But then one morning, I was hunting for food. It had rained not long ago, so there were many worms that made for a great feast. I was eating one when a human child thought he could capture me. He threw a ball at me. I regarded this with scorn and easily tapped it away. Next, he tried to weaken me by sending out a puny bug. It wasn't a problem, but then he sent out his electric rat. It shocked me. I experienced pain I had never known before. I couldn't think, couldn't react. Just pain, jolting through my entire body.
I fell to the ground and the boy tried to throw his ball again. I was so weak and dizzy, it did it. That red-and-white sphere trapped me inside, and I knew that life was going to be very different from now on.
I spend most of my time cooped up in the ball. It's not a nice place to be. It's dark and cramped and makes me long for the days I flew above it all. The boy used me at first, to battle. I did as he commanded, but only because in a way, I enjoyed the battling. I think it must be in my blood as a Pokémon. But I didn't like it when the opponent counterattacked. It hurt. Badly. And I honestly can't say I understand why the boy did this to me. Why he captured me, and made me experience such pain.
For some reason, he stopped using me to battle. Now, all I do is help him with this group of bad people called Team Rocket. It's rather foolish. All I end up doing is following them, letting the air out of their balloon, or carrying that rat to them so it can defeat them. Even though it's not enjoyable, I still look forward to these times. So I can fly again.
In my sphere, there is not much to do. It's cold in there. And to keep my mind off of what I have become, I like to reminisce about how it used to be. I sometimes worry about my mate. She was probably heartbroken after I never returned to her, thanks to the boy who took me away from her. What if a human also trapped her? I hope and pray that she is still a free and wild bird.
"Pidgeotto, I choose you!" the boy cries, and I am released from my ball. He quickly says, "Pidgeotto, follow Team Rocket!" I nod and take off, smiling. I stretch my wings and savor the miracle of flight. I like to pretend that things are how they used to be. I pretend that I am flying carefree, and soon I will go back to my mate and be with her in eternal happiness. But then I see the Team has found refuge in a small cabin, so I must turn back and report the news to the rat, which translates for the boy.
It's a pity that the boy doesn't love me, like he could. Then he would be able to understand me. That's when humans are able to communicate with their Pokémon properly: when they establish a true bond with one another. But I don't think I could love the boy. He's too cruel. The rat and the boy love each other. But the rat is free from its sphere. The boy uses it often. He hardly uses me at all.
I long for the days when I was wild. Now, I rarely get to even fly...
