Maple walked over and apologized to Eichi.
"Eichi, I take back what I said. Bug-types aren't the weakest, at least not yours.
This time you won, but next time it will be different.
I'm on my way to start my journey. My goal is to become a powerful Pokémon Master.
Right now, I plan to challenge Gyms and then enter next year's League Conference.
With your strength, you should be going too. I hope I see you there."
Eichi smiled. "Alright, I promise. I'll be at the League Conference as well."
After that, Maple said goodbye and continued his journey.
Eichi watched him leave, then happily walked away with the Bug Catchers.
They came to a flat patch of grass and sat down together.
Eichi looked around at them and spoke. "You all saw my battle with Maple, right?
Maple only just received his Pokémon, but he could still defeat yours easily.
Do you know why?"
Allan and the others replied, "Because his Pokémon was better than ours."
Eichi shook his head. "Pokémon is one reason, but another is that you don't train your Pokémon properly.
Why is my Weedle so strong? Because I train it every day.
It became this strong through hard training.
But you, every day you just block the road and battle passing trainers.
And do you always lose? You rarely win, right?"
The Bug Catchers nodded.
Eichi continued, "If you don't train properly, you'll never grow stronger. And you even make your Pokémon battle every single day.
They're tired and probably covered in small injuries. We should go to the Pokémon Center and get them checked.
I'll pay. Come on, let's go to the Viridian Pokémon Center."
Allan and the others looked embarrassed, but followed him quietly.
When they arrived, there weren't too many people. After waiting in line, it was finally their turn.
Eichi told them to put their Poké Balls on the counter, then said, "Nurse Joy, please heal their Pokémon, and check their health too."
Nurse Joy politely placed the Poké Balls on a tray, but her expression toward Eichi was still cold.
Eichi could only give a bitter smile. While waiting, he led the kids to the resting area and found seats.
For Allan and the others, it was their first time in a Pokémon Center. Usually, their Pokémon had to heal naturally when injured.
They never had the money to afford treatment here, so they were curious.
Pokémon Centers were always large. Not only could they heal Pokémon, but also provide food and lodging.
The first floor was for healing and dining. The upper floors were for rooms.
But it all cost money, and it was expensive.
Because of that, the League had rules.
Registered trainers got a 20% discount on all Pokémon Center services.
And if you carried a Pokédex, you paid nothing at all.
After a while, Chansey came pushing a cart with the Poké Balls.
Nurse Joy looked at Allan and the others sternly. "Your Pokémon don't have major problems, but they are full of small injuries.
This is dangerous. And they're exhausted. Make sure they rest properly, do you understand?"
The boys nodded frantically.
Then Nurse Joy turned to Eichi. "Your Weedle has recovered, and you've raised it well. I was wrong about you before."
Eichi chuckled awkwardly. "It's fine. I'll go pay now."
He went to the counter. The bill for all the Pokémon came to over 1,000p.
The cost depended on the injuries. The cheapest service was just a check-up, but even that cost 300p.
This time, Nurse Joy had given them a discount because of their poor situation.
When they left the Pokémon Center, Eichi gathered them and said, "You heard Nurse Joy. Don't spend every day in the Viridian Forest.
Do your own training too."
After that, everyone went home, while Eichi returned to his own house.
He released Weedle from its Poké Ball.
Weedle squeaked and wriggled, looking at him with eager eyes.
It was hungry.
Eichi laughed. "Alright, I know. Let's eat."
He set the table and took out Weedle's dinner from his backpack.
There was Moomoo Milk, Pokémon food, and Pokéblocks.
He drizzled some honey on the food, then placed everything down.
Weedle quickly gobbled it up, but when it was done, it chirped again.
Eichi frowned. That was unusual. Normally, that was enough, so why was it hungrier today?
Maybe the battle had drained more of its energy.
He prepared a second portion. Weedle devoured it eagerly, then suddenly froze.
It spat silk from its mouth, wrapping itself in layer after layer.
A bright white glow surrounded it as it was encased in silk.
When it stopped, it had become a pale yellow pupa with sharp black eyes.
Two scythe-like arms jutted out from its chest.
Kakuna, the Cocoon Pokémon.
Weedle's evolved form.
Type: Bug, Poison.
Ability: Shed Skin.
Moves: Harden.
It was Eichi's first time witnessing an evolution. He felt a shock deep in his chest.
He was overjoyed. Weedle had finally evolved. No wonder it had eaten so much.
For now, Kakuna only knew Harden, and it couldn't battle. It would need to store up energy until it evolved again.
Eichi said softly, "From now on, you're not Weedle anymore. You're Kakuna."