Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH

Chapter 129: National Park

~Third POV~

[Johto Region, Route 35 – National Park]

Azure Sky, a seasoned Pokémon Trainer with a twinkle in his eye and Pikachu perched comfortably on his shoulder, gazed at the sprawling expanse of the Johto region. He'd journeyed far, his team a well-oiled machine of battling prowess.

Besides Pikachu, Eevee trotted, its brown fur gleaming in the sunlight, a picture of quiet confidence. Celebi floated beside his head, gazing at the gates in front of them with childish curiosity.

He'd recently conquered the Normal-type Gym Leader, Whitney, in Goldenrod City, a victory that left him both exhilarated and slightly bruised. The Miltank was a force to be reckoned with, but Azure's strategic mind and his team's resilience had prevailed.

Now, standing at the gates of the National Park and Route 36, a new adventure beckoned. The air buzzed with anticipation as Azure consulted his Arc Phone.

He'd heard rumors of rare Pokémon inhabiting the National Park, and the lure of discovery was strong. But then, a notification popped up: the annual Bug-Catching Contest was about to begin.

Azure paused, his brow furrowing in thought. He hadn't considered participating in the contest.

He usually focused on training and battling, but the thought of encountering unique Bug-types, perhaps even finding a new addition to his team, proved irresistible. He asked, looking at his Pokémon, "What do you guys think?"

Pikachu, as usual, gave a determined nod, sparks crackling from its cheeks. Eevee tilted its head, its eyes bright with curiosity. Celebi nodded happily, childishly curious about the Bug Catching Contest.

The decision was made. Azure declared, a grin spreading across his face, "Alright, National Park it is then. Let's see what kind of Bug-type Pokémon are feeling lucky today!"

As he ventured into the park, the air grew thick with the hum of insects. Butterflies flitted through the air, Caterpie munched on leaves, and Spinarak spun intricate webs between the trees.

It was when Azure met a ranger at the National Park, as his eyes saw him, he asked curiously with a knowing grin, "Hey there, young man! Are you here to participate in the Pokémon Bug Catching Contest today? Would you like to give it a try?"

Azure nodded with a sheepish grin. The Ranger smiled as he took out his Rotom Phone, beginning to register Azure Sky as one of the participants as he explained the rules, "Using one of your Pokémon, catch a Bug-Type Pokémon to be judged. Here are the Sports Balls for the contest. The person who gets the strongest Bug Pokémon is the winner. You have 20 minutes, and when you're out of your 20 Sport Balls, you're done. You can keep the last Pokémon you catch as your own. Go out and catch the strongest Bug-Type Pokémon you can find!"

Taking the 20 Sports Balls, Azure declared, a grin spreading across his face, "Let's do it. It'll be good practice, a chance to bond with the team, and who knows? Maybe we'll find something special."

The contest was already underway. Young trainers, clad in brightly colored clothes, were scattered throughout the park, their Pokémon partners diligently searching the tall grass and flower patches.

Azure scanned his team, considering his options. He asked, releasing his team from their Poké Balls, "Okay, who's up for some bug catching?"

Pupitar stubbornly stood his ground, refusing to acknowledge the surrounding flora. Misdreavus giggled and phased through a nearby tree.

Quagsire simply stared, a blank expression on his face. Houndoom, always eager for a fight, barked impatiently. Skarmory, with a majestic flap of its wings, soared into the sky, surveying the park from above.

Finally, his eyes landed on Flaaffy. The electric sheep looked up at him, her woolly body practically glowing with excitement.

She bleated, nuzzling his leg, "Flaaffy!"

Azure chuckled, patting her head as she affectionately liked being petted on, as he said happily, "You want to go, huh? Alright, Flaffy, you're up. This will be a good opportunity for us to spend some quality time together and for you to gain some experience. We'll work on your moves, too."

Flaaffy bleated happily and skipped ahead, her cottony tail bobbing with each step. Azure equipped himself with the pouch of Sports Balls he'd received from the contest officials as he said to Flaaffy, "Remember, we're looking for a strong Bug-type, something that will be a valuable addition to the team. Use Thunder Wave to weaken them, and then we'll throw a Sports Ball. Got it?"

Flaaffy nodded eagerly, her eyes gleaming with determination. After that, he recalled his Pokémon Team, including Celebi, following the rules of the Bug Catching Event.

They ventured deeper into the park, the air thick with the scent of wildflowers and damp earth. Butterflies fluttered around them, and the chirping of unseen insects filled the air.

Azure kept a watchful eye on the undergrowth, searching for potential candidates. They encountered Caterpie, Weedle, and even a Kakuna.

Azure wanted a Pokémon strong enough to catch his eye. Even though he had the Mega Evolution for Beedrill, he didn't need it right now as he was currently in the Bug Catching Contest.

After searching for a while, suddenly they saw it. A large, imposing Pinsir was perched on a tree branch, its powerful pincers glinting in the sunlight.

It was exactly the kind of strong Pokémon Azure was hoping to find. Azure whispered, pointing towards the Pinsir, "Flaaffy, look! That's the one! Be careful, it looks strong. Use Thunder Wave and try to paralyze it."

Flaaffy nodded, her wool crackling with electricity. She cautiously approached the tree, her eyes fixed on the Pinsir.

The Pinsir, however, was already alert, its antennae twitching nervously. It spotted Azure and Flaaffy, and a look of fury crossed its face.

*WOOSH*

Before Azure could react, the Pinsir launched itself from the tree, hurtling towards Flaaffy with surprising speed. It was clear that this Pinsir wasn't interested in being captured; it wanted a fight.

Azure shouted in alarm, "Flaaffy, dodge it!"

*THUD*

But it was too late. The Pinsir slammed into Flaaffy, sending her tumbling through the air. She landed with a thump, dazed but not seriously hurt.

Azure called out, concern etched on his face, "Flaaffy, are you okay?"

Flaaffy shook her head, trying to clear her vision. She rose to her feet, her wool bristling with electricity.

The Pinsir, meanwhile, hovered in the air, its pincers snapping menacingly. It was clear that this was going to be a tough battle.

Azure, returning his attention to the battle, commanded, "Flaaffy, Thunder Wave!"

*Zzzzz*

Flaffy focused her energy, and a wave of electricity surged from her body. The Thunder Wave struck the Pinsir, causing it to convulse in mid-air.

The paralysis took hold, slowing its movements and impairing its ability to attack. Azure thought, having a chance, 'Good. Now's our chance.'

Azure quickly ordered Flaaffy in an excited tone extending his arm out, "Quick, Flaaffy, another Thunder Shock!"

*Zzzz*

Flaaffy unleashed another wave of electricity, further weakening the Pinsir. The Bug Pokémon struggled against the paralysis, its movements becoming sluggish and uncoordinated.

*Wooosh*

However, the Bug Pokémon was not backing down. It launched itself towards Flaaffy with surprising speed and slammed her onto the ground.

Azure shouted, concerned, "Flaaffy!"

Flaaffy gets up slowly, using Thunderbolt to try and escape. The Bug Pokémon gets paralyzed again, as it once again is unable to move.

Azure gets ready to toss a Sport Ball, but at the last moment, the Pinsir managed to break free from the paralysis and attempted to flee. Azure yelled, throwing a Sports Ball at the Pinsir, "No, you don't!"

*Wooosh*

But the Pinsir was too quick. It dodged the Sports Ball with a flick of its wings, sending the ball hurtling past it.

*SMACK*

To Azure's surprise and confusion, the ball struck something else entirely – a Heracross, which had been hidden in the nearby bushes. The Heracross, caught completely off guard, was sucked into the Sports Ball.

Heracross was sucked inside the Sport Ball. The ball bounced on the ground once, twice, three times, and then clicked shut.

*BON*

Azure cautiously approached the ball, his heart pounding in his chest. He picked it up, examining it closely. He had caught a Heracross!

Azure was stunned. He had been so focused on capturing the Pinsir that he hadn't even noticed the Heracross lurking nearby. He had wanted to find a Pinsir, but now he had a Heracross.

Azure said, shaking his head in disbelief, holding the Sport Ball, "Well, I'll be. I guess that's how it goes sometimes."

He looked at Flaaffy, who was still panting from the battle. He said, patting her head, "You did great, Flaaffy. Even if we didn't get the Pinsir, we still managed to catch a Heracross. And that's something to be proud of."

Azure glanced at his watch. The Bug Catching Contest was nearing its end. A part of him still wanted to catch the Pinsir, but the Heracross was a great option, and he didn't have enough time to find another Pokémon.

With a sigh, Azure decided to head back to the entrance, Heracross in tow. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder if he had made the right decision. Should he have continued searching for the Pinsir, or was the Heracross a better choice?

As Azure approached the judging area, he saw a long line of trainers waiting to have their Pokémon evaluated. He joined the queue, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty, but he thought proudly, 'Still, a Heracross is the best Bug Type here. No way someone will get a better score than me. And my Heracross is Lv.25 I have this in the bag.'

When his turn arrived, he handed the Heracross in its Sports Ball to the judge, an elderly man with a magnifying glass and a stern expression. The judge examined the Heracross carefully, noting its size, strength, and overall health.

After a few moments of deliberation, the judge looked up at Azure. He said, his voice surprisingly gentle, "This is a fine Heracross. It's strong, healthy, and has excellent potential. You've done well, young man."

Azure beamed with pride. He had managed to catch a strong Pokémon, even if it wasn't the one he had initially intended to catch.

He waited in line with the rest of the participants puffing his chest in pride. The Judge then announced, "We've seen your Pokémon and now will judge the Pokémon you've caught. Placing third place is the Bug Catcher Ed, who caught a writhing PINSER!!! The score is 313!!!"

The participants looked at Ed and his Pinser with envy. But the judge continued, "Placing second is the Ace Trainer Sky, who caught a mighty Heracross! The score is 316!"

Azure froze in disbelief, being placed in Second Place as the Judge announces the winner in an excited tone, "This Bug Catching Contest winner is… The Bug Catcher Josh, who caught a Shiny Beedrill! The Score is 320! Everyone else gets a Shed Shell as a consolation prize!"

One of the Rangers handed Azure the Shed Shell as his jaw dropped; he knew how rare and powerful that Pokémon was.

He handed back the spare Sports Ball containing Heracross and congratulated the young boy. After the Bug Catching Contest ended, Azure checked his Arc Phone of Heracross status and bio.

|Name: Heracross (Single Horn Pokémon)

|Type: Bug/Fighting

|Level: 25

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: None

|Ability: Guts

|Nature: Adamant

|Moves: Arm Thrust, Leer, Tackle, Fury Attack, Endure, Aerial Ace, Horn Attack, Counter, Pin Missile, Slash, Brick Break, Night Slash, Bullet Seed, Rock Smash (HM), Mega Horn (IM), Rock Blast (EM) (1 Moves left to learn)

[Heracross, the Single Horn Pokémon. Heracross's claws allow it to dig into the ground for sturdy footing and allow it to climb trees. Using its horn, it throws opponents or competitors for food. It can lift and throw objects 100 times its weight.

It uses its two antennae to search for food by scent. As mentioned in Pokémon Sleep, Heracross is known to occasionally sleep while licking the sap it finds. The reason is due to Heracross becoming exhausted from a potentially hard search for sweet sap.

It lives in boreal, temperate, and tropical forests, where it feeds on tree sap. Heracross has been known to compete with Pokémon such as Pinsir for food. In Alola, Heracross gets along better with Pinsir, as they both have rivalries with Vikavolt.]

Azure blinked, seeing Heracross' stats and ability as he thought, seeing its movesets in an impressed tone, 'Okay… I knew the Heracross had an Adamant Nature. But I didn't think it would be this strong of an attacker.'

Thinking of befriending the Heracross for later, Azure turned his attention to Flaaffy as he asked curiously, rubbing her head, "So, did you have fun, Flaaffy?"

She bleated in response and rubbed her head on Azure's leg, "Flaaffy!"

Azure smiled, rubbing her head as he gazed at Heracross in its Sports Ball. Using the Viridian Force, calming the startled Heracross' nerves, he asked genuinely if it wanted to join him as his trainer, offering the promise of food and battles.

Heracross's face beamed happily, having earned its loyalty with the promise of food and battles befitting the Bug/Fighting Type Pokémon. Heracross nodded its head as it no longer needed to hunt for food against the Pinsir or other Pokémon in the National Park.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, Azure decided to call it a day. As he left the National Park, with Pikachu, Eevee, and a Heracross in tow, Azure couldn't help but smile as Celebi sat on his free shoulder as he said, "Welp! The journey waits for no man! Let's get going, gang!"

Pikachu, Eevee, and Celebi smiled as they raised their hands happily agreeing, "Pika! Bui! Bei!"

Agreeing, they began to set off to Route 36. But first, they set up camp for the night near the gates as they prepared to eat dinner, unaware that the road to Ecruteak City would be blocked by a mysterious tree hiding a ferocious Rhydon…

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A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!