James smirked, tossing a Poké Ball into the air. "If you two brats think you can stop Team Rocket, you're in for a surprise. Go, Koffing!"
From the ball emerged a floating purple Pokémon, toxic gas leaking from its pores.
Ash clenched his fists. "Pikachu, get ready!"
James crossed his arms. "We're here for one thing — that Pikachu! Hand it over, or we'll take it by force!"
I stepped forward, standing beside Ash. "You're not taking anything! We'll protect our Pokémon."
Ash grinned at me. "Thanks, Kaito. Let's do this together."
James laughed. "Oh, you think teamwork is going to save you? Koffing, use Smog!"
A thick cloud of poisonous gas shot toward us.
"Eevee, use Sand Attack!" I commanded.
Eevee kicked up a burst of dirt, mixing with the gas and dispersing it before it could reach us.
"Nice one!" Ash said. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu dashed forward in a blur, striking Koffing and sending it tumbling backward.
James growled. "Koffing, use Tackle!"
"Kaito, we need to hit it hard before it recovers!" Ash shouted.
I nodded. "Eevee, follow up with Tackle!"
Eevee rushed in alongside Pikachu, the two Pokémon hitting Koffing simultaneously. The combined attack sent Koffing crashing into James, knocking him down.
"You haven't seen the last of Team Rocket!" James yelled as he scrambled to his feet and ran off.
Ash and I watched him disappear into the distance.
"That was… intense," Ash said, wiping his brow.
I nodded. "Yeah. But we did it."
Ash grinned at me. "See? I told you we make a great team."
By the time we reached Viridian City, night had fallen. The streetlights illuminated the roads, and the Pokémon Center stood as a beacon of light and warmth.
We hurried inside, where Nurse Joy greeted us with a kind smile.
"Welcome to the Viridian City Pokémon Center. How can I help you?"
Ash placed Pikachu on the counter. "We just had a battle, and Pikachu could use a rest."
I followed suit, placing Eevee's Poké Ball on the counter. "Same here."
As Nurse Joy took our Pokémon for healing, Ash and I sat down in the waiting area.
Ash leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "You know, Kaito, this journey is going to be tougher than I thought. But I'm glad you're here with me."
I smiled. "Me too. But we've only just begun. There's a whole world out there waiting for us."
Ash grinned. "Yeah. And we're going to take it on together — rivals and friends."
Just then, Nurse Joy returned with our Pokémon. "Your partners are all healed up. Good luck on your journey!"
We thanked her and walked outside. The stars twinkled above us, and the night air was cool and refreshing.
Ash turned to me, a determined look in his eyes. "Tomorrow, we head to the Viridian Gym. Let's see if we're ready for our first real challenge."
I nodded. "Let's do it."
As we walked through the quiet streets of Viridian City, I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. This wasn't just Ash's journey — it was mine too.
And I was ready to make my mark on the world of Pokémon.
To be continued…