Be reasonable.
It was Baimu's first time realizing that Smeargle's [Sketching] could be used in such a way.
Using painting to trigger moves.
If the painting isn't fast enough, wouldn't the opponent easily steal the initiative?
——In any case, this Smeargle owned by the calligrapher was much stronger than he had anticipated. Thus, he concluded that regardless of whether Trainers with Blue Talent were novices, their Pokémon were definitely not of a novice level.
For Clefairy or Psyduck, and including the Smeargle in front of him.
It's just slightly regrettable that as the calligrapher's Pokémon, Smeargle could not use moves by writing characters. If instead of painting a streak of lightning, it had written the word "Lei", it might have been more interesting.
It would give the feeling of a Daoist drawing talisman.
Of course, this might be forcing the "dog" to do the impossible; perhaps Smeargle's [Sketching] can only be used by painting, and writing doesn't trigger it.
In the scene.
The calligrapher found herself victorious over a wild Trainer, a smiley face appeared above her head, seemingly relieving some inner pressure.
It seemed that for her, Pokémon battles had become a great way to vent.
Unlike a chef with a clear goal, for her, battling, traveling, and even Gym challenges were merely ways to pass the time.
Having debuted as a calligrapher from a young age and always enjoying others' praise, the calligrapher experienced an unprecedented setback, unable to see the path ahead.
Thus, the thrill of victory only lasted a short while.
She proceeded toward Oreburgh City once more.
As the background gradually turned dusky and dim, night was about to fall.
Unable to find a Pokémon Center, the calligrapher had to find a way to spend the night on her own. With some hardship, she managed to set up a tent and light a campfire, but cooking was not her forte.
Trying outdoor cooking for the first time, she naturally cooked up a pot of rubbish.
[You regret not having bought some ready-to-eat food, and the hunger coming from your stomach leaves your mind in disarray]
Seeing the calligrapher, Smeargle, and Mime Jr. with a chaotic mess flying above their heads, Baimu couldn't help but smile.
Before the sky turned completely dark.
The calligrapher extinguished the campfire and, with her two Pokémon, ventured into the forest, attempting to find some Tree Fruit to fill their stomachs.
The dusky, desolate forest at dusk deeply intrigued the calligrapher who had never felt such an atmosphere before.
But undoubtedly, as a novice on her first journey without enough preparation, she quickly got lost, returning again and again to the starting point recorded by Smeargle.
As half the sky grew dark.
She asked Smeargle and Mime Jr. if they had any good ideas.
Unfortunately, one could only write to leave marks, and the other could only mimic the expressions and actions of the former.
This left the calligrapher feeling incredibly frustrated.
[Hungry and tired, you couldn't help but want to vent your emotions on the two Pokémon. But before the words left your mouth, you suddenly recalled others' evaluations and what the curator said to you——"Clearly you're young, yet your writing is so rigid like a model, as if written for an award. Your own presence is completely absent."]
[You realize they are like reflections of your soul, displaying your rigid and mimicking sides, and you have no stance to criticize them]
[Your intense mood rapidly cooled down]
Suddenly.
The scene shifted upwards.
A little girl in white appeared under a tree before Baimu's eyes.
Whispers of 'woo woo woo woo' floated above her head, merging with the dim and unclear forest at dusk, creating an incredibly eerie atmosphere even without the addition of background music.
He couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
Dusk.
The magical time of Neon, where all sorts of spirits and monsters emerge.
Soon, the calligrapher and her two Pokémon also noticed the crying girl, with thoughts of '...' flitting above their heads, probably hesitant between fear and concern.
Worried that the other was a ghost, yet worried that she really was in trouble.
After some hesitation.
The calligrapher, unable to withstand the pangs of conscience, approached proactively.
[Deep in the forest, you discover a mysterious little girl. After some hesitation, you decide to ask if she needs help]
On both sides of the screen, all four were anxious, and as the girl in white turned around, their hearts skipped a beat!
Fortunately.
The face revealed was very ordinary, a grimy crying face, not the three bloody holes of a horror story.
[You felt immensely relieved to have encountered a human, and upon inquiry, learned that she got separated from her parents and lost her way, and then accidentally fell from a tree, spraining her ankle and unable to stand]
[Seeing her crying face, you carried her on your back to find her parents]
Seeing the calligrapher, regardless of the girl's dirty clothes, carrying her on her back.
Baimu was a bit surprised; he assumed from the calligrapher's previous behavior, she would be the type that remained aloof and haughty even when offering kindness.
But unexpectedly, she was not so particular.
The screen soon turned completely black.
Night fell.
Carrying the girl on her back, the calligrapher followed the directions given by the little girl, her two Pokémon trailing behind, watching their surroundings nervously.
Although she had been distressed by her earlier disorientation, the calligrapher now proceeded unhurriedly, advancing steadily, step by step.
[You discover a light in the distance and hear voices calling out]
She moved toward the light and quickly encountered two adults with flashlights, their faces filled with worry.
Undoubtedly, they were the girl's parents.
[You relay to the girl's parents what happened with the little girl. The parents thank you profusely and invite you to share a meal]
The calligrapher followed the girl's parents to a campsite.
A campfire in the center released a warm glow, with a large metal pot above it. Though the bottom was scorched black, fragrant vapors still rose from it.
Bubbles of 'Hoothoot' appeared over the calligrapher's head.
The girl's family beamed with smiles.
[During dinner, you learn that the family was heading to Oreburgh City to visit relatives, and upon hearing your intent to challenge the Gym, the girl's father offered you a ride]
[You happily accepted the offer]
The calligrapher ate while observing the camp.
The girl's parents were obviously much more professional than she was, having set up a cozy and tidy campsite in the forest.
Eating the steaming food, looking at the smiles of those around her and her Pokémon, the calligrapher's heart suddenly itched when recalling the day's events.
Then.
She realized her tent and bag were still at the original location and asked the girl's mother, who could navigate, to help her locate them.
This time, they did not get lost.
Retrieving her bag, she glanced at the calligraphy tools inside, unable to suppress the strong desire to write that rose within her.
The moment they returned to the girl's parents' camp.
She borrowed the table used for cooking from the girl's parents and swiftly laid out the rice paper, asking Smeargle to help grind the ink.
Although Mime Jr., newly added to the team, knew nothing of this, it managed to assist Smeargle by mimicking.
Thus.
Under the puzzled gaze of the girl's family, the calligrapher calmed down and wrote a word —
"Forest."
A character that wasn't copied, but uniquely hers.
Looking at them, the calligrapher for the first time felt a sense of pride.
[Reflecting on today's experiences, you think to yourself it's not just the silent forest of dusk, nor merely the forest of hesitation when lost, but the shadowed forest of first encountering the girl, and the forest warmed by the campfire illuminating the campsite]
[You sat on the ground and laughed heartily]
[Looking at the words, you recall the curator's words, suddenly finding the direction to move forward]