Today, Ash and his companions arrived at a beach.
Vermilion City was a port city surrounded by the sea.
Although they were still some distance away, this area could already be considered the outskirts of Vermilion.
With night approaching, Ash's group decided to spend the night at the solitary lighthouse tower perched atop the seaside cliffs.
"Look! A Pokémon!"
On the beach, a crab Pokémon scuttled toward them, waving its oversized claws.
It wasn't very big—about the size of two palms—walking sideways across the sand, claws raised arrogantly.
"Beep. Kingler—"
"Correction detected."
"Beep. Krabby, the River Crab Pokémon. A Water-type Pokémon."
(The earlier MTL-style "big crab" description has been corrected to Krabby, per Pokémon canon.)
"Fun fact: This Pokémon is often found on beaches and riverbanks."
"Ah, that's clearly Krabby!" Misty immediately corrected.
"It's a Water-type Pokémon. I'm catching it!"
She raised a Poké Ball—only to be blocked by Ash stepping in front of her.
"Wait, Misty! This crab is red. That totally goes against your blue Water-type spirit. You should let me have it!"
He explained confidently, as if it were undeniable logic.
Misty: "?"
Shockingly… she had no rebuttal.
In the end, after a series of baffling maneuvers by Ash, Krabby was caught barehanded—
Pikachu didn't even get a chance to act.
Not counting Red's semi-retired Pikachu, Ash now officially owned more than six Pokémon.
At last—
a normal Trainer.
"Let's go, let's go! Tonight we'll eat well at the lighthouse and celebrate! I'm one step closer to becoming a Pokémon Master~~!"
Grinning ear to ear, Ash pushed Brock and Misty toward the lighthouse.
The lighthouse's massive metal doors were engraved with an ancient mural.
Various abstract Pokémon figures were embedded into square panels—clearly something with history.
"Pika."
Pikachu pointed at one of the Electric-type rodent carvings.
It was extremely abstract… and very round.
Seeing it, Pikachu gained confidence.
I'm not fat.
Just… slightly plump.
Creeeak—
The lighthouse doors suddenly opened.
What they expected to be a run-down shack turned out to be a luxurious interior—
red carpets, draped curtains, and classical walls.
It looked more like a noble's private castle.
At the end of the hall stood a raised platform.
And upon it—
A massive figure.
From the front, a pitch-black underbelly and hooked claws.
From behind, an oval, amber-colored shell—like some kind of gigantic ancient arthropod.
"Kabutops…?!" Brock gasped, eyes narrowing into slits.
As the former Pewter Gym Leader, he was familiar with fossil Pokémon.
"So this is Kabuto's evolution? It's huge!"
Ash wasn't afraid—instead, he was thrilled.
The Pokémon was taller than him by a full head.
Bigger is better.
That's just how men think.
After all, he was carrying a Dome Fossil in his bag.
"Will mine grow this big too?"
He was genuinely looking forward to it.
Suddenly, the massive Kabutops-like figure trembled.
Then—from inside—came a human voice.
"Uh… I'm not Kabutops, kid. Come up and touch my chest."
Ash, trusting as ever, walked up and pulled—
PFFFT!
White smoke burst out.
The shell split open, falling apart.
A human figure stepped out.
"Sorry about that," the man said, rubbing his head.
"Once you get inside this thing, it's really hard to get out. I thought I'd be stuck overnight again."
He looked about seventeen or eighteen.
Light tan skin, fluffy slightly curled hair, a clean and gentle face—
…and a dangerously receding hairline.
"Haha, nice to meet you. I'm Bill, a Pokémon researcher."
The three immediately greeted him back.
"Oh, you're from Pallet Town? Then you must know Professor Oak. I'm basically half his student."
His face softened with nostalgia.
"Back then, it was also peak crab roe season… We even set up a hotpot in Pallet Town…"
He licked his lips, eyes unfocused.
Ash, Brock, and Misty: "???"
Something was very wrong with this story.
"A-anyway," Ash quickly interrupted,
"Why were you wearing a Kabutops costume, Mr. Bill?"
Bill's expression instantly turned serious.
He gently touched the fossil suit behind him.
"I'm experiencing the inner world of Pokémon."
"Have you ever considered that Pokémon and humans aren't that different? Humans have thoughts—so do Pokémon. Perhaps humans are merely another kind of Pokémon."
"If one seeks inspiration, one must pursue it completely."
The three stared blankly.
"Then let me ask you this," Bill suddenly said.
"What is the difference between humans and Pokémon?"
Ash glanced at Pikachu and answered instinctively:
"Humans know how to consciously control their weight."
Pikachu: "?"
"Ahem," Bill coughed.
"Pokémon use many moves. Humans gave up flashy abilities—but retained one skill: coordinating with Pokémon to use moves. Doesn't that make us similar?"
The three nodded slowly.
"…That actually does make some sense."
Some Pokémon really only use one move their entire lives.
"So I stay here, cultivating insight, seeking to understand their true world."
Bill spread his arms dramatically, as if praising science itself.
The trio frowned.
Wearing a Pokémon suit lets you understand Pokémon…
Well… that is a form of understanding.
This is what Pokémon researchers are like, huh?
Impressive.
Truly impressive.
"Ash, ask him something for me."
Red's voice suddenly echoed in Ash's mind, unusually urgent.
Ash perked up.
"Red, didn't you already ascend?"
Red: "."
Back to business.
Red remembered another Bill—from a previous game world.
That Bill had been far more extreme.
He had completely merged his soul into a Clefairy and couldn't escape.
Red had been the one who freed him.
The key point—
Bill possessed technology capable of transferring a human soul into a Pokémon.
That was exactly what Red needed right now.
"Red's business is my business!"
Ash thumped his chest and agreed immediately.
"T-thank you…"
Red lowered his head slightly, embarrassed.
It had been a long time since he'd thanked anyone.
"Hey, no need to be polite—this isn't even worth a Krabby."
Red: "."
…Should I just possess him instead?
In reality, Ash asked:
"Uh, excuse me, Mr. Bill. A friend of mine has a question."
The others looked around, confused about this mysterious "friend."
"Do you know how to transfer a human soul into a Pokémon?"
Bill froze.
His pupils shrank.
For the first time, he looked at Ash seriously.
An ordinary countryside boy.
That theory—soul transfer and complete fusion—
was something Bill had conceived as a child.
He had never told anyone.
Not even Professor Oak.
How did this boy know?
"…This 'friend' of yours," Bill asked cautiously,
"isn't it you?"
Ash waved frantically.
"No, no, definitely not me! It's one of those super rare kinds of friends, you know…"
"…Half-dead?"
Ash, Brock, Misty: "?"
Red: "?"
PS : Bill is known for his Pokémon transformation machine.
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