With the Pokédex's forced cancel function gone, Caterpie successfully evolved.
As the light faded, it transformed into a glossy green, banana-shaped Pokémon.
Its expression became even more vacant than before.
It bore absolutely zero resemblance to the majestic Rayquaza (as Caterpie)(as Caterpie) from that sketch—off by about a hundred thousand miles.
"Metapod, nickname: Rayquaza (as Caterpie).
Hard Shell Pokémon. Its body hardens in response to stimulation.
Pidgeot's favorite snack. Crunchy."
The Pokédex announced automatically.
With no other choice, Ash carefully picked up the immobile Metapod.
Surprisingly heavy.
Even with his impressive arm strength, it felt a bit taxing.
If I can't beat someone later, throwing Pokémon might actually be viable, he mused.
"Metapod… we won't think about Rayquaza (as Caterpie)(as Caterpie) anymore.
But our bright future is still in our hands!"
Ash sighed, eyes welling up with tears.
"Pod… pod!"
Freshly evolved Metapod responded tearfully as well.
Misty: "..."
Why did this scene feel so unsettling?
"…By the way, which bastard ripped out my B button?" Ash muttered.
He examined the Pokédex.
The cut was clean—no excess marks.
Clearly the work of a seasoned professional.
Looking closer, he noticed tiny letters engraved beneath the hollowed-out button slot:
"Be a decent person."
Ash instantly exploded with rage.
Once he found the culprit, he swore he'd smash Metapod straight into their face.
Red: "..."
After packing up, the group continued toward Pewter City.
Viridian Forest was a paradise for Bug-type Pokémon—but after an entire day, aside from Caterpie and Weedle, there was basically nothing else.
Even Ash's hyperactive nature was starting to suffer from aesthetic fatigue.
They pressed on.
Suddenly, Ash noticed a figure charging straight toward him.
Whoosh—slash!!
A blade came down in a vertical strike aimed directly at his head.
A real blade!
Clang!
Ash instinctively raised his arm to block.
The blade snapped cleanly in half upon impact.
"Impossible… such terrifying strength!"
The attacker stumbled backward, gripping the broken weapon, face full of shock.
Ash: "???"
What is this—someone roleplaying a samurai with a plastic sword?
Looking closer, the figure was clad in blood-red armor and wore a fierce-looking helmet.
"Greetings! I am Samurai Boy Jack, training in the powerful and unyielding way of the samurai!"
Ash frowned.
"No, you're Bug Catcher Jack."
If you're wearing tank tops and shorts, at least cover them up before pretending to be a samurai.
Jack: "..."
"Anyway! I'm searching for Trainers from Pallet Town!"
"You're from Pallet Town, right? Battle me!"
Jack shouted dramatically.
"Sure, Bug Catcher," Ash replied enthusiastically.
"I, the ultimate rookie from Pallet Town, accept your challenge!"
"I'M A SAMURAI!" Jack roared angrily, tossing out a Poké Ball.
Red light flashed—
A gray-brown insect Pokémon appeared.
Muscular, lean, with massive horns on its head and a ferocious expression.
"Pinsir.
Not a common Bug-type Pokémon. Very strong.
But the meat is dry and tough—bad for eating."
The Pokédex announced.
Jack: "?"
Why was this Pokédex as passive-aggressive as its Trainer?!
"Then—it's your turn, Pikachu!"
Ash sent out his yellow ace, ranked top three in his team.
"Pika…"
But Pikachu was somehow already behind everyone, having pulled out a full bedding set—pillow, blanket, mattress—decorated with tiny lightning symbols.
"Zzz…"
It had made a bed on the spot and fallen asleep.
Ash: "..."
Pikachu used Slack Off.
"Then—it's you! Pidgey!"
Ash refused to be discouraged and sent out another top-three ace.
"Good choice," Misty praised.
"Flying-types counter Bug-types!"
"Oh, it's a counter?" Ash blinked.
"Then come back, Pidgey."
He recalled it immediately.
Misty: "?"
Did I memorize type matchups wrong… or is this kid just deaf?
Ash then sent out his remaining top-three powerhouse.
"…Metapod?" Jack sneered.
"That thing's just a punching bag."
"Pinsir! Use Guillotine!"
"PIN—SIR!!"
Pinsir charged like a raging bull, dust flying everywhere.
Lowering its head, it pinned Metapod between its massive horns and began crushing.
"Don't lose! Use Harden!" Ash shouted.
Metapod's eyes sharpened.
A metallic sheen spread across its shell as blue defensive light flared.
It hardened.
Crack.
Under the strain, fractures appeared on Pinsir's horn tips instead.
"Damn it—Pinsir, return!"
Jack recalled it in panic.
Those horns were collector's items—damaging them would tank their resale value.
He sent out his second Pokémon.
Green.
Banana-shaped.
Yes.
Another Metapod.
"Then we'll use Harden too!" Jack declared confidently.
In terms of hardness—he feared no one!
A metallic glow lit up his Metapod, even shinier than Ash's.
"Not so fast—Harden again!" Ash shouted back.
"Then we Harden again!"
"Then we'll get even harder!"
"Harden!"
"Harden!"
Misty: "???"
Why did this dialogue suddenly sound… wrong?
Somewhere in her mind, she heard Incineroar and Lycanroc roaring.
The battle dragged on for over an hour.
Both Metapod now gleamed like golden statues—their hardness pushed to the limit.
"Damn it… is this as hard as I get?" Jack gasped.
"Damn it… can I not get harder anymore?" Ash panted.
"Then—use Tackle!" Jack shouted suddenly.
Once you're hard enough, ramming is only natural.
Jack's Metapod turned into a golden tank and slammed forward.
CLANG!!
Sparks flew as metal-on-metal thundered through Viridian Forest.
HP: 0.
CLANG!!
Ash's Metapod answered in kind, charging like another golden tank.
HP: 0.
"Tackle!"
"Then we'll Tackle too!"
Misty: "?"
Watching an hour of Harden was torture enough—
Was she really about to watch another hour of Tackle?
What did I do to deserve this hell?!
After ten rounds of Tackle, both Metapod were still technically at high HP.
Jack finally gasped and sighed in admiration.
"You're amazing… Pallet Town Trainers really are something else."
"Wait—you've met other Pallet Town Trainers?" Ash asked while panting.
"Yeah. Three of them.
One with Squirtle, one with Bulbasaur, one with Charmander."
"Especially the Squirtle Trainer—ridiculously strong."
"Squirtle… Gary? That jerk!" Ash exclaimed.
He remembered Gary saying, years ago, that he wanted a Squirtle when he set off.
"Then who's stronger—me or him?" Ash asked eagerly.
"You?" Jack laughed.
"You can't even beat me. You're weaker than the girl with Bulbasaur!"
"The girl with Bulbasaur…?"
Ash suddenly remembered a girl who used to try playing with him and Gary as kids—
and got mercilessly rejected every time.
Boys play with boys. What are girls even for?
Her name was… Blue? Leaf?
Red: "..."
That name sounded dangerously familiar.
"Hmph! Then I can't lose here!"
Ash flipped his cap backward.
A blazing light ignited in his eyes.
He was going to become a Pokémon Master.
There was no way he'd be stopped by a mere Bug Catcher.
"Metapod—use Thunder Wave!!"
Golden electricity burst forth, wrapping Jack's Metapod completely.
BZZZZT!!
Crackling arcs surged, frying it into a charred husk.
"Beep. Metapod fainted.
Winner: Rayquaza (as Caterpie)(as Caterpie)."
The Pokédex announced.
Jack stared in disbelief.
"That's impossible! In Gen 1 there's no physical or special split—Thunder Wave shouldn't even work!"
"Beep. Times have changed.
Thunder Wave Metapod is not Gen 1."
The Pokédex replied calmly.
Ash nodded.
He didn't understand either—but for once, the Pokédex was on his side.
Jack: "..."