Pidgeotto whizzed back through the air, wings beating hard as it released a sharp gust. The sudden rush of wind tore through the lingering smog, scattering it like mist under sunlight. Within seconds, the suffocating smell vanished, leaving behind only the faint scent of disinfectant from the Pokémon Center.
"You guys, come back."
The command was short. Cold.
Maybe it was because of that gust, or maybe something else entirely—but the boy standing beside Jessie and James recalled them without hesitation.
"…Is it done already?" James muttered, staring at the now-clear hallway in disbelief.
Jessie didn't reply. Neither did the boy.
He turned on his heel and walked away, footsteps quick and silent, his coat brushing against the tiled floor. Jessie and James exchanged a glance before hurrying after him, neither daring to speak.
Ash stood still, eyes following their retreating backs until they disappeared beyond the doors. 'That's completely out of character for the trio from the anime,' Ash thought. Jessie and James weren't the problem.
The boy was.
Ash could feel it—things were starting to diverge from the original flow. Subtly, but undeniably. At his current stage, Ash was confident he could keep up with that kid one-on-one. But with numbers involved? That would be reckless.
Not worth it. Not yet.
"Hey, Ash… Are you alright?"
Misty's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She had just rushed over, her ponytail swaying slightly. Yellow followed close behind, her breathing still a little uneven.
"Yeah," Ash replied easily. "Just some grunt from Team Rocket."
"Huff…" Yellow let out a quiet sigh of relief, shoulders relaxing. "Thank goodness you're alright."
A small smile tilted on her lips as she looked him over, as if making sure there were no hidden injuries.
Silence settled for a moment.
Then—
"But… what are you doing so late at night?" Yellow's innocent question almost made Ash stumble. For a split second, his mind raced. He had been hoping to dodge it, but in the end, he just gave up and told them the truth—he'd been craving something sweet.
Misty blinked once. Then grinned.
"Oh? So you sneaked out for dessert?"
"…Maybe." That was all it took.
Not long after, the three of them were walking through the softly lit streets, the quiet night broken only by distant chatter and the hum of streetlights. Ash learnt two important things that night.
First—Misty argued fiercely over food choices.
Second—he had a serious sweet tooth.
By the time they returned to the Pokémon Center, the tension from earlier felt like a distant memory. After settling in, Ash lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling while thoughts slowly drifted through his mind. Changes in the timeline. Stronger opponents. Unknown variables.
His eyelids grew heavier.
And before he realised it, he slept like a log.
Morning arrived quietly. Ash woke up later than usual.
When he stepped outside, he immediately spotted Yellow already training, sweat glistening lightly on her skin as Bulbasaur rested by her side. Her thin training clothes clung to her body, outlining curves that were impossible to ignore.
"Good morning, Ash," she said cheerfully. "You slept in today." Ash coughed.
Hard.
Normally, he treated Yellow like a close friend—almost like a familiar presence he didn't overthink. But moments like this made him painfully aware of reality.
'I'm ridiculously lucky in this timeline…' Yellow tilted her head, eyes filled with concern. "What happened?"
"Nothing," Ash replied quickly, waving it off. "Just a morning vent."
Misty soon joined them as well, clothes damp with sweat, looking just as unaware of the effect she had. Ash realised something important then.
'They're denser than I thought.'
After a quick shower, they gathered their things and prepared to leave. Nurse Joy thanked Ash repeatedly for last night, clearly under the impression that he had personally fended off Team Rocket. By the time they stepped outside, a rumour had already begun spreading.
A powerful rookie trainer was heading toward Pewter City for his first gym challenge.
Ash received a call from Professor Oak shortly after.
The old professor's voice was unusually serious.
This year, the Kanto Conference would be different.
The Kanto League, Johto League, and several others were joining forces to form an eight-round world conference system. Over four years, trainers would be given eight chances to compete, ranking themselves among the top hundred to earn the right to challenge the world tournament.
One could fight in all eight leagues.
But there was a restriction.
After completing one league, only three Pokémon could be carried over into the next.
Professor Oak had already submitted recommendations.
Ash. Garry. And another boy. That alone meant one thing—spotlight.
Being personally sponsored by Professor Oak ensured attention from every corner of the region. Yet, at the core, nothing truly changed.
If something did change, then it was that stronger trainers would join. Competition would intensify. That was all there was to it.
What mattered was this—Top 32 meant a seeded position in the world championship. Ash felt a quiet thrill rise in his chest. Before ending the call, Oak casually added one more thing. Ash might be receiving a Froakie by the next town.
By evening. Ash did some quick calculations in his head. By that time, he would reach Fallen Town—the settlement resting at the entrance of Viridian Forest.
Unlike the games, the distance between Viridian City and Pewter City was no short walk. Reality stretched far wider. Five towns lay between them. And Fallen Town was the last stop before the long, dangerous forest path ahead.
Ash smiled faintly.
The journey was only just beginning.
The day shimmered gently under the open sky.
A cool wind rushed through the plains, brushing against their skin and carrying with it a refreshing chill. This region lay close enough to the coast that even on warmer days, a steady breeze drifted inland, softening the heat. Grass swayed like waves, and the distant sound of flowing water blended with the cries of wild Pokémon.
It was a perfect day for a journey.
"Ash," Yellow chimed in, her steps light as she glanced around, eyes sparkling. "Can we have a picnic somewhere around here? It looks so nice… and there's a river too."
She knew their pace well. With how fast they were moving, Fallen Town would be reached by evening. There was no rush. Ash looked at her—at the hopeful expression she was trying, and failing, to hide.
He sighed inwardly. 'That soft spot again…'
"Alright," he said with a small smile. "Let's do it." Yellow beamed instantly and turned toward Misty with a victorious grin. "I want to fish," Misty said next, already scanning the riverbanks.
"I heard a Poliwag was spotted here."
"Hm," Ash hummed thoughtfully. "Then I'll try my luck with Magikarp."
Misty blinked. "Seriously?" Ash nodded, though his thoughts were far more calculated than his tone suggested.
'If I'm catching one, it needs at least two A-grade stats.'
Unlike most Pokémon, Magikarp were born in absurd numbers, yet only a tiny fraction ever evolved into Gyarados. Without sufficient talent, they would remain weak forever. If every Magikarp could evolve easily, oceans would already be ruled by Gyarados colonies. That alone spoke volumes.
"I'll cook today, Ash." Yellow's sudden declaration pulled him out of his thoughts. "I want to treat you to something sweet." Ash tilted his head slightly. "Sweet?" He knew Yellow was good at cooking—exceptionally good—but desserts?
"Really?" His eyes lit up instinctively.
"Mhm," she nodded, hands behind her back. "I can cook sweets. I just thought you didn't like them." Her tone softened, carrying an oddly domestic warmth that made Ash's lips twitch.
'Dangerous…'
For a brief moment, he genuinely wanted to hug her.
"Well," he replied instead, keeping his composure, "I'll be looking forward to it." In his previous life, he used to laugh at jokes about people who could cook everything except desserts. Back then, he never imagined he'd become one of them.
Reality had been cruel.
He'd once stunned himself for an entire month with his own cooking.
So at this moment, he could only place his faith in the little sweety beside him.
Misty watched the exchange silently. Something about it felt… strange. She didn't quite understand why, but she found herself paying more attention to Ash lately. His honesty, his composure, and the way he treated Pokémon—and people—made him stand out.
She shook her head lightly.
'Get a grip.'
Ash set things up efficiently.
A foldable chair snapped open. A parasol followed, casting cool shade. A soft beanbag landed beside it—all pulled from a compact bag that could shrink and store absurd amounts of items.
"Nice," Ash said casually, pulling out a small cool box. "Let's drink some juice. What do you girls think?" They nodded in approval, each taking a can.
Just as Ash popped the tab, footsteps approached.
Three figures came into view.
2 boys. One was looking a bit fat, with fighting spirit lighting in his eyes. And a thin guy with lean physique and a thin frame lens on his eyes.
The girl looked cute and fresh, not any character Ash remember from anime.
"Hey!" one of them shouted. "Let's have a battle, pal!" Ash jumped up instantly. Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder in the same moment, sparks faintly crackling.
"Sure!" Ash said without hesitation. "Let's have one." Misty rolled her eyes.
"He completely forgot about the Magikarp…"
"All right!" The fat boy said enthusiastically, stepping forward. "Let's do it!" The girl between them raised her hand. "I'll referee!" The boy tossed his Poké Ball forward. "I choose you—Nidoran!" A blue, rodent-like Pokémon appeared in a flash of light.
"Nido~" It let out a small but firm cry, eyes sharp. By then, Yellow had finished setting up the cooking area and turned around—only to find Ash already in a battle.
"…Aibo," Ash said calmly, looking at Pikachu. "Let's do it."
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped down, landing lightly at the centre of the field, tail swaying as battle intent flooded his small body.
"A Pikachu, huh?" The trainer grinned. "Nidoran, use Tackle!" Nidoran charged forward with surprising force.
"Dodge it." Pikachu moved instantly. As Nidoran dashed straight ahead, Pikachu twisted sideways, using his tail to vault off the ground. He kicked off the nearby tree trunk, flipping through the air.
Nidoran rushed past, striking nothing but air. "Thunderbolt." Pikachu slapped his cheeks.
Crackling electricity surged outward in a brilliant flash.
"Quick Attack! Dodge it!" Nidoran burst forward, forcing its body beyond its limits. The lightning struck the steel, sending sparks across its hide, but after receiving the attack, the little Nidoran kept moving—driven by sheer will.
The fat trainer gasped. "Nidoran—are you okay?!"
"Nido~!" The cry was firm. Both Pokémon landed, eyes locked, a heavy tension filling the air.
"Quick Attack".
"Quick Attack" Both commands rang out at the same time. But the difference was absolute.
Pikachu vanished in a yellow blur.
Before anyone could react, Nidoran was struck—hard. The impact sent it tumbling across the ground toward its trainer, and it went past him for a metre or two.
"Ni… Nido…" It struggled, forcing itself back up. Fighting spirit still burning high at it. Then—a yellow flash. A bolt of lightning struck cleanly. Pikachu landed, looking at the Nidoran that was struck out by that thunderbolt attack.
Nidoran collapsed.
"Nidoran is unable to battle," Misty announced clearly. "The Pikachu trainer is the winner." The referee girl stood frozen, eyes wide. Misty patted her shoulder. "Ah… I think you forgot."
The girl blinked, then laughed sheepishly. "Oh—right." Ash returned Pikachu, who chirped proudly before disappearing in red light. As the two girls began chatting, Ash glanced back toward the river.
'Magikarp… next time.' He thought.