Professor Oak's Laboratory was located in Pallet Town, a lovely place with beautiful scenery.
That afternoon, when Xia You knocked on the laboratory's door, the kindly old man with short gray hair, who liked to recite Pokémon senryu from time to time, greeted him with a warm, generous smile.
"Professor Oak, sorry to drop in unannounced," Xia You introduced himself. "I'm Xia You, from Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City. Professor Cerise asked me to deliver something to you."
Professor Oak nodded. "Cerise already told me you were coming. I just didn't expect you to get here from Vermilion City in only two days. You certainly made good time."
"I wouldn't dare delay Professor Cerise's request." Xia You first handed Professor Oak the box containing the Prototype, then took out the parcel the Viridian City shop clerk had given him from his backpack.
Looking at the parcel, Professor Oak said delightedly, "You brought this parcel along too? What a great help! The next batch of Trainers sets off tomorrow. Without the Poké Balls inside, I really wouldn't have known what to do."
"You must be busy around this time every year, Professor," Xia You remarked. "That's a lot of hard work."
"Exactly, exactly. Once you get old, you really have to admit your limits." Professor Oak spread his hands. "Still, my good-for-nothing grandson will be setting off on his journey this year too. I'm quite eager to see what sort of person he becomes."
His good-for-nothing grandson?
"Do you mean Gary?" Xia You asked.
"Oh?" Professor Oak said in surprise. "You know Gary?"
"No." Xia You hurriedly waved his hands. "I just happened to hear Professor Cerise mention him once."
Despite what he said, however, Xia You couldn't help feeling excited.
Gary was setting off on his journey tomorrow?
Then that meant Ash, who started at the same time as him, would be beginning his own adventure with Pikachu too!
I'm really looking forward to meeting them. But I'd better pick up the pace myself. At the rate they grow, they'll soon overtake me and leave me far behind!
Declining Professor Oak's invitation to stay for lunch, Xia You set off toward Pewter City once more.
After passing through Viridian City, however, he was no longer in a hurry. This time, Xia You chose to plunge straight into Viridian Forest.
Located between Viridian City and Pewter City, Viridian Forest was densely packed with a wide variety of trees, forming a natural maze. Even with maps, countless people lost their way every year in this vast forest where sunlight barely penetrated.
The most common Pokémon here were Bug-type and Flying-type Pokémon. With so many different species, some people jokingly called it a bug catcher's paradise.
After entering the forest, Xia You wandered by instinct, defeating quite a few Pokémon that suddenly attacked him. He also encountered Pidgeotto and Butterfree, Pokémon he had once been very fond of, but after a little hesitation, he decided not to catch them.
His four Pokémon also gained experience in the forest, each making some progress, whether more or less.
After he had walked for quite some time, the bushes ahead suddenly began to shake. Just as Xia You thought another Pokémon was about to attack him, a young samurai wearing armor, with a catching net on his back and a longsword at his waist, jumped out of the bushes.
"Tch. When I heard something moving, I thought it might be a rare Pokémon. Turns out it's just a Trainer." The young samurai looked over Xia You's Pokémon. "Well? Want to have a battle?"
Xia You blinked. "Huh? Just like that?"
"Of course! For Pokémon Trainers, the moment our eyes meet is the start of a battle!" Without waiting for Xia You to agree, the young samurai threw out his Poké Ball. "Come out, Pinsir!"
The Poké Ball opened, and a ferocious-looking Pokémon with two large, pointed horns, resembling a stag beetle, appeared before Xia You.
Pokédex: "Beep. Pinsir, the Stag Beetle Pokémon. Type: Bug. It has two immensely powerful horns. Once it grips its prey, it will not let go until it tears the victim apart."
"What am I going to do with you?" Xia You sighed, sweeping his gaze over his four Pokémon. "Squirtle, I'm counting on you."
In terms of type matchups, both the Grass-type Bulbasaur and the Psychic-type Kirlia would be at a disadvantage against the Bug-type Pinsir. Only Eevee and Squirtle had neither a type advantage nor a disadvantage against Pinsir.
"Squirtle, Squirtle!"
Squirtle jumped into the middle, eyes brimming with fighting spirit.
Yet just as Xia You thought this would be an evenly matched battle, Squirtle won cleanly with only a few moves.
"What?!" the young samurai exclaimed in disbelief. "My Pinsir lost that quickly?!"
"There's nothing strange about it," Xia You sighed. "It's just that your Pinsir... um... Pinsir is too low-level. When you get the chance, I suggest you train some more."
The young samurai flushed and clenched his fists. "Damn it, don't get cocky just yet! Take a look at my second Pokémon! Come out, Caterpie!"
A flash of red light appeared as the young samurai sent out his second Pokémon.
Ah, a baby Rayquaza! No, wait, it's a Caterpie!
Caterpie was a typical Bug-type Pokémon, with a green back and a white belly. Its most distinctive feature was the red, Y-shaped antenna on its head.
Pokédex: "Beep. Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon. Type: Bug. It uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and munch on its favorite leaves."
Not bothering to switch Pokémon, Xia You continued using Squirtle and easily defeated Caterpie as well with a few clean moves.
Seeing the young samurai's disgruntled expression, Xia You was about to leave when he suddenly seemed to remember something. He paused and turned back. "Oh, right. I came from Pallet Town. If you're not satisfied, hurry up and get stronger, then teach those rookie Trainers coming after me a proper lesson."
"Pallet Town? Rookie Trainers?" the young samurai murmured.
"That's right." Xia You nodded lightly, a delighted smile on his face as his scheme fell into place. "All of us Trainers from Pallet Town are really strong. I'm sure you won't be a match for any of them."
"Damn it! Don't get too full of yourself!" With determination in his eyes, the young samurai shouted after Xia You's retreating back, "Mark my words! No matter how strong you Trainers from Pallet Town are, next time, I'll make you regret it!"
Before you continue