Chapter 28: To the Viridian Forest
"I didn't expect such a great thing to happen!"
Ash exclaimed, grinning widely as he ate his breakfast in the Pokémon Center's restaurant. He had already been informed that his trainer level had been upgraded.
Ash had now officially reached the "Poké Ball level", a significant promotion.
In addition to the Alliance's previous compensation, his monthly earnings would now total 6,000 units of currency for the year—a huge sum.
This would allow him to even send some money home to help his family.
"So, Misty, what did you get as a reward?"
Ash asked, glancing at her curiously. Misty had been unusually quiet since receiving her own reward, a mix of emotions crossing her face.
"I don't want to talk about my reward!"
Misty quickly replied, clearly flustered. She wasn't ready for Ash to know more about her background, especially things related to her family or the Cerulean Gym.
The truth was, the reward from the Alliance wasn't insignificant. While it wasn't something for her personally, it would be incredibly helpful to her family.
"Okay..." Ash said, nodding slightly and dropping the subject. He knew that pushing Misty to share something she didn't want to would only frustrate her.
"Anyway, we already bought enough supplies yesterday.
We'll head to the "Viridian Forest" soon. Do you need to prepare anything else?" Ash asked. He was excited, while Misty had a slightly apprehensive look.
"No, I'm fine!" Misty shook her head, still distracted by thoughts of home. She had forgotten the Viridian Forest was home to something she dreaded—"Bug-Type Pokémon"!
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The "Viridian Forest", located between Viridian City and Pewter City, was a dense forest filled with towering trees that formed a natural labyrinth.
Known for its thriving wildlife, it was a popular place for trainers to explore and catch Pokémon, especially Bug-types.
In the past, the Viridian Forest was a treacherous place. Many explorers or trainers would get lost within its thick foliage.
However, after Kanto's development by the Alliance, a road now connected Viridian City to Pewter City, minimizing the chances of people getting lost.
As Ash and Misty approached the forest, they could feel its thick, humid atmosphere. The dense canopy made it difficult for sunlight to filter through, casting the forest in a constant shade.
Before entering, Ash noticed a "warning sign" at the entrance listing necessary precautions, like bringing "paralysis heals" and "antidotes".
"Can we... not go through here?" Misty said hesitantly, clearly regretting her earlier suggestion to take this route.
The moment she remembered the abundance of Bug Pokémon inside, fear crept into her mind.
"We're already here..." Ash said, slightly exasperated. He glanced at Misty, who was already hiding behind him, her anxiety written all over her face.
They hadn't even entered the forest yet, and she was already on edge.
"Besides, you're a trainer. You can't afford to be scared of certain types of Pokémon! That would be a huge weakness. If an opponent knew about your fear, they'd easily exploit it," Ash pointed out.
He knew Misty's ambition was to become a Water-Type master, but he also understood that to achieve such a goal, she couldn't have glaring weaknesses.
Her fear of Bug-Types was something she'd have to overcome eventually.
"I know, but... it's really scary..." Misty muttered. She had thought about overcoming this fear many times, but seeing Caterpie, Weedle, or any other bug-like Pokémon still made her shudder.
"Well, starting now, we'll work on overcoming that fear!"
Ash said determinedly. He grabbed Misty's hand and began leading her toward the forest.
Misty, however, was having none of it. She struggled against him, pulling back in protest.
Despite her resistance, Ash's strength easily overpowered hers, and he dragged her along as she clung to his arm, occasionally glancing around nervously.
"There's nothing to be afraid of. Even if we run into a Bug-Type Pokémon, I'll protect you,"
Ash reassured her. He didn't have any particular issue with Bug-types, and in fact, he was even considering catching one, like a Caterpie.
Caterpie was a Pokémon well-suited for Rookie Trainers, with a short growth cycle.
In just a week, with proper training, it could evolve into "Butterfree", a powerful Pokémon with Bug and Flying dual types. Its abilities like "Compound Eyes" or hidden abilities like "Tinted Lens" made Butterfree a versatile addition to any team.
"Hmm... maybe I should consider catching one," Ash thought to himself.
Just as Ash was contemplating his next move, Misty let out a sharp scream. Without warning, she grabbed Ash and buried her head behind his back, trembling uncontrollably.
"What's wrong?!" Ash gasped, trying to turn around, but with Misty clinging to him, his movement was restricted.
"Pika—!" Pikachu, standing alert, noticed the cause of Misty's panic. Emerging from the bushes was a small green Pokémon with big, round, black eyes, its segmented body covered in green stripes.
It was a "Caterpie".
The Caterpie wriggled out slowly, its antenna twitching as it looked curiously at Ash, Misty, and Pikachu.
Its soft, white underbelly contrasted with the green of its back, and it had a red, Y-shaped antenna on its head, with yellow circular patterns on the sides of its body.
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"Caterpie"
Type: Bug
Category: Worm Pokémon
Ability: Shield Dust;
Hidden Ability: Run Away
Ability Description: Shield Dust prevents additional effects from moves that have them.
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Caterpie was one of the most common Pokémon in the Viridian Forest, and it was this sight that had made Misty shriek in terror. Despite its harmless and even cute appearance, Misty was petrified.
"Don't worry, don't worry..." Ash comforted Misty, while he debated whether or not to try and catch the Caterpie.
Its "Shield Dust" ability was useful, but it would eventually evolve into Butterfree with "Compound Eyes", making it a solid choice. While Caterpie was common, it was still a great Pokémon for training and quick growth.
"Maybe I should give it a shot..." Ash thought.
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Adios