"Ash! Ash! Wake up!"
Delia Ketchum's voice rang through the house like a blaring alarm clock as she barged into her son's room.
Ash groaned and turned over in bed. "Mmm five more minutes…"
"You're late!"
Ash's eyes snapped open. "Wait—I'm late?!"
In a blink, he was on his feet and bolting out the front door, still in his pajamas.
"Ash! At least get dressed!" Delia shouted from the doorway, waving a pair of pants in one hand.
"No time! My Pokémon is waiting for me!" Ash yelled over his shoulder, feet pounding against the dirt road as he sprinted toward Professor Oak's lab.
...
Back at Professor Oak's Laboratory…
"Riolu, stay still for a bit!" Rael shouted, chasing the little red Pokémon in frantic circles around the room, Pokédex in hand. "I can't scan you like this!"
Oak rubbed his temple with a long-suffering sigh. "Those two…"
Riolu dashed over a table, under a chair, leapt off a stack of books—until Rael finally lunged forward with all his might.
"Got you!" he grunted, pinning Riolu against his chest while the struggling Pokémon flailed and kicked.
He pointed the Pokédex at Riolu and scanned.
[Riolu]
[Type: Fighting]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Adamant]
[Ability: ???]
[Stats:
Attack: 12
Defense: 11
Sp. Atk: 9
Sp. Def: 9
Speed: 11]
[Genetics:
Attack: 31/31
Defense: 31/31
Sp. Atk: 31/31
Sp. Def: 31/31
Speed: 31/31]
Rael's jaw dropped. "It's… perfect."
'Where did Mom find such a Pokémon?' he thought, blinking in disbelief.
"Professor!" he called out, still wrestling Riolu as he held up the Pokédex. "Why doesn't Riolu's ability appear?"
Oak walked over, eyebrows furrowed. He looked at the screen and his eyes widened. "What?! His ability doesn't show up?!"
"Yeah," Rael said, adjusting his grip as Riolu squirmed. "Does it mean his ability hasn't been discovered yet?"
Oak's expression shifted from shock to scientific delight. "A Pokémon with an unknown ability… incredible! Even after all these years, there's still so much to learn—"
Bang!
The lab doors burst open, slamming against the walls.
Everyone turned.
Panting, wild-eyed, and wearing nothing but a pajama shirt and Pikachu-print boxers, Ash stood in the doorway.
"I… I made it…!"
There was a long silence.
Professor Oak cleared his throat, brushing aside his earlier excitement. He scratched his head and turned to Ash. "Ash… I guess you came here for your Pokémon."
"Yes, Professor!" Ash said, bouncing on his heels. "Sorry for being late. I didn't wake up."
Then he noticed Rael still holding Riolu tightly in his arms. "Hey, Rael… is that your Pokémon?"
"Yeah…" Rael nodded, then shot Ash a flat look. "Also, couldn't you at least wake up on time today? You're too late. All the Pokémon have already been taken."
The Riolu in his arms finally gave up struggling, settling down with a low huff. Rael was simply too strong for him.
"What?!" Ash's eyes widened as he turned to Oak. "Is it true, Professor?"
"Well… kinda…" Oak said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Rael stood up and slipped his Pokédex into his pocket. "Professor, didn't you know there were four new trainers this year? So why were there only three starter Pokémon?"
"Well…" Oak looked uncomfortable, scratching his head again. "That's because… I… uh… lost one of them."
Rael blinked. "You lost one?"
"I don't even know how it happened…" Oak sighed. "I was returning from Viridian City and when I checked the case—one of the four Poké Balls was just gone."
Ash's hopeful energy vanished. His shoulders slumped. "Then…"
But before the mood could fall further, Oak raised a finger. "But don't worry, Ash! I-I have another Pokémon here!"
"Really?!" Ash perked up, eyes gleaming again.
"Yes." Oak stepped over to the capsule where the starters had been stored. He pressed a small, hidden button at the base. A secondary compartment rose from within—housing a single Poké Ball, marked with a tiny lightning bolt just above the center button.
"Ash…" Oak said cautiously, "before I give this to you, I need to warn you. Please be a little careful with this one."
"Hm? Why?" Ash asked, already stepping forward. Rael watched silently from the back, still holding his now calm Riolu.
"Because this particular Pokémon… doesn't like people very much. And it really hates being inside a Poké Ball, so—"
"That's not a problem for me, Professor!" Ash declared, grinning as he grabbed the ball and pressed the button.
BZZZZZT!
A massive jolt of electricity exploded from the ball.
"GYAAAAAH!" Ash screamed, his hair puffing up like a shocked Pidgey—practically an afro from the current.
Even Oak, standing nearby, was caught in the blast. His hair stood out wildly in all directions.
As the shock faded, a small yellow Pokémon stood in front of Ash—cheeks sparking faintly, its face cute but mischievous.
"Pika."
"That Pikachu sounds worse than you, Riolu," Rael muttered to the Pokémon in his arms. Riolu, now content and observant, gave a soft chuff. He was starting to recognize Rael's strength and accepting him as his trainer.
"Professor…" Ash said weakly, still slightly smoking. "Is this why you told me to be careful?"
"Yeah…" Oak replied, equally fried-looking.
Before anyone could say more, a voice called from the lab's entrance.
"Hey, Rael."
Everyone turned. It was Rina.
"I have to go. Challengers have come to the gym."
"Oh, coming," Rael said, securing Riolu in his arms. The Pokémon didn't resist. He simply looked up at Rael with calm respect.
Rael turned to Ash, offering a half-smile. "Ash, let's meet again at the Indigo Plateau Conference… try not to be late there too."
He gave a small wave to both Ash and Oak before walking out to join his mother.
...
The midday sun cast a warm glow over Pallet Town as Rina stepped onto the dirt path outside the lab. Without missing a beat, she pulled a Poké Ball from her belt and tossed it into the air.
"Let's go, Charizard!"
The ball snapped open with a burst of light, and from it emerged a massive, majestic Charizard. Her wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the ground as she landed with a heavy thud.
"Chaaaaar!" she roared proudly—then immediately turned and stomped over to Rael.
Rael blinked. "Huh?"
Still cradling Riolu in one arm, he barely had time to react before Charizard wrapped him in a massive hug, her wings curling around them both as she nuzzled his head with a deep, affectionate rumble.
"Hey, Charizard… I missed you too," Rael said softly, shifting Riolu so the little Pokémon wouldn't get squished. Riolu's eyes widened, but he remained calm in Rael's grasp, gazing up at the fire-type with respectful curiosity.
When Rina had started her own journey, she had taken a Charmander from Professor Oak. That very same Charmander had evolved over the years into the powerful Charizard hugging him now. Since the day Rael was born, Charizard had been more of a mother to him than Rina ever had time to be. She'd watched over him, protected him, and once—when Lucario had gone too far during a sparring match—Charizard had scolded Lucario so fiercely he didn't dare cross the line again.
Rina crossed her arms, watching them with a smirk. "Charizard, why do I feel like you love him more than me?"
"Char!" the Charizard gave a low, amused chuckle, then gently released Rael and looked down at Riolu with interest. The little Pokémon stared back, eyes sharp but calm.
Rael gave Charizard a reassuring nod. "He's my partner now."
Charizard rumbled softly and gave a slow nod, acknowledging Riolu with a short puff of warm air. Riolu blinked once, then gave a small nod back, seemingly unafraid.
Rina stepped forward and climbed onto her partner's back with practiced ease, adjusting her grip on the harness at Charizard's shoulders.
"Rael… I'll be waiting for you in Tangerine City!" she called out with a confident smile.
Charizard's wings beat powerfully, lifting them both into the sky. Within seconds, they were soaring through the clouds, the flames on Charizard's tail flickering brightly in the wind.
Rael watched them go, eyes gleaming with determination. He looked down at Riolu, who was still calmly resting in his arm, then up at the sky again.
He clenched his fist and shouted, "Mom… prepare to give me your Gym Badge!"
The wind carried his voice upward as Charizard disappeared into the horizon, and beside him, Riolu let out a low, approving growl.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter?
Tangerine City is a city made by me, it isn't present in the original. Also, Rael will start his journey shortly, I know I have been postponing it too much.