The evening air inside Slateport's Pokémon Center was filled with warmth and conversation. The group sat around a table, enjoying dinner after a long day of training. May sipped her soup, chatting with Noah about Beautifly's latest improvements, while Brock offered Ash advice on Pikachu's move variations.
However, Max, usually eager to chime in, had a deep frown on his face as he poked at his food.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
"May," he piped up suddenly, his tone frustrated.
She blinked, surprised. "What's up, Max?"
He crossed his arms, looking directly at her. "Why do you keep ignoring Torchic?"
May flinched at his accusation. "What? I'm not ignoring Torchic!"
"Yes, you are!" Max shot back. "All you ever talk about is Beautifly! You barely even train with Torchic anymore! It's like you don't care about it at all."
The table went silent. Even Noah and Ash paused their conversation to look between the siblings.
May opened her mouth to defend herself, but Brock spoke up first, his voice calm. "Max, I know it seems that way, but just because May's been focusing on Beautifly doesn't mean she doesn't care about Torchic."
Ash nodded. "Yeah! Torchic was her first Pokémon. No matter what, it's always gonna be special to her."
Max scowled. "Then why does it look so sad all the time?"
May bit her lip. Has Torchic really been feeling left out? She thought back to the day she first met it. How it had been so small, nervous, and full of energy. Had she really been neglecting it?
Before she could respond, Max turned to Brock. "What about you? Who was your first Pokémon?"
Brock smiled as he leaned back in his chair, his gaze softening with nostalgia. "My first Pokémon was Onix."
Max's eyes widened. "Really? That huge Onix?"
Brock chuckled. "Yeah. On my tenth birthday, I woke up to find it leaning into my room with a red ribbon around its neck. My dad, Flint, was there too. He and I sat on Onix's head and watched the sunrise together. It was one of the best moments of my life."
Max leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "I wonder what Pokémon I'll get when I start my journey…" His mind wandered as he imagined himself getting a strong, powerful Pokémon from his father—maybe even a Slakoth!
Then the image of Slakoth lazily flopping onto his head and squashing him made him shudder.
Everyone laughed at his reaction.
Just then, Nurse Joy walked by, making her evening rounds. Brock's eyes lit up instantly as he leapt from his seat.
"Nurse Joy! You look like you could use some assistance—how about I lend you my—"
She cut him off with a polite but firm smile. "That's very kind of you, but I'm fine."
Brock deflated, sighing dramatically as he sat back down.
However, Nurse Joy then turned her attention to the Pokémon at the table—Mudkip, Torchic, and Treecko.
"You've all done a great job caring for your Pokémon," she praised, watching as the three ate their food. "They're in excellent condition."
Ash grinned. "Thanks, Nurse Joy!"
She nodded before adding, "A new Trainer is actually coming here soon to choose one of the three Hoenn first partner Pokémon under my care. I was just about to check up on them before they arrive."
At this, Brock perked up again. "Well, if you need any help—"
She sighed, but before she could refuse, Noah and Ash stepped in as well.
"We'd be happy to help!" Ash offered.
Nurse Joy considered it, then finally smiled. "Actually… I could use some extra hands."
Brock's eyes sparkled. "Yes! We won't let you down, Nurse Joy!"
Meanwhile, Noah and May had left the Pokémon Center and made their way to the beach for more training. Aeris and Beautifly practiced their moves, soaring through the air, when—
"Noah, look!" May gasped.
Further down the shore, a massive Wailord lay beached on the sand. Its massive body heaved weakly, struggling against the land.
"We have to do something!" May said, already grabbing her Poké Ball.
Noah nodded. "Let's call Nurse Joy."
Back inside, Ash, Brock, and Max followed Nurse Joy into a lab-like room where the Poké Balls containing the three Hoenn starter Pokémon rested.
Max's eyes shone with excitement.
"This is where Trainers get their first Pokémon?" he asked in awe.
Nurse Joy nodded. "Since there's no Pokémon Lab in Slateport, new Trainers begin their journeys here."
She handed Max the Poké Balls. "Would you like to meet them?"
Max's grin widened as he eagerly opened the first Poké Ball.
With a flash, a determined-looking Torchic appeared, chirping proudly.
Next, Max released Mudkip—but instead of excitement, it immediately burst into tears.
"Aww, don't cry!" Max tried to console it.
Brock's Mudkip stepped forward, gently patting the other on the back.
Finally, Max released the last one—a Treecko that clasped its hands together and smirked confidently.
"Wow," Max murmured. "They're all so different…"
Their moment was interrupted by a sudden video call from May.
"Nurse Joy!" she said in a panic. "We found a beached Wailord at the shore!"
Nurse Joy's eyes widened. "I'll be right there!" She turned to the kids. "Stay here and take care of the starter Pokémon. Do not let them go outside—they're not used to the outdoors yet."
Brock instantly jumped in. "I'll come with you!"
She hesitated before nodding. "Alright, let's go!"
With that, they rushed off, leaving Ash, Max, and the Pokémon alone.
But outside the window, Team Rocket lurked nearby, having overheard everything.
"A Wailord, huh?" Jessie smirked. "A huge Pokémon means a huge promotion!"
Inside, the starter Torchic suddenly bolted, determined to go outside.
Ash jumped up. "Oh no—stop it!"
His Treecko, Pikachu, and Brock's Mudkip rushed to stop it, but the tiny bird was fierce. It overwhelmed Pikachu with fake tears before blasting it with Ember.
Ash sent out Corphish, but Torchic scratched it repeatedly before bouncing outside!
Max and Ash gave chase, but it was too late.
A brilliant glow suddenly surrounded Torchic as it suddenly evolved into Combusken!
Ash and Max froze in panic.
"…Oh no."
Thinking fast, they came up with a plan—switch May's Torchic with Combusken before the new Trainer could pick it!
The sun hung high over the ocean, casting golden reflections across the rolling waves. The beach was alive with energy as Noah and May trained, their Pokémon locked in a steady rhythm of battle.
Aeris, Noah's oversized Pidgey, swooped through the air, narrowly dodging a glowing strike from Grimm, the Impidimp. On the ground, Sage, the Dottler, observed with unwavering focus, while Tide, the Nosepass, remained firmly planted like an unmoving sentinel.
May grinned. "Your team's getting stronger, Noah. But dodging isn't a strategy forever."
Noah smirked. "That's what you think."
Their battle continued, but something felt… off.
May had been distracted since morning, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
"I don't get it," she muttered, more to herself than to Noah. "Torchic should've been back by now…"
Noah glanced at her. Torchic had been gone for hours, and he wasn't the only one who noticed.
And it only deepened as the distant Pokémon Center came into view on the hill.
Inside the Pokémon Center, Stephanie stood in front of a row of Poké Balls, biting her lip.
Nurse Joy smiled. "Take your time. Choosing your first Pokémon is an important decision."
Stephanie hesitated. Something felt… incomplete. Her eyes kept drifting toward one Poké Ball in particular—something about it felt right.
She reached for it—
"Hey! You should check this one out!" Max suddenly stepped in, shoving another Poké Ball into her hands.
Stephanie blinked. "Uh…"
Ash grinned a little too widely. "Yeah! That one's great. Super strong, super reliable."
Brock chuckled nervously. "Perfect for a new Trainer."
Stephanie frowned. Something about the way they were acting felt off.
Before she could question it further, a thunderous explosion shook the building.
The walls rattled as smoke billowed from the entrance. Outside, a massive Meowth-shaped hot-air balloon loomed over the Pokémon Center.
A spotlight flickered on, and three familiar voices echoed.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
Ash groaned. "Not these guys again…"
Jessie, James, and Meowth grinned from their perch in the balloon's basket.
"We're here to collect all these precious Pokémon!" Jessie declared.
"And we'll be taking them all in style," James added with a smirk.
Meowth pressed a button, and mechanical arms shot out from the balloon, grabbing Poké Balls from storage.
"Stop them!" Brock shouted, releasing Forretress.
Ash and Max moved to fight, but before they could react— The back doors of the Pokémon Center shattered.
A streak of fire shot forward.
A Pokémon emerged from the smoke, flames flickering across its golden feathers.
A Combusken.
Not May's. Noah felt his breath catch. He had never seen this Combusken before, but there was something about it—something felt like he knew it.
Combusken let out a roar, his breathing heavy, eyes blazing.
Then, with a blinding flash, he unleashed a devastating Flamethrower, engulfing Team Rocket's balloon in a storm of fire.
The explosion sent them spiraling into the sky.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaaaaain!"
Silence fell as the flames flickered out.
But Combusken stood in the center, his claws clenched, his breath ragged.
His body was still.
His eyes were not.
The trainers inside the Pokémon Center broke into cheers.
"That was amazing!"
"What a powerful Combusken!"
Stephanie stepped forward, eyes wide with admiration. "That was incredible!"
Her father smiled. "Stephanie, have you made your choice?"
She turned back to the row of Poké Balls, hesitating.
Then, finally, she reached for one.
"Mudkip," she said. "I want Mudkip."
Her father chuckled, stepping forward himself. "In that case… Can an old man still become a Trainer?"
Nurse Joy beamed. "Of course."
Without hesitation, he picked up Treecko's Poké Ball.
Combusken stood frozen.
They were choosing their partners.
And yet…
No one was choosing him.
His claws curled into fists. His chest tightened. He had evolved—fought—to prove himself. But in the end, he was still alone.
A growl rumbled in his throat.
Then, with a furious cry, he launched a Flamethrower straight into the ceiling. The fire blazed, lighting the Pokémon Center in an orange glow.
Trainers gasped. Nurse Joy stumbled back.
Combusken's body trembled. His breathing was uneven, erratic.
He could still hear them.
"Too aggressive."
"Won't listen to a Trainer."
"Not worth keeping."
Brock took a cautious step forward. "Combusken, it's okay, we can—"
Combusken lunged.
His uppercut connected with Brock's chin, sending him crashing backward.
Ash barely had time to react before Combusken's claw struck him, throwing him into the wall.
Silence.
Combusken stood there, panting, but his eyes were distant—lost in something only he could see.
Noah unknowingly felt like he knew this Combusken but he had never met one in his life until he saw May's then how.
Sage, his Dottler, floated beside him, its psychic energy pulsing softly.
"Use Confusion," Noah murmured.
A glow surrounded Combusken, holding him in place.
He thrashed against it, growling, claws sparking with embers.
Noah took another step, raising a hand.
Sage's Confusion kept him from moving, but the fire in his eyes still burned.
Noah placed a hand on his shoulder.
The moment their skin touched, something inside Combusken shifted.
The anger, the fury, the pain—it all fell into silence.
A warmth—steady, strong, familiar—wrapped around him.
Combusken's vision blurred. The echoes of the past—the rejection, the taunts—began to fade.
And now, there was something else.
A new voice.
"You're not weak." No one said it in particular but Combusken heard it in new voice and a new face standing infront of him.
Combusken stopped struggling. His claws slowly unclenched. His breathing evened.
The fire inside him didn't go out. But calmed.
Sage released him.
Combusken stumbled forward.
He looked up at Noah.
And for the first time in a long time, he saw someone who understood.
Nurse Joy sighed as she looked at the scene before her. Trainers were still murmuring in awe at Combusken's power, but there was an unspoken tension hanging in the air.
She turned to the fire-type Pokémon, who stood close to Noah, eyes filled with quiet desperation.
"This is a difficult situation," she said softly. "Combusken has already evolved, meaning he's far too strong for a brand-new Trainer. It wouldn't be safe to entrust him to someone without experience."
Combusken's claws tightened slightly, and his body tensed as though bracing for rejection again.
Nurse Joy, still unaware of the full story, turned to Ash, Brock, and Max. "What exactly happened?"
The three of them exchanged awkward glances before Max finally spoke.
"It started when Torchic wouldn't stop picking fights…" he admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
Ash sighed. "Yeah, every time it saw another Pokémon, it just charged at them."
Brock nodded. "It refused to back down, and before we knew it, it evolved into Combusken. But once it did…" He hesitated before continuing, "…it was even more aggressive. We didn't know what to do."
May, who had been silent up until now, frowned. "Wait… what are you saying?"
Max shuffled his feet. "We—uh—kind of had to replace it…"
May blinked. "Replace it?"
Ash gave an apologetic look. "We swapped it with another Torchic so it wouldn't cause problems."
May's stomach dropped.
Her hands trembled as she slowly turned her gaze downward.
There, standing right in front of her, was the tiny Torchic meant to be given to a new Trainer.
The moment their eyes met, the little Torchic chirped softly, its voice filled with longing and recognition.
May's eyes widened.
It was Her Torchic.
Without another thought, she dropped to her knees and pulled the small Pokémon into her arms, hugging it tightly.
Torchic let out a small, relieved coo and nuzzled into her chest. One of her Pokémon who always kept distance was watching from shadow eyes looking on at the human who caught it in the cave.
"You… You left my Torchic here?!" she snapped, glaring up at Ash, Brock, and Max.
They flinched.
"We thought it was for the best…" Max muttered.
May gritted her teeth, anger burning in her chest.
"This whole time… I thought something happened to him! And you just—just gave him away?! Without even telling me?!"
Ash sighed, clearly feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, May. We—"
But she wasn't listening anymore. She was too busy holding Torchic close, whispering soothing words as she stroked its feathers.
Torchic chirped in response, its tiny body trembling slightly, as though it had been waiting forever to be held again.
Combusken watched the reunion quietly. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something raw.
That could've been me.
He swallowed hard, looking at May and Torchic for only a moment longer before slowly turning his head back to Noah.
His heart pounded.
His body tense.
He didn't say a word, but he didn't have to.
His eyes said it all.
Noah took a deep breath as of knowing what Combusken wanted.
"…Nurse Joy," he said. "Can I take him?"
Combusken's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't move.
Nurse Joy hesitated, lips pressed into a thin line. "Noah, are you sure?" she asked carefully. "Combusken is powerful, and he doesn't have full control over his emotions yet. He might be difficult to handle."
Noah met her gaze without hesitation. "I know, I saw him" he admitted. "But I've battled against Gym Leaders and held my own. I can handle him."
Nurse Joy still looked unsure.
Brock, who had just recovered from being uppercut into a wall, nodded. "Honestly, if anyone here can handle Combusken, it's Noah."
Ash crossed his arms and gave a small smile. "Yeah, I wouldn't worry. He's got Sage, too. If things get out of control, Sage can stop Combusken with Confusion again."
Nurse Joy studied Noah for a long moment.
Then, finally, she sighed. "…Alright," she said. "But you need to be careful."
The moment the words left her mouth, Combusken moved.
Without waiting for anyone to say anything else, he turned on his heel and sprinted back inside the Pokémon Center.
There was a brief silence as everyone exchanged glances.
Then, after a few moments—
Combusken came running back out, holding his own Poké Ball in his claws.
His breathing was uneven, his movements quick—almost as though he were afraid the moment would pass if he didn't act fast enough.
He held the Poké Ball out toward Noah.
A silent plea.
Noah felt his chest tighten as if reuniting with a long lost friend.
He reached out, his fingers wrapping around the Poké Ball.
The second his grip tightened around it, Combusken let out a breath and—finally—looked relieved.
For the first time in a long time… He had a home.