[Species: Pidgeotto]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: Normal Advanced]
[Ability: Keen Eye]
[Moves: XXXXX]
[Stats: Attack C (B), Special Attack C (B), Defense C (B), Special Defense C (B), HP C (B), Speed C (B)]
All six stats capped at B-rank, balanced, no glaring weaknesses. At present, most were already at C-rank, making this Pidgeotto easily one in a thousand among its kind.
No, it didn't have the A-rank potential Caterpie did, but unlike Metapod, this Pidgeotto's growth was steady, consistent. A solid foundation for a true battle partner.
And more importantly, every Ash in the group chat had hammered home one lesson: 'If you're going to travel the wild, you need a Flying-type that can carry you.'
No matter the crisis, flood, fire, ambush, if you could take to the skies, you had a chance to escape.
In Kanto, the two "doorstep birds" were everywhere: Pidgey and Spearow. Both were common, both could evolve into mounts strong enough to carry a Trainer. Ash had seen plenty of them already in Viridian Forest, but they'd all been mediocre.
And now, as if answering his prayers, a Pidgeotto with exceptional potential had landed right in front of him.
"So," Ash said, "do you agree to a capture battle?"
"Pid-gyo!"
"You're saying only Pokémon can battle, not Trainers? Isn't that obvious? Pokémon should fight Pokémon, I'm just the Trainer." Ash shrugged like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Both Misty and Pidgeotto twitched.
'Then let go of him before you say that!'
Ash opened his hand, and Pidgeotto beat its wings hard, soaring up into the air. For a second, it considered fleeing, but honor won out. Hovering high above, it spread its wings and screeched a challenge.
Most Pokémon weren't like humans. They didn't scheme. They kept their word.
"Alright!" Ash's eyes lit up. "Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Pika!" Pikachu leapt forward, cheeks sparking.
"Thunder Shock!"
Golden lightning crackled from Pikachu's body, streaking upward. But Pidgeotto banked sharply, riding the air current. The bolt sliced harmlessly past its tail feathers.
Pidgeotto tucked in its wings and dove, riding the air current Pikachu's Thunder Shock had left behind. A white streak of light trailed behind it-Quick Attack!
"We'll use Quick Attack too!" Ash shouted.
"Pika!!"
Pikachu cut off the Thunder Shock, then bolted forward, body glowing with speed. The two flashes of light streaked toward each other. Pikachu's acceleration was sharper, a hair faster, but when you're rushing head-on, that didn't matter.
WHAM!
The two collided mid-air, sharp beak against Pikachu's skull. A dull crack rang out, and Pidgeotto was knocked back, tumbling end over end, wings flailing to catch itself.
Ash's eyes lit up. Pikachu had the clear advantage. Pidgeotto was strong for the wild, but Pikachu was already a whole tier higher. Unless something strange happened, this was Pikachu's match.
"Don't let up-Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...CHU!!!"
Golden electricity burst forth, thicker and faster than before. The bolt lanced through the air and slammed into Pidgeotto before it could recover, the Flying-type screeching as lightning engulfed its wings.
"Finish it! Quick Attack!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu sprang off the ground like a launched arrow. In a blur, it slammed head-first into Pidgeotto's chest. Already smoking from Thunderbolt, the bird plummeted like a stone, smashing into the dirt with a boom!
Without hesitation, Ash hurled a Poké Ball. It struck true, opened in a flash of red light, and swallowed Pidgeotto whole.
Shake… shake… shake… click!
"Yes!!" Ash sprinted forward, scooping up the ball. "I caught Pidgeotto!"
"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered beside him, sparks of pride crackling on his cheeks. Finally, another teammate. Maybe Pikachu wouldn't have to shoulder all the heavy lifting alone.
Ash raised the ball high, grinning ear to ear. "Now I've got three Pokémon! Even if Pewter Gym requires three, I'm ready!"
Misty, however, didn't share his excitement. She crossed her arms, lips twitching. "Ready? Let me get this straight: you've got Pikachu, who's helpless against Ground-types. A Caterpie that just evolved into Metapod. And now a Flying-type that's weak to Rock. Congratulations, you've assembled the ultimate team of type disadvantages!"
Misty walked up with her hands on her hips, her eyes drifting to the Poké Ball clipped at Ash's belt. Her expression was a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Ash indeed had three Pokémon now, but all three of them were completely countered by the Pewter Gym, the first Gym Ash wanted to challenge. Even as an experienced Trainer, she couldn't figure out how to defeat a Gym with these three type-disadvantaged Pokémon. Did Ash think a Gym was as easy to beat as a Shorts Kid?
Ash stiffened at her words, then quickly put on his trademark grin. "Don't worry! I've already thought of a strategy to deal with the Pewter Gym. Just watch!"
He released Pidgeotto again and crouched down, carefully spraying Potion over its singed feathers. The bird shuddered, then gave a soft coo as the medicine took effect.
Misty, however, raised a skeptical brow, suspicion written all over her face. To her, the situation looked hopeless: a rookie Trainer, three Pokémon stacked with type disadvantages, and an experienced Gym Leader waiting in Pewter City.
Even with Ash's boundless confidence, she couldn't imagine how he planned to win.