Austin was relishing the newfound speed afforded by the bike as he pedaled closer to Pewter City. Although his legs were tiring, he preferred the swift pace to another night potentially dodging Team Rocket in Viridian Forest. The wind brushed against his face, and the rhythmic sound of the bike's tires on the path provided a soothing backdrop to his thoughts of progress and distance.

  Suddenly, his peaceful ride was interrupted when a figure abruptly jumped into his path. Austin slammed on the brakes, the bike skidding to a halt. Pikachu, disoriented from the sudden stop, clutched his spinning head.

  "Are you crazy?" Austin yelled at the figure before him—a boy dressed in striking samurai armor, complete with prominent yellow horns on his helmet that curved outward like a beetle. The armor was predominantly black with red accents, giving it an imposing look.

  "Halt!" the boy commanded, unsheathing a katana with a Pokéball for a cross guard. The blade glinted menacingly in the sunlight—a real sword that reminded Austin of weapons from the Pokémon Adventures manga.

  I'm probably overthinking this. I distinctly remember weapons being in Season 1 of the anime. This is probably something like that, Austin reassured himself.

  His musings were cut short when the samurai boy demanded, "Are you from Pallet Town?"

  Austin, not appreciating the sharp end of a blade pointed at him, cautiously pushed the sword aside and replied, "No."

  The samurai scrutinized three poorly drawn pictures he took out, one of which comically featured Ash with a dunce cap. He studied them as if solving a great mystery. "Wait," the samurai suddenly exclaimed, comparing Pikachu to the photo and back. "You have a Pikachu."

  "No, it's a Pidgey. Right," Austin played along, turning as Pikachu stretched his lips with his paws to mimic a beak and chirped, "P-P-P."

  "See?" Austin continued, barely containing his amusement.

  "That's a Pikachu," the samurai insisted, narrowing his eyes.

  "No, man, this is a new type of Pidgey from the Orre region," Austin replied, the corners of his mouth twitching as he struggled to maintain his composure.

  "Really?" The samurai, curious, poked Pikachu's red cheeks and was promptly zapped.

  Austin couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing as the samurai fell on his butt with a loud "Ouch!"

  "Stop laughing and battle me."

  "Don't feel like it," Austin replied nonchalantly, leaning against the handlebars of Misty's bike.

  "Come on, please, I have to get paid," the samurai pleaded, making Austin raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

  "I thought you wanted to fight me for revenge."

  "H-How did you know that?"

  "Lucky guess, I guess. Hey, that rhymes," Austin joked.

  "No, you're just repeating the same words," the samurai responded with a deadpan expression, not quite catching the humor. Austin shrugged it off.

  "Okay, so what's this about getting paid?"

  "Well, a few days ago, I was harvesting silk," the samurai began. Austin immediately recalled Caterpie's encyclopedia entry as the boy continued, "Then some trainer in a red car came in and battled me, which caused my Caterpie to evolve, and my business was ruined."

  "Sounds rough, buddy."

  "Gary Oak, however, was generous enough to offer me a deal. I battle all the trainers coming from Pallet Town, and he pays me."

  "Why not just catch another Caterpie and continue your silk business?"

  "The money was going to be used to buy a Pokéball."

  "Five thousand Pokédollars?" Austin was flabbergasted at the sum, wondering how Gary could throw around that kind of cash so casually.

  "Ten thousand if I beat all of Pallet Town's trainers," the samurai added, his tone serious yet hopeful.

  "Okay, so what will be the rules?" Austin asked. Up to now, his Pokémon battles—if you could call them that—had been anything but conventional.

  "Official tournament rules are fine by me. Two-on-two Pokémon."

  Austin nodded, excitement surging through him. This was going to be his first official Pokémon fight.

  "Pinsir to the battlefield!" Samurai announced, releasing a bipedal, coleopteran insectoid Pokémon.

  The Pinsir, with its wide, dull-brown body segmented by thin lines and topped with large, gray, spiky pincers, looked menacing. Its mouth, full of long, flat teeth, and its triangular eyes added to its intimidating appearance.

  Austin gripped the handlebars tightly, his nerves fraying at the sight of the Pinsir up close.

  Pikachu leapt from the basket onto the battlefield.

  You can do this.

  Samurai picked up a rock, and Austin nodded, understanding that the match would start as soon as the rock hit the ground.

  He strategized quickly in his mind. Okay, let's do run-and-hit tactics.

  The sound of the rock thudding against the ground was the signal.

  "Vice Grip!"

  "Dodge with Quick Attack!"

  Pinsir lunged forward, attempting to snatch Pikachu with its massive pincers, but Pikachu was already darting to the right.

  "Thundershock!"

  Pikachu's cheeks glowed yellow, and he unleashed multiple lightning bolts toward Pinsir.

  "Lightning rod tactic!" Samurai countered.

  "What?!" Austin exclaimed in confusion. Suddenly, Pinsir plunged its hands into the dirt, effectively grounding itself and neutralizing the electrical attack.

  Austin's heart raced as he realized that Samurai was far more formidable than he had been depicted in the anime.

  With Pinsir momentarily stuck, he saw an opportunity.

  "Quick Attack into Tackle!"

  Pikachu slammed into the bug type with force, jarring Pinsir enough to free its arms. However, Pinsir quickly recovered and went for a Bind attack, its arms glowing as it ensnared Pikachu in a tight hug.

  "Pika?!"

  Pikachu's cry of pain cut sharply through the air, his distress piercing Austin's composure. A wave of fear washed over him; his body froze, muscles tensed as a chilling helplessness gripped him. His mind went blank in the face of Pikachu's cry.

  Austin immediately recalled Pikachu into his Pokéball, ensuring his safety.

  "Hey, you earned a penalty," Samurai yelled across the field, his voice sharp with reprimand. Austin bristled, almost yelling back in the heat of the moment, but he caught himself and instead focused on checking Pikachu's condition.

  "Pika!" Pikachu's frown greeted him as Austin looked down, a wave of regret washing over him.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't... want you to get hurt," he stammered, his voice low. Pikachu puffed out his chest and thumped it with a small paw. Austin smiled faintly, chastising himself internally.

  Pokémon aren't your normal pets, dumbass. They are far stronger than they look.

  "You okay?" Samurai asked, his tone softening as he observed Austin's distress.

  Austin nodded, his face still tense. "Sorry, I just panicked... I..."

  "No need to explain. Many people do the same, but you have to learn that Pokémon aren't weak. While your decision was noble, it ultimately earned you a penalty. Learn to overcome the fear that takes over your mind on the battlefield," Samurai advised, his eyes steady on Austin.

  "Thanks. What does the penalty mean?"

  "Well, if you recall a Pokémon while it's being attacked, that Pokémon is penalized and cannot continue the battle," Samurai explained.

  Austin sighed deeply, absorbing the consequences of his actions.

  He reached for Rattata's Pokéball, knowing he couldn't use Spearow because the flying type was still recovering from earlier injuries, and he wanted to build a stronger bond of trust with Vee before sending him into battle.

  "I leave everything to you, my lady," Austin chuckled softly as he released Rattata onto the battlefield.

  "Vice Grip!"

  "Towards the tree!" Austin countered quickly.

  Rattata, understanding the urgency, dashed toward the base of the tree just as Pinsir's looming shadow reached her.

  "Through Pinsir's legs!" Austin yelled, and Rattata ran, pushing off the tree trunk with her hind legs. Pinsir, unable to halt its momentum, drove its pincers into the tree, getting them stuck.

  "Tail Whip!" Austin directed, seizing the moment.

  A white aura enveloped Rattata's tail as she swung it with force, striking the trapped Pinsir.

  Once free, the bug type turned only to be met with another Tail Whip, its defense lowering with each hit.

  "Bind!" Samurai called out. Pinsir's arms glowed ominously as it prepared to wrap Rattata in a tight hold.

  "Again through the legs!" Austin instructed sharply.

  Rattata darted underneath Pinsir, avoiding the Bind and slapping it with another Tail Whip as she passed.

  "Seismic Toss!"

  Pinsir grabbed Rattata by her horns, leaped into the air, and flung the Normal type down hard onto the ground behind it.

  Seeing Rattata weakly trying to rise, Austin was about to call off the match, but a tap from Pikachu stopped him.

  He didn't need to coddle his Pokémon.

  He needed to trust them.

  "Tail Whip!" he shouted again.

  Rattata's attack struck Pinsir just as it landed from its toss.

  "Vice Grip!"

  "Tackle!" Austin responded immediately.

  The two attacks collided in a fierce clash, but the weakening effects of the multiple Tail Whips took their toll. Pinsir's pincers broke under the impact of Rattata's solid Tackle, sending the bug type crumbling to the ground, knocked out.

  "You okay, baby girl?" Austin said, as Rattata nodded, panting heavily from the effort.

  Samurai recalled his defeated Pinsir.

  "Hey, is Pinsir going to be okay?"

  "Of course. Give it a few days, and those pincers will regrow. Plus, I could sell the broken pincers and get the big guy some good Pokémon food," Samurai responded with a reassuring smile.

  Austin chuckled dryly, still adjusting to the attitude of this world.

  "You will not win against my second Pokémon," Samurai declared, sending out his next fighter.

  "Bring it," Austin replied confidently, already anticipating his opponent's choice.

  A green cocoon Pokémon, Metapod, emerged.

  "Do you fear him?" Samurai asked, laughter in his voice.

  Austin shook his head dismissively and gestured for Rattata to continue.

  "Tackle," he ordered before Samurai could react.

  Rattata, however, used Quick Attack, slamming into Metapod, who cried out as the impact sent him reeling.

  The second Pokémon was beaten almost as swiftly as it had appeared.

  "You are very strong."

  "Thanks, but I'm curious—how did you plan for that Lightning Rod strategy?"

  "Oh, that," Samurai began, "I devised that strategy because Gary said he would pay me 20k if I managed to beat a Pallet Town trainer with a Pikachu."

  Austin sweatdropped at the mention of Gary's name, unable to suppress a smirk at Gary's transparent attempt at one-upmanship.

  Really? The guy's willing to blow 20k just to get a cheap win? He must be more desperate for bragging rights than I thought.

  "I'm Austin. Nice to meet you," he greeted, extending his hand to the kid, who blinked, apparently having forgotten as well.

  "Right." The kid smiled, reaching over to shake his hand. "I'm Nobunaga. Oda Nobunaga. And likewise."

  Austin stared. "You can't be serious. You can't."

  "Oh, but I am."

  "Your parents hated you, didn't they?"

  "Shut up."

  Austin strolled leisurely alongside his bicycle, gripping the handlebars lightly. The wheels crunched over the forest floor, littered with leaves and twigs. Beside him, Nobunaga consulted a large, well-worn map of Viridian Forest, his brow furrowed in concentration.

  "So, you live in Viridian Forest."

  Nobunaga nodded, his eyes not leaving the map.

  "It's easier that way. I'm close to business, and I don't have to pay rent."

  "I am curious, where did you get your Pinsir?"

  "A gift from my father. It's my starter."

  Their conversation ended abruptly as they heard the buzzing and humming of countless wings—a sound like rapid, crackling static. As they turned, they saw a swarm of Beedrill flying aggressively towards them.

  "Is your cabin close?" Austin asked quickly, swinging his leg over his bike, ready to move.

  "Yeah."

  "Then hop on," Austin said, releasing Vee into the bike's basket.

  "Vee, use Helping Hand on Pikachu," Austin commanded. Vee's paw glowed warmly as it touched Pikachu, who seemed to pulse with increased power, its cheeks sparking energetically.

  "Thundershock!" Austin yelled. Pikachu leapt from the basket, sending a massive surge of electricity into the swarm of Beedrills descending towards them. The effect was immediate: several Beedrills were knocked out, some fell to the ground paralyzed, while others twitched, trying to recover from the shock.

  Austin pedaled hard, the muscles in his legs burning as he picked up speed with Nobunaga on the backseat, leading them through a narrower path that snaked its way deeper into the forest.

  The trees blurred past as Austin focused on the path ahead, his heart pounding.

  Finally, Nobunaga pointed towards a structure partly hidden by the dense foliage. Austin followed his gaze to see a modest cabin built of rough logs, its small windows peeking out shyly between the trunks of towering trees. A thin wisp of smoke drifted lazily from a stone chimney.

  Inside Nobunaga's cabin, simplicity ruled. The furnishings were sparse—a few stools, a low table, and a rugged, handmade shelf. One corner of the room was dedicated to tools for string crafting—spindles, shuttles, and fine hooks, all meticulously arranged on a homemade wooden rack that stood beside a sturdy workbench.

  As the Beedrills' angry buzzing grew louder outside, Nobunaga acted swiftly. He hurried to a corner and grabbed what looked like a weed sprayer, but Austin recognized the distinct scent—it was Pokémon repel. Nobunaga worked quickly, spraying around the entrance before dashing back inside just as a louder buzzing heralded the arrival of a larger swarm of Beedrills.

  "Is this normal?" Austin asked, eyeing the windows where the repel formed an invisible barrier against the agitated swarm.

  "No, most Beedrills don't leave their territories unless provoked," Nobunaga explained. Austin knew all too well the likely cause of this chaos—Team Rocket.

  "You want me to get you anything? Water, food?"

  "Thanks, but I'm good. You guys need anything?" Austin responded, glancing at his Pokémon. Pikachu and Vee shook their heads, their attention fixated on a silk string yarn ball lying near the corner of the room.

  "Austin, can I tell you the truth?"

  "Yes."

  "I don't exactly have your prize money," Nobunaga admitted. "Didn't you say that you kept all your money in your cabin? That's why we were coming here," Austin said, confusion evident in his tone. It was not a large sum—merely 200 dollars at most.

  "I know, I know," Nobunaga hurried to explain, "but originally I was going to have you stay in the cabin while I ran to Viridian City to get Gary to give me my reward for battling the Pallet Town trainers. I was going to give you your money from that."

  "That's fine by me."

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  "But there is a problem," Nobunaga continued. "Today was the deadline for the offer, and with the swarm outside, I don't think I can..."

  "Don't worry, man, it's okay."

  "No, it's not okay. You're the winner, and you deserve your reward," Nobunaga insisted, standing abruptly as a thought struck him. "Hey, would it be alright to substitute the money for something else?"

  "Sure."

  Nobunaga rushed to a shelf and grabbed a box, placing it on the table with a sense of purpose. He pulled out what appeared to be an old war map, marked extensively in red ink.

  "Last year, I bought this treasure map from an antique store in Viridian," he explained, his eyes lighting up with excitement. It had taken him months, but he had managed to decipher the cryptic symbols and coordinates scrawled across the parchment.

  "You really want to give me this after all your hard work?"

  "The thing is this place is a little deeper into the Beedrill territories of the Viridian Forest. Even if I wanted to, I'm not strong enough to go there," Nobunaga admitted, reluctantly handing over the map.

  Just as Austin took the map, examining the intricate details, the unexpected sound of helicopters flying above startled them. Austin peered anxiously through the window as the helicopter emblazoned with Team Rocket's menacing red 'R' approached.

  His heart sank.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Austin noticed Vee trembling, the small Pokémon's body shaking uncontrollably with fear.

  "Hey, the rangers have come to rescue us."

  Austin grabbed Nobunaga's shoulder, his grip tight.

  "Nobunaga, do you want to live?"

  "What?"

  "If you don't listen to me, you'll die," Austin said urgently, his voice low and serious.

  "What are you talking about?!"

  At that moment, the door of the hovering helicopter swung open, and a Pokéball plummeted to the ground near the cabin. It snapped open upon impact, revealing a Starmie that floated in the air, held aloft by its psychic powers. The swarm of Beedrills, already agitated, directed their fury towards the new threat. They dove at the Starmie in a frenzied attack, their stingers slashing through the air in multiple swift movements of Fury Cutter. Despite the onslaught, the Starmie maneuvered with ease, its star-shaped body spinning gracefully as it dodged each attack. The scene resembled a dance, the Starmie almost toying with the storm of angry Bug-types surrounding it.

  A cold and emotionless command rang out: "Star! Use Ice Beam!"

  In an instant, a chilling beam of white light shot from Starmie, striking the swarm of Beedrills. The impact was horrific. The bug types were instantly frozen mid-flight, their bodies turning into brittle ice sculptures. As they hit the ground, the frozen Beedrills shattered with a sickening crunch, their blood splattering the ground in a gruesome display of red and ice.

  Austin and everyone at the window recoiled in horror.

  Nobunaga's hands trembled uncontrollably, his knees buckling as he collapsed to the ground. His wide eyes were fixed on the lifeless Beedrill scattered across the dirt. His breath hitched, shallow and erratic, as his mind struggled to process the scene before him.

  "I… I didn't…" His voice cracked, barely above a whisper, his chest heaving with the effort to breathe. "I-I didn't mean for this to happen… They deserved it, didn't they? They had to…"

  His words were frantic, a desperate attempt to convince himself, but the horror in his voice betrayed the truth. Nobunaga's face was pale, his lips trembling as if his body were rejecting the mere sight of death.

  Austin knelt beside him, placing a steady hand on the boy's shoulder. He didn't blame Nobunaga for his reaction—not everyone could face death without falling apart. Austin himself had once felt the same helpless, nauseating terror. But now? Now he could look at death with a grim calmness, a survivalist's detachment.

  "Breathe," Austin said firmly, his voice cutting through the boy's spiral. "Focus on me. We don't have time for this."

  Nobunaga turned tearful eyes to Austin, his expression equal parts pleading and lost. Austin could see it—the doubt, the guilt, the fear consuming him whole.

  "They… they're just Pokémon," Nobunaga stammered, his voice breaking. "They can't… it's not supposed to be like this."

  Austin shook his head, keeping his own emotions tightly locked away. "Not now, Nobunaga. If you freeze, we're next."

  That snapped something into place for the boy. He nodded shakily, swallowing the bile rising in his throat. He didn't trust himself to speak, so he simply wiped at his eyes, trying to push down the overwhelming nausea clawing at his gut.

  Austin turned his focus outward, forcing himself to block out the heavy weight of the scene. He needed a plan, and fast.

  Think. Think.

  His gaze darted to the window. That was it. Without hesitation, he pulled it open, letting the cool night air rush into the room.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Not dying," Austin shot back tersely. He yanked off his shoes, tossing them into his backpack before stepping outside. He purposefully pressed his feet into the soft soil, leaving deep, deliberate footprints that veered off into the distance.

  "Vee, I'm going to need some fur," Austin said quickly, turning to his Eevee.

  The Evolution Pokémon tilted its head for a moment, then bit down on a pen Austin held out, allowing him to pluck small tufts of fur from its coat.

  "Sorry, buddy," Austin said, meeting Vee's eyes with an apologetic look. "It's for our safety."

  The Eevee nodded, understanding in its gaze despite the discomfort.

  "Pikachu, Vee, return," Austin commanded as he quickly returned the two Pokémon to their Pokéballs.

  "W-What do I do?" Nobunaga stammered, his hands shaking. Despite his fear, Austin could see the trust solidifying in the boy's eyes.

  "Climb up that chimney. Release Pinsir inside to help you stay secure."

  Nobunaga's instincts kicked in, and he scrambled toward the chimney. Meanwhile, Austin turned his attention to his injured Spearow.

  "You're going to have to fly, buddy," Austin said softly, pulling out a potion from his pack. He sprayed the Spearow's wounds, watching as the bird's posture straightened and its injuries healed rapidly. "I need you to scatter Vee's fur and lead them away from us. Can you do that?"

  The tiny bird Pokémon grabbed the tuft of Eevee fur and took off, rising into the sky.

  With Nobunaga climbing and the Spearow creating a false trail, Austin knew it was his turn.

  He crouched low, waiting for the helicopter to land, the roar of its blades slicing through the air.

  They have the high ground, General Kenobi, Austin joked to himself, though the tension in his chest made the humor feel hollow.

  He glanced down at his feet, caked in mud from his trek through the woods.

  No use getting caught because of something so stupid, he thought, quickly slipping on his shoes, careful not to leave any incriminating footprints.

  What he was about to do next required precision—and no loose ends.

  As soon as the helicopter's landing gear touched down, Austin moved swiftly, his body low and his steps light. He pressed himself against the rough bark of a nearby tree, testing its strength with a firm push. Satisfied, he began his climb, his hands moving quickly but deliberately, fingers finding grooves and sturdy branches.

  The chill of the air bit into his skin, sharp and unrelenting, but Austin ignored it. He focused on his goal, his breath steady as he pulled himself higher into the tree. The dark canopy offered cover, but he knew he had to move fast.

  Reaching the top, Austin scanned his surroundings. His sharp eyes locked onto the cabin roof, just a few feet away across a narrow gap. The tiles gleamed faintly in the sunlight, the space between them a void he couldn't afford to miss.

  With a deep breath, he crouched and sprang forward, leaping across the gap. His heart thudded as his feet hit the roof. The tiles shifted slightly beneath him, but he landed firmly. Exhaling slowly, he stayed low to keep his profile hidden.

  Without wasting time, he climbed higher up the sloped roof, each step calculated to avoid loose tiles that might betray his presence. He finally reached the base of the chimney, pressing his back against its cold, soot-stained surface.

  The narrow space offered just enough cover. Austin crouched there, his breath clouding in the frigid air. From his vantage point, he could see everything—the helicopter below, the Team Rocket grunts disembarking—and then, he saw her.

  The woman was a striking figure, tall and imposing, her long teal coat fluttering as she stepped off the helicopter. The prominent R on her coat gleamed ominously in the dim light. Her silver-colored hair, slicked back with a widow's peak at the front and four cowlicks sprouting out, added to her commanding presence. Beside her floated a Starmie, its gem pulsing softly.

  "Sird," Austin muttered under his breath, his stomach sinking.

  Sird was no ordinary Team Rocket operative—she was one of their infamous "beasts." Ruthless, cunning, and dangerous.

  But Austin knew better.

  "She's not even really Team Rocket," he whispered to himself.

  She's a double agent for Team Galactic.

  The realization sent a cold chill down his spine. Sird wasn't someone to take lightly. She was the type to hunt him down like a dog if she caught even the faintest whiff of his presence.

  Why am I encountering so many things from the Pokémon manga?

  He clenched his fists, forcing the thought aside. Now wasn't the time to dwell on the mechanics of this strange world. He had to stay hidden—stay one step ahead.

  His eyes remained fixed on Sird as she prowled below. For now, she didn't seem to notice him. But Austin knew one thing for certain: if she did, things would spiral out of control fast.

  The grunts sprang into action. Flames crackled as they unleashed their fire-type Pokémon. The acrid scent of burning Beedrill carcasses mixed with the smoke, forming a foul haze that clung to the air.

  Austin pressed himself tighter against the chimney, holding his breath.

  Don't move. Don't make a sound. Wait.

  As Sird entered the cabin below, Austin cautiously peeked over the edge of the roof.

  The coast is clear.

  He scanned the area once more before quietly swinging himself into the narrow chimney.

  The soot-lined walls scraped against his jacket as he braced himself, pushing his hands and feet outward to maintain his position.

  So glad I have a ten-year-old's body, he thought grimly, pressing tighter against the walls to keep steady.

  Below, the narrow confines of the chimney revealed an almost comical sight: Nobunaga perched atop a massive Pinsir. The bug-type's enormous body was crammed tightly into the space, its horns pressing awkwardly against the brick walls. Its size made it impossible for Nobunaga to slip or fall, the creature's bulk serving as an anchor in the cramped vertical shaft.

  Austin smirked faintly, the corner of his mouth twitching.

  Good.

  Slowly, he reached into his backpack, pulling out two Poké Balls.

  "Vee, start using Helping Hand on Pikachu."

  Vee turned to him, its wide eyes trembling with panic. The Eevee's tiny paws clung to the chimney wall, its breathing shallow and rapid. It looked like it might bolt or faint altogether.

  Austin gently grabbed the trembling Pokémon, pulling it close to his chest. The soot smudged against Vee's fur as Austin held it securely near his heart.

  "Hey, hey," he murmured softly, his voice soothing. "It's okay. We've got this, alright? Just breathe. I need you, Vee."

  The Eevee's large ears twitched, and it looked up at him with anxious eyes. Slowly, it placed a paw against his chest, feeling the rapid thrum of his heartbeat. Austin's heart was racing, but his voice was steady, unwavering.

  "See?" Austin whispered with a small, encouraging smile. "I'm scared too, but we're still here. Let's give it our all, okay?"

  Vee hesitated, its paw lingering against his chest. Its breathing evened out, and the panic in its eyes dulled. With a small nod, Vee began channeling the glowing energy of Helping Hand.

  "Report!" Sird's voice cut through the crackling of the dying fire outside.

  "Madam, we've burned the corpses of the Beedrill," a grunt responded crisply. "A thorough search of the cabin reveals it to be empty, but we found evidence that someone was here just minutes ago."

  "Show me," Sird demanded.

  The grunt pointed to an oddly positioned bike leaning near the back corner of the cabin. Its tires were splattered with mud, and it looked like it had been abandoned in haste.

  "We also found bare footprints in the mud outside."

  "Bare footprints?" Sird muttered, her sharp eyes narrowing as she pieced together the details. Someone had been here recently—so recently, in fact, that they hadn't had time to cover their tracks.

  "Madam," another grunt interjected, "we've also recovered Eevee fur near the forest trail a few meters from the cabin."

  Sird's lips tightened into a thin line, her mind racing. This behavior—abandoning a bike, leaving behind footprints and fur—it all pointed to one thing: whoever had been here knew the value of the Eevee they carried. They hadn't stayed to fight but had fled with purpose.

  "Set up a pincer movement," she commanded. "I want teams of two to sweep the back and both sides, heading in the direction of the footprints. I'll oversee the operation from the air."

  "Yes, ma'am!"

  Without another glance at the smoldering Beedrill corpses, Sird turned and strode back to the helicopter, her coat trailing behind her like a shadow.

  The grunts snapped into action, their movements brisk as they organized into pairs. Each team checked their gear one final time before disappearing into the woods, their boots crunching against the scorched ground. The cabin emptied within moments, leaving behind only smoke, ash, and silence.

  From his position in the chimney, Austin felt a wave of relief wash over him as he watched the helicopter take off. The rumble of its blades faded into the distance, and he allowed himself to breathe.

  "Can we go down?" Nobunaga's voice was a barely audible whisper from below.

  "Let's wait another fifteen minutes," Austin replied softly. His paranoia hummed in the back of his mind, warning him to be cautious. Better safe than sorry.

  Fifteen minutes later, Austin and Nobunaga climbed out of the chimney, their movements slow and deliberate. They emerged covered in soot, black streaks marring their faces and clothes. Neither of them said a word about their appearance; there was no time to care about cleaning up.

  The smell outside was overpowering. The charred remnants of the Beedrill swarm filled the air with a sickening mix of ash and burnt chitin. It clung to their noses and throats, making it hard to breathe without coughing.

  Inside the cabin, the duo sat in silence. Nobunaga's blank expression betrayed his trauma, his eyes fixated on the forest floor outside where the once-lush greenery was now scorched and lifeless.

  Austin remained deep in thought, weighing their options. Running in the dead of night seemed suicidal—Team Rocket could still have scouts in the area, and making a move now could lead them straight into danger. He suspected Sird had moved toward Viridian City, but there was no guarantee she wouldn't double back.

  "Austin, do you want to go to sleep?" Nobunaga's voice broke the heavy silence, pulling Austin from his thoughts.

  "Yeah," Austin replied quietly. "But I can't sleep."

  "Who were those people?"

  "Team Rocket," Austin said bluntly. "They're bad people who steal and sell Pokémon."

  "Oh…" Nobunaga's voice wavered slightly. "But why did they come here?"

  "They're looking for a rare Pokémon in Viridian Forest," Austin replied, his tone neutral.

  "How do you know that?"

  "Before our fight, I ran into a few Team Rocket grunts. They said as much."

  "Oh…"

  The silence stretched again until Nobunaga spoke once more. "What now?"

  "As soon as it's light, I'm heading to the spot on your map. From there, I'll make my way to Pewter City."

  "Pewter's a few days away," Nobunaga pointed out, concern creeping into his voice. "Do you want me to come with you?"

  "Thanks, but I think it's better if you head to Viridian City."

  "What's the point? Gary's not going to pay me, and I haven't even finished bundling the silk strings properly," Nobunaga muttered, frustration clear in his voice.

  Austin tossed his last remaining Poké Ball to Nobunaga, who caught it with a startled look.

  "Catch yourself a Caterpie," Austin said, forcing a grin. "You'll have a business in Viridian Forest now."

  Nobunaga blinked, his expression softening as his grip on the Poké Ball tightened. "Thank you. You're… a kind dude."

  Austin managed a small smile, though it felt hollow. Inwardly, he couldn't ignore the truth.

  Giving Nobunaga the Poké Ball wasn't entirely altruistic. It was tactical. By creating a sense of obligation, Austin hoped Nobunaga would think twice if Team Rocket ever tried to extract information from him.

  Trust isn't free, Austin thought grimly, his eyes drifting back to the ash-stained forest outside. And neither is survival.

  As dawn broke, a sleep-deprived Austin carefully made his way along the path outlined on the map.

  The soft light of early morning filtered through the trees, casting a gentle glow over the landscape. He walked slowly, holding his bike by the handlebars, mindful of any noises that might alert Team Rocket or disturb any potentially aggressive Pokémon.

  "Pika," Pikachu squeaked softly from its perch on the bike, where it sat alongside Rattata. Vee, now transformed into Vaporeon, was cleverly concealed within a thermos to save space. Above them, Spearow circled, keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings.

  The forest was mostly quiet, an advantage of traveling so early when most Pokémon were still asleep. Everyone was on high alert; after all, this was dangerous territory. Austin paused to consult the map again, verifying their location.

  "We're here. So, let's start looking around; this is the place where the treasure is supposed to be," Austin instructed, as he leaned against the base of a tree to rest for a few minutes. His mind wandered to the map, pondering its origins.

  Suddenly, he was snapped out of his reverie by a sharp cry from above.

  "Spear!"

  "Did you find something, Spearow?"

  Spearow extended his wing, pointing towards the grass.

  Austin followed the direction indicated and noticed an unusual sight—a patch of soil in the shape of a half square where the grass refused to grow. It looked distinctly unnatural, a clear sign that something was buried underneath.

  "Everyone, come here! Spearow might have found the treasure."

  The team set to work on the curious patch of ground.

  Vee used Water Gun to soften the earth, spraying it until the soil was saturated and easier to dig through. Austin and his Pokémon then began the laborious task of digging, their hands and paws working in unison. Mud splattered and clung to their clothes and fur as they scooped and clawed at the damp earth. Dirt smeared their faces, and the physical effort required left them all breathless.

  After several minutes of intense digging, their efforts were rewarded with a metallic clang.

  They had hit something solid.

  The object was partially buried in the ground, resembling the air supply drops Austin had seen in movies and video games—a large, metal crate with reinforced corners and a sealed lid, meant to withstand the impact of a drop.

  Getting the crate out required a coordinated effort.

  Austin, alongside Pikachu, Rattata, and Vee, grappled with the heavy object, their bodies straining under its weight.

  Although small, Spearow contributed by attaching a strap to the crate and pulling upward as it flew, adding just enough lift to help the others maneuver the crate out of the hole.

  Once the crate was finally on solid ground, everyone collapsed around it, exhausted and covered in mud and sweat.

  They rested for a moment, taking deep breaths of the fresh forest air, which seemed even sweeter after their exertion. Austin pulled out some snacks from his backpack, and they all shared a much-needed meal.

  As Vee directed a strong stream of water at the front of the crate, the mud washed away, revealing faded lettering that read "Northern Front Battle Items." Austin paused, a berry half-eaten in his hand, as he read the inscription.

  "Let's open this puppy up," he declared, his fatigue vanishing as adrenaline surged through him. Grabbing a nearby stick, he wedged it into the crate's edge. The wood, aged and weakened by time, broke easily under the leverage, revealing its contents to the eager group.

  The inside of the old crate was a sorry state: filled with dirt, water had seeped in over the years, creating a sludgy mess that had decayed its contents.

  Austin began to empty the crate, his nose wrinkling at the stench of rot and rust.

  One by one, he pulled out the items.

  Expired potions, their labels peeling and contents spoiled, were set aside with a grimace. Bands or cloths—so deteriorated it was impossible to determine their original use or form—were gently washed by Vee's Water Gun, though it did little to salvage them. A few old rusted Pokéballs and a rusted dagger were also revealed.

  As Austin sifted through the remnants of the crate, his hand closed around something unexpected. He held it up, mud-caked and obscured, until Vee's Water Gun streamed over it, revealing its true form. In his hands lay a sharp, elongated claw, slightly curved, with a smooth, shiny, beige surface.

  "No way!"

  Quickly, Austin placed the item in front of Rattata, who gingerly picked it up with her mouth.

  "Run!"

  In an instant, Rattata vanished from sight. The only evidence of her departure was the gust of wind she left in her wake, which tousled Austin's spiky hair and caused Pikachu and Vee's ears to flap wildly. Spearow, flying above, struggled to maintain balance as its feathers were ruffled by the sudden turbulence.

  Thud!

  Everyone turned sharply as Rattata abruptly stopped, her body slamming into the trunk of a tree with a soft thump. She stood there, slightly dazed but unharmed, the claw still securely held in her mouth.

  Vee, Spearow, and Pikachu stared in awe at the display of incredible speed. Austin chuckled as Rattata's performance had confirmed his suspicion—the item was indeed a Quick Claw, a rare and valuable tool that significantly boosts the speed of the Pokémon holding it.

  Caterpie perched melancholically on a leaf, nibbling half-heartedly as he gazed up at the sky. The faint golden light filtering through the forest canopy made his tiny heart swell with longing.

  Maybe one day, I'll get to fly, he thought, dreaming of soaring above the trees as a Butterfree. The idea seemed so far away, like a star he could see but never touch.

  The underbrush rustled suddenly, snapping Caterpie out of his reverie. He froze, antennae twitching as he scanned the area. A human emerged from the bushes—Nobunaga—his intense expression somehow both comical and purposeful as he scoured the forest floor.

  "Come on, where are you? Caterpie!"

  Caterpie blinked. That's… me.

  Curiosity and a spark of flattery prompted him to shuffle out of the bush. He waved a tiny limb, as if to say, I'm over here!

  Nobunaga whirled around, his face breaking into a broad grin. "There you are!"

  Caterpie felt his cheeks heat up (if Caterpie could blush, that is). He wiggled happily, doing a little dance on the leaf. But before he could fully bask in the joy of being so highly sought after—

  Bonk!

  Without so much as a second thought, Nobunaga hurled a Pokéball, hitting Caterpie square on the head. The little bug let out a surprised squeak as the ball engulfed him in a flash of red light. Inside, Caterpie had only a moment to think.

  Can I at least finish my leaf?

  The Pokéball wiggled once… twice… and clicked shut.

  Nobunaga picked up the ball and chuckled to himself, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Austin was right. Caterpie's always hanging around this spot."

  He turned the ball over in his hand, staring at its smooth surface. Catching Caterpie had been straightforward, but the decision to leave his cabin—and the life he'd built—was far from simple.

  Nobunaga glanced back toward the forest trail leading to his old cabin. He clenched the Pokéball tighter, a faint shadow of guilt crossing his face. Leaving his home behind felt like walking away from everything he'd known, the only safe haven he had.

  His parents had named him Nobunaga. He could still remember his father's booming voice on the day of his birth: "We have named you Nobunaga so that you will one day stand tall, a man of vision, strength, and greatness. The world will know your name."

  But instead of rising to greatness, Nobunaga had spent his days weaving silk, trading thread for whatever coin he could scrape together. He wasn't a samurai. He was just a simple farmer—a nobody.

  The thought stung.

  Greatness? he scoffed inwardly. The only battles I fight are the ones against hunger and bad weather.

  But something had shifted in the past few days. Meeting Austin had been like standing at the edge of a river, watching someone forge ahead without hesitation, despite the danger. Austin didn't have swords or armor, but he carried himself with a quiet resolve that Nobunaga envied. The boy had risked everything, even his life, to protect his Pokémon and those around him.

  Now, as Nobunaga stared at the Pokéball containing Caterpie, he felt a stirring deep within him. Maybe his parents had been wrong about his destiny. Or maybe he'd been the one holding himself back.

  As Nobunaga approached the outskirts of Viridian City, he was pulled from his thoughts by the sudden appearance of two police officers blocking his path. A Meowth stood between them.

  "Hello there, kid," the male officer said, his tone brisk but polite. "I'm Officer James, and this is Officer Jessie."

  "Don't forget Meowth," the feline added, crossing its arms.

  Nobunaga blinked, confused but wary. "Can I help you?"

  "We've received reports of trainers releasing invasive species into Viridian Forest," James explained, pulling out a laminated photograph. It was of an Eevee. "Have you seen or caught this Pokémon?"

  Nobunaga felt his stomach tighten.

  "No," he said quickly, then added, almost bitterly, "I just realized I could've caught an Eevee instead of a Caterpie."

  Jessie gave him a long, skeptical stare before finally releasing his shoulders. "Oh."

  With that, the trio quickly lost interest in him, moving on to question someone else. Nobunaga exhaled, relief flooding through him as he continued toward the Pokémon Center.

  As he walked, his gaze fell once again to Caterpie's Pokéball. He held it up, staring at it as though it might contain answers to questions he hadn't yet asked.

  The realization struck him like a blade. The rare Pokémon that Team Rocket had been so desperate to capture—the one that had put Austin's life in danger—was Eevee. Austin had gone to extraordinary lengths to protect it, knowing exactly how valuable it was.

  Holding the Pokéball against his forehead, Nobunaga closed his eyes, his thoughts racing.

  Don't worry, Austin. I'll keep my mouth shut. These people are dangerous, and they'll come after you. I'm not strong, and there isn't much I can do to protect you, but I can pray. I'll pray with all my heart that you'll stay safe.

  The thought of praying made him scoff. Was that all he could do? Hide behind hope and faith while others risked their lives?

  No.

  Nobunaga opened his eyes, his jaw tightening with resolve. Prayers weren't enough—not anymore. His parents had given him a name steeped in legacy, in greatness. Maybe he didn't have swords or armor, but he had his own strength to find.

  It's time I stop hiding and start walking the path I was named for.

  Nobunaga tucked Caterpie's Pokéball safely into his bag. The threads of his old life—the silk, the farm, the safety—were unraveling. But maybe it was time to weave something new.

  Something worthy of the name Nobunaga.

  The thought brought a small, determined smile to his lips.

  Austin had done more for him than he could have ever expected, and now Nobunaga felt the weight of that debt settle firmly on his shoulders. But it wasn't a burden—it was a call to action.

  What can I do to repay my friend?

  Author's Note:

  way too seriously and challenged Ash. But here? I've taken that character and fleshed him out. I've expanded his story, his personality, his role in the plot—basically gave him the glow-up he deserved. So, what do you think? Did I handle the transition well? How's my version of him holding up?"

  really want me to. So, what's your take? How'd you feel about the ruthless introduction of Sird and Austin picking up that quick claw? Too much? Just right? Let me know."

  Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work. I upload every week on Sunday.

  I hope you have a blessed rest of the day, and please share your thoughts in the reviews!