The kid definitely had enthusiasm, and he didn't give up easily. Meowth still didn't have an easy time helping Ash with his pokemon training. He was insistent on wanting all of them despite Meowth's repeated warnings of Ash needing to focus on the pokemon he caught first, and drilling type disadvantages in was almost impossible. Sure Ash got type advantages easily, but it seemed to vanish as soon as it was on his opponent's side.
Busy as Meowth was he didn't notice Ash gradually growing quieter. He was listening, and while still in great need of Meowth's help it wasn't as difficult to get him to listen. By the time Ash was twelve and ready to get his trainer's license Meowth believed he wouldn't completely lose at his first gym.
Meowth was waiting patiently with the other starters for Ash to show up. It had already been decided that instead of a regular starter Ash would take Meowth. He was better than any starter pokemon anyways Meowth preened himself. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Gary received an eevee, a special starting gift from Professor Oak. He felt a little bad for the unique pokemon, being owned by a spoiled brat.
Meowth watched the other trainers come to pick up their pokemon, each one exclaiming in excitement as they took their new partners. Ash though, wasn't there. Meowth would think he'd been forgotten if he didn't know Ash as well as he did. Professor Oak just looked exasperated as he finally lead Ash in, still wearing pyjamas.
Meowth leaped over to Ash's side and butted against him, mewing his impatience. As soon as they were alone he was giving Ash a piece of his mind for running so late! Ash blushed.
"Sorry Meowth." The professor was relieved to let them go, Ash and Meowth stepping out to where a small crowd of family friends stood to see them off.
/Need clothes first,/ Meowth grumbled. Ash nodded, and they quickly headed home to pick up the essentials. Alone in Ash's room Meowth leaped onto his bed.
/Why were you late?/ Meowth asked.
"I threw my alarm clock in my sleep," Ash explained hurriedly as he changed. Meowth sighed. He should have expected something like that. Ash had some of the worst luck he'd ever seen. Meowth didn't want to imagine what would have happened if he wasn't here. Ash probably would have received some half wild pokemon that hated him! They'd have to work extra hard to combat his luck.
/Let's go Red,/ Meowth said. Nodding Ash grabbed his backpack, and they were off.
Ash's sheer optimism continually astounded Meowth. He just didn't understand how the kid continually lucked out. At least they had a plan to keep Ash from doing anything stupid, like letting his food be stolen by a rattata.
/Remember, we want a strong pidgey, best one we can find. Needs to be strong as a pidgeot to carry you,/ Meowth reminded Ash. Grinning Ash nodded. Originally he'd planned on catching every pokemon he saw, but Meowth had managed to beat that out of him finally, pointing out the difficulty of trying to tame and control over a hundred different pokemon. Just catching the best they could was much more realistic.
Ash and Meowth spent the whole morning going through pidgey flocks, Meowth shaking his head at each one and forcing them to move on. It wasn't until after lunch that Meowth finally found a pidgey he was satisfied with.
/See pidgey in lead? Strong wings, keen senses. Alert. Will be very strong when evolved./ Ash nodded, looking at the pidgey which to him didn't seem much different from the others. It was more alert, but he couldn't see the strength Meowth did. Probably because he wasn't a pokemon. It'd take time for him to learn to evaluate a pokemon's strength like Meowth can.
"Alright Meowth, take it down!" Ash said excitedly. Meowth slunk low to the ground creeping closer until he was nearly on top of the pidgey. The pidgey had frozen, sensing the danger. Meowth pounced. The pidgey pecked desperately at Meowth. Meowth let go and leaped clear. The pidgey responded with a gust sending dirt into the air. Meowth hissed in annoyance.
"Meowth, track it with your ears, and use payback!" Meowth's ears twitched, tracking the pidgey. Lifting his head he released three bright gold beams of energy. Struck the pidgey collapsed. Hurriedly Ash threw his pokeball. The weakened pidgey fought against the capture, but fell still.
"Yes!" Ash cheered. He picked up the pokeball and quickly released his new pidgey. Ash dug out some potions and immediately began to tend to the wounds from Meowth.
*Captured?* the pidgey chirped.
/Yes,/ Meowth purred, /Red's now. You have name?/ The pidgey bobbed his head.
*Flock fighter with strong winds.* Meowth considered what to tell Ash, the trainer watching him expectantly. He could only hear half the conversation and needed Meowth to tell him. Meowth looked up.
/His name means warrior with strong winds,/ Meowth said. Ash considered.
"Strong winds, huh? How about Gale?" Meowth considered, and purred. It was close enough to the pidgey's name. The pidgey chirped and flew to Ash's shoulder.
*What now?* the newly named Gale asked.
"Why don't we do some training with our new friend?" Ash suggested. Meowth smiled.
/Training sounds good./
The rest of the day was spent training and acclimatizing Gale to taking attack commands from Ash. It took a while, but Gale eventually realized Ash had a good grip on strategy, and he did better when listening to him. Gale was strong for a pidgey, perhaps would even evolve in a couple months, and managed to keep up in the training quite well.
They continued on the next day, Meowth thinking of what else they could catch. The further they got from Pallet Town the stronger the pokemon would be. They'd even passed a flock of spearows. Ash had been surprised when Meowth told him they weren't the strongest pokemon in the area. That title belonged to the nidoran. Poisonous and tough the shy creatures were hard to take down and their evolved forms were notoriously powerful. Trained right a nidoran could be a powerhouse for Ash.
Put that way Ash had to agree, and eagerly began searching for one. Skittish and withdrawn, tracking them down wasn't easy, and again Meowth was being picky about what they chose. The longer it took the more frustrated Ash grew. Meowth was stubborn though, refusing to let Ash's impatience screw this up. They would get the best, and use the best. Seeing a male nidoran with slightly longer barbs than normal Meowth grinned his tail swaying behind him.
/That nidoran. Large barbs, will be good striker with poison./ Ash nodded and looked to Gale.
"Come on, you can get some practice in. Use gust on the nidoran!" Gale joyfully flew up and began creating a breeze. It didn't take long for it to build up and strike the nidoran. Low to the ground though it did little damage to the tough pokemon. Ash frowned. Using Meowth was out of the question with the poisonous barbs. He didn't want Meowth getting too close and winding up poisoned. They'd just have to see if they could wear it down.
The battle stretched out, Gale slowly growing tired from constantly creating gusts of wind and the nidoran exhausted from trying to stand strong against them. Ash threw his pokeball. With one last burst of energy the nidoran struggled to escape, but the pokeball was too strong for it.
"Yes! My next pokemon!" Ash cheered as he scooped it up and returned Gale to his own pokeball to rest. He quickly released the exhausted nidoran. He snorted and looked around, not looking too pleased with being caught.
/Hello. You're Red's now,/ Meowth greeted. The nidoran snorted.
*I know. What now?*
/Red will name you. What name?/ The nidoran tilted his head thoughtfully.
*Fighting gatherer.* Meowth looked up at Ash.
/His name means hunter,/ Meowth translated. Ash nodded thoughtfully considering.
"I'll call him Tharin then. The name means hunter," Ash said. Tharin looked quite pleased with the given name, stomping his feet happily.
*Tharin. I will hunt! I'll follow Red,* Tharin vowed. Meowth grinned. Looked like their newest pokemon would be a loyal one.
