Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Age 9, April 10 — "My Name is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town"

I hit my head at the Pallet Town Pokémon Camp and regained the memories of my previous life. I figured I should start keeping a diary today.

My name is Ash. Yes, that Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town.

I'm the same Ash who spent over twenty years as the protagonist of the anime, somehow getting weaker every time he moved to a new region, only to finally win the Pokémon League after two decades.

Some might think I'm acting strangely mature for Ash, but it seems my personality has been heavily influenced by the memories of my past life merging with this one. My mom has been looking at me with worry for the past few days, wondering if I'm sick because my temperament changed so drastically.

I can't really help it, though. My original personality has been layered over with the memories of who I was before. At first, I was completely disoriented. I spent several days in bed with a fever, and by the time I finally reconciled both sets of memories, my mindset had shifted toward that of an adult. Asking me to act exactly like the old Ash at this point is a tall order.

Fortunately, my name in my previous life was also Satoshi. From here on out, I'm going to give it my all as "New Ash." For now, I suppose I should focus on helping Mom get used to the new me for the sake of her peace of mind.

***

Age 9, April 15 — "This Isn't an Anime or a Game. This is Pokémon."

Based on my memories as both Ash and my past self, I know I'm set to receive my first Pokémon and begin my journey in exactly one year.

There's no way I'm letting a one-year head start go to waste.

To start, I'm going to practically live at Professor Oak's Lab. I'll pour through every book I can find to bridge the gap between my past-life knowledge and the reality of Pokémon in this world.

Mom was confused by my personality shift for a while, but she seems to be coming around. When I asked for books on Pokémon, she just tilted her head and asked, "Ash? Reading?" She wasn't nearly as shocked as she was a few days ago.

Looking into the specifics of this world, I've realized there are many differences from the anime and the games. The way moves work is the biggest change. In the games and anime, a Pokémon is usually limited to four moves, and learning a new one requires forgetting an old one. In this world, a Pokémon can theoretically learn an unlimited number of moves, but they are legally restricted to using only four in an official battle.

Because of this, a Trainer's strategy changes depending on the opponent, and choosing which four moves to "set" for a match is a fundamental skill. If a Pokémon uses a fifth move during a match, it's a foul and an immediate disqualification.

According to Professor Oak, a Trainer in the Pokémon League was disqualified a few years ago because they used a powerful Pokémon that wouldn't listen, and it went on to use its entire move pool during the fight.

If I end up getting Charizard like I did in the anime, I'll have to be extra careful.

***

Age 9, April 17 — "Did You Seriously Think You Could Beat a Pokémon Pro?"

I ran into Gary today. He was being incredibly obnoxious, just like he was in the early parts of the anime.

He's clearly diligent, though. He took every opportunity to flaunt his knowledge, lecturing me on the move sets of Pidgey and Rattata until I was bored to tears.

He seemed particularly confident about his battle theory, so I decided to shut him down with a "knowledge bomb" from my competitive-pro memories. By the time I was finished, he was left speechless, mouth agape.

Acting so high and mighty... Listen here, kid! I've got every Level-up move, Egg move, Move Tutor move, TM, and TR memorized across every generation! Go back and study some more before you try to lecture me!

***

Age 9, April 18 — "Not Interested."

Since kids officially start their journeys at age ten, Pallet Town holds regular Pokémon Camps to ensure they're prepared.

Apparently, these camps happen every six months, and the original Ash had a perfect attendance record. Looking back through my memories, I have a vague recollection of meeting a girl who was likely Serena.

Honestly, it's not like you can catch Pokémon at these camps, and I've already triggered the necessary "flags," so I don't feel a strong need to go. However, if I stop doing "Ash-like" things entirely, Mom will just worry more. I decided to sign up for the camp happening in six months.

***

Age 9, April 19 — "Eeveelutions are Common Knowledge, Right?"

I went to help out at Professor Oak's Lab today—part of my new routine—and met a beautiful young woman I didn't recognize.

As it turns out, she's Gary's older sister, Daisy Oak. She's the one who gives you the Town Map in the games, but she never existed in the anime. Between her and the mechanics of moves, it's clear this world isn't a carbon copy of the show. That might change my plans. I'll have to think on it.

While I was lost in thought, Gary showed up. I gave him a casual wave, but he kept his distance, looking uncomfortable. I guess I bullied him a bit too much last time. The adults looked confused by the awkward tension between us, but I ignored it.

Daisy is currently traveling as a Pokémon Coordinator and just happened to be visiting Pallet Town. When I asked to see her team, she let out Chansey, Clefairy, and Eevee. She also has a Lapras, Arcanine, and Nidoqueen, but they're too big to bring out indoors. Bummer.

She explained that she raises them for Contests: Arcanine for Coolness, Chansey for Beauty, Clefairy and Eevee for Cuteness, Lapras for Cleverness, and Nidoqueen for Toughness. Since Contests often feature Double Battles, she trains multiple Pokémon even for the same category.

As a thank-you for the information, I told her about Eevee's evolutions.

Daisy and Gary were stunned, but even Professor Oak looked shocked. Apparently, Eevee's evolution is still a major field of research here. While they knew about Evolutionary Stones and Friendship, the specific timing and move requirements for certain forms hadn't been discovered yet.

Well, Sylveon's requirements vary between games (Affection vs. Friendship), but looking at the bond between Daisy and her Eevee, it's only a matter of time.

After I finished my explanation, Professor Oak looked at me suspiciously. "Ash... where on earth did you learn all that?"

"Some guy I met at camp told me," I lied. There's no way he'd believe the truth, and drawing more attention to myself would just be a headache.

The Professor still looked skeptical, but Daisy interrupted by asking, "What kind of Pokémon is Sylveon?" That pulled his attention away. Nice save, Daisy.

The Professor explained that while Sylveon had been sighted, there was zero data on it. They suspected a connection because of its resemblance to Eevee, but the evolution method was a total mystery. He showed her a photo, and Daisy went into a frenzy of excitement.

She was determined to evolve her Eevee into Sylveon right then and there, but her Eevee didn't know any Fairy-type moves like Baby-Doll Eyes or Charm. In the games, they learn them by leveling up, but in this world, maybe they have to be consciously taught. That would explain why Sylveon is so rare and why people keep evolving Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon by mistake.

Taking the opportunity, Daisy decided to use her Clefairy's help to teach Eevee some Fairy moves.

I don't know if the evolution happened before she left Pallet Town, but I heard later that Professor Oak submitted a new research paper on Eeveelutions to the Academy. I didn't mean anything by it, but I gave the Professor a long, silent stare. A few days later, he offered to introduce me to Lance of the Kanto Elite Four.

Score!

Chapter Text

While regaining the memories of my previous life has made me more mature, it hasn't changed my dreams.

Naturally, I still intend to become a Pokémon Master. To someone like me, the chance to meet a member of the Elite Four is incredibly precious. Especially someone like Lance—to a fan, he's a legend, famous for that terrifying Dragonite and its devastating Hyper Beam. It's only natural for someone with my background to be excited.

Age 9, April 23 — "The Red Hat Guy is Totally Stealing My Look"

I did some digging to see if Lance was the current Kanto Champion, assuming this might be the world of the anime, but the name that came up was a boy named Red. So, we're following the game lore here.

Upon closer inspection, it seems "Red" is more of a nickname, and very few people know his true identity. People started calling him that because of his signature red hat and clothes. Apparently, he has zero interest in anything but battling; Lance handles almost all the administrative duties of the Champion.

In fact, Red even delegates most title matches to Lance unless the challenger really piques his interest. For all intents and purposes, Lance is the one running the show. The reports say Red is a man of few words who spends most of his time training deep within Mt. Silver.

By the way, getting into the heart of Mt. Silver in this world requires a incredibly strict screening process. If I want to meet this Red, my only real path is to win the Indigo Plateau Conference and enter the Champion League.

Age 9, May 3 — "Dragonite, Hyper Beam!"

It was a long wait, but I finally got to meet Lance today. Gary came along, but he was unusually quiet for once—he seemed completely starstruck.

I was surprised to learn Lance is only sixteen. He's incredibly young for his position. He showed us his partner, Dragonite, and the Pokémon had an aura entirely different from anything I've seen at the lab or around Pallet Town. It had the presence of a true, battle-hardened veteran.

I took the opportunity to grill him on everything I've ever wanted to know: the nuances of battle that games and anime never explain, Pokémon nutrition, and advanced move applications. At first, Gary tried to chime in with his own questions, but I was firing them off like a machine gun. Before long, he just gave up and stood there like a silent wall.

Lance seemed taken aback that a kid who wasn't even a Trainer yet possessed such a relentless drive, but he answered everything with patience and detail.

The most fascinating thing he shared was a hypothesis that every Trainer has a specific "affinity" for certain types. To put it in terms of my past life—like Nen from Hunter x Hunter—humans might be born with types they are naturally better at raising.

This hasn't been scientifically proven, but statistical data shows that many Specialists, like Gym Leaders and the Elite Four, gravitate toward one type for a reason. Lance himself has a natural affinity for Dragon and Flying types. It makes sense why he uses Aerodactyl, Gyarados, and Charizard—none of them are Dragon-types, but they all share that Flying-type affinity.

Looking back at the Ash from the anime, his Flying-types always seemed to reach their final evolutions. Maybe his affinity is Flying? Conversely, I'd bet his worst affinity is Water. Out of all the Water-types he caught, only Kingler and Greninja ever fully evolved; the rest stayed in their base forms. Having a bad affinity with Water... yeah, that sounds about right.

Lance said you start to feel it intuitively as you raise them, but the most successful Trainers are almost always those whose "internal type" matches their Pokémon. However, there are rare anomalies who can dominate regardless of type—and Red is exactly that kind of Trainer. Lance noted that Red brings out different types at consistently high levels, making him a nightmare to prepare for.

Lance clearly respects Red, but he isn't content with losing. He declared that he plans to take the throne soon. Hearing that kind of resolve made us want to cheer for him. We both shouted, "Good luck!" I think next year's League matches are going to be a blast to watch.

Age 9, May 4 — "The Reason I Chose to Get Stronger"

The insights I gained from Lance were even better than I expected. My past-life knowledge was limited to turn-based game mechanics, and the original Ash only knew what he saw on TV. Lance's expertise bridged those gaps perfectly.

Lance said one thing that stuck with me: Pokémon are free.

The Ash I remember from the anime thrived on that freedom. He'd win matches with outside-the-box thinking—burning the field to clear hazards or creating "Counter Shields." Lance's point was that I shouldn't become a "cookie-cutter" Trainer, and it reminded me of something I had almost forgotten in my quest to be "New Ash."

I realized that as I am now, I wouldn't even be able to beat the original Ash. If I'm going to use the power of Pokémon, I have to take responsibility for it.

Lance mentioned that he and Bruno of the Elite Four train their own bodies daily just to keep up with their Pokémon's movements. If I don't master the "Pallet Power" flowing through my veins, I won't survive the battles ahead.

I've decided to start attending the dojo on the edge of town tomorrow. They teach something called "Pallet-Style Body Language Arts." I'm going to master it to prepare for the future.

Age 9, May 8 — "Pallet-Style Body Language Arts, also known as the Pallet Divine Fist"

Apparently, the people of Pallet Town have special cells called "Pallet Cells." By tapping into them, we can exert strength far beyond that of a normal human.

It makes sense. In the anime, Ash occasionally performed feats that were definitely not human, and there were those hints about him having a special "Aura." I don't know much about Aura yet, but if I can control these Pallet Cells, I'll be able to pull off those "Super Ash" moves myself.

The Dojo Master told me that if I master the art, I'll have speed faster than a car, power that can shatter iron, the toughness to shrug off falling boulders, and enough stamina to run for a full day. I'd basically be able to hold my own against a Pokémon.

Perfect. That's exactly what I need.

I'm going to go every day until I leave on my journey. The Master seemed lonely since he didn't have any other students, so as his "Number One Disciple," I'm going to master the Pallet Divine Fist.

Age 9, May 9 — "Why Does Ash Keep Releasing His Pokémon?"

I am New Ash. I have no intention of following the exact path of my predecessor.

That means I'm going to catch Pokémon other than the ones he had, and I have zero intention of releasing them. I honestly can't wrap my head around why the original Ash let so many go. It might make for "good television," but a Trainer's job is to take responsibility and raise their Pokémon to the end. Give me back my Pidgeot!

In the anime, he usually stuck to a fixed team per region, which is a massive waste of experience points. In my past life, I was the type to rotate and train everyone equally, like Gary. I'll be swapping my team members regularly and bringing them with me to new regions. Since people like Daisy Oak and Red exist here, this clearly isn't a 100% faithful "anime world," so there's no guarantee things will play out the same way anyway.

Which brings me to my first Pokémon. Does it have to be Pikachu?

The "Pikachu" from the show was disobedient at first and his power level fluctuated wildly between seasons. While he was tougher than a standard Pikachu, there's no guarantee the one I get will be the same. Generally speaking, Pikachu are fragile.

I'd consider it if it evolved into Raichu, but "Pika-pal" had that weird obsession with staying unevolved and out of its Poké Ball. It might be better for my long-term goals to just pick one of the traditional Starters.

Then again, if things do follow the script, there are Pokémon I definitely want—the other Starters, "Ash-Greninja," Dragonite, Lucario... the list goes on. I shouldn't jump to any hasty conclusions.

Age 9, May 12 — "Apparently, It Was Half a Poké Ball"

I've been alternating between the lab and the dojo every day, so Mom eventually told me, "Why don't you go fishing for a change?"

Honestly, the lab is great for bonding with Pokémon and the dojo is exciting because I can feel myself getting stronger, so her "advice" felt more like a chore. But I didn't want to worry her, so I took a day off to hit the water.

While I was struggling with the rod, Gary showed up and started fishing nearby. It seems my "knowledge bomb" really did traumatize him; he didn't talk any trash. We just sat there in a comfortable silence, chatting occasionally.

I wish I could say it was just a nice memory, but then I realized: this was the "Half a Poké Ball" incident from the original story.

I had completely forgotten about it. I actually fished up the broken ball and told Gary, "I don't need this junk," and handed the whole thing to him. It was only after I gave it away that I remembered the "rival's bond" plot point. I couldn't exactly ask for half of it back now.

As I was worrying about it, Gary yelled, "I never thought the day would come when I'd be taking charity from you!" and threw the ball back at me.

I didn't quite get why he was so mad, but I didn't want the whole thing either. I managed to break it clean in half and pushed one side onto him, making up some excuse about it being a "symbol of our rivalry."

"Fine! I'll accept you as my rival, Ash!"

He actually bought it and went home clutching his half of the Poké Ball. That was a close one, but I'm glad I managed to keep that piece of the original story intact.

Chapter Text

Age 9, October 6 — "Apparently, I've Got Talent"

It's been about six months since I started this diary. It turns out I'm more diligent than I thought; I haven't missed a single day yet.

My physical training is progressing just as well. Lately, my "Pallet heritage" has started to manifest. Even I'm surprised by the kind of power I can put out—certainly not what you'd expect from a kid. It's been an absolute blast watching my progress.

Tomorrow is the final Pokémon Camp before I officially begin my journey. However, because I've spent so much time helping out at the lab, Professor Oak asked me to join as part of the staff instead of a camper. Why me?

Age 9, October 7 — "I'm Gonna Eat You Whole!"

The first day of camp.

While handling the tasks the Professor assigned me, I looked over the new batch of kids and noticed Gary was also working as staff. Since our "fishing incident," Gary has changed. He's much more mature, reminiscent of how he acted in the later seasons of the anime. He's shed that arrogant skin; talking to him isn't a chore anymore.

It feels like I've completely derailed the original timeline, but then again, since I became "New Ash," there is no "original timeline" to follow. I shouldn't sweat it.

As I worked behind the scenes, I overheard one of the kids lecturing everyone about Pokémon with an insufferable, high-and-mighty attitude. He reminded me so much of the old Gary that it touched a nerve.

I couldn't help it—I hit him with a "knowledge bomb" that left him utterly crushed. Gary, watching from the side, seemed to have a localized flashback to his own trauma and immediately backed away. Hey, don't run from me!

The kid was trembling with frustration, which was immensely satisfying until Professor Oak scolded me for "bullying" a child. Look, Professor, I'm technically a kid too.

"You and Gary are special cases," the Professor sighed. "Why do you think I put you on the staff side in the first place?"

Apparently, he realized my demeanor would just make me an outlier among the other children, so putting me on the organizing side was his way of being considerate. When the campers heard that, they looked shocked, but after hearing my lecture, their eyes turned to pure respect. Even the brat from earlier came crawling back, calling me "Big Brother Ash." It didn't feel half bad. Since Ash is an only child, it felt a bit like having a younger brother.

Age 9, October 10 — "He Did It Again"

Now that Gary has matured, we actually get along pretty well. We both have an academic streak when it comes to Pokémon, and our discussions can get pretty intense. Unfortunately, I let too much slip during one of our debates, and the Professor ended up submitting another research paper to the Academy.

Even Gary gave the Professor a deadpan stare this time. I just stared at him in silence. Sensing the judgment, the Professor somehow produced tickets for the Red vs. Lance match at the Indigo Plateau next year. Score!

"...I guess this explains how I got to meet Lance before."

Age 10, December 2 — "Final Stages of Training"

Winter has arrived. My journey begins in about three and a half months.

As for my training, I've completely mastered the basics. My Master told me that we'll begin the "Secret Techniques" tomorrow. The Pallet-Style Body Language Arts are finally entering the final stage.

With my preparations for the journey going smoothly, I've reached a final conclusion. I am Ash. That is a fact. But worrying about the anime script is pointless. Gary is already different, so I'm going to do whatever I want. If you think about it, the original Ash didn't win a major league for over twenty years. If I do the exact same things he did, I won't win either.

Instead, I'm going to use my past-life knowledge to its full potential. I'm Ash of Pallet Town, but I'm New Ash. I don't need to follow the anime to the letter. I'll take the best parts and ignore the rest. I won't be releasing my Pokémon, and I'm definitely going to use high-tier, competitive picks.

Age 10, February 21 — "Indigo Plateau: Kanto Champion League"

The day of the match between the Champion and Lance is finally here. Professor Oak had an emergency and couldn't make it, so Mom came along as our chaperone. Our group consisted of Gary, Daisy, Mom, and me.

Daisy actually came back home just for this. I thought she only cared about Contests, so it was a surprise to see her so invested in a battle. Our seats were incredible—apparently, these tickets go for 15,000 Yen a piece.

According to the program, both the Champion and Lance are currently undefeated. This match will decide the new Champion. When I asked Gary who he thought would win, he looked torn. "Emotionally, I want Lance to win, but the Champion's strength is on another level..."

After some small talk, the lights dimmed. The arena erupted as Lance entered the field under a rainbow of spotlights and pyrotechnics. It was spectacular. Even though I claim to be a mature adult, I couldn't help but scream, "YEAAAAHHHH!"

Then came the Champion. Unlike Lance's flashy entrance, the Champion arrived in total silence. A single spotlight followed him as the sound of his footsteps echoed through the stadium. No performance, no flair—just pure, overwhelming presence.

I couldn't hear what they were saying to each other from our seats, but Lance's intensity was palpable even from here. Both of them took their stances, Poké Balls in hand. A heavy tension settled over the crowd, and for a moment, the stadium was dead silent. Then, the signal sounded, and they both threw their first balls simultaneously.

(The battle was long and legendary, so I'll skip the play-by-play.)

It was an incredible match. Red is truly in a league of his own. Lance fought like a demon, but Red's fourth Pokémon, Blastoise, was simply too powerful. Once it hit the field, the match turned into a one-sided slaughter.

It was a shame because it started so evenly, but I saw some fascinating things. Specifically, when Lance's Aerodactyl used Supersonic, Red's Pikachu negated the sound waves using the crackling noise of its own Thunderbolt. I didn't think that was possible, but Gary explained that sound-based moves lose effectiveness over distance, and the Champion must have calculated that the electrical interference would be enough to disrupt it.

I guess in this world, anything goes. I need to make sure I don't get trapped by "common sense."

Age 10, March 19 — "I Won. You Tried, Though."

Back to the routine: the lab, then the dojo. My journey starts in about a week.

The three Starter Pokémon for new Trainers arrived a month ago. Since I've been helping take care of them, I've decided I'd much rather take Charmander than a Pikachu. Charmander is just top-tier. Ash's Charizard was great, but he was such a pain to deal with after he evolved. I'll do it better.

Wait, if there's only one week left, why haven't I seen a Pikachu around the lab? Even if it's a backup, you'd usually have it ready by now.

Anyway, today was my final spar with the Master. I mastered the Secret Techniques a month ago and already received my teaching license, but he wanted one last match to gauge my full strength. Since I haven't had anyone to compare myself to, I wasn't sure how strong I actually was.

The result: I won. I think I might have become a bit too strong.

Age 10, March 22 — "The Old Man Screwed Up"

Three days left. The Professor is panicking. He definitely forgot that he was one Pokémon short for the new Trainers. He's been so buried in research lately that he left all the Pokémon care to me.

He'll probably try to catch something local at the last minute. Since there's no time to domesticate it for a beginner, it's almost certainly going to be a wild Pikachu, just like the anime. If he tries to foist a disobedient Pikachu on me, I'm going to make his life difficult.

Age 10, March 24 — "Zzzzz..."

One day left. Okay, I'm actually getting nervous. I can't sleep.

No, stay calm. This is what the training was for.

Regulate the breathing.

Release the tension.

Clear the mind.

Find peace...

...And I'm out.

Age 10, April 1 — "Pallet Town Journey: Day One (Part 1)"

I woke up on time, no oversleeping. Mom and I packed everything yesterday, so all that was left was the goodbye. "Do your best, Ash!" she called out as I headed for the lab.

The gates were still closed when I arrived. I guess I'm a bit early. As I waited, Gary showed up. "You're early, Ash," he noted. It wasn't that early, but whatever.

We chatted for about ten minutes until two other kids showed up—a boy and a girl. They aren't in the original anime; Ash only vaguely recognizes their faces. The boy looks overconfident, and the girl has a nice smile.

"I see everyone is here."

The Professor finally appeared just as they joined us. About time! I'm ready to get this show on the road.

Or so I thought. The old man actually had the nerve to ask me to take a Pikachu. I was half-tempted to show him a Pallet-Style Secret Technique right then and there.

Sensing my murderous intent, he started making excuses. "Wait, wait! There's a reason for this!" It was exactly what I expected: he forgot to prepare enough Pokémon. The Pikachu he caught isn't used to humans yet, making it too dangerous for a complete novice. Since I'm "experienced," he wants me to handle it.

Are you kidding me? I was the first one here and my only option is the leftovers? Not a chance.

I reached for the Poké Ball containing Charmander, but the Professor actually bowed his head. "Please, Ash, I'm begging you."

Look, an old man's apology isn't worth much to me. If you want me to do this, you'd better have something to offer in return. If the price is right, I'll take the Pikachu.

"W-what do you want?"

"If I take the Pikachu, I want a Technical Record for Surf."

I know this world has TMs and TRs. A Pikachu that can use Surf is a different story entirely; I can work with that. If not, I'm taking Charmander.

"Mmm... a TR is a rare item! They're much harder to produce than TMs. You know that, don't you?"

So? If it's too hard, I'm taking the fire lizard. Oh, I wonder what the Pokémon Education Board would think if they heard about this little mix-up?

I wasn't going to budge. This was his mess to clean up.

"Ugh... fine. I'll get it for you. Give me a month. I'll have it delivered to whichever town you're in. Is that fair?"

"No. One week."

"One week?! That's impossible!"

"Then I'm taking Charmander!"

"Ggh... Fine! One week!!"

He has the connections to make it happen; despite being a senile old man, he's still a world authority. I'll let him slide on the "Professor" title for now if I get a Surfing Pikachu out of it. Besides, if things go like the original story, I'll have a chance to get a Charmander later anyway.

With our negotiation settled, Gary stepped up. He chose Squirtle without hesitation—likely influenced by seeing Red's Blastoise at the League match. When I glanced at him, he looked away, blushing. Definitely influenced.

The girl took Bulbasaur, and the boy took Charmander. (Sorry, Charmander, those two usually drop out halfway through the story.)

Now, for my meeting with Pikachu. I put on the rubber gloves I'd borrowed from the lab and tossed the Poké Ball. Pikachu emerged, looked around for a split second, and locked eyes with me.

Yo, Pika-pal. I'm New Ash, your new Trainer. Let's make this work.

Chapter Text

Age 10, April 1 — "Pallet Town Journey: Day One (Part 2)"

I finally met Pikachu, but as expected, he's totally uncooperative.

It's not like he's just randomly blasting me with electricity, but he charges up the moment I try to touch him. When I actually reached out, he hit me with a Thundershock. Thanks to my rubber gloves, I was fine, but at this rate, we aren't going to be friends anytime soon.

In the anime, Ash couldn't get Pikachu back into his Poké Ball, but it seems like that was mostly because he didn't know how to use the ball properly. When I aimed the recall beam at him, he went inside without a fight.

I grabbed my Pokédex and extra Poké Balls from the Professor and hit the road, but I can't exactly defend myself if my only Pokémon won't fight. I stopped just outside Pallet Town to have a heart-to-heart with him. Gary and the others are already long gone, but that's fine. I've got my own pace to keep.

"Pikachu. Let's have a serious talk."

He tried to avoid eye contact, so I forced him to look at me. He resisted with a Thundershock, but I let him vent his frustration into my gloves until he ran out of juice. Once he realized I wasn't backing down, he finally went quiet and stared at me, waiting to see what I'd do.

"You don't like me. That means you want to go back to the wild, right?"

"Pika."

He nodded. Alright, time to negotiate. I'm not interested in forcing a partner who hates me to tag along.

"Pikachu, here's the deal. Help me catch just one Pokémon. Once I have a teammate who actually listens, I'll let you handle the rest of the fights from the sidelines. As soon as we reach Viridian City, I'll call Professor Oak and tell him to set you free. You'll be back in the wild, and I'll get a new Starter. Deal?"

There's no point in demanding obedience without offering an incentive. If he sees a benefit for himself, he'll endure the trip. If he really wants out, I'll just get one of the traditional Starters once we reach the city.

"Pika-pika?"

"Yeah, I mean it. If you really want out, I won't even make you stay in the Poké Ball until we get to Viridian."

He looked at me with a hint of suspicion, then finally nodded. "Pika."

Contract established. Now, who to catch? Around here, the options are mostly Pidgey and Rattata. I don't particularly need either, but Pidgey is the better utility pick. Flying-types are great for scouting if I ever get lost.

"It's decided. We're catching a Pidgey. Then you're free."

"Pika-pika!"

Motivated by the prospect of freedom, Pikachu started scanning the tall grass. Ironically, the moment we actually started looking for one, they were nowhere to be found. We circled the area for a bit with no luck, so we kept moving forward. True to his word, Pikachu followed along without complaining.

Eventually, we spotted a Pidgey near a tree. Pikachu stepped forward, eyes narrowed. I told him to hold back so he wouldn't accidentally KO it, then ordered a Thundershock. It was a direct hit. The Pidgey went down instantly, and I let fly with a perfect major-league pitch.

Click. One Pidgey, successfully caught.

Technically, my contract with Pikachu was fulfilled. However, since I need to talk to the Professor to officially "release" him, I asked him to stick with me until the City. He agreed—acting like a bodyguard who's just counting down the minutes until his shift ends. I let Pidgey out and asked it to lead the way.

"Pidgey, glad to have you on the team. You feeling okay?"

It gave a spirited cry, so I had it fly point. We ran into a Rattata that tried to pick a fight, but there's no way a ground-bound Pokémon is beating a Pidgey that can just stay out of reach. We only know Tackle right now, but using "hit-and-run" tactics from the air, we took it down without taking a scratch.

See? Strategy makes all the difference. Meanwhile, Pikachu was in the back, yawning.

After a few more wild encounters, a Spearow appeared. In the anime, this was the trigger for the flock attack, but in a one-on-one fight, they usually don't call for backup unless they're desperate. Since it was another Flying-type, this was a harder fight for Pidgey.

Pidgey had just learned Sand Attack, but Spearow has the Keen Eye ability, so its accuracy wouldn't drop. It came down to a war of attrition with Tackle. I kept a close eye on the HP trade, and eventually, Pidgey landed a critical hit that sent the Spearow spiraling into the grass. Victory.

I looked over at the fallen Spearow. It was looking back at me with teary, resentful eyes. Wait... I've seen this look before.

***

Age 10, April 1 (Evening) — "Viridian City: The Journey Begins (Part 3)"

I can't believe how closely the "script" followed me.

Seriously, Spearow—don't call your whole squad just because you lost a fair fight. That's like calling your parents because you lost a playground scuffle. Have some dignity.

Long story short: the flock attacked, Pikachu was outside his ball and got absolutely pummeled, and I didn't have time to recall him. I scooped up my unconscious partner, dove into a waterfall, "borrowed" a bike from a girl who was definitely Misty, and pedaled for my life. In the end, it took a massive Thunder from Pikachu—channeled through a lightning strike—to blast the flock away.

I was honestly considering using a Pallet-Style Secret Technique to punch them all out, but I'm glad we found a less "superhuman" solution.

Even though I didn't jump in front of the beaks as heroically as the original Ash, I think Pikachu appreciated that I didn't just leave him behind. We've reached the Viridian City Pokémon Center, and I'm writing this while he recovers.

Oh, and I saw Ho-Oh. No Rainbow Wing, though. Total bummer.

Pikachu is currently being treated, and I am currently being screamed at by the girl whose bike I wrecked. She is way angrier than I expected. I can't even get a "sorry" in edgewise. My bad, girl, it was a life-or-death situation!

As she was yelling, Pikachu was wheeled out of the treatment room. I called a "timeout" and went to check on him with Nurse Joy. Misty isn't a total monster; seeing how beat-up Pikachu was, she told me to focus on him for now. Misty really is a good person at heart.

Just as I was feeling moved by her "big sister" energy, the alarms went off. Team Rocket had arrived.

I forgot this was their debut. Honestly, seeing a talking Meowth in person is wild—I almost want to catch him. Their motto is just as flashy as I remembered. I love these guys.

That said, I'm not handing over Pikachu. I sent out Pidgey to intercept. It actually learned Gust during the Spearow chaos, so it's holding its own, but we're outnumbered by Koffing, Ekans, and Meowth. Plus, being indoors means we can't use the ceiling to our advantage.

Misty, seeing me struggle, jumped in with her Staryu. I have to admit, she's got the skills of a Gym Leader. Between Pidgey and Staryu, we managed to send Team Rocket packing.

Wait, in the anime, Pikachu was the one who blasted them. Since he stayed asleep this time, I wonder if they'll even bother following us?

***

Age 10, April 2 — "Into Viridian Forest: The Budget Vivillon, Butterfree"

Misty is officially following me until I pay for her bike. We're heading into Viridian Forest now.

Pikachu is back at 100%. After the Spearow incident, he seems to have taken a liking to me. The deal to release him is off the table; he's actually listening to my commands now. Great success. He still refuses to stay in the Poké Ball, though.

At least the Pokémon Center didn't explode this time. Next stop: Pewter City.

We were walking through the forest when Misty spotted a Caterpie and started losing her mind. Looking at the little bug, I debated whether to catch it. Even if I evolve it into Butterfree, the "original" story says I have to let it go eventually. Still, Compound Eyes paired with Sleep Powder is a cracked combo, even if it is just a "budget Vivillon." Plus, there's always the possibility of Gigantamaxing later.

I decided that if it could survive a Gust from Pidgey, I'd take it. I initiated the battle.

Caterpie tried to slow us down with String Shot, but Pidgey stayed high and dodged it, retaliating with a long-range Gust. The bug was blown back, but it managed to stand up and glare at us. It's got guts. In the game, that would have been a one-shot, but this little guy is a fighter. I tossed the ball.

Sorry, buddy, but I'm not letting you go to find a girlfriend. You're with me for the long haul.

The moment I caught Caterpie, Pidgey started to glow. Between the Team Rocket fight and the forest encounters, it finally had enough experience.

Pidgey evolved into Pidgeotto!

I technically have the same team as the original Ash now, even if my Pidgeotto is a different individual.

***

Timeline Deviations

Episode 1: I caught a Pidgey early. Because of the extra training, it's already a Pidgeotto and is currently higher level than Pikachu.

Episode 2: Pikachu didn't defeat Team Rocket. Since he didn't show off his "special" power, they might not realize how valuable he is.

Property Damage: The Viridian Pokémon Center is fully intact.

Internal Monologue: I've started thinking of Misty with a bit more respect (even if I don't say it to her face).

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| --------- | ----- | ---------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 10 | Finally listening. Refuses to enter Poké Ball. |

| Pidgeotto | 18 | The MVP. Great at hit-and-run tactics. |

| Caterpie | 3 | New! High potential for status-effect support. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, April 3 — “Viridian Forest: Team Rocket Returns”

I spent the rest of yesterday grinding for experience in Viridian Forest. I took a look at Pikachu’s current move set using the Pokédex, and I was surprised to see how many he actually knows. Beyond just Thunder Shock, he seems to have mastered most of the moves he would naturally learn by this level.

I’ve decided on a core rotation of Thunder Shock, Nasty Plot, Double Team, and Quick Attack. He also knows Double Kick, which is a huge asset; I’ll swap that in whenever the situation calls for it.

Pidgeotto has been busy too. Since evolving, he’s picked up Quick Attack and Whirlwind. In the games, Whirlwind just ends wild encounters or forces a switch, but in this world, it’s incredibly effective at breaking an opponent’s stance. My current "bread and butter" combo for Pidgeotto is using Whirlwind to create an opening, following up with a Quick Attackor Gust for a hit-and-run strike, and then using Whirlwind again to reset the distance.

Caterpie was a bit discouraged because Misty kept screaming every time he got near her, but I told him to ignore it and focus on growing. I had him focus on a String Shot and Tackle combo to trap and finish opponents. He’s got a lot of heart; by nightfall, he had already evolved into Metapod. So much for the original timeline—I’m moving way faster than the script.

As we were trekking through the forest, Team Rocket showed up again. They didn’t mention Pikachu being "special" this time; instead, they declared they were after the strong Pokémon I’d trained. Honestly, it’s almost nice to see them. It feels like things are finally getting started.

With three Pokémon on my side now, it turned into a pseudo-3v3 brawl. I was most worried about Metapod, but his Harden move makes him surprisingly tanky against physical hits. He played the support role, using String Shot to slow everyone down while Pidgeotto ran circles around them with hit-and-run tactics. Meanwhile, Pikachu used the other two as a distraction to stack Nasty Plot three times.

Once he was fully set up, he let out a boosted Thunder Shock that sent Team Rocket screaming their signature "We're blasting off again!" into the horizon. Very satisfying.

Age 10, April 4 — “Viridian Forest: The Samurai’s Challenge”

After yesterday’s haul of experience points, I thought Metapod might evolve into Butterfree, but he wasn't quite there yet. We spent the day clearing out more wild encounters.

As we were pushing through the thicket, a boy dressed in full samurai armor challenged me to a battle. This has to be the Samurai from the anime. Judging by his attitude, Gary and the others probably already wiped the floor with him.

He was fuming about "Pallet Town Trainers" and sent out a Pinsir. I sent out Pikachu. In the original story, Ash almost lost because he mismanaged Pidgeotto’s stamina, but Pinsir isn't actually that scary if you fight smart.

Next, he sent out a Metapod, so I sent out mine for a mirror match. He tried the classic "Harden war," but I wasn't going to sit there all day. It took a while to chip away at a Pokémon that couldn't fight back, but we eventually got the win—and that final bit of experience was exactly what my partner needed.

Metapod evolved into Butterfree!

I checked his new moves in the Pokédex: Gust, Confusion, and Supersonic. In the games, he’d usually need a Move Reminder for Supersonic, but in this world, it seems he picked it up naturally upon evolving. That’s a massive win for my utility game.

Because we didn't waste hours staring at each other like the original Ash and Samurai did, we didn't get ambushed by a swarm of Beedrill. I guess that "flag" only triggers if you’re incompetent. Samurai admitted defeat and showed us the quickest way out of the forest. It’s time to head for Pewter City. Misty is definitely over the whole forest-camping thing.

Age 10, April 5 — “From the Forest to Pewter City”

We finally made it out of the forest, but Pewter City is still a bit of a hike. The Pokémon are starting to show some fatigue from all the camping, so I’ve decided to pick up the pace and get us to a real bed.

Age 10, April 6 — “Pewter Gym: Vs. Brock (Part 1)”

We’ve arrived in Pewter City. On the way in, we were accosted by some deadbeat selling rocks named Flint. I happen to know he’s Brock’s father, but honestly, he’s a total loser. Instead of peddling stones, he should go home to his kids. He laughed in my face when I said I was going to challenge the Gym; I almost had to restrain myself from showing him a "Pallet-Style" kick to the shins.

Even Misty was skeptical. "There's no way you can beat the Pewter Gym Leader, Brock," she told me. You guys are seriously underestimating New Ash.

Sure, the original Ash was a reckless kid, but I’ve got this handled. I’ve already planned my counter-measures. I’m just waiting for that Surf TR to arrive from the Professor!

I know I’m at a type disadvantage with Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and Butterfree, but I’m not an idiot. I called the Professor earlier, and he said the Surf record just arrived. It should be in my hands in a few days. Once Pikachu learns Surf, this Gym will be a cakewalk.

That said, I went to the Gym anyway just to test the waters. There’s no harm in seeing how I stack up, and who knows? I might get lucky.

When I entered the Pewter Gym, Brock appeared and asked how many badges I had. The Gym system here is a bit different from the anime; it’s closer to the Origins style, where the Leader adjusts their team’s level based on the challenger's experience. He asked for my Trainer Card, so I handed him my Pokédex.

It’s been a week since I left home and I have zero badges, so he knew I was a total rookie. I don't mind being underestimated, though. It just makes the upset more satisfying.

The match was a 2v2. Brock’s first Pokémon was Geodude. Since I have no badges, the level cap was set to 10. Apparently, they use some kind of specialized equipment to temporarily scale a Pokémon's stats down to the appropriate level.

Most of my team is over Level 15, so I figured I could just muscle through with superior stats. I led with Butterfree. Brock looked disappointed, clearly thinking I was a novice who didn't understand type matchups.

I immediately ordered Supersonic. Geodude was confused instantly. Brock’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise as I followed up with Confusion. Even though it’s not a STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move for Butterfree, it did decent damage. Because Geodude was confused, it couldn't mount a counter-attack.

I knew that if it had the Sturdy ability, it would survive any one-hit KO, so I just kept up the pressure with Confusion. Before Geodude could snap out of it, it was down for the count. Brock finally realized I wasn't a standard rookie, but by then, his first Pokémon was already fainted.

"I see... I shouldn't have taken you so lightly," he said, sending out his second Pokémon: Onix.

I tried the same tactic, but Brock is a Gym Leader for a reason. He reacted instantly, ordering a Rock Throw to create a physical barrier and using the sound of the shattering stones to muffle the Supersonic waves.

He followed up with Bind, so I had Butterfree fly higher. Even an Onix has a limit to its reach, and for a moment, it couldn't get to us. Brock switched tactics to Rock Throw, forcing Butterfree to focus entirely on dodging. Eventually, the barrage was too much; Butterfree took a hit and went down.

That left me with Pikachu. Brock was practically radiating confidence now, but I wasn't done.

In the early anime, Pikachu was terrified of Onix. My Pikachu, however, saw how hard his "little brother" Butterfree had fought and hopped onto the field with a spark of determination. I hoped Brock would relax seeing an Electric-type, but he stayed on guard.

The only move Pikachu has that can actually hurt Onix is Double Kick, so I focused on a support strategy first. I used Double Team to make us a hard target and Tail Whip to shred Onix’s defense. Brock tried to end it quickly with Bind, but I focused entirely on evasion.

The plan: lower Onix's defense six times, then strike.

I couldn't dodge everything perfectly, and we almost got caught a few times. Every time Onix got close, I had Pikachu use Double Kick to flinch it, creating just enough of a gap to escape. Brock realized what I was doing and ordered Harden to negate the debuffs, then switched back to Rock Throw for long-range pressure.

With Harden in play, I couldn't lower his defense any further. It was time to commit. Pikachu charged in for a Double Kick. Brock was waiting for it—he ordered a Tackle. Onix’s massive body slammed into Pikachu as a counter-attack, sending him flying.

He was going to be an easy target when he landed, so I shouted for a Double Team in mid-air to confuse Onix's aim. It worked briefly, but Onix eventually found the real one and caught him in a Bind.

In the anime, Electric moves somehow worked on Onix, but I’m not counting on "anime logic" here—Ground-types are immune to electricity, period. As a last resort, I ordered a Sweet Kiss.

Pikachu blew a kiss at the giant rock snake, and Onix’s grip loosened as it became confused. It was the opening I needed. I was about to order the finishing Double Kick—but suddenly, my body felt incredibly heavy. I couldn't even get the words out.

I looked down and saw a swarm of kids—all with faces exactly like Brock’s—clinging to my arms and legs. No wonder I couldn't move!

Apparently, Brock’s siblings couldn't stand to see their brother lose and decided to intervene. I get the sentiment, but that’s a total foul. This happened in the anime too, didn't it?

Brock shouted at them to stop, but they just shook their heads and refused to let go. The atmosphere of the Gym match was completely dead. Since this was just a scouting mission anyway, I decided to call it a day. I’ll come back once I have Surf.

“Return, Pikachu.”

Pikachu looked at me, confused, as if to ask, Are we really quitting?

It’s fine, pal. We basically had him. The real fight starts later. I’ve got the feel for how he plays now, so I’ll let him off the hook for today.

Pikachu seemed to accept that and hopped back over to me. The kids finally let go. Brock looked like he wanted to say something, but I just waved him off. "I’ll be back," I said, and walked out.

It’s an unsatisfying end for Brock, I’m sure, but honestly, I only beat Geodude because I caught him off guard. Winning like this wouldn't have felt right anyway. This was for the best.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 12 | Gained experience from the Gym match. Determined. |

| Pidgeotto | 18 | Current ace. High mobility. |

| Butterfree | 15 | Newly evolved! Great utility with Confusion and Supersonic. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, April 6 — “Pewter Gym: Vs. Brock (Part 2)”

After exiting the Gym following the mess with Brock's siblings, that deadbeat dad of his—Flint—approached me and told me to come with him. I figured I might as well take advantage of his hospitality.

I remembered there was an event in the original story where Pikachu gets powered up at a waterwheel generator. Honestly, it probably won't help much against Brock’s Rock-types, but getting Thunderbolt this early is a massive advantage.

It turns out Flint had been watching the battle. "That was a good fight," he told me. "You might actually win next time." Well, I did have him on the ropes, but that was partly due to the level scaling. I wonder when I’ll be strong enough to face his un-scaled, full-power team.

Seriously though, this guy is such a loser. Just go home to your kids already. He started rambling about Brock’s tragic backstory without me even asking. I only kept my mouth shut and listened because it leads to Pikachu getting stronger; if not for that, I would have punched him out and dragged him back to the Gym myself.

That night, we did the power-up at the waterwheel. Since there was no water flow, it required manual labor to generate power, but you should never underestimate the physical stamina of someone from Pallet Town. I handled the generator like it was nothing.

During the process, Misty tried to tempt me again, saying I’d win easily if I just used her Pokémon. As a Trainer, I find that a bit insulting, so I gave her a polite but firm "no." Besides, my Surf record should be arriving tomorrow or the day after anyway.

Misty got weirdly furious at my refusal. I’m actually a little scared to see her tomorrow.

Age 10, April 7 — “Pewter Gym Rematch: Vs. Brock”

Pikachu successfully mastered Thunderbolt last night, so we headed back to the Pokémon Center to rest. It was late, but Nurse Joy took my Pokémon with a smile. She’s a total saint.

First thing in the morning, the Surf Technical Record arrived from the Professor. It seems he used the "Express Pidgeot" delivery service to get it here in a single day. Lifesaver. I called him immediately to say thanks. Since he actually kept his promise, I decided to upgrade him from "Old Man" back to "Professor."

The Professor mentioned that Gary and the others are already approaching Mt. Moon. Now that I have Surf, I can't afford to waste any more time here. I used the machine at the Center to teach Pikachu the move. Now, it’s time to crush Brock.

With my preparations complete and Pikachu radiating confidence, we headed back to the Pewter Gym. As soon as I walked through the doors, Brock came running toward me. He looks fired up. Good—so am I.

"Ash, I’ve been waiting for you."

Brock held out his hand. Sitting in his palm was the Boulder Badge. Wait, he’s just giving it to me? Why?

"You won yesterday's match," Brock explained. "If my siblings hadn't interfered, Pikachu's attack would have finished it. As a Gym Leader, I can see how well you’ve raised your Pokémon. That’s more than enough reason to grant you the badge. I wanted to give it to you yesterday, but I lost track of you."

Ah, I was with his deadbeat dad. Usually, Trainers go straight to the Pokémon Center after a match, which is where Brock probably looked for me. But I can't just take a badge I didn't technically earn. "Let’s battle for real!"

"The fact that the match didn't conclude was a failure on the Gym's part," Brock countered. "If you were a talentless Trainer, it would be different, but for someone of your caliber, withholding the badge would be an insult to the League."

I groaned. But I just taught Pikachu Surf! It feels like a waste not to use it. "Come on, let’s just fight!"

"No, really, I can't..."

"Oh, for heaven's sake! Why are you being so stubborn when he's literally handing you the win?" Misty had apparently been watching from the shadows and finally stepped in.

"Look," I argued, "yesterday was just a scouting mission. I did a ton of prep for today. I want to fight! Let's battle!"

Misty sighed. "Okay, how about this? Ash, you accept the Boulder Badge as your official win for the circuit. In exchange, Brock, you use your real team—no level scaling—for a showcase match. That way, Ash gets to see what a Gym Leader is truly capable of, and he gets his fight."

Misty, you're a genius. That’s exactly what I want. "Hear that, Brock? Let's battle!"

"If that’s what you really want, I don't mind..."

"Please. I don't think I'll get another chance to fight a serious Gym Leader for a long time."

"Understood. Follow me."

We headed into the Gym. I saw the siblings up in the rafters again, but I stayed on guard just in case they tried to jump in again. Brock operated a console on the wall, and six Poké Balls rose from the floor. That must be his full roster. He picked one. "I’ll use this one. You can use your entire team. Sound fair?"

I nodded. Even with my ego, I know a 3v3 against a Leader's main team would be a suicide mission.

Brock threw his ball, and Onix emerged. But this wasn't the Onix from yesterday. The sheer pressure and aura coming off this thing were on a different level. Pikachu felt it too; he flattened his ears and let out a nervous whimper.

But there’s no point in coming here if we’re just going to run. I gave Pikachu a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry. Show him your new power!" Remembering he had Surf in his arsenal, Pikachu regained his nerve.

"Battle start!" Misty shouted.

Pikachu opened with an immediate Surf. Both Brock and Misty were stunned—they clearly didn't know a Pikachu could do that—but Brock reacted with the instinct of a veteran. He ordered Protect. Onix braced itself, and a shimmering barrier completely neutralized the wave.

Side note: Pikachu’s Surf involves him pulling a surfboard out of nowhere and riding a manifested wave. Is that a Substitute board? I hope it doesn't cost him HP.

Anyway, Pikachu was visibly shaken that his trump card failed. I told him to use Double Team to pull back and reset. Since a frontal assault with Surf was blocked, I had to find a gap.

Brock retaliated with Stone Edge. It’s a move with low accuracy, but in this case, the sheer volume of stones acted like a cluster bomb, systematically shredding Pikachu's illusions one by one.

I needed to create an opening before they were all gone. I ordered Pikachu to use his new Thunderbolt, aiming specifically for Onix’s eyes. Even if Ground-types are immune to the damage, a point-blank electrical discharge is still a blinding flash of light.

I really wish I had the TM for Flash, but I had to work with what I had. As Onix flinched from the light, I called for Surfagain. Protect is a difficult move to time; without clear vision, he wouldn't be able to pull it off.

Given the level gap, a single Surf might not be a one-shot, but it would do massive damage.

"Onix, Earthquake!" Brock commanded.

The ultimate Ground-type weapon. Of course he had it. Onix didn't need to see Pikachu to hit the entire field. The resulting tremor was so violent it broke Pikachu's concentration, and the Surf wave dissipated before it could strike.

Luckily, being "on top" of the wave's energy seemed to cushion the impact, so Pikachu didn't take full damage, but my best strategy was now effectively neutralized. I knew there was a gap between us, but I didn't expect to be completely shut down like this.

Onix's vision was going to return in seconds. With Surf and Double Team countered, I was running out of options. If only I had Grass Knot... but again, wishful thinking.

"Onix, Stealth Rock! Limit his movement!"

Great, now he’s setting up entry hazards. If I switch to Pidgeotto or Butterfree, they’ll take damage just for entering the field. Plus, the floating jagged stones made it much harder for Pikachu to maneuver.

"Onix, Earthquake! Finish this!"

Crap. All or nothing. "Pikachu! Surf!"

I knew the Earthquake would disrupt the wave, but the water would act as a shield to keep Pikachu conscious. As the water cleared, Brock ordered Stone Edge. I had Pikachu use Double Team followed by Thunderbolt to intercept the stones.

Electric moves shouldn't affect Rock/Ground types, but I bet I could use the energy to shatter the physical rocks coming at us. My theory was right, but our power was lacking. The level difference was too high. The Stone Edge tore through the Thunderbolt and started popping the clones. But that was fine—I only needed a split second.

"Pikachu, Sweet Kiss!"

This time, the opening was there. Pikachu managed to reach Onix and blew a kiss. If I could just confuse him, I could spam Surf until—

"Protect!"

...No way.

"Close," Brock said. "Good strategy. If it were my first time seeing it, you might have had me. But using it in our first match gave me the heads-up I needed."

A Gym Leader doesn't fall for the same trick twice. Protect even blocks status moves like Sweet Kiss. Pikachu was left wide open, and Brock didn't hesitate. Onix hit him with a final Earthquake, and Pikachu was out.

"Pikachu is unable to battle!" Misty’s voice echoed through the Gym.

It wasn't just Pikachu; my whole team was effectively done. Brock would have a counter for Butterfree's status moves, and Pidgeotto didn't even have a move that could dent Onix's armor. At our current level, a victory was impossible.

A man has to know when to fight, but a Trainer has to know when to stop before his Pokémon get hurt for nothing. I conceded the match.

I scooped up Pikachu and, after a quick thanks to Brock and Misty, sprinted for the Pokémon Center.

It stung. I didn't expect to win, but I didn't expect to be so thoroughly outplayed either. I knew the level gap was there, but it still hurt. I felt like I had a chance because I had Thunderbolt and Surf, which made the loss even more bitter.

I reached the Center and handed Pikachu over to Nurse Joy. Sorry, pal. If I hadn't showed our hand during the first match, we might have had a shot... no, then I wouldn't have seen his real strength.

As I was brooding over my strategy, the doors opened and Brock walked in. He must have followed me. I realized I still hadn't actually taken the badge.

"You forgot this again."

"Thanks," I said, taking it. Brock sat down next to me and started praising our performance. He said he couldn't believe I’d only been a Trainer for a week and that I’d actually forced him to get serious.

That made me feel a bit better. He was right. I’m still a rookie. If we could push a Gym Leader to use his full power this early, that’s a win in itself. But I’m not staying a loser forever. One day, I’m coming back for a rematch.

I thanked Brock for the match and started asking him about his Onix—how he trained it to be so resilient and how he taught it those high-level moves. Like the original story, Brock is more into breeding and raising than just battling. He beamed while talking about his Pokémon.

He confessed his dream was to become the world's best Pokémon Breeder, but he couldn't leave home because of the Gym and his siblings. Since I know the anime, I already knew the deal.

Right on cue, his deadbeat dad—Flint—showed up and revealed himself. He told Brock he’d take over the Gym and the family so Brock could go follow his dream. With Flint back in the picture, Brock decided to join me on my journey. I officially have a cook for the team!

As I was celebrating our new companion, Misty appeared behind us. "You haven't forgotten about my bike, have you? I'm sticking with you until you pay me back!"

Well, I guess the party is complete.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 14 | Learned Thunderbolt and Surf. Lost to Brock’s main Onix but gained massive experience. |

| Pidgeotto | 19 | Getting close to a breakthrough. |

| Butterfree | 16 | Proved valuable in the first Gym match. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, April 8 — “From Pewter City to Mt. Moon”

We’re making our way from Pewter City to Mt. Moon. The distance is greater than I expected, so it looks like we won’t arrive until tomorrow.

Up until now, I’ve spent a lot of time focused on battling, but Professor Oak mentioned that I’m already falling behind the other three Trainers from Pallet Town. I’ve decided to prioritize travel speed until we hit Cerulean City (though, to an observer, I’m still doing plenty of battling).

While walking, I asked Brock which Pokémon he decided to bring for his journey. He chose the Onix and Geodude I fought in our first match. It makes sense; from the Gym's perspective, it’s much easier to replace low-level Pokémon than it is to find high-level veterans.

Age 10, April 9 — “Mt. Moon: Clefairy and the Moon Stone”

We reached Mt. Moon.

Somehow, I got roped into helping a nerdy guy named Seymour protect a group of Clefairy from Team Rocket. I actually wanted to catch a Clefairy for myself, but Seymour’s nonsensical "hero of justice" act made it impossible to throw a ball without looking like a villain.

On a side note, Brock caught a Zubat somewhere along the way. Seriously, when did he even do that?

Since I was frustrated about missing out on Clefairy, I went ahead and caught a different Pokémon of my own after the whole mess was settled. This has completely derailed the anime’s original timeline, but I suppose it’s far too late to worry about that now.

Age 10, April 10 — “From Mt. Moon to Cerulean: Misty the Runaway”

We finally made it through Mt. Moon.

Cerulean City is only about a day’s walk from here, but Misty has been throwing a total tantrum about not wanting to go. She basically ran away from home, so I guess she’s dreading the awkward reunion. Too bad for her—we’re going anyway.

Age 10, April 11 — “Cerulean City: Vs. Misty”

The moment we stepped into Cerulean City, Misty’s presence just... vanished. I figured she’d turn up at the Gym eventually, so I ignored her and kept walking.

On the way, I saw a crowd gathered around a shop that had been robbed. Officer Jenny immediately tried to pin the crime on me with the same kind of harebrained "logic" she used in the anime.

It was beyond insulting. I pulled out my Pokédex, showed her my Trainer ID, and threatened to sue her for defamation. She apologized pretty quickly, so I let it slide, but that was her one and only warning. This woman is a total klutz. It’s obviously Team Rocket’s handiwork—they were actually diligent about gathering materials for their mechs in the early days.

After that headache, I headed for the Cerulean Gym. Brock said he had some shopping to do, so I told him, “Let’s meet at the Sabaody Archipelago in two years!” and we split up. He seemed to take it literally, shouting, “I don't know where that is!” back at me. Read One Piece, man! Read One Piece!

I got lost for a bit but eventually found the Gym. It doubles as an aquarium and was packed with people, but my timing was terrible. Apparently, Gary and the other two had already swept the place, and the Gym didn't have any healthy Pokémon left to fight with. The sisters tried to just hand me the Cascade Badge without a match, but I’m not interested in a participation trophy. I turned them down flat.

Just as I was about to leave, Misty appeared and revealed her secret: the Cerulean Gym is run by four sisters, and she’s the youngest!

What a shocker! (Not really.)

Misty tried to make a grand entrance, but her sisters immediately started roasting her. Their tongues are absolutely lethal. I can see why she wanted to run away.

Still, if Misty has the authority of a Gym Leader, she’s a perfectly valid opponent. I asked her for a battle. She knows how much I love to fight, so she just laughed and said, “I figured you’d say that.”

Since we’ve been traveling together, she knows exactly where my team stands. She promised to use Pokémon with levels close to my own. She’s a good person at heart. Since I only have one badge, the official level cap for her team should be 20, but she knew that would give me an unfair advantage and make the match boring. We were both sitting around the same level range anyway, which promised a much more exciting fight.

The match was a 2v2. I asked Pikachu if he wanted to go, but just like in the anime, he refused to fight Misty. That left me with Pidgeotto and Butterfree. My new catch is still a total rookie and wouldn't stand a chance against Water-types, so he stayed on the sidelines.

Misty’s first Pokémon was Staryu. Since she was matching my level, it was likely between Level 20 and 25.

I led with Butterfree. Between his status powders, Confusion, and his newly mastered Psybeam and Whirlwind, he’s become a very versatile fighter.

I opened with a Psybeam for some early pressure. Misty countered with Water Gun, but while their levels were similar, Psybeam had more raw power. It tore through the stream of water and nailed Staryu.

I followed up with Sleep Powder. Thanks to his Compound Eyes ability, the move’s accuracy was boosted, and Staryu had no way to dodge. However, just as the powder was about to settle, Misty ordered Staryu to dive. It fell back into the pool just as it fell asleep.

The water must have washed the powder off, because Staryu emerged a moment later, looking completely refreshed. Misty then showed me the true advantage of a Water-type, having Staryu dive back under. Since we couldn't see its position from the surface, I had Butterfree fly higher to stay safe.

After a tense silence, Misty called for Rapid Spin. Staryu came corkscrewing out of the water like a missile. We barely dodged the initial lunge, but it pivoted mid-air and slammed into Butterfree’s back before diving back into the pool.

Crap. If she keeps that up, Butterfree is going to be grounded.

When Staryu lunged again, I had Butterfree use Confusion. It’s weaker than Psybeam, but it allowed us to seize control of Staryu’s momentum. Butterfree slammed the starfish onto a floating platform, and I finished it off with a point-blank Psybeam. Staryu was out.

Misty smiled, clearly impressed. “You’ve gotten strong, Ash...”

Butterfree had only taken one hit, so we were in a good spot—until Misty sent out her second Pokémon: Starmie.

The real deal had arrived.

I asked her if she was using any TM or TR moves. Apparently, Gym Leaders are only allowed to use those against challengers who already have five or more badges. That was good news; it meant her Starmie only knew its natural level-up moves. I still had a chance.

However, Starmie is also a Psychic-type, meaning Butterfree’s Psybeam and Confusion were only half as effective.

While I was debating my next move, Misty called for Power Gem. An Ancient Rock-type move?! That’s super effective!

I tried to intercept it with Psybeam, but Power Gem had too much force behind it. The stones tore through the beam and blasted Butterfree. The damage was massive, and he started to fall, but he managed to stabilize himself just before hitting the water.

I went for a Hail Mary Sleep Powder. Misty countered with a combination of Rapid Spin and Brine. It was a high-speed maneuver that looked exactly like a Blastoise from the peak of Pokémon UNITE. The spinning water neutralized the powder, and the Brine follow-up slammed into Butterfree, knocking him out cold.

Damn, she’s good.

That left me with Pidgeotto. He recently learned Twister, but Dragon-type moves don't do anything special against Water or Psychic types. Pidgeotto is a hit-and-run specialist, but he’s never fought an opponent that can hide underwater. To make matters worse, Rapid Spin had boosted Starmie’s speed. If she landed a Power Gem, we were done.

Pikachu realized I was in a bind and hopped over, looking worried. But I’d already decided I wasn't going to rely on him for this match. I told him I was fine and sent Pidgeotto onto the field. Please, let there be a miracle evolution...

No, focus. I lost my rhythm earlier. Pidgeotto had to win with pure aggression. I ordered a Quick Attack to seize the initiative, but Misty was ready. She had Starmie retreat into the water the moment Pidgeotto closed in.

With no way to strike underwater, our momentum died. Meanwhile, Misty could launch her "Unite combo" from anywhere. It was a massive disadvantage.

Honestly, is this how you treat a rookie with one badge? Isn't this a bit overkill?

I was trying to time a Quick Attack as a counter when Team Rocket crashed the party with some giant machine.

Seriously? Right now?

They started their whole "To protect the world from devastation" routine. Whatever. Their machine was an early model, so I doubted it was shielded against electricity. While they were talking, I had Pikachu use Nasty Plotthree times to max out his Special Attack.

Team Rocket explained that since Water Pokémon need water, they were going to suck the pool dry and then steal the Pokémon. I just wanted to get back to my match, so I had Pikachu blast them with a 3-stack Thunderbolt.

We’re blasting off again! Yeah, yeah. Your timing was terrible.

Unfortunately, the attack was a bit too powerful. The machine exploded, taking a good chunk of the pool with it. My bad. I’ll send the bill to Professor Oak.

With the arena destroyed, the battle was effectively a draw. Misty’s eldest sister tried to just hand me the badge anyway, but I couldn't take it. Misty was even angrier: “I didn't lose! Why are you giving him a badge?!”

“Misty,” the sister said calmly, “the moves you used were not appropriate for a rookie challenger. A Gym Leader’s job is to test a Trainer’s potential, not just to win. Ash showed incredible skill for someone with only one badge. He’s earned the Cascade Badge.”

Misty went quiet. I think she realized that the Rapid Spin/Brine combo was a bit much for a first-badge circuit.

Plus, the sister pointed out that if I had used Pikachu, Misty probably would have lost. Misty seemed to accept that, albeit begrudgingly.

But "New Ash" doesn't accept participation trophies.

I refused. Since the match didn't actually conclude, the badge wasn't mine. I could compromise with Brock because the match was almost over, but with Misty, I was on the verge of losing. I’d be too embarrassed to show my face if I took a pity badge.

We argued back and forth until we reached a compromise: I would hold the Cascade Badge as a "deposit." When we eventually cross paths with Cerulean City again later in my journey, we’ll have a formal rematch. If I lose then, I’ll give the badge back.

The sisters didn't care about getting it back, but I insisted. Misty sighed and called me stubborn, but hey—a man’s gotta have principles.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 15 | Sat out the Gym match. Blasted Team Rocket into orbit. |

| Pidgeotto | 20 | Struggles against aquatic opponents. Needs a new strategy. |

| Butterfree | 18 | Put up a great fight against Staryu. |

| ??? | ?? | A new mystery Pokémon caught at Mt. Moon! |

Chapter Text

Age 10, April 14 — “From Cerulean to Vermilion: A Rookie’s Debut”

It’s been a few days since we left Cerulean City. The trek to Vermilion City is proving to be a long one, and we’re back to camping out every night.

I’m currently on a ten-match winning streak against other Trainers. More importantly, the new recruit I picked up at Mt. Moon has successfully made his debut. I’ll stop being coy: it’s a Rhyhorn. He tried to ambush me near the exit of the caves, so I decided to make him mine.

In the original series, Ash seemed to avoid Ground or Rock-types because Brock already had them, but "New Ash" knows better. Having Brock around means I have a world-class mentor for training those specific types. It was a no-brainer.

My Rhyhorn has the Rock Head ability. I confirmed it when he didn't flinch or take recoil after a physical collision. I’m already looking forward to the day he evolves into Rhyperior.

Age 10, April 15 — “Say No to Pokémon Abuse”

My winning streak has hit twenty. Along the way, we heard about a Trainer named AJ who runs an unofficial Gym, so we went to pay him a visit.

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place the memory, so I just challenged him with Rhyhorn. AJ used a Sandshrew. Since Rhyhorn is Level 20 and just learned Scary Face, I knew we had the edge. Sandshrew didn't have any moves that could seriously dent Rhyhorn’s armor.

The battle went exactly as planned. Sandshrew had the speed advantage, but Rhyhorn’s defense made its attacks feel like tickles. I had Rhyhorn spam Sand Attack and Scary Face early on, completely neutralizing Sandshrew’s mobility and accuracy. Once it was a sitting duck, a few Horn Attacks finished the job.

AJ was devastated. "I... I actually lost?!"

Look, kid, I’ve been meaning to say this: put the whip away. That’s straight-up animal abuse. Train with your heart, not a lash.

Age 10, April 17 — “Crushing the ‘Pokémon Victory Manual’”

A thick mist settled over the trail today, making it impossible to see. While wandering blindly, we stumbled upon a group of students from "Pokémon Tech" bullying a younger kid using "superior academic knowledge."

I love crushing kids who think a few textbooks make them masters.

Just like I did with Gary, I used my competitive-pro knowledge from my past life to absolutely dismantle their logic. They ended up running away in tears. The kid they were bullying looked at me like I was a god.

Seriously though, what a name for a school. Do they expect students to shout, "I learned this at Pokémon Tech!" during a match?

We eventually went inside the school and found a bunch of brats bragging about how strong they were because of their "simulator ranks." They all had titles like "I have the skill level of a Trainer with six badges." It was pathetic. Brats with zero field experience are nothing. I crushed them in real battles, and then just to be petty, I crushed them in their own simulator games too. Did you really think you could beat a former high-rank competitive player? Go back to IV breeding and try again, scrubs!

Age 10, April 19 — “The Bulbasaur of the Hidden Village”

I caught a Bulbasaur.

Honestly, not much changed here; the events played out pretty much like the original story. However, this one has an Adamant nature, which is a nightmare to train for a Special Attacker. To make matters worse, he’s already showing signs of refusing to evolve. If he’d just become a Venusaur, I could work with him, but we’ve got some hurdles to clear first.

Age 10, April 21 — “The Stray Pokémon: Charmander (Part 1)”

We found an abandoned Charmander on a mountain pass.

It’s exactly like the original timeline. I want this Pokémon more than any other. If it weren't for the Professor’s mistake on day one, a Charmander was supposed to be my first partner.

The poor thing is still waiting for its original Trainer, though. No matter how much I want it, it won't come with me yet. I was worried sick, but we eventually had to leave it there and head for a Pokémon Center.

Or at least, that was the plan. My legs wouldn't move.

Misty and Brock literally had to drag me away. I kept promising the empty air that I’d come back for him.

Later, while we were eating dinner at the Center, we overheard a guy bragging about how he’d "dumped" a weak Charmander on the mountain pass. I snapped. I moved faster than even Brock could react, using Pallet-Style Body Language Arts to absolutely pummel the guy.

Nurse Joy tried to stop me, but I didn't even hear her. Brock finally had to put me in a full-nelson to pull me off. By then, the guy’s face was swollen like a Beedrill sting. He deserved every bit of it.

It was pouring rain outside, so we rushed back to save Charmander. When we found him, the flame on his tail was nearly out. He was barely conscious. We rushed him back to the Center, and Nurse Joy laid into me: "How could you leave a Pokémon in this condition?!"

I was so stressed and angry that I snapped back at her. I think I actually scared her. Misty and Brock had never seen me that furious before; honestly, I didn't know I had that kind of rage in me either.

Age 10, April 22 — “The Stray Pokémon: Charmander (Part 2)”

By morning, Charmander was gone. He’d headed back to the mountain pass.

Naturally, we followed. Misty tried to tell me to let it go, but Brock saw the look in my eye and agreed to come along "just to check on him."

Team Rocket tried to ambush us on the way, which only soured my mood further. I was about to send out my whole team to annihilate them when Charmander appeared and saved us. I was ecstatic.

He blasted Team Rocket with a Flamethrower that sent them into orbit. Wait, you already know Flamethrower? You’re a beast!

The fact that he saved me sent my mood skyrocketing. But the original Trainer—the loser I beat up—saw the attack and tried to reclaim him. I gave a passionate speech about how much I respected and wanted to train him, and Charmander chose me. I’ve officially got him. I’m going to make sure he respects me as a Trainer long before he hits his "rebellious Charmeleon phase."

Age 10, April 24 — “Enter the Squirtle Squad (Part 1)”

I never thought I’d be reenacting Run, Melos! in this world.

The Squirtle Squad appeared—the ones with the black sunglasses—and ended up capturing us. Pikachu got hurt in the scuffle and needed medicine immediately.

I needed to get to town, but the Squirtles—all abandoned by their Trainers—didn't trust humans. They wouldn't let me go. I looked at the lead Squirtle and said, "If I don't return, I’ll leave Misty’s soul here as my hostage! She's my Selinuntius!"

The Squirtle seemed moved by the drama and untied me.

"Why are you gambling with my soul?! Who even is Selinuntius?!" Misty screamed as I sprinted away toward the town.

I hit some bad luck—a bridge was washed out—but I made it to the town by evening and got the medicine. If I head back now, I’ll reach them by nightfall. I have to take the long way because of the bridge, but unlike the Ash in the anime, I’m not going to fall asleep and mess this up. I’ll be back before Team Rocket even shows their faces.

Age 10, May 1 — “Enter the Squirtle Squad (Part 2)”

I don't get it. It wasn't even raining, but the river suddenly flooded. It felt like the universe was forcing me to be Melos.

The detour was a nightmare, and I stumbled right into a territorial war between a pack of Arbok and Nidoran. I half expected water to start gushing out of the rocks next.

In the end, I arrived at almost the exact same time Ash did in the anime. But it turns out the "hostage" situation was a sham anyway; by the time I got back, Misty and Brock had already been released. The Squirtle Squad "pranks people but doesn't do crime," or so they claimed with smug looks on their faces.

The rest went according to script: Team Rocket attacked with bombs, I saved a Squirtle that got left behind, and it took a liking to me. But before I officially caught him, I had to clarify one thing: "Listen, Squirtle. Those Black Glasses boost the power of Dark-type moves. For you, that only helps with Bite. You might want to look into a Mystic Water instead."

Age 10, May 2 — “To Vermilion: Bye-Bye Butterfree”

With Squirtle joining the team, I hit the seven-Pokémon limit. I decided to send Butterfree back to the Professor. Sorry, buddy, I’ll swap you back in periodically, but having two Flying-types is a redundant weakness, and Pidgeotto still needs to evolve. I’m prioritizing his growth for now.

Age 10, May 4 — “Bill’s Lighthouse (Part 1)”

I caught a Krabby near Bill’s lighthouse.

He is... incredibly small. Like, tiny.

I know he’s got potential, but my main Starters are all rescues who need some serious bonding time to get over their trust issues with humans. I still need to level up Rhyhorn and Pidgeotto too, so I made the hard choice and sent Krabby to the lab. The Starters are going to be my fixed roster for a while.

Wait, if Bill’s lighthouse is here, that means we’re back near Cerulean City.

We got lost and backtracked. Hard.

I’m staying at the lighthouse tonight, but since we’re so close, I might as well head back to Cerulean tomorrow.

Age 10, May 5 — “Bill’s Lighthouse (Part 2)”

Last night, a Dragonite the size of a skyscraper appeared at the lighthouse. It fled after being hit by Team Rocket’s missiles.

Wait... was that a Dynamax Pokémon?

This is Kanto, so there shouldn't be any Galar Particles around, but there’s no other explanation for a Pokémon that big. Bill seems convinced it’s a one-of-a-kind legendary, so I kept my mouth shut. No need to ruin the man’s dream.

Since we are indeed north of Cerulean, we decided to head back. Misty’s sisters were speechless when they saw us crawl back in looking like we’d been through a war, but once I explained we got lost, they were nice enough to give me a Town Map with the route to Vermilion clearly marked.

Wait, Vermilion is south. Brock, you were leading us in the complete opposite direction!

Regardless, since we’re here a bit earlier than my "rematch" plan, I’ve decided to go through with the formal Gym battle I promised Misty’s sisters. I’m going to win that Cascade Badge for real, and then we’re heading for Vermilion City.

Timeline Deviations

• New Catch: Caught a Rhyhorn at Mt. Moon. Named "Big O" in my head.

• Pro-Gamer Status: Ash is much more aggressive about seeking out battles and using meta-knowledge.

• AJ (Episode 8): Crushed AJ's winning streak with Rhyhorn. No Team Rocket intervention.

• Pokémon Tech (Episode 9): Ash humiliated the students with superior game theory and real-world combat.

• Damian (Episode 11): Ash physically assaulted Damian for abusing Charmander. Damian appeared later with a face full of bandages.

• Squirtle Squad (Episode 12): Ash literally used the plot of Run, Melos! to secure the medicine.

• Team Rotation: Sent Butterfree to the lab early to focus on Rhyhorn and the Starters.

• Backtracking: The group got lost and ended up back at the Cerulean Gym for an official rematch.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 25 | Powerful, but sat out some training to let the others catch up. |

| Pidgeotto | 24 | The reliable aerial veteran. |

| Rhyhorn | 22 | New! High physical power and defense. |

| Bulbasaur | 21 | New! Adamant nature; stubborn about evolving. |

| Charmander | 20 | New! Knows Flamethrower already. High potential. |

| Squirtle | 19 | New! The “Melos” survivor. |

| Butterfree | 23 | Sent to Lab. |

| Krabby | 15 | Sent to Lab. (Very tiny). |

Chapter Text

Age 10, May 8 — “Vermilion Gym: Vs. Lt. Surge”

Thanks to the map I got, we made it to Vermilion City in just a few days. I took the lead this time; I’m starting to suspect Brock has a natural talent for getting lost. Still, if wandering aimlessly is what it took to catch the Starters and Krabby, I’d say it was worth the detour for the extra fire-power.

We headed straight to the Pokémon Center. My current rotation consists of Pikachu, Rhyhorn, the Starters, and Krabby. My two Flying-types are staying in the PC for now. Since this is an Electric-type Gym, I’m sticking with the ground-and-pound crew.

Apparently, fifteen challengers have already lost here just this month. Pikachu looked absolutely terrified seeing the steady stream of "victims" being carried into the Center. Early-series Pikachu really is a lot more timid than the battle-hardened veteran he becomes later. I had to sit him down and explain that Rhyhorn and Bulbasaur would be doing the heavy lifting, which finally convinced him to step inside the Gym.

Once we arrived, Lt. Surge immediately started mocking me for having an unevolved Pikachu. I swear, I almost lost it right then and there. I’m going to show this guy that you don't need a Raichu to win.

While I was fired up for a 1v1, the "Origin System" kicked in. Since I have two badges, the match was set as a 3v3. Fine by me. I want to shut him up as fast as possible, but I’m saving Pikachu for the Raichu showdown.

Surge’s first Pokémon was Voltorb. With two badges, the level cap was fixed at 25. Since there was no level gap to worry about, I sent out Rhyhorn and decided to be absolutely ruthless with the type advantage.

Surge scoffed, but I didn't give him a second to breathe. I ordered Bulldoze. The tremors shook the field, slowing Voltorb down and preventing it from building up speed. I spammed Bulldoze relentlessly; I wasn't about to give it a chance to use Self-Destruct. Voltorb went down without landing a single hit.

Surge went silent, his trash-talk effectively neutralized. He sent out his second Pokémon: Electabuzz. Since Electabuzz can learn Fighting-type moves, I didn't want to risk Rhyhorn. I swapped in Bulbasaur. Electric moves are "not very effective" against Grass-types, so I planned to stall him out.

I opened with Leech Seed. Time for a war of attrition.

I remembered what Misty’s sisters told me: Gym Leaders can’t use TM or TR moves against challengers with fewer than five badges. That meant Surge’s team was limited to natural level-up moves. Electabuzz’s only real options were Electric moves or maybe a Low Kick if it had Egg Moves. Either way, Bulbasaur could take the hits.

The Leech Seed took hold, and I settled in. Surge tried to muscle through with a high-voltage Thunderbolt, but I countered with Sleep Powder. It didn't have the accuracy boost of Butterfree’s Compound Eyes, but it hit home. Electabuzz fell into a deep sleep. Bulbasaur took a bit of damage from the initial bolt, but the seeds were already draining Electabuzz’s life to heal him.

I had Bulbasaur use Growth three times to max out his offensive stats. By the time Electabuzz woke up, we were ready. I ordered Razor Leaf. It was a critical hit, and between the leaves and the seed drain, Electabuzz was finished.

"I can't believe... you're pushing me this hard with 'babies'!" Surge growled.

He sent out his final Pokémon: Raichu.

I could have finished the job with my buffed Bulbasaur, but I wanted Pikachu to get his revenge. He was fuming after being insulted and practically begged to go in. I swapped them out.

Raichu has the raw power, but I knew his weakness. Just like in the anime, Surge evolved his Raichu the moment he caught it, meaning it never learned the speed-based moves Pikachu masters. I ordered Agility to boost our speed into the stratosphere.

Surge ordered a Thunder Punch, but the attack was too slow to hit a target moving that fast. Pikachu zipped around the field and slammed into Raichu’s back with a Quick Attack.

"God dammit! Raichu, use Discharge and turn it into a Thunderbolt!"

Surge tried a clever trick—using the area-of-effect Discharge to create a wall of electricity and then focusing it into multiple bolts. It was a high-level maneuver, similar to the stuff Misty pulled. The sheer range made it almost impossible to dodge.

In the anime, Ash had Pikachu use his tail as a grounding wire, but stopping in the middle of a high-speed battle is a death sentence. Instead, I had Pikachu aim his own Thunderbolt only at the specific arcs of electricity that were on a collision course with him. While we couldn't match Raichu’s total output, we could certainly deflect the individual branches.

While Surge was distracted by the light show, I had Pikachu stack one more Agility. We had reached "God Speed." To Pikachu, Raichu was practically standing still.

"What?! Why can't we hit him?!"

"Because you're too slow, heavyweight."

Raichu tried the area-attack again, but Pikachu neutralized it with ease. I wasn't just looking for a win; I was looking for a total shutout. I wanted this guy on his knees. We chipped away with hit-and-run Quick Attacksuntil Raichu was on his last legs. Then, I called for the finisher: Slam.

It’s a move with low accuracy, but when your opponent is moving in slow motion, you can't miss. Pikachu put his entire weight into a tail-whip that sent Raichu crashing into the floor. Knockout. Surge was completely defeated.

"Oh no... You are strong. Okay, here is your Thunder Badge."

Surge dropped the "tough guy" act and actually apologized for insulting Pikachu. I’m not a monster; if you apologize and give me a Thunderbolt TR as a peace offering, we’re cool.

I love this guy!

Age 10, May 9 — “Krabby's Leveling Problem”

Surge really came through. I had a feeling an Electric-type Gym would have Thunderbolt records lying around, and he actually let me have one. I don't have anyone who can learn it right now, so it's going in the bag for later. Maybe a Gengar?

My team was basically untouched after the Gym match, so they were all back to full health by morning. I’ve been trying to train Krabby, but even though he’s reached the level where he should evolve, nothing’s happening.

I know evolution in the anime is a bit more complicated than just hitting a number, but this is ridiculous. In the show, Ash’s Krabby evolved after winning its first-ever match at the Indigo League despite being at the lab for six months. My Krabby is fighting every day and still won't change.

Maybe Lance was right about Trainer affinity. Is it possible I’m just not "compatible" with Water-types? Should I send him back to the lab? No, that goes against my principles as a Trainer. I’ll figure it out.

Age 10, May 10 — “The Battle of the St. Anne”

Team Rocket was handing out tickets for the St. Anne today. Misty and Brock didn't seem to notice the trap, but I knew exactly what was coming. I had to decide: do I get on a boat I know is going to sink?

I decided to go, but I swapped my team just in case. I sent Rhyhorn to the PC and brought Pidgeotto back for the aerial mobility. I debated swapping Krabby for Butterfree, but I figured it was safer to keep a Water-type on a sinking ship.

A "Gentleman" tried to trade me a Raticate for my Pokémon. Absolutely not. Why on earth would I trade my partners for a Raticate? The original Ash must have been high on sea air to even consider it.

The ship was incredibly luxurious, but I couldn't help but pity Team Rocket. The amount of money they must have spent on this setup just to have the ship sink... it’s a financial disaster.

While exploring, I saw the Gentleman’s Raticate defeat a Starmie. Imagine having a Starmie and losing to a Raticate. Total scrub.

I was going to step in with Krabby, but Charmander and Squirtle suddenly popped out of their balls, demanding a turn. It seems they’ve been feeling left out because Bulbasaur has been doing all the Gym work lately. They were both fired up to show me what they could do. It was cute, honestly.

I told them I’d let the winner of a Rock-Paper-Scissors match fight. I didn't think they’d actually know how to play, but they immediately started a tournament. It took seven draws in a row, but Charmander finally won. He gave me a victory sign while Squirtle slumped onto the floor in total despair, covering his face with his "paper" hand. Don't worry, pal, you’re next.

Charmander absolutely decimated the Raticate. The Gentleman actually tried to run away before the finishing blow, but I count it as a win. He tried to offer the trade again over dinner, but I turned him down. Do I look like the kind of person who wants a Raticate?

Eventually, the "trap" was sprung. Team Rocket members appeared by the dozen to steal everyone's Pokémon, and the ship became a battlefield. Most of the Rocket members were just low-level grunts; I don't know why Giovanni didn't send any Executives for an operation this expensive.

The grunts were no match for the combined effort of the Trainers on board. We sent them packing, but then a massive storm hit and the ship started to go down. The Captain, while shouting "This ship is unsinkable!", was the first one to hit the lifeboats. I’m definitely suing that guy when we get back to land.

In the anime, Ash got trapped because he went back for a trade. Since I stayed put and kept my team, we made it to the lifeboats without any drama. Officer Jenny told me later that Jessie and James were among those who didn't make it off in time. We’re safe, but... those guys aren't actually going to die, right?

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | ------------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 27 | Mastered Agility-based combat. Crushed Lt. Surge. |

| Pidgeotto | 24 | Back in the main rotation for the sea voyage. |

| Bulbasaur | 23 | MVP of the Electabuzz match. Growing strong. |

| Charmander | 22 | Crushed a Raticate. Very competitive. |

| Squirtle | 20 | Desperate for a chance to prove himself. |

| Krabby | 18 | Refusing to evolve. Potential affinity issue? |

Chapter Text

Age 10, May 12 — “I’m Suing Everyone!”

The survivors of the St. Anne incident reached a unanimous decision: we are suing the Captain.

It’s only fair. He abandoned his passengers to save his own skin, and his "emergency response" after the fact was a total joke. There isn't a single redeeming quality to that man’s actions. I’ll gladly cast my vote against him in court.

Age 10, May 15 — “Acapulco? Never Heard of that Resort.”

It’s been about a week since the St. Anne went down. We’re currently heading for the Sevii Islands.

After we made it back to Vermilion City, we were given Tri-Passes and ferry tickets to the Sevii Islands as a formal apology for the disaster. This has completely derailed my path from the original anime, but I’m not complaining. If it means I avoid the "Bye-Bye Butterfree" tragedy, it’s a win in my book.

I decided to swap my team around for the trip. I brought Butterfree back into the rotation and sent Krabby to the lab. Honestly, that little crab has already gotten way stronger than he looks.

The Tri-Pass only covers the first three islands, so catching a Lapras on Four Island is out for now, but I’m hoping to find some new teammates while we’re here. We’re traveling on the Seagallop High, which isn't as fancy as the St. Anne, but the Captain is a professional who actually knows how to steer a ship. I’ve already won every single battle on board.

Age 10, May 16 — “One Island: Jubei the Farfetch’d”

We arrived at One Island. Kanto wasn't exactly cold, but it’s noticeably warmer here. There’s a volcano to the north and some famous hot springs.

In the games, my strongest memory of the Sevii Islands was Lorelei’s home on Four Island; I didn't remember much about the others. But as a tourist destination, this place is incredible. We decided to visit the Ember Spa, which is supposed to have medicinal properties, but on the way, we stumbled upon a group of Farfetch’dfighting each other.

According to the Pokédex, Farfetch’d often duel over the best stalks. One specific Farfetch’d caught my eye. He had a long, vertical scar over one eye and was carrying a stalk that was much shorter than the others. Because of the reach disadvantage, he was getting absolutely pummeled by the rest of the flock.

Even after he was knocked down, the others didn't bother stealing his stalk. To them, it wasn't even worth taking. The poor guy looked devastated, clutching his tiny twig with a look of pure frustration. From what I saw, it wasn't a lack of skill—he just didn't have the right equipment.

Seeing someone struggle like that always hits a chord with me. It’s that "New Ash" instinct.

I applied some Potions to his wounds and suggested he find a new stalk, but he shook his head. He refused to win unless he used the one he had. I get it. If he can't change the tool, he has to change the technique.

His stalk was essentially a short sword, a kodachi. In a standard duel, he’d always lose on reach. But a shorter blade is better for defense and close-quarters parrying. He just lacked the offensive power to end the fight.

I tried to teach him a defensive "wait-and-strike" style. It worked for the defense part, but he still couldn't land a finishing blow. To win with a short blade, you need to hit vitals with surgical precision—and then it hit me. Farfetch’d have a signature item: Leek.

In the game, the Leek item massively increases their critical hit ratio. In the older generations, it was described as just a "normal leek that sells for a high price," but later it became a "hard, long stalk." If the old lore holds, any high-quality leek should work.

As a desperate measure, I took a leek from Brock’s cooking supplies and handed it to the Farfetch’d. He took it in his other wing, creating a dual-wielding "Two-Sword Style." It started as a joke, but it fit him perfectly. He began tearing through the other Farfetch’d like a whirlwind.

The short stalk was perfect for quick parries and rapid-fire counters, while the new leek gave him the reach and power he was missing. He was spamming Fury Cutter, which got stronger with every hit. Even more impressive, he somehow knew Night Slash—an Egg Move—which turned every critical hit into a fight-ender.

He eventually challenged the flock leader. The leader had a massive, high-quality stalk, so it wasn't an easy fight. But our guy had the momentum. He was overwhelming the leader with sheer speed and volume of attacks... until my luck ran out. The leek I gave him—the one from the grocery store—snapped in half.

My bad, pal. I bought the cheap ones.

He was back to a single short stalk. The leader moved in for the kill, but the training hadn't been for nothing. At the very last second, he leaned into the leader’s guard and landed a perfect, counter-style Cut right on a vital spot.

I was on my feet cheering. Even Misty and Brock were celebrating. The flock leader smiled, seemingly impressed, and handed over his own high-quality stalk to our scarred warrior.

Congrats, pal. That was one hell of a match.

Age 10, May 17 — “One Island: Legendaries are a Bit Much...”

News broke that the legendary bird Moltres had been spotted at Mt. Ember. Naturally, a horde of Trainers swarmed the mountain. I remembered Moltres being moved from Victory Road to Mt. Ember in the FireRed/LeafGreen games, so it tracked.

I’m usually wary of catching Legendaries—the paperwork and the target on your back aren't worth the hassle—but Misty was curious, so we hiked up the volcano.

Let me be blunt: Moltres makes zero effort to hide. It was just sitting at the peak, looking regal and terrifying. It was incinerating any Trainer who dared to challenge it and burning Poké Balls out of the air before they could even open.

It was obvious we were outclassed. Eventually, Moltres got fed up with the harassment and unleashed a massive Fire Spin that trapped everyone on the mountain.

When the smoke cleared, we were the only ones still standing. I had no intention of fighting, but the wall of fire blocked our exit. I tried to wave a white flag, but Moltres wasn't having it. It hit us with a Leer that felt like a physical weight on my chest.

We were cornered. My team’s levels aren't high enough to take on a legendary, and Brock didn't have his full Gym roster with him. As I was panicking, the Farfetch’d from yesterday appeared. He actually started talking to Moltres—some kind of Pokémon-to-Pokémon negotiation.

Whatever he said, it worked. Moltres flared its wings and took to the sky, disappearing into the clouds.

I thanked the Farfetch’d for saving our lives and asked what he was doing here. It turns out he wanted to join me. I’ve only ever trained the Galarian variant of Farfetch’d in my past life, but I wasn't about to turn down a hero.

Farfetch’d, caught!

Age 10, May 18 — “Two Island: Teach Me the Ultimate Moves (Part 1)”

While exploring Two Island, we befriended an elderly woman named Ultima. As soon as I heard her name, I knew exactly who she was: the legendary tutor who teaches the "Ultimate Moves."

At her house, she showed us Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon. Usually, only the final evolutions of the Starters can learn these, but my Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle were absolutely mesmerized by the power.

Ultima laughed and said, "It’s too early for little ones like you," but my team wouldn't budge. They have my stubbornness, apparently. I asked her to teach them anyway. She saw their resolve and agreed, warning us that she wouldn't allow us to quit halfway.

We started with theory. She explained that while moves are usually learned by level, they can be "taught" through understanding. However, the Ultimate Moves are unique. You can't just practice a similar move to learn them. You have to experience the move, feel its power, and then attempt to replicate it.

The reason they are usually reserved for final evolutions is that base-stage Pokémon usually can't survive the impact of receiving the move, nor can their bodies handle the strain of casting it. My Starters aren't even Level 30 yet. Logically, this is impossible. But if I only did what was "logical," I wouldn't be New Ash.

We went for it. Ultima blasted my team with the Ultimate Moves. They were knocked out instantly. They woke up, took the hit, and went down again. Over and over. They were trying to memorize the "feeling" of the energy.

By nightfall, they still hadn't grasped it, but their eyes were still full of fire. We’re staying the night at Ultima’s.

Age 10, May 19 — “Two Island: Teach Me the Ultimate Moves (Part 2)”

Day two. Without evolving, the progress is slow. Misty looks pained watching them get knocked around, but she knows she can't stop them. Brock is handling the medical side, acting as a field medic for the team. It’s good practice for him; he’s already thinking about becoming a Pokémon Doctor.

As for me, Ultima gave me a separate task. I asked her about Volt Tackle. It’s usually an Egg Move, but Pikachu learned it in the Advanced Generation series of the anime, so I figured it was possible.

Training for Volt Tackle is a nightmare. Pikachu has to maintain a constant Thunderbolt output while charging at full speed with Quick Attack. It requires the Trainer to act as a rhythmic anchor.

Pikachu kept short-circuiting at first, but he’s a natural. He’s already managed to hold the charge for a few seconds. Ultima was stunned by how fast he’s picking it up. Seeing his progress, the Starters redoubled their efforts.

Age 10, May 20 — “Two Island to Three Island: The Ultimate Moves (Part 3)”

Day three. We have to move on to Three Island today.

The two days of "impact training" paid off. The Starters have finally grasped the essence of the moves. We’re in the second stage: reproduction. As they focused on manifesting the energy, Pikachu continued his Volt Tackle drills. He’s basically mastered the "feel" of it; now he just needs to build up the raw power.

I had the Starters try to fire their moves. Bulbasaur produced a slightly over-powered Vine Whip, Charmander managed a high-output Flamethrower, and Squirtle... well, Squirtle was upset because he doesn't have cannons on his back yet, so he couldn't "shape" the move properly.

Don't worry about the cannons, Squirtle. We'll get there.

"They're still low level," Ultima noted. "The form is there, but they need more raw strength to truly call them Ultimate Moves."

That’s fair. They're basically 95-power versions right now. I thanked Ultima for everything. As we boarded the ferry to Three Island, she shouted that she was looking forward to seeing the finished moves.

"Keep an eye out for the Pokémon League broadcast!" I yelled back. "You’ll see them there!"

Five badges to go. I’ve got plenty of time to perfect these.

Timeline Deviations

• The Sevii Detour: Since I escaped the St. Anne early, Episodes 16–21 (the giant Pokémon island and the maiden’s peak) were skipped. Misty never caught Horsea, and Butterfree is still with us.

• Farfetch’d: A scarred, dual-wielding Farfetch’d joined the team. I’m starting to have a lot of Flying-types...

• Moltres: Encountered Moltres early. No capture, but a peaceful resolution.

• Ultimate Moves: Borrowed the training method from the Pokémon Adventures manga (and a bit of Rurouni Kenshin logic). The Starters can now use "Proto-Ultimate" moves.

• Pallet-Style Communication: My bond with the team allows for deep tactical understanding.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 31 | Learning Volt Tackle. High speed/power. |

| Pidgeotto | 26 | Reliable aerial scout. |

| Butterfree | 26 | Back in the team. Great status support. |

| Rhyhorn | 28 | Massive physical wall. |

| Bulbasaur | 28 | Mastering Frenzy Plant (current power: 95). |

| Charmander | 26 | Mastering Blast Burn (current power: 95). |

| Squirtle | 25 | Mastering Hydro Cannon (current power: 95). |

| Farfetch’d | 22 | New! Dual-wielding crit-machine. |

| Krabby | 29 | Sent to Lab. (Becoming a monster in secret). |

Chapter Text

Age 10, May 21 — “Three Island: Hitmonchan’s Glass Jaw”

We arrived at Three Island late last night. After spending an entire day on those ultimate move drills, I was ready for some actual sightseeing. While exploring the island, I stumbled across a martial arts dojo.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I walked in just in time to see a boy trying to release his Hitmonchan. I rushed over to see what was wrong. The boy explained that he had raised the Hitmonchan here at the dojo, but he had lost all confidence because the Pokémon kept losing matches. He was planning to head back to his hometown, and since the Hitmonchan insisted on staying behind out of frustration, the boy decided to just let it go.

"What a waste," I said. "If you're going to set it free, let me take him."

And just like that, I caught a Hitmonchan.

It has the Iron Fist ability and apparently knows most of the standard Fighting-type moves. I couldn't understand why it was losing, so I pressed the boy for details. He claimed this Hitmonchan has a "glass jaw"—it’s extremely fragile. In a slugfest, it gets knocked down instantly, usually before it can even land a finishing blow. It has plenty of power, but zero defensive staying power. The kid got tired of losing and just gave up.

After thanking the boy and seeing him off, I looked my new partner in the eye. I didn't say much. "We're going to win. Can you keep up?" I asked. Hitmonchan gave me a silent, determined nod.

"So, what's the plan, Ash?" Misty asked.

"Simple. We're going to use this Hitmonchan to take down the dojo."

"I figured," Brock added. "But how? If that kid was right, this Hitmonchan isn't built for a traditional brawl."

Actually, I had already thought of a solution. This Hitmonchan likely has a terrible individual value for Defense—probably close to zero. But in a boxing manga from my past life, there was a character who was a legendary "glass-jawed" counter-puncher. That boxer won an international title with a single counter-style.

Some people might laugh and say that’s just manga logic, but considering my dual-wielding Farfetch'd started as a half-joke, I’ve learned not to underestimate these ideas.

I checked the Pokédex for its moves and level. It’s slightly higher level than Pikachu and already knows Counter and Focus Punch. It seems that in this world, if a Pokémon is capable of learning a move, it can manifest it even if it hasn't technically reached the "required" level. Good to know. It also has exactly the moves I need to set up a "perfect counter."

I sent out Farfetch'd to act as a sparring partner. If Hitmonchan can time a counter against Farfetch'd's high-volume attacks, he can handle anything.

The strategy I designed uses all four move slots for a single, ultimate chain: Agility, Detect, Counter, and Focus Punch.

First, Agility to boost his speed. This makes him harder to hit and allows him to move faster than the opponent, a tactic Pikachu proved effective against Lt. Surge. Furthermore, Agility doesn't just increase running speed; it heightens overall motor reflexes, making his punches faster and his timing sharper.

Next, Detect. We use this to see through the opponent's "sure-kill" attack and evade it entirely. Then, we transition that evasion into Counter. In the games, Counter returns double the physical damage received, but I’m using the mechanic of the counter-punch. By using the momentum of the opponent's miss, we return the strike without taking damage ourselves.

Finally, the finisher: Focus Punch. Normally, Focus Punch fails if the user is hit, but if you've used Detect to see the attack and Counter to time your response, you can fire off the Focus Punch with absolute precision. Because of the Agility boost, the wind-up for the punch is fast enough to land before the opponent can recover. It’s a perfectly logical chain.

We started the mock battle. Hitmonchan used Agility, easily weaving through Farfetch'd's Fury Cutter. For the hits he couldn't dodge, he used his gloves to parry and redirect the force. Once Farfetch'd realized the flurry wasn't working, he switched to a single, high-precision Cut.

That was the signal. I had Farfetch'd use Aerial Ace—a move that never misses. The only way to avoid it is a move like Detect.

Hitmonchan triggered Detect the moment Farfetch'd lunged. Simultaneously, he began charging the energy for a Focus Punch. Just before Farfetch'd made contact, Hitmonchan leaned into the gap and let fly.

Focus Punch has a base power of 150. Add in the STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) multiplier of 1.5, the Iron Fist boost of 1.2, and the "Counter" timing multiplier of 2, and you have a move with a theoretical power of 540. Not even a dedicated physical tank could withstand that.

Farfetch'd is a Normal/Flying type, so the damage was neutral, but he was still knocked out in a single hit. That is the High-Speed Evasion Counter Focus Punch!

Hitmonchan stood there in his follow-through pose, seemingly unable to process what he had just done. It’s a finishing move that only works because of "anime logic" combined with tactical move-slotting, but when you dedicate all four slots to one outcome, the power should be expected.

"Hitmonchan, let's do this together. You in?"

He gave me a firm nod. He’d clearly been skeptical at first, but after seeing the results of my training, I could feel the respect in his gaze.

I can't get cocky, though. This tactic only works against physical attackers. Fortunately, Hitmonchan’s species has a naturally high Special Defense, so he can take a few elemental hits. For special attackers, we'll have to develop a different style using the elemental punches or Drain Punch, but we can practice that later.

For now, we stormed the Three Island dojo and decimated every Fighting-type in the building. Standard martial artists are just fodder for a high-speed counter-specialist.

The only real challenge was the Dojo Master's Machamp, which has the No Guard ability. Since his attacks never miss, it was a nightmare for a counter-specialist. With four arms, his rhythm was erratic and hard to read. Thanks to Detect, we managed to hold on long enough to find a gap in his guard and secured a victory by the skin of our teeth.

But a win is a win. After a lifetime of losing, Hitmonchan finally has his confidence back. I’m looking forward to seeing him in action on the main circuit.

Age 10, May 23 — “Return to the Mainland: Destination Saffron City”

After a week of traveling the Sevii Islands, we’ve finally returned to the Kanto mainland. The vacation was great for our morale, but it’s time to get back to the badge circuit.

Saffron City is the closest stop from Vermilion, so we headed there next. However, I know from my memories that there is zero chance of beating Sabrina’s "cheat-tier" psychic powers right now. I decided to exercise my "New Ash" right to be stubborn and detoured toward Lavender Town first.

In the games, you have to go through Rock Tunnel from Cerulean to get to Lavender, but in this reality, we can just cut through Saffron. As we entered the city, we ran into Jessie and James for the first time since the St. Anne incident. They were in disguise, but I recognized them instantly.

"You guys are alive?" I blurted out. Seeing they were caught, they launched into their usual motto.

I was curious how they survived the sinking ship. Apparently, the Magikarp James bought for 30,000 Yen evolved into a Gyarados and saved them. In the anime, James kicked the Magikarp away, but here, they worked together to survive the crisis and became close. James proudly sent out his Gyarados to show it off.

Unfortunately for him, Gyarados is 4x weak to electricity. While they were talking, Pikachu stacked three Nasty Plotsand blasted them into the sky with a single Thunderbolt. We continued on our way to Lavender Town.

Age 10, June 2 — “Lavender Town: Ghost Pokémon, I Choose You!”

We finally reached Lavender Town.

In the anime, there was a decrepit Pokémon Tower, but the locals told me the tower was moved decades ago. The "old" tower Ash visited is still there, but there's a new, beautifully maintained tower where Pokémon are laid to rest properly. It’s a much more peaceful place.

But the old tower is where my business was. According to the original story, there are three ghost Pokémon there who love comedy. I left the terrified Misty and Brock behind and went in alone.

It didn't take long to find them. I used my knowledge of comedians from my past life to perform some stand-up, quickly bonding with the three ghosts. I taught them about comedy and the thrill of Pokémon battles. Once they were satisfied, I asked them to join me. All three—Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar—wanted to come along, so I caught the whole set.

I really only needed one, but if I’m going to make Sabrina laugh, the more the merrier. I sent my three Starters back to the lab for now. They’ve bonded with me enough, and it’ll be easier for them to practice their ultimate moves at the lab. This arc belongs to the Ghost Trio.

Age 10, June 3 — “Wait, is Gastly Actually Cracked?”

On the way back to Saffron City, I tested the ghosts against some wild Pokémon. Their levels are actually quite low—even Gengar is only Level 24.

However, their battle sense is incredible. Gastly, in particular, has massive potential. Haunter is the fastest to bond with me, but he’s so obsessed with comedy that he occasionally ignores my orders to try and make the opponent laugh. He’s going to be my secret weapon against Sabrina.

The Saffron Gym is the fourth Gym, so under the Origin system, it’ll be a 3v3 match with a fixed level cap of 30. The key to victory will be how much training I can squeeze in before we arrive.

Age 10, June 5 — “Saffron City: Vs. Sabrina”

Time to challenge the Saffron Gym. The place was filled with people practicing psychokinesis, but honestly, what’s the point of bending spoons? Unless you're like Sabrina—who can shrink people or turn them into dolls—bending a spoon is a useless hobby.

When I met Sabrina, her doll warned me that if I lost, I’d be turned into a toy. I countered by demanding all of her Psychic TRs if I won. She was so convinced she couldn't lose that she agreed instantly.

In the anime, Ash lost so many times that Misty and Brock got turned into dolls, and Sabrina’s mother was stuck as a doll for a decade. I figured I should win this on the first try and save everyone some grief.

The match was a 3v3. She led with Abra, and I sent out Gastly. Her Abra was going to evolve quickly, but my Gastly is a prodigy.

I opened with Mean Look. Abra was "sleeping" as usual, but now it was trapped. I followed up with Hex. Sabrina tried to use Teleport to reposition, but Mean Look prevents any escape-based moves. Abra took a direct hit, and Sabrina looked genuinely shocked.

Abra woke up during the teleport attempt, so the double-damage effect of Hex was gone, but it was still super effective. I hit the confused Abra with Confuse Ray. Sabrina ordered Confusion, but she was a second too slow. Abra, unable to evolve or attack effectively, took a second Hex and went down.

"You're strong..." Sabrina whispered. It was the first time her actual voice spoke, not the doll's. Her second Pokémon was Kadabra.

I had Gastly use Curse. It cost half his HP, but now Kadabra would lose 1/4 of its health every turn. Since Gym Leaders can't switch out in this format, Kadabra was on a death timer.

I recalled Gastly and sent in Haunter. Haunter immediately started doing "funny faces" at Kadabra instead of fighting. Sabrina was momentarily stunned by the absurdity. That was her mistake; the Curse was already ticking away.

I had Haunter use Lick, aiming for a paralysis proc. Sabrina realized her Kadabra was fading and ordered Recover. But the time she spent healing gave the paralysis time to set in. In the games, paralysis is a RNG check; in this world, it’s a constant numbing sensation with occasional total lock-ups.

Sabrina tried to catch Haunter with Psychic. I ordered Hex to try and end it, but Haunter ignored me and ran toward Sabrina to show her a new comedy routine. He took the hit, but Kadabra was too weakened by paralysis to maintain a full hold. Haunter broke free and, ignoring Kadabra entirely, sprinted toward the Gym Leader.

I knew where this was going, so I let him do his thing. He used Present—pulling a bomb out of thin air. It’s exactly like the anime, though it makes no sense. Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar all somehow know Present, even though it’s a Delibird-exclusive move that they can't even learn through Egg Moves.

The bomb went off near Sabrina, and Haunter burst into hysterical laughter. I didn't find it funny at all, but it hit Sabrina’s funny bone perfectly. She started howling with laughter, just like the anime. Because her mind was linked to Kadabra’s, Kadabra started laughing too, leaving it defenseless while the Curse finished it off.

As Sabrina laughed, the doll vanished, and her mother returned to human form. In the anime, this was a "happily ever after" moment, but "New Ash" isn't that sentimental.

Sabrina’s father appeared and started thanking me, but I didn't care about the family reunion.

"Hey, Sabrina. The match isn't over yet."

Misty and Brock gave me a look that said, "Read the room!" but they know I’m not stopping until the job is done. Sabrina wiped the tears from her eyes and returned to the field.

I tried to recall Haunter, but he liked Sabrina’s laughing so much he kept dodging the recall beam. I gave up and formally subbed him out for my final Pokémon: Gengar.

Sabrina sent out Alakazam. She opened with Psychic, but I countered with Sucker Punch. Gengar struck first, disrupting her concentration and causing the Psychic attack to fizzle.

I ordered Shadow Punch, but Gengar noticed Haunter was still out on the field and decided to join him in a comedy skit. Both ghosts started performing a duo routine, and Sabrina went back into fits of laughter. Alakazam followed suit.

I was the only person in the room not having a good time.

Seeing as a "real" match was impossible, I subbed Gengar out and brought back Gastly. Gastly is the only serious one of the trio. He used Hex and finished off the laughing Alakazam in one hit.

The battle was over. Sabrina, still giggling, handed me the Marsh Badge. My mood was terrible because it barely felt like a battle, so Misty and Brock didn't even dare to say "Congratulations."

Since Haunter and Gengar clearly fell in love with Sabrina’s reaction, I decided to leave them with her. Gastly is staying with me, though. I took the three Psychic TRs she promised and called it a win. I’ll come back for a "real" rematch another time.

Timeline Deviations

• Hitmonchan: Recruited a Hitmonchan based on "Miyata" from Hajime no Ippo. Mastered the "High-Speed Evasion Counter Focus Punch."

• Sabrina's Order: Bypassed Saffron initially to get Ghost types from Lavender Town, as an early match against Sabrina is a suicide mission.

• Team Rocket: James kept his Magikarp, which evolved into a Gyarados and saved them from the St. Anne.

• The Ghost Trio: Caught all three stages of the Ghost line.

• The Sabrina Match: Achieved a 3v3 victory, but Ash is grumpy because it turned into a gag-match.

• TR Spoils: Secured 3 Psychic TRs as part of the victory wager.

• Gastly: Only the Gastly stayed on the main team; Haunter and Gengar stayed with Sabrina.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | --------------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 33 | Getting stronger with every match. |

| Pidgeotto | 27 | Consistent aerial support. |

| Butterfree | 27 | Reliable status inflictor. |

| Rhyhorn | 29 | Approaching evolution level. |

| Bulbasaur | 31 | Sent to Lab (Practicing ultimate moves). |

| Charmander | 29 | Sent to Lab (Practicing ultimate moves). |

| Squirtle | 28 | Sent to Lab (Practicing ultimate moves). |

| Farfetch’d | 26 | Mastering crit-based Two-Sword Style. |

| Hitmonchan | 35 | The Counter-Specialist. Glass jaw but heavy hitter. |

| Gastly | 28 | New! Serious fighter among the ghosts. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, June 6 — “My Team is Growing Fast”

Now that I’ve left Haunter and Gengar with Sabrina, my active roster has two open slots. I figured it was time to re-evaluate my lineup.

Currently, I’m carrying Pikachu, Farfetch’d, Hitmonchan, and Gastly. Back at the lab, I have Pidgeotto, Butterfree, Rhyhorn, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Krabby. That’s eleven Pokémon in total.

Since Pikachu is a permanent fixture, I had to choose five more to bring along. After some thought, I decided on Pidgeotto, Rhyhorn, Charmander, Farfetch’d, and Gastly. I’m prioritizing those who need to evolve, while Krabby and the others will stay at the lab for now.

Age 10, June 10 — “Great, Now Primeape is Pissed”

I called the Professor today for the first time since the St. Anne disaster. Apparently, my rivals have already cleared Celadon City. Gary, ever the overachiever, is already in Fuchsia City. I’m catching more Pokémon than they are, so the Professor isn't complaining, but I’m definitely falling behind on the badge circuit. I need to hurry to Celadon.

After the call, we sat down for lunch. As we were enjoying Brock’s handmade rice balls, a wild Mankeyappeared. I recognized it immediately—this was the Mankey that becomes Ash’s Primeape in the anime.

Brock offered it a rice ball, and the Mankey started eating with a huge grin. In the anime, Ash tried to catch it immediately and pissed it off, but I figured I’d try to tame it with food first. We were having a peaceful lunch until Team Rocket crashed the party and kicked the Mankey right while it was eating.

Interrupting a meal + physical assault = Evolution into Primeape = We’re blasting off again!

Team Rocket was sent screaming into the horizon by a very angry Primeape, who then turned its sights on us. Honestly, I’m fine with it—this thing is supposed to be a fighting prodigy, and I want it on my team.

I sent out Farfetch’d. Primeape opened with Thrash. Since it already knows that move, it’s safe to assume it’s at least Level 35 (unless it’s pulling a Hitmonchan and "pre-learning" moves). My Farfetch’d was lower level, but he used his dual-wielding style to parry and block with extreme efficiency. He was clearly waiting for the Thrash-induced confusion to kick in.

Sure enough, Primeape became confused. It didn't stop swinging, but it started hurting itself in the process. I seized the opening and had Farfetch’d use Aerial Ace.

Listen, I don't care how strong you are; wild instincts are no match for a trained specialist. I’m going to show this Primeape that the difference in raw level isn't the deciding factor in a battle! We dodged every wild swing and landed precise counters until Primeape went down.

Primeape, caught!

Age 10, June 11 — “Pallet-Style Body Language: The Discipline”

In the original story, Ash got chased through a shortcut by Primeape. Since I caught it on the spot, we’re taking the long way.

I sent Pidgeotto back to the lab to make room for Primeape in my active party. As I expected, the moment I let him out, he tried to take a swing at me. I had to use some Pallet-Style Body Language Arts to show him the pecking order. Some types just won't listen until you prove you're the "Alpha."

Once he realized I was stronger than him, he piped down and started following orders. Between him and Hitmonchan, my Fighting-type game is looking very solid.

Age 10, June 12 — “Celadon Gym: Vs. Erika”

We’ve arrived in Celadon City. Misty and Brock got lured away by the scent of a perfume shop, so I headed to the Pokémon Center alone. I swapped Primeape back out for Pidgeotto and headed straight for the Gym.

In the anime, Ash got banned for insulting perfume, but I kept my mouth shut, so I walked right in. When the staff asked if I liked perfume, I gave them a very convincing "I love it," and they let me through. Easy.

I found Misty and Brock inside—they’d already made friends with the staff. I challenged the Leader, Erika, and she graciously accepted. The match was a 3v3 with a Level 35 cap.

Erika led with Tangela. I sent out Pidgeotto. We opened with Quick Attack to close the gap, but Erika countered with Bind. I had Pidgeotto use Whirlwind to forcibly break the hold—our classic hit-and-run tactic.

She tried Stun Spore next, but I had Pidgeotto use the wind from Whirlwind to blow the powder back at her. As we kept up the pressure with Quick Attack and Gust, Pidgeotto suddenly channeled the wind into a massive, spiraling vortex.

Wait... was that Hurricane?

I checked the Pokédex: Yup, it was Hurricane. He shouldn't have learned that for a long time, but all that practice with Whirlwind and Gust must have triggered an early mastery. The raw power of the storm decimated Tangela.

Erika’s second Pokémon was Weepinbell. I ordered another Hurricane. The storm tore through her Razor Leaf and knocked Weepinbell out instantly. Pidgeotto is officially a beast now. The only downside to Hurricane is its low accuracy, but so far, we’re hitting everything.

Finally, Erika sent out Gloom. I decided to save the experience for someone else and swapped in Charmander.

In the anime, Ash lost this match to a literal "stink bomb," but I wasn't going to let that happen. Erika opened with Toxic. I had Charmander counter with Flamethrower. Charmander got badly poisoned, but his flames were pushing Gloom back—until Erika called for Moonblast.

A Poison/Grass type using Moonblast?! Her Gloom’s power was incredible; even with a type disadvantage, the Moonblast was pushing back my Flamethrower. The moves collided and exploded in the center of the field.

Erika followed up with Teeter Dance. Charmander became confused and started stumbling. Between the severe poison and the confusion, we were on a very short clock. It was time for a Hail Mary. I ordered our unrefined Blast Burn.

Even while confused, Charmander focused his energy and let out a massive discharge. Erika tried to counter with another Moonblast, but our "Proto-Ultimate" move had just enough extra kick to tear through her attack. Gloom took the blast head-on and went down.

Erika was stunned by the clean sweep, but she smiled and handed over the Rainbow Badge. Since Team Rocket didn't burn the place down this time, the whole experience was actually quite pleasant. Charmander got a full heal for the poison, and we were on our way.

That’s five badges. Three to go until the League. But from here on, the Leaders are going to start using TMs and TRs, so the real challenge begins now.

Age 10, June 13 — “The Celadon Game Corner”

You can't go to Celadon without visiting the Game Corner. The prizes include TMs and rare Pokémon; every Trainer I know has spent hours on the slots here. The anime skipped this for "moral reasons," but I’m not passing up this chance.

The setup is just like the games. You don't even have to find a coin case; you can just rent one at the counter. Most of the good TMs, like Giga Impact, are way out of my price range—15,000 coins is about 300,000 Yen in real money. I decided to aim for the 1,000-coin tier.

I noticed that "Held Items" aren't really a thing in this world yet. Even Lance and Red didn't use them. Items like Silk Scarf and Metronome were sitting in the 1,000-coin tier, treated as human accessories rather than Pokémon gear. I also saw evolution items like the King's Rock and Protector for the same price.

I tried using my "Pallet-Style Frame-Perfect Input" (which is just me focused really hard on the slot timing), but I couldn't hit the jackpot. Misty and Brock lost everything they had.

I managed to scrape together 600 coins and traded them for a pair of Super Earplugs. They have zero use right now, but I know a certain sleeping giant and a singing pink puffball that are going to make me very glad I have these later. All according to plan.

We ended up eating a cheap dinner at the Pokémon Center because we were broke. Luckily, they give discounts to registered Trainers.

Timeline Deviations

• Episode 25: Caught Primeape on the spot. No high-speed chase, which means I didn't find the anime's shortcut.

• Obedience: Used "Discipline" to make Primeape listen immediately.

• Episode 26: Didn't insult the perfume, so the match with Erika was a standard Gym battle. No fire, no Team Rocket intervention.

• Pidgeotto: Learned Hurricane early through sheer practice.

• Game Corner: Visited the slots and secured the Super Earplugs for future use.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | ------------------------------------------ |

| Pikachu | 35 | Solid veteran. |

| Pidgeotto | 32 | Learned Hurricane. Massive power spike. |

| Rhyhorn | 31 | Consistent physical tank. |

| Charmander | 33 | Successfully used Blast Burn (20% power). |

| Farfetch’d | 30 | Leveling up fast with the Two-Sword style. |

| Gastly | 30 | The serious core of the Ghost team. |

| Primeape | 35 | New! High physical power; disciplined. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, June 14 — “Anime World, but Not Just Anime Logic”

We spent the day at the Celadon City Pokémon Center. Just as we were getting ready to head toward Fuchsia City, the town was suddenly swarming with Team Rocket grunts. Curiously, Jessie and James were nowhere to be found. This clearly isn't an "anime plot" event.

I used some Pallet-Style Body Language Arts to beat the answers out of a few grunts. Apparently, a "special" Eevee had escaped from their research facility. According to the grunts, this Eevee can freely evolve into different forms and revert back to its original state without the use of Evolutionary Stones.

It’s the Eevee from the Pokémon Adventures manga.

I was stunned, but there was no way I could just ignore this. Misty and Brock were just as furious about the experiments, so we decided to track the Eevee down before the grunts could.

I swapped my team for a capture-focused lineup and we scoured Celadon. We beat up every grunt we crossed, but the Eevee was nowhere to be found. If the grunts couldn't find it despite their numbers, it had to be hiding somewhere they wouldn't think to look.

Using my "gamer meta-knowledge," I remembered that you find an Eevee on the roof of a building in Celadon. We headed for the rooftops and, sure enough, found Eevee hiding behind a wall.

I approached with a friendly smile, but the poor thing was terrified of humans. It panicked and transformed into a Jolteon, firing off a Thunderbolt. Pikachu neutralized the attack with his own bolt, but Eevee shifted again—this time into a Leafeon to gain the type advantage over Pikachu.

Since it was committed to a fight, I sent out Butterfree to put it to sleep. Eevee countered by shifting into a Flareon and using Flamethrower. I had Butterfree fly higher to dodge the heat. To create a distraction, I sent out Farfetch'd, and Eevee shifted back to Jolteon. It seems it follows the manga logic where it reacts to the opponent's type.

While Farfetch'd kept it busy, Butterfree landed a Sleep Powder. I checked its ears for any signs of mechanical implants, but found nothing. I'm not sure if it's 100% the manga version, but I caught it and rushed to the Pokémon Center.

Nurse Joy said it was severely weakened but would recover with rest. However, we weren't safe yet. The city was still crawling with Rocket grunts. If they found out Eevee was here, we'd be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

The best defense is a good offense. We decided to raid the Rocket Hideout. Brock and Misty were hesitant but eventually agreed. I swapped for my combat roster, and Brock called his family in Pewter City to have his full Gym-leader team sent over.

The entrance to the hideout was under the Game Corner, just like the games. We tore through the grunts outside and stormed the basement. Brock’s full team was terrifyingly efficient: his signature Onix, a Golem, and a Kabutops. Honestly, it was overkill for the grunts.

We breezed through the lower levels until we reached the final room, where a Rocket Executive was waiting. It was Archer (Apollo from the games). Unlike the grunts, he was the real deal.

He used Electrode, Golbat, Magmar, and Weezing.

I led with Rhyhorn and shut down his Electrode instantly with Bulldoze. But then his Golbat came out, and things got ugly. Rhyhorn took a Mega Drain and went down. Pikachu made a mistake and lost too. It took a desperate effort from Charmander to force a double-KO, but Golbat had already taken out half my team. It was the hardest fight I've had so far.

Next was Magmar. My Hitmonchan struggled against the special attacker. My "High-Speed Counter Focus Punch" doesn't work against long-range Flamethrowers. I tried to use Drain Punch to stay in the fight, but the heat was too much. Hitmonchan's high Special Defense kept him standing for a while, but he eventually fell. Squirtle came in and finished the job with a Hydro Cannon (unrefined).

Finally, he sent out Weezing. This thing was on a different level compared to James’s Koffing. It had high-level moves, including a Thunderbolt TR that nearly decimated Squirtle. Squirtle tried another Hydro Cannon, but Archer predicted it and dodged, finishing Squirtle with a bolt.

My last Pokémon was Gastly. I had no choice but to play dirty. I took a direct Shadow Ball to get in range for a Confuse Ray. Archer tried to order a Dark Pulse, but the confusion caused Weezing to fire in the wrong direction.

I used the opening to land a Hypnosis, followed by a Curse. While Weezing was slowly fading, Gastly watched the way Weezing moved and spontaneously learned Shadow Ball itself. He’s a total genius.

We beat Archer by the skin of our teeth. After the loss, Gastly evolved into Haunter! Archer realized he was beaten and called for a full retreat. Officer Jenny showed up after everything was over, claiming she'd chase them down. Typical—useless when you actually need them.

Age 10, June 15 — “Eevee is Too Cute”

Eevee is fully recovered! Pikachu acted as a bridge, helping Eevee realize we were the good guys. I explained that we had taken out the hideout and that it was finally free.

Eevee looked stunned, but it eventually relaxed and even started playing with us. While I could have released it, I worried about Rocket remnants. I suggested it stay with us for protection, and it happily agreed to join the team.

However, after talking with Brock and Misty, I decided to send Eevee to Professor Oak’s lab for a while. It needs time to heal both physically and mentally. I told Eevee that once it feels ready to see the world, we’ll travel together. The Professor promised to look after it personally.

Age 10, June 16 — “Hop Hop Hop Town: The Hypnosis Incident”

We stopped at a place with the ridiculous name of Hop Hop Hop Town. Kids had been going missing for days, and the Pokémon at the Center were all lethargic—including a Psyduck that apparently belongs to Misty now?

It turns out a Hypno owned by a "Pokémon Lover's Club" was the cause. Its sleep waves were affecting the whole town. A Drowzee from the same club helped us neutralize the waves and solve the case.

In the end, Misty "accidentally" caught the Psyduck when it tapped her Poké Ball. I'm staying far away from that thing; I've seen the anime, and I know that headache is more trouble than it's worth. Sorry, Misty.

Age 10, June 17 — “Scissor Street: Vulpix is a Cutie”

Brock met a breeder named Suzie on Scissor Street. She was impressed by his dedication and "entrusted" him with her Vulpix. It’s technically a loan, but it gives Brock a solid Fire-type for the time being.

Note: I heard from the lab that Haunter evolved into Gengar during the PC transfer. I guess the "Trade Evolution" logic applies to digital transfers in this world!

Age 10, June 20 — “P-1 Grand Prix: If I Don't Do It, Who Will?”

On the way to Fuchsia City, we saw a wild Hitmonchan doing roadwork training.

My Hitmonchan hopped out of its ball and challenged it. The wild one mocked him at first, but after taking a Mach Punch, it got serious. I let my partner handle it. He used Agility to dodge a Comet Punch, then finished it with the High-Speed Counter Focus Punch combo.

A Trainer named Anthony came out to scold his Pokémon. To be fair, you can't blame a Pokémon for losing to that combo. His daughter, Rebecca, begged us to enter the P-1 Grand Prix to beat her dad and convince him to come home. Brock, being a sucker for a pretty girl, agreed instantly.

I entered with Primeape, and Brock entered with my Hitmonchan. I'm not leaving Primeape behind, though—I'm keeping him no matter what.

In the first round, Primeape crushed a Machop. I had him use a "peek-a-boo" boxing style to stay safe while closing in for a Cross Chop.

Brock and Hitmonchan faced Team Rocket (who were disguised as a giant named "Giant" in a trench coat). They cheated by using glue on the ring to trap Hitmonchan's feet, then finished him with a High Jump Kick. My Hitmonchan took a massive hit and went down. Anthony (the dad) actually threw in the towel for Brock.

It was a good lesson for Hitmonchan; he was getting a bit too cocky after his recent wins. Getting cheated is a part of life, and it'll make him more alert.

Primeape swept through the semifinals, and it came down to a final match against Team Rocket’s Hitmonlee. I had Pikachu keep an eye out for more cheating. Team Rocket tried to sabotage the ring again, but Pikachu zapped their remote.

Primeape stayed disciplined, using his guard to absorb the long-range kicks until he found an opening. He landed a Cross Chop and followed up with Thrash. Hitmonlee went down. Team Rocket tried to blow up the ring in frustration, but they just ended up blasting themselves off again.

Anthony tried to ask me to leave Primeape with him for "specialized training." I told him to go win his own tournament before he starts trying to scout other people's Pokémon. Why would I give my winner to someone who just lost? Ridiculous.

Timeline Deviations

• Rocket Hideout: Raided the Celadon hideout and defeated Archer.

• Special Eevee: Caught the "Adventures" Eevee; currently at the lab for recovery.

• Evolution: Gastly fully evolved into Gengar via PC transfer.

• Misty: Caught Psyduck.

• Brock: Borrowed Vulpix.

• P-1 Grand Prix: Ash kept Primeape. Team Rocket stole a Hitmonlee.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | -------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 38 | Mastering Volt Tackle. |

| Pidgeotto | 34 | Powerful aerial veteran. |

| Butterfree | 32 | Status specialist. |

| Rhyhorn | 35 | Getting very close to evolution. |

| Bulbasaur | 34 | Practicing Frenzy Plant. |

| Charmander | 37 | High-output fire attacker. |

| Squirtle | 33 | Sturdy Water support. |

| Farfetch’d | 34 | Dual-leek combat style. |

| Hitmonchan | 38 | Learning to deal with trickery. |

| Gengar | 34 | At Lab (Fully evolved). |

| Primeape | 37 | P-1 Grand Prix Champion. |

| Eevee | 25 | At Lab (Recovering). |

Chapter Text

Age 10, June 23 — “Gringey City: Magnemite is Number Two in the Polls”

We rolled into a place called Gringey City, and honestly, it’s a dump. The water is filthy, the Nurse Joy here is totally checked out, and Officer Jenny is as useless as ever. There’s absolutely nothing good about this town.

I would have skipped it entirely if Pikachu hadn't started feeling under the weather. On the bright side, his illness reminded me that this is where the original Ash caught his Muk.

Just like the story, a problem cropped up at the local power plant, so we headed over to deal with a massive outbreak of Grimer and Muk. Because Pikachu was running a fever and acting like a living electromagnet, he attracted a local Magnemite. Thanks to the extra spark, Pikachu got his groove back, and I managed to catch both a Muk and the Magnemite. I wasn't about to let that Magnemite go; after all, it’s the second most popular Pokémon in the world (according to certain polls).

My Muk is a bit of an anomaly. Living in the power plant seems to have given it a bizarre resistance to electricity that doesn't exist in the games; it took a combined shock from Pikachu and about a dozen Magnemite just to wear it down. It’s going to be a tank in battle.

Unfortunately, it’s so pungent that the smell actually leaks through the Poké Ball. I’m sending it to Professor Oak for now. Apparently, a Muk’s stench fades once it truly bonds with its Trainer, so I’m counting on the Professor to put in some work.

Age 10, July 2 — “So Many Diglett”

I ran into Gary again today. He was hired to help deal with a massive Diglett outbreak that’s stalling construction on a dam. However, the Pokémon here seem to have a conscience; they refuse to come out of their balls to fight the Diglett.

I remember this from the show.

It makes sense. The Pokémon know that the humans are the ones in the wrong here, trying to destroy the natural habitat. No self-respecting Pokémon would help with that. Gary realized it too: “I’ve got nothing to do here. I’m heading back to my journey,” he said, and took off.

We didn't want to pick a fight with the Diglett either, so we just hit the local hot springs and kept moving.

Team Rocket tried to ambush us on the trail with their newly evolved Arbok and Weezing. They were feeling especially cocky because they’ve added a Hitmonlee and a Gyarados to their roster—definitely not the anime lineup.

Seriously, Hitmonlee—are you really okay with hanging out with these losers?

They’ve actually bonded quite a bit, so I guess it’s fine. I sent out Butterfree, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Krabby. It was a surprisingly close fight, but we managed to pull through. The moment the battle ended, a horde of Diglett swarmed the area and dragged Team Rocket away. I could hear a faint "We're blasting off again!" echoing from the distance.

Age 10, July 5 — “Fuchsia Gym: Vs. Koga”

Brock is terrible with directions. Let that be a matter of public record.

It took us way longer than expected, but we finally made it to the Fuchsia Gym. I wanted to get the match started immediately, but the place is a deathtrap. I get that "Ninja Mansion" is the theme, but a little heads-up would be nice. If I weren't from Pallet Town, some of those traps would have actually killed me.

We eventually ran into a girl who seemed to be a Gym apprentice, and she had the nerve to mock us for getting caught in the traps. “Did you like my greeting?” she asked. Listen, lady, you aren't even the Leader.

I snapped. “Is it common courtesy at this Gym to trap people and then laugh at them?” I asked. She just gave me a smug look: “This is a place of training. It’s your fault for leaving an opening.”

She claimed I couldn't leave without a battle, so I had Charmander absolutely demolish her Venonat. That finally brought out the Leader, Koga. Honestly, the lack of professionalism was staggering. Koga seemed to approve of the girl’s behavior, so I gave him a piece of my mind.

“A Pokémon Gym is supposed to be a place to test a Trainer’s skill. I understand every Gym has its own style, but you’re just forcing your hobbies on people. If you’d given us a warning, that would be one thing, but trapping people and then mocking them is a failure as a Gym Leader and a human being.”

Misty and Brock backed me up, even suggesting we report the Gym to the League Inspectors. Koga finally realized how bad this looked and apologized. The girl, his sister Aya, apologized as well.

With the air cleared, I was ready for the match. If he felt bad about the "greeting," he could compensate me by putting a TM for Toxic on the line. This is a Poison Gym; I know he has one.

“I haven't even said... well, fine. I suppose that’s a fair wager.”

Match on. 3v3. With five badges, the level cap was fixed at 40. Most of my team is in the high 30s, so this was going to be an even fight. Koga’s first Pokémon was Golbat. I sent out Pikachu. It’s been a while since Pikachu fought a Gym match—the last time was back in Vermilion—so he was fired up.

I opened with Thunderbolt, scoring a solid hit right out of the gate. Koga responded with U-turn, recalling Golbat to its ball. Usually, only the challenger can switch, but moves that force a switch are a valid loophole. Golbat took more damage from the bolt than it dealt with the strike, so I still had the advantage.

Koga sent out Arbok.

I’d just fought one a few days ago, so I wasn't worried. I recalled Pikachu and sent out Pidgeotto. He recently learned Wing Attack and is right on the verge of evolving. He was a superstar in Celadon, and I wanted to keep that momentum going.

Koga ordered Ice Fang. Even if it wasn't a STAB move, I didn't want to take the 4x weakness damage. I had Pidgeotto use Hurricane to create space. The move missed, but the wind was enough to keep Arbok at bay.

Time to reset. Pidgeotto charged with Quick Attack, but Koga countered with Glare. Being that close was a mistake; Pidgeotto was paralyzed.

Koga went for another Ice Fang. I ordered a Wing Attack intercept. Hurricane takes too much concentration to pull off while paralyzed, so I switched to a physical counter. Pidgeotto took the hit but didn't go down, and he managed to land a solid strike in return.

Just as the battle was getting good, Team Rocket interrupted.

Again. Their timing is impeccable. My mood soured immediately. Dealing with their oversized roster is such a chore. We called a truce; Koga sent out a Venomoth, Aya used her Venonat, and I sent out Bulbasaur. But Team Rocket used some kind of specialized sticky webbing to trap us all.

Electricity doesn't pass through the webbing, so Pikachu was stuck. We were in a bind until Misty’s Psyduckpopped out and, through some miracle of a headache, unleashed a Confusion that sent Team Rocket packing. Nice work, duck.

Battle resumed.

Arbok vs. Pidgeotto. The interruption actually helped us reset our spacing. Before Arbok could lunge with another Ice Fang, I called for Hurricane. This time it hit, and Arbok was left reeling from confusion. I capitalized with a Quick Attack into a finishing Wing Attack. Arbok was down.

As I recalled Arbok, Pidgeotto began to glow. He evolved into Pidgeot! I really do have an affinity for Flying-types. Krabby, take notes.

Koga’s third Pokémon was Weezing. I’ve fought enough of these to know the drill. Fearing a potential Thunderbolt TR, I swapped Pidgeot for Charmander. His flames would at least be neutral against the poison gas.

I ordered Flamethrower, but Koga countered with Sludge Bomb. The moves collided and exploded. Koga then called for Toxic. Just like in Celadon, I saw how dangerous that move is, but when a Poison-type uses it, it never misses. Charmander was badly poisoned.

I tried to trap Weezing in a Fire Spin to stop its movement, but Koga blocked it with Protect. He was trying to stall for poison damage. Knowing we were on a timer, I went for an unrefined Blast Burn.

Charmander started to charge, but Weezing hit us with another Sludge Bomb. The "Proto-Ultimate" moves have a long wind-up time. Against Erika’s Gloom, we had the speed advantage because she used a non-STAB move, but Koga’s Weezing was too fast with its Poison-type proficiency. Charmander took the hit and went down just before he could fire.

I recalled him and sent Pikachu back in. The webbing was gone, and he was ready.

The moment I called for Thunderbolt, Koga ordered Weezing to use Self-Destruct. I didn't expect a Gym Leader to use a kamikaze move. The explosion caught Pikachu point-blank. Both were knocked out. An explosion ending? Seriously? That's the worst.

“Hahaha! I’ve seen enough of your skill. You raise your Pokémon well. It would be an insult for me to hold anything back.”

It came down to Pidgeot vs. Golbat. Golbat had been resting in its ball for most of the match and was at near-full health. Plus, Koga had only revealed one move, so he had total tactical flexibility.

My Pidgeot, however, was still paralyzed and had already used three moves. I was at a massive disadvantage. This was the biggest bind I’ve been in since the Cerulean Gym. But I’m not the type to give up.

“You ready, Pidgeot?”

“Pidgeot!”

He gave a spirited cry. I ordered Hurricane, and Koga ordered Confuse Ray. We both traded status effects. Golbat wasn't confused, but it took some damage. My Pidgeot, however, was now confused and paralyzed.

Koga went for the kill with Steel Wing. I tried to counter with Hurricane, but the paralysis locked Pidgeot up. Golbat slammed into him. Koga followed up with Double Team to finish the job, but my Pidgeot has the Keen Eye ability; illusions don't work on him. The problem was the physical damage.

“Pidgeot! Show him the power of your evolution!”

I was down to relying on pure willpower. Pidgeot managed to shake off the confusion and launched a Hurricane, but Golbat dodged and came back in with another Steel Wing. I didn't think he could take another hit.

But just before the wing struck, Pidgeot’s own wings began to glow with a metallic sheen. He absorbed the impact and struck back with a metallic wing of his own. Wait... was that Steel Wing? Did he just learn it?

“Mirror Move?!” Koga shouted.

Koga realized it instantly. Pidgeot had used his signature move to copy Golbat’s attack. They traded blows, both using the same technique.

However, my Pidgeot was already at his limit. If he had been healthy, he could have dodged and countered, but with the paralysis, he had to take the hit to give one. Both Pokémon crashed to the ground.

A tense silence followed. Then, Pidgeot stood up. The extra stamina from his evolution gave him just enough of a buffer to stay conscious. Golbat, however, was out. Our mirrored Steel Wing must have hit a critical point.

We won by a hair. The MVP of this match was definitely Pidgeot.

I accepted the Soul Badge and the Toxic TM from Koga and left the Gym. I have to admit, once the Gym Leaders start using TMs, the difficulty spikes massively. My next stops are Cinnabar Island and Viridian City. If I struggled this much here, I might actually lose next time.

Timeline Deviations

• Episode 30: Caught a Magnemite. "New Ash" doesn't limit himself to just one of each type if they're high-tier or popular.

• Episode 31: Defeated Team Rocket during the Diglett outbreak. They stayed out of the way until the match was over because they were intimidated by Ash's intensity.

• Episode 32: Demanded a Toxic TM from Koga as compensation for the unprofessional traps.

• Type Proficiency: Established that Pokémon are faster and more reactive when using moves of their own type (STAB familiarity).

• Evolution: Pidgeotto evolved into Pidgeot during the Gym match.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | ---------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 41 | Highly experienced; taken out by an Explosion. |

| Pidgeot | 39 | Newly evolved! Learned Mirror Move. |

| Butterfree | 36 | Consistent status support. |

| Rhyhorn | 37 | Heavy physical tank. |

| Bulbasaur | 38 | Mastering defensive utility. |

| Charmander | 39 | Mastering Blast Burn. |

| Squirtle | 37 | Solid Water support. |

| Muk | 38 | At Lab (Has a unique electrical resistance). |

| Magnemite | 32 | New! High potential for special attacks. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, June 6 — “Pokémon Reservation: The Laramie Clan”

When you think of Fuchsia City, you think of the Safari Zone. However, while heading north, we stumbled upon a massive Pokémon Reservation managed by the Laramie Clan.

We met a girl named Lara Laramie, who told us that their annual Pokémon Race—a test of growth and bonding—is happening tomorrow. She was planning to enter with her Ponyta. It sounded like a great spectacle, so we accepted her invitation to stay the night and watch.

Unfortunately, disaster struck during the night. Something spooked her Ponyta, and in the chaos, Lara was thrown and injured her arm. Brock examined her and gave the grim diagnosis: “There’s no way she can race tomorrow.”

Ponyta was still panicking and making a scene, so I used a bit of Pallet-Style Body Language: Intimidationto shut it down. Your Trainer is worried about you, so pipe down and behave.

The Ponyta was visibly startled and immediately went quiet. Lara looked at me with wide eyes—though I don't see why it’s such a surprise. I’m the "Super Pallet-Man" who made that Primeape listen, after all.

“Ash, please... ride Ponyta in the race tomorrow for me!”

Wait, me? I mean, I don't mind, but is that even allowed?

Age 10, June 17 — “The Great Pokémon Race”

Somehow, I ended up as a substitute rider for Ponyta. Lara figured that since Ponyta usually only listens to her, the fact that I could command it with a single glare meant I was the only person who could handle the job.

Once they heard Lara’s story, Misty and Brock decided to enter as well, using Staryu and Onix respectively. Pikachu apparently decided he wanted in on the action too; he let himself out of his ball and hopped onto Squirtle’s back.

Uh, Pikachu? I could lend you Rhyhorn if you want to be fast. No? You’re sticking with Squirtle? Suit yourself. And Squirtle... please stop glaring at me like I’m trying to steal your spotlight. My bad.

I took the reins of Lara’s Ponyta. She was one of the favorites to win, which didn't sit well with a guy named Dario—a real piece of work who started taunting Lara the moment he saw her in a sling. He’s a Dodrio user named Dario... what is it with people in this world and their on-the-nose names? He reminds me of that Seymour guy from Mt. Moon. This feels like an anime plot, though I have no memory of it.

The race started, and Dario took an early lead. Dodrio is incredibly fast. We followed behind, but Ponyta was clearly still intimidated by my "aura" from last night and wasn't running at full capacity. It’s hard to build a deep bond with someone else’s Pokémon on such short notice.

I looked ahead and saw Squirtle putting in some serious work. Despite the disadvantage, he was keeping pace with Misty’s Staryu and Brock’s Onix. I wondered if he had the stamina to keep that up for the whole course.

The race hit a steep incline, and everyone slowed down. Squirtle’s pace dropped to a crawl—literally. However, the moment we crested the hill and started the descent, his speed skyrocketed.

Then there was the guy on the Electrode. He was using it like a circus ball and actually managed to overtake Dario. I thought we were in for a major upset until he hit a hole in the road and got disqualified. Total clown move.

To make matters worse, the Electrode used Self-Destruct, catching several Trainers in the blast. We nearly got caught too, but I’d already seen it coming and had Ponyta swerve. Ponyta flinched at the explosion, but I gave it a sharp "You're fine!" and it settled back into its rhythm. It’s finally starting to get used to me.

The course led into a lake crossing next. The Rhyhorn rider and Brock’s Onix both had to retire there. As it turns out, Pikachu’s decision to ride Squirtle was a stroke of genius. Squirtle was neck-and-neck with Misty’s Staryu, giving me a smug look as they paddled past.

Ponyta isn't a fan of water, but it’s light on its feet. We managed to navigate the crossing by hopping across small rocks. By the time we hit land again, the only ones left were Dario, Misty, Pikachu/Squirtle, and me. If we hadn't entered, Dario would have won by default.

After the lake, there was a mandatory feeding station. You couldn't move on until your Pokémon finished their meal. Dario’s Dodrio started a domestic dispute between its three heads over who got to eat first, which gave us a chance to close the gap.

Of course, Team Rocket showed up to sabotage the race. It turns out Dario had hired them to injure Lara and fix the race.

Seriously? That’s low. Pikachu, Squirtle—stop eating and get in the fight!

Team Rocket opened with Arbok’s Glare, paralyzing Pikachu and Squirtle. Misty tried to counter with Staryu, but Weezing hit it with a Sludge attack, poisoning it. Dario took the opportunity to finish his meal and head for the finish line. We were going to lose if we didn't move now.

I wanted to give chase, but we were pinned down. James’s Gyarados and Hitmonlee lunged at us, so I sent out Bulbasaur and Farfetch’d to intercept. Arbok and Weezing tried to follow up, so I called out Butterfree and Rhyhorn. The terrain was uneven, and Rhyhorn struggled to keep his footing. We were holding them off, but the clock was ticking.

Then, fueled by pure indignation, Ponyta "awakened." It unleashed a massive Overheat that scorched Team Rocket and their Pokémon in one go. That’s a "blasting off again" if I ever saw one.

We were back in the race, but Dario had a massive lead. I remembered that move usage wasn't banned in the rules. I asked Ponyta if it knew Agility, but it shook its head.

Okay, plan B. Do you know Flame Charge? It nodded. I had it use Flame Charge six times in a row, maxing out its Speed stat.

We tore down the final stretch. With 500 meters to go, I could finally see Dario’s back. With the +6 Speed boost, we were closing in fast.

At 300 meters, we pulled alongside Dodrio. Dario tried to have his Pokémon use Peck to knock us off course, but since moves were legal, it wasn't a foul. Ponyta took the hit and lost a little ground.

I was about to order a Take Down to turn this into a full-contact brawl when the experience from the Team Rocket fight finally tipped the scales. Ponyta evolved into Rapidash!

The evolution gave us a fresh burst of speed. At 100 meters, we were neck-and-neck again. Dario didn't have any more tricks left; it was a pure sprint to the wire. Honestly, I couldn't tell who crossed first, but the judges called it for us. Rapidash took the gold!

Dario tried to protest, but he’d already been caught cheating with Team Rocket. Rapidash finished the argument by sending him flying with a Double Kick. Good riddance. I returned the winner’s trophy and Rapidash to Lara. She thanked me by giving us the exact coordinates for the heart of the Safari Zone. A fair trade.

Age 10, June 18 — “Pokémon Reservation: The Kangaskhan Tribe”

We ran into a pack of Kangaskhan today. There was a whole drama involving a feral child and his long-lost parents, but it got settled peacefully.

If this wasn't a protected area, I really would have wanted a Kangaskhan. Parental Bond is easily one of the most broken abilities in existence.

Age 10, June 19 — “Safari Zone: The Great Pokémon Sweep”

We finally reached the Safari Zone. The warden, a guy named Kaiser, was a real pain—constantly threatening us with a gun. I eventually got tired of it and gave him a "Pallet Stare" that sent him scurrying back to his office.

Alright, time to catch some powerhouses!

Wait, Dratini? Nah. I’m scheduled to get a Dragonite later anyway, and from what I recall, there are only one or two in this entire zone. Not worth the time sink.

Team Rocket showed up (as usual) and challenged me to a "who can catch more" contest. I knew they’d just end up getting blasted anyway, so I accepted. I raised the stakes: if I won, they had to give me a Giga ImpactTR. I told them if they tried to back out, I’d have Pikachu open every future encounter with a maximum-voltage Thunderbolt. They agreed.

The hunt was on. I remembered the Dratini lake was going to be an issue later, so I moved fast. I found a herd of Taurosand, along with Brock, caught a couple. I’m hoping this Tauros can use the legendary "Fissure" combo from the first generation.

In the anime, Ash caught thirty of them, but I only need one. I saw some Rhyhorn too, but I already have one, so I moved on.

We hit a dry spell until Misty suggested fishing. She used some high-end lures and actually hooked a Gyarados! I wanted it, but the line snapped.

We kept at it. Brock caught a Horsea. Since I went to the Sevii Islands instead of following the anime path, Misty hadn't caught one yet. Brock was being a gentleman and offered it to her, and she happily accepted. While they were busy, I pulled up a Slowpoke. I’m not great with Water-types, but their utility is too good to ignore.

Just as we were filling our bags, we found Kaiser being "tortured" (tickled) by a Team Rocket machine. I had Pikachu blast it to save him. Time was up.

We drove Team Rocket off, and Kaiser had a touching reunion with a Dragonair he’d met decades ago. Very sweet. Very moving. I didn't care.

I still had Safari Balls left, so I did one last sweep. Before the buzzer sounded, Brock caught a Paras, Misty caught a Shellder, and I secured a Scyther. Absolute jackpot.

Age 10, June 21-23 — “I’m Not Letting You Off”

Team Rocket tried to slink away without giving me the Giga Impact record. I had Pikachu put them through "Thunderbolt Therapy" until they reconsidered.

Age 10, June 24 — “Cycling Road: Magneton Evolution”

We had to deliver some medicine to the next town via the Cycling Road. A bike gang tried to block our way, but we dismantled them. During the fight, my Magnemite evolved into Magneton! It even learned Thunderboltnaturally. In the games, it needs a TM, but after watching Pikachu use it a thousand times, it seems it just figured it out.

Team Rocket showed up on a unicycle (don't ask), and I had Magneton test out its new bolt on them. It saved Pikachu some work. The bike gang started making a fuss, but one more combined bolt from Pikachu and Magneton sent them packing too.

Medicine delivered. No problem.

Age 10, June 25 — “Debt Collected”

Team Rocket finally showed up with the Giga Impact TR. Apparently, they had to borrow against several months of their salary to afford it because I’d terrified their "juniors" on the Cycling Road.

A promise is a promise, after all.

The best part? TMs and TRs aren't single-use in this world. I taught Giga Impact to everyone on my team who could learn it.

Very satisfying.

Timeline Deviations

• The Race (Episode 33): Ash used Intimidation to calm Ponyta. He used Flame Charge stacking to win. Ponyta evolved into Rapidash.

• Safari Zone (Episode 35): Ash didn't catch 30 Tauros. He caught one Tauros, a Slowpoke, and a Scyther. Brock caught Paras; Misty caught Horsea and Shellder.

• The Wager: Ash bullied Team Rocket into giving him a Giga Impact TR.

• Cycling Road (Episode 36): Magnemite evolved into Magneton and learned Thunderbolt.

Current Party

Pokémon Level Notes

--------- ----- --------------------------------------------

Pikachu 42 The veteran.

Pidgeot 40 Aerial ace.

Butterfree 38 Status specialist.

Rhyhorn 39 Close to evolution.

Bulbasaur 40 Mastering Frenzy Plant.

Charmander 40 Mastering Blast Burn.

Squirtle 39 Mastering Hydro Cannon.

Magneton 36 Newly evolved! Knows Thunderbolt.

Tauros 31 New! High physical threat.

Slowpoke 31 New! Great utility potential.

Scyther 31 New! High speed and cutting power.

Chapter Text

Age 10, June 26 — “Ditto and the Mimic Girl”

We met Duplica and her Ditto today.

I remember this story well—it’s the one where a Ditto that can't transform perfectly finally masters its ability thanks to Team Rocket’s meddling.

We ended up having a battle, and unlike the original Ash who got completely schooled, I wasn't about to lose. I sent out Scyther and utilized a "Technician" boosted combo of Wing Attack and Double Hit—essentially a proto-version of Dual Wingbeat.

Brock noted that Duplica had clearly studied her Pokémon theory, but crushing "smart" opponents with actual competitive knowledge is my specialty. Sorry, kid.

In the end, Ditto fixed its transformation habit thanks to Team Rocket’s "help," and everyone was happy. I was so "happy" that I had Pikachu, Magneton, and Ditto (transformed into Pikachu) blast Team Rocket with a triple Thunderbolt.

Age 10, June 28 — “Cyber Soldier Porygon”

Porygon shock!! (Let’s just move on. My eyes hurt thinking about it.)

Age 10, June 29 — “Good for You, Pal”

Pikachu made friends with a pack of wild Pikachu in the forest. It was a touching moment. Unlike my predecessor, I didn't try to "release him for his own good." He’s my partner. End of story.

Age 10, June 30 — “Stone Town: Feeling Exceptionally Good”

We found an Eevee in the woods today.

It had a name tag, so it clearly belonged to someone. After that mess in Celadon, we’re a bit soft-hearted toward Eevee in trouble, so we decided to return it to the address on the tag.

I remembered this from the anime; it’s the episode about the Eevee brothers and evolution. This town is famous for its evolution stone mines, so I figured I might be able to snag some leftovers.

Magneton needs a special magnetic field—or a Thunder Stone in some versions of the lore—to become Magnezone, and Misty’s Shellder needs a Water Stone for Cloyster. Even if my Pikachu and Brock's Vulpix have their own "special" reasons for staying as they are, having stones on hand is never a bad thing.

When we arrived, a big party was in progress. They invited us to join as a thank-you for finding the Eevee. During the festivities, they were bragging about their stones and suggested I evolve my Pikachu into Raichu. I politely declined and used the offered Thunder Stone on Magneton instead.

I was worried I’d have to wait until we reached Mt. Coronet or some equivalent to evolve it, but the stone worked perfectly. Magnezone is incredibly rare in Kanto; most of the party-goers had never even seen one. Brock and Misty were just as stunned. I can only imagine the look on Professor Oak's face when I transfer it. Being the center of attention like this feels... exceptionally good.

Misty also used a Water Stone to evolve her Shellder into Cloyster. Brock, being the professional he is, declined to evolve Vulpix without the owner's explicit permission.

The star of the party, a boy named Mikey, was sitting alone looking depressed. Misty went over to talk to him—she really is a softie. Quite the contrast to me, who was busy basking in the glory of my new Magnezone.

It turns out Mikey didn't want to evolve his Eevee. I get it. Eevee is viable on its own (especially with Gigantamax potential, though that's a world away). He eventually stood up for himself after some encouragement from Misty. Good for you, kid. There’s a whole region called Galar that will validate your life choices someday.

Team Rocket crashed the party to steal the stones and Pokémon, but they were dispatched with the usual efficiency. Mikey found the courage to declare he wanted to be an Eevee Trainer, his brothers accepted him, and everything worked out.

And I got a Magnezone. Very successful day.

Age 10, July 2 — “Pranking the Professor”

I transferred the newly evolved Magnezone to the lab today. I could hear the Professor’s undignified yelling through the video phone the second he saw it. Mission accomplished.

Age 10, July 10 — “Are You Trying to Wipe Out This Village?!”

We ran out of food. Brock, you are officially a liability when it comes to navigation.

We reached a village where the river had dried up, causing a massive famine. We were practically starving until the village elder shared some of his meager rations with us. "New Ash" doesn't just take charity and leave; I had to help.

We found a Snorlax sleeping right on top of the river's source up in the mountains. We tried everything—shouting, hitting it, pushing—but it wouldn't budge. I thought about catching it to clear the path, but my Poké Ball just bounced off. It belongs to someone.

Who leaves a Snorlax in a position like that? You're literally going to kill an entire village. Team Rocket showed up and made things louder but not better, until an old man from outside the village arrived with a Poké Flute. He woke the Snorlax up and the water started flowing again.

Age 10, July 15 — “Dark City: Pokémon Super Smash Bros.”

We entered Dark City, a place that felt abandoned and desolate. Out of nowhere, a bunch of kids started throwing rocks at us. No "hello," just stones. Incredibly rude.

"New Ash" follows the rule of "if a kid starts a fight, I finish it." I gave them a reason to cry until their parents showed up to explain the situation.

Apparently, two rival gangs—the Yas Gym and the Kaz Gym—are in a constant turf war, trying to prove who should be the city’s official League-sanctioned Gym. They’ve been hiring traveling Trainers as muscle, which has made the locals absolutely despise Pokémon Trainers.

Fine. I don't think either of these thugs deserves a League license, but I’ve been feeling a bit "battle-starved" (ignore the fact that I fight every day). I decided to crush both Gyms for fun.

A skirmish broke out in the street, so I let out my whole team and told them to go wild. My current roster—Pikachu, Rhydon (Wait, spoilers!), Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Gengar—tore through the rival gangs' Pokémon like they were made of paper.

The leaders, Yas and Kaz, were screaming at me, "Are you with the other guys?!"

"I'm not with Yas or Kaz," I said, channeling my inner Gogeta. "I'm the one who's going to stop you."

Fifteen minutes later, the only things left standing were Yas’s Scyther and Kaz’s Electabuzz. I recalled everyone except Rhyhorn. He was all I needed for these two.

"You really thought you could be official Gym Leaders with this pathetic level of skill?" I laughed.

They got furious and tried to physically attack me. I had Rhyhorn handle their Pokémon with Rock Blast while I used Pallet-Style Body Language Arts to pummel the two leaders.

Unlike the original Ash, I have complete control over this superhuman physical power. It doesn't matter how many big guys come at me. Take this! Pallet Hundred-Crack Fist!! (The target is dead! ...Not really, but they’ll wish they were.)

As I was finishing my workout on their faces, Rhyhorn began to glow. He finally evolved into Rhydon!

Internally, I was beaming, but I kept my cool to deliver a lecture to the fallen thugs.

"You guys lack common sense more than you lack power. A Gym is a place to foster growth in other Trainers. If you just want to beat people up, you don't need a license. Think about it—who would ever want to visit a Gym run by thugs who resort to violence the second they lose?"

As I was wrapping up my "holier-than-thou" speech, Nurse Joy—who turns out to be an official Pokémon League Inspector—stepped out of the shadows. She officially disqualified both of them from ever becoming a sanctioned Gym.

"Pokémon battles aren't just brawls," she declared.

Precisely. These guys should learn a thing or two from me. I told them to start by apologizing to the townspeople, and they actually listened, helping to repair the buildings they'd trashed.

Age 10, July 20 — “Exeggutor Experience is the Best!”

Charmander evolved into Charmeleon today!

A magician named Melvin was trying to use a massive herd of Exeggutor to hypnotize people into watching his show. The herd ended up hypnotizing each other and went on a stampede toward the city.

The townspeople were ready to blow the herd up with dynamite to save the city. Seriously, what is it with the people in these towns? I couldn't let that happen, so I had Charmander use his fire to snap the Exeggutor out of their trance. The sheer amount of experience gained from "battling" an entire herd finally triggered his evolution.

In the anime, Charmeleon immediately stopped listening to Ash because Ash's level as a Trainer was too low. However, my Charmeleon hasn't tried to blast me with fire once. When I praised him for a job well done, he just gave me a silent, cool nod.

It’s like a kid hitting puberty and getting "distant" with his parents. He’s not as cuddly as he was as a Charmander, but I’ll take "stoic adult" over "rebellious brat" any day.

I recalled him to his ball. His personality has shifted, but as long as he follows orders, I don't care if he wants to be the "cool guy" or the "joker." Though, I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed I don't get to use the Pallet-Style Disciplinetechniques I practiced specifically for his rebellion.

Timeline Deviations

• Duplica (Episode 37): Ash won the battle using a meta-strategy.

• Pikachu’s Goodbye (Episode 39): Ash didn't try to release Pikachu.

• Eevee Brothers (Episode 40): Ash evolved Magneton into Magnezone using a Thunder Stone. (Magnezone is extremely rare in Kanto).

• Dark City (Episode 42): Ash physically beat up the rival gang leaders.

• Evolution: Rhyhorn evolved into Rhydon.

• Evolution: Charmander evolved into Charmeleon. He is NOT rebellious because he respects Ash's power.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | --------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 43 | Consistently reliable. |

| Pidgeot | 40 | Aerial Ace. |

| Butterfree | 39 | Mastering status support. |

| Rhydon | 42 | Newly evolved! High physical dominance. |

| Bulbasaur | 41 | Reliable defensive core. |

| Charmeleon | 43 | Newly evolved! Stoic and powerful. |

| Squirtle | 40 | Solid Water-type backup. |

| Magnezone | 38 | At Lab (Rare evolution). |

| Gengar | 40 | At Lab (Fully evolved). |

Chapter Text

Age 10, July 10 — “Charmeleon is Legit the Best”

I’ve been using Charmeleon in battles lately, and he’s so strong it’s almost overwhelming. I’ve used fully evolved Pokémon like Gengar and Magnezone before, and they were powerful, but there’s something different about Charmeleon. We are perfectly in sync.

Because of his more aggressive nature, he understands my commands even better than he did as a Charmander. Sometimes, he even anticipates what I want him to do before I say it. I can feel exactly how he wants to move, too. It’s reached a point where he feels like my true, primary partner.

Charmeleon seems to be enjoying the thrill of the fight, often sporting a cool, nihilistic smirk after a win. Pikachu is clearly getting jealous; even though he usually isn't the type to crave every battle, he’s been demanding more field time lately to keep up.

And to think... he still has one more evolution left.

Honestly, if this Charmeleon becomes a Charizard and I don't achieve significantly better results than the original Ash did in the League, I might as well retire as a Trainer.

Age 10, July 13 — “Mossgreen Village: Brock, That Was Cold”

Thanks to Brock’s usual habit of getting us lost, we ran out of all our medicine. We stopped at Mossgreen Village, a place famous for its herbal remedies, to restock.

We met a local apothecary named Cassandra, who needed to evolve her Paras to create a specific medicine. I offered to help her train, but her Paras was so incredibly weak it was almost painful to watch. The moment my Pikachu even sparked with a tiny bit of electricity, the poor thing lost its will to fight.

I hate giving up once I’ve committed to something, but even using Butterfree or Farfetch’d—who are great at holding back—it just felt like I was bullying a helpless creature. I eventually realized that "holding back" is the one skill I am absolutely terrible at. I handed the job over to Misty and Brock.

Brock happened to have the Paras he caught in the Safari Zone, so he decided to have them spar. But in a tragic twist of fate, Brock’s Paras was the one that ended up evolving into Parasect instead.

Seriously, Brock... that was just cold.

I couldn't help but wince. Watching another Paras evolve right in front of its face was the final straw for Cassandra’s Paras; it ran away in tears. We all went looking for it and eventually found that Team Rocket had somehow decided to become "cheerleaders" for the little guy. If only they were this helpful when they weren't trying to steal Pokémon.

Thanks to Team Rocket’s bizarre encouragement, Cassandra’s Paras finally found its courage and evolved into Parasect as well. Brock, naturally having an ulterior motive, asked Cassandra about the medicinal uses of Parasect mushrooms, and she offered to teach him how to brew the medicine as a thank-you. Being able to make our own supplies is a huge win, so I encouraged him to learn. We ended up staying the night—even Team Rocket got to stay. Wait, what happened to "blasting off"?

Age 10, July 14 — “Poor Meowth, LOL”

Spending the night together revealed a few things.

Apparently, Team Rocket’s Meowth fell head-over-heels for Cassandra. He even declared he’d stay behind to be the "Lucky Cat" for her shop. I was watching to see how this drama would unfold when Cassandra’s grandmother returned from the woods with a Persian she’d just caught.

Cassandra beamed and said, “I’ll treasure this Persian and treat it just like Meowth!” It was a total rejection. Knowing Meowth’s history with Persians, I absolutely lost it. I couldn't stop laughing.

Age 10, July 17 — “Neon Town: The Birth of the One and Only Jigglypuff”

It’s her! It’s the Jigglypuff!

The legendary recurring character who puts everyone to sleep and scribbles on their faces! The one who became so iconic she even made it into Super Smash Bros.! I can't believe we’ve finally reached this part of the story.

If I remember right, she couldn't sing because of a sore throat, and we’re supposed to help her. Misty tried to catch her, which just made the poor thing cry. This Jigglypuff is a real piece of work, though—she’s a total attention seeker who gets jealous of any Pokémon more popular than her. I am definitely not catching her. No thanks.

Team Rocket interrupted (standard procedure), but eventually, Jigglypuff got her voice back. Misty and Brock were excited to hear her sing, but "New Ash" is always prepared. I remembered my "Super Earplugs" from the Celadon Game Corner.

I stealthily popped them in before she started her Sing attack.

Normal earplugs wouldn't stand a chance against her voice, but these are high-tech. I can adjust the volume to zero, completely shutting out her song. While everyone else slumped over, fast asleep, I stayed perfectly awake holding Pikachu.

Jigglypuff was absolutely furious. I get it—it’s pretty rude to fall asleep during a requested performance. Since I have a strict "no tolerance" policy for rudeness, I let her borrow my permanent marker, just like the original story.

Those scribbles are brutal. I can't wait for them to wake up and see themselves in a mirror.

Age 10, July 21 — “Grandpa Canyon: I Got the Egg!”

I ran into Gary again at Grandpa Canyon. The place is swarming with Trainers because of a rumor that you can find ancient Pokémon fossils here. Brock mentioned that people used to find fossils at Mt. Moon too, and that his main team back home includes an Aerodactyl, Omastar, and his Kabutops.

Unfortunately, when you have this many people digging at once, the fossils disappear fast. Mt. Moon is basically picked clean now, and Grandpa Canyon is heading the same way.

I honestly didn't care about the fossils, but I couldn't skip this location because this is where Ash finds the Togepi Egg. I decided to kill time by "helping" Gary dig while waiting for Team Rocket to show up and cause trouble. Sure enough, they showed up with dynamite. We tried to stop them, but the explosion sent us all tumbling into a deep, underground cavern.

Down there, we were confronted by prehistoric Pokémon who were understandably pissed that we’d blown up their roof. Kabutops and Omastar started attacking. I used Pikachu and Charmeleon to defend ourselves. I really needed Squirtle, but he was still up on the surface after the dynamite went off.

The battle was intense until the fossil Pokémon suddenly retreated. They’d sensed the "Apex Predator" arriving: Aerodactyl.

Charmeleon lunged at it immediately. In the anime, Charmeleon got toyed with and evolved out of pure frustration, but my Charmeleon is disciplined. He was actually holding his own in a real fight.

But Aerodactyl wasn't interested in a fair match. It scooped me up and flew toward the surface. It got me out of the cavern, but it left Pikachu and Charmeleon behind. I looked down and saw them desperately grabbing onto Aerodactyl’s tail to hitch a ride.

I was officially the "damsel in distress." Misty and Brock were panicking on the ground, but there was nothing I could do while gripped in those talons. Just as it looked like I was going to be lunch, Charmeleon began to glow.

He evolved into Charizard!

Apparently, he was so offended that Aerodactyl had "interrupted" their duel by flying away that he evolved just to chase it down. I’m glad he saved me, but I really wish he hadn't inherited my stubbornness to that degree.

The two fliers started clashing in the sky, but Charizard was still getting used to his new wings and couldn't quite close the gap. Plus, because he actually respects me, he was hesitant to use a big area attack while I was still being held.

I realized we were at a stalemate. I told Charizard to cover his ears the moment he heard a sound. A few seconds later, the singing began.

Jigglypuff had followed us. Her Sing hit the entire canyon. I had my earplugs in, so I was fine. Aerodactyl tried to stay awake, but no one beats the Puff. It passed out, its grip loosened, and we both started plummeting toward the earth.

In the anime, Aerodactyl just fell back into the cave and disappeared, but that Pokémon is too good to let go. I threw a Poké Ball with a "hope for the best" attitude while Charizard—who was fighting to stay awake despite the song—dived and caught me. We landed safely, and Charizard immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Thanks, partner. You earned that nap.

Now, the important part. While everyone was unconscious, I went looking for the egg. It wasn't hard to find; it was sitting right where it was in the original story. I snatched up the Togepi Egg and stuffed it deep into my backpack. I recalled Charizard and Squirtle before Jigglypuff could get to them and scooped up Pikachu.

I didn't see where my Poké Ball landed for the Aerodactyl, but if I caught it, it should have been transferred to the lab. I’ll check in with the Professor next time I find a phone.

Timeline Deviations

• Charmeleon/Charizard: He is perfectly obedient and in sync with Ash. He evolved into Charizard because he was "offended" by Aerodactyl’s lack of combat etiquette.

• Episode 44: Brock's Paras evolved into Parasect first, causing a funny/tragic moment for the local apothecary.

• Medicine: Brock learned how to craft professional-grade medicine.

• Episode 45: Ash used his "Super Earplugs" to avoid Jigglypuff's song and avoided the scribbles.

• Episode 46: Ash caught (or attempted to catch) the giant Aerodactyl.

• Togepi Egg: Ash has the egg but is keeping it a secret from Misty and Brock so they don't try to claim it.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | ------------------------------------------------ |

| Pikachu | 43 | A little jealous of the new Charizard. |

| Pidgeot | 41 | Reliable aerial scout. |

| Butterfree | 40 | Status specialist. |

| Rhydon | 42 | Heavy physical wall. |

| Bulbasaur | 41 | Mastering utility moves. |

| Charizard | 44 | Newly evolved! Obedient and incredibly powerful. |

| Squirtle | 40 | Solid Water support. |

| Togepi Egg | ?? | Hidden in the bag. Moving occasionally. |

Chapter Text

Age 10, July 21 — “It’s a Trap!”

I checked in with Professor Oak as soon as we reached the Pokémon Center. When the screen turned on, I found him currently being chewed on by my Aerodactyl. It seems they’ve been wrestling since yesterday, but the Professor looked genuinely happy to be studying a living fossil up close, so I’ll assume he’s fine.

I was a little worried the Poké Ball hadn't connected in the chaos of the canyon, but I’m relieved to see Aerodactyl made it to the lab safely.

Misty, however, was stunned. She spent the last few days mocking me, saying things like, "Admit it, you really wanted that fossil Pokémon, didn't you? Too bad, LOL." She definitely didn't expect me to actually have caught the apex predator of the ancient world.

Once I explained that I caught it while it was asleep from Jigglypuff’s song, she put two and two together. She realized that between the canyon and our previous encounter, I was the only person who stayed awake. She officially figured out that I was the one who handed Jigglypuff the marker.

"This was a strategic ambush!" I argued.

"I don't care about your strategies! You let her draw on us!"

"It was a tactical necessity!"

I stood my ground, but man, she was steamed. Look, if you fall asleep on the job, you deal with the consequences. That's just the law of the trail.

Age 10, July 23 — “Hang in There, Bulbasaur”

Now that Charmeleon has evolved into Charizard, it seems he has completely mastered the ultimate fire move, Blast Burn.

This has been a massive blow to Bulbasaur’s morale. They’ve been training together every day since the Sevii Islands to master their respective ultimate moves, and seeing Charizard achieve perfection simply by evolving was a lot for him to take.

Bulbasaur has always been stubborn about evolving, but seeing the massive power gap that evolution provides has clearly shaken his resolve. Pikachu—who shares the "no-evolution" sentiment—has been trying to comfort him, but Bulbasaur’s mood remains grim.

He’s stopped his daily practice sessions for Frenzy Plant. It hasn't affected his performance in standard battles yet, but the psychological impact of Charizard’s evolution is weighing heavily on him.

Age 10, August 2 — “The White Hospital”

Pikachu got something stuck in his throat today. Since the nearest Pokémon Center was too far and it was an emergency, I forced our way into a human hospital. If we hadn't found help, he might have been in real trouble.

The doctor who helped us, a guy named Dr. Proctor, was a bit of a womanizer, but he was a damn good physician.

While we were there, a massive pile-up involving a Pokémon transport vehicle occurred. The hospital was suddenly swamped with injured Pokémon. Since Dr. Proctor couldn't handle the volume alone, we all stepped in to help. Even Team Rocket showed up and, surprisingly, helped us save every single Pokémon. They ended up "blasting off" at the end like usual, but I have to admit, they were actually pretty decent today.

Age 10, August 4 — “James's Double”

Apparently, James was supposed to get married today.

Wait... he didn't?

Oh, okay. Moving on.

Age 10, August 7 — “Discipling the Apex Predator”

Professor Oak called me again, practically begging me to do something about Aerodactyl. It was still rampaging in the lab. I had him transfer it back to me so I could establish some "Pallet-style" hierarchy.

The moment I let Aerodactyl out, it lunged at me. I was ready. I used my Pallet-Style Body Language Arts to remind it who was in charge. In the canyon, I let myself be caught to find the egg, but now that it’s my Pokémon, I expect obedience.

Aerodactyl was shocked that a human could fight back, but as the former king of the skies, it had a lot more pride than Primeape. It refused to back down. I eventually had to break out the Pallet Hundred-Crack Fist—the technique I used in Dark City. It’s the first Pokémon that’s ever forced me to go that far.

It took a while, but Pokémon are fundamentally honest creatures; once you communicate your strength (physically), they start to listen. It’s still glaring at me, but the biting has stopped.

The problem now is combat coordination. I tried a sparring match against Brock’s Onix, but Aerodactyl ignored every command I gave, trying to fight entirely on its own. It seems Charizard is obedient, but this one is going to be a project.

Relationship building takes time. We’ll get there.

Age 10, August 10 — “Star Stalk Stream (12-Hit Combo)”

I found a Trainer using a Farfetch'd to scam people. I sent out my own Farfetch'd and put an end to that immediately. I showed him the true power of the Dual-Sword style: Star Stalk Stream (a 12-hit Fury Cuttercombo). He didn't stand a chance.

Age 10, August 11 — “Togepi is Mine”

The Professor contacted me again to upgrade my Pokédex to the latest version. To be honest, I mostly just use it for move-set verification, but free tech is free tech.

At the same moment, the egg I’d been hiding in my bag finally hatched. A small, high-pitched "Togeprii!" echoed from my backpack. Misty and Brock were nearly scared out of their wits; they had no idea I’d even found an egg in the canyon.

Because I’d kept it a secret, there was no dispute over who found it, no Team Rocket theft, and no Misty claiming she was the "mother" just because she was the first thing it saw. I successfully secured Togepi as my own.

There, there, little one. I’m not as "soft" as Misty. We’re going to start training for battle soon, okay?

Age 10, August 13 — “The Arrival of the Prince”

Misty and Brock were still fuming about me keeping the egg a secret. "Don't you trust us?" "We wouldn't have stolen it!"

I’ve seen the original anime. I know exactly what they would have done. I regret nothing.

Togepi is officially in its Poké Ball, but since it’s still a newborn, it gets distressed if it's inside for too long. For now, I’m letting it ride on my shoulder alongside Pikachu. As I said before, I’m not going to coddle it like Misty would; we’re going to start with some basic drills as soon as it's steady on its feet.

Its ability is Serene Grace. I figured as much—the anime Togepi never showed any signs of "Hustle." This means it’s going to be an absolute nightmare for my opponents in the future.

Misty keeps trying to grab it for a hug, but Togepi keeps hiding behind me. It's stayin' with its Trainer. Sorry, Misty. (Actually, not sorry—my arms are already getting tired, you can hold it in a few weeks.)

Age 10, August 15 — “The Battle Bridge Challenge!”

We’ve reached a massive bridge that is currently hosting a "Battle Bridge" event. It’s a gauntlet-style tournament where you have to win consecutive matches to earn prizes, much like the Nugget Bridge in Cerulean but on a much larger scale.

The entry requirement is steep: you need at least four official Kanto Gym badges. This meant the level of competition was going to be much higher than the average road battle. I’ve been looking for a challenge lately, so this was perfect.

I swapped my team specifically for this event. Since Pikachu, Togepi, and Aerodactyl are currently fixed in my party, I only had three slots left. I realized I hadn't yet field-tested the three recruits I got from the Safari Zone. I brought along Tauros, Slowpoke, and Scyther.

Don't let the "new recruit" status fool you; they've been training. Slowpoke, in particular, is a beast. He has a Relaxednature, which makes him slow to react, but his defensive utility is top-tier. With the Own Tempoability, he’s immune to confusion and intimidation. Between Psychic, Surf, and Slack Off, he’s almost impossible to break through.

Wait, did you say I have a bad affinity with Water-types? And what about Krabby? I can't hear you over the sound of me winning.

There were 18 participants in the gauntlet. I was 4th in line. The "House" had 10 Trainers on standby; 7 of them defended the bridge, swapping out only when their Pokémon were fully defeated. It was a true test of endurance.

Matches were 1v1, no level limits, and TR moves were allowed. The first three challengers barely made it halfway across. The "defenders" were serious business.

My first match: Tauros, I choose you! He has the Intimidate ability, making him a nightmare for physical attackers. The opponent used a Fearow, which was a decent matchup, but Fearow being a Flying-type meant I couldn't use Ground moves. I’d been dying to show off his Fissure and Earthquake, but I guess they’ll have to wait.

I opened with our newly acquired Giga Impact. The Fearow didn't even have time to squawk before it was flattened. One win.

Second match: Slowpoke. The opponent laughed when he saw the pink, vacant-eyed Pokémon. Big mistake. He sent out a Ivysaur to target the type weakness. I just sighed. Using a Poison-type against a Psychic-type is a death sentence. He opened with Vine Whip—a physical move. Slowpoke just took it, barely flinching.

I could have used Amnesia to boost Special Defense or Slack Off to heal, but I didn't need to. I ordered Psychic. Slowpoke’s reaction time is legendary (for being slow), but once the move fired, it was over. Ivysaur was slammed into the bridge and knocked out. Two wins.

Third match: Scyther. This one has the Technician ability, so I’m eventually going to evolve him into a Scizor and become a "Bullet Punch" god. For now, I’m utilizing his Double Hit move. It hits twice, and when combined with "Anime Logic" (the Pallet-Style combat), it becomes a devastating combo.

I used a "Dual-Wing" style combo—Wing Attack mixed with Double Hit. The opponent’s Pinsir took the super-effective, technician-boosted hits and folded instantly. Three wins.

We kept up the momentum, clearing six defenders in a row using the Safari Trio. It came down to the final "Boss" of the bridge.

I had to choose my closer. Slowpoke was getting tired, so it was between Tauros and Scyther. But then, I felt a violent shaking in my bag. Aerodactyl’s Poké Ball was vibrating with intensity. It had been watching the battles and was desperate to prove it was still the apex predator.

Logic said no. You don't use a disobedient Pokémon for the final boss of a tournament. But I decided to take the risk. I figured the only way to break its pride and make it listen was to let it face someone it couldn't beat alone. The final defender was likely at a "6-badge" skill level—equal to or stronger than me.

The defender sent out Electabuzz. A terrible matchup for Aerodactyl.

The battle began, and I gave my first command. Aerodactyl ignored me immediately, lunging at the opponent’s Trainer instead. Of course.

"Is this the best a six-badge Trainer can do?" the defender mocked. I didn't even argue; he was right.

The Electabuzz intercepted Aerodactyl with a Thunder Punch to the face, sending the ancient bird crashing into the bridge. The hit paralyzed Aerodactyl. The defender asked if I wanted to forfeit, but I bowed my head and asked him to continue until the match was truly over. He saw my intent and nodded.

Aerodactyl struggled to its feet, but the paralysis kept locking it up. It took a barrage of Thunder Punches. The Electabuzz was clearly holding back to keep Aerodactyl conscious, but the proud fossil was too blinded by rage to realize it.

I ordered Iron Head—a fast, close-range move—but Aerodactyl tried to use Crunch instead. It left its mouth wide open, and Electabuzz just jammed a fist of electricity right inside.

Finally, broken and desperate, Aerodactyl used Roar. It forcibly returned Electabuzz to its ball. In a 1v1 gauntlet, a phazing move like Roar is a forfeit. Aerodactyl had "won" the exchange by making the opponent leave, but it had lost the match by the rules.

Aerodactyl stood there, panting, looking confused. It realized that forcing the opponent away was an admission of defeat—an act of cowardice. It had tried to play by its own "wild" rules and had been humiliated. It had been toyed with, shown mercy, and had ultimately run away from the fight.

Its "Apex Pride" was shattered. It wouldn't even look at me; it just slumped its head, staring at the ground. It didn't try to bite me when I approached. The realization that its wild strength wasn't enough to dominate a Trainer match had finally sunk in.

I thanked the defender and recalled my depressed Aerodactyl. He told me he’d love to have a "real" match with me someday. I’ll hold him to that—we’ll settle it at the Pokémon League.

Timeline Deviations

• Aerodactyl: Ash successfully caught it but it is currently in a "depressed/rebellious" arc. Ash is using a mix of physical dominance and tactical psychology to bond with it.

• The Marker Prank: Misty officially knows Ash was the culprit behind the Jigglypuff scribbles.

• Evolution/Ultimate Moves: Charizard mastered Blast Burn upon evolution, causing Bulbasaur to fall into a depression regarding its own growth.

• Togepi: Ash successfully kept it a secret from the group until it hatched, ensuring he is the official Trainer and "parent."

• Battle Bridge: A new event where Ash tested his Safari Zone team.

Current Party

| Pokémon | Level | Notes |

| ---------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------- |

| Pikachu | 43 | Learning to share the spotlight with Togepi. |

| Pidgeot | 41 | The eye in the sky. |

| Butterfree | 40 | Sleep support. |

| Rhydon | 42 | Physical tank. |

| Bulbasaur | 41 | Currently depressed about his growth. |

| Charizard | 44 | Mastered Blast Burn. |

| Squirtle | 40 | Solid backup. |

| Togepi | 1 | Newly hatched! Has Serene Grace. |

| Aerodactyl | 36 | Shattered pride; needs emotional rehab. |