Viridian Forest.
Ash had been lost in the forest for two days.
Originally, he had planned to head straight for the nearest gym in Viridian City to begin his gym challenge. But not long after leaving Pallet Town, a sudden downpour forced him to seek shelter in the forest. In a panic, he ran in without paying attention to where he was going—only to stumble into a swarm of Beedrill after accidentally disturbing a Weedle nest.
Ash had tried to call on Froakie to fight back. With Froakie's strength, fending off a swarm of wild Beedrill shouldn't have been a problem. But the Poké Ball wouldn't respond—Froakie simply refused to come out.
Ash had no choice but to flee deeper into the forest. By the time he looked back, the Beedrill had stopped chasing him—but he had no idea where he was anymore.
Still, Ash only panicked for a moment.
There was no point in panicking.
Besides, he was somewhat familiar with Viridian Forest. He used to come here often as a kid, and he knew the location of food and water sources well enough to survive without too much trouble. Sooner or later, he'd find his way out.
With that in mind, Ash redirected his focus.
He wanted to catch some Pokémon.
Viridian Forest was the largest forest in the Kanto region, home to a wide variety of wild Pokémon. Ash figured it was the perfect place to start building his team—especially since, at this rate, he'd be showing up to his first gym battle with only a disobedient Froakie.
And that was the problem.
He needed a Pokémon to battle wild Pokémon.
But he couldn't catch any without winning battles.
And he couldn't win battles without a Pokémon.
He was stuck in a loop.
"Please, Froakie, just help me defeat that Spearow. Just once?" Ash pleaded, nearly on his knees in front of the Water-type.
"Quack."
Froakie didn't even look at him. He lounged lazily on a sun-warmed rock, basking without a care in the world. In response to Ash's desperation, he waved a hand dismissively—as if to say, Not my problem.
"Hmph, fine!"
Ash gave up on getting Froakie's help. Turning his eyes toward the unsuspecting Spearow pecking at the ground nearby, he narrowed them mischievously.
"Whatever. I can still catch a Pokémon without you."
Crouching low in the grass, Ash stalked forward quietly, pressing himself against the earth. Once he was close enough, he readied himself—legs coiled, eyes focused—and then lunged.
A hungry tiger pouncing on its prey!
"Speeeearow!"
The sudden movement startled the Spearow. It flapped its wings wildly and narrowly escaped, just as Ash's arms snapped forward.
Thud!
Ash crashed headfirst into a rock.
"Ow—owowow...!"
Clutching his forehead, Ash groaned in pain. A large bump was already forming, but what really hurt was watching the Spearow fly away.
"Sigh… I can't even catch one Pokémon…"
He looked around. The forest was full of Pokémon—Caterpie, Rattata, Pidgey, and more. If Froakie would just listen, he could catch them all easily.
But reality didn't work on what-ifs.
Ash sighed again and turned to look at Froakie, still lounging nearby.
"What should I do…"
"Quack."
Froakie glanced sideways at him. Of course, he understood Ash's dilemma. But none of the Pokémon around here stirred his fighting spirit, and more importantly, he didn't recognize Ash as his trainer yet.
He didn't believe Ash could lead him properly.
Suddenly, Froakie stood up. His stomach grumbled.
"Froakie? Where are you going?" Ash asked as he followed.
The Froakie bounded ahead, hopping gracefully to a tall fruit tree. In a blur of motion, his arms moved so fast they became afterimages—dozens of fruits dropped to the ground in a single instant.
Ash blinked.
"So you were hungry…"
Feeling his own stomach rumble, he grinned sheepishly. "Now that you mention it, I'm kind of hungry too."
Then an idea struck him.
"Hey, Froakie, wait a second."
Ash sprinted off into the undergrowth.
Froakie glanced after him, curious, but quickly went back to eating.
A few minutes later, Ash returned, arms full of berries and fruit.
Froakie barely looked up—Ash's inhuman motor skills didn't surprise him anymore.
But just as Froakie reached for another fruit from the pile he had knocked down, Ash extended a handful of colorful ones to him.
"You like the sweeter kinds, right?" Ash smiled. "I've eaten these before—they're way better. Want to try some?"
Froakie paused, eyeing the offering.
Then, without a word, he accepted the fruit.
"Quagua," he murmured—his version of 'thanks.'
"Heheh." Ash beamed and sat down beside him, munching on his own fruits.
Moments later, Froakie nudged a small pile of fruits toward Ash.
"Huh? For me?" Ash blinked in surprise. "A return gift?"
Froakie didn't reply. He simply looked away.
Ash smiled. "Then I won't say no. Thanks. They're really good."
They ate quietly, until a rustling in the nearby bush caught their attention.
A strange Pokémon emerged—something like a Pikachu, but… not quite.
Ash stared. "Huh? Pikachu?"
No… not really.
The creature's appearance looked like someone had thrown a Pikachu costume over something else entirely.
"Mimikyu," it said softly.
It stared longingly at the fruit.
"You hungry too?" Ash asked, waving it over. "Come eat with us."
"Mimikyu…"
It hesitated. But sensing no hostility, the disguised Pokémon slowly crept closer.
"Here." Ash offered it a fruit.
Two dark, shadowy claws reached out from beneath the costume and took it. Mimikyu sniffed it, then took a small bite. Its eyes sparkled.
"There's plenty more." Ash pushed over some extra fruit.
Then he took out his Pokédex and scanned the strange Pokémon.
Mimikyu, the Disguise Pokémon. This Pokémon wears a rag resembling Pikachu in hopes of making friends. Ironically, it ends up being more frightening. It will never forgive those who reveal its true form and will even sacrifice itself to take revenge.
"...So it's not Pikachu." Ash frowned. "I've never seen this one before. Is it from another region?"
Mimikyu is a Pokémon from the Alola region. the Pokédex chimed in.
"Alola? Never heard of it…"
Ash looked at Mimikyu thoughtfully, then smiled.
"Hey, Mimikyu—do you want to travel with me?"
"Mimikyu?"
The Pokémon tilted its head, clearly unsure.
"Ah, sorry. That was sudden." Ash laughed awkwardly. "You probably don't even know me."
Still… maybe it was worth a shot?
Ash hesitated, then pulled an empty Poké Ball from his bag.
"Well." He tossed it aside disinterestedly. "Like that's gonna work…"
Ding. Ding. Ding—Ding!
Ash turned.
The Poké Ball had stopped shaking.
"Wait—huh?"
He scrambled over and picked it up.
It was heavy.
Ash blinked.
"Did I… actually catch it?"
He stared at the Poké Ball in disbelief.
"…Maybe I'm really good at catching Pokémon?!"
Excited, Ash grabbed another ball and looked around. A Caterpie rested on a nearby branch.
"Let's go!" he shouted, throwing the Poké Ball.
Ding. Ding. Ding—click!
Caught.
Another one. Another success.
Before long, Ash had caught seven or eight Pokémon.
"I'm a genius!" he shouted, practically vibrating with excitement. "I'm gonna catch them all!"
He was in the middle of throwing another Poké Ball when—
"Dew!"
He felt something tugging on his pant leg.
It was a Marill—one he had just caught. It looked up at him with wide, sad eyes, holding onto him tightly.
Ash turned and saw more Pokémon watching him from the woods—Rattata, Butterfree, Nidoran… all of them looking sorrowful.
He realized they were friends of the ones he'd just caught.
Ash's smile faded.
He looked down at the Poké Balls in his hands.
Then, quietly, he released them all.
"I'm sorry," he said, keeping his hat low. "Please… go back home."
The Pokémon were confused at first, but then they sensed their freedom—and joyfully ran to their friends.
"Wait," Ash called out again.
He gestured to the leftover fruit. "Here. As an apology."
The Pokémon hesitated, then happily rushed over and devoured the fruits.
Watching them, Ash smiled.
"Quagua?"
Froakie stood beside him, tilting its head in confusion.
"You're asking why I let them go?" Ash said, rubbing his nose. "I dunno. It just didn't feel right. Catching them like that… it felt empty."
He turned and started walking.
"Let's go, Froakie."
"Guagua…"
For once, Froakie didn't argue.
He followed.
But just a few steps later—
"Mimikyu."
Ash stopped.
He looked down. Mimikyu was walking beside him.
"Huh? You're still here?"
"Mimikyu."
Mimikyu shook its head, then gazed at Ash steadily.
Ash's eyes widened. "You want to come with me?"
Mimikyu nodded.
Ash broke into a grin and held out the Poké Ball.
"Then, let's journey together. I'll be counting on you."
Mimikyu bumped the Poké Ball with its shadowy claw, and with a quiet ding, it was captured once again.
Ash stared at the ball in his hand.
This time, it felt real.
This wasn't about power. Or numbers. Or pride.
This was a bond.
Ash smiled—truly smiled—for the first time in days.
"I caught Mimikyu!"
"Quack."
Froakie scoffed and looked away, flicking his ears in mock annoyance.
Hmph. Getting all worked up over a glutton. This trainer is seriously hopeless.