Ash Ketchum (サトシ) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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pokemonthenovel2017-02-04 09:27 pm
2bamaster) wrote in pokemonthenovel2017-02-04 09:27 pm
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Chapter 5: Getting Through the Forest... (English terminology)
Viridian Forest... Shrouded in darkness even at noon...
“Kyaaah!”
Misty was crouched down and pointing towards a bush.
“What?”
The echoes of Misty's shrill scream surprised Ash and Pikachu, drawing their attention to the bush.
There was no sign of anything threatening there.
“Is there something there?”
“Can't you see it?”
He looked down below Misty's trembling finger.
“Eh?”
Looking closely, the grass beneath the bush was moving slightly.
Even if something was there, it didn't seem worthy of making Misty to collapse and freak out like that.
“What is it?”
Ash peered into the grass.
Pyok!
A small Pokémon with a round head poked its neck out. Its head was the same shade of green as the grass, making it difficult to make out until now, its body was about 30 centimetres long, it didn't move very fast and you'd find them anywhere if you were attentive, the forest's worm Pokémon... Caterpie.
Even though Ash is only a beginner Pokémon trainer, it was a Pokémon so weak it wasn't really worth catching.
“Oh hey. Just a Caterpie. A cute little bug Pokémon.”
Misty shook her head while trembling.
“Even if it's a Pokémon, bugs are gross. Bugs bug me. I hate bugs. Do something about it. You're a boy after all.”
“Right. Fine by me. I'm gonna catch it.”
Typically, catching a Pokémon involved battling it with one of your own Pokémon to weaken it, before getting it in a Poké Ball.
“Pikachu?”
Ash tentatively called upon Pikachu, however he simply looked away to as if to say “I make my own decisions” like he always did.
It had seemed like they were getting along better after yesterday, but it still seemed he didn't care to help Ash unless the mood hit him.
... I see. Well, if he's like that... I'll handle this without any help... I'll show them I can catch a Caterpie all on my own...
Ash grasped an empty Poké Ball in his hand.
When they left the Pokémon Center, he had sneakily taken five empty Poké Balls with him.
“Let's go. Caterpie.”
Ash brandished the Poké Ball and threw it with all his strength.
The moment the ball hit the Caterpie... A bright light erupted from the ball and encapsulated Caterpie's body.
The next moment, while Caterpie's body was still bathed in light, it was sucked inside the Poké Ball.
And so, in the spot where Caterpie once stood, only a Poké Ball was rolling on the ground, rattling as it shook.
If the capture were to fail, a flash of light would re-emerge from the ball, with Caterpie leaping out.
Ash kept a close eye on the status of the Poké Ball.
How long did it last for... In reality it was only a matter of seconds, but to Ash it felt like hours... The Poké Ball stopped moving.
“Gotcha... I did get it, right?”
He asked Misty.
“It's obvious just looking at it.”
“So I really got it.”
He asked Pikachu.
Pikachu nodded.
Ash's body began to tremble. He couldn't stop himself.
... His first capture... The grand first step of Trainer Ash.
“Caterpie! Gotcha!”
Ash picked up the Poké Ball and posed holding it high above his head.
“Gotcha!” “Gotcha!” “Gotcha!”
The words came from his mouth naturally. The pose also suited him perfectly.
It was a feeling of pure achievement, his true emotions showed themselves in their own style. The style that suits me best... It's just as mom said.
“Gotcha! I did it!”
While he could have just left it at that, he continued with a dance of joy.
“You did it! Mr. Ketchum. You're so cool! Mr. Ketchum. Caterpie may be small, but for Ash Ketchum of Pallet Elementary, this is the first step on the path to greatness!”
He continued by standing to attention and singing the school anthem.
Even though at school he always ended up humming and had never actually sung the whole song properly.
“I swear... You're such a moron.”
Misty muttered in exasperation.
“Who are you calling a moron?”
Ash thrust the Poké Ball right in front of Misty's nose.
“Kyah! What the hell are you doing!?” Misty's hair stood on end.
“Take a look. Inside this Poké Ball is the first Pokémon I've ever caught.”
Misty averted her gaze and backed away slightly.
“Don't get too close to me... Even inside a Poké Ball, bugs bug me...”
“Bugs may bug you, but they don't bug me at all. Pikachu spends all his time outside. Caterpie can stay outside too.”
“Hold it... Don't you dare.”
Misty took a deep breath, ready to scream.
“Come on out, Caterpie.”
Caterpie emerged from the Poké Ball, full of vigour.
“Kyaa kyaa kyaaaaaaah!” Misty screamed with the full capacity her lungs could manage.
Ash spoke to Caterpie, acting as if he hadn't heard the scream.
“C'mon, climb up on my shoulder!”
Caterpie looked back and forth between Ash and Misty.
And then it stared at Misty who was frozen in place, her body trembling.
In any case, it turns out this Caterpie is male, and has subsequently taken more of a liking to the female Misty.
Caterpie ignored Ash and Pikachu completely, heading straight for Misty as fast as a worm Pokémon could possibly go.
Creep... Creep...
Misty's expression contorted similarly to Munch's The Scream.
“Hiiieeeee...eh, shoo, stop, go away.”
“It's not that bad, is it?”
“I don't care, it's a bug and I hate bugs!”
“Look at him. If you take a close look he's kinda cute.”
“I don't want to look at it, it's not cute and I don't want to see it.”
It wasn't clear whether or not Caterpie had much understanding of human speech, but he could at least tell whether he was liked or hated.
Caterpie quit his creeping and look downcast.
“Aww, Caterpie. You hurt his feelings.”
Pikachu nodded in agreement, understanding how Caterpie felt.
“Ah...” Even Misty felt some slight pity for Caterpie...
“You see, Misty's just a jerk.”
Misty's attitude hardened after Ash's words.
“I've never wanted you to like me anyway. Anyway, carrots, peppers and bugs, everyone's picky about something or other.”
“You shouldn't be so picky about things, your mom should have taught you that.”
“My mom? I'm not reliant on my mother the way you are... Mommy, mommy... Only a total mommy's boy would rely entirely on what his mom says. I'm a girl who knows what she likes, as well as what she hates... This woman doesn't need a little kid spouting immature nonsense at her.”
Misty was the kind of person who would return any insult threefold, the type of girl Ash was terrible at dealing with. The type who would probably be just like Ash's mom when she grew up.
... I really shouldn't have brought up the subject of her mom...
Ash was already regretting this. He had never once in his life won an argument against a girl. Ash had a default response to this kind of situation.
“Hmph, just do what you like.”
“I'll do just as I like then.”
Ash picked Caterpie up.
“You're my Pokémon and I like you. I really like you. You're waaay cuter than Misty.”
“Hmph, a Caterpie cuter than me? I'd ask you not besmirch my cuteness by comparing it to a mere insect... Anyway, I won't let you bug me any further.”
“Caterpie, now that she's buggered off and is ignoring us, climb up on my shoulder.”
Ash placed Caterpie on his shoulder.
“Do what you like! I don't care at all anymore.”
“Then why are you still following us?”
He shouldn't have pushed the subject.
“My bike! You can't play dumb and escape that easily.”
“My bike, my bike, that's all you ever talk about. Can't you just trust me on it?”
“As if I can trust a guy who says a bug is cuter than me? Besides, if you hadn't destroyed my bike, I'd be out of this creepy forest already. This topic is becoming a vicious cycle...”
“A vicious bicycle... Kidding.”
Unable to win with a real retort, Ash resorted to bad puns, which angered Misty.
“I can't believe you! Making stupid puns at a time like this... You've got no integrity. I'm going to report you to the police.”
“Do what you like!”
“I'm doing just as I like!”
“When I get out of this forest, I'll be hanging around the next town. I'm not gonna run or hide.”
With Caterpie still on his shoulder, Ash began to walk off leading Pikachu by the hand.
Misty followed several meters behind them.
Ash turned around and shouted.
“Why are you following us?”
“This path just happens to be the shortest way for me to get home, and also to the next town's police station.”
“Do what you like!”
He had no other response.
“I'm doing just as I like!”
Misty also had no other retort.
Besides, this forest was way too gloomy for a girl to be travelling on her own.
***
Moonlight filtered through the branches of the forest's trees.
They had to set up camp in the forest for the night.
Ash and Misty had gotten into their sleeping bags on opposite sides of a stump.
Thinking about it, Ash hadn't had any downtime since leaving Pallet Town, he'd been constantly occupied until now.
The same went for Misty. From the moment Ash took her bike, she'd been chasing after him. On top of that, any time she got into an argument with Ash it dragged on for ages. The bug hating Misty knew that Ash's freshly caught Caterpie was somewhere close by, but she was so tired she couldn't keep here eyelids open.
They were both asleep within moments.
However, Pikachu was more exhausted than anyone.
He knew he would rest easily inside his Poké Ball.
But it was Pikachu himself who was determined not to enter the ball.
He would never enter the ball from now on. He had an odd disposition for a Pokémon being raised by a human, but he'd been this way since he was born.
But life outside a Poké Ball isn't always easy for a Pokémon.
Wild cat and mouse Pokémon including Pikachu are mostly nocturnal. Conditions for finding food are more favourable at night. Cats and mice that run around fields and mountains in broad daylight are mostly restricted to fiction like anime, films and TV.
Typically, cats and mice sleep in the day and move about at night. By the way, humans are creatures that do things during daylight. As such, Pokémon that are kept by humans naturally adjust to being awake during the day.
You'll notice this with Pokémon that live in the zoo, but Pokémon who have adjusted to daylight hours sleep shrewdly at night. This is because within the habitat of their cage or a Poké Ball, they can rest without having to fear being attacked by predators. However, for those Pokémon who aren't in a Poké Ball, the night is naturally a dangerous time.
After all, the night is their active period.
Pikachu are a Pokémon that is nocturnal by instinct. As such, the night brought anxiety. As long as he stayed out of the Poké Ball, Pikachu had trouble sleeping at night. On the fairly safe grounds of Professor Oak's laboratory, he'd slept in the day. But since travelling out on this adventure, he'd had no time to sleep. While he was being treated at the Pokémon Center he had been put under with anaesthesia, but that was a sleep to relieve his pain... Not a restful sleep. Refusing to enter his Poké Ball at night... was actually pretty tough.
However, instinct is instinct... and when night fell Pikachu's senses sharpened, the moment he felt an unusual presence his body began moving.
Ksh!
The bushes shook slightly.
Something was watching from the bushes.
Pikachu took a defensive stance.
However, he breathed out with a “Chuu...” and relaxed.
There was something familiar about whatever was in the bushes.
Gsh!
The thing in the bushes moved quickly.
The moonlight revealed a yellow Pokémon identical to Pikachu.
There's nothing strange about it looking like Pikachu. After all, the Pokémon was a wild Pikachu.
Additionally, the wild Pikachu had an alluring scent unfamiliar to Pikachu.
It was a female wild Pikachu.
With the exception of the Pikachu raised at the Oak Laboratory and the various Pikachu kept for the Pokémon Center's backup generator, he had never seen another Pikachu. In fact, his upbringing had kept him separated from most other Pokémon. Starter Pokémon given to aspiring Pokémon trainers are typically kept separate from other people and Pokémon as much as possible to avoid any major influences to make it easier for them to become used to their brand new owners.
Amidst the chaos of Team Rocket's raid, he didn't have time to pal around with any of his fellow Pikachu. And even if he had, they were also tamed Pokémon. It was a great surprise to see a real wild Pikachu now.
“Pikachu.” Pikachu called out to say... Wait... to stop the wild Pikachu from leaving.
The wild Pikachu stopped and turned around.
... Are you really a Pikachu?...
Pikachu asked.
The wild Pikachu didn't reply.
Pikachu wasn't sure if she even understood his words.
But the wild Pikachu stayed there, looking at him.
Pikachu was pleased.
... I don't have any bad intentions...
Pikachu rushed up to the wild Pikachu.
The sweet scent of the wild Pikachu was breathtaking.
Without really thinking why, Pikachu timidly held out one of his front paws.
When humans introduce themselves to one another, they often do so with something called a handshake.
The wild Pikachu glanced at Pikachu's paw.
The next moment, chomp! She bit Pikachu's paw.
Then her hair stood on end intimidatingly.
... Don't touch me... she seemed to be saying.
Pikachu stood paralysed, unable to counter attack or even say pika.
... Why...
Chuu! An aggressive growl came from another bush.
Another wild Pikachu appeared from the bushes.
It had lived a life running around fields and forests, its fur was worn out and its withered body was covered in scars.
To a human, Ash's Pikachu would be more attractive, cooler and cuter looking.
However...
A wild female Pikachu is different.
The female Pikachu ran over to the withered Pikachu and nuzzled him.
The withered Pikachu cried sharply.
... Domesticated Pokémon... hate... go away...
The female Pikachu also cried.
... Hate... scary... go away...
Pikachu didn't really understand the words of the wild Pokémon.
It was akin to a human listening to someone speak in a foreign language.
But he managed to get the gist of it.
Wild Pikachu and domesticated Pikachu are different... is what they meant.
They hate domesticated Pikachu... is what they meant. They're afraid... is what they meant. And also, that he should leave this forest... is what they wanted to say...
The male and female wild Pikachu rubbed their cheeks together, yet they maintained a cautious posture as they backed away slowly from Pikachu who was still frozen in place.
Then once they reached what they judged as a safe distance, they turned their backs and vanished off into the bushes.
Eventually, from far away in the bushes, the two Pikachu let out song like cries as they frolicked.
The remaining Pikachu stood isolated.
Pikachu looked up at the night sky, and whispered quietly at the moon peeking through the tree branches.
“Pika.”
The moon didn't answer.
Even so, Pikachu looked up at the moon.
Eventually he heard a creeping sound beside him.
By his side was the Caterpie Ash had caught.
Under normal circumstances, Pikachu would have noticed Caterpie's approach sooner.
But he hadn't noticed at all.
Pikachu was simply that out of it.
The shock of the wild Pikachu's behaviour had thrown him that much.
“Catercatercater.”
Caterpie had said something to Pikachu.
“Pika?”
Pikachu replied.
Neither of them were able to fully understand what the other was saying.
But Pikachu felt that it was easier to understand what the caught Caterpie was saying than the wild Pikachu.
“Catercatercater.”
Caterpie was doing his best to articulate himself.
“Pikapikapika.”
Pikachu also did his best to give a reply.
The two Pokémon were both bound to the unreliable seeming youth Ash as their trainer.
And it was just the two of them for now... If things were to go well, Pikachu and Caterpie would be relying on each other from now on.
Even if they couldn't understand each others words, they were both saying the same thing.
... Well partner... We catter chu our best...
He was curious about life in the wild... But he'll have to settle for this.
Pikachu and Caterpie stared at the moon together.
Then it occurred. They saw the silhouette of a Pokémon flutter past the moon, leaving a silver trail in its wake.
It was a butterfly like Pokémon known as Butterfree.
Butterfree was a species of butterfly Pokémon that evolved from the worm Pokémon Caterpie.
“Catercatercatercater!”
Caterpie cried in excitement. He was incredibly pleased.
Pikachu had no idea that Butterfree was the form Caterpie took after evolution.
But he could tell that seeing the Butterfree had put Caterpie in high spirits.
Pikachu also became happy for no real reason as he replied to Caterpie.
“Pikapikapika.”
“Catercatercatercater!”
“Pikapikapika.”
Caterpie and Pikachu continued their conversation late into the night.
The topic of their conversation wasn't really clear to either of the Pokémon, Pikachu or Caterpie. But there was one thing they both understood.
The pair of them were friends. As long as that much was clear, even if they had no idea what the other was saying, their conversation was enjoyable.
Whether with humans or Pokémon, conversation is perhaps something anyone can enjoy.
Even when none of the words make any sense, it's possible to enjoy yourself.
***
“Kyaaah!”
The next morning began with a scream from Misty.
“Woah, what's up, buttercup?”
Ash leapt to his feet.
“Don't call me buttercup, my name's Misty, get the bug off!”
“You're the one who won't bugger off.”
“Don't you bugger off without your stupid bug!”
With the misunderstanding of meaning between them, Ash came to understand once he looked over at Misty.
Caterpie had snuggled into Misty's sleeping bag and was sleeping right next to her face. But Caterpie was the only one sleeping, Misty was paralysed in fear of the Caterpie lying in front of her eyes. Only her mouth could move.
“Why is Caterpie sleeping with me? Bloody molester, pervert Pokémon.”
Even if she asked why, it's doubtful that even Caterpie would have a real answer.
Perhaps having enjoyed his conversation with Pikachu, he got somewhat carried away before finally going to sleep, and he may have decided that snuggling up with the more delicate Misty was preferable to Ash.
However, if it had been the adorable to girls Pikachu who had done this, she'd think nothing of it... it was a reaction borne of fear.
Misty's barbed insults pierced like arrows.
Being hit with words from “hate” to “gross” was something he was getting used to, but being called a “molester” or “pervert Pokémon” was just crossing the line.
Even if he didn't know the meaning of the words, their intonation stabbed at him.
“Pokémon should act like Pokémon and sleep in their Poké Balls!”
The strength behind her words made even Pikachu lower his head in shame.
Caterpie slowly crawled out from Misty's sleeping bag.
He went over to the Poké Ball sitting next to Ash's bag, head still hung in shame as he went inside.
Ash knocked on the Poké Ball in a panic.
“Caterpie, are you okay?”
No response came from the Poké Ball.
Ash lost his temper at Misty.
“You went too far. You really hurt his feelings. What if he never comes back out of there again?”
“Eh?”
Misty agreed that she maybe went a little far. But...
“Apologise to Caterpie! Say sorry to him!”
Having Ash shout at her without even giving her a moment set her off again.
“Even if I were to apologise to Caterpie, I still wouldn't forgive you. It's your lack of discipline that lead to this in the first place. Trainers are responsible for the actions of their Pokémon.”
“Ugh...”
Ash faltered. He'd never win against Misty with words.
Ash whispered to the Poké Ball.
“Caterpie, we'll get one over on her someday.”
But there was no response from the Poké Ball.
Nothing could be heard even if he tried shaking it.
“Not good... I hope he hasn't lost his self confidence.”
Then it happened.
Plop... Something fell on Ash's head.
“Huh?”
“Eeew, it's poop... Stay away from me.”
Misty raised a scream.
It was bird Pokémon poop.
Above the trees was a bird Pokémon with a fairly relieved expression on its face.
“Uuugh. At the worst possible moment... What the hell is that thing!?”
Ash pointed the Pokédex at the bird Pokémon.
“The bird Pokémon, Pidgeotto... The evolved form of the tiny bird Pokémon Pidgey... It is much more aggressive than Pidgey, but not as violent as Spearow, they are highly recommended Pokémon for beginners... It is typically around one meter in size... However their size may vary...”
“One meter, huh.”
Ash craned his neck. It looked too small to be a meter in size. He wasn't even convinced that its wingspan would reach a whole meter.
“Maybe is hasn't been raised well... Oh well, if it's perfect for beginners, then I'm not just gonna let it pass me by.”
Ash pulled an empty Poké Ball from his bag.
“I'll get it.”
“Idiot, even if it isn't the finest specimen, it's a Pidgeotto. The basis behind catching any Pokémon is to weaken it with your own Pokémon first.”
Misty spoke with arrogance.
“I know that.”
“The only reason you managed to catch Caterpie is because that Caterpie of yours was weak. Just so you know.”
This was simply Misty's own way of trying to give Ash some friendly advice.
... She's badmouthing my Caterpie again...
Ash put his poop covered face up close to Misty's and spoke.
“Just watch me!”
“I don't want to watch! Not with that on your face.”
Misty shoved Ash away with both hands.
Ash really lost his cool and turned away.
“Alright, Misty, I'll make you gasp in awe. I'll get that Pidgeotto using my Caterpie.”
Ash tightly gripped the Poké Ball containing Caterpie and threw it.
“Go! Caterpie!”
“Aah.”
“Pii!”
He heard Misty's scream and Pikachu's cry. Misty's voice was different to her familiar scream though. Rather than a cry of fear, it was more of a panic in the face of danger. Pikachu's cry indicated concern.
Ash puffed his chest out proudly.
“See, you're gasping already.”
Pashing! Misty slapped him with her open palm.
“Ah... Was I the one gasping in awe?”
“This isn't the time for your nonsense? There's no way a bug Pokémon is going to win a fight with a bird Pokémon that eats bugs.”
Ash gulped.
He looked over to where Caterpie's Poké Ball went.
Beyond the Poké Ball lying there, Caterpie was fleeing the pursuing Pidgeotto.
Against Pidgeotto's swooping attacks and sudden climbs, Caterpie was completely helpless.
He could only run and hide along the ground's surface.
“Hurry and call it back! Your Caterpie!”
Misty shouted.
“Yeah, good idea.”
Coming to his senses, Ash rushed for Caterpie's Poké Ball.
“Return! Caterpie!”
But Pidgeotto's swooping attack was swift.
“Protect yourself! Caterpie!”
Moments before becoming a snack within Pidgeotto's beak, Caterpie curled himself up like a necklace.
Then he returned to his ball barely avoiding the beak.
“Pikachu!”
Pikachu shouted as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Pikachu, you wanna fight?”
Ash asked.
He didn't need to though.
This was the opponent who had tormented Caterpie.
Pikachu glared at the Pidgeotto.
The electrical pouches in his cheeks swelled and his tail stood on end.
Lightning ran through the forest.
“Amazing.” Ash murmured.
“That's done it.” Misty let out something resembling a sigh.
It was the electric shock that had caused the huge explosion at the Pokémon Center the night before last.
Pikachu's electrical energy had restored itself last night, despite the fact he spent most of the night awake talking to Caterpie.
Pidgeotto was bathed in lightning and collapsed unconscious.
“Pika pika.”
Pikachu pointed a finger at Pidgeotto as if to say to get it now.
“Y-yeah... Now's the time.”
Ash threw a Poké Ball, somewhat flustered.
Pidgeotto's body was sucked into the Poké Ball and eventually the ball stopped moving.
The joy Ash felt yesterday returned.
“Pidgeotto. Gotcha.”
He struck a pose and smiled broadly.
“I did it. My second capture.”
“And there's something else you're getting seconds of today.” Misty said.
“Eh?”
Pashing, Misty slapped him.
“Ow! You hit me again.”
“Yes, I hit you. And I'll keep on hitting you. Are you even taking this whole Pokémon Trainer thing seriously at all?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then you should learn the basics. Pokémon type compatibility is important. Using a bug Pokémon against a bird Pokémon... that's just downright stupid. You need to look at things from your Pokémon's perspective... Right, Pikachu?”
With Misty's sudden question, Pikachu's only response was to nod. Ash had no words to reply.
Misty continued overbearingly.
“Just liking Pokémon doesn't make you qualified to become a trainer. This isn't a game that kids should be playing.”
That's when it happened.
“Indeed. It isn't a game.” A woman's kind voice said.
“It's serious business after all.” A handsome man's voice came from somewhere.
Kaboom. Kaboom. Rainbow coloured smoke bombs went off.
“What the?” Ash said.
“What's going on?” Asked Misty.
A pair of silhouettes could be seen through the smoke.
“No matter whatever questions you ask, the answer you'll receive is the world's pity.”
The pair spoke in perfect sync.
“To protect the world from devastation.” Jessie said.
“To unite all peoples within our nation.” James said.
“To denounce the evils of truth and love.” Jessie was in top form.
“To extend our reach to the stars above. ” James added.
“Jessie.” Jessie winked as she introduced herself.
“James.” James said as he smelt the rose in his hand.
“Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light...” Jessie struck a pose.
“Surrender now or prepare to fight.” James took his own pose.
Right at the end Meowth made his appearance.
“That's right.”
“You guys again, what now?” Ash asked.
“No matter whatever questions you ask” Jessie responded.
“the answer you'll receive is the world's pity.” James finished.
“Stop right there, nya!” Meowth scratched Jessie and James's faces.
“Are you planning to do our entrance scene all over again, nya?”
“Oh, right, we're wasting time.”
“If this were a novel, we'd be wasting pages.”
“The author is cutting corners, nya.”
“On that topic...” Jessie said.
I'm not sure how this qualifies as the same topic, but Jessie continued on.
“We have no business with you twerpy lovebirds.”
“Our business is with that Pikachu.”
James pointed at Pikachu as he spoke.
Ash stepped in between them as if to protect Pikachu from James's finger.
“If you want a Pikachu, there's plenty of other Pikachu you could be going after.”
“But what we want is, quite specifically, that Pikachu.” It was Jessie's turn to point at Pikachu this time.
“Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to point at people?” Ash said.
“Mother? Mama? Mummy, I wish I could've...” Jessie suddenly murmured.
“Parents are never supportive when you need them.” James cried.
“I don't even remember a single word my parents ever told me, nya.” Meowth stated matter of factly.
“We don't need to hear about your parental issues.” Misty shouted.
“Let's get back to the point!” Misty's angry outburst brought everyone back to their senses.
“Allow us to explain, Mr. Holmes.” Jessie said.
“My name's Ash.” Ash muttered.
“Allow us to explain, Mr. Poirot.” James said.
“This isn't going anywhere!” Misty looked as if she was about to explode, her hair standing on end.
“Sorry, sorry.” Jessie apologised.
“Enough with apologies. Get to the point, nya.” An irritated Meowth pointed his sharpened claws as Jessie and James.
“I'll cut straight to the chase then.” James began speaking.
“We, Team Rocket, seek out rare Pokémon specimens. And that Pikachu of yours may just fit the bill.”
And this time, Meowth also pointed at Pikachu alongside the other two.
“My Pikachu is a rare Pokémon?” Ash asked.
“No ordinary Pikachu could trigger an explosion like that one the other day. Therefore it can be deduced that it is not ordinary. Elementary, my dear...”
Jessie was planning to call him my dear Watson, but the shining sharp claws of the Meowth next to her told her to drop it.
“Ah, is this the part where Holmes explains things to Watson?” James clearly didn't know when to drop these things...
“Cut it out, nya.” Meowth's claws slashed his face.
“Anyway, give us the Pikachu and we'll leave you be.” James said as he applied pressure to his face.
“You think I'll just hand him over?” Ash checked on Pikachu's condition.
Pikachu was still tired from the large discharge from earlier.
“We didn't think so, but I figured we'd ask to offer the world's pity.” James said.
“There's no more pity now that we've asked though.” Jessie pulled out a Poké Ball.
“Jessie and James, travelling the path of Pokémon together...” James also pulled out a Poké Ball.
“This is obviously now a Pokémon battle, nya.” Meowth pulled out a folding fan with a picture of a coin on it and began waving it.
Jessie and James's Poké Balls burst, and the Pokémon Koffing and Ekans leapt out. The same ones who had been used at the Pokémon Center.
“Two against one is unfair.” Ash shouted.
“The word unfair doesn't exist in the villainous dictionary of truth and love.” Jessie smirked.
“Then your dictionary is no good.” It's impossible to say how serious Ash's statement was.
“No good suits us fine... We're villains.” James replied completely seriously.
“Cut the crap, you should use two Pokémon as well Ash.” Misty said with irritation.
“But the rules of Pokémon say you can only use one.” Ash replied to Misty's exasperation.
“Are you stupid? Seriously? You think the rules apply to people like them? At this rate, both Pikachu and Caterpie are going to be stolen from you.”
“How about we just take care of our opponent and finish this while they're still arguing?” Jessie whispered to James.
“Let's finish this.” James nodded.
“Sludge attack!” James shouted, and Koffing suddenly spat sludge at Pikachu.
The stickiness in his eyes blinded him.
“The battle hasn't even started yet, how could you...” Ash's protests fell upon deaf ears.
Both exhausted and blinded, Pikachu was in no state to battle.
“I told you so.” Misty said, beginning to get really irritated.
At this point she was tempted to try sending out her own Pokémon instead... But in the middle of a waterless forest, Misty wouldn't be able to expect much from the water Pokémon she was carrying.
Ash picked up Pikachu and handed him to Misty.
“Look after Pikachu. I'll handle this with my other two.”
Despite his words, his freshly caught Pidgeotto and Caterpie had just fought.
But he had nothing else he could rely on.
“Pidgeotto. I'm counting on you. I choose you!”
Ash threw the Poké Ball.
The Pidgeotto he had just caught leapt from the Poké Ball.
After being caught in a Poké Ball, Pokémon typically became allies of their new master. And Pidgeotto was no exception.
“Pidgeotto!”
With a sharp cry, Pidgeotto boldly charged Ekans and Koffing.
It continually swooped and climbed, attacking Ekans and Koffing with its beak, but it was still facing two opponents. If it focused on one opponent, the other would come around behind it. It wasn't some kind of super Pidgeotto that could overcome the disadvantage of two against one.
The situation was wearing it down and leaving it on the defensive.
“Two against one is unfair no matter how you look at it!”
Ash instinctively rushed towards Jessie and James.
“Children are no match for an adult.” Jessie spoke with pity.
“We'd rather not pick on little kids.” James stated, as he held back the flailing Ash with a single hand against his head.
No matter how hard Ash swung his arms, he couldn't reach James.
“Fight me! C'mon, fight.” Ash could do naught but shout.
“We told you you're no match for us...!” James flicked Ash in the forehead with his finger.
Misty's slaps were enough to knock Ash over. James's forehead flick sent him rolling like a ball.
“Come now, just hand over Pikachu. We're clearly winning the Pokémon battle.” Jessie smiled.
Pikachu squirmed in Misty's arms as if to say “Let me fight!”
Although it was clear Pikachu had no chance of winning in his blinded state.
That only left Caterpie...
However, Ash had caught Caterpie without even having a Pokémon battle... Against Pidgeotto, all Caterpie could do was run, there was no chance he could win this fight. Sending a Pokémon into a fight you know they'll lose is just being cruel, isn't it?
But Caterpie was all he had left.
Ash whispered to Caterpie's Poké Ball.
“You've all I've got left. You're our only hope.”
Ash threw the ball carrying his prayers.
“Go! Caterpie!”
Caterpie leapt out from inside the Poké Ball.
“Whanya? That insect ain't got a chance of winning nya.” Meowth laughed.
“Bugs can bugger off...” Jessie spoke the same line Misty did earlier.
“Seeing that larva makes me break out in laughter.” James broke into a huge laugh.
Ash and Misty felt frustrated. Even Pikachu probably felt the same.
“Pidgeooo~n.” There's no way a Caterpie that'd normally be a snack could win... Pidgeotto cried sorrowfully.
But Caterpie was the most frustrated of all.
Even so, Caterpie faced Ekans and Koffing without showing his fear.
“Wow... What a reckless little worm.” Jessie was surprised.
“This is ridiculous.” James muttered.
“What a guy.” Meowth shrugged.
They had to admire Caterpie's courage.
However, they'd still show no mercy.
Caterpie took a stance and began to spew something.
Shhhhhhhh...
It was a white thread.
Caterpie spat his thread at Koffing and Ekans at full force.
“Koff?”
“Shekans?”
What is this? They had no time to even ponder that question.
In an instant, Koffing and Ekans were unable to move, wrapped up and rolling around like balls of thread.
“Nyo way... It's Meowth's turn now.”
Meowth stood in front of Caterpie.
Although it wasn't long until he was a ball of thread too.
Upon seeing the three balls of thread known as Koffing, Ekans and Meowth, Jessie and James looked to each other.
“Maybe we should just let him off easy this time.” Jessie said to James.
“Right, it's not nice to pick on kids. Oh look, we've got three hacky sacks here.” James pointed to the three balls.
“That sure takes me back. How about we play some hacky sack then?” Jessie suggested to James.
“Let's do that. Yes, let's do that.”
Jessie and James picked up the three balls, then ran off. In other words, you could say they fled.
“But, it has to be said... This suuuuuucks!”
The pair's voices echoed through the forest.
Ash rushed over to Caterpie who had stopped spewing his thread.
“You're amazing. Not even Misty can keep hating on you after that. ... Right?”
“I guess...”
Ash drew specific attention to Misty.
Her hatred of bugs wasn't so easily overcome. Even so, she had to acknowledge Caterpie's efforts.
And at least some of the credit belonged to Ash, the Pokémon trainer who'd been able to bring Caterpie to this point. ... As much as she hated to admit it...
Having noticed Misty's feelings, Caterpie's eyes shone with a smile.
The sludge in his eyes having been wiped away by Ash, Pikachu's eyes shone too.
“Pidgeo~” Pidgeotto cried from the treetops as if to say “Not bad, I guess.”
But these good vibes didn't last for long.
Shhhhhh...
The sound of thread.
Having briefly stopped, Caterpie began to spit his thread again.
“Caterpie, it's okay stop now.”
No matter how many times Ash told him, the thread didn't stop.
The thread had rapidly enveloped Caterpie.
“What's going on? Caterpie.”
Ash pointed the Pokédex at Caterpie.
“The worm Pokémon, Caterpie, envelops itself in thread when it is beginning its evolution.”
The Pokédex provided this answer.
“The start of evolution...”
The thread wrapped around Caterpie's body became green and hardened.
Then, in the blink of an eye, there was a different Pokémon with a green shell there.
The Pokédex explained.
“Metapod... The cocoon Pokémon. The evolved form of Caterpie. Out of all known Pokémon species, it has the most rapid evolution. It does not move much until its next evolution. Despite its hard exterior, its innards are soft, so it cannot withstand powerful attacks and should be handled with caution.”
He was unable to move or even speak. It was hard to say whether in handling him with care whether he should go back into the Poké Ball or not.
Ash whispered.
“Right, you'll evolve again soon if I take care of you. Metapod... I'm looking forward to it.”
Ash hugged the immobile Metapod.
Metapod's eyes were the only part of him still recognisable as Caterpie.
Ash walked carrying Metapod on his shoulder.
Looking upon Ash's back, a thought passed through Misty's mind.
... This guy really does love Pokémon... Ash may really have what it takes after all...
However, a strange sound drove those thoughts away.
The sound of something winged. But it wasn't the wings of a bird.
They were rapidly beating wings. It sounded almost like a high speed motor...
Ash and Misty then caught a glimpse of them passing by.
The Pokédex suddenly issued a warning.
“Beware the poison bee Pokémon, Beedrill... It stings with the poison barb on its tail. Its front legs have another two barbs. They often attack in groups and are highly dangerous.”
“Beedrill? Highly dangerous? Alright, I'm gonna catch one.”
Ash was in high spirits.
…! I guess he really is just a frivolous idiot... Misty hung her head.
“Anyway, I hate being in this creepy forest! Let's just get out of here!”
Misty increased her pace as if to drag Ash along with her.
However, the Viridian Forest only gets deeper from here.
Chapter 5 appendix
(... If you're in a hurry, feel free to skip ahead to chapter 6. ... However, there may be some important information written here that nobody has ever seen before.)
＜Secret lecture... Regarding Pokémon evolution...＞
Note #1) The Theory of Evolution Supportive Committee is a group of scholars who believe in Darwin's theory of evolution.
According to Darwin's theory of evolution, Pokémon are creatures that should not exist.
However, as Pokémon do exist, this poses a problem to scholars who believe in Darwin's evolutionary theory.
Various theories denying the existence of Pokémon have been brought up, but are largely ignored and considered insane ramblings among modern society.
When things are shown to exist they are widely accepted as fact, but in the world of scholars, this isn't always the case. There are certain extremists among Darwinists who claim that to protect the theory of evolution... Pokémon must be exterminated.
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “The word evolution is to be used for the eternally continuing evolution of creatures upon this earth for over 2 million years, not a word for Pokémon transformations.”
(Members of Audience) “Yeah, that's right!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “For example, the evolution of Caterpie into Metapod is like the transformation of a caterpillar into a cocoon before becoming a butterfly, the proper term for this process among animals is metamorphosis.”
(Members of Audience) “No objections!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “When an egg hatches into a tadpole that eventually becomes a frog, people don't call that evolution. However, what is known as evolution among Pokémon isn't always a simple metamorphosis.”
(Members of Audience) “Yeah, that's right!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: There is too much that is unknown about what is known as Pokémon evolution. For example, the evolved form of Pikachu, Raichu, it is uncertain whether it retains memories of its time as a Pikachu. By that same token, it's impossible to ask whether a frog retains memories of its time at a tadpole... Put simply, you cannot know a frog's thoughts unless you can ask a frog, just as you cannot know a Raichu's thoughts without being able to ask a Raichu.”
(Members of Audience) “No objections!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “Now the maintained resemblance between Pikachu and Raichu is one thing, but despite living in the same ocean habitat, you'd be hard pressed to say that the fish Pokémon Magikarp in any way resembles its evolved form, the atrocious Pokémon Gyarados. Additionally, it would also be difficult to say that a tadpole in any way resembles a frog... At least that much can be said. Other than Pokémon, at least to the best of my knowledge, no creature retains memories of previous evolutionary forms.
(Members of Audience) “Yeah, that's right!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “Is it even right for us to acknowledge such mysterious creatures as living beings? We of the Shinkar Darwin Theory of Evolution Supportive Committee feel that neither the word evolution or the word metamorphosis should be used in relation to Pokémon.”
(All Present) “No objections!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “No, I would go as far as to say that the mere existence of Pokémon in this world, defying all logic in the theory of evolution, causes problems for our views. ... I say that Pokémon evolution should be referred to by a different name. ... Evolution is not a word to be used for these creatures who ought not exist.”
(All Present) “Yeeaaah!”
Note #2) The general public care little for how the scientific community refer to Pokémon evolution. But it is clear that the phenomenon actually exists... it was simply a case where the word evolution made the concept easy to comprehend and eventually came into everyday usage. Research into the possible connection between evolution as defined in the theory of evolution and the Pokémon phenomenon known as evolution is ongoing.
Translation Notes:
• "Bugs bug me", a sentence in English playing off the meaning of bug as "insect" and "irritate" which is an ideal for translating the similar Japanese pun "mushi wa mushi" (虫は無視), meaning "I ignore bugs".
• "A vicious bicycle". Misty originally told Ash that he should feel responsible for her bike (自転車の責任、感じてんの... Jitensha no sekinin, kanjitenno...) and Ash responded with the made up word "kanjitensha" (かんじてんしゃ), a portmanteau of feel (kanjite) and bike (jitensha).
• "What's up, buttercup?" in Japanese Ash says "Nanda nanda nanda, danna" (なんだなんだなんだ、だんな), "Nanda" meaning "What?" and "Danna" being something like "sir", "boss" or a way for a wife to address her husband. Danna (だんな) is nanda (なんだ) written backwards, to try and go for something similar I went with rhyming "what's up" with "buttercup".
• "Bug off", once again playing on "bug" and "ignore". There's a lot of that in this chapter.
• In the original Japanese the references to Holmes and Poirot were references to the fictional detectives Kogorou Akechi (created by Ranpo Edogawa) and Kousuke Kindaichi (created by Seishi Yokomizu), you may be familiar with these names being the inspiration for Detective Conan's Kogorou Mouri and The Kindaichi Case Files' Hajime Kindaichi (intended to be a descendant of Kosuke).
• "Seeing that larva makes me break out in laughter." In Japanese, James said that insect (虫けら mushikera) made him cackle (けらけら kerakera).
• "Hacky sacks", in Japanese James referred to the string wrapped Pokémon as "otedama", which is a totally different game to hacky sack, but the otedama themselves are seemingly pretty similar to a hacky sack.
• "Shinkar Darwin", the word evolution in Japanese is shinka, Darwin is obviously referring to the real life Charles Darwin.
“Kyaaah!”
Misty was crouched down and pointing towards a bush.
“What?”
The echoes of Misty's shrill scream surprised Ash and Pikachu, drawing their attention to the bush.
There was no sign of anything threatening there.
“Is there something there?”
“Can't you see it?”
He looked down below Misty's trembling finger.
“Eh?”
Looking closely, the grass beneath the bush was moving slightly.
Even if something was there, it didn't seem worthy of making Misty to collapse and freak out like that.
“What is it?”
Ash peered into the grass.
Pyok!
A small Pokémon with a round head poked its neck out. Its head was the same shade of green as the grass, making it difficult to make out until now, its body was about 30 centimetres long, it didn't move very fast and you'd find them anywhere if you were attentive, the forest's worm Pokémon... Caterpie.
Even though Ash is only a beginner Pokémon trainer, it was a Pokémon so weak it wasn't really worth catching.
“Oh hey. Just a Caterpie. A cute little bug Pokémon.”
Misty shook her head while trembling.
“Even if it's a Pokémon, bugs are gross. Bugs bug me. I hate bugs. Do something about it. You're a boy after all.”
“Right. Fine by me. I'm gonna catch it.”
Typically, catching a Pokémon involved battling it with one of your own Pokémon to weaken it, before getting it in a Poké Ball.
“Pikachu?”
Ash tentatively called upon Pikachu, however he simply looked away to as if to say “I make my own decisions” like he always did.
It had seemed like they were getting along better after yesterday, but it still seemed he didn't care to help Ash unless the mood hit him.
... I see. Well, if he's like that... I'll handle this without any help... I'll show them I can catch a Caterpie all on my own...
Ash grasped an empty Poké Ball in his hand.
When they left the Pokémon Center, he had sneakily taken five empty Poké Balls with him.
“Let's go. Caterpie.”
Ash brandished the Poké Ball and threw it with all his strength.
The moment the ball hit the Caterpie... A bright light erupted from the ball and encapsulated Caterpie's body.
The next moment, while Caterpie's body was still bathed in light, it was sucked inside the Poké Ball.
And so, in the spot where Caterpie once stood, only a Poké Ball was rolling on the ground, rattling as it shook.
If the capture were to fail, a flash of light would re-emerge from the ball, with Caterpie leaping out.
Ash kept a close eye on the status of the Poké Ball.
How long did it last for... In reality it was only a matter of seconds, but to Ash it felt like hours... The Poké Ball stopped moving.
“Gotcha... I did get it, right?”
He asked Misty.
“It's obvious just looking at it.”
“So I really got it.”
He asked Pikachu.
Pikachu nodded.
Ash's body began to tremble. He couldn't stop himself.
... His first capture... The grand first step of Trainer Ash.
“Caterpie! Gotcha!”
Ash picked up the Poké Ball and posed holding it high above his head.
“Gotcha!” “Gotcha!” “Gotcha!”
The words came from his mouth naturally. The pose also suited him perfectly.
It was a feeling of pure achievement, his true emotions showed themselves in their own style. The style that suits me best... It's just as mom said.
“Gotcha! I did it!”
While he could have just left it at that, he continued with a dance of joy.
“You did it! Mr. Ketchum. You're so cool! Mr. Ketchum. Caterpie may be small, but for Ash Ketchum of Pallet Elementary, this is the first step on the path to greatness!”
He continued by standing to attention and singing the school anthem.
Even though at school he always ended up humming and had never actually sung the whole song properly.
“I swear... You're such a moron.”
Misty muttered in exasperation.
“Who are you calling a moron?”
Ash thrust the Poké Ball right in front of Misty's nose.
“Kyah! What the hell are you doing!?” Misty's hair stood on end.
“Take a look. Inside this Poké Ball is the first Pokémon I've ever caught.”
Misty averted her gaze and backed away slightly.
“Don't get too close to me... Even inside a Poké Ball, bugs bug me...”
“Bugs may bug you, but they don't bug me at all. Pikachu spends all his time outside. Caterpie can stay outside too.”
“Hold it... Don't you dare.”
Misty took a deep breath, ready to scream.
“Come on out, Caterpie.”
Caterpie emerged from the Poké Ball, full of vigour.
“Kyaa kyaa kyaaaaaaah!” Misty screamed with the full capacity her lungs could manage.
Ash spoke to Caterpie, acting as if he hadn't heard the scream.
“C'mon, climb up on my shoulder!”
Caterpie looked back and forth between Ash and Misty.
And then it stared at Misty who was frozen in place, her body trembling.
In any case, it turns out this Caterpie is male, and has subsequently taken more of a liking to the female Misty.
Caterpie ignored Ash and Pikachu completely, heading straight for Misty as fast as a worm Pokémon could possibly go.
Creep... Creep...
Misty's expression contorted similarly to Munch's The Scream.
“Hiiieeeee...eh, shoo, stop, go away.”
“It's not that bad, is it?”
“I don't care, it's a bug and I hate bugs!”
“Look at him. If you take a close look he's kinda cute.”
“I don't want to look at it, it's not cute and I don't want to see it.”
It wasn't clear whether or not Caterpie had much understanding of human speech, but he could at least tell whether he was liked or hated.
Caterpie quit his creeping and look downcast.
“Aww, Caterpie. You hurt his feelings.”
Pikachu nodded in agreement, understanding how Caterpie felt.
“Ah...” Even Misty felt some slight pity for Caterpie...
“You see, Misty's just a jerk.”
Misty's attitude hardened after Ash's words.
“I've never wanted you to like me anyway. Anyway, carrots, peppers and bugs, everyone's picky about something or other.”
“You shouldn't be so picky about things, your mom should have taught you that.”
“My mom? I'm not reliant on my mother the way you are... Mommy, mommy... Only a total mommy's boy would rely entirely on what his mom says. I'm a girl who knows what she likes, as well as what she hates... This woman doesn't need a little kid spouting immature nonsense at her.”
Misty was the kind of person who would return any insult threefold, the type of girl Ash was terrible at dealing with. The type who would probably be just like Ash's mom when she grew up.
... I really shouldn't have brought up the subject of her mom...
Ash was already regretting this. He had never once in his life won an argument against a girl. Ash had a default response to this kind of situation.
“Hmph, just do what you like.”
“I'll do just as I like then.”
Ash picked Caterpie up.
“You're my Pokémon and I like you. I really like you. You're waaay cuter than Misty.”
“Hmph, a Caterpie cuter than me? I'd ask you not besmirch my cuteness by comparing it to a mere insect... Anyway, I won't let you bug me any further.”
“Caterpie, now that she's buggered off and is ignoring us, climb up on my shoulder.”
Ash placed Caterpie on his shoulder.
“Do what you like! I don't care at all anymore.”
“Then why are you still following us?”
He shouldn't have pushed the subject.
“My bike! You can't play dumb and escape that easily.”
“My bike, my bike, that's all you ever talk about. Can't you just trust me on it?”
“As if I can trust a guy who says a bug is cuter than me? Besides, if you hadn't destroyed my bike, I'd be out of this creepy forest already. This topic is becoming a vicious cycle...”
“A vicious bicycle... Kidding.”
Unable to win with a real retort, Ash resorted to bad puns, which angered Misty.
“I can't believe you! Making stupid puns at a time like this... You've got no integrity. I'm going to report you to the police.”
“Do what you like!”
“I'm doing just as I like!”
“When I get out of this forest, I'll be hanging around the next town. I'm not gonna run or hide.”
With Caterpie still on his shoulder, Ash began to walk off leading Pikachu by the hand.
Misty followed several meters behind them.
Ash turned around and shouted.
“Why are you following us?”
“This path just happens to be the shortest way for me to get home, and also to the next town's police station.”
“Do what you like!”
He had no other response.
“I'm doing just as I like!”
Misty also had no other retort.
Besides, this forest was way too gloomy for a girl to be travelling on her own.
***
Moonlight filtered through the branches of the forest's trees.
They had to set up camp in the forest for the night.
Ash and Misty had gotten into their sleeping bags on opposite sides of a stump.
Thinking about it, Ash hadn't had any downtime since leaving Pallet Town, he'd been constantly occupied until now.
The same went for Misty. From the moment Ash took her bike, she'd been chasing after him. On top of that, any time she got into an argument with Ash it dragged on for ages. The bug hating Misty knew that Ash's freshly caught Caterpie was somewhere close by, but she was so tired she couldn't keep here eyelids open.
They were both asleep within moments.
However, Pikachu was more exhausted than anyone.
He knew he would rest easily inside his Poké Ball.
But it was Pikachu himself who was determined not to enter the ball.
He would never enter the ball from now on. He had an odd disposition for a Pokémon being raised by a human, but he'd been this way since he was born.
But life outside a Poké Ball isn't always easy for a Pokémon.
Wild cat and mouse Pokémon including Pikachu are mostly nocturnal. Conditions for finding food are more favourable at night. Cats and mice that run around fields and mountains in broad daylight are mostly restricted to fiction like anime, films and TV.
Typically, cats and mice sleep in the day and move about at night. By the way, humans are creatures that do things during daylight. As such, Pokémon that are kept by humans naturally adjust to being awake during the day.
You'll notice this with Pokémon that live in the zoo, but Pokémon who have adjusted to daylight hours sleep shrewdly at night. This is because within the habitat of their cage or a Poké Ball, they can rest without having to fear being attacked by predators. However, for those Pokémon who aren't in a Poké Ball, the night is naturally a dangerous time.
After all, the night is their active period.
Pikachu are a Pokémon that is nocturnal by instinct. As such, the night brought anxiety. As long as he stayed out of the Poké Ball, Pikachu had trouble sleeping at night. On the fairly safe grounds of Professor Oak's laboratory, he'd slept in the day. But since travelling out on this adventure, he'd had no time to sleep. While he was being treated at the Pokémon Center he had been put under with anaesthesia, but that was a sleep to relieve his pain... Not a restful sleep. Refusing to enter his Poké Ball at night... was actually pretty tough.
However, instinct is instinct... and when night fell Pikachu's senses sharpened, the moment he felt an unusual presence his body began moving.
Ksh!
The bushes shook slightly.
Something was watching from the bushes.
Pikachu took a defensive stance.
However, he breathed out with a “Chuu...” and relaxed.
There was something familiar about whatever was in the bushes.
Gsh!
The thing in the bushes moved quickly.
The moonlight revealed a yellow Pokémon identical to Pikachu.
There's nothing strange about it looking like Pikachu. After all, the Pokémon was a wild Pikachu.
Additionally, the wild Pikachu had an alluring scent unfamiliar to Pikachu.
It was a female wild Pikachu.
With the exception of the Pikachu raised at the Oak Laboratory and the various Pikachu kept for the Pokémon Center's backup generator, he had never seen another Pikachu. In fact, his upbringing had kept him separated from most other Pokémon. Starter Pokémon given to aspiring Pokémon trainers are typically kept separate from other people and Pokémon as much as possible to avoid any major influences to make it easier for them to become used to their brand new owners.
Amidst the chaos of Team Rocket's raid, he didn't have time to pal around with any of his fellow Pikachu. And even if he had, they were also tamed Pokémon. It was a great surprise to see a real wild Pikachu now.
“Pikachu.” Pikachu called out to say... Wait... to stop the wild Pikachu from leaving.
The wild Pikachu stopped and turned around.
... Are you really a Pikachu?...
Pikachu asked.
The wild Pikachu didn't reply.
Pikachu wasn't sure if she even understood his words.
But the wild Pikachu stayed there, looking at him.
Pikachu was pleased.
... I don't have any bad intentions...
Pikachu rushed up to the wild Pikachu.
The sweet scent of the wild Pikachu was breathtaking.
Without really thinking why, Pikachu timidly held out one of his front paws.
When humans introduce themselves to one another, they often do so with something called a handshake.
The wild Pikachu glanced at Pikachu's paw.
The next moment, chomp! She bit Pikachu's paw.
Then her hair stood on end intimidatingly.
... Don't touch me... she seemed to be saying.
Pikachu stood paralysed, unable to counter attack or even say pika.
... Why...
Chuu! An aggressive growl came from another bush.
Another wild Pikachu appeared from the bushes.
It had lived a life running around fields and forests, its fur was worn out and its withered body was covered in scars.
To a human, Ash's Pikachu would be more attractive, cooler and cuter looking.
However...
A wild female Pikachu is different.
The female Pikachu ran over to the withered Pikachu and nuzzled him.
The withered Pikachu cried sharply.
... Domesticated Pokémon... hate... go away...
The female Pikachu also cried.
... Hate... scary... go away...
Pikachu didn't really understand the words of the wild Pokémon.
It was akin to a human listening to someone speak in a foreign language.
But he managed to get the gist of it.
Wild Pikachu and domesticated Pikachu are different... is what they meant.
They hate domesticated Pikachu... is what they meant. They're afraid... is what they meant. And also, that he should leave this forest... is what they wanted to say...
The male and female wild Pikachu rubbed their cheeks together, yet they maintained a cautious posture as they backed away slowly from Pikachu who was still frozen in place.
Then once they reached what they judged as a safe distance, they turned their backs and vanished off into the bushes.
Eventually, from far away in the bushes, the two Pikachu let out song like cries as they frolicked.
The remaining Pikachu stood isolated.
Pikachu looked up at the night sky, and whispered quietly at the moon peeking through the tree branches.
“Pika.”
The moon didn't answer.
Even so, Pikachu looked up at the moon.
Eventually he heard a creeping sound beside him.
By his side was the Caterpie Ash had caught.
Under normal circumstances, Pikachu would have noticed Caterpie's approach sooner.
But he hadn't noticed at all.
Pikachu was simply that out of it.
The shock of the wild Pikachu's behaviour had thrown him that much.
“Catercatercater.”
Caterpie had said something to Pikachu.
“Pika?”
Pikachu replied.
Neither of them were able to fully understand what the other was saying.
But Pikachu felt that it was easier to understand what the caught Caterpie was saying than the wild Pikachu.
“Catercatercater.”
Caterpie was doing his best to articulate himself.
“Pikapikapika.”
Pikachu also did his best to give a reply.
The two Pokémon were both bound to the unreliable seeming youth Ash as their trainer.
And it was just the two of them for now... If things were to go well, Pikachu and Caterpie would be relying on each other from now on.
Even if they couldn't understand each others words, they were both saying the same thing.
... Well partner... We catter chu our best...
He was curious about life in the wild... But he'll have to settle for this.
Pikachu and Caterpie stared at the moon together.
Then it occurred. They saw the silhouette of a Pokémon flutter past the moon, leaving a silver trail in its wake.
It was a butterfly like Pokémon known as Butterfree.
Butterfree was a species of butterfly Pokémon that evolved from the worm Pokémon Caterpie.
“Catercatercatercater!”
Caterpie cried in excitement. He was incredibly pleased.
Pikachu had no idea that Butterfree was the form Caterpie took after evolution.
But he could tell that seeing the Butterfree had put Caterpie in high spirits.
Pikachu also became happy for no real reason as he replied to Caterpie.
“Pikapikapika.”
“Catercatercatercater!”
“Pikapikapika.”
Caterpie and Pikachu continued their conversation late into the night.
The topic of their conversation wasn't really clear to either of the Pokémon, Pikachu or Caterpie. But there was one thing they both understood.
The pair of them were friends. As long as that much was clear, even if they had no idea what the other was saying, their conversation was enjoyable.
Whether with humans or Pokémon, conversation is perhaps something anyone can enjoy.
Even when none of the words make any sense, it's possible to enjoy yourself.
***
“Kyaaah!”
The next morning began with a scream from Misty.
“Woah, what's up, buttercup?”
Ash leapt to his feet.
“Don't call me buttercup, my name's Misty, get the bug off!”
“You're the one who won't bugger off.”
“Don't you bugger off without your stupid bug!”
With the misunderstanding of meaning between them, Ash came to understand once he looked over at Misty.
Caterpie had snuggled into Misty's sleeping bag and was sleeping right next to her face. But Caterpie was the only one sleeping, Misty was paralysed in fear of the Caterpie lying in front of her eyes. Only her mouth could move.
“Why is Caterpie sleeping with me? Bloody molester, pervert Pokémon.”
Even if she asked why, it's doubtful that even Caterpie would have a real answer.
Perhaps having enjoyed his conversation with Pikachu, he got somewhat carried away before finally going to sleep, and he may have decided that snuggling up with the more delicate Misty was preferable to Ash.
However, if it had been the adorable to girls Pikachu who had done this, she'd think nothing of it... it was a reaction borne of fear.
Misty's barbed insults pierced like arrows.
Being hit with words from “hate” to “gross” was something he was getting used to, but being called a “molester” or “pervert Pokémon” was just crossing the line.
Even if he didn't know the meaning of the words, their intonation stabbed at him.
“Pokémon should act like Pokémon and sleep in their Poké Balls!”
The strength behind her words made even Pikachu lower his head in shame.
Caterpie slowly crawled out from Misty's sleeping bag.
He went over to the Poké Ball sitting next to Ash's bag, head still hung in shame as he went inside.
Ash knocked on the Poké Ball in a panic.
“Caterpie, are you okay?”
No response came from the Poké Ball.
Ash lost his temper at Misty.
“You went too far. You really hurt his feelings. What if he never comes back out of there again?”
“Eh?”
Misty agreed that she maybe went a little far. But...
“Apologise to Caterpie! Say sorry to him!”
Having Ash shout at her without even giving her a moment set her off again.
“Even if I were to apologise to Caterpie, I still wouldn't forgive you. It's your lack of discipline that lead to this in the first place. Trainers are responsible for the actions of their Pokémon.”
“Ugh...”
Ash faltered. He'd never win against Misty with words.
Ash whispered to the Poké Ball.
“Caterpie, we'll get one over on her someday.”
But there was no response from the Poké Ball.
Nothing could be heard even if he tried shaking it.
“Not good... I hope he hasn't lost his self confidence.”
Then it happened.
Plop... Something fell on Ash's head.
“Huh?”
“Eeew, it's poop... Stay away from me.”
Misty raised a scream.
It was bird Pokémon poop.
Above the trees was a bird Pokémon with a fairly relieved expression on its face.
“Uuugh. At the worst possible moment... What the hell is that thing!?”
Ash pointed the Pokédex at the bird Pokémon.
“The bird Pokémon, Pidgeotto... The evolved form of the tiny bird Pokémon Pidgey... It is much more aggressive than Pidgey, but not as violent as Spearow, they are highly recommended Pokémon for beginners... It is typically around one meter in size... However their size may vary...”
“One meter, huh.”
Ash craned his neck. It looked too small to be a meter in size. He wasn't even convinced that its wingspan would reach a whole meter.
“Maybe is hasn't been raised well... Oh well, if it's perfect for beginners, then I'm not just gonna let it pass me by.”
Ash pulled an empty Poké Ball from his bag.
“I'll get it.”
“Idiot, even if it isn't the finest specimen, it's a Pidgeotto. The basis behind catching any Pokémon is to weaken it with your own Pokémon first.”
Misty spoke with arrogance.
“I know that.”
“The only reason you managed to catch Caterpie is because that Caterpie of yours was weak. Just so you know.”
This was simply Misty's own way of trying to give Ash some friendly advice.
... She's badmouthing my Caterpie again...
Ash put his poop covered face up close to Misty's and spoke.
“Just watch me!”
“I don't want to watch! Not with that on your face.”
Misty shoved Ash away with both hands.
Ash really lost his cool and turned away.
“Alright, Misty, I'll make you gasp in awe. I'll get that Pidgeotto using my Caterpie.”
Ash tightly gripped the Poké Ball containing Caterpie and threw it.
“Go! Caterpie!”
“Aah.”
“Pii!”
He heard Misty's scream and Pikachu's cry. Misty's voice was different to her familiar scream though. Rather than a cry of fear, it was more of a panic in the face of danger. Pikachu's cry indicated concern.
Ash puffed his chest out proudly.
“See, you're gasping already.”
Pashing! Misty slapped him with her open palm.
“Ah... Was I the one gasping in awe?”
“This isn't the time for your nonsense? There's no way a bug Pokémon is going to win a fight with a bird Pokémon that eats bugs.”
Ash gulped.
He looked over to where Caterpie's Poké Ball went.
Beyond the Poké Ball lying there, Caterpie was fleeing the pursuing Pidgeotto.
Against Pidgeotto's swooping attacks and sudden climbs, Caterpie was completely helpless.
He could only run and hide along the ground's surface.
“Hurry and call it back! Your Caterpie!”
Misty shouted.
“Yeah, good idea.”
Coming to his senses, Ash rushed for Caterpie's Poké Ball.
“Return! Caterpie!”
But Pidgeotto's swooping attack was swift.
“Protect yourself! Caterpie!”
Moments before becoming a snack within Pidgeotto's beak, Caterpie curled himself up like a necklace.
Then he returned to his ball barely avoiding the beak.
“Pikachu!”
Pikachu shouted as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Pikachu, you wanna fight?”
Ash asked.
He didn't need to though.
This was the opponent who had tormented Caterpie.
Pikachu glared at the Pidgeotto.
The electrical pouches in his cheeks swelled and his tail stood on end.
Lightning ran through the forest.
“Amazing.” Ash murmured.
“That's done it.” Misty let out something resembling a sigh.
It was the electric shock that had caused the huge explosion at the Pokémon Center the night before last.
Pikachu's electrical energy had restored itself last night, despite the fact he spent most of the night awake talking to Caterpie.
Pidgeotto was bathed in lightning and collapsed unconscious.
“Pika pika.”
Pikachu pointed a finger at Pidgeotto as if to say to get it now.
“Y-yeah... Now's the time.”
Ash threw a Poké Ball, somewhat flustered.
Pidgeotto's body was sucked into the Poké Ball and eventually the ball stopped moving.
The joy Ash felt yesterday returned.
“Pidgeotto. Gotcha.”
He struck a pose and smiled broadly.
“I did it. My second capture.”
“And there's something else you're getting seconds of today.” Misty said.
“Eh?”
Pashing, Misty slapped him.
“Ow! You hit me again.”
“Yes, I hit you. And I'll keep on hitting you. Are you even taking this whole Pokémon Trainer thing seriously at all?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then you should learn the basics. Pokémon type compatibility is important. Using a bug Pokémon against a bird Pokémon... that's just downright stupid. You need to look at things from your Pokémon's perspective... Right, Pikachu?”
With Misty's sudden question, Pikachu's only response was to nod. Ash had no words to reply.
Misty continued overbearingly.
“Just liking Pokémon doesn't make you qualified to become a trainer. This isn't a game that kids should be playing.”
That's when it happened.
“Indeed. It isn't a game.” A woman's kind voice said.
“It's serious business after all.” A handsome man's voice came from somewhere.
Kaboom. Kaboom. Rainbow coloured smoke bombs went off.
“What the?” Ash said.
“What's going on?” Asked Misty.
A pair of silhouettes could be seen through the smoke.
“No matter whatever questions you ask, the answer you'll receive is the world's pity.”
The pair spoke in perfect sync.
“To protect the world from devastation.” Jessie said.
“To unite all peoples within our nation.” James said.
“To denounce the evils of truth and love.” Jessie was in top form.
“To extend our reach to the stars above. ” James added.
“Jessie.” Jessie winked as she introduced herself.
“James.” James said as he smelt the rose in his hand.
“Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light...” Jessie struck a pose.
“Surrender now or prepare to fight.” James took his own pose.
Right at the end Meowth made his appearance.
“That's right.”
“You guys again, what now?” Ash asked.
“No matter whatever questions you ask” Jessie responded.
“the answer you'll receive is the world's pity.” James finished.
“Stop right there, nya!” Meowth scratched Jessie and James's faces.
“Are you planning to do our entrance scene all over again, nya?”
“Oh, right, we're wasting time.”
“If this were a novel, we'd be wasting pages.”
“The author is cutting corners, nya.”
“On that topic...” Jessie said.
I'm not sure how this qualifies as the same topic, but Jessie continued on.
“We have no business with you twerpy lovebirds.”
“Our business is with that Pikachu.”
James pointed at Pikachu as he spoke.
Ash stepped in between them as if to protect Pikachu from James's finger.
“If you want a Pikachu, there's plenty of other Pikachu you could be going after.”
“But what we want is, quite specifically, that Pikachu.” It was Jessie's turn to point at Pikachu this time.
“Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to point at people?” Ash said.
“Mother? Mama? Mummy, I wish I could've...” Jessie suddenly murmured.
“Parents are never supportive when you need them.” James cried.
“I don't even remember a single word my parents ever told me, nya.” Meowth stated matter of factly.
“We don't need to hear about your parental issues.” Misty shouted.
“Let's get back to the point!” Misty's angry outburst brought everyone back to their senses.
“Allow us to explain, Mr. Holmes.” Jessie said.
“My name's Ash.” Ash muttered.
“Allow us to explain, Mr. Poirot.” James said.
“This isn't going anywhere!” Misty looked as if she was about to explode, her hair standing on end.
“Sorry, sorry.” Jessie apologised.
“Enough with apologies. Get to the point, nya.” An irritated Meowth pointed his sharpened claws as Jessie and James.
“I'll cut straight to the chase then.” James began speaking.
“We, Team Rocket, seek out rare Pokémon specimens. And that Pikachu of yours may just fit the bill.”
And this time, Meowth also pointed at Pikachu alongside the other two.
“My Pikachu is a rare Pokémon?” Ash asked.
“No ordinary Pikachu could trigger an explosion like that one the other day. Therefore it can be deduced that it is not ordinary. Elementary, my dear...”
Jessie was planning to call him my dear Watson, but the shining sharp claws of the Meowth next to her told her to drop it.
“Ah, is this the part where Holmes explains things to Watson?” James clearly didn't know when to drop these things...
“Cut it out, nya.” Meowth's claws slashed his face.
“Anyway, give us the Pikachu and we'll leave you be.” James said as he applied pressure to his face.
“You think I'll just hand him over?” Ash checked on Pikachu's condition.
Pikachu was still tired from the large discharge from earlier.
“We didn't think so, but I figured we'd ask to offer the world's pity.” James said.
“There's no more pity now that we've asked though.” Jessie pulled out a Poké Ball.
“Jessie and James, travelling the path of Pokémon together...” James also pulled out a Poké Ball.
“This is obviously now a Pokémon battle, nya.” Meowth pulled out a folding fan with a picture of a coin on it and began waving it.
Jessie and James's Poké Balls burst, and the Pokémon Koffing and Ekans leapt out. The same ones who had been used at the Pokémon Center.
“Two against one is unfair.” Ash shouted.
“The word unfair doesn't exist in the villainous dictionary of truth and love.” Jessie smirked.
“Then your dictionary is no good.” It's impossible to say how serious Ash's statement was.
“No good suits us fine... We're villains.” James replied completely seriously.
“Cut the crap, you should use two Pokémon as well Ash.” Misty said with irritation.
“But the rules of Pokémon say you can only use one.” Ash replied to Misty's exasperation.
“Are you stupid? Seriously? You think the rules apply to people like them? At this rate, both Pikachu and Caterpie are going to be stolen from you.”
“How about we just take care of our opponent and finish this while they're still arguing?” Jessie whispered to James.
“Let's finish this.” James nodded.
“Sludge attack!” James shouted, and Koffing suddenly spat sludge at Pikachu.
The stickiness in his eyes blinded him.
“The battle hasn't even started yet, how could you...” Ash's protests fell upon deaf ears.
Both exhausted and blinded, Pikachu was in no state to battle.
“I told you so.” Misty said, beginning to get really irritated.
At this point she was tempted to try sending out her own Pokémon instead... But in the middle of a waterless forest, Misty wouldn't be able to expect much from the water Pokémon she was carrying.
Ash picked up Pikachu and handed him to Misty.
“Look after Pikachu. I'll handle this with my other two.”
Despite his words, his freshly caught Pidgeotto and Caterpie had just fought.
But he had nothing else he could rely on.
“Pidgeotto. I'm counting on you. I choose you!”
Ash threw the Poké Ball.
The Pidgeotto he had just caught leapt from the Poké Ball.
After being caught in a Poké Ball, Pokémon typically became allies of their new master. And Pidgeotto was no exception.
“Pidgeotto!”
With a sharp cry, Pidgeotto boldly charged Ekans and Koffing.
It continually swooped and climbed, attacking Ekans and Koffing with its beak, but it was still facing two opponents. If it focused on one opponent, the other would come around behind it. It wasn't some kind of super Pidgeotto that could overcome the disadvantage of two against one.
The situation was wearing it down and leaving it on the defensive.
“Two against one is unfair no matter how you look at it!”
Ash instinctively rushed towards Jessie and James.
“Children are no match for an adult.” Jessie spoke with pity.
“We'd rather not pick on little kids.” James stated, as he held back the flailing Ash with a single hand against his head.
No matter how hard Ash swung his arms, he couldn't reach James.
“Fight me! C'mon, fight.” Ash could do naught but shout.
“We told you you're no match for us...!” James flicked Ash in the forehead with his finger.
Misty's slaps were enough to knock Ash over. James's forehead flick sent him rolling like a ball.
“Come now, just hand over Pikachu. We're clearly winning the Pokémon battle.” Jessie smiled.
Pikachu squirmed in Misty's arms as if to say “Let me fight!”
Although it was clear Pikachu had no chance of winning in his blinded state.
That only left Caterpie...
However, Ash had caught Caterpie without even having a Pokémon battle... Against Pidgeotto, all Caterpie could do was run, there was no chance he could win this fight. Sending a Pokémon into a fight you know they'll lose is just being cruel, isn't it?
But Caterpie was all he had left.
Ash whispered to Caterpie's Poké Ball.
“You've all I've got left. You're our only hope.”
Ash threw the ball carrying his prayers.
“Go! Caterpie!”
Caterpie leapt out from inside the Poké Ball.
“Whanya? That insect ain't got a chance of winning nya.” Meowth laughed.
“Bugs can bugger off...” Jessie spoke the same line Misty did earlier.
“Seeing that larva makes me break out in laughter.” James broke into a huge laugh.
Ash and Misty felt frustrated. Even Pikachu probably felt the same.
“Pidgeooo~n.” There's no way a Caterpie that'd normally be a snack could win... Pidgeotto cried sorrowfully.
But Caterpie was the most frustrated of all.
Even so, Caterpie faced Ekans and Koffing without showing his fear.
“Wow... What a reckless little worm.” Jessie was surprised.
“This is ridiculous.” James muttered.
“What a guy.” Meowth shrugged.
They had to admire Caterpie's courage.
However, they'd still show no mercy.
Caterpie took a stance and began to spew something.
Shhhhhhhh...
It was a white thread.
Caterpie spat his thread at Koffing and Ekans at full force.
“Koff?”
“Shekans?”
What is this? They had no time to even ponder that question.
In an instant, Koffing and Ekans were unable to move, wrapped up and rolling around like balls of thread.
“Nyo way... It's Meowth's turn now.”
Meowth stood in front of Caterpie.
Although it wasn't long until he was a ball of thread too.
Upon seeing the three balls of thread known as Koffing, Ekans and Meowth, Jessie and James looked to each other.
“Maybe we should just let him off easy this time.” Jessie said to James.
“Right, it's not nice to pick on kids. Oh look, we've got three hacky sacks here.” James pointed to the three balls.
“That sure takes me back. How about we play some hacky sack then?” Jessie suggested to James.
“Let's do that. Yes, let's do that.”
Jessie and James picked up the three balls, then ran off. In other words, you could say they fled.
“But, it has to be said... This suuuuuucks!”
The pair's voices echoed through the forest.
Ash rushed over to Caterpie who had stopped spewing his thread.
“You're amazing. Not even Misty can keep hating on you after that. ... Right?”
“I guess...”
Ash drew specific attention to Misty.
Her hatred of bugs wasn't so easily overcome. Even so, she had to acknowledge Caterpie's efforts.
And at least some of the credit belonged to Ash, the Pokémon trainer who'd been able to bring Caterpie to this point. ... As much as she hated to admit it...
Having noticed Misty's feelings, Caterpie's eyes shone with a smile.
The sludge in his eyes having been wiped away by Ash, Pikachu's eyes shone too.
“Pidgeo~” Pidgeotto cried from the treetops as if to say “Not bad, I guess.”
But these good vibes didn't last for long.
Shhhhhh...
The sound of thread.
Having briefly stopped, Caterpie began to spit his thread again.
“Caterpie, it's okay stop now.”
No matter how many times Ash told him, the thread didn't stop.
The thread had rapidly enveloped Caterpie.
“What's going on? Caterpie.”
Ash pointed the Pokédex at Caterpie.
“The worm Pokémon, Caterpie, envelops itself in thread when it is beginning its evolution.”
The Pokédex provided this answer.
“The start of evolution...”
The thread wrapped around Caterpie's body became green and hardened.
Then, in the blink of an eye, there was a different Pokémon with a green shell there.
The Pokédex explained.
“Metapod... The cocoon Pokémon. The evolved form of Caterpie. Out of all known Pokémon species, it has the most rapid evolution. It does not move much until its next evolution. Despite its hard exterior, its innards are soft, so it cannot withstand powerful attacks and should be handled with caution.”
He was unable to move or even speak. It was hard to say whether in handling him with care whether he should go back into the Poké Ball or not.
Ash whispered.
“Right, you'll evolve again soon if I take care of you. Metapod... I'm looking forward to it.”
Ash hugged the immobile Metapod.
Metapod's eyes were the only part of him still recognisable as Caterpie.
Ash walked carrying Metapod on his shoulder.
Looking upon Ash's back, a thought passed through Misty's mind.
... This guy really does love Pokémon... Ash may really have what it takes after all...
However, a strange sound drove those thoughts away.
The sound of something winged. But it wasn't the wings of a bird.
They were rapidly beating wings. It sounded almost like a high speed motor...
Ash and Misty then caught a glimpse of them passing by.
The Pokédex suddenly issued a warning.
“Beware the poison bee Pokémon, Beedrill... It stings with the poison barb on its tail. Its front legs have another two barbs. They often attack in groups and are highly dangerous.”
“Beedrill? Highly dangerous? Alright, I'm gonna catch one.”
Ash was in high spirits.
…! I guess he really is just a frivolous idiot... Misty hung her head.
“Anyway, I hate being in this creepy forest! Let's just get out of here!”
Misty increased her pace as if to drag Ash along with her.
However, the Viridian Forest only gets deeper from here.
(To be continued in chapter 6)
Chapter 5 appendix
(... If you're in a hurry, feel free to skip ahead to chapter 6. ... However, there may be some important information written here that nobody has ever seen before.)
＜Secret lecture... Regarding Pokémon evolution...＞
Head of the Shinkar Darwin Theory of Evolution Supportive Committee
Professor Mendel Wallace
Note #1) The Theory of Evolution Supportive Committee is a group of scholars who believe in Darwin's theory of evolution.
According to Darwin's theory of evolution, Pokémon are creatures that should not exist.
However, as Pokémon do exist, this poses a problem to scholars who believe in Darwin's evolutionary theory.
Various theories denying the existence of Pokémon have been brought up, but are largely ignored and considered insane ramblings among modern society.
When things are shown to exist they are widely accepted as fact, but in the world of scholars, this isn't always the case. There are certain extremists among Darwinists who claim that to protect the theory of evolution... Pokémon must be exterminated.
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “The word evolution is to be used for the eternally continuing evolution of creatures upon this earth for over 2 million years, not a word for Pokémon transformations.”
(Members of Audience) “Yeah, that's right!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “For example, the evolution of Caterpie into Metapod is like the transformation of a caterpillar into a cocoon before becoming a butterfly, the proper term for this process among animals is metamorphosis.”
(Members of Audience) “No objections!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “When an egg hatches into a tadpole that eventually becomes a frog, people don't call that evolution. However, what is known as evolution among Pokémon isn't always a simple metamorphosis.”
(Members of Audience) “Yeah, that's right!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: There is too much that is unknown about what is known as Pokémon evolution. For example, the evolved form of Pikachu, Raichu, it is uncertain whether it retains memories of its time as a Pikachu. By that same token, it's impossible to ask whether a frog retains memories of its time at a tadpole... Put simply, you cannot know a frog's thoughts unless you can ask a frog, just as you cannot know a Raichu's thoughts without being able to ask a Raichu.”
(Members of Audience) “No objections!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “Now the maintained resemblance between Pikachu and Raichu is one thing, but despite living in the same ocean habitat, you'd be hard pressed to say that the fish Pokémon Magikarp in any way resembles its evolved form, the atrocious Pokémon Gyarados. Additionally, it would also be difficult to say that a tadpole in any way resembles a frog... At least that much can be said. Other than Pokémon, at least to the best of my knowledge, no creature retains memories of previous evolutionary forms.
(Members of Audience) “Yeah, that's right!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “Is it even right for us to acknowledge such mysterious creatures as living beings? We of the Shinkar Darwin Theory of Evolution Supportive Committee feel that neither the word evolution or the word metamorphosis should be used in relation to Pokémon.”
(All Present) “No objections!”
Mr. Mendel Wallace: “No, I would go as far as to say that the mere existence of Pokémon in this world, defying all logic in the theory of evolution, causes problems for our views. ... I say that Pokémon evolution should be referred to by a different name. ... Evolution is not a word to be used for these creatures who ought not exist.”
(All Present) “Yeeaaah!”
An excerpt from a taped recording of a Shinkar Darwin Theory of Evolution Supportive Committee secret rally
Note #2) The general public care little for how the scientific community refer to Pokémon evolution. But it is clear that the phenomenon actually exists... it was simply a case where the word evolution made the concept easy to comprehend and eventually came into everyday usage. Research into the possible connection between evolution as defined in the theory of evolution and the Pokémon phenomenon known as evolution is ongoing.
An excerpt from the memos of Pokémon Analyst Bill Sonezaki
Translation Notes:
• "Bugs bug me", a sentence in English playing off the meaning of bug as "insect" and "irritate" which is an ideal for translating the similar Japanese pun "mushi wa mushi" (虫は無視), meaning "I ignore bugs".
• "A vicious bicycle". Misty originally told Ash that he should feel responsible for her bike (自転車の責任、感じてんの... Jitensha no sekinin, kanjitenno...) and Ash responded with the made up word "kanjitensha" (かんじてんしゃ), a portmanteau of feel (kanjite) and bike (jitensha).
• "What's up, buttercup?" in Japanese Ash says "Nanda nanda nanda, danna" (なんだなんだなんだ、だんな), "Nanda" meaning "What?" and "Danna" being something like "sir", "boss" or a way for a wife to address her husband. Danna (だんな) is nanda (なんだ) written backwards, to try and go for something similar I went with rhyming "what's up" with "buttercup".
• "Bug off", once again playing on "bug" and "ignore". There's a lot of that in this chapter.
• In the original Japanese the references to Holmes and Poirot were references to the fictional detectives Kogorou Akechi (created by Ranpo Edogawa) and Kousuke Kindaichi (created by Seishi Yokomizu), you may be familiar with these names being the inspiration for Detective Conan's Kogorou Mouri and The Kindaichi Case Files' Hajime Kindaichi (intended to be a descendant of Kosuke).
• "Seeing that larva makes me break out in laughter." In Japanese, James said that insect (虫けら mushikera) made him cackle (けらけら kerakera).
• "Hacky sacks", in Japanese James referred to the string wrapped Pokémon as "otedama", which is a totally different game to hacky sack, but the otedama themselves are seemingly pretty similar to a hacky sack.
• "Shinkar Darwin", the word evolution in Japanese is shinka, Darwin is obviously referring to the real life Charles Darwin.