So, thanks to everyone who put this story on their favorites and/or alerts. And a special thank you to starlight luna, Teddi 8347, CharmedMilliE, thor 94, and random bug for reviewing.
Well, an event you've all been waiting for: Ash's first Pokémon battle! And more Misty confusion about Ash. And Ash catches another Pokémon.
Disclaimer: Still don't own. *hugs teddy bear to chest*
Italicsare translated Pokémon speech.
Ash woke up to Misty's scream. Jumping to his feet, he only just avoided both falling on his face, as well as shouting in the Pokémon language. "What is it? What's wrong?" he asked the shaking girl.
She pointed in front of her. Caterpie was sitting there, staring up at her hopefully.
Ash laughed, trying to untangle himself from his sleeping bag. "It looks like Caterpie wants to be your friend too Misty." He informed her.
Ash winced as Misty verbally flambéed Caterpie, and his resolve to be her friend wore down a little. "For someone who wants friends, you're sure not acting like it. Caterpie has feeling too, you know."
Misty had the grace to blush. "It's not just Caterpie, it's just bugs in general that I hate."
"I don't care if you like him or not, you owe Caterpie an apology." Ash informed her firmly.
"Thanks Ash, but I'm going into my Pokeball now." The disheartened worm Pokémon said sadly. He tapped his Pokeball with his head and was sucked back inside. Pikachu tapped on the ball worriedly.
"Caterpie…" Ash trailed off. He picked up the Pokeball and hooked it to his belt.
He glared at Misty, and then a flying form caught his attention as it landed. "Wow, a Pidgeotto." He gasped. He looked down at Pikachu. "You ready, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu! I'm ready."
Misty stepped back, watching intently. She wanted to see how good Ash was, especially with his views on training Pokémon.
But Ash didn't attack the Pidgeotto. Instead, he said, "Pikachu, go."
The Pokémon moved toward the Pidgeotto. "Hey!" he shouted. The bird Pokémon turn to him in disinterest.
"Are you here to fight me, little mouse?" it wanted to know.
Pikachu shook his head. "My trainer sent me over to ask you if you would like to come with us and be our friend."
"And if I say no?" It asked, more out of boredom than anything else.
"Then we leave." Ash called out, making sure it only sounded like he was calling out Pidgeotto's name.
The Pidgeotto was stunned. It eyed Ash with renewed interest. "Was that a fluke?" It wanted to know.
Pikachu shook his head. "No. He really can speak our language. And he really does want to be friends."
"I don't have a flock and I don't like being alone." Pidgeotto made up his mind. "Very well. I'll go with. He can catch me in one of those balls. But I will not be a pet."
"Will you battle? You don't have to; I'm just wondering." Pikachu asked.
Pidgeotto nodded. "I will." It confirmed. It cocked it's head. "Why is the girl staring at me?"
Ash glanced over to see Misty slack-jawed with amazement. "Misty stop staring. You're going to make him uncomfortable." Misty's teeth clacked as she closed her mouth quickly.
Ash picked out a Pokeball and rolled it gently to Pidgeotto. The Pokémon touched his head to it, and was drawn inside. Ash held up his hand, and the Pokeball flew to it.
"Yay!" he cheered. "A new friend." He eyed Misty suspiciously. "You don't have anything against bird Pokémon, do you?"
Misty replied in the negative, head still spinning. She'd never seen anything like that before in her life. She thought that he'd caught Caterpie because it was a weak and gross Pokémon only, but now he'd captured a Pidgeotto, a species known for their bad temperament when provoked, without a fight.
But he didn't provoke it, her mind supplied. Pikachu went to it on his orders, and the Pidgeotto went willingly into a Pokeball. The Pokeball had barely twitched. Misty didn't know what to make of the whole situation. And then, instead of gloating, he'd just been excited that he had a new friend.
She thought sadly that he probably really didn't have any friends when he was younger, to get so attached to a Pokémon the minute he caught it.
A high pitched laughter came out of the forest around them.
"So, we meet again." A male voice announced.
"I know that voice." Ash mused out loud. Misty frowned.
Shadowed figure emerged from the trees and began spouting a motto. Ash sighed. "No. Not this again." They ignored him and finished their motto.
"We're kind of busy now, so…" Ash tried, but they interrupted.
"Be quiet." Jesse ordered.
"We want your Pikachu, kid." James pointed to Pikachu, who was standing on the ground at Ash's side.
"What? Why? Are you trying to steal him too?" Ash tried to guess.
Their faces split into devious grins. "Of course."
"But that's rotten." Ash cried out. "Pokémon shouldn't be forced to do anything they don't want to."
"We don't care. We're the bad guys." James scoffed, releasing Koffing while Jesse released Ekans.
Ash shook his head. He didn't know what to make of these clowns, as Misty had called them. Did they really think that way about Pokémon? Did every other trainer but him?
"If they're gonna use two Pokémon I don't see why we can't use two Pokémon." Misty pointed out from behind Ash.
"Koffing, Sludge Attack!" James ordered, breaking Ash's train of thought. The sludge hit Pikachu right in the eyes, blinding him. He let out a squeak of surprise.
"Help." He cried out.
Ash scooped up his friend. "Hang in there buddy." He held Pikachu out to Misty, who stared at him uncomprehendingly. "They might try anything, but no matter what, don't let them get Pikachu." Misty didn't move. "Misty, please."
With trembling but gentle hands Misty gently pulled Pikachu into her arms. Producing a handkerchief, she began dabbing gingerly around Pikachu's eyes. "What about the battle?"
Ash touched his Pokeballs. He couldn't send out Caterpie; a worm Pokémon against a snake? Bad idea.
He threw a Pokeball. "Pidgeotto, help." Pidgeotto emerged from the Pokeball and took to the air.
"Koffing, it's Grime Time." James sniffed his rose.
Koffing began throwing itself toward Pidgeotto, who began bobbing and weaving. "Take that! And that!" Pidgeotto snarled.
"Ekans go get your dinner." Jesse spat. Ash nearly threw up in disgust at the thought of eating a Pokémon .
Pidgeotto dive-bombed Ekans, and Ash yelled, "Quick attack." Pidgeotto increased his speed.
"Ekans, go underground." Jesse ordered. Pidgeotto had to flap hard to keep from slamming into the hard ground.
Koffing began spitting sludge at the bird Pokémon. "Behind you! Watch out!" Ash cried out.
Pidgeotto dodged, but Ekans came up out of the ground to attack. They double-teamed poor Pidgeotto who flew high trying to lose them. It didn't work, and they slammed into him.
"Counter attack, now!" Ash cried. But it didn't work, and Ash quickly had to recall Pidgeotto into the safety of the Pokeball before he hit the ground.
Ash growled, glowering at Team Rocket. They were snickering and cheering.
Misty gasped as Ash reached down and pulled out Caterpie's Pokeball. "Caterpie, you're my only hope. I'm depending on you." He whispered to the Pokémon inside the Pokeball before throwing said ball in front of him.
Caterpie emerged, and Misty forgot to cringe away as she tried to figure out Ash's strategy, bring an untrained bug Pokémon into a fight like this.
"What do you need, Ash." Caterpie asked. Then he looks around and saw the situation. "Oh. Uh-oh."
"We'll win!" Team Rocket cheered.
"Let me at 'em!" Pikachu waved his arms around wildly.
"No Pikachu you can't battle in his condition." Misty guessed what the Pokemon wanted. Ash didn't even look over, knowing what Pikachu wanted but unable to help.
"Caterpie, string shot!" Ash yelled. Caterpie shot string out of his mouth and wrapped it around the other two Pokemon in the battle.
Meowth tried to attack, but received the same treatment. Jesse and James recalled their Pokémon and, grabbing Meowth, ran away.
"Awesome!" Ash crowed, picking Caterpie up. Pikachu came running over, most of the gunk cleared away so that he could see. "You did it Caterpie. You saved us. I'm very proud of you."
"You're stronger than you look." Misty relented.
"I just did what any good Pokémon should do." Caterpie replied modestly.
"Misty…" Ash started. Misty saw him glance at Caterpie, and then back to her. "Caterpie really did a good job. Will you at least try to get along? He is a Pokémon after all, not just a bug."
Misty swallowed hard. "I guess you're right."
She reached out a hand toward Caterpie, and Caterpie began shooting a fine layer of silk over his body. Ash quickly put him down, not wanting to get covered by the silky strings but still feeling a little awed. Caterpie was evolving!
"Metapod!" Ash cried out in joy when Caterpie was done. "You've evolved. Soon you can be a Butterfree, just like you've always wanted." He knelt down and drew Caterpie into a hug, Pikachu joining in.
I've never known anyone like him. He loves Pokémon more than anyone else I've ever met. Misty thought, watching him with Metapod. And did he just say that being a Butterfree is Caterpie—Metapod's dream? How would he know? And shouldn't it be Ash's dream more than his Pokémon's?
So, I hope you like it. In the next chapter, Ash may or may not capture another Pokemon. I think that I know what I'm going to do, but I'd like input from you guys, and girls, and what you think. It will be slightly be different than this one.
Reviews are always appreciated. One word, how much you liked it, questions, constructive criticism: they're all good. Flames will be used to light sparklers. Whee, colorful!