11. First Blast Off And Evolution

"Why are you following us?" Ash asked as he stopped walking and turned around to look at Misty after Pikachu pointed her out.

Misty is currently hiding behind a tree while the two trainer's and their Pokemon's are looking at her direction.

"My cycle broke because of you. Because of you it isn't with me right now." Misty said to him as she appeared from behind a tree she was hiding.

"When will you stop talking about that stupid cycle." Ash said in an irritated tone.

"My cycle isn't stupid, you're stupid! If you hadn't broken my cycle then I would've already left this place. Do you understand?" Misty said to him with an angered look.

"Listen, I already told you that I will fix it and return it to you. Also, if I really am that stupid then why are you following us?" Ash asked her with an angry look.

"I am not following you. This is the only way through which I can get out." Misty said to him as she placed her hands on her hip as she glared at him.

"Okay. Do whatever you want?" Ash said as he turned around and walked away.

"That's what I have been doing." Misty said indignantly.

Shu, Pikachu and his Pokemon looked between the two and then at eachother. Shu shrugged his shoulders in defeat while the Pokemon only gave confused reactions.

Time skip

Shu is currently at the top of a tree at night as he is looking and is only able to see large groups of tree's as he sighed.

"Well, at least it is going smoothly." Shu said to himself as he climbed down from the tree.

On the way Mankey joined him before Weedle as well. He reached the ground with Weedle on his shoulder while Nidoran is standing on the ground with Mankey on the tree branch.

"Right. Let's get back to Ash. We do need to sleep." Shu said to them as his Pokemon let out cries of agreement.

Then they walked towards the camp that he and Ash had taken which wasn't much except for sleeping bags and a camp fire. There he saw Ash preparing to sleep on one side of a stump while Misty is on the other side of the stump.

"These two..." Shu said to himself with a sweat drop.

It was quite hard to believe that these two who were at each other's neck at the start of the journey would become so close to each other.

"Alright you two, don't fight during night okay." Shu said to the two as he also took out his sleeping bag as well.

"Hmph! I just hope he doesn't snore loudly and ruin my sleep." Misty said as she turned her back to Ash.

"Yeah, well I think we'll be lucky if you didn't snore up a storm." Ash retorted back as he turned his back to her as well.

Shu and the Pokemon's sweat dropped at their behaviour as he sighed and got inside his bag and layed on the ground some space away from the fire.

"I'm going to sleep. Don't sleep late." Shu said to his Pokemon as he went to sleep.

After that the Pokemon's talked with each other a little before they also went to sleep as the group of trainer's and Pokemon's had a night of peaceful sleep.

Morning came as they were still sleeping, except for Shu who has started to wake up as he got up and saw Nidoran sleeping beside him. He stretched his arms and looked around and saw Mankey sleeping on a tree alongside Weedle as he smiled.

"Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Misty's scream however took his attention.

Ash and the sleeping Pokemon also woke up with a jolt at her scream and immediately went into alert. Well, the Pokemon became alert while Ash was confused.

"What happened? What happened? Who? What?" Ash asked as he stood up with his sleeping bag still on him.

"Calm down Ash there's no danger." Shu said to the confused trainer.

"T-The bug. It was sleeping in front of me." Misty said in a scared tone.

"Oh, Caterpie just wanted to become friends with you Misty." Ash said with a smile at her words.

"If this bug wants to become my friend then tell it keep away from me! If you are a Pokemon then get out of my face and go back to your Pokeball." Misty said to Caterpie with an angry look.

Caterpie at hearing her words became very sad which caused Ash to become angry at her.

"Hey Misty what are you saying? Caterpie doesn't want to hurt you? Why does he even like you?" Ash said angrily but then his attention was taken by Caterpie who is sadly crawling.

Ash started to crawl alongside the Pokemon and tried to console him.

"You know Misty, you didn't have to talk to Caterpie like that. Even if you don't like Bug Pokemon." Shu said as he gave her a disapproving look.

"W-Well it's a Bug Pokemon. Of course I'll be creeped out." Misty said to him at hearing his words.

"You do know that Caterpie evolves to become a Butterfree right?" Shu asked her with a raised eyebrow knowing that it is a beautiful Pokemon.

"Yeah well, that's a Butterfree but this is a Caterpie." Misty said to him.

"That was a very weak argument and you know it." Shu said with a deadpan at her.

"Alright, why did you say that to Caterpie Misty? Pokemon have feelings as well. Apologise to him." Ash said to her angrily.

Misty just turned away from him only to see Shu standing with his arms crossed with his Pokemon looking at her making her feel self-conscious. Ash said soothing words to Caterpie as Misty has a slightly guilty look on her face at his words.

But then their attention is taken when a Pidgeotto flies and lands on the field of grass in front of them seemingly ignoring their presence as the group looked at the Pokemon.

"It's a Pidgeotto!" Ash said in an excited voice as he put on his cap and took out his Pokedex.

The Pokedex recorded information regarding it as Shu also did it with his own to get the information.

"Ash remember what I had taught you. You need to weaken it first before you try to catch a Pokemon." Shu said when he saw Ash about to take out a Pokeball which he could vaguely remember as his just throwing it at the Pidgeotto.

"Oh, uh, right, yeah. I knew that." Ash said awkwardly as he put the Pokeball back.

"Sure you did." Misty said with a smirk.

"Oh I'll show you. Go Caterpie!" Ash said as he grabbed Caterpie's Pokeball and threw it as Misty and the Pokemons were surprised.

'I'll just stay silent for now. He needs to learn by himself what to do and not to do.' Shu thought to himself as he shared a glance with Nidoran.

Caterpie came out as his appearance caught the attention of Pidgeotto.

"You see. I am pretty smart." Ash said to Misty with a smug look.

"You have no idea about what you just did." Misty said to him causing him to become confused.

His answer came in the form of Caterpie running away from Pidgeotto while it followed the Bug Pokemon.

"Caterpie!" Ash said in worry when he saw that.

"Weedle come here." Shu said to his Pokemon.

Weedle immediately crawled to his trainer as Ash told Caterpie to attack only for him to be sent back by Pidgeotto's attack as he hit a tree and his eyes became swirls as Pidgeotto flew towards the Pokemon.

"Caterpie!" Ash shouted in worry when he saw that.

"Weedle use String Shot!" Shu commanded as Weedle jumped from his arm.

Weedle then used String Shot on Pidgeotto which caused the Flying type Pokemon to move out of the way.

"Quickly Ash call Caterpie back." Misty said to him.

"Oh right. Caterpie, come back." Ash said as he returned Caterpie to his Pokeball.

"Ash if you want to defeat that Pidgeotto then you should do it now." Shu said to him as Weedle landed on his arm.

"Right. Pikachu, let's get revenge for Caterpie. Use Thundershock!" Ash said to Pikachu as the mouse Pokemon ran from the stump.

"Pikachuuuu!" Pikachu used Thundershock as he looked at Pidgeotto.

The attack hit it's mark as it paralysed the Pokemon as Ash saw his chance.

"Go Pokeball!" Ash said as he threw his Pokeball.

It hit the Pidgeotto and covered it in a red light before absorbing it inside and fell on the ground. The group watched as the Pokeball shook a few times before clicking signifying that the Pokemon has been caught.

"Yes! I caught Pidgeotto!" Ash said excitedly when he saw that.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu said as he made a victory sign.

"Haha! You see, I caught the Pidgeotto! I'll surely become a Pokemon Master." Ash said to Misty with a smile.

"Yeah right. First of all you need to actually know what Pokemon you're fighting against! After that..." Misty said angrily as she started to lecture Ash about the importance of using their brains when fighting.

"You're nothing more than an idiot who doesn't even know how to use his brain!" Misty berated him angrily.

"As amusing as watching this is we have company." Shu said as his Pokemon got on guard.

"Wait what did you just say?" Ash asked bewildered.

But he was stopped when Team Rocket came and started to say their motto as the group watched them though they didn't actually fear them due to how they had managed to take care of them before.

"Um, I'm not in the mood to do this so can we do this some other time?" Ash asked them as he walked a bit forward.

"We're not here to hear your nonsense, we're here to take your Pokemon." Jessie said as she and James pointed at Pikachu and Nidoran

"Your Pikachu and his Nidoran. Give them to us." James said following up with his partner.

"Hey he's my Pikachu. Go find one youself." Ash said to them.

"I have to say the same. He's my partner and I'm not leaving him." Shu said as he narrowed his eyes at them.

"No. We want that Pikachu and Nidoran." Jessie said to them.

"We are Team Rocket, our goal is to find all the rare and special Pokemon from around the world kids." James said as Meowth looked at him.

"And that Nidoran and Pikachu are the one's we were looking for." Jessie said as Meowth looked at her.

"You guys love to talk don't you?" Shu said with a deadpan.

They weren't able to answer however as Meowth attacked the two and scratched them with his claws.

"How long are the two of you going to keep on talking like this?! Stop wasting time and get those Pokemon!" Meowth said as he scratched them.

"Is my Pikachu and Shu's Nidoran really that special?" Ash said skeptically.

"Your Pikachu has shown remarkable amount of power. I can still remember the Thunderbolt that he had used on me. The power he displayed was outstanding. Your Pokemon is quite brilliant. And that Nidoran has quite the rare colour as well and..." Meowth said but he was hit by Jessie and James.

"Listen to us and give that Pikachu to us." Jessie said to him.

"Heh! Forget about it." Ash said to them.

"Then get ready for a Pokemon battle." James said as he held his Pokeball.

"Time for a Pokemon battle. Come out Ekans." Jessie said as she threw her Pokeball alongside James.

"Koffing." James said as their Pokeball's opened.

Both Pokemon appeared as Pikachu and Nidoran stood in front of their trainer's as they glared at the enemy.

"Nidoran use Confusion!" Shu said as Nidoran's eyes glowed blue.

Ekans was covered in a blue hue but this time Koffing used Sludge on Nidoran which Shu managed to see.

"Nidoran dodge!" Shu said immediately when he saw the attack.

Nidoran moved and only his left eyes was covered by the Sludge as he right eye is fine.

'That was close.' Shu thought to himself.

"Oh no Pikachu!" Ash said worried as Pikachu was hit on his face by the Sludge from Koffing who used the move again.

"Now use Poison Sting!" Jessie said to Ekans who used that move.

"Nidoran protect Pikachu!" Shu said to him.

Nidoran complied and tackled Pikachu out of the way of the attack.

"Wait a minute, why am I only using one Pokemon?" Shu said to himself when he realised it.

"Oh oh, it looks like the White twerp is about to use more Pokemon." Meowth said when he heard him.

"Well, at least we took care of that Pikachu." James said as Ash took Pikachu and gave him to Misty as he grabbed another Pokeball.

"Go Pidgeotto!" Ash said as the Pokemon appeared and gave its cry.

"Nidoran, come here so I can remove the Sludge. Mankey and Weedle, time for you two to shine." Shu said to his Pokemon.

Nidoran did as told and came back to his trainer while the two Pokemon got ready to fight alongside Pidgeotto.

"Mankey use Scratch, Weedle Poison Sting!" Shu said to the two as his Pokemon let out cries of acknowledgement.

"Pidgeotto attack!" Ash said as his Pokemon flew towards the enemy.

"Koffing go after that bird!" James said as Koffing flew after Pidgeotto.

"Ekans fight the bug." Jessie said to her Pokemon.

"And I'll take the Mankey." Meowth said as he also joined the fray.

Pidgeotto and Koffing took the fight to the skies while Ekans fought with Weedle as his trainer gave him an order to use String Shot as Poison Sting isn't that effective against a Poison type. As for Meowth and Mankey, Mankey would try to use Scratch Meowth would also attack using his extended claws which gave him more reach.

"Now Ekans, jump and use Wrap on Pidgeotto!" Jessie said to her Pokemon.

"Wait what!" Ash said surprised as the snake Pokemon jumped into the sky.

This caught the Bird Pokemon by surprise as the Pokemon was caught by the snake Pokemon before it let go and it was Tackled by Koffing as it screeched in pain.

"Well, down it goes. Ash, call it back." Shu said to his friend.

"Right!" Ash said as he called his Pidgeotto back.

"Hah! Now only you two are left." James said with a victorious smirk.

"No. Three." Shu said with a smirk of his own as Nidoran entered the fray despite him only having one eye.

"Meowwwth, I'll show these brats what I'm made of." Meowth said as he extended his claws.

"We'll see. Weedle get on Mankey and use String Shot, Mankey make sure Weedle doesn't fall off and use Scratch if they get close and Nidoran use Poison Sting!" Shu commanded his Pokemon as they let out cries of acknowledgement.

"All three of you defeat them!" Jessie said to them as their Pokemons.

The Pokemon started to fight as Ash has a frustrated look on his face as he grabbed his last Pokeball.

"Hold on Ash, you're not thinking." Misty said as he looked at him.

"I can't just sit here like this and do nothing. I won't be able to become a Pokemon Master if I can't even take care of these guys. Come out Caterpie!" Ash said as he called Caterpie.

Caterpie appeared alongside Shu's Pokemon as they all looked at him.

"Ahahaha! Well would you look at that not only did that white twerp have a needle bug now this twerp also has a bug." James said as he laughed.

"Man it is hilarious." Jessie said as she also laughed.

"I'll show you, use String Shot!" Ash ordered to them.

"Use String Shot as well." Shu said to Weedle as he complied.

Both Pokemon's used String Shot and in the moment that the two Rocket trainer's were laughing the three Pokemon we're encased in silk much to their shock.

"Wait what?" James said surprised.

"How did..." Jessie said shocked as well.

"Mmmph! Mmm, mmphh!" Meowth who is now completely covered in silk from the two Pokemon.

"Mankey, Nidoran sent them flying!" Shu said with a smirk.

The two Pokemon cried and ran towards the three trapped Pokemon and then hit them and sent the three Pokemon flying back to their trainer's as they crumbled on the ground with a thud.

"Now that's what I call teamwork." Ash said excitedly as he snapped his fingers.

"Hey, Pikachu is okay now." Misty said as she put Pikachu down.

"You know what that means." Ash said with a smile as Pikachu walked and stood in front of him.

"Uh-oh." James and Jessie said when they saw the yellow Pokemon.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" Ash said excitedly and pointed at them.

"Nidoran use Poison Sting as well!" Shu said to his Pokemon.

"Pikachuuuu!" Pikachu used Thunderbolt.

"Nidoo!" Nidoran sent Poison Sting towards them.

Both attacks hit the five of them together and caused and explosion which sent them into the sky.

"Team Rocket is blasting off!" Jessie and James shouted together as they disappeared into the sky.

'Wow, they said their catchphrase early.' Shu thought to himself as he kneeled in front of his Pokemon.

"You three have done good." Shu said as he rubbed their heads before rubbing away the sludge on Nidoran's face.

Ash meanwhile was praising his Caterpie along with Pikachu before he turned his attention to Misty who has a conflicted expression.

"So Misty, don't you think Caterpie has done well." Ash said to her as he showed him to her.

"Uh, well.." Misty said hesitantly.

"Come on Misty, at least give a thank you. You like Pokemon as well don't you. Then this is the perfect time for you to congratulate him." Ash said to her as Shu and his Pokemon watched.

"M-Mayhe you're right." Misty said hesitantly as she raised her hand towards Caterpie.

She slowly neared him until he used String Shot scaring her. But to the confusion of the two trainer's he is spraying himself with the String Shot. Shu knowing that he is evolving.

"Looks like he is evolving." Shu said with a smile.

"Woah really? That's so great." Ash said as he smiled at his Caterpie.

But then Shu got a surprise as well when his Weedle also started to mimic Caterpie as he looked at him with a shocked face.

"Weedle is evolving as well." Shu said with a happy smile as the three trainers and Pokemon watched the two Bug Pokemon we're covered by the silk.

Then they watched as the silk solidified and the two become Metapod and Kakuna.

Ash looked at the two Pokemon with his Pokedex with Shu doing the same. He had told Prof.Oak that he will help in completing the Pokedex.

After that the two trainer's raised their newly evolved Pokemon's with happiness as the forest heard the sounds of their happiness.