A/N - I thought it would be nice to start the new year (2021) with something nice and positive (and hopefully the trend will continue). This is my way of welcoming 2021!

Hopefully, you'll like it, and the next year will be better, and happier for you all! (No more epidemics please!)

1.

Meanwhile, not very far away from where Ash and co encountered the Beedrills a group of three… let's call them unique individuals were feeling pretty great about themselves.

Jessie enlarged a random Poke Ball from the huge brown sack, "like taking a candy from a baby."

"You would have thought that after the three Pokémon Center we rubbed they'd learn, but no," James smirked while nodding in agreement, "even so, I would have liked getting a better haul. Most of those are… not worth the trouble."

Jessie snorted as she tossed the Poke Ball and it opened to show a purple Ratta - the poor creature looked in both directions, looking for her trainer and grew confused when it couldn't find them. Jessie sighed before recalling the Pokémon and tossing the Poke Ball to the 'useless' pile.

"Don't give up," Meowth hissed in irritation, "there should be something here we can use, and the rest of those we can give to the boss."

James stokes a dramatic thinking pose, "I don't know, Meowth. We raided three Pokémon Centers so far, and none of them had what we needed."

"How hard is it to find an electric type?" Jessie groaned in agreement, "we'll never be able to catch that Gyarados, and all those water Pokémon…"

Of course, Meowth knew that it wouldn't be fast – it would take time. It's like with lotto – low odds, but you don't need to invest much to win the first price. Plus, doing it like this is much more comfortable, and not even Jessie and James can mess it up.

"It doesn't matter," Meowth rolled his eyes, "as long as we keep supplying the boss with fresh Pokémon, he'll give up better one to use. So, it's a win-win situation."

"I guess," James shrugged and opened another Poke Ball.

A Squirtle. Not a very strong one at that.

James recalled the Squirtle and tossed it to the 'common' pile. It was an enormous pile, almost big enough to rival their 'useless' pile.

Meowth gave the two humans a look before walking back to his pile of Poke Balls, "don't worry. Eventually, we'll find something useful, and it's not like we can do this much longer. Officer Jenny will catch on to us soon, and I'm not planning to be here when she does."

2.

"We're going to die! Worse, I'm going to die!" Pikachu screeched while latching on to Ash like a limpet, "I don't want to die, I'm to smart to end up like this!"

The yellow Pokémon let out a shrieking scream as Ash outmanoeuvred a stringer attack from one of the Beedrills, "not helping!" With a wave of his pink tail, Ash increased his speed a bit more, but two more Beedrill closed in on him at both sides.

"Dive!" Pikachu cried a second before the two fiends tried to make a freaking shish kebab out of the boy, and without overthinking much Ash shot down and the Beedrills missed again.

The swarm buzzed in agitation, but like a homing missile, they readied their stingers before diving right after the two – "Pikachu, I could really use that electric attack of yours right about now!" Ash looked back before increasing his speed yet again.

A pink bubble formed around the two as a Beedrill attacked from the side, "I can do that!"

Pikachu charged the electric currents in his cheeks before releasing a massive shockwave of electric discharge right in the swarm direction.

Ash bite back a scream when the current hit him and swiftly changed direction to avoid the falling mass of passed out Beedrills. Those that didn't fall stopped in their tracks as if to stare at the two in shock and Ash almost hoped that they would put two and two together and go – 'this is too much work, be better go back with our passed-out bros,' but no such luck.

The still awake Beedrills looked incensed which only served to panic Ash and Pikachu. The two looked at each other, and without saying a word, Ash runs away again.

At this point they were relatively close to the forest floor, so it was only a matter of time before they came across a random Pokémon – but Ash never expected this kind of development!

3.

A few seconds before Ash and Pikachu decimated two-thirds of the swarm Squirtle was trying to decide what he actually felt about the beautiful pink creature gliding in the sky.

While it was confirmed that she was stunning appearance-wise, enough for the water Pokémon to feel it was ok to admit defeat, Squirtle refused to accept defeat that quickly – being a beautiful person took more than just a perfect outer appearance (like his), it took a splendid personality too!

And Squirtle had the perfect plan to test what kind of personality this lovely Mew had.

4.

Back to Ash and Pikachu, who for some reason forgot they could fly up to avoid random, ninja-turtle Pokémon randomly jumping on them out of the blue.

Yes, that happened.

"Hello, mademoiselle Mew! It's lovely meeting the rumoured beauty," the odd blue Pokémon chirped in a pleasant tone – did he not see the Beedrill chasing after them?

Wait a-

Mademoiselle?! Did this asshole think Ash was female? That's-!

Not really surprising, and not the first time it happened, but this really wasn't the best time to entertain crazy Pokémon. They were a little preoccupied with the previous crazy-mad gaggle of Pokémon who wouldn't leave them alone!

Then again, it wasn't like Ash could (or would) toss Squirtle now that he was associated with Pikachu and he – the Beedrill could spontaneously decide that they'd rather go after the easier target, you know, the one that can't escape into the sky?

"Ash! They're gaining on us!" Pikachu pointed at the Beedrills who just wouldn't give up, "toss the dead-weight off and let's get out of here!"

"Look here, you déplaisant piece of-!"

"That guy called me déplaisant!" Pikachu gave Squirtle the evil eye, "I'm not ugly, and I'm not unpleasant! What are you waiting for, Ash? Drop the toad."

'You understand French?'

"You exécrable devil!"

Ash wanted to drop both of them. Instead, he ignored what madness came out of their mouths and hoped they wouldn't kill each other in the meantime, "hold on tight, we're in for a rocky flight!"

"Wha-AH!"

"DIEU AIDE-NOUS TOUS!"

Ash grinned and dove right to the middle of the nearest lake – let's see those insects follow them here.

Damn, he was smart.

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Ash one hour later: I swear I didn't know it was Gyarados' territory!