[Time skip - Four years and four months]
'Alright, it's been more than four years since I've arrived to this world. And I've been trying to awaken Aura every single night, but I haven't made much progress.'
'I can only feel the Aura of weak beings, and detect the emotions of the people close to me. I also learned that my Aura is connected to my willpower.'
'Every time I meditate, I feel something… faint. Like a spark. But the moment I try to grasp it, it slips away.'
Still, he hadn't given up. Progress was progress, no matter how small.
In the meantime, he'd hit his developmental milestones without issue. He could talk, walk, run, and had fully reintegrated into the life of a normal human child. Or at least, one who pretended to be a normal child.
But just yesterday… something interesting had happened.
During one of his usual late-night excursions, Ash ventured into the forest near Pallet Town. He knew it was risky—especially for a four-year-old sneaking around in the dark—but he had to check something. And what he found was worth the danger.
A group of Kangaskhan. Peaceful, nurturing, and oddly familiar.
'They're the same ones from the anime. The ones that raised Pikachu as a Pichu before he met the original Ash… which means my Pikachu will probably join them in a year or two. That's a major clue.'
Since then, Ash had been observing the Kangaskhan group from afar. No sign of Pikachu yet—but he was sure it wouldn't be long.
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[The next day]
"Good morning, Ash!" Delia chirped cheerfully as she entered his room.
"Mmmmmmm…" he groaned, pulling the covers over his head.
"Come on, you little Slakoth," she teased, scooping him up and out of bed with practiced ease. "Time to wake up!"
"One more minuteeeeeeee…" he whined.
But Delia was already dragging him toward the living room.
"Alright, Ash. What do you want to do today?" she asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Ash paused for a moment. "Can we go to the park?"
Delia smiled. "Sure! We can go to the park today."
Ash's face lit up.
'Perfect. If I'm right, Gary should be there at 10:30 a.m. It's 10:00 now. If we leave soon, we'll arrive at just the right time.'
"Yay!" he jumped.
"Yay!"
"Okay, Ash. But before we go, pack a water bottle, a change of clothes, and put on sunscreen. Got it?"
"Yes, Mom!"
"Good. Go get ready while I do the same."
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[Five minutes later]
"Mom! I'm ready!" Ash shouted from his room.
"Alright, let's go!" Delia called back.
He bolted down the stairs with a grin.
"Ash, don't run down the stairs—it's dangerous!"
"Okay…" he muttered.
"Don't pout, sweetie. We're going."
"Yay! Park time!"
When they arrived, Ash darted toward the other kids without hesitation.
"Don't run too far!" Delia called out.
"Yes, Mom!" he shouted back.
He mingled with a few children, then sat on a nearby bench and pulled out his sketchpad. As always, his drawings were incredibly detailed—especially for a child. His current subjects included legendary Pokémon like Ho-oh, Kyogre, Xerneas, Dialga, and even Arceus. Beneath each was a brief note with their typing and Pokédex entries. It was his secret method of information retention.
He was so absorbed that he didn't notice a girl approaching.
"Hey, what are you drawing?" she asked curiously.
Ash looked up.
She had warm brown eyes and a slightly messy dark brown hair that flowed down to her shoulders. She wore a green skirt and had a confident, mischievous air.
'You've got to be kidding me…'
"My name's Green. What's yours?"
"…Ash. Ash Ketchum."
Then she asked:
"Well hi Ash, can I see your drawings?"
Panic shot through him. No way could he let her see the legendary Pokémon entries.
But then, inspiration struck.
"Sure," he said with a forced smile, casually slipping a Pikachu sketch from his backpack and handing it to her.
"Wow! This is so beautiful!" she said.
"Thanks."
'Crisis averted.'
"Can you teach me how to draw like that?" she asked eagerly.
"I don't see why not," he shrugged.
The two spent the next hour drawing, talking, and laughing. Ash was so focused, that he completely lost track of time.
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"Ash!"
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice.
Delia stood nearby, checking her watch. "It's time to go home!"
It was his mother, calling him.
That is when he realized that several hours had passed without him even noticing.
"Is that your mom?" Green asked.
"Yeah, I guess it's time for me to go" he said.
"Can't you ask her if you can stay just a little longer?" Green pouted. "I had so much fun!"
"I'll try."
Ash then ran to her mother.
"Mom, pleeeease, just five more minutes?"
"No, Ash. We need to go home and have lunch."
Seeing that his mother did not accept, he decided to use one of the many heavy weapons he had.
"Pleeeeeeease?" he said again—this time with the most devastating puppy-dog eyes in his arsenal.
Delia tried to remain firm, but she couldn't withstand so much tenderness from her son.
"...Alright, just five minutes" she finally said.
"Yay! Thanks mom!" he said while hugging her.
Then Ash sprinted back to Green.
"Good news! I got five more minutes!"
"Awesome! Let's play!"
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[Delia's POV]
Delia sat on a nearby bench, smiling gently as she watched her son run and play with the little girl. They were laughing, drawing, chasing each other.
'He is just like his father...' she thought.
She glanced at her watch. 1:00 p.m. Time to go.
"Ash!" she called. No answer.
Seeing that, she decided to call him again.
"It's time to go home!"
Finally, he turned and ran toward her.
"Mom, pleeeease, just five more minutes?" he asked her.
"No, Ash. We need to go home and have lunch." she answered.
Apparently, her son really wanted to play with his new friend for more time.
"Pleeeeeeease?" he said again—this time with the most devastating puppy-dog eyes in his arsenal.
His face—the eyes, the tiny pout—was too much to resist.
"...Alright, just five minutes" she finally said.
"Yay! Thanks mom!" he said while hugging her.
Then she watched as he ran back to the girl and shouted something excitedly..
"Tag! You're it!" Delia heard the girl say to her son.
"Not if I can catch you!" he laughed.
They chased each other across the park, full of energy and joy.
Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder.
"Hello, Delia."
She turned. "Professor Oak! I didn't know you were here."
"My grandson wanted to come play. His parents were busy, so I brought him myself. Seems like you had the same idea," he answered her.
"Yes, Ash wanted to come. It's been a nice day."
Oak nodded, glancing at the playing children. "Looks like he's already made a friend."
"Hmm. Green… I believe she's registered to join the Pallet School next week."
"So she and Ash will study together?
"Seems so. Gary's already excited to start. He says he wants to become a Pokémon Trainer—not a researcher like his old grandpa."
Delia smiled.
"Well, only time will tell what Ash chooses."
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[Ash's POV]
"Tag! You're it!" Green said.
"Not if I can catch you!" he replied.
Green darted away, but Ash had been training. For a four-year-old, he was fast.
"Got'cha!" he said, touching her.
"Tag!"
Then he dashed away before she could respond.
"Nooooo! It's not fair, you are too fast!" Green grumbled.
She tried to catch him, but Ash was nowhere to be seen.
"Ash! Where are you?" she tried to find him.
No response.
"Huh?"
Rustle.
Suddenly, she heard the tree above her start to creak.
"Whoa!"
Thud!
"Ouch!!"
Ash dropped down from the tree above and landed right on top of her.
"Haha! Sorry!" he grinned.
"Ash…" she said ominously.
"W-what...?" he asked. He wasn't scared, but pretended to.
Then Green slowly started to approach him.
"You....."
"Y-yes?"
She leaned closer.
"Tag! You're it!"
"Hey! That's cheating!"
Green tried to run away. Futile effort.
"Tag!" he chased her down in seconds.
"Hey, huff, Ash, puff, can, haaaa, you, give me a break?" she asked while catching her breath, hands on her knees.
"Alright, alright," he said, laughing.
Then he heard his mother's voice.
"Ash, time to go! Say goodbye to your friend!"
"Ahhh, come on…" he muttered. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now."
"Can you come tomorrow?" Green asked hopefully.
"I don't think my mom will let me..."
"Oh… Well, maybe another day?"
"Definitely."
They exchanged one last smile before Ash ran back to his mother.
"Goodbye Ash!"
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"Mom! I made a new friend!" he said, beaming.
"Her name is Green, right?"
"Yeah, it is!" he answered.
"Green, huh…" Oak mused. "I believe I recognize her."
"Oh, hi Professor!" Ash waved him.
"Ash, did you know that she will be studying with you next week?" Oak asked.
"Really?" Ash grinned.
'Perfect. I haven't met Gary yet, but meeting Green is a great step. If I can strengthen our bond through school, that could give me a major advantage in the future.'
"Yes," Oak confirmed. "She'll be one of your classmates."
"Yay!"
'Alright… the real fun starts now.'