Notes: This chapter incorporates important events of episodes 3&4 while giving space to elements that were in neither. Enjoy!
6: Caterpie vs. Pidgey
When the area around Viridian Gym was free of activity, Jessie, James, and Meowth made their way to the back door, quickly opening it. Entering, no one else could be seen. They sighed in relief before a voice assaulted them. "Hey, who's there?" a grunt asked, rounding the corner. The group looked up at him and he grinned. "Oh, it's the counterfeits! Hey! You wanna join for real?" The man laughed.
James looked down sorrowfully, Meowth scowled, and Jessie approached him. "Why don't you can it," she said. "We need to talk to the boss."
"He's back at headquarters, you know," the grunt informed.
"We know!" Jessie asserted.
"That's right!" Meowth hopped up as it spoke. "The boss wouldn't forget to keep us in the loop. We knew he'd be heading right back before our heist."
"Your heist?" the grunt repeated. "Oh, right. I was supposed to get my first pokemon from that. So where's the loot? You did get it, right? You didn't fail because of some kids like the newspaper says, right?" The man laughed mockingly.
"We'll talk about that with the boss. It's none of your business. Keep working and show you're worth it if you want a pokemon," Jessie chided. As the man went off, they went the opposite direction, toward the room that would allow them to securely communicate with their hidden headquarters.
James sighed, dragging his feet as they headed down the hall. "A lot of people were relying on us for those pokemon, weren't they?" he said.
Jessie shrugged. "So what. They'll just have to wait a little longer for us to steal more."
"Yeah," Meowth agreed. "Or they can get off their butts and steal some themselves."
As they opened the door to the communications room, the group hesitated, none of them picking up the phone or starting up the video link. "Um, what should we say?" James said.
"Maybe we should talk about the-" Meowth began.
"We'll just say the truth of course," Jessie said. She pressed the button to start the video link. Her two partners became silent. James stood up straight next to her, Meowth took its own place on the table where it would be in view of the camera. Though at times a secretary or other staff might answer, the boss surprised them by appearing himself when the video feed started.
"Hmph. There you are," Giovanni said. "I'd been wondering when I might hear from you."
"Right - We just waited until things calmed down," Jessie said.
"Yeah, we didn't want any trouble to come your way, boss. We really caused a commotion," Meowth said.
"I'd been expecting that. Your plan would have caused a commotion by default. I'd just also been expecting a new supply of pokemon to go along with it." Giovanni stared seriously toward the camera. Meowth hiccuped in the silence. He finally sighed quietly and glanced away. "Never mind. Just tell me what happened. I'm sure it's different than the media's take."
"We had all those pokeballs right in our hands!" Meowth put its paws up and smashed them together.
"That's right. Everything was going to plan, all of them were stashed in our bag, ready to go," James added, leaning forward.
"You know it. We really staked this place out, considered everything. But then these two kids interrupted us," Meowth continued.
Giovanni's eye twitched briefly, but he still stared steadfast into the camera. "And?" he said. "I hope there's more than that."
"Yeah! There's more! There was one little stray that we missed," Meowth continued.
"It's not..." Giovanni paused, looking down before he held up a newspaper with a picture of a nonplussed Pikachu looking up at the camera. "This one, is it?"
"That's it!" James exclaimed.
"The very one!" Meowth confirmed.
"It's tougher than it looks," Jessie added.
Giovanni slapped the newspaper down. The sound coming through the video caused all three of them to jump. "Uh, boss, really." Meowth got closer to the camera as it tried to explain the situation. "This pikachu was way different than any normal pikachu. It finished off Jessie and James's pokemon both at once, with one attack. That one little electric attack lit up the whole pokemon center!"
"Did a little pikachu really do that? An unevolved pokemon that powerful would be worth acquiring," Giovanni said, though from his tone he didn't seem at all convinced of the story. "Enough," he said firmly. "We all make blunders. Some are worse than others. It's time to move on. I expect more from you all. Gather more pokemon in other ways."
"Yes, sir," James said.
"Right, sir," Jessie took her partner's cue.
"Yeah, we're gonna..." Meowth paused, noting something else in the video feed. The head of another pokemon peeked up, Giovanni looking down. The tension in the rocket boss's face melted as he pet its head. "Hey!" Meowth exclaimed, recognizing the species if not the pokemon itself. "Boss, what gives? Why do you have that persian?"
"We've been getting more and more pokemon these days," Giovanni informed.
"Yeah, but why a persian?" Meowth demanded. "Those things are obnoxious! I'm your top cat, right boss?"
"Persian has demonstrated its worth to me. If you want acknowledgement, than do something to prove you're worthy of it," Giovanni raised his voice slightly as he spoke. His brow furrowed as he turned away. "I've had enough of you three for today. Be sure you have good news next time you contact me."
With that, the video feed was cut. "Meowth!" Jessie chided. "Why couldn't you keep your big mouth shut? Who cares if he has another pokemon? The boss has lots of powerful pokemon!"
"Oh, I know," James said, tapping the shoulder of his partner and friend. "Persian is your evolution, isn't it? You wanted to evolve and impress the boss first, right? But now he already has a persian."
"Wrong!" Meowth said. "I'd never evolve to a persian. Those things are so self-centered. Once a meowth becomes one, they start to think they're better than the rest of us. I'm already impressive as I am, right?"
"Well, you are the only talking pokemon I've ever met, or even heard of," James admitted.
"Yeah! I'm the best! I know I am, the boss knows that too, right?" Meowth looked down, putting its paws together as if it wasn't sure of what it was trying to assert.
Jessie folded her arms and looked away. "Can't you stop with the self-pitying? Persian is better for battling, and the boss wants powerful pokemon to battle with. That's all there is to it."
"Jessie!" James exclaimed, then looked back at Meowth.
The pokemon seemed to be trying not to cry, but then it sniffled, forcing a sneer on its face which eventually turned into a wide grin. "Yeah, you're right, Jessie! And who can get lots of powerful pokemon for the boss to battle? Not that persian, that's for sure! The boss is going to be so happy with me - with us, when we get him more and more pokemon!"
"That's the spirit." James nodded with exaggeration.
"Don't lose sight of the goal," Jessie added.
"And why don't we start with that pikachu," Meowth suggested.
"Ugh," Jessie groaned loudly. "I don't even want to think about that thing."
"It was very powerful, but I'm not sure the boss really believed that," James said, looking up thoughtfully before they opened the door to exit the small communication room.
"He didn't," Meowth affirmed as they walked through the hall. "But once we get it and hand it to him, he'll see himself we're right. That pikachu will be the perfect present. Besides, do you want that little twerp we saw to get away with causing this kind of humiliation for us?"
"I don't." Jessie turned her attention back Meowth's way.
"So, do you think he's still in the city?" James asked.
"We can easily find out." Meowth's expression changed to a genuine self-satisfied smile. "Let's get ready."
As Ash came into the cafeteria, Misty immediately walked right up to him, joining him at the table. Ash had selected his own tray of food, but Misty didn't have any at all. "What do you want?" he asked.
"What about you? Are you going to stick around here forever? Is that how you're going to become a 'master' or whatever it is you've decided?"
"I've been training," Ash defended himself, frowning at her words. "I mean-"
"Pikachu still won't listen to you, huh?" Misty said. The pokemon had followed Ash in, but sat in a corner across the room instead of attentively by him like any other trainer's pokemon would.
"It listens," Ash said. In actuality, it hadn't been listening enough to have even one battle around the pokemon center. Pikachu might follow Ash for a little bit, but then would just run off and not be found. "Sometimes," he added.
"Oh?" Misty observed as Pikachu sniffed around, picking bits of food off the floor. She could have sighed at the bad training, but decided not to get too much into that. "I know! Pallet Town's not that far from here, huh? You could go back home and take Pikachu there, then figure out what else you want to do."
Pikachu looked up. It didn't really know what it wanted to do, so had stuck around Ash. But that idea seemed appealing. It could nap in the sun and protect this kid as thanks for food and shelter as needed.
"I'm already doing what I want to do," Ash declared, standing up. He sat back down and started eating faster in his annoyance. Why would this girl think he needed to run home?
"So you'll stay the hero of Viridian's pokemon center indefinitely? Just stay here?" Misty raised an eyebrow.
"No! I'm an up and coming trainer! I'm going to be a master."
Misty slumped down in the chair, sighing. "What does that even mean?" she said.
Ash frowned. "First I'm going to get eight badges and qualify for the league." He stood up again, picking up his empty tray. "This city has a gym, right?"
"No, no, you don't want to go there," Misty insisted.
There she went again, but as Ash put his tray on the dirty pile, he couldn't bring himself to disagree. "Yeah," he said softly.
"So you've heard-" Misty began.
"I need to get more pokemon first!" Ash declared, raising up his fist with a smile. "Alright, Pikachu! Are you ready to go into Viridian Forest and get some new allies?"
"Pika," Pikachu called tentatively before turning away.
"Yeah! We'll catch some pokemon, and then come right back here and challenge the gym leader."
"You want to challenge Viridian Gym?" a boy at a nearby table said. "He's usually busy, I don't think he'll be back for a while."
"Fine. I'll just come back. It's on the way to the league," Ash said as he walked out. "So where's the next closest gym?" he said, mostly to himself, taking his backpack off his back to get out his official league map.
"Hm." Misty looked up as she considered the question. "If you're going through Viridian Forest, the obvious answer is Pewter, but-"
"Yeah, Pewter!" Ash exclaimed, pointing at his map. "That's the next place." Ash walked down the hall, pausing and looking back at Misty. "What are you still doing here, anyway?" he asked.
"You're really asking me that?" Misty demanded. "You broke my bike! Now I can't zip around on my own. I'm staying around you until you do something about it."
Ash paused, then shrugged. "Okay," he said. "As long as you don't complain. Can you keep up? I'm going right now." Ash turned to the door.
"Right now? You sure?" Misty raised an eyebrow, carefully stepping around Ash. "I don't see Pikachu anywhere... Did you get it back in its pokeball?"
"Pikachu!" Ash ran back the opposite way, continuing to call his pokemon's name as he went.
Pikachu calmly followed Ash as they walked through the streets, fading into smaller buildings before they were unmistakably approaching a dense forest. That was as good a place to go as any since Ash had some food in his backpack, so Pikachu followed without comment. Ash and Misty seemed to like to get into loud conversations with each other about one benign thing or another. Pikachu mostly ignored them, observing the environment around them, until suddenly, it realized where it was.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed, observing the familiar tall tree.
"Pikachu? What is it?" Ash asked, turning around to see his pokemon.
"Pika!" Pikachu climbed the tree, just for the experience of looking around at the well-known view again. "Pikachu!" it called happily.
"Pika," another pikachu replied, curiously and cautiously approaching.
"Oh! There's so many pikachu!" Misty pointed out.
"Pika?" Pikachu looked around. Indeed, there were more pokemon of its same species, in branches and on the ground. This place nearby the city had seemed the perfect spot for it as a wild pikachu, so it made sense that other pikachu might feel the same way.
"Come on Pikachu, we have to keep going," Ash called.
Pikachu hopped down, not wanting to intimidate the wild pokemon. This place was theirs now, no longer its own. It was with humans, no longer part of this forest, and shouldn't bother the pikachu who were still out there. "Pikachu," Pikachu called in salutation as it continued to follow Ash and Misty down the path.
Pikachu recalled the day it had been caught. It had seen other humans before, but only from a distance. They quickly passed by without any interaction, or making much other noise at all. But this one was louder, making noises of frustration as he stomped around before resting on the ground, looking up at the tree. Eventually he stood up, stumbling and almost falling over as he tried to look directly upwards. "Hey... Hey, you pikachu!" he said, holding the tree as he fell over.
The other pikachu scattered, running in different directions, some hopping higher in the tree as Pikachu stared down at the loud human.
"Hey, you pikachu! Don't you wanna battle?" he said, his tone starting as adversarial, changing to unsure and questioning as he spoke. "Don't you wanna?" he said, pushing at the sturdy tree trunk.
Pikachu watched and listened to the human with fascination. Human language was strange. Pikachu could understand the message the same as if listening to a pokemon, but the words were so varied. It was as if he was hiding what he was trying to say.
"Hey! You pikachu, come on, I'll battle you!" That message seemed more clear as the boy shouted it. Pikachu responded to the request, scurrying down the tree and standing in front of him. The boy's posture straightened up and his eyes went wide. He just stared without comment for a moment.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu questioned. It had been sure it had understood the message. Had he changed his mind? Too bad, Pikachu had been looking forward to seeing what interesting pokemon he might have.
"Yeah, um..." the boy muttered. He looked in one pocket, then another, then in the front pocket of his backpack.
"Pika?" Pikachu realized he wasn't really ready, but still waited patiently as his would-be challenger looked in his pockets yet again. As the boy dumped the contents of his backpack onto the ground, causing many interesting sounds, Pikachu laughed. The kid looked back up at him, scowling. "Pika," Pikachu invited him to keep looking.
"Yeah, um, I, uh, yeah." The boy picked up two pokeballs. "You're gonna be ready, you pikachu! Let's go!"
"Pika!" Pikachu arched its back as it got ready for a challenge. Even if its challenger was a human boy that did funny things, it wasn't going to get complacent. Time to give its all in a battle.
"Go, Charmander!"
"Pika?" Pikachu stared a moment without attacking as the pokemon appeared from the pokeball. It had never seen such a flashy display before. Though that was how pokemon traveled more easily with humans, was it? There was also the pokemon that appeared itself, a creature with fire flowing from the end of its tail. Pikachu had never seen anything like it.
"Yeah, let's go! Ember!"
"Char!" The charmander spit fire from its mouth, easily hitting Pikachu.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried in surprise. Were there really a lot of pokemon out there with such powerful attacks? It had figured the other pokemon would just tackle it.
"Y'see, you pikachu? We're super powerful," the trainer bragged. "Charmander, let's ember again! Embering's super good!"
Pikachu realized it hadn't countered them at all in its surprise, but that wasn't going to remain the case. Fire seemed to flow through this other pokemon, which it used for attacks. Well, Pikachu had another kind of power that flowed through itself. Maybe it could use that for an attack. "Pika." It stood still, beginning to charge up its power. "Pika CHU!" As Charmander hit it with its attack, Pikachu shocked it back with electricity at the same time. "Pika," Pikachu called, still finding the fire type attack intense.
"Char!" Charmander cried. It found the electric type attack to be a similarly foreign experience, but still stood straight, mostly unfazed.
"Woah! You pikachu, that's pretty good!" the boy said. "I'm gonna catch you!"
"Pika?" Pikachu understood the message, though it was surprising a trainer would bother to catch it at all.
"Yeah, I'll get'ya! Charmander, go like this!" The boy swiped his hands in front of him.
"Char!" Charmander agreed. As the other pokemon lunged toward it with claws out, Pikachu crouched down to start a tackle. It got thrown off guard as the other pokemon's attack hit, and then decided to use its electricity instead. "Pika CHU!" it cried, shocking the other pokemon again before being scratched.
"Alright," the boy said, stepping closer to the pokemon swinging his arm forward, letting go and having the pokeball fly forward.
Pikachu felt itself drawn in. Being inside immediately changed its mood, calming from the battle ready mindset. As it was released again, it found itself face to face with the boy that had challenged it. "Yeah! I did it! I caught you, you pikachu!" He grinned, then pat Pikachu on the head. "You're gonna be a good battler! Look at that lightning thing you did, so cool! My first catch is the best! So cool! Sweet! Stronger than the rest!"
Pikachu took in the sentiments of the boy that was now its trainer. He couldn't stop talking, but was endearing in a way. More words came from his mouth, each a different kind of positive sentiment toward Pikachu. Pikachu took them in, believed them. It already liked the boy, despite how awkward and silly he was. In fact, those traits helped Pikachu love him more, and want to protect him.
"Hey!"
The boy that was slightly less awkward and slightly more well spoken than the last human that had called himself Pikachu's trainer now spoke, interrupting its past musings. Ash looked around a corner, seeing a caterpie crawling up a tree. "It's a wild pokemon! I've gotta catch it! It'll be my first catch."
Pikachu frowned, remembering how its previous trainer had gone from referring to it as "my sweet first catch" to commenting "my first catch, you know, can't help it's weak" whenever Pikachu struggled. Just Ash saying 'first catch' was enough to dampen Pikachu's mood.
"Come on, Pikachu," Ash spoke in a semi-whisper, motioning to it before pointing ahead. "Let's battle and catch this guy!"
"Pikachu?" Pikachu questioned. Viridian forest being its original home, it was very familiar with the caterpie species. It was very weak, so battling one was basically bullying. As Ash walked slowly ahead in hopes to battle the little thing, Pikachu turned around.
"Ah! A giant bug type, right there!" Misty exclaimed in a loud voice.
The caterpie certainly noticed them then. Instead of running away as might be best, it scooted ahead. Misty screamed again, taking a step back.
"Come on," Ash said with annoyance. "It's not that big. It's even smaller than Pikachu."
"That's thinking of pokemon, think about how much bigger it is than an actual bug." Misty shivered and shook her head as she moved even farther away from the slowly approaching pokemon.
"Well, whatever. Come on, Pikachu." Ash motioned to his pokemon yet again.
"You aren't going to catch it, are you?" Misty asked. "Ew," she said as it came even closer.
"I don't care if you think it's gross," Ash retorted.
"It's not that! Caterpie are weak. Very weak! They aren't worth bothering with," Misty advised.
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed, glad the girl was around to say the obvious.
Ash still didn't listen. "I'm still gonna catch it! Pikachu, try thundershock." Of course, Pikachu still wasn't going to listen, and turned around to show that much. "Come on, Pikachu! How am I going to get any other pokemon if you won't listen?"
"Pikachu," Pikachu replied. It didn't really care at all about this kid's aspirations as a pokemon trainer. The fact it was annoying him was only amusing. Pikachu only turned around as it heard the caterpie cry in distress.
The pokemon was splayed on the ground. "It just... tripped? How does something without-" Misty began.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked. "Never mind, I've gotta take the chance!" He tossed out the pokeball. The pokemon was drawn inside, and the object became still rather quickly. "I've got it! I've got it! My first catch!" He cooed and even rubbed his face against the pokeball.
Pikachu couldn't believe that kind of enthusiasm for one weak pokemon. Not that it hated pokemon for being too strong or too weak, but the fact brought up the unpleasant idea that this pokemon wouldn't be valued at all by the trainer that had just caught it, therefore soon be discarded. Pikachu didn't want anything to do with that. It ran ahead.
"Hey, Pikachu?" Ash ran after it.
"Wait up!" Misty called, still following the both of them.
After going further in the forest, they eventually stopped for the night. Pikachu sat as they set up camp, happy as Ash fed it. It tensed up as he released the pokemon he'd just caught. "Hey, Caterpie! Nice to meet you, I mean, again." Ash laughed to himself. "Are you hungry?" Both Ash and Pikachu could easily understand Caterpie's message as it lifted its upper torso in the area and sputtered in an eager tone. Ash laughed again, putting some pokemon food down in front of it.
Pikachu curled up in a resting pose as it finished eating, hearing Ash and Misty's voice in the distance talking about which way to go, followed by Misty talking to and feeding her own pokemon. As Caterpie finished eating, Pikachu lifted up its head and spoke. "Pikapi?" The question was about what the other pokemon thought about their mutual trainer.
Caterpie blubbered, its positive sentiments almost overwhelming as it talked about the person it had interacted with only once. That wasn't enough, then it started with its hopes about being led to evolution by its trainer. Pikachu didn't reply, not wanting to dampen its new teammate's enthusiasm, and soon enough put its head back down and rested while taking in the small bug type's sentiments. Caterpie eventually stopped and curled up next to Pikachu, falling fast asleep. Pikachu stayed on alert until Ash came back next to them. After the boy lay in the sleeping bag next to it, Pikachu finally drifted off.
The next morning, Pikachu awoke early, wandering off and sipping water from a stream. It also found some wild apples, and brought two back, one for itself and another for Caterpie. They ate together, then Pikachu decided it would be great to nap in the morning sun. Before it could get too relaxed, a loud voice interrupted it.
"Hey! Pikachu, time to wake up! You too, Caterpie! Let's go train." If the voice wasn't enough to disrupt Pikachu's rest, the kid's pacing would have. Pikachu was completely awake then.
Misty groaned. "So you're finally up?" she said. "Let's keep going to Pewter."
"Hey, you're the one that wanted to come! I'm a serious trainer, so it's time to train," Ash said.
"Right here? We're in the middle of the forest, maybe lost. Most pokemon are going to be by the city, you know," Misty informed.
"Why would they be?" Ash asked.
"To get our table scraps or something? Who knows, but everyone knows even most wild pokemon are by where people are," she said. "You might do better against other trainers, bug types tend to stick together."
Ash turned away. "Well, I don't need wild pokemon, or other trainers. Pikachu and caterpie can train with each other. Let's go, guys!" Ash ran to a clearing. Caterpie quickly followed.
Pikachu slowly stepped out. "Pi." It turned its back. As if it was going to hurt a weak pokemon in general, not to mention one that was so wide-eyed and kind.
"Pikachu." Ash groaned as he saw his pokemon wasn't going to obey yet again. "Fine. Caterpie and I are going to train on our own then. Right?"
Caterpie again lifted up its body, giving an enthusiastic call. Misty walked over to see them, hands on her hip. "I know, Pikachu," she said. "He's got no judgment of what's a good or bad idea." Misty shook her head.
Pikachu stared as Ash went off with Caterpie. Training wasn't a terrible idea. Even if there were less pokemon out here, Caterpie didn't need to have to battle too many at once. Pikachu followed from a distance as Ash and Caterpie wandered around the forest, not wanting to actually battle, but not wanting to leave them alone either. Misty stayed close by it. "Don't go wandering around and getting lost," she warned, which didn't seem to slow Ash down.
They looked around without much success, finding neither trainers nor wild pokemon to practice battling again. Caterpie let out a cry of fright suddenly. "What is it?" Ash said, then noticed a small beetle crawling along the ground. "Alright! I see that bug! Go get it!"
Caterpie flailed along, and the bug went on its way. "Um," Misty began, stepping closer to Ash. "You know that other animals probably can't stand up to a pokemon, the same as humans, right?"
"Stop being such a know-it-all Misty, I know plenty," Ash said. "Besides, Caterpie knows that too. It's not gonna hurt any animals, even bugs. It was just scaring that bug away because you don't like 'em. Right, Caterpie?" Ash smiled and leaned down, patting Caterpie's head. Caterpie let out a noise of agreement. "It's gotta start somewhere," Ash said, scowling briefly as he looked back at Misty. Then he turned back ahead, continuing his search for training opportunities.
So Ash was somewhat patient, but that patience could only go so far. However, Ash continued to be patient as they met up with another caterpie, which they battled until it ran off, and then a weedle, which seemed annoyed but Caterpie again scared off with a tackle. "You're getting tough," Ash complimented.
No, it really wasn't, Pikachu considered. Yeah, it could battle against a few pokemon in its own low tier, but it was overall struggling, not really becoming that tougher.
The routine of seeking out other weak pokemon continued. Misty went back to camp, no longer following them, but Pikachu continued to. The girl had concluded they seemed alright with this kind of thing, but Pikachu wasn't sure. Still, pokemon and trainer kept working, neither losing their energy nor their enthusiasm. Everything seemed to be fine.
"There you are!" Misty caught up and called to them as the sun got lower in the sky. "Let's camp out nearby here."
"I should go back. I left-" Ash began.
"I've got all your stuff," Misty said, handing him a rolled up sleeping bag filled with several more items.
Ash took it without comment, holding it under one arm as he wiped his brow with his other arm. "Yeah... I guess we should sleep somewhere near here."
"We might get to Pewter in the morning... If you're ready, that is. You think this thing can take on Brock?" Misty asked.
"Brock?" Ash repeated.
"The gym leader, of course," Misty said. "I haven't met him, but he's very tough. Is Caterpie up to the challenge?"
Ash exchanged glances with Caterpie before looking back at Misty. "Caterpie's fine," he said.
"Hmph. If you say so," Misty said, getting her own side of the camp ready. "Well, you should see my pokemon. They might be up for taking on Brock."
"So you want a badge too?" Ash asked as he took off his backpack and took out some pokemon food, giving Caterpie and Pikachu a few pellets.
"No!" Misty snapped. "I don't have any need for any badges at all!"
"Yeah, okay then," Ash said, putting away the rest of the pokemon food without paying Misty's comment much mind.
"I was just thinking, you might want to use my pokemon... I like Pikachu, but it's pretty disobedient. And Caterpie..." Misty glanced again at the large bug, which was a fairly small pokemon. She hadn't had any challengers bother to put one in front of her, despite how plentiful they were.
"No way," Ash clenched his fist. "I'll win my own badges with my own pokemon."
"Fine then," Misty said.
"It'll be fine," Ash assured. He lay down on his sleeping bag, smiling as he watched his pokemon eat.
"Pika." Pikachu looked from Caterpie back at Ash. It really did seem like he was valuing his pokemon, though Misty had some points too. Either way, it wasn't really Pikachu's worry.
Waking up early the next day, Ash began to eat a light breakfast. Pikachu was cranky, having looked for more wild apples unsuccessfully. "Pika," it complained as it got back. It started to dig into Ash's bag, only to find a few crumbs. Ash threw a few other pellets its way. Pikachu ate them, though they were starting to get more stale, the bag that held them was almost empty. "Pika, pikachu," Pikachu groused, hoping they really were nearby wherever the city was.
"Hey, look!" Ash began in a whisper, his face lighting up as he saw the pokemon in the tree. "A pidgey! Come on, Pikachu! We've got to catch it this time."
"Pikachu." Pikachu turned around. It didn't feel like fighting in general, but especially not after that sub par meal.
"Well, then," Ash began, looking around. "Hey, wait!" he said as he saw Caterpie going right for the pokemon he'd spotted. The bug type again propped itself up, calling out aggressively to the wild flying type.
"Caterpie, stop!" Misty warned.
Ash was about to give that same order, but then realized there probably wasn't time for a retreat, given how Caterpie moved. He ran toward his pokemon, jumping in front of it. The pidgey still flew down, aiming right for the pokemon that had antagonized it. It swooped toward Caterpie.
Right before it hit, Caterpie fired a string shot attack at its wild opponent. Pidgey slowed slightly, losing sight of its target and missing the attack. Caterpie gave a sound of delight.
"Caterpie..." Ash said in surprise, turning around to face his pokemon. Perhaps he should have thought of that attack himself. "Alright!" Ash called in response to Caterpie's enthusiasm. "If you want to fight, let's fight! Tackle!" Caterpie followed directions, flings itself at its partially incapacitated opponent. As it did, it started to glow. "Caterpie?" Ash asked.
In a second, it was a completely different pokemon. Ash grinned, realizing what had happened. "Metapod, right? Let's fight some more! Tackle!"
Pidgey initiated its gust attack, kicking up some dirt around it and partially removing its restraints. Before the flying type could take advantage of its increased mobility, the newly evolved metapod slammed against it, causing it to become disoriented.
"That's it, that's enough!" Ash said with some excitement. "Pokeball, go!"
Ash threw the pokeball out, hitting pidgey. Unlike yesterday, it wiggled twice before going still. "Yes! We did it! Now there's three of us!"
Misty sighed in relief. "Right, right. Now maybe we should really make it over to Pewter, since you have so many to take care of."
After getting the camp cleaned up, it was time to leave. Ash put Metapod in its pokeball, then took out Pikachu's. "Hey, Pikachu, are you sure you don't want to-"
"Pikachu," Pikachu responded harshly. Without another comment, Ash put the object away, and they left down the path.
As they reached a forked path, Ash started to study his map, furrowing his brow as he couldn't see anything past it. "Oh, just down this way, and we'll be there," Misty pointed.
Ash put his map away. "I think this way might be better," he said, stepping down the opposite side that Misty had pointed.
"Come on! I know where I'm going!" Misty said. Her eyes went up as she considered the path. "Actually, going that way will get you there too, it's just way more out of the way."
"Maybe I like that better," Ash said.
"I've really had enough of your wandering," Misty said.
"No one asked you to come with me," Ash continued on his way.
Misty stopped walking, putting her feet down forcefully as she went the other way. "Well, I'll just enjoy myself when I get to town going the right way before you finally make it," she said. Ash didn't respond to her, which annoyed her further, and she kept walking.
"Pikapi? Pikachu pi?" Pikachu looked from one way to the other as the humans it had gotten used to being around each went in opposite directions.
"Come on, Pikachu," Ash turned around to call his pokemon.
"Pika." Pikachu went after Misty, fairly sure she was going the better way. "Pikapi," it called back at Ash from behind her.
"Don't you want to be part of our team, Pikachu?" Ash asked. Pikachu caught up with Misty before turning around again. Ash's brow furrowed before he turned around. "You're gonna have to go fast to keep up," he said, starting to go faster down his chosen path.
Pikachu looked at Misty as she turned the corner back to where she'd decided was the correct path. It eventually decided to go back and follow Ash. The boy eventually slowed down, releasing Metapod as the random bug types came across their path. "You've really gotten strong," Ash said as Metapod tackled and scared away its opponent.
"Pika," Pikachu muttered in agreement. It had to admit the bug type had grown stronger, and in just these few days at that. It wasn't just the evolution, but its hard work that had made the improvement.
"Finally," Ash said. He looked over the hill they'd just ascended, seeing the buildings of a city in the distance. "We're at Pewter!" he exclaimed. He returned Metapod before running faster toward his goal. As he did, his foot gave way in a hole, and he fell to the ground. "Ow. Ow, ow, ow," Ash complained, grabbing it.
As he pulled up his foot and looked at it under his pants, several sets of footsteps approached him. "Hmph. We knew you'd be along eventually," the woman spoke.
"Now, why don't you hand over your Pikachu's pokeball?" the man said.
Ash stood up, wincing as he put pressure on the foot, though he tried to regain a straight face. "It's you guys!" he said as he recognized them. "Team Robbers?"
"Not Team Robbers, Team Rocket!" Jessie exclaimed in annoyance.
"Does it matter? You're just a bunch of losers," Ash said.
"You're gonna pretend you never heard of us?" Jessie asked.
"Now, now, Jessie," James waved a finger. "He's correct it doesn't matter. Or at least, he doesn't matter. His story ends now, with us getting his pokemon. Team Rocket's story will continue on, gloriously."
"So hand over that Pikachu," Meowth said, still not noticing the other pokemon a little further down the path.
"Pikachu?" Ash was briefly confused as he stood up and faced the would-be thieves. "I mean... If you want a pikachu, I've seen plenty around." Ash glanced around the area.
"We don't want just any weak pikachu," Jessie informed, shaking her head.
"That's right! Your pikachu's a super rare powerful version!" Meowth added.
"My pikachu's rare?" Ash asked.
"Yeah. That's the kind we need," Meowth continued as it stepped back. "If you can't appreciate it, we will! You two, get it!"
Jessie and James threw out their pokeballs in unison, calling out their pokemon's names as Ekans and Koffing appeared. Ash tried to ignore the pain as he slightly shifted his weight while getting out his own pokeballs, throwing them out. "Metapod, Pidgey! I know I just caught you, and you're tired, but we've gotta defend ourselves against these guys! They're after Pikachu! Metapod, tackle, Pidgey, whirlwind!""
"Koffing, sludge attack!" James ordered.
"Ekans, wrap!" Jessie followed.
Koffing's attack hit both of Ash's pokemon, while Ekans wrapped around Metapod as it was distracted. Metapod's restraint prevented it from attacking, while Pidgey's whirlwind didn't appear to have much effect at all on Koffing.
Meowth laughed and jumped. "Yeah, your freshly caught little weaklings can't measure up against my partners' pokemon! They've been training these guys for a while!"
"Ekans, you know what to do." Jessie stretched and stifled a yawn.
"Koffing, tackle that pidgey while it's off guard," James said.
"Metapod, Pidgey, keep trying those attacks!" Ash ordered, clenching his fists.
Metapod attempted to tackle as Ekans's wrap attack continued, while Koffing hit Pidgey, causing it to fall down. "Pidgey!" Ash called, quickly returning the pokemon.
Meowth put a paw to its chin. "Yeah, we don't want these weak ones you sent out, so how about a little deal? We'll let you keep them if you save us the trouble and give us that pikachu outright. Maybe we'll even give you an IOU. How's that sound?"
"I think we've got this one, Meowth," Jessie pointed out with some annoyance.
"Right. It shouldn't take long," James said.
"It doesn't hurt to have more allies," Meowth sniped, annoyed to have its decision questioned. "Besides, he still has Pikachu."
"Pikachu..." Ash glanced behind him, wondering if the pokemon was still there. Either way, Pikachu didn't listen to him much, so all he had was Metapod left. Ash stared back ahead. "Metapod... Keep fighting, for Pikachu! You've gotten tough. Harden!"
"Huh? You don't realize what a position you're in?" Meowth asked. "This only delays the inevitable."
"I don't care if it's weak or rare like you say. I'm not giving up any member of my team!" Ash declared.
"Suit yourself," Meowth said, going silent to let its partners handle the situation.
Still unnoticed by those present, Pikachu watched the battle continue. Would Ash really not give any of them up? He had to know he was outmatched. The newly caught pokemon had been tired out by the previous battle. That wide-eyed caterpie had changed into a tough metapod, but still probably wasn't tough enough to be bullied like this. Pikachu itself didn't want to be bullied either, but maybe this group would go away when they realized their desired pokemon wasn't around, and Ash wasn't about to sell it out. Metapod might have to tough it out until then.
"Metapod," Ash lamented as he saw his pokemon still struggling even with its harden technique, and freed by the wrap attack. Its tackles seemed to have a slight impact, but two on one wasn't fair. "That's enough!" Ash reached for the pokemon to return it.
Metapod let out a low call. Pikachu gasped as it recognized the message. This pokemon with a mutual trainer really was fighting for Pikachu itself, and wasn't about to abandon it. "Pikachu," Pikachu called quietly. It couldn't hold back anymore.
Pikachu sprinted forward. Before it could make a move to defend its teammate, it noticed a bright glow. "Pika pika!" it exclaimed happily as it realized the source.
"Metapod?" Ash said, glancing from Pikachu back to it.
"This is-" James began.
"Uh oh." Meowth shook its head, covering its eyes with its paws as it saw the evolution, along with Pikachu's appearance.
Pikachu stood by the newly evolved Butterfree, between Ash and the aggressors, ready to battle. "Pikachu!" Pikachu called to congratulate its apparent friend.
"Butterfree, great-" Ash stopped himself, realizing the praise could wait until later. "Butterfree, try sleep powder! Pikachu... You can help."
The rocket agents shouted their own orders, but Butterfree's sleep powder got their pokemon too drowsy to continue. "Pika CHU!" Pikachu shouted as it fired its thunderbolt attack at both of them. In a flashy-looking show, they were engulfed in the attack, and fell to the ground, completely unconscious.
Jessie and James returned their pokemon quickly, angry expressions on their faces. "Let's go," Meowth ordered, though its partners were already ahead of it. Meowth dashed after them as fast as it could.
"We did it," Ash said, his expression lightening. He looked toward his now fully-evolved pokemon, which flew in the air by moving its fluffy wings. "Butterfree - You're really great. I knew you could do it, but not this fast." Ash laughed briefly, taking a step toward the flying pokemon before he stumbled a bit, wincing.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu questioned, poking at his young trainer's leg.
"It's fine," Ash said. "Thank you too, Pikachu."
"Free!" Butterfree echoed the sentiment.
"I'll get you both taken care of in Pewter," Ash promised, returning Butterfree to its pokeball. Despite saying he was fine, the boy limped as they went toward the city. Realizing Ash couldn't go as quickly, Pikachu slowed its own pace as it followed him.
Next chapter: Ash vs. Brock
(I know, everyone else got to appear 'pre story', but better late than never.)