Ash arrived at the scene, panting slightly from the exertion of his run. The dense forest had given way to a more open area, where the trees were spaced out, and allowing sunlight to create long elongated shadows on the forest floor.
His eyes darted around, assessing the situation. The Pichus lay exhausted on the grass, their electric pouch giving out feeble sparks. Few meters in front of them at the base of a massive tree, there was a scorched and still-smoking patch of earth.
His attention shifted to the tree, from his position he could barely make out a tuft of yellow fur sticking out of a narrow crevice-like hole atop the tree. Deep claw marks splintered the surrounding bark.
A sudden thud from the side snapped his focus.
"The heck is that?"
He was momentarily stunned by the sight of the creature hacking away at Pikachu. It had shaggy, matted greyish fur that looked like the most entangled and dirtied beard a person could imagine.
“Low TS,” shouted Ash, the moment he recognized the pattern of the move.
Pikachu reacted instantly, leaping back and sending a low-powered Thunder Shock. The wild Pokémon didn’t dodge or evade but simply tanked head-on the electric move. Still, the Thunder Shock had the effect intended, stopping the progression of Fury Swipes.
He noticed the black, coin-like crest on the creature's forehead, resembling a lot the one on Meowth's forehead. Was it a mutated one perhaps?
Ash took out his Pokédex and scanned the feral Pokémon, surprisingly it pinged and came up empty, unable to provide information about this variant.
"Pikachu, let's first keep our distance," he instructed. "Maneuver around it.”
Pikachu nodded and began darting around, using his agility he evaded claw sweep and stuck back with a close range quick attack, though it barely made it budge.
The Pokémon snarled and took a defensive stance, lowering its body closer to the ground. Silverish sheen light enveloped it for an instant and its fur gained a metallic like luster.
"Iron Defense?" Ash mused, contemplating the possibilities. Could it be a Steel-type, or perhaps a Rock-type? Typically, only Pokémon with carapaces or hard exterior skin learned Iron Defense. As far as he knew the Rockruff line was the only exception he knew of with fur.
Ash weighed his options as he observed. This encounter was unlike anything he'd faced before.
“Thunderbolt,” he commended.
Pikachu gathered electrical energy in its cheeks and released a powerful Thunderbolt. The bolt of lightning crackled through the air, heading straight for the target.
Once again, the feral Pokémon didn't evade the attack, but withstood the electric blast, grunting in pain and showing clear signs of discomfort. Its fur was slightly singed from the lightning move but it endured it nonetheless.
The Pokémon, its fur bristling with aggression, snarled and crushed low, yellow eyes narrowed menacingly. Its claws took on a dangerous white sheen, though it didn’t attack.
Pikachu leaped to use Shock Wave.
With a surprising speed it didn’t show until that moment, the Pokémon lunged at Pikachu. Caught off guard, Pikachu let Shock Wave fizzle out and used Double Team.
The Feral slashed at the illusions on the left with its gleaming claws, its sheer swiftness complete opposite of what it let them believe it was capable of.
The illusion dissipated into a shower of sparkles, revealing the real Pikachu safely positioned on the right. The feral Pokémon growled in frustration as it fell for the illusion.
Seizing the opportunity, Pikachu swiftly counterattacked with a powerful Iron Tail. The electric rodent's tail glowed with a metallic sheen as it struck, and a clear clang was heard, barely affecting the Feral Pokémon.
Before Ash could issue another command, a sudden, deafening screech from above filled the air. He looked up just in time to see a Fearow swooping down, its sharp talons extended and aimed straight at the feral Pokémon.
The Fearow's surprise attack caught everyone off guard. The unknown Pokémon, being the primary target, reacted with instinctive fear and lashed out with a swift claw coated in Iron Defense. In a moment of unexpected resilience, the Fearow's talons bounced off the fortified defenses. The sound of the clash was like a high-pitched clang, echoing through the forest.
Its first attack foiled, Fearow batted its massive wings and took off to the sky.
Their enemy was sent rolling backward, clearly dazed and disoriented from the impact. It quickly regained its footing though and shook its head to clear the cobwebs, its resilience earning Ash's respect.
Wasting no time, the feral Pokémon retreated, leaping into the underbrush and vanishing deeper into the forest before the Fearow could make a second attempt.
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The Fearow, its piercing screeches echoing through the area, seemed undeterred. It circled in the air, its beady eyes locked in the direction of its target.
Ash watched the aerial predator closely, he could tell the Fearow had no intention of pursuing them. Instead with a few flaps it took off after the strange Pokémon.
Relieved that the danger had passed, Ash's attention turned to the place where the Pichu had been. The place was empty apart from him and Pikachu.
"Well, that was unexpected," Ash remarked, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and amusement.
With the threat gone, Ash's thoughts returned to the peculiar Pokémon. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something unusual about it, something beyond just its appearance.
"Pikachu, did you notice anything strange about that Pokémon?" Ash asked, his brows furrowing in curiosity. Pikachu tilted its head pondering the question.
"It didn't behave like a typical wild Pokémon," Ash continued, voicing his observation. "Its moves, its defensive strategy... it all seemed calculated, like it had a strategy. And that last defensive move... that's not something a regular Pokémon would know, right?"
Pikachu nodded in agreement, understanding Ash's point.
“Yeah, it was clearly a trained Pokémon,” Ash confirmed. "I wonder what such a Pokémon is doing all the way out here. And why was it so hostile?"
Ash's curiosity only grew as he considered the events that had transpired. "And that Fearow was clearly only after it. I wonder what it did to provoke it," he mused. After a moment, he admitted, "On second thought, I didn't say anything.” The real question was what wouldn’t provoke a Fearow?
"One thing is sure," Ash remarked as he surveyed their surroundings, "I have absolutely no idea where we are."
He reached into his left pouch and pulled out a compass, verifying their next direction. Confirming the north, he glanced up at the sun, which hung nearly directly overhead. Ash decided it was time for a brief pause.
Finding a shaded spot, he and Pikachu settled down. Ash pulled out some snacks, and after replenishing their energy, they continued their journey northward, following the compass's guidance.
Before long, the distant sound of flowing water reached their ears.
Ash knew they had veered far to the west during their run through the forest with the Pichu; the river was supposed to be to the west of Viridian City and go southeast as it descended to the sea, effectively cutting off the path to Victory Road.
"We must have gone way off course," Ash mused, taking note of their location. "But that's okay, we'll find our way back on track. Let's follow the river for now.”
They traced the river’s winding path, pushing northward against the current.
At times, a Rattata would scurry from the underbrush to the river's edge for a quick sip of water. Occasionally they spotted a few Poliwag and Poliwhirl as they hopped onto the riverbank, engaging in playful antics. They are known for their mischievous streak, and Ash wisely kept his distance, having no intention of getting soaked on his very first day of adventure.
Few time he considered catching one but none of them really appealed to him. Ash had come to trust his instincts, a sixth sense that occasionally sent a tingling sensation through him when he was in the presence of certain Pokémon. Besides his own Pikachu, all the others that provoked this sensation happened to be champions level beasts.
He did feel it for another young Pokémon though, an Eevee, the one Professor Oak prepared for Gary. It was a gift he prepared for his grandson, hoping to make things better between them but as with all the previous attempt it didn’t work.
A few hours later, Ash spotted the bridge that marked the path to Victory Road. With a newfound sense of direction, he followed the road leading back to Viridian City. In less than fifteen minutes, the city's entrance came into view, welcoming them back to civilization.
"That was rather quick," Ash remarked.
Emerging from the serene wilderness, Ash's senses were overwhelmed as he entered the bustling city of Viridian. He had spent an entire day surrounded by the tranquility of nature, but now he found himself at the doorstep of a city that resonated with the energy of the 90’ on Earth.
Tall skyscrapers loomed overhead, their towering forms casting shadows on the streets below. Each building had a timeless charm, reflecting a deep-rooted appreciation for tradition. The architecture was a beautiful fusion of old and new.
People and Pokémon alike were bustling in all directions, their energy and enthusiasm infectious. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of street food, including snacks for both humans and Pokémon alike. Vendors sold everything from Poké Puffs to freshly grilled Slowpoke Tails.
Ash approached the Pokémon Center, its exterior was a modern and professional structure. Its sleek, silver walls were accented with blue and white, giving it a clean and welcoming appearance, a contrast to the nostalgic surroundings of the city.
Upon entering the bustling Pokémon Center, Ash was greeted by the familiar jingle of the automatic door chiming as he stepped inside. The reception area was a hub of activity, filled with trainers constantly going in and out.
He approached the front desk and waited for his turn. When it was his turn, he greeted the receptionist, a friendly young woman. She was a blonde with green eyes and was definitely not named Joy. It was a welcome difference from the anime.
"Hello, how can I help you today?" she inquired with a professional smile.
Ash cleared his throat and replied, "I'd like to register for the Junior League. Can you direct me to where I need to sign up?"
“Of course. The registration area is on the first floor.” she nodded and directed him toward the stairs.
Ash thanked her with a smile and made his way upstairs. Once on the first floor, he found a helpful league representative who efficiently assisted him with the necessary forms.
Once everything was done, the representative handed him a badge and a tournaments schedule.
With the tournament schedule in hand, Ash headed back downstairs. He went to the lobby area and found a seat around an empty table. He carefully studied the tournament schedule he had just received. Contrary to the Indigo League that took place every three years. The Junior League was held every year, and was accessible only for those under twenty.
The format was also different with two option available. Either win three Gym Badges or win at least 6 preliminary tournament. He weighed his options for qualifying for the Pokémon Junior League and considered his chances of success in both paths. Winning Gym Badges was a classic approach, but the prospect of competing in various preliminary tournaments also intrigued him.
Each had its own advantage. Earning Gym Badges would involve challenging skilled Gym Leaders and potentially uncovering secrets of their unique strategies. On the other hand, participating in preliminary tournaments meant facing a wide range of opponents, each with their own styles and techniques. It was a chance to gain experience and adaptability.
As he looked through the schedules, Ash noticed that there was a Rookie Trainer Meet-up event scheduled the following day in the afternoon. It was designed to help new trainers get to know each other and form connections within the trainer community.
“I should probably take a look.”