Bugs get burned.

The first four trainers are literally nothing to speak of. A variety of different bug types, the same ones you’ve seen in the wild all over this forest, get out-sped and incinerated by Charmander with ease. You’re almost a little disappointed at how little effort you have to put in, Pidgey doesn’t even get used for crying out loud.

After collecting your prize money from the fourth bug catcher, Aiden steps up to the plate. If watching his cronies get destroyed made him nervous in any way, he doesn’t show it. “You’ve done really well so far, but I’m a cut above the rest. This battle will be 2 on 2. You ready?” He smirks at you, seemingly confident in his ability despite what your Charmander has done so far.

“Bring it on, Aiden!” You know he has a Beedrill thanks to Leah, so this should already be more of a challenge. To your surprise though, a different Pokémon comes out first.

“Butterfree, go!” Aiden releases the white-winged purple butterfly onto the field, and in the brief moment you are caught off guard, commands it. “Supersonic!”

Strange, high-pitched sound waves are emitted by the Butterfree, and your Charmander begins to spin and stumble about. Great, he’s confused.

“Fight through it buddy! Ember!” You command, but your Pokémon simply trips, slamming his head on an exposed tree root. Uh oh.

“Use Poison Powder!” At Aiden’s shout, his Butterfree flaps its wings, sending out a cloud of purple mist that falls upon your partner. The lizard begins to cough and shudder, poison streaking through his body.

“E-ember, please!” You call out desperately, unsure of how to deal with this situation. Luckily, your pleading tone seems to do the trick, as Charmander snaps out of confusion and releases a gout of flame upwards, burning the purple butterfly badly. Your starter keeps coughing though, the poison causing him pain.

“Supersonic again, Butterfree!” The bug type reacts to its trainer’s call, screeching out again. This time though, you’re ready, and command Charmander to dodge. He does so easily, avoiding the sound waves while wincing from the toxins in his body.

“Dodge and burn pal, dodge and burn!” You have to admit, Aiden has already put up significantly more of a challenge than any of his friends. Your starter bobs and weaves, blasting flames at the flying bug as he goes. The two continue like this for a while, both doing their best to dodge the other’s attacks until another Ember finally connects.

Aiden’s Butterfree crashes to the ground, singed and ****, while your Charmander stands, breathing heavily and wobbling on his feet. Aiden recalls his Pokémon, and smiles.

“Not bad! I’m impressed. Let’s see if you can keep up though. Beedrill!” At this, he throws out his next Pokémon. The massive black and yellow striped insect stabs the air with its… claws, pincers, needles, what do you call those? You don’t have time to think too hard about it right now, you need to act fast while Charmander is still up.

“Ember it, Charmander!” You cry at your weakened starter.

Before he can respond though, Aiden’s Beedrill rushes in. “Fury Attack!” The bee is on your partner in an instant, piercing your partner repeatedly. As Charmander falls back from the impact, he releases one final burst of fire, managing to catch the opposing Pokémon in his flames. After he hits the ground, the poison takes its toll, and he faints.

“You did fantastic, come on back!” You bring back your overworked fire lizard, and throw out your next Pokémon. “Pidgey, let’s finish this!” Your second Pokémon makes his appearance, and Aiden reacts immediately.

“Fury Attack, Beedrill!” The huge bug zooms toward your bird, but it’s made the same mistake again. At point blank range, you command your Pidgey to “Use Gust!” Even as the hands of the giant bee stab into him, your little bird begins flapping his wings mightily, blasting his opponent backward and into a tree.

At this impact, the Beedrill crumples to the ground, then begins attempting to pick itself back up. “Dive bomb it with Tackle, finish this!” Your Pokémon complies, slamming himself into the recovering bug. This finishes it, and Aiden’s Beedrill slumps to the ground.

“Come on back, Beedrill.” Aiden says as he puts his Pokémon back into its ball. “Well, damn. Can’t believe you beat all five of us.” You were the only challenge and you know it. “Here’s your money, ‘grats.” After your prize from Aiden, you’ve earned… 480 PD. Putting you at 980 total. Well, it’s something, at least.

After taking his money, you reach out a hand and shake with Aiden. “That was easily my toughest battle yet.” Sorry Blue. “Have you won any badges?”

Aiden smiles. “The Boulder Badge, yeah. Was tough with just bugs.”

‘Tough’ sounds like an understatement. “That’s incredible. What are you doing just hanging around here? Are you gonna go get the rest of your badges at some point?”

The ringleader hesitates, looking uncertain. “I… It was so tough to get one badge with just bugs, man. I just… don’t know.” So that’s why he’s just hanging out in the woods, ganging up on any trainer that passes with his henchman?

“You could always try… using other Pokémon?” You offer. “Or at least, catch some more bugs. There are more powerful ones deeper in Kanto, and you could travel to Johto for some rare ones.”

“I guess I could… why are you trying to big me up, huh?” He eyes you suspiciously.

“I just don’t want to see your talent go to waste. You could be a really powerful trainer, if you tried!” You genuinely mean what you’re saying, the guy’s good!

He stares at you for a bit, clearly conflicted. “Well, maybe someday. I don’t know. For now, you should get going if you wanna make it to the usual campsite before dark. See ya.” He waves goodbye to you as you pass, as do the other, less talented, bug catchers. Once you’re clear of them, you pick up your pace a little, since you spent more time than you thought on those bug catchers. You need to hurry!