"You…"
Trip immediately caught on.
Ash had just called out "One Hundred Volts."
He'd only ever heard of "Thunderbolt" before — but One Hundred Volts? Never.
So, Trip knew. Ash was mocking him.
"Snivy, return! Battling someone like this is beneath me!"
Furious, Trip recalled his Snivy. Humiliated, he turned on his heel, ready to storm off.
"Don't go blaming others just to convince yourself it's not your fault," Ash said calmly. "My Pikachu's level is higher than any Trainer's. Your Snivy simply couldn't withstand Thunderbolt."
"Pika Pika!"
Pikachu jumped proudly onto Ash's shoulder.
Trip shot Ash a look full of disdain. "Stronger than anyone? Don't be ridiculous. You think you're stronger than the Champion? Alder is the one I aim to follow!"
At last, someone overheard that remark — someone very important.
Cynthia stepped forward from where she had been observing in the distance.
"He's not lying," Cynthia said with a cool smile. "His Pikachu is stronger than anyone's. A Champion wouldn't last a single move against him."
Cynthia!
Trip instantly recognized the elegant, commanding woman.
"Don't be so arrogant," he spat, though his voice had lost its earlier confidence. "You're just a rookie from the countryside. You're no better than anyone else — you're just ignorant…"
Ash casually waved a hand, clearly bored now.
This guy had insulted the Ash of the original timeline. Now that he'd responded, it didn't feel worth the effort anymore.
He and Cynthia turned and walked away together.
Trip glared at Ash's retreating back, fists clenched tight. He didn't believe he was wrong. He would prove everyone else was.
He took out a camera and filmed the battle-worn field.
This was his first battle as a rookie Trainer — and a humiliating defeat. He would capture it in photos… and never forget.
___
Back at Professor Juniper's lab, she was introducing Ash to the many areas of the Unova region, including local delicacies and traditions.
"Ash, the place you're heading to is here — Anville Town."
She pointed to a location on the map.
"Anville Town is a bit remote. It's said the people who live there are descendants of the ancient people of the land. And as it happens, a traditional festival is going on. You'll get there just in time to experience it."
Professor Juniper, who often traveled around Unova collecting samples for her research, was familiar with many places and their customs.
Thanks to her detailed introduction, Ash now had a solid understanding of where he was going.
After chatting for a while about Unova's different regions, Caitlin got up — she needed to return to League headquarters.
"Ash, Cynthia… could I ask you to take Sabrina with you?" she said suddenly. "It's rare to see her this comfortable around someone. Maybe traveling together would help her open up more."
Sabrina's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink.
Ash and Cynthia exchanged a glance and nodded without hesitation.
Caitlin gave Sabrina a playful wink, as if to say: "That's the best I can do for you, girl."
Before setting out, Ash asked Professor Juniper another question.
"By the way, where do rookie Trainers usually catch Snivy in Unova? I really like that Pokémon and want to capture one myself."
"Snivy? Head east from the lab," Juniper replied. "You'll find a forest area with streams, valleys, grassy fields, and big trees. Snivy loves that kind of environment."
And so, Ash set out with Cynthia and Sabrina, heading toward the forest that Snivy was known to frequent.
"Cynthia, Sabrina, are you two planning to catch some Unovan Pokémon as well?" Ash asked casually as they walked.
Sabrina had been to Unova before — she already had some Pokémon from the region.
Same with Cynthia.
After walking for a while, the trio found exactly what Juniper described: a stream, grassy meadows, wooded glens, and steep valleys — a beautiful, serene environment.
"Gabite, it's your turn!" Ash called out.
"Gachaaa!"
Ash sent out Gabite, who was on the verge of evolution. It was the perfect time to help it level up in this forest.
"Ash," Cynthia said with a smile, "I've been wanting to see your Gabite since the Lily of the Valley Conference. I've raised a Garchomp myself — I know this species really well."
Gabite puffed up slightly at the praise.
"Gabite, these are my friends," Ash said warmly. "We're here to see if we can find some wild Pokémon to help you train."
"Gacha!"
Gabite nodded confidently.
It was already noon, so the group decided to stop and prepare lunch.
Since Cynthia and Sabrina weren't exactly kitchen experts, Ash took the lead, guiding them on how to cook a proper meal.
Sabrina used her psychic powers for things like cutting vegetables and washing ingredients — Ash told her it would help fine-tune her control.
Of course, it was her first time, so the vegetable pieces came out uneven — some thick, some paper-thin.
Half an hour later, though the dishes weren't the prettiest, the aroma was incredible. A hot pot of soup and three side dishes were ready.
As for where Ash pulled the cookware and ingredients from — well, Cynthia and Sabrina were smart enough not to ask.
For Cynthia, it brought back fond memories of her early days adventuring across regions.
Suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes up ahead.
All three immediately turned, alerted by the sound.
A small, adorable head popped out from the tall grass.
Its upper body was a fresh, leafy green, the underside a creamy pale yellow. Just below its neck was a pale golden frill, like tiny folded wings.
A Snivy!
Drawn by the rich aroma of the food, it had crept close, hoping to sneak a taste when the humans weren't looking.
But it had gotten too close and made a noise — and now Ash, Cynthia, and Sabrina had all seen it.
Snivy froze, surprised it had been discovered so easily.
But after a second, it stepped out fully — though it made sure not to look at the food on the table.
Typical tsundere.
Too proud to admit it wanted something.
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T/N:
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