CHAPTER 3: The beginning of the journey

After that day where Oshawott could rescue Ash and Iris's Pokémon, the two of them continued with their path to Straiton City. The Sea Otter Pokémon still followed in the footsteps of both. He was gaining more and more desire and courage to finally tell Ash that he wanted to travel with him. Fortunately, in a moment, he saw them and followed them, the problem was they were walking fast for some reason, so he hurried along. Soon they started to walk even faster, the Pokémon had to accelerate more. They continued like that until they suddenly stopped to exchange words, or rather, to discuss. The otter could reach them and stand in the middle as they argued each other. Later, they noticed about Oshawott's presence. He was so happy for having the opportunity to tell him what he wanted since the moment that he met him.

"I finally found you, I'm sure you remember me," he said happily to Ash. He immediately remembered the moment which Oshawott rescued Pikachu and Axew from Team Rocket. The young man with a hat scanned the Pokémon with his Pokédex later. The human thanked him, "You're welcome," Oshawott said. The young man asked what the water type was doing with them. The otter afterwards came closer to his legs to hug him, "I was following you because I wanna tell you something," said Oshawott. Pikachu was surprised about what the Pokémon said. Since Ash didn't understand what the otter was saying, Pikachu explained him in Pokémon language that he was following them all this time. "Wow, so you were following us?" expressed Ash, and Oshawott said of course.

Unexpectedly, Ash's companion, Iris, said "You're so cute", and then took Oshawott with her hands and put him between her arms, saying that he was following her. That wasn't what the water type Pokémon thought, he was actually following Ash. Then, the young woman started to touch with a finger the upper part of the cheek of Oshawott's face, as she said nice things to him. The Sea Otter Pokémon was very uncomfortable because he was in a bad position and was annoyed that she touched his face.

Once Iris stopped to poke his face, Oshawott fell from her arms and expressed that he didn't want to be with her, and, so that they noticed about what he actually wanted, Oshawott ran towards Ash and jumped high to his right shoulder to go to the left shoulder, where Pikachu was, to get him out from there. The otter wanted to imply that he wanted to be his travel partner. After throwing the electric mouse, he got angry at the water type. Later, Oshawott fell from his shoulder to tell to Ash that he wanted to travel with him. Pikachu made a misinterpretation of what happened. He thought the otter throw him down from his shoulder so he was the main companion of the young man. He did a Thunderbolt at Oshawott, but he deflected it with his scalchop to Ash's face, doing damage to him, such that he fell to the ground. Iris chuckled because of that comic scene.

Once Ash sat up, Oshawott begged him with teary eyes that he was desperate to travel with him, because he was the first person that flattered him, that said nice things to him. The otter thought Ash was a nice youngster, he hoped he understood it and said yes. Afterwards, Iris realized and said that Oshawott wanted to be caught by the young man with a hat. That was just what the aquatic Pokémon wanted, his eyes sparkled and felt a blush in his cheeks. He was happy. Ash asked him if the otter wanted to travel with him, and Oshawott was very sure of wanting to go with him on a journey. To Pikachu was quite doubtful. He knew that he had rescued him along with Axew from Team Rocket, but he thought different because he had thrown him down from Ash's left shoulder, his favorite place. He was doubtful if bringing Oshawott to the team was a good idea.

Ash, convinced by what he wanted the Sea Otter Pokémon, got in position to give a good throw of the Poké Ball. The throw was successful because it hit Oshawott's head. It hurt quite enough, he had to rub with an arm the place where the object hit. After the hit, the Poké Ball bounced and was in the air for a moment, until it fell to the ground and rolled a bit. Something was wrong, why did the Poké Ball just bounce on his head and didn't open? Maybe was it defective?

Then, the young man with a hat realized something. That Oshawott was actually the Oshawott from Professor Juniper. Once he said it out loud, Pikachu got surprised, and Oshawott was happy by Ash finally could recognized him. The Sea Otter Pokémon's Poké ball was located in the professor's lab. Ash had to tell that the water type was gone from the building to follow the two youngsters. As they were far away from that place, they had to go to a small store in middle of the road to tell it to Juniper. She and the young man talked by videoconference to tell her where Oshawott was. The professor was very worried by the sudden disappearance of the Pokémon, but she was relieved after knowing that he was with Ash and Iris. After thought that the otter wanted to be with the young man with hat, she said he could take care of Oshawott from that day. Ash was happy to be able to bring the water-type Pokémon with him.

To stay with him legally, Professor Juniper transferred Oshawott's Poké Ball by a machine that was next where the videoconference was made. Done, now Ash could have Oshawott in his team. Before hanging up, Juniper said to Ash that kept an eye on Oshawott all the time, because he had tendencies to disappear without warning. Once the professor said goodbye, Ash and Iris got very worried and turned around to see the water type. Surprisingly, Oshawott wasn't behind them, he was there some minutes ago, where could he had gone? They exited the store and went to search the Pokémon.

Oshawott was so happy for being part of the person that said nice things to him. He always wanted to be a Pokémon partner of a young trainer, and he finally got it, after being rejected so many times. He had to celebrate someway. He exited the store without previous warning to see what he could do after being part of Ash's team, and he left without the two trainers noticed.

The otter looked for some place where he could relax after having the anxiety of wanting to tell that he wanted to travel with Ash. He went for a road until he bumped into a resort, where outside said that there was a hot sand spa. It was perfect, he could enjoy in that place. Oshawott entered without being seen. He noticed that the resort was in ruins, it seemed that a natural disaster had happened over there. After entering, Oshawott went where the hot sands were. He put something to rest his head and buried himself in the sand, not without first put his scalchop up of his head, and relaxed for a long time, until Ash and company got to find him enjoying the hot sands. "That's one happy Pokémon," said Ash. The Pokémon had to be agreed with that. Now that he was already part of the team, why not relax in the hot sand resort? It sounds like a stupendous idea.

Afterwards, it came the issue with the Sandile, which wanted to take out the Pokémon of the place from there because of the geyser's appearance. Although Oshawott was a water type, boiled water would cause an irreparable damage to anyone that touched the high temperatures liquid. At least he could save his trainer from a geyser that fell over him, the problem was almost fell to the hot water, but fortunately, Ash returned him to his Poké ball. After saving all the Pokémon and Ash, the youngsters went to enjoy the resort, the water made disappear the sand of the spa, but it was replaced with hot springs. Everyone was relaxed after a very agitated day.

Oshawott was happy of being able to travel with Ash. He was, along with Professor Juniper, the best person that he had met. They would live a ton of experiences, meet new trainers and Pokémon to battle, fight several combats where he would try his best to overcome himself, but… with just being with his dear trainer was enough to be happy. He was grateful with him. His journey with Ash and company through the Unova region began.