Chapter 35: 35. The Pidgeotto Raid
After taking turns entering the tent and changing into pajamas, Ash, Pikachu, and Caterpie settled into their sleeping bags. Pikachu and Caterpie nestled close to Ash. Magikarp, however, stayed in the river outside, as it was better for it to rest in the water, so Ash didn't recall it to its Poké Ball.
After a night of training, both the Pokémon and Ash were exhausted. It wasn't long before Ash fell asleep. Misty, who had been waiting, also drifted off soon after.
Early Morning
"Ah!!!!!"
The next morning, when Ash and Pikachu were still sleeping soundly from practicing too late the night before, they were abruptly awakened by a loud scream, as if the sky was falling.
"Huh?? What... what's wrong??" Still a little dazed, Ash rubbed his eyes and looked to the side. He saw Misty huddled in the corner of the tent, while Caterpie, also awake, looked a bit lost and was holding its head.
"Wh...why is Caterpie sleeping next to me?" Misty's voice was filled with fear. She had just opened her eyes to find Caterpie right in front of her.
Ash tried to reassure her, "You probably fell asleep and rolled over! Isn't your reaction a bit exaggerated?"
The tent was small, so there wasn't much room to move around. Misty would have to get used to it gradually, but it was difficult for her to adjust quickly.
"It's not an exaggeration, I was really scared, okay?"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! I'll take Caterpie out first." Ash understood Misty's character and didn't press the issue. In the past, he might have been more blunt about his feelings.
Ash carried the disoriented Caterpie out of the tent. Misty felt relieved when she saw this. Although she had been really scared, hearing Ash's words and seeing Caterpie's forlorn expression made her wonder if she had overreacted.
Pikachu had also lost its sleepiness. Ash put Caterpie on the ground outside and patted its head to comfort it. "It's okay, Misty didn't do it on purpose. She will accept you slowly."
Caterpie slowly regained its energy, responding with a contented look. Ash patted its head again, finding it much easier to communicate with Pokémon than with people, as Pokémon were straightforward and lacked human complexities.
Misty came out of the tent, having overheard Ash's comforting words to Caterpie. She felt even more apologetic but didn't know what to say. Ash didn't dwell on it. He retrieved the washing utensils and went to the river to wash up. Magikarp, still in the water, greeted Ash with bubbling cheerfulness when it saw him.
"Morning, Magikarp!" Ash greeted as he began to brush his teeth. Misty joined him by the river to wash her face and brush her teeth as well.
Suddenly, there was a loud rustling noise. Ash paused mid-brush and looked up, startled. He saw a figure swooping down towards the camp, its wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the area.
The Pokémon had a wingspan that seemed to block out the sun. Its back was covered in clear brown feathers, while its chest, face, and the insides of its wings were light yellow. Three long pink and red feathers extended from the top of its head to the back, and its eyes, surrounded by black markings, had a sharp, predatory gaze. Its claws were sharp and powerful, and its tail feathers were a striking mix of red and yellow. It was diving straight towards Caterpie.
"Pidgeotto?" Ash muttered, frowning slightly. He knew Pidgeotto was the evolved form of Pidgey, and with its evolution, its personality and habits changed. Pidgeotto was more aggressive and protective of its territory compared to Pidgey. Its predatory instincts had also developed, making it more likely to hunt smaller Pokémon like Caterpie.
"Watch out!" Misty shouted, alarmed.
"Pika!!" Pikachu cried, warning Caterpie.
Caterpie tried to react, but its movements were slow. Pidgeotto's speed was superior, and as it swooped down, Caterpie barely managed to dodge. However, the force of Pidgeotto's descent created a whirlwind that sent Caterpie tumbling across the ground.
"Pfft!!" Ash spat out his toothpaste and rushed towards Caterpie. Misty quickly rinsed her mouth and followed him.
"Pika!!" Pikachu leaped to Caterpie's side, ready to defend it. It glared at Pidgeotto, which was circling in the air, preparing for another attack. The electric sacs on Pikachu's cheeks sparked, ready to unleash an attack.
"Pikachu, don't interfere. This is Caterpie's battle," Ash commanded, stopping Pikachu from intervening.
"Pika?" Pikachu looked at Ash, surprised and concerned for Caterpie.
"Ash, Caterpie is a Bug type, and Pidgeotto is a Flying type. Pidgeotto is much stronger. Caterpie doesn't stand a chance," Misty said, worry evident in her voice despite her usual dislike for bugs.
"No, nothing is absolute. Attribute advantages are just an excuse for weak Trainers. Any Pokémon can shine in its own way. I will prove it to you now," Ash replied seriously. He saw this as an opportunity to show Misty that even Bug-type Pokémon had unique qualities worth appreciating.
"Caterpie, do you trust me?" Ash asked, standing behind Caterpie and ready to guide it in the battle.
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