Daisy and I strolled through Route 2, observing the local Pokémon and some of the trainers in the area. A boy with a net was running around, trying to catch a green Pokémon within it. A large mass of trees was located at the end of the path.

Viridian Forest was beyond this quaint area. It was infamous for its labyrinthine paths and numerous Pokémon capable of inflicting poison. I remembered that my mom would sometimes tell scary stories about what lurked within the forest.

"You know Red," Daisy seemed to recall. "Blue insisted on going into Viridian Forest to deliver something to Pewter City one time, and he got completely lost! He was stuck in there for the whole day until a search party managed to find him and bring him home." The girl held up a map of Kanto. "Fortunately, I go into things prepared."

I smiled at the thought of the teenager getting some comeuppance for his hubris. I had to wonder where he got his ego from, Daisy was his polar opposite. It didn't make sense to me that they were siblings.

"As long as we follow this, we should get through Pewter City by the end of the day!" Daisy informed me. I signed to her that I fully trusted her navigation skills, and the girl laughed. "You better, or else!"

Once we're there, I'll be able to take on the gym! I thought excitedly. Brock could be a challenge due to his sturdy Pokémon, but I had two Pokémon on my team with the type advantage.

We walked into the forest, and it became noticeably more humid. Trees surrounded us on all ends, with a few small paths being forged between the large trees. The dirt paths seemed to branch off into the darkness of the forest, with light being partially blocked out by the tall oaks.

I saw Bug-Type Pokémon everywhere and bug catchers chasing them in between the trees and brush. The forest was full of greenery as far as the eye could see. There were also the sounds of all types of bug Pokémon rattling through the forest.

I couldn't see the exit through all the bramble, just multiple paths and signs. I was extremely happy that I had Daisy with me upon facing this area.

Bulbasaur went up to some of the plants and tried to touch them, only to be scared by a bug Pokémon bursting from the brush. I decided to return Pikachu and Bulbasaur for the time being so I didn't have to keep track of them.

"This seems like the perfect place for Venonat!" Daisy threw her Poké Ball in the air. In a flash of light, the Bug-Type Pokémon appeared before us.

"Veno! Venonat!" She yelled cheerfully.

"Alright let's go, we have to take a left first!" Daisy started down the left path and into the natural labyrinth. The girl buried her head in the map and I trailed after her.

After about thirty minutes of walking, backtracking, fighting off bug catchers who wanted to catch Venonat, and referencing the few signs in the area. Daisy finally realized she had gotten us hopelessly lost.

"Oh come on! How can we be lost?" My friend exclaimed. "I followed this map perfectly!"

I asked Daisy when she'd gotten the map, and the girl furrowed her brow. "It's an official map. They've never been wrong before. Eugh, what do we do!" We were located at a fork in the road, one we had come across three times before.

"Well well well, if it isn't that little kid and dear old Daisy." A voice that was all too familiar said. Both of our heads turned to see Blue standing on one of the paths.

He had his trademark smug grin on his face as he sauntered over to us. He had a Poké Ball in his left hand. Looks like he wants a fight. I began running through potential strategies to best the trainer.

Daisy clenched the fist of her free hand. "Blue? What are you doing here? How did you find us? What do you want?"

Blue put a hand up. "Yes, it's me, Blue. I'm here because I wanted a laugh. I found you because you fell for the most obvious prank ever. And I want to make fun of you both. Does that answer everything?"

Daisy glanced at the map and then her face started to turn red. "Prank? Did you swap out my map? This is like, an extremely high-effort prank. How boring is your life?"

Blue rolled his eyes. "I had a friend make it. You never let the fact that I got lost go, so I figured I'd return the favor. Consider it an early birthday gift, baby sis. Since I'm here though, how's about a rematch kiddo?"

"You're such a jerk, Blue!" Rage was building up in Daisy as she threw the map to the ground.

"I know that, but I don't really care. Besides, now the kid will get to see my new battle strategy for the Gym Challenge." Blue smirked, running one hand through his hair.

Daisy crossed her arms. "Gym Challenge? You've been in Johto for a whole year, you're still not done?"

Blue's eyes sharpened. "For your information, I'm taking on the Kanto Gym Challenge now, dopey! Enough talk! Let's battle, kid!" Blue pointed at me and I started to step forward. Daisy blocked my way with her arm.

"No," She declared, a fire was now burning behind her green eyes. Daisy looked Blue directly in the eyes. "You're battling me this time."

"You? Look, little sis, we both know you aren't worth my time." Blue chided her. His eyes fell on her Venonat. "I mean, really. Look at that thing. You've never been the battler of the family." I felt very out of place in this confrontation, but Blue was touching several nerves for Daisy.

The girl grit her teeth. "Let's see how confident you are when I beat you into the ground! Or are you too scared?" Daisy growled. I realized she wasn't going to back down until she got her battle.

"Fine! Let's do this!" Blue tossed a Poké Ball into the air, and it burst open. In a flash, Blue's Pokémon appeared.

The Pokémon was a small blue creature that stood up on a curled tail. It resembled a seahorse and narrowed its red eyes on the opposing Pokémon.

"A Horsea? You better not be holding back on me! Venonat, let's do this!" Daisy told her Pokémon, who stood up and glared at the Horsea.

"Alright Horsea, use Smokescreen!" Blue ordered. Horsea sent out a wave of smoke that obscured its location. "Now use Dragonbreath!"

Venonat began to cough and seemed to be unable to focus on where Horsea had been. A yellow rush of energy slammed into Venonat and nearly knocked her over.

"Come on Venonat! Confusion!" Daisy yelled. Venonat 's antennae twitched, and she sent out a wave of blue energy and it seemed to grab hold of the opposing Pokémon. "This is your chance! Throw it into a nearby tree!" Horsea rose into the air, surrounded by a blue outline. The Pokémon was then flung into a tree.

Venonat let the Pokémon go from her hold and began to cough again. "Nice job baby sis, but you're not ready for this! Focus Energy! Then use Smokescreen again!" Horsea channeled energy through its body while Venonat shook off the smoke. Then, it sent out another wave of smog.

"Venonat, use Confusion again!" Daisy sputtered out. Her Pokémon sent out another wave of energy.

Blue smirked. "Jump over it and use Dragonbreath!" Horsea leaped into the air and over the wave, firing down another blast of yellow energy into Daisy's Pokémon. "Daisy, you're embarrassing me. You can't just use the same moves over and over!"

I looked at Daisy and saw how frustrated she was getting. I went up to the girl and got her attention. Then I signed to her that she needed to give herself a moment and that she could do it.

The girl took a breath and smiled. "Thanks, Red. I appreciate it. I've got an idea. Venonat, use Disable!" Venonat glared at Horsea, who began to shudder. "Now, use Tackle!" Venonat charged at Horsea and rammed into the opposing Pokémon. The seahorse tumbled back and then looked up to see the Bug-Type towering over it.

Daisy snapped her fingers. "Use Confusion on yourself and ram into Horsea! Time to finish this!" Venonat surrounded herself with blue energy and began to fly at Horsea.

Blue's eyes widened. "What in Distortion are you doing?" Daisy grinned as her Pokémon flew at Horsea. That was when Blue's facade fell away. Venonat soared into the Horsea, only for the Pokémon to fade into a puff of smoke.

Venonat slammed into a tree behind Horsea. The Pokémon staggered back and forth, and Horsea emerged from the smoke. "Bubblebeam!" Blue's Pokémon launched a surge of water into the back of Daisy's Pokémon. Venonat winced and then fell unconscious.

Blue began to laugh hysterically. "Oh wow! You fell for it! You had me for a second, sis. I'll give you that! However, I told you I had a strategy I was working on!" The boy returned his Pokémon and ceased his laughter. "That was alright, I guess. For your standards at least."

Daisy cast her eyes downward. "Shut up. You're such a jerk!"

"Oh, is baby sis gonna cry? I told you that this wasn't for you, but you don't listen to me!" Blue snapped. "I hope this teaches you a lesson. Go back home to Gramps before you get in over your head!"

Daisy turned and ran down one of the paths. Tears were streaming down her face as she stormed away from her brother.

I started to feel fury as I glared at Blue. The trainer rolled his eyes. "Whatever, here's the map." He tossed the paper onto the ground.

All of that effort was just to make his sister feel worse. I hadn't seen Daisy cry, ever. Blue had broken her down for no reason other than to be a jerk. Whatever nerves I had facing him started to fade away.

I walked up to Blue. The trainer paid me little mind as I approached. "Listen, kid. If you're here to tell me off with the hands thing, I don't get it. I also don't care, so save us both the time and go find my little sister."

I stood in front of him reeled my fist back, and then punched him right in the nose. In an instant, his smug grin was gone. Blue's head cocked back and my fist immediately felt sore.

"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" He screamed, grabbing his nose. I felt all of my energy fade from my body and turned to run after Daisy, scooping up the map from the ground. "Fine! Go on and fail! Both of you! Don't say I didn't warn you!"