Disclaimer: I do not own this Jump chain CYOA or Pokemon.
"Dratini, you're up," I called out firmly.
With a spark of excitement in her eyes, Dratini slithered forward, positioning herself between me and the Beedrill.
"Start with Leer!"
"Draa!" Dratini's eyes glowed menacingly as she fixed her gaze on Beedrill. The Bug-type froze for a split second under her intimidating stare, its wings faltering briefly.
But it quickly shook off its fear. With an angry buzz, its twin stingers began glowing white. In a blur of movement, it lunged forward with terrifying speed.
"Dodge!" I commanded urgently.
Dratini weaved to the side gracefully, avoiding the first jab, then coiled back just in time to dodge the second. But before she could fully recover, Beedrill twisted midair and landed three quick strikes in succession, slashing her side with its glowing stingers.
"Dratini!" I shouted, worry gripping me for a moment. But she shook herself, glaring at Beedrill with fierce determination.
"Alright, use drap!" I fumbled my words in my haste. "I mean Wrap!"
Without hesitation, Dratini lunged forward, her long body coiling around Beedrill's torso before it could retreat. The insect thrashed wildly in her grip, its wings buzzing frantically as it tried to escape.
"Now, slam it into that tree and follow up with Dragon Breath!" I ordered, my heart pounding with adrenaline.
With a powerful twist, Dratini hurled Beedrill straight into a nearby tree. The impact cracked the wood with a loud thud, and before it could even slide down the trunk, Dratini reared back and released a thick, glowing green beam from her mouth.
The Dragon Breath slammed into Beedrill, engulfing it completely in its shimmering energy. When the attack faded, the Beedrill dropped limply to the forest floor, unconscious.
"Draaa!" Dratini turned towards me, eyes shining with joy and pride. She slithered over quickly and wrapped herself around my torso, her smooth scales cool against my skin as she nuzzled my cheek affectionately.
I laughed, feeling an overwhelming surge of pride. "Good job, Dra," I whispered, patting her head gently. "You were amazing out there."
I approached the unconscious Beedrill, pulling out a Pokéball from my bag. But as I stood there, ready to catch it, I paused and lowered my hand.
No… catching every Pokémon I came across wasn't my goal. I needed to focus on quality over quantity. Managing a huge number of Pokémon would be inefficient, and I wouldn't be able to train them all properly. It made more sense to build a strong team of around twelve Pokémon – ones I could train intensively and switch between depending on the situation, rather than hoarding dozens just to leave them forgotten in my warehouse.
Speaking of which, my cosmic warehouse had another useful function. Once I had six Pokémon on my team, any additional captures would automatically be transported there and remain in stasis until I opened the warehouse again. It essentially worked like the PC storage system in the games but was accessible across universes.
My Pokédex also had an integrated switching function. With it, I could replace any Pokémon in my active team with one stored in the warehouse, swapping them out as needed without having to visit a Pokémon Center.
As I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard a familiar, ominous buzzing sound.
Bzz… bzzt… bzzzz…
The buzzing grew louder, intensifying around me.
Bzz… bzzzzzz… bzzz…
I turned to see five Beedrill emerging from the trees, their stingers gleaming dangerously as they hovered menacingly in the air. Yeah… these things always moved in groups. The one I had just defeated was probably part of this swarm.
"Looks like we're in for a fight," I muttered under my breath. Raising my voice, I called out, "Zubat, Dratini – it's time to rumble!"
Dratini slithered forward, her eyes narrowing with determination, while Zubat flapped into position above me, screeching eagerly.
The Beedrill swarm circled us, their wings slicing through the air like blades.
Our second battle of the day had just begun.
The Beedrill swarm circled us, their wings buzzing like electric saws, sharp stingers glinting under the scattered sunlight peeking through the forest canopy.
"Zubat, Dratini – let's do this!" I shouted, my adrenaline pumping.
The Beedrill didn't waste any time. Two of them shot forward, their twin stingers glowing a metallic white.
"Dratini, Twister! Zubat, Supersonic!"
"Draaa!" Dratini reared back and unleashed a swirling mini-cyclone from her mouth. The twisting winds slammed into the incoming Beedrill, knocking them back slightly but not completely stopping them. Meanwhile, Zubat flapped his wings rapidly, emitting a high-pitched sonic screech. One Beedrill faltered midair, disoriented by the Supersonic waves, and crashed into a nearby tree, stunned.
"Good, now Zubat, use Poison Fang on the closest Beedrill!"
Zubat darted forward, fangs glowing a sinister purple, and sank them into one Beedrill's abdomen. The insect screeched in pain, jabbing wildly, but Zubat flitted away unharmed.
The other three Beedrill swooped down together in perfect synchronisation, their Drill Run attacks aimed at Dratini.
"Dodge and use Wrap on the closest one!" I yelled.
Dratini weaved between two of them but was struck hard by the third, sending her skidding across the ground with a pained cry. She shook her head, glaring at the Beedrill defiantly, then sprang forward, coiling her body around its torso before it could fly away.
"Now slam it down and use Dragon Breath!"
With a sharp twist, Dratini hurled the Beedrill onto the ground and unleashed a glowing green Dragon Breath directly at it. The bug screeched before falling unconscious.
But we weren't in the clear. Two Beedrill blindsided Dratini from above, their Twin Needle attacks stabbing repeatedly into her back. She screamed in pain, her scales sparking with static energy as she writhed under their assault.
"Dratini!" I yelled, panic surging in my chest.
Zubat tried to intervene, flitting in with Astonish to knock one Beedrill away, but the other turned on him instantly, jabbing him in the wing with its stinger. Zubat shrieked but countered with Absorb, his fangs glowing green as he latched onto the Beedrill's arm, siphoning its energy to recover a bit of his health.
"Dratini, hold on!" I shouted desperately.
She was pinned under the Beedrill's stingers, her body trembling with pain and exhaustion. But then, something changed. Her scales shimmered with electricity, crackling and sparking along her entire body.
"Wait… is this—"
With a furious cry, Dratini's eyes blazed as she reared back her head and released a burst of crackling yellow energy.
"Thunder Wave!" I exclaimed, realising what had happened.
The electric wave surged outward, catching both Beedrill mid-attack. Their wings spasmed as paralysis seized their bodies, causing them to drop heavily to the forest floor, twitching helplessly.
"Nice job, girl!" I shouted, feeling a surge of relief and pride.
"Zubat, finish them off with Poison Fang and Astonish!"
Zubat swooped down at the paralyzed Beedrill, biting down hard with his glowing fangs before spinning around and unleashing a ghostly Astonish to knock out the other.
The final Beedrill, which had recovered from Supersonic earlier, tried to flee, but Dratini wasn't having it.
"Dratini, Twister!"
She spun around, whipping up another swirling cyclone. The winds caught the Beedrill mid-flight and sent it crashing to the ground, where it lay unconscious among its fallen swarm.
For a few moments, silence reigned over the clearing, broken only by the heavy sound of my breathing and the distant cries of wild Pidgey overhead.
Dratini slithered back to me, bruised but proud, while Zubat fluttered down to perch on my shoulder, his chest rising and falling rapidly with exertion.
"You guys…" I whispered, kneeling down to hug Dratini as Zubat nuzzled my cheek, "you were amazing. Absolutely amazing."
A victorious smile spread across my face as I stood up, looking around at the unconscious Beedrill swarm.
We'd done it. We'd survived our first real challenge as a team – and Dratini had even learned Thunder Wave.
Oooo
After the intense Beedrill battle, I gave both Dratini and Zubat a potion each to heal up their injuries. They chirped and cooed gratefully as the medicine worked its magic, restoring their strength and easing their pain.
The rest of the afternoon was spent training. We took on single wild Pokémon – a few Butterfree fluttering through the trees, some aggressive Spearow, and flocks of Pidgey that scattered when challenged. We even came across a couple of wandering trainers and bug catchers looking for easy victories. They quickly learned that my team was no pushover.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, I had earned a modest sum of 1,288 Pokédollars from the trainer battles. Not bad for our first proper day in the wild.
As night settled in, I set up camp in a small clearing. The tent was easy to pitch, and soon it stood snugly under the canopy of tall trees. I released Dratini and Zubat to let them relax outside. Dratini curled up beside the tent while Zubat perched on a low branch, his wings folded around him like a cloak.
I gathered some dry wood and lit up a small campfire, its warm glow pushing back the darkness around us. I set a pot of water to boil over the flames and prepared my dinner – instant cup noodles. As the aroma wafted up, my stomach growled in anticipation.
For my Pokémon, I poured out their food into two small bowls. Dratini immediately slithered over and began eating happily, while Zubat fluttered down, delicately dipping his fangs into his share.
Just as I was about to start eating my noodles, I heard a rustling sound from the bushes directly in front of our camp. Instantly, all three of us went on alert. Dratini raised her head, Zubat spread his wings threateningly, and I reached for an empty Pokéball at my side, ready for anything.
What emerged from the bushes, however, made my eyes widen in absolute shock.
A Bulbasaur.
A freaking Bulbasaur.
It didn't even glance at me or my Pokémon. Instead, it waddled forward on its tiny paws, sniffed around the camp, and then – with no hesitation at all – made a beeline straight to Zubat's food bowl. It lowered its head and began munching away contentedly.
Zubat screeched angrily at the intrusion, flapping his wings and preparing to attack, but I quickly raised a hand to stop him, an idea sparking in my mind.
"Hey there, buddy," I said softly, crouching down to Bulbasaur's level. "Do you like that food?"
"Bulba, bulba!" it replied happily between bites, its little tail wagging slightly.
I chuckled. "You know, if you join my team, you can eat food like this every single day. And sometimes… even better than this."
"Bulba?" Bulbasaur tilted its head at me curiously after finishing off Zubat's entire bowl. I had no idea what it was asking, but I decided to take a chance.
I pulled out an empty Pokéball and held it out towards the small Grass-type. "Yes," I replied with a grin. "What do you say?"
Bulbasaur looked at me, then at the Pokéball. Its eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity. "Bulba!" it cried out, and with surprising eagerness, it reached forward and tapped its nose against the Pokéball.
In an instant, it was engulfed in red light and sucked inside. The ball wobbled three times before letting out a final ping to confirm the capture.
I stared at the Pokéball in my hand, still half-expecting it to burst open. But it didn't.
"Well… that was freakin' easy," I muttered, a huge smile breaking across my face.
Dratini cheered happily while Zubat merely huffed, looking a little annoyed about losing his food. But I could tell even he was pleased with our newest team member.
I sat back down by the fire, the warmth licking at my skin as I held Bulbasaur's Pokéball in my hands. Curious, I pulled out my Pokédex and scanned it.
"Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon," the device chimed. "The seed on its back is filled with nutrients, growing steadily larger as its body grows. It carries this seed from birth, and as Bulbasaur matures, the seed blooms and becomes stronger."
I checked its details:
Gender: Male
Height: 2'04"
Ability: Overgrow
Moves: Tackle, Vine Whip, Growth, Leech Seed, Razor Leaf
I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. "Well… looks like luck's on my side for once. With you on the team, taking on Brock just got a whole lot easier."
Oooo
I ended up spending another two days in Viridian Forest, focusing entirely on training my team. Every day was packed with battles – we challenged wild Pokémon at every opportunity, from Caterpie and Weedle to the occasional Pidgeotto, and took down a handful of bug catchers and wandering trainers looking for easy wins.
No one learned any new moves during this time, but I could feel the difference in their abilities. Their strength, speed, and overall battle instincts had noticeably improved. I wasn't sure if battling could actually increase a Pokémon's physical stats like strength, speed, or defense in this world, but my team definitely felt tougher. Maybe it was because of my "Champ in the Making" perk. According to its description, my Pokémon gained strength faster when they defeated other trainers. Lucky me – that perk made all the grinding feel so much more worth it.
One change that really surprised me was Dratini's growth. She had gotten visibly taller in just two days, going from 4'5" to an impressive 5'1". Her Dragon Breath attack had become noticeably more powerful too, hitting with greater force and leaving her opponents struggling to get back up.
Bulbasaur, on the other hand, turned out to be an absolute lazybones. All he ever wanted to do was nap in the sunlight or stuff his face with food. Sometimes, when I called him out for training or battle, he'd pretend to be asleep, snoring loudly with one eye half open – the cheeky little vegetable. But despite his laziness, he was incredibly strong. His attack and defense were solid, though he was a bit slow on his feet. Still, his raw power more than made up for it.
Finally, after two days of intense training and bonding with my team, it was time to move on. The forest was beautiful, but I had a bigger goal ahead of me.
"Alright guys," I said, looking down at my companions with a grin. Dratini lifted her head proudly, Zubat flapped his wings eagerly above me, and Bulbasaur let out a sleepy but enthusiastic "Bulba!" in agreement.
"We're heading to Pewter City. It's time to get that Boulder Badge."
Oooo
It took us about two hours to navigate our way through the dense undergrowth and winding paths of Viridian Forest. Eventually, the trees began to thin out, and I could see the bright light of Route 2 up ahead, marking the forest's exit.
I let out a breath of relief. Finally, we were almost out.
But just as we were about to step out into the open, I heard it – a faint flapping sound that quickly grew into a deafening chorus of wingbeats.
I looked up, and my heart sank. Emerging from the shadows of the trees above was a massive swarm of Zubat. Dozens of them, their eyes glowing eerily in the dim forest light, screeching in unison as they swooped down towards us. They looked furious, and I immediately remembered the flaw that came with my jump – Swarmed. Of course they had to appear now, right at the exit.
"Damn it…" I muttered under my breath.
Quickly, I recalled Zubat and Bulbasaur back into their Pokéballs. This was going to be Dratini's fight.
"Dratini," I said, my voice calm despite the tension gripping my chest. She slithered forward, her gaze sharp and unwavering as she looked up at the incoming swarm.
"Listen carefully. As soon as they're in range, hit them with Thunder Wave. Then follow up immediately with Twister. If any of them are still flying after that, use Thunder Wave again to paralyse the rest."
"Draa!" Dratini hissed in acknowledgment, her body sparking with crackling electricity as she prepared to unleash her attack.
The Zubat swarm descended, screeching in fury as they closed in on us like a living shadow.
"All right, girl," I whispered, clenching my fists tightly. "Let's show them who they're messing with."
The Zubat swarm closed in rapidly, their screeches piercing the forest air. There were at least twenty of them, a living cloud of wings and fangs descending upon us.
"Now, Dratini – Thunder Wave!" I shouted.
"Draa!" Dratini reared back, her scales crackling with bright yellow sparks before she unleashed a wide burst of electric energy. The Thunder Wave rippled out in an expanding sphere, catching the leading Zubat in its range. One by one, their screeches turned into startled cries as their bodies convulsed mid-flight, wings locking up from paralysis. They dropped from the air like stones, hitting the forest floor with soft thuds.
But there were still more coming, the second wave swooping in from behind the paralysed group.
"Follow up with Twister!" I ordered.
With a fierce gleam in her eyes, Dratini coiled her body tightly and spun around with incredible force. A raging mini-cyclone formed around her, growing wider and taller as she unleashed it towards the incoming swarm. The powerful gusts of wind and swirling leaves tore through the group, scattering them like ragdolls. Some slammed into tree trunks while others were flung far back into the forest.
But despite the devastating attack, a handful of Zubat – about five of them – managed to push through, though their flight was erratic and disoriented from the shockwave.
"They're still coming! Thunder Wave, again!" I commanded.
Dratini's scales sparked once more, and she unleashed another wave of crackling electricity. This time, the attack swept through the remaining Zubat with brutal efficiency. Their wings froze mid-flap as paralysis took over their small bodies, and they fell helplessly to the ground, twitching weakly.
Within moments, the forest fell silent except for the sound of Dratini's heavy breathing. The entire swarm lay scattered around her, paralyzed and utterly defeated.
I let out a slow breath I hadn't realised I was holding, relief flooding through me.
I walked up to Dratini, who turned her head towards me with a tired but proud look in her eyes. "You were amazing," I whispered, patting her smooth, cool scales. She let out a soft "Draa…" in response, her body relaxing as the adrenaline drained from her system.
I glanced around at the swarm of paralyzed Zubat littering the forest floor. Part of me considered catching a few, but I shook my head. I already had my Zubat, and capturing them for no purpose felt meaningless.
Instead, I looked down at Dratini, who was coiling back towards my side. "Come on, girl," I said softly, a small smile on my face. "Let's get out of this forest. Pewter City is waiting for us."
With the swarm behind us and the sun finally warming the path ahead, we stepped out of Viridian Forest and into Route 2, ready for the next stage of our journey.