Eichi walked over, and the surrounding Bug Catchers welcomed him.
"Eichi, you're here!"
"Great, Eichi came! He can definitely beat that arrogant guy."
"Yeah, Eichi's Weedle is really strong."
The Bug Catchers around them kept talking. The boy who had spoken earlier looked at Eichi and said, "Isn't it true? Bug-type Pokémon are the weakest."
Eichi replied coldly, "Bug-type Pokémon are not the weakest.
There are no weak Pokémon, only weak Trainers.
Since you say Bug-types are the weakest, then I'll battle your Bulbasaur with a Bug-type Pokémon to prove this to you."
The boy smirked proudly. "Fine. But there's no way I'll lose."
They cleared an open space, and Allan stepped in as the referee.
Allan said, "Both sides, get ready. The match begins now."
The boy declared, "Remember my name. I'm Maple from Pallet Town. Go, Bulbasaur!"
From the Poké Ball Maple threw, a flash of white light appeared.
A small Pokémon emerged, looking a little like a toad with bluish-green skin and a plant bulb on its back.
Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon.
Ability: Overgrow.
Hidden Ability: Chlorophyll.
Description: For some time after birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back. It often naps in the sunlight. The seed grows larger by drawing energy from the sun's rays.
Bulbasaur is one of the Kanto starters. It eventually evolves into Venusaur, which can also Mega Evolve.
The most dangerous part is that Venusaur can learn all three powder moves. Eichi didn't know which of those powders this Bulbasaur had mastered.
Maple was a new Trainer from Pallet Town, and his strength seemed decent, or he wouldn't be acting so arrogant.
A Kanto starter wasn't comparable to Butterfree or other Bug-types. They were strong right from the beginning and only got stronger as they evolved.
This battle would not be easy. But Eichi thought that was fine. If it were too simple, Maple wouldn't be a real Pallet Town Trainer.
Eichi wanted to crush Maple's arrogance and prove that Bug-types were not weak.
"Come out, Weedle!"
Weedle appeared, eager to fight. It had heard Maple's earlier words too.
Weedle was furious, and it wanted nothing more than to shut this arrogant boy.
Maple attacked first. "Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!"
"Bulba!"
Two vines lashed out from Bulbasaur's bulb.
The vines struck quickly, but Eichi ordered Weedle to dodge.
Weedle avoided them, and Bulbasaur's vines lashed again.
The two whips crossed, striking at Weedle. For most Pokémon, this would have been hard to avoid.
But Weedle had no problem. It dodged easily.
Eichi taunted Maple. "It's useless. Your Vine Whip can't touch my Weedle."
Maple grew frustrated. "Damn it, how could it miss?"
Then he shouted, "Bulbasaur, use Stun Spore!"
A cloud of powder burst from Bulbasaur's bulb, filling the air.
Weedle was caught off guard and hit.
Its body froze from paralysis, unable to move.
Eichi frowned. This was bad. Weedle was in danger.
Maple pressed the advantage. "Bulbasaur, use Sleep Powder!"
Already paralyzed, Weedle was now hit by sleep powder too.
It tried to resist sleep, but couldn't. Weedle fell asleep.
Maple was better than expected. Knowing Bulbasaur's powder skills gave him an edge. No wonder Allan had lost to him.
The spectators gasped as Weedle was paralyzed, then fell asleep.
They thought Eichi was finished.
But Eichi remained calm, still thinking of a way to turn the battle around. Panicking could mean death in a Pokémon battle.
Maple smirked. "Your Weedle is done for. With Sleep Powder, it won't wake up for minutes. You've already lost."
"Bulbasaur, finish it with Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur whiped Weedle hard, knocking it to the side.
But Weedle wasn't out yet, and it kept sleeping.
Maple fumed inwardly. "What's with this Weedle? Its defense is way too strong!"
He ordered another Vine Whip.
The Bug Catchers watching thought Eichi was doomed. They shouted encouragement anyway.
"Weedle, hang in there!"
"Wake up, Weedle!"
…
Just as the battle seemed over, the vines were about to hit Weedle again when Eichi shouted, "Wake up, Weedle!"
In that instant, Weedle's eyes snapped open.
It dodged the strike by sheer reflex.
"What?!"
"How?!"
"That Weedle woke up at the last second? Incredible!"
The crowd was stunned. Eichi smiled faintly at Weedle.
"Good job, Weedle."
All the strict training had paid off. Of course, it wouldn't sleep for long.
Even though the paralysis still lingered, Weedle was burning with fighting spirit and ready to counterattack.
Eichi called out, "It's our turn. Weedle, use Poison Sting!"
Weedle threw itself at Bulbasaur, striking with the stinger on its head.
Caught off guard, Bulbasaur was hit hard and immediately collapsed, unable to battle.
Before Maple could react, Allan announced excitedly, "Bulbasaur is unable to battle. Weedle wins! Eichi is the victor!"
"Damn it, I actually lost…"
Maple gritted his teeth as he recalled Bulbasaur.
He steadied himself and said, "You did well, Bulbasaur. Thank you."
Seeing that, Eichi's impression of Maple improved.
When the battle ended, Eichi rushed to Weedle, taking out a Potion from his backpack.
He fed Weedle a Pokéblock to restore its strength, then sprayed Potion carefully over its wounds.
This had been Weedle's toughest battle yet.
It had nearly lost, but it had won in the end.
The new Trainer from Pallet Town was no pushover.
Eichi could tell that Maple didn't train Bulbasaur for long, but it was already strong.
To not be left behind, Eichi would need to train even harder.