Chapter 36: Weedle
After Kai Ross failed, the samurai boy switched to another Pokémon—Metapod!
Metapod, the evolved form of Caterpie, has sacrificed much of its mobility.
Though its defense is impressive, it can't compensate for its lack of speed. In the face of Pidgey, Metapod fared even worse than Kai Ross.
It couldn't mount any real offense and was swiftly defeated, powerless to fight back.
The samurai boy left, filled with reluctance. For two consecutive days, he had lost to Trainers from Pallet Town—rookies no less. This was a heavy blow for him.
Yet, alongside the defeat, he also remembered their names—Ash and Gary, two Trainers from Pallet Town.
"The next time we meet, I will definitely make an impression!"
The samurai boy muttered quietly, glancing back at Ash and Misty as they walked away. He swore that one day he would stand before them again and prove his true strength.
After parting ways with the samurai boy, Ash and Misty continued their journey.
Pikachu, however, seemed a bit displeased. It hadn't participated in the previous battle, and now, it was sulking.
Ash chuckled at Pikachu's mood.
In the anime, Pikachu wasn't particularly aggressive. But now, it seemed Pikachu was influenced by Ash, adopting a more competitive personality.
Perhaps it was because of Ash's desire to inherit the legacy of the Soaring Dragon of Osiris.
As noon approached, Ash and Misty started looking for a suitable campsite. Rather than continuing on their path, they scouted for a place to set up their tent.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on their side this time. There was no water source nearby, and although there were no traces of wild Pokémon—making it a safer spot—it meant they would have to dip into their limited water reserves.
For lunch, Ash once again took charge of preparing the meal. Pikachu and Pidgey didn't need fresh food, as there were leftovers from the previous day. They'd save cooking for dinner.
While they ate, Ash reflected on Pidgey's performance in battle.
After giving it some thought, he explained Pidgey's weaknesses and areas for improvement. Pidgey listened intently, a realization dawning on it.
Pidgey had grown to admire Ash. Yesterday's training, today's battle, and even Ash's advice now made Pidgey feel like a door had opened to a new world, one where it was learning more than ever.
Pidgey felt lucky. If it hadn't stumbled upon Ash's battle that day, it might never have encountered such a dedicated Trainer.
After lunch and a short break, Ash and Misty resumed training. Ash also tweaked his regimen, incorporating combat skills into their practice.
For the first half of the afternoon, they focused on move training. The latter half was dedicated to sparring, where Ash had Pidgey and Pikachu practice against each other.
Their training soon caught Misty's attention. Excited, she asked to join in, turning it into a mock battle: Pidgey versus Staryu and Pikachu versus Starmie.
Of course, they all held back, not using their full strength. This was, after all, just a practice session to hone their skills. An injury could disrupt their journey and harm the camaraderie between the Pokémon.
The results of this training were evident. More battles allowed the Pokémon to better understand their weaknesses, and the Trainers gained clearer insight into their own.
Pidgey began to focus more on targeting an opponent's weak spots, and Pikachu became more agile, showing less hesitation.
Misty's Staryu and Starmie also made notable improvements, particularly in the precision and speed of their Water Gun attacks. Ash and Misty noticed these developments.
Impressed, they decided to incorporate this type of training into their daily routine, hoping to further strengthen their teams.
After a peaceful night, Ash and Misty continued their journey through Viridian Forest.
On the third day, they encountered two more Trainers along the road, and both Ash and Misty won their respective battles.
"I feel like I've grown so much since traveling with you," Misty remarked as they searched for a campsite around noon.
When she had been traveling alone, she never felt this kind of progress.
But now, influenced by Ash, she had begun to train her Pokémon with more focus and purpose. She could see the improvement.
"I've learned a lot from you too," Ash replied. Misty had been an invaluable help, especially during the confusing early days of his journey as a rookie Trainer.
And with her by his side, Ash didn't feel so lonely. It felt good to have someone to talk to and work with along the way.
"It would be even better if you'd stop going after Bug-type Pokémon…" Misty said with a hint of exasperation. Although Ash had already caught Pidgey, he still hadn't given up on the idea of catching another Pokémon.
Ash, indeed, was ready to catch a third Pokémon. With Pikachu and Pidgey both on track, he didn't need to devote as much energy to their training.
This left room to capture another Pokémon.
Ash had narrowed it down to two possibilities: Caterpie or Weedle. Both had strong final evolutions with distinct advantages. But compared to Butterfree,
Ash was more drawn to Beedrill's aggressive nature and stronger offensive capabilities.
Ash had already decided on his battle style for the future: aggressive and fast-paced. Butterfree was excellent, but Beedrill's characteristics fit better with Ash's vision.
Plus, Beedrill had a Mega Evolution form. If Ash could one day find Beedrill's Mega Stone and his own Key Stone, Beedrill could become a powerful ally.
The challenge, however, was finding a solitary Weedle. Unlike Butterfree's family, Beedrill's line typically lived in swarms, making it hard to find one alone.
But surprises often come when least expected. While scouting for a suitable campsite, Ash and Misty stumbled upon a lone Weedle resting on a tree.
"Could it be because I'm the destined main character from the original anime?" Ash thought to himself, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Meanwhile, Misty was hiding behind Ash, terrified. Though she had gotten better at not screaming whenever she saw a Bug-type Pokémon, her fear hadn't entirely faded.
---
Adios