Aboard the ship bound for Hoenn
Pikachu darted back and forth across the training deck with mechanical training gear strapped to its body, repeatedly swatting away incoming rubber targets with its tail.
“Great!
Your accuracy’s getting better and better, Pikachu!”
Ash smiled proudly before taking an Energy Cube from his storage pouch and tossing it over.
“Take a short break!”
“Pika pika!”
The voyage from the Kanto region to Hoenn by high-speed ferry only required a single night.
Ash had no intention of wasting that valuable time.
During the trip, he planned to help Pikachu master a brand-new move ahead of schedule:
Iron Tail.
PikachuGender: Male
Type: Electric
Ability: Static
Level: 55
Potential: Pale Gold
Known Moves: Thunderbolt, Thunder, Quick Attack, Agility, Volt Tackle
Pikachu possessed exceptionally high potential.
Its talent for learning moves and improving through battle far surpassed ordinary Pokémon.
However, Ash realized something important after reviewing Pikachu’s growth:
Most of Pikachu’s combat style relied heavily on speed and ranged Electric-type attacks.
Its close-range techniques lacked refinement and variety.
That weakness limited Pikachu’s overall battle versatility.
So Ash intended to complete Pikachu’s close-combat move pool before challenging the Hoenn League.
Iron Tail would become Pikachu’s primary melee technique.
Then, by combining Agility with afterimage movement, Ash hoped to help Pikachu develop combat patterns similar to Double Team-style feints.
Rather than relying solely on straightforward offense like before.
Ash had already concluded that his previous failures in major regional tournaments were heavily tied to his overly direct battle style.
This time
Things would be different.
“Come on out, Pidgeot!”
“Pidgeoooot!”
Ash released Pidgeot onto the deck before pointing toward the airborne training launchers.
“Pidgeot, you’ll be Pikachu’s sparring partner for now.
Use your wings to launch the targets continuously!”
Then Ash crouched beside Pikachu.
“Pikachu, while defending, focus your energy into your tail little by little.
You need to strengthen the muscles and learn how to harden it properly before Iron Tail can fully take shape.”
“Pika!”
Ash suddenly remembered something else.
“Oh right…”
He reached into his bag again and removed another piece of equipment he had exchanged from the system shop.
It resembled a metallic support harness with several mechanical stabilizers attached.
Ash carefully fastened it onto Pidgeot’s body.
Four lightweight gravity modules attached themselves around Pidgeot’s wings and talons.
“I already adjusted the gravity output to something manageable for you,” Ash explained.
“Training with this on will help increase your speed and endurance.”
“Pidgeot!”
“Pika pika!”
After finishing the preparations, Ash finally sat nearby with a notebook in hand.
Inside were detailed battle plans and future training regimens he had begun designing for each of his Pokémon.
As training continued
Pidgeot glanced toward Ash thoughtfully.
Since reuniting with Ash, it had already noticed something strange.
Ash felt… different.
More mature.
Calmer.
Far more focused than before.
Meanwhile, Pikachu continued smashing incoming targets with increasing precision.
“Pika!”
Its tail strikes gradually became sharper and more controlled.
Even Pikachu itself could feel the improvement.
After training this way, its body felt noticeably stronger than before.
Pidgeot immediately increased the attack speed.
“Pikaaaa!”
Pikachu’s competitive spirit ignited instantly.
Rather than retreating, it rushed forward even faster.
Ash watched everything quietly with satisfaction.
Before anyone realized it
The ferry had already arrived in Hoenn.
“We’re finally here, Pikachu!”
“Pika pika!”
Ash stepped off the ship carrying the mysterious Pokémon Egg while Pikachu rode comfortably on his shoulder.
Ahead of them lay Littleroot Town.
Professor Birch’s laboratory was extremely famous throughout Hoenn, so after asking a few locals for directions, Ash quickly headed toward the outskirts of town near the forest.
Not long after Ash departed
Three familiar figures crawled out from behind a pile of cargo aboard the ship.
Naturally, it was Team Rocket.
It was obvious they had followed Ash and Pikachu all the way from Kanto.
Of course, Ash had already noticed them long ago.
He simply chose not to expose them.
Truthfully, despite all their schemes, Ash never considered Team Rocket truly evil.
In fact
Traveling without them sometimes felt strangely boring.
“Hoenn really feels different, meowth!”
Meowth looked around excitedly.
“There must be tons of rare Pokémon we’ve never seen before!”
“This time we absolutely have to capture Pikachu and all the rare Hoenn Pokémon for the Boss!”
Jessie dramatically raised her fist.
“Promotion and riches are finally within reach!”
James nodded enthusiastically.
“It feels amazing already!”
Meanwhile
Ash eventually arrived before a large research facility nestled beside the forest.
The laboratory blended naturally into the surrounding environment.
Trees and greenery surrounded nearly every structure.
It carried none of the cold artificial atmosphere found in most urban laboratories.
Instead, it felt peaceful and alive.
Ash couldn’t help admiring it.
“This really does feel like Professor Birch’s style…”
He walked to the entrance and rang the bell.
Soon, a young man’s voice answered through the intercom.
“Hello, this is Professor Birch’s Laboratory.
May I ask who’s visiting?”
“Hello,” Ash replied politely.
“I’m Ash from Pallet Town.”
The voice instantly became excited.
“Ash?!
Ash Ketchum the Silver Conference Champion?!”
The young man sounded almost startled.
“Professor Birch already told me about you!
Professor Oak contacted us beforehand, right?”
“I’ll open the gate immediately!
Please wait just a moment!”
Before Ash could respond further, the call abruptly ended.
A few moments later, the front gate opened.
A polite young researcher hurried outside.
“Sorry for the wait,” he said apologetically.
“Professor Birch isn’t here at the moment.
He’s currently conducting field research on wild Pokémon.”
Ash smiled awkwardly.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
The assistant then introduced himself as Joshua before inviting Ash inside to wait.
During their conversation, Ash learned more about Professor Birch’s habits.
Unlike many researchers who preferred staying indoors, Birch spent most of his time directly observing Pokémon in their natural habitats.
Ash couldn’t help admiring that dedication.
Most of Ash’s memories regarding Hoenn came from games and scattered anime memories from years ago.
But Professor Birch’s enthusiasm for fieldwork remained unforgettable.
While they talked, Joshua handed Ash a newspaper.
Only then did Ash finally understand why everyone in Hoenn already seemed to recognize him.
The headlines were enormous.
“The Strongest Rookie Trainer Ash of Pallet Town!””Silver Conference Champion Stuns the League!””Champion Lance Praises Ash Ketchum’s Talent!”
Ever since the Silver Conference concluded, news regarding Ash had spread rapidly across multiple regions.
From the quarterfinals onward, Ash’s battles had shocked countless viewers.
His calm decision-making.
His battle instincts.
His coordination with Pikachu and Charizard.
Everything displayed the qualities of a future Champion-level Trainer.
Even Lance had publicly praised Ash during a post-conference interview.
As a result, many younger trainers throughout Hoenn had already begun idolizing him.
“I see…”
Ash finally understood the situation.
Still, he didn’t dwell on it too much.
He was no longer the immature boy obsessed with fame and praise.
Joshua silently nodded in approval.
Just then
The laboratory phone suddenly rang.
“Excuse me for a moment, Ash.”
Joshua quickly answered the call.
But only seconds later
His expression changed drastically.
“What?!”
Joshua immediately rushed outside looking panicked.
Ash stood up instantly.
“What happened?!”
“It’s terrible!”
Joshua’s face turned pale.
“Professor Birch’s car broke down during field research, and he’s being chased by wild Pokémon!”
“Do you know his exact location?”
Joshua clenched the phone nervously.
“He didn’t have time to finish explaining before the signal cut off!”
Ash’s expression sharpened immediately.
Without hesitation, he rushed outside and threw a Poké Ball.
“Come out, Pidgeot!”
“Pidgeoooot!”
“Let’s go, Pikachu!”
“Pika!”
Holding the Pokémon Egg securely, Ash leapt onto Pidgeot’s back while Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder.
A powerful gust erupted beneath Pidgeot’s wings as they launched into the sky.
But after rising above the endless forests surrounding Littleroot Town
Ash frowned slightly.
Searching such a massive wilderness blindly would take far too long.
So Ash slowly closed his eyes.
Blue Aura began radiating around his body once more.
The power of Aura spread outward through the forest like invisible waves
Searching for Professor Birch’s presence.