Ash and Misty stood side by side outside the ruins of the Pokémon Center.
The wind brushed past the brim of Ash’s cap.
Misty clutched the broken parts of her bicycle, her cheeks puffed up, her eyes full of grievance and unwillingness.
“Misty, I really didn’t mean to,” Ash said, scratching his head.
Misty placed the bicycle wreckage on the ground, planted her hands on her hips, and huffed, “I don’t care!
You broke my bicycle, so now you have to be my ride!”
She paused, then added, “Unless you can make a new bicycle appear right now!”
Ash looked at the completely ruined bicycle, then at Misty.
He sighed helplessly.
“All right, all right.
Climb on.”
He crouched down.
Misty hesitated for a moment, then gently climbed onto his back.
And just like that, Ash carried Misty onto the path through Viridian Forest.
By the way, the physical strength of a true superhuman Pallet Town native really was impressive.
Two Pokémon plus one person?
Still no problem.
666.
The forest was filled with the scent of damp soil.
Sunlight passed through layer upon layer of leaves, scattering mottled shadows across the ground.
“Misty, do we really have to do this?” Ash asked as he walked, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“Of course we do!” Misty wrapped both arms around Ash’s neck.
“This is the punishment you deserve.”
The warm breath from her words brushed against Ash’s ear.
“All right, all right, I get it,” Ash said with a smile.
Misty was not heavy.
She felt soft against his back, and there was a faint fragrance coming from her, like some unknown wildflower—gentle, yet strangely alluring.
The corners of Ash’s mouth rose unconsciously, and even his footsteps became lighter.
However, before long, Ash felt something poking awkwardly against his back.
He quietly adjusted his posture and muttered to himself: Sigh, still too small.
“Ash, what are you muttering about?” Misty sharply noticed something strange.
“N-nothing!” Ash quickly denied it and sped up.
Pikachu turned back to look at them and laughed, “Pika, Pika,” as if mocking Ash’s embarrassment.
Eevee, on the other hand, puffed up its little face in displeasure.
They continued through the forest, bickering noisily all the way.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead.
Pikachu and Eevee immediately became alert and took battle stances.
Ash also stopped.
“What is it?” Misty asked quietly, unconsciously tightening her arms around Ash’s neck.
As the sound drew closer, a Caterpie crawled out of the grass.
Misty instantly let out a piercing scream.
Her legs kicked wildly against Ash, almost knocking him over.
“Ash!
Hurry up and drive it away!”
“Misty, don’t be scared.
It’s cute!” Ash said, steadying himself while trying to calm her down.
Caterpie was startled by Misty’s reaction.
Its body curled slightly, and its antennae swayed uneasily.
Seeing this, Ash gently set Misty down and crouched.
“Look, it won’t hurt us.”
“No!
I hate bugs the most!” Misty turned her head away and covered her ears tightly with both hands.
Ash smiled helplessly, took out a Poké Ball, and caught Caterpie directly.
Strangely enough, Caterpie barely struggled and was caught right away.
[Pokémon: Caterpie]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Bug]
[Ability: Shield Dust — Protected by a coating of dust-like scales, preventing additional effects from moves.]
[Introduction: The Worm Pokémon.
It uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and eat the leaves it likes.]
[Base Stat Total: 195]
[Current Strength: Normal]
[Potential: Gym Level]
[Moves: Tackle; String Shot]
[Status: Healthy]
Incidentally, the number of Pokémon Ash could carry had been increased to ten, so Caterpie was not sent back.
Only after confirming that Caterpie had disappeared did Misty slowly open her eyes and let out a long breath.
“Phew… I finally can’t see it anymore.”
As she spoke, she climbed back onto Ash’s back.
“Keep walking.”
The two continued forward.
Along the way, Misty’s screams never stopped.
Caterpie and Weedle appeared one after another, making her scream again and again.
The damp mist in the forest gradually dispersed.
Only when the last Kakuna fell from a tree trunk did Misty’s tense nerves finally relax completely.
“If one more Bug-type Pokémon shows up, I’m seriously going to lose it.”
Ash was just about to tease her when a shadow suddenly swept overhead.
A Pidgey landed on an oak branch up ahead.
Its brown feathers shone softly in the sunlight, and its obsidian-like eyes curiously examined them.
Great.
Let’s catch one too.” Ash’s eyes instantly lit up.
Misty slid down from Ash’s back, her legs slightly numb from dangling for so long.
“Eevee, fight for me!”
Eevee lightly leapt onto the clearing.
It raised its fluffy ears, its large eyes locked onto the Pidgey on the branch, and its fluffy tail swayed behind it.
Pidgey tilted its head, then suddenly let out a sharp cry.
The wind stirred up by its wings swept the fallen leaves into the air.
“Eevee, Swift!” Ash ordered.
Eevee kicked off the ground with its hind legs, and its tail swept out a brilliant trail of starlight.
Countless glittering stars cut through the air, but just as they were about to reach Pidgey, they were shattered by the fierce Gust formed by its flapping wings.
Fine specks of stardust fell like rain, leaving tiny spots of light across the ground.
“Now, use Attract!”
Before Ash’s voice had even faded, Eevee narrowed its eyes, and a gentle smile appeared on its pinkish face.
Softly glowing pink hearts floated from its eyes.
Pidgey was struck instantly.
Its once-sharp gaze turned dazed, its wings drooped weakly, and it fell crookedly from the branch.
“Go, Poké Ball!”
Red light enveloped the still-infatuated Pidgey, and the Poké Ball traced a beautiful arc through the air.
After the ball shook violently three times, it clicked with a ding and fell still.
[Pokémon: Pidgey]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Flying, Normal]
[Ability: Keen Eye — Thanks to its sharp eyes, its accuracy cannot be lowered.]
[Hidden Ability: Big Pecks — Protects it from Defense-lowering effects.]
[Introduction: The Tiny Bird Pokémon.
It has a calm and composed personality.
Even when attacked, it rarely fights back, instead kicking up sand at opponents to protect itself.]
[Base Stat Total: 251]
[Current Strength: Normal]
[Potential: Elite Four Level]
[Moves: Tackle; Sand Attack; Gust; Quick Attack]
[Status: Healthy]
In the original story, Ash and Misty stayed in the forest overnight and ended up running into Team Rocket again the next day.
But now?
They would simply move at full speed and cross the forest directly.
As for defeating Team Rocket to make Caterpie evolve?
He could just grind a few more wild Pokémon and Trainers later.
“Misty, hold on tight.
We’re going full speed!” Ash said.
Then, carrying Misty on his back, he broke into a full sprint.