'Here you are.' Nurse Joy said, handing back Ash's Pokeball. 'Your Pokemon has been restored to full health.'
Ash hesitated for a second, before taking it and pressing the button on the front. The 'Ball split open and Cinder emerged, Ash kneeling down beside him.
'I'm sorry, Buddy.' He said, putting a hand on his head. 'I never meant for you to get hurt.'
'Chaa.' Cinder said and Ash grinned.
'Thanks, Buddy.' He said, standing up. 'You ready to go?'
'Cha!'
'Finish it off, Jet.' Gary yelled. 'Use Bubble.'
Jet opened his mouth and the stream of bubbles struck the Caterpie, sending it flying backwards to land in a heap.
'No! Catie!' The Bug Catcher said, dropping to his knees next to his unconscious Pokemon and Gary turned to Jet.
'Come on, Jet.' Gary said, tucking his hands into his pockets. 'Maybe we'll find someone stronger around Pewter City...'
'Scratch, Cinder.' Ash yelled and Cinder sprang forward to strike the Caterpie, Ash selecting a Pokeball from his belt and letting it fly. Caterpie vanished in a flash of light and Ash picked up the Pokeball, stowing it back onto his belt.
'Good job, Cinder.' He said. 'Come on. Let's get to Pewter City and...'
Ash stopped when he heard a rustling in grass and a Pokemon emerged, freezing when it saw them, it's zig-zag tail raised in the air. Hurriedly, Ash pulled out his Pokedex and pressed the Identify button, data appearing on the screen.
PIKACHU
MOUSE POKEMON
ELECTRIC
IT KEEPS IT'S TAIL RAISED TO MONITOR IT'S SURROUNDINGS.
'Alright!' Ash said. 'Go, Cinder. Use Ember.'
'Chaa!' Cinder swung his hail, launching a fireball towards Pikachu, but it dodged aside. Lightning sparked from it's cheeks and a jolt struck Cinder, making him flinch.
'Cinder, hang in there.' Ash yelled. 'Ember.'
The fireball made Pikachu dodge aside again and Ash seized his chance.
'Now, Cinder. Use Scratch.' Cinder sprang forward, his claws extended and Pikachu was knocked backwards to land in a heap. It struggled to rise, but Ash grabbed a Pokeball from his belt and threw it with a flick of his wrist. Pikachu vanished in a flash of red light, the ball dropping to the ground where it rocked twice and then lay still.
'Way to go, buddy.' Ash said, picking up the Pokeball and stowing it on his belt. 'Looks like our lucky day. Pewter City, here we come.'
