Kakuna – #014

US/UM Entry:

Kakuna remains virtually immobile as it clings to a tree. However, on the inside, it is extremely busy as it prepares for its coming evolution. This is evident from how hot the shell becomes to the touch.

Ricky was on a mission. He was tired of being told over and over to only get close to the Weedle and Caterpie inside Viridian Forest. He was old now, almost nine, and already mentally preparing himself to become a Pokemon trainer in a little over a year. He knew he was capable of finding more advanced creatures in the woods, and he had snuck off to do just that.

He wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to find, but knew that Kakuna and Metapod were nothing to be afraid of, since in reality they were just immobile and defense based. He had thought about trying to find some Beedrill but decided against it. He was wary of them, though he would never admit it to anyone but himself. Eventually he set his sights on finding a Butterfree. They were a fully evolved Pokemon that no other kid in his class had seen in the wild. He wanted to be able to brag about the sighting when he got back to school.

Viridian Forest was bigger than it seemed, and it was easy to get lost if one didn't follow the main trail to Pewter City. There were always stories of people getting lost and taking days or weeks to find their way out, but he wasn't worried. A real Pokemon trainer, as he was soon to be, would never get lost. As Ricky wandered on, he was enthralled by the serenity of it all. The sun creating shafts of light down to the forest floor where it broke through the canopy above, the stillness of the interior resulting from the lack of a breeze, and the song of Pidgey and Spearow in the upper branches.

Ricky loved Viridian Forest.

As he made his way over a small rise, he saw them: Kakuna. Loads of Kakuna, scattered everywhere across every tree in sight. A Beedrill nesting ground, he figured. He knew it was dangerous and that he should avoid the area, but the temptation of seeing his first Kakuna up close was strong, and he glanced around before moving down the slope towards the nearest tree.

Moving closer, he could feel the air begin to warm up, making it feel more like some kind of jungle than just a forest. There was also a kind of background hum, which took Ricky a moment of thought to identify as the buzzing of the Beedrill swarm somewhere up ahead.

He quickly made up his mind; he just wanted to see one Kakuna up close, maybe touch it, and then he would leave. Being this close to a swarm wasn't safe, and Ricky didn't want to end up as a cautionary tale for future kids.

Inching closer to the one on the tree before him, Ricky stuck out his hand to touch the Kakuna's shell, and- "Ow!"

It was hot! Not expecting the heat, he cried out and stepped back. Suddenly, he saw the Kakuna before him begin to glow. He knew what that meant.

There was about to be a newly evolved Beedrill right in front of him. Bad news.

As he was about to turn and run, he saw other Kakuna nearby starting to glow as well. Even worse.

He wanted to see a fully evolved Pokemon, but not like this. He had to run before they were aware of their surroundings. Ricky turned and booked it. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he could already hear the angry buzzing growing louder behind him as he charged up the hill once more. Reaching the top, he slowed his pace to catch his breath and took a glance behind him.

Beedrill. Lots of them.

Breaking into a true sprint now, Ricky careened down the other side of the hill and across a small stream he had traversed earlier, running as fast as he ever had in his life. Suddenly, he blasted out onto the main path back to Viridian City, scaring the daylights out of an unfortunate bug catcher that happened to be nearby.

The bug catcher was about to shout after the rapidly vanishing Ricky to ask why he was running, but by then could hear the ominous buzzing of the approaching Beedrill as well, and quickly turned and ran after the boy. Being rather experienced in the woods, the bug catcher knew that Beedrill swarms typically won't continue to chase people once they reach the edge of the forest, so he and the shrilly screaming little boy only had to make it that far, or to some form of shelter to weather out the swarm.

Being older and having longer legs, the bug catcher caught up to Ricky and yelled at him to keep running straight to the Gatehouse, and that they were almost out of the forest. So close, but yet so far when there was a massive swarm of angry Beedrill bearing down on them.

With the bug catcher now pulling away from him, Ricky knew that he would be the first to go when the Beedrill caught up, and stole a look behind him once more. Just feet behind him were the malicious faces and cruel stingers of the Bee Pokemon, ready to inflict their punishment for his disturbance.

When he turned his head back to the front, he realized he could see the Gatehouse to Viridian City and doubled down, promising that if he were to make it out of this alive he would never sneak back into Viridian Forest by himself again.

The bug catcher reached the Gatehouse door and charged through it into safety, just as Ricky felt a stinger tear the back of his shirt. Thinking that this was it for him, Ricky threw himself forward and closed his eyes. He rolled a couple times and then stopped, waiting for the inevitable.

It never came.

Ricky opened his eyes, saw the ceiling of the Gatehouse, and knew that he had made it.

He also knew that he was going to have to find some way to explain to his mother how the back of his shirt had been ripped open. That was going to be fun.

The beginning of a small exercise in creative writing I've decided to start, for better or worse. Please enjoy!