Deep in the Viridian Forest, Riley was playing hide and seek with Pikachu while Ash and Misty were looking. "Ready or not, here I come!" the little girl said as she uncovered her eyes and started to look around for the mouse Pokémon.

Misty all of a sudden screamed, which made the little girl jump and looked over at her and her brother. Misty was hiding behind Ash, and Pikachu jumped down from the tree he was hiding, "Pika?"

"What's the matter?" Ash asked. "Look over there," Misty said. Riley and Ash looked to the side to see a bug Pokémon. Riley smiled, "A Caterpie!"

"It's one of the bug Pokémon," Ash said with a smile. "Even if it is a Pokémon, bugs are disgusting and I don't like them, do something," Misty said. "All right, step back," Ash said. Misty stood next to Riley and Pikachu as Ash pulled out a Poké Ball from his belt, "This one is a piece of cake. Caterpie, you're mine." He threw the Poké Ball on the Worm Pokémon, slamming it against it's forehead.

Caterpie glowed red then was inside the Poké Ball, which dropped to the ground and started to shake and twist. Riley took Pikachu in her arms as they all watched the Poké Ball stopped shaking and the red button turned back to white.

Ash grinned, "Yes! I did it." He ran toward the Poké Ball and grabbed it. "I did it! I got Caterpie!" Riley smiled, and jumped up and down, "Yay!" Ash ran closer to them, showing the Poké Ball right to Misty's face, "Look, inside this ball is the first Pokémon I've ever caught my all life."

"Great, just kept it away from me, will ya," Misty said. "You not afraid of a little Caterpie in a Poké Ball, are you?" Ash teased. "Bugs scares me all bug out! Even if they in a Poké Ball. Just keep it away from me!" She said and turned around. Riley looked at Misty in confusion, "What's wrong with bug Pokémon?"

Ash looked down at his sister, "Ignore her. What do you think about our new friend?" Pikachu cheered, "Pikachu!" Riley grinned, "Ash, can you let Caterpie out? Please, please."

Misty tensed but Ash ignored her and smiled at his sister, "Sure. Caterpie, come on out!" Ash called, letting Caterpie out of his Poké Ball. Misty screamed as she ran away, hiding behind a far tree.

Caterpie tilted it's head a little as Riley sat down in front of it. The little girl smiled, "Hey, Caterpie. My name is Riley." Pikachu stood next to her, "Pikachu." Riley held out her hand, "Would you like to climb on my shoulder?"

Caterpie nodded but before it could move closer to the little girl, Misty stepped slightly away from the tree. "Riley, don't do that," She said. "Why not?" Riley asked in a sad tone before she looked at Ash, "Can't I let Caterpie be on my shoulder?"

"Of course you can," Ash said, "Don't listen to Misty. Go on, Caterpie, you can climb up." The Worm Pokémon climbed on the little girl's shoulder, which she giggled. "That tickles," She said. Pikachu smiled, "Pi."

Riley got up and looked at Caterpie, "Are you feeling okay been on my shoulder?" The Worm Pokémon nodded with it's eyes closed. "Misty, look, Caterpie is happy."

"That's great," Misty muttered, clearly not happy that the Worm Pokémon was outside the Poké Ball. "Come on, let's keep going," Ash said. Riley started to walk ahead with Caterpie and Pikachu while Ash followed behind with Misty slowly following them as well.

While it was getting dark, Ash decided they should camp for the night. Misty and Ash had put their sleeping bags before Ash was helping Riley put her own sleeping bag. "Can Pikachu and Caterpie sleep with me?" Riley asked as she looked up on her brother.

"I don't see why not," Ash said before looking at his two Pokémon, "What do you say guys? Want to cuddle with Riley?" Pikachu and Caterpie nodded excitedly before quickly moving to Riley's sleeping bag. "Yay," the little girl said with a smile.

Riley settled between Pikachu and Caterpie in her sleeping bag before lying down. "Are you comfortable?" Misty asked. "Yes," Riley answered before letting a small yawn. "Goodnight," Ash and Misty said at the same time. "Goodnight," Riley muttered before closing her eyes.

In the middle of the night, the fire was already gone and the three kids were asleep. Riley opened her eyes, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she quietly sat up so she won't wake up her brother, Misty and the two Pokémon.

'I need to go.'

Riley slipped from her sleeping bag and stood up. Pikachu heard the movements and opened his eyes, "Pika?" He looked up at the awaken little girl as she slowly walked away but she stopped as she looked around the trees.

Pikachu slipped from the sleeping bag and quickly stood at Riley's side, "Pikachu, pi." Riley looked at Pikachu as she put her hands behind her back, "I need to go to the bathroom," She muttered. "Pika," Pikachu said as he understand and nodded.

Riley looked back at the trees and the mouse Pokémon watched her in confusion as he tilted his head, "Pi?" Riley placed a finger under her chine and she looked at Pikachu in shyness, "Can - can you come with me?"

Pikachu smiled at the little girl and nodded, "Pikachu." Riley and Pikachu walked away from the small camp to the trees and the bushes.

A few minutes later, Misty woke up and rubbed the sleep from eyes. She grabbed her backpack and pulled a bottle of water to take a drink. After taking a sip, she looked around and froze in horror when she saw that Riley wasn't in her sleeping bag.

Misty got up quickly as she looked around, "Riley? Riley!" She looked at Ash to see he was still sleeping and quickly woke him up, "Ash, wake up!" Caterpie and Ash both woke up and looked at Misty. "What is it?" Ash asked tiredly.

"Riley is gone," Misty said. Ash quickly sat up and looked at Riley's sleeping bag in alarm, "What?!" Caterpie looked at the spot the little girl and Pikachu were before it crawled toward Ash. The boy got up, "Riley! Pikachu!"

Caterpie looked around before crawling to where Riley and Pikachu were standing earlier. "Caterpie, where you going?" Ash asked before following. "Wait up," Misty said before following.

A few bushes started to move and they all stopped to stare at them. Riley and Pikachu jumped out of there. "Riley," Misty and Ash said at the same time before quickly kneeling in front of her. "Are you okay?" Ash asked. "What happened? Where were you?" Misty asked.

"I just needed to go to the bathroom," Riley said, "Pikachu went with me." Pikachu nodded, "Pikachu." Misty and Ash sighed in relief. "You could have woken me or Misty up," Ash said. "I didn't want to wake you up," Riley said, "I'm sorry."

"That's fine," Misty said. "Let's go back to sleep, okay?" Riley nodded before walking back to her sleeping bag with Pikachu and Caterpie.

The next day, Riley, Misty and Ash were getting ready to continue. Misty cut an apple and handed the pieces to Riley, "There you go." Riley took them but before she could take a bite, a bird Pokémon snatched the apple. "Hey," Riley said. "Pika!" Pikachu said angrily as he looked at the bird Pokémon as it landed on the grass.

"A Pidgeotto," Ash said. "It took my Apple," Riley said as she pointed at Pidgeotto. "That is not nice to steal!" Misty said to the bird Pokémon but it ignored them and started to eat the apple. "But, Misty gave it to me, not you," Riley said.

Pikachu ran in front as he looked at Pidgeotto, "Pika! Pikachu, Pika." Pidgeotto looked at Pikachu and glared at the mouse Pokémon.

Ash looked at his Pokédex, "Pidgeotto, an evolved form of the Pidgey. It is armed with sharp claws and dives from the sky to capture its prey. Unlike the more gentle Pidgey, Pidgeotto can be dangerous. Approach with extreme caution."

"We'll see about that," Ash said. "Give me back my apple," Riley told the bird Pokémon. Pidgeotto looked at the little girl before looking away as it eat the last piece of the apple. "Pika!" Pikachu said before using a Thunder Shock on the bird Pokémon, but it flew away before it could get hit by the attack.

"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock again!" Ash said. Pikachu used Thunder Shock again and this time hit the bird Pokémon. "Poké ball, go!" Ash said as he threw a Poké ball at Pidgeotto and it went inside.

The Poké ball shook for a moment before it stopped. Ash grinned and hold up his fingers in the V for Victory sign, "Yes! We got Pidgeotto." Pikachu did the same gesture, "Pikachu!"

Ash looked down at his sister with the Poké ball, "See this, Riley? We have another new friend." Riley smiled, "Yay." She tilted her head, "But I lost my apple."

"Don't worry, there a lots of apples around the forest," Misty pointed out. "Yes, but red Apples are more tasty, and sweeter," Riley said. "Yeah, Riley likes red apples more," Ash stated. A sudden laugh was heard and they looked around.

"So we meet again."

"That voice," Ash said and there were three figures standing in front of them.

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite all people's within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extended our reaches to the stars above."

"Jessie."

"James."

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! That's right!"

Ash looked bored, "Uh, we're kind of busy right now, so -" Jessie cut Ash off, "Quiet, little boy, we're not here to listen to you." She and James suddenly pointed at Pikachu, "We're here for your Pokémon."

"Hand over that Pikachu," James said. "Huh? This is my Pikachu," Ash pointed out, "Go find your own."

"The only Pikachu we want is that one," Jessie said. "We're only looking for rarest and valuable Pokémon in the world, kid," James said. "And that special Pikachu is just the kind of Pokémon we need," Jessie said.

Meowth suddenly started to scratch and slap them both. "Is my Pikachu really that special?" Ash asked. Meowth stopped and turned to him, "Your Pikachu's power impressed even me. I really got charged of his incredible attack the last time we met, his power exceed his evolution level. Your Pokémon -"

Now Jessie and James were hitting Meowth and then looked at the kids. "Make things easy and hand over that Pikachu," Jessie said. "Forget it," Ash said. Jessie and James pulled out their two Poké ball. "Then you leave us no choice," James said. "Pokémon battle!" Jessie said as they threw the Poké balls, "Ekans, go!"

"Koffing, go get them," James said as the two Pokémon got out. "Hey, two against one, that's cheating!" Ash said. "Well, as we say, all fair in love, war and Pokémon battles," Jessie said. "I say that saying is rotten, and so are you!" Ash snapped. "Of course we are, we're the bad guys," James said.

"Well, if they're gonna use two Pokémon, then I don't see why we can't," Misty said. "But the Pokémon league book says only one Pokémon in a time," Ash said. "Ash, if you follow the rules all the time, you're going to lose your Pokémon," Misty said as she pulled Riley closer to her side.

"Koffing, Sludge Attack," James said calmly. Koffing sent a slimy dirty substance and aimed it toward Pikachu's eyes, cutting off his sight. Riley, Misty and Ash gasped. "Oh no, Pikachu," Riley said. Pikachu tried to rubbed the sludge off but couldn't, "Pi..."

Ash took Pikachu in his arms and glared at Team Rocket, "If you think you can use dirty tricks to beat me, you're wrong." He handed Pikachu to his sister. "Don't let them have Pikachu, okay?"

"Okay," Riley said with a nod and stood close to Misty again as her brother turned to Team Rocket. "What about the other two?" Misty asked worriedly. Ash pulled out Pidgeotto's Poké ball and threw it, "Pidgeotto, go!" The bird Pokémon came out and flew up.

"Koffing, it's grime time," James said. Koffing went up after Pidgeotto to hit it, but the bird Pokémon dodged from it and from it's Sludge Attack. "Ekans, go get your dinner!" Jessie said.

Ekans tried to bite Pidgeotto but it dodged it as well. "Pidgeotto, quick attack!" Ash ordered and Pidgeotto dived down, ready to hit Ekans. "Ekans, go underground," Jessie ordered and Ekans dig under the ground, disappearing. Pidgeotto stopped and Koffing appeared behind it.

"Pidgeotto, look out, behind you!" Ash called. Koffing used smog to hit Pidgeotto on it's back, but Pidgeotto turned around and used it's wings to hit the attack away, then dodged Koffing's sludge as Ekans leaped out of the ground behind it. "Pidgeotto!" Misty called and Pidgeotto dodged Ekans as well.

Pidgeotto flew up high, flanked by Koffing and Ekans. "Counter Attack!" Ash ordered. Pidgeotto attempted to counter attack with it's Gust Attack, but Koffing dodged it. Ekans slammed into Pidgeotto behind it's back, which Koffing did as well. "Pidgeotto!" Riley called worriedly. Ash hold up Pidgeotto's Poké ball,"Pidgeotto, return!"

Pidgeotto returned into it's Poké ball and Ash put it back on his belt but running to Team Rocket, "I'll show you!" James put his hand on Ash's head to stop him. Meowth scoffed, "Ha! What's a fool. In a Pokémon Battle, only Pokémon can fight each other."

"Buzz off," James said and flicked Ash away with his thumb and forefinger, sending him rolling across the ground. "Ash, are you okay?" Misty asked worriedly.

"Guess you got no choice, let Pikachu in, and watch Team Rocket win," Jessie said. "Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu said. Misty and Riley tried to rub the sludge off of his face. "No, Pikachu, you can't." Ash pulled out Caterpie's Poké ball and Misty noticed. "Ash, what are you..." She trailed off.

Ash threw the Poké ball, "Caterpie, give it your best!" Caterpie stood in the front, looking as if it was very excited. Team Rocket looked at it in confusion. "What's that?" James asked. "It's a little bug," Meowth said before they started to laugh.

Ekans and Koffing were scaring Caterpie as they got closer and closer to it. "Pika!" Pikachu called. "Caterpie, String Shot, now!" Ash called.

Caterpie fired it's String Shot, wrapping around Koffing and dropping him to the ground. It did the same to Ekans, wrapping it's head in String Shot before charging and tackling Koffing, which slammed into Ekans and send them both flying back past Team Rocket.

"Beaten by a Caterpie?" James asked in shock. "That really bugs me!" Jessie said. Meowth stepped up, "Now, watch a real Pokémon in action." Caterpie used String Shot on him as well before Jessie and James took off with Meowth.

"You may have won this round, but we'll be back!" James yelled as they disappeared. "Come back any time, we'll be glad to beat you!" Misty called. "Yes!" Riley cheered. "We did it?" Ash asked in shock before grinning, "We did it! We won out first Pokémon match!"

Ash looked down at Caterpie, who looked excited and picked it up, "Caterpie, I'm very proud of you. You really did your best and we won because of you." Misty smiled at it, "You stronger then you look, Caterpie."

"I knew you can do it!" Riley said. "Pika!" Pikachu agreed and Caterpie looked very happy by the comments. Ash looked at Misty with a smirk, "So, Misty, I guess you feel differently about Caterpie now." He held Caterpie toward her. "Well, I..." Misty stuttered.

"Why don't you both make up?" Ash asked. "Just pat Caterpie on the head and say 'Thanks for a very great job.'." Misty hesitated while staring at it. "You like Pokémon, so, it's only right to congratulate one for a good job," Ash said.

"I guess you right," Misty said quietly. She slowly and hesitantly reached her hand out to Caterpie, but was interrupted by a sudden String Shot that started to cover it's body and she let out a scream. "Caterpie?" Ash asked as he put it down on the ground.

"What's going on?" Riley asked. "It's evolving," Misty said. "Caterpie, this is so great!" Ash said as Caterpie's body suddenly changed into a green hard-shell.

Ash pulled out his Pokédex, "Metapod, Caterpie's next stage. It has encased its body in a hard shell. This specimen reached this stage faster than any previously discovered Pokémon of this variety."

Ash grinned, "Hey, maybe that means it can keep changing and go to the next stage right away," He said. Riley kneeled down as she smiled at Metapod. "Hey, Metapod." Ash kneeled down to it's level, next to his sister and hold Metapod up, "Nice to meet you, Metapod. Not in a mode to talk?"

Ash and Riley chuckled while Pikachu smiled. Misty smiled softly at the scene before she screamed when a Beedrill went flying by. "Please, let's just get out of this forest!" She begged.

Ash looked down at his sister and grinned before looking at Misty, "No way!" He said as he returned Metapod back into the Poké Ball. "There's plenty more Pokémon in this forest!"

Ash took Riley's hand and they ran down the path through the forest with Pikachu and Misty following behind them.