Ash's words, couldn't help but turn their heads.
"Ash!"
Seeing Ash appear, May immediately felt much more at ease.
The Bulbasaur that May had saved initially, seeing its many companions stop, also walked quickly to May's side to explain the cause and effect.
After hearing the explanation, some of the Grass-type Pokémon lowered their guard, but a small portion still intended to continue attacking.
"Dane!"
A dignified low shout came.
Subsequently, some Pokémon made way, and a huge Venusaur walked over slowly.
Judging by the reactions of the other Grass-type Pokémon, this Venusaur was the absolute overlord of the forest.
[Pokémon: Venusaur (Overlord)]
[Type: Grass + Poison]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: Elite High-level]
[Ability: Chlorophyll (In sunny weather, speed increases)]
[Potential: Champion]
[Skills: Vine Whip...]
"Dane Dane!"
The Bulbasaur in front of May described the process to the Venusaur again.
"Dane."
After understanding what happened, Venusaur extended a Vine Whip to check Ash and the others.
After confirming there was no threat to the Grass-type Pokémon, it turned and left.
Having received Venusaur's approval, the previously tense Grass-type Pokémon returned to a peaceful state.
Of all of them, the Bulbasaur was the happiest about this change.
The Bulbasaur extended its Vine Whip to pull May and Ash, signaling them to follow it.
May turned to look at Ash, a bit unsure. "Ash?"
"Let's go. The Grass-type Pokémon here have calmed down. It's fine now."
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