Ash woke up in a tent in a sleeping bag and for a moment he wondered in confusion where he was. Then he saw Gou sleeping next to him in his own sleeping bag and remember.
It was the morning following their departure day and our heroes had camped for the night in a small forest square next to which a river of clear water flowed.
They had begun their journey towards Turffield and towards Ash's first Gym Badge. They had got off to a good trip yesterday and finally decided in the evening to stop where they were now and spend the night there.
****
Ash got up from his sleeping bag and went to the tent door, careful not to wake Gou or Pikachu, who was sleeping next to him. He opened the zipper what holding the tent door shut and went out quietly.
Next to him and Gou's tent was Serena's tent, and opposite the tents was a portable table that they had left in it in the evening. A few wild Pokemon went to sniff them curiously, but all still remained a safe distance from Ash.
It was very early morning and the sun was just making its rise. The air was cool and Ash shivered a bit as he was wearing only his sleeveless shirt and shorts. On the other hand, the cool air seemed to feel fresh against the skin and Ash drew fresh air into his lungs.
He walked barefoot to the river and felt the morning dew water his bare feet. He sat on one of the largest rocks and watched the river flow happily forward. He smiled to himself. Others would not believe that he, Ash, the over-energetic and always enthusiastic Ash Ketchum, had come to the river just to sit. It's not like you, they would say and roll their eyes.
But he also needed moments from time to time when he could just sit and think about things. He closed his eyes and let the rays of the rising sun warm his skin.
"Ash? What are you doing here sitting alone?" suddenly there was a voice behind him and Ash was flying in fright into the river. He turned to see who had spoken and saw Serena standing behind him in her nightgown and a startling look on her face.
"Eh... I woke up and decided to come out to find out my thoughts," Ash explained scratching his neck and Serena came up to him and sat on the rock next to him as well. "Really? I thought Ash Ketchum would never have to figure out his thoughts," she said with a grin and Ash laughed. Then he turned to look directly in front of him and said:
"You know, in two years, all sorts of things will happen," he began and Serena listened with interest. "For example, I became the first person to ever win the Alola League and that, and all the other big things, like various dramas, crises and tragedies have suddenly made me famous," he explained and Serena nodded in understanding. "I heard about it," she said, meaning Ash's Alola's victory.
Ash smiled at her, but then sighed suddenly and said: "I have always said that my dream is to become a Pokemon Master, but what does it really mean? Pokemon Master sounds like some very famous and important person, and I'm already famous, so am I already Pokemon Master? And if I am, what... Hey, what are you laughing about now?"
Serena had started giggling and Ash interrupted his monologue, looking puzzled at the girl sitting next to him. "I'm sorry, Ash, but when you become that mature? I mean, that Ash Ketchum, that I know, would never have spoken like those phrases or thought about the big things. It was Ash whose only thought a Pokémon, food and battles," Serena explained with a laugh, and Ash was forced to smile.
"I dunno," he said with a grin. "But what about you, what thoughts are moving in your head?" he suddenly asked and Serena got serious.
"Honestly, I don't know. I don't even know why I came to Galar. In Hoenn, I said I was going here to get inspiration for my upcoming performances, but that wasn't really the real reason. That real reason was that something just called me here and I came. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?" Serena explained and Ash had to admit it sounded a bit like that.
They sat quietly for a moment, watching the sun rise to the sky. Then Serena got up and said, "You know, for me you're always going to be a Pokemon Master," and then she turned, walked to her tent, and left Ash confused to think about what she had just said.
****
"That was good!" Ash said, clapping his stomach and Serena smiled at him. "Nice that you liked it," she said, cleaning the empty plate out of the front of Ash.
It was day and they had just eaten the lunch Serena had prepared. Ash lay on the bench melting his food, Gou browsed his Rotom Phone and Serena had gone to the river to do the dishes. The Pokemon lingered a short distance away, digesting their own food as well, and Pikachu sighed with satisfaction, "Pikaa.."
Ash stared at the sky and he occasionally found himself thinking of Serena. Her honey-blonde hair, her smile, her bright blue eyes, and what she had told him this morning "You know, for me you will always be a Pokemon Master"
What had Serena meant by that? And why Serena was spinning in his mind almost all the time these days anyway. She caused a feeling in Ash that he couldn't describe and suddenly that moment came to his mind at the end of Kalos' journey.
Airport. Escalator. Serena running towards him and finally pressing her lips against his lips. Ash hadn't been waiting for it. The escalator had taken her away quickly, she had exclaimed "Thank you, Ash" and had a very blushed. Ash himself had been confused but smiled nonetheless. Why had Serena done that?
****
"Ash. Ash. ASH!" shouted Gou and Ash was ripped off his thoughts. "Again, you're not listening, what's bothering you these days?" Gou said irritably and Ash stared at him. "I'm sorry, but what did you just say?" he asked and Gou sighed deeply.
"I was just wondering what Sonia mentioned there in the lab. It was something Dynami... Dynama.." he explained, trying to remember the right word. "You mean Dynamax?" asked Serena, who had just come to them. "I was wondering it, too, Sonia never told us what it practically is."
Ash got the idea. He took his Rotom Phone from his pocket and asked, "Rotom, could you tell us about Dynamax and what it is?"
"Dynamaxing is a special Transformation that Pokémon in the Galar region can undergo, becoming Giant versions of themselves. Certain Pokémon will also change form completely after being Dynmaxed and are called Gigantamax Pokémon," came the reply and Serena asked in wonder, "Gigantamax?"
"Gigantamax Pokémon are Pokémon that, when they Dynamax, not only grow in size, but change form completely. Only a specific list of Pokémon have the ability to Gigantamax," Rotom explained again and the matter immediately seemed clearer to the trio.
"But how does that is possible?" asked Gou and Rotom replied again.
"After its defeat thousands of years ago by Zacian and Zamazenta, Eternatus's energy leaked out during its slumber in the form of Galar particles. This resulted in the creation of Power Spots, where Trainers can trigger the Dynamax Transformation. Some Power Spots had Gym Stadiums built over them, and others in the Wild Area became Pokémon Dens, where Max Raid Battles take place. Parts of Eternatus's body, known as Wishing Stars, rained across Galar, allowing Whoever found them to Dynamax their Pokémon when at a Power Spot. Bands were created to help anyone fully utilize the Transformation there. "
"I didn't understand half of that. Rotom, who are Zacian, Zamazenta and Eternatus?" asked Ash and Rotom holographically projected images of all three Pokemon.
"Zacian and Zamazenta, the legendary Pokemon who defeated Eternatus thousands of years ago. Zacian carries in his mouth a sword that penetrates anything and Zamazenta's brush forms a shield that will withstand anything."
"Eternatus, a legendary Pokemon believed to have come with a meteorite 20,000 years ago. Its energy is believed to be linked to the transformations of Dynamax and Gigantamax."
"Legendary Pokemon, right?" Ash mumbled. "It would be nice to meet them, then I would have met all the legendary Pokemon from each region. Rotom which is.." but Ash's speech was interrupted when Gou understand something and shouted, "WHAT! If you say you've met all the Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, that means you have also met.. Mew!" he shouted with his eyes wide, shook Ash from his shirt and looked pretty crazy.
Ash shook Go's hands off and straightened his shirt. "Yeah, I am," he said simply and was asking Rotom again, but Serena interrupted him, "Why was Gou so excited about that? And what is Mew?"
"Gou wants to capture Mew for his first Pokemon and therefore refuses to take any other Pokemon with him. Nonsense, I say, Mew would never agree to be caught," Ash explained, ignoring Gou's flushed face and said to Rotom, "Rotom, would you show me Mew?"
Rotom projected a picture of a little pink Pokemon and said:
"Mew, New Species Pokemon and Psychic-type. Mew is said to possess the genetic composition of all Pokémon. It is capable of making itself invisible at will, so it entirely avoids notice even if it approaches people"
Serena looked at the picture of the Pokemon and said with a smile, "Oh, that's Mew. Pretty cute." Then she turned to speak to Gou and said to him, "I wondered why you don't seem to have a single Pokemon with you. Now I understand why."
Ash was just asking Rotom for something else when he suddenly heard a strange rumble from nearby.
Pikachu woke up immediately. Serena's Braixen also took her stick to standby and Yamper started barking. Sylveon and Pancham were also ready in case of an attack.
Ash didn't think it was anything more serious. He put his Rotom Phone in his pocket and walked to the nearby bushes where the rumble had heard. Serena and Gou looked a little further away.
He moved a little scrub aside and what he found really didn't look very dangerous.
He was stared at by a little white rabbit Pokemon who looked at him curiously. Ash smiled at it and took out his Rotom Phone to identify the Pokemon when the Pokemon suddenly noticed something behind Ash's back and crashed towards it.
****
Gou didn't expect that. It crashed like a rocket towards him and had to knock him to the ground. And when he looked at his feet, he saw a Pokemon unknown to him hugging his left foot tightly.
Serena giggled. "Gou, I feel like it likes you," she said with a laugh and looked at the Pokemon that had clung to Gou's leg and it seemed like it wouldn't detach from it. "I'll notice it," Gou said and took his own Rotom Phone and scanned the Pokemon with it.
"Scorbunny, Rabbit Pokemon and Fire-type. It has special pads on the backs of its feet, and one on its nose. Once it's raring to fight, these pads radiate tremendous heat."
Scorbunny just seemed to tighten its grip on Gou's leg and Ash, who came back to them, said, "It seems like it wants to come with you. Why didn't you caught it?" He dug a Pokeball in his backpack and handed it to Gou.
"What? No, Mew has to be my first Pokemon!" Gou said and tried to shake Scorbunny off his leg. It didn't work and Scorbunny just tightened its grip. "Scorbunny seems to disagree," Serena said, but Gou shook his head stubbornly. "Mew it has to be," he said, ending the conversation and Ash and Serena sighed.
****
They packed their belongings and went for a walk towards Turffield City. Everywhere they noticed various Pokemon, some of whom were already completely unfamiliar to them, and they watched curiously as they walked along the river.
The Scorbunny hadn't moved anywhere from Gou's leg, and they hadn't been allowed to pull it off. Gou stubbornly refused to caught it, but Scorbunny had still seemed to get what it wanted; although Gou had not accepted it as his Pokemon, it still went with him.
Ash and Serena walked side by side and Gou dragged behind them as Scorbunny slowed his journey. Ash blinked from time to time in Gou's direction to see if he was going to give up on Scorbunny, but the boy's face was completely expressionless and Ash sighed. "You know, those two would become a good duo, both are equally stubborn," Ash told Serena and she giggled.
"True. But I don't think Scorbunny can hang on to that forever, I guess it sometimes has to eat," Serena said, frowning and Ash shrugged. "What a bet that it agrees not to eat even as long as it doesn't have to take its grip off Gou's leg," he said and Serena chuckled at the thought.
Ash was turning to say his thoughts to Gou as well, when suddenly something small and dark rushed out of the sky and it stole his cap. "Hey, give it back, it's not yours!" Ash shouted and started running after the thief. "Ash, wait!" Serena shouted and started running after Ash. Gou dragged behind them as fast as he could with Scorbunny in his leg.
The cap apparently proved too heavy for the thief, as it suddenly stopped to sit on a branch of a tree and Ash saw what kind of creature his cap had actually stolen.
It was a small Pokemon and Ash was pretty sure it could easily fit in the palm of his hand. It had blue wings and a pale yellow stomach and red eyes staring at the trio under the tree. It was holding Ash's cap in its gray, small beak and the cap's owner dug his Rotom Phone out of his pocket to identify the Pokemon.
"Rookidee, Tiny Bird Pokemon and Flying-type. It will bravely challenge any opponent, no matter how powerful. This Pokemon benefits from every battle - even a defeat increases its strength a bit"
"Rookidee? I haven't heard of such a Pokemon before" Ash said to himself and then turned to talk to the Pokemon. "Hey Rookidee, would you be so kind as to give me my cap back?" he told Pokemon, but this one shook his head. Ash bite disappointed his lips, but then got the idea.
"Hey Rookidee, would you agree to give me my cap if I beat you in battle?" he asked and Pokemon nodded eagerly. It left a cap on the branch and flew to the ground in front of Ash. Smart, leaving a cap on a branch I can't take it to, Ash thought and then said to Pikachu sitting on his shoulder, "You're my only Pokemon here right now, so I'll pick you up, buddy."
Pikachu nodded and jumped off Ash's shoulder. Rookidee flew farther from the tree to a slightly more open place and nodded his head that the match could begin.
****
"Pikachu, Electro Ball!" Ash instructed his partner and Pikachu sent a yellow electric ball towards Rookidee. However, the Pokemon easily dodged it and looked like it would have expected something a little better from Pikachu.
Ash was able to read from his gaze what he had been waiting for and then the little Pokemon rushed towards Pikachu with a beak glow and got to hit Pikachu.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed after the movement hit it, and Gou, who was sitting with Serena, and Scorbunny still hanging on his leg, a short distance away, said, "That was Peck. Flying-type moves don't do effect Electric-type Pokemons like Pikachu, but Electric-type moves are very effective to Flying-type Pokemons. So Pikachu has a clear advantage," Gou explained to Serena and they watched as Ash and Pikachu prepared for their next move.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash exclaimed and Pikachu tuned for an electric shock towards Rookidee.
Rookidee couldn't stand it and fell to the ground defeated. "Victory!" Ash exclaimed and then went to the Flying-type Pokemon. "Rookidee, you battle well, but Pikachu was better this time," he told the Pokemon, who got up and nodded. It then flew to the branch of the tree on which he had left Ash's cap and returned, carrying it in its beak.
Ash took his cap from the beak of the Pokemon and said, "Thank you Rookidee" Then he put his cap back on his head and turned to talk to Gou and Serena who came to him. "Should we go to.. what now?" He looked at one shoulder, not the one where Pikachu was sitting, but the other.
Rookidee had sat down on Ash's shoulder and tapped this on his beak. Ash looked at it for a moment and then understood. "Aha, you want to come with me, don't you?" he asked Pokemon and this one nodded. "All right then," Ash said, dug one Pokeball into his backpack and pressed it gently against Rookidee's forehead. The Rookidee disappeared inside and Ash held the ball, waiting for a click to indicate that the Pokemon had been successfully caught.
The ball swung three times in the palm of his hand and then stopped, announcing that Rookidee had been successfully caught. Ash smiled and then lifted the ball into the air. "My first Pokemon in Galar!" he exclaimed and Pikachu also exclaimed happily.
Then he said, "Rookidee, come out" and a little Pokemon appeared in front of him and flew over his head where it settled comfortably. Ash smiled and then said to Serena and Gou (And Scorbunny), "Shouldn't we continue the journey?"
****
They continued their journey until Gou suddenly exclaimed, "Argghh! I can't take it anymore! Ash, give me one Pokeball, and I'll catch that Scorbunny!" Gou exclaimed and Ash dug one Pokeball into his backpack, however, looking a little confused. "But I thought Mew.."
"Damn Mew. Scorbunny now gets the honor of being my first Pokemon. Mew can be second. Besides, Scorbunny is a pretty nice guy," Gou said and pressed Pokeball against Scorbunny's forehead, who was grinning widely. It disappeared into the ball and soon the ball clicked to indicate that Scorbunny had been successfully grabbed.
Gou let Scorbunny back out and gave it a high five and Ash and Serena looked at each other. Then Gou turned to look at the others and said to others, Scorbunny standing next to him, "Will we continue the journey?" And Ash and Serena nodded and they went for a walk again towards Turffield City.
I know that in anime, Gou gets Scorbunny differently, but hey, this isn't anime, so I decide what there happens :D
And Ash's Pokemon. Let's just say he's going to get a whole team in this book, but I'm not going to reveal yet what those other four Pokemon are. Serena and Gou also get full teams.