Chapter-3: On Road To Viridian City

Ash and Serena are making their way to Viridian City via Route 1, when suddenly a loud growl was heard. Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity, but Serena let out a cute giggle.

"Oh Ash. What are we going to do about this?" The honey blonde asked playfully.

"Well, guess I'm a little... hungry." Ash said, rubbing the back of his head. "I know! Why don't we have our lunch now? What do you say buddy?"

"I'm kinda hungry too I guess." Pikachu replied with a neutral face.

"Alright then. How about..." Serena said, looking around the place. She finally found a clearing under a tree, perfect spot for a quick lunch. "Over there?"

"That'd do for now I guess!" Ash said impatiently. The trio walked over to the shade and Ash laid a picnic cloth on the ground while Serena picked out the boxed lunches her mother gave her for the journey. She also smiled, remembering how her mother embarrassed her about it.

"Hey Serena, I've set up the spot." Ash called her out, breaking her trance. She sighed, and walked over with two boxes in her hand, and gave one to Ash.

The Raven haired boy started to munch on it like a hungry Snorlax. Serena giggled watching him chow down, she felt it looked cute. Pikachu on the other hand discovered something new that day. 'Ketchup'

"This is amazing!" The Electric Rodent squealed, while continuing to lick the cap, squeezing out the Red Elixir out of it.


"So Serena, what did you plan for the journey? Anything you want to do?" Ash asked finishing his box.

"Me?" She asked in surprise, and then her face fell. "I don't know. I never had a chance to pick my dream. I know you've always wanted to be a Pokemon Master, but my dream was just to break away from Rhyhorn Racing. And now, it's just... I don't know what I should do now. I just felt I'd be left alone when you all took on your journeys. I'm sorry if that sounds a little selfish."

"Hey, it's alright. Besides, lots of people don't start out with dreams of their own." Ash said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure you'll find what you want to do in no time! And I'm sure you'll have lots of fun doing it too! And that's not selfish of you to start out on your journey. I might've done the same thing if I was in your place." He explained.

"Thank you Ash. I really needed that." She said before picking up a twig from her bag. "Here Fennekin, this will be a great after-taste."

Ash turned around to his partner, who had finished three bottles of Ketchup by now, and was trying to find if there was more. He sighed at the new obsession his partner has gotten now.

"Alright Pikachu. That's enough Ketchup for now." He said sternly.

"I want MORE KETCHUP!" Pikachu ordered him.

"Hey! We don't even have any Ketchup now! You ate everything we had!" Ash shot back.

"I WANT KETCHUPP!" Pikcahu screamed, letting out a thundershock angrily, however Ash dodged the attack easily. If he could dodge Lucario's Steel Beam, this thundershock would be nothing he couldn't dodge.

But unfortunately the electric attack hit a Spearow perched on top of the branch. The bird turned back to find a Pikachu and two humans looking at it nervously.

"Hey Spearow. I'm sorry you got hit with that attack. Pikachu didn't mean to do that. So, are we good?" Ash asked nervously.

"GOOD!" Spearow said sarcastically. "Your flesh will make fine food!" It said before climbing steeply. It swooped in at Pikachu, who dodged the attack by a hair.

"Hey! It was an accident! Why are you being so rash about it?! Ash called out angrily.

"I won't let your rodent alive human! He'll make good food!" Spearow exclaimed, before charging another dive.

"Why you!" Ash yelled at it angrily. "Quick buddy, zap it with Thundershock!" He said to his starter.

"On it!" Pikachu said, and got on fours. Collecting all the energy it needed, Pikachu sent a bolt of electricity at the Bird Pokemon, causing it to fall to the ground.

"That's not gonna save you!" Spearow screamed, before calling out to its flock. Soon, the entire flock was there, there were at least a hundred Spearows in the flock.

"Serena! Run!" Ash screamed to the girl. Serena picked her stuff and started running blindly. Ash and Pikachu followed suit. The trio continued to run, until they arrived at a cliff. Below there was a river flowing.

Ash looked up at the sky, the Spearows were still after them. Thinking on his feet, he came up with a risky idea.

"Serena, do you trust me?" He asked her with a serious face.

Serena looked back, trying her best not to fantasize over that determined face. "Yes Ash." She replied.

"Okay then, take in a deep breath!" Ash said, as he took Pikachu in his arms, and hugged Serena tightly, diving into the river below.


Ash continued to hug Serena tightly, sandwiching Pikachu between them. Looking ahead he saw a Gyarados approach them, so he quickly steered out of its way, as the current continued to carry them downstream. He continued to steer left and right to avoid all obstacles.

Serena began losing consciousness as water began going into her lungs. That's when he noticed a fishing lure, and tugged on to it with all his might, hoping the fisherman would be able to pull them out.


A ginger haired girl was sitting on the river bank, with her fishing rod in the water. Something suddenly caught to her lure. "Ah! It seems like a big one!" She exclaimed. Putting in all her might, she pulled out her catch.

It was a Raven haired boy, a Honey blonde girl and a Pikachu.

"Aww just two stupid kids." She groaned in annoyance. This girl was already getting on Ash's nerves. Opening his eyes, he saw a girl looking towards them.

"Are you alright?" She asked showing concern.

"Yeah, I'm okay." Ash replied, thinking he judged her too quickly.

"I didn't ask you, you idiot! I was asking this cutie. Look at what you've done!" The girl yelled at him.

"Jeez what's her problem?" Ash thought to himself. "Well, I for one don't care what you think. I haven't done anything wrong." He screamed back angrily. "Ugh! Why am I even explaining myself? Please tell me if there's a Pokemon center anywhere around here?"

"Yes, Viridian city isn't too far from here." The girl replied replied in an annoyed tone.

Just then he heard the caws of the Spearow. This was a nightmare. He had to run.

He noticed the bike parked by the tree. He knew he couldn't outrun the Spearows, at least not when Pikachu and Serena were in such miserable conditions. Acting quickly, he took Pikachu and placed it on the basket, and then he lifted Serena like a bride and helped her to the back seat.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing with my bike?" The girl screamed at him.

"Sorry, but it's an emergency." Ash answered back. "I'll return it to you." He screamed before adding, "Some day."


With that Ash began to pedal to the medal. As he continued to speed up, black clouds began forming over the area, a storm was waiting to test him.

"Hey buddy, I won't let them hurt you, I promise." He said looking at the electric type. "I won't let anything happen to either of you." He repeated himself. His determination was reaching the skies now, and he continued to pedal with all his might.

Winds started blowing against his face. But he couldn't give up, because this, couldn't be the end. He refused to accept it, and continued to pour his energy to the leg, until the chain snapped, literally.

Getting disbalanced, the bike skid off and fell to the ground. The Spearows weren't too far behind. Now it was all, or nothing.

"Hey Pikachu. Get into your Pokeball. Look I know I said I won't force you in, but at least if you're in there these Spearows can't hurt you. And take care of Serena after I'm gone 'kay?" Ash said, placing his starter's Pokeball on the ground.

"Ash! Wait..." Serena called out weakly. "Don't... do this" She said, while coughing out some water.

Ignoring her, Ash turned towards the flock of Spearow. "SPEAROW!" He declared to them. "MY NAME IS ASH KETCHUM! AND I'M GOING TO BE THE GREATEST POKEMON MASTER EVER! I WON'T EVER BE DEFEATED BY THE LIKES OF YOU. AND IF IT MEANS THAT I HAVE TO CAPTURE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, THEN I WILL!"

He turned his hat around and spread his arms wide. "Now come get me if you can!" He screamed at the flock.

The entire flock dived for him, anger flashing in their eyes. Thunder rumbling throughout the air. Lightning striking on the ground.

"Ash NO!" Serena pleaded, but he wasn't going to listen. That was the moment when she felt completely helpless. There was absolutely nothing she could do but stare at him. "Ash please don't" She cried.

Pikachu felt bad as well. This kid had done everything for it. He put up with its stupid demand to be let out of the Pokeball, he encouraged it, and now he was going to die, because of a mistake it made. No, this wasn't going to happen today! Suddenly its body started glowing in a faint blue aura, and it started feeling re-energized.


To Ash it felt as if time had slowed down. His body began to glow with a faint blue outline, as he continued to focus on protecting his friends. Pikachu began glowing in a similar blue aura, and feeling the energy surge through, Pikachu got up and began to run towards Ash,

It used Ash's shoulders as a platform to jump into the air, as Lightning surged through its body.

"Lightning Rod: This ability allows the Pokemon to draw out electricity into its body and channel it out to power up its electric attacks."

Pikachu let out a mighty roar and slapped its cheeks before directing all that Electrical current at the Spearow.

There were sparks flowing in every direction, and then, a huge explosion, pushing everyone back.

At that moment Ash knew it was all over now, the Spearow won't attack anymore. Pikachu and Serena were going to be safe.

The last thing he saw was Pikachu lying alongside him, with a smile on its face. He knew he had earned the trust of his buddy now.

No longer having the strength to stand, Ash fell to his knees, as Serena rushed over to him.

"Ash please be okay!" The Honey blonde pleaded weakly, shedding tears at the plight of her crush.


After a good fifteen minutes Ash began to stir. He opened his eyes, and saw a blue blur. Blinking a few times, he turned a little more upward, so find Serena. He noticed his head was on her knee and Pikachu was placed beside him. Serena had called out Fennekin to keep them warm.

His movements disturbed Serena's constant stream of tears, and she realized he must have awoken.

"Ash. You're awake!" She exclaimed, as he got up from her lap and sat by, resting his head on the tree.

Serena had pulled Ash into the shade and cleaned his wounds with an anti-septic. This was something she had experience with, because she rode Rhyhorn for at least three years, and Mew knows how many times she fell from the Spikes Pokemon.

When the Spearow attacked she was feeling so helpless. Ash had basically sacrificed himself to save her life. Why must he be this selfless? She thought. Well, no one knew, but it's this infuriating self-lessness that brought them together.

"Hey Serena." He said weakly, flashing a pained smile. But before he could do anything, her hand swung. Man that hurt like a Beedrill's sting.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Ash asked, struggling with all the pain.

But Serena had none of it and grabbed him into a powerful hug, while letting her tears flow. Ash gently stroked her back, to comfort her.

"Serena. Calm down. It's okay." Ash said in a sweet voice.

"That's all you have to say?" The honey blonde asked angrily. "You absolutely immature! Idiot! Stupid! Moron! If... If Pikachu didn't... You would've died Ash." Serena cried out. This time Ash pulled her into a hug, he kept rubbing her back to give her some much needed comfort.

"Serena. It's okay. I'm okay, you're okay. But for all that matters, I'm sorry to have worried you so much. But you have to understand that you, Pikachu, you're both my friends, and I couldn't just let those Spearows attack you." He said.

"Oh Ash." Serena said, while caressing his back. They pulled out of the hug, reluctantly, and looked into each other's eyes. "Ash, I know that no Journey can be safe, and knowing you, I have no idea what other trouble we'll get into." They both shared a laugh at this. "But, I want you to promise something. Can you do that?"

"What is it Serena?" Ash asked sincerely.

"I want you to promise that whatever comes, we'll face it together. Can you do that Ash?" Serena asked.

The boy looked into the eyes of the girl, feeling almost lost in them. He had a serious look in his face, but it quickly turned into a smile. "I promise Serena. I promise." He answered, as two shining feathers fell onto their hands from the sky.

They both turned around and looked into the sky as a huge bird Pokemon flew across the rainbow. It's colors were shining vividly.

Both pointed their Pokedex towards the unknown Pokemon

Ho-Oh: The Rainbow Pokemon. Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.

"Woowww!" Ash, Serena and Pikachu said in awe of the Legendary. They continued to marvel at it until it disappeared into the rainbow. They placed their respective feathers in their respective bags.

Ash turned down to see Pikachu still in pain. "Let's go get you some help buddy." He said, and the trio continued on their trail to Viridian City.

AS THE JOURNE...

"Oh my poor bike!" The ginger haired girl wailed. "Aagh! Those two kids are so paying for it!" She screamed, as she continued her search for the two new trainers.

AS THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Done with chapter three. I really didn't want Ash to be as stupid as they showed him. He's been training a Pokemon for four-five years now (Lucario). So he knows it isn't exactly the best idea to provoke a wild Pokemon. Besides, he's always kind towards all Pokemon and considers them as his friends, so it would seem un-natural for him to just throw a stone into a field just like that.

That being said, Ash and Serena now know that they have seen Ho-Oh, and it has bestowed upon them, the precious Rainbow Wing. What else does their future have in store?

Until next time folks!