Morning in the Hoenn region was always wrapped in a thin veil of mist.
Littleroot Town, tucked away on the southeast edge of the Hoenn mainland, lived up to its name, like a clean white canvas untouched by any color. It did not have the noise of a big city or the bustle of a major port. There were only wide green fields, winding country paths, and distant emerald mountains rising and falling in gentle waves. The town was small, almost pocket sized, yet its fame across Hoenn was no less than any great city's, because Professor Birch's Pokémon Lab was here.
Professor Birch was one of Hoenn's most renowned Pokémon researchers. His work on Pokémon habitats and ecology had not only reshaped how people understood Hoenn's wild Pokémon, it had also caused a stir throughout the wider academic world. Countless Trainers with dreams in their hearts took pride in receiving his guidance, and because of that, Littleroot Town had become the starting point of many adventures.
The morning sun pierced the mist and fell onto the pier at Littleroot's harbor. A few Wingull circled overhead, crying out crisply, their white wings gleaming softly as they reflected the blue of the sea. The breeze carried a faint salty dampness, rustling the reeds along the shore with a steady hush, as if telling stories of these waters.
A small passenger ship slowly entered the port. Its hull cut through the calm surface, leaving a long wake behind. With a light creak, the ship stopped at the dock, and the gangplank lowered, connecting sea to land.
A boy stepped off.
He looked around ten years old, wearing a red short sleeved jacket and blue jeans, sturdy sneakers on his feet. His skin was a healthy tan, the sea wind lifting the hair at his forehead to reveal bright eyes full of energy. On his shoulder sat a small yellow mouse like Pokémon, its pointed ears sharp, two red electric sacs on its cheeks, Pikachu.
"We finally made it, Hoenn!" the boy breathed in deeply, the air tasting of ocean and freshness. He turned to Pikachu on his shoulder, excitement spilling into his voice. "Pikachu, look! This is our new land of adventure! The air feels so clean!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu nodded, cheeks puffing slightly as it let out a pleased cry. Its eyes shone with curiosity for this unfamiliar place.
The boy was Ethan, from Pallet Town in the Kanto region. After finishing his journeys through the Kanto League and the Johto League, he still had not stopped. He had chosen to head to Hoenn, aiming for the Ever Grande Conference and the championship that came with it.
Just thinking about a brand new adventure set Ethan's heart racing. He clenched his fist, his eyes burning with resolve.
"Goal, Ever Grande Conference champion! Pikachu, we're going to make a name for ourselves in Hoenn!"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded hard, tail flicking with fighting spirit.
"Come on, Pikachu. Let's go meet Professor Birch first!" Ethan said, then headed toward town. Pikachu stayed perched on his shoulder, taking in everything with eager interest.
Littleroot's streets were clean and tidy. Small, charming houses lined the road, surrounded by flowers in every color, their fragrance drifting through the air. Now and then, wild Pokémon peeked out from the grass along the roadside, staring at Ethan and Pikachu, only to duck back in as if playing hide and seek.
Following the signs, Ethan walked down a winding path deeper into town. Dense woods bordered both sides, tall trees blocking out much of the sky. Sunlight slipped through gaps in the leaves, painting shifting patterns across the ground. Pokémon calls echoed through the forest, clear and lively, like a natural symphony.
After about ten minutes, a white building appeared in Ethan's view. An open lawn stretched around it, dotted with research equipment, with a few Pokémon lazing around as if they owned the place.
This was Professor Birch's lab.
Ethan hurried to the door and knocked lightly.
"Hello! I'm Ethan from Pallet Town! Is anyone here?"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu added a few chirps, as if backing him up.
Click.
The door opened, but it was not Professor Birch. A young assistant in a white lab coat greeted Ethan with a friendly smile.
"Oh! Welcome, Ethan, to Hoenn! Professor Birch already told us you were coming!"
Ethan blinked in surprise, then answered politely. "Hello. I'm Ethan. This is my partner, Pikachu."
"Pika chu!" Pikachu waved a paw.
The assistant nodded with a smile, but then looked apologetic. "I'm really sorry. Professor Birch just went out to the back hills to do field research, and he hasn't returned yet. Do you want to wait inside until he comes back?"
Ethan's eyes lit up. "No need! I'll go find him. It's a good chance to see Hoenn Pokémon up close too!"
The assistant sighed in amused defeat. "Young Trainers really can't sit still. Fine, then. The back hills are behind the lab. Just follow that little path. But be careful, there are wild Pokémon out there. It can get dangerous."
"Don't worry! I'll be careful!" Ethan patted his chest confidently. He and Pikachu had been through plenty of adventures. Dealing with wild Pokémon was nothing new.
After thanking the assistant, Ethan ran toward the back hills with Pikachu.
The forest there was even denser, the trees taller, and the light dimmer beneath the canopy. The air smelled of soil and greenery, refreshing enough to clear the mind.
Ethan moved between the trees, eyes wide, scanning everything. He spotted many Pokémon he had never seen during his travels in Kanto and Johto: a Snivy, its long vine like limbs helping it leap between branches with ease; a bright colored Wurmple crawling slowly along a leaf; and a few Skitty perched on a branch, staring at him with curious eyes.
"Whoa! There are so many Pokémon here!" Ethan said excitedly. "Pikachu, look! That's Snivy, right? And Wurmple, it's so cute!"
"Pika!" Pikachu chirped, equally excited.
Just then, an urgent voice rang out from deeper in the forest.
"Anything is fine! Just hurry and get a Pokémon out!"
The voice sounded flustered, with a hint of helplessness. Ethan froze for a heartbeat, then reacted.
"That's Professor Birch!" Ethan blurted. "Pikachu, let's go!"
He sprinted toward the sound, Pikachu clinging tightly to his shoulder, ears upright and alert.
After only a short distance, a girl's voice answered, panicked.
"Ah? O okay, come out!"
Then, even more uncertain, "And then? What do I do next?"
"Use a move!" Professor Birch urged.
"What move?" the girl sounded completely lost.
"Please, just shout Water Gun!" Professor Birch said, trying his best to be patient.
"Water Gun," the girl repeated hesitantly.
Pfft!
A soft splash like sound.
Ethan and Pikachu sped up, turned around a huge tree, and immediately froze at what they saw.
On the branch of a tall tree, Professor Birch was dangling awkwardly, looking thoroughly miserable. Below him, three Poochyena glared up with bared teeth, growling low.
Facing them stood a girl about Ethan's age. She wore a red top and shorts, her hair tied into two ponytails. Her expression was a mix of panic and confusion.
At her feet was a small blue Pokémon with a round head, big eyes, and a brown fin like structure on its cheek.
Mudkip.
Mudkip had just fired a stream of water, but instead of hitting the Poochyena, it had sprayed straight into the girl's face, soaking her hair and clothes.
"Ah! Why did it do that!" the girl yelled, wiping water from her face in pure despair.
Professor Birch, still hanging above, twitched at the corner of his mouth, visibly speechless.
Ethan and Pikachu stood there for half a second, stunned into silence.
Then Ethan snapped out of it.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the Poochyena!" Ethan ordered immediately. He could not just watch Professor Birch get surrounded.
"Pika chu!" Pikachu leapt down, cheeks swelling as golden electricity surged around its body. In the next instant, a powerful blast of electricity shot forward.
"Graaah!"
The three Poochyena were struck head on. They yelped, bodies trembling, then tucked their tails and fled into the forest in a messy retreat.
"Whew, saved…" Professor Birch let out a long breath. He carefully climbed down from the tree, dusted himself off, and finally looked like a man who had survived a small disaster. He had been chased up the tree and had tried to get help from the girl, only for the situation to turn into a comedy instead.
Professor Birch straightened his clothes, then turned to Ethan with a puzzled look.
"Huh? And you are?"
Ethan stepped forward politely. "I'm Ethan from Pallet Town in Kanto. This is my partner, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu waved with a friendly smile.
"Oh! You're Ethan!" Professor Birch's face brightened with realization, and he broke into a warm grin. "Thank you so much! I didn't expect you to arrive this quickly. If you hadn't shown up, I would've been in real trouble today!"
"It's no problem, Professor," Ethan said with a smile. "I'm glad I could help."
"Come on, let's head back to the lab first," Professor Birch said. Then he looked at the girl beside them, his tone softening. "And you too, May. Thanks for coming. It hasn't been long, but you're getting prettier, just like your mother."
May's face flushed. She waved both hands quickly, embarrassed. "N no, I didn't even help… I just made things worse."
Professor Birch chuckled and did not tease her further. "You came to choose your first Pokémon, right? Have you decided which one you want?"
At the mention of a starter Pokémon, May hesitated. She lowered her head, two fingers poking at each other nervously.
"Ah… um… not yet."
"That's fine," Professor Birch said with an easy smile. "Take your time. We'll talk once we're back."
With that, the three of them headed back toward the lab together.
(End of Chapter)
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