The next morning dawned with birdsong and fog.
Ash stirred to sunlight pooling through the window and the distant hum of voices in the bunkhouse below. Yellow was still asleep—her blanket neatly folded at the end of the bed stretching the stiffness from his arms and legs before swinging them over the side of the bed. The wooden floor was cool beneath his feet. For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the soft gold light that filtered through the curtain. There was a strange peace to waking in a new place—a sense of possibility wrapped in the quiet.
He glanced at the sketchbook on the desk. Yellow had left it behind, which was unlike her. He flipped it open, just a peek.
The top page held a soft graphite rendering of the cabin window—moonlight, trees, and the vague shape of two figures sitting side by side. Him and her, he realized. The lines were loose but expressive. The kind of picture drawn not to impress, but to remember.
Ash smiled faintly and closed the book, careful not to smudge the page.
Downstairs, voices were growing louder. Footsteps creaked on the stairs. Someone laughed, followed by the slam of a door and the sound of water running in the bathroom pipes. The day had begun.
Ash grabbed a change of clothes, shrugged on his vest, and stepped out into the hall. The scent of something buttery and warm drifted up from below—pancakes, maybe, or fresh bread. His stomach rumbled in response.
The hall was half-lit, beams of sunlight slipping through the stairwell window. Gary emerged from the room next door, still towel-drying his hair.
"Morning, Ketchum," he said with a smirk. "Sleep well, or were you too busy keeping your neighbor company?"
Ash raised an eyebrow, too sleepy to rise to the bait. "Morning, Oak. Try using conditioner next time. Your hair looks like a Pidgey's nest."
Gary scoffed and shoved past him toward the stairs. "Whatever, man. You're just jealous of the volume."
Ash snorted and headed in the opposite direction toward the shower block.
Half an hour later, the students gathered in the central mess hall—a rustic, open-ceiling space with high windows and beams strung with small hanging lanterns. Long wooden tables stretched across the room, already half-filled with bowls of cereal, fruit, and hot trays of steaming food.
Chloe sat near the window, notebook in one hand, orange juice in the other. Goh sat beside her, barely touching his food. His eyes were red-rimmed like he hadn't slept, and his fingers tapped rhythmically against the table—pages of his journal fanned open in front of him.
Yellow joined Ash at the breakfast line with a sleepy wave. She looked more rested than he expected—her usual wide-brimmed hat already back in place.
"You left your sketchbook," Ash said, passing her a plate.
Her eyes widened. "Oh! I didn't mean to—I was going to go back for it but—"
"I just peeked. Don't worry, I didn't drool on it."
She flushed a little and gave a small smile. "I'll pick it up after orientation."
They sat together at a table near the corner where the morning sun reached them gently, and where the windows overlooked the edge of the forest.
Ash picked at a roll, tearing off soft pieces as he listened to the quiet hum of conversation all around. Despite the calm, something buzzed in his chest—restlessness, anticipation. Johto had always carried that weight in his memories. Legends in every tree. Ghosts behind every shrine.
Green arrived late, sliding into the seat beside Chloe with practiced elegance. Her scarf had been replaced with a travel vest more suited for fieldwork, though her earrings still sparkled defiantly.
"Okay," she said, eyes sharp. "Anyone else feel like we're being fattened before a trial by fire?"
Gary, who had just returned from his second helping, grinned. "If this is the prelude to pain, I'll take another waffle."
Chloe rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile.
Ash caught Yellow watching them all, quietly observing, like she was sketching their entire group in her mind.
Ash followed her gaze.
The others were laughing, bantering, filling the mess hall with the kind of easy noise that only came from shared anticipation. Even Goh, tense and distracted as he was, still shot Chloe a reply when she teased him for zoning out. Green stirred her tea with surgical precision, but her foot tapped under the table. Gary leaned back in his chair like he didn't have a care in the world. It was all surface tension. Everyone could feel it—the pull of whatever came next.
Ash tore another piece of bread and let the warmth of the sun press against his shoulders. His eyes drifted to the tree line outside, where the morning fog still clung low to the trunks. There were shapes out there—branches, movement, the distant flutter of wings—but something in him was watching for more.
Waiting.
Professor Elm entered through the far door, clipboard in hand. Behind him came two aides, one of whom began posting an itinerary on the wall near the food tables. The professor clapped once, cutting through the room's background murmur.
"Morning, everyone! I trust you've all had a hearty breakfast. If not—" he glanced at Gary's overfilled plate—"Now's your last chance."
There were a few scattered chuckles. Chloe closed her notebook with a soft snap. Goh sat up straighter, fingers stilling against the edge of the table.
Elm continued, voice rising with practiced clarity. "Today begins your first class here in Johto. Just like we mentioned before, aside from studying like normal, you'll be guided through different routes over the next five weeks of your stay. This is not only a learning opportunity, but a test of your observational skills, field etiquette, and teamwork."
Green leaned toward Chloe and whispered, "Called it. Trial by fire."
"Assignments will be posted momentarily, but rest assured," Elm added, eyes twinkling, "we've taken your previous experiences into account."
Ash shot a glance toward Goh, whose jaw had tightened. Yellow chewed her toast in silence.
"But now," Elm concluded. "It's time for you to see your new classmates."
——
[Inside the school]
A side door opened with a soft creak.
Ash stepped through first, Yellow close behind. The rest of the Pallet group followed in scattered pairs—Chloe brushing crumbs from her notebook, Goh hugging his journal to his chest like a lifeline, Green silent and unreadable. Gary lingered at the back, hands in his pockets, a confident smirk already forming like armor.
The classroom was airy and bright, unlike the smaller lecture halls back in Kanto. High windows let in shafts of fog-filtered sunlight, casting pale shapes across the tile floor. At the far end, a row of polished desks stood arranged in a loose semi-circle, and beyond them, chalkboards lined with forest maps, graphs, and sketched diagrams of Johto-native Pokémon—Hoothoot, Spinarak, Sentret. The air carried the faint scent of pine, chalk, and something floral. A window must have been left open earlier that morning.
At first, the classroom seemed empty.
Then movement stirred behind the tall desk at the front—a scrape of chair legs, the rustle of fabric. Five students turned from their spots near the windows, where they'd clearly gathered before the Pallet group arrived.
Ash recognized all of them instantly.
The first was a boy who wore a black shirt under a red jacket with a white hood and cuffs, as well as a white front pocket.
He was Ethan, the male protagonist of Gold, Silver, HeartGold and SoulSilver.
The second student was a girl dressed in sportswear, a tracksuit and sneakers. Her hair was blue and she had two ponytails.
She was Kris, the female protagonist of Gold and Silver.
The third was a girl with brown eyes, the same color as her hair, which she wore in two ponytails. She was wearing a red T-shirt and blue overalls, a white hat with a red bow, white socks above her knees, and red shoes.
She was Lyra, the female protagonist introduced in HeartGold and SoulSilver— and Kris's replacement.
The fourth was a boy who had brown eyes and hair of the same color. He wore a green T-shirt and shoes, and gray-brown pants.
He was Vincent, the boy who appeared in the special "The Legend of Thunder". He later appeared again in the Johto conference as Jackson.
The fifth and last was a short girl with, brown eyes, and long purple hair. She wore a black-striped white baseball cap with a lightning bolt on the front, along with a pale blue t-shirt, a yellow jacket with black stripes, striped white shorts with a red belt, and brown and white sneakers.
She was Casey, a recurring Trainer from Johto who the original Ash fought a couple times.
To say was Ash was shocked would be an understatement, but he didn't react outwardly—his face remained calm, maybe a touch curious—but something behind his eyes shifted. Recognition hummed through him, quiet and deep, like an instinct. He hadn't expected them to be here. Not all of them. Not at once.
Ethan stood with a relaxed, almost lazy kind of confidence. His hoodie sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, revealing calloused wrists and a threadbare bracelet woven with red and gold string. His eyes flicked across the Pallet group, assessing, then pausing for a beat too long on Ash.
Kris followed a step behind, arms crossed over her chest, expression unreadable. Her eyes were sharp, and even from across the room, Ash could feel the weight of her focus—not aggressive, but alert. Studious. Like she was already dissecting them into categories.
Lyra grinned wide, waving cheerfully even as Kris shot her a sidelong glance.
"Hi! You must be the Kanto group! Welcome!" she chirped. Her voice echoed slightly in the high-ceilinged room, and Ash saw a few of his classmates shift in surprise at her energy.
Casey gave a sharp nod, eyes gleaming under the brim of her baseball cap. "About time. We've been waiting forever. I thought we were gonna have to start without you!"
Vincent looked more awkward, scratching the back of his neck. "Heh… hey. Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you, I guess."
Yellow stepped a little closer to Ash, her gaze moving between the Johto students with polite curiosity. Chloe muttered something under her breath, too quiet to hear. Goh still hadn't spoken. His fingers gripped his journal tighter.
Professor Elm stepped in behind them, still holding his clipboard, and gestured to both groups. "Everyone, these are your classmates for the Johto term. All are a year younger than you—except Lyra, who placed up a level due to her advanced scores. Mostly due to the help of her sister."
Ash's gaze flicked from Kris to Lyra.
Sisters... He should've guessed. There was something in the eyes—same shape, same fire beneath very different expressions. Lyra wore her heart on her sleeve, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet as though she could barely stay still. Kris stood firm, planted like a sentry. Like she was already bracing for the storm Lyra would eventually cause.
Ash tucked that away. Family dynamics mattered.
Professor Elm clapped his hands once more, drawing everyone's attention.
"Now then! Since you'll be working together in mixed groups for the remainder of this term, I thought it'd be good to break the ice with some brief introductions before we split you into your assigned teams. Don't worry—no speeches. Just your name and maybe a fun fact about yourself."
A collective groan rippled through the room.
"Come on," Elm said with a grin. "Field research isn't just about collecting data. It's about learning to connect with your peers. Trust me—you'll be glad you made the effort when you're halfway up a cliff or lost in the Ilex Forest."
The Johto students looked mostly unfazed. Vincent paled slightly. Lyra raised her hand at once, beaming.
"I'll go first!" she chirped. "I'm the Professor already said my name but I'll repeat it. My name is Lyra, I love Marill, double battles, and helping out at the daycare! Oh, and I once fell into a pond chasing a runaway Pidgey egg. Totally worth it."
Casey snorted, trying not to laugh. Kris sighed audibly.
"I'm Kris," she said next, arms still crossed. "I'm interested in Pokémon behavior and data modeling. I'm here on recommendation from Professor Elm and my goal for the future is to complete Johto's Pokedex."
Casey elbowed her way in next. "I'm Casey! I love Electabuzz, baseball, and full-volume cheering! And I'm gonna be a top-tier Trainer one day, just like the Electabuzz team mascot!"
Goh looked up at that, blinking slowly. Ash almost smiled—something about Casey's raw energy was magnetic, like a fastball of unfiltered ambition. It reminded him of someone.
Vincent followed with a shrug. "Uh… I'm Vincent. I'm just here to learn more about Johto habitats and get ready for my license."
He scratched his head again, clearly uncomfortable with the spotlight. Chloe gave him a small, polite nod from her place beside Green.
Last was Ethan, who had waited with hands in his pockets, seemingly in no rush.
"Ethan," he said finally. "I like traveling alone. Guess I won't be doing that much here, huh?"
His voice was low, easy, like someone who measured his words before spending them. But there was a note of challenge behind the calm, and Ash caught the flicker of a smirk as Ethan met his gaze again—brief, curious, maybe even testing.
Ash didn't react. Not yet.
Professor Elm motioned for the Kanto group.
"All right. Who's next?"
Gary didn't hesitate. "Gary Oak, Pallet Town. My grandfather is Professor Oak, and although he wants me to become a Pokémon Researcher like him, I want to be a Pokémon Master."
Chloe spoke up next, dry and efficient. "Chloe Cerise, Vermilion City. Interested in Pokémon sociology and comparative regional education systems."
Goh's voice followed a beat later. "Goh, also from Vermilion. I transferred to Pallet last year."
Then spoke Yellow. "I'm Yellow, Viridian City. I like drawing and gardening… and I love Pokémon."
Ash let the silence linger for a second longer before offering his own.
"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. I love training, exploring, and—" he pointed at Gary with a smirk—"just like this knucklehead, I'm aiming to be a Pokémon Master."
Gary scoffed, crossing his arms and flashing a cocky grin. "Tch. As if you've got what it takes. I'm already ten steps ahead, Ashy-boy."
A few kids in the room chuckled, the tension light but present, like static before a storm. Ash didn't rise to the bait. He just smiled, easy and sure.
"Very well," said Professor Elm, clearing his throat. "Thank you, Ash. That brings us to our last introduction for today…"
Professor Elm gave a brief nod, then turned to his aides. One of them stepped forward and pinned a second sheet to the bulletin board beside the breakfast itinerary—this one printed with neatly organized names and small symbols that matched the badges sewn onto their Johto-issued field vests.
"Today," Elm continued, "your first task is relatively simple. You'll each take a guided route into the nearby forest—just a basic trail observation walk, nothing too strenuous. Get a feel for the terrain, familiarize yourselves with the local species. Think of it as… Johto saying hello."
Yellow's head tilted slightly, as if listening to something just beyond the professor's voice. Ash didn't miss it.
"The groups," Elm said, gesturing to the list, "are organized by complementary skillsets and to ensure a balance between Kanto and Johto students. You'll be walking different routes, led by a faculty member or senior aide. Take notes, sketch what you see, and most importantly—stay with your team."
A few murmurs rippled through the classroom. The Johto students leaned forward, squinting at the board. Gary elbowed his way to the front with a practiced swagger, peering up at the list.
Ash didn't move. He watched from the middle of the room, letting others press closer first. Instead, he read the names reflected in the glass of the window behind the board.
Group One: Ash, Ethan, Yellow, Kris
Group Two: Chloe, Casey, Goh, Vincent
Group Three: Gary, Lyra, Green
Ash raised an eyebrow. Three groups of four, evenly split between Kanto and Johto. Efficient. But deliberate.
He glanced toward Elm, who had turned to answer a question from one of the aides. His face gave nothing away.
Ethan was still near the window, reading the list upside down with a faint smirk. He met Ash's gaze again, and this time the look held longer. Yellow turned, as if sensing the shift, and offered Ash a small, tentative smile. She didn't seem surprised by the grouping. Kris, however, was already adjusting the strap of her satchel, expression unreadable.
Ash took a step toward them just as Ethan pushed away from the window and extended a hand.
"Well," he said casually. "Guess we're teammates."
Ash clasped the offered hand with a calm nod. Ethan's grip was steady—confident.
"Looks like it."
Yellow joined them a moment later, her eyes flicking between the two boys with quiet interest. Kris arrived last, her gaze cool but not unkind.
"I've already downloaded the forest map," Kris said briskly. "Our route follows the eastern path toward the creek loop. We should have time to reach the midpoint observation post and return before noon."
"Sounds good," Ash said. He glanced toward the forest visible through the window. The fog had begun to lift, leaving the trunks bathed in dappled gold and green. The air was thick with late-summer humidity, but beneath it pulsed something older—ancient and alive.
Johto.
Ash felt it again, that faint thrum beneath his skin. A familiar place, seen through new eyes.
Behind them, Chloe wrinkled her nose as she read the assignments. "Casey and Goh in the same group," she muttered. "That'll be interesting."
"I heard that!" Casey called cheerfully. "Don't worry, I'll keep your buddy moving."
Goh gave her a side glance, journal still clutched to his chest. "I don't need a babysitter."
Vincent looked between them, uneasy.
Gary rolled his shoulders, already heading for the exit. "Come on. If we're hiking, I want a head start before the fog comes back."
"Five-minute prep window!" Elm called. "Meet your group leads at the trailhead out back."