The journey begins as it always should… except this time, everything is different.
"Pikachu!"
A black-haired boy with spiky hair suddenly bolted upright in bed.
He stared at the familiar surroundings of his room for a moment before scratching his head.
"So it was just a dream…"
Glancing at the clock beside his bed, he froze.
8:30.
"Ah! It's already this late?!"
Ash leapt out of bed. He rushed through washing his face, brushing his teeth, and throwing on his clothes before sprinting downstairs. By the time he arrived, his mother had already prepared breakfast.
"I'm done eating!"
He devoured the meal like a whirlwind. After finishing, he hurried to the entryway, pulled on his sneakers, and grabbed the red-and-white cap from the shoe cabinet, placing it firmly on his head.
"I'm heading out!"
"Don't run so fast! There's still plenty of time—Ash, did you hear what I said? Ash? Ash!"
"Honestly…"
Watching the boy disappear down the road in a blur, his mother shook her head helplessly.
"That child is still as reckless as ever…"
...
His name was Ash.
A perfectly ordinary boy from Pallet Town whose dream was to become a Pokemon Master.
Today was the day he would receive his first Pokémon.
Normally, because he'd stayed up far too late from excitement the night before, Ash probably would have overslept and arrived late. But thanks to a strange nightmare, he had woken up unusually early.
Even now, as excitement bubbled inside him at the thought of finally getting his own Pokémon, fragments of that nightmare lingered in his mind.
He couldn't clearly remember what happened in the dream.
But vaguely…
It felt like someone had taken everything from him.
Ash quickly shook his head.
No point thinking about that now.
Because Professor Oak's Laboratory had already come into view.
"Professor Oak! I'm here to get my Pokémon!"
"Ash? Why are you only arriving now?" Professor Oak frowned at the reckless boy. "Everyone else already picked their Pokemon and left."
"Huh? But it's just the agreed time, right?" Ash glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's exactly nine!"
"Coming ten minutes early is basic courtesy. Young people these days don't even know how to hustle," Oak said leisurely.
"I don't really get it," Ash replied honestly.
But his expression quickly turned excited.
"Anyway, forget that! Professor, where are the Pokémon? Where's my Pokémon?!"
"What's the rush?" Oak walked over to the control console and pressed a few buttons.
A platform slowly rose from the floor.
Four Poké Balls rested neatly on top of it.
"I already decided last night," Ash said without hesitation as he grabbed one. "I choose you—Charmander! Come on out!"
Fwoosh!
Nothing happened.
"…?"
"Professor, why is this Poké Ball empty?"
"Charmander was already taken by someone who came earlier."
"Seriously…?" Ash looked slightly disappointed, but he quickly turned to the others. "Then I choose you—Bulbasaur!"
Fwoosh!
Empty again.
"Squirtle!"
Empty.
"Misaka Mikoto!"
Still empty.
"Why are all of them empty, Professor?!"
"Well, what can you do?" Professor Oak shrugged. "Too many people trying to get ahead these days."
Ash stared blankly.
"However," Oak continued, "there is still one Pokemon left. But that one has a bit of… a problem. That's why no one chose it."
Ash, already at the end of his rope, answered immediately.
"I'll take that one, Professor!"
"You're sure? …Alright."
Professor Oak pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket and handed it over.
"Here it is."
"Come out—my partner!"
Ash threw the Poké Ball without hesitation.
Flash!
A burst of white light filled the room.
When it faded, a small blue Pokemon stood before him.
"Froakie?"
"Huh? What Pokemon is this?" Ash stared in surprise.
Then he muttered to himself instinctively.
"…And why isn't it Pikachu?"
"This is a starter Pokemon from the Kalos region," Professor Oak explained. "Its name is Froakie."
"Froakie, huh…"
Ash nodded slightly.
Then he crouched down and extended his hand toward the curious Pokémon, who was looking around the lab.
"Froakie, I'm Ash. Let's work well together from now on."
"Froa…?"
Froakie followed the outstretched hand with its eyes, slowly looking up into Ash's face.
After seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Froakie let out a small cry and placed its hand on Ash's.
A bright smile spread across Ash's face.
But at that moment, Professor Oak added slowly,
"However… this Froakie has a small problem."
In the blink of an eye, Froakie vanished.
Before Ash could react, the Pokemon suddenly appeared right in front of him.
He watched, stunned, as Froakie floated briefly in midair.
Then—
Froakie stretched out one leg and kicked forward with incredible force.
SMACK!
Ash spun through the air in a spectacular seven-hundred-and-twenty-degree midair rotation.
"…Its speed is astonishing."
Professor Oak finally finished his sentence.
"Ow…" Ash clutched his cheek, staring in shock at Froakie, who had already landed gracefully on the ground with its arms folded behind its back.
"This Pokemonis that brutal?!"
"Exactly," Oak said calmly. "For beginner trainers, it's almost impossible to command it."
He looked at Ash.
"Do you want to change your Pokémon? If you wait, the next batch will arrive in about a week."
"No need. I'll take Froakie!"
Ash answered without hesitation.
Once again, he extended his hand toward the blue Pokémon.
With a wide, bright smile, he said,
"You're really strong, Froakie. My name's Ash. I'm training to become a Pokemon Master."
"Right now I'm still pretty weak. But I'll become much, much stronger someday."
"So, Froakie… will you lend me your strength?"
"Froa…"
Froakie paused.
The human it had just kicked hard was still offering it kindness.
That was… unusual.
This human seemed different from the others.
And besides…
When he got kicked, the feeling was somehow better than usual.
Much more satisfying.
Froakie fell into deep thought.
A Pokemon Master, huh?
Heh… interesting.
The next second, Froakie vanished again.
Before Ash could react, the Poké Ball in his hand suddenly emitted a red beam of light.
Froakie had already returned to the Poké Ball.
Ash blinked in surprise.
Then the smile on his face grew even wider.
"Then from now on… let's take care of each other."
"Froa."
Inside the Poké Ball, Froakie let out a quiet cry that no one heard.
Don't misunderstand.
It's just that your body feels better than the others when I hit it.
You make a better training target.
...
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