As they ventured deeper into the forest, the canopy above thickened, casting leafy shadows across the path. The chirping of Pidgey faded, replaced by the ominous clack… clack… clack of wood on earth.
Ash paused. His brow furrowed. "...You hear that?"
Misty, already on edge, clutched her bag tighter. "Please tell me that's not another Weedle."
"No," Ash said slowly. "This is something else."
Suddenly, a blur of motion—a flash of steel.
"ASH!" Misty screamed.
Instinct kicked in. Ash didn't think—he moved quickly. With a sharp twist of his wrist and two fingers raised, he caught the descending katana blade mid-air between his index and middle fingers knowing it wasn't a real katana.
CLANG!
The impact sent a gust of wind rippling through the trees.
Ash stared coolly at the blade's owner.
A boy in samurai armor—shoulders puffed up, eyes wide in disbelief—stood frozen.
"W-What?! You caught my strike?! With two fingers?!"
Ash raised a brow. "Yeah. Were you trying to scalp me, or is this just your way of saying hello?"
The Samurai stumbled back, yanking his sword free in a panic. "No—I mean yes—I mean—You must be a fellow trainer!"
Misty was still frozen behind Ash. "Did he just—try to behead you?!"
The Samurai regained his composure, striking a proud pose. "I am the Viridian Forest Samurai! Protector of honor! Challenger of trainers! I seek only those worthy to face my steel Especially The trainers from Pallet Town!"
Ash rolled his eyes. "Well maybe lead with that next time instead of trying to cleave people in half with a fake sword, Zorro."
The Samurai blinked. "Zor—?"
Ash stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, Mr. Samurai. You wanted a trainer of Pallet Town? You got one. Ash Ketchum."
'I must be looking cool right hopefully it works on Misty '
[Ciel: Oh my, he didn't even flinch…]
[Raphael: +1 Cool Points.]
Ash's aura flickered faintly with golden sparks, just for a second. The forest went still.
The Samurai's blushed in embarrassment "Then… a battle it shall be! I challenge you, Ash Ketchum, to a duel!"
Ash grinned. "You're on."
Misty sat down on a log with a dramatic sigh. "Great. First breakfast, then bug freak-outs, now duels with a weirdo. What is this morning?"
Ash reached for a Poké Ball. "Let's give him a show."
Ash was ready to teach this guy a lesson , who threatens trainers with a sword plus this guy also lectured Ash a lot in the anime.
The air was tense. The Samurai trainer stood tall—well, as tall as a kid in oversized armor could—brandishing his Poké Ball like a sacred scroll.
"I choose you—Pinsir!"
With a flash of red light, the hulking bug-type appeared. Its jagged mandibles clacked menacingly as it stomped the ground, eyes burning with challenge.
Ash nodded. "Alright. Pidgeotto, you're up!"
Pidgeotto soared into the air with a shrill cry, wings spread wide as it caught a breeze and circled above the battlefield.
"Battle begin!" the Samurai announced, as if they were in some ancient arena.
Ash pointed confidently. "Pidgeotto, start with Gust—let's ruffle that beetle's ego!"
With a powerful flap of its wings, Pidgeotto summoned a twisting whirlwind of air, buffeting Pinsir hard enough to make its feet drag through the dirt.
The Samurai waved an arm dramatically. "Pinsir, hold your ground! Then use Bind!"
Pinsir roared, lowering its horns and leaping with surprising speed. It latched onto a tree trunk mid-air and launched itself at Pidgeotto in a vicious arc.
Ash narrowed his eyes. "Dodge and counter with Quick Attack!"
Pidgeotto juked hard left in midair, banking just enough to avoid Pinsir's mandibles before diving in like a feathery torpedo. It slammed into Pinsir's side, sending the heavy bug stumbling.
"Nice hit!" Ash shouted, fist pumping.
The Samurai looked genuinely impressed. "Hmph. You are strong—but this is far from over!"
[Ciel: His pinsir is actually not bad….]
[Raphael: His trainer looks like a idiot though.]
Ash smirked. "Pidgeotto, stay airborne. Keep your distance. Let's test this Pinsir's stamina."
Pinsir snarled, clenching its claws—and then, with a sudden roar, its body glowed faintly.
"Wait… is it using Focus Energy?" Ash muttered.
The Samurai grinned smugly. "Indeed! Pinsir's getting pumped. One clean hit and it's over!"
Ash didn't flinch. "Then don't let him land one. Pidgeotto, Sand Attack! Blind him!"
From above, Pidgeotto swooped low, wings kicking up a small flurry of dust and leaves that clouded Pinsir's view.
Pinsir growled, thrashing. "PIIIIN!"
Ash saw his chance. "Quick gust attack, again! Right between the eyes!"
With pinpoint accuracy, Pidgeotto darted through the sandstorm, striking Pinsir right in the face. The bug-type stumbled back, dazed, then collapsed to one knee, eyes swirling.
The Samurai gasped. "No! Pinsir!"
Pinsir slid down the tree in a daze, swirls in its eyes.
The match was over.
Ash pointed forward. "Great job, buddy!"
Pidgeotto landed proudly, wings flaring wide. It let out a loud, triumphant battle cry, voice echoing through the forest like a drumroll of victory.
Then—a glow.
Ash blinked. "Wait… is that—?"
Pidgeotto's entire body was engulfed in brilliant white light, feathers shimmering as its shape began to shift. Its wings grew larger, its tail feathers more pronounced. Its beak sharpened, and its frame broadened with majestic elegance.
Misty gasped. "Wow… it's evolving!"
Even the Samurai stumbled back. "A… Pidgeotto evolution?!"
With a final pulse of light, the transformation completed—and standing tall in the fading glow was a magnificent Pidgeot.
It opened its massive wings and let out a deep, echoing "Piiidgeoooooot!!" that shook the leaves in the canopy.
Ash's eyes sparkled. "Pidgeotto… no—Pidgeot. You did it."
[Ciel: Such presence… truly majestic.]
[Raphael:Yeah must be because of the healthy Pokeblocks he has been eating since he was a pigdey. Looks like an Alpha. ]
Ash gave a proud grin. "Let's see that Samurai top this with his meta pod ."
The Samurai fell to his knees in awe. "You… you are truly a warrior of Pallet Town…"
Ash gives a thumbs-up to his newly evolved partner.
"Let's keep soaring, Pidgeot."
Ash gave a two-finger salute. "Lesson one: don't bring a stag beetle to a falcon fight."
Misty, who had been spectating from her log like she was watching a soap opera, clapped slowly. "Okay, that was actually pretty cool."
Ash tried to keep a straight face. "Just another morning in the forest."
[Ciel: Fufu~ She's definitely into him now.]
[Raphael: +12 Misty Affection.]
The Samurai returned Pinsir, bowing low. "Your skill is real. Your Pidgeotto is a true warrior." After watching Pigdeotto evolve into a big Pigdeot he doesn't want to humiliate himself further by taking out a metapod.
Ash gave him a lopsided grin. "Thanks. Maybe next time, we'll battle with actual strategy instead of surprise katana attacks."
The Samurai blushed. "Ah… yes. Sorry about that."
Misty rolled her eyes. "Seriously, who carries a sword into the woods? Is this guy LARPing or something?"
Ash laughed. "Well, Misty, now that the morning's finally over—should we keep going?"
She nodded, still eyeing the forest warily. "Yeah… but if I see another bug, I'm lighting the place on fire."
Ash just grinned, resting a hand on his new Poké Ball.
"By the way, Do you have the forests map like where there are Pokemon groups like scyther, nidoran , nidorina, etc ?"
"Oh yeah I am living here since I was little so I drew a map too. I didn't bring it here with me, come to my house I will give you that map."
"Okay let's go come on Misty we should hurry ."
"Yeah yeah "
Then they followed the samurai guy to his house.
Ash asked though already knowing the answer "Hey bug guy! You said trainers from Pallet Town right? do you know someone else too ?"
The bug guy left his armour on the table and said awkwardly," yeah before you I met and challenged three other trainers from Pallet Town too. But"
"Let me guess you lost to all of them?" Ash asked mockingly.
"Um, yeah all of them were amazing especially the Squirtle guy and the girl with a Bulbasaur they were really good trainers but you are even stronger than them, really."
"Well I know that just give me the map already"
"Ohh wait a sec, hmm.... here it is found it !"
"Hm yeah this map is good enough for me . Bye bye bug-guy don't scare others with your fake sword haha"
"Haha okay, be careful yourself of beedrills in the forest see you two later. "
With that Ash and Misty left for a small scyther group in the forest.
The trees grew thinner as Ash and Misty followed the hand-drawn path on the map, sunlight filtering through the leaves in golden shafts. The rustling of grass and distant flutter of wings hinted at life all around them.
Ash squinted at a symbol on the map.
"Alright, if this doodle means what I think it means, the Scyther group should be just up ahead—near this little clearing by the river."
Misty peeked over his shoulder. "And what does that little doodle mean? The one that looks like a skull with antennae?"
Ash frowned. "Uh… probably Beedrill territory."
Misty paled. "Nope. We're not going there. If I even hear buzzing—Ash, I swear—I'll throw your Poké Balls into the river."
Ash raised his hands defensively. "Okay, okay! Scyther first. Murder bees never."
They crept toward the clearing, the air growing unusually quiet. Even the breeze seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
SWISH!
A clean slice through the tall grass.
[Raphael: Danger. Fast approach at 2 o'clock.]
Ash's reflexes fired. "Misty—duck!"
She hit the ground with a squeak just as a blur of green slashed overhead—a Scyther.
It hovered mid-air on buzzing wings, blades glinting wickedly in the sunlight. Three more emerged from the trees, surrounding Ash and Misty in a tight formation.
Misty whispered, "Okay, this is way more terrifying than Beedrill."
Ash stepped forward, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"They're not attacking. They're… testing us."
One Scyther—the largest—stepped forward. Its eyes locked with Ash's. It pointed a scythe at him, then to its chest, then back again.
Ash blinked. "Is that… a challenge?"
[Ciel: Indeed. A rite of strength.]
[Raphael: Scythers are prideful. This might be their leader. Win, and one may follow you.]
Ash grinned. "Let's do this."
He reached for a Poké Ball. "Pidgeot, it's your time again!"
With a flash of light, Pidgeot emerged, wings flaring wide with a mighty cry. The Scythers flinched—but didn't back down.
The lead Scyther slashed the air, signaling the others to back away.
"A one-on-one, huh? Alright, let's go."
The duel began. The Scyther darted in with terrifying speed, blades crossing in a blur—
"Pidgeot, Agility, then quick attack finish it with a wing attack!"
Pidgeot vanished into motion, streaking past the first blow, then curved back with a blazing white slash. It struck Scyther's side, sending it skidding—but it recovered quickly.
"Scyther!" it snarled, launching a Fury Cutter barrage.
"Quick turn and Feather Dance!"
Pidgeot twisted in mid-air, releasing a flurry of shining feathers. The Scyther's accuracy dropped, its slashes missing by inches.
"Finish it with another wing attack !"
Pidgeot soared high—then dove, cloaked in white light. It slammed into Scyther with explosive force, kicking up a shockwave that rustled the entire clearing.
Scyther hit the ground hard, stunned. But it slowly pushed itself up—then bowed its head toward Ash.
[Ciel: Victory. Recognition earned.]
Ash approached calmly. "You're strong. I'd be proud to have you on my team."
The leader Scyther who Ash fought just now stepped forward… and tapped one of Ash's Net Poké Balls with the tip of its blade.
Click.
Ash blinked. "Did… did it just catch itself?"
Misty stood slowly, wide-eyed. "Okay. That was both terrifying and kind of awesome."
Ash picked up the Poké Ball with a grin. "Welcome to the team, Scyther."
[Ciel: You now have a high-speed melee type. Excellent synergy.]
Ash clipped the Poké Ball to his belt. "Alright. We will be on our way again but first .....
Hey you guys just saw I fought your leader and beat him right ? How about you also follow me when I find someone capable I will give you to them what do you think?
The three Scythers looked at each other then nodded. And Ash caught them too just in normal Pokeballs .
Alright Misty , Let's keep going."
[Raphael: You just got a whole Scyther gang.]
Misty raised a brow. "What, no nap? No celebratory rice ball?"
Ash smirked. "No time. I've got momentum, a bird the size of a car, and now a ninja mantis. Let' go the faster we move the faster we leave this forest, don't you hate bug types?"
Misty immediately agreed.
Ash checked the map again. "Nidorina/Nidorino nest up ahead. Let's go see if we can find a few."
Misty rolled her eyes but followed. "Fine. But after that, I get a break. A long one."
Ash grinned over his shoulder. "Deal. Unless we find a some other nests too."
Misty groaned. "I hate you."
And with that, the forest adventure continued—toward Nidorino/Nidorina territory.
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[A/N :- Well fellas here you go another chapter though it was not to my satisfaction that much but it's okay okay level so whatever 🤧
How was the chapter according to you ?
Finally, Two or three chapters more then we will leave the forest it's becoming boring for me to write same thing again and again.
Thanks for your support 🙏 💕 😆 😉
Give me more of your power stones if I have a chapter at hand maybe I will upload it too 😁
Bye 👋 Have a good day 😊]