Ash sprints down the dirt path of Route 1, holding his cap as the wind tries to rip it away. Pikachu clings to his shoulder, ears flattened and cheeks sparking with excitement. Misty jogs to keep up, her voice pitched with exasperation.
"Slow down, Ash! If you trip chasing a Pidgey, I’m not carrying you!"
Brock laughs, hiking pack slung over one shoulder. The road ripples with wild cries, Rattata darting through the grass, a flock of Pidgey fluttering overhead. Ash’s heart pounds, the badge from Pewter Gym jangling in his pocket, his mind fixed on the next Gym. Sunlight glints on distant rooftops; adventure calls with every step. There’s a rustle in the nearby brush, sharp and sudden. Pikachu bristles, cheeks flickering. Ash skids to a halt, eyes wide, ready for anything, be it a wild Pokemon, a rival Trainer, or the first hint of Team Rocket’s trouble.