A Weedle Plan

Such a strange food on those two things. They call them legs much like others. Food has always been the same since she was born. Doesn't matter what it looks like, what it sounds like, or what it's made out of. Food is food and she was born to eat, grown, and bolster from every meal. Born into a position and marked as special and why not? She was the biggest, the strongest, the most special, and the only one that could make the smallest of silk burn any food when it hit them. It worked on the small food dubbed Pikachu and the flying food dubbed Ace. She hit them both after they challenged her. She let the others go first for the most part and then she attacked through the folds.

The both of them went down before her.

The Pikachu food that threw foul words took it in the eyes. The bird food got hit in the leg. Both of her food morsels couldn't stand up to her once she used her poison string. Before she could finish the food off one of the smaller foods on two legs then commanded them pulled them back. She was so close as well and yet again cheated out of her food. Cheated out of finishing her fight. The smaller human food cheated her of her larger human food first. She attacked only to suffer her first real loss against a smaller cousin. The first two, Ace food and Pikachu food, strange names for food that fought well. It was the first time she was pushed and on the fence on her odds. Even though we outnumbered them they had so many advantages. She had them on the ropes and then she lost. It a good loss against that human food. One named Ash. Ash with the darkest eyes she's ever seen.

Today was the day that she'd evolve and soon take control of Hive. The food we all collected was in preparation for it all. She would grow to take hold of her destiny and foster a new colony. That was her role, what they wanted for her, and what they chose her to do.

But what about what she wanted.

'I want to fight," she would tell to herself and always did. She'd fight again and again against things bigger than her. When the predator food would challenge her she'd fight back and win. She wasn't always alone but the major part of the damage and the finishing blow belonged to her. She didn't see the life as an egg layer as bearable. She wanted to simply grow bigger and be a soldier like the others. To go out, fly anywhere, and take down the largest of food to eat. That is the life of a soldier. The life she preferred. This was impossible though. She was the one with the spot. She was the one to replace Hive mother. The one to shepherd the next home. She thought this fate was impossible to avoid until recently.

Her, the next queen to be, fell before the human and it's slaves, though they didn't have the likeness of slaves like the others. The other food from other human food are empty and dull on the inside. They taste strange as well compared to food of their likeness elsewhere. The two before her didn't have that feeling of emptiness. They were willing and eager to fight as well. It only made her all the more eager to combat them with her peons. They acted as they wished and followed directions from the human food. She became fascinated a bit by this human food and before she knew it her world changed.

She lost and so was taken. She was afraid of what the human food would do to her. She was unsure if it would let her go or have her become eaten by the Ace food. She's not supposed to be food herself. She's supposed to be unstoppable no matter what. Then this happened and she waited. The human food released her from the ball then pat her gently. She was unsure of what to feel or think from this. Ash food wasn't afraid and very dangerous. It was tired but willing to turn her into food if she did anything. This Ash thing was frightening. Even more so then Hive Mother.

The Ash was nice and gentle despite what she did. That was strange. In the hive such would get you erased and thrown away. Such makes you weak but the Ash is strong. The Ash asked for her name, but she never had a name to give. She was only the next Hive mother. She never had anything ask for a way to single herself. There is no "Me" "I" "You" in the hive. There are no names or ways to be different outside of your role. You are soldier, knight, vanguard, liquidator, Hive Mind, Caretaker, gatherer, scout, or Hive Mother. She is scout. She should be liquidator to know how to take care of the hive but staying in Hive is boring and not fun. She wanted adventure and to fight like a soldier. Hive mother and Hive Mind wouldn't allow it so she became scout instead. To search, hide, and run but nothing else. Of course she still fought. Her attacks are perfect for it.

Then the Ash captured her and asked for a name. A way to make herself different. To break the Hive Mind's and Hive Mother's will. To break away from the hive itself. The Ash seemed to be a fighter. The Ash had food that are fighters. The Ash was kind and understanding. Maybe she could be free. Maybe she could see this through. Maybe, just maybe, she can became someone other than a part of "we" and finally become an "I" unlike the Hive.

She answered and he repeated it and it felt… good. Strange but good to be called this "Fey" as he said in translation to human. The Ash can understood her. The Ash didn't judge her for messing up or what she did to Ace food and Pikachu food. He asked for her to watch the other human food called Team Rocket. She didn't understand what this Team Rocket was but watching over The Ash and food is easy. It had the cousin with her as well. Once the food and the Ash was asleep she and the cousin talked about the Ash.

The Ash is strong like she thought and kind to its hive kind. It allows much freedom as long as we follow the rules and orders it give. It's nothing new to being under Hive Mother and the rules of Hive Mind, but less restrictive. She could work with that. It was then she noticed the other human food away from the Ash moving around. She didn't like this and took care of this quickly with cousin. Then the bird food and other food came to pick around the Ash. We took care of that as well and ate well. It was a very different night.

Could she… I truly be free… no not yet. Not until there's no way to become Hive Mother. She's tied to the hive unless something happened to the hive…

That gave her an idea.

I woke up when I felt something crawling on my lap. Admittedly, I'm a light sleeper that can wake up from the softest of noises I'm unfamiliar with. I can wake up at the softest of touches foreign in nature or aggressive in intent. Mom is a master of stealth for she could sneak up on me with ease. She can erase her presence into obscurity and mask her footsteps to the point they became noiseless. She does this so naturally that it astounds even to this day. I wake up when I've rested enough which can mean two hours of sleep or ten. It all depends.

I was jolted awake from something unfamiliar hours ago. I've felt something encasing me but found it harmless so nodded off again. This time though I felt something on top of me and heavy. I'm in a comfortable state of toasty right now and would prefer not to become active right now. Still, I forcefully pried my eyes open only to be met with blurry early morning blurriness.

So early in the morning.

I blinked a couple times to clear this blurriness swiftly from my sight. I scanned the area quickly to nothing out of the ordinary. Once I gaged that the coast was clear I yawned as my body began to wake up as well. I looked down to what was wiggling in my lap and saw a worm of sorts on my lap. Looking down at it I noticed that it is a Pokémon. It happened to be a weedle at that. Normally I'd probably move to stab this thing five or so times before I could get poisoned but quickly noticed a red dote on its back. I noticed secondly that I was wrapped in a quilt of silk for some reason. Has to be Fey's doing because it stings to the touch. I can feel the poison burning into my body, but it's not as bad as a point blank sting to the chest. The sting isn't bad by any means, barely noticeable if that, but still the small secretions of poison entering my body left me wary.

Why did she do this?

Now that I have a good look it's coloration as a little more golden brown than the normal yellow. An easy mistake in the light of the afternoon sun verses the morning one. I pulled my eyes towards the source of warmth that I currently have my left arm wrapped around. I spotted a bit of auburn orangey hair that has to belong to Misty. Currently she's using my shoulder as her pillow. It can't be that comfortable for her but she looks pretty content right now.

"Sqee." Fey noticed that I was awake and looked up to me on top of the silky threads she must've wrapped us in. The near elastic material stretched when I pushed it back with my right arm. I drew my knife and stabbed it at where my stomach resided and cut open the webs enough to allow my arm to escape at the least. I was covered from my knees up to my shoulders. I pondered at first why until I looked up at the sound of a shuffle. I glanced upward to a couple Pokémon overhead. More spearow it seems but leaving us alone. I did read once that certain pokémon like this use silky poisonous threads like this to ward off potential predators. Bird Pokémon especially since they're more susceptible towards the poison. I don't remember reading about weedle that have this though. They normally stay in or near the Hive unless rejected.

I pat down Fey and rested my head back. "Thank you for shielding us Fey," I said gratefully for her action. I'm surprised that after the loss and capture she suffered she'd be this willing to shield me. I wondered why because my pokéballs are the cheapest ones without that indoctrination chip in it. Its called something else I'm sure but for the life of me I'm unable to care or recall what it's called. These balls Prof. Oak has given me ten me and the few I've purchased myself don't have this "modification" that "Program" pokémon to follow my lead instantly. It doesn't strip them of their will to force change so they accommodate better. Many trains use these balls but that connection between man and beast isn't true. I don't want that being why the pokémon with me follow on their own accord.

Still why does this one choose to follow me so willingly so soon. I'm not sure, but maybe I'll find out in time.

I looked around a bit more. I went to sleep with Ace and Pikachu with me only to find them both gone. Ace was starting to get yet better but still needs rest if memory serves. Though he's been hard headed for years now. I guess a sickness isn't about to change him. He must have gotten up sometime in the night and flew off. Maybe for food or maybe for a fight. I know we've had a tradition of fighting to test the body and mind after getting over a cold. It helps.

Pikachu is still resting but not with me like last night. He was in a tree in front of my of me sprawled out on a branch large enough for him that rest on. The high ground is the best place for a lone Pikachu to be there feel safe. Lightning strikes down towards the ground cooking anything it travels through before flowing into a ground. Pikachu's instincts are alive and well for him to do this that way if a threat came he can electrocute it more effectively. If he can see in the dark enough and gather enough energy to make it up a tree is must be okay. He looks okay.

I narrowed my eyes on the area around his eyes. The purple ring that was around his eyes is gone with little scars I can see from around. Jessie told me they had to be cut open seeing that we didn't have any syringes or NRA, whatever that is. So when I cut open the bumps and cysts as she called them around his eyes to apply cream I knew what would happen. He's healed well enough, but they've left a small crescent like mark under his left eye, a straight make that the right of his right eye and under that same eye as well. I felt unhappy with how this turned out. Pikachu has spent his evolution without a mark and because of me he has scars now.

I hope he's okay.

I rose my Pokédex towards Pikachu and scanned him for his current status. His health is in the green still which is good. His stats have shifted a bit though. His speed fell two points but rose same with his normal attack. Strange effect for poison if you ask me. His defense rose one point. Maybe his resilience grew coupled with his pain thresholds. I lite his eyes on fire after all, but I'm sure some of that poison entered his brain easy. Poison of a weedle before it evolves is the most potent and meant to slow the motor skills of its prey. It's not the fastest of Pokémon so needs to slow you down. With the right chemicals and medicine mixed together meshed together with what the Pokémon body releases for pain I can't imagine what happened to him during.

Well, I know once we get to the next town a Pokémon Center will set him straight… I hope.

I closed my eyes and focused now that I'm forced to be still. I reached out first imagining the wind as it brushed through the trees. I imagined the leaves swaying and dancing with the breeze. I imagined the crisp and cool spring dew as it blanketed the grass and shrubs. I imagined the sun and its powerful rays washing away the cold and lighting up the horizon. I imagined the many Pokémon on the ground as they stirred awake and the ones above soaring high in the sky. I imagined the land surrounding me coming alive in ways I'm truly lucky to experience. Aura sight is focused and keen on a small area when the physical body is active, but when you're still and unmoving you become aware of Life: anything and everything that moves, eats, breathes, grows, and one day fades away. You see the world move around you in ways most never imagined.

The Aura doesn't know what shape is for it takes too many.

The Aura doesn't know what life or death is for it never truly fades.

The Aura doesn't know race for it flows through all without prejudice.

The Aura cannot be controlled only guided for mortal flesh cannot hope to subjugate it fully.

The Aura encompasses all and is all.

Lucario's words make somewhat little sense to me, but when we'd meditate he'd instruct me to repeat this mantra to gain wisdom from it. I sort of get it but not as much as he'd like. I do know I'm aware of everything around me. All within shades of blue and many shapes and sizes. Some are brighter than the other but each has the Aura flowing through. When I move I can't see the area like this only actual alive things like people and pocket monsters. Outside that everything else is an outline. I did this before and was afraid of what I saw. I'm still a bit hesitant to allow myself to do this but never go too deep. I feel if I do I'll be swept away with the current for I'm a droplet in this large ocean. I don't like that feeling too much and stop before I feel like I'm losing form. Lucario has told me to become an Aura Master I need to lose my form but if something went wrong I could maybe die or lose myself or worse. I don't know what's worse than that, and I'd rather not know.

"Ptoo." I heard in my ear and lost my concentration. I saw outlines and a form above. I opened my eyes then looked up towards that bird call. I spotted Ace in moments as he flew by. He came down and stopped. He was looking down towards me while perched on his branch on the same tree I rested against. He looked up and gestured forward in front of me. I followed down and spotted two string shot cocoons could be around human sized each. I leaned over and noticed a couple beedrill hovering around them with string attached to them as they flew away with it through the forest.

I watched as the cocoons were dragged away to the nest to be fed to the children with whatever was inside. I reached out and sighed in relief it wasn't Team Rocket that's for sure but someone else. That's a human form I see within. Some unlucky trainer maybe or something else. Either way I'm not crazy enough to risk my life going into a beedrill nest for people I don't know. They're just another statistic to add to the graph of Pokémon fatalities.

I let the out a breath I didn't realize I was holding until they were gone. I rubbed my head and rested my hand on Fey afterwards "Thanks Fey." The weedle covered us on this to shield us from those heat seeking beedrill as well I'm sure. For sure it worked well enough. They took two unfortunate people but such is the world we live in. I'm relieved I'm the only one to see this. One of the most important lessons in Ranger Academy is to choose you're missions wisely. Weigh the risk and probability of success and it's significantly low if I go it alone. If I'm seen a swarm of Beedrill will easily kill me with the Pokémon and gear I have now. If I had a fire type with flame thrower to handle the swarm maybe I could risk it but not now. Best I can do is call the Rangers.

I pushed against the webbing while biting back the pain that followed from the poison that secreted from the strands. I cut the rest away from me and then from Misty. Fey slid off my lap in moments to let me stand. Slowly, I pulled my restless body up with my knife back in its scabbard. I moved towards the clearing the beedrill pass through. I can't let this go without doing something.

I rose my Pokédex up and got the emergency signal ready I learned in class. After a couple moments I got a response in the form of LED scanner glowing in a pattern of code. I responded with a 343 emergency of yellow hazard level. Both of them are alive from what I saw but for how long I'm not sure. After ten or so minutes I was asked for coordinates. I carefully followed after the beedrill but stopped when I started to hear a collected symphony of buzzing wings. It's like a thousand drums sharply piercing your ear. With it comes the fear of your caught because you know just what these beasts are capable of.

I scaled a tree and in the distance maybe two miles away I saw it. The nest with beedrill swirling around it in the distance around a large tree. Larger than the rest. The webbing was getting a bit thick the deeper in you went and don't need that on my plate. I logged the approximate coordinates after a little cross referencing with my map then submitted the report. They got my trainer info from my Pokédex and I left it at that once done.

As I returned to camp I noticed a red rash on my arms and frowned. I've suffered the poison of three different Pokémon and developed a bit of a resistances but still it hurts a bit. It's like picking yourself up from a rocky, gravel road after falling hard with all those rocks digging into your skin. It hurts but it's tolerable because you know it won't kill you. I'm suffering from a reaction but this is better than being in a cocoon though. In the trainer's guide it states what to like body heat encasing sleeping bags but not why. That's why. Something might come and pick you up in time. I had Fey and caterpie watch us for a reason. Their instincts saved us the headache. Once I began to notice the weedle two days in I caught caterpie for a string shot covering. Fey's though acts as cover and a deterrent. I think that's a good time to use the word. Mom's shows have a lot of big words they use.

Once I got to the camp once more I started the fire with the surrounding area clear. My lighter has been a constant companion for me. The orange red flames illuminated the area and pushed back the darkness of the early morning. After that I got to work with the rest of the webbing.

"Ace," I looked up to the bird Pokémon. "Are you okay?"

"Ptooo!" He spread his arms out in a lively manner. I took that as a yes.

I cut most of the webbing away from Team Rocket in moments. While I didn't see much tactical use out of that uniform of theirs I could see it's practicality. It keeps their scent constant with an aroma almost like REPEL. It's covered their bodies well so none of the poison got past it and entered their skin. The material its made out of its strange like a mixture of cloth and plastic somehow. I'm wondered if Team Rocket would get me one to study for later.

I felt something bump into my foot and blinked at what I saw right below me. It's a metapod. Where this thing come from? It was just there next to me, staring up to me for some reason or another. I looked into its eyes and saw a familiar glow. I picked up the metapod and looked it over. "Caterpie?" I questioned and that shine grew. He evolved without me knowing? Now that I recall my time earlier I didn't notice him at all just Fey. I shrugged at this. It was his time and after fighting all those Pokémon between when I caught him and battled Team Rocket I guess it was his time. Now I just need…

"Skree skre," I suddenly heard and looked back. Fey was rolling into silky strands and suddenly began to glow. Fey is evolving as well? What happened last night that I didn't know about?

I looked around and took notice of a couple spots in the grass and might've had something there but what. Under closer inspection I noticed a small liquid in a small pool. I leaned over and placed my finger in it. It stung almost instantly. "Acid?" I muttered under my breath.

What were my pokémon throughout the night while I was out? Defeating and eating anything that got too close?

I shook my head and climbed back up. I looked back and saw Fey in its cocoon and that cocoon morph into that of a Kakuna. I reached for my pokéballs but stopped. In this stage it's best to wait them out until the moment they crack open out of their cocoon form and emerge in their final form. In their pokéball I read from Prof. Oak's book that their evolution can be studded. I don't want that so best I leave them both out. I can carry them both I'm sure despite their imposing size.

"Okay then." I placed metapod down and walked to my backpack. I placed it in front of me and walked to metapod and picked him back up. "Okay you two, I'm going to carry you both until you evolve." I loosened the straps on both sides of my hiking pack. One side for each cocoon I strapped them down to my pack. Fey was noticeably larger than Metapod. I think because Fey was much larger than caterpie. Once strapped down I applied some salve to my rash on my arms and neck. It was getting anything that's for sure.

I placed them both in my back along with my pack. I leaned down into a crouch to test the weight. It's not bad at all. I dropped the pack a moment later then pulled them out the straps. I placed them both to the side near the fire. "Get comfortable and evolve into forms you can be proud of." Both of them probably didn't understand me but grasped the intent behind my words.

I walked away towards Team Rocket to get them up. James was sprawled on the ground out cold. I rose my foot and poked him in the cheek. He shuffled on the ground at this. I leaned over with my hand back. I saw on television this was a good way to wake someone up. My friends all did the same to me Lucario included. Actually he'd kick me away or drop me in the river. I don't have a river so this will have to do. Ace would peck me awake and Yancy kicked me from my back to my stomach when she found me sleeping on the ground once. I kicked her off a chair for that as response and found it fun after a while.

With a quick whip like motion my hand swept across James' face. He groaned after and opened his eyes with jolt. I stepped out of the way for him as he sat up.

"Huh? What happened?" James looked around with his hand in his cheek.

I walked over to Jessie and did the same. She shot up to her feet with a yelp.

"Ow!" She reached up to her cheek in a crouched over position rubbing the spot furiously.

"Morning," I greeted the both of them now they're awake.

"What?" James said or questioned or something. I'm not sure which. "What time is it?" He asked with a tired yawn after.

"About 11 minutes from six," I answered.

"No wonder it's so dark out," he muttered before climbing up to his feet. He wiped down his uniform and stretched his arms and legs.

"Damn it twerp!" Jessie hissed at me. "It's too early to be up right now. And what did to do to wake me up? Slap me in the face or something?"

"No," I shook my head. "I simply gave you a wake up smack with my palm without my fingers," I explained evenly. It's only a slap when you use fingers to make that whipish sound from what I've seen.

"So you hit us awake!?" James exclaimed as of I've just committed a crime.

"Yes," I nodded to affirm this.

"Why would you hit me anyway? I'M A GIRL!" Jessie roared at me in rage.

"Uh," I stepped back a bit from her and her red aura. I don't see the big deal it was just a smack. It's not. Like I hit them hard or anything. It could barely count as a hit as far I've seen and experienced. "Well where I come from that's what we do, my friends and I."

"What friends hit each other awake," Jessie yelled at me.

"I wager Pokémon," James noted. "You do seem more like a wild child than anything. You eat like one as well."

Well that wasn't very nice thing to say. I'm not wild in any way. I don't act like a beast or a bastard as my mom called this one guy on TV after making two girls angry. Apparently like both liked him for some reason, but I didn't understand what was happening. I'm pretty tame compared to most that hand behind masks and hide their real selves. Though can fault James assumption. My mentor is a Pokémon after all.

"Don't do that again brat! I DON'T CARE what the instances is. You don't hit girls you little monster!" Jessie screeched at me.

"I see." I pondered on her point. "What is "hitting' in your opinion?" I questioned.

"Hitting anyone awake like this for starters Ash," James answered in place of Jessie. "Look, I can tell you're a bit confused and get being a bit socially inexperienced. I've been there," he confessed implying much right now. "But hitting people or smacking them awake isn't want normal people do," James paled for a moment as his eyes glossed over for a moment. He was remembering something uncomfortable and unpleasant from his past maybe. Has he been woken up like that before being why he didn't react in the same manner Jessie did? She does seem more delicate than him. "If you want to wake someone just shake them by the shoulder. Okay?"

I listened intently to this man and nodded. So smacking people awake isn't good which means the fun my friends and I had wasn't good as well. Or maybe that's just what friends do and it's bad to do to strangers. Regardless of this I responded with a calm, "Okay that's my mistake."

"See Jessie," James smirked back at his partner. "You just gotta be instructive and the kid listens." He giggled a bit at the crunched up face Jessie made a second later.

"I don't plan on telling that kid anything," she scoffed.

"This kid that happens to be right here," I reminded them before shrugging off James' hand from my shoulder. "Anyway I'm hungry and we need to take that balloon of yours out of here. Jessie, can you cook?" I asked a bit eager to have something different.

Jessie sneered at me before scoffing. "Why are you asking me?"

"You're a girl," I pointed out dryly. "All girls cook." Misty is decent at making leaf green stew with berries and every lady in Pallet Town cooked or learned to cook once they could start walking as girls. It was common for most of the guys out the house with most of the ladies at home doing house work or working around the town. Even mom has a small restaurant she plans on expanding in the coming years. She told me so. Grasty's sister Daisy is second to my mom in cooking. She was nice enough to hand me a map on my way out of Pallet Town as well once I past the Green House. I really like her and she's really nice as well.

I dropped the couple nice memories of her to turn my attention back to Jessie. "And with you being an older lady you should be able to cook very well. All pretty girls in my town can cook as well as they look," I said rather quickly. That red from before grew so I had to adjust quickly to flatter her on top of point out my norm.

"Well," Jessie paused for a moment as she soaked in my words. She gazed at me as if trying to figure me out.

"Uh, we shouldn't do that," James said swiftly.

"Huh, why not," I asked.

"Yes James why not?" Jessie asked as well.

"Jessie you can't cook," he came flat out and said it. "And we both know it," he added just as she was about to speak out against this. "How about this," he turned my way. "We get everything we need and I help you cook after," he offered to me instead. I'm a bit disappointed that Jessie doesn't know how to cook but relented to shrug in the end.

"Okay," I muttered loosely.

"Oh no, I'll show all!" Jessie jumped at this chance to prove us wrong. "James, take care of the balloon and I'll cook. I'll cook the best meal ever!"

"Really Jessie," James deadpanned.

"Of course really," she declared proudly. She suddenly took a stance with her feet spread out shoulder length apart. She rose her right hand and pointed at the two of us with a smirk on her lips. "I'll show you all what I, Jessie of Team Rocket, can do. Hahaha," she laughed with the back of her hand over her mouth, chin up a bit, and eyes closed. I rubbed my head a bit confused on what I'm witnessing right now but it makes me want to strangely raise my hand to my forehead. It makes no sense.

"Yeah, you do that." James sighed before making his way to the balloon.

"Man you guys are loud," came the tired toned words from Misty. She stretched her arms and legs before joining us as well. "Why am I so itchy," she groaned then looked to me for an explanation.

I shrugged I don't wish to explain it to her. I know that the subject of bugs causes her to freak out and panic so best keep what I know to myself to save myself the headache. "This should help," I handed her some of my salve that Jessie made for her rash to come.

"Oh, thanks." She took it and looked it over. "For the itching?"

"Yeah, it'll help. And if you don't mind can you help James with the balloon," I pointed back towards man as he fiddled with the basket. "I want to use it to fly out of the forest."

"That sounds great. Okay," she agreed quickly and nearly rushed to the hot air balloon. I wondered why until I heard, "Get away from all these bugs," she muttered that last part as she walked past me.

"Whatever," Jessie rolled her eyes. "Now kid, I need you to get some ingredients for me to cook."

"Sure," I nodded. "What do you need Jessie?"

Jessie rose her eyebrow for a moment then smiled. "Well," she crouched down in front of me until her face was only inches from mine. I blinked at how close she suddenly got to me until she was looking into my eyes. The only time a person did this to me was someone moments from getting a knee to the stomach, punch across the chin, or hug me. Looking into my eyes like this as well she's practically begging me to look into her spirit with the Aura. I might as well use this opportunity while I have it.

I narrowed my eyes under my hat and looked into the center of her eyes. I'm curious of this lady and her reasons for being in Team Rocket. I don't meet too many girls with blue eyes most days. Same with red nearly dark pink hair. I learned from Lucario that the hearts of weak-willed people are the easiest to read. The weaker they are mentally the more you can read as time goes by. Misty's will isn't as strong as she tries to come off as. James is weak in will as well but with a moderately large heart. Jessie though is different. I dare say she's strong in will than anything you'd expect.

I can only see desire within her heart which doesn't mean too much. Everyone has desire even me. Knowing you have something but not the context behind it is useless. I can see that her desire spawns from loss though. What kind of loss is lost on me. She's been abandoned that much I can assume from her words last night. She's been through worse than even that of Misty as well or so she believes. Jessie is much older than us by maybe ten or so years at least. She's lived through strife but where she is now it's almost deliberate. I may be wrong because this is all me looking at her from the outside as far in as I can see. It's not that far.

"Since you're being a good little boy how about you get some berries, juniper root, and basically everything on this list," Jessie pulled up that mentioned list in front of my face blocking my sight of her eyes. Instead I have a view of her body. One that I've yet to notice before now that I think of it. I can recognize a capable individual and Jessie is capable. Physically capable if anything. I've never seen her move with nothing outside of the grace so maybe that's something. Every move she makes is purposeful and not accidental. Her control over her body is quite unusual. Normal people can't control their bodies in such a way like Jessie can. She's formally trained in something. Maybe martial arts or something else.

I reached up to the list and snagged it from her hand. "Good kid." Jessie turned around with the smile still on her lips and walked back to the fire. I narrowed my eyes at her for a moment. Her walk I just noticed is soft. Not as soft as my mom's but light and precise. The sway of her hips is almost nonexistent. She's walking like a man almost but why? So many mysteries surround this woman and James but for now it doesn't matter.

I scanned the list of stuff and sighed. I grabbed my pack first and looked up to Ace before leaving. "If they try anything Ace you know what to do." Ace nodded his head. "For the woman though go for the legs first." Again Ace nodded. With that said and done I left the camp to gather the stuff.

Stop right there! Yeeehhaaa ahh!?" Before my attacker could even finish his downward strike with his sword I had him in the ground with him pinned down and sword thrown across the field away from me. I've been attempting to get the last ingredient for a while now but proved unsuccessful so far.

The honey of a beedrill nest isn't easy to get but the call of good food has me curious. Honey they make is stored in area away from the nest as waste and a way to lure in prey. All that honey takes up space so best to leave it somewhere away from them but accessible for anything hungry enough to get close. That means I don't need to get too close to the nest. I've circled the nest for an hour now looking for an opening but to little success. I'm starting to see just why Jessie had that big of a smile on her lips before sending me off.

"Owowowow! How dare you!" The guy I happened to be on top of hissed at me in an eastern accent. A bad accent at that. He even wore mock armor of the eastern clans here in the indigo region.

"You attacked from behind," I swiftly pulled back in his arm I held locked out with my knee in the back of his neck.

"Ow, Okay stop!"

"Hmm," I looked up to the sky to feign long thought processes and all that. "No," I answered evenly. I don't appreciate being attacked for one and second he did it from behind. It's like when that weedle from like thirty minutes ago. I kicked it in the face away from me a bit too busy to take care of it. Like that weedle he's lucky I didn't aura punch his fat face in before throwing him to the ground.

"Owowow okay, I'm sorry." The guy yelled so I released his arm and stepped back so he could help himself up. He's so lucky he's barely a threat and I realized this before I got serious.

"What do you want?" I asked the guy as he climbed up to his feet.

"A battle," he said through grit teeth. I rose an eyebrow at this guy and shook my head.

"Okay," I relented before taking Lucario's Aura Stance at the ready to rich towards my foe. I haven't gotten in a good fight for days now and could use some practice. "Pick up your sword and let's do this," I said with by tone darkening a bit.

"Wait!" The boy rose his hands in a surrendering fashion. Maybe this is a ploy for me to drop my guard. I know easterners and some factions from other regions learn the art of Bushido or Shinobi. I've never fought a Samurai or a Ninja before, but I'm eager to see what they're made of. Instead of going for his sword he just backed off. This ploy if his is pretty good. In books I've read about the ninja of the Johto region reveal them to be masters of misdirection. I'm not sure what manner of training he has, but I'm not falling for his tricks.

I made my way to his sword and picked it up. I can see that it's of poor made and metal so maybe a practice blade. Regardless the tip is fine, blade long, and hilt stable. Maybe for swatting away strikes leading into a thrust. That's in interesting style. I've read about the Shinto-ryu style of sword martial arts and this sword would work well with it. I tossed hilt first. The guy yelled and staggered back practically handing me an opening. One I'll take advantage of.

I shot towards my opponent weaving from side to side to disorient him if his attention was on me. Just as the sword fell to ground I was upon him under this senses. He followed his sword down in an attempt to catch it in its voice leaving his face open for a knee to. I frowned as I grabbed hold of his armor too and lifted up my knee to his face. I stopped just a centimeter from impact and watched his helm lift back off his head and fall to the ground. The boy froze in place before me. "You're not a fighter or formally trained," I declared evenly to no response. I pulled my knee back down and stepped around him. "If you say you wanna battle next time don't waste my time directing it to me." If there's anything I don't like more than a pointless fight it's an empty challenge to battle. He's lucky I recognized all the signs from his fumbling movement to his uncertainties in the midst of our beginning pause. That pause before the eventual clash is everything for that first hit can spell the end or beginning of a great loss or win.

Well time to get that honey… then again I could use some help with this task. A smoke screen of sorts for the fire. I glanced back at the armor and swords the kid struggling to stand. I narrowed my eyes at him and smirked.

"Hey," I touched his shoulders to help him up with a smile on my lips. "Sorry about that." I. Pat his shoulders sportingly. "Names Ash." I put my hand out for him to take.

I got an idea on how to make this work. He just needs to… there we go. He took my hand and we shook. "You are a good fighter. Who trained you?"

"I wouldn't say I'm traditionally trained, but I can fight." I stated evenly. "If attacked I react and from your outfit I thought you a samurai trainee. Am I mistaken?"

"Ah… no," he lied swiftly. I've read about the Samurai classes of the work being the Shingeki Clan as the most popular. This guy is probably a pretender. I did Ranger apprentice training doesn't mean I dress or act like people envision them to be. Stereotypical, that's the word I think. His accent while he talks even now to me is bad. Looking at him he's not the right color too. His is the same as mine. What is he doing?

"Its obvious you have me beat as a fighter but how about as a trainer," he challenged me again but this time to fight with Pokémon instead our skills. Well seeing that I have only three with me and two are cocoons I'm not sure how this will go. But I can't say I'm not curious to see how this goes. I noticed a small bug net on the ground next to him that must've been knocked off during his flip onto the dirt. Bug pokémon most likely.

"A battle huh?" Ace and Pikachu are guarding Team Rocket so I hot time. The honey is for the finishing touches as well so I think I have maybe an hour or two to kill. Why not? This might be interesting. "Fine. What's you're value? Mine is at least 1500 Pokédollars."

"No," the samurai kid grunted with his hand out. "We will not have such in our bout!"

That's really a shame. I don't wanna battle without money involved. No trainer I've gone against in Viridian City or in this forest has rejected Trainer's Value. What's this guy's angle to reject this?

"This is a battle between trainers not money." He declared proudly to which I rolled my eyes towards. It'll be hard to buy that bike if I battle for the sake of battling. Honor and pride and all that I'm seeing seems genuine but I think there's more to this.

"You have no money I'm guessing," I questioned dully.

"I have money," the samurai kid exclaimed.

"Enough to survive but not battle," I elucidated.

"I…" I glared into his eyes daring him to lie to me. The samurai kid started to get anxious at this then sighed. "You are correct," he said with his head down. "Other trainers have gotten past me and taken all I can afford," he confessed shame filled and sullen.

"Who were they?"

"Trainers from Viridian City and one from Pallet town. That one from Pallet was by far the strongest. He wore blue and..."

I rose my hand to half him. 'Garmy,' I thought to myself. I've been wasting time in Viridian City and in this forest battling I think every single trainer in the world to get as far as I have. I guess they guy with a car didn't have that problem, lucky him. I wonder about Yancy and Rick as well. I'm sure they've passed me as well. They left for sure after me.

"I was told by a girl with red hair you are such a trainer as well from Pallet Town."

So Misty ratted me out? I guess she had her reasons but still not nice of her to do this. "Yes, I'm from Pallet Town though different from the one you battle, but if you want to battle and since you don't have money I want a favor instead."

"A favor?"

"You'll find out if you win." I stepped back away from him with my hand on Meowth's pokéball. "Let's do this."

"Very well! Let's see what you can do!" The samurai kid reached for one of his pokéballs. "Pinser go!" He called out and I winced. The large steel shelled pokémon stared me down at the ready to begin. That's not a good match against meowth that's for sure. He'd get torn apart by that steel pincer atop it's head. I'll need a fire type or something to keep it's distance away from that thing like Ace or Pikachu. Though I do have two pokémon with me capable of hardening enough to leave it's strength useless.

"Fey can you stand against thing?" I glanced back to her.

"Kaka," it said strongly.

"Alright." I pulled back on the straps of my pack and caught her in my arms. I sat her down in the center before the Pinser then stepped back.

"A Kakuna huh? Is that it?"

I narrowed my eyes at the samurai kid. "Fey use string shot!" Fey lifed p its head and a strong stream of silky threads fired towards the pinser.

"Ha that's it! Use tackle!"

"Bad mistake," I shook my head as the sting shot his the Pinser in the mouth and face. It pushed against it and rammed into Fey. It shot back in a skid and roll back to its top. "Fey," I walked up to her and helped her up. "Are you okay?"

"Kakaka," it affirmed. It's ready and willing to keep going. I stepped back once more and faced the pinser once more.

"You amateur. You can't win like this."

"We'll see," I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Pinser use bind," samurai boy ordered.

"Fey harden," I ordered and in a glow of gold my pokémon hardened it's shell just as pinser picked it up with its claw. I waited as it squeezed harder and harder. It's pincer spikes gave and broke in moments after the third squeeze. "Fey use sting shot." Fey was facing down at the Pinser straight in the eyes and covered the top of its head. "Hang on and swing between its legs." Fey fell with the string still in its mouth. Around that time the poison within those strings began to work. Pinser let out a cry as it reached up to it's eyes.

"Pinser no!" The pinser fell forward into the ground once Fey swung down between it's legs. It landed on its face leaving its back exposed to which Fey landed on top of. It attempted to stand which gave me an idea.

"Tackle down on its back with every attempt it makes to stand."

"Kaka."

As pinser climbed up Fey shot up and slammed down into its back. Fey landed hard again and again and again with a hop for every attempt. While in that cocoon it's movement is restricted but with what little movement it can manage it used to jump up and slam back down on it's back. From that harden it's shell was taking a beating same with the Pinser but with it's body slam of sorts it couldn't stand.

"Harden," I said.

Ding!

There we go. Now it's defense is above that of the pinser enough to start cracking that exoskeleton. In five more smacks the pinser went still.

"Ah no," samurai boy clicked his tongue.

"You're amazing Fey," I complimented my kakuna. I rose her up in my arms and hugged the pokemon to my chest. "You could barely move and you won."

"Kaka kaka."

"Someone's a bit arrogant," I frowned at the pokémon. I strapped Fey back to my back and returned to my side with the field clear.

"Not bad," samurai boy announced with one last pokéball up. I followed through with another as well and this time it was metapod's strap. "Go metapod." I drop my hand from the strap with a sigh.

"Meowth… go." I let ball go and he appeared.

"Yah," he fell to the ground on all fours and nearly tripped forward to the ground in front of me. "Ah, what happened?"

I sighed a bit. I rubbed my head next. Then I rethought my last action. This might not work out well, but I have to try. "Okay meowth listen," I squat down to a knee before him. I reached down and helped him up to his feet to face me.

"You," he growled at me. I narrowed my eyes at the pokémon, but he stood strong. Good, I don't expect him to be weak. "Don't think I've forgotten," he hissed at me.

"I remember you failing to protect Misty well enough meowth," I returned to him with ease.

"And then you slammed me first face into a dead weedle!" He fired back at me.

I took a breath before I lost my temper. "Meowth, you're a normal type and cat with a natural resistance to poison from a common weedle," I began to explain. "You're so strong as well Meowth plus had the means and the power to stop it but didn't. I didn't understand your actions and let my emotions get the best of me." I let my head fall before losing strength in my legs. I fell down to my butt before the pokémon a little weaker than before. I thought on what I did and the words of James from earlier. He told me what I found right wasn't right for normal people so maybe punishment like that was bad and not good. If so that leave me with one response. "I'm sorry Meowth. I was… was out of line?"

"Yes, yes you were." Meowth crossed his paws and turned his head.

"So you have no control over yoru…" was as far as samurai boy got before I shot my eyes up to him.

"Be quiet," I warned him. I don't appreciate interruptions that much.

"Listen twerp I have a goal and being your little fighter doesn't help me do it," he scoffed at me.

"And what is that because I can help you. I promised to help Pikachu with his near impossible task. Despite this I'm more than willing to help him accomplish this. It's how this works," I stressed. "You work with me and I work with you. It's as simple as that and from what I saw your time with Jessie and James didn't help you in any way."

"We could've done it!"

"Not if an injured kid like me that wasn't even a trainer for a day could beat you three down!" I yelled at him. I hate yelling but this was getting out of hand. "How can you tell me you'd go somewhere if you were rejected to be with such low field agents with no team work?"

"We…" Meowth paused as he took in my words. "We could've…"

"I saw them again and they battled me again. Both of their pokemon lost the caterpie, now metapod, on my backpack. They also had their reasons before yours. You heard them talk in your pokéball." Meowth winced at this. His paws fell down to his sides same with his chin. I bit my lip and took another breath.

"Meowth, I caught you for my own reasons but like with my others understand you have a will of your own. If you want something let me know and I'll help you. I can help you, but only if you let me." I recited wording from one of mom's soup shows that a man said to one lady that was sad and lost in life. I'm relieved that those shows can help me out right now. I just needed to turn this around now that I have a need of his I can exploit. He has a goal that his using Jessie and James to obtain. "What do you want?" I tested to see if my words got through to him. I never thought mama's shows would come in handy like this.

"I want…" Meowth clenched his paws. "I want to the boss to recognize me again!"

Boss? Maybe the boss of Team Rocket or something else. Either way I need more information to make this work. "What's your plan of making this happen?"

"Steal every pokemon I can to get it! That's why I needed…" I stopped him there with a hand.

"Meowth. I don't know that much about Team Rocket but I know that's not how it works. Pokémon thievery of small time pokémon centers and trainers keeps you stagnant in your ranking scales." My dad's journal and letters spoke a bit of his time against Team Rocket. He fought against them in the past and broke them apart forcing them out of Kanto and to Johto instead. It's only recently that they came back to Kanto to restart once more. Dad wrote a bunch about them and the levels of agents from level one to ten. Those two are at the bottom being a 10. The boss is 0. His private agents are 1 to 5. If you start out as ten very rarely do you become anything else than a field agent. I explained this to Meowth so she doesn't question it forcing him into a struggling position.

"I'd be at the bottom forever," he muttered.

"Most likely, yes. But what if we work together to make anything happen Meowth?"

"And how do you plan to do that?" He questioned with a huff. He crossed this paws over his chest tighter and turned his head away from me.

"For one you need fight for your right," I declared strongly. "Dreams are a weak man's fantasy but a strong man's future," I recited the words of Detective Lee from one of my crime thrillers. "Become strong and your fantasy will become the future."

"Huh? That was different," he admitted. He sighed then faced me with a strong stare. "Become strong huh? Like you ya mean?"

I shook my head. "Become strong as you desire to be. You will limit yourself and only you can exceed yourself." Famous words from my mentor Lucario. I stood to my feet. "At the end of the day its your choice." I presented my hand to him. "I'm sorry about how I acted before Meowth, but I'd like to make this work. Will you work with me?"

Meowth glanced up to my hand then to me. "Man," he shook his head. "You pitch good kid," he smirked at me. "Looks like it sort of worked." I smiled at him at the mention of that. He rose his paw up and I took it. "Does she hate me?" Meowth asked nervously. "That girl."

"No. She wanted me to forgive you instantly actually."

Meowth glanced down. "Okay, well I'm sorry for not helping her. Can ya tell her that?"

"Tell her ya self," I responded with his accent. I shook his paw.

"Okay twerp how are we gonna do this?"

"First we get names out of the way," because this is getting a bit ridiculous. "I'm Ash Ketchum. What's your name?"

"I never had one before,"

"So what should I call you?"

Before Meowth could answer and just when he opened his mouth a loud "Hey" resounded in the clearing. I shot my eyes towards the samurai boy with the intent to yell at him until I saw him pointing at something. I turned to looked that direction. "It's storm of Beedrill. We must retreat!" My jaw dropped at the swarm that was aiming for me for sure. The samurai boy ran to the right but they stayed on course for me. Why are they coming for me mainly? I asked myself this until I spotted a weedle in the feelers of one of the beedrill.

"You've got to be joking," I groaned with my knife out.

"We need to run!" Meowth cried and jumped to my shoulder. I turned around and instantly burst into a sprint for the trees. Heavy… so heavy. Its like 15 pounds of added weight on my back and after hiking for an hour now it's been wearing me down. "Come on kid you have to run faster," Meowth panicked. I grit my teeth to get my legs moving faster. "It's right behind us!"

I shot around with one beedrill coming for me with a twin needle attack. I rose my knife at the ready and the aura flowing through me. I shifted right out of its first needle and it swung back with the second. I went under and shot up with my knife flying up into its critical vulnerability in the center.

"Bbeekkk!" It gasped before falling down before me to the ground. I shot back and continued running.

"I think that made them angry! They're yelling at us with threats to feed us…"

"I don't need to know!" I told meowth. I shifted through the forest. They swarmed through the forest and took to my sides. I can run about 8 or 9 miles per hour at the most and hold it. A fully groan beedrill can dive at thirty easily and twenty when it's going through it's assault phase. I could see them all but there're too many of them and they're too big. A murder is one thing because I'm capable of using a mixture of my sight, hearing, and aura to differentiate each. Each bird is different in every way whether in age or strength making it easier. Beedrill are practically clones from one queen meaning they are all the same with few exemptions. Fey is one of them. They all look the same, sound the same, and are smothering my senses. If I was still right now I could focus much better but that's a death wish with their speed.

"Gahhh!" I heard with a force on my back sending me spiraling down to the ground.

"Kid!" I looked up from the ground.

"Meowth!" The pokemon was picked up by a beedrill right from my shoulder. I climbed up to my feet as the swarm lifted up away from me and followed the beedrill with Meowth. "No." I climbed up to my feet. I need to move but they… they're going in the direction of the nest. That's not good. They'll kill and feed him to the queen. "Alright we need to go after him," I told both of my bug pokémon before bursting off after them.

A beedrill noticed me coming after the swarm and turned back to hit me. It's moving fast in it's attack dive. I dove to the left into a skid just out of the way of a poison sting.

"I need to slow him down," I growled harshly. The beedrill came around for another flyby with me at the ready. My knife was flashing as it dived down towards me. The last one had twist around thus slowing it down enough for me to stab it. This one has a straight shot. I turned my offside towards it for another dive.

"Kaka," I heard from Fey. Suddenly a shot of silk fired from it's mouth and hit the beedrill straight in the face. I didn't let my shock last longer than a moment before taking hold of the string and diving down. I'm heavier than a bug and in a sling shot effect it fired down into the ground right behind me. I slid up to my feet with my knife up and jumped up stabbing down into the beedrill before it could recover. My feet landed on the stingers keeping it still until the aura faded away from it.

I looked back to my second cocooned pokémon. "Thanks, Fey."

"Kaka. Ka kakaka."

"Thanks for that as well," I said sarcastically. Self-entitled little pokémon tell me to do it myself next time. I ignored that and wiped down my knife as a couple more came at me once this sibling fell before me. "Alright you two I'm going to point at them and you fire a string shot. You both ready?"

"Kaka."

"Meta."

"Alright let's do this." I shot towards them and turned my right to one and pointed with my knife. Metapod fired a string shot and hit a wing causing it to falter in midair. "Good aim." I shot up and kicked it back away from me into the ground. I stabbed the beedrill with my knife while using the Aura to find the next. I pointed to my left and Fey fired. I grabbed the string once it connected and leapt back out of the way as passed by. I braced with a strong tug forcing it to slow down. With a little manipulation of force I swung it around straight into a tree. I shot towards it and stabbed it in the back between the wings. I dragged my knife up to it's head before pulling out.

It's hard to cut them like that for their case for a body is resistant to slashing. I need to stab them in the right area or crush them for this to be effective. Luckily I know where the vulnerable spot is from my studies.

I felt another and twirled around pointing metapod to the next. It fired at my point and hit one in the stinger. It didn't stay connected like with Fey but the quantity alone forced its stingers together and still. It slowed with its focused broken which I took advantage of. I leaned out of the way of its stingers then shot up with my empty hand and gripped its neck. I skid back with it's force a bit but in the end slammed it down to the ground with my knife up. I stabbed down into its head in moments and then between the wings before stepping up to the next. I think they noticed that one at a time doesn't work because two came down upon me from opposing sides. I turned with my left hand out and Fey fired at one hitting it head on. I grabbed the thread hard. I pointed at the next and Metapod fired but missed. It dodged at the last moment.

"They're learning," I muttered. Pokémon aren't stupid and can learn from their mistakes. That one that dodged flied at a slower speed because of it's dodge at the last moment. I shot to the one Fey blinded with a tug on the string but my attention was on the one metapod missed. I slid under Fey's target with a little tug from below just as the last was about to hit me.

BASH!

Both of them rammed into each other at full speed. I circled around the both of them, tying them down with Fey's thread in moments. I crossed my arms at the both of them as they struggled to escape. I watched the swarm gain more and more distance away from me back to the nest. Entering that nest is suicide if I enter without a fire pokémon or back up. I have only metapod and Fey with me and against a swarm what can we do?

"Meta meta."

"How can we," I ask my metapod. "If we enter that nest we'll be food. We need some way to burn them down or mask ourselves…" I looked down to the two beedrill below me. Each one has glands that secrete a liquid or chemical that allows them to know whose friend or foe. I learned this in survival training and if memory serves, I need to take it from live specimens. The trick is keeping them alive whilst cutting my way to the gland to get the stuff.

"Alright," I brandished my knife before these two. "You both are our way in."

The Ash is one that will do anything for it's Hive kind just like the cousin said and just like she predicted the Ash gave chase. She wanted the cousin that evolved like her to be taken but instead the other food it never saw before was. Still, the results are the same. The Hive Kind from our hive have taken food away to leave for last in the live of morsels for Hive mother. This will give the Ash enough time to enter and get the food back. Enough to be in the midst of the Hive and no matter how this ends her fate is sealed and she's placing her hopes on the Ash.

Either way everything is going according to plan. The Hive kind arriving after following her scent and making the Ash believe it could go in safely. She knows that the Ash will be caught, but it already proved it can fight back. The Ash will destroy everything that gets in his way. She could feel this in her core. That's also what the cousin told her before and that's what she's hoping for.

The Ash will free her or the Ash will die.

There is no other way.

A/N: This chapter was a rollercoaster that's for sure. I just noticed this is the beginning forest for Mew's sake but come where there's pokemon at the lowests reach of evolution there's it's evolved forms lurking around somewhere. Let's see how this goes.

Thanks for reading and please review.