The golden morning sunbathed Route 35 in a warm, inviting glow as the trio set off from Goldenrod City. The dirt path stretched northward, framed by lush fields of tall grass and towering oak trees. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the crisp scent of fresh water from a tranquil lake that shimmered beside the road. The surface of the lake was smooth, reflecting the sky like a vast mirror, with the occasional ripple breaking across it as wild Pokémon stirred beneath.
Boe took a deep breath, taking it all in. After the towering buildings and busy streets of Goldenrod, Route 35 felt like a breath of fresh air—open, peaceful, and teeming with life.
"This is way nicer than I expected," Boe said, glancing at the sunlit path ahead.
"Yeah," Zane admitted. "At least it's not another forest."
Rev stretched his arms behind his head, already looking relaxed. "I could take a nap here if we weren't on a mission."
The road was wide and well-kept, making the journey easy. Wild Pokémon occasionally peeked from the grass—a few Pidgey fluttered about, and a Sentret scurried up a tree trunk to avoid them. The only sound besides the rustling of leaves was the soft babble of a small creek that cut through the route, feeding into the lake.
As they neared the National Park gates, the path turned from dirt to stone, marking the entrance to one of Johto's most beautiful locations.
"Alright, here we are," Boe said, pausing to take in the sight ahead.
A grand arched building stood before them; its roof painted with a Poké Ball insignia. A sign beside the entrance proudly read:
"National Park - Home of the Bug-Catching Contest!"
Inside, the contest hall bustled with energy. Dozens of trainers—some seasoned, others clearly first-timers—chatted excitedly as they waited for the event to begin. The air buzzed with anticipation.
At the front of the room, two figures stood addressing the gathered crowd.
One was Bugsy, the Azalea Town Gym Leader. Their lavender hair framed their face, and with a confident yet welcoming expression made them seem approachable. They had an encyclopedic knowledge of Bug-types, and Their presence only added to the excitement.
Beside Them stood an older man with a bushy brown beard and a straw hat adorned with a Kakuna pin. His name tag read "Mr. Hopper - Contest Manager", fitting for someone so enthusiastic about Bug Pokémon.
"Welcome, everyone!" Mr. Hopper's voice boomed across the room; his arms raised. "You're all here to prove yourselves as expert Bug Catchers, and I couldn't be happier to see such a great turnout!"
Bugsy stepped forward, offering a warm smile. "Bug Pokémon may seem small, but they have incredible potential. This contest isn't just about catching the strongest Pokémon—it's about understanding them. Now, let's go over the rules!"
Bug-Catching Contest Rules
1. Each participant will be given 20 Sport Balls—a special type of Poké Ball designed for the contest.
2. Trainers may only use one of their own Pokémon to help catch a Bug-type.
3. When time runs out, the Pokémon each trainer caught will be judged based on rarity, strength, and overall condition.
4. The winner receives a prize and a special Bug-catching title!
"Remember," Bugsy added, "this is a friendly competition, so respect the Pokémon and your fellow trainers!"
Mr. Hopper clapped his hands. "Alright then, let's get started!"
As the contest began, Rev stretched his arms. "Welp, I'll be here when you guys get back. Not really my thing."
"You sure?" Boe asked.
Rev smirked. "If I wanted a Bug-type, I'd have caught one already. You guys have fun, though."
Zane cracked his knuckles. "I plan to. This is gonna be easy."
The two trainers received their Sport Balls and stepped out into the park, ready to begin. As they split up, Boe took a deep breath, scanning the open grassy fields, trees, and flower patches for his target.
The hunt was on.
Boe moved swiftly through the tall grass of the National Park, scanning his surroundings for the perfect Bug-type Pokémon. The contest's time limit loomed in the back of his mind, but he wasn't about to rush. He wanted to catch something strong, something that felt like it belonged on his team.
All around him, Bug Pokémon stirred in the grass. A Caterpie wriggled up a tree trunk, its round black eyes blinking at Boe before disappearing into the leaves. A Weedle twitched its sharp, venomous stinger at him before scurrying away into a bush. Nearby, a Kakuna and a Metapod sat perfectly still, barely acknowledging his presence.
Boe sighed. They're neat, but not quite what I'm looking for.
The next Pokémon he encountered was a Paras nestled in the shade of a large tree. Its two mushrooms pulsed slightly, glowing faintly in the dim light beneath the branches. Curious, Boe sent out Shan, his Furret, to battle.
"Alright, Shan, Quick Attack!"
Shan darted forward, slamming into Paras and knocking it onto its back. The Paras twitched, then released a fine golden powder—Stun Spore.
"Dodge it!" Boe called, and Shan zipped back just in time.
The battle continued, but Boe quickly realized something—Paras wasn't quite what he wanted either. It was tough, sure, but something was missing. Letting Paras go, Boe continued deeper into the park, scanning the area as time ticked away.
Then, flitting between the branches of a large oak tree, he spotted it—a Butterfree. Its powdery wings shimmered in the sunlight, the deep blue of its body contrasting beautifully against the bright greens of the park. Its large red eyes locked onto Boe, seemingly curious but cautious.
"That's the one," Boe muttered.
He sent out Shan again, determined to catch the Butterfree before time ran out.
"Quick Attack!"
Shan launched forward, but before she could make contact, Butterfree flapped its wings rapidly, sending a burst of wind through the clearing—Whirlwind.
A wall of dust kicked up, and by the time it settled, Butterfree was gone. Boe groaned. Seriously? He hadn't expected it to flee so quickly. Frustrated but determined, he pressed on.
With only a few minutes left in the contest, Boe moved into a quieter part of the park. The sounds of other trainers and Pokémon battles faded as he stepped into a more secluded patch of tall grass.
Then, he saw it.
Off in the shadows of a tree trunk, almost completely hidden from sight, crouched a Scyther.
Its emerald, green body blended perfectly with the foliage, and its razor-sharp scythes rested at its sides, ready to strike. Its eyes flicked back and forth, watching the other trainers from a distance. Unlike the other Bug-types Boe had seen, this one wasn't wandering around—it was waiting, calculating.
Boe's heart pounded. This is the one.
Slowly, he reached for Shan's Poké Ball. "Alright, let's do this quietly," he whispered.
He sent out Shan as softly as he could. The Furret landed lightly on the grass, immediately spotting Scyther. The two Pokémon locked eyes. For a moment, nothing happened. Then—Scyther moved. With a blur of motion, it suddenly split into multiple copies.
"Double Team," Boe muttered. "Alright, Shan, stay cool. Use Headbutt on the center one!"
Shan narrowed her eyes, choosing carefully before darting forward. She lowered her head and slammed into the middle Scyther with full force. A direct hit. The copies flickered and vanished as the real Scyther was launched backward.
Scyther it wasn't down. The moment it recovered, its wings began to glow white. Then, it shot forward like a missile.
Boe barely had time to react. "Defense Curl, now!"
Shan tucked herself into a tight ball just as Scyther streaked past her. The glowing wings barely did any damage, glancing off Shan's toughened fur. The instant Scyther passed, Boe seized the opportunity.
"Quick Attack, now!"
Shan uncurled and dashed forward, tackling Scyther from behind. The mantis Pokémon hit the ground hard, rolling before springing back up.
Now, Scyther fought back. With deadly precision, it swung its scythes, slashing at Shan repeatedly. Shan dodged the first few swipes, but one finally landed, slicing across her side.
"Hang in there!" Boe called.
Shan let out a growl and lunged forward, slamming into Scyther with another Headbutt. The force sent Scyther staggering back. It flinched. Boe's eyes widened—this was his chance.
He reached for a Sport Ball and hurled it toward the weakened Scyther. The ball struck the mantis Pokémon, opening and pulling it inside with a flash of red light. The ball landed in the grass and wobbled once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then—click.
Boe exhaled, his heart still pounding. "... I got it." A grin spread across his face as he picked up the Sport Ball. "I got it!"
As the bug-catching contest came to an end, a loud chime rang through the National Park, signaling to all participants that time was up. The remaining trainers, Boe included, began making their way toward the central fountain where the contest officials had gathered.
The large stone fountain stood at the heart of the park, its clear water shimmering under the afternoon sun. Trainers from all over released their catches, proudly displaying their Bug-type Pokémon for final judgment.
Boe scanned the crowd, looking for Zane. It didn't take long to find him—Zane was grinning from ear to ear, looking completely thrilled with himself.
Boe smirked. "Alright, what's with the smug look?"
Zane crossed his arms, his eyes glowing with excitement. "Because I caught the rarest Pokémon in the entire park!"
Boe raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Let's see it then."
At that, Zane pulled a Sport Ball from his belt and tossed it into the air. In a flash of red light, a small, round red Pokémon with black spots appeared. Its six stubby legs barely lifted it off the ground, but its large, expressive eyes blinked up at Boe with a curious, almost bashful look. Two thin antennae twitched slightly as it adjusted its tiny wings.
Boe blinked. "Wait... that's what you caught?"
Zane grinned. "Yep! Check this out."
Boe pulled out his Pokédex, letting it scan the Pokémon.
"Ledyba, the Five Star Pokémon. It is timid and clusters together with others. The fluid it secretes from its arms is a powerful bug-repelling scent."
Boe glanced at Zane. "You're telling me this is the rarest Pokémon in the park?"
Zane scoffed. "You don't get it. Scyther? Pinsir? People catch those all the time. But Ledyba? Super rare."
Boe wasn't convinced, but before he could argue, the Contest Manager, a man with a name tag that read 'Beetle', stepped forward onto a small stage near the fountain. Bugsy, the Azalea Gym Leader, stood beside him.
Bugsy smiled at the crowd. "Alright, trainers! You've all done an amazing job today, but now it's time to announce our winners!"
A hushed silence fell over the competitors as they eagerly awaited the results.
Beetle adjusted his glasses and pulled out a small notecard. "In third place, we have Picnicker Cindy with her Butterfree!"
A young girl in a sunhat beamed as she stepped forward, standing proudly next to her beautifully colored Butterfree, which fluttered its wings excitedly.
Beetle cleared his throat. "In second place, with an impressive capture, we have Boe and his Scyther!"
Boe's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected to win, but second place was a solid placement. He stepped forward, nodding in appreciation as he received his prize—an Everstone.
"An Everstone?" Boe muttered under his breath, examining the smooth, gray rock in his palm. It wasn't the most exciting prize, but he wasn't about to complain.
"And finally," Beetle continued, grinning, "our first-place winner, for catching a truly rare Pokémon, is Zane and his Ledyba!"
Zane pumped his fist in the air as the crowd applauded. Boe couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief, but Zane looked absolutely thrilled as he accepted his Sun Stone.
After the winners were announced, the trio reunited near the entrance of the park, where Rev had been waiting for them.
Zane was still buzzing with excitement, tossing the Sun Stone into the air and catching it repeatedly. "You guys see that? First place! Ledyba for the win!"
Rev snorted. "You guys do realize they're still just Bug Pokémon, right?"
Zane shot him a look. "Oh yeah? Well, this Bug Pokémon just won me a prize. What did you do today? Sit around?"
Rev smirked. "Yep. And I don't regret it."
Boe chuckled at their banter but remained unfazed by his second-place finish. He glanced at his Sport Ball, containing his new Scyther, and smiled. I may not have won, but I got exactly what I came here for.
With the contest behind them, the trio gathered their things and set their sights on their next destination— Ecruteak City. The adventure continued.