Ash and May were currently making their way toward Oldale Town so they could register for the Hoenn League.
Ash knew that May was a beginner Trainer, and as a girl, she didn’t have quite the same physical stamina.
After all, not everyone possessed the superhuman constitution of a certain someone from Pallet Town!
Ash decided to release Eevee and Phanpy so they could train their physical endurance while they continued on their way.
“Come on out, Eevee, Phanpy!”
“Vui~!”
“Phan~!”
As soon as Eevee came out, it proudly raised its head and looked at Ash, while Phanpy happily ran circles around him.
“Wow!
Are these two also your Pokémon?
They’re so cute!!” (☆▽☆)
May’s eyes practically sparkled as she stared at the two little Pokémon.
She took out her Pokédex and scanned them.
Eevee…
Phanpy…
“Of course!
Eevee, Phanpy, you two can walk with us.
Think of it as physical training!”
Ash took out two Macho Braces from his backpack and attached them to the two Pokémon.
“Is this training?
Then all right!
Come on out, Torchic!”
“Chamo~!”
Torchic appeared and immediately looked around left and right, as if searching for an enemy.
(・_・ヾ
“All right, Torchic, you can walk with us too.
Consider it training!”
“Chamo~!”
[Torchic]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Blaze]
[Strength: Normal — Early Stage]
[Tera Type: Fire]
[Moves: Ember, Peck, Growl]
The two of them continued through the forest toward Oldale Town, accompanied by their four Pokémon.
Along the way, May asked Ash about his previous travels, and Ash patiently told her about everything.
“Wow!
So all of Ash’s former traveling companions were Gym Leaders?
That’s amazing!
And you had so many interesting experiences during your travels.
Traveling really is the best!” (✧∀✧)
May spoke happily, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
———— One Hour Later ————
At that moment, a cute Azurill appeared in front of them.
“Wow!
It’s so cute!
I want it!
Go, Torchic!
Use Peck!”
At the same time, May took out her Pokédex and scanned it.
Azurill…
Fortunately, Ash had taught her plenty of essential Pokémon knowledge along the way.
Otherwise, she would have made the same mistake as in the original story and simply thrown a Poké Ball at it!
[Azurill]
[Strength: Normal — Middle Stage]
Bam!
“Azur~!”
Azurill was knocked backward.
Enraged, it immediately fired a Water Gun!
“Dodge it, Torchic!”
Unfortunately, Torchic was a step too slow and was struck by the Water Gun.
“Are you okay, Torchic?”
“Chamo~!”
Torchic shook its head and cried out, indicating that it was fine.
“Wait!
Don’t run!
Torchic, rush over and use Peck!”
Azurill suddenly jumped into the tall grass, and May hurriedly gave the command.
“Chamo~!”
Three streams of Water Gun suddenly shot out from the grass and struck Torchic.
It was super effective!
Torchic lost its ability to battle.
Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill—their entire evolutionary line, supposedly a family, then jumped out of the grass, glaring angrily at Ash and May.
“Ah!
Torchic!”
“May, here’s a Potion.
Quickly use it on Torchic, then return it to its Poké Ball.
Go, Eevee!
Use Shadow Ball!
Phanpy, use Rollout!”
“Huh?!
Oh!
Thank you!”
After applying the Potion to Torchic, May returned it to its Poké Ball.
In the end, Eevee and Phanpy drove the Marill family back into the river.
“Ah!
Torchic…
This is all my fault!”
(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)
May stared sadly at Torchic’s Poké Ball, blaming herself.
“All right, May.
Don’t blame yourself!
For a beginner, you did really well!
I wasn’t nearly this good when I first started.
And you’ve already given Torchic medicine, so let’s hurry to the Pokémon Center and have it checked out!”
Ash patted May on the shoulder and comforted her.
“Pika-pi~”
Pikachu also cried out reassuringly.
“Yeah!
Okay!
Torchic will be all right!”
May wiped away her tears with her arm and ran toward the Pokémon Center in Oldale Town.
“Hey?!
Wait for me, May!”
Ash recalled Phanpy, while Eevee jumped onto his other shoulder as he hurried after her.
———— Dusk ————
By then, Ash and May had arrived at a place where a building surrounded by towering stones stood ahead of them.
“Wow!
It looks really ancient!”
“This should be some kind of ruin!”
Just then, an archaeologist walked out of the building.
“That’s right!
This really is an ancient ruin.
Hello!
My name is Alden.
I’m currently conducting an investigation here!”
“Ah!
Hello!
My name is May!”
“Hello!
I’m Ash, and this is my partner, Pikachu!”
“Pika~!”
“By the way, where are you two in such a hurry to get to?” Alden asked curiously.
“We’re heading to the Pokémon Center.
My companion’s Pokémon was injured,” Ash replied.
“Oh, I see!
Look, the Pokémon Center is right over there!”
Alden pointed down below.
Ash and May followed his finger and, sure enough, spotted the Pokémon Center.
“Thanks for your help!”
“Pika~!”
Soon afterward, Ash and May arrived at the Pokémon Center, where May handed Torchic’s Poké Ball to Nurse Joy.
Because she had been so worried about Torchic, they had hurried all the way there without having time to remove the Macho Braces.
Now that they had finally reached the Pokémon Center, she could relax and take them off.
“Nurse Joy, please take care of my Torchic.”
“No problem!
Leave it to me!”
Nurse Joy smiled.
“How is it doing?”
“Please wait a moment.”
Nurse Joy began examining Torchic with the medical equipment.
“It’s all right now.
As long as it gets a good night’s rest, it should make a full recovery!”
“Phew!
That’s such a relief.”.
(＾▽＾)
May finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now you can relax, May.”
“Pika~!”
Ash walked over and handed his own Poké Balls to Nurse Joy so she could give his Pokémon a checkup as well.
Nurse Joy accepted them and handed the Poké Balls over to Chansey for examination.
“Mm!
Thank you, Ash!
If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known what to do!”
“It’s nothing!
After all, we’re companions, right?
Oh, that’s right, Nurse Joy.
I’m going to participate in the Hoenn League.
Please register me.”
Ash took out his Pokédex.
Nurse Joy placed it into the designated slot, and Ash’s information appeared on the computer screen.
May had not yet made up her mind, so she did not register.
“All done.
Your registration is complete.”
“Thank you, Nurse Joy.”
“Mr.
Ash, the examination is complete.
All of your Pokémon are perfectly healthy!”
After a while, Nurse Joy returned Pikachu and the other Poké Balls to Ash.
“Pika~!”
Pikachu immediately jumped into Ash’s arms.
“Come on, May.
It’s already getting late!
Let’s call home first so our families won’t worry about us.
Then we can go to a restaurant and have dinner.”
Ash held Pikachu in his arms as he spoke.
“Ah!
Okay.
This is my first time at a Pokémon Center, so you lead the way, Ash!”
Ash led May over to the telephone area, where the two of them separated to call their respective families.
Ash first called his mother, Delia, to let her know that he had arrived safely.
Afterward, he called Professor Oak’s laboratory.
“Good evening, Professor Oak.
I’ve arrived in Oldale Town.”
“Really?
That’s wonderful!
You look great too!
And so does Pikachu.”
“Pika~!”
“Yeah!
I’ve also completed my registration for the Hoenn League, so I can now challenge my first Gym in the Hoenn region.”
“Excellent!
Your new adventure is finally about to begin, isn’t it?”
“Ah!
That’s Professor Oak!
The one you can only see on TV!” (⊙o⊙)
May, who had just finished her call home, suddenly interrupted.
“Hmm?” (・_・;)
Professor Oak looked rather confused.
May pushed past Ash and came right up to the screen.
“Hello, Professor Oak!
My name is May!”
“Hello, Miss May.
I’m Professor Oak from Pallet Town.”
Professor Oak looked at the pretty girl appearing on the screen.
May immediately leaned her face right up against the screen.
(≧▽≦)
“I know!
I often listen to your lectures on the radio with my little brother.
If he found out that I actually got to talk to Professor Oak, he’d be so jealous!”
“Is…
Is that so?”
“I just became a Pokémon Trainer and haven’t been traveling for very long.
Please take good care of me!”
Faced with May’s overwhelming enthusiasm, Professor Oak began sweating profusely.
(￣▽￣;)
“Hmm.
Looks like Ash has already made a lively new friend.
Ash, you two should do your best and enjoy your journey together!
Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up for now!”
“Yes.
Goodbye, Professor Oak!”
“Pika-pika~!”
Professor Oak then hung up the call.
“All right, shall we go eat?”
“Mm!”
Meanwhile, the Team Rocket trio were crammed together inside a tiny telephone booth.
To be continued…