The golden hour was settling over the Pallet Town hills, painting the horizon in hues of amber and violet. It was a beautiful sight, but for me, it carried a bit of a sting. Every traveler knows that the best parts of a journey are often the ones you have to walk away from.
"Alright, Ash, eyes on me. This is the final lesson," I said, my voice steady despite the reluctant look on the boy's face. "You have to promise to keep practicing these concepts. A Trainer's best weapon isn't just their Pokémon's power—it's their own brain."
Today was our last afternoon on the back mountain. Togepi's health was perfect, my research notes with Professor Oak were packed, and the ferry back to Sinnoh was waiting.
"I'll remember it all, Brother Julian! I promise!" Ash shouted, though his shoulders were slumped. "But... we're still gonna battle, right? When I get my first Pokémon?"
"Of course," I smiled, extending my hand. "I'll be looking forward to that day more than you know. Don't let me down, Future Master."
Under the fading light, we shook hands—a silent agreement between a mentor and a student who would one day surpass everyone.
As we walked back down toward the town, I hesitated. A thought had been gnawing at the back of my mind since I'd arrived in Kanto. "Oh, that's right, Ash. One more thing."
"Yeah?"
"When you become a Trainer... if your travels ever take you to Vermilion City, remember to..." I trailed off.
I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him to go to a specific old, dilapidated villa. I wanted to tell him that a certain lonely, purple, chubby Ghost-type had been waiting for its master for years—and that while its master wasn't coming back, Ash was exactly the kind of person who could give it a new home.
But I stopped myself. Ash was still so young. In the beginning of his journey, he was reckless, impulsive, and struggled to handle high-level Pokémon. If he met that Gengar too early, his body might not handle the cursed energy, and his heart might not be ready for the weight of its grief. Some things shouldn't be rushed. Destiny has its own clock.
"Remember what?" Ash asked, tilting his head.
"Remember to explore," I finished with a shrug. "Vermilion City is a harbor town. It's full of interesting people and rare Pokémon from all over the world. There's a very strong Gym there too—Lt. Surge's Electric-type Gym. Just... keep your eyes open. You never know who you might meet in the shadows of an old building."
"Got it! Explore Vermilion! I'm on it!" Ash punched the air, his vigor returning.
I smiled. If they were meant to meet, they would. Whether it was now or two years from now, that Gengar deserved a friend like Ash.
The Stars of Pallet Town
That night, I stood on the balcony of the laboratory guest wing, staring up at the shimmering Kanto sky. It was my last night in Pallet Town.
It had only been two weeks, but so much had changed. I'd gone from a researcher with a dream to a man with a Mythical encounter under his belt, a newly awakened sense of Aura, and a third partner sleeping in the room behind me.
I glanced over at my desk. It was covered in photos—the physical proof of my "time travel" journey. I'd spent the last hour meticulously filing them away.
"I still can't believe I didn't find the Kangaskhan grove," I muttered, shaking my head.
I had spent three evenings trying to track down the local Kangaskhan group, hoping to catch a glimpse of a certain baby Pichu—the one who would eventually become the world-conquering Pikachu we all know. I had visions of getting a photo of "Baby Pikachu" and "Childhood Ash" together. It would have been the ultimate collector's item.
Alas, the forest was vast, and the Pikachu God's origin story remained a mystery for now. (╥╯^╰╥)
"Whatever," I sighed, looking at the photo of childhood Ash and Serena instead. "I've already got the holy grail of ship-bait. I shouldn't be greedy."
I turned my thoughts back to the future. I was heading back to Sinnoh. The Canalave City Gym was my next stop. It was a Steel-type Gym, and currently, my team consisted of three Fairy-types. Statistically speaking, I was walking into a woodchipper. Steel resists Fairy and deals super-effective damage back.
But I wasn't the same Trainer who had landed in Kanto. I had the Counter Shield. I had Togepi. And I had a year's worth of specialized Fairy-type research under my belt. If I couldn't overcome a type disadvantage with strategy, I didn't deserve to call myself a Specialist.
"Time to go back," I whispered. "The real battles are just beginning."
The Return to Vermilion
The next morning was a whirlwind of activity.
"Well then, Professor Oak, I can't thank you enough for everything. This has been the most productive two weeks of my life."
"Nonsense, Julian! You've given me enough Fairy-type data to fill three volumes," Oak said, gripping my hand firmly. "But it looks like your biggest fan didn't make it. Ash promised he'd be here at dawn, but knowing that boy, he's currently drooling into his pillow."
I laughed, looking at the empty path leading from the town. "It's okay. A formal goodbye isn't his style anyway. Just tell him I'm waiting for that battle. Tell him to train hard, because I won't be going easy on him when we meet in the League."
"I'll tell him," Oak promised.
After a long bus ride back through Viridian City and down the coastal highway, I finally stepped off the transport in Vermilion City. The salty air hit my lungs, and the first thing I saw was the silhouette of that old, crumbling villa on the hill.
Impulse took over. Before heading to the docks, I walked up the winding, overgrown path to the villa's gate.
I looked down. The boxes of high-grade Pokéblocks I had left there weeks ago were gone. The area was swept clean of debris, almost as if someone—or something—had been tidying up while waiting.
"So you are here," I said softly, looking at the dark windows of the house.
I didn't try to go inside. I knew the rules. Instead, I reached into my bag and pulled out several specialized containers. I'd spent my last night at Oak's lab preparing these—premium Poison and Ghost-type blends, enriched with the finest Berries Kanto had to offer.
I lined them up neatly by the door.
"I know the person you're waiting for isn't coming back," I whispered to the empty air. "But I promise you, someone is coming. Someone with a heart as big as the ocean and a laugh that can chase away any ghost. It'll be two years. Just... hold on a little longer."
I turned away and started down the hill toward the harbor. I'd left a seed of destiny in Pallet Town, and another here in Vermilion. Now, it was time to go tend to my own garden.
As the ferry pulled away from the Kanto docks, Sylveon stood at the railing, her ribbons fluttering in the sea breeze. Togepi chirped happily in my arms, and Floette watched the shoreline disappear.
"Next stop, Sinnoh," I said, looking toward the northern horizon. "Let's go get that badge."