As we continued walking through the forest, Pikachu and I were leading the way while Misty was behind us. Unfortunately, she continued to follow us. Misty screams once again and hold into a tree. "What's wrong, now?" I asked. Misty pointed to the side, "I think I see another bug, gross!"

Pikachu and I exchanged a look, and sighed. "Maybe it's a... Cow-terpie." Misty looked at me angrily and I chuckled and smirked. "That's not funny!" She said, "You know I hate bugs, and I saw one right over there!"

We saw a small bug Pokémon crawling toward us, and Misty hid behind me. I smiled, "A Weedle!" I pulled out Dexter, "Weedle. The stinger on this Pokémon's head guarantees that any attacker will get the point right where it hurts."

"A stinger, huh? Cool," I muttered. "Why are you so excited about a bug with a stinger? Make it go away!" Misty said. I rolled my eyes, "No way. I'm catching it." I grabbed Pidgeotto's Poké Ball from my belt and threw it, "Pidgeotto, I choose you!"

My bird Pokemon got out from the Poké Ball, standing tall in from of the small bug pokemon. "Pidgeotto, Gust Attack!" I ordered. Pidgeotto used the attack, sending Weedle flying backward.

Flying high in the air, Pidgeotto swooped down and send the shocked Weedle tumbling about all over the ground, dizzy and disorientated. I smirked. "Yes." Pikachu hopped to my shoulder, "Pika."

Weedle held it's head down to show the horn and went forward to strike. "Pidgeotto, watch out from it's Poison Sting!" I called and my bird Pokémon twisted aside so that Weedle will miss, then turned and swooped down once again, sending Weedle flying and crashing to the ground again.

"Okay, here we go," I said as I pulled out a Poké ball, "Weedle, I've got you now."

"Greetings," a voice said from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see a boy dressed as a samurai looking at me. "Am I addressing the Pokémon Trainer who comes from Pallet?"

"I'm a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet, but I'm a little busy," I said as I looked back at the Weedle on the ground. "I have found you at last," the boy said. I heard Misty gasping, "Ashley, look out!" I turned around again and saw the samurai boy holding a sword right in front of my face.

"Huh?!" I asked. "Pika?!" Pikachu asked. "T-That sword doesn't scare me, there's no way you're stealing my Pokémon," I said. "I am no Pokémon thief," the boy said as Misty ran to stand by my side. "Who are you then?" She asked.

The boy pulled his sword away from me, "I am samurai, I am also shrewd, fearless and completely invincible in combat!" He looked at me, "I have been searching the forest for you!"

"What do you want from me?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow. "A Pokémon match!" The boy said as he held up his Poké ball, "Let us see who triumphs!" I raised an eyebrow, staring at the weird boy.

There was a tag on my jeans and I looked down to see Pikachu, "Mmm?" Pikachu pointed behind us quickly, "Pika!" I gasped and quickly turned around for Weedle, "Weedle!"

The Worm Pokémon wasn't at the same place it was, and it was crawling away. I quickly threw the Poké ball toward it, but Weedle got away. I groaned in annoyance, "No..."

Pidgeotto flew down and catch the Poké ball in it's claws before flying toward me. I took the Poké ball, "Thanks, Pidgeotto." Pidgeotto settled on my arm as I looked at the samurai boy with a glare, "Thanks a lot. That Weedle got away because you got me distracted."

"Don't blame your failure on me. Your Pokémon handling is dim-witted and clumsy," the samurai boy said. I looked at him angrily as Pikachu and Pidgeotto looked at him angrily as well, "Oh, really? Pidgeotto did a good job, I was just about to catch that Weedle if you didn't came over and pull your sword on me! You want a Pokémon Match? You got it!" I glanced at Pidgeotto, "Pidgeotto, let's do it."

Pidgeotto flew to the ground, standing in front of me as it glared at the samurai boy. He threw a Poké Ball, "Pinser! Assume Battle Mode!"

Pinsir was a bipedal Pokémon with a wide, dull brown body and a large pair of gray, spiky pincers on top of its head. In it's mouth are many long, flat teeth arranged horizontally. Its legs are short and thick while its arms are long and thin, and each limb ends with three gray claws.

I pulled out Dexter, "Pinsir. This fearsome Pokémon uses its powerful claws to put the squeeze on its opponents."

"Looks tough, but Pidgeotto can beat it," I said, "Pidgeotto, send attack!" Pidgeotto used it, but attack didn't affect on Pinisir. "That's child play," the samurai boy said, "Pinsir, Tackle it!"

Pinsir ran forward, hitting Pidgeotto hard, making my Pokémon hit backward to the ground. I looked at Pidgeotto worriedly, "Pidgeotto, are you okay?"

The samurai boy laughed, "Your Pokémon is beaten." I glared at him before holding Pidgeotto's Poké ball, "Pidgeotto, return." Pidgeotto went back into the Poké ball and I glared at the samurai boy again.

"Well, novice, are you ready to surrender?" He asked. "No way," I said before throwing Metapod's Poké ball, "Metapod, I choose you!"

Metapod stood in front as the samurai boy smirked. "Watch and whine as Pinsir crushes your Metapod in half," He said. I looked at Pinsir's claws before looking at Misty as she called for me, "Ash... Call up Metapod, not even a bug deserves this."

"This match it already won," the samurai boy called and Pinisir ran forward toward Metapod. "Metapod, Harden! Now!" I ordered. Light glinted of Metapod's armored skin and quickly disappeared. Pinser locked Metapod tight around it with it's pincers, and quickly the pincers were shattered.

"Pikachu," Pikachu said with a smile. "It worked," Misty said with a smile. I rised an eyebrow with a smirk, "So, now who's the novice?"

"Pinsir, return," the samurai boy called and his Pokémon went back to it's Poké ball, "Clever, quite clever." He pulled out another Poké ball, "Poké ball, go." He threw the Poké ball and to my very much surprise a Metapod came out. "Metapod?" I asked in confusion.

"Metapod, Harden," the samurai boy called. I sighed as I placed my hands on my hips. Misty walked back to my side with Pikachu, "Can we go now?"

"We in a middle of a match!" the samurai boy snapped at her. "I don't think so anymore," I muttered and tilted my head as Misty looked around. "I think it's over."

"Do you hear that?" Misty asked. "Mmm?" I hummed before quickly hearing a buzzing noises in the distance. "What's that noise?" Misty asked.

"A Beedrill swarm approaches! Our match must end, Metapod, return!" the samurai boy said and got his Pokémon back to his Poké ball. Right after, a buzzing swarm of wasp-like Pokémon was approaching toward us.

"Beedrill swarm!" I stated before pulling out Dexter. "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 it's kind!" the samurai boy said before turning around and running, "Good day!" I glared after him, "Who's fault was it that it got away, huh?!"

Suddenly, a Beedrill swooped down and scooped up Metapod. "Metapod," I called as I held up Metapod's Poké ball, "Metapod, return!" But the Beedrill evaded the beam of the Poké ball and flew beyond the trees of the forest. "Oh, no, Metapod," I said worriedly.

Another Beedrill flew over, right toward me. Pikachu jumped up, "Pikachu!" He used Thundershock at the Pokémon, making it fly away. "Thanks Pikachu," I said. Misty grabbed my arm, "Come on, let's move it."

Misty pulled me away with Pikachu as I looked back, watching as the Beedrill Swarm were chasing us, but the one thing I was thinking about was- "Metapod..."

We quickly got close to the samurai boy as we all ran. "They getting closer," Misty said. "Pika!" Pikachu said. We quickly hid behind some bushes, but the Beedrill didn't noticed and continued forward, making all of us to sigh in relief.

I looked up, "Uh..." There was a large number of Cocoon Pokémon hanging from a nearby tree in front of us. "A whole hive of Kakuna!" the samurai boy whispered and Misty gasped.

I pulled out Dexter. "Kakuna, a transitional stage between Weedle and Beedrill. Kakunas remain inactive until they evolve into deadly Beedrills and hatch."

As I looked at the Kakuna, I spotted a suspiciously green looking Kakuna, one that wasn't hanging from the tree but sitting against the trunk. I smiled without thinking, I spoke, "Hey over there, it's Metapod!"

Misty slapped her hand over my mouth with a whisper, "Keep your voice down." Right after, a kakuna looked over at us, making us all freeze. Cracks form in the motionless Kakuna's backs as we stared, and Beedrill's emerge from each one.

"Beedrill... they're evolved," Misty said. The Beedrill swooped up into the air and turning to face us, making us scream and run away once again as the Beedrill chased us. We spotted a cabin near by as we continued to ran.

"My cabin! I think we can make it!" the samurai boy said. We charged through the door and slammed it shut behind us before a few Beedrill's stingers pounded through the wood.

We all sat quietly in the dark, watching as the Beedrill pulled out, giving us a view of the Beedrill that flew back and forth before the door, waiting for us to emerge. I sighed in relief, "That was close."

The samurai put his helmet on a table before looking at me, "I hope you've learned your lesson, novice. You letting that Weedle escape almost cost our lives!"

"I let it escape?!" I snapped, "Take back that novice crack!" He crossed his arms over his chest, "I do take it back, because not even a novice would abandon her own Pokémon as you did." I looked away when he said that, looking down on the floor in guilt, "I've tried to save Metapod."

"Chu," I heard Pikachu. "Your Metapod will pay for it's trainer's inexperience," the samurai boy said, "The other trainers from Pallet would never have been so irresponsible!"

"Other Trainers from Pallet?" I asked, "Have you fought Pokémon matches against Gary and the others?" He smiled, "There were three spectacular matches, 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!"

"So that's why you've been waiting around here for Ashley to show up," Misty said. "Compared to those other three, novice here is a joke!" the samurai boy said, nodding toward me. I looked away angrily as Misty and Pikachu looked at me sadly.

We have all decided to sleep in the cabin for the night, Pikachu, Misty and the annoying samurai boy were already a sleep, but I could sleep without knowing if Metapod was okay.

I sighed softly, rolling over at my side as I closed my eyes to try to get some sleep. I was going to get Metapod back!

I waited for dawn to get Metapod, while the Beedrill were still a sleep, which they were. I crawled in the long grass, looking around before spotting Metapod again still in the same spot.

Suddenly, I was hit hard on the top of my head, making me groan in pain. "Do you know what Meowth's favorite game is?" a familiar voice said. "Get off me!" I snapped as I threw Meowth off of me before he scratched me in the face to my surprise. "Scratch... and sniffle," He said as I let out a cry in pain.

"Guess who?" another familiar voice spoke and I looked up on a big rock to see Jessie and James.

"Prepare for trouble."

"Make it double."

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite all people's within our nation."

"To denounce -"

"No!" I cut Jessie off, "Not again. Not now."

Jessie glared at me, "Never interrupt the Team Rocket motto!"

"But the Beedrill -"

She cut me off by clearing her throat, "To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extended our reaches to the stars above."

"Jessie."

"James."

"Keep it down, you going to wake up the Beedrill!" I whispered.

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! That's right!"

Suddenly, out of the bushes, the swarm of Beedrill came out. "Oh no!" I said. "Little girl, why don't you give us your Pikachu? There's no use try to resist us, so be smart and hand over the Pokémon," Jessie said.

I looked at them angrily, "I don't have Pikachu with me, and even if I did I'd never let you take him!" I turned around and started to ran away. Team Rocket chased after me as the Beedrill were closing in on us.

"If I can make it past the Beedrill, maybe they'll go for Team Rocket," I muttered before I ducked and rolled just as I missed the Beedrill. Luckily they saw Team Rock and they ran away with the Beedrill chasing them.

I smirked, "Yes!" I looked over at Metapod and ran closer to it before kneeling down as I held it's Poké Ball, "So there you are. Here, into the Poké Ball, Metapod."

Metapod shook it's head softly, "Metapod, Metapod." I looked at it in shock and sadness, "Metapod..." I heard a buzzing sound and looked behind me to see a Beedrill flying toward me.

"Let's go," I said as I took Metapod into my arms and started to ran away. "I didn't abandon you, Metapod, I just got sidetracked. It was all samurai's fault -"

I was cut off when I slipped over and fell down with Metapod in front of me. I slowly sat up as I keep looking down on the grass with tears in my eyes, "No, it wasn't Samurai's fault... It was my fault. If I was a better Pokémon Trainer I'd stop making all these excuses, from now on I swear that I'll never run away and leave my friends behind again. No more excuses."

I stood up quickly and ran toward Metapod before kneeling in front of it. "Can you give me another chance?" I asked. I heard a buzzing sound and saw the same Beedrill flying toward me.

"Ashley!"

"Watch out for the Twin Needle Attack!"

"Pikachu!"

I stood still in front of Metapod as the Beedrill kept coming, but before it could attack me, Metapod hit it hard, breaking the Beedrill's drill-hands, making it fly away.

I catch Metapod as it fell down, "Metapod?" I looked at the massive gash down it's belly, "Metapod, talk to me." Suddenly a white glow appeared from inside the shell, and a pretty looking butterfly set on the shell, flying up in the air before stopping and looking down at me.

"Butterfree," I said. "Oh, it's so beautiful," Misty said. "Pika!" Pikachu said. I pulled out Dexter, "Butterfree. One week after Caterpie evolves into Metapod, it again evolves into Butterfree."

I smiled as Butterfree flew around me. But that was cut short when we saw another Beedrill swarm flying toward us. "Here come another Beedrill!" Misty said.

I looked over at Butterfree as it was beside me, "Butterfree..." It looked at me and nodded. I smiled, "Okay. Butterfree, knock them out with your sleep powder." With that said, Butterfree flew up in the air, flying toward the Beedrill as it used it's attack.

All the Beedrill had fell a sleep one by one, and I grinned as Butterfree flew closer to me, "All right! Good job Butterfree."

"You were able to handle your Butterfree so well, just after it evolved," the samurai boy said, "Most impressive." I smirked and looked at Butterfree.

The samurai leaded me and Misty to the trail, "This trail will lead you to Pewter City," He said. "That's great," I said, "But before we leave you, samurai, we still have to finish our match."

"Compare to you, my friend, I am the novice, but I will keep profacting my techniques, and one day, we will meet again," He said. I smiled, "Can't wait. Until then, samurai," I said. "See ya," Misty said before we walked away.