Littleroot Town—a quiet place said to be untouched by color. Though small, it holds just as much importance in the Hoenn Region as Pallet Town does in Kanto. That's because it's home to Professor Birch's Pokémon Research Lab!
—Littleroot Town Port—
Several Wingull circled overhead in the clear blue sky.
After days at sea, Ash finally stepped off the cruise ship and onto the dock of Littleroot Town.
"Finally! The Hoenn Region!" Ash took a deep breath, grinning. "The air here is so fresh!"
"Pikachu~!" Pikachu agreed, nodding from his shoulder.
Ash's heart pounded with excitement. His next goal: to win the Ever Grande Conference!
"Let's go, Pikachu! First stop—Professor Birch's lab!"
"Pika!"
Following the signs, Ash made his way through the forest path leading to the research lab.
"Hello? I'm Ash from Pallet Town! Is anyone here?" Ash knocked on the door. "Pikapi~!"
Creak...
The door opened, but instead of Professor Birch, his assistant greeted them.
"Oh! Welcome to the Hoenn Region, Ash! The Professor told me you'd be arriving. I'm sorry, though—he just left to do some fieldwork in the backwoods."
"That's fine! I'll go find him myself. Maybe I'll spot some Hoenn Pokémon too!" Ash smiled and immediately ran off.
"Young people are so impatient these days…" the assistant sighed with a shake of his head.
Ash and Pikachu trekked through the forested hills behind the lab.
Just then, they heard a voice shouting, "Any of them is fine! Just send out a Pokémon!"
"That sounds like Professor Birch! Let's go, Pikachu!" Ash dashed toward the voice.
"Uh—okay, come out!" another voice replied, clearly flustered.
"And then what? What should I do now?"
"Use a move! Quick!"
"Which move?!"
"Say 'Water Gun'!"
"…Water Gun?"
SPLOOSH!
A stream of water blasted directly into the girl's face. Ash arrived just in time to witness the scene.
If there was no mistake… this girl was May.
Ash, Pikachu, and even Professor Birch, who was hanging from a tree surrounded by a pack of angry Poochyena, were all stunned.
"Ahhh! What the heck was that?!" May cried, soaked.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Help the Professor!" Ash commanded.
"Pika—CHUUU!" A flash of golden lightning lit up the forest, scattering the wild Pokémon in an instant.
"Whew! Saved…" Professor Birch groaned, finally free.
"Huh?! And you are…?"
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town. And this is my partner, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu~!"
"Oh, you're Ash! Thank you so much! I didn't expect you to arrive this fast. Come on, let's head back to the lab!"
Professor Birch turned to May. "And you, May! Thanks for the help. You've grown even more beautiful—just like your mother!"
"I-I didn't do much at all…" May stammered, waving her hands nervously.
"You came to pick your first Pokémon, right? Have you decided which one you want?"
"Ah… not yet…" May murmured, nervously tapping her index fingers together. (◞‸◟ )
The three of them returned to the lab together.
"Hi, I'm May from Petalburg City," May said shyly, walking beside Ash.
"Ah, nice to—"
"WAHAHAHA!!" A loud, obnoxious laugh interrupted him.
Suddenly, a mechanical arm shot out, followed by a giant, battery-shaped robot!
"Who are you?!" both Professor Birch and May shouted.
"Since you've asked so sincerely…"
"Then we'll show some mercy and tell you!"
Ash rolled his eyes. "Team Rocket again? You never give up! Pidgeot, let's go! Use Brave Bird! Pikachu, Iron Tail to break the arm—then Volt Tackle!"
"Pika~!"
With a single strike, Pikachu shattered the robot's mechanical arm, then charged forward with Volt Tackle alongside Pidgeot's blazing Brave Bird!
BOOM!
The robot exploded—and accidentally obliterated May's bicycle in the process.
Second bike… down.
"Hey! That's not fair, Ash! We didn't even get to finish our lines!" Jessie shouted.
"Yeah! Meowth hasn't even said a word yet!" James whined.
"Sonansu~ (˃ʍ˂)…"
"What a nasty feeling~!!"
The battle ended so quickly that Professor Birch and May could only stand there, stunned.
"Aaaah! My bike! T^T" May cried, devastated.
"Ah! I'm so sorry! I'll replace it!" Ash said quickly, Pikachu bowing beside him. "Pikapi~!"
"…It's okay. I know you didn't do it on purpose." May sniffled, then tilted her head. "But… who were those people? And did that Meowth just… talk?"
Professor Birch stepped closer, equally intrigued. He'd heard of Team Rocket, a criminal group from Kanto, but a talking Meowth?
"They're Pokémon thieves," Ash explained. "And yeah… Meowth apparently taught himself how to speak."
"That's awful! I can't believe they steal people's Pokémon!"
"Alright, May," Professor Birch said, changing the subject. "It's time to choose your first Pokémon!"
He guided them back into the lab.
"Here they are! Your choices are inside these three Poké Balls."
"Okay!" May nodded.
"First up—Treecko!"
A small green lizard with big yellow eyes emerged.
But the moment Treecko stared at her, May recoiled. "It's glaring at me!"
Uh... maybe it's just looking at you? Ash thought.
"Next—Mudkip!"
"But… Mudkip didn't listen to me earlier…" May took a step back, shaking her head.
Maybe it's because you gave a terrible command... (￢_￢)
"And finally—Torchic!"
The fluffy orange chick, the base form of the mighty Blaziken, hopped out. With three little feathers atop its head, it ran up to May and rubbed against her legs affectionately.
"Aww, you're adorable! Okay, you're the one, Torchic!" May beamed and picked it up.
"Chamo~ Chamo~!" (=^▽^=)
"Here," Professor Birch handed her a Pokédex and six Poké Balls. "Do your best! I'm sure you'll become a great Trainer—maybe even one that surpasses your father!"
"Let's cheer each other on!" Ash smiled.
"Y-Yeah…" May replied, half-heartedly.
Then she mumbled under her breath, "Though… I'm not even sure I want to be a Trainer…"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Ah—nothing! Haha! I'll do my best!"
Just as Ash was getting ready to leave, Professor Birch added, "You'll both need to register at the nearest Pokémon Center if you want to enter the Hoenn League. The closest one is in Oldale Town. If you leave now, you should reach it by evening."
"Got it. Thanks, Professor!" Ash said.
May sighed. "Ugh… Walking all that way by myself sounds like a pain. I wish I had a bike…"
Ash twitched. "Why don't we go together? We can look out for each other."
"Yay!" May jumped up in excitement.
"Pikapi~!" Pikachu scratched his head with a sheepish smile.
Ash sighed inwardly. It's not Pikachu's fault… It's fate! But honestly, traveling with such a cute girl might be fun!
"Alright, you two take care of each other and travel safely," Professor Birch waved them off.
"Thank you, Professor Birch! We're heading out!"
The two waved back, then turned and set off toward the road ahead.
To be continued…