(Yellow knelt down carefully, gently patting her new friend as Ratty shivered beneath her touch.)
(Without thinking, a soft glow formed around her hands.)
(Healing energy seeped into Ratty's wounds, soothing them closed with a warm pulse of light.)
(Yellow blinked in surprise, realizing what she was doing.)
(Her wide eyes turned to Ash, silently.)
(Ash caught her look—but said nothing.)
(He simply gave a small shrug, pretending not to notice for now.)
(Before Yellow could speak, a rustling came from the bushes nearby.)
(Stepping out from between the trees was a boy dressed in mismatched samurai armor—plastic, clearly decorative, but worn with absolute, almost comical seriousness.)
(His gaze was sharp, posture stiff with importance.)
(With a dramatic flourish, he crossed his arms.)
???: "At last! Are either of you the Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town?"
(Ash exhaled, already guessing where this was going.)
Ash: "Yeah... that'd be me."
(The boy unsheathed a wooden sword and pointed it straight at Ash.)
Samurai: "Then I have found you! I, Samurai, hereby challenge you to a Pokémon battle!"
(Yellow yelped, ducking behind Dody, her wide-brimmed hat bobbing awkwardly.)
(Ash sighed, raising a hand and gently pushing the fake sword aside with one finger.)
Ash: "We can battle. But maybe don't go around waving swords at people you might scare someone who actually fights back."
(Samurai blinked, clearly not expecting that reply.)
(He coughed and sheepishly slid the wooden blade back into his belt.)
Samurai: "Ah... Yes. A fair point."
(Determined to regain his composure, he snatched a Poké Ball from his belt.)
Samurai: "Very well then—Go! Pinsir!"
(The red-and-white sphere burst open, revealing a hulking, snarling Pinsir that clacked its jagged pincers hungrily.)
(Ash turned to his shoulder and noticed Pikachu curled up, napping soundly in the crook of his bag.)
(He gently handed the bag to Yellow and pulled a Poké Ball from his belt.)
Ash: "Alright. Your turn to shine—let's go, Pidgey!"
(With a flash, Pidgey emerged, fluttering into the air with a determined chirp.)
Samurai: "Pinsir, Tackle, now!"
(Samurai shouted.)
Ash: "Pidgey, up! Use Tailwind to build speed, then counter with Tackle!"
(As Pinsir lunged forward, Pidgey shot into the sky, wings beating rapidly.)
(A strong gust swirled beneath him, boosting his dive.)
(he collided with Pinsir mid-charge, sending the bug skidding backward through the grass.)
Samurai: "Pinsir! Grab it! Seismic Toss!"
(With a roar, Pinsir lunged again—this time catching Pidgey in its massive horns.)
(It leaped high into the air, then slammed her down with brutal force, sending dust flying in all directions.)
(When the dust cleared, both Pokémon were struggling to stand, panting for breath.)
Ash: "Pidgey, can you go on?"
(Ash called.)
(The tiny bird gave a stubborn nod, fluffing his feathers.)
Ash: "Good. Sand Attack—blind it, then back in the air!"
(With a flick of his wings, a cloud of sand blasted straight into Pinsir's face.)
(The Bug-type shrieked and thrashed blindly.)
Ash: "Now—Steel Wing!"
(Samurai panicked.)
Samurai: "Harden—quickly!"
(Pidgey's wings glimmered silver as he dived.)
(Pinsir's body shimmered, trying to brace—but it wasn't enough.)
(The glowing wings struck true, sending Pinsir tumbling.)
Samurai: "Pinsir, are you alright?!"
(Samurai called into the dust cloud.)
(For a moment, nothing.)
(Then—a heavy thud.)
(Pinsir was down for the count.)
(Samurai clenched his jaw but returned Pinsir to its ball with a nod.)
Samurai "Impressive. But you have only passed the first test. Let's see how you handle my second warrior!"
(With a dramatic flourish, he threw his next Poké Ball.)
(It popped open, revealing...)
(Thunk.)
(A Metapod hit the ground like a dropped rock.)
Samurai: "Now... prepare yourself... for true terror."
(Samurai pointed dramatically.)
Samurai: "Metapod, use Harden!"
(Pidgey glanced back at Ash, unimpressed.)
(his expression practically said: Is this guy serious?)
(Ash just shrugged.)
Ash; "Steel Wing. Gently."
(Too tired to fly, Pidgey waddled forward, lifted one shimmering silver wing, and bonk—Metapod fainted instantly.)
(Samurai stood frozen for a moment, processing the sheer absurdity of what just happened.)
Samurai: "...Oh."
(He returned Metapod in silence.)
(Then, regaining his sense of theater, flung his third and final Poké Ball into the air.)
(From it emerged a Scyther, blades gleaming under the forest light, its sharp wings humming faintly with tension.)
(Now this was a real threat.)
(Pidgey tensed, fully alert now. Ash's gaze sharpened.)
Ash: "Feather Dance, then Sand Attack!"
(With a burst of motion, Pidgey spiraled around Scyther, scattering soft downy feathers that clung to its blades, sapping its strength.)
(Then another flap of wings kicked sand into its eyes.)
Samurai: "Scyther, Focus Energy! Then Quick Attack!"
(The mantis's eyes narrowed despite the sand, its body crackling with contained power.)
(It blurred forward, a green streak slamming into Pidgey with brutal precision.)
(Pidgey tumbled backward, chest heaving.)
Ash: "That's enough, Pidgey."
(Ash said softly, recalling him.)
Ash: "You did amazing."
(He pulled another ball from his belt.)
Ash: "Let's finish this properly—Spearow, let's go!"
(With a flash and a screech, Spearow emerged, feathers bristling, eyes gleaming with fierce energy.)
(Samurai regained his confident stance.)
Samurai: "Your first Pokémon has fallen. Now the rest shall follow! Scyther, Quick Attack again!"
Ash: "Spearow—Double Team, then airborne!"
(As Scyther shot forward, Spearow split into shimmering copies, zipping upward, scattering like birds startled from the brush.)
(Scyther skidded to a stop, eyes darting wildly, trying to find the real one.)
Samurai: "Fury Cutter! Cut through them all!"
(Samurai ordered.)
Ash: "Spearow, Peck—strike and vanish! Don't give him a target!"
(With brutal efficiency, Spearow dove in from above, striking from odd angles and vanishing before Scyther could retaliate.)
(Blow after blow chipped away at the mantis's strength.)
(Ash's eyes narrowed.)
Ash: "Now. Steel Wing!"
(Spearow's wings flashed metallic silver as he dove like a spear, cutting through the illusions.)
(Scyther spotted him—but far too late.)
(WHAM....)
(Scyther hit the dirt hard.)
(This time, it didn't get up.)
(Silence hung over the clearing.)
(Samurai stared, wide-eyed, before slowly lowering his head.)
Samurai: "You... you are truly a worthy opponent. Just like the others from Pallet Town."
(Ash walked forward and offered his hand.)
Ash: "That was a great battle. Where'd you get a Scyther, anyway?"
(Samurai glanced up, a small smile breaking through his defeated posture.)
Samurai: "Further north. A wild group nests in the deeper forest. But I must warn you—facing them all at once would be... unwise."
(Ash nodded.)
Ash: "Good to know. Thanks for the tip."
(He grasped Samurai's hand firmly.)
Ash: "Until we meet again."
(Samurai straightened up, once more assuming his theatrical stance.)
Samurai: "Indeed. Let us both grow stronger. May fate cross our blades once more!"
(And with that, he turned and disappeared into the trees.)
(Ash smiled faintly as he looked down at his Poké Balls.)
Ash: "Looks like we've got our next adventure."
[To Be Continued...]