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?" Nobunaga suddenly said, looking down, his voice lowered.
"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."
"But there is a problem," Nobunaga continued, his eyes downcast, a shadow of shame crossing his features. "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.
The Team Rocket helicopter descended noisily onto the forest clearing. Dust and leaves swirled around as the rotors slowed, the ground trembling under the force of its landing. Several grunts quickly disembarked, their uniforms dark gray, each adorned with the same red 'R' that marked their allegiance. They moved with a purposeful swagger, their faces hidden behind masks that left only their eyes visible.
The cabin door was no match for them; they broke through it with ease. Inside, they found the space deserted. "Madam Sird, this place seems to be empty."
"Is that so?" came the reply from the leader of the group, Sird. She 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, mostly slicked down with a widow's peak at the front and four cowlicks sprouting out, added to her imposing presence. Beside her floated a Starmie, its gem pulsing softly.
Sird entered the cabin with a confident, slightly menacing smile. Her gaze swept the room and quickly focused on the open window.
Silently, she motioned for the grunts to investigate.
As some dashed toward the window, others scoured the rest of the cabin, but Sird was drawn to a bike oddly positioned inside the cabin.
A few tense moments later, the grunts regrouped.
"Madam, we have searched the entire cabin; no signs of anyone present, man or mon."
Her eyes turned to the others peering out of the open window.
"We have found bare footprints out in the mud."
"Bare footprints," Sird muttered under her breath, piecing together the events. Whoever had been in the cabin had fled the moment they arrived, not even bothering to hide. This behavior could only mean they knew the value of the Eevee they possessed. She stood still for a moment, her mind racing.
"Looks like we have our clue."
"Set up a pincer movement. I want teams of two to follow from the back and the sides, heading towards the direction of the footprints," Sird commanded crisply. "I will be in the air, overseeing the operation."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
With her orders clear, Sird turned on her heel and strode towards the helicopter.
The grunts wasted no time.
They quickly organized into small teams. Each pair checked their equipment one last time before darting out of the cabin. Their boots thudded against the soft earth, stirring up leaves and small twigs as they moved with purpose towards Viridian City.
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[ 3 Minutes Earlier ]
"T-They deserved it, right?" Nobunaga stuttered, his eyes locked on the lifeless Beedrill scattered on the ground.
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Suddenly, he felt a cool breeze sweep through the room. Turning, he saw Austin opening the window.
"What are you doing?"
"Not dying," Austin replied tersely. He quickly removed his shoes and stuffed them into his backpack, then purposefully took heavy strides outside, imprinting deep footprints into the soft soil. This was a deliberate ploy to mislead anyone who might be tracking them.
"Pikachu, Vee, return," Austin commanded, swiftly returning the two Pokémon to their Pokéballs.
"W-What do I do?" Nobunaga asked, his trust in Austin solidifying in the face of danger, more convinced than ever of the boy's intentions over those who sought harm to Pokémon.
"Climb up that chimney," Austin instructed without hesitation.
As Nobunaga moved to comply, Austin turned his attention to his injured Spearow. The small bird looked up at him, a mix of pain and determination in its eyes.
"You're going to have to fly, buddy," Austin said softly, pulling out a Max Potion that Nurse Joy had given him. He sprayed the potion over Spearow, and almost instantly, the bird's demeanor changed. The potion worked rapidly, mending the injuries and invigorating the Pokémon with a surge of energy and health. Spearow's feathers bristled with renewed vigor.
"Now, fly me to the roof!" Austin commanded, gripping the flying type's talons firmly. Spearow flapped its wings with increasing force, driven by the sheer will and pride of helping its trainer. The effort was immense for such a small bird, but it managed to lift Austin, rising higher with each beat of its wings.
As they reached the roof, Austin's eyes quickly scanned the horizon.
There, he saw Sird.
"Oh, it had to be her," Austin muttered under his breath as he watched from the roof.
He remembered Sird all too well—one of the three beasts of Team Rocket. A cruel, shrewd, and disloyal woman who, in reality, didn't even work for Team Rocket but was a double agent for Team Galactic.
Not someone I want hunting me down like a dog.
As soon as Sird entered the cabin below, Austin peeked over the edge to check if the coast was clear before he swung himself into the chimney. There, he saw Nobunaga clinging desperately for dear life.
Austin braced himself inside the narrow chimney, pushing against the walls with his hands and feet to maintain his position.
So glad I have a ten-year-old's body, he thought.
Reaching into his backpack, Austin took out Pikachu and Vee's Poké Balls and released them.
"Vee, start using Helping Hand on Pikachu," he instructed quietly.
Vee and Pikachu looked up at him, their expressions worried in the dim light filtering down the chimney. Covered in soot but managing a smile, Austin reassured them, "Don't worry, this is if we have to fight. For now, we are going to hide in this place until we are safe, but if it comes down to a fight, at least this will give us a fighting chance."
The next few minutes tested Austin's nerves.
He sat cramped in the chimney, his body tensed, his mind racing with possibilities of what might happen if they were found. Every small sound seemed amplified in the tight space; each creak and whisper of the wind felt like a potential alarm. The anxiety was palpable—his heart pounded against his ribcage, and the wait felt like an eternity.
Finally, relief washed over Austin when he heard Sird's words followed, a minute later, by the sound of the helicopter's rotors firing up and fading into the distance.
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, but he remained vigilant.
"Can we go down?" Nobunaga whispered from below, his voice barely audible.
"Let's wait another 15 minutes," Austin whispered back, his voice steady but low. He knew they couldn't risk emerging too soon, especially with someone as dangerous and shrewd as Sird possibly lingering nearby.
This was the time to be super cautious, to wait until they were absolutely sure it was safe to come out of their precarious hiding spot.
----------------------------------------
Fifteen minutes later, Austin and Nobunaga cautiously crawled out of the chimney. They emerged covered in soot, their faces and clothes streaked with black marks. Neither of them attempted to clean up, driven by the paranoia that Team Rocket might return at any moment. They were on high alert, their eyes darting around the dimly lit room as they listened intently for any signs of danger.
Minutes turned into hours, and the duo sat in silence, the tension palpable between them. Austin was deep in thought, aware that attempting to run in the dead of night, especially with Team Rocket potentially lurking nearby, would be risky. He suspected that there might be hidden Rocket members stationed near Pewter City, yet there was also the chance that he had successfully led Sird on a wild goose chase towards Viridian City.
"Austin, you awake?" Nobunaga's voice broke the silence, his tone low as they both lay in their sleeping bags.
"I'm thinking," Austin replied, his voice heavy with the burden of their situation. He was desperate to find a way out of this mess. As they lay there, an idea suddenly struck Austin. He could have Vee disguise itself in a thermos as water while he made his way into Pewter City.
They won't even know it, he thought, a flicker of hope rising within him.
Austin's thoughts were interrupted as Nobunaga asked, "Who were those people?"
"Team Rocket," Austin responded without hesitation. "They are bad people who steal and sell Pokémon."
"Oh, but why did they come here?"
"They are looking for a very rare Pokémon inside Viridian Forest."
"How do you know this?"
"Before our fight, I encountered some Team Rocket grunts who told me this."
"Oh."
A heavy silence settled between them again, stretching out as they both pondered their next move. Finally, Nobunaga broke the quiet, his voice soft yet urgent, "What now?"
"As soon as it's light, I'm heading to the location on your map, and from there, I plan to go to Pewter City."
"Pewter will take a few days to reach from here," Nobunaga pointed out, concern etching his features. "Do you want me to go with you for extra safety?"
Austin smiled, appreciating the offer. "Thanks, but I think it would be better if you head to Viridian City."
"What's the point? It's not like Gary is going to pay me, and I haven't finished turning the silk strings into a proper bundle."
"Well, this place is probably going to be checked by Team Rocket, and I think you have a business in the Viridian Forest."
"I do?"
"You do now," Austin said, tossing his last remaining Pokéball to Nobunaga, who caught it, looking surprised.
"Catch yourself a Caterpie, man," Austin encouraged, trying to sound upbeat.
"Thank you, you are a kind man," Nobunaga said, his voice trembling slightly with emotion.
Austin managed a smile, though it felt forced. Internally, he wrestled with his motives.
Austin hadn't given Nobunaga the Pokéball purely out of generosity. He recognized it as a tactical decision, aimed at building a sense of obligation in Nobunaga. This way, if Team Rocket ever tried to coerce information from him, Nobunaga might feel too indebted to Austin to betray him.
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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," Austin called out, his fatigue momentarily forgotten in the rush of discovery.
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.
A spark of excitement lit up his eyes.
"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," Austin muttered under his breath, his eyes widening in recognition.
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.
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Caterpie was perched melancholically on a leaf, nibbling away with little enthusiasm. As he gazed up at the sky, a wistful sigh escaped him.
Maybe one day, I'll get to fly, he thought, dreaming of evolving into a Butterfree and fluttering through the forest canopy.
Just then, the underbrush rustled, snapping him back to reality. Peering around, he spotted a human—Nobunaga—scanning the area with an intensity that seemed almost comical. "Come on, where are you? Caterpie!"
Surprised to hear his own species being summoned so fervently, Caterpie couldn't help but respond. He shuffled out of the bush, waving a tiny limb as if to say, Over here!
Nobunaga whirled around, his face lighting up with a broad smile upon spotting the tiny bug Pokémon. "There you are!"
Caterpie, flattered and a bit flustered by the attention, managed a small dance by wiggling happily. Just as he was basking in the moment of recognition, it happened.
Bonk!
With a swift motion, Nobunaga threw his Pokéball against Caterpie's face. The bug Pokémon was engulfed in a flash of red light, sucked into the Pokéball in an unexpectedly swift capture. The ball wiggled once... twice... and then clicked shut.
From inside the Pokéball, one might imagine Caterpie's muffled thoughts.
Well, that escalated quickly! Didn't even get to finish my leaf.
Nobunaga, holding the Pokéball, chuckled to himself.
"Well, Austin was right about a Caterpie in this place."
With Caterpie now securely in his Pokéball, Nobunaga made the difficult decision to leave his cabin behind. The looming threat of Team Rocket returning made staying there untenable. He contemplated a return, perhaps in a few months, once the danger had passed. For now, the pressing need to keep financially afloat meant more battles, more challenges.
As he approached the outskirts of Viridian City, his path was suddenly blocked by two police officers and a Meowth.
"Hello there, kid, my name is Officer James, and this is Officer Jessie."
"Don't forget Meowth."
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, we've received reports of some trainers releasing invasive species into the Viridian Forest and were wondering if you've seen or caught this Pokémon," Officer James explained, showing Nobunaga a picture of an Eevee.
Nobunaga sighed heavily.
"Did you?" Jessie pressed, grabbing Nobunaga's shoulders with a startling intensity.
"No, I just realized I could have caught an Eevee rather than a Caterpie."
"Oh."
The trio quickly lost interest in him and moved on, allowing Nobunaga to continue his walk to the Pokémon Center.
As he walked, his gaze fell upon the Pokéball containing Caterpie. A deeper realization dawned on him; the rare Pokémon that Team Rocket had been so desperate to capture was Austin's Eevee. Holding Caterpie's Pokéball gently against his forehead, Nobunaga felt a surge of emotion for his friend out there, possibly still in danger.
Maybe today was the day I met someone destined for danger, or fame, or perhaps someone who'll be remembered as just another name. But to me, you'll always be that kind, intelligent boy who saved me and helped me, even though you didn't have to. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're safe; I'll make sure to keep my mouth shut, my friend. These people are dangerous; they'll come after you. I am not strong; there isn't much I can do to protect you, but I can pray. And I will pray, my friend. I'll pray with all my heart that you'll be safe.