At Ash's home, Ash was changing into clothes prepared by his mom. Ash's mom stood nearby, constantly giving instructions, "…Must eat meals on time outside, when sleeping…"
"I know already, Mom!" Ash responded with a wry smile.
"Honestly, this child. But this is your first time leaving home—not sure if you can take care of yourself." Mom spoke while strapping the prepared backpack onto Ash.
Finally, the bright red cap—putting it on completed all preparations.
"Well then, Mom, I'm off!" "Be careful on the road!" "Yeah!"
Ash stepped out the door onto the path. When his eyes gazed into the distance, his legs started running involuntarily. Gentle sunlight illuminated Ash's radiant smile.
After running out of town, he halted, glanced back, and shouted: "Sayonara, Pallet Town! When I return, I'll be an amazing Trainer!"
After speaking, he resumed running. The ten-year-old seemed to possess endless energy. Just imagining countless adventures ahead thrilled Ash immensely.
"Come on out, Charmander." Entering Route 1's tall grass, he summoned Charmander.
"Chaaar~" The called-out Charmander looked delighted.
"Hey, Charmander, our journey starts here. Excited?" Ash raised both hands in a "banzai" pose, but Charmander tilted its head, baffled.
Ash chuckled awkwardly: "Guess you wouldn't understand that! But now we'll catch other Pokémon, starting with…"
While Ash rubbed his chin pondering, nearby grass rustled—a brown-feathered bird leaped out. Ash immediately scanned it with Professor Oak's Pokédex. The device emitted a mature male voice: "Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Dislikes fighting. Hides in grass to catch insects."
"Pidgey huh. Okay, Charmander, go!" "Char~" Charmander waddled adorably toward the startled Pidgey.
"Use Scratch!" Charmander instantly spread its tiny claws, swiping at Pidgey.
"Pidg-pidg!" Pidgey swiftly detected the attack, flapping its wings to flee.
"Hey, w-wait!" Ash hadn't expected Pidgey to escape. Frantically throwing a Poké Ball, he couldn't reach the already airborne Pidgey.
"Sigh, failed the first try. Thought it'd be easy!" Ash lamented. Charmander sighed alongside him.
Seeing this, Ash patted Charmander's head, grinning: "Can't be helped. Let's do better next time, Charmander!" "Char!"
"Pidg! Pidg! Pidg!" Suddenly, panicked cries echoed from where Pidgey flew—far more frantic than before.
"Huh? That Pidgey's back? And that's…" Ash squinted, barely making out a dark mass chasing the Pidgey.
"Pidg! Pidg! Pidg!" Pidgey streaked straight toward Ash. Gradually, Ash discerned the swarm—red birds.
Scanning with the Pokédex, it announced: "Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Flies frenetically. Extremely aggressive. Relentlessly attacks provokers—Pokémon or humans."
"Uh oh. That guy pissed off a Spearow flock?!" Cold sweat beaded on Ash's forehead. "Charmander, run!" Ash immediately beckoned Charmander to bolt opposite.
Meanwhile, Green—having reached Viridian City—glanced back at the road, remarking: "Spearow swarm out there? Dodged it. Wonder how that loser Ash is doing."
"Char! Char!" Charmander's stubby legs struggled to keep pace. Ash scooped it up, sprinting desperately.
Charmander pointed at Ash's waist Poké Balls. Ash realized—returning Charmander would help.
After recalling Charmander, Ash still couldn't outrun flying pursuers. Soon, the fleeing Pidgey overtook him.
"You caused this! Why flee toward me?!" Ash yelled at the Pidgey overhead. "Pidg-pidg-pidg!" Indecipherable chirps—apology or otherwise. Ash racked his brain.
Fight back? Ash eyed Charmander's Ball, shook his head—dismissing the idea. They'd catch him soon.
The Pidgey above noticed Ash's unzipped backpack—diving inside. "Hey, what? I'm slower than you!" Ash yanked the backpack off, pulling out the hidden Pidgey.
Forest lay ahead. Ash planned to exploit Spearows' hampered flight in dense woods. Grabbing the low-flying Pidgey, he dashed in.
"Pidg-pidg-pidg!" "Calm down! Got a plan!" Hearing this, Pidgey settled.
Ash clutched Pidgey, plunging into the forest. As predicted, Spearows couldn't maneuver freely through trees. They split: half flew above, tracking Ash's direction; half weaved through branches—slower pursuit.