As the southeast wind picked up, the trio began spotting scattered Butterfree lifting into the air along the road, riding the gusts.
Insect Pokémon and small bird Pokémon alike had fixed migration habits. However, unlike birds—which were warm-blooded Pokémon with strong stamina—insect Pokémon couldn't sustain long-distance flight on their own.
Thus, they relied entirely on strong seasonal winds.
After all… if you can get a free ride, why wouldn't you take it?
"Come out, Metapod!"
Seeing this, Ash released his Metapod. He bent his knees, braced himself, and hoisted it up onto his shoulder.
He intended to use the fluttering Butterfree above as a constant reminder to his Metapod—
Only by enduring the bitterest hardship can one rise above all others.
"Pod—pod!"
Metapod cast a disdainful glance at the Butterfree drifting past, its heavy, powerful aura continuing to accumulate.
After walking for several hours, the three could finally make out a city glowing faintly gold in the distance along the main road.
It was Saffron City, the most developed city in the entire Kanto region.
Legend had it that if you picked up any random stone in the city and wiped it clean, you might find gold inside.
"At this pace, it'll take at least another hour," Brock said gently. "Let's rest for a bit."
Perfect timing—the wind was strengthening. They could rest in place and enjoy the spectacular sight of Butterfree clans freeloading on the wind.
"Whooo—"
The trio hurried to an open rocky overlook. Gazing across the forest, they saw that nearly every tree trunk had a Metapod hanging from it, waiting.
When the wind reached its peak, they would evolve and rise with it.
"Tch. All undernourished."
Ash scanned the scene and found not a single Metapod larger than his own. A wave of pride surged in his chest.
Maybe that was why people from other regions always called Kanto trainers country bumpkins.
In regions like Hoenn, they supposedly stockpiled power and evolved straight into Rayquaza (as Caterpie), resulting in an overabundance of powerful Rayquaza (as Caterpie) there.
And yet in Kanto, this was still considered a big secret?
No ambition at all!
Brock & Misty: "..."
Watching the smug expressions on both trainer and cocoon, the two of them really wanted to say the truth out loud.
Still, suppressing evolution to break limits was a valid way to maximize a Pokémon's potential.
Even if the goal was… questionable, a Butterfree that evolved this way would indeed be far stronger than one that evolved normally.
Better not say anything.
"Whooo—!!"
The wind surged.
Ash followed the motion and set the two heavyweights on his shoulders down.
Although Pikachu was much smaller than Metapod, its density was no joke. After comparing, the two actually weighed almost the same.
"Whooo—!!"
The southeast wind seemed to carry something more.
In the next instant, the Metapod clinging to the trees began glowing brilliantly, their bodies slowly changing within the white light.
"Is that… evolution light?"
The trio was stunned.
They'd seen a Pokémon evolve before.
But hundreds of Pokémon evolving simultaneously?
Never. Not once. Not even in rumors.
Even Ash and his previously disdainful Metapod stared wide-eyed at the rolling waves of white evolution light ahead.
"Mi-mi~~"
One Butterfree burst free from its cocoon. Its newly born wings quickly expanded from a shriveled state into strong, translucent wings, and it soared upward with the wind.
"Mi-mi~~"
"Mi-mi~~"
Then a second. A third.
Countless Butterfree emerged, stretching their wings and spiraling into the sky. Elegant and beautiful, their playful red eyes glanced curiously and joyfully at one another.
As the swarm beat their wings, sparkling scales drifted down like stardust. The trio instinctively raised their hands to catch it.
The powder didn't irritate them at all—instead, it felt cool and refreshing.
"Whooo—!!"
Another powerful gust surged through.
"Mi-mi~~"
"Mi-mi~~"
The newly evolved Butterfree flock took flight together. Hundreds of butterfly silhouettes danced densely across the sky, forming a scene so majestic and beautiful it felt flawlessly composed.
Below them, the three stood frozen in awe.
"It's… f***ing beautiful," Ash murmured.
A warm glow spread across his face, starlight shimmering in his eyes.
"Traveling really is the best thing ever!"
Back in Pallet Town, when would he ever have seen a sight like this?
Traveling the world with companions and Pokémon alike—this was undoubtedly the greatest decision of his life.
Even Red, deep within Ash's soul, stared blankly at this spectacle unique to the Pokémon world.
"So beautiful…"
A world this real, this vivid—
He was more than satisfied.
Just as Ash was getting lost in his emotions, a sudden vibration came from beside his foot.
"Pod—pod!!"
Metapod's entire body trembled violently, rattling with excitement.
The three were completely confused.
Ash scratched his head. "What is it? Are you… moved too?"
"Pod—pod!!"
Following Metapod's gaze, the trio looked toward the sky.
Only then did they notice something unusual.
Among the countless Butterfree, there was one that was pink.
Completely pink—from body to wings—standing out strikingly among the others.
"Is that a shiny Pokémon?" Misty blurted out.
Shiny Pokémon—those with abnormal coloration—were extremely rare and often possessed unique traits. On the black market, they could fetch astronomical prices.
Certain trainers were really into that sort of thing.
In some rural areas, they had another name:
Shiny Pokémon.
Brock blinked thoughtfully.
"Probably not shiny… more like a special form?"
Next to Pewter City was Viridian Forest, and in all his years Brock had seen exactly one shiny Butterfree. Its coloration didn't match this one.
This looked more like that Cubone Ash had abandoned in Pokémon Tower—some kind of mutation.
Either way, it was extremely valuable.
"Pod—pod!!"
Seeing Metapod's intense excitement, Ash examined it carefully, then suddenly smiled with understanding.
"Relax. Metapod and I share a bond of destiny—I know what it's thinking!"
Ash pointed dramatically at the pink Butterfree in the sky and laughed smugly.
"You want to dye yourself pink too, don't you? Hahaha! No problem! Saffron City's a big place—there's definitely a Pokémon grooming shop. I'll take you there and have this thing dyed pink!"
After all, green wasn't exactly a great color.
Pink would be much better.
A pink Rayquaza (as Caterpie) in the future wouldn't be bad at all.
Flashy had always been his thing.
"Pod—POD!!"
Instead of calming down, Metapod shook even harder. If it could move freely, it would've already smashed Ash with a Megahorn.
Misty: "..."
What destiny bond nonsense?
Even a random passerby could tell—this Metapod was clearly falling in love.
That pink Butterfree was charming enough that even she, a human, felt her heart flutter.
Misty was just about to say something to Brock when she realized—
The big guy was no longer beside her.
Instead, Brock had walked up to Metapod.
He gently covered Metapod's eyes with one hand, while the other slowly stroked its body from behind, soothing it.
The enlightened Brock blinked his bright, wise eyes and began chanting supreme wisdom learned from the mysterious East:
"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
Pink beauty is but a pile of bones.
Women are calamity."
"Women are monsters.
Women are demons."
As a senior who had already found his way back from the abyss, he felt obligated to guide the younger generation onto the proper path.
Ash: "?"
Misty: "..."
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