"It's not every day I swing by Vermilion City—came to say hi to Gym Leader Lt. Surge. But from the look of it, you're about to battle a challenger."
Grey answered as he casually tapped his check-in.
[Check-in successful. Reward: Leek ×1. System points +100.]
A green leek appeared in his system space, faintly glowing.
It was Farfetch'd's signature held item.
With it, Farfetch'd's moves were more likely to land critical hits.
Which meant a Galarian Farfetch'd holding a Leek would find it easier to evolve into Sirfetch'd.
After accepting the reward, Grey looked at the other three in the Vermilion Gym.
Two boys and a girl.
At the feet of a delicate-looking boy in a cap stood a slightly overfed yellow mouse.
"Pika?"
Noticing Grey's gaze, Pikachu lifted its head and tilted it.
"This Pikachu's been raised well—fed and cared for."
Grey crouched, letting a gentle aura wash over Pikachu as he approached.
He scratched under its chin.
"Pika~"
Pikachu chirped with delight.
"Hey! It's you—the streamer who beat Gary!"
Recognizing Grey's face, Ash remembered that broadcast and blurted it out.
No surprise—watching Gary get pummeled had been very cathartic.
"Hey there, 'Goal: Pokémon Master.'"
Grey smiled and quoted Ash's screen name.
"You remember me?!"
Ash looked stunned; even the tanned boy and the orange-haired girl beside him were a little surprised.
"Of course. You were among my first viewers. If you ever swing by Saffron City, you and your friends are welcome to drop by the dojo."
After a few pleasantries, Grey turned to Lt. Surge. "Since you're starting a Gym challenge, we won't get in the way."
"Before that—I'd like a bout with you."
Lt. Surge chuckled, clapping a broad palm onto Grey's shoulder.
"Compared to these little babies, a match with someone at your level would really hit the spot."
He meant it.
These days, most challengers Lt. Surge faced weren't up to snuff.
Rattata, Pidgey, Zubat…
Didn't even meet Vermilion Gym's minimum bar.
He'd even been using his weakest Gym roster.
And yet?
One Thunder Shock and they'd drop.
Someone even went on the League site to complain he was too rough!
Lt. Surge felt cursed.
Even this Ash kid—still using a Pikachu that hadn't evolved into Raichu!
Lt. Surge figured Raichu would finish that Pikachu in a few hits.
Since Grey had shown up, better to take a swing at him first.
Blow off some steam.
"That… might not be great? You've still got challengers waiting."
Grey hesitated and glanced at Ash's group.
"I don't mind. You go first, Mr. Stream—uh, Grey—take on Lt. Surge!"
Ash shook his head; he was fine with Grey stepping in.
Grey had stomped Gary so hard on stream that Ash's appetite for a fight had spiked.
Giving up his slot this once was nothing.
Besides, Lt. Surge had just mocked him and Pikachu.
If Grey could smack Lt. Surge around, this trip would be worth it—profit, even.
"In that case, I'll take you up on it."
Grey nodded lightly, then to Ash: "Just call me Grey. 'Streamer' is too cringe."
Ash nodded back. "Got it."
"Hahaha! Time for my proud Electric corps to see the strength of the Fighting Dojo."
Lt. Surge laughed loud and led everyone to the arena.
On the way, Ash noticed the quiet girl, Green.
She looked familiar somehow.
Green edged closer to Grey, trying to shrink her presence.
Grey, meanwhile, struck up a chat with Brock and Misty. "You two are Trainers from the Pewter and Cerulean Gyms, right?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
Misty blinked.
She wasn't a Gym Leader yet, so the League site didn't list her.
So how did Grey know?
"Your sister Daisy told me. Said her youngest is traveling with friends. And since Mr. Brock used to be Pewter's Gym Leader, I put two and two together."
Grey stroked Riolu and answered.
"You met my sister?"
Misty was a little surprised.
If Grey were just a viewer, Daisy wouldn't have said that.
So the two must have met and talked.
Grey nodded. "Mm. She asked me to help clear Team Rocket out of Cerulean City. We chatted after the job."
"Gym Leader Grey, you're impressive. My dad says you've cleaned up a lot of Rocket activity lately."
Brock chimed in, full of respect.
"It's not that much—and they were small fry."
Grey shook his head. It wasn't worth fussing over.
They were just grunts; even that Yuli had gone down in two punches.
"Mr. Grey, what's the Pokémon on your shoulder? My Pokédex won't scan it."
Ash held up his Pokédex, curious.
"This? Riolu."
Grey glanced at the freeloading "Riolu" and explained, "A Sinnoh Pokémon—but you can find them elsewhere, too."
"Ohhh. Then are there any in Kanto?"
Ash felt a pull—if he got the chance, he wanted to catch one.
"They say up north of Mt. Moon, around Rota—but that's just hearsay. Right now, it's hard to find Riolu in Kanto."
Grey thought it over and answered.
(The movie did show a Lucario, but it had a Trainer. Whether there are wild Riolu there is another question.)
If it were Ash, though, he might really run into one.
And in Journeys, Ash does catch a Riolu, it evolves into Lucario, and trains under Greninja.
Catching Riolu felt inevitable—it was just a matter of time.
"Gym Leader Grey, we're here."
Lt. Surge stopped at his command post.
He plucked a Poké Ball from his belt and flipped it in his hand. "Perfect timing. Let the baby challenger over there see Vermilion Gym's true power!"
Pop!
The ball cracked open, and a yellow-and-black Pokémon hit the field.
Twin antennae like electrodes sprouted from its head; a black lightning sigil marked its belly. Tiger-ish in look, but upright on two legs.
[Pokémon: Electabuzz]
[Type: Electric]
[Level: 30]
[Ability: Static]
[Moves: …]
Former Unova Army colonel (retired) and current Gym Leader—Lt. Surge—challenges!
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