"Then, I'll be leaving, old gramps."
Ash secured the sleek, smartphone-like Pokédex in his pocket—Rotom humming faintly inside the device like an energetic digital ghost.
In his other hand, he held five pristine Poké Balls.
Though they looked identical to the ones sold in stores, their metallic sheen and slight weight difference hinted at the superior engineering known only to trainers who received them from Professor Oak.
These weren't mass-produced models; they were advanced prototypes crafted with cutting-edge tech and special calibration.
Oak only distributed them sparingly. Ash already had 30 to 40 of them stored in his backpack—collected from seminars and workshops he had attended over the years—and now five more joined the stash.
With so many on hand, he wasn't worried about running out anytime soon.
He stepped outside with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, explaining how they would take care of the Riolu egg. Pikachu placed a tiny paw on his chest and puffed it out proudly, as if declaring, "Leave it to me!" Ash chuckled.
Using his aura just a little, he could already feel the faint pulse of life inside the egg—a gentle rhythm, as if the Pokémon within was slowly stirring from a long slumber. Its aura shimmered like a soft heartbeat against his senses.
"Okay! Good luck, Ash. I'll be waiting for your new collection of Pokémon."
Professor Oak waved from the doorway, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
He had watched Ash grow into one of Pallet Town's brightest young trainers—right up there with Gary and Yellow. He held no doubt Ash would leave his mark on the world.
As Ash walked out, he spotted Gary leaning against his polished red convertible. Gary shot him a smug grin, revved the engine dramatically, then drove off, leaving tyre marks and bravado behind.
Yellow, however, remained standing near the path with her arms folded and a tiny pout decorating her lips. Not far from her, Delia stood among a small gathering of townsfolk—neighbours, shopkeepers, and families—all gathered to send off the new trainers.
Pallet Town wasn't a tiny countryside village like in the anime. In reality, it was a thriving city with a strong trainer culture and a population large enough to fill the square with cheers.
"Good luck, kid!"
"Show them your strength in the Indigo Conference!"
"We'll be cheering for you!" Ash felt warmth rise in his chest.
"Thank you! I'll do my best!" he called out, raising his fist confidently. Delia gave him a watery smile, full of pride. Ash nodded back at her—his silent promise. Yellow hurried to join him as he stepped onto the main road.
"So, where are we going?" she asked, matching his stride.
"Well, it will be Viridian City," Ash answered thoughtfully. His mind was already planning his early captures. A grass or water type would be perfect for balance—and even a humble Caterpie would do if it possessed strong potential.
His experience told him that talent mattered far more than species.
Pikachu hopped lightly on his shoulder as Ash opened his system interface.
[Status.]
Species: Pikachu.
Level: 17.
Type: Electric Type.
Talent: Static /[Protein].
Attack: A. [S+]
Agility: S. [S+]
Defence: B. [S]
Sp. Attack: A. [S+]
Sp. Defence: B. [S]
Moves: Electric Shock [Lv. 3], Thunderbolt [Lv. 2], Double Kick [Lv. 3], Quick Attack [Lv. 5], etc...
Even after seeing hundreds of Pokémon so far, Ash had yet to encounter one that matched Pikachu's overall raw potential.
S and S+ talent across multiple stats—not a single wild Pokémon, or even trained one, had come close. It also made sense why Pikachu was a mascot icon of the entire franchise and why people jokingly called such variants "Pikagod".
The best he had seen outside Pikachu was a Pidgey with an A-rank agility stat—impressive, but incomparable.
Still, the wild held endless possibilities. His system items—rewards earned from quests like saving Serena or winning over Yellow during childhood—had helped Pikachu climb its stats rapidly. If he could find another Pokémon with high potential and raise it properly, his team would grow even stronger.
As they reached the end of Pallet Town, Ash and Yellow turned back one last time. Their families and friends waved, cheering with pride.
Ash and Yellow waved back.
Then they stepped onto Route 1. "Let's go." Ash smiled as he glanced at Yellow. She nodded, a little teary but determined.
"Hmm." The road ahead stretched beneath the shade of tall trees. Route 1 was peaceful, filled with rustling bushes and chirping bird Pokémon.
Wild Rattata darted between roots, Spearow perched on branches, and Pidgey swooped lazily overhead. Ash scanned each one quickly with system insight.
Nothing above C-rank speed so far.
"Pika-pi!"
Pikachu tugged his attention, pointing deeper into the trees.
Ash followed his gaze—and his heart jolted with excitement. Perched proudly on a thick branch was a large, brown-feathered bird Pokémon with sharp eyes and strong wings.
A Pidgeotto.
And when Ash checked its stats—3 A+ stats for Pidgeotto.
His pulse quickened. Heat bloomed in his chest, and he clenched his fist silently in excitement.
"Pika-master, let's do it, buddy." Ash grinned, using Pikachu's nickname. Pikachu puffed out his tiny chest, sparks glimmering on his cheeks as he jumped off Ash's shoulder with a shout of confidence.
The Pokédex chimed, projecting its neutral mechanical tone:
"Pidgeotto, the Bird Pokémon. Pidgeotto is extremely protective of its territory. It flies around, patrolling a wide area in search of prey."
"Type: Normal/Flying."
"Height: 1.1 metres."
"Weight: 30.0 kilograms."
Ash's Rotom Dex, Yellow's own device, and Ash's Pokédex continued the entry as additional data scrolled:
"Pidgeotto possesses exceptional eyesight." It can spot prey from high altitudes.
"Its talons are extremely sharp." They allow it to grasp or stun prey instantly.
"A strict territorial Pokémon." It will pursue intruders until they leave.
"Known for loyalty." Once bonded, Pidgeotto becomes a reliable aerial partner.
"Precise flight control." It excels in weaving through forests at high speeds.
"Natural behaviour: vigilant, alert, opportunistic."
"Battle tendency: hit-and-run tactics."
'I already knew that.' Ash thought the refresher was useful, though. Pidgeotto's sharp gaze suddenly locked onto them. Its feathers bristled slightly, wings spreading as it stared with open hostility.
'Is this little guy's territory…?' Ash understood immediately. Pidgeotto rarely attacked travellers without reason; entering too deep into its domain could easily provoke it.
"Pika-pi…" Pikachu stepped forward, cheeks crackling with tiny sparks.
Pidgeotto scoffed. It tilted its head in a mocking sneer—clearly unimpressed by the small yellow rodent challenging it. Having likely never seen a Pikachu in this region, it seemed unaware that the little mouse in front of it carried one of its greatest weaknesses.
'Well, given Electric types are rare around here, that makes sense.' Ash thought. He raised his hand without hesitation. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
A streak of white light burst from Pikachu as he dashed forward.
Pidgeotto reacted instantly. Its battlefield instinct was sharp—sharper than most wild Pokémon. With a powerful flap of its wings, it shot upward, executing a clean, tight arc. A faint blue shimmer swirled behind it—Tailwind, boosting its speed.
Before Pikachu could reach the midpoint, Pidgeotto dived. Its body glowed bright white—Quick Attack meeting Quick Attack.
Ash was surprised. A wild Pokémon using a situational combo like that was uncommon. Pikachu blinked as its speed was momentarily overwhelmed by the boosted dive but recovered instantly. As they collided, Pidgeotto was knocked back slightly, but Pikachu used the momentum to twist mid-air.
He whipped his tail outward, hooking it around a low branch to flip himself up. His red cheeks lit up like twin embers.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachuuu—!"
A lance of yellow electricity shot forward like a striking viper. The bolt slammed into Pidgeotto before it could stabilise its flight. Its feathers trembled violently, wings spasming from the shock.
But it wasn't finished yet.
With pure willpower, the wild bird forced its wings open and attempted to take height again—but Pikachu was already there, a blur launching from the branch with another Quick Attack.
A direct hit.
Pidgeotto was thrown backward, dazed. Ash seized the chance. He hurled the Poké Ball with practised precision. 'Bing!' The ball struck the bird and opened, red light engulfing Pidgeotto before pulling it inside. It shook once—ding.
Twice—Ding.
Three times—click.And then it went silent. The ball stopped moving.
Ash exhaled sharply, adrenaline buzzing in his veins.
"I got it… Pidgeotto is mine." He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice. "Congratulations, Ash! That was so amazing!" Yellow finally stepped out from behind him.
She had been watching the entire battle, holding her breath. "It was like watching a seasoned trainer…" she murmured, eyes wide with admiration.
Ash turned a bit awkward, scratching his cheek. "Well, I am a trainer now." He grinned proudly. He picked up the Poké Ball and released it with a flick.
"Come out, Pidgeotto."
Light burst outward, forming the familiar shape of the bird Pokémon. Pidgeotto shook its wings, no longer hostile—just calm and observant. It accepted its new reality immediately, eyes narrowing with sharp intelligence.
"Pii-pidgeo." Its gaze moved from Ash… to Pikachu.
Small sparks crackled between the two rivals, but neither attacked. The tension was more of mutual acknowledgement than challenge.
Ash crouched slightly.
"Don't worry, little guy. Now that you're part of my team, I'm sure you'll be fighting on par with this guy one day. But that depends on your hard work." Pidgeotto let out a low, confident chirp.
Ash pulled out a Normal-type PokéBlock he had crafted using a system recipe and held it out. Pidgeotto sniffed, then nibbled, satisfied.
Then Ash placed his hand gently over the bird, activating Viridian Power.
A soft, warm aura flowed into Pidgeotto. Its eyes widened slightly, feeling fatigue fade and injuries mend with unnatural efficiency. It looked at Ash with a mixture of confusion and awe.
"He will be fine with it. I guess." Ash sighed in relief, watching Pidgeotto relax under the soothing glow. The first powerful addition to his team had been made—and their journey had only just begun.