Chapter 2

The sun was just starting to set as he crossed the border into Viridian City, turning the sky an amber color. Because it was so far away from Pallet Town, he had only been a couple of times, usually when there was some event going on his or Gary's mom were taking him to, and it was usually by vehicle so it didn't take nearly as long. It was a lot bigger than Pallet, but teetering right over the line of being able to be called a city, so it wasn't overwhelming in the slightest.

However, as he walked past the big sign welcoming him into Viridian City, the announcement playing over the speakers throughout the entire city did quite the opposite. "Attention citizens of Viridian City! Attention citizens of Viridian City! We have reports of possible Pokémon thieves in our area. Be on the lookout for suspicious-looking strangers. Repeat, be on the lookout for suspicious-looking strangers."

The statement didn't really give Ash too much anxiety as he walked over a bridge where a flowing canal was humming quietly, reflecting the copper tone the sky was starting to take on; Pokémon thieves were always a possibility in this world. However, he could hear his mom's voice echoing in his head, filled with worry. "You just got new Pokémon, Ash Ketchum, and you don't want to get them taken away, do you?"

As he was lost in thought, he barely noticed that he went by the Viridian Police Department – a round building with a large front door to walk inside that looked like it was wearing a police hat itself – and also failed to notice the cerulean haired woman eyeing him suspiciously through the front door. He failed to notice right up until he felt a tug on his collar, stopping him in place and restricting air in his throat. "Hold it!" she said in a demanding voice as his legs flailed through the air, not catching up to his brain that was saying he wasn't moving at all. "And just where do you think you're going, young man?"

"Leave me alone, I'm not doing anything wrong!" Ash snapped back angrily, so quickly in fact, that the police officer let her gloved hand release the collar of his shirt, and her auburn eyes widened in surprise. "I'm just traveling through!"

Immediately, the hardened look on her face softened, and she knelt down to look at him at eye level. "Oh, I'm sorry. We're just on high alert around here with strangers," she explained. "Just show me your I.D. and you can go."

A bead of sweat fell from the side of his head, and Ash felt his breath hitch in his throat. "I.D.?" he parroted. "Uh, I don't have any! You see, I just came here from Pallet and-"

"You know, you're the fourth person I've seen today from Pallet Town." A smile spread on her lipstick-covered lips as she looked down at the boy.

"The fourth?" Ash thought back to Professor Oak's words when he was in his lab. He did say there may be a fourth Trainer starting their journey as well. But how in the world did even they get ahead of him? He frowned, realizing it must have been when he fell asleep with Squirtle in the tree trunk. Suddenly, realization kicked in as the words fluttered through his brain. "Oh, that means Gary Oak's here already..."

"Well, either way, it's my job to make sure the people and Pokémon of Viridian City are safe, especially when there are thieves rumored to be around here," she said, pointing a finger to a wanted poster on a sign next to the entrance to the police station. It featured shadowed silhouettes of two young adults wearing white uniforms with large red 'R's clearly on their chest. Ash glanced at it briefly as she continued. "Especially when you don't have any identification."

"Please let me through," he begged. "I wouldn't steal a Pokémon, and I've got to keep going if I'm going to get ahead of Gary and the rest of them. Please, miss." Something seemed to have caught her eye as she studied Ash from head to toe, and suddenly her eyes lit up.

"Hey! What's that in your pocket?" she asked.

"What?" Ash muttered, and fished his Pokédex out of his pocket and held it up. "Oh, this?"

"This! This is perfect!" she exclaimed, snatching the device out of his hand and holding it out like she would her own badge. "A Pokédex! This will solve our problem!" Ash simply stared and blinked at the eccentric woman as she opened up the cover and pressed a few buttons. "Let's see... If you're the real deal..." Finally, she smiled and held it out for both of them to see as the screen lit up with a picture of Ash's face.

"I'm Dexter, a Pokédex programmed by Professor Oak for Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum of the town of Pallet. My function is to provide Ash with information and advice regarding Pokémon and their training. If lost or stolen, I cannot be replaced."

"Oh, my Pokédex!" Ash said as he took the device back from the police officer. "I didn't realize it was also my I.D.!" Giving her a contorted smile now that she had gotten his identification, he went on. "Can I go on, now?"

"Absolutely!" she stated with a wink. "Under normal circumstances, I would invite you to stay in our city, but I'd advise you to move on as quickly as you can, especially for a new Trainer like yourself. You wouldn't want your Pokémon stolen, would you?"

"Uh... I guess not..." The thought of losing Squirtle so early would be devastating. What would his mom say? What would Professor Oak say? What would Gary say? The last thought gripped his heart with cold fear as he imagined his childhood friend teasing him.

"Look at little Ash! Not even a full week and he already lost his first Pokémon my grandfather so graciously gave him! What a disgrace to Pallet – you should have never become a Pokémon Trainer!"

Another bead of sweat escaped from under his hat, and he looked up at the setting sun. Looks like it was north to Viridian Forest.

o 0 o

The forest in Route 1 was nothing compared to the Viridian Forest. A thick sea of green and brown for miles and miles completely astounded Ash, and the huge variety of large-trunked trees barely gave any indication of which way was which. Sure, there was a main path that could be used, but it twisted and turned through the natural maze and branched off in places that the Pallet Town native knew it would take a couple days to get through here, at least.

By the time he had reached the forest itself from Viridian, the sun had already set. It wasn't the first time he had set up camp on his short journey thus far – which was nothing more than a little fire and an unrolled sleeping bag – but the trees seemed to absorb any type of light the moon and stars above were illuminating. It really gave him the feeling of being alone for the first time on his journey. Curled up in the blue sleeping bag, brown eyes stared into the crackling fire. A small shiver passed through his body, the cause of the misty dew covering the moss underneath him. It made for a good bed, but it wasn't very warm.

Quietly, he wondered if Gary, Marina, and the other Trainer from Pallet had to do this as well, or if they were in the forest still or not. It seemed like he was always the underdog, but he wouldn't let it get him down. No, this was what he had been waiting for his whole life – he shouldn't be focusing on the negative.

His brown eyes drifted over to the belt that was sitting beside his jacket, hat, and backpack. Inside the Poké Balls, Squirtle and Pidgey were sleeping – he assumed – and they were his Pokémon. And tomorrow was always a new day. He would get more.

Just you wait and see, Gary.

o 0 o

He was awoken not by the morning sun peeking through the surface of the leaves above, but by a loud flapping. As his eyes slowly drifted open, the crust in his eyes making it slightly difficult to open them, he saw that the fire he had started went out as he slept. Sitting up in his sleeping bag, he got up just in time to see a large bird swoop down past him, completely disregarding him as it dove into the tall grass and started pecking at the ground for its breakfast. It looked like a Pidgey, but it was larger, and it sported red plumage on its head.

"Wow! A Pidgeotto!" Ash exclaimed excitedly, throwing on his hat as he slipped out of his sleeping bag. Getting his jacket on as well, he scanned the Pokémon with his Pokédex.

"Pidgeotto, an evolved form of the Pidgey. It is armed with sharp claws and dives down from the sky to capture its prey. Unlike the more gentle Pidgey, Pidgeotto can be dangerous. Approach with extreme caution."

"All right Pidgeotto," Ash scoffed, putting the Pokédex away and putting his belt around his waist. Retrieving an empty Poké Ball, he pressed the button in the center to enlarge it, and twisted back his hat. "Poké Ball, go!" he cried, rearing back his arm and chucking it at the larger Pokémon. The ball spiraled through the air, but the Bird Pokémon – who he thought had just failed to notice him – stuck its beak in the air, closed its eyes and swiped away the Poké Ball with a flick of its wing. Ash let out a defeated groan as the ball clattered at his feet. "Oh, right... I have to weaken it..."

Retrieving a new Poké Ball, this time actually containing a Pokémon, he threw it forward. "Go, Pidgey!" Though Pidgeotto had gone back to looking for food in the ground, it turned its head as the Poké Ball hit the ground, and released a bright mass of energy from inside, and it formed into the smaller brown and tan Pokémon. Pidgey cooed as it appeared, and looked upon its opponent though its face was unreadable. "Ha, this Pokémon training thing is a piece of cake," Ash murmured to himself with a confident smirk, twisting his cap the right way. But before he got the chance to order an attack, the wild Pidgeotto was on the move, barreling at his Pidgey with a sharp look in its eye. Pidgey let out a cry and flapped its wings frantically to get airborne. But Pidgeotto was fast, and slammed into it. Though Pidgey succeeded in flying into the air, this was only because of Pidgeotto's attack, and finally managed to balance itself just in time to see the bigger Pokémon flying up towards it.

"Pidgey, counterattack!" Ash instructed. Pidgey flapped its wings in Pidgeotto's direction, sending a gust of wind spiraling at the evolved Pokémon, and Pidgeotto bounced off it, changing direction and going around before coming at Pidgey. The two Pokémon flew through the air, occasionally colliding and bouncing back before repeating the action. "Now Pidgey, Sand-Attack!" Diving straight towards the ground, Pidgey flew with expertise, pulling up just before it was about to hit the forest floor, and its plan worked – Pidgeotto was in close pursuit. Though it was quickly catching up due to more experience, Pidgey quickly whipped around and gave another flap of its wings. This time, the gust of wind that was produced from them kicked up sand from the ground.

If Pidgeotto was surprised by the strike, it certainly didn't show it. Pulling its body up, it opened its wings like a parachute, and it stopped just in time, but also started flapping its wings powerfully. With its own Gust attack, it blew the sand away. However, it didn't stop. As if to say 'This is how a real Sand-Attack should look', Pidgeotto continued flapping its wings, kicking up a powerful sandstorm that surprised both Trainer and Pokémon. Both Ash and Pidgey gave a cry of surprise before the sand covered the whole area, and Ash coughed and covered his mouth with his inner arm until the sand dissipated. The flapping of wings in the treetops told Ash Pidgeotto was escaping, and once it faded, he could just see its shadow being swallowed by the foliage.

"Aw, man... We were so close," he muttered, this time his head dropping in disappointment. Pidgey also looked disappointed, knowing it had let down its Trainer, which quickly made Ash pull himself together. "It's okay! Don't let it get you down. I have you as a Flying Pokémon anyway!" His words of encouragement seemed to perk up the little Flying-type, and he recalled it into its Poké Ball to pack up the camp from the night before.

o 0 o

He was sick of seeing green and brown after a long while. The thick trees that all looked the same really weren't helping the cause either, and Ash found himself having to backtrack a few times, even with the help of the main trail. He supposed this was his first obstacle as a new Pokémon Trainer.

His battle with the wild Pidgeotto coupled with his overall presence must have frightened away the other Pokémon that lived in the forest. Occasionally, he would hear a buzzing or rustling in the foliage, but it would disappear as quickly as it started. It was strange that he hadn't even found another human here in the woods either, but he didn't think too hard about it. His mind just focused on getting out of the forest – Pewter City was just on the other side.

He had almost passed a bush completely when something other than green and brown captured his attention. The color stuck out like a sore thumb, and his eyes were drawn instantly to it, double-taking as he skidded in place. Coming out of the bushes, a lone Pokémon with a long body and a pointed stinger on the top of its head came wiggling out onto the main path, its beady eyes looking innocently at Ash. "A Weedle!" he said, a smile pulling up the corners of his mouth as he pulled out his Pokédex.

"Weedle. The stinger on this Pokémon's head guarantees that any attacker will get the point right where it hurts."

"A stinger, huh? Now that's a challenge," he said in thought, and gave a determined grin. "But, a great Pokémon Trainer like me can't let a Weedle escape! I'm gonna catch it!" Putting away Dexter, his fingers brushed against an empty Poké Ball, but then he hesitated. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. You have to weaken a Pokémon before you can capture it." Holding up a new Poké Ball in his palm, he flicked the button with his thumb and made it bigger before twisting back his cap. "Pidgey, I choose you!" Unlike the last time that Pidgey was called out, its opponent was smaller than it, and Pidgey looked down at the tiny Bug Pokémon, almost drooling from its beak. The enemy Weedle looked up fearlessly at Pidgey, but it was due to ignorance instead of confidence.

"Pidgey, Gust attack!" Standing in place, Pidgey opened its wings and started flapping them, sending a strong rush of wind at Weedle. It struggled to stay on its suction-cup feet, but it wasn't long before the Hairy Bug Pokémon was soaring through the air. Knowing it was a fight it couldn't win, Weedle landed on the ground and tried crawling away as fast as it could, but Pidgey used the momentum of it flapping its wings to its advantage and took off into the air. Diving down, it flew over the Bug-type, and as it did, it gave a strong flap, kicking up a gust of wind and sending Weedle flying again. Flying back up into the air, Weedle barely had time to right itself before Pidgey gave a coo and turned in the air. "Aha, that's the way to do it!" Pidgey mimicked its movement again, knocking Weedle off its feet and flying back up into the air over Ash.

Weedle, knowing that it wasn't going to out-speed the Tiny Bird Pokémon, turned around as Pidgey swooped at it once again, this time rearing its head back and launching itself at Pidgey with its stinger pointed like an arrow shot from a bow. "Pidgey, watch out for its Poison Sting!" Ash warned his Pokémon, and in slow motion, Pidgey narrowly avoided the Weedle's attack with a slight tuck of its wing. It was so close that the back of the Bug and Poison Pokémon brushed against Pidgey's stomach feathers. "Ha! Nice work!"

As Weedle landed on the ground before Ash, Pidgey swept around again, giving a shrill coo before diving down once again and blasting Weedle with another Gust attack. Knowing this was his chance, Ash's eyebrows came together coupled with a smirk and he pulled an empty Poké Ball into his palm. "Okay, here we go! Weedle, I've got you now." The Pokémon was dazed on the ground, twitching from exhaustion, but a voice other than his own came from behind him.

"Greetings. Am I addressing the Pokémon Trainer who comes from Pallet?" The voice surprised Ash slightly, and he barely glanced back at the figure through the corner of his eyes, and under normal circumstances, he would have welcomed the company, but this wasn't a good time.

"I'm a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet, but I'm a little busy." And he once again turned his attention to the fainted Weedle in front of him, pressing the silver button on the Poké Ball to enlarge it.

"I have found you at last..." A strange, metallic noise sounded behind him, and before Ash could throw the Poké Ball in his hand, he saw the shadow at his feet of the boy behind him, and a loud battle cry made him whip his head around. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he saw the boy, who was dressed head to toe in armor like an old samurai would wear, had his hands over his head and clutched around a katana. Ash took a sudden step back purely out of instinct, and the sword cut the air in front of him, stopping centimeters away from his nose.

"That sword doesn't scare me!" Ash told him, though his body language and the way his voice shook spoke otherwise. Was this one of the thieves from Viridian that the female officer had told him about? "There's no way you're stealing my Pokémon!"

"I am no Pokémon thief," the boy responded.

"Then what are you doing pointing a sword to my face?!"

"I am Samurai," he introduced, pulling the sword back and flicking it with his fingers to show that it was a rubber sword. "I am also shrewd, fearless, and completely invincible in combat." Sheathing his fake weapon at his hip, he continued. "I have been searching the forest for you."

"What do you want from me?"

"A Pokémon match!" Samurai replied, pulling a Poké Ball from beneath his armor and holding it up. "Let us see who triumphs." The two stared at each other for a moment, Ash's heart still pounding in his chest. He hadn't had a real Pokémon battle with someone yet. All that he had battled with was wild Pokémon when he was looking to catch-

"Oh no!" Ash exclaimed, realization widening his eyes, and the boy whipped around. "I forgot about Weedle!" The Pokémon wasn't in the spot it originally was, and instead was inching its way into the trees off to the side of the clearing. "I'll get it! Poké Ball, go!" Throwing the empty Poké Ball in his hand finally, it was just a tad too late, and the Hairy Bug Pokémon retreated behind a tree, where the red and white metal sphere clattered against the ground and tree, opening and falling uselessly to the ground. The Pallet native let out a moan of anguish and his fingers raked though his black hair. His brown eyes trailed to Pidgey who was soaring up above, and counting it as a defeat, he raised Pidgey's Poké Ball. "Pidgey, return!" A red beam of light shot out of the button on the front of the Poké Ball, and enveloped the Flying-type, converting it into energy before sucking it inside.

With his Pokémon safely inside, Ash spun on his heel and glared at the newcomer. "That Weedle only got away because you mixed me up!"

"Don't blame your failure on me," Samurai shot back with a sneer. "Your Pokémon handling is dim-witted and clumsy."

"What do you know about Pokémon?" Ash retorted, stomping up to Samurai like a child. "I bet I could beat you in a Pokémon match blind folded!"

"There is one way to find out!"

Both Trainers made room for a makeshift battlefield in the clearing they stood in, and Ash immediately threw the Poké Ball that was in his hand. "Pidgey, do your stuff!" Like before, the Poké Ball flew out and opened, releasing a bright light from inside, but the Pokémon that formed lay on the ground, its eyes closed and letting out a sigh of exhaustion. "Uh... oh..."

Samurai was not impressed, and looked down at the Flying-type with a frown. "Only a novice goes into battle with a pooped-out Pokémon. Your blunder will cost you dearly." Retrieving his own Poké Ball, he threw it out. "Pinsir, assume battle mode!" From his own Poké Ball, a large brown Pokémon with large white spiked horns atop its head that were almost as long as its body appeared soundlessly.

"Woah, he's got a Pinsir..." Ash whispered, not wanting to sound loudly impressed at his opponent's choice of Pokémon, but pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it.

"Pinsir. This fearsome Pokémon uses its powerful claws to put the squeeze on its opponents."

"That Pinsir looks pretty tough, but Pidgey can beat it," Ash said with confidence. Hearing the words of encouragement and its opponent now looking down at it, Pidgey pulled itself off the ground and stood with its wings tucked in.

"Pirrrrggeey!" Across from them, Pinsir opened and closed its pincers, the sound reverberating from them sounding like two metal rods clacking together.

"Pidgey, Sand-Attack!" Pulling its legs back, Pidgey gave a cry as it flapped its wings, its eyes focused on the ground rather than Pinsir. A powerful gust of wind kicked up, and with it, a stream of sand enveloped Pinsir and covered the whole side of the battlefield. As such, Ash could only hear Samurai's command.

"That's child's play! Pinsir, Tackle it!" Suddenly bursting through the sand, Pinsir threw its body at Pidgey and rammed its head into the Flying Pokémon. Pidgey let out a cry of pain, and skidded on the ground. Because of its previous battles, it was so exhausted that it couldn't get up.

"Pige..."

The sandstorm now faded and the dust now settled, Ash looked as Samurai laughed. "Your Pokémon is beaten!"

"Oh no," Ash murmured, and pointed the Poké Ball in his hand at the Normal and Flying-type. "Pidgey, return!" The red recall beam dragged the fainted Pokémon inside.

"Novice!" Samurai insulted. "Are you ready to surrender?"

"No way, I'm just warming up!" the black-haired boy shot back, replacing Pidgey's Poké Ball with another, and threw it forward. "Squirtle, I choose you now!" Another burst of light, and this time, Ash's Squirtle appeared on the battlefield. Though it too was tired from the lack of rest since the journey started, it hadn't been in as many battles as Pidgey had been, so it looked determinedly at Pinsir.

"Watch and weep as Pinsir crushes your Squirtle in half!" the boy in armor stated, clutching his fist as his Pokémon before him clacked its claws together.

"No!" An image of Squirtle's shell breaking on Pinsir's grip swept through his head, and a bead of sweat dripped from the side of his head. "Those claws..."

"This match is already won!" Samurai declared, and without a command, Pinsir rushed forward. Ash's breath hitched in his throat, and he couldn't issue out a command fast enough before Pinsir scooped up his Squirtle in its claws. Squirtle seemed surprised by the sudden swipe, and flailed its limbs helplessly as Pinsir held it high above its head. It flexed its arms as its pincers began to squeeze, but Squirtle quickly shook away its shock and ducked all of its limbs into its shell. For a few horrifying moments, Ash's hand lingered on Squirtle's Poké Ball, ready to recall it, but just when he had given up hope, the spines that covered Pinsir's horns broke at the strength of Squirtle's shell.

Though Samurai showed no facial reaction, his Pinsir quickly dropped the Tiny Turtle Pokémon, and its shell clattered and rolled on the forest floor before Squirtle peeked out again and stood on its legs with a smile. "So, now who's the novice?" Ash asked, a new smirk covering his worried face.

"Pinsir return!" Samurai said, ignoring Ash and recalling his Pokémon back into its Poké Ball. "Clever, quite clever." Pocketing his first Pokemon's ball, he replaced it with another and threw it forward. "Poké Ball, go!" The ball burst open in the air, and from the waterfall of light that came out, a green cocoon-like Pokémon appeared.

"Hey, isn't that a Metapod?" Ash murmured, pulling out his Pokédex once again to scan the new Pokémon.

"Metapod, Caterpie's next stage. It has encased its body in a hard shell. This specimen has reached this stage faster than any previously discovered Pokémon of this variety."

"Then it sounds like a pushover! Squirtle, Tackle it! Now!" Ash commanded, clicking the cover of his Pokédex shut.

"Squirtle!" his Pokémon responded, charging forward at the still Pokémon that was its opponent.

"Metapod, Harden!" Samurai countered. The Pokémon's body began to glow a shimmering emerald color, and when the glow faded, its body seemed almost shinier, as if it had been a rock that was polished. But the Bug Pokémon didn't move an inch, even with Squirtle stomping towards it. Finally, Squirtle collided with it, but instead of Metapod being launched, a loud clunk sounded, and Squirtle was thrown backwards as if it had run into a solid wall. Dazed red eyes looked up at the sky and its head was spinning around and around.

"S-Squirtle! Are you okay?" Ash asked as Samurai laughed.

"Your Squirtle's weak attacks are no match for my Metapod's defenses. Give up now to spare yourself the humiliation."

"No! Squirtle can beat it!" He didn't have time to think of a strategy, however, before a strange sound seemed to be emerging over the quietness of the forest. It almost sounded like water was running, but they were nowhere near a stream. Just then, Ash realized it wasn't water running, but it was buzzing!

"A Beedrill swarm approaches. Our match must end," Samurai said, also hearing the same noise. Holding his Pokémon's ball out, he recalled it hastily. "Metapod, return!" As the Pokémon disappeared into the ball in a flash of red energy, the swarm could be seen flying towards them. It was like a buzzing yellow cloud, but each of the individual Pokémon had long white stingers on the end of their arms, and looked angrily at them with jeweled red eyes.

"Beedrill swarm?" Ash exclaimed, and pulled out his Pokédex to get more information on the new approaching Pokémon.

"Beedrill. This Pokémon is an evolved form of Weedle, following its Kakuna stage. Its sting is highly poisonous."

"The Weedle that got away from you has informed the rest of its kind," Samurai told him, and then spun on his sandal. "Good day." Ash gasped at the sudden retreat of Samurai, but before he could do anything further, a Beedrill in the front of the swarm swooped down, and buzzed past Ash before lifting his dazed Squirtle off the ground. Realizing the ground was no longer underneath it, Squirtle once again began to flail, but the Beedrill held on tightly as it flew away from Ash. Ash gasped once again, but thinking fast, he held out Squirtle's Poké Ball and pointed it into the air.

"Squirtle, return now!" The red recall beam shot out from the center button, but Beedrill climbed higher in the air to avoid the beam. Ash tried again, but each time, the Beedrill would buzz out of the way, narrowly dodging it. Finally, the Poison Bee Pokémon disappeared behind a thick cloud of trees, and the recall beam bounced harmlessly off the foliage. "Oh no... It got away...!" he murmured, panic starting to fill his chest.

Hearing a buzzing grow louder in his ears, Ash whipped around and saw a second Beedrill diving down at him. He pulled out Pidgey's Poké Ball, but knew the Flying-type was not only exhausted, but even if it managed to beat the one Beedrill, there were hundreds just as quickly approaching, and he simply spun on the heel of his shoes and booked it in the same direction that Samurai headed.

It didn't take him long to catch up to the armored Pokémon Trainer, but unfortunately, the same could be said for the Beedrill swarm behind them. His chest was constricting and his lungs were on fire as he ran as fast as he could, but it seemed like the swarm was getting closer and closer with each passing second. They would dive down at them at any moment. But his mind wasn't on that. It was on his kidnapped Squirtle. "But... Squirtle..."

Turning back ahead, he saw that Samurai also knew that they had no chance at out-speeding the Beedrill, and so he skidded to a stop and dove behind some bushes to his left. Seeing this, Ash followed suit, and when he reached the spot that he had seen Samurai disappear into the foliage, he dove in headfirst, colliding with the boy but neither one of them dared making a sound. They both didn't even breathe as they waited for the buzzing to slowly fade. Once it had, they both let out a collective sigh of relief, but as quickly as they did, Ash sucked in a breath as he looked ahead.

Just a short distance away, a large tree stood among the rest, but it wasn't the tree that shocked him, but the multiple cocoon-like Pokémon that both hung from its branches by silk coming from their backs and attached to the bark for nutrients. "A whole hive of Kakunas..." Samurai whispered, clearly seeing what Ash had seen as well. Reaching into his pocket, Ash retrieved his Pokédex to learn more.

"Kakuna. A transitional stage between Weedle and Beedrill. Kakunas remain inactive until they evolve into deadly Beedrill and hatch." As the Pokédex spoke in its mechanical voice, Ash's eyes scanned the entirety of the tree from the top down, looking at the massive amount of Kakuna that plagued the tree. It seemed none of them had noticed them yet. But a color that stuck out among the green and brown forest tones at the base of the tree caught his eye, and he looked down. There, tucked into its shell, was his Squirtle, though sitting close by was a lone Beedrill with its stinger pointed at the limbless shell. He didn't care though, and relief flooded his chest as a smile came to his face.

"Hey! Over there! It's Squirtle!" Ash exclaimed, but Samurai quickly slapped his sweaty palm over the boy's face. Samurai dared not say anything, and only glared daggers at Ash before both of their eyes darted to the Kakuna hive. A few seconds passed and nothing happened, and for a moment, Ash thought they were in the clear. However, suddenly, the backs of the goldenrod Pokémon began to crack all at once, cutting through the silence as a glowing white light was produced from their bodies. Ash and Samurai gasped as they changed form before their very eyes, growing wings that allowed them to hover in the air. Once the glow faded, the Kakuna were no longer there, but instead newly formed Beedrill were in their place. "What-"

"Beedrill! They evolved!" Samurai said, his breath hitching in this throat. And just as suddenly, the swarm was upon them, their ruby red compound eyes looking directly at them as they buzzed with their newly formed wings. Jumping up onto their feet once again, the two young Trainers dashed back onto the path and across it. With Samurai leading the way, the two bounded away from the Beedrill swarm. Because of their new evolution, they weren't quite as fast as the ones that had initially chased them, but they were still faster than the two on the ground.

They ran for what seemed like forever, but could have just been five minutes. Either way, Ash's lungs and legs were burning as if they were on fire, but as they curled into a clearing, there was a wooden house in the center of it, which seemed to be Samurai's destination. "My cabin! I think we can make it!" he cried. With a destination in sight, the two picked up the pace and barreled towards the front door. Behind them, the lead Beedrill dove down towards them, pointing the long yellow stinger on their abdomens at them in an attempt to use their Poison Sting on them. Finally reaching the front door, the two tumbled inside with Samurai quickly slamming the door shut and locking it behind them. He managed to stumble backwards just in time for the Beedrills' stingers to puncture holes in the wooden door like it was paper.

They sat in complete silence and frozen on their backsides, staring wide-eyed at the stingers as the Beedrill struggled to free themselves. It was completely dark in the cabin, and when the Beedrill finally did get themselves out, the outside light poured in from the holes they had made, and through them, Ash could see the swarm was buzzing back and forth, their eyes locked on the cabin. It seemed like they weren't going to leave any time soon. Either way, they were protected by the shelter. With this in mind, Ash let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, that was close."

There was movement across from him, and he could barely see in the dark, but through the light provided from the windows outside and the holes made by the Beedrills' Poison Sting attack, , he could see Samurai removing his armor and helmet, revealing his hair was buzzed down very close to his head. Once he placed the armor on a wooden table, Ash felt the boy's eyes on him. "I hope you've learned your lesson, novice. Your letting that Weedle escape almost cost our lives."

"Take back that 'novice' crack!" Ash shot back, quickly rising to defend himself.

"I do take it back; because not even a novice would abandon his own Pokémon like you did." Ash was prepared to fight back, but that blow stung almost as much as the Beedrill outside, and he physically recoiled back as if Samurai had struck him. Looking outside, the Pallet boy ground his teeth together.

"I tried to save Squirtle..."

"Your Squirtle will pay for its Trainer's inexperience," Samurai continued. "The other Trainers from Pallet would never have been so irresponsible."

"Other Trainers from Pallet?" Ash repeated, raising an eyebrow at Samurai. "Have you fought Pokémon matches against Gary and the others?"

"Ah! There were three spectacular matches!" the other boy reminisced, a smile spreading upon his face as he looked to the ceiling and remembered them. "Each more challenging than the last. Those Trainers really knew how to raise Pokémon. Even though I was defeated all three times, I was inspired to redouble my own training. I have been eagerly preparing for that day when finally, I would beat the next Pokémon Trainer from Pallet."

"That's how you knew I was from Pallet Town..."

"Yes, the girl with the Charmander was the second encounter I had, and she was the one who told me there were two others on their way through the forest," he explained, and his smile faded. "Compared to those other three, you are a joke." Ash's eyebrows came together, but he didn't even open his mouth to retort. Between the hurt of losing his Squirtle, and the fact that he could confirm that the other three Trainers from Pallet were at least a day ahead of him in their journey, he knew Samurai was speaking the honest truth.

Nothing more was said between the two, and after a while, the sun started to go down. With no electricity in the cabin, Samurai shared some of his rations with Ash, and they ate in silence, the only sound being heard was the occasional buzzing serving as a reminder to them that the Beedrill were still patrolling around the cabin. Though at this point, it felt more like a jail cell.

After a bit when the sun went down, Samurai went to bed, laying on a cot at the side of the one-room cabin, and only a half an hour went by before he was snoring. Ash was laying in his own sleeping bag on the floor, but he was wide awake, anxiety keeping him up. His hands were folded behind his head, and he stared at the ceiling knowing that sleep wasn't going to come that night, his racing mind only on one thing. "Squirtle..."

o 0 o

As he expected, sleep didn't come at all. And at the first sign of morning light outside, Ash quickly and quietly dressed so as to not wake Samurai and peeked through the holes in the door. He hadn't heard a single buzz since the sun went down, and he was hoping all of the Beedrill that were patrolling had forgotten about them and went to sleep. Cautiously, he opened the door and peered outside, and saw after a few short moments that it was devoid of life – and yellow.

The sky taking on a greenish quality from the sun peeking out over the horizon and getting rid of the black into more cooler blue hues, the forest itself seemed to still be sleeping. The grass and foliage wet with morning dew, he shivered at the touch involuntarily as he stayed close to the ground, trying to go fast while at the same time doing his best to keep quiet as he retraced his steps back to where he had found Squirtle.

Despite all the Kakuna evolving the previous day, the tree was filled with more of the Cocoon Pokémon, surprising Ash. The lack of buzzing and noise in general was off-putting, but Ash could only take this as the Beedrill were sleeping still. However, the Cocoon Pokémon that hung didn't have eyelids, so it was impossible to tell if they were sleeping. He didn't want to take any chances, and got down on his stomach to army crawl through the grass.

The grass tickled his neck and chin, and wet his clothes so they stuck to his skin uncomfortably, but he ignored it as his eyes scanned for Squirtle. Soon enough, he spotted the Water Pokémon's shell at the roots of the tree. It looked like it hadn't moved since he was there last. A final pang of guilt hit Ash deep in his chest, and this fueled the determination that moved him forward.

As he got closer, he could see the Beedrill in the trees, sleeping on the branches with the shadows of the leaves as their blanket. Like the Kakuna, they didn't have eyelids, but the positions their bodies were in hinted they were still asleep.

Brown eyes dragged back and forth, looking for a good position to get Squirtle. Unfortunately, it seemed the only area he could get in with the least amount of noise-making bushes was straight ahead. His elbows were red, raw from the rough ground, but his drive to get his starter Pokémon was more intense than simple pain, and he continued. Stopping every once in a while, he found himself even unable to breathe from anxiety, fearing that even a slight breath would wake the sleeping Poison Bee Pokémon.

Far in the woods behind him, a branch broke with a loud snap and clattered to the ground, and right away, Ash's blood ran cold. Eyelids widened as he looked up, and he could see bright red lights from reflecting the sunlight glistening in the tree tops among the dark like a Christmas tree, but... it wasn't anything as safe as festive-colored light bulbs.

A loud cry was released from Ash's throat as the Beedrill soon came swarming out of the tree, the buzzing of their wings deafening. With his cover ruined, he jumped up on his feet, and half of him wanted to spin around and run back towards Samurai's cabin, but then the cycle would just begin all over again. Swallowing his intense fear, he rushed at the swarm of Beedrill coming at him. "If I make it past the Beedrill, maybe they'll swing right by me...!" Kicking up all his extra strength and forcing them to his legs, he let out a loud cry. As the Beedrill pointed their abdomen stingers down at him and dove, Ash jumped low. It was as his plan went in his head – he had took advantage of momentum and insect stupidity, and as his shoulder hit the ground and he rolled, they soared just inches above him – so close that he could feel the wind from their wing-beats tussle his hair under his hat.

The Beedrill now behind him, he had clear access to the tree. The Kakuna turned their black eyes upon him, but since they couldn't move and weren't close to evolving, there was nothing they could do as Ash approached Squirtle's shell, kneeling down and giving a wide grin. "So there you are!" Ash said, pulling out Squirtle's Poké Ball and pressing the button in the center to make it larger. "Here, into the Poké Ball, Squirtle."

"Squirtle Squirt." The Tiny Turtle Pokémon didn't come out of its shell, and instead it shook back and forth. It was almost like... it was shaking its head back and forth inside its shell. Was it... saying no?

"Squirtle..." Ash murmured, reeling back as if Squirtle had just tried to swipe at him. He felt his eyes sting as tears threatened to form, but he didn't have time to respond before he heard more buzzing. Looking up, the Beedrill in the back of the swarm had noticed he wasn't in front of them anymore, and were now heading in his direction. Facing forward again, Ash scooped up Squirtle's shell in his arms. "Let's go!" he said, and ran in the opposite direction the Beedrill were coming from.

"I didn't abandon you, Squirtle. I just got sidetracked. It was all Samurai's fault-" Suddenly, he let out a cry as a root sticking out of the ground caught the front of his shoe, and he fell forward. Squirtle's shell went flying out of his grip, and the two clattered to the ground at the same time – Ash flopping on his stomach while Squirtle rolled through the grass and clattered to the ground like a dropped coin. The fall was like fate telling him to stop, and tears prickled at his eyes, though it wasn't the fall that was hurting him. With his face in the dirt, he gave a sigh. "No... it wasn't Samurai's fault," he admitted, and slowly got up, the brim of his hat hiding his eyes in the shadows. "It was my fault. If I was a better Pokémon Trainer, I would stop making all these excuses. From now on, I swear I'll never run away and leave my friends behind again; no more excuses." Hurrying up to Squirtle and crouching down, the blue Water-type had finally come out of its shell, and it lay on its stomach, but its eyes were shimmering to match its Trainer's. The two stared at each other, sharing a wordless bond, but the Beedrill behind them ruined the moment. A single one dove down at him, extending its double arm stingers right for Ash.

"Watch out for the Twineedle attack!" a familiar voice called, and Ash looked up ahead from where he first entered the Beedrill nest to see Samurai. He was fully dressed in his armor once again, and was holding a large post with both hands that draped a net over him in a square, enough to fit more than one person. It was obvious he had woken up to see Ash had gone, and knew where he went. But despite Samurai's warning, Ash didn't know the Bug and Poison Pokémon was there until it was too late, and he didn't have time to dodge or roll out of the way. So, he stood frozen in place, and just before he was about to close his eyes and prepare for the pain of being stung, Squirtle jumped over his shoulder, and retreated into its shell before slamming its body straight into Beedrill's stinger. A sickening crack sounded over the buzzing, and Ash saw that the hardness of Squirtle's shell mixed with the force of its Tackle broke one of Beedrill's stingers. Both the Beedrill and Squirtle recoiled, and Ash finally found himself able to move, and got onto his feet, catching the Water-type in his arms.

"Squirtle!" he cried as the defeated Poison Bee Pokémon retreated away into the sky. "Are you hurt? Are you okay, Squirtle?" As Samurai came up to him, Squirtle came out of its shell. It looked weakly at him, and a purple color tinted its face, but it smiled at him.

"Squirt..."

"It looks as though it has been poisoned," Samurai told him. "I have an Antidote on me. It just needs to be sprayed on." Before he could dig it out, however, a louder buzzing enveloped them, and soon enough, the rest of the Beedrill were dotting the sky and coming at them quickly.

"Samurai, give that Antidote to Squirtle," Ash said to him, quickly lifting the bottom of the net and handing the Bug Catcher his Pokémon.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stop running away and leaving my friends behind," the Pallet Trainer answered, pulling out his other Poké Ball and pressing the button in the center. It expanded in his hand, and he twisted his hat backwards. "Pidgey, I choose you!" Swinging his arm forward, the Poké Ball flew through the air and opened. With a coo, the small Tiny Bird Pokémon appeared and faced the incoming Beedrill, but it sensed its Trainer's determination, and there wasn't an ounce of fear in its face. "Okay Pidgey, give me the biggest Whirlwind you can muster!"

"Piggggeyy!" A throaty cry, Pidgey began to flap its wings as hard as it could, and then strained as it pushed itself as hard as it could. Though he wasn't on the opposing end of it, Ash held onto his hat, as it seemed like Pidgey was pushing all the air from behind it forward. The Beedrill before it stopped flying in midair, though their wings were still flapping. The sound of the fierce winds even absorbed the sound of their buzzing, and they seemed to be struggling to go forward. Their efforts were in vain, and they were finally blown backwards, spinning and tumbling through the air uncontrollably. Finally, as the last Beedrill disappeared behind the sea of leaves in the distance, the wind died down as Pidgey stopped.

"Yay! You blew all of them away!" Ash cheered loudly, pumping both fists in the air and jumping in the air in celebration. Pidgey came down, and it was sweating and exhausted, it still seemed happy as its Trainer cheered in its victory. "Pidgey, you're the best! Ho-ho, hooray!"

"You were able to handle your Pokémon so well, even under pressure. Most impressive," Samurai complimented, discarding the net and the empty Antidote bottle. A smile curled his lips under the shadow of his helmet, and Squirtle looked as healthy as ever in his arms, grinning so widely it covered its whole face.

o 0 o

The sun hanging high in the sky was a wonderful sight to see as Ash looked up. For the first time in a while, he was able to actually see the blue sky. They were at the edge of the forest, the trees becoming quite more scattered as they stood on the main path once again at the exit of the forest. "This trail will lead you to Pewter City," Samurai told him, both of them facing each other on either side of the path.

"That's great," Ash thanked. "But, before we leave you Samurai, we still have to finish our match."

Samurai smiled. "Compared with you, my friend, I am the novice. But I will keep perfecting my technique, and one day, we will meet again."

"I'm sure it will be a most spectacular match."

"That is guaranteed."

A single gloved hand waved, and Ash smiled at his new friendly rival. "Until then, Samurai." The boy in armor looked at Ash, and didn't wave back, but nodded his head.

"Farewell," he replied, and watched as Ash clutched his backpack straps at his shoulders and walked. His destination: Pewter City.

-end-

Ash:

Party:

Squirtle (Poké Ball)

Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip

Pidgey (Poké Ball)

Moves: Gust, Sand-Attack, Whirlwind