"Captain, we've detected traces of Mew!" A Team Rocket member exclaimed excitedly. A red dot appeared on the radar scanner in his hand, pointing straight at the patch of grass ahead.
"Come out, Fearow!" The squad leader immediately sent out his Pokémon. Behind him, six members released Spearow as well, while simultaneously preparing the electric net equipment meant for capturing Mew. Clearly, they had come fully "prepared."
Unfortunately, this squad was nothing more than expendable pawns of Team Rocket, sent to probe Professor Oak's attitude.
(Could this lineup really defeat Mew?)
"Maybe they think Mew is playful and easy to bully~"
Red joked. Although Mew, as a Mythical Pokémon, possessed overwhelming strength, its playful and kind nature often made it a target for evil organizations.
"That is… a Pidgey?" A member asked in confusion, repeatedly checking the scanner's data. The red dot was located on the Pidgey ahead, which was pretending to forage.
"Fearow, use Tri Attack!" the squad leader ordered, then turned and scolded the member. "You idiot, don't you know Mew can disguise itself as an ordinary Pokémon?!"
(How would I know something that specific…)
The member lowered his head in grievance. How could a small fry like him possibly have access to detailed information about a Mythical Pokémon like Mew?
Fearow released three spheres of energy that formed a triangle as they launched toward Mew. Tri Attack carried a 20% chance of inflicting burn, freeze, or paralysis. The squad leader intended to wear down Mew's stamina before attempting capture.
Realizing its disguise had been exposed, Mew immediately transformed into Pidgeot and used Air Slash to shatter Fearow's attack.
"As expected of the Phantom Pokémon—truly not to be underestimated!" The squad leader gave his men a signal. The members quickly pretended to command their Spearow to attack Mew while secretly maneuvering the electric net to restrain it.
How could Mew be bound by such childish tactics? Still, the noise of battle inevitably drew the attention of other Pokémon. A well-developed Beedrill appeared within everyone's sight, firing Pin Missile to knock down a Spearow that had been about to attack.
This Beedrill stood at 1.3 meters tall, far better developed than others of its kind. The peculiar feature was the two crimson rings on its abdomen. The stinger at its tail was exceptionally sharp, faint purple venom dripping from it, radiating lethal intent.
Beedrill's actions successfully enraged the squad leader. At his command, Fearow shifted its target to Beedrill. But a battle-hardened Beedrill was not so easily defeated.
Beedrill first exchanged Pin Missile with Fearow to wear it down, then closed the distance and slashed with X-Scissor, striking a vital point.
The injured Fearow cried out in pain. The squad leader's expression darkened as he ordered his subordinates to bring out the electric net, planning to ambush Beedrill while it was locked in combat with Fearow.
The sudden electric net continuously tormented Beedrill, and Fearow seized the chance to launch consecutive attacks. Severely wounded, Beedrill's stamina began to fail. A green aura emerged around its body—this was Beedrill's Ability, Swarm.
(Swarm: When HP falls to one-third or less, the power of Bug-type moves increases by 1.5×.)
"Hmph! So it's just an ordinary Ability. If it were [Sniper], maybe I'd consider raising you properly!" the squad leader sneered.
"Is tormenting a Beedrill something to be proud of?"
An annoyed voice came from behind. The squad leader turned around in shock, only to find all his subordinates defeated by Red. Five Spearow floated midair, eyes spiraling as they fell into sleep—clearly restrained by Red's psychic power.
"Who are you? How dare you interfere with Team Rocket's sacred plan!" The squad leader invoked Team Rocket's name, hoping to scare Red away. But Red was no ordinary boy; he did not fear their notorious reputation.
An Aura Sphere shot upward, striking Fearow from the sky. At Red's signal, Beedrill followed up with X-Scissor, completely defeating it.
"So? Will you become part of my family?"
Ignoring the hysterical squad leader, Red extended his right hand, inviting Beedrill to join him. He was deeply interested in this righteous and powerful Beedrill. During his observation, all the other Pokémon had fled in fear at the sight of Team Rocket. Only Beedrill had risked appearing to help Mew.
After a brief moment of thought, Beedrill placed its right stinger gently into Red's palm. Its determination to grow stronger made it want to become this boy's "family."
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for capturing your first Pokémon! Ability-Stacking System activated! Identified Pokémon: Beedrill. Stack Sniper Ability?]
The voice that echoed in Red's mind made his eyes light up. He hadn't expected to possess a system of his own.
[Stack Sniper Ability!]
Beedrill began to change. Its twin stingers grew sharper, and its originally red compound eyes became piercing and fierce—one of the signs of possessing the Sniper Ability.
Red keenly noticed that Beedrill was still in its Swarm state. That meant it now benefited from the effects of two Abilities simultaneously.
"I wasn't planning on letting you leave."
Red noticed the squad leader attempting to escape and immediately restrained him with psychic power, rendering him immobile like the others.
"If you've got the guts, battle me!" the squad leader shouted arrogantly, trying to provoke Red and seize a chance to flee.
"Beedrill, recover your stamina first."
Red tossed two Oran Berries, intending to use this battle to strengthen his bond with Beedrill.
"Come out, Rhydon!"
Regaining a bit of freedom, the squad leader quickly threw a Poké Ball and ordered Rhydon into battle.
The squad leader cautiously observed Beedrill. Though he couldn't understand what Red had done, his long-honed vigilance warned him not to be careless.
"Use Focus Energy."
Beedrill took a deep breath, concentrating to analyze Rhydon's weak points.
"Stop pretending! Rhydon, use Horn Attack!" the squad leader commanded.
"Dodge."
Beedrill beat its wings and easily evaded Rhydon's charge, then struck a vital point with X-Scissor. Empowered by both Swarm and Sniper, the move's power surged dramatically, knocking Rhydon to the ground.
"Impossible… just a weak Beedrill, I can't—"
The squad leader's disbelief was cut short as Red once again seized control of his body, forcibly closing his roaring mouth.
"Mii~ Mii~"
After the battle, the previously idle Mew curiously floated around Red. Sensing the kind Aura abilities emanating from him, it happily rubbed against his cheek. It had not encountered such righteous Aura abilities in a long time, naturally growing fond of Red and not resisting his gentle touch.
"We'll talk later, Mew."
Red soothed it, then turned to the squad leader.
"Right now, the priority is sending these Team Rocket members to the League prison!"
He slightly raised his right hand, condensing an Aura Sphere in his palm.
With a swift motion, Red hurled it into the sky. The Aura Sphere immediately caught Professor Oak's attention in the distance—he recognized it as Red's signal.
"Could it be that Red has run into danger?" Professor Oak quickly dialed the League police, requesting immediate dispatch of officers for support.
Half an hour later
This squad—who had deluded themselves into capturing Mew, though in truth they were mere expendable pawns—was taken away by police led by Officer Jenny.
Red unexpectedly befriended the Mythical Pokémon Mew and encountered his own first partner Pokémon, Beedrill.
What he had once considered a boring summer camp activity had, at this moment, become vibrant and unforgettable—an experience worthy of a lifetime of memories.
(A/N: Explanation: Red's Beedrill prefers solitude, so it possesses rich battle experience. In terms of strength, it surpasses Rhydon.)
(Debut work by a new author. Thank you for your five-star reviews.)