Even just strolling down the Poké Mart Street with two Pokémon by his side, Ash drew quite the attention—and for more than one reason.
First, his age.
The laws across the entire Pokémon world were very strict: no one under ten was allowed to officially own or carry Pokémon.
Yet here was Ash, no more than six or seven years old, openly walking with two Pokémon by his side. Naturally, this made heads turn instantly.
Second, it was his Pokémon.
Many people on the street were accompanied by Pokémon, even some from regions beyond Kanto—mostly Johto, since it bordered the region. But Ash had a Frogadier, a species native to the faraway Kalos Region.
That alone made him stand out like a shining beacon on the busy street.
"Whoa!! Look at that kid! He's way too young to have Pokémon. Is that even legal?"
"Wait… doesn't that kid look kinda familiar?"
"Come on, don't you guys remember? You were just talking about that skill shop run by a kid named Ash—how it supposedly has a 95% success rate at helping Pokémon learn moves. That's him! That's the real deal!"
"You mean… this little guy is Ash?!"
"Black hair… yeah, I remember! At the summer camp, there were only two black-haired kids—one was Goh, who got kicked out for mistreating a Magikarp, and the other one… was Ash!"
"That's right! This is definitely him!"
"But wait, didn't Ash's Pokémon used to be Froakie?"
"Are you dumb? At the final battle of the camp, Ash's Froakie was already showing signs of evolution. The camp ended two or three days ago—it's obvious this is Froakie's evolved form!"
"Now that you mention it, yeah! Both are blue frog Pokémon—this must be his evolved Froakie!"
As Ash walked down the street, more and more people began to notice him. At first it was just the age thing, but now people were outright recognizing him.
He could feel their gazes—surprised, curious, admiring—and hear whispers among the passersby.
The attention made Ash tense. He quickened his pace, anxiety rising in his chest.
After all, when summer camp ended, Team Rocket's infamous trio had declared, "That brat named Ash—we'll meet again real soon!"
Ash figured that by now, he was definitely on their radar.
He'd come to Viridian City today to buy Pokémon food and a smartphone, specifically because he believed the League was still busy cracking down on Team Rocket for attacking the camp.
With so much pressure on them, Rocket agents probably wouldn't have time to target him just yet.
Plus, the League had increased security around Pallet Town and Professor Oak, so Ash had felt safe enough to venture out alone.
But even with all that, this trip was still a risk.
Being recognized by the public, especially on a busy street like this, could blow everything up in his face.
"I should've worn a mask or something," Ash muttered to himself, quickening his steps.
But fate is cruel.
Just when he least wanted to be noticed, a young Trainer—clearly a fan—walked straight up and blocked his path.
"Hi! You're Ash, right? I'm Lucan!" the older boy grinned. "I watched the summer camp livestream and I'm a HUGE fan! Can I take a selfie with you?!"
He looked around 13 or 14, easily older than Ash, but clearly just as excited.
"Uh… what if I said you've got the wrong guy?" Ash half-covered his face with his hand, sighing in exasperation.
"Heh, nice try. But I'm not falling for that," the boy chuckled. "You're definitely Ash."
"…Fine." Ash gave up, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.
"Yesss!" The boy gleefully pulled out his phone, crouched down beside Ash, and took a picture.
"I want one too!"
"Me too!"
"Ash-kun, can I get your autograph?"
Before he could blink, a crowd rushed in from all directions, trapping Ash in a wall of excited fans.
The smile on his face turned stiff—so stiff it looked worse than a frown.
He wanted to break free and run, but with this many people around, there was no escape route at all.
…
Meanwhile, beneath Viridian Gym — Team Rocket's Secret Sub-Base
"Jessie. James. Meowth."
A commanding voice echoed in the operations room.
"Didn't the boss order you three to capture that brat named Ash from Pallet Town?"
A gruff officer spoke, glancing at new intel sent from Officer Jenny's precinct.
"According to the city surveillance system, our people spotted the target in the shopping district."
"What?! That brat's in the city right now?"
Jessie, James, and Meowth—who had been brainstorming ways to infiltrate Pallet Town—lit up with excitement.
They'd just been going over a detailed plan to slip past the League's guards and snatch Ash from under Professor Oak's nose. But now? The boy had walked right into their territory!
"This kid's in the heart of the shopping district, surrounded by fans asking for photos and autographs. If you head there now, you can catch him off-guard."
"Got it! Thanks!!"
"No problem. If this mission goes well, you guys should be in line for a promotion, right? Just don't forget us little guys when you rise through the ranks!"
"Don't worry," Jessie waved. "We'll remember you."
"Dinner's on us once the mission's done," James added. "The boss is putting a lot of pressure on us to get this kid."
"Well then, best of luck—and congrats in advance!"
"Hahaha! You're too kind!"
With that, the call ended, and Team Rocket's infamous trio jumped into action.
They weren't just bumbling grunts this time—they had risen through the ranks, earning their place in Team Rocket's elite special operations squad based on a remote island.
Their track record was impressive.
Just a few days ago, they'd managed to infiltrate the League's heavily guarded summer camp and steal over 90 Pokémon—all under Professor Oak's watchful eye.
Yes, the incident had angered the League and sparked a massive crackdown. Team Rocket had been forced into hiding since.
But within the organization, Jessie, James, and Meowth were hailed as heroes.
Their next target?
The very boy who had slipped away last time…
Ash.
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