"Dragonite use Dragon Pulse!"
"Burrrghaarr!" the Dragon Pokémon's mouth glowed a bright purple before Dragonite launched a dragon-shaped beam from its mouth.
"Pikachu dodge it!" Ash cried Pikachu instinctively jumped into the air easily dodging the Dragon Pulse attack.
"Now Pikachu Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuuu!" The electric mouse's cheeks sparked before a blast of electricity shoot from his body hitting Dragonite directly.
Dragonite grunted as it took the full blast of the Thunderbolt attack dropping to the ground unconscious.
"Dragonite is unable able to battle Pikachu is the winner! and the victory of the Exhibition match goes to Ash Ketchem!" the crowd cheered in an uproar of applause in Ash's name.
It had been 1 year since Ash had been crowned world champion it still felt like yesterday hearing the fans screaming out his name in honor of the new world champion.
Yet he still felt so off he had spent so long aiming to be the very best like no one ever was to become "A Pokémon master" but he didn't know what that meant. He had always been reaching for a league title and now he finally had it he was the one walking into the stadium with fans cheering for him he was the one to beat the one with a target on his back number one in the preseason power rankings.
He finally had what he had always wanted so why did he feel so hollow? he felt like he had in some way reached his goal but in other ways, he was nowhere near it.
After his victory over Iris in the Exhibition match, Ash returned to Palette Town staring at the sealing blankly his friends would come to buy every once in a while, to catch up with him but for the most part it was just him his mom, and Professor Oak.
Even Goh who he had traveled with throughout his World Coronation run didn't come by very often he was busy on project Mew expeditions and catching Pokémon last time he had heard from him he had caught well over a hundred.
There was also the issue that Ash was finally hitting puberty he had noticed the little whiskers above his lip and the pimples on his face and back which had apparently, inherited from his mother. He had also noticed he was getting taller he was now noticeably taller than the girls he knew around his age, and he was tall enough to look his mother in the eyes. He guessed that he should have seen it coming he was 16 now there was only so far that being a late bloomer could go his mother had talked a lot about how his hormones were making his emotions worse.
It was then that something caught Ash's eye it was the corner of an old poster laying in a stack of papers pulling it out Ash saw that it was a travel magazine plastered with bright golden letters that read "La Visita Paldea" Ash had never been to Paldea but he heard about it from people in Galar with it only being a quick boat over the Galarian Channel to Kalos and a then a train ride down south.
"Maybe that's what I need," Ash thought out loud he had been sitting in Palette Town for too long Maybe heading too somewhere new was exactly what he needed to get out of his mood.
"Ash someone's on the phone they want to talk to you say they're from Naranja Academy in Paldea" Ash's mom called from downstairs.
"Coming!" Ash yelled practically falling down the stairs.
"Yes, hello this is Ash Ketchem how may I help you"
"Hello Mr. Ketchem, my name is Clavell I'm the head director of the Naranja academy the number 1 school in the Paldea region"
"Yes, go on"
"Well, one of the subjects are institution specializes in is Pokémon battles and there would be no one better to teach aspiring trainers than a champion like yourself" Ash is taken aback by such an offer.
"Well, I'm flattered, Mr. Clavell but don't you think someone with a bit more experience like Cynthia or Steven would be better at this than me I've only been champion for a year"
"With all due respect, most of the other champions are quite a bit older than you the students find them a bit what's the word thuddey duddy you and Iris are the only champions close to the student's age"
"Wait did you say, Iris?"
"Yes, I've already spoken with Ms. Iris, and she agreed to teach the students as well as another young man Mr. Goh"
"Goh!"
"Yes, a member of Project Mew he volunteered to show students how to catch Pokémon" Ash couldn't believe that Goh would agree to something like this and that Ash would get to see him again.
"Well Mr. Clavel I would be honored to teach the students at your Naranja Academy"
"Haha yes, I can't wait to see the look on those Kalos academy's faces when they see me with 2 champions and a member of Project Mew" Clavel cheered in excitement.
"All call you later to discuss housing and preparations the semester starts in 2 weeks"
"Alright, Mr. Clavel all talk to you later" Ash hung up the phone with a large smile stretched across his face from ear to ear.
"Who was it, Ash?'
"Can't talk mom I got to pack I'm heading to Paldea"
"All right Florian you've got your clothes your snacks peanut free of course, your toothpaste your deodorant very important for a growing boy like you"
"Sí sí mamá I got everything"
"Even those extra pairs of underwear your Abuela got you" his father reminded him pointing to his Abuela who gave him a wide smile.
"Yes, even the extra pairs of underwear" Florian started to sweat he knew full well that he put those dorky things in the farthest corner of his dresser where no one would find them. He was going to the biggest academy in all of Paldea he wouldn't be caught dead wearing underwear with Pawmi on them.
"Ahh, I can't believe my Little Gazpacho is all grown up it still seems like yesterday that I and your father were holding you for the first time" his mother began to weep and started flipping through a book of Florian's old baby photos.
"Look at my boy taking his first steps to becoming a man" his father patted him on the back with a chuckle.
"Make sure that you call us when you're there I don't know how your mother's gonna handle you not being here" his Abuela whispered into his ear Florian gave her a wink to show he understood.
"I have to get going I think that I hear the bus" Florian lied he knew the bus wasn't there yet, but he just wanted to get going.
"Adios mamá adios papá adios Abuela all see you on the weekend!" Florian waved as he ran towards the bus stop.
It was only then that Florian realized how in over his head he was traveling by himself to the biggest and most elite school in Paldea was he really qualified for it getting the highest test scores in Porto Marinada wasn't a high bar to clear.
Sitting at the bus stop Florian let the salty air of Porto Marinada fill his lungs childhood memories began to rush into his mind feeding the Wattrel by the docks and watching the boats come back greeting his father with a big hug when he returned from fishing as a child, he was convinced a Gyarados would come to eat the boat his father was on and refuse to fall asleep until his father came home.
To calm him down Abuela had made him a stuffed Wattrel he named Waddles he had slept with him every night since he was 3, and he made sure that Waddles was in his bag when he left.
Tears began to well up in his eyes as the weight of the fact that he was leaving finally hit him.
" No no no no no don't cry your 15 years old Florian if the other students see you cry you might as well move to Kanto," Florian told himself he didn't want to be seen crying on the first day.
The bus rolled into the bus stop doors swinging open letting Florian step in most of the bus was already full, so Florian sat down at the back.
Florian looked around at the other students on the bus they all seemed a bit more, grown-up compared to Florian with their more stylish shoes than the Velcro laces he picked out since he hated tying shoelaces and none of them had a ridiculously big hat he usually wore to the beach.
Everyone seemed to be talking like they knew each other, leaving Florian to sit quietly by himself.
More childhood memories came but not the rose-tinted ones at the bus stop awful ones of seeing his parents leavening him at kindergarten for the first time the crying the kicking and him being dragged down to the office.
"No, let me finish it! I need to finish it NOW! I NEED TO FINISH IT NOWWWWWW!"
Florian snapped back to the present he quickly took the hat off and shoved it into the depths of his bag.
He was starting fresh now one would no one would know him at Naranja Academy he could be whoever he wanted the Florian that sat sniffling in the principal's office in elementary school was gone.
It was a new school and time for a new Florian.
"Alright I've figured it out if I do my biology homework in history then I can do my history homework in humanities and then I can do my humanities homework at lunch then I can focus on my battle studies then I can do my battle studies homework during math then I can do my math homework and anything else I missed after school did, I miss anything?" Juliana ran through the schedule in her head.
"Juliana! baja tu trasero aquí abajo juro por Dios vas a llegar tarde!" Juliana's mother called from downstairs.
"Sí mama I'm coming!" Juliana ran down the stairs nearly tripping over her shoes to meet her mother downstairs.
"There's my little scholar look at my girl with the highest grades in all of Cabo Poco" her mother gave her a pinch on the check.
"You got everything ready to be on that honor-roll list"
"Of course, mama is that even a question have I ever gotten below an A"
"Of course, honey I just want to make sure that you have the best shot at success in life I would have killed to go to Naranja Acadamy or have your brains for that matter"
"Sí sí mama I know you just want what's best for me which means good grades and hard work"
"Yes, most importantly stay out of trouble I still don't feel comfortable letting you go by yourself epically with those Team Star Hooligans I heard from some other parents on the discussion forums that they leave school property to drink or vape or smoke weed and have you seen the shorts that the girls were their ass is practically hanging out there just asking for guys attention I swear"
Juliana's mom's tangent was cut off by the sound of the bus pulling up outside
"Adios mama the bus is here" Juliana hugged her mom before running outside to the bus station.
Looking around the bus all of the seats were taken except for a few in the back she decided to take a seat closest to the front. Beside her at the window seat was a boy who looked to be around her age watching something on his phone.
"Hay what's up," Juliana asked trying to be polite.
"Hi, I'm Florian" the boy looked up from his phone and responded flatly.
"I'm from Porto Marinada You're from Cabo Poco right since you just got on the bus" Florian's eyes flashed with a cringe immediately after saying it.
"Ya"
"So, what are you studying at the academy?" Florian asked.
"Well, a lot of stuff but the main thing I want to focus on was Pokémon battles what about you"
"I know that it might sound a bit weird but I'm focusing on Pokémon contests actually" Florian replied nervously.
"Oh, I don't think that's weird if it's what you like then it's what you like"
"Ya, I just know that Pokémon contests are usually thought of as more of a girl's thing some people might think that it's girly or frilly or gay" Florian rambled on in the somewhat monotone voice he greeted Julianna.
"We are now entering the city of Mesagoza next stop is the Naranja academy" Julianna and Florian turned their heads to the window to look outside Julianna had only visited Mesagoza a few times and Paldea's capital lived up to its pictures the city dated back to the 9th century and had lived through multiple kingdoms multiple invasions by Kalos and Galar the Kingdom of Paldea's colonial expansion and a brutal civil war that many of the elderly recalled with vigorous pain and suffering.
As the many old buildings of the oldtown flew by the giant unmistakable Naranja Academy came into view originally built as a church it served as the most pristine school in Paldea and one of the most well-known in the world.
"All students please grab your belongings and disembark you have arrived at your destination"
"We'll all see you around then," Julianna said to Florian
"Ya, all see you around" Florian replied awkwardly.
Julianna stepped outside into the sun taking in the view of the Naranja academy thinking about how it was the start of something new.
"So much for that new Florian thing, you completely fucked it up" Florian screamed internally that plane hadn't just failed to get off the ground, but it caught fire and did a 180 into the airport killed a dozen people and injuring a few dozen more.
It was his first interaction with someone he didn't know, and he just had to open his mouth and completely botched it.
It didn't matter now he had arrived at the most important part of the first day choosing your starter Pokémon.
His entire family had asked him what starter he wanted beforehand he had always declined he wanted to wait and see each starter's personality before making the choice.
Right now, he was sitting in a big room with many other kids waiting for their number to be called to go up and choose their starter.
"Numbers 61, 62, 63 please come and choose your starters" A voice announced over the P. A system Florian looked down at his number 62 it was his turn.
Florian stood up and walked to the door into the room Mr. Clavel was sitting only for his face to fall flat as Juliana stood up to.
"Just my luck the one person I know here gets to choose their starter with me" Florian cursed in his head.
Juliana was talking with another girl who looked to be a year or so older.
"Oh my god Nemona I remember you from elementary school leadership"
"Ya, I remember that wow that seems like forever ago"
"So, what are you doing here choosing a starter didn't you do that last year?" Florian asked.
"I don't know just felt like it I wanted to start a new adventure and try some new Pokémon I haven't used yet"
Florian, Juliana, and Nemona stepped into a large office lined with computers at the front of the office Mr. Clavell stood at his desk with three pokeballs.
"Welcome," Mr. Clavell smiled throwing the pokeballs into the middle of the room and letting out the three starters of Paldea.
"Go ahead you may choose" before Florian or Nemona could do anything Juliana squealed and ran over to Quaxly picking it up in her hands.
"Yes, this one I want this one!" Juliana squealed happily.
"What do you think Quaxly?"
"Quack, Quack" the duckling Pokémon quacked happily.
" I think I'm gonna call you Tulio I think it fits so well" Juliana giggled as Clavell handed her Quaxly's Pokeball and Juliana pranced out the door.
"You can go next I already have plenty of other Pokémon"
"You sure Nemona"
"Of course, it's your first Pokémon I'm just doing this because I love battling" Nemona replied.
Florian walked up to the two remaining starters carefully analyzing which one he thought would suit him more.
However, it wasn't a hard choice Fuecoco immediately caught his eye the little Fire Croc bumbled about happily falling backward as his flabby legs failed to support him however the Croc didn't seem to mind at all happily smiling with his goofy little face.
It reminded him of himself when he was young a kid oblivious to what the world thought about him just smiling happily and playing with his clumsy little limbs.
Whether he was drawn to Fuecoco because he wanted to save it from the embarrassment he dealt with later in life or to relive the happy days of childhood wasn't interlay clear, but he knew what his choice was.
"I want Fuecoco" Clavell returned the little croc to his Pokeball and handed it over to Florian he officially had his first Pokémon.
Florian walked out of the room leaving Nemona to choose Sprigatito watching as the Grass Cat Pokémon leaped happily into her arms and started nuzzling her cheek.
All that was left for Florian was to pick a name for Fuecoco he began to run through names that he thought would fit.
Then suddenly the right name struck his mind "Miguel I think that's the right name don't you agree?" Fuecoco's Pokeball shook vigorously which Florian took as a yes.
"Welcome to the team Miguel"
Yeah, a Pokémon Journeys sequel. Ash will be more of a mentor in this story since I think it's the best way for his character to continue the main plot will follow the main Scarlet and Violet gang.
The story just started it will diverge later on when Ash and Goh's stories get involved.
Either way, I just wanted to make a slightly better Journeys adaptation since Journeys makes some more than questionable calls and the trainwreck is already rolling so might as well keep going.
(Also, I'm sure you picked up on the reference in Quaxly and Fuecoco's names :)