—Professor Oak POV—
After sending Liam and Wimpod off alongside my granddaughter, we both headed back home.
Daisy went to check on the Pokémon the trainers leave here, while I went back to my project that will bring us all another step closer to understanding Pokémon.
Until I received a call from a former student of mine through the TV phone.
Click.
When the video feed became clear, my former student, now wearing a lab coat, with the same messy maroon hair and green eyes, appeared on the TV phone with a happy look on his face.
[PC: Professor Oak, it's been a while.]
"Ah, Professor Cerise, just the person I wanted to call."
[PC: Is something the matter, Professor Oak?]
I chuckled a bit at his question because he was probably calling me about the files he needed.
"No, everything is fine. Actually, I wanted to inform you that an interesting trainer will be heading toward you with the files you needed."
[PC: Ah! Great! Thank you, Sensei!]
[CC: Dad! You're being too loud! I'm concentrating on my homework!]
Through the line, I heard the sound of a young girl who must have been Chloe, whom he always tells me about.
[PC: Sorry, dear.]
"Ha-ha-ha, Professor Cerise, there is no need to call me Sensei anymore. I mean, I don't mind. It does bring back old memories, but now you're a Professor yourself. Have more confidence in yourself."
He scratched behind his head in embarrassment.
[PC: Sorry about that, Professor Oak. Well, anyway, you said you sent a trainer to deliver the files, correct? What sort of person is this trainer that you requested to do the task for you?]
I thought back on the boy named Liam—or should I say, young adult—who appeared here yesterday. He was a unique person who had an aura that would draw people and Pokémon toward him.
"Well, Professor Cerise, his name is Liam Valiant, whose partner is a Wimpod with a different color. He is an energetic young man who wants to know and experience everything there is to know about Pokémon."
[PC: Wow, Professor Oak, it sounds like you want to make him your student.]
"I won't lie, he would become a great researcher in the near future."
After I said that, I started explaining the events that occurred yesterday.
[PC: I can't believe something like that happened. But still, I can't wait to meet this trainer. Actually, if he calls you, do you mind letting him know if he would help me and my team on this project I am doing?]
"Sure, I don't mind. But what sort of research are you doing that would require those specific files?"
[PC: Well, it is about that legend of the Legendary Birds.]
"Oh, that legend about a hidden place where flocks of Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres gather together once every hundred years somewhere in the Kanto Region, correct?"
[PC: Yes! That legend. I have been doing some research around the legend, and there have been multiple sightings of those three birds in recent weeks, and this got me thinking about that legend.]
"This is certainly interesting, Professor Cerise, but the issue is always the location. And even though it would be a great find, I worry it would disturb their natural habitat if it turns out to be real."
[PC: That won't be an issue, Professor Oak. Based on the legend, it says that if the location were to ever be discovered, they would meet somewhere else in the next 100 years. This got me thinking that perhaps they meet at a different spot once every one hundred years.]
"I'll make sure to inform him, Professor Cerise."
—No One POV—
Somewhere else, about a few miles away, a young masked figure who wore all black with a Houndoom mask was listening in on their conversation.
[PC: So, Professor Oak, when should I expect this trainer to come by?]
[PO: Once he contacts me again, I'll let him know about your request. But at the rate he'll be traveling, give him a couple of weeks to about a month or two, and he'll be in Vermilion City by then.]
After that, the feed ended as the masked figure began to move.
"Rocket HQ, this is Noir... connect me to Giovanni."
—Liam POV—
As I continued walking down Route 1, I was taking in the view. Then I took Courage out of his Poké Ball, knowing that this wasn't a dream.
"Can't believe I'm in the Pokémon World, and my starter is a Wimpod," I said out loud to myself.
For now, I should reorganize all my thoughts and think about what Pokémon World this is.
The first thing is that this is a mix of different versions of the Pokémon franchise, but it seems to follow the anime storyline with added elements from other versions.
There appear to be game elements involved, and the fact that the Pokémon Special version of Daisy Oak is here shows that there are elements from the Adventures manga, too.
Of course, those are just minor elements, given the fact that Blue (Green) doesn't exist in this world and only Gary does.
And there might be elements from the spin-off games or other manga, too.
But another thing that caught my attention yesterday was the fact Daisy told me in private before bed that Ash has a crush on her. Which means this Ash isn't completely dense, and that means there are some elements from Electric Tales here, too.
Probably.
But what really caught my attention was that Professor Oak said that kids who turn 10 in this world are considered adults, and this reminded me of that old novel I once read before that had mature, realistic themes of the Pokémon World not meant for children called Pocket Monsters: The Animation.
So that means there are elements from that novel here, too, which means I should be prepared and expect there to be some variables of things that will appear in the coming future soon. But at least I'll be treated as an adult again, sort of.
As I resumed my walk, in the left corner of my eye, I saw a purple blur that went past me.
This made me remember something, and so I decided to follow its path. Once I was in range and took cover, I saw a flock of Spearow unconscious on the ground, and in the center of them was a...
"Rattata!?"
"Ttata!"
It screeched as it got spooked by my loud voice and looked like it was ready to battle. Well, here goes anyway.
"Courage! Show them what you've got!"
I immediately threw Courage's Poké Ball, and Courage was ready to battle Rattata.
"Scrhcchh! Scrhcchh!"
"Courage! Quickly, use Rollout!"
Courage rolled itself up and went straight toward Rattata, but it immediately dodged Courage's attack in a split second.
Wait a minute. Those movements and that speed...
"I remember now!"
Yes! I once read a doujinshi called Festival of Champions. And if I recall, this Rattata was Blue's first caught Pokémon when he began his journey with his Eevee.
But Rattata's fate is a sad one and one that would lead that version of Blue onto a darker path.
"Scrhcchh!!!"
From the sounds of Courage, I snapped out of my thoughts and saw that he was getting pounded by Rattata. It kept using Quick Attack.
"Hang on, Courage! Use Sand Attack to blind Rattata!"
After Rattata was stunned by Courage's Sand Attack, I started looking at my surroundings and found a way to end it.
"Courage, quickly head to that tree behind you and be ready to use Rollout!"
Rattata looked to have finally gotten its vision back and was using Quick Attack toward Courage.
"Wait, Courage. Not yet... Now! Use Rollout toward the top of the tree and use it again heading down!"
At just a split second, Courage was able to evade Rattata's Quick Attack and use Rollout toward the top of the tree. In that split second, just when Rattata gained its ground and was about to use Quick Attack again, Courage immediately used Rollout toward the ground with great speed, heading toward Rattata.
Come on, Courage. If you use enough force with Rollout, we should be able to weaken him and throw a Poké Ball to capture him.
It was a hit as Rattata staggered after getting hit by Courage's Rollout.
"Quickly, use Struggle Bug!"
Courage sent out multiple specks of green energy toward Rattata, which weakened it enough for me to catch.
"Here we go!"
I immediately threw a Poké Ball at Rattata, and it hit its mark. The Poké Ball opened, and a light engulfed Rattata, sending it into the Poké Ball.
The light started blinking red and white until it stopped blinking, giving me the clear sign that Rattata was captured.
Which was perfect timing, as Courage was already worn out from that battle.
I immediately held the Poké Ball Rattata was in toward the sky and shouted.
"We did it, Courage! We caught our first Pokémon on our journey!"
"Scrhcchh! Scrhcchh!"
Even Courage was happy about it, too, as he got a new companion for our journey.
"Well, Courage, let's get a move on and continue on our way."
I put Courage back into his Poké Ball and started heading on my way, hopefully finding a spot to rest for the night.