"This kind of opportunity can't be missed!" Ash exclaimed, quickly taking out a Poké Ball to send Pidgey into battle against the unsuspecting Weedle.
"It's up to you, Pidgey!"
In a flash of white light, Pidgey appeared in mid-air, hovering steadily. With a glance back at Ash, and seeing him point towards Weedle, Pidgey immediately understood the task.
At this moment, Weedle was leisurely climbing a tree trunk, unaware of the impending danger.
"Pidgey, use Wing Attack!" Ash ordered, not holding back. He wanted Pidgey to use its most powerful move to ensure Weedle was knocked out in one hit.
"Wing—!" Pidgey's wings began to glow as the Flying-type energy gathered. It dove down toward Weedle with incredible speed.
Feeling the rush of wind, Weedle finally sensed something was wrong. Turning its head slightly, it was horrified to see Pidgey barreling towards it.
In a panic, Weedle lost its grip on the tree trunk and tumbled towards the ground. Ironically, this accidental fall allowed it to narrowly dodge Pidgey's attack!
Pidgey, caught off guard, couldn't change direction in time. It swooped past the tree trunk, leaving only a mark where its wings had grazed the bark—no damage done to Weedle.
"So careless..." Ash frowned at the sight. Pidgey had underestimated Weedle, not accounting for unexpected moves like the fall.
Though it wasn't a serious issue this time, such oversights could be the difference between victory and defeat in a tougher battle.
Ash had seen high-level battles before, like those between Koga and Agatha, where even the smallest details could turn the tide.
Pokémon at that level had mastered the art of reacting instantly to fleeting moments.
"There's still a long way to go..." Ash realized.
Pidgey halted in mid-air and looked back at Weedle, now scurrying across the ground.
Frustration was evident on Pidgey's face—it hadn't expected this weak Bug-type to escape its attack, and the oversight annoyed it.
"Stay calm, Pidgey!" Ash called out, noticing Pidgey's frustration.
Losing composure in battle was dangerous. High energy was good, but losing clarity of thought would leave you vulnerable.
Even a fast, aggressive strategy required precise judgment. Reckless attacks without thought were bound to fail.
Misty, despite her fear of Bug-types, glanced at Ash in surprise after hearing his calm advice. She couldn't help but think Ash was different from most Rookie Trainers.
He seemed to have more experience and insight than the average beginner.
Pidgey, hearing Ash's words, steadied itself. Its gaze sharpened, locking onto Weedle once more.
Weedle, now sensing the danger, trembled slightly and tried to crawl faster.
"Again! Use Wing Attack!" Ash commanded.
"Wing—!" Pidgey gathered energy once more and swooped down toward Weedle.
Weedle panicked, desperately trying to dodge.
While Weedle's speed was impressive compared to other Bug-types, it still couldn't match Pidgey, especially after the training Pidgey had undergone.
This time, Pidgey predicted Weedle's movements. As Weedle tried to dodge left, Pidgey adjusted its angle mid-flight and struck precisely where Weedle was headed.
"Bang!" Weedle was hit hard, sent flying several meters through the air before it crashed to the ground, knocked out cold. Before losing consciousness, it let out a faint, pained groan.
"Waaaaah!" Pidgey soared back into the air, visibly proud of its victory.
But when it noticed Ash's calm gaze, it quickly suppressed its pride. It was, after all, just a Weedle—defeating it wasn't anything to boast about.
"Well done, Pidgey," Ash praised, giving a nod. He wasn't congratulating Pidgey for defeating Weedle, but for its emotional growth. Pidgey was maturing as a fighter.
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu waved its little paw at Pidgey, celebrating the win.
Without wasting time, Ash pulled out an empty Poké Ball and tossed it at the unconscious Weedle. The ball hit Weedle and absorbed it in a flash of light.
After a few tense moments, the Poké Ball clicked, and the three golden stars briefly flashed, signaling a successful capture!
"I caught my third Pokémon!"
Ash exclaimed, picking up the Poké Ball with a proud glint in his eyes. Though it was a small step, he knew it was progress toward becoming the strongest Trainer.
"Ash..." Misty's trembling voice interrupted his thoughts, and Ash turned to look at her, puzzled.
"Do you hear... that sound?" Misty asked, still a little scared, as she cautiously approached Ash and glanced at the Poké Ball in his hand.
"Sound...?" Ash tilted his head, confused, but then paused to listen.
Sure enough, a strange buzzing noise was coming from around them. The sound grew louder and more persistent—an annoying hum.
Ash's expression changed drastically. Without hesitation, he pocketed the Poké Ball, returned Pidgey to its ball, grabbed Pikachu, and then took Misty by the hand, pulling her into a run.
Pikachu's face mirrored Ash's alarm. It had heard this sound before in the wild and remembered the terrifying sight that came with it.
The memory was still vivid, something Pikachu would never forget.
"W-what's going on?" Misty asked, bewildered as they sprinted away. She could hear the strange noise, but couldn't understand why Ash was so panicked.
"That sound is the buzzing of insect wings," Ash explained hurriedly. "From the density of the sound, there are at least twenty pairs of wings."
Misty's eyes widened, realizing what that meant.
"In Viridian Forest, the only Bug-type Pokémon that travel in such large groups are Beedrill!" Ash continued, his voice tense.
Being targeted by a swarm of Beedrill was no joke. Beedrill were far stronger than the Spearow Ash had encountered earlier in his journey.
Even though the Spearow flock was large, in a battle between Spearow and Beedrill, there was no doubt that the Beedrill would win—even with type advantages on the Spearow's side.
Running from a Beedrill swarm was the only sensible option.
---
Adios