A/N- Hey guys... I know this update is late, sorry. I've been REALLY preoccupied... I can't make a long one this time, I'm really really rushed. I've got 10 minutes to finish this!

This one's gonna be filled with drama, so prepare for it... Also, I need a girl OC for Ash's girlfriend, later in the fic. I've decided I love Contest-shipping, so May gets Drew. I need someone for Ash, though. Michael get's Dawn... Maybe Ash can have Serena? Ah, whatever, I'll decide later...

Alright, on to the story!

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"Come on! We're almost there!"

"Wait!"

Alex quickly scaled another boulder, standing up on tip-toes to determine how much longer until they reached Pewter. She jumped happily when she saw the rocky city off in the distance.

Misty pulled herself up, puffing and panting profusely. Clutching the stich in her side, she gasped, staring incredulously at Alex.

"How," *puff* "do," *pant* "you," *puff* "do," *pant* "this?" She panted. Alex grinned.

"Oh, I took rock climbing for years! She grinned, took a running leap, and jumped down onto the ground, landing catlike on the dirt path. "I was the best in class!" She took off running towards the city, her friends panting behind her.

"Wait!"

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"So. They escaped from your grasp." Giovanni addressed the two trembling agents standing before him, never once looking away from the large TV screen, showcasing Jakob and Michael leading the chase towards Alex.

The two agents visibly flinched. One stepped into the light, a nervous expression on her face.

"I-I'm sorry, b-boss. It won't h-happen again." Cassidy stammered. Giovanni tore his gaze from the television to give her a skeptical, disapproving glare.

"I belive I gave this particular assignment to Jessie, James, and that Meowth of theirs. I don't remember giving permission to intercept." Giovanni sneered. Cassidy stammered an apology, looking close to tears.

"Sir," Butch began. "we tried to get them for you because we knew those..." He bit back a not-so-nice remark about them. "agents wouldn't finish the job. They are much too inept." He said, saving his partner from further prosecution.

Giovanni's cold, hard gaze swept over the green haired Rocket, who returned his gaze steadily.

"One more act of insubordination like this, and you're off the team." He finally decided. He'd had his reasons for sending Jessie and James on this mission, after all.

The two recognized this as a dismissal. Saluting, they backed out of the room.

"That was too close." Cassidy breathed.

"I saw a herd of Tauros grazing on the way here... Let's go steal them for the boss." Butch said. "We have to make this up to him."

Cassidy nodded, and without another word, the two ran out of the HQ.

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"So, Brock, where's the hotel?" Alex asked, looking around Pewter City. True to it's name, the large city was surrounded by rocks, boulders, and cliffs.

Brock gasped. "Alex, you insult me. There's no way I'd let a pretty girl like this stay in a hotel, while they're in my town!" He cried, moving to put his arm around Alex's shoulders, but she ducked underneath it to run off towards the forest, crying out.

"Wait! Wait..." Brock trailed off, seeing that Alex had leaned down, and appeared to be conversing with something.

Getting closer, Brock saw that it was a Pidgey, and an injured one at that. Its wing was stuck out at an odd angle, and small flecks of dried blood speckled it.

"You poor thing! Were you attacked?" Alex cooed softly. She reached out a hand to try and help the bird Pokemon, but the Pidgey limped away, eyeing the outstretched appendage warily.

"I'm going to help you..." Alex insisted, but the Pidgey continued to try and escape. Brock leaned down.

"Here, give it this." He said, handing Alex a potion. Recognizing it, she quickly held it out for the Pidgey to see.

"This'll heal you. It will sting for a second, but then it'll be OK. Then we can bring you to a Pokemon center and get you healed fully." She explained. She sprayed the potion onto the Pidgeys wing, and it cried out, but then calmed down once it realized the pain was going away.

"See?" Alex said. She extended her hand again. "We can help you..." She said. The Pidgey cooed a few times, and Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, most likely to translate.

After a few moments of Poketalk discussion, the Pidgey jumped onto Alex's hand. Alex turned to Brock.

"Where's the Pokemon center?" She asked. He pointed off to the East, and Alex immediately began running.

Before long, the red-roofed building was in sight. Heads turned to stare at the running brunette holding an injured Pidgey, as her footfalls made loud bangs on the stone walkway.

She could hear someone running behind her; Ash, judging by Pikachu's cheering.

The Joy in the center raised her head in alarm as the automatic glass doors opened to reveal a panting teenager with an injured Pidgey in her hand. She got up, moving quickly to the door.

"What happened?" She gasped as she took in the full appearance of the bird Pokemon. It looked severly injured, most likely by a wild Pokemon.

"We found this Pidgey in the forest like this. Please help it!" The girl panted, holding the Pidgey out for her to take and heal. It winced as it exchanged hands, and shifted to rest the injured wing.

"I'll do all I can." She said, waving over her trusty Chansey. Chansey grabbed a small stretcher, and rushed over.

Joy gently lay the Pidgey onto the stretcher, and motioned for Chansey to bring it to the infirmary ward.

"I'll be out in a few minutes!" She said, just as five more kids appeared at the door. The oldest, a tall boy, jumped in front of her.

"Oh, Nurse Joy! You are as beautiful as always! Perhaps even more beautiful! Will yo- NOT THE EAR!" The orange haired girl grabbed his ear and yanked him back, his protests echoing through the building.

"I'm... Going to go take care of the Pidgey now..." She muttered, thoroughly weirded out.

"Please make sure it's OK!" Alex called to Joy's retreating figure. She gave a thumbs up in return.

Jakob sidled up to Alex, smiling slyly. "So, you gonna try and catch it? I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous... You get a second Pokemon before me!" He said. Alex fingered a spare Pokeball in her pocket, biting her lip.

"I'm going to ask it if it wants to join my team! It might have a family, or maybe a bunch of friends, or a whole flock! I can't juts take it!" She said, dropping the Pokeball back into her pocket.

"If this was your Platinum, you'd catch it without a second thought..." He reasoned. Alex crossed her arms.

"If this was my Platinum, I'd be sitting in my room in my pajamas drinking soda and playing the game." She said. Jakob nodded.

"I guess you're right... This is different. Still, I'll be really jealous if you catch a Pokemon before me, and especially something that will evolve into Pidgeot." He smirked, walking away.

Alex sighed, dropping down onto one of the couches next to Michael. "I just hope that poor Pidgey is OK..." She murmured, resting her head in her hands.

"It be fine, don't worry." Michael reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him, but her thanks were cut short by Nurse Joy emerging from the double doors.

Brock jumped up immediately, grabbing her hands. "I'm sure you've done a wonderful jo-AH!" Alex pushed him violently out of the way, and nervous expression on her face.

"How is it?" She said, wringing her hands. Joy smiled gently.

"With a bit of rest, it'll be just fine. It seems to want to see you, though!" She said. Alex visibly relaxed, nodding happily.

"Where is it?" She asked. Joy gestured to the infirmary doors. Alex walked in without a second thought.

She was immediately hit with what seemed to be a feathery projectile tennis ball; Pidgey was happily tackling every inch of her.

"Oof! Pidgey!" She cried, grabbing the bird Pokemon. "You're OK!" Pidgey didn't respond, but instead jumped into Alex's backpack.

"Pidgey?" Alex asked. A small click sounded from inside the backpack, and a red glow emitted from inside. Alex gasped; that glow was so familiar...

Alex reached inside, and withdrew a full Pokeball. Staring at it in disbelief, she walked out of the doors as though in a daze.

"Alex?" Jakob asked, approaching her. She looked up.

"I... I caught a Pidgey..." She murmured, the full effect of what had happened washing over her. "I caught a Pidgey!" She shrieked, throwing the Pokeball into the air. Pidgey emerged with a pop.

She was knocked back by Pidgey's happy tackle, and she laughed, hugging the Pokemon close to her.

"Well... She's energetic..." Michael said. "Sorta like Bayleef."

Alex smiled. "Yeah, she is! Cool!" She looked down at Pidgey. "Welcome to the team, Pidgey!"

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A/N OK, so now Alex has got a Pidgey. Next chapter will see them get to Pewter Gym, and possibly win a badge.

Until next time!