Pokémon : The Perfect Path

Kanto Region - Viridian Forest

The forest was still and heavy with the lingering tension of their earlier encounter. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the canopy, illuminating the disturbed undergrowth where the Beedrill swarm had rampaged. Leaves and branches lay scattered across the ground, some still twitching from the recent chaos. The air carried a faint hum, the distant buzz of Bug-types moving about, though none as aggressive as before.

Ash, Misty, Velkris, and Samurai walked alongside Professor Light, retracing the path back to his camp. The once serene Viridian Forest now seemed worn and battered—the trees scarred with slashes from the frenzied Beedrill, and the earth torn where Pokémon had fled in terror. The occasional rustling in the bushes kept Misty on edge, her grip tightening around her arms as she kept glancing over her shoulder.

"I swear, I am never coming back here," Misty groaned. "This place is crawling with creepy bugs!"

"They're not creepy," Samurai countered, adjusting his armor. "Bug Pokémon are noble warriors."

Misty shot him an incredulous look. "Oh sure, so noble that they attack people the moment they hear a leaf rustle in the wrong way!"

Samurai folded his arms. "They only attack when provoked. Their instincts demand it. Survival is a battle, and they fight for their place in the world."

Misty rolled her eyes. "Yeah, real poetic. I'll take a Water Pokémon over one of your noble warriors any day."

Samurai, walking with his arms folded, firmly said. "You look down on Bug Pokémon, but you don't understand them. They are warriors in their own right—fast, adaptable, and relentless. You may not respect them, but you should fear them."

Samurai then calmly said, "A true warrior doesn't blame a blade for cutting him. The forest is their home. If they attack, it's because something has disturbed their world."

Misty frowned. "And let me guess—that's our fault?"

Samurai nodded slightly. "Humans cause imbalance. When that happens, the strong rise to fight back."

Velkris sighed. "He's got a point. We know something made the Beedrill aggressive. If these smugglers have been at this for a while, the Pokémon here are probably on edge."

Misty pursed her lips but didn't argue further.

Velkris half-listened to their exchange and responded, But his thoughts were wandering elsewhere. The forest's damage was evidence of how much destruction could be caused by a single well-placed attack—or in this case, a single well-placed pheromone. The smugglers had weaponized nature itself.

Ash sighed, staring at the road ahead. "Man, Gary's probably already at Pewter City by now." He kicked a stray pebble, watching as it bounced down the dirt path. "He's gonna get his first Gym Badge way before us."

Velkris glanced at him. "What's the rush?"

Ash frowned. "What do you mean, 'What's the rush'? The whole point of a Pokémon journey is to get stronger! If I fall behind, Gary's just gonna keep rubbing it in my face."

Velkris gave a thoughtful nod. "That's true. But you're not racing him, Ash. You're on your journey, not his. The path matters just as much as the destination."

Ash didn't look entirely convinced. "Still… I just don't wanna be last."

"Trust me," Velkris said, "We're going to have plenty of adventures before reaching Pewter. You'll get your chance to prove yourself."

Ash seemed to consider this for a moment, then huffed. "Yeah, well, I still wanna get there soon. No way am I letting Gary get too far ahead!"

They continued walking, eventually arriving at the clearing where Professor Light's "tent" was supposed to be. Except—it wasn't a tent.

Velkris halted, blinking at the sight before him. Instead of a simple setup, a large mobile laboratory—a van outfitted for field research—sat in the middle of the clearing. Or rather, what was left of it. The vehicle was wrecked beyond recognition, its exterior riddled with holes, some burnt, some punctured. The metal siding was dented, entire panels torn apart. The glass windows were shattered, and the doors hung loose from their hinges.

It was a disaster.

Professor Light stared at it, silent for a long moment before finally speaking. His voice remained calm, yet there was an unmistakable weight to his words.

"Well," he said, almost idly. "That was supposed to be my home on the road. I guess I'll have to rethink my travel plans now."

Velkris studied the scene carefully. The damage wasn't just from random Beedrill strikes—this was the result of a prolonged assault. The Beedrill had focused on attacking the van.

Ash stepped forward, surveying the wreckage. "What happened?"

Professor Light exhaled. "I caught them in the act."

Velkris looked over. "The smugglers?"

Professor Light nodded. "They weren't just sneaking around the forest—they were actively collecting Kakuna in large numbers. I found them loading Kakuna into bags, Poké Balls, and cages. They weren't being discreet about it either."

Misty frowned. "Wait—cages? Kakuna don't even move. Why would they need to be locked up?"

"That's what I was wondering," Professor Light admitted. "I tried to confront them, but they were prepared. They threw something at me—something designed to agitate Beedrill. The moment the swarm started stirring, they used the chaos to escape."

Velkris' mind clicked into place. "The pheromone."

Professor Light gave a knowing nod. "Exactly. I barely had time to react before I was surrounded. I thought my lab would hold, but…" He gestured at the destroyed van. "Apparently, I was too optimistic."

Velkris ran a hand through his hair, thinking. These people weren't just poachers—they were organized. If they had access to specialized pheromones that could manipulate Pokémon behavior, then they had serious backing. This wasn't just a group of petty criminals.

"Why Kakuna?" Ash suddenly asked. "Of all the Pokémon in Viridian Forest, why go after Kakuna?"

Velkris crossed his arms. "Kakuna evolve fast. Maybe they're using them for something."

He didn't voice all his thoughts aloud, but his mind was already moving ahead. Could they be experimenting with Beedrill? Training them? Selling them? He knew Giovanni had a Beedrill—one of terrifying strength. Was there a connection? Was someone trying to breed or modify Beedrill for battle?

Or worse—were they researching Mega Evolution?

He shook his head. That was a dangerous line of thought, and he had no proof. No one even talked about Mega Evolution here.

Still, the entire situation unsettled him.

Ash clenched his fists. "We can't just let them get away with this! Those Kakuna—"

Velkris sighed, turning to Ash. "We're not cops, Ash. We don't know who these people are, how many there are, or what they're truly capable of. This isn't our fight."

Ash shot him an incredulous look. "Not our fight?! Velkris, they're hurting Pokémon!"

Misty crossed her arms. "For once, I actually agree with Ash."

Velkris held firm. "Even if we wanted to stop them, what exactly are we going to do? Track down an entire smuggling ring with no leads?"

Ash's frustration was clear. "So we just do nothing?"

Velkris exhaled, looking away. He didn't have an answer that would satisfy them. Deep down, he wasn't okay with it either—but he wasn't the protagonist of some heroic story. He had seen enough isekai stories go wrong, enough disasters strike when people overstepped their limits.

Any day, something could go horribly wrong.

"...Let's just leave it at that," he muttered.

The conversation ended there.

Professor Light let out a deep sigh as he activated his DexCom, a sleek black device with a streamlined interface. A soft hum emitted from it as he accessed a secure network meant for Pokémon researchers and professors. The screen glowed faintly in the dimming light of the forest.

Ash, ever curious, leaned over to get a better look. "What's that?"

Professor Light smirked. "A device linked to the research network. Only professors and qualified researchers have access to it. I might not be a full-fledged professor yet, but I've got enough clearance to use it."

Ash whistled. "Whoa… That's pretty cool."

Light turned back to the group, his expression growing serious again. "Look, I understand that what we just went through wasn't easy. But this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Smuggling, illegal Pokémon trade—it happens more than people like to admit. And it's not just in Viridian Forest."

Ash clenched his fists. "Well, once I get stronger—once I become the Champion—I'll make sure stuff like this never happens again!" His voice carried that same unwavering determination Velkris had already come to associate with him.

Velkris sighed. "That's a noble goal, Ash, but let's focus on getting through the Gym Circuit first before worrying about how to change the world." He gestured vaguely. "One step at a time. Let's deal with what's right in front of us before we start talking about what's happening on the map."

Ash huffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, yeah… but I will make sure of it. One day."

Velkris glanced at him but didn't argue further. Ash's drive was one of his best qualities, even if it was sometimes misplaced.

A beat of silence passed before Velkris exhaled. "I might have been a little too cautious about this whole thing," he admitted. "I mean, I still think jumping into something like this blindly is dangerous, but… I get why you were upset, Ash."

Ash looked over, surprised by the admission. He scratched his cheek. "Well… I guess I was kinda reckless about it too. I don't know anything about these guys, but I acted like we could just charge in and stop them like it was nothing."

Misty folded her arms. "That's a first—you admitting you were rash."

Ash scowled. "Hey! I know when to admit when I overdo it!"

Velkris shook his head with a small chuckle. "Anyway… we should rest for now. We've got a long road ahead, and I doubt this will be the last time we run into something like this."

Professor Light nodded in agreement. "Right. And don't worry—I'll report everything I can about what happened here." He tapped the DexCom screen. "There are people who do handle these kinds of things. We don't have to solve everything ourselves."

Velkris took that as a small comfort. For now, at least, they could move forward.

The red van, battered and riddled with holes from Beedrill stingers, sat silently in the middle of the clearing. The group lingered around it, sitting on fallen logs or leaning against trees, waiting as Professor Light spoke with someone over his communication device. His voice was calm, but his face carried a tense focus. Whoever he was talking to, it wasn't just small talk.

Meanwhile, the group was left with nothing to do.

Velkris had already apologized for being too cautious. Ash had admitted to being too rash. But with nothing more to say, silence settled between them.

Samurai, ever the warrior, finally broke it. "The air is heavy. A warrior's heart must not be weighed down by doubt or regret."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "So... what are you saying?"

Samurai smirked. "We shall battle. We warriors should face each other in combat and let our strength speak instead of words."

Velkris glanced at him, then at the others. Honestly... not a bad idea. After everything that happened, a battle could help clear their minds.

He stood up. "Fine. Let's continue what we started earlier."

Samurai nodded. "Then I shall call forth my strongest. Scyther!"

With a swift motion, Samurai tossed a Poké Ball, and in a flash of white light, his Scyther emerged, its blades gleaming under the forest's dim light. Its eyes locked onto Velkris with sharp focus, wings buzzing in anticipation.

Velkris pulled out his Pokédex, scanning it.

___________________________________

Pokédex Entry -

Pokémon: Scyther

Species: The Mantis Pokémon

Ability: Technician

• Moves with low base power become stronger, allowing Scyther to strike with unexpected force.

Moveset:

Standard Moves:

• Aerial Ace – A fast slash that never misses.

• Quick Attack – A sudden burst of speed to strike first.

• Fury Cutter – Consecutive slashes that grow stronger if used repeatedly.

• Focus Energy – The user sharpens its focus, boosting its chances of landing critical hits.

Egg Moves:

• Razor Wind – A charged attack that unleashes a slicing gust of wind.

___________________________________

He pulled out a Poké Ball. "Alright, Gible. It's your turn."

In a burst of light, Gible materialized, landing on the ground with a confident growl. It stomped once, shaking the dirt beneath it.

Samurai's expression barely changed, but his eyes flickered with interest. "A Dragon Pokémon. This shall be a worthy duel."

Velkris grinned. "Let's see how your Scyther handles it."

"Scyther, Quick Attack!" Samurai commanded.

Scyther shot forward in a blur of green, closing the distance before Gible could react. Its strike landed hard, knocking Gible back. Velkris clenched his fist—Technician was already at work, making that Quick Attack stronger than usual.

Gible shook it off, baring its fangs.

"Gible, Dragon Breath!"

Gible exhaled a powerful blast of blue dragon energy. Scyther twisted in midair, narrowly dodging, then shot forward again.

"Aerial Ace!" Samurai ordered.

Scyther's movement was flawless. It became a streak of silver as it carved through the air, striking Gible across the chest. Gible stumbled, its small body struggling against the force.

Velkris gritted his teeth. That speed is insane. If I don't slow it down, we'll lose before we can land a proper hit.

"Gible, use Sand Tomb!"

Gible slammed its foot down, sending a swirl of sand and dirt around Scyther, trapping it in place. Scyther buzzed its wings aggressively, trying to break free.

Velkris smirked. "Now, Dragon Claw!"

Gible leaped forward, claws glowing with draconic energy. It slashed across Scyther's chest, landing a clean hit.

Samurai barely flinched. "Scyther, Focus Energy."

Scyther closed its eyes, steadying itself. Its breathing sharpened, and when it opened its eyes again, its strikes became more precise—its next attacks would have a higher chance of landing critical hits.

Velkris tensed. That's not good. If it lands a boosted Technician crit, Gible's done.

"Scyther, Fury Cutter!"

Scyther slashed forward, the bug-type energy enhancing its scythe. The first hit wasn't too bad, but Velkris knew it—Fury Cutter got stronger the more it hit in succession. If Samurai chained it properly, Gible wouldn't stand a chance.

Velkris needed an answer—fast.

Then, an idea hit him.

"Gible, Dragon Breath—on the ground!"

Gible turned and fired its breath attack at the dirt beneath it, causing an explosion of dust and debris. A makeshift smokescreen.

Scyther hesitated for a split second, wings buzzing as it lost sight of its target.

Velkris took his chance.

"Gible, Dragon Claw—aim for the wings!"

A shadow darted through the dust—Gible lunged, its claws glowing. It sliced through Scyther's wings, sending the Bug-type crashing to the ground.

Samurai's eyes flickered in surprise.

"Scyther, rise and use Razor wind !" he commanded.

Scyther tried to get up, but its wings were damaged—it couldn't take off.

Velkris didn't hesitate. "Now, Dragon Breath!"

Gible unleashed another blast, striking Scyther dead-on. This time, the impact sent Scyther skidding backward. It struggled to get up, but the damage had been done.

Samurai let out a deep breath, then raised his hand. "Enough. I yield. Your Gible has won."

Gible roared triumphantly, standing tall despite its exhaustion.

Velkris exhaled, a small smirk forming. "That was close."

Samurai recalled his Scyther, nodding with respect. "You fought well. Your Gible is strong—unrefined, but strong."

Velkris glanced at Gible. Yeah... this little guy is something special.

Ash grinned. "Man, that was awesome! Velkris, you're really good at this!"

Misty folded her arms. "Well, I guess Bug-types are stronger than I thought..."

Samurai smirked. "It is good that you finally see the truth."

Misty huffed. "Don't push it."

As the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a deep orange glow across the sky. Outside Professor Light's van, Velkris, Ash, Misty, and Samurai sat around a small campfire, their tents pitched nearby. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows against the trees.

Ash sat cross-legged, holding Metapod in his lap. "Man, you were great today," he said, rubbing its hardened shell. "I know you can't really talk, but I feel like you're getting stronger." Metapod didn't respond, but something about the way it sat in Ash's arms made him smile.

Across from him, Gible was crouched low, eyeing the flames with curiosity. It huffed, sending out a small puff of sand before glancing at Velkris for approval. Nearby, Samurai's Scyther—stood with its arms folded, observing Gible with sharp eyes.

Gible growled playfully and stomped on the ground. Scyther twitched, wings buzzing, but didn't react. Instead, it gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Gible, seeming satisfied, plopped down on its back and yawned.

Misty poked at the fire with a stick. "So, how long are we going to rest here?"

Velkris leaned against the van with his arms crossed. "Not too long. We should reach Pewter City by tomorrow if we move early."

Velkris let out a breath. After everything that had happened—the battle with Samurai, the encounters in the forest—it was nice to just sit down and rest. Ralts had curled up beside him, eyes closed, its body rising and falling with slow breaths.

Ash grinned. "I can't wait to get to Pewter. My first Gym Badge is waiting for me."

Samurai smirked. "If you battle as recklessly as you did against me, I doubt Brock will go easy on you."

Ash scowled. "Hey, I wasn't that bad!"

Velkris chuckled but didn't comment.

Professor Light stepped away from the van, adjusting his glasses as he approached the group. His expression was serious but composed, the kind of look that came after a discussion with someone important.

"I just finished talking with Lance," he announced.

Velkris blinked. Lance? At this point in the timeline, Lance was still a member of the Kanto Elite Four, not yet the Pokémon Champion. Even so, he was one of the strongest Trainers in the region and a major figure in the League.

Professor Light continued, "I informed him about the smuggling operations happening in Viridian Forest. He's going to assign a strong Trainer to keep watch over the forest and ensure this doesn't happen again. In the meantime, he'll also investigate these smugglers personally."

Ash clenched his fist. "Good! Those guys don't deserve to get away with this."

Misty nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I hope they get caught soon."

Professor Light sighed. "It's complicated, but at least we've set things in motion. For now, we should move on. I have to get to Saffron City for my own research, and you three should head toward Pewter City."

Velkris was about to agree when something clicked in his mind—Samurai's cabin! It had been destroyed during the battle with the smugglers. Turning to Samurai, he said, "Wait… what about you? Your home was wrecked. You shouldn't have to deal with that alone."

Samurai hesitated. "I appreciate the thought, but… it wouldn't be right to ask for compensation. The battle with the Beedrill happened, and I was inside, taking cover. It's not like you destroyed it on purpose."

Velkris shook his head. "That doesn't mean I Can just ignore it. Professor Light, can I use your DexCom?"

Light raised an eyebrow but handed over the device. Velkris quickly contacted Professor Oak. After a moment, the screen flickered to life, revealing the familiar face of the esteemed Pokémon Professor.

"Velkris? What a surprise! What's going on?" Oak asked.

Velkris took a deep breath. "Professor, there's a situation in Viridian Forest. There was a smuggling ring operating here, and we got caught up in stopping them. In the process, A trainer's cabin was destroyed."

Oak's expression turned serious. "Smugglers in Viridian Forest? That's alarming… I'll look into it on my end." He then glanced at Samurai. "As for your situation, young man, I can arrange something for you. If you'd like, you can stay at my lab for a few days. I'll take care of your Pokémon, and once your cabin is rebuilt, you can return."

Samurai's eyes lit up. "Professor Oak's lab…? That means I'll get to see all the noble Bug Pokémon there! To meet strong warriors and learn from them… what an honor!"

Oak chuckled. "I suppose you could look at it that way."

Velkris handed the DexCom back to Professor Light, relieved that Samurai wouldn't be left on his own.

Ash leaned forward, poking at the fire with a stick. "I don't know exactly what kind of Pokémon Brock will use… but I do know they're all Rock-types." He let out a sigh. "The problem is, I don't have a Water-type or a Grass-type to counter them."

Pikachu, who had been sitting nearby, puffed out its chest proudly. "Pika pi!"

Ash blinked before grinning, rubbing Pikachu's head. "Yeah, you're right, buddy! We'll just beat them all anyway!"

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Ash… I didn't know you actually thought about type advantages."

Ash scoffed, crossing his arms. "Hey, I'm not a complete rookie, alright? I prepared for my journey too! I may not know everything, but I know enough."

Velkris watched the exchange in silence, his thoughts swirling. This… wasn't the Ash he knew. In the anime, Ash had barely known anything about type matchups in the beginning. But here, he was thinking ahead, recognizing type advantages—even if he wasn't fully prepared.

That wasn't the only thing that was different. Events were shifting. Some things lined up with what he remembered, but others were diverging.

This isn't the same world as the anime, he realized.

But then… what kind of world was it?

A lighthearted fantasy world where adventure was fun and victories came with effort and spirit? Or was it a darker world, one that didn't sugarcoat the dangers that lurked beneath the surface?

He had already seen hints of something more serious. The world of Pokémon wasn't all sunshine and friendly battles. There had been wars—Lt. Surge was proof of that. And the Pokédex was filled with disturbing entries, some he remembered all too well.

Like how Drifloon lured children away, never to be seen again.

How Lampent stole the souls of the dying.

How Banette was born from a discarded doll, filled with a grudge so strong it hunted down the child who threw it away.

How Froslass froze men solid and kept them as decorations in its icy lair.

Velkris exhaled. This world had its dangers—whether it leaned toward light or dark, he wasn't sure yet. But one thing was certain.

He had to grow stronger.

He couldn't afford to be careless. He needed to pay attention to everything, to everyone around him. Because in a world like this, being cautious wasn't paranoia.

It was Survival.

As the night stretched on, the last remnants of warmth from the campfire flickered and dimmed, casting long shadows over the resting campsite. The day had been long, filled with battles, revelations, and plans for the future, leaving everyone exhausted.

One by one, they settled down for the night. Ash unrolled his sleeping bag beside Pikachu, who had already curled up, its ears twitching slightly as it breathed softly. Misty did the same, making sure her Pokémon were settled before tucking herself in.

Velkris lay in his own sleeping bag, staring at the dark sky above. His mind lingered on his earlier thoughts—how to survive, how to grow stronger, how unpredictable this world truly was. He had no guarantee things would follow the script he knew. The only way forward was to prepare, to be ready for anything.

Samurai, after ensuring his armor and swords were neatly set aside, accepted a spare sleeping bag—one that Velkris had offered. He grunted a quiet thanks before settling down, his breathing evening out within minutes.

Professor Light, meanwhile, had retreated into the remains of his van. Though it was damaged, it still provided enough shelter for him to rest properly. His own sleeping bag was set up inside, and before long, even he had drifted into slumber.

The campsite soon fell into a deep silence, disturbed only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal Pokémon. Under the vast, starry sky, the group slept, their journey still far from over.

. . . . . .

The morning air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of damp earth as the sun gradually rose over the horizon. The camp remained peaceful, with only the occasional rustling of leaves breaking the silence. The embers of last night's fire had long since cooled, leaving behind faint wisps of smoke.

Most of the group was still fast asleep, save for Velkris, who had woken up early. However, rather than sinking into deep thoughts immediately, he simply went about his morning routine, ensuring everything was in order.

Near the tents, Pikachu stretched with a long yawn before glancing at Gible, who remained curled up in a deep sleep. Ralts stood nearby, watching with mild curiosity before stepping closer to nudge the Dragon-type awake. Gible groaned, shifting slightly but refusing to open his eyes.

Pikachu, grinning mischievously, decided to intervene. He prodded Gible's cheek once, then twice. When that didn't work, he gave the stubborn Dragon a light zap.

With a sharp grunt, Gible's eyes shot open as he sat up, looking around in confusion before grumbling under his breath. Ralts let out an amused hum, while Pikachu chuckled, clearly proud of his wake-up method.

By this time, Ash and Misty had started stirring inside their tents. Soon, the sounds of movement and rustling fabric signaled their slow but inevitable rise. When Misty finally emerged, she stretched her arms with a tired sigh, blinking against the morning light.

Ash followed shortly after, rubbing his eyes as he stepped out, his hair even messier than usual. "Man, that was a good sleep," he muttered, stifling a yawn.

The group went about their morning routine—freshening up, packing their things, and ensuring the Pokémon were fed and ready to go. With their camp now cleaned up, they prepared to move out.

It was only then that Velkris found himself staring into the distance, lost in thought. His gaze lingered on the road ahead, his mind swirling with everything that had happened so far and what lay ahead.

Misty, noticing his distant expression, walked up beside him. "What's on your mind?" she asked.

Velkris blinked before shaking his head. "Oh, nothing," he replied casually, though his thoughts were far from empty.

As they finally set off toward Pewter City, Ash glanced at Velkris with a thoughtful expression before speaking up.

"So, after Pewter City, you won't be traveling with us anymore, huh?" His tone was casual, but there was an underlying disappointment. "I mean, I know we agreed to stick together only until Pewter, but… I'm gonna miss you, Velkris."

Misty, walking alongside them, nodded. "Yeah… I mean, we haven't been together for long, but it was still fun. Well, except for the bugs in the Viridian Forest. That part was awful."

Velkris listened silently, a small smile forming on his lips. Even though it had only been a short time, hearing them acknowledge him like this made something settle within him—a sense of belonging, even if just briefly.

But then, another thought surfaced. Once he separated from Ash, he would no longer have the safety net of foreknowledge. Up until now, he had been following along with what he knew from the anime, but his own path was uncertain.

Still, uncertainty wasn't necessarily a bad thing. This was his journey. And no matter what lay ahead, he would face it head-on.