[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for defeating LV.20 Pidgey. Experience gained: +200]
[Ding! Frogadier has met the conditions to level up. Frogadier has leveled up—current level: LV.27]
With the battle concluded, the drizzle summoned by Rain Dance slowly lost its momentum and faded away.
Warm sunlight once again poured down from above. Moist air rose as vapor, and a radiant rainbow quietly arched across Dashiwan Valley.
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—
It seemed to gather every color from both sky and land, dyeing itself in brilliance. Bathed in sunlight, it looked dreamlike, dazzling beyond words.
"Pop!"
"Come out, Pidgey!"
Having successfully captured Pidgey, Ash was in high spirits—but he hadn't forgotten that Pidgey had taken quite a beating in the battle just now.
Without delay, he released Pidgey from its Poké Ball.
"Pidgey—!"
It landed on the same stone as before. Yet this time, the Pidgey standing there was no longer a lone wild Pokémon—it had become Ash's Pokémon, his companion.
"Pidgey, sorry about hitting you a bit hard earlier. Let me heal your injuries first."
Ash gently reached out and patted Pidgey's head.
"…Pidgey. It's fine."
Though now officially Ash's Pokémon, Ash could clearly sense through Aura that Pidgey was overflowing with excitement and emotion—its heart brimming with closeness and trust.
Still, because it wasn't good at expressing feelings—and because of its shy nature—its expression remained cool and reserved.
"You little rascal…"
Seeing through Pidgey's façade via Aura Perception, Ash didn't let the aloof look fool him. He affectionately rubbed Pidgey's head again before mobilizing the power within him.
With Viridian Blessing at LV.28, Healing Grace flowed forth. Whether external wounds or lingering internal damage, Pidgey's injuries rapidly recovered and faded away.
"Alright, everything's taken care of. Let's head back."
Ash shrank Pidgey's Poké Ball and slipped it into his pocket. Then he scooped up the tiny Pichu in his arms and looked toward Pidgey and Frogadier.
"Gua—"
"Pidgey?"
Seeing that Ash didn't return it to the Poké Ball and instead extended his arm, Pidgey tilted its head in confusion.
"Even though you can sense the outside world while inside a Poké Ball, it's never quite the same as seeing it with your own eyes," Ash said with a smile.
"And besides, as a Flying-type Pokémon, I'm sure you'd rather stay outside—free to spread your wings and fly whenever you want, right?"
"…Pidge"
Pidgey's expression stayed cool, but through Aura—and the barely perceptible upward curve of its beak and the faint narrowing of its eyes—Ash knew it was happy.
It was a pity the system didn't display Pokémon affection values. If it did, Ash would've seen Pidgey's favorability skyrocketing.
If the life-saving rescue had already given Ash around 75 favorability, then the honorable capture battle had pushed it to 85.
And now—after those simple, heartfelt words—it surged again.
Compared to Pichu and Frogadier, those companions seemingly chosen by destiny whose affection quickly reached 100, Pidgey was different.
It wasn't bound to Ash by fate.
It was a Pokémon he met by chance—and won over through genuine effort.
Yet even so, its affection had climbed astonishingly high right after capture.
One had to wonder whether Ash's personal charm was simply overwhelming—or whether Pidgey's personality was truly that of cold exterior, burning heart.
Though wary of everyone else, once it acknowledged someone… it trusted them completely.
That, too, was part of Pidgey's charm.
And Ash loved it all the more for it.
"Pidgey, hop on."
Ash extended his arm and glanced meaningfully at his shoulder.
"Pidgey~"
Understanding at last, Pidgey fluttered its wings and landed steadily on Ash's shoulder.
That spot once belonged to Froakie before evolution. Now it was Pidgey's. In the future, once Pidgey evolved into Pidgeotto, it might no longer fit there.
And when Pichu evolved into Pikachu, that exclusive perch might soon change owners again.
Ash believed that day wasn't far off.
With Pidgey's current level—and Pichu's rapidly growing bond—evolution was only a matter of time.
A sharp-browed, clear-eyed boy with short black hair walked through the wilds.
In his arms rested a tiny, adorable Pichu.
On his shoulder stood a slender, sharp-gazed Pidgey, its presence like that of a young hawk.
And by his side walked a Frogadier, a rare sight indeed in the Kanto region.
Crossing the grasslands, they greeted Gary—still training by the riverside—and then headed toward Pallet Town together.
"—Whoa!! Ash, you actually caught Pidgey? Didn't you say it rejected you the first two times?"
Seeing Pidgey perched on Ash's shoulder, Gary stared in disbelief.
When Ash had rushed the critically injured Pidgey to Professor Oak's lab for surgery, everyone there—including Gary—had heard about the extraordinarily resilient wild Pidgey.
As close friends, Ash had told Gary about wanting to capture it. After Pidgey's recovery, Ash had made two attempts—both firmly rejected.
And yet, today…
"You said it yourself—those were the first two times. Today was the third," Ash laughed.
"I asked again, and it agreed. Honestly, I was pretty surprised too… haha!"
Pidgey was exceptional—both in potential and in character. Capturing such a Pokémon naturally filled Ash with joy.
"Tch… I'm seriously jealous."
Gary smacked his lips, eyes filled with envy as he looked at the lean, sharp-eyed Pidgey on Ash's shoulder—its presence fierce, like a young raptor.
…
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