"What a big bug!"
"Is it a whole new species? There are so many… it's making me a little uneasy!"
"I actually think it's kind of cute. Just look at how plump it is, and those big eyes."
Tourists pointed and murmured as Ethan led a procession of green caterpillars Catterpie through the park. At Ethan's side walked a few of his Pokémon: Pikachu Timmy, Wartortle, and Igneel. They were acting like bodyguards, keeping the newly hatched bugs in line.
"Timmy, check that nobody's lagging behind," Ethan called over his shoulder.
Timmy hopped back toward the truck, scanning quickly. After ensuring no Catterpie were left, he returned and fell in at the rear of the group. Together, they made an unusual parade into Pokémon Paradise. Visitors stopped whatever they were doing just to watch.
Some folks found the caterpillars unsettling, while others were fascinated. Even those who disliked bugs couldn't deny they looked harmless plump bodies, bright eyes, and a gentle squeaking sound. If you could move past the idea of a worm, they were unexpectedly endearing.
Eventually, Ethan reached a hillside in the park. He guided the caterpillar column up a gently sloping path. Along the way, a startled child caught sight of a particularly large Catterpie and burst into tears, which made some people laugh. Most, however, just gave the procession plenty of space.
Once near a patch of forest that remained uncut, Ethan ushered the Catterpie into their new home. They took in the fresh greenery, antennae twitching, eyes gleaming at the abundance of leaves.
"Go on, eat what you like," Ethan said, waving them forward. "Just don't strip the place bare. Leave a few trees standing, especially that area over there!"
He wasn't relying solely on the park's foliage, of course. A regular supply of extra leaves was planned so they wouldn't devour the entire forest. Otherwise, with so many caterpillars, the small woods might be gnawed down in no time and Ethan didn't want them damaging the nearby cone trees or saplings.
James trailed a few steps behind, wrinkling his brow. He was typically calm, but the sheer number of wriggling bugs put him on edge. "Are you sure they can fend for themselves? It's not too soon?"
"They're insects," Ethan answered matter-of-factly. "They grow fast. No reason to hold them back in a lab. Unless," he added with a half-smile, "you've grown attached to them, James?"
James shook his head. "Not exactly. But if you set them loose too early, a hawk or Pidgeotto might swoop in. They look defenseless."
Ethan shrugged. "They have String Shot. Plus, we haven't seen many wild birds lately Igneel has been poking around the nests. And even if a stray bird appears, these Catterpie can defend themselves enough to drive it off or at least deter it."
Hearing mention of Igneel's "egg hunts," James sighed. The mischievous Pokémon had a habit of checking hidden nests, which apparently kept wild birds at bay. "Fair enough," he conceded.
Pikachu Timmy rummaged in the undergrowth, ensuring no caterpillars were wandering off. Each Catterpie squeaked happily, nibbling leaves. Some staffers jotted down notes on how quickly they adapted. Others hovered near the cone trees, making sure the newly arrived bugs didn't stray and chew them.
After finishing there, Ethan strolled farther up the slope. He wanted to check on the cone trees' fruit. Last time he looked, each fruit was roughly the size of a stone. Now, they'd grown several times larger like hefty meatballs faint red lines covering the surface.
He observed them with satisfaction. If they matured into fully formed "Poké Balls," his orchard vision would be one step closer to reality. "Not long now," he whispered. "Soon, I'll find out if we can actually harvest them for practical use."
Just then, Timmy tugged at his sleeve, pointing deeper into the forest. Ethan recognized Timmy's signal and approached casually, not wanting to alert whoever lurked. In a split second, Ethan shouted back, "Wartortle, Use Water Gun over there!"
Wartortle unleashed a forceful jet. A masked figure leapt out from behind the bushes, narrowly dodging. The Water Gun clipped his shoulder, sending him stumbling mid-jump. Once he landed, he bolted downslope, weaving through dense foliage.
Ethan dashed to where the intruder had been hiding, but the man vanished, capitalizing on the mountainside's cover. Narrowing his eyes, Ethan called upward, "Mew where are you?"
At once, a Mew appeared from thin air, usually invisible above the treetops. Ethan pointed in the direction the stranger fled. "Shadow him, don't get spotted. When he settles, come back and tell me."
Mew nodded with a small trill, then vanished again, giving chase from above. Ethan's face hardened. "So there are still trespassers. Our security must be slacking if a masked man can just roam in. If he tries anything, I'll handle it."
After verifying nobody else lurked nearby, Ethan headed down the mountain, venting his frustration at the security guard who was supposed to watch that area. A quick check at the surveillance room revealed the masked man's hasty climb. Ethan demanded that staff thoroughly review the footage. "No more slip-ups," he warned them. "A single saboteur could destroy weeks of progress up there."
Mew soon returned, telepathically communicating that the intruder had joined others at a certain building in the city. Ethan patted Mew's head. "Good work," he murmured. "I suspect Jerry might be behind this, snooping around again."
He drove downtown, guided by Mew's silent directions, until they parked outside a tall biotech company building which was Jerry's stronghold. Ethan recognized it instantly, frowning deeply. "He's still meddling. If he thinks he can sabotage me or my Pokémon, he's wrong."
A flicker of dark intent crossed Ethan's mind. "I could just use Mew's Confusion to set up an unfortunate accident… But no," he reminded himself, "Mew's gentle nature wouldn't handle that well. I'm not making Mew into a killer."
Though he yearned for a decisive end to Fowler's troublemaking, he refused to taint Mew's innocence. "I'll find another method," Ethan muttered, stepping out of the car briefly to survey the building. "Soon enough, Jerry will slip up." He climbed back in, mind racing with possible counters.
As he pulled away, Ethan recalled how close they'd come to losing the orchard or risking infiltration. He vowed to tighten security at Pokémon Paradise, determined to protect his evolving orchard, the newly placed Catterpie, and every other Pokémon in his care. While Jerry Fowler's plot simmered, Ethan had confidence that the next time Fowler struck, he'd be ready preferably without involving Mew's lethal potential.
For now, though, the caterpillars were safe, munching leaves on a peaceful mountainside, blissfully ignorant of the masked stranger who had lurked nearby. The orchard's fruit swelled day by day, nearing the shape of real Poké Balls. Meanwhile, Fowler's underhanded schemes would only push Ethan to fortify his dream of a flourishing Pokémon world.