Still the same mountain behind Professor Oak’s Research Lab—but compared to a few years ago, there was now an additional building on it.
The Aaron Research Institute.
This was the research facility built for Aaron when he was thirteen.
After he successfully completed his research on Fairy-type Pokémon, the League officially recognized him as a top-tier Doctor and dispatched specialists to construct this institute for him.
He received an annual salary of one million, but the research funding he could allocate for experiments reached as high as eighty million.
Inside the institute were all kinds of Pokémon.
The soft and pink Clefairy and Clefable, the fierce-looking but timid Granbull, Jigglypuff who spent all day trying to sing for an audience that never came, only to end up scribbling in frustration, and Marill and Azumarill playing by the water…
Most of the Fairy-type Pokémon from both Kanto and Johto were gathered here.
Even rare Pokémon like Gardevoir could be found in the institute.
Next to the research lab, Aaron gently groomed Ninetales, performing her final care routine.
Once this was done, it would be time to set off.
Beside him, Ninetales, Sylveon, Snorlax, and Togekiss were all lying comfortably, having just enjoyed his care and feeling completely relaxed.
“Still getting ready?
It’s time to go,” Delia’s gentle voice sounded.
Aaron turned and smiled.
“Mom, you’re here.
Isn’t Ash going to Professor Oak’s place to receive his starter Pokémon today?
Why aren’t you watching over him and instead coming here?”
“Ash is so careless that he’s still asleep and probably won’t even make it in time to pick a starter.
But his luck has always been good, so even if he doesn’t get the traditional starters, he’ll still end up with a good Pokémon.
I’m not worried about him.
I’m more worried about you.
I know you’ve always been sensible—but that’s exactly why it makes me feel bad for you.
If it weren’t for me, you should’ve already set out on your journey long ago,” Delia said.
“Mom, it’s been so long already.
What’s the point of bringing that up now?
Besides, if not for that, I wouldn’t have become the famous Doctor Aaron,” he said with a smile.
There were pros and cons.
Raising Pokémon was extremely expensive, especially special ones like Snorlax or Tyranitar.
In the past, even if he had them, he couldn’t have afforded to raise them.
Now he could.
The only downside was that his entire “team” lived in his research institute—but technically, they were all registered under the League’s facilities.
Although he could command any of them, none of them truly belonged to him in the strict sense, just like Professor Oak’s Pokémon at his lab.
“Yes… the more successful you become, the more relieved I am.
When you leave on your journey, leave the family matters to me.
Over the years, I’ve also become quite skilled at raising Pokémon,” Delia said.
“If it weren’t for you, Mom, and James, Meowth, and even Ash occasionally helping out, I wouldn’t have been able to manage everything.
I still don’t understand how Professor Oak manages such a huge lab alone,” Aaron said.
“That’s why he’s your teacher,” Delia replied with a smile. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Also, Aaron, Ash is too reckless.
If you meet him during your journey, take care of him a little.”
“I thought you’d tell me to travel with him,” Aaron said.
“I did consider that.
The two of you together would help each other.
But if you travel with him, he’ll become too dependent on you—and that’s not good for him.
And it wouldn’t be good for you either.
So just help him for a short time if you meet him.
That’s enough,” Delia said.
“Alright.
But don’t worry, Mom.
Ash is a bit dumb, a bit reckless, and a total directionless idiot—but he’s still my brother.
His survival skills are excellent, and his luck is absurd.
He’ll probably even meet great companions,” Aaron said.
“If Ash heard you, he’d cry,” Delia said softly, smiling as she gently touched his cheek.
“Go.
The wide world outside is where you belong.”
“Mom, take care of yourself.
If you miss me, call me,” Aaron said, taking a deep breath.
He recalled all his Pokémon except Meowth, then stepped forward toward the exit.
His journey began now.
From this moment on, his path as a Trainer truly started.
The Indigo League Championship—he was going to take it.
Watching his departing figure, Delia’s eyes shimmered faintly with tears.
Back then, she had also sent his father and Ash off like this—and never saw him return.
Now she was sending her two sons away.
But she knew she couldn’t stop them.
In fact, it was because of her that Aaron had been delayed by five years.
She loved her children, and she wanted both of them to fulfill their dreams and reach the peak of the world, carrying the glory of countless people.
Aaron left Professor Oak’s lab, said goodbye to the professor, and walked into the forest.
But after only a short while, he sensed someone following him and frowned.
“James, come out.”
At his words, James emerged awkwardly from the bushes.
“Boss…”
“Didn’t I tell you to stay behind?
Now you’ve left too.
Ever since they met, James had been living at Professor Oak’s lab.
After Aaron became a Doctor, James became his assistant and moved into his research institute.
They had known each other for four and a half years now.
“It’s fine,” James said quickly.
“That Gardevoir in the lab only listens to Mrs.
Delia anyway.
With its teleportation, things get done quickly.
And besides, you know I’ve been in the lab for too long—my family has started noticing.
I think I need a change of environment.
So I decided to travel too.
I want to see the world.
Freedom is what I want most.”
“Freedom is what you want most?
Or money?” Aaron asked flatly.
“Having money is for better freedom!” James replied seriously.
“Fine.
Then let’s travel together.
But along the way, setting up tents is your job,” Aaron said.
“No problem—as long as Boss handles cooking,” James replied.
“Yeah, Boss, you just cook, meow,” Meowth added, drooling.
“After following me this long, you still haven’t even mastered Fury Swipes.
Once we’re out there, I’ll have you challenge Gyms first,” Aaron said.
“Hey, Boss, that’s unfair!
You made me take mechanical engineering classes, electronics, hacking, and Pokémon care training—I don’t have time left for training skills!
And I’m not even the weakest one in the team!
That’s clearly Magikarp!
Five years already, it’s gotten huge, but it still hasn’t evolved into Gyarados!” Meowth protested.
“Even if it hasn’t evolved, it can still beat you easily,” Aaron said with a dismissive glance.
But thinking of Magikarp still gave him a headache.
After he caught it, he had carefully nurtured it, hoping to raise the strongest Gyarados.
He even followed the absurd example of the Orange Islands’ massive Magikarp and fed it calcium supplements to enhance its growth.
And the result?
The Magikarp grew bigger every single day—now it was almost as large as Lorelei’s Lapras—but it still refused to evolve.
Many researchers had examined it—Professor Oak, Bill, Elm, and even the Elite Four Lance, Lorelei, Bruno, and Agatha—and all of them reached the same conclusion:
If this Magikarp evolved, it would be the most talented Gyarados in all of Kanto, possibly the strongest in history.
But it just wouldn’t evolve.
Even after defeating Meowth countless times, it still remained a Magikarp.
Fortunately, Snorlax and Togepi had both been reliable, evolving into Snorlax and Togekiss respectively.
Otherwise, Aaron would have been so frustrated he might have coughed up blood.