The chapter picks up right where we left off—our heroes, joined by Mike, making their way across Nugget Bridge in search of the Beedrill he once released. Along the way, Dango and Maylin take on a few trainers scattered across the bridge, their Pokémon clashing with confidence as they warm up for what's ahead.
After reaching the end of the bridge, Mike slows down, pointing toward a quiet corner by the water's edge. He explains that he was there just yesterday, fishing, when he caught a glimpse of his Beedrill out of the corner of his eye—before it quickly fled.
Maylin, puzzled, asks why Mike let go of his Beedrill. Mike sighs and explains that right after Dango defeated him, he realised he had been holding both himself and his Beedrill back from reaching their true potential. He wanted the best for both of them—even if that meant letting go.
As they continued walking, Dango suddenly spotted four wild Pokémon nearby. Without hesitation, he sent out Elekid and Axew. The two worked together, landing solid hits to weaken them. Dango quickly followed up, tossing Poké Balls and catching all four.
The last Poké Ball blinked a few times before vanishing, transported straight to Dango's PC. Just as he dusted off his hands, Dango looked up—and froze. A Beedrill hovered silently above them, watching.
He immediately alerted the others, pointing to the sky. The moment it realised it had been seen, the Beedrill turned and bolted. Mike took a step forward, calling out to his old friend. The Beedrill hesitated mid-flight—just for a moment—then turned its back and flew off into the distance.
Mike: "No..."
Maylin: "What are you doing? Move your sorry ass!"
Mike: "Ri—Right."
The trio took off in hot pursuit, weaving through thick trees and scrambling up cliffs—Maylin complaining the whole time about the endless running.
Finally, they reached the edge of a dense forest and paused to catch their breath. Ahead, high in the branches, sat a massive Beedrill nest. Without hesitation, Mike stepped forward and called out loudly for his Beedrill.
Maylin ducked behind the nearest tree, panic clear on her face. Dango's eyes widened as he grabbed Mike by the collar and pulled him down beside her. Above them, a Beedrill took flight, circling carefully and scanning the area.
The group froze, holding their breath as silence stretched on. After what felt like forever, the Beedrill found nothing amiss and returned to its nest. Dango finally exhaled sharply, his shoulders dropping in relief.
Maylin: (Whispering and annoyed) "Is this guy special ed, Dango?"
Dango: (Whispering) "Man, Maylin's right, what was that?"
Mike: "S—Sorry."
They looked up through the branches and spotted a Beedrill watching them from above. Believing it to be Mike's own, Maylin and Dango urged him to call out to it. Mike smiled with hope at first, but his expression quickly turned serious—it wasn't his Beedrill.
Suddenly, the Beedrill let out a sharp cry, warning the others. Dango and Maylin reacted fast, sending out all their Pokémon. Dango smirked—he hadn't caught a Beedrill yet.
Dango: "MIKE, RUN!"
Mike: "What?"
A swarm of Beedrill surged toward them. Mike argued at first, but realising he had no Pokémon to protect himself, he turned and fled, leaving the others to face the oncoming storm.
Axew and Elekid sprang into action, leaping high into the air just as Staravia swooped down, catching them on her back. From above, Elekid fired a crackling Thunder Shock, while Axew launched a focused Dragon Pulse, blasting through part of the incoming swarm and knocking several Beedrill out of the sky.
On the ground, Pinsir grabbed Drillbur and Tyrogue, hurling them upward with all his strength. In midair, Tyrogue spun with lightning speed, landing two clean Mach Punches that sent Beedrill crashing. Beside him, Drillbur slammed his claws together mid-descent, unleashing a wide Rock Slide that knocked back more of the attackers, shaking the treetops.
The battle had truly begun.
The swarm clashed with full force—buzzing wings, flashing stingers, and bursts of attacks lighting up the battlefield. One Beedrill broke through the chaos, diving straight for Maylin with its stinger aimed at her head. At the last possible moment, Pinsir lunged in, catching the Beedrill mid-strike and hurling it away with a roar.
Maylin, shaken, quickly tossed Pinsir a bit of tree sap as thanks. He snatched it mid-air, chomping down proudly before charging back into battle. Not far off, Mike stood frozen, watching the chaos unfold. His fists clenched in frustration as he cursed his own helplessness.
He turned to retreat—only to come face to face with a Beedrill hovering inches from him. Mike dropped to the ground in fear, yelling for help—but Dango and Maylin were locked in their own fight, unable to hear him.
The wild Beedrill lunged at Mike, its stinger crashing into the ground just inches from his face. Mike rolled away just in time, scrambling to his feet and sprinting through the trees. The Beedrill gave chase, striking from behind and forcing Mike to dodge again and again, its attacks narrowly missing him with every leap and stumble.
He reached the edge of a forest cliff, skidding to a stop—no more room to run. The Beedrill struck with a blinding Fury Cutter, slicing across Mike's chest and sending him flying off the cliff. He closed his eyes, bracing for the impact… but it never came.
Instead, he felt himself stop, suspended just inches above the ground. Opening his eyes, heart pounding, he looked up. A Beedrill, his Beedrill, was holding him by the foot, wings buzzing steadily as it lowered him to safety.
Mike hit the ground, staring in shock. Then, tears welling in his eyes, he jumped up and wrapped his arms around Beedrill, hugging it tightly. He didn't need to say a word. Beedrill understood.
The wild Beedrill swooped down, ready to strike again—but Mike's Beedrill quickly flew in front of it, blocking the attack. The wild Beedrill froze, then slowly backed off, lowering its head and kneeling. Mike stared in shock, not expecting that kind of respect from another Beedrill.
At the same time, the battle on the ground was getting worse. One by one, Maylin and Dango's Pokémon dropped—Pinsir, Tyrogue, Staravia, even Axew—all taken down by the overwhelming swarm.
Only Drillbur and Elekid were left, trying their best to hold the line. But they were surrounded, and soon they too were defeated. Dango and Maylin quickly returned all their Pokémon, both of them bracing for what would happen next.
Just then, a Beedrill tried to sneak behind Dango and attack, but he dodged at the last second and threw a Poké Ball, managing to catch it just in time. But what use was that? It was just one Beedrill—one out of hundreds.
All seemed lost as the full swarm turned and charged at them, wings buzzing like thunder and stingers aimed to strike. Then, Mike's Beedrill soared into the air, letting out a loud, commanding cry. The swarm suddenly stopped.
The wild Beedrill hovered, then slowly turned toward Mike's. A quiet moment passed as they seemed to communicate in a way only they understood. Without warning, the entire swarm scattered, peeling off and flying back to their nest in the trees.
Dango and Maylin stood frozen, wide-eyed, stunned by what they had just witnessed. The trainer duo looks up, wide-eyed and stunned. Mike rushes over, breathless, explaining what happened, and reveals the fierce Beedrill who came to their rescue as his partner. Dango, still shaken by the powerful presence, lifts his device and scans the imposing insect.
Pokedex: "Beedrill, the Poison Bee Pokémon. It darts through the air with lightning speed, striking foes with venomous stingers on its arms and tail. When provoked, it commands swarms to unleash relentless attacks without mercy. Known for their fierce loyalty and territory defence, wild Beedrill show no fear in protecting their home."
Dango: "Anything else?"
Pokedex: "In rare cases, the oldest Beedrill becomes a hive queen—its appearance unchanged but radiating an unmistakable aura of authority, compelling every Beedrill in the nest to obey without question."
Dango pumped his fist, a spark of excitement lighting his eyes. He'd just made an important discovery. Together with Maylin, he went off to heal their team using potions, leaving Mike alone with his Beedrill.
Mike sighed deeply, apologising for leaving his friend behind. He confessed his shame, explaining how he only wanted Beedrill to reach its true potential—and from what he'd just seen, it had.
Mike: "Look at you... some kind of queen, while I'm just... well, me."
Beedrill noticed Mike's sadness and responded with a gentle, playful sting—a familiar gesture from when it was a Weedle and Mike was just nine years old. Mike smiled, wrapping his arms around Beedrill.
The Pokémon returned the embrace, buzzing softly. Nearby, Dango and Maylin watched the heartwarming reunion with smiles on their faces, glad they hadn't left Mike behind after all.
Three days later, under the morning sun, Dango, Axew, and Maylin stood at the edge of town, waving goodbye to Mike. With determined smiles, they set off toward Vermilion City, their journey just beginning.
Night fell over the city, and inside Mike's small, cluttered apartment, silence hung heavy. Dust-covered and dimly lit, the room felt empty—Mike sat alone, shoulders slumped, a shadow of sadness in his eyes. A sudden tap on the window made him jump. Turning, he gasped as his loyal Beedrill buzzed inside, wings beating softly in the dark.
Mike chuckled softly, reaching into a bowl of sweet berries and offering some to his companion. Beedrill accepted the treat, then hovered near a corner. Before departing, the insect left behind a small, shimmering drop of golden honey. Mike's eyes lit up with inspiration—perhaps this honey could change everything.
To Be Continued!