Chapter no.10 Viridian Forest
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As I packed my backpack with essentials—extra clothing, a tent, sleeping bag, pad, Pokémon repel, and a lighter—I pondered a significant question: Do I have to collect all of Ash's Pokémon?
It seemed like a monumental task, and my mind churned with the possibilities as I added items like Pikachu's special battery and Tupperwares filled with dehydrated and freeze-dried food.
"You ready to say goodbye to Viridian City?" I asked Pikachu, who gave a firm nod and hopped onto my shoulder with his usual enthusiastic "Pika!"
After a brief farewell to Nurse Joy, we started our trek towards Viridian Forest. As the urban landscape gradually melded into lush, dense forest, the boundary between city and wilderness blurred into a mosaic of green.
Standing before a road sign at the forest's edge, I paused, lost in thought.
'Okay, so I don't want to be like Season 1 Ash. I want to develop a bond with each of my Pokémon. Catching 30 Tauros is definitely a no for me; maybe one or none. I'm not the biggest Tauros fan,' I snorted at the thought. 'And as for the rest, they are capable Pokémon, but who's to say I'll be able to catch them? I've already altered the timeline by catching Rattata and Spearow. Maybe someone else has already caught Caterpie and Pidgeotto.'
"Pika," Pikachu tapped his cheek, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Sorry, just lost in thought," I apologized with a smile. "Let's go."
As we walked, I decided to embrace the journey as my own.
I'll make the most of it.
My mind wandered to the Pokémon I hoped to catch.
'Hmm, maybe an Eevee or a Scyther... Oh, a Ninetales would be really cool.'
After hours of trekking through Viridian Forest, I was practically dragging my feet, exhausted. The effectiveness of the Pokémon repel meant no wild Pokémon encounters, which was a relief but also a bit dull. I found a sizable tree and slumped down at its base, grateful for the break.
"Pika pi," Pikachu chirped, pumping his tiny arms in an effort to cheer me up.
"Let's not overwork ourselves, buddy," I replied, smiling weakly at his enthusiasm. "I'm going to take a rest."
"Chu," Pikachu acknowledged, then scampered off to explore our immediate surroundings, his curiosity undimmed by our long walk.
I pulled out a freeze-dried lemon from my pack and bit into it. The tartness exploded in my mouth, a stark contrast to the slightly chalky texture. It was refreshing, though, and along with a few sips of water, it helped revive my spirits somewhat.
As Pikachu scampered around energetically, a wave of boredom washed over me, prompting me to dig deeper into my backpack. I pulled out the training book I had been gradually working through and flipped it open. To my surprise, as I turned the page, a few loose notes fluttered out.
"Hmm, I guess this book must have been second-hand, or maybe the shopkeeper rents his books out," I mused.
Curious about the content of these notes, I examined them more closely.
They were labeled 'Pokémon Tech Academy,' a name that sounded vaguely familiar, though I couldn't quite place it.
As I began reading, I discovered the notes covered Pokémon Ecology and Domestication— that sparked my interest.
The notes were essentially pages ripped out from a notebook, containing detailed paragraphs on the topic.
"Good for me," I concluded, feeling a surge of excitement.
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According to Dr. Helena Birch, a Pokémon Ethologist quoted in the booklet, survival of the fittest wasn't merely about combat prowess in the wild. Over centuries, Pokémon had learned that allying with humans not only ensured survival but also provided a comfortable life. This mutual benefit had led many wild Pokémon to develop what Dr. Birch called 'domestication syndrome,' an instinctive drive to seek out humans for companionship and protection, rather than out of aggression.
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This made me pause, connecting dots I hadn't considered before.
So, is that why in the games, whenever you go through the grass, you encounter a wild Pokémon? I wondered, pondering the implications.
My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a rustling noise nearby.
I felt a weight against my leg and looked down to find an insect Pokémon resembling a green caterpillar with a yellow underside and a teardrop-shaped tail. Its body was segmented with yellow ring-shaped markings that mimicked eyes. The most striking feature was the bright red antenna on its head.
Suddenly, the antenna began to shake and retract into its body, making a noise that caught me off guard.
"Caterpie?!"
It was a startling moment, and a thought crossed my mind—could this be Ash's Caterpie?
It was a silly concern, really.
How would I even know which of Ash's Pokémon were actually his?
Unlike Charmander, which had a distinctive story, Caterpie was just... Caterpie.
The sensation of the Caterpie trying to move against my leg felt like a series of small, squishy tugs.
Gently, I placed my palms on it and eased it to the ground.
"No!" I commanded softly, pointing at it.
The Caterpie looked up at me with those big, fake eyes, and it was possibly the cutest thing I'd ever seen.
"Chu!"
Suddenly, a thundershock from Pikachu lit up the area. Seeing a thundershock up close was an intense experience—the crackling energy, the sharp scent of ozone, and the sheer power were overwhelming. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the flash blindness from my eyes, only to see the Caterpie knocked out cold on the ground.
"Sweet mother of goose, Pikachu, you're a monster, an irredeemable monster."
Pikachu just stared at me as if I'd lost my mind, then theatrically placed his paws on his chest, feigning innocence.
"Don't worry, I'm joking, but I think we found our excuse to set up camp," I said with a grin.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head, his ears flopping to the side in confusion.
"We obviously have to treat your victim here," I added.
"Pi." Pikachu pointed first at himself and then at me, playing up his role as the brave defender.
I chuckled as I watched Pikachu huff and turn away, his little body language clearly showing he was a bit miffed.
"Come on, I was joking."
Pikachu continued to sulk.
"Help me out, and I'll give you two snacks." At the mention of treats, Pikachu's demeanor changed. He sidled up beside my leg, rubbing against it like a cat might, seeking affection and perhaps confirming the promise of those extra snacks. His soft squeaks brushed against my pants.
"You're supposed to be Jerry, not Tom."
"Pika?"
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Helping Caterpie turned out to be quite straightforward. A quick spray of the potion, and he seemed all patched up, at least from the outside. I carefully placed him on my sleeping bag as I began to set up our campsite.
Thank you, Dad, for teaching me this.
Pikachu and I worked together to get our camp ready. I laid out the tent materials and began assembling the structure, following the methodical process Dad had shown me. Pikachu, ever eager to assist, scurried around collecting small stones to create a fire ring.
Finally, I took out the Pokémon repel and carefully applied a circle of the liquid around our site to keep wild Pokémon at bay while we rested.
"Pika," Pikachu complained, his tiny nostrils pinched at the strong odor.
"If the smell bothers you, you can just go back to your Pokéball," I offered, trying to be considerate.
Pikachu shook his head and pointed towards the trees and then back to the stone circle.
"Try to get the fallen branches," I instructed as I settled down on my sleeping pillow. The sun was slowly setting, painting the sky with shades of orange and purple, heralding the arrival of night.
I wondered aloud with a smile, "I wonder how the night sky will look tonight," as the first stars began to twinkle in the darkening heavens.
Just then, I heard a soft rustle and turned to see Caterpie stirring awake.
"You okay?" I asked gently as the little bug wiggled its feet in a groggy attempt to move. I chuckled softly and offered him a piece of freeze-dried candy, which he nibbled on tentatively.
I watched silently as Caterpie lingered, perhaps waiting for an invitation to join the team, perhaps expecting more.
But I remained quiet, humming softly, an uneasy feeling settling in my chest as Caterpie eventually turned and left. I closed my eyes briefly, my heart racing as I pondered the changes I had made.
Could these changes affect the future? Would this decision come back to haunt me?
The sound of Pikachu dragging a large branch snapped me out of my thoughts. I stood up, feeling a resolve hardened within me.
Why should I emulate Ash Ketchum?
Why should I invest in a Caterpie that might eventually leave?
Resources were tight; I had to prioritize expenses for training equipment, healing items, and food. And though it felt cold-hearted, I had to remind myself: this was my journey, not Ash Ketchum's.
Even though Ash's Butterfree held a special place in my memories, I needed to be realistic.
Allowing Caterpie to join just didn't seem beneficial in the long run.
"This is my journey," I repeated quietly to myself, solidifying my resolve as I watched the small Caterpie disappear into the undergrowth. "May you find a less selfish trainer than me."
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Back at the campfire, Pikachu and I settled into the evening routine. The warmth of the flames comforted me as I stirred the pot of tomato berry soup. The dried berries released a tangy scent as they rehydrated, mingling with the tofu and sweet potato chunks that danced in the bubbling broth.
After ladling out bowls for Rattata and Spearow, who I had just released from their Pokéballs, I joined them. Seeking to distract myself from the day's events, I opened Caterpie's encyclopedia entry, ostensibly for a bit of 'entertainment' while eating.
[ Encyclopaedia Entry Number#10 ]
Of the five pokemon in Japanese Continent which can learn String Shot, only Caterpie produce actual string. Weedle produce a weak fiber similar to cotton and of use solely for the construction of textiles. Wurmple produce a smooth silky thread which is pleasant to the touch, while Spinarak and Ariados produce a powerful adhesive.
For utility, however, none of these are as valuable as Caterpie string. For string can be used in archery, to make ropes, or for a thousand other things, half of them improvised in time of few other materials. Other fibers made from plants are occasionally used elsewhere, typically in places which lack trade links with Viridian City and its adjoining forest where most of Viridian's people work. The task is tough and thankless, for it requires extensive harvesting of leaves to feed the bug pokemon year-round. The string after spraying must be collected by hand, they must avoid battling them (save for the few lucky enough to afford everstones) as evolution weakens the string, and profits have never been very high.
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Japanese continent?
The thought threw me off.
How many continents were there in this world? How many regions hadn't been shown in the anime? How many new Pokémon could there be?
These questions swirled in my head as I gazed up at the night sky, which was brilliantly littered with stars, twinkling like a sea of diamonds spread across a vast, dark canvas. The universe seemed impossibly vast, and yet, as I looked down at my Pokémon clumsily enjoying their soup, it felt incredibly small and intimate.
"Do you think there are alien Pokémon out there?" I asked, half-joking, half-curious. My Pokémon just continued to look up, perhaps wondering about the vastness above or just enjoying the night sky.
At that moment, the world felt so large, yet so small. I smiled, savoring the cool breeze of the forest and the warmth of the soup in my belly.
"This is so much better than boring school."
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As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the trees, they landed squarely on my face, rudely awakening me from my slumber. Beside the cold remnants of last night's fire, I yawned, struggling a bit to escape the cozy confines of my sleeping bag. Glancing around, I noticed Pikachu and Rattata huddled together in a peaceful slumber, while Spearow perched alertly on a nearby tree branch.
Just as I was taking in the serene morning, a flap of wings caught my attention. Looking up, I spotted a Pidgeotto—its brown feathers melding into the cream-colored face and underside, with distinctive pinkish-red feathers crowning its head. Spearow was already eyeing the newcomer with a fierce glare.
"Hey Spearow, you up for a battle?" I called out, intrigued by the challenge.
Spearow responded with an eager cry, its call rousing the other Pokémon and drawing Pidgeotto's attention. With a defiant squawk, Spearow launched into the air, meeting Pidgeotto head-on in the clearing.
"Fury Attack!" I shouted. Spearow darted forward, its beak moving like a blur as it jabbed repeatedly at Pidgeotto, who squawked in surprise and pain. But the larger bird quickly retaliated, using its powerful wings to swat Spearow away, then swiftly following up with a Quick Attack.
"Twist while you're falling!" I instructed urgently. Spearow executed a nimble twist in mid-air, narrowly dodging the incoming Quick Attack and regaining its position. "Now, use Peck!"
Spearow dove towards Pidgeotto, but the clever bird caught Spearow's beak with its talons, using the momentum to spin downward and slam Spearow into the ground with a thud.
'I may have to change tactics,' I thought, my hand reaching for Spearow's Pokéball. "Spearow, retur—"
Spearow's defiant cry stopped me. He pushed himself up, refusing to be recalled. His eyes burned with determination.
"You sure?" I called out, impressed by his tenacity.
Spearow nodded sharply. "Well, alright then. Leer and then Fury Attack," I commanded.
Spearow's eyes glowed ominously, fixing Pidgeotto in a menacing stare. Just as Pidgeotto released a blinding Sand Attack, Spearow's Keen Eye ability allowed it to see through the swirling dust. Unfazed, Spearow launched into a relentless barrage of pecks. Pidgeotto struggled under the assault, finally collapsing to the ground, weakened and unable to rise.
I tossed a gold berry toward Pidgeotto, knowing the berry would help it regain its health after the intense battle. Spearow squawked at me in surprise, clearly questioning my decision.
"You won, no need to take it too far," I explained to the aggressive little bird, hoping to teach it a bit of sportsmanship. Pidgeotto caught the berry, gave me a grateful nod, and then turned to Spearow, offering a nod of respect before flying off into the forest.
Watching Pidgeotto disappear into the trees, a fleeting thought crossed my mind—should I have tried to catch her? But then my gaze settled back on Spearow, whose potential I had already begun to appreciate. "Yeah, I already have a Pokémon that could grow up to rival Ash's Pidgeot, even without any formal training. I'm good with one flying type," I reassured myself.
Turning back to the campsite, I missed the pair of eyes that watched me from the underbrush, too caught up in my own thoughts to notice.
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[ Author's Note:
I wanted to share that originally, I planned for Austin to catch both Caterpie and Pidgeotto. However, I decided against this to emphasize that this is Austin's unique journey, not a mere replication of Ash's. He will benefit from his knowledge of the anime, but he won't simply mimic Ash's path.
Austin will still catch a new Pokémon in Viridian Forest, and I'm curious if you can guess which one it will be. ]