On the way to Ecruteak City, Ash and friends see a flying Pidgey being attacked by a huge Fearow and decide to intervene. They bring the Pidgey to the next town and luckily find its home, and discover it is a member of the "Carrier-Pidgey Express", a business run by a boy named Malachi and his grandfather. They deliver letters to the nearby islands. Ash and friends join Malachi as he goes to make his rounds for the day, but Team Rocket appears and wants to capture all of the Pidgey.