The wild Pidgeotto circled above us, its sharp eyes glaring down with fierce determination. My Eevee stood firm, tail twitching in anticipation, while Ash and Pikachu watched closely.
Ash clenched his fists. "We've gotta catch it before it gets away!"
"Let's work together," I suggested. "Pidgeotto's tough, and it'll take both of us to take it down."
Ash nodded. "Alright, Kaito. Pikachu and I will distract it. You go in for the catch!"
Ash turned to his partner. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack to draw its attention!"
Pikachu zipped forward like a lightning bolt, dashing between trees and leaping toward Pidgeotto. The wild bird swooped low, trying to peck at Pikachu, but the electric mouse was too quick.
"Now's your chance, Kaito!" Ash yelled.
"Eevee, use Tackle!" I commanded.
Eevee dashed forward, leaping into the air and slamming into Pidgeotto with a powerful hit. The bird Pokémon flapped its wings wildly, trying to regain balance, but Eevee's attack had left it vulnerable.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a Poké Ball. "Let's do this!"
I threw the ball with all my might. It soared through the air, struck Pidgeotto, and opened with a flash of light. The bird was pulled inside, and the ball fell to the ground, wobbling back and forth.
One shake.
Two shakes.
Three shakes…
*Ding!*
The ball stopped moving, and the capture was complete.
Ash grinned from ear to ear. "You did it, Kaito! You caught a Pidgeotto!"
I picked up the Poké Ball, feeling a sense of pride. "Thanks, Ash. I couldn't have done it without you."
With Pidgeotto now on my team, Ash and I continued our journey toward Viridian City. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across the horizon.
Ash walked beside me, Pikachu perched on his shoulder. "So, Kaito… have you thought about what kind of Trainer you want to be?"
I glanced down at Eevee, who trotted happily at my side. "I want to be someone who brings out the best in my Pokémon. No matter what challenges we face, I want to grow stronger with them."
Ash smiled. "Sounds like a good goal. I want to be a Pokémon Master — the best there ever was!"
I laughed. "Then I guess that makes us rivals."
Ash's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yeah. But we'll always be friends too."
Suddenly, we heard a noise up ahead. A group of people dressed in matching white uniforms stood blocking the path. At the front was a man with purple hair and a sly grin.
"Well, well. What do we have here? A couple of rookie Trainers?"
Ash tensed. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled. "Name's **James**. And we're with **Team Rocket**. We're here to take your Pokémon."
Ash stepped forward. "Not a chance! Pikachu and I won't let you get away with that!"
I clenched my fists, adrenaline rushing through me. "Eevee, Pidgeotto, let's show them what we've got!"
The battle was about to begin — our first real encounter with danger. But I wasn't afraid. This was just the start of our legendary journey.
**To be continued…**