CHAPTER 99 – BUG-CATCHING CONTEST

In the previous chapter we see how Verity manages to defeat Giovanni once and for all and getting his last gym badge, thus being able to participate in the Indigo League, after this, our heroes and his family went to eat and after arriving at Pallet Town, Ash told his parents that the girls and he decided to stay to train in there, will everything be quiet until the start of the Pokémon League? I think we all know the answer.

...

With Ash.

It had been about two weeks since our battle with Giovanni and our last gym badge, during this time we didn't do much, just train and rest.

The good thing is that Professor Oak lent us his ranch and since he already knew about all our Pokémon, we could train without fear of anyone seeing us although I must say that some Pokémon seemed to be afraid of Mew a little bit.

From my point of view there is not much to say, I just trained and spent time with the girls and Molly who always came to my trainings and the girls's training too, I know I should not spoil her so much, but I can not help but spoil her.

As for Nancy it is not necessary to say much because she did exactly the same as me, the problem was Verity, as you know, Verity catched an Articuno not long ago and apparently the young Articuno are quite naughty and t took her a week to get him to follow a simple order, I will not say much but we received a scolding from Professor Oak, I won't tell you what we did but after that, we were more careful but apart from that Verity also trained very hard.

Finally Koharu, as she was not a trainer, what she did during this time is to watch our trainings, rest, help at home and visit her father, he wasn't in Vermillion City, but in Pallet Town, apparently my father, Professor Oak and Koharu's father were investigating something and from time to time Koharu would stop by to visit.

And so we spent these two weeks until one day at night...

...

One day at night.

My Rotom Dex started ringing or rather it was my phone, the girls were training and Koharu was with her father while my mother was doing the housework, so in my room there was only Pikachu, Latias, me and Molly.

"Who is brother?" - asked Molly curiously.

When the Rotom Dex came out of my pocket I saw that it was Lira, which is a strange thing, usually she always calls at night, although now that I think about it we have not spoken for a week, she will be angry.

"It's my friend Lira, I met her in Hoenn region" – I said picking up the phone.

"Good afternoon!" - greeted Lira.

"Good afternoon Lira, is something wrong?" – I asked.

"How bad you are, can't I call you just to ask how are you? Besides, you haven't called me for a week" - Lira replied.

"Haha... I'm sorry for that, I was very busy with my training and I forgot to call you" – I said nervously.

Actually, it wasn't just her, I forgot to call all of them, so they're probably mad at me.

"Hahaha, just kidding, don't worry about that, i understand because i was doing the same, anyway, the reason for this call is actually something else" - Lira said with a smile.

"Wow, now you piqued my curiosity" – I said interestedly.

"Well, what if I told you that there is going to be a Bug-Catching Contest here in Johto?" – asked Lira.

"A Bug-Catching Contest?" – I asked confused.

I remember that in the video game that contest was held once a week, but I don't remember in the anime.

"Yes, it's an annual contest where you have to catch a Bug-Type Pokémon, if you can catch the strongest Bug-Type Pokémon you'll win and the winner will win an awesome prize!" – he explained.

Although I already knew I am interested in the part of "annual" apparently in real life the contest was annual and not weekly, I like it, in this way it will attract many tourists.

"It looks interesting" – I nodded.

"That's right! Unfortunately the limit of participants is 7 and they have to sign up 1 month in advance..." – he said somewhat sadly.

"1 month? It's a shame, I wish I had gone" – I said somewhat disappointed.

And it's true, I was interested in participating, not for the prize but for the Pokémon I could have captured, Bug-Type Pokémon are weak even in real life but that doesn't mean it's as weak as a Magikarp, it means that they need more training than a normal Pokémon, in anime any Pokémon can become extremely powerful with proper training and here, in the real life it's exactly the same.

"I knew you'd say that, that's why I've got... tickets for everyone, for you, Koharu, Nancy and Verity, everyone can participate!" – Lira said cheerfully.

"Thank you very much Lira, the truth is that I want to go!" – I thanked.

"Then I can confirm your visit, can't I?" – said Lira.

"Yes... although I do not assure you that Koharu wants to participate" – I said.

"Why?" - asked Lira confused.

"For two reasons, the first is that Koharu is not a big fan of Bug-Type Pokémon and the second is that he said he would only catch Eevee evolutions" - I replied.

And it's absolutely true.

"I see... that's a pity... anyway ask her, otherwise I can always give the entrance to a friend of mine who could not get a ticket" – said Lira.

"Okay, I'll ask her tonight and tell you, when is the contest?" – I said.

"In two days, in the afternoon, so I of you would come tomorrow, otherwise you will arrive in Johto very tired and you won't have enought energy" – suggested Lira.

"Okay, I'll check with the girls and tonight I'll call you and explain everything, is that okay with you?" – I asked.

"I think it's perfect, see you tonight then, bye bye!" – said Lira.

"Bye bye" - I said.

Then I said goodbye to her and hung up the phone.

"Is something wrong Molly?" – I asked confused as I looked at Molly.

She hadn't said anything during the conversation and was quite thoughtful now, that's why she surprise me.

"No... I was just thinking about something" - Molly denied.

"What was my sweet little princess thinking?" – I said with a smile.

"Hehehe, brother... can I go with you?" – asked Molly.

"Do you want to come with me to Johto?" – I asked confused.

"Yes, I want to see how you catch Pokémon, I will also be a trainer when I grow up and I also want to be with you..." – Molly said somewhat sadly.

Now, what should I do? Taking her is very difficult because I do not know if my parents will let me, I do not know if she can enter the contest with me but i can not refuse because... Just look at it and you will understand why this is not an option.

"You can come" – I nodded.

"Yes, Yay!" – Molly laughed happily.

"But first you must ask our parents, if they let you I will take you" – I finished saying.

"Okay, I'll tell them as soon as possible!" – Molly nodded.

...

That same night.

We had all gathered as a family to have a good dinner, that's where I told the girls about the Bug-Catching Contest that Lira proposed to me that same afternoon and the answers I got did not surprise me at all.

"Obviously I'll go, I've heard that the Johto Bug-Catching Contest are very popular" - Nancy nodded.

"I also heard that the Bug Pokémon in the enclosure have nothing to do with those that can be found in the wild, thay are stronger than normal" - Verity nodded.

"I thank you for the offer Ash but I'm afraid I won't be able to go this time" - Koharu said.

"I'm afraid you'd reject me but don't you want to come as a spectator?" – I asked.

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I agreed to help with my father's research during his stay here in Pallet Town and he'll stay here for a weeks, so I won't be able to go" - Koharu said.

"Too bad, I would have liked you to come" – I said somewhat sadly.

"Don't worry, next time I will go with you! I already promised my father that I would help him and I have to keep my promise... this time" - Koharu said.

Although I did not expect that Koharu was not going to come, the rest if I expected it, what surprised me a lot is what my parents answered me when telling me about Molly.

"Okay, she can go with you" - my father nodded.

"Huh?" – I said confused.

"I'm agree too, it's a good opportunity for Molly to see another places" – my mother nodded.

"So, are you going to come too?" – I asked.

"No, I am busy with the investigation, I will not be able to leave Pallet Town in the next 2 months" – my father denied.

"I can't either, I have to help around the house and your father... sorry but i can't" - said my mother.

Why do I get the feeling that what they want is to rest without their children?

"YEEEEESSSSS, I will be able to go with the brother and sister!" – Molly shouted with joy.

"But remember that you must always be close to your brother and sisters, you must not separate from them" - her father reminded her.

"I will not be separated from my brother!" – Molly nodded.

And that's what happened and what that same night, after dinner, I told Lira, who was quite excited to know that we were going to go, although she was a little sad that Koharu stayed.

"So if Koharu does not come I will give the entrance to my friend, it is a pity that she can not come but my friend will be super happy when she receives her ticket, you will see, she is a very cheerful and lively girl, you will like her" – said Lira.

"Sure I do, by the way, I have one last question" – I said before hanging up.

"Tell me" - said Lira.

"My little sister and Bianca are going to accompany me, do you think they will let them come with me to see me? They will only see me while I am in the contest" - I asked.

"That's what you were worried about? You can take two people with you if you want but those people can't do anything than see you so there won't be any problem" - Lira replied.

"Then everything perfect, see you tomorrow" – I said.

It was midnight so technically we would see each other tomorrow.

"Good evening, see you tomorrow" – said Lira.

And then we hung up and went straight to sleep, a Bug-Catching Contest... I wonder what Pokémon Bug I will capture, a Scizor would be fine, it is strong and can Mega evolve, Beedrill is not very powerful in its normal form but its Mega Evolution is extremely powerful, Pinsir I do not like so much but his Mega Evolution is also powerful.

"Whatever Pokémon i catch I hope it won't be something like a Butterfree, a Parasect or a Venomoth, it's not that they're bad Pokémon but I don't like their appearance, although I would settle for a Heracross, I don't like their Mega Evolution and although Ash had one, i like it and it's strong.

With these thoughts in mind I fell asleep, Pikachu was next to me sleeping as usual while Molly had climbed into my bed as usual.

At first our parents scolded her saying that she should sleep in her bed but seeing that she did not listen to them in that sense, they decided to let her sleep with me.

Molly was a very obedient, good and honest girl but as I said with this she did not give in, so now she sleeps with me.

Returning to the subject, little by little I closed my eyes until I fell asleep while hugging my little sister...