Chapter 6 – The Samurai of Viridian Forest
By the time the ache faded from Larvitar's bruises, the patch of sun in their little hollow had slid across the moss and turned from warm gold to a softer green.
Ryan stretched, feeling the stiffness in his own shoulders. "Alright," he said quietly. "Break's over."
Larvitar pushed itself up with a grunt, testing its legs. The Potion had done its job, but the deep fatigue from the battle with Scyther still lingered in the way its movements were just a little slower than usual.
"You've earned that exhaustion," Ryan said. "I still can't believe we pulled that off."
He tapped the new Poké Ball at his belt.
"We should... probably talk to him," Ryan admitted. "Y'know. Make sure he wants to travel in a ball and not just stalk us from the trees."
Ryan glanced at his other Pokémon. "Alright. Nidoran, Rattata—take five."
He recalled them in twin flashes of red. The hollow felt less crowded immediately. It was just him and Larvitar now.
"Okay," he said, taking a breath. "Let's do this."
He unclipped Scyther's ball and pressed the button.
Light burst out and coalesced into a tall, green shape. Scyther landed lightly on the moss, scythes slightly raised.
For a heartbeat, Ryan wondered if he'd made a mistake.
Then Scyther's gaze found Larvitar. The two Pokémon stared at each other.
Larvitar squared its stance. There was none of the bravado it sometimes used with weaker opponents—just simple acknowledgment. You're strong. We fought. We both got hurt. We're here now.
Scyther's eyes softened by a fraction. Its blades lowered.
Ryan let out the breath he'd been holding. "Hey," he said, trying not to sound like he was addressing a legendary dragon. "So Uh. Welcome to the team."
Scyther tilted its head.
Ryan fumbled for his Pokédex. "Let's get your info in here, at least."
He scanned Scyther. The device chimed.
"Scyther. The Mantis Pokémon. It is nearly impossible to parry its attacking scythes. Its movements are like a ninja's. It slashes through tall grass and trees to build up its agility. This Scyther displays enhanced speed and precision. Current known moves include Quick Attack, Double Team, Wing Attack, Agility…"
Ryan winced. "Yeah, that tracks."
Larvitar gave him a look that clearly said, "Tell me about it."
The Pokédex continued pleasantly, "Compatibility suggests that with training, this Scyther may also learn moves such as Swords Dance, Slash, X-Scissor—"
"Okay, okay, we'll get there later," Ryan muttered, closing it.
He looked up at Scyther again. "Listen. I'm not going to keep you in your ball all the time. But we can't have you out every second either.
Scyther blinked slowly.
"We're headed to Pewter City," Ryan continued. "It's a Rock-type Gym with tough hitters and solid defences. Larvitar is my primary choice there, and Nidoran will be learning Double Kick, a move that's strong against Brock's Pokémon. Rattata will provide speed support. For now, you'll mainly observe. We've got plenty in store for you once we leave Pewter.
"Unfortunately, Brock's your worst match-up." He finished
Scyther shifted, considering. Then it nodded.
"Good," Ryan said. Relief washed through him. "We'll train your moves along the way. Refine that Wing Attack so you're not smashing into sand geysers next time."
Scyther gave Larvitar a sideways look. Larvitar huffed, but the corner of its mouth twitched upward.
"Okay." Ryan reached for Scyther's ball. "I'll bring you out again once we're clear of the denser trees. For now, rest."
He returned Scyther in a flash of red. The ball vibrated once in his hand, then settled.
Ryan clipped it back to his belt and turned to Larvitar.
"That reminds me," he said. "You pulled something new in that fight."
He opened the Pokédex again, this time pointing it at Larvitar.
"Larvitar," it reported. "Recent move acquisition detected: Bite—a Dark-type physical move. The user bites with vicious fangs. May cause the target to flinch."
Ryan grinned. "Dark-type, huh? That's going to be amazing later. Ghosts, Psychics… even if we're stuck on the ground, you'll still have your teeth."
Larvitar flexed its jaw with a satisfied rumble.
"We'll practice it in smaller battles," Ryan said. "No more improvising mid-air collisions unless we absolutely have to."
He got a very unconvincing innocent look in response.
"Uh-huh," Ryan said dryly. "Sure."
He stood, slung his backpack into place, and dusted moss off his pants.
"Alright," he announced. "Let's get out of this forest."
They stuck to the main path now, the worn earth a comforting guide amid the maze of trees. Larvitar walked at his side, quieter than usual, still recovering but steady. Ryan kept one hand on his belt, ready to swap to Rattata or Nidoran if needed.
Bug-types appeared and vanished around them: Caterpie inching along branches, Weedle hiding on the undersides of leaves, the occasional Kakuna hanging eerily still from trunks like yellow talismans.
Once, they heard the angry buzz of a Beedrill swarm somewhere off to the right. Ryan stopped dead.
"Hard left," he muttered, turning decisively down the main trail.
Larvitar didn't argue.
They had one brief scuffle with a wild Pidgey that got too bold, swooping in low. Ryan let Rattata out for that one.
"Quick practice," he said. "In and out."
Rattata chittered, eager. The Pidgey flared its wings and dove.
"Quick Attack straight under, then Tackle from behind!" Ryan called.
Rattata bolted beneath the swoop, leaving the bird flapping at empty air. It skidded, pivoted, and launched upward with a Tackle that clipped Pidgey's back. The bird squawked and flapped away, deciding this weird purple rodent wasn't worth the trouble.
Rattata landed lightly, eyes shining.
"Nice," Ryan said. "Your dodges are sharper. We'll work on something new for you soon—maybe Focus Energy, get those hits even nastier."
Rattata's ears perked at "nastier."
He returned it after that.
A little later, he swapped Larvitar out to walk with Nidoran instead, giving the Rock-type a chance to rest in its ball. The forest floor changed subtly under their feet—roots thicker, moss deeper, the air even cooler.
"Okay," Ryan said, glancing down at Nidoran. "This stretch is training ground for you."
She twitched her ears, curious.
"You've got a strong Tackle, but Brock's Pokémon are made of rock," he went on. "We need something better. Let's start working on that Double Kick the Pokédex mentioned."
He found a relatively flat area beside the path, with a sturdy stump just off the trail.
"This is your target," he said, tapping the stump. "We're not trying to break it in half yet. Just get you used to leading with your back legs."
Nidoran eyed the stump, then him.
"So," Ryan said, "Tackle is you throwing your whole body. For Double Kick, you want to plant your front paws and whip your hind legs around. Think… half jump, half buck."
He demonstrated awkwardly with his own legs, halfway kicking the air. If any other trainer saw him, they'd assume he'd been hit with Confuse Ray.
Nidoran snorted.
"Yeah, yeah, I know how it looks," Ryan said. "Just try it."
She trotted a few paces back, then charged. At the last moment, she planted her front paws, pushed off, and tried to swing her hind legs. It ended in a clumsy half-spin that tapped the stump more than kicked it. She landed in a tangle, ears flopping over her eyes.
"Hey," he said quickly. "That wasn't bad for a first try. You got the motion. Again—but shorter dash this time."
They repeated the drill. Short runs, plant, swing. Sometimes she missed completely. Sometimes she clipped the stump with one foot. But slowly, the motion smoothed out.
Tap. Thump. Thump.
The Pokédex, half-open in Ryan's hand, chimed after one particularly clean execution.
"Move development detected," it said. "Nidoran is beginning to learn Double Kick. Power and accuracy currently low; continued practice recommended."
Nidoran puffed herself up, clearly pleased.
"See?" Ryan said, grinning. "You're getting it. Give that a couple more sessions and Pewter Gym is going to be a cinch."
He ruffled the fur between her ears, careful of her horn.
"Alright. Enough for now," he said. "I don't want you tired before the end of the forest. We can refine it later."
He recalled her, then let Larvitar back out. The little Rock-type materialised with a grunt, as if offended that the world existed when it wasn't watching.
"Don't worry," Ryan said. "You didn't miss anything trying to kill us. Just kicking practice. You'll be front and centre when the Gym battle hits."
Larvitar nodded.
The trees thinned a little around the next bend, the canopy allowing more sunlight through. The path widened into an open area.
Ryan stepped into the clearing cautiously.
"I've got that weird feeling again," he muttered. "Like someone's… aiming."
Something glinted in the bushes to their left.
Larvitar growled, squaring up.
"Show yourself," Ryan called. "Or at least don't jump out screaming—"
A figure launched from the foliage with a battle cry anyway.
"HALT, TRAINER FROM PALLET!"
Ryan yelped and stumbled back. Larvitar instinctively slid in front of him, claws ready.
The newcomer landed with a dramatic thump: a boy around Ryan's age, wearing a red kimono-style vest over shorts, a metal helmet on his head, and an absolutely enormous net strapped to his back. A Poké Ball glittered at his waist like a badge.
He pointed at Ryan with exaggerated seriousness.
"I am the great bug samurai of Viridian Forest!" he declared. "I have faced several trainers from Pallet Town today. You will be my next opponent!"
Ryan blinked. "…Hi."
The boy blinked back, nonplussed. "You're supposed to be intimidated."
"I was more startled than intimidated," Ryan said. "Also, a bug samurai?"
The boy folded his arms. "You may call me Samurai. All the trainers from Pallet do."
"Right," Ryan said. "Well, I'm Ryan. Also, from Pallet. And this is Larvitar."
Larvitar grunted, unimpressed by the helmet.
Samurai's eyes gleamed. "Then it is fate. I have already battled one of your hometown rivals—an arrogant boy with a fearsome Squirtle and even more fearsome hair."
Gary, Ryan thought immediately.
"I must test you as well," Samurai went on. "Only then will I know if Pallet Town truly produces strong trainers… or if that first boy was a fluke."
Ryan's competitive streak flared. "Fine," he said. "Let's battle."
Samurai's serious expression broke into a fierce grin. "Excellent! We shall battle here!"
He hopped back to the far side of the clearing and pulled a Poké Ball from his belt.
"Ready?" he called.
Ryan stepped into his own position, adrenaline pumping. "Yeah."
"Then prepare yourself!" Samurai cried. "Go, Pinsir!"
The ball burst open in a flash of white. A squat, muscular Bug-type with huge, spiked horns materialised, clacking its pincers. It stomped the ground, cracking the dirt.
Ryan's Pokédex chimed helpfully.
"Pinsir. The Stag Beetle Pokémon. Its pincers are strong enough to shatter thick logs. It grips its prey and squeezes, sometimes tossing them great distances."
Larvitar eyed the horns and set its jaw.
"Bug-type," Ryan murmured. "Strong physically. Hopefully no fancy tricks."
Perfect place to test Bite.
"Larvitar, you're up!" he said, even though Larvitar was already walking forward.
Samurai pointed. "Pinsir, start with Vice Grip!"
Pinsir lunged, surprisingly fast for something so solid, horns opening wide.
"Sandstorm!" Ryan snapped.
Larvitar slammed its feet down. Sand kicked up around it—but Pinsir ploughed straight through, horns slicing the swirling grit aside. It grabbed Larvitar around the middle and squeezed.
Larvitar hissed, claws scrabbling uselessly at the armoured carapace.
"Shake it off!" Ryan shouted. "Use Tackle from the inside—throw your weight around!"
Larvitar heaved, twisting its whole body. Pinsir staggered, but its grip didn't break.
"Pinsir!" Samurai called. "Lift it high, then slam it down!"
Pinsir adjusted its stance, straining to lift Larvitar.
"Oh no, you don't," Ryan growled. "Larvitar, Bite those horns—hard!"
Larvitar twisted, lifted its head, and sank its teeth into the base of one horn. Dark energy flared around its jaw.
Pinsir shrieked, grip loosening. It dropped Larvitar, stumbling back as the dark energy surged through its nerves.
"Now, Rock Throw!" Ryan shouted. "While he's dazed!"
Larvitar hit the ground, rolled, and pushed up with a grunt. Stones ripped from the earth, still half-coated with sand, and rocketed toward Pinsir.
They struck in a rapid barrage—shoulder, chest, one horn again. Pinsir staggered, legs trembling.
Samurai clenched his fist. "Pinsir, endure! Use Focus Energy!"
Pinsir closed its eyes briefly, drawing in a deep breath. A faint red aura pulsed around it. When it opened its eyes again, they burned brighter.
"It's not staying down," Ryan muttered. "Okay. Then we wear it out."
"Larvitar, keep your distance!" he called. "Use Sandstorm lightly and pepper it with Rock Throw—don't let it get a clean grab again!"
Larvitar nodded, stepping back as it stirred up another, more controlled swirl of sand. Pinsir charged in, swinging its horns, but the sand stung its eyes, throwing off its aim. Rocks whistled through the storm, hammering into its armoured body piece by piece.
One finally caught its leg squarely.
Pinsir dropped to one knee, panting, red aura flickering out.
Samurai hesitated, then lifted his hand.
"Enough," he said. "Pinsir, return."
The Bug-type vanished into red light.
Ryan exhaled hard, his knees feeling wobbly. Larvitar panted but stood firm.
Samurai's eyes gleamed. "Impressive. Pinsir rarely struggles that much."
"Your Pinsir almost tossed us like a sack of potatoes," Ryan said. "That Bite saved us."
Larvitar gave him a look that clearly said, "You're welcome."
Samurai plucked another Poké Ball from his belt.
"But the test is not over," he said. "I have one more partner. You may switch if you wish."
Ryan considered. Larvitar was tired. This would be a good time for someone else.
He raised Larvitar's ball. "Take a rest. You earned it."
Larvitar vanished in a flash of red.
"Rattata," Ryan said, unclipping another ball. "You're on."
Rattata appeared on the field, already halfway into a bounce, tail flicking. It spotted Samurai and puffed its chest.
Samurai nodded approvingly. "A common species, but your Rattata has spirit. We shall see how far that takes it."
He hurled his ball.
"Metapod, to me!"
Light flashed—and a green chrysalis appeared, standing motionless on the ground. Its eyes were half-lidded, unimpressed.
Ryan's Pokédex chimed.
"Metapod. The Cocoon Pokémon. This is its transitional stage. It is vulnerable to attack, so it hardens its shell to protect its body. It does not move much."
Rattata looked from the unmoving cocoon to Ryan, as if to ask seriously.
"Don't underestimate it," Ryan said under his breath. "If it hardens enough, we'll be the ones running out of steam."
Samurai raised his arm dramatically. "Metapod! Harden!"
Metapod's shell gleamed, a faint sheen passing over it. Its defensive power rose.
"Alright, Rattata," Ryan said. "Time to try something new. Close in with Quick Attack!"
Rattata shot forward, a purple streak. It slammed into Metapod with a thud.
Metapod wobbled… and then settled, barely dented.
"Harden again!" Samurai commanded
Another sheen. Another boost in defence.
"We'll be here all day," Ryan muttered. "Okay. New plan. Rattata, try this—Focus Energy!"
Rattata froze, taken aback.
"Yeah, I know I never used that command before," Ryan said quickly. "But you can do it. … stop for a second. Breathe. Focus. Think about landing one nasty hit instead of lots of small ones."
He'd skimmed something in the Pokédex last night while half-asleep. Rattata's species naturally learned Focus Energy early on—it just needed a trainer to call it out.
Rattata hesitated.
Metapod's trainer did not.
"Harden!" Samurai barked.
Another layer of defence shimmered into place.
"We're just letting it become a green rock!" Ryan said. "Come on, Rattata. Trust me. Focus Energy."
Rattata shut its eyes, drawing in a breath. Its body trembled, not from fear but from the effort of forcing itself to stay still. A faint white aura flickered around it, centring on its chest, then narrowing into its eyes as they snapped open again, sharper.
The Pokédex chimed quietly from Ryan's pocket.
"Rattata has learned Focus Energy. Critical hit rate increased when used before attacking."
"Perfect," Ryan breathed. "Now—Quick Attack again! Aim for the same point.
Rattata bolted forward, faster and more precise than before. It slammed into the same spot on Metapod's shell.
Metapod flinched slightly.
"Again!" Ryan yelled. "Same spot!"
Rattata reversed, darted in, and struck again. Again. Again. Each Quick Attack landed like a hammer tapping a weak point.
Samurai frowned. "Metapod, Harden!"
The cocoon gleamed, but the glow flickered where Rattata kept hitting. Its armour wasn't evenly distributing the force anymore.
"Keep it up!" Ryan shouted. "You've got this!"
Rattata let out a fierce screech and went in for one more Quick Attack, Focus Energy still humming under its fur.
The strike landed with a crisp, resonant crack.
Metapod rocked back, eyes widening. It toppled over onto its side and lay still.
A beat of silence.
Then Samurai raised his hand. "Metapod is unable to battle," he declared. "The victory goes to Rattata and the trainer Ryan of Pallet."
Rattata squeaked triumphantly, panting heavily but glowing with pride.
Ryan grinned so hard his face hurt. "You were amazing," he said, dropping to one knee and scratching the fur between Rattata's ears. "That's how we're going to win the tough ones—brains plus speed."
Rattata preened at the praise.
Samurai recalled his Metapod, his face serious again.
"You fight well," he said, crossing the clearing to stand closer. "Your idea was good. That Focus Energy into repeated Quick Attacks… very clever."
"Thanks," Ryan said. "Your Pinsir nearly crushed us. And your Metapod almost turned into a wall."
"Almost," Samurai repeated, but there was no bitterness in it. Only thoughtfulness. "The other boy from Pallet—Gary—relied heavily on raw power. You rely more on tactics and smarts."
He smiled slightly. "I approve of both approaches."
Ryan snorted. "Gary would love to hear that."
Samurai hooked his net more securely over his shoulder. "The forest ends a little ahead," he said. "Follow this path, and you will emerge near Pewter City. The trees will turn to stone, as they say."
"'As they say'?" Ryan echoed, amused.
"I say it," Samurai replied defensively.
"Fair enough."
Samurai extended his hand formally. "I hope we meet again, Ryan of Pallet. And when we do, my bugs will be stronger."
Ryan shook it. "We'll be stronger too. Count on it."
They parted ways at the edge of the clearing—Samurai slipping back into the deeper forest, Ryan and Larvitar following the brightening path ahead.
The trees gradually thinned. Sunlight poured through more freely, turning the world from filtered green to open gold. The air lost its damp coolness and warmed, picking up the scent of dry grass and stone.
Ryan's steps quickened without him meaning to. Larvitar matched pace, breath steady again.
"I think we're close," Ryan said, feeling his chest tighten with a familiar mix of excitement and nerves. "Past the forest. First gym. First badge."
Larvitar grunted, eyes gleaming.
The path curved one last time—and suddenly, the forest just… stopped.
They stepped out onto a ridge. Behind them, Viridian Forest stretched like a dark sea of green. Ahead, the land dropped into a wide valley where grey and brown buildings clustered like stone outcroppings.
Pewter City.
The architecture blended with the rocky landscape—boxy houses with flat slate roofs, streets paved with sturdy stone. Further in the distance, a larger, dome-topped building rose above the rest, gleaming faintly: the Pewter Museum. And somewhere near the city's heart, Ryan knew, was the Gym.
Beyond all of it, the mountains loomed. Their slopes were rugged and craggy, catching the afternoon light. Somewhere past those peaks lay Mt. Moon and all the stories that came with it.
Ryan stood there for a long moment, just taking it in.
"We made it," he said softly. "Pallet to Viridian. Viridian to Pewter… and we're still standing."
Larvitar planted its feet at the cliff's edge, staring down at the stone city like a challenger surveying the field.
Ryan unclipped two Poké Balls and released them.
Nidoran appeared on his left, stretching her legs, ears pricking at the new scents. Rattata materialised on his right, hopping twice before spotting the city and freezing in wide-eyed wonder.
"Welcome to Pewter," Ryan told them. "Home of Brock. Rock-type Gym Leader. Our first badge."
He looked at each of them in turn: Larvitar, solid and stubborn; Nidoran, quietly fierce; Rattata, bright-eyed and fast; and the unassuming ball at his belt that contained a razor-fast Scyther.
"We're going to need all of you," he said. "Every move we've learned so far. Bite. Sandstorm. Your new Double Kick, Nidoran—once we polish it. Your Focus Energy, Rattata. Scyther's speed… even if he has to sit this Gym out mostly, he's forced us to be better."
The wind pulled at his jacket, bringing the subtle scent of dust from the city.
Ryan squared his shoulders.
"Let's go check in at the Pokémon Centre," he said. "Then we train. Hard. When we walk into that Gym, I want Brock to know we didn't just stumble out of a forest—we fought our way here."
Larvitar gave a sharp bark of agreement.
Nidoran's spines rippled, hind legs already digging at the ground like she was itching to kick something big and rocky.
Rattata chattered, energy sparking from whiskers to tail.
Ryan smiled, heart pounding in a way that felt right.
"Pewter City," he said quietly, starting down the path with his team at his heels. "First badge."
The sun dipped a little lower, casting long shadows from the stone buildings below.
The road to the Indigo League had officially reached its first real test.
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