Totodile was all restless legs and gleaming eyes, waddling around Professor Elm's lab and snapping at the air. One look was enough for Misty; her gaze softened, drawn in almost immediately.
"Totodile is so cute. I really want to catch one of my own someday."
For a Water-type specialist, her résumé was spotless. Apart from the Togepi Ash had given her, every partner on her team came from the water. Beside her, Brock—former Pewter Gym Leader—looked a lot less committed to his old typing. His team had long since drifted away from pure Rock-type discipline into something far more mixed.
"Johto has a lot of interesting Water Pokémon," Ash said offhandedly. "There's even one called Chinchou—it's Water and Electric."
The words sounded casual, but the reaction was not. Misty and Brock turned to stare at him, eyes wide like they were seeing a stranger.
"…Why are you both looking at me like that?"
Misty studied his face. "Ash, you actually know Water-types from Johto?"
"And when you saw Cyndaquil earlier," Brock added, "you named it right away without even taking out your Pokédex."
Ash's lips pulled into a crooked smile. So that "hopeless student" image really was carved deep into their minds.
"Can't I study a little?" he said, folding his arms. "Misty, I've grown more than you think."
She fell quiet, replaying the last few days—the certainty in his voice in that misty forest, when he'd called Suicune's name without a moment of hesitation. After a beat, she nodded.
"You… really haven't been the same lately."
On Ash's shoulder, Pikachu's ears twitched. "Pika?"
It stared ahead, sensing something.
Up the road, a girl in a yellow baseball jacket stood in a small clearing, cap brim shading her eyes. At her side, a Chikorita faced forward, the leaf on its head swaying with barely contained energy.
"Alright, here we go! This is our one hundredth match-up. It's the deciding round, so we absolutely can't lose!"
"Let's go, let's go, Chikorita!"
"Charge, charge, Chikorita!"
Chikorita's leaf fanned the air as it took a ready stance, clearly in the middle of earnest training. The way she stood so close to it, the way their energy wrapped together—that was the unmistakable aura of a brand-new Trainer setting out from New Bark Town.
Elm had mentioned that Chikorita had already been claimed.
"So that's Chikorita," Ash murmured. Johto's Grass-type starter, wrapped in a bandana of its own.
"The girl tied a bandana around its head," Misty noted.
The bright cloth knotted around Chikorita's leaf sat there like a little badge of honor. In Contests, accessories like that were common, but even out here, a gift like that made a Pokémon hold itself higher, basking in the attention.
A wild Rattata popped out into the clearing, whiskers twitching as it sniffed the air.
"Nene's starting pitcher is Chikorita," the girl announced, pointing dramatically at her partner. "At bat, a wild Rattata! Let's see if Chikorita can make it whiff all three swings for a strikeout!"
"Chikorita, settle it with a straight pitch! Just like we planned—use Tackle!"
Her narration spilled out in one long stream. Somehow, Rattata stayed put through the entire speech, neither fleeing nor attacking.
Ash felt a bead of sweat at his temple. If that Rattata understood a word of that, it would've been gone already…
Chikorita charged. Rattata hopped aside neatly, the tackle slicing through empty air.
Nene barely reacted. "First ball is a miss, but the pitcher still has a second chance!"
"Chikorita, Tackle again!"
This time her command came quicker. Chikorita spun and lunged a second time. The hit landed clean, sending Rattata tumbling across the ground until it lay still.
"We did it! Rattata is down from Chikorita's fastball attack!" Nene cried. "Now's our chance—time to catch it!"
She threw a Poké Ball without hesitation. It struck Rattata, pulled it inside, and rattled before clicking shut.
The moment it locked, she exploded into motion, arms flung wide as she broke into a wild, off-key victory song of her own making. On the side, Ash, Misty, and Brock stared, momentarily stunned by the force of her enthusiasm.
"…She's really full of energy," Brock muttered.
"You don't say," Ash answered under his breath.
"Come back, Chikorita!" Nene called, returning her partner in a flash of red.
When she turned, she finally noticed the trio behind her—and froze. Her eyes locked straight onto Pikachu.
"Ahhhhh—!"
Her scream rang through the clearing as she bolted toward Ash, skidding to a stop just inches away. Her eyes shone like she'd just discovered a legendary Pokémon.
"It's a Pikachu! Is this a real Pikachu?!"
Before Ash could reply, she scooped Pikachu into her arms. "This golden fur, and the patterns on its back—I can't handle how perfect this is!"
Static flickered.
"Pika—"
A sharp burst of electricity cracked across the air. Nene jerked, hair frizzing out in all directions before she slumped to her knees, smoke faintly curling above her head.
Pikachu hopped back to Ash's shoulder, tail flicking as if nothing unusual had happened.
Nene shook herself out and bounced back up in one motion. "I'm Nene from New Bark Town! I'm a Pokémon Trainer aiming to become a Pokémon Master!"
Her grin widened. "And I love yellow Pokémon the most. My dream is to build a whole team of yellow Pokémon!"
Ash and his friends introduced themselves one by one, the easy rhythm of Trainers meeting on the road falling into place. Once the names settled, Ash met her gaze.
"Nene," he said, "we're both aiming to become Pokémon Masters. Since we met out here, we should battle."
Her answer came without a heartbeat's delay.
"In the world of battles, there's no such thing as newbie or veteran!" she declared. "I accept! Please take care of me, senpai!"
They shifted to an open stretch of grass. Nene took her position on one side; Ash stood opposite, the field between them buzzing with quiet expectation.
"Each Trainer can use up to three Pokémon," Ash said. "Battle… begin."
"My leadoff batter is this one! Go, Pidgey!" Nene shouted, throwing her Poké Ball.
The small bird burst out, gaining height with quick wingbeats. Watching its silhouette against the sky, Ash felt something tug deep inside—an echo of his first Pidgey, and beyond that, the memory of Pidgeot disappearing over Viridian Forest, entrusted with guarding that canopy.
If I'd arrived a little earlier, I would've gone back to find you.
His fingers tightened around his own Poké Ball.
"Your turn, Snorlax."
The ground shuddered when Snorlax landed, its massive body sinking into the grass. This was the same glutton he'd caught in the Orange Islands—a Pokémon whose bulk hid unexpected agility and a strength that could anchor an entire team.
The system's earlier reading flickered at the back of his mind: their compatibility maxed out, their bond value already high and still climbing.
"Snorlax!" it rumbled, standing upright with its usual half-lidded gaze, but its stance steady and alert.
Misty leaned closer to Brock. "Ash, Nene's a complete beginner. You're starting with Snorlax? The level difference is huge."
"And since when is Snorlax awake at the start of a battle?" Brock added.
Ash didn't look away from the field. The quiet pulse of aura told him Snorlax was fully awake and ready. That was reason enough.
"Pidgey, Quick Attack!" Nene called.
Pidgey tucked its wings and shot forward in a straight line, striking Snorlax square in the body. The giant didn't budge an inch. The blow vanished into its bulk like a raindrop into deep water.
"Headbutt," Ash said.
Snorlax leaned forward and brought its head down with a single, decisive motion. Pidgey hit the ground and stayed there.
Nene swallowed and swapped Poké Balls. "Change of batter! Second up—Rattata!"
Her freshly caught Rattata sprang out, tail lashing and eyes sharp.
"Rattata, Tackle! Knock them all over the field!"
Rattata charged, claws digging into the ground, hurling itself at Snorlax with everything it had. The impact landed… and did nothing. Snorlax remained planted, unmoved.
"Body Slam."
Snorlax tipped forward, dropping like a boulder. Its shadow swallowed Rattata. When it rolled back, Rattata lay still in the flattened grass.
Ash raised his voice across the distance. "Nene, keep going. You can't give up before it's really over."
Her fists clenched, eyes burning again. "Of course! I'll never give up! Third batter—Chikorita, you're up! Use Vine Whip!"
Chikorita burst from its ball, vines unfurling and snapping against Snorlax's body in rapid succession. Each strike landed with a sharp smack, the bandana on its leaf bouncing with every swing.
"Great! Keep it up, keep it up, Chikorita!"
"Charge, charge, Chikorita!"
Her cheers poured out without pause, each shout thrown forward like fuel. Chikorita's pace didn't falter; it poured everything into each lash.
Snorlax's breathing slowed, muscles loosening. The impacts rolled over its body more like a massage than an attack. Its head dipped. A small, steady snore slipped free.
Misty stared. "It fell asleep… while being hit."
Chikorita's movements began to drag, its sides heaving. The vines drooped back into place. It simply had nothing left.
The result was written clearly on the field.
"Return, Snorlax. Sleep well," Ash said, recalling it.
On the other side, Nene lifted her Poké Ball, drawing Chikorita back into red light. She looked down at the ball, shoulders tense—then lifted her chin again, eyes still bright.
Ash smiled lightly. "Nene, don't let this get you down. The Electabuzz team you like so much has lost plenty of times too, but they're still out there giving it everything, right?"
Her expression shifted, then firmed. "You're right! They keep fighting no matter how many times they lose! Next time, I'm definitely battling you again, Ash-senpai!"
He nodded once.
In the quiet space just behind his thoughts, a familiar line slid into place.
Snorlax: 130 / 255
The number inched up, one small mark of a bond that had grown through battles, naps, and the unspoken trust between a Trainer and the giant who fought—and slept—by his side.