Ash's stomach plunged as the waterfall carried him and Pikachu down, into the water. When they hit the surface of the river, the force of the waterfall sent them spiraling into the water's depths. I've got to swim to the surface! Ash thought frantically.
Ash kicked with all his might. He pushed throught the water with one hand and held Pikachu with the other. He thought his lungs would burst. Suddenly, he felt someone pull on his shirt collar. He was being yanke dout of the water!
Ash slammed onto shore, gasping for air. He opened his eyes. A red-haired girl with a flashing pole was staring at them.
"I thought I caught a fish," the girl said. "But it looks like I caught a kid - and a Pokémon. "I'm Misty. Are you okay?"
Ash spit water out of his mouth. "I . . . I think so," he said.
Misty scowled. "Not you! Your Pokémon. Look wha you've done to it. Is it breathing?"
Ash glanced at Pikachu. Its eyes were closed, and it wasn't moving.
"I'm not sure," Ash said weakly.
"Well don't just sit there! It needs a doctor right away," Misty said. "There's a medical center for pokémon nearby."
Flap flap flap flap flap.
Panicked, Ash's sky scanned the sky. The spearow had found them and they were bearing down fast!
"They're coming back!" Ash yelled. There was a red bike propped up nearby. Ash put Pikachu in the bike basket and hopped onto theseat.
"Hey, that's my bike!" Misty cried.
Ash began pedaling down the road. "I need to borrow it! But I'll bring it back someday!" he called back.
Ash pedaled furiously. Black storm clouds gathered low in the sky overhead. Thunder rumbled in the distance. But it couldn't mask the sound of the Spearow. They were getting closer.
"Speeeeearow!"
"Hang on, Pikachu! We're almost there!" Ash tried to reassure the Pokémon, but he was afraid. The Spearow were all around.
Suddenly, Ash felt the ground give way beneath him. They were flying over a ridge! The wheels hit the road below, but Ash lost control. He watched as Pikachu flew out of the basket and landed a few feet away.
A bolt of lightning flashed in the sky. Raindrops pelted Ash's body. The sky was filled with attacking Spearow. They swooped and lunged at him and Pikachu, getting closer each time.
Pikachu. I have to protect it. That was Ash's only thought.
Ash took a Poké Ball out of his knapsack and ran to Pikachu's motionless body.
"Pikachu, you've got to get inside the ball. Maybe I can save you. Please trust me," Ash pleaded.
"Chuuu," Pikachu said. Ash saw that Pikachu was too weak to move.
It's up to me now, Ash realized.
"Spearow, do you know who I am?" Ash yelled. "I'm Ash from the town of Pallet. I can't be defeated by the likes of you. I'm going to capture you allo! Do you hear me?"
Behind him, Pikachu opened its eyes.
"Pikachu, get inside the Poké Ball," Ash said softly.
An earsplitting thunderclap roared. A bright flash of lightning peirced the sky. The Spearow paused in midair, then aimed their beaks at Ash.
Ash stood firm. He wasn't running away this tim. "Come and get me!" Ash yelled.
The Spearow charged Ash!
From the corner of his eye, Ash saw something fly past him.
Pikachu!
Pikachu was jumping between Ash and the Spearow!
"Noooooo!"
A clap of thunder drowned out Ash's cry. Time seemed to stand still as a lightning bolt illuminated the air. Pikachu jumped right into the lightning bolt. Pikachu's body glowed with electricity as it bonded with the lightning. The impact created a huge explosion.
A thundershock!