I don't know how to feel about this. I wasn't trying to rush but it feels very off itself for the very big sendoff into Part 2. Sorry if it sucks, but I'll try much harder in Chapter 13! I have a feeling this is worse than my other series on the wiki, sadly. But hopefully not! Gotta stay confident and not rush! ...which it probably is. Enjoy!
Soft light surrounded the grass and trees in the shadowed forest. For a forest, this one was quite big, especially for one that was between Lylow City and the city right after, Shizeville City, notorious for how quick it is to get from one to the other by forest.
It was the first day of the camping trip as the class walked through the forest. Some students didn’t come, ditching the trip instead, but most of the class were here.
It was a vast change in setting, this time with lots of Pokemon peacefully living inside the forest, minding their own business. Most consisted of bug and flying type Pokemon, but there were some uncommon types like fairy or fire.
“Now remember, this is supposed to help you get ready for the trainer’s test by the end of the year!” Gus reminded, aloud. It was rare for Gus to act serious, considering his track record of being serious and goofy. The group came to a sudden halt. “Paul! Gus!” Professor Lazeli called out. The two mentioned threw the Pokeballs in the air, setting free their Pokemon.
A Trumbeak, Buizel, and Shinx all appeared in the group now. “Now everyone, watch closely how quickly they get ready for camp!”
Trumbeak used Fury Attack at a tree, striking it quickly over and over, while Paul caught whatever fell into a small basket he had on his back as he collected any berries that missed at a rapid pace.
On the other side, Gus shoulder bashed a different tree, Shinx running off ahead to get berries, and Buizel throwing any stick or berries onto Gus’ basket.
“Stop!” Ordered the teacher. Paul and Gus paused in their actions, Professor Lazeli following up on his order. “Now,” he started. “What did they do?” The professor awaited for a student to raise their hand. “Jason!”
The student put his hand down. “They got materials quickly!”
“Good. Now, while setting up camp like this is fast and efficient, it is also dangerous.”
Professor Lazeli grew serious. “If you do this without being experienced, what will happen?”
The same student, Jason, put his hand up in the air once more. Not a single other raised an arm high. “If that’s the case, then we’ll have three students give an answer at random. Paul, Gus, please go ahead.”
The same older duo nodded simultaneously, their Pokemon running off to the group of students. Trumbeak landed on a girl’s beret, a scream eliciting for the poor bird to hear. Buizel, on the other hand, used a light water gun on Samantha, and Shinx ran up to Ryan.
“And it seems that they are finished!” the professor mentioned. “Let’s start it off in order of which Pokemon went to who. Patricia! Why is it dangerous to prep camp fast?!”
“Me?!” The beret wearer exclaimed. “Uh, I don’t know! I just want this Pokemon off me!”
“We’ll get back to you later. How about you, Samantha?”
“Because we can get into a fight?” Samantha spoke so softly with her answer as Professor Lazeli was taken aback by it. “Well, you are right, Samantha! Good job!”
The professor applauded gleefully, clapping his hands while the Pokemon went back to their trainers. “You’ll be doing what Paul and Gus just did in groups of three! It will only happen at sunset though, each day! In the meantime before sunset, you go on by yourselves with the assignment in hand!”
Professor Lazeli pointed a finger right in front of the group. “You’re first assignment, catch yourselves a Pokemon! You have until sunset!”
Paul and Gus approached the students, giving each and every one of them a piece of paper with a number on it. “Your partner is who you share numbers with!” Paul explained. “Now let’s get a move on!” shouted Gus. The group scrambled, the clustered students moving around, finding their partners as it shrank. Small groups left the circle quickly on their search for Pokemon in this forest, one by one, right after another, until only three students were left; Ryan, Kyle, and Samantha.
“Oh,” said Kyle. “Oh…” Ryan grumbled. After that event, there was still tension when Samantha was around the boys. “Let’s go catch ourselves some Pokemon!” Kyle said nervously. “I bet we can find some new members for our teams with what we catch!” He ran off ahead, Eevee tracing his steps. Hopefully Samantha would get along with them in this assignment. “Oh, you’re on!” Ryan shouted back, excitedly. “Let’s do this, Froakie!”
Differently from the other two, Samantha sat down under a tree instead of run. Pop! Shellder, out of its Pokeball, went up to the girl. It had been a long while since the Pokemon was let out, but it still stayed by Samantha, even after the event. “You still like me as your trainer…?” Samantha asked. She was stupefied by this act. “After I’ve done all this, yet…” The girl looked at the Pokeball again. Smashed and cracked, many pieces having chipped away.
She began to well up in tears, hugging the shelled Pokemon. “I don’t deserve you…” Shellder, clueless, stayed still as it looked at Samantha with its derpy expression. However, there was a feeling that they were being watched. Shellder had to be in high-alert.
* * *
Kyle and Eevee were ahead of Ryan and Froakie now, finding a pond. "Looks like Ryan's a bit slow! Let's catch ourself a Pokemon, Eevee!" "Eevee!"
* * *
"Hey, Kyle!" Ryan yelled. "I finally caught-" He abruptly stopped midway through his sentence. "Where did you go?" Ryan turned his head from side to side. "Samantha's gone too?!"
"Fro…"
"Don't worry, bud," Ryan pat the frog's head. I think they're both fine, so let's head back to camp. It looks like sunset is about to happen soon."
Ryan stood up, dusting himself off the leaves given to him by the Pokemon he caught. 'Please be there." Ryan's steps were fast and hurried, the boy making his trek back to camp.
As Ryan neared the camp, he recognized someone under the tree. Samantha sat quietly, a PokeBall in her hand, the other petting Shellder.
'Huh?' Ryan had to run his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Lol and behold, Samantha was being kind to Shellder. Could she be different now? Ryan didn't was curious, yet at the same time, he couldn't believe it. Maybe he should talk to Samantha, person-to-person, later.
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Stepping right into camp, Ryan then noticed the time. The sky was pitch black, only theoon and stars shining. It was night already on his return! Where was Kyle and Eevee? Ryan searched the whole camp frantically. It wasn't like Ryan to get this worried, nor was it like Kyle to not come back in time. Did something happen?
"Professor Lazeli?" Ryan overheard. The person was Jason. "Oh! What is it, Jason?" The professor asked.
"Everyone is back, but Kyle."
"...What?"
"I know! We don't know where he is!"
"Oh this is bad! Don't do anything! Everyone will stay put and Gus will be in charge while we find Kyle! Make sure no one leaves camp!"
"Okay!"
Ryan stayed still, nerved. Kyle isn't back in camp and Professor Lazeli was going to search for him. And to top it all off, no one can leave to help search for him. 'What are you doing, Kyle?' Ryan thought, hearing Professor Lazeli's footsteps fade deeper into the forest.