"Pikachu, are you going to be like this the whole way?" Ash asked.
"Pi," replied Pikachu stubbornly.
Ash had left Pallet Town and was on his way to Viridian City. Before he left, he changed from pajamas to jeans and his favorite blue-and-white shirt. A baseball cap sat on his messy, dark hair.
He had tied the clothesline around Pikachu's waist and was dragging the Pokémon down the road. But Pikachu didn't want to go anywhere with him.
"Pikachu, why don't you just open your mouth and tell me what's wrong?" Ash asked.
Pikachu opened its mouth wide.
"That's not what I meant. Is your name all you can say?" asked Ash.
"Pika."
Well then, you should act like other Pokémon and get inside your Poké Ball, just like it says in the Pokédex," Ash said. He flipped open the device.
A mechanical voice spoke, "While being trained, a Pokémon usually stays inside its Poké Ball. However, there are many exceptions. Some Pokémon hate being confined."
"Oh," Ash said. He'd never heard that before.
Ash reached down and untied Pikachu. "This should make things netter," he said. "How's that?"
"Pika." Pikachu still didn't look happy.
Ash was about ready to give up when he heard a sound behind him. He turned. It was a wild Pokémon! It looked like a bird with brown-andwhite feathers.
"A Pidgey!" Ash cried.
"Pidgey is a flying Pokémon. It is easy to capture. A perfect target for the begginer trainer," said Dexter the Pokédex.
Ash was thrilled. "Go get it, Pikachu!" he cried out.
"Chu." Pikachu turned its head away.
"Aren't you ever going to listen to me?" Ash asked.
"Chu."
Ash was starting to get mad. Of all the Pokémon in the world, he had to get one that didn't like him. "Why won't you help?" he pleaded.
Pikachu hopped up into a tree banch and began to chirp like a bird. "Pika pika pika!" Then started laughing.
Ash knew it was mocking him. "I get the message. I don't need your help. I can get that thing all by myself."
Ash pulled a Poké Ball from his knapsack. He faced Pidgey. "Enjoy your last moments of freedom, Pidgey. "Poké Ball, go!" he yelled.
The ball flew through the air. It hit Pidgey, then opened up. A flash of red light burst from the ball, and Pidgey disappeared. The ball closed.
Ash cheered. "I did it!"
Suddenly, the ball began to shake. It opened again. Pidgey escaped in a blaze of white light!
Ash couldn't beleive it.
"Pika-ha-ha-ha!" Pikachu was laughing on its tree branch.
The pokédex spoke, "To capture a Pokémon you usually have one of your own Pokémon battle with the other Pokémon."
"But it's not fair!" Ash said. "My own Pokémon won't even help me."
Ash wasn't about to give up. He picked up a rock and looked around. Not far away was a flock of Pidgey just waiting to be captured.
Ash threw the rock. "I'll get you this time!" Ash yelled.
He did it! The rock tapped the Pokémon right on the head.
The Pokémon turned around and looked at Ash angrily. This was no Pidgey, Ash knew. This one had a long, currved beak. It looked mean.
"Wonder what it is?" Ash asked nervously.
"Unlike Pidgey, Spearow has a terrible temper," Dexter said. "It is very wild and will sometimes attack other Pokémon."
Ash didn't have time to react to the news, because Spearow was in the air, and it was flying right at Pikachu!
"Hey, leave Pikachu alone! It didn't throw the rock!" Ash yelled.
"Wild Pokémon tend to be jealous of human-trained Pokémon," explained the Pokédex.
Spearow swooped down on Pikachu. Pikachu lost its footing and slipped off the tree branch. Just in time, it grabbed the branch with its hands.
"Pikachuuu!" screamed Pikachu in fear.
Spearow flew directly at Pikachu. Ash watched helplessly from the ground.
Suddenl, Pikachu let off an electric shock. Bright light crackled in the air. The shock sent Spearow flying bacward.
"You got it!" Ash cried. He reached out and pulled Pikachu toward him.
"Speeeeeeearow!" A strange cry filled the air. In the distance Ash saw a whole flock of Spearow. The flying Pokémon were speeding toward them!
Ash and Pikachu ran down the road. Pikachu scurried ahead. The Spearow were closing in.
Ash watched in horror as three Spearow swooped down and grabbed at Pikachu with their sharp beaks. Ash charged ahead and picked up Pikachu. The Spearow seemed to be everywhere. They pecked at Ash's head and arms.
Ash ran and ran with Pikachu on his back. His heart was puonding. How could they escape?
Ash looked ahead. His heart sank. The road ended in a steep cliff.
They were trapped!
Ash skidded to a stop at the cliff's edge. He looked down. Below him was a roaring waterfall that led into a swift river.
He looked behind him. The sky was filled with screeching Spearow.
Ash took a deep breath. He hd no choice.
"Here we go, Pikachu!" he yelled.
Ash closed his eyes, held Pikachu tightly, and plunged into the raging waterfall!