After leaving the sea around Shamouti Island, a place that had carried far too many heart-stopping events, Ash and his friends continued their voyage through the Orange Archipelago.
When they passed by Rind Island, they met an old man piloting a submarine out at sea. He had been following a large school of Magikarp, and they personally witnessed those Magikarp evolve during their migration into fierce Gyarados.
The sight of those huge creatures bursting out of the water really was intimidating, sending waves spraying high into the air.
At the time, Misty instinctively shrank back, her face turning a little pale.
After all, the trauma Gyarados had left in her heart was not something that had happened just once or twice.
However, when she saw that the newly evolved Gyarados did not fly into a rage, but instead continued leading the unevolved members of their group forward, the fear in Misty's heart seemed to lighten a little.
She could even mutter quietly, "Actually… if you look closely, they're not that scary."
Ash heard her from the side and secretly smiled, but he did not expose her.
A few days later, they landed on a seemingly uninhabited tropical island covered in unusually dense vegetation, planning to rest for a while.
After sailing continuously, everyone was somewhat tired.
"The air on this island smells really strange. It's kind of sweet, but it also makes me a little dizzy," Tracey said, sniffing the air. As a Pokémon Watcher, he was very sensitive to scents.
Ash also frowned. His Aura sensed tiny spore-like particles floating through the air, carrying some kind of special activity. "It might be some kind of pollen. Everyone, be careful."
But the warning came a little too late.
In order to search for a freshwater source on the island, Ash and Tracey entered the densest part of the rainforest at the island's center.
Before they had gone far, something felt wrong.
The air around them was filled with faint yellow powder almost invisible to the naked eye. It carried a sweet, cloying scent that made their heads spin, and without realizing it, they had already breathed in quite a bit.
At first, their throats only felt a little itchy. Before long, their limbs began to go numb, their strength drained away, and their heads grew heavy and foggy.
"Damn it… it's Stun Spore…" Tracey did not even finish speaking before the world spun around him and he collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Ash's constitution was stronger, and his Aura automatically circulated to resist part of it, but even he felt his whole body burning. His vision blurred, and he barely managed to steady himself against a tree before he finally lost strength and collapsed in the forest alongside Tracey.
Misty, who had been waiting outside for them, grew more and more uneasy when they failed to return. Her heart sank, and she rushed into the rainforest with Pikachu and Togepi.
When she found them, both of them were unconscious, their faces flushed red. The moment she touched their foreheads, the heat startled her.
"Ash! Tracey!" Misty was terrified.
She forced herself to calm down, then worked together with the Pokémon, using every bit of strength she had to drag the two boys back to the camp by the beach.
With no fever medicine available, Misty could only use the most basic method.
She kept soaking towels in clean water and placing them on Ash and Tracey's foreheads in turn, helping cool them down physically.
Staryu used its cold body to help at the side, while Pikachu and Togepi did everything they could.
After half a day of frantic care, by evening, Ash, with his extraordinary physique, was the first to regain a bit of consciousness.
His fever had gone down somewhat. Though his whole body was still weak and his head felt as heavy as lead, he could at least barely sit up.
"Mis… ty…" His voice was hoarse.
"You're awake! How do you feel?" Misty quickly handed him the water bottle.
Ash drank a few mouthfuls of water, and his throat felt a little better.
He looked at Tracey, who was still unconscious beside him, his forehead still burning hot, and his brows furrowed tightly. "This won't work… we need to find…"
There was a plant called Salveyo Weed that specifically treated the fever toxin caused by this kind of Stun Spore.
"Salveyo Weed… I remember it grows… near damp rock walls…" Ash said breathlessly. "I'm not sure if this island has any… but we have to try…"
He looked at Misty. Right now, she was the only one who could move, but he was not at ease letting her go alone.
"Let Golduck… go with you." Ash struggled to take out Golduck's Poké Ball and placed it in Misty's hand. "It should be able to help. Be careful."
Misty tightened her grip around the Poké Ball and looked at Ash's weak yet still worried eyes, then nodded firmly. "Okay! Rest properly and wait for me to come back!"
She left Staryu and Pikachu behind to keep watch, then took Golduck and Togepi with her as she entered the dim rainforest again.
The rainforest was hot and stuffy, and there were many insects. Misty used a branch to push aside hanging vines while carefully searching for damp rock walls.
Golduck followed beside her, its eyes alert. That sharp and reliable demeanor made Misty feel much more at ease.
After searching for quite a while, beside a small stream, she finally discovered several plants growing on slick green rocks. Their leaves had a very distinctive shape and gave off a cool scent. It was Salveyo Weed!
Joy filled her heart, and just as she was about to step forward to pick them, a sudden "Poli, poli!" came from the nearby bushes.
A blue Poliwag with a spiral pattern on its belly jumped out, looking at her curiously.
"Poliwag?" Misty was just about to greet it when she noticed that Poliwag seemed to recognize the Salveyo Weed. It pointed at the plant with its little tail, then pointed in another direction, as if trying to indicate something.
At that moment, rustling sounds came from nearby, along with hushed voices.
"Hurry up, meow! That Poliwag definitely knows where more of the Salveyo Weed is!"
"Jessie looks really scary when she's rambling with a fever… we have to find the medicine!"
It was James and Meowth! What were they doing here?
From what they were saying, it seemed Jessie had also been affected by the Stun Spore, and her condition might even be worse.
James and Meowth also spotted Misty and Poliwag.
They exchanged a glance and immediately pulled out a capture net. "Sorry, girl, Poliwag, but we need this life-saving medicine!"
"Not a chance!" Misty reacted instantly. "Golduck, stop them! Use Water Gun!"
"Gwaa!" Golduck flicked its head stylishly, firing a sharp stream of water that struck the net directly and blasted it aside.
"Poliwag, hurry and take me to find more of the Salveyo Weed!" Misty seized the opportunity and called out.
Poliwag seemed to understand her goodwill. It immediately turned and swam nimbly through the stream, leading the way.
"…She… actually gave it to us, meow?"
"…Forget it, let's hurry back and give the medicine to Jessie!"
Misty returned to the camp with the Salveyo Weed, quickly crushing it, mixing it with clean water, and carefully feeding it to Ash and Tracey.
The medicine worked quickly. Their high fevers gradually subsided, and their breathing became steady again.
When Tracey finally woke up, still weak but no longer in danger, the Team Rocket trio appeared once again, as expected. Clearly, Jessie had recovered.
"Since you're all better, hand over Pikachu and the remaining Salveyo Weed!"
This time, before Ash could act, Tracey, who had just regained some strength, commanded Venonat to use Stun Spore. Combined with Misty's Staryu launching a barrage of Water Guns, they easily sent Team Rocket blasting off again.
After driving away the troublemakers, Misty noticed that the Poliwag who had helped them so much was still by the stream, not leaving. It looked at her with bright, sparkling eyes.
Misty crouched down and smiled, taking out an empty Poké Ball. "Poliwag, thanks to you this time. Would you like to travel with me?"
Poliwag let out a happy cry and lightly tapped the Poké Ball, willingly being captured.
By evening, the setting sun dyed the sea in a warm golden glow.
Ash and Tracey rested at the camp, while Misty sat on the nearby beach, watching Poliwag play in the shallow water.
Ash slowly walked over and sat beside her. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice still a little hoarse.
"Um… Misty, thanks for today. If it weren't for you, Tracey and I might have…"
Misty turned her head to look at his still slightly pale face and smiled. "Don't say something so silly. We're partners, aren't we?"
"But…" Ash scratched his head, seeming a little embarrassed. "When I fell into the sea… why did you jump in after me? It was so dangerous…"
Misty's face flushed slightly, though the glow of the sunset made it hard to tell.
She lowered her head and absentmindedly traced lines in the sand with her finger.
"I… I don't really know what I was thinking at the time." Her voice was soft. "When I saw you fall, my mind went blank, and my body just moved on its own… maybe it's because… I didn't want to lose you, you reckless idiot."
Ash froze.
Looking at Misty's slightly flushed profile under the sunset, his heart suddenly started beating faster.
He felt like he finally understood that feeling.
"I… me too." After struggling for a long time, he finally managed to say it. "When I saw you talking to Danny, I… I didn't feel good about it. And… anyway, I don't want to see you in danger either, or…"
His words were clumsy and lacked any real structure, but the meaning behind them was clear to both of them.
Misty's face grew even redder, yet her heart felt warm, as if she were holding a small heater.
She did not say anything more, only softly murmuring, "Mm."
Ash also fell silent.
The two of them sat side by side on the beach, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon, listening to the gentle sound of the waves. A quiet understanding and warmth flowed silently through the air.
Some things did not need to be said too clearly.
At that moment, their feelings for each other had already been perfectly conveyed.
The final battle of the Orange League will begin in the next chapter.
....