A few days later…
The gang were getting closer to leaving Viridian Forest and continuing on their respective Pokemon journeys. But for now, the group found a small lake in Viridian Forest just a day away from the forest’s exit and decided to go for a swim.
While Ash was in the changing tent changing into his swimsuit with Spike, the girls were outside of the tent changing into theirs.
“This’ll be fun, right guys?” Ash asked the girls.
“Of course it will be. Being in water with all the Water-Pokemon is sure to be a blast!” Misty said.
“I agree. Maybe we can even find ourselves some new Pokemon pals while we’re here,” Iris suggested.
“That would be great! For all we know we can make some Pokemon pals who will invite their friends and their friends to join us! I can't wait!" Pinkie cheered.
"But…are you sure we should be going into this water? I mean, there’s no telling if the water is even clean, right?” Dawn asked.
"Agreed. The water could be filled with parasitic organisms!" Rarity noted.
"Or...it could be just water with a possible Psyduck," Rainbow grumbled.
“Hey, it’s not like going into this water will kill us, right? It’ll be harmless to take a dip, right Iris?” Ash asked the wild child.
“It should be. I wouldn’t want to add germaphobe to the list of annoyances I’ll face with you guys, right Axew?” Iris asked as Axew nodded.
"Iris has a point. It's not like the water was poisoned or something, right Twilight?" Applejack asked.
"True. Though honestly, we can't know for sure without testing it. Oh, if only I had my basement's science kit! I could find out what organisms-," Twilight got into science mode.
"Twilight? You're doing it again," Spike pointed out from inside the tent.
"Oh...right!" Twilight blushed as she finished changing.
In a few minutes, everyone but Misty were in their swimsuits, ready to take a break from their trek through the forest.
“Alright! I’ve gotten changed and by now the girls should have changed as well. Let’s go, Pikachu!” Ash cried out as he and his partner began to run out of the tent with Spike following…only for both Snivy to push them back with Vine Whip and Piplup with Bubblebeam.
“Hold on a second, Ash! We’re not all ready yet!” Dawn cried out.
“Yeah! For some reason, Misty hasn’t changed yet," Twilight said.
"And I can tell that she’s the type to get angry if you see her naked. Just give us a few more minutes and we can swim,” Iris warned.
"Then why not change with us? She's holding up our swim time right now!" Rainbow groaned.
“Actually, you won’t have to worry about that, Ash. I can even get changed with you out here and you won’t see anything,” Misty said as she removed her outfit, her swimsuit being on underneath her clothes. “Tada! I’m ready!”
“Wait! You have your swimsuit underneath your clothes?” Dawn asked the red-head.
“Of course. I mean, I’m a Water-type Gym Leader and I’m bound to be in water a good amount of the time, so I figured it would be easier to have my swimsuit on at all times rather than waste time changing. Better than getting seen naked by some perv while changing into it all the time,” Misty explained as the other girls and Ash blushed briefly.
"Not a bad idea there. Perhaps we spould take some notes for changing clothes in this new world, girls?" Rarity asked.
"Well...it may be a good idea to do," Fluttershy agreed.
“So, can Pikachu and I get out of the tent now? We really want to get to swimming!” Ash asked.
"Yeah! We can talk about this extra clothing junk later!" Rainbow complained.
"I gree' with Rainbow here. Can we move on?" Applejack asked.
“I guess there's nothing holding us back anymore," Twilight noted.
"Yes, you can, Ash!” Dawn answered.
“Perfect!” Ash said as he, Spike, and Pikachu left their tent, only to start blushing in response to seeing how cute the girls looked in their swimwear.
“Is something the matter, Ash?” Iris asked the teen boy.
"Yeah...you look like how I do around Ra-," Spike began only to blush as he saw Rarity and began to look away.
“Oh! I-It’s nothing!” Ash lied.
“I doubt it’s nothing, Ash. Your face is all red,” Dawn pointed out.
“T-Then maybe I have a fever. But it’s no big deal! I can still swim!” Ash lied once more.
“Oh, I get it! You think we look attractive, don’t you?” Misty teased.
“N-No! It’s not that! I-I just got distracted by a Pokemon!” Ash lied.
"Ohh! A Pokemon? Where?!" Pinkie asked.
"Um...maybe they already left?" Fluttershy suggested.
"More like there wasn't one at all...," Applejack snarked.
“I agree. I know you well enough, Ash, to know that that isn’t the case. You blushed just like this the one time we shared a bath when there wasn’t much water at my house during our sleepover,” Dawn said with a mischievous grin.
“Don’t mention that, please!” Ash blushed even more as Pikachu looked sympathetic and Snivy shook her head.
“Look, if it makes you feel any better, Ash, we won’t judge you for finding us cute. It may even be seen as a bit flattering,” Iris pointed out.
"Yeah! There's no reason to be uncomfortable liking the way a lady looks....within reason," Rarity said.
“Just don’t do anything creepy or perverted and we’ll be fine,” Misty agreed.
“Well…Okay, fine. You all are cute. But don’t get all big headed about it. It’s not like it means anything. Now, let’s just get to swimming,” Ash admitted as he sent out his Pokemon and then jumped into the lake, with Pikachu jumping in with him.
“Okay then. Axew, you wanna jump in too?” Iris asked as Axew shook his head nervously, being scared of jumping in. “Oh, I see. Well, if you want I can just help you get into some shallow water until you feel braver,” Iris suggested as she gave her partner a sympathetic look. Axew agreed to the idea and Iris placed Axew into the shallow end of the water where he could wade safely. Iris, meanwhile, joined Axew after jumping into the water.
“You know, having gotten used to the water over the years, I can dive into almost any pool of water gracefully,” Misty claimed.
“Really? Let’s see you do that,” Ash challenged.
“Fine. I’ll show you, Mr. Pokemon Master,” And so, Misty dived gracefully into the water headfirst, popping up a few seconds later. “See? Graceful.”
“Right…So, Dawn? You gonna join us or are you gonna sit on the sidelines?” Iris asked as Axew splashed her with some water.
“Um? Can I wait for a minute, please?” Dawn asked the wild girl.
“Seriously? You just wasted a few minutes changing into your swimsuit and you aren’t going to jump in or even swim? Are you still worried about the water being hygienic?” Iris sighed in annoyance.
“K-Kinda. I know it’s probably fine, but I don’t want to take that risk yet,” Dawn admitted.
“Are you kidding?! Why even bother changing then?!” Iris was annoyed.
“To be fair, Dawn has always been a bit worried about her health and being clean in the past. As annoying as it can be, I’ve done my best to be patient with her,” Ash explained.
“Thanks a lot, Ash,” Dawn grumbled, half accepting but half annoyed.
“If she doesn’t wanna swim, she doesn’t have to swim,” Ash said.
“Uh huh. But she’ll be missing out if she decides to stay on the sidelines,” Misty said as she swam around the edges of the lake to get some exercise.
“I…guess I can give swimming in this lake a try. What do you make of it, Piplup?” Dawn asked her partner who was sitting next to her, longing to jump in and have fun. Piplup talked for a moment, leaving Dawn confused due to the language barrier.
“He’s asking if you can please go swimming with him. He’d go in either way, but he doesn’t want you missing out on this fun time,” Iris translated as the others looked at her. “What? He really said that! I’m just trying to be helpful here.”
Dawn laughed for a moment before deciding, albeit reluctantly, “O-Okay then. I’ll go in. I need to get used to swimming like this anyway.” And so, Dawn dipped a toe into the cool water. In a few seconds, she began to get used to the water and dipped the rest of her foot into it. Dawn, upon getting used to it, found the water cool and refreshing and eased the rest of her body in. Dawn swam in place for a few moments before her nervousness started to fade and she became relaxed. “This really is refreshing.”
“See? The water won’t bite,” Ash reassured.
“Yeah! Once again, I turned out to be right,” Iris gloated a bit.
“What’s important is that Dawn took a big step towards getting used to swimming in lake water,” Misty noted.
“Yep. Though, admittedly I still am a bit uncomfortable. But, for you guys and Piplup, I’ll be willing to at least try,” Dawn admitted as Piplup jumped in joyfully.
“Sounds good! Now, let’s get to relaxing!” Ash cried out.
“Oh! Since I’m here, I send out…Buneary! Come on out and join us!” Dawn throws a Pokeball, Buneary materializes as she pops out and sees Pikachu, having hearts in her eyes as she does so. “Hey. Why are you looking at Pikachu. Are you…in love?” Dawn asked, looking a bit excited.
“Well, Pikachu, looks like you’ve got yourself an admirer! How does it feel?” Misty asks, as Pikachu looks awkward when Buneary nuzzles up next to him.
“Okay? So, this is happening. Well…I guess it’s no big deal she feels this way about Pikachu. But maybe Buneary should calm down a bit. She does seem to be coming on a bit strong,” Ash said as Pikachu nodded awkwardly.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And so, the group spent a good hour relaxing in the lake, spending the time swimming, resting, and, in Ash’s case, taking some time to begin training his Pokemon to fight underwater in case it was necessary. Pikachu and Snivy did decently, though Metapod and Pidgeotto did poorly.
“This has been really fun, you guys. I’m really enjoying our swim,” Dawn admitted.
“See? Kinda makes you feel silly for acting like you did earlier, right?” Iris asked half-teasingly.
“I guess…,” Dawn said with a blush.
Suddenly, Misty’s stomach growled, causing the girl to blush in embarrassment.
“Well, I did see a tree filled with Oran berries a little bit down the path. Why don’t you go get one?” Dawn asked.
“Um…,” Misty was nervous for a moment.
“The berries should be fine to eat, Misty,” Iris confirmed with Axew backing her up.
“Okay. I’ll be back in a minute,” Misty said as she got out of the lake.
“Anyways, it sounds cool that you three all have some goal in mind, even if you don’t have all your answers yet,” Iris said.
“Hey, I bet you have a goal as cool as ours are,” Ash said.
“Yeah! Even if it isn’t the grandest, it’s still gotta be important to you,” Dawn agreed.
“Yeah…right,” Iris said awkwardly.
“Speaking of which, if you don't mind, what exactly is your goal, Iris?” Ash questioned.
“M-My goal…?” Iris nervously wondered what to say for a moment.
“What's wrong now?” Ash asked.
“Is it those Team Rocket folks again?” Applejack asked.
“Is it a dangerous Pokemon like a Beedrill?” Fluttershy asked.
“Don’t remind me!” Misty freaked out.
“I think that it may be her Entomophobia kicking in again,” Twilight noted.
“Oh! What bug do you think it is this time?” Pinkie Pie asked as Rarity covered her mouth before she could say anything more.
“No offense, darling, but maybe we be quiet about bugs in front of Misty,” Rarity whispered.
“It could be worse. At least we’re leaving the forest soon,” Dawn noted.
“So, what is it Misty? Is it another bug?” Rainbow asked.
“Yes! I think I see another bug! Gross!” Misty admitted.
“Wanna bet it’s a COWterpie?” Pinkie Pie joked, trying to lighten the mood. However, everyone falls over at Pinkie's terrible joke.
“Can you not make a joke that bad again, Pinkie? That was terrible,” Ash noted as his Snivy shook her head.
“Yeah! No offense, Pinkie, but that joke wasn’t very good,” Twilight said.
“It kinda stunk,” Rainbow bluntly said as Applejack lightly shoved her for her mean comment.
“And kinda offensive considering Misty’s fear of bugs,” Rarity noted.
“You better believe it is! That's not funny! You know I hate bugs and I saw one right over there!” Misty yelled out as everyone looked over to a small worm-like Pokemon.
“You mean another worm?” Rainbow snarked.
“That’s not a worm. It’s…,” Dawn began.
“A Weedle!” Fluttershy cooed.
“A Pokemon that doubles as a weed?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“No, Pinkie. It’s another Bug-type that has double stingers on their body. They also evolve into a giant bee called a Beedrill. I’m kinda surprised to see one out here. After all, Weedle are usually around the evolved form at this stage of life, unlike Caterpie,” Twilight noted.
“A giant bee, huh?” Rainbow was getting interested as she got out her Pokedex.
“Weedle. The stinger on this Pokémon's head guarantees that any attacker will get the point right where it hurts.”
“Two stingers, huh? Now there's a challenge,” As was getting interested.
“I can help you catch him. I kinda would like getting a giant bee on our team,” Rainbow was also invested as she turned to her Snivy, who was looking nervous.
“Why are you excited about a bug with two stingers? Make it go away!” Misty protested.
“You gotta be kidding! You can't possibly expect a Pokémon trainer worth talking about like me to let a Weedle escape. I'm gonna catch it!” Ash protests as reaches for a Pokéball.
“You’re not worth talking about yet, you know!” Misty reminded.
“Yes we are! We’ll be piling up victory after victory in no time!” Rainbow yelled out.
“Bit big-headed of you, eh Rainbow Dash?” Applejack muttered.
“Hey!”
“Now, now. Misty has a point. We need to earn our Pokemon Master status. This is just one of the early obstacles we need to overcome.” Ash, fortunately, realizes his mistake before he makes it. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot! You have to weaken a Pokémon before you can capture it. Let's go, Pikachu.”
To everyone’s disbelief, they see Pikachu sleeping, wanting to take a nap after a few hours of walking.
“Did we really walk that much?” Spike wondered.
“I don’t know. Still, walking around and being much smaller than us would definitely add up,” Dawn noted.
“The poor little fella must be tired. Let him take a rest, Ash,” Fluttershy said.
“I got it. Besides, I have a lot of other Pokemon ready to battle with. And I know the perfect fit for battling the Weedle,” Ash said.
“I know what you’re gonna say. Snivy, let’s…,” Rainbow began.
“Pidgeotto, I choose you!” Ash called out as he sent out his Pokemon, the bird materializing.
“Oh, r-right,” Rainbow corrected with a blush as Snivy sighed in relief. “Don’t worry, girl. We’ll fight the next Pokemon we run across.”
“Did you seriously expect to fight a Bug with a Grass-type?” Rarity asked.
“No!” Rainbow defended herself.
Misty notices the Weedle is right next to her and screams. “Don't just stand there, catch it!”
“It’s good that Ash is taking into account type matchups. I just hope Rainbow will learn something from this,” Twilight said to Spike.
“Knowing her, it will take a while,” Spike muttered.
“Pidgeotto, Gust attack!” Ash called out. The attack lands and blows the Weedle back. “That's the way to do it!”
“Is it just me or did Misty just vanish?” Dawn asked, noticing that Misty was gone.
“I think she’s still here. She’s just a distance away,” Spike pointed to her being a few feet away.
“Her fear of bugs is really starting to get on my nerves. Still, it will be cool to have a new Pokemon to battle with in a few minutes,” Rainbow noted.
“Come on, Ash! Take him down!” Pinkie Pie cheered.
Meanwhile, Misty was hiding behind a tree like Spike pointed out. “This whole forest is crawling with slimy, disgusting Pokémon. I wish they'd all just bug off!” Suddenly, a young man leaps out of the bushes in a samurai helmet and points his katana at Misty.
“HIIIIII-YAAAAA!!! Greetings, oh shrieking maiden. Are you by chance the Pokémon trainer who comes from Pallet?” The strange man asks.
“No. That's not me!” Misty nervously answered.
“Alas, my search continues. I advise you to refrain from further shrieking while passing through this forest, unless your goal is to attract a horde of Beedrills,” The Samurai warned as he walked on.
“What a weird kid! I wonder why he'd be looking for a Pokémon trainer from…,” Misty wondered before she gasped. “That's Ash!”
Meanwhile, the Weedle charges with its front stinger pointed at Pidgeotto. “Uh oh. That Weedle is using that two inch stinger Twilight mentioned,” Dawn warned.
“Still, being as small as he is he can’t do much,” Rarity noted.
“Of course he can’t, Rarity,” Spike agreed with a lovestruck grin.
“Uh, remember that both Caterpie we have easily defeated bigger Pokemon on their own,” Applejack pointed out.
“Fair, but Weedle can’t use much except for his poison,” Twilight reminded the group.
“Pidgeotto, watch out for its Poison Sting!” Ash warned, Pidgeotto dodging in time. “Ha! Nice work!” Pidgeotto swoops in and knocks Weedle against a tree. “Okay, here we go,” Ash said as he gets out a Pokéball. “Weedle, I've got you now!” Suddenly, the Samurai approached Ash.
“Uh, who is that guy?” Applejack asked.
“I don’t know. But his armor definitely looks stunning,” Rarity noted.
“I think it’s cool. But why is he here at this point?” Rainbow wondered.
“I dunno. Maybe he’s off on a world saving journey?” Pinkie Pie suggested.
“Greetings. Am I addressing the Pokémon trainer who comes from Pallet?” The Samurai asked.
“I'm a Pokémon trainer from Pallet, but I'm a little busy catching a Pokemon for me and my friend. We can talk in a minute,” Ash answered.
“I have found you at last!” The Samurai said happily as he unsheathed his katana.
“Ash!!” Misty and Dawn cried out in worry, Ash’s Snivy giving a glare after getting over her shock.
“Look out, he's drawing his sword!” Rainbow cried out as she rushed and punched the guy in the face.
“Ow! What was that for, less than fair maiden?” The Samurai asked.
“You’re threatening my friend with that sword, of course!” Rainbow yelled out.
“Technically it’s a katana,” Twilight whispered.
“Not the time,” Spike whispered.
“I’m doing no such thing!” The Samurai yelled out. “Now then, back to business.”
Ash turns and sees the stranger point his katana at him. “That sword doesn't scare me! There's no way you're stealing my Pokémon!”
“I am no Pokémon thief like those dishonorable Team Rocket grunts,” The Samurai noted.
“Well, that’s a relief. Just give Ash a minute and we can continue talking,” Dawn said.
“Who are you then?” Misty asked.
“Am I suddenly invisible?” Dawn grumbled to Ash’s Snivy and Pikachu, who had just woken up. Snivy gave a sympathetic look while Pikachu gave her a smile.
“I am Samurai. I am also shrewd, fearless, and completely invincible in combat. I have been searching the forest for you,” The Samurai revealed.
“Kinda literal name there,” Applejack whispered.
“Still, at least he wears it well,” Rarity whispered back.
“I’ll make this quick, but what do you want from me?” Ash was curious.
“A Pokémon match! Let us see who triumphs,” The Samurai answered as Pikachu cried, looking ready for battle.
“Perfect! That should be fun! Just let me catch this Weedle and we can get-,” Ash said only to be interrupted.
“Wow, Ash! I didn’t know that you wanted Weedle to slither off!” Pinkie Pie cheered.
“Oh no!” Ash yelled out as he turned and saw Weedle trying to escape. “I'll get it! Pokéball, go!” Ash throws the Pokéball, but the Weedle escapes.
“This is a classic case of why it's important to focus on what you're doing before turning your attention to something else,” Twilight said.
“Not everything has to be a lesson, Twilight,” Rainbow grumbled in annoyance. “Now where are we gonna get a Beedrill?”
“We can always see if there is one in the forest to catch,” Pinkie suggested.
“I’d rather not!” Misty protested.
“Seeing as how Beedrill are quite hostile, maybe we’re better off without one,” Dawn agreed.
“Oh. Well, I’m sorry I wanted one,” Fluttershy apologized meekly.
“Pidgeotto, return!” Ash recalled his Pokemon. “You know, that Weedle only got away because you mixed me up. Next time, wait to talk to me or anyone else.”
“Don't blame your failure on me. Your Pokémon handling is dimwitted and clumsy,” The Samurai protested.
“Hey! We’re not bad Trainers! We could beat the sword off you easily!” Rainbow protested as her Snivy nodded.
“Katana,” Twilight said.
“Not now!” Rainbow yelled in annoyance.
“I have to agree with Rainbow. I have a full team of six Pokemon. I have an advantage,” Ash said.
“There is one way to find out,” The Samurai noted.
“A battle, huh?” Rainbow was intrigued.
“You’re on!” Ash agreed.
“Can we not? I want out of this forest!” Misty protested.
“Maybe we should get out of the forest first?” Fluttershy suggested nervously.
“We can have the battle out of it, like Fluttershy said,” Dawn agreed.
“Why when we can battle here and now?” The Samurai declined as Ash got ready for battle.
Soon, both combatants are ready.
“Let’s begin the ba-,” Rainbow said.
“WAIT!” Pinkie Pie interrupted.
“What is it, Pinkie?” Dawn asked.
“We need a referee to judge the match,” Pinkie Pie answered.
“But who could do that? None of us have any experience,” Applejack pointed out.
“Why not let Twilight do it? She’s read the rule book inside and out,” Rarity suggested.
“Yeah! She can do it!” Spike agreed, confident in his sister’s abilities.
“Well… I guess I can give it a try. I wasn’t able to do so back in Viridian City, so I guess I can try now. This will be an all out match! Each trainer will use all the Pokémon they have at their disposal until either trainer has no Pokémon left. Samurai! Ash! Let the battle begin!” Twilight decided.
“Pidgeotto, do your stuff!” Ash said as he sent out his Pokemon. As Pidgeotto emerged from the Pokéball, it was sprawled to the ground and panted out. “Uh oh. She still hasn’t recovered from battling that Weedle.”
“Ash, don't you know that you have to let your Pokémon rest once in a while, especially once a battle is over!” Misty yelled out as if it was common knowledge.
“Well, I…,” Ash awkwardly said.
“Only a novice goes into battle with a pooped out Pokémon! Your blunder will cost you dearly!” Samurai noted smugly.
“It’s okay. You’re still new to being a Trainer like I am,” Dawn comforted Ash.
“Yeah! I bet you’ll remember to give your Pokemon rest in the future!” Pinkie Pie agreed.
“I’ve heard that there was a Pallet Town maiden that was into Contests. Am I right to assume it is you that I’ve heard about?” Samurai asked.
“Of course! My name is Dawn and I plan on becoming a Top Pokemon Coordinator! I take it you wanna battle me too?” Dawn confidently said.
“Not really. And, sorry to say, but I believe that a maiden such as you shouldn’t sully the name of the town of Pallet with such a decision,” Samurai commented.
“Why you…!” Dawn growled.
“Everyone has the right to their own decision! You shouldn’t talk down to us for being interested in Contests!” Rarity argued.
“Look, maybe you can save the argument for after the battle?” Applejack interrupted.
“I agree with the Miltank girl. Let’s begin! Pinsir, assume battle mode!” Samurai called out as he threw his Pokeball and Pinsir materialized.
“Whoa! He's got a Pinsir!” Ash was amazed.
“I-It looks terrifying!” Misty shivered in fear.
“I think he looks cool, personally,” Rainbow said. “Unfortunately for him, he’s gonna lose!” At this, Rainbow gets Dexter out.
“Pinsir. This fearsome Pokémon uses its powerful claws to put the squeeze on its opponents.”
“That Pinsir looks pretty tough,” Spike notes.
“I can tell from the looks of it that yer not kidding,” Applejack said.
“Yeah! I’ve read that thing can lift things that are twice its own weight! Seeing that a Pinsir weighs 121.3 pounds, that means it can lift 242.6 pounds! Phew! Who knew nature can be so fascinating,” Fluttershy said in awe.
“It may be strong, but Pidgeotto can beat it! At least…I hope she can. Pidgeotto, Sand Attack!” Ash commands his Pokemon. The attack envelopes Pinsir in a cloud of sand.
“That might be smart,” Twilight noted.
“In what way?” Rainbow asked.
“By blinding that Pinsir, their accuracy is lowered and is also more likely to miss with future attacks,” Twilight answered.
“That sounds great! Keep it up, Ash!” Pinkie cheered.
“I just hope Ash decides to take to the skies and fight from a distance. It may be the only way to win at this point,” Dawn noted.
“I just wish it was something I could still do,” Rainbow muttered to herself sadly.
“Now, Pidgeotto, take to the skies and then use Gust!” Ash cried out, as Pidgeotto knocked back Pinsir by the wind. “Perfect! Now, fly in close and use Aerial Ace!” Pidgeotto was quick to make the dash into Pinsir.
“Pinisir, try to use your Focus Blast!” Samurai called out. Pinsir shot out a blue orb at Pidgeotto, before the bird disappeared for a moment much to most everyone’s confusion, before returning to dash into him causing a lot of damage.
“Wait. Why risk going in close with that attack?” Applejack asked.
“And why did Pidgeotto disappear for a moment?” Rarity agreed.
“That’s just how Aerial Ace works,” Twilight noted.
“Huh?” Most of the other girls were confused.
“I’ll tell you. You see, Aerial Ace is a move that is guaranteed to hit once called. It cannot be dodged. The only way to evade is to try and counter with your own attack,” Twilight answered.
“So that’s why Ash chose to go for it. He’s gonna win this for certain!” Rainbow cheered confidently.
“Maybe. The attack was a Flying-type move, making it super-effective against Pinisr. However, Pidgeotto is still tired,” Fluttershy reminded everyone.
“Ash better recall Pidgeotto, before she gets hurt,” Dawn noted.
“Are you okay, Pinsir?” After getting confirmation, the Samurai said with a smirk, “That's child's play! Pinsir, X-Scissor it!”
“Dawn may have a point. Pidegeo-,” Ash began only for X-Scissor to hit, the attack knocks Pidgeotto out in one strike.
“Pidgeotto is unable to continue! Pinsir is the winner!” Twilight made the call.
“In one strike, with a bad type matchup too. Ash may be in trouble,” Dawn noted in worry.
“Don’t worry, Dawn! Ash can still win this and we can have a party to celebrate his first full win!” Pinkie Pie comforted.
“Yeah, and keep in mind that Pidgeotto was already tired beforehand,” Applejack reminded.
“Also, Pinsir was hit super-effectively twice. Pinsir won’t last much longer,” Rarity agreed.
Samurai laughs, “Your Pokémon is beaten! Not bad so far, but I’m afraid you won’t beat me, Novice!”
“Oh no. Pidgeotto, return!” Ash said as Pidgeotto is recalled.
“Novice, are you ready to surrender?” Samurai asked confidently.
“No way, I'm just warming up. Metapod, I choose you, now!” Ash cried out as Metapod materialized.
“Watch and weep as Pinsir crushes your Metapod in half!” Samurai gloats.
“No!” Ash is horrified as he imagines what Pinsir's claws could do to Metapod. “Those claws… Maybe I should send out Aipom or even Pikachu.”
“Good idea, Ash! Call off Metapod. Not even a bug deserves this,” Misty calls out in genuine concern.
“This looks bad, right Twilight? I mean, Metapod isn’t able to attack, right?” Spike asked his older sister.
“Well…,” Twilight was uncertain how to respond.
“To be honest, I’ve heard that some Metapod can still use their Tackle and String Shot moves with enough practice. The question is if Ash’s can,” Fluttershy said, hoping Ash’s could still attack.
“Metapod, use Tackle on Pinsir!” Ash cried out as Metapod dashed into Pinsir, causing some damage.
“Perfect! Metapod can fight back!” Rarity was relieved.
“Yeah! Considering that Metapod isn’t very mobile, I was worried he’d get hurt,” Fluttershy sighed in relief.
“But Pinsir is still standing. Metapod may still be in trouble,” Spike reminded the group.
“Yeah…Wait! All Metapod can still use Harden, right? Ash can still defend Metapod!” Dawn realized.
“This match has already been won! Pinsir, use Vice Grip!” Samurai cried out as he had Pinsir prepare to lift Metapod.
“Metapod, Harden, now!” Ash calls out as Metapod Hardens just as Pinsir picks it up. Right on cue, the pointy ends on Pinsir's claws fail to break Metapod..
“It worked! Metapod is still standing!”
“Great! Now, Metapod, use your Tackle once more!” Ash cried out as Pinsir is tackled into and knocked out.
“Pinsir is unable to continue! Metapod is the winner!” Twilight makes the call.
“Great! Ash was able to find a way to turn things around! If only I was as good at doing the same…,” Spike notes sadly.
“What was that, Spikey?” Rarity asked, not certain what she just heard.
“Oh, nothing!” Spike dismissed nervously.
“You know, Spike, if y’all ever want to talk to us about anything, we will be more than happy to listen,” Applejack said.
“Yeah! We don’t want you feeling down about stuff,” Fluttershy agreed.
“Maybe later I can go back to Equestria to get you a gem-cake to cheer you up,” Pinkie Pie suggested.
“Thanks, but uh…,” Spike began.
“Humans can’t eat gems like dragons can, Pinkie,” Twilight answered.
“So, now who's the novice?” Ash confidently asked.
“Yeah! You’re down one Pokemon out of… whatever you have left!” Rainbow agreed. “Isn’t that right, Snivy?” At this, Snivy gives a nod.
“I have two other Pokemon remaining compared to your five. But the battle isn’t over yet. Pinsir, return!” Pinsir is recalled. “Pokéball, go!” A Metapod materializes.
“Another Metapod,” Ash noted.
“This battle will be so cool, girls! A Metapod on Metapod battle! Which one do you think will win?” Pinkie cried out excitedly.
“Yeah, but remember, not all Pokemon are on equal footing just for being the same species,” Dawn warned.
“What do ya mean?” Rainbow asked.
“She means that Samurai’s Metapod could be weaker or stronger than Ash’s. Whatever the case is for this one will decide the battle,” Misty answered.
“Go ahead and fight back against us, Novice! We’ll be ready for all of your Tackle attacks,” Samurai boasted.
“We’ll see about that,” Ash challenged back. “Metapod, use your Tackle attack!”
“Metapod, Harden, right now!” Samurai called out. And, to everyone’s surprise, Samurai’s Metapod was able to endure the attack.
“What the-?!” Rainbow was shocked.
“I guess the answer may be that Samurai’s Metapod is the stronger one?” Spike mumbled.
“Silly Novice! I’ve trained my Metapod well, more than well enough to take plenty of hits from your pathetic Metapod!” Samurai revealed.
“Looks like Ash may be in trouble from a battling perspective,” Rarity noted nervously.
“Ash still has the advantage. After all, he still has plenty of other Pokemon to battle with,” Applejack reminded.
“We might be in trouble if we can’t deal much damage against Samurai’s Metapod. Metapod, re-,” Ash called out as he prepared to recall his Metapod. However, before he recalled him, Metapod looked to Ash confidently, looking as though he still wanted to battle. “Are you sure?” At this, Metapod nodded. “Well, okay. Metapod, use another Tackle attack!”
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Team Rocket is wandering around the forest in a tank they made.
“I'm tired!” James complained as he walked on.
“James, stop whining!” Jessie yelled.
“But, Jessie, what's the point of dragging this tank around?” James asked.
“To protect us from Beedrills. Ever been stung by one? It hurts!” Jessie reminded her partner in crime.
“Hey, down there! Quit chattering! Get a move on!” Meowth cried out rudely.
“What are you doing up there?!” Jessie demanded.
“Why don't you come help us?” James agreed, angrily.
“Wish I could, but due to my height being only a foot and four inches, I'm riding lookout,” Meowth answered smugly.
“Well, look out for this!” Jessie yelled and she grabbed Meowth and threw him off the tank.
“Hey, wait a second! Come back! Meowth!” Meowth cried out as he ran after the human duo.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the battle is still a standstill…
“Use your Tackle attack, full power once more!” Ash cried out as his tired Metapod rushed at Samurai’s Metapod.
“Metapod, full power Harden!” Samurai cried out, blocking the attack once more.
Meanwhile, Misty, having been getting a tan until now, finally spoke up. “We could be stuck in this forest for the rest of our lives. Boys can be so stubborn. Why can’t they just use different Pokemon?”
“Hey! Not all boys are stubborn, Misty,” Spike protested.
“Maybe, but plenty are,” Rarity agreed. “No offense, Spikey.”
“None taken,” Spike sighed dreamily.
“If a’m bein’ honest, Rainbow Dash here is also pretty stubborn herself,” Applejack pointed to the brash girl.
Rainbow, who until now was watching the battle intensely, turned to Applejack and yelled, “Hey! Don’t forget that you’re pretty stubborn yourself, Applejack! Remember how you stayed up for over a week during Applebuck season?”
Applejack, at this, blushed horribly.
“Look, let’s not fight, please,” Fluttershy pleaded.
“You know what? Fluttershy here is right. We need to not argue amongst ourselves. Still, this battle has been going on for far too long,” Dawn admitted as she shook her head.
“Should we try to call off the battle?” Rarity asked.
“What do you think, Twilight?” Spike asked his older sister.
“Well…they have been stuck in an endless attack and defend cycle for a while now. Let me see if there is an official rule that can end the battle,” Twilight said as she got out her book and looked through it.
Finally, Ash and Samurai collapse like statues, finally having gotten tired. “Don't, give, up!” Ash gasped out in exhaustion.
At last, Misty has had enough, yelling, “You two are more hard headed than your Metapods! Can we please move on and get out of this forest, please?!”
“But we were just battling!” Ash countered.
“Maybe…but to be fair, this battle has gone on long enough. Just call it a draw and move on-,” Dawn suggested.
“What?! But what about completing the battle?! We can't just let this Samurai punk have the last laugh after all this!” Rainbow yelled.
“To be fair, Rainbow, we’re not goin’ anywhere fast staying here and fighting a losing battle,” Applejack reminded.
“You know, we could just call it a draw and skip to our remaining Pokemon,” Dawn suggested.
“Good idea, Dawn! What do you think, Twilight?” Spike asked…only to see that Twilight was still pouring over her rule book.
“You know what, Metapod? I think they’re right. You did your best and that’s what matters most. Now…what Pokemon should I choose to battle with next?” Ash wondered as he looked over his Pokeballs.
“You know what? I’ve had enough of spectating. I wanna be a part of this battle, Samurai!” Rainbow cried out as she placed her Snivy in front of Samurai’s Metapod. “Now, Snivy, let’s win ourselves a battle!”
“Less than fair maiden, you’ll see that this battle was a poor decision on your part! Metapod, return! Scyther, slice and dice your way to victory!” Samurai said as he recalled one Pokemon and sent out his final Pokemon. Immediately, Rainbow’s Snivy looked on nervously at the tougher opponent.
“Ha! There’s no way Snivy and I are gonna lose to some insect without putting on a strong fight first! Let’s go!” Rainbow cried out as her Snivy looked on at her opponent in fear. Ash’s Pikachu and Snivy looked at the sight and looked on protectively, with Ash’s Snivy looking mad at Rainbow’s behavior.
“Uh, Rainbow? Maybe you should be a bit nicer to your Snivy there. She looks scared right now,” Fluttershy noted quietly.
“You know, Fluttershy has a point. Maybe you should battle with a different Pokemon, Rainbow,” Dawn agreed.
“The last thing we should do is make the poor dear feel bullied into a fight,” Rarity said.
“What?! I’m just trying to show her and everyone else that she’s a cool and powerful Pokemon, that’s all!” Rainbow countered, not wanting to believe she was being a jerk.
“Rainbow…,” Applejack growled warningly.
“Rainbow, please don’t be a meanie pants,” Pinkie Pie pleaded.
“I’d fight with Charmander if I were you,” Spike noted as he suddenly started to hear something in the distance. “Huh? Anyone else hear that?”
“Hear what?” Twilight asked as she got out of looking over the book and listened carefully. She then noticed that the sound, that being a buzzing sound, was getting louder.
“Huh? What's that noise?” Misty asked nervously. “Please tell me that isn’t what I think it is.”
“I’m afraid so. It's a Beedrill swarm approaching us!” Fluttershy confirmed as she pointed to a swarm of Beedrill.
“Correct, dear and sweet maiden! A Beedrill swarm approaches, Our match must end, not so fair maiden! Scyther, return!” Samurai recalls his Scyther. “The Weedle that got away from you has informed the rest of its kind! Good day!” At this, Samurai runs off.
“Please tell me they’re peaceful Beedrill that don’t wanna hurt us,” Rarity said pleadingly.
“I can hear them, and apparently they plan on fighting the one who attacked their baby,” Fluttershy noted.
“Seriously?!” Spike was annoyed.
“Looks like the Samurai was right about that,” Dawn mumbled.
“Yeah, and we might have avoided this whole thing if the Samurai didn’t interrupt us,” Rainbow muttered.
“To be fair, we could have paid better attention…,” Ash was feeling conflicted over whether or not this was his fault or not.
“Looks like we might have ta fight them. How many are there?” Applejack questioned.
Twilight looks at the swarm before answering, “I think there might be over 50 of them!”
“So much for fighting them. Running it is!” Applejack noted.
“Hold on a second! We can't just run! We’re Pokemon Trainers and we can’t just run from a fight like this!” Rainbow yelled as she prepared to send out her Charmander and Eevee.
“I vote we take the option that means we all live,” Misty said full of fear.
“I’d say we run before these mean ol’ Beedrill take any more of our Pokemon,” Pinkie warned.
“Yeah, we should run!...Wait what do you mean by any more?” Ash asked.
“Oh, because a Beedrill just Pokenapped your Metapod,” Pinkie pointed towards a Beedrill that was in the sky.
“Metapod, return, now!” Ash cried out as he tries to recall Metapod, but the Beedrill moves fast enough to avoid the recall beam.
“It's no use! That Beedrill's going too fast!” Twilight said as she sadly shook her head.
“Um, girls? I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but we should try to run and look for Metapod and Rainbow’s Snivy later!” Dawn warned.
“Don’t tell me she got captured too,” Rainbow said pleadingly.
“I’m afraid so,” Rarity responded as she pointed to another Beedrill carrying Snivy.
“Oh no! They got away! We gotta get outta here and find them right away!” Ash cried out.
“Agreed! Snivy is tough, but Metapod may not be able to handle things for long!” Rainbow agreed as the others looked at Rainbow in annoyance.
“Girls, Beedrill bomber at six o'clock!” Dawn warned as a few Beedrill aimed for Ash’s Snivy and Pikachu. Before they could be captured, Snivy used Attract to make all but one of the Beedrill lovestruck and Pikachu zapped the remaining Beedrill. The attack lands, but it also hits Ash as well.
“That was a smart move on your part, you two! But next time, try to warn Ash before you do that,” Twilight said as she pointed to a burnt looking Ash.
Misty, who had regained her nerve, grabbed Ash by the hand and tried to drag him, “Come on! Let's move it!”
“But, Metapod. And Rainbow’s Snivy… We gotta find them now,” Ash said sadly.
“Twilight will come up with a plan to rescue Metapod and Snivy later, but let's just run now!” Spike yelled as everyone runs for it.
Unfortunately for everyone, the Beedrill didn’t let up. “They're gaining on us!” Misty yelled fearfully.
“Beedrills are pretty fast!” Twilight and Fluttershy noted.
“Talk later, run now!” Rarity cried out.
“Quick! Duck in there!” Applejack said as she noticed nearby bushes that looked pretty big and spacious.
“Good thinking, Applejack!” Dawn said as she and everyone else dives into a bush and hides from the swarm, and then sigh with relief.
“Phew! That was a close one! Should we celebrate with chocolate chip cookies?” Pinkie asked.
“Not yet, girls,” Spike noted as he notices something. “Uh oh. Nobody. Make. Any. Sudden noises. Or movements. If you. Know what’s. Good for us.” Everyone soon sees what Spike was worried about.
“A whole hive of Kakunas,” Samurai said as he appeared suddenly next to everyone. At both the Samurai's sudden appearance and being surrounded by bugs, Misty screams.
“Can ya please be quiet! Those Kakuna could see us and fight!” Applejack warned.
“To be fair, the Kakuna are practically harmless in this state,” Fluttershy noted.
“Remember Metapod, though? They could still put up a fight,” Twilight reminded Fluttershy.
Ash gets out Dexter.
Kakuna. A transitional stage between Weedle and Beedrill. Kakunas remain inactive until they evolve into deadly Beedrills and hatch.
“Anyone else ready to fight these Pokemon?” Rainbow offered.
“I don’t think so,” Rarity declined.
“Yeah! We shouldn’t be big ol’ meanies to these Kakuna,” Pinkie Pie agreed.
Ash’s Pikachu nudges Ash and points at his Metapod within the Kakuna hive. “Hey! Over there, it's Metapod! And Rainbow’s Snivy, too!” Ash cheered as he noticed that Rainbow’s starter was close by.
“Really?!” Rainbow yelled excitedly as she saw that both Pokemon were indeed present, though they were tied up in String Shot threads.
“Keep your voice down!” Misty hissed.
“Um, girl?” Dawn whispered as she notices one of the Kakuna glaring her way. “Uh oh. We've been spotted.” The Kakunas start cracking and a glow comes from within.
“Now we're REALLY in trouble,” Spike shook his head. Right on cue, the newly evolved Beedrills emerge from the glowing cocoons.
“Beedrills! They evolved!” Misty cried out in fear as the Beedrills quickly went on the attack.
“Sure we can’t just leave with our Pokemon peacefully?” Rarity asked Fluttershy.
“Um…they seem to be really mad that we disturbed them, so no,” Fluttershy answered. “B-Beedrill? Can we please-.”
“Forget the begging! Grab the Pokemon and run!” Applejack rejected the idea.
Almost everyone runs for it once again, with Ash and Rainbow trying to get through and get back their Pokemon.
“Hey! It’s okay, Metapod. I’ll get you and we can get away from that dangerous swarm,” Ash said, trying to be gentle.
“Come on, Snivy! We can escape and fight these Beedrill together!” Rainbow said confidently.
However, the Beedrill that were present rushed at Ash and Rainbow and, in spite of their normal instincts, their fear gave out and they ran after their friends.
“This forest is huge, how are we gonna escape them?” Twilight asked.
Soon, they spot a cabin up ahead. “Maybe we can escape into that cabin over there!” Spike suggested.
“That cabin belongs to me! Still, good eye young boy! I think we can make it!” Samurai said as they continued to run.
“It's gonna be close! These Beedrill are catching up!” Dawn noted.
“And they got their business ends pointed at us!” Misty cried out as the Beedrill point their stingers at the group.
“These Beedrills are business men?” Pinkie asked as the others shook their heads. Thankfully, everyone manages to get inside just as one Beedrill sticks its back stinger through the door.
“Phew. That was close,” Ash sighed in relief.
“Too close for comfort,” Spike agreed.
“Perhaps we should add Beedrill to the list of things to avoid,” Rarity said as she tried to catch her breath.
“Agreed. They may be almost as high on the list as ladybugs and snakes,” Twilight said.
“What is that one maiden speaking of?” Samurai asked Dawn.
“Maybe we should discuss this later?” Dawn nervously responded.
Samurai takes off his helmet as our heroes catch their breath. “I hope you've learned your lesson, novice! Your letting that Weedle escape almost cost our lives.”
“Take back that novice crack!” Ash yelled out.
“Yeah! The two of us aren’t novices! Ash only made that mistake because you drew that sword of yours on him!” Rainbow pointed out.
“Katana,” Twilight corrected.
“Look, I understand that tensions are high right now. But playing the blame game won’t help anyone. So, where are Metapod and Snivy?” Dawn asked as she noticed Rainbow and Ash look at each other nervously.
“I guess you just forgot?” Pinkie asked as both Trainers sighed, feeling guilty for leaving their Pokemon friends hanging.
“Actually, I do take it back, because not even a novice would abandon his own Pokémon as you both did,” Samurai scolded.
“I tried to save Metapod. I just got scared. I’m sorry,” Ash admitted sadly.
“To be fair, I don't see how we could have saved it without attracting the attention of those Kakuna,” Fluttershy tried to console.
“I still could have done something,” Ash noted miserably.
Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, didn’t respond right away, looking blank, before responding in anger, “This is all the Samurai guy’s fault! If he didn’t distract us earlier none of this would have happened!”
“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack scolded.
“This isn’t my fault!” The Samurai protested before the others gave unconvinced looks.
“To be fair, the Beedrill wouldn't have appeared if you didn’t stop Ash from catching Weedle,” Dawn noted.
“I agree. That disgusting and dangerous swarm is at least partly your fault,” Misty confessed.
“Okay, maybe a little. I could have waited before addressing you. But you still chose to leave your Pokemon behind! Your Metapod and Snivy will pay for their trainer's inexperience. The other trainers from Pallet would never have been so irresponsible.”
“Other trainers from Pallet? Did you have a match against Gary and the other trainers from Pallet?” Ash asked, his mood lifted a bit upon being distracted.
Samurai thinks back to the battles. “Correct. That Gary with his Squirtle and the other two faced me in three spectacular matches, each more challenging than the last. All three really know how to raise Pokémon. Even though I was defeated all three times, I was inspired to redouble my own training. I had 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 Ash to show up,” Misty realized.
“Did you meet some jerk named Paul while you were here?” Rainbow asked curiously.
“Of course. He was dishonorable in behavior, though his skill and power were unparalleled. Even that Gary didn’t command such power,” Samurai admitted.
“Well, looks like someone has a fanboy,” Twilight whispered snarkily.
“Really? I thought he didn’t like him,” Pinkie said as Twilight facepalmed.
“I will say one thing, though. Compared to all four of my opponents, Novice, here,and the dishonorable maiden is a joke!” Samurai said as if it were fact. At this, Ash just looks down in disgrace and sorrow. Rainbow looked angry, though she also held back a tear at this comment.
“You could be nicer, you know,” Dawn said.
“Yeah! They did all that they could to save their Pokemon and I bet they will try and get them back!” Fluttershy agreed.
“They just got afraid, that’s all!” Spike defended.
“I’m never afraid!” Rainbow protested.
“Not helping your case, RD,” Applejack whispered.
Suddenly, Fluttershy’s Metapod broke out of her Pokeball and looked around in worry at the absence of her mate and then turned to Fluttershy.
“I agree, Metapod, we should go and search for your mate and Rainbow’s Snivy. But…Look, we can wait to save Snivy and Metapod. The Beedrill don’t have a reason to eat them and they are too fired up to face head on. For right now, we should wait for the anger of the Beedrill to die down and then we can grab them when they fall asleep,” Fluttershy suggested.
“That’s a pretty smart plan, Fluttershy,” Dawn noted happily.
“Why, thank you!” Fluttershy blushed.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That night, everyone was asleep except Ash and his Snivy, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and her Metapod, Spike, and Dawn. Dawn and Spike were concerned to see that both of the brash Trainers were not getting any sleep, still deeply concerned for their Pokemon.
“Metapod,” Ash sadly muttered as Snivy put a comforting leafy hand on his knee.
“Snivy,” Rainbow muttered, almost despondent.
“Um, are you two okay?” Dawn asked as she sat right next to them.
“Of course we’re okay!” Rainbow Dash protested.
“Not really,” Ash admitted to his childhood friend.
“Let me guess. You’re both worried that your Pokemon are in danger, right?” Fluttershy asked, Ash responding with a guilty nod. “Look, you made a mistake and want to correct it. None of us blame you for leaving your Pokemon behind.” At this, Fluttershy’s Metapod made some angry sounding noises. “Well…almost everyone?”
“Don’t worry. Dratini and I are more than willing to help you face those Beedrill right now if you wish,” Spike said, faking confidence.
“First, we should wait until we know the Beedrill are asleep. Second, are you doing fine, Spike? You looked a bit sad again,” Dawn asked.
“O-of course I am!” Spike badly lied as Snivy gave a sarcastic look before looking sympathetic.
“You know, if you want, we can talk out whatever the problem is,” Fluttershy suggested.
“I-It’s just…so far on this journey, Dratini and I have done nothing to help you all out. Twice now we needed to step up and fight and both times we failed to be of much help,” Spike admitted. “I’m…just a useless failure.”
“No, you’re not! Look, you may not have done the best so far, but you can still find ways to improve and prevent things from going wrong,” Dawn said comfortingly
“Besides, we just got Pokemon a few days ago. I think we can be excused for making mistakes,” Fluttershy consoled.
“I haven’t made any mistakes!” Rainbow denied, though the others could tell it was a lie.
“You think I know everything there is to know about Pokemon? Or Twilight? Or even Professor Oak? We all make mistakes from time to time. For now, we should get some sleep. We can get your Pokemon back and try to work out our emotional baggage later,” Dawn suggested as everyone tried to get some sleep.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning when all the bug types were still asleep, Ash, Rainbow Dash, Dawn, Fluttershy, and Spike went to find Metapod and Rainbow’s Snivy.
“Hm,” Ash sadly sighed.
Dawn consoled quietly, “Don't worry Ash, Metapod will be just fine, I know it. We can still save them.”
“If my knowledge of other creatures is correct, the Beedrill should still be asleep,” Fluttershy said.
“And if we need to fight, Dratini, Eevee, and I are more than willing to help,” Spike said.
“We’re almost there,” Dawn said as she pointed to the hive. “Keep down, and be very quiet. We'll just quietly sneak over to Metapod and Snivy and return to the sanctity of the Samurai’s cabin.”
Suddenly, Meowth lands on Ash's head from above. “Do you know what Meowth's favourite game is?” Meowth asked smugly.
“Get off!” Ash commands in annoyance as Meowth scratches Ash.
“Scratch, and sniffle,” Meowth chuckles as he jumps to the ground and Ash cries out in pain.
“Meowth? That can only mean…,” Spike said with some worry, but also some relief.
“Guess who?!?” James said with a malicious grin.
“I take it you three are gonna be a recurring thing then?” Dawn whispered in annoyance as she turned and saw the trio appear before them.
“I guess so? Can we deal with you later?” Rainbow asked in annoyance.
“Prepare for trouble!” Jessie begins.
“Make it double!” James continues.
“I guess not,” Rainbow muttered.
“To protect the world from devastation!” Jessie loudly says.
“To unite all peoples within our nation!” James continues almost as loudly as Snivy and Dawn try to shush them.
“To denou…”
“No! Not again! Not now!” Ash pleads.
“Never interrupt the Team Rocket motto!” Jessie yells, offended.
“You meanies don’t understand! There are Beedrill…,” Fluttershy pleaded.
“Ahem! To denounce the evils of truth and love!” Jessie continues.
“To extend our reach to the stars above!” James says.
“Jessie!”
“James!”
Ash quietly protests, “Keep it down before you wake up the Beedrills!”
“I don’t think we can,” Dawn shook her head along with Ash’s Snivy.
“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!” Jessie finishes.
“Surrender now, or prepare to fight!” James finishes his bit.
“Meowth! That's right!” Meowth ends the motto.
Unfortunately for everyone present, the Beedrills wake up and spot the intruders.
“Great! Now you three have done it! Looks like we may have to fight after all. Dratini, I choose you!” Spike called out as he sent out the tiny dragon.
Ash, Fluttershy, and Rainbow, meanwhile, scream in panic, though Rainbow would deny it.
“You foolish teens, why don't you give us your Pikachu and all your other rare Pokemon? There's no use trying to resist us, so be smart and hand over the Pokémon!” Jessie demands.
“I don't have Pikachu with me, and even if I did, I'd never let you take it or any other Pokemon of ours!” Ash protested.
“Yeah! What do you take us for? Cowards?” Rainbow bit back.
“Hey, I have an idea. Follow me!” Dawn said as everyone else followed her.
“Come back here!” Team Rocket yells as they give chase.
“So, mind telling us what the plan is?” Ash asked.
“This seems to be a bit too risky for battling them!” Spike noted nervously.
“I can take them!” Rainbow yelled out.
“Simple! If we rush into the hive at just the right moment, we can escape the Beedrill as they’re distracted by Team Rocket,” Dawn explained.
“As mean as they are, it does seem kinda mean to let them be hurt,” Fluttershy noted sadly.
“Maybe, but it’s our best bet to save everyone! This is gonna be close! NOW!” Dawn cried out. Everyone dives under the Beedrills at just the right moment, and the Beedrills proceed to go after Team Rocket.
“Huh?” Team Rocket are confused for a moment before looking scared at the swarm.
“The tank will surely come in handy now!” Jessie noted.
“It was worth the struggle dragging it here,” James agreed. Unfortunately for the trio, it's revealed that some Weedle were eating the tank.
“Meowth! They're eating the tank!” Meowth yelled with fear present in his voice.
“But we made it from paper to reduce the weight!” James revealed.
“Who knew?” Jessie asked.
“Numskulls!” Mewoth yells as the Beedrills continue after Team Rocket, forcing them to retreat, the trio screaming all the while.
“Way to go! Team Rocket is pacified for now!” Spike cheered.
“Hopefully, they’ll be okay. But for now, hurry up you two and get your Pokemon back!” Fluttershy said.
“We’ll be on the lookout for the Beedrill returning. Be quick, though!” Dawn warned as Ash and Rainbow saw their Pokemon trying to break free from String Shot.
“So there you are! I was so worried about you, Metapod!” Ash sighs in relief as he gets out his Pokéball. “Here. Into the Pokéball, hurry!” Ash tries to recall Metapod, only for him to shake his head. “Metapod?”
“What is going on?” Fluttershy asked.
“I think he no longer trusts Ash after leaving him in the nest earlier,” Dawn answered.
“Well, we can deal with this fallout later. For now, let’s get going Snivy!” Rainbow said as she grabbed her Snivy. However, she flinches and turns away from Rainbow. “What the…what did I do?!”
Fluttershy listened as Snivy explained her feelings. “Oh, you see, Snivy here also feels betrayed by being left behind. Not only that, but she is accusing her of not caring at all about her due to her trying to force her into battles she doesn’t want. Rainbow…,” Fluttershy said warningly.
“What?! I just wanted to show her that she’s a cool Pokemon!” Rainbow protested.
Suddenly, they hear a buzzing sound.
“Uh oh! Looks like the Beedrill are coming in fast!” Spike yells out. “Dratini, use Dragon Tail on those Beedrill!” Spike’s Dratini responded, knocking out some of the Beedrill. Still more were on their way.
“There’s too many of them! The best thing to do is run!” Dawn yelled as she sent out her Buneary and Piplup, both using Ice Beam and Bubblebeam to fight them off. “Hurry up and get out of here!”
Ash and Rainbow were quick to get up and everyone tried to run as Fluttershy’s Metapod, Spike’s Dratini, and Dawn’s Piplup and Buneary kept the Beedrill at bay.
“I’m sorry for abandoning you, Metapod. I shouldn’t have been afraid. I could have saved you if I acted braver. I’ll try not to do the same to you or any Pokemon again,” Ash apologized as Metapod contemplated his Trainer’s words.
“Hopefully, things will work out between you two. As for you, Snivy, I hope you’ll see that I didn’t make any mistakes. It was the Samurai’s fault we got into this mess,” Rainbow claimed as Snivy looked away from her once more. “What?! What did I do?!”
“You mean when you abandoned her or when you tried to force her to fight?” Spike snarked as the last of the current part of the swarm were knocked out.
“But…I…,” Rainbow started to look on in sadness as she and Snivy fell to the ground. “Look, I’m sorry alright?!” At this, Snivy turned back to her, but still looked wary. “I messed up big time. I shouldn’t blame my own insensitivity and fear on the Samurai!” Rainbow admitted as her voice started to hitch and tears entered her eyes. “L-Look, the truth is…I wasn’t thinking about how my actions were hurting you! Ever since we got to this world, I’ve wanted to prove myself to my friends and even to myself! That I’m worthy of being called a Trainer! A-And being called a good friend. But I was wrong! I’m just a worthless and cowardly failure that tries to hide her fears and insecurities with my massive ego! Just break free and run, Snivy! Maybe you’ll find a Trainer that can bring out your best without treating you horribly.”
“Oh, Rainbow…,” Fluttershy looked on sympathetically.
“We can talk more later. But for now, I’m sorry,” Dawn said, trying to be sympathetic.
Suddenly, more Beedrill approached as the others approached and saw the scene play out in front of them.
“Oh no! Watch out!” Misty cried out.
“The Beedrills Twin Needle attack is dangerous!” Samurai warned.
“Applejack, get out Growlithe, now!” Twilight cried out.
“Right!” Applejack said as she prepared to get out her starter, with Rarity doing the same.
Before anyone could react and as the Beedrill drew close, Metapod charged forward at Beedrill, and was fatally injured with a cracked hole in his shell, Ash caught Metapod just in time.
“H-He saved Ash!” Fluttershy said in shock as her Metapod flashed and her shell began to crack.
Suddenly, another Beedrill rushed for Rainbow. As she braced for impact, Snivy’s tail glowed green and sliced her way free from the String Shot and then knocked out the Beedrill with her new move; Leaf Blade.
“S-Snivy! You saved me!” Rainbow was shocked as Snivy gave a confident nod. “Thank you!” Rainbow thanked her Pokemon as she failed to hold back her tears of joy.
“Snivy just learned a new move! That was a Leaf Blade attack!” Twilight was surprised.
“Great! Maybe we can save everyone from those meanie old Beedrill!” Pinkie said.
“Metapod!” Ash cried out as he held his first Bug-type, Ash’s Snivy attacking and knocking out the Beedrill with a Leaf Storm. “I’m sorry! You sacrificed yourself for me! If only I got you sooner…” Suddenly, a glowing light shines from the cracks in Metapod's shell.
“Wait! I think Metapod’s evolving!” Dawn cried out.
“And by the looks of it, so is your Metapod, Fluttershy!” Spike said as he pointed to the glowing Metapod. From the cracks and the fading lights, emerge two Butterfree.
“I can't believe it! They both evolved!” Fluttershy said in joy as she hugged her new Butterfree.
“Butterfree…,” Ash said in awe.
“Butterfree's so beautiful,” Misty admitted happily as Pikachu cried out.
“That's a surprise to hear someone with Entomophobia call Butterfree beautiful,” Applejack teased playfully.
“Yeah, yeah,” Misty blushed in embarrassment.
Ash scans Butterfree's entry.
Butterfree. Less than one week after Caterpie evolves into Metapod, it again evolves into Butterfree.
“Hold on. Didn’t Butterfree only evolve into Metapod a little bit ago?” Rarity asked.
“Hmmm…Maybe it has to do with what the Pokedex said earlier. Wonder if they eat pollen,” Pinkie said, confusing the group by the contrast in her words.
Suddenly, the group hears buzzing once more.
“Uh oh! We have company!” Applejack said as she sent out Growlithe.
“They just keep on coming, don’t they?” Rarity noted as she sent out her Squirtle.
“Wanna face them with me, Snivy?” Rainbow asked as Snivy nodded, ready to fight.
Meanwhile, both Butterfree looked ready to fight. “You wanna fight?” Ash asked his Butterfree, who responded with a nod.
“What about you? You wanna fight too?” Fluttershy asked her Butterfree, who also nodded.
“Okay then! Butterfree, hold them in place with Confusion and then knock them out with your Sleep Powder!” Ash and Fluttershy cry out. Both Butterfree use Confusion to hold the Beedrill in place before using Sleep Powder. One Beedrill fell, then another, and another, Butterfree kept using Sleep Powder over and over, it also put the Weedles to sleep as well as Team Rocket.
“Yay! You and your mate put all of them to sleep! Butterfree, you're the best! Hooray!” Ash cheers as he hugs his Butterfree and Fluttershy does the same with hers.
“You both were able to handle your Pokémon so well, just after they evolved! Most impressive.” Samurai said, impressed. “And the fair maiden’s Pokemon learned a new move for her to save her… that is also impressive.
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Soon, Samurai and our heroes are at the exit of the forest…
“This trail will lead you to Pewter City, and your first Gym Battle!” Samurai noted.
“Perfect! First Gym Badge, here we come!” Rainbow cheered.
“Don’t forget we can also practice for the upcoming Contest,” Rarity noted.
“Yeah! Poliwag and I can bring smiles to everyone’s faces!” Pinkie agreed.
“Just do your best, girls,” Twilight said supportively.
“Oh, but before we leave you, Samurai, we still have to finish our match,” Ash remembered.
“Yeah! Charmander and I still have to see if we could defeat your Scyther!” Rainbow said as she looked at her Snivy.
“Compared with you and Ash, my friend, I am the novice. But I will keep perfecting my technique, and one day, we will meet again,” Samurai said.
“I'm sure it will be a most spectacular match,” Ash said.
“Tell me about it!” Rainbow said.
“That is guaranteed,” Samurai agreed.
“Just promise not to match up Metapod versus Metapod again,” Dawn said. “Look, I understand we should be nice, but can we go? I really want to be able to rejoin civilization again.”
“Little rude, but I agree,” Rarity noted.
“Fine. We can go. The sooner we get away from those bugs the better!” Misty agreed.
And so, everyone said goodbye as the group of heroes left the Viridian Forest behind them, ready to see what their journey would bring them.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Team Rocket is up in a tree and wrapped up like cocoons…
“Do you have anymore bright ideas?” James yelled.
“Well, unlike you, at least I have ideas,” Jessie countered.
“Yeah, they're all bad!” Meowth yelled out.
“Who asked you?!” Jessie yelled.
However, all the fussing they make wakes up the Beedrills in the tree. Much to the trio’s dismay.