AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is Chapter 4 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu. There's plenty of action in this one, so I hope you enjoy. As always, please review and provide feedback.

TEASER: Tristan and Hillary have begun their journey to Pewter City so he could try and compete for his first Gym Badge. He catches another Pokémon no thanks to his disobedient Pidgey. But when his canned food gets stolen, a brilliant chef comes to the rescue. Plus, Tristan has a battle with another trainer who happens to live in the Viridian Forest and his newest Pokémon proves its surprising strength against him.

Chapter 4: THE VIRIDIAN FOREST

(Music Cue: Opening and Title Screen 1997-1998 (as heard in "Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon"))

After getting a good night's rest, Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu are ready for more new exciting adventures, but those adventures are a mystery, even to them.

Tristan and Hillary were up with the sun, ate a good breakfast, and were ready to hit the road the next morning. Tristan noticed a poster on the wall. He was interested in the content.

"What are you looking at?" asked Hillary to Tristan.

"It's a poster to join the Pokémon League," he replied. "I'd really like to join and compete in it. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!"

"Please," said Hillary. "You don't have half a chance. Besides, how are you supposed to compete with only Pikachu and Pidgey?"

"I'll just catch some more," said Tristan. "I still want to compete in the Pokémon League."

"Did I hear someone say they wanted to compete in the Pokémon League?" Nurse Joy asked. She had heard the conversation.

"I want to join, Nurse Joy," replied Tristan. "How do I sign up?"

"Oh, it's easy," said Nurse Joy. "Just come over here for a minute." She motioned for Tristan to follow her to the front desk. "Now I need to see your Pokédex, Tristan," she said.

Tristan handed his Pokédex to Nurse Joy. She pushed a few buttons and scanned the Pokédex. After a few seconds, she handed it back to Tristan.

"Well, you're all set," she said to Tristan. "Now you're ready to challenge the Pokémon League. You'll need eight Gym Badges from eight Gym Leaders to qualify."

"What do I need to do to earn those badges?" asked Tristan.

"Trainers need to battle the Gym Leaders and defeat them in order to earn their Badges," explained Nurse Joy.

"What's the closest Gym from here," asked Tristan to Nurse Joy.

"The Viridian Gym is still being rebuilt after that awful collapse, but by the time you get your seventh Gym Badge, it will be finished. So the closest one is the Gym in Pewter City," she answered.

"That settles it," said Tristan. He turned to Hillary. "Are you ready to go to Pewter City?"

"Okay," agreed Hillary.

Tristan then turned to Nurse Joy. "What's the best way to get to Pewter City, Nurse Joy?" he asked her.

"The best way is to go through the deep and dark Viridian Forest," explained Nurse Joy. "Lots of Bug-Type Pokémon live in the forest, including the dangerous Beedrill. So be careful in there."

"We'll get through and get to Pewter City without a sweat!" said Tristan, confidently.

"That's the spirit!" said Nurse Joy.

"I don't know," said Hillary, nervously. "I've heard that Bug-Types are dangerous, especially Beedrill."

"Don't worry, sis," said Tristan. "Pikachu and I will keep them all at bay."

"Good luck on your journey, kids, and be careful out there!" called Nurse Joy as she waved good-bye to Tristan and Hillary. "And remember, you can stop in a Pokémon Center if you run into any trouble!"

"We will, Nurse Joy, and thank you!" called Tristan and Hillary as they set off.


Tristan and Hillary were excited about their adventures, as they continued on their way. They had to go through Route 2 and the Viridian Forest in order to get there. Just then, they encountered a wormlike Pokémon that was mostly green with a tan underside.

"Cool! What's that?" asked Hillary excitedly.

"I don't know, but I do know that you always like seeing new Pokémon," answered Tristan. "Let's see what the Pokédex says." He scanned the Pokémon.

"Caterpie: The Worm Pokémon," it said. "Caterpie uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and feed on its favorite leaves. It will use a horrible stink to protect itself from enemies."

"This Caterpie may be just what we need to repel any bug types that come our way," said Tristan.

Just then, Caterpie started releasing a horrible stink. It seemed angered at the remark that Tristan just made. He, Hillary, and Pikachu all had to cover their noses to keep the stink at bay.

"Way to go, Tristan! Now you've made it mad!" exclaimed Hillary.

"I didn't think Caterpie's feelings would be this sensitive!" said Tristan, as he continued to hold his nose. He suddenly felt inspired. "Now that I've seen what that smell can do, I'm going to catch it! Pidgey, I choose you!" He threw Pidgey's Pokéball.

A white beam of light shot out of it and materialized into a small avian bird with wings and a beak. It didn't seem interested in battling, as it just stood there.

"Okay, Pidgey, we're going to battle and catch this Caterpie, so use your Tackle attack!" instructed Tristan.

Pidgey just stood there, as if nothing was happening.

"Pidgey, I said to use your Tackle attack!" said Tristan, raising his voice.

Pidgey turned away.

"Why aren't you listening to me, Pidgey?" said Tristan.

"That's strange," said Hillary. "I always thought Pokémon would obey every Trainer's orders. Why doesn't this one?"

"I don't know, but now is not the time to wonder about it because Pidgey needs to battle so I can capture this Caterpie!" shouted Tristan.

(Music Cue: Raid! (as heard in Shell Shock!"))

As he spoke, Caterpie charged toward Pidgey with a Tackle attack and successfully landed a clean hit.

"Pidgey, no!" exclaimed Tristan as he caught it in his hands. "Are you okay?" He was starting to regret shouting at it. He was now worried.

Pidgey cooed weakly.

"You'd better rest in your Pokéball, Pidgey," said Tristan as he aimed the Pokéball's button toward Pidgey, which then de-materialized into a red beam of energy and disappeared inside. He then sent Pikachu to battle the Caterpie.

"Pikachu, Thunder Wave now!" commanded Tristan.

A thin yellow stream of electricity shot out of Pikachu's cheeks and surrounded Caterpie, paralyzing it on the spot. Caterpie tried as hard as it could to move, but to no avail.

"Now's your chance, Tristan!" shouted Tristan.

"Now, Pikachu, Thundershock attack!" yelled Tristan.

Pikachu shot off its electricity from its cheeks and zapped Caterpie with it. Caterpie fainted.

"Now's the time to catch it," said Tristan. "Pokéball, go!" He threw an empty Pokéball at the Caterpie, which de-materialized into a red beam of light and disappeared inside. The ball wiggled as the button flashed.

But the ball clicked, signaling that the Pokémon had been caught.

(Music Cue: Fanfare! Get Pokémon!)

"Yes!" Tristan shouted. "We caught a Caterpie!" He struck a victory pose.

"Pi-Pikachu!" shouted Pikachu, striking the same pose.

"Don't forget about Pidgey, who, by the way, didn't do anything," reminded Hillary.

"Don't worry, Hillary," assured Tristan. "I'll get Pidgey to listen to me somehow. I need to figure out how to help Pidgey in the meantime because it was beaten by Caterpie. And I'm sure that battle didn't help its confidence much."


The Viridian Forest was a huge maze of trees and more trees. Tristan's compass didn't work as a result. He and Hillary were still far away from their destination, and they were getting hungry.

"Do you have anything to eat, Tristan?" asked Hillary.

"Well, I do happen to have canned food," said Tristan. "I have two cans full of it. Maybe we can have it for dinner."

"It doesn't have to be warm, does it?" asked Hillary. "Keep in mind that neither of us knows how to make a campfire."

"I forgot about that," said Tristan.

(Music Cue: Wreakin' Havoc! (as heard the first time in "Showdown at Dark City"))

But just then a purple mouse Pokémon and a curly tail snatched the canned food away from Tristan's hands into its oversized front teeth and started running away with it. Tristan gave chase at once with Hillary not far off.

"Hey, you!" shouted Tristan. "That's our food! Give it back!"

"You have no right to steal that!" added Hillary.

But before Tristan could catch it, he crashed head first right into a big tree while the Pokémon ran safely back in its den underneath. Tristan moaned and held his face in pain.

"That had to hurt," said Hillary.

Tristan just groaned. "Who was that Pokémon anyway?" He took out his Pokédex.

"Rattata: The Mouse Pokémon," it said. "This Pokémon likes cheese, nuts, fruits, and berries. It also comes and steals food from stupid Trainers."

"Watch it, Dexter!" shouted Tristan.

Hillary and Pikachu were trying very hard not to laugh at what the Pokédex just said about him, but they couldn't hold it in and fell down laughing.

Tristan was very angry. "That's not funny!" he shouted. "That Rattata has just made a complete fool out of me and you two start laughing at my expense?!"

"We're sorry, Tristan!" snickered Hillary. "But it's just too hilarious to resist!" She and Pikachu continued laughing.

Tristan just sighed and sat on the ground. "Why? Why me?" he said.


A little while later, Tristan and Hillary were trying to figure out what to have for dinner after that Rattata took Tristan's canned food.

"That's just great," sighed Tristan. "Now we don't have any food left for dinner tonight."

"Does that mean that we're going to bed hungry tonight?" asked Hillary nervously.

"It sure looks that way," said Tristan sadly.

"Hey, guys!" said a voice. "Maybe I can help out with that."

(Music Cue: Pikachu Appears!)

Tristan and Hillary were startled to find another person right behind them. That person had naturally closed eyes and a spiky head of hair.

"Sorry to startle you like that, but I overheard that you guys had only canned soup for dinner," he said. "If you'll allow me to help you, I can cook something really good for you."

"That'd be great!" said Tristan. "Thanks, uh…"

"Let me introduce myself. My name's Brock," the new person said. "I'm training to be the world's greatest Pokémon Breeder."

"It's nice to meet you, Brock," said Tristan. "My name's Tristan."

"Pika-Pikachu," greeted Pikachu.

"And my name's Hillary," she said. "We were on our way to Pewter City so Tristan could compete in his first Gym Battle."

"What a coincidence," said Brock. "I was just on my way there right now to check in on my family. Maybe Tristan and I could face each other for a quick battle at the Gym."

"What does a Pokémon Breeder do, Brock?" asked Tristan.

"A Pokémon Breeder's responsibility is to raise Pokémon for the best possible health and friendship," explained Brock. "I've traveled to a lot of places with two other trainers, Ash and Misty, to learn all about it."

"But why aren't you with them now?" asked Tristan.

"I stayed on Valencia Island for awhile to learn about Pokémon Breeding," said Brock.

"I don't get it, Brock," said Hillary. "Why did you leave Valencia Island?"

"I wanted to start a relationship with Professor Felina Ivy," said Brock. "When Ash, Misty, and I took a trip to the Orange Islands," he began, "we were running a very special errand for Professor Oak. He wanted us to pick up a mysterious Pokéball known as the GS Ball for him."

"What's the GS Ball?" asked Tristan.

"Good question," answered Brock. "Anyway, I always enjoy doing chores, and Professor Ivy was so impressed with my attitude of helping out with the housework and cooking abilities that she invited me to stay with her for awhile so I could learn more about Pokémon Breeding."

"So why are you here instead, Brock?" asked Hillary.

"Well, I suppose I can tell you two why I left Valencia Island," said Brock. "I'll do it as long as you promise not to tell anybody else."

Tristan and Hillary promised.

"Well, it all began just a few days ago," said Brock as he began his story.


"I was doing my usual morning housework and cooking for Professor Ivy and her assistants, who are triplets. Their names are Charity, Hope, and Faith, and they all wear glasses. They seemed to be very pleased with my work. One of my favorite things to cook is oatmeal, which was exactly what I was cooking that morning. The only trouble was that I spent so many of my waking hours with Professor Ivy during the day that I forgot to set a reasonable bedtime and get a reasonable amount of sleep each night. I don't know whether I forgot to add the proper ingredients or whether I just added the wrong ones. Either way, it just happened so quickly.

""There isn't enough milk!" said Charity.

""There's too much sugar!' put in Hope.

""This oatmeal is terrible three times over!" finished Faith.

""I'm surprised you'd say that,' Professor Ivy replied to them. 'Let me taste it.' Then she took a spoonful of oatmeal and tasted it herself. 'It is a little less than Brock's standards. I wonder if Brock has been working too hard,' she said. But she noticed that I had heard everything and rushed over with the milk and cereal to make the adjustments to the oatmeal when suddenly, I tripped on the floor! I fell and spilled the milk and cereal everywhere!

"That was when somebody else rushed in. His name happened to be Professor Palm, and he happened to be dropping by when he heard the crash. He offered to help clean up the mess and recook the oatmeal that I had spilled for the assistants. Talk about embarrassment.

"That wasn't the worst part of it," Brock continued. "Professor Palm did an ever better job of cooking breakfast than I did that day. He did such a good job that Professor Ivy took me aside in private.

""I appreciate what you've done for my assistants so much, Brock,' she said to me, 'but I think you're better suited to continuing your journey with Ash and Misty. I think it's best that you go back to Pallet Town and wait for them. Go on, Brock, you might as well do it now while you're young."

""But wait, Professor Ivy!" I told her. "I didn't mean to make that mess!""

""And you'll have plenty of time to make even more messes,' she smiled. 'It's time you got going. I'll prepare a ship for you.'"

"I had never been that crushed before in my life," sobbed Brock. "I had the perfect chance to start a relationship with her and I blew it! Now I'll never know true happiness!

"Anyway, Professor Ivy prepared a ship to sail on. It wasn't a cruise ship, but it was just as peaceful. I turned away from Professor Ivy even though she wanted to wave goodbye to me. As soon as the island was out of sight, I wanted to start from zero just before I ever came to Valencia Island.


"Wow, Brock," said Tristan. "I never thought you'd be the one spilling oatmeal."

"So that's how I returned to the mainland. Afterwards, I decided that I wouldn't allow anyone to mention Professor Ivy's name starting right now. Whenever that happens, I will shiver and be depressed for the rest of my life! So don't mention that name!"

"But I'm sure that Professor Ivy…" Tristan began.

"I said don't mention that name!" insisted Brock as he rolled into a ball.

"All right, I won't," said Tristan.

Hillary tried to cheer Brock up. "I'm sure you must have had a fun time with Professor…"

"Shhhh!" said Tristan to Hillary. "Don't mention that name!"

"I was just trying to help," said Hillary. "But I just wanted to know if the profess…"

"So, Brock," interrupted Tristan, who wanted to change the subject, "let's have dinner!"

"I'm open to that suggestion," agreed Brock. "I have hot soup and Pokémon food that you're just going to love," but it's going to take awhile to cook."

Tristan and Hillary's stomachs rumbled. Brock could tell that they were very hungry. But just then, a Bug Catcher showed up and leaped in front of them with a sword.

"Pardon me, but weren't you three coming from Viridian City?" he said. "Which one of you would like to battle me for victory?

"I would!" said Tristan excitedly. "If I'm going to be a Champion someday, then I have to accept the challenge!"

"You seem awful chipper for someone who is about to lose!" said the Bug Catcher. "My name's Samurai, and here's my first Pokémon!" He threw a Pokéball. A bright white beam of light shot out and materialized into what appeared to be a green chrysalis. Quickly, Tristan took out his Pokédex and scanned it.

"Metapod: The Cocoon Pokémon: The evolved form of Caterpie," it said. "Metapod has encased its body in a hard shell, which protects it while waiting for its next evolution."

"I'll be the judge of this match," said Brock. "Each Trainer will use two Pokémon."

Tristan thought fast. If Metapod was the evolved form of Caterpie, and it was a Bug-Type Pokémon, his ideal choice would be Pidgey; however, it was too disobedient to obey his commands, and it needed a good rest.

"Caterpie, I choose you!" shouted Tristan as he threw Caterpie's Pokéball. A bright white light shot out of it and materialized. This was Caterpie's first battle, but Tristan was feeling confident on what it could do. Besides, it needed the battling experience to get stronger. Pikachu was rooting for Caterpie, too.

"Let the battle begin!" declared Brock as Tristan and Samurai faced off.

(Music Cue: Kanto Wild Pokémon Battle)

"Caterpie, Tackle attack!" ordered Tristan. Caterpie charged toward Metapod, but Samurai was ready for it.

"Metapod, Harden!" instructed Samurai. Metapod tensed up and flashed white. Then its body turned as hard as steel. When Caterpie made contact, it bounced off. Caterpie seemed to take some damage from the hardened Metapod.

"Are you okay, Caterpie?" asked Tristan.

Caterpie was a bit shaken, but it shook off the damage and was ready to go once again.

"That's the spirit, Caterpie!" said Tristan. He was feeling very energized by the battle. Then he instructed Caterpie to Tackle Metapod again.

"Metapod, Harden again!" instructed Samurai. Again, Metapod's body turned as hard as steel. Caterpie kept tackling Metapod again and again, but Metapod just kept hardening up to increase its defense, making it seemingly impossible to do any damage to it. It was clear that Caterpie was breathing hard and getting very tired while Metapod seemed just fine. However, Metapod didn't use any offensive attacks since the battle began, so in a sense, it was a lucky break for Tristan.

"I need to think of some way to slow that Metapod down, but what?" thought Tristan as he was now getting concerned about Caterpie. It wouldn't be able to battle much longer as long as it kept hitting Metapod's hardening body. He thought about what could slow opponents down. When he was younger, he used to play with glue and string under his grandmother's supervision. He thought about the glue and combined it with the string to make it even stickier. Suddenly, he thought of just the attack that would tip the battle in his favor.

"Caterpie, String Shot now!" yelled Tristan.

(Music Cue: Get Pokémon!)

A white sticky silky string rapidly shot out of Caterpie's mouth toward Metapod. Metapod was stuck and was going nowhere.

"Metapod, get yourself free!" shouted Samurai. But it was no use. Struggling only seemed to make the string tie tighter around Metapod.

"Now, Caterpie, Tackle attack!" commanded Tristan.

This time, Caterpie charged towards Metapod at full power. Caterpie made contact with Metapod so hard and so fast that Metapod flew and crashed into a nearby tree. The Pokémon fainted.

"Metapod is unable to battle! Caterpie wins!" declared Brock.

"Caterpie did it!" said Hillary excitedly. "I was getting nervous for awhile.

"Good job, Caterpie," said Tristan. "I'm proud of you."

Samurai seemed to be impressed. "It seems like you raised that Caterpie extremely well, young Trainer," he said. "I don't know how you managed to beat my Metapod, but you did it anyway."

"Actually, Samurai," said Tristan, smiling nervously, "this was Caterpie's first battle. It needed the experience."

Suddenly, Caterpie was bathed in a bright white light.

Tristan was surprised. "What's going on with Caterpie?" he asked.

"Caterpie is starting to evolve!" said Brock, who was just as awestruck as everybody else.

"Wow! Let me see!" said Hillary, who wanted to see it too.

Caterpie slowly changed shape as it evolved. When the light stopped, it had taken on the shape of a chrysalis. Tristan's Caterpie had just evolved into a Metapod, and it had newfound strength for the next battle.

"I don't believe it," said Tristan, who was clearly awestruck. "Awesome!"

"Let's get back to the battle, young Trainer," Samurai advised.

"I'm ready to go and so is my newly evolved Metapod," said Tristan eagerly.

"Let's go, Pinsir!" shouted Samurai as he threw his second Pokéball.

A white beam of light shot out of it and materialized into a bipedal wide dull brown figure with a pair of gray spiky pincers on top of its head.

"Whoa, that's big!" said Tristan as he scanned the new Pokémon with his Pokédex.

"Pinsir: The Stag Beetle Pokémon," it said. "This Pokémon uses its powefrul claws to put the squeeze on its opponents."

"Be careful, Metapod," advised Tristan to Metapod. "There's no telling how sharp those claws are.

"Metapod," it replied as it prepared for battle.

(Music Cue: Kanto Trainer Battle (as heard in "Tentacool and Tentacruel"))

"Okay, Pinsir, Tackle attack!" ordered Samurai.

"Metapod, use your Tackle attack!" shouted Tristan.

Both Pokémon charged toward each other at full speed. Pinsir's immense body proved to be immense for Metapod, who was shaken by the contact, but still in the battle.

"Hang in there, Metapod. You can do it, buddy," encouraged Tristan.

Hillary was confused about encouraging Pokémon to do their best, so she figured Brock would know the answer. "What good can encouragement do?" she asked him.

"Just watch," said Brock. "Encouraging a Pokémon to never give up is something my friend Ash does every time he battles. That helps any Trainer's Pokémon do better in battle."

"Pinsir, ViceGrip!" shouted Samurai.

Pinsir charged toward Metapod, but this time, its pincers were poised to grab Metapod.

"Quick, Metapod! Harden now!" ordered Tristan.

Metapod quickly tensed up while its body turned harder than steel. Pinsir grabbed Metapod, but Metapod seemed unfazed by the pincers. Try as it may, Pinsir couldn't seem to damage Metapod's hard shell. As a result, Pinsir's pincers were cracked.

"Yes! Go for it, Tristan!" Hillary cheered.

"Metapod, Tackle attack!" yelled Tristan.

Metapod charged into Pinsir with all its might and scored a direct hit so strong that it knocked Pinsir out.

"Pinsir is unable to battle! Metapod wins and the winner is Tristan!" declared Brock.

"Way to go, Metapod!" said Tristan. Then he turned to Samurai. "Is your Pinsir okay?"

"It just needs to rest for awhile and it will be fine," replied Samurai. "That Metapod of yours is strong, though. I obviously need to train more."

"Aw, shucks, Samurai," said Tristan, who was being modest. "I just started on my journey yesterday."

Just then, a kitchen timer rang.

"Dinner's ready!" called Brock.

"All right!" said Tristan. "There's nothing like a good battle to work up an appetite." Then he turned to Samurai. "Do you want to join us for dinner, Samurai?"

"I'd like that," he replied as he joined the others for dinner.

Tristan invited Pikachu, Metapod, and Pidgey to join in as well.


(Music Cue: To Be Continued (as heard in "Make Room for Gloom"))

Tristan, Samurai, their Pokémon, and Hillary enjoyed Brock's cooking. They all agreed that it tasted just as good as the food in good quality restaurants if not better.

"It's too bad that you have to go back to Pallet Town and wait for Ash soon, Brock," said Tristan. "Hillary and I probably won't get another good meal for awhile."

"Don't worry, guys. We'll meet again," said Brock. "And besides, I'm sure you can find good quality food if you know where to look for it."

"Thank you very much, Brock," said Samurai. "By the way, if you do see Ash again, could you tell him that I said hello?"

"I'll do that," said Brock.

After dinner, Samurai left the others for his cabin while Tristan, Hillary, and Brock got into their sleeping bags to get some sleep.


So, Tristan and Hillary's new friend Brock comes to their rescue. Now there'll be extra excitement as they prepare to embark for Pewter City and Tristan's first Gym Battle. What will it be like? You'll have to stay tuned!

TO BE CONTINUED...