By the time the sun climbed higher, Route 1 had begun to feel less like a path and more like a test.
Ash walked a little more confidently now, Caterpie resting on his shoulder, its tiny segments rising and falling with calm breaths. The Poké Ball at his belt felt real in a way nothing else had yet.
Ahead, the Charizard continued at its own pace. Not rushing. Not waiting. Just moving, like the road belonged to it.
Maya slowed her steps, observing the space between them. "You didn't look back after the catch," she said.
Ash blinked. "Was I supposed to?"
"Most new trainers do," she replied. "They look for approval. From Pokémon. From people."
Ash glanced ahead. "I figured… if I keep stopping, I won't move forward."
Maya nodded once and wrote that down.
A sudden rush of wind swept across the path.
Caterpie stiffened.
Ash looked up just as a shadow passed over them.
Something swooped low, wings cutting sharply through the air before landing on a nearby signpost. Brown feathers, sharp eyes, claws gripping metal.
Ash's heart jumped. "That's a bird Pokémon, right?"
The Charizard stopped walking.
Not turning. Just stopping.
Ash noticed and stepped forward, careful. He reached for the Pokédex.
"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Normal and Flying type. This Pokémon has an extremely sharp sense of direction and is very protective of its territory."
Pidgey fluffed its feathers, eyes locked on Caterpie.
"Easy," Ash said, holding one hand out. "We're just passing through."
Pidgey screeched and beat its wings, kicking up dust as it launched into the air. It circled once, fast and low, a warning pass.
Ash swallowed. "Okay. So… maybe not passing through."
He reached for a Poké Ball, then hesitated.
Maya watched him closely. "What are you thinking?"
"That Caterpie can't really fight yet," Ash admitted. "And I don't want him getting hurt."
The Charizard shifted its weight, tail flame flaring slightly. It still didn't turn around.
Ash took a breath and stepped forward into the open.
"Pidgey," he called out. "I don't want to fight you."
The bird hovered midair, wings snapping sharply.
Ash raised the Poké Ball anyway. "But if you want to fly with us… I'll protect you. Even if it takes me a while to learn how."
He threw.
The Poké Ball arced upward, clipping Pidgey's wing. The bird cried out as light pulled it inside.
The ball hit the ground and rolled.
Once.
Twice.
It burst open.
Pidgey exploded back into the air, furious now, wings slicing through the wind as it dove straight for Ash.
"Ash!" Maya shouted.
Ash froze.
Something moved.
The Charizard stepped forward at last, placing itself between Ash and the diving Pokémon. It didn't attack. It didn't roar.
It simply spread its good wing wide.
Heat rolled off its body, a warning more than a threat.
Pidgey pulled up sharply, circling once before landing again, chest heaving.
Ash raised the Poké Ball again, hands shaking but steady.
"I'm not giving up," he said quietly. "But I won't force you."
Pidgey stared at him.
Then, after a tense moment, it lunged on its own.
The Poké Ball opened. Light swallowed the bird.
This time, it shook.
Once.
Twice.
Click.
Ash dropped to his knees, exhaling hard.
"I… I did it."
He released Pidgey slowly.
The bird appeared on the ground, feathers ruffled but eyes clear. It tilted its head, studying Ash, then Caterpie, then the Charizard.
The Charizard snorted and turned away, resuming its walk down the road.
Not approval.
Not rejection.
But acknowledgment.
Ash smiled, small and tired and real.
"Welcome to the team," he said.
Route 1 stretched ahead, longer now, fuller.
Ash stood, two Poké Balls heavier, and followed the fire that still walked just out of reach.
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T/N:
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