After chasing off Team Rocket, Ash and Misty resumed their journey through Viridian Forest, heading toward Pewter City. The forest was alive with rustling leaves and the faint cries of distant Pokémon, but Ash's focus was on the path ahead.
---
"Beep... beep..."
As they walked, Ash suddenly felt his Pokédex vibrate in his pocket.
"What now? Why is this thing buzzing like an alarm clock?" Ash muttered.
Before he could dig deeper into the mystery, the reason became clear.
A Weedle with a golden glow and an exclamation mark above its head appeared before him.
"Ahh! A bug!" Misty screamed and bolted nearly 500 feet away.
Ash ignored her, his eyes widening as he scanned the Pokémon. "This isn't just a bug—it's a golden legend!" He quickly opened his Pokédex.
> Weedle – the Hairy Bug Pokémon. Bug/Poison type.
Ability: Shield Dust
Level: 7
Held Item: Poison Barb
Moves: String Shot, Bug Bite, Poison Sting, Fell Stinger
Egg Move: Electroweb
Ash's heart raced. "A Weedle with such rare potential?! I can't let this one get away!"
"Pidgeot, come out and secure the area!" Ash released Pidgeot, who took to the skies with a cry, its sharp eyes scanning for threats.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu darted forward, slamming into Weedle before it could react, sending it flying into a nearby tree.
"Follow up with Thunder Shock!" Ash commanded, unwilling to take any chances.
"Pikaaa... CHU!" Pikachu unleashed a jolt of electricity that enveloped Weedle, paralyzing it.
Just then, there was a loud crash behind Ash. He turned to see Pidgeot pinning down a strange figure with its talons.
"Poké Ball, go!" Ash yelled, throwing the ball at Weedle. It hit the Pokémon, engulfing it in a red light. The ball shook once… twice… and clicked shut.
"Gotcha!" Ash breathed a sigh of relief and patted Pikachu on the head. "Great job, buddy!"
Turning to see what Pidgeot had caught, Ash froze. A stocky boy in old samurai armor was struggling under Pidgeot's grip.
"Let me go! I'm just a samurai training in the forest!" the boy yelled, flailing his arms.
---
"Ding! Dream Puzzle: 'The Young Samurai's Defeat' has begun."
Ash sighed, rubbing his wrist as he approached. He first snatched the "sword" from the boy's hand and snapped it in two. "A toy sword?" Ash muttered.
"Pidgeot, let him go," Ash ordered. Pidgeot released the boy, who scrambled to his feet and dusted off his armor.
"Attacking without warning is dishonorable!" the boy protested.
SLAP! Ash's hand came down hard on the boy's face.
"Dishonorable? You ambushed me first!"
The boy stared at Ash, stunned. "My father has never hit me before!"
SLAP! Another strike landed, leaving the boy holding his cheek.
"What kind of samurai are you, anyway?" Ash scolded, his temper flaring.
Tears welled up in the boy's eyes. "Waaah! Why are you hitting me?"
Ash opened his hand again, delivering two quick slaps to both sides of the boy's face. "Do you realize how much trouble you've caused?!"
The boy was sobbing now. "I was wrong! I was wrong about everything!"
Ash stepped back, crossing his arms. "Good. Now get lost. If I see you sneaking around here again, you'll regret it."
The boy didn't need to be told twice. He ran off, abandoning his toy sword and disappearing into the forest.
---
Misty, who had cautiously returned, blinked in confusion. "Ash, I think I saw something... like a big rat running away?"
Ash chuckled. "Oh, that was just a wannabe samurai."
He turned to Pikachu, who sat on his shoulder, then released his new Pokémon.
"Alright, Weedle, come on out!"
The Weedle emerged, nuzzling against Ash's hand affectionately.
"Pikachu, meet your new teammate." Pikachu patted Weedle's head with a friendly "Pika!", and Weedle responded with a cheerful chirp.
Pidgeot, still perched nearby, gave a dignified nod, acknowledging Weedle as part of the team.
---
"Ding! Dream Puzzle: 'The Young Samurai's Defeat' completed. Rewards: TM – X-Scissor, 5 Rare Candies."
Ash blinked at the notification. "Rare Candy, huh? Let's see how this works."
He took out the colorful candies and unwrapped one. A sweet fragrance filled the air.
Misty's mouth watered. "What's that? Is it edible?"
"Not for humans," Ash teased. "These are Pokémon-exclusive candies that help them grow stronger."
He handed one to Weedle, who licked it cautiously before swallowing it whole.
Immediately, Weedle began to glow with a bright white light.
"It's evolving!" Ash exclaimed.
As the light faded, Weedle had transformed into Kakuna, its body now encased in a hard shell.
"Great! One step closer to a Beedrill!" Ash cheered.
Meanwhile, Pikachu and Pidgeot enjoyed their candies, their bodies radiating warmth as the energy boosted their strength.
Misty, however, was pouting. "It smells so good… are you sure I can't have one?"
"Nope. Unless you want to grow a tail." Ash grinned.
---
The group continued through Viridian Forest, Pikachu leading the way like a little drill sergeant. Along the path, Ash and Pikachu practiced Iron Tail, using thin branches as targets. By the end of the day, Pikachu's control over the move had improved significantly.
Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, they arrived at the entrance to Pewter City. The city's gray stone buildings gave it a sturdy, simple charm.
Misty sat on a nearby rock to rest, but Ash quickly pulled her away.
"Don't sit there!"
"Why not? It's just a rock." Misty crossed her arms.
Ash pointed below the slope. "That's not a rock. That's merchandise."
A man in a knit cap and sunglasses looked up at them. "That's right, kids. These rocks are for sale. Best quality in Pewter City!"
Ash laughed. "Thanks, but we're here to challenge the Gym Leader, Brock."
The man froze. "Brock? You're challenging him?"
Ash nodded. "Yup. I've heard he's a skilled trainer with a powerful Onix."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Hmph. You don't stand a chance."
Ash smirked but said nothing, leading Misty toward the Pokémon Center.
---
As they settled into the Pokémon Center, Ash grinned. "Time to prepare. Tomorrow, I'll win my first Gym Badge."
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