As Burgh had said, Hikaru had already left Nimbasa City—though this ti, it was only temporary.
Skyarrow Bridge, Pinwheel Forest, Nacrene City, Striaton City... Once he reached Striaton, he planned to see if he could locate Professor Fennel. If her whereabouts were the sa as in the gas... well, that might be troubleso.
In real life, cities had countless buildings. It wasn't like in the gas, where you could just barge into every house, search the trash cans, and casually talk to anyone. Doing that here would be breaking and entering.
Once he found her, he'd check on the developnt progress of the C Device. Right now, it seed the C Device's link function was an artificial version of Aura—and on his side, he had a Riolu that could release real Aura.
That might be of so help. It was one of the goals of this journey. Both he and the Interlink Tree were looking forward to it.
It also tied directly into sothing else he hoped to obtain—crucial knowledge regarding Dream Link connections.
Amarys had returned to school. Nimbasa's Pokémon School had resud classes. After watching the Gym battle, the girl had been deeply inspired and beca more determined to transfer schools. It was only then that Hikaru learned from her that Nimbasa also had a university. One of its professors, Professor Gimmo, was even a television celebrity.
The academic strength of Unova really was impressive. Almost every city had a Trainer School or a Pokémon Academy—even an entertainnt hub like Castelia had schools. But could anyone really learn anything in such an environnt?
Well... there was that one student who transferred from a Castelia school to Blueberry Academy.
Hikaru looked ahead.
Skyarrow Bridge.
This massive iron bridge stretched proudly over the sea, the longest and largest in Unova, connecting the region's central and eastern continents.
Walking across it on foot would take a long ti. Luckily, Hikaru had flown over it atop his Aegislash.
anwhile, he had received so information from the Nimbasa Gallery and the Interlink Tree!
[Reward: Recognition from Jonathan, artist of Castelia City – Joyful Style — cheerful works that lift people's spirits.]
[Reward: Recognition from Given, artist of Lacunosa Town – Silent Style — lancholic works that reflect solitude.]
[Reward: Recognition from Carls, painter of Driftveil City – Soul of Paradise Style — works touching on life and death stir the soul.]
[Reward: Recognition from Maino, sculptor of Route 9 – Tribal Art Style — primal works increase faith and soothe spirits.]
[Reward: Recognition from Winterfield, rich heir of Castelia City – Gratitude 50%, Luck 10%.]
[Reward: Recognition from Marcel, gentleman of Black City – Desire 50%, higher enemy encounter rate.]
[Reward: Recognition from Emily, fashion designer of White Forest – Recomndation 70%, Fashion Celebrity 50%.]
[Reward: Recognition from Sean, fashion designer of Wyndon (Galar) – Recomndation 80%, Inspiration 50%, Galarian Fashion Rating 30%.]
Wyndon? Looks like so out-of-towners had shown up.
Oh wait, I'm an out-of-towner too. Never mind, then.
Fashion designers traveled the world seeking inspiration. That wasn't surprising.
[The Interlink Tree has sensed many new intentions and is growing more rapidly!]
[Its withered branches are slowly regaining vitality—though only a little. Keep up the good work!]
[Rewards from the Release Orbs will now be slightly greater. You can now extract so "Release Power" from the Interlink Tree and use it to restore your Pokémon's stamina, find Berries, or even scavenge for money...]
[Reward: Recognition from Roxie!]
[Note: A famous teenage model and Gym Leader from Castelia City, Roxie sincerely believes your works possess an unbelievable aura and a sense of historical depth. They might even spark a small fashion trend.]
[When your EX outfit is displayed at the Castelia Fashion Show, it will shift the hearts of Unova's people—making emotions more expressive and colorful.]
[Effect: Awareness 50%, Spotlight 50%, Joy 50%, Popularity 100%.]
Ah... this must be the "promotion" Burgh ntioned!
The Shining Beauty of Castelia—officially, Roxie—should be about 15 years old during the events of Black and White. So now... she's 14?
Fourteen years old and already 190cm tall?
Just thinking about it made Hikaru pause in thought.
Apparently, she had been modeling since childhood under the influence of her mother. After only a few years, she had beco a household na in Unova—an idol-level celebrity. Like the protagonist of Black 2 and White 2, who beca a Hollywood star in an instant. And Unova also had rising stars like Brycen and Roxie.
So many top-tier young celebrities in this region...
"Not bad! With the support of Unova's rising stars, the hearts of the people should gather quickly. The Interlink Tree must be delighted."
However, the Interlink Tree didn't respond.
Still, Hikaru could faintly sense a... slightly awkward emotion coming from it?
Of course, it was grateful—but it didn't seem too comfortable with this style of promotion. Chapter source: My Virtual Library Empire (M|V|L4EMPYR).
"That's understandable. After all, your existence predates even the founding of Unova. Older folks aren't always comfortable with the younger generation's world. And you're a tree. Your understanding of people is even more distant. So for soone who's watched Unova change through the ages, this world must feel quite alien now."
"You're just not used to modern trends, that's all. Maybe that's why you think heroes should always co from out-of-the-way places like Nuvema Town or Floccesy Town. The kind of story where a traveler from afar changes the world at the heart of Unova—that's the kind of hero tale you like, isn't it?"
After Hikaru finished speaking, he sensed a lift in the Interlink Tree's mood.
That was it—it really did like those kinds of stories.
While gathering recognition and engaging in this quiet inner dialogue, Skyarrow Bridge quickly faded into the distance. Up ahead, towering green trees ca into view.
Pinwheel Forest.
Through the gleaming gateway, Hikaru entered the forest's shaded depths. Though known as a natural labyrinth, Pinwheel Forest had a well-paved asphalt road leading straight to Nacrene City. Even here, many people ca and went.
In the gas, Hikaru's strongest impression of this place was—
A certain preschool girl, the Unovan equivalent of Cynthia, wielding a team of pseudo-legendaries: Bagon, Dratini, and Gible. And she said she idolized Drayden of Opelucid City, aspiring to be just like him when she grew up.
"Good thing I arrived early. That little girl's probably only three or five years old now. Still a few years away from ambushing people on the roadside with her trio of pseudo-legendaries."
But Hikaru wasn't sticking to the main road.
Instead, he veered off into the denser, wilder parts of the forest. That's where Amarys had discovered the Four-Leaf Clover.
He pushed forward, ready to have Aegislash clear away any trees in his path—
—but Aegislash glanced left and right.
It had sensed sothing in the wind.
"Burgh once said he found a Four-Leaf Clover here, but it was snatched away by a Bug-type Pokémon. Sounds like this is my mont."
As a reward for defeating the Nimbasa Gym and receiving the Beetle Badge, Hikaru had also been granted a gift from the Interlink Tree. He could now call upon wild Bug-type Pokémon and receive a bit of their aid.
He whistled a strange lody into the forest's depths. It rode the wind and scattered in all directions.
It seed the Interlink Tree had begun to stir too. And the feeling of this forest...
[Note: The Interlink Tree informs you that the forest welcos its presence—and yours. It hasn't been felt here in a long ti. Follow nature's guidance. There is power in the wild.]
The chittering of insects stirred. The Bug-type Pokémon raised their heads in confusion. Yet, the wind's voice felt familiar to them.
They began to listen.
A Four-Leaf Clover had been lost—one that glowed with light. Soone sought it. That person brought with them a mighty sword Pokémon, a king among Pokémon.
Who was he?
The Bug-types exchanged thoughts. The wind carried not just words, but hints of the human's emotions. The forest rejoiced in his arrival. They even started to think... maybe he was so kind of powerful bug himself.
What a strange feeling.
But since he'd opened his heart to them, they decided to lend a hand.
"Hey, where're you going?!"
Pinwheel Forest wasn't just full of explorers, teachers, and children—it also had hikers, backpackers, and most of all, Rangers.
So were locals. Others were assigned by the Ranger Union. They trained, patrolled, and ditated deep within the forest.
A female Ranger nad Bonnie watched, stunned, as her Kricketune dashed off toward the forest's heart.
"That's not our patrol route! What's wrong—did you lose sothing?"
"Krikk!" The Kricketune gave a sharp, concise reply.
Bonnie, used to working closely with Pokémon, could understand the intent behind its tone. She gasped.
"What? Soone's asking you to help find sothing? Not a Pokémon...? Don't scare ! I'm terrible with ghosts!"
She was panicking now. After all, she'd worked in Pinwheel for years and had never heard of ghosts here. Not even a single Ghost-type Pokémon!
The Kricketune waved its arms confidently.
I'm off to find sothing. Stay here and wait.
And with that, it vanished into the undergrowth.
Other Bug Pokémon who were already out of their Poké Balls began scanning the surroundings too. Those still in their balls remained unaware.
"What're you doing, Scolipede? Whoa—there's so many of you. Is this... so kind of secret ritual?"
A Shorts Kid chased after his Scolipede, excitedly joining the treasure hunt. The other Trainers were equally curious. Sothing like this had never happened in Pinwheel Forest before.
What were the Bug-types up to?
"Hey, listen to ! There's supernatural stuff in this forest, I swear..."
Bonnie quickly opened her PokéGear and contacted other Rangers scattered throughout the forest. She explained her Kricketune had run off to help a ghost find sothing—and she was terrified.
Responses started popping up:
"Pinwheel Forest always had strange power. That's old news."
"Did you run into a psychic?"
"Ghosts wouldn't be weird here. The weird part is not seeing Ghost-types around."
"Now that you ntion it... I've never seen any Ghost Pokémon in this forest."
"They exist in White Forest, but not here."
"Hey, I just saw sothing crazy!"
Bonnie was dumbfounded at how quickly the conversation went off-track. Then she noticed more and more Bug-types gathering—and even so Grass-types were joining in.
That was strange. Bug and Grass Pokémon didn't usually hang out together, due to type advantages. They normally lived in different parts of the woods.
"The forest... no, the natural world of Pinwheel Forest is stirring?"
"There are insect echoes... and sothing human too."
"This is getting intense..."
Hikaru heard the response of the Bug-types—but also the voices of their Trainers. The forest's bugs had answered his call, but things had spiraled into a full-blown "find the herb" operation.
So, he asked the forest wind to send another ssage:
Friends, this is getting a bit too lively...
The Bug-types quickly replied!
ssage received! Switching to stealth mode!
POOF—
Suddenly, one of Hikaru's Poké Balls burst open. His Grotle erged.
It looked around and listened. Aegislash asked if it had also heard the forest's voice.
"Hrmph." Grotle considered. It was looking for sothing—and then headed toward a sunlit patch of forest.
It could feel it: the forest was calling!
Compared to the chaotic and wild energy of Sinnoh's great forests, this place offered sothing new—gentleness, rationality, and wisdom.
Hikaru knelt down, scooping up so moss-covered earth and placing it in a storage vial.
[Item: Soil from Pinwheel Forest]
[Description: Ancient, moss-covered soil from Pinwheel Forest. Brings peace and inspiration to Pokémon. Purifies minor corruption, thanks to the forest's plants, which produce special antibacterial compounds that refresh both humans and Pokémon.]
[Effect: Purifying Aura — Enhances the growth of Grass-types. Greatly reduces poisoning. Revitalizes soil.]
[Note: That said, there are still many venomous Bug-types here. A sign at the forest entrance advises visitors to bring plenty of Antidotes. But their venom is natural—not evil.]
Grotle felt very at ease here. The power of the earth and soil flowed beneath it. The forest's whispers called to it:
Who are you?
Following the murmur, Grotle led Hikaru and Aegislash to a towering tree.
It was the great tree often seen in the ani—a naless colossus where Burgh liked to ditate, disguised as a cocoon to seek inspiration.
Around it grew aromatic mushrooms and glowing moss. The tree's vibrant life force dyed the surroundings in erald tones.
And tucked behind it, nestled between so younger trees—
—a secret space.
A Hidden Grotto.
Just like in Black 2 and White 2, where Hidden Grottoes could house Pokémon with hidden abilities or rare items.
[Festival Quest: The Serene Hidden Hollow]
[Description: Discover the source of power in this mysterious place! Your Grotle seems to sense sothing unusual. Is it because of the savage blessing it received in Sinnoh's forests? That ancient forest's gift helps Pokémon find hidden nature across the world.]
[Reward: Release Orb ×2, Pinwheel Emblem ×1, Power of Nature ×1, Branch of Pinwheel ×1]
[Note 1: Dream energies are rising here. The Interlink Tree senses stronger ties. This is a gift of nature—a hidden hollow.]
[Note 2: Your Grotle carries a unique power. Blessed by sothing great, its back-plant is mutating and nurturing ecosystems. Pinwheel Forest has noticed. In a small forest, it could beco the heart of the entire ecosystem.]
It was the blessing of the Guardian Stone.
Hikaru understood.
Back when it was a Turtwig, it had evolved due to the Guardian Stone's power. That's what made it so different. In a way, it bore a fragnt of Arceus's divine force.
Even he and Steven had received blessings from the Guardian Stone—it had even healed Steven's eyes.
[Note 3: The Interlink Tree has an idea. It wants to anchor part of its power in your Grotle to connect with nature wherever you are. With Pinwheel Forest's help, it can do this. If you accept, once Grotle evolves into Torterra, the tree on its back may resemble the Interlink Tree itself. You may then be able to access the Dream World or Interlink Forest from anywhere... eventually, once the Interlink Tree's power recovers.]
[Note 4: Seek more strange forests and ancient trees. Your Grotle can still evolve! Focus and use the voices of the extra-dinsional space to hear the secrets of the woods!]
Hikaru knelt, linking his energy with Grotle's.
Grotle raised its head. The previously muddled voices beca clear!
It could hear it—the trees whispering!
And it saw sothing else—
Grotle's world turned faintly black and white. It couldn't see it clearly, but Hikaru understood its confusion and released Riolu.
"Help Grotle with a special connection, please."
"Rao?" Riolu blinked, then quickly sensed the forest's unique power. The blue pup released its Aura.
Under Riolu's influence, Grotle saw sothing new—
A glowing pink dream? Or a rift?
No Pokémon were nearby. This dream rift only existed in the desaturated world. It required the forest's whisper, Riolu's Aura, Hikaru's psychic ability, and the Interlink Tree's power to even be perceived.
It was a forest dream.
"Grroo!" Grotle's cry made the dream rift flicker and begin to unravel. A powerful force gathered within!
"The item isn't in the real world... It's inside the connected dream realm. A rift between dreams... a Dream Fissure!?"
Hikaru recalled a rather obscure worldbuilding detail.
Before eting Professor Fennel, he had to rember—
Back in college, Professor Fennel had a research partner in dream studies.
That partner was... Professor Burnet!
She had discovered Dream Fissures—and the Incarnate Forms of the Forces of Nature dwelling within. She also discovered Dream Mist. By defeating Dream Mist constructs, one could obtain Dream Orbs—energy crystals of a sort.
Her research into Dream Fissures eventually led her to Alola, where she beca the head of the Aether Foundation's Space Research Lab and officially defined these strange liminal zones as Ultra Space.
"Dream Mist is tied to space-ti. I don't have a Dream Beam... but I do have sothing else—capture initiated!"
Electric-black clouds with crackling arcs spread from Hikaru's fingers—corruption from the Distortion World!
Not the important part. The clouds were just byproducts of ti-space distortion.
What mattered was the knowledge he'd gained as a Collector of Space-Ti, allowing him to store such objects in a separate dinsion—even if he didn't quite understand where that dinsion was.
The black cloud devoured the Hidden Grotto and swallowed the dissolving Dream Mist. Grotle's vision returned to normal.
From the rift, sothing dropped.
Not a Dream Orb—
—but a special gemstone tablet!
Thunk! The tablet floated in midair.
Then, a Pokémon leapt from the dream fissure!
[Note: A Pokémon guarding the forest's secret has appeared. Hidden Grotto Pokémon all possess rare abilities. You must defeat this special Pokémon to interact with the sealed stone.]
The Interlink Tree explained what was happening.
Grotle stared hard at the Pokémon before it.
It knew—
its true journey had just begun.
It ca to the forest, heard the forest,
and now... would beco the forest.
The Pokémon before it was—
a Shiny Beedrill with the hidden ability Sniper!
(End of
Chapter)
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