POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"Beedrill?!" Misty's face turned pale as Ash shouted. On one hand, her fear of Bug-type Pokémon surfaced, and on the other, she was painfully aware of the terror a swarm of Beedrill could unleash.

"We can't outrun them," Ash said, gritting his teeth. "We need to find a place to hide."

Beedrill were known for their speed and aggression, and running would only make them an easier target. Ash quickly scanned the surroundings. His eyes landed on a dense patch of grass, nearly a meter tall—just high enough for them to lie low and stay out of sight.

"Over here!" Ash grabbed Misty and Pikachu, pulling them toward the grassy area. Once they reached it, Ash pushed Misty gently but firmly to the ground. "Stay low and crawl forward," he instructed, positioning himself beside her. His head remained raised slightly to watch the approaching Beedrill.

The best-case scenario was that the Beedrill wouldn't notice them and fly off. But the worst case? A full-blown fight against the swarm. If it came to that, Ash could rely on Pikachu and Pidgey to fend off a few Beedrill, but Misty wasn't equipped to battle—not while paralyzed with fear.

Beside him, Misty trembled, clinging tightly to his arm. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and her lips quivered. She didn't dare look ahead.

Ash's fears were confirmed moments later. A swarm of fifteen Beedrill emerged from the trees, their sharp stingers glinting ominously. Their ruby-red eyes scanned the area, and their buzzing wings created a tense, ominous hum.

Beedrill resembled oversized hornets. They had segmented bodies consisting of a head, thorax, and tail, along with four legs instead of six. Their most dangerous features were the large twin stingers on their forelimbs and the poison barb at the end of their tails.

Ash's Pokédex quietly provided information:

Beedrill

Type: Bug/Poison

Ability: Swarm (boosts Bug-type moves in a pinch)

Category: Poison Bee Pokémon

Level: Ordinary

The swarm didn't seem to include any Beedrill above the Ordinary level, which was a small relief. But fifteen opponents were still too many, especially when Misty wasn't in any condition to fight. Worse, the Beedrill appeared to have spotted their trail through the grass, heading directly toward their hiding spot.

Ash sighed and made a decision. We can't wait for them to find us first.

"Misty, stay here and don't move," he whispered firmly. Before Misty could respond, Ash rose to his feet, Pikachu leaping onto his shoulder.

"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!" he commanded, stepping out of the grass. Simultaneously, he tossed a Poké Ball, releasing Pidgey. "Pidgey, use Gust to scatter them!"

"Pika!" Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder, discharging a bright, crackling Thunder Shock at the nearest Beedrill. The electric attack struck true, sending the unfortunate Pokémon crashing to the ground with blackened wings. It was knocked out instantly.

Pidgey flapped its wings furiously, stirring up a strong Gust that disrupted the swarm's formation. The Beedrill buzzed angrily, struggling to regroup against the sudden windstorm.

Ash allowed himself a moment of hope. Pikachu's Thunder Shock had taken down a Beedrill with one hit, and Pidgey was buying valuable time. "That's two less to worry about," he muttered. But the battle was far from over.

---

Back in the grass, Misty watched the scene unfold through trembling fingers. She wanted to help Ash, but the sheer number of Beedrill froze her in place. Their sharp stingers, the buzzing sound of their wings—it was too much. Her fear of Bug-types overwhelmed her, and all she could do was curse her own weakness.

Meanwhile, the Beedrill swarm had recovered from the initial assault. Their red eyes locked onto Ash, Pikachu, and Pidgey, and they launched a synchronized counterattack.

Ash didn't flinch. "Pikachu, dodge with Quick Attack and look for an opening!" he shouted. "Pidgey, keep using Gust to block their attacks. If they get too close, counter with Wing Attack!"

Pikachu dashed forward in a blur, darting through the Beedrill swarm with incredible speed. The Beedrill attempted to jab at the nimble Electric-type with their stingers, but Pikachu evaded them narrowly each time.

Pidgey flapped its wings once more, summoning another Gust that sent several Beedrill tumbling through the air. The strong winds disrupted their momentum, creating an opening for Pikachu.

"Now, Pikachu! Thunder Shock!" Ash commanded.

"Pika…CHUUUU!" Pikachu unleashed a massive burst of electricity, the golden lightning spreading in all directions. This time, four Beedrill were caught in the blast. They dropped to the ground, defeated.

"Great job, Pikachu!" Ash cheered, sweat beading on his forehead. But the swarm still outnumbered them, and his Pokémon were starting to tire.

---

The remaining Beedrill were furious. They charged in unison, their stingers gleaming as they aimed for Pikachu and Pidgey.

"Pidgey, dodge and use Wing Attack!" Ash called out. The tiny bird Pokémon flapped its wings hard, striking a Beedrill with enough force to send it spiraling to the ground. But another Beedrill retaliated, landing a glancing blow on Pidgey's wing. The bird let out a sharp cry and fell back toward Ash.

"Pidgey, return!" Ash quickly recalled the injured Pokémon into its Poké Ball. "It's up to you now, Pikachu."

Pikachu nodded, its cheeks sparking with determination. Despite the fatigue setting in, Pikachu stood its ground as the remaining Beedrill surrounded it.

Ash clenched his fists. I can't let Pikachu do this alone.

He grabbed a thick stick from the ground, charging into the fray alongside Pikachu. "Come on, you oversized hornets!" he shouted, swinging the stick to fend off the Beedrill that got too close. "Pikachu, Thunder Shock—one more time!"

Pikachu poured all its remaining energy into one final Thunder Shock, the bolt of electricity arcing across the battlefield. Three more Beedrill fell to the ground, unconscious.

The rest of the swarm hesitated. Their numbers had dwindled, and their leader—a slightly larger Beedrill—buzzed angrily before signaling a retreat. The remaining Beedrill turned and flew back into the forest, leaving Ash and Pikachu standing victorious.

---

Ash collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. Pikachu staggered back to him, clearly exhausted but wearing a triumphant smile.

"You were amazing, buddy," Ash said, patting Pikachu on the head. "You too, Pidgey," he added, looking at the Poké Ball in his hand.

Misty emerged from the grass, her face pale but filled with concern. "Ash, are you okay? Is Pikachu hurt?"

"We're fine," Ash assured her. "But we couldn't have done it without teamwork." He grinned, though his body ached all over.

Misty bit her lip. "I'm sorry… I couldn't help."

Ash shook his head. "It's okay. Everyone has fears to overcome. You'll find your strength when the time comes."

Misty looked at Ash, admiration flickering in her eyes. "Thanks... and Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"You're a lot braver than I thought."

Ash chuckled. "Well, someone had to protect us. Let's get out of here before more Beedrill show up."

With that, the group set off, Pikachu riding on Ash's shoulder, and Misty walking close beside him. Though they were battered and tired, they felt stronger as a team—and ready for whatever challenges awaited them next.

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