The next day was Saturday. Eichi slept in for once.
He woke Weedle up. Today's breakfast was Moomoo Milk mixed with honey, Pokémon food, and two Pokéblocks.
After breakfast, Eichi headed toward the Viridian Forest.
Between Viridian City and Pewter City stood a forest, the Viridian Forest.
To make travel easier, the League built a man-made path through it.
For the safety of travelers, the League made agreements with some of the boss Pokémon in the forest.
At first, those bosses didn't listen to humans. They had to be taught harsh lessons.
In the end, they agreed. They would not attack Trainers or people on the path, as long as they were not provoked.
So normally, there were no Pokémon on the road.
The Bug Catchers of Viridian Town often gathered on the road between Viridian City and Pewter City.
They challenged any Trainer they met and usually lost. But they still stood there.
So Bug Catchers had a nickname, "free experience."
Eichi walked down the road for ten minutes until he saw them.
Ahead, Bug Catchers were battling passing Trainers.
By the time Eichi came closer, the battle had ended. The Bug Catcher's Butterfree was knocked down by a Charmander's Ember.
That Trainer recalled Charmander and left. The Bug Catcher also retrieved Butterfree.
Instead of feeling down, he confidently told the Trainer, "Next time I'll defeat you!"
The Trainer: …
After he left, Eichi greeted the three. "Kyle, Allan, Tyler. Long time no see."
The three wore the classic Bug Catcher outfit. Eichi had owned two of them too.
But when he crossed over into this world, he threw them away. Too ugly.
To tell them apart, you looked at height. The tallest was Kyle, then Allan, then Tyler.
The one battling just now was Tyler.
When the three saw Eichi, their eyes lit up.
"Eichi, what are you doing here?"
"It's been so long since we saw you."
"What have you been up to lately?"
"Why didn't you come find us?"
The three chattered nonstop, making Eichi dizzy.
He answered them one by one. After catching up, he suggested a battle.
They discussed it, then decided Kyle would fight him.
Kyle sent out his Pokémon. A green caterpillar-like Pokémon jumped forward.
It was Caterpie.
Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon.
Ability: Shield Dust.Hidden Ability: Run Away.When attacked by bird Pokémon, it sprays a stinky fluid from its antennae to resist. But it is still often eaten by birds.
Easy to catch and quick to grow. One of the Pokémon recommended as a beginner's partner.
Eichi recalled the description from his textbook.
Kyle said, "I just caught this Caterpie two days ago."
Then Eichi released Weedle. When Weedle saw Caterpie, it burned with fighting spirit.
It had been pent up these days, with no Pokémon to fight.
Allan acted as referee. "Battle start!"
As soon as he spoke, Kyle commanded, "Caterpie, use String Shot on Weedle!"
White silk shot from Caterpie's mouth in circles.
Eichi called out, "Weedle, dodge!"
Before the silk could reach, Weedle moved aside.
"Caterpie, keep using String Shot!"
"Weedle, dodge!"
Again, the silk missed. Kyle was not convinced.
"Caterpie, one more time, String Shot!"
Eichi smiled. "It's useless. Your String Shot can't hit Weedle."
Then he ordered, "Weedle, dodge and then use String Shot. Show it how powerful yours is."
Weedle dodged smoothly. Then it opened its mouth.
The silk shot out lightning-fast, striking Caterpie before it could react.
In a blink, Caterpie was wrapped into a ball.
"Use Poison Sting!"
Weedle charged straight in.
Caterpie flew like a soccer ball, slammed into a tree, and fell down unable to battle.
Allan immediately declared, "Caterpie is unable to battle. Weedle wins. The victor is Eichi."
Kyle looked a bit down as he recalled Caterpie.
"Come back, Caterpie. You did very well."
After the battle, he told Eichi in surprise, "You won. Your Weedle is amazing.
But next time, I'll beat you with my Beedrill."
Eichi laughed. "I look forward to it. But the winner will still be me."
Allan and Tyler came over. Just as they were about to chat more, a voice called from afar:
"Hey! Eichi, Kyle, Allan, Tyler!"
Eichi turned toward the voice. More Bug Catchers were coming.
They ran over quickly. Eichi greeted them happily.
They were all Bug Catchers he used to play with. The newcomers asked what they had just been doing.
Allan explained they were battling with Pokémon.
As soon as they heard that, the newcomers got excited.
When they learned Eichi had beaten Kyle, they were shocked. Then they all shouted that they wanted to battle Eichi.
After some discussion, one stepped forward.
The Bug Catcher who would battle him was called Collin.
Allan acted as referee again. At his signal, both Trainers sent out Pokémon.
Collin's Pokémon appeared in a flash of white light.
It was Venonat.
Venonat, the Insect Pokémon.
Abilities: Compound Eyes, Tinted Lens.Hidden Ability: Run Away.To protect its body, its whole body is covered with stiff hairs. Its big eyes never let prey escape. It lives under trees, feeding on small insects. At night, it goes where there is light.
Collin shouted, "Venonat, use Tackle on Weedle!"
Eichi: "Weedle, evade!"
Before Venonat could hit, Weedle dodged.
Collin: "Venonat, keep using Tackle!"
Eichi: "Evade!"
Venonat kept tackling, and Weedle kept dodging easily.
Eichi didn't order attacks, only dodges.
So it became a chase. Venonat attacked again and again, but Weedle avoided each one.
When Eichi saw Venonat's stamina running low, he gave his command. "Weedle, use Poison Sting on Venonat!"
Weedle stopped and charged. Its stinger glowed as it struck.
Venonat collapsed, unable to battle.