Chapter 171. Ilex Forest

Early the next morning, Alex teleported to Azalea Town and took his time touring the place. Azalea Town is a small, quiet village surrounded by thick forest and shrouded in mist during the early mornings. Time moves slowly here.  Most of the buildings are old but well-kept, built from timber and stone, with apricorn trees growing behind nearly every home. The scent of wet earth and fresh leaves clings to the air, carried in from Ilex Forest just beyond the town's edge. The only thing that breaks the natural ambiance is the Gym. A five-story cement structure built to League standards, it stands tall and out of place, a stark contrast to the rest of the town's rustic charm. People speak softly, live simply, and don't bother with much beyond their daily routines. Kurt still makes Poké Balls by hand, and the Gym Leader, Bugsy, is usually off studying Bug type Pokémon when he isn't battling. Alex took in the scenery with quiet appreciation, although the Slowpoke wandering freely without supervision was jarring. Pokémon were almost always accompanied by their trainers or vice versa. They were never left to roam on their own. Even in big cities, Pokémon that manage to roam free tend to hide from humans or scurry into sewers and dumpsters in alleyways. Here, they went about their day lazily, watching the humans go about theirs. Alex made his way to the PokéCenter, more out of curiosity than anything else. He wasn't looking for work or trying to earn money. He just wanted to see what kind of problems a place like this might have. The building was made from dark, weathered wood. Moss clung to the sides, and ivy curled up the support posts near the entrance. Inside, it was quiet and warm. Lanterns hung from thick beams, casting a soft glow across the room. The air smelled of herbs and old lumber. There were no metal benches or harsh lights. Just wooden chairs, a worn desk, and a small fireplace crackling gently in the corner. It didn't feel like a clinic. It felt like a home. "Welcome to the PokéCenter. How can I help you?" Nurse Joy asked, an excited Chansey standing at her side. "Just wanted to see what sorts of missions you have." "The request board is over there, but you won't find much," she said, pointing to a computer off to the side. "Thanks. Just curious what kind of problems you usually deal with around here." "We don't have many, honestly. Between the Slowpoke and the Ilex Forest, Azalea Town is pretty well protected. We don't even get Pokémon floods here. We used to have trouble coming from the north and south, but lately even those have started to die out." "Do you know why?" "There are plenty of reasons, but I think it's mostly because trainers from both Kanto and Johto who reach Champion rank end up buying League-owned land around here and settling down. It helps stabilize the area and keeps Pokémon floods from happening." "I remember we used to get nest attacks south of here, until a bigshot moved into the area. After that, they just stopped happening. It's been peaceful for the past few decades," Nurse Joy continued. "What about injuries?" "I'm the only nurse in town, and as you can see, I'm not exactly busy. I don't even handle injuries from the Gym since they have their own Pokémon to take care of it." "Thanks for the info." "Anytime." Alex looked over the mission board and noted that most of the listings were meant for children or lower-ranked trainers. Simple lost-and-found tasks, help with construction or repairs, heavy lifting, and resource gathering in the forest. Nothing that stood out as a red flag. He was still suspicious of the Slowking, but given the town's history and Bugsy being in charge, it was safe to assume that any sketchy business had either been approved or quietly ignored by the League. Alex also took a stroll around town and noted the distinct lack of any criminal presence. It was either because the town was too insignificant to bother with, lacking in resources, or because the Slowking had been working overtime to keep things clean. Just then, he ran into Officer Jenny on patrol, her Growlithe trotting beside her. The small Pokémon padded up to Alex and sniffed him with open suspicion. "Hold still and let Growlithe do his investigation," Jenny ordered. Alex smiled and released Arcanine, a towering six-foot behemoth compared to the small pup. Growlithe immediately shrank back at the sight. "Bounty hunter Alex Ashford Wattson, at your service," he said with a slight bow. "I wanted to investigate a little since the town seems so..." "Peaceful? That's normal. We don't get much action around here. More importantly, you're Alex. The Alex?" "The what now?" Jenny blushed slightly, pulled out her phone, and played a short recording. "Oh, Jenny. My sweet summer child." She quickly stopped it and looked away, her cheeks flushed. "Yeah, that's me," Alex admitted, equally embarrassed. He was starting to regret ever teasing his mother with that line, especially now that it was being played back to him. He had been a real brat back then, probably the result of a younger body and too much hormones. The two of them moved past the awkward moment and started talking in more detail about the town's crime situation. Apparently, Azalea used to have its share of troublemakers who would go after the Slowpoke first, thinking they were easy targets. That changed when Slowking arrived. Without much effort, he made those types stand out by having the Slowpokes actively run away from them, giving Jenny and the local police exactly what they needed. Over time, the troublemakers either left town or learned to behave. Before they parted, Jenny slipped Alex her number.  He politely but firmly refused, saying he preferred a violent life over a peaceful one. Jenny didn't argue. She gave a small nod, tried to hide her disappointment, and continued her patrol. Alex watched her go, feeling more conflicted than he expected.  He knew most Jennys weren't the type to sleep around. They valued order, stability, and a quiet life. Even if he did come across a Jenny who was different, who might be open to something more, she'd likely be older and far removed from the one he had just met. He wasn't in the business of stringing women along and breaking their hearts. That had never been his style. He preferred open relationships over anything that involved settling down. Finished with his brief investigation, Alex rode out of the western side of town on Arcanine and entered Ilex Forest to continue mapping out teleportation points. Ilex Forest was thick, old, and quiet. The kind of quiet that pressed in from all sides. Towering trees stretched high above, their dense canopies blotting out most of the sunlight. What little light filtered through came in pale shafts, casting long, shifting shadows across the forest floor. The air was cool and damp, filled with the earthy scent of moss, bark, and leaf decay. Roots twisted like sleeping serpents beneath the undergrowth, and the path, if it could be called one, was narrow and overgrown. The deeper you went, the harder it was to tell if you were being watched. Wild Pokémon moved silently between the trees, just out of sight. Old legends said the forest was protected by spirits. Some swore they had glimpsed Celebi in the glades, while others spoke of being turned around and walking in circles for hours. Whether those stories were true or not, most locals avoided the place after dark. Ilex Forest was not just another patch of wilderness. It was a place with weight, with memory. Everything about it felt still yet aware, like the forest was listening. Alex, however, simply blitzed his way through while riding on Arcanine, confident he wouldn't run into any problems. Ilex Forest was on the safer side as far as wild areas went, likely because Celebi preferred the forest to remain quiet. At the very least, Alex hadn't encountered a single fight yet, despite moving fast through the forest. Most of the Pokémon he encountered were weak and preferred to scurry away at the first sign of movement rather than defend territory or confront intruders. It was as if no Pokémon laid claim to any part of Ilex Forest, which Alex could understand. The forest was said to be the home of the Mythical Celebi, so not even Champion ranked Pokémon would dare to claim it as their own.  Alex estimated he and Arcanine would be out of the forest by noon, given their speed, so they raced through as fast as the narrow paths allowed. A few hours later, they passed Celebi's shrine and continued on their way. A few hours later, they passed Celebi's shrine and continued on their way. Alex quickly pulled Arcanine to a halt. He stared at the narrow path ahead, then back over his shoulder. They had already been this way. The winding forest paths all looked the same, so he hadn't noticed when they had started running in circles. But now, the repetition was impossible to ignore. They were definitely going in circles. Clearly, there was something wrong with the path they had followed. No, it wasn't the path that was the problem. It was something that was trying to keep them here. "Go back to the shrine, Arcanine," Alex commanded. Arcanine, unbothered, trotted back the way they came until they reached the clearing.  Alex dismounted and gave Arcanine a pat to rest while he moved to investigate. Celebi's shrine was a small wooden house, aged and darkened by time. It stood alone in a quiet clearing surrounded by tall trees whose branches blocked most of the light. The carvings along its surface were faded, and a few old offerings such as dried berries, burnt incense, and weathered trinkets rested at its base. Suddenly, Alex felt a psychic impulse slam into his mind, threatening to overwhelm him. He tried to fight it off with his Dark type energy, but it was futile. No amount of resistance could dampen the invasion. Gardevoir and Espeon burst from their Poké Balls, both trying to fend off the psychic influence, but their efforts were just as ineffective. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of mind melting agony, a quiet message was received. It wasn't spoken in human words but carried through raw intent. It was filled with joy, gratitude, and most powerful of all, expectation. Loosely translated, it came out as: "You're finally here." ----- Support me on Patreon patreon/babywrath