POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

Misty sighed with relief as the situation unfolded, but she couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment in her heart. She had mentally prepared herself to face Bug-type Pokémon day and night, but now everything had changed. The arrival of the Pidgey had disrupted her plans. She wasn't sure whether to feel grateful or frustrated by this turn of events. Confusion clouded her emotions as she watched Ash handle the situation.

"Are you going to catch it?" Misty asked, walking over to Ash.

"Well… I guess so," Ash replied with a helpless shrug. "Since it came out at this time, it feels like fate. I can't ignore that."

Ash hadn't planned on catching Pidgey right away, but the situation had changed, and he couldn't turn away from it. There was something about this moment that made him feel like he had no choice but to accept it.

"Poké Ball, go!" Ash exclaimed, tossing a Poké Ball at the unconscious Pidgey.

The ball hit Pidgey, and in a flash of red light, it enveloped the Pokémon, pulling it inside. The ball landed on the ground, rocking back and forth as Pidgey struggled inside. Ash waited, his heart racing. After a few moments, the ball clicked shut with a soft thump, signaling the capture was successful.

"A new achievement unlocked: [First Pokémon Recovery]. Rewards: 1 lottery draw. Task completed: [Acquired the second Pokémon]. Rewards: 1 additional lottery draw."

The voice of the system echoed in Ash's mind, reminding him of the rewards he'd just earned. Although he appreciated the achievement, he pushed the thoughts aside for now. There would be time to worry about rewards later. For now, Pidgey needed attention.

Ash picked up the Poké Ball and released Pidgey. The bird Pokémon lay unconscious, clearly exhausted from the Thunder Shock it had taken earlier. Ash felt a sense of responsibility. This was his first Pokémon capture after Pikachu, and he wasn't going to take it lightly.

"You're my companion now," Ash whispered softly, though he knew Pidgey couldn't hear him. Despite that, he felt a bond forming with the tiny bird. "Let's take good care of you."

Misty set her backpack down and rummaged through it. She pulled out a small bottle of spray medicine—Potion. This was a standard healing item that could quickly restore a Pokémon's health. It wasn't the most powerful medicine available, but it was effective enough for minor injuries.

"Let's get Pidgey back to full strength," Misty said, spraying the Potion on Pidgey's wings and body. "This should help it recover quickly."

"Normally, we'd use berries or let Pokémon rest, but since we're in a rush, we'll go with this for now," Misty explained. "Potion is expensive, but it's the fastest way."

Ash nodded, understanding. In normal circumstances, they would have let Pidgey rest and given it berries, but the situation was different. They needed to move on and couldn't afford to wait long for the Pokémon to recover naturally. After applying the Potion, Ash returned Pidgey to its Poké Ball to give it time to heal.

"Thanks, Pikachu!" Ash grinned as he pulled out a Tamato Berry from his backpack. Pikachu's eyes lit up with excitement. The berry, which had a spicy tomato-like flavor, was one of Pikachu's favorites. Ash had bought several when they passed through Tokiwa City, knowing Pikachu would appreciate the treat.

"Pika—!" Pikachu jumped for the berry, savoring the unique combination of spicy and sour flavors. It was exactly what Pikachu loved.

Misty raised an eyebrow at Ash. "You really know exactly what Pikachu likes to eat. You two must have a special bond."

"Of course, Pikachu is my friend," Ash smiled, a little sheepish. He glanced at Misty. "And I know what you like too."

Misty's face turned pink. She absentmindedly touched the hair tie that Ash had bought for her. It had a small, drop-shaped decoration on it, and she'd always liked it. She felt a warmth in her chest as she remembered the gesture. Ash had thought about her preferences even before they'd really gotten to know each other.

The two continued their journey, searching for a place to rest for the day. The forest was dense, and the light was dim. After walking for another couple of hours, Misty's sharp ears finally picked up the sound of water flowing. She led the way, and Ash followed, amazed at how she was able to locate it so easily.

"That's impressive, Misty!" Ash exclaimed. "I didn't think we'd find a water source so quickly."

Misty grinned. "Of course! I've always loved water, and I can hear it from a long distance. It's one of my strengths."

"Well, it's clear why you're the future Water-type Pokémon master," Ash said with a laugh. He always enjoyed teasing Misty, but she seemed to take it well.

"Hmph!" Misty puffed her chest out in pride. She couldn't help but feel a little pleased by Ash's compliment.

"Leave it to me to set up camp," Ash said as he began to take out the folding tent from his backpack. He had already planned on staying the night in the forest. It was a perfect spot to rest and train for the next few days.

"What? We're staying here for the night?" Misty blinked in surprise.

"Of course!" Ash replied, unfazed. "We can't just keep walking. We need to rest. Plus, this spot is great for training. We might as well take advantage of it."

Misty opened her mouth to protest but quickly closed it when she saw how smoothly Ash set up the tent. She couldn't argue with his logic, even though she'd never imagined spending the night in the forest.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Misty sighed. She wasn't happy about the idea of staying in the forest, but it seemed like the only reasonable choice.

"Misty, you should set up your tent too," Ash said, giving her a friendly smile.

Misty hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. She reached into her backpack and pulled out her own tent. Ash had reminded her to buy one in Tokiwa City, so she had come prepared. As she began to unfold the tent, she seemed to struggle with her thoughts.

"Well, I…" Misty trailed off, her face turning red. "I'll... I'll sleep in the tent with you tonight."

Ash froze. "W-What?!" He blinked, not sure if he had heard her correctly.

Misty's face was bright red now, but she kept her head down, avoiding eye contact. "I... I just don't want to sleep alone out here, okay?"

Ash was still processing what she said. "I mean… if you want to, that's fine…" He scratched his head, flustered by the sudden change in the atmosphere.

Misty, on the other hand, was relieved Ash hadn't objected. She quickly set up her sleeping area inside the tent, feeling more comfortable now that she wasn't alone in the woods. Though Ash didn't fully understand what had just happened, he couldn't help but feel a little flustered himself.

The night in the Viridian Forest was quiet. The sounds of distant Bug-type Pokémon echoed around them as they settled in for the night. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey, but for now, they could rest.

Ash couldn't help but think that, despite everything, this moment felt just right.

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