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 pieces of her bicycle, her cheeks puffed up as she stared at him indignantly.
“Misty, I really didn’t mean to,” Ash said, scratching his head.
Misty dropped the wreckage on the ground, planted her hands on her hips, and huffed.
“I don’t care!
You broke my bicycle, so now you’ll have to carry me instead!”
She paused before adding, “Unless you can make a new bicycle appear right now!”
Ash looked at the completely ruined bicycle, then at Misty.
He sighed.
“All right, all right.
Climb on.”
He crouched down.
Misty hesitated for a moment, then climbed onto his back.
Ash entered Viridian Forest with Misty on his back.
Pallet Town really did breed superhumans.
Two Pokémon and Misty?
No problem at all.
The forest smelled of damp soil.
Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, leaving patches of light across the ground.
“Misty, do we really have to do this?” Ash asked as he walked, teasing her.
“Of course we do!”
Misty wrapped both arms around his neck.
“This is the punishment you deserve.”
Her breath tickled Ash’s ear as she spoke.
“All right, all right, I get it,” Ash said with a smile.
Misty wasn’t heavy.
Her body rested softly against his back as Ash carried her.
After a while, he became aware of her breasts pressing against his back.
Ash shifted his posture slightly and kept walking.
They’re still too small, he thought with a sigh.
“Ash, what are you muttering about?” Misty asked, immediately noticing.
“N-Nothing!”
Ash quickly denied it and picked up his pace.
Pikachu looked back at them.
“Pika, Pika!”
It sounded suspiciously like laughter at Ash’s expense.
Eevee, meanwhile, looked distinctly unhappy.
They continued through the forest, bickering as they went.
A rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.
Pikachu and Eevee immediately went on alert and took battle stances.
Ash stopped as well.
“What is it?” Misty asked quietly, tightening her arms around Ash’s neck.
The rustling grew louder.
A Caterpie crawled out of the grass.
“Ah!”
Misty let out a piercing scream.
“Ash!
Hurry up and get it away from me!”
“Misty, calm down!
It’s cute!”
Ash struggled to keep his balance while trying to calm her.
Caterpie recoiled at Misty’s reaction, its body curling slightly as its red antenna twitched nervously.
Ash set Misty down and crouched beside it.
“Look.
It isn’t going to hurt us.”
“No!
I hate bugs!”
Misty turned away and covered her ears.
Ash smiled, pulled out a Poké Ball, and threw it at Caterpie.
Caterpie barely struggled before the Poké Ball clicked shut.
[Pokémon: Caterpie]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Bug]
[Ability: Shield Dust — Protective dust shields the Pokémon from the additional effects of moves.]
[Introduction: The Worm Pokémon.
It uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and feed on leaves.]
[Base Stat Total: 195]
[Current Strength: Normal]
[Potential: Gym Level]
[Moves: Tackle; String Shot]
[Status: Healthy]
Ash’s Pokémon carrying limit had already been increased to ten, so Caterpie wasn’t sent back.
Once Misty confirmed that Caterpie was safely inside its Poké Ball, she slowly opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Phew…
At least I can’t see it anymore.”
Then she climbed straight back onto Ash’s back.
“Keep walking.”
They continued deeper into the forest.
Every time another Bug-type Pokémon appeared, Misty screamed.
Caterpie and Weedle kept popping up along the path, giving her plenty of reasons to complain.
The mist hanging between the trees gradually faded.
Only after the last Kakuna dropped from a tree trunk did Misty finally relax.
“If one more Bug-type Pokémon shows up, I’m seriously going to lose it.”
Ash was about to tease her when a shadow passed overhead.
A Pidgey landed on an oak branch ahead.
Its brown feathers caught the sunlight as its dark eyes watched them curiously.
“Oh, a Pidgey.”
Ash grinned.
“Great.
Let’s catch one too.”
“Eevee, fight for me!”
Eevee jumped into the clearing.
Its ears stood upright as it locked its eyes on Pidgey, tail swaying behind it.
Pidgey tilted its head.
Then it gave a sharp cry and beat its wings, sending fallen leaves swirling through the air.
“Eevee, Swift!” Ash ordered.
Eevee pushed off the ground with its hind legs and swung its tail.
A stream of shining stars shot toward Pidgey.
Before they could reach it, Pidgey flapped its wings and unleashed Gust.
The blast of wind tore through the incoming Swift, scattering the stars before they faded away.
“Now, use Attract!”
Eevee gave Pidgey a playful look.
Glowing pink hearts floated toward it.
Pidgey was hit immediately.
Its focus vanished, its wings sagged, and it lost its balance on the branch.
“Go, Poké Ball!”
Ash threw a Poké Ball.
Red light surrounded the infatuated Pidgey and pulled it inside.
The ball dropped to the ground.
It shook once.
Twice.
Three times.
Click.
[Pokémon: Pidgey]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Normal, Flying]
[Ability: Keen Eye — Its sharp eyes prevent its accuracy from being lowered.]
[Hidden Ability: Big Pecks — Protects it from effects that lower its Defense.]
[Introduction: The Tiny Bird Pokémon.
It has a docile temperament.
Even when attacked, it rarely fights back and instead kicks up sand 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 had spent the night in Viridian Forest and run into Team Rocket again the next day.
But this time, Ash had no intention of staying overnight.
They would cross the forest in one go.
As for defeating Team Rocket to make Caterpie evolve?
He could just battle a few more wild Pokémon and Trainers later.
“Misty, hold on tight.
We’re going full speed!” Ash said.
Misty climbed onto his back again.
Then Ash broke into a full sprint through the forest.