The sky swarmed with Beedrills, their wings a golden blur as they gathered in an angry cloud overhead.
After Ash's Metapod was snatched away, the samurai boy who'd been battling him moments ago bolted like his life depended on it.
"Hey—Raj! You're out traveling too?" Ash called out in surprise as Raj came running toward him.
Before setting out, Ash had once asked Raj why he hadn't begun his journey yet.
They'd grown up together in Pallet Town, and everyone their age usually started traveling by the time they turned ten. To Ash, Raj had always seemed… different.
"There's no time for a reunion!" Raj shouted. "Look up—those Beedrills are going berserk! We need to hide, now, or we're dead!"
Ash glanced upward—and his scalp instantly went numb. The sky was thick with buzzing wings and flashing stingers.
The orange-haired girl lounging nearby screamed. "Beedrills—so many Beedrills! I'm terrified!"
It was Misty, Ash's fiery travel companion. But unlike the anime, this Misty was a little older-looking—early teens with confidence and curves.
In this version of the Pokémon world, people matured fast; ten-year-olds looked and acted closer to sixteen.
"Follow that samurai kid!" Raj barked. "He knows the forest better than anyone!"
Ash didn't need telling twice. He and Misty sprinted after the boy in armor, with Raj right behind them.
They ran until they reached a small wooden cabin deep in the forest—the samurai's base. Once inside, they slammed the door shut.
A few furious Beedrills rammed their stingers through the wood, but the barrier held firm.
Ash paced back and forth, anxious. "My Metapod was taken! What do I do now?"
Raj said nothing. Technically, the Beedrill rampage was his fault, but… what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.
Just then, the familiar system chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Growth Mission Triggered.
As a rising villain in this world, the host must grow stronger without exposing his true nature.
Mission: Help Ash rescue Metapod.
Villain's Code: Even when committing dark deeds, others should still feel grateful to you.
Reward: 1,500 points.]
Raj smirked slightly. A villain everyone thanks… I can work with that.
Misty tried to calm Ash down. "Ash, relax! Going out now will just make the Beedrills angrier. Wait until nightfall—then think of a plan."
But even as she spoke, her hands trembled. Misty hated Bug-type Pokémon, and just imagining the swarm outside made her shudder.
Ash sighed and sank into a corner, clutching Pikachu tightly. "You're right… there's nothing else we can do."
Raj finally spoke. "Beedrills return to their nests to rest after sunset. When night comes, I'll go with you to rescue Metapod."
He wasn't doing this out of kindness. The mission meant points—and Raj also knew how the story went. Ash would eventually find Metapod, it would evolve into Butterfree, and it would save the day using Sleep Powder.
That was Ash for you—always blessed by the script.
Still, this was the perfect opportunity to earn favor with the protagonist and maybe impress Misty while he was at it.
After all, if he was destined to be the strongest villain in this world, wasn't it fitting that beautiful girls surrounded him?
He grinned inwardly. Even Gary Oak gets an entourage of fans. Why shouldn't I?
"Wait, Raj—you're actually going to help me?" Ash's eyes lit up with hope. "But hold on, I thought Professor Oak already gave out all the starter Pokémon. What did you even start with?"
Raj smirked. "You're that curious, huh?"
He pulled out a Poké Ball and tossed it into the air. "Go, Gastly!"
A swirl of mist filled the room, and Gastly materialized—larger and more menacing than before. Its eerie glow filled the cabin, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.
But the ghost's first reaction wasn't to intimidate—it was to float straight toward Misty, eyes turning into pink hearts.
"Ahh! A ghost!" Misty shrieked, nearly leaping onto Ash.
Raj groaned. Seriously? Even my Gastly's a flirt now?
He grabbed the ghost by its smoky face and yanked it back. "Cut it out, Romeo."
Ash laughed nervously. "Raj, that Gastly of yours looks super strong though!"
Raj shrugged but didn't deny it. Compared to Ash's Pikachu, which only had around 40 combat power, his Gastly—now approaching 70—was way ahead of the curve.
The samurai boy beside them stared in awe. "You're from Pallet Town too? Unbelievable. I've battled three trainers from there already, and they all beat me. But your Gastly looks even stronger than theirs…"
He clenched his fists. "I guess it's time I move on. I need to become stronger."
Raj didn't respond. His focus was on the mission—and the 1,500 points waiting for him.
Nightfall
The forest fell silent as darkness settled in. The furious buzzing from before had faded; the Beedrills were finally asleep.
Raj, Ash, and Misty crept through the tall grass beneath the moonlight, moving toward a massive ancient tree deep within Viridian Forest.
Dozens of Metapods hung motionless from the branches above. They would one day emerge as Beedrills—but for now, they were silent cocoons.
Raj crouched low and pointed upward. "Ash—look there. Isn't that your Metapod?"