Chikorita was the second Pokémon Ash caught in the Johto Region.
With a brave and competitive personality, its Compatibility with Ash was clearly very high as well. However, since Chikorita hadn't evolved to its final evolutionary stage, its Compatibility definitely couldn't reach 255.
Now, Ash had accepted this—he would never force his Pokémon to all evolve to their final evolutionary stages.
Just like with Bulbasaur and Squirtle. Since they had decided not to evolve, Ash was happy to respect their wishes.
After all, Pokémon are independent beings, not mere tools. They have their own lives and talents, and their own pursuits.
After catching Chikorita, Ash was now carrying more than six Pokémon.
So he decided to send Bulbasaur, also a Grass-type, back to Professor Samuel. It turned out Professor Samuel's backyard had begun having problems with the fostered Pokémon, so Bulbasaur could help sort things out.
Ash and the group spent two days special training on that mountain before crossing over and finally arriving at Violet City.
Those two days gave Ash and Chikorita time to get to know each other.
Upon arriving in Violet City, their very first stop had to be Sprout Tower for a visit.
This is a three-story pagoda, and it always seems to sway, as if it could topple at any second, but this actually makes it resistant to disasters such as earthquakes.
It's said that the tower was built around a central pillar over thirty meters tall. You have to admit—the ancestors were truly wise.
And Sprout Tower holds special meaning for Trainers on their journeys.
It's said that every Pokémon Trainer who enters the Johto League will come to this tower, to reflect on when they first left home and began their journey.
For Ash, his journey began with Pidgey.
After setting out, Pikachu and Ash clashed and Pikachu refused to cooperate, so Ash stubbornly decided to rely on himself to catch a Pidgey.
The result was, of course, a predictable disaster.
Later, Ash caught a Pidgeotto. Yet after completing his Kanto Region journey, he ended up releasing his evolved Pidgeot in Viridian Forest.
He wondered if Pidgeot was still living in Viridian Forest today.
Speaking of Pidgeot, as Ash stood atop the tower and gazed outside, he saw a Trainer gliding through the air alongside a Pidgeot.
After coming down from Sprout Tower, Ash and the group headed to the front of the Violet Gym, where they encountered the glider Trainer and his Pidgeot.
"Hello! Are you Trainers here to challenge the Violet Gym?" The Trainer also had a Hoothoot perched on his shoulder.
"That's right. I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my very first Gym Challenge in the Johto Region!" Ash introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Falkner!" Falkner introduced himself.
"That Pidgeot is huge!" Misty couldn't help but exclaim at the sight of the bird.
"It's even bigger than my old Pidgeot!" Ash laughed as he looked at it.
Upon hearing this, Falkner's interest in Ash was piqued. "You had a Pidgeot too?"
"Yeah!" Ash nodded. "Not long ago, it was traveling with me!"
"Because of something that happened, we parted ways near its homeland, the Viridian Forest, close to where I first caught it. I have no idea how it's doing now."
Ash's words touched Falkner deeply. "I think you must have really loved your Pidgeot."
"Of course I did!"
"That's right—Pidgeot is one of the finest among all Bird Pokémon!" True to his word, Falkner's Pidgeot was truly his ace.
Falkner clapped Ash on the shoulder with a laugh. "I feel like we're going to get along really well!"
"To be honest, it's always been my dream to become the greatest Bird Pokémon Trainer!"
"I've always longed for the skies. Little by little, I found myself completely fascinated with the thrill of flying Bird Pokémon!"
"Ash, if you're here to challenge the Violet Gym, please follow me inside!"
Brock and Misty weren't quite sure what to make of all this, but Ash quickly smiled, "I look forward to learning from you, Gym Trainer Falkner!"
The Violet Gym was an extremely tall building, and the battle arena was on the large platform at the very top!
"Ash, welcome to the Violet Gym!"
At the rooftop arena, many people were already waiting, everyone holding their breath, making the atmosphere suddenly tense.
"Ash, are you sure you're ready?" Brock asked with concern.
Ash gave a slight smile. "Don't worry. It's right at moments like these that I get truly excited!"
"Now then, let the official badge match at Violet Gym begin! Gym Trainer Falkner versus the challenger Ash, all the way from Pallet Town! Each side may use up to three Pokémon. Are both trainers ready?"
"I'm ready! Falkner, I'm definitely going to earn your badge!"
Noticing Ash's steady confidence, Falkner became equally fired up. "I won't let you win that easily. As Gym Trainer, my honor is on the line. I'll show you the real power of Bird Pokémon!"
According to Gym rules, the Gym Leader sends out their Pokémon first.
Falkner's first was none other than the Hoothoot perched on his shoulder earlier.
"In that case, Pikachu—you're up!" Since this was a Flying-type gym, opening with Electric-type Pikachu was only natural.
But Ash's strategy went even further.
Squirtle was clearly not the right pick against these Bird Pokémon.
And the newly caught Chikorita would be at an even bigger disadvantage.
As for Heracross, whether Bug or Fighting type, it was completely countered by Bird Pokémon—best to leave him out for now.
So Ash's choices for this fight were down to Pikachu, Snorlax, and Charizard.
Luckily, Snorlax happened to be awake.
"A wise choice, but Ash, if you think you can easily defeat my Bird Pokémon just because you have Electric-types, you're sorely mistaken!" Falkner grew serious. "Strike first—Hoothoot, use Tackle!"
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
Quick Attack was obviously faster; Hoothoot barely managed to move before Pikachu rushed in, sending it flying!
"Not good—Hoothoot, ascend!"
"Trying to escape? Thunderbolt!"
Hoothoot struggled and flapped its wings, trying to take off, but Thunderbolt had already struck, leaving it completely stunned.
"Hoothoot is unable to battle. Pikachu wins!"
"Losing to an Electric-type is nothing to be ashamed of!" Falkner returned Hoothoot and looked up at Ash. "Ash, you really are strong!"
Pikachu: 208/255