Chapter 188: The Flying-Type Master of Pallet Town
Kanto, Pallet Town. Lush greenery, warm sunlight—this was the small town where the winds of new beginnings always blew.
In a neatly arranged yard, a kind-looking woman finished hanging out the bedding. She wiped the sweat off her forehead before glancing up at the second-floor window. "Ash isn't oversleeping again, is he?" With her hands on her hips, Delia Ketchum sighed. "Mr. Mime, can you go check on him?"
"Mime mime!" Mr. Mime set his broom aside, saluted, and marched awkwardly up the stairs. Knocking on the door—no response. Leaning against an invisible Light Screen, Mr. Mime began tapping the door like a piano keyboard. "Mime?!" (Still not awake?!)
Just then—BAM! A loud thud came from the room. Mr. Mime's expression immediately changed, instinctively covering its ears. The next moment—
"AAAAAH!!! I'M LATE!!!"
Ten Minutes Earlier
A teenage boy lay sprawled across his bed, drooling in his sleep. A yellow rodent was curled up on his stomach, snoring softly. "Pika… pikaaa…"
The phone on the bedside table was still lit up, displaying a paused game screen. The logo at the top read: —A joint production between the Devon Corporation and Pokémon Studio— It was none other than the recently released: Angry Tranquill.
"Mmm… Pikachu… Swellow's about to evolve… just two more levels…" Ash murmured in his sleep.
"Pika…" Pikachu rubbed its eyes, half-asleep.
Then, suddenly—the alarm clock blared loudly. From inside the clock, a Pidgey figurine popped up, chirping to announce the time. Before it could finish—Swoosh! A pair of iron-like hands grabbed it mid-air.
In his half-conscious state, Ash gripped the alarm clock tightly and assumed a classic pitcher's stance. "Go! Poké Ball!"
BAM! The alarm clock slammed against the wall and shattered into pieces. A jolt of electricity ran through his body—Ash's eyes snapped open. Blinking groggily, he stared at the bright morning sun outside his window. His face instantly fell. Oh no. LATE AGAIN.
"Ash! It's the weekend! What are you screaming about?!" Delia pushed open the door, looking mildly annoyed.
Ash froze for a second. Then, sitting up, he scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Oops… I almost forgot today's a holiday! Hahaha!"
"Pikachu~" Pikachu, still perched in Ash's lap, copied his expression—scratching its head in embarrassment.
"You!" Delia sighed, hands on her hips. "Every time something big happens, you get so excited you can't even sleep properly!" Noticing the dark circles under Ash's eyes, she softened a little. "So? What was it this time?"
"Hehe…" Ash chuckled. "Since I'm back in Pallet Town, I was hoping to get Red's autograph today." Then his excitement faded, and he flopped back onto his bed. "But I never run into him!"
"You'll meet him eventually," Delia smiled encouragingly. "After all, isn't your dream to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer?"
"Yes!!" Ash sprang to his feet, grabbing Pikachu and placing it on his shoulder. Looking out the window, he declared loudly: "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town! My goal is to become the greatest Pokémon Master!!"
"Pika Pika!!" Pikachu clenched its tiny fists, eyes shining with determination.
Outside, a flock of Pidgey took off into the sky—completely ignoring him.
"Alright, go eat breakfast first," Delia giggled, covering her mouth. "If you hurry, you might even run into Green Oak today!"
Ash's eyes lit up. Even though Green wasn't as legendary as Red, he was still a famous Trainer. "I haven't really had a proper rival yet… But those two? That kind of fated rivalry… Just thinking about it gets me fired up! I'm getting up now!" Ash grinned toothily.
As Delia left, Ash glanced around, then reached under his pillow and pulled out his still-warm phone. The real reason he couldn't sleep last night? Angry Tranquill. The graceful aerial maneuvers of Flying-type Pokémon, the beautiful arcs they carved through the sky, the satisfying impact of Aerial Ace… Every part of it was incredibly addicting!
"I really want to catch a Flying-type Pokémon, Pikachu…" Ash murmured, sitting cross-legged on his bed.
"Pika?" Pikachu tugged at his sleeve.
"Oh, you mean Pidgeot?" A flicker of regret passed through Ash's eyes. Then, he smiled and shook his head. "That guy has his own flock to protect now… It can't be helped."
"Pika." Pikachu patted Ash's cheek reassuringly.
"Alright!" Ash recovered instantly, his eyes burning with determination. "I've decided! When I get to Hoenn, I'm definitely catching a Swellow!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered excitedly, its body crackling with electricity. THUNDERBOLT!!
"AAAHH!! Pikachu, stop!!"
Pallet Town – Professor Oak's Lab
In the backyard, Crystal was helping Professor Oak clean up the aftermath of last night's gathering. "Sorry to trouble you, Crystal." Professor Oak scratched his head. "Those little rascals… stayed up way too late."
"It was a rare occasion," Crystal smiled. "And besides, you seemed to be enjoying yourself too."
Professor Oak crossed his arms, chuckling. "When you get old, you just want to spend more time with the younger generation—keeps you feeling alive!" He suddenly asked, "Speaking of which… where's that troublemaker?"
"You mean Gold?" Crystal covered her mouth with a chuckle. "He heard that Teacher Lu is coming to Johto, so he's been training all night, refining his tactics."
"Teacher Lu…?" Professor Oak thought for a moment before realization struck. "Oh! I believe Professor Rowan mentioned him—he's his assistant, right?"
"Huh?" Crystal blinked. "Isn't Teacher Lu… a tactics master?"
Professor Oak paused. "So he does both training and research…? That's actually quite similar to Green."
Just then, Green Oak happened to be passing through the yard. Professor Oak waved him over. "Green! A young Trainer is coming to challenge you later—go easy on him, alright?"
"A young Trainer?" Green frowned slightly. "Can I refuse?"
"Hahaha! He's also from Pallet Town, you know," Professor Oak chuckled. "And from your batch of Trainers, he's the only one who made it to the Indigo League Tournament."
Green furrowed his brows in thought. "Wait… you mean the Johto League quarterfinalist?"
Professor Oak nodded. "You've heard of him? Perfect!"
Green exhaled slightly, folding his arms. "So his name is Ash Ketchum… His battle style is reckless but creative." Reminds me a lot of Gold… Green mused.
"That's right," Oak laughed. "Apparently, his goal is to defeat Red someday."
Green froze for a second. Then, a playful smirk crept onto his face. "Interesting." His eyes gleamed. "I'll go find him myself."
That boy was still raw, unpolished—but from a tactical standpoint, a high-speed offense would suit him best. Flying-types… or Fighting-types… Those would be the ideal direction for his growth. "Maybe I should consult Teacher Lu about this…" Green muttered to himself. "Even though Teacher Lu specializes in stall teams, I bet he's still got high-speed strategies up his sleeve."
Meanwhile, in the Master Chat Group
Lu Ye was completely unaware that his beautifully illustrated Flying-type Pokémon guide had inspired an entire generation of young Trainers. At that moment, the group chat was buzzing with discussions.
Lance: @Teacher Lu, why isn't Gyarados in the game? Gyarados is a Flying-type too.
Lu Ye: "It's too big! How the heck are you supposed to launch it with a slingshot?!"
Iron Tetsu: "You could make a DLC! Maybe upgrade the slingshot to a cannon, or use Poké Balls instead!"
Lu Ye: "Ohh, got it! Adding that to the DLC roadmap!"
Gold sent a picture of Togekiss.
Gold: "My phone got hijacked by Togekiss."
Gold: "Gotta use my computer to type now."
Gold: @Teacher Lu, when are you coming to Johto?
Lu Ye: "Once I wrap up the game's marketing, I'll head over."
Gold grinned mischievously. Even though he couldn't beat Teacher Lu in games, once they met in person… It was time for a real challenge! "Come on, Togekiss! Let's keep training!" Gold shouted enthusiastically.
Private Chat – Green & Lu Ye
Green: "Teacher Lu, can you explain high-speed battle strategies to me?"
Lu Ye blinked. High-speed tactics? What does that have to do with me? I'm a stall player!
Green: "There's a promising young Trainer in town who favors that style. Also, if we can simulate the battles, it'd be even more intuitive."
Lu Ye rubbed his chin. Come to think of it… he had taken plenty of Green's research notes in the past. Maybe it was time to return the favor. A high-speed strategy? Well, he did have some. And if Green was personally interested, this young Trainer must have great potential.
"Once I finish my current work," Lu Ye nodded. "I'll schedule a livestream on high-speed tactics!"
[Inorin Note:
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