Paras

The gang arrived at a place called Mossgreen Village.

"We need to stock up on some medicine & we should get something to eat after that." Brock suggested

"Guys, I don't feel so good." Meowth said woozily as he was sitting back against a tree

"Aww, what's wrong, Meowth?" Serena said in concern as she touched his forehead "Goodness gracious, you're burning up."

"Let me see." Ash said as he felt Meowth's forehead "Whoa, you're right, I think he has a fever."

"We better get some medical attention & quickly." Brock said

"I can help you with that." A voice said

The gang looked & saw a young woman with dark green hair styled up in twin buns & dark yellow eyes, wearing a white shirt, red pants, & black flats.

"Who are you?" Ash asked

"I'm Cassandra, I'm the owner of a pharmacy here in Mossgreen Village." Cassandra said

"Can you help my Meowth?" Ash asked

"Yes." Cassandra nodded as she went to Meowth

Cassandra pulled out a mortar & pestle, she put some seeds & herb in the mortar, mixed them up with the pestle, then she had Meowth drink the mixture & Meowth's fever slowly went away.

"How are you feeling, Meowth?" Ash asked

"Better." Meowth said as he stood up

"Thank you so much for helping Meowth." Ash said gratefully "How can I repay you?"

"Well, there is one favor I need to ask you." Cassandra said "Come to my pharmacy."

Cassandra led the gang to her pharmacy

"Grandma, I'm here." Cassandra said as she & the gang entered

"Oh hello, dearie, did you get the herbs?" Cassandra's grandmother asked

"Yes, ma'am." Cassandra said

"We haven't properly introduced ourselves." Brock said "My name's Brock & these are my friends."

"I'm Ash, & these are my partners Pikachu & Meowth." Ash said

"Pika." Pikachu greeted

"Hi." Meowth greeted

"& I'm Serena & this is my partner Eevee." Serena said

"Eevee." Eevee greeted

"It's nice to meet you all." Cassandra said

The gang, Cassandra, & her grandmother went outback

"Now, about that favor I asked you." Cassandra said as she sent out a Paras

"Paras." Paras said

"I want my Paras to evolve into Parasect, so I can have its mushroom." Cassandra said "I'm gonna use the Parasect's mushroom to make a new potion to help other Pokémon."

"I get it, you want me to battle your Paras in order for it to evolve." Ash said

"Yes." Cassandra said

"Hiya Paras" Meowth greeted

"Paras!" Para shrieked as it went behind Cassandra

"Sorry about that, but Paras can be very anxious sometimes." Cassandra said

"Well, if we're gonna battle Paras, we're gonna have to train it first." Ash suggested

"That's a good idea." Brock said

"Alright, first things first, what moves does Paras know?" Ash asked

"It knows Scratch, Poison Powder, Stun Spore, Absorb, Fury Swipes, Growth, Fury Cutter, & Screech." Cassandra said

"Not bad, but we're gonna have to teach it some more moves." Ash said "I think it's best that a couple of my Pokémon train your Paras."

"That's a wonderful idea." Cassandra's grandmother agreed

"Hey Boss, can I help train Paras?" Meowth asked

"Sure, & I also have another Pokémon who can help. Charmeleon, I choose you!" Ash said as he sent out his Charmeleon

"Charmeleon!" Charmeleon roared

"Sometimes you have to have an evolved form to give a pre-evolved form a little bit of discipline." Ash said

"That's understandable." Cassandra said

"You're Charmeleon looks very well-raised." Cassandra's grandmother said she gently scratched under Charmeleon's chin

"Char." Charmeleon sighed in contentment

"Yeah, Charmeleon is one of my best friends, right Charmeleon?" Ash said as he knelt next to Charmeleon

"Char!" Charmeleon roared as he fired Flamethrower at Ash's face

"Not again." Ash groaned

"It's alright, Ash. That's just Charmeleon's way of showing his affection & happiness towards you." Cassandra grandmother assured

"Really?" Ash asked

"Of course, Pokémon have ways of showing their affections towards their trainers." Cassandra's grandmother explained

"That makes perfect sense." Brock said

"Guess, you're gonna have to get used to Charmeleon's affection, Ash." Serena giggled

"Charmeleon, we need your help with training Cassandra's Paras." Ash said

Charmeleon looked at Paras who was hiding behind Cassandra

"Charmeleon." Charmeleon said as he waved his hand in rejection

"What do you mean, no?" Ash said

"Char Char Charmeleon." Charmeleon said

"He said he doesn't want to train Paras, because a Pokémon with that kind of personality is a lost cause." Meowth translated

"Paras." Paras sighed sadly

"Well, that wasn't very nice." Serena said

"Come on, Charmeleon, please? Cassandra needs our help in evolving Paras, so she could use its mushroom to help heal other Pokémon. Just at least try to help us this once, & if things don't work out, then I won't force you to keep helping Paras, sound fair?" Ash asked

Charmeleon looked at Paras again for a few seconds before turning back to Ash

"Charmeleon." Charmeleon shrugged

"He said he'll try." Meowth translated

"Great, thanks Charmeleon." Ash said

Later

"Alright, the first move we're gonna teach Para is Slash" Ash said. "Charmeleon, Meowth, demonstrate the move."

Meowth & Charmeleon's claws glowed white & slashed a tree with it leaving marks.

"Alright Paras, you try it." Cassandra said

Paras claw glowed white & slashed the tree, but it was just a scratch.

"Paras?" Paras asked

"Char." Charmeleon said, shaking his head in disapproval before he took Paras' claw & pointed at it "Char Char Meleon."

"Charmeleon says that Paras need to put more power into his claw before using the attack." Ash translated

An hour later during training, Paras had learned Slash, Dig, Aerial Ace, & Counter thanks to Meowth & Charmeleon. They also taught Paras how to block & dodge attacks & while they were training, Paras started to overcome his cowardice & became confident.

"Alright, we're done." Ash said

"How do you feel, Paras?" Cassandra said "Do you feel any stronger?"

"Paras! Paras! Paras! Paras!" Paras said with enthusiasm

"I believe Paras is ready to battle." Cassandra's grandmother said

"Para Paras." Paras said pointing at Charmeleon

"You wanna battle Charmeleon?" Cassandra asked

"Paras." Paras nodded

"What do you think, Charmeleon?" Ash asked "Do you wanna battle Paras?"

"Char." Charmeleon nodded

"Alright, let's battle." Ash said with determination

Ash & Cassandra went into battle position with her grandmother acting as the referee

"Are you ready?" Cassandra's grandmother said

"Ready." Ash & Cassandra said

"Now, begin the battle." Cassandra's grandmother said

ASH VS CASSANDRA

"Para, use Screech." Cassandra said

"PARAAAAAS!" Paras screeched as red soundwaves came from its mouth

"Charmeleon, use Mega Punch." Ash said. Charmeleon's fist became surrounded by red energy & charged at Paras

"Paras, block it." Cassandra said. Paras brought its claw in front of its face & blocked the punch

"Now, use Counter."

Paras glowed orange & jabbed Charmeleon on the stomach which caused him to skid back

"Use Swift." Ash said. Charmeleon's tail flame glowed yellow, released multiple yellow stars & hit Paras

"Use Slash." Cassandra said. Paras' claw glowed white & charged at Charmeleon

"Use Iron Tail." Ash said. Charmeleon's tail flame glowed white & swatted Paras away causing it to stumble back.

"Now, use Smokescreen."

Charmeleon released black smoke from his mouth which covered the area.

"Paras? Paras?" Paras said as he looked around

"Stay calm, Paras. Use Stun Spore." Cassandra said. Paras released orange sparkling powder from its mushroom which covered the area where the smoke was. When the smoke cleared, Charmeleon was paralyzed.

"Now, use Aerial Ace"

Paras became surrounded by light blue streaks & tackled Charmeleon

"You're doing great, Paras." Cassandra praised.

"Paras." Paras said it glowed bluish white

"Paras, you're evolving!" Cassandra gasped

Paras evolved into a bigger form of itself with a large mushroom on its back

"Parasect." The Pokémon said as Ash pulled out his Rotom Phone

Parasect, the Mushroom Pokémon, a Bug & Grass Type, & the evolved form of Paras. Parasect is just a pawn of the giant mushroom that controls it. The mushroom's spores are toxic, but they do have medicinal properties for those careful enough to harvest them safely.

"I'm so proud of you, Parasect." Cassandra praised

"Parasect." Parasect said as it walked towards Charmeleon who was suffering from paralysis

"Char?" Charmeleon said as he looked at Parasect

"Para." Parasect said as it released a pink mist from its mushroom at Charmeleon

"What is it doing?" Serena asked

"It's using Aromatherapy, a move that can heal a Pokémon's status condition." Cassandra's grandmother said.

"Parasect must've learned that move after it evolved." Brock said

The pink mist coated Charmeleon & heal his paralysis

"Charmeleon." Charmeleon said gratefully

"Parasect." Parasect said

"I think it's fair to call this match a draw." Cassandra's grandmother said

Later

"Congratulations on your Paras evolving, Cassandra." Ash congratulated

"Thank you, now that Paras has evolved into Parasect, I can finally make my miracle potion." Cassandra said before taking out a bottle of pills "Have Meowth take these pills after every meal."

"Thanks." Ash said

"You've done well, our star pupil." Meowth praised as he petted Parasect "You've gone from a chump to a champ."

"Para." Parasect said gratefully before looking at Charmeleon who was looking away with a frown "Parasect."

"Charmeleon?" Charmeleon said looking at Parasect

"Parasect." Parasect said as it offered its claw in appreciation to him

"...Char." Charmeleon smiled as he took its claw & shook it. "Charmeleon Char Char."

"Para." Parasect nodded

"Even though your Charmeleon can be moody sometimes, he's still kind & has a good heart." Cassandra's grandmother said

"I couldn't agree more." Ash said as he pet Charmeleon's head

"Char!" Charmeleon roared as he fired Flamethrower at Ash's face in affection

"Yep, that's definitely gonna take a little getting used to." Ash sweatdropped as everyone laughed

The gang bid farewell to Cassandra, her grandmother, & Parasect as the journey continues.