12. Meeting The Samurai

"How long will it take for us to go through the forest?" Ash asked them with a thoughtful look.

"If we go at this pace then most likely by night." Shu said to him as he thought about it.

"I just hope we can just get out of this forest quickly." Misty said with a sigh.

"You just want to get out because of the Bug Pokemon." Ash said to her.

"It's a totally valid reason." Misty said to him with a glare.

"And I say it's not." Ash said to her with a frown.

"Guys, we will be able to clear the forest if you would just walk silently and not disturb any of the wild Pokemon." Shu said to the two of them.

The two of them decided to listen to him. Misty because she didn't want to attract the attention of any Bug type Pokemon while Ash just wanted to get out of the forest as fast as he could so that he could finally do his gym battle.

As they were walking when Ash spotted a Weedle which he was about to catch but then they heard the sound of branches breaking as Shu knew who was coming as he got ready and soon enough a boy wearing a samurai helmet appeared and pointed his blade at Ash causing him to panic.

'It's different than what happened or is my memory not that good?' Shu thought to himself in confusion since he didn't remember the Samurai acting like this.

"Finally. I've been waiting for you to show up." The samurai said to him.

"Hey! What's your problem?" Ash said to him confused.

"You're a trainer from Pallet Town aren't you?" The samurai asked him.

"I am. But who are you?" Ash asked him angrily.

Shu's Pokemon were looking at the scene as they were ready to intervene if it escalated.

"I am Samurai, the trainer who lives in this forest. I've battled the three other trainers from that town and I want to battle you." Samurai said to him.

"Well I was just in the middle of catching aaah! And the Weedle ran away!" Ash said before he realised that the Weedle is gone.

"You let a Pokemon get away. You're a very bad trainer." Samurai said to him.

"You're the reason that Weedle got away in the first place! Alright that's it, you wanted to fight me! Well I accept your challenge!" Ash said to him angrily.

"Ash is letting his emotions control him again." Shu said with a smile.

"He's going to lose." Misty said with a sigh.

"I'm going to win!" Ash said immediately when he heard her.

"Why don't you let your Pokemon do the talking?" Shu said to them as the two trainer's glared at eachother.

Then they went to a clearing where Ash and Samurai made distance between themselves. Shu and Misty are at the side in the middle of the two with Shu's Pokemon with them. Pikachu is with them as well as Shu decided to become the referee.

"Alright, both of you already know the rules so let the battle begin!" Shu said to the two of them.

"Go Pidgeotto!/ Pinsir!" Ash/Samurai said as she threw their respective Pokeball's.

Pinsir appeared and looked ready to battle but Pidgeotto lay on the ground and sighed causing Ash to blink in surprise.

"Don't you know that Pokemon also need to rest." Misty said to him.

"Yeaahh. I remember." Ash said hesitantly.

'He totally forgot. Then again, I won't do anything. He needs to get the experience, and I need to get the info.' Shu thought to himself as he looked at the battlefield seriously as he is the referee before pulling out his Pokedex to get information about Pinsir, an action which Ash did as well to get information.

"Using a tired Pokemon for a match. You really are an amateur." Samurai said to him.

"I'll show you. Pidgeotto can defeat your Pokemon." Ash said as Pidgeotto cried in agreement.

Pinsir used his pincers to scare it's opponentwhich didn't work.

"Pidgeotto Sand Attack!" Ash ordered as Pidgeotto did the attack.

"Hahaha! That is a move only amateurs make! Pinsir attack!" Samurai said as he ordered his Pokemon.

Pinsir obeyed as it went through the Sand Attack and hit Pidgeotto as it cried and fell on the ground unmoving as Ash has a worried face.

"Oh Pidgeotto." Ash said worried.

"See. Your Pidgeotto is no match for me." Samurai said with a smug grin before laughing.

"Pidgeotto has been defeated." Shu announced seriously.

'He isn't showing any change in expression.' Misty thought to herself when she saw him.

"I'll show you. Pidgeotto come back." Ash said as he recalled it.

"Now what other loser Pokemon are you going to use?" Samurai asked in a smug tone.

"Oh you'll regret this. Come out Metapod!" Ash said before calling Metapod out.

"Metapod!" Metapod said as he came out.

"Ahahaha! Are you serious? Do you not realise what my Pinsir can do to your Metapod." Samurai said to him with a smile.

"Oh no." Ash said imagining what the Bug type will do.

"Pinsir, grab Metapod in your pincers and show him what you can do!" Samurai ordered his Pokemon as Pinsir grabbed Metapod with its pincers.

"Ash do something fast!" Misty said to him in distress.

"Oh right! Metapod use Harden!" Ash said to his Pokemon.

'At least he has his quick thinking during battles.' Shu thought to himself with a slight smile.

Metapod complied and used Harden as it's defence increased. Pinsir tried to use its pincers to damage the Bug type but it didn't work and instead its own pincers became damaged which caused the Samurai to become worried for his Pokemon.

"Haha! How do you like that!" Ash said happily when he saw that.

"Pinsir has been defeated." Shu announced seriously.

"Pinsir come back." Samurai said as he called back Pinsir.

"Good job at doing that. Now go Pokeball!" Samurai said as he sent out another Pokeball.

It opened and the Pokemon appeared which caused Ash and Misty to be surprised.

"Another Metapod." Ash said surprised.

"Metapod use Harden and become as hard as that one." Samurai said as Metapod used Harden as well.

After which Ash also told Metapod to Harden again which Samurai's Metapod to do the same. After that both trainer's were looking at the other with determined gazes as the audience looked at the scene as Misty blinked.

"Can't you call this match off?" Misty asked Shu in a whisper.

"I may be a stand in referee but a referee nonetheless. Unless there is a valid reason I can't call of the match." Shu said to her.

"Bummer." Misty said as she looked at the two.

Sometime passed as the two kept on looking at eachother while Misty is starting to get tired.

"Looks like we're gonna have to live the rest of our lives in this jungle. Boys are so stubborn." Misty said as she looked at the two.

"Oh sorry, you're not like that Shu." Misty said as she turned to look at Shu.

Only for him to not be there as she got confused. She looked around and saw him sitting on the ground behind her in the shade with his Pokemon and Pikachu as he is eating a piece of chocolate.

"Why are you sitting there? Aren't you the referee?" Misty asked him surprised.

"There's no rule that says that I can't eat anything and besides, I only have to announce the outcome so I can stay here." Shu said to her as he took another bite of his chocolate.

"You..." Misty said surprised at his actions.

She then turned to look at the two trainer's as they are still in their battle when they both fell back in the same position as they still didn't give up.

"Both of you are more stubborn than your Metapod's!" Misty shouted to the two of them in anger.

Then the sound of buzzing caught her attention along with the rest of them as Shu immediately finished his chocolate and took his Pokeball out and called his Pokemon back.

'No matter how strong they are Nidoran is the only one who can fight against them without any fear of getting poisoned and Kakuna can't fight .' Shu thought to himself as he got up.

"What's that noise?" Misty said confused.

"A Beedrill Swarm is coming! End the match!" Samurai said as he called Metapod back.

"The match has ended alright. Get your things and get ready to run!" Shu said as he packed his bag.

"A Beedrill Swarm." Ash said before taking out his Pokedex and getting the information about Beedrill.

"They must be coming here because of the Weedle that you failed to catch. I'm not staying here bye!" Samurai said as he ran away.

"Ash call Metapod back!" Shu said to his friend.

"Right!" Ash said as he took out his Pokeball.

A Beedrill came fast and was about to grab Metapod but Nidoran tackled it out of the way as another came and Shu grabbed it with his psychic powers. But a third one came and grabbed the Pokemon just before the beam from Ash's Pokeball could hit it.

"Metapod!" Ash said as he tried to get him back to no avail as the Beedrill dodged it.

"Nidoran Poison Sting!" Shu ordered his Nidoran who used the attack on the Beedrills coming towards them.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu also attacked but Ash was also electrocuted.

"Come on Ash we have to run!" Misty said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him.

Shu grabbed her arm and he pulled her as the three of them ran. Shu located Samurai running ahead of them as they along with Pikachu and Nidoran ran behind the trainer. Ash was looking back thinking about his Metapod as he ran.

(A/N: Sorry for the late update, I'll try to update more often. It's hard with college and stuff.)