Chikorita was the second Pokémon Ash caught in the Johto region.
Brave, competitive, and clearly sharing a strong bond with Ash, Chikorita had quickly become a reliable partner. However, since it hadn't evolved to its final form, their compatibility score definitely hadn't reached the full 255 yet.
That said, Ash had grown more open-minded over time. He no longer forced his Pokémon to evolve just for strength.
Just like Bulbasaur and Squirtle—neither of them wanted to evolve, and Ash fully respected that decision.
After all, Pokémon were living beings, not tools or objects. They had their own desires, their own talents, and their own paths to follow.
With Chikorita now part of his team, Ash had more than six Pokémon on hand.
So, he decided to transfer Bulbasaur—also a Grass-type—back to Professor Oak's lab. Coincidentally, some unrest had recently started brewing among the Pokémon in Oak's backyard. Sending Bulbasaur back to help settle things made perfect sense.
Ash and the others spent two whole days training in the mountains before finally crossing over to reach Violet City.
Those two days also gave Ash some good bonding time with his newly caught Chikorita.
Now that they were in Violet City, their first stop was naturally the famous Sprout Tower.
A three-story tower, it always looked like it was swaying dangerously in the wind, as if about to collapse. But in reality, that very swaying motion was what protected it from disasters like earthquakes.
According to legend, the tower was built around a central support pillar over 30 meters tall—an incredible feat of engineering wisdom from the ancestors.
But Sprout Tower wasn't just a marvel of architecture. For many Pokémon Trainers journeying through Johto, the tower held a much deeper meaning.
It was said that every Trainer who hoped to compete in the Johto League made a stop at Sprout Tower to reflect on their journey—their very first steps away from home.
For Ash, his journey had started with a simple Pidgey.
Back then, he and Pikachu were still at odds. Out of stubbornness, Ash tried to catch a Pidgey all by himself.
Of course, that ended in disaster.
Eventually, he caught a Pidgeotto. But by the time he finished his journey through Kanto, that Pidgeotto had evolved into a Pidgeot… which he then released back into the Viridian Forest.
Ash didn't even know if Pidgeot was still there anymore.
As if prompted by the thought, Ash looked out from the top of Sprout Tower—and to his surprise, spotted a Trainer gliding through the sky with a parachute, soaring alongside a massive Pidgeot!
Later, after descending from Sprout Tower, Ash and his friends found themselves standing outside the Violet Gym—only to see that same Trainer from earlier, now up close along with his Pidgeot.
"Hey there! Are you here to challenge the Violet Gym?" the Trainer greeted them with a friendly smile. A Hoothoot sat perched calmly on his shoulder.
"That's right! I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my very first Gym battle in the Johto region!" Ash introduced himself eagerly.
"Nice to meet you all! I'm Falkner!" the Trainer replied.
"Wow, that Pidgeot is huge!" Misty gasped in admiration.
"It really is," Ash chuckled. "Even bigger than my old one!"
That immediately piqued Falkner's interest. "You had a Pidgeot too?"
"Sure did," Ash nodded. "Not long ago, it was still traveling with me."
"But something happened… and we ended up parting ways near where I originally caught it—somewhere around Viridian Forest. I'm not even sure how it's doing now."
Falkner was visibly moved by Ash's words. "You must've really cared for your Pidgeot."
"Of course I did!"
"Absolutely! Pidgeot is one of the finest Flying-type Pokémon out there!" Falkner beamed with pride. His Pidgeot was clearly his ace.
He clapped a hand on Ash's shoulder. "I like you already! Honestly, I think we're gonna get along just fine!"
"Truth is, my dream is to become the world's greatest Flying-type Pokémon Trainer!"
"I've always had this longing for the sky. Over time, that love turned into an obsession with the freedom of Flying-types!"
"Since you're here to challenge the Violet Gym, Ash, why don't you come inside with me?" Falkner offered with a confident grin.
That sudden shift caught Brock and Misty off guard, but Ash smiled knowingly.
"Looks like we've met the Gym Leader already. Lead the way, Falkner!"
Violet Gym was an impressively tall structure, and the battlefield was located right at the top on a wide rooftop platform!
"Ash, welcome to the Violet Gym!" Falkner declared.
Several people had already gathered at the rooftop battlefield, waiting silently. The atmosphere was tense and electric.
"You okay, Ash?" Brock asked, concerned.
Ash gave a confident smirk. "Don't worry about me. I live for moments like this!"
"Then let's begin! The official Gym battle at Violet Gym is about to start! Falkner, the Gym Leader, will face off against the challenger from Pallet Town—Ash! Each side may use three Pokémon. Are both Trainers ready?"
"Ready!" Ash shouted. "Falkner, I'm going to win that badge!"
Falkner's competitive spirit ignited. "I won't make it easy for you! As a Gym Leader, I have a reputation to uphold—and I'll show you just how powerful Flying-types really are!"
According to Gym rules, the Leader sends out the first Pokémon.
Falkner's choice was none other than the Hoothoot that had been resting on his shoulder earlier.
"Alright then—your turn, Pikachu!" Ash called out. Since it was a Flying-type Gym, opening with an Electric-type like Pikachu was an obvious and smart move.
But Ash had thought things through even deeper.
Squirtle wasn't suited to face Flying-types.
Chikorita had just been caught and was at a type disadvantage.
Heracross? Whether Bug or Fighting, both types were terribly weak against Flying-types—no way Ash would risk it.
Which meant his usable team for this match was down to Pikachu, Snorlax, and Charizard.
Thankfully, Snorlax happened to be awake right now.
"Smart choice," Falkner admitted, narrowing his eyes. "But Ash, if you think you can win this just by relying on Electric-types, you're dead wrong!"
"Hoothoot, strike first with Tackle!"
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Pikachu's Quick Attack landed before Hoothoot could even move—slamming it hard and knocking it off balance.
"Hoothoot, gain altitude!" Falkner shouted.
"Oh no you don't! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Hoothoot struggled to lift itself into the air, but it was too late—Pikachu's Thunderbolt rained down, zapping it mercilessly.
"Hoothoot is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!"
"Well, I can't blame it for losing to an Electric-type," Falkner said as he recalled Hoothoot. He looked up at Ash and smiled. "You're stronger than I expected."
Pikachu's Bond Level: 208/255