Growing up to be different

by Queleron

After being saved by an untimely demise by his two classmates, Ash Ketchum found himself travelling with Kayla and Marble, the daughters of Pallet town's Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny. Though inexperienced and relatively naive, the young man gradually rise above the trials and tribulations fate throws at his way, especially when it comes to romance. (Ash x harem)

2. Journey onwards

Notes:

I hope you all don't mind a slower-paced pokemon story, because frankly I really like to write character moments.

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Reviews:

UltimateCCC: I see you every where in the fandom, so I considered it an honor to have you commenting!

Do Little Writing: Yes I am actually aware, but I decided against it since I based Kayla off the Nurse Joy who showed up in X and Y.

MrBrownOptometrist: I will try my best, I know uploads are slow but I would make sure when I do update, they are of satisfied quality.

RKF22: Glad you enjoyed the story.

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The evening rays of sunlight slowly shone upon the peaceful town known as Pallet Town. Among the residents of the quaint little town, is a famous yet humble professor known as Professor Oak. An esteemed researcher, the renowned professor was responsible for archiving and tabulating information regarding pokemon in the almighty pokedex. His efforts at researching pokemon to foster a deeper understanding between mankind and monsterkind had led to many groundbreaking and revolutionary discoveries. It was through his efforts that humanity learned more about pokemon, coexisting peacefully with one another. But after a lifetime of research, the veteran soul had finally reached the ancient age of 55. Now his reputation precedes him, his squadron of research assistants helped him do menial and important tasks on his behalf, rarely does he even need to do the field work himself now. After decades of restless research and endless all nighters, the old man can finally rest easy and plan an early retirement.

Early retirement. Him? Hah!

Rapidly dancing his fingers across the keyboard, Professor Oak squinted his eyes over the computer screen that contained the details of upcoming trainers that would be visiting his laboratory in the near future. The sound of footfalls and shouts echoed in the laboratory, lab researchers and professionals in dapper lab coats scrambled to organize the necessary files and paperwork for the new and upcoming trainers. In a few days, young and bright adolescents with hopes and dreams would flood the laboratory doors with their respective starters with them. There was little time to waste, the dreaded paperwork must be done tonight. The head researcher of this esteemed establishment let out a breathy sigh as he savoured the hot steamy coffee that was freshly brewed, anticipating the all-nighter he and his staff would have to pull off. The strain on his eyes were evident but so was the burning passion to complete the task at hand. The work of a researcher is grueling and difficult at times, but it was undoubtedly a fulfilling life, a life dedicated to studying pokemon.

"Professor Oak, are we done with the files? We tabulated most of it." The voice from his lead assistant spoke with obvious fatigue in his voice. Despite being twice his age, Samuel Oak was brimming with vigor and excitement compared to his exhausted protégé who was on the brink of collapse. He pry his eyes from the screen and chuckled at the sight of his dead looking assistant who seemed to have his life drained out of him.

"Not quite, we haven't keyed in the details of the trainer into their respective pokedexes." The assistant sighed but gave a small smile in return, the work they were doing was no doubt stressful and taxing, but seeing the kids being excited to live out their dreams as a pokemon trainer made it all worth it. Professor Oak turned his office chair around and reached for a treasured picture by his desk, two young boys can be seen smiling to the camera with their first pokemon they ever befriended cheering next to them, the little Poliwag was barely in the frame but the camera managed to capture it.

"Professor, since we need to log in the details of the trainers into the database and register them, shall I get Porygon to do it?" The suggestion from his assistant was not a bad idea, it certainly speeds up the process and puts a load off their shoulders. The database pokemon was skilled in augmenting and configuring the cyberworld, allowing it to move freely in cyberspace as it pleased. Naturally such feats and abilities warrant concern and adequate provisions, so only trained and licensed individuals are able to own a Porygon. In recent years, there have been vocal debates about inexperienced trainers capturing pokemon far more powerful than the trainer can handle, leading to much abuse of powers and unfortunate incidents. The 2013 Kalos incident which saw a rampaging Garchomp wreaking havoc in Lumiose City is still fresh in the minds of the public, and while Oak would concede that fledging trainers lack the discipline and maturity to handle more ferocious and prideful pokemon like pseudo-legendaries, the need for regulations and policies to restrict the type of pokemon a trainer can catch is too excessive.

"Yes but I will supervise the process." Still, the elderly veteran was no stranger to humans abusing pokemon for their own benefit, Team Rocket has been doing that in spades. No, what is needed is a firm yet guiding hand to teach trainers and non-trainers alike that pokemon are indeed our friends and allies, not tools used for our own personal benefit. It would be a long and difficult path, but Samuel loves a good hike and a good challenge.

"Professor? Are you here?" The voice of the young man echoed across the laboratory, earning the attention of the elderly professor and breaking him from his train of thought. He could mused about the rise of power creep in competitive battle later, right now he has a guest visiting him. The professor gave the greenlight to his protégé on utilizing Porygon's cybernetic abilities before making his way to the guest room. Filled with comfy cushions and warm ambient lighting, the guest room of the laboratory is highly popular among the townsfolk who wished to know more about pokemon. The rows of bookshelves that archived different types of books about pokemon act as fantastic study materials for amateur and veteran trainers alike. It wasn't long when Samuel reached the main halls of the research facility, the fragrant smell of coffee permeated in the air and the sight of men and women in lab coats frantically typing on their computers was an incredibly familiar process to him.

"Hey professor!" The esteemed researcher beamed at the sight of his grandson's childhood friend. He eyed the young man and felt a sense of pride over how much he had grown. Messy raven hair, strong and athletic build with hazel brown eyes that showed compassion, Ash is an exemplary student who's knowledge and love for pokemon makes an old man like him proud. The young man was like another grandson to him, always eager to learn more about pokemon.

"Sorry for not informing you that I was arriving, but mom wanted me to give you this." The old veteran nursed a smile at the sight of a fruit basket in Ash's arms. Delia was certainly a sweet and lovely individual, although he once entertained the idea of courting the beautiful woman, he had a sneaking hunch that Ash would be extremely against the idea. But even with Ash's reluctant blessing, the relationship between them should remain platonic at best given the age disparity and different interests. Still, her generosity and gifts were something he wholeheartedly appreciated.

"Thank you Ash, please send my thanks to your mother." The young man gave a curt nod, his faithful starter Pikachu stood at his shoulders as always. The adorable electric type was known to be a feisty and mischievous individual, fortunately a young Ash managed to tame and befriend the eccentric electric type through ketchup bottles and headpats. A remarkable strategy all things considered. Ash chuckled and crossed his arms, his curiosity naturally got the best of him as he peered his head over the shoulders of the professor. The busy sight of researchers scrambling to rush deadlines gave him flashbacks to his own last minute school work assignments.

"Busy day?" The subtle mocking tone from him earned an eye roll from the esteemed academician. The old man merely sighs and nods with his hands perched on his hips, busy would be an understatement. Every year there seems to be more and more trainers graduating from school, which is a good thing. More kids being able to live out their dreams is something worth celebrating about, and while the older generation are undoubtedly envious at the opportunity that they never had, they nevertheless were happy that their children and grandchildren had the chance to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"It's that time of the year again, where every new trainer embarks on their grand journey to chase after their aspirations and dreams. Naturally, things get hectic and busy." Ash's lips curled upward, it was indeed that time of year. The graduation ceremony he attended seemed to mark the end of his education journey. Thankfully, his school years have been very pleasant and kind to him, everyone in Pallet Town is nice to hang around with. A small town meant that one bad apple would be met with ridicule and scrutiny, naturally every student in Pallet Town would not want to become ostracized by their community, so they put up their best behavior. Still, some people's company is better than others.

"Thank you for all the work you do, professor. Although my friends and I never say it, we appreciate everything you have done for us." The sincere tone from the young lad was surprising to the professor, it was very unlike Ash to be this verbal about his emotions or feelings. But the professor did understand sentiments run high when you are saying your goodbyes, in a few days time Ash and many of his students would be leaving his life, perhaps even for good. Some may settle down with a beloved, some may just travel around the world, searching for the next thrill, whatever they do, Samuel simply wished them all the best.

"Your welcome Ash, I'm glad that I was a part of your lives." The raven haired teen just nodded, feeling a little emotional over the fact he would leave his hometown soon. He stood up strong and proud, giving off the confident and determined smile that marked his adventurous persona. This is a new chapter in their lives, a step into adulthood and independence, a step closer to realizing their dreams.

"You would always be part of our lives, professor, right Pikachu?" The affirmative cheer from the electric mouse sent chuckles across the hallway. With it, the young man bid the professor farewell and hastily made his way back home, hoping to spend his leisure time with his mother before he finally leaves the town for good. The duo left the laboratory stationed on top of the grassy hills and slowly made their way down to the beaten track of the town. The windmills farms and giant turbines rotating across the sparse paddy fields cast a shadow over the land, with the sound of the flowing river and streams coursing through the veins of the town to breathe life into it. Hands in his pockets, the young man looked around his quaint surroundings, admiring the sun-kissed paddy fields coated in the evening sun. He observed the paddy stalks dancing to the tune of the evening breeze, many of his youth were spent playing in the paddy fields and under the shade of the large oak tree of the town. He nursed a small sigh as feelings of nostalgia began to overwhelm him, breathtaking sights of his hometown that he once took for granted would now become a longing desire. Very soon, he would be on stranger roads, distant lands and uncharted territory. An exciting thought if not admittedly, terrifying.

"Pi?" Pikachu poked his cheeks with its little paw, breaking Ash out of his trip down nostalgia lane. It gave a bright smile to reassure him, effectively calming down his anxiety and worries that have been building up for the past few weeks. The Pikachu trainer grinned at his partner's support and ruffled its head, this little guy always knew how to cheer him up when is feeling down or moody. It was naive and foolish to think that he would be all alone in his journey, his best friend Pikachu would be by his side after all. Helping him and supporting him in every step of the day, both of them can achieve much and far if they work together. So with renewed confidence and a rumbling stomach, Ash glanced at the golden rice fields one last time before smiling to himself, seemingly bidding farewell to the land and town he once grew up with.

"Let's go Pikachu, Mom should be waiting for us." The electric mouse nodded, he too was hoping they could reach home as soon as possible. The house his trainer lives in was perfect for raising a pokemon, abundance of free space and a spacious garden to play around in. The young electric type befriended many pokemon who belong to other trainers, playdates for pokemon as the humans call them, was a frequent pastime for the young students in town.

"What do you think mom is making today, Pikachu? I hope it's gyudon." Pikachu cocked his head aside, his trainer seemed to be obsessed with gyudon. A classic Kantonian dish, with lean beef and caramelized onions simmered in soy sauce, dashi and mirin. The meal is relatively economic and simple to make, yet the taste is nothing short of divine and exquisite. Naturally, the young man had his hopes up at the potential warm meal he could sink his teeth in, although anything his mother cooks tastes amazing. No bias there.

The two friends finally reached home sweet home after a short detour through the creaks and fields. The fragrant smell of cooking quickly caught the attention of Pikachu, it sniffed the aroma that permeated in the air before its two ears twitched in delight. Hastily, it darted its way into the kitchen and met up with the skilled chef who whipped up the fine dish in question.

"I'm home!" Unfortunately for the young human, his starter had beaten him to the punch and made its presence known to his mother first. The short burst of giggles from the kitchen soon followed and a beautiful auburn-haired woman in her mid-30s appeared. Her hair was tied into a ponytail while she wore a pink blouse and a blue skirt, the sweet and adoring smiles on her face would make anyone's day, especially Ash's.

"Welcome home Ash. Are you free at the moment? I need a favor again." The young man raised his eyebrows at his mother's question and nodded slowly. His mother had just sent him off for an errand, was she sending him on another fetch quest again?

"Hmm why? Do you need help with preparing dinner?" She shook her head and let go of Pikachu, prompting it to run to the gardens to wash its paws and hindlegs. It turned the knob of the hose and watched the waters magically gushed out of the rubber tube. For a juvenile pokemon, human inventions such as these were still a mesmerizing sight to behold.

"No, I need someone to deliver this basket of fruit Nurse Joy. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but I kinda forgot about it." His sweet mother bit her tongue out of embarrassment, the bashful look on her was absolutely adorable. The young man sighed, he can't really be mad at her now can he? His eyes peered over the woven basket of fruits from the kitchen table and took the opportunity to peer into the basket of fruits. There were the usual bright red apples, juicy grapes and eye-catching oranges. These organic fruits in this handcrafted basket are all freshly grown products in the town, so there was no doubt about their amazing quality or expensive price.

"Well I don't mind, but please tell me this is the last one." Delia chuckled at her son's deadpanned tone and nodded, she would have done all the gift giving in one round too if her memory didn't fail her.

"Yes it is, please do it for me Ashy." It wasn't as if he would have said no, but seeing his mother pulling out the endearing nickname she often used when he was a toddler was honestly embarrassing. Still, he didn't mind making another round in town, it just gave him an excuse to see his hometown in all of its tranquil glory again. From what Ash could recall, the Nurse Joy of Pallet town is a nice and caring individual, which doesn't mean much when you factor in that all Nurse Joys in the world are all like that. Of course, personalities vary from individual to individual, but all Nurse Joys Ash had encountered so far were all pleasant and helpful.

"I will do it, but why are we giving Nurse Joy a basket of fruits?" Ash's tone trailed off as he eyed the simmering sukiyaki stewing in the pot, his mother caught his gaze and smirked at how enthralled he was with the hearty dish. He never fails to compliment her cooking and devour it whole.

"Mrs Joy helped treat Ninetails for her sickness remember? I would like to express my gratitude by giving her a basket of fruits." As if on cue, a golden fox with nine tails and sharp red eyes popped its head into the kitchen in a rather playful and adorable manner. It greeted hello to her mistress' son and made its grand entrance into the kitchen. The sight of his mother's starter drew a smile from Ash's face, he didn't resist the urge to pat the fluffy fur of the kitsune and ran his fingers though its prized coat. His mother had him at a young age, which meant she had to give up her own personal dreams as a trainer just to take care of him. Her sacrifice as a mother would forever be ingrained in Ash's heart, and he vowed to repay all of the love and care she had shown him for the past 15 years of his life.

"Right! She didn't charge any fee either and even prescribed medicine for her." The poor firefox was the victim of a vicious fever that was common during the summer months. The vivid memories of his mother and him staying up all night just to take care of her came back to haunt him. Between the whimpers of pain and discomfort, it was a difficult sight to watch the normally proud and regal Kitsune being in so much pain. But ultimately with the combined efforts of Nurse Joy and the mother and son duo, Ninetails eventually made a speedy recovery with the help of advanced medical treatment and good old Chansey softboiled eggs.

"I want to repay her kindness, so I thought a basket of fruits would be a nice gesture. But my hands are currently full-" Ash turned to the boiling sukiyaki again and felt his neurons activate at the sight of mouthwatering food. He stood up straight and held the basket elegantly in his hands, reassuring his mother that he would be the one who delivers it. After all, she has more urgent matters to attend to.

"Don't worry mom, I can do it. Let's go and see Nurse Joy Pikachu." His starter who had just returned into the kitchen gave a deadpan expression. He had just washed his paws and now they are going out again? Unbelievable.

"Thank you Ashy!" Ash resisted the urge to smile at his mother's cute nickname for him, with minimum success. Fruit basket in hand, he ushered his starter to jump onto his shoulders. The combined weight of his starter and the basket of fruits were heavy but they weren't unbearable. With a quick address search of the nurse's humble abode through his phone, Ash and Pikachu made their merry way towards the nurse's house. The view of the twilight basked town indicated that nightfall was drawing near, with the atmospheric street lights of the town slowly lightening up as the sun slowly set over the horizon.

The young teenager halted his footsteps once he noticed that the address from his phone matched the house right in front of him. It was a simple double storey house, the standard red brick roofs and the white concrete walls wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but the lovely flowers by the windows and the charming garden decor was certainly a delight. The white pallet fence that surrounds the house was freshly painted it seems, though the smell of paint was noticeably absent.

"This is the house if I'm not mistaken." Muttering to his faithful starter, the raven haired child slowly walked up towards the cobblestone path and stood before the white wooden door. Without a moment to waste, he gracefully knocked the door with his knuckles and waited for any response. His lips curled upwards once he heard the faint sound of footsteps becoming louder and louder, and before long the lovely nurse of Pallet came out to greet him.

"Ash? What can I do for you this fine evening?" Courteous and always polite, Ash always had huge respect for the Nurse Joys all over the world. Their dedication and kindness towards the sick and needy is always admirable. If Ash had to be honest, he did once entertain the idea of becoming a doctor after visiting a Pokemon Center for the first time. Though that ambition was fueled by a crush he had on the nurse rather than the noble task of treating the sick.

"Hello Nurse Joy, my mom is very thankful to you for treating her Ninetails, so she bought some fruits as a token of appreciation. Please take them." He extended the heavy fruit basket to the nurse who took it with a bright smile. She held the basked in her hands and gave a little bow to show her appreciation. Throughout her career, she was met with many praises and admiration, yet this was perhaps the first time she received a gift of gratitude from a client.

"That's very thoughtful of your mother, and thank you for making the effort to come over Ash. I really appreciate this." The soft warm tone from the nurse drew a flustered look from Ash. He wasn't particularly good at receiving compliments or being in the gratitude of others, so this was quite a scenario for him. It didn't help that Nurse Joy was also a pretty woman who had a smile and velvety voice that really cheers you up. As a growing adolescent, Ash had begun to acknowledge his attraction towards the opposite sex and that life is more than winning pokemon battles and chasing after gym badges.

"Y-You're welcome." Pikachu held back a snicker at his trainer's flustered response, the electric mouse couldn't wait for all of the awkward encounters his trainers would have during their journey. For a young adolescent who only knew the life of a quiet town, the road ahead would be interesting. The big cities and towering skyscrapers would be a whole new experience for all of them.

"My, my, it's hard to believe you have grown up so much. In just a few days you kids will be off for your grand journey." Grand journey, yes that would be one way to describe it. Touted as a rite of passage that every adolescent must go through, Ash was eager to embark his first ever pokemon journey. Years of preparation and study had all led up to this pivotal moment and nothing was going to stop Ash from traveling around the world with his buddy. Many restless nights and burning the midnight oil had prepared him for this very moment.

"I know, I find it hard to believe it myself." The pink haired nurse smiled before she heard footsteps behind her. She peered behind her shoulder and smiled when her only daughter walked up to her with her phone in hand. Dressed in her white t-shirt and black shorts, her bright indigo blue eyes mirrored the town's nurse's own sapphire ones. Her hair was tied into a ponytail with two side bangs adorning her cheeks.

"Mom? Who's at the door?"

"It's Ash sweetie." On cue, Nurse Joy stepped aside to allow her daughter to get a better glimpse of the teenager standing in front of their house. The younger Joy poked her head to the door frame and smiled at her classmate and his adorable starter. She looked almost identical to her mother, with the exception to the height and hairstyles. Though if you look closer, the different shade of blue on their sapphire eyes was evident.

"Oh hey Ash." The cool and relax tone from his classmate was what was expected. Indeed, he had not forgotten that his classmate lived here with his mother. It was actually how he got the address of the house in the first place as all of the student's details and address are made accessible in the school system. A bit questionable if one were to be misused for malicious and stalking purposes but Pallet Town is known for its extremely low crime rates and peaceful community atmosphere. The townsfolk actively look after each other, with the local officer Jenny making her rounds daily.

"Hey Kayla." The pink haired teenager was an interesting person, though she shares a lot of characteristics with her mother. Kayla was quite the shy and quiet individual in class, but despite her reserved nature, her love for pokemon and compassionate nature to the sick or injured shine through in situations most dire. The rose haired beauty smiled at him before she felt someone pinning their body weight on her back, knowing who the culprit is, she merely chuckled when her best friend and confidant gave a bubbly greeting to the Pikachu trainer.

"Oh Ash hey!" The cheerful tone from his classmate was just what he expected.

"Marble you're here too?" She gave an enthusiastic nod and squeezed Kayla's shoulder tighter. Jennies and Joys formed the basis of the sound and safe nation, they are the pivotal foundation to a prosperous society, ensuring peace and respite to every wayward traveler or day-to-day citizens. In other words, they are inseparable and when you spot a Joy, you bet you will see Jenny making her rounds. In this case, Marble was just chilling at Kayla's place to prepare for the journey tomorrow.

"Yeah Kay and I are just hanging out! Hi Pikachu, how are you doing?" The electric mouse did not resist the opportunity for a free head pat. It gave a cute squeak when Marble gave him a head pat, with a chuckling Nurse Joy watching the whole scene unfolding in front of her. Ash nursed a small smile and held Pikachu closer to the doting Jenny, he glanced at her for the briefest of moments before a question popped up in his mind.

"I heard you two are planning to travel together." Marble nodded and crossed her arms, with her starter Shinx giving a small yet adorable yawn in the background. Its droopy yellow eyes instantly perked up once he saw his friend and rival Pikachu in the doorway, it didn't hesitate to pounce into the spotlight and snaked through the human's legs to reach his destination.

"Wha- Shinx! What did I tell you about running in the house!" Ignoring his mistress' cross lecture, Shinx gave a bright smile to Pikachu and gave a custom greeting of its own by lighting his tail playfully. Ash merely chuckled at the presence of the Flash pokemon and knelt down to his level, giving it a headpat which was well reciprocated with a content purr and eccentric tail wagging.

"Hehe, good to see you too Shinx. Pikachu, why don't you and Shinx go play first? We won't be leaving that quickly." Pikachu gave an excited squeak and leaped into the garden scape with Shinx trailing him behind. Marble watched the scene unfolding before her and gave off an exasperated sigh over her starter's disobedience, that little rascal has always been a troublemaker, but she loved him regardless. With the two pokemon preoccupied, Ash returned to the conversation.

"So is it just you guys?" The two best friends nodded in unison, the Joy and Jenny tag team was a formidable force indeed. Marble is an exceptional trainer with a knack for deducting clues and solving problems while Kayla's extensive knowledge of pokemon biology and medicine is valued for a long journey. These two would make far together, far more than your standard trainer who has no idea what a pokemon journey entails. He wasn't sure what their goal was, but something tells him that it was nothing short of exciting.

"Yeap just us. Marble and I are going to explore the world together. How about you Ash? You're traveling with Gary right?" The young man shook his head with his arms crossed. While his childhood friend had planned his journey months ahead and plotted out the most optimal route to beat the gym leaders as soon as possible, Ash had opted for a more lax approach. In his younger years he would have been the hyper competitive trainer who only lives for the thrill of battle, now he and Pikachu have their sights set on enjoying their time together. The min-max lifestyle was beyond Ash now, now he only lives for the experience and of course, the food.

"Nope, I'm traveling solo. Miss Roxanne didn't take kindly to it though." The head nurse of the town clasped her hands together with a worried expression plastered on her face, surely Ash wasn't serious about traveling alone right? The horror stories she has personally seen were far too many to count, accidents revolving around young adolescents being lost or injured in secluded woods and rugged mountains were common enough but never a cause for concern due to groupmates actively looking after each other.

"Are you sure that's a good idea Ash? Going alone for your first pokemon journey is a bit dangerous isn't it?" Ash nursed a soft smile and brushed Nurse Joy's concern aside. This was a topic his mother often brought up with him and while he had convinced her that he would be fine for his first solo adventure, Ash knew full well that his commitment to travel alone was a hard decision to accept. In truth Ash wasn't the most sociable person in town, he prefers to take things at his own pace without needing to worry about group drama or dynamics. Many of his days were spent with his mother and Pikachu, though that's not to say he loathed company or his classmates, he just liked his alone time more. Growing up without a father, he developed significant trust issues and while he had accepted the fact he would never come to know of his own father, he thought that it was for the best given his return would have made no difference.

"I will be fine, don't worry." The casual tone from the young man did little to sway Nurse Joy's concerns but she did not want to nag him right in front of his friends. With an inward sigh, she gave a firm nod and gave a small smile.

"You say that, but- alright, I suppose your mother would have already had this conversation with you." Thankfully the nurse left the conversation at that. Ash managed a nod and gave a determined expression that silenced all forms of doubts and opposition.

"Thank you for your concern, nurse joy but I already have my mom's approval. So don't worry." His two classmates exchanged concerned looks with each other but they accepted Ash's decision nevertheless. They doubt Ash would ever warm up to the idea of traveling with others, and if the two girls can have it their way, they would persuade him to join any group willing to take him in. This is arguably the last time they would see each other, and hopefully the next time they meet would be in person and not on somber grounds.

"Please be careful when you are on the road, and be extra vigilant of your surroundings you hear?" Ash was mildly intimidated by the sudden sternness from the head nurse but he passed it on as the nurse being overly concerned for the safety of a child. He could understand from her perspective of course, sending a lone teenager to the wilderness without supervision, it sounds utterly ridiculous.

"I will Mrs Joy, thank you for the advice. I have to go now, I hope you enjoy the fruits! Bye Kayla, bye Marble!" With a wave, Pikachu leaped onto Ash's shoulder and said its goodbyes to the friendly neighbors, with every intention to feast on the amazing dinner his mother had prepared for them.

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His groggy awakening was accompanied by a groan of discontent, snuggling deeper into his warm covers and soft pillows, Ash felt the morning gravity holding him hostage to the comfort of his bed. Unfortunately, the wretched contraption humanity developed known as the alarm, had proven effective in disrupting his sleep. He blinked in succession to ease his eyes to the light of the morning sun. Finally with his eyes wide open after a series of flutters, he stared at the Pokemon Center ceiling above with the constant buzzing from his phone mocking him. He sighed and turned off the alarm with a slide of his thumb, sparing his starter and himself from the annoying high frequency sound of despair.

"That was a trip down memory lane, I never thought I would see them again." As the whispers left his mouth, Ash felt a sense of relief that he got to see Kayla and Marble again. He eyed his slumbering starter who's ear twitched, the little smile and coos were an indication that Pikachu was having a nice dream, probably about ketchup bottles or cute Alolan Raichus.

"Wake up Pikachu, we're meeting Kayla and Marble soon for our sparring match." The electric mouse grumbled in his sleep but it's twitching ears and lightning shaped tails began to move. The fuzzy starter soon awaken from his slumber by stretching in all fours and rubbing its eyes with its stubby paws. Its trainer went into the bathroom to freshen up, leaving the electric type to its own devices and freedom. It seized the rare chance to curl up at his trainer sleeping spot, savoring the warmth that was still present.

"Come on buddy, let's go." Alas, Pikachu's quest for more cozy sleepy time was rudely interrupted by his trainer who simply scooped him up in his arms. The electric mouse accepted its fate with its two hindlegs dangling in the air, its trainer left the room once he switched off all the electrical appliances and took his belongings, including his stylish blue jacket that was adorned with white sporty stripes and collar. With the two friends reaching the main lobby of the center devoid of people, Ash glanced at his phone and was in a dilemma whether to call Kayla and Marble when a familiar voice appeared behind him.

"You're up early Ash, thought you would have slept in." The daughter of the officer chimed in with her ferocious and intimidating Shinx giving a cute yawn behind her. It promptly greeted its rival and friend Pikachu who gave its own custom greeting by sparkling its electric cheeks, a well known gesture exchanged between electric types. The raven hair man feigned discontent and let out a sigh, clearly showing his subpar acting skill to the young lady.

"It wasn't easy, the bed was too comfy." Marble chuckled at his dramatization, though she could understand that waking up early is no easy task, especially when your bed is like a marshmallow where you can sink in. She tightened her jacket as a gust of wind blew past, the gentle sound of the morning drizzle and the gloomy sunlight seeping in the center meant it was still raining.

"Hehe I know, I woke up an hour earlier and was just lazing in my bed struggling to get up. Kayla is still snoozing." That was news to Ash, he thought Kayla would be the one who would wake up the earliest given her disciplined nature. She seemed to be the most mature and composed one of the group. He crossed his arms and leaned forward slightly, showing his curiosity over his classmates.

"I thought she would be the punctual one." Marble waved him off dismissively as she sat on the couch, ushering the young man to sit next to her as they continued their conversation. Unbeknownst to many, Kayla isn't as serious or stoic as she turns out to be. Most of the time, her cool exterior was to hide her more sensitive and sweet nature. The true Kayla Marble knows is a little dorky, needy and super attentive.

"She tries to be, but in reality she is quite the needy sleepyhead. The more you hangout with her, the less she tries to pretend to be cool and proper around you." Ash was definitely interested in learning that side of Kayla, for research purposes of course.

"So there is a more dorky side to her?" Marble grinned and nodded, the privilege as Kayla's best friend comes with many benefits. One of them is seeing her hugging her pillows like the most precious thing in the world, other times is seeing her plop down on her bed like a child. Sometimes without rhyme or reason Kayla hugs her out of the blue, not that Marble was complaining. The young Joy is much like her starter Skitty, cold to touch but needy as ever.

"Mhmm! And it's super cute. Anyway, you ready Ash?" The confident grins plastered on Ash and Pikachu's face was all Marble needed for confirmation. She fought Ash before in school grounds, and while she was familiar with his tactics and preferred strategy, going up against Ash is an enigma. The man can be utterly unpredictable in everything he does, which works for and against him. The two friends soon reach the Pokemon Center courtyard with their starters tailing behind them. The light rain showers did little to deter them from having their epic battle, which is to say it is just an excuse for Ash to stand in the drizzle. Position in place, the two stared at each other in their respective battlefields.

"Show us what you got Marble." Hand in his jeans, Ash assumed a totally different persona under the pokemon battle and remained stoic as ever. Such change in personality and demeanor earned Marble's attention but she dismissed it as Ash being hyper focused into pokemon battles. People do change when it comes to Pokemon battles as their true selves are brought to full display.

"Be prepared then! Shinx on standby."

"Pikachu you're up." The two electric types firmly placed their paws on all fours, waiting for their trainer's orders. Marble nursed a stoic expression, calculating the preferred strategy going against Ash. He likes it rough and quick, and while Marble appreciates a more slow but firm approach.

"You can go first Ash." The young man grinned at the generous opening, it's been weeks since he battled someone and he would gladly give his best performance. He glanced at his starter who's fur spiked up in preparation of a fierce battle With the two trainer's unflinching eyes staring at one another, Ash calmly called out his first attack.

"Quick Attack." Darting across the battlefield with acrobatic speed, Pikachu's blinding assault was well predicted by Marble.

"Leer." Shinx's iris dilated with an ominous glow, halting Pikachu right in its tracks out of intimidation. With Marble aiming to play the long game, Ash decided to force her hand by favoring a more slow but sure approach to victory.

"Thundershock." Sparks from Pikachu's red cheeks flared wildly as its body was engulfed in a yellow glow, it swiftly launched a direct strike on Shinx who barely managed to dodge the bolt of lightning. Wide open and recovering from the attack, Marble ordered a counter attack to close the gap between the two electric types.

"Get in with Bite." Shinx's sharp fangs were bared and the swift dive towards Pikachu was imminent. Ash patiently waited for Shinx to get in closer, though the clenching of his fists betrayed his supposed calm nature.

"Tail Whip!" Pikachu barely had the reaction time to slam his lightning tail to bash Shinx's maw before doing an evasive leap behind to create even more distance between the two.

"Tackle into Bite." Alas, Shinx seized the moment of Pikachu's recovery and tackled it to the ground before clamping its vicious fangs on his rival. Without any moment to lose, Ash swiftly ordered a defensive attack to knock the young cub.

"Thundershock!" The point blank blast was successful in injuring the Shinx, the impact of the force sent the Flash pokemon back a few meters away from Pikachu, allowing much breathing space for injured pokemon who winced at its injuries. Seeing they were in a stalemate, Ash ordered Pikachu to halt and wait, patiently waiting for Marble to give a command.

"Bite its tail." The trap had sprung and Ash was ready to order another point blank Thundershock attack to knock Shinx off cold.

"Pikachu Full power Thundershock!" Pikachu gathered a large amount of electrical energy that flooded his system, surging through its veins and body before culminating into a deadly bolt of lightning that would pierce any hide or armor. Expressionless as ever, Marble orders a simple but effective counter to end it all.

"Charge." Ash widened his eyes as Shinx absorbed the direct shot from Pikachu and pushed through the devastating attack. Though injured, it charged through the attack and redirected the gigavolts of electricity back to the sender, completely sending Pikachu flying with the sheer force and impact.

"Pikachu!" He swiftly approached his fainted starter, it winced in pain and let out groans of discomfort over the tingly sensation of electricity coursing its body. He carefully placed his hand on his forehead, fortunately most of the currents have been dissipated by Pikachu's natural Lightning Rod ability. The sound of frantic footfalls earned their attention, a guilt-ridden Marble was hugging her equally guilty looking Shinx in her arms.

"Gosh! I'm so sorry Ash! I didn't mean to overdo it! I-is Pikachu okay?" Her lips trembled and her voice was sweet as ever, hard to believe it was the same Marble who stoically commanded her Shinx like a war general. Ash softened his gaze and nodded, Marble had nothing to be sorry about, Charge was the only counter play and if it wasn't Pikachu seriously injured, it would be Shinx. In all honesty, he was too zealous in ordering a full powered attack for a casual sparring session.

"He will be fine, it's my fault for ordering such a brutal attack." Seeing his downcast expression, Marble placed Shinx on the floor and patted Pikachu on the head, whispering apologies to the little one. The maternal display from her drew smiles from the Pikachu trainer, Marble can come off as a goofball sometimes but she deeply cares about others. The Flash pokemon mewed and nuzzled against Ash's leg, it was obvious that the little one was feeling guilt for hurting his friend. Despite how serious the injuries inflicted on Pikachu, the electric mouse is extremely resistant to any form of electric attacks thanks to Lightning Rod and same type resistance. The young man patted Shinx's head, rubbing its head to soothe his worries.

"You did good Shinx, don't worry about it, Pikachu would be okay." The electric mouse gave a thumbs up in response to its trainer's words. By fang and claw, this was nothing compared to the Spearows digging their sharp talons and wicked beaks into his flesh when he valiantly fought them off. His starter's antics earned a grunt from Ash and he proudly pointed at his chirper state.

"See? He is okay." Marble sighed and cradled Pikachu in her arms, hugging the little one tight as she kept planting kisses on the side of its head. Ash merely laughed at the affectionate display, no wonder Shinx is so spoiled. The young man placed Shinx on his lap and stared at his eyes, the yellow glint of ferocity can still be felt after the battle.

"Man, that Charge command at the last second was so good." Marble beamed and leaned her shoulders against Ash, the cool breeze of the morning drizzle can still be thoroughly felt through their jackets and coats.

"You almost got us Ash, we would have lost if I didn't end the battle right there. My heart was beating like crazy." Ash was sure that Marble was saying that just to cheer him up, she didn't even flinch when he ordered the full power attack. A long drawn out battle won't necessarily make him the victor, Shinx reliance in close quarter combat to strike out Pikachu still remains a threat. He had always relied on Pikachu's innate agility and fast-paced oriented attacks to stagger and disorientate foes, based on his own past experiences, speed defines the victor when it comes to pokemon battles.

"You're really good Marble, no wonder the Spearows didn't stand a chance." She grinned and scratched her cheek, The Spearow incident was still something Ash harps about to this day, a debt of gratitude that he honestly should let go now. She brushed her hair aside and stood up firmly with Pikachu in her arms.

"Hehe thank you~ Why don't I take Pikachu and Shinx to Nurse Joy? You can leave it to me." Aiming to make amends with her actions, she held two of the goodest boys in her arms and headed towards the center. The fits of giggles from her echoed across the hallway when the two electric types nuzzled against her cheek as thanks.

His lips rested into a soft expression but quickly changed when the chilling wind of the gloomy morning pierce through his jacket. He seized the moment and sat on the nearby bench to hide away from the open and reflect about the battle he just had with Marble.

'Marble tough, completely stoic and expressionless too, the matchup was favorable to me and she turned it around with Charge.' Amidst his thoughts, he felt a presence standing in front of him. Ash looked up and was pleasant to find Kayla holding two cups of steamy hot chocolate in her hands with a smile on her face. He gratefully took the mug and moved to the side, allowing her to sit right next to him.

"Oh thanks Kayla, didn't know you were watching." The young Joy crossed her legs and took a sip of the cocoa delight, nearly scalding her tongue in the process as she tried her best to act nonchalant and nothing had happened. Fortunately, Ash was busy sipping his own chocolate to notice a panicking Kayla.

"I came right before you two started. Pikachu would be okay right? I almost had a heart attack when I saw the little guy flying." In hindsight Ash could imagine the absolute horror of a flying Pikachu being sent 5 meters away from a powerful blast, skidding across the dirt and grime as trails of dust were left in its wake. The shockwave of the attack kicked up ground dust and shook the very foundation they were standing on, impressive stuff for two little guys who were supposedly at their weakest form.

"He will be fine, don't worry. It looked scary for sure but Pikachu is a trooper, he had worse injuries compared to this." Kayla raised her eyebrows, she couldn't imagine what kind of injuries Pikachu had sustained before. In her eyes, Ash is a good trainer who is only held back by his inexperience, but it makes sense for trainers like Ash to push his pokemon to their limits, that's the basis of pokemon and human relationships after all.

"You don't blame Marble for it right? She looked really upset." He picked up her quiet tone, clearly she was hoping there was no bad blood between Marble and him. Ash chuckled and placed his mug down, he never held it against Marble and honestly this was kinda his fault in the first place.

"Of course not! It's my problem really. I don't like losing, so I went all out. This was supposed to be a casual battle between friends but I wanted to show off how good of a battler I was." The pensive expression on Ash's face showed that he was clearly bothered by his own skills as a trainer. Perhaps behind the cheery and happy persona lies someone struggling with self-esteem and confidence issues. Her lips curled upward and placed her mug against Ash's arm, earning a surprised yelp from him over the burning sensation.

"I understand that feeling Ash, but don't think of us as people you need to constantly impress to get on our good side. We will treat you the same regardless of your skill as a trainer. You're a good person Ash, don't lose that part of you okay? That's what makes us like you." It was an indescribable feeling to Ash, a mixture of warmth and a sudden to his reddening cheeks. Part of him always felt that Marble and Kayla tagged along because he was a kid that needed to be protected, so he was eager to show them that he is capable of fighting his own fights. So to hear Kayla say that Marble and her likes him for who he is just makes him… happy.

"Thank you, Kayla." The soft and sentimental tone from him drew a light flushed from Kayla, she punched his shoulders lightly to dispel the otherwise sappy mood.

"No problem! Now, are you excited for next Monday? We're finally leaving Viridian." A triumphant smirk plastered on Ash's face. Finally after a week of shackles and chains, he gets to continue on his epic pokemon journey. The thrills of adventure, the joys of capturing his first pokemon and the amazing sights, all of that and more would finally be accessible to him again, that is if he doesn't get lost again.

"Of course, can't wait to get back on the road and get lost in a forest." The cynical statement drew eyebrows from Kayla, having basic navigation instincts is crucial for surviving in the wilds. Then again, Ash never particularly scored stellar marks when it came to survival syllabuses in their school. If she could recall correctly, Ash was always the last one to come out from the forest and a Search and Rescue team was constantly worried about the young man.

"You're bad with directions?" The wry smile on his face told Kayla everything.

"Very." She chuckled at the dry response and waved his concerns off with her hand. Marble and her had traveled extensively before and they never get lost thanks to modern technology and their superb decision making skills. As long as they aren't arguing when to take breaks, they would never lose their sense of direction.

"Well don't you worry then, Marble and I are excellent navigators." Ash wouldn't doubt that, the two always managed to locate the best tasting food in the area just by foresight and intuition alone. Kayla can be quite the connoisseur while Marble always looked for the quaintest and comfiest of cafes to talk and chat. Still, for them to always do everything for him defeats the purpose of going solo for his pokemon travels. This was supposed to be his moment of independence and growth, not being coddled by two seniors.

"I'm in safe hands then, but- never mind it's nothing." Kayla blinked and sat closer to Ash, did she say something wrong?

"What's wrong Ash?" A breathy sigh and Ash turned to the skies above, for such a wide and expansive sky, it sure is limited to only a few colours and cloud formations.

"It's just- I wanted to travel alone because I want to be independent and I don't want to rely on others, now I'm relying on both you and Marble for so many things." The rose haired Joy sighed and crossed her arms, this journey of independence for Ash has not been a great start. It was undeniable that Ash is pampered and sheltered, so it comes to no surprise there were many things he wasn't aware about. That being said, Kayla didn't view him as a nuisance or a spoiled prince, on the contrary she viewed him as a person who can grow up to be dependable and just. Besides, it wasn't as if he was relying on them for everything either, he just needed a little help or nudge that's all.

"Ash it's okay to ask others for help, you're not a weaker or lesser person for doing it. You're still growing and learning aren't you?" Ash managed a nod to the older teenager while firmly holding the cup in his hands.

"Yeah I am."

"Then what's wrong with a little help? You're a pretty good battler, something which I can't really say I'm good at." That was news to Ash, while he never saw her fight battles before, Marble said that Kayla and her Skitty always perform support roles who double the effectiveness of their pokemon in battle. He observed her facial expressions for a moment, noting that she seemed a little bummed out by it.

"Really?" Kayla exhaled a deep sigh and hugged her knees.

"Mhmm I'm not terrible at it but compared to a seasoned trainer who knows their stuff, my knowledge and prowess falls a little thin. Don't tell Marble that or else I would never hear the end of it." The deadpan stare at the end was truly something Ash will treasure. Quick to comfort the pretty girl who cheered him up earlier, Ash sat closer and placed his hand next to hers.

"You're good at other things like medicine and overall pokemon behavior! That's super important when it comes to caring and raising a pokemon."

"You're right, but sometimes I do wish I can be more than just a Nurse Joy." As her voice trailed, her face flushed red once she realized she revealed her long personal struggles to Ash just like that. She frantically waved her hands off and maintained her cool calm composure, failing miserably in the process.

"Sorry I didn't mean to say that, it's just-"

"Kayla, let's work together to achieve our dreams okay? With you and Marble, let's show the world what we are capable of." The sincere smile and the warm velvety voice from the Ash halted Kayla in her tracks. The comforting hazel brown eyes and the can-do attitude reminded her very much of her own mother giving her words of encouragement when she is feeling down. Her lips curled upwards and gave a confident nod to him, working hard to achieve their dreams with her close friends is everything she could have wanted.

"I like the sound of that." The tender moment between the two was well observed by a smirking Marble. She placed her hands behind her back and took the moment to lean her face between the two of them, the deliberate smug look was well noticed by an annoyed Kayla and an embarrassed Ash.

"Am I interrupting a moment?" Ash slid far away from the two ladies and frantically waved his hands off, now he realized how close he was sitting next to Kayla, any closer and their hands would be touching.

"H-Huh? No no, we were just chatting." Marble's lips curled wider, she enjoyed watching a flustered Ash explaining himself.

"Is that so?" Kayla sighed and crossed her arms, deciding to save Ash from this miserable woman who enjoyed tormenting others for her own entertainment.

"Marble, what is it?" The fed up tone from her best friend made Marble back off with her hands perched on her hips, the two of them seemed to have a nice hot chocolate break without inviting her, how rude.

"Well I was wondering if you two want to have breakfast because I am starving." Kayla nodded and stretched her limbs outwards, her Skitty is still snoozing in her pokeball with no care in the world. If the weather is good and their pokemon are well rested, they would be able to arrive in Pewter City by sun down.

"Of course, I was thinking if Pikachu and Shinx are well recovered, we can get a move on to Pewter by noon." Ash furrowed his eyebrows, didn't Kayla said they should leave on Monday？

"Eh I thought we were leaving on Monday?" Ash trailed his words off when Marble decided to sit on Kayla's lap without saying anything, supposedly a common thing between girls. The young trainee nurse hugged her best friend and spoke matter of factly to the young man.

"The weather forecast today stated the storm has already passed Pewter City, we might be able to leave by today if weather permits." Their dedication to leave Viridian City as soon as possible must be commended, the two ladies certainly show commitment and devotion. Being a townsfolk, the big city life is a little intimidating at times.

"Hmm I will double check it once we reach a restaurant, can't afford to be lax here." The jet black haired child agreed wholeheartedly, though he would have normally disregarded changes of weather, after the Spearow incident, he was willing to take any precautions to reduce the risk of travel. Experience has been a harsh if not merciful teacher.

"Our lives are in your hands then Marble." The young officer grinned and sunk deeper into Kayla's arms, leaving her best friend sighing in content in front of a bewildered Ash.

---

Stepping into the busy streets of Viridian, the trio found themselves stumbling upon a quaint looking patisserie with delicious macaroons, artistic millefeuille and buttery croissants. The aroma of coffee instantly raised the interest of the trio with Marble proudly holding her energetic Shinx in her arms, the place seemed to be packed with people too!

"So for breakfast we are eating at this patisserie?" The cafe enthusiast nodded at Ash's question and showed the online food reviews with a flick of her phone. All 5 stars and nothing but song and praises, this patisserie seemed to be a place of worship more than anything.

"Run by a Kalosian baker, all the pastries here are said to be super good and authentic!" Ash's eyes were immediately drawn to the price of each individual food item, as expected everything here is expensive. Fledgling trainers like him only have the allowance from their family to support them, how a trainer earns money is by participating in gym battles, contests, performances and other organized events by the Pokemon League Committee. In the past, trainers were allowed to battle other trainers for money but after an amendment to Kanto's constitution to better protect minors, such activities were heavily supervised under the watchful law. So the only way for Ash to make money is by participating in official gym battles or organized events.

"Shall we go in?" The excited look in the two ladies' eyes made him sighed inwardly, he could decline them now because he was saving some money, though his mother would question his financial management skills, Ash nevertheless succumbed to his desires of pleasing the two ladies and to sate his own taste for yummy croissants.

"Yeah let's go." Pikachu patted his trainer's head for a job well done and entered the pastry cafe with dazzled eyes. The colourful array of desserts and delights drew sparkling eyes from Marble and Kayla, the perfect red strawberry and the sweet maple syrup that cascaded down beautifully over the waffles. The freshly baked sourdough bread and croissants filled with buttery aroma beckoned their salivating mouths to try them. Thus the matter was settled, Marble swiftly went to the counter and placed her pokedex front and center, startling the poor cashier who was intimidated by Marble's rather strong and assertive aura.

"Butter and Caffeine for three and one Morning Red." Ash glanced at the menu, apparently Butter and Caffeine are basically Croissants and Coffee together while Morning Red is just waffles with strawberries coated in syrup and vanilla ice cream. He turned to Kayla who placed her palms together in anticipation, her dainty fingers pushed against one another in every turn as she tiptoed to see what Marble was ordering. The rather amusing sight made Ash keenly realize that Kayla clearly has a sweet tooth just like Marble too.

"You like desserts Kayla?" The earnest question spooked her, she slowly nodded to him and placed her hands behind her back, giving a curt response.

"Huh? Oh yeah I mean who doesn't?" He leaned forward to get a better view of Kayla's expression, he smiled at her flustered expression and decided to play coy with her.

"Do you often go to cafes?" Pikachu yawned and sighed in content when Ash patted his head, the electric mouse eyed the young Joy who crossed her arms defensively, standing on the sideways to let the other customers to queue up for their order.

"Occasionally, it's more for the experience than the desserts though." The rather unconvincing statement drew two pairs of judgementing eyes. Why is Pikachu judging her too!? She honestly likes cafes for the vibes and atmosphere, nothing else! Not the comforting smell of coffee or the sweet fluffy cakes!

"Really?" Her pouty face of defiance was adorable, no wonder Marble developed a kick out of teasing her.

"Mhmm!" Before he could further continue, an excited Marble came back to them with a receipt in hand. She clamped two hands around their shoulders and held the receipt between her two fingers, wagging it around in the air to tickle a visibly unamused Kayla.

"I got the orders! Let's find a place to sit." Leading the charge towards the perfect spot, Ash found a nice window seat not occupied by the other customers yet. He placed Pikachu near the window to allow the electric type to marvel at the different pedestrians and pokemon walking by the streets. Sitting between the two girls, he noticed the rather close proximity between all of them, they were almost squeezing shoulder to shoulder given the crowd. He glanced upwards at the ceiling above, reminiscing the other times he paid cafes a visit.

'Now that I think about it, this is the first time I'm going to a cafe with a girl or two. Pallet Town only has a few cafes and they are more for couples going on dates.' He never thought he would be in this situation, this is something that only happened in romcoms. He awkwardly stared at them, both of them were preoccupied with their phones and swiping their screens.

"Ash, take a picture of us." Marble's phone went flying to Ash's hand before he could even agree to the request, he gave a brief deadpanned look to the spunky teenager who merely smiled at him. He extended the phone outward and framed the three of them in the picture. The radiant shot Kayla and Marble doing a victory pose while Ash was struggling to smile naturally would forever be immortalized in Marble's phone.

"Nice shot, we're conquering one cafe at a time." Ash could vividly imagine a warlord Marble staking her claim to every cafe under the sun. He placed his hand underneath his cheek and leaned towards Marble's side to take a glance at the picture taken. He looked awkward and out of place while the two managed to look natural and photogenic.

"Is that one of your goals?" Marble nodded at Ash's question and leaned against Kayla while uploading the picture they took to Instagram after a few picture edits. Lighting, filter, some touch ups and voila!

"Kinda? We just like taking pictures so we can look back at it in the future, we know we won't get this opportunity again." The uncharacteristic bittersweet tone from her at the end made Ash worried, perhaps Marble and Kayla really felt trapped under the heavy expectations of their family. Kayla's and Marble's expression, which turned noticeably pensive and sad, made Ash question if their future is really set to becoming just Joys and Jennies.

"Hey don't say that, I'm sure you guys get to go on crazy adventures in the future." The two remain silent before forcing a smile, knowing full well their fate is still tied to their lineage and bloodline. Kayla cleared her throat and poked his forearms.

"How about you Ash, what's your plan after your travels? Do you plan to keep traveling?" Ash leaned behind his chair and pondered about it, honestly he wasn't too sure. The harsh realities of being financially sustainable and becoming a responsible adult had yet to hit Ash, yet he knew that as a single child he must do everything he can to support his mother who sacrificed much of her youth and time for him.

"Maybe, I'm not too sure myself." The uncertain tone from him was surprising, Kayla and Marble thought Ash had everything figured out from day one. But before they could quiz him further, the sounds of footsteps and the aromatic smell of coffee soon descended upon the group, a friendly waitress greeted them with a smell while holding her tray filled with coffee and fluffy pancakes.

"Your orders." Carefully balancing the tray of breakfast, she placed an individual set before 2 enthusiastic ladies who had their phones at the ready while Ash was wondering why the portion sizes are smaller than what's shown in the pictures. Every serving in Pallet Town is generous and plentiful, do cityfolks really eat like this? He turned to the two who eagerly munched in their croissants, the flakes and crumbs fell down to their white plates while the vanilla ice cream slowly melted and dribbled off the side of the waffles.

'Well might as well bite in.' He sunk his teeth onto the croissants, the crunchy sound of every bite was accompanied with Ash slowly nodding his head in approval of the fine breakfast. Seeing his nods of approval, Kayla turned to face him, nearly smacking her best friend in the face with her ponytail hair, a scene that didn't go unnoticed by a chuckling Pikachu.

"How do you find the taste Ash?" Assuming the role of an online food reviewer, Ash nodded along and spoke with the etiquette and cadence of a Kalosian aristocrat.

"Hmm the buttery taste, the crispy crust but soft dough, everything is just nice and perfect, goes well with coffee too." Marble leaned behind her chair and held the warm mug of coffee in hand as she checked for the weather forecast on her phone. If the weather is clear and there are no further distractions, they would make a move today.

"We might need the caffeine for the road ahead. I just checked the weather report, the typhoon has passed by Pewter City and it's heading way towards Johto." Kayla frowned and leaned her cheek against her hand, though she was ecstatic to be on the road, she was still a little reluctant given landslides are frequent occurrences after heavy rain and typhoons.

"Fallen trees might obstruct the roads and paths, not to mention the numerous landslides, should we wait a little longer?" The two ladies slowly turned to Ash, hoping that he could make the decisive choice that would put an end to their stalemate.

"What do you think, Ash? Should we leave now or on Monday?" He aired on the side of caution and nodded.

"Uh maybe we should wait and see if there is any news of landslides or fallen trees first." Marble pressed her lips upwards before an idea popped to her head.

"I will check with my aunt in Pewter, she should be the first to know in the event of a roadblock or emergency." With that settled, the trio turned to their breakfast and consumed the ice cream soaked waffles sprinkled with strawberries. It didn't take long for the waffles to disappear and the company exited the comforting warmth of the cafe to the damp streets of Viridian.

"I will go make the phone call, I will be right back." Marble swiftly excuses herself to a nearby bench, leaving Ash and Kayla in the streets of Viridian. Any form of casual conversation seemed to be awkward since they shared little common interests, despite knowing them for a week now, he still knew next to nothing about them.

"So uh, I bet this journey is not how you thought it would be huh?" Kayla turned to Ash and internally smirked at Ash's horrible attempt of trying to have a nonchalant conversation with her. She placed a hand beneath her chin, while it's true the journey is far from what she expected, she did find much charm in taking the journey slow and steady.

"No, definitely not, but that's what makes it fun. If it's predictable, it won't be a memorable journey will it?" The raven haired teen grinned, he never thought he got to travel with them but man is he glad they got to cross paths with one another.

"Yes I guess so, I'm really glad that I met both of you. It's nice to have breakfast with someone." The warm and genuine expression rested on Ash's face drew a smile from Kayla, she stared at the gloomy skies above, their journey together would be short and brief, but it would no doubt that it would be a memorable one.

"We're glad that we meet you too Ash." The red flushed face on her cheeks were barely covered by her pink bangs, earning an equally flustered Ash staring at her. Pikachu squeaked at the interaction between the two, has his master finally met the one? The young man had only just started his journey and he had successfully established warm relationships with the two girls, especially Kayla. Mayhaps this was his chance to get a mate? The electric mouse won't mind Kayla at all! Sweet, attentive and more mature than Ash, she would make for a wonderful partner to him. Marble would be fine too! Spunky and energetic, she would suit his battle hungry trainer just as well!

"So I checked with my aunt, apparently the road is clear! Shall we get a move on?" The intrusion of Marble was deja vu to the two friends, Kayla pulled her backpack tighter to her and nodded. It was best to be one the way before the heavens open again.

"You bet." Thus the adventure to Pewter City begins, Kayla releases her Skitty out to get her accustomed to their new traveling buddies for the moment. The three pokemon promptly greeted each other and ran around the streets, chasing each other playfully out of sheer excitement of leaving the big city for the wilds. Cold streets filled with pedestrians and vehicles slowly turned to suburbs and parks, Poliwags can be seen swimming around the rivers and lakes, catching every drop of moisture and droplets they can get. Farm fields that stretched far and wide can be seen dripping with water while Tauroses and Milktanks graze on the ever expanding plains, though a familiar sight to the town folks like them, there was something exciting seeing new sights that reminded them of home. It didn't take long for the trio to step foot into Viridian forest, with local park rangers patrolling the grounds with their majestic Pidgeots and mighty Rhydons. Marble squinted her eyes at her Pokedex that was showcasing the map to Pewter City, new trainers are encouraged to take certain routes to avoid more territorial and powerful pokemon.

"Let's see, I think we should go this way, it's the recommended route for new trainers." They hiked up the beaten path, navigating through shrubberies, overgrowths and twisting roots. With Marble and Kayla focusing on navigating the optimal route to Pewter City, Ash had other brighter and more ambitious plans for his time in Viridian Forest. He peered over the girls who were preoccupied with the route ahead, arguing over which path is faster or safer. He grinned and leaned to his starter, now was his chance to seize his moment of glory.

"I didn't catch any pokemon on Route 1, hopefully we can catch our first pokemon buddy." The electric mouse saluted at him, it was high time that they welcomed a new member into their ranks, bolstering their forces and combat capabilities by the doubles. Ideally, Ash should catch an easy to raise or docile pokemon but anything goes for his eccentric trainer.

"Pika!" The raven haired teen grinned at his starter's enthusiasm. Shiftry as they go, the duo slowly slip away from the main path and stray away from the two ladies responsible for navigating out of the sprawling forest. The shadows of the canopy casted onto them, under the guise of the trees and branches, the two friends popped their head above the tall grass and hollow trunks, spooking much of the Wrumples, Weedles and Caterpies away. After successfully becoming the world's best insect repellent, Ash and Pikachu wandered deeper into the woods in hopes of searching for more fierce and less skittish pokemon.

"Man, why is everyone avoiding us Pikachu?" The electric mouse merely sighed at his trainer's lack of awareness, of course pokemon are going to run away from a human who looks like a lunatic poacher stalking his prey. He patted his trainer's head, encouraging him to keep going despite his unorthodox method. Its long ears twitched at the sound of movement, something or someone is hopping nearby. Without a moment to waste, Pikachu traced the source of the sound and leaped to action, jumping from tree branch to tree branch with much dexterity and speed.

"Pi!" Ash followed his starter's paws, his eyes set on a familiar if not out of place pokemon in the region. Munching on dried leaves, the mushroom looking pokemon hopped around and enjoyed his time in the shade, away from the beaming sunlight that dispersed the morning gloom.

"Is that Shroomish? What is it doing in this part of Kanto?" Suddenly Ash felt the bone chilling pierce of air striking his entire body, his heart beated faster at the incoming danger that would soon descend upon him. He steeled his body for a confrontation, the sound of rapid footfalls echoed from the path of whence he came.

"Ash!" There they stood, two expressions of disappointment and relief. They marched in perfect unison, behind their colourful eyes of warmth and serenity lies a burning desire, the desire to beat the crap out of him.

"You-" Before Kayla and Marble could launch their frustration and anger at Ash, the young man's facial expression became stoic and determined that instantly halted their tyrade. He calmed the two down and placed a finger on his lips.

"Shh, look a Shroomish." The two ladies blinked and peered over the log, indeed there was an innocent looking Shroomish just eating a bunch of leaves on the ground. It hopped away from any semblance of the sun and stuck to areas with shade, the little frowny face that all Shroomishes have just gives them an iconic yet adorable look!

"Aren't they native to Hoenn? What is it doing here?" Marble smiled at Ash's starstruck eyes, her initial anger at Ash was swiftly forgiven with how excited he looked. Pokemon migrations are an interesting phenomenon, often fuelled by breeding, hibernation and searching for a new nesting spot.

"Viridian Forest is wet and damp, the perfect environment for a Shroomish to call home. My guess is that some of them were released into the wilds by some trainers." Ash and Pikachu stared at one another, having a little guy like Shroomish on their team would be fantastic! If memory serves, they evolved into Breloom, a powerful offensive fighter with recovery abilities that allow them to go for short skirmishes or long drawn out fights.

"You girls can scold me later but first I'm going to catch it." The two ladies sighed at Ash's blunt tone, they would indeed lecture Ash later, right now it's important for him to catch his first pokemon.

"Fine, go for it." The tone was akin to a tired mom who came back from work. Kayla watched Ash and Pikachu emerge from the bushes and step into the clearing. The young man placed Pikachu on the forest floors and anointed him as his diplomat.

"Pikachu, why don't you go over there and say hello to the little guy?" The electric mouse nodded and ran towards Shroomish. The friendly mouse greeted the startled sentient mushroom, though a little wary, the two nevertheless began to converse in pokespeech. Perplexed by Ash's decision, Marble and Ash stepped out of the bush to stand next to Ash, pulling his sleeve to a whisper.

"Ash, are you not battling it?" The young man shook his head, his philosophy is to talk first, battle later. In his younger years he would have just thrown a pokeball at any pokemon his fancies, now mellowed with age and experience, Ash understands that forceful separations are by far the worst feeling in the world, a feeling that he experienced before.

"I want to get to know the pokemon first before I catch them. I don't want to separate a pokemon from its family or home if it doesn't want to." The two smiled at his belief, that it was a selfless and noble act of trainer etiquette that most people won't even bother considering. In their eyes, Ash was more mature than they give him credit for.

"That's really nice Ash." He merely nodded to Kayla's words, his eyes firmly placed between Pikachu and Shroomish, things seemed to be going well with how Shroomish kept glancing at him and back at Pikachu, almost as if the little guy was evaluating him as a trainer. The symphonies of nods from the pokemon drew a smile from Ash, his starter wrapped up the conversation and ushered him to come closer.

"Pi!" The raven haired teen knelt down to their level and extended his hand, allowing Shroomish to sniff his hand to catch his scent. Pokemon are very instinct driven creatures, so something as simple as a person's smell can easily be the bridge to trust between pokemon and humans.

"Hey Shroomish, do you want to join me on my journeys? I'm a new trainer so I have lots to learn, but it would be great to have you in our team." The grass type glanced at the two other female humans, perhaps they were his friends or mates? Their Skitty and Shinx waved their paws to it, welcoming the curious Spore pokemon. They all looked happy and well taken care of, trainer pokemon are said to be much stronger too. The grass type nods in agreement, travels around the world and becomes stronger, two things in life he held dearly to him.

"Shroom!" Ash's lips curled upwards, looks like he has a new buddy. But the old and traditional ways of capturing a pokemon must still be respected, now it was time for a battle. Shroomish hopped towards the open field of the sunlight, readying himself for a brawl with the friendly electric mouse. Ash grinned at the grass type's enthusiasm, something tells him that this little guy likes to fight.

"Awesome! Pikachu battle stance." Bathing in the warm sunlight, Pikachu released sparks on his red pouches to warm his body up. Grass types are often regarded as easy to use but hard to master pokemon, their sheer recovery moves and status ailments allow for long drawn out battles while sapping their vitality of the opponents. However with numerous type disadvantages and weaknesses, grass types get decimated by even common flying pokemon, making them quite difficult to use in competitive battles unless a specific team comp or strategy is used.

"You can go first." Shroomish nodded to the generous opening from Ash and immediately lobbed a bunch of mystic seeds towards Pikachu direction. Without a doubt they were Leech Seeds and if it latched onto Pikachu, they would be in huge trouble.

"Thundershock away." A searing bolt of lightning pierced through the vines and seeds, ripping the fibrous vines to shreds as it directly hit Shroomish in the body. It grunted in pain and started to charge forward, hoping to get at least one attack in before the battle ends.

"Thundershock." Another bolt of lightning was fire and Shroomish managed to sidestep at the last second, it launched entangling vines that creep towards Pikachu, tempting Pikachu to leap backwards from the approaching vines.

"Shockwave." Marble and Kayla widened their eyes when Pikachu leaped high in the air and materialized a large bolt of lightning sent by the heavens themselves to smite the poor Shroomish. The airstrike of pure electricity converged onto the skies above and sent electrified missiles against Shroomish, avoiding all of the thick vines that protected Shroomish from the direct frontal attack. The attack severely weakened Shroomish, leaving it impressed at the destructive capabilities a small pokemon Pikachu can wield. Seizing the chance, Ash unclipped an empty pokeball from his belt and enlarged it in the palm of his hands, he threw the ball straight at Shroomish, hitting it right at the mark to capture the grass type. The ball shook lightly, before the all too familiar audible ding was heard. Joyous cheers erupted from the trainer and his Pikachu, they high five each other and did a fist pump in the air.

"We did it Pikachu! We caught our very first pokemon!" The electric mouse nodded vigorously and leaped onto his trainer's shoulder, taking station as chief shoulder warmer. Marble and Kayla's lips rested into a warm smile, the first catch of every trainer is always the highlight of their pokemon journey. They were very impressed that Pikachu knows advanced electric type moves, Shockwave is an interesting attack that allows electric types to directly summon bolts of lightning from above, allowing them to bypass most defenses like Reflect or Light Screen. Of course depending on a pokemon's mastery of certain movesets, Light Screen or Reflect can easily become an impenetrable bubble or shield that protects its user from every angle.

"Nice job Ash, that was so slick." He scratched his cheek at the compliment, he thought he did quite well himself too.

"You and Pikachu were really in sync, great job you two." Pikachu cheered at the head pat from Kayla and nuzzled against the warm hand. Ash took the opportunity to place Pikachu in Kayla's arms, allowing the rose haired teenager to further pamper the juvenile pokemon, much to Skitty's jealousy. He knelt down to pick up Shroomish's pokeball, wondering how the little fella is doing after being caught for the first time. What's it like to stay in a pokeball anyway? So many conflicted theories and ideas that makes it either a pokemon's paradise or a prison cell.

"Shroomish, come on out." A white glow of energy converged and Shroomish materialized right in front of them. The grass type seemed to be in good spirits despite its injuries, it cheered at the sight of his new master who scooped him up in his arms.

"Welcome to the team buddy, this is Kayla and this is Marble. We are traveling together for the moment." The mushroom pokemon nodded, they seemed very friendly- oh Arceus they are walking towards it at the speed of light. Marble and Kayla's have a starlight glint in their eyes as they approach the intimidated mushroom pokemon.

"Hello Shroomish, nice to meet you." The fungus pokemon was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome, judging by his trainer's flustered expression of the ladies' close proximity, it had a hunch that his trainer and the girls were not mates but rather close friends with potential to become mates. The discerning mushroom also noticed the distinct features of Marble and Kayla, noting that they were of Jenny and Joy descent, how curious!

"Grass types are wonderful pokemon to work with, many of them are docile and gentle. Shroomish is no exception, isn't it little one~" The overdotting nature of the two ladies was not surprising given their maternal traits were quite obvious. This would be an interesting journey after all. The young fungus had heard tales of ferocious and aggressive wild pokemon becoming completely docile and sweet after becoming trainer pokemon.

"It's always good to have a grass type on your team, providing good defensive options and field utility moves too." Marble spoke absentmindedly as she hugged Shroomish in her arms, much to the chagrin of the grass type. Ash however, didn't have the faintest idea what field utility is, did Marble mean TMs or HMs?

"Field utility?" Marble nodded and squished the grass type's head, the puffy cheeks and the deadpanned expression made her heartbeat go skyrocketing given how cute it was. But yes back to field utility! Field utility is essentially a pokemon's ability to provide utility or benefits to trainers outside of combat settings. Every trainer should have a pokemon that can make travel more convenient, be it a flying type or a pokemon that you can saddle up on. With Marble preoccupied with Shroomish, she took over to explain the concept to a confused Ash.

"Trainers often fall into the trap of only capturing battle focused pokemon. A Tyranitar might decimate a psychic type gym with ease but can it perform search and rescue operations as well as a flying type?" Ash nodded in understanding, he briefly remembered that Miss Roxanne mentioned something similar in class.

"I see, we shouldn't catch pokemon based on their ability to nab us a gym badge alone right?" Kayla held her pink feline in her arms and poked her cheeks, earning a lick to her fingers. Her eyes softened at her starter, while it's true she wasn't the most formidable fighter, her ability to support and help out her friends is really valuable. Not to mention she is the most adorable kitty she ever! Soft, sweet, cute, needy, playful-

"Every pokemon excels at their own strengths, which is why trainers are encouraged to have a diverse roster to cover up their respective weaknesses. Keep that in mind when building up your team, make sure to have at least a water type or a flying type in your team, making traveling around super convenient. For Shroomish case, a grass type can help in determining what plants are poisonous or creating makeshift ropes out of vines. Super handy." New fledging trainers are always encouraged to have a diverse team comp so they can have a balanced team against all sorts of situations or trainers. To limit yourself to one type is only for experienced trainers or veterans, not recommended for new trainers who have yet to grasp the fundamentals.

"Man, I still have a lot to learn huh." The company exited and went back to the beaten path, Shroomish took an interest in Ash's backpack since it provided shade to him while allowing it to see the forest from above. It popped its head occasionally from the backpack, earning a giggle from Kayla as she closed the lid of the backpack before opening again, like a mother trying to play with a toddler. While Ash would have questioned the antics of Kayla, he had learned that she was a complete dork when it comes to pokemon, much like himself.

"As long as you're still willing to learn Ash, I call that a plus! We just learned something valuable from you too." He paused when Marble halted her steps, with her hands behind her back as she turned towards him. Her warm hazel brown eyes shimmered and reflected the glorious morning sun, her skin bathed in the golden rays of the light while Ash felt a bubbling warmth brewing within his chest that made him flustered.

"Really?" Marble nodded to Ash and pulled her best friend to her, slinging her arms around her shoulders as she giddily used Kayla as a makeshift walking stick. The two antics were honestly endearing to watch, in class they always behaved prim and proper so to see them this carefree and feeling comfortable enough to show their goofy side is honestly humbling to Ash.

They continued onward their route, falling leaves from the nearby trees scattered across the winds, decorating their path in a shade of brown and yellow. Berry bushes were aligned near the river, streams and lakes, with many pokemon eagerly munching on the juicy berries while chatting with one another.

"Viridian Forest is so big, it feels like I could get lost here." The innocent statement from Ash earned him two pairs of disappointed glares. They have not forgotten or forgiven him for what he had done, Kayla perched one hand on her hips and raised her tone to one of authority and respect.

"You did Ash, Marble and I panicked when we turned behind and you were gone, honestly what were you thinking? You could have told us you wanted to search for new pokemon to catch." He slowly turned towards them and felt a painful swell of guilt pricking his heart. He knew it was immature of him to leave without saying anything, but he really wanted to catch a pokemon without slowing them down. In hindsight, it was pretty stupid of him for someone as blind as him to not stick with two experienced navigators.

"Didn't want to slow you guys down." The low murmur of excuse made Marble give a deep sigh, she walked up to the young man and stared directly into his eyes, reaffirming her serious and no-nonsense expression.

"Seriously? Ash, we would have wasted more time looking for you if you didn't tell us. Don't do this again okay? Tell us before you plan to do something next time. We are a team." The stern lecture from the two was a good lesson for him, he never excelled in group work outside of pokemon battles so the concept of always working together was foreign to him.

"Okay, I will, I will." Satisfied with his answer, Marble took the lead and looked back at Kayla, the two exchanged eye contact and telepathic messaging and after fusing their minds together as one, the young nurse trainee nodded and quickly stepped next to Ash, walking side by side next to him to ensure he didn't go missing again. They traveled north to Pewter City, gushing rivers were a common sight as majestic waterfalls and tranquil lakes seemed to surround them at every turn. It didn't take long for them to reach a crossroad, each leading them to different directions. The top navigator of the bunch scratched her head, why is the dex telling them to take both roads?

"We are at a crossroads now, which path do we travel?" Kayla shrugged and took a look at Marble's pokedex. She furrowed her brows and glanced back at the road ahead, the signpost that was supposed to give them direction had all faded out and were in a state of disrepair.

"According to the nav, the one on the left leads straight to Pewter City while the one on the right leads to the deeper parts of Viridian forest. Looks like the signs have been worn out."

"It's a popular route, it doesn't make sense they did not upkeep the signs and directions." Ash crossed his arms with Pikachu resting on his shoulders, as far as he is concerned, reaching the city is more important than anything else. Camping in the woods is a fun experience but also really awkward with two girls.

"Pewter City it is then, we might reach the city before it turns dark." The girls nodded in agreement, the comforting warmth of the pokemon center was a good enough reason to get them to move on. The skies above were still bright and cheery but as they venture deeper into the woods, daylight would grow inclusively elusive.

"Around 3 PM to 4 PM is where daylight rapidly dwindles, keep that in mind so when you're traveling ahead you can preemptively scout out a suitable camping site."

"That's right, many well traveled routes have designated campsites for passing trainers, all you need is to set up your tent and you're good to go. Be sure to clean up and not leave anything behind." Ash's head kept turning towards Marble and Kayla respectively as they filled him with crucial information. The non-stop lessons from the two honestly made Ash wonder how much attention he pays in class, they seemed to have a wealth of experience compared to him.

"Thanks guys, I honestly forgot half of the things we learned in school." Marble chuckled and waved him off, everyone forgets what they learned in school until they go out there and experience the real thing.

"Most of the things they teach are just theoretical, you have to go out there and experience it firsthand to know what it's truly like." The way the two spoke so matter-of-factly made the two look like veterans who are ready for everything and anything.

"You guys sound like you have a lot of experience, you traveled before right?" The two nodded respectively, the academy they attended were strict and tough. As future emergency respondents, they have every responsibility to carry out their duties to the fullest extent. Kayla took off her cap and placed it on her Skitty, revealing her long rose haired hair. She retie her ponytail with her hair band and avoided the long branching roots of the forest floor.

"Mhmm briefly when we had our training as junior Joys and Jennies, we had to familiarize ourselves with surviving in the wilds and understand how the outdoors work. A lot of wild pokemon unfortunately would never receive treatment from Pokemon Centers, so it was a good experience for Nurse Joys to go out of their way to care for wild pokemon." That would explain why Kayla is compassionate towards wild pokemon, she knows the struggles and pain they have to go through, be it a wound infection or disease, many of them would never get the necessary treatment they need in time. Ash sighed and turned to Marble, noting that she was quiet throughout the conversation.

"Officers are like that too, right Marble?" The turquoise hair nodded along, ducking over the overgrowths and branches that impeded their path.

"Mhmm! We train in picking up clues and behavior analysis, working with our partner pokemon and learn about criminal psychology. What makes people do crime and how they emotionally manipulate their pokemon to do their bidding." Ash bit his tongue lightly, that sounds pretty intense.

"Sounds heavy for a teenager don't you think?" She dismissed his worries and spoke in glee of her experience in the academy. Murder mystery exercises were always her favourite, the acting and prop setting were top notch quality, even the blood seemed real!

"Nah it's kinda fun, it's knowledge and knowing what makes bad people do bad things is super fascinating, it's like unraveling a mystery. The same reason why people are obsessed with true crime documentaries, you know?" Oh Ash would know, his mother was absolutely obsessed with true crime documentaries and biographies of serial killers, it's something she always listens to while doing house chores. The trio engaged in idle chatter, mainly from things they liked about music, latest internet drama, pokemon and what type of clothes they like to wear. It wasn't long before the sound of a gushing river caught their interest, they hastened their steps and widened their eyes at the sight of the supposed sturdy bridge linking Viridian Forest to Pewter being partially collapsed. The ropes were torn off while parts of the wooden platforms were dangling freely in the air, any attempt of crossing over would sunder the entire structure apart, sending them down to the rushing currents.

"What do we do now? Do we turn back?" Kayla held Marble's arm just in case the loose soil below them gave way. The torrential rain that engulfed the entire south of Kanto had caused severe landslides and soil erosion, no wonder the signboards they came across were in such a dilapidated state. While the two ladies pondered over their choices of turning back or going on another longer route, Ash recalled Shroomish back to its pokeball and glanced at the state of the bridge. Some parts of the bridge are sturdy enough to hold a person's weight, the main issue is the rope that held it together snapped and the cords are old and worn. The bridge was short too, the size of a tree trunk to be exact, they can get across with proper and careful consideration. He glanced at the other side of the bridge, a fallen log nestled next to a few boulders seemed to be the solution to their problem.

"Hmm we can make it across." The ludicrous statement from Ash drew two perplexed looks, they walked next to him, seemingly alarmed by Ash trying to do some warm ups and stretches as if he was about to do something really, really stupid.

"How?" Without missing a beat or giving any warning really, Ash extended his forearm to allow Pikachu run across it like a runway. In perfect sync and coordination, the fuzzy starter swiftly understood the task at hand and leaped across the battered bridge using its innate agility. It jumped high in the air and used Quick Attack to dash forward to its destination, landing at the other side of the bridge in all fours with much grace and dexterity. With his starter safely across, Ash followed suit by jumping across the somewhat stable structure of the bridge and clinging onto the pillars holding the cords intact, his feet firmly planted to the gaps and ridges as his hands snaked around the suspension bridge. As expected, the subsequent shouts and protests from Marble and Kayla soon followed suit.

"Ash!" He ignored them for the time being and leveraged the weight of his body to unslung his backpack to throw it across the other side, expertly throwing right next to Pikachu with Shroomish's pokeball in there. He grinned and hoisted himself upwards with his core upper body strength, trailing his hands around the rope of the bridge to bring himself up after finding the snapped cords. Once he was safely across the otherside, he breathed a sigh of relief and used his feet to push the fallen tree. The log was split in half with its bark exposed to the elements but no sign of rot was visible, perfect.

"Pikachu Thundershock this tree." The starter nodded and zapped the lower half of the tree, tumbling it down the direction of the bridge, it lodged itself between the two pillars on the opposite ends of the bridge, securing it in place while destroying the rest of the wooden platforms. The young man ignored the stunned expression on his companion's faces and summoned Shroomish out, much to his confusion at how they got over to the other side.

"Shroomish Leech seed to secure the structure." The fungus pokemon obliged and lobbed seedlings that sprouted vines that wrapped around the log and the bridge, intertwining it together to form one solid structure. Ash gave further instruction of different knotting techniques to fully secure the structure. He tested the structural integrity of the bridge with his foot before nodding, the bridge is safe to cross.

"You guys can cross now, hold on to the ropes. Please cross one at a-" Before he could even thread caution to the two, the Joy and Jenny duo stomped their way across the log bridge and yanked his collar with seething anger and concern. What Ash just did was beyond dangerous and stupid, he would easily be washed away if the cords snapped right then and there!

"Y-You're insane! Did you realize you could have fallen into the currents and gotten swept away!?" The young man calmed the two down and softened his expression, in hindsight he should have told them that one of his hobbies was freerunning in forest and woods, the thrill of vaulting over fallen logs and racing against Pikachu as it leaped from tree to tree was exhilarating. But maybe that revelation should be saved for later when they are less angry.

"I made it didn't I?" Marble sighed and burrowed her face onto her hands, she wished she could slap him right now but that would be improper and uncalled for.

"What did we just tell you? Tell us if you plan to do something!" Ash meekly nodded, the two looked genuinely angry at him. Disobeying their advice was one thing, but perhaps the Spearow incident was fresh in their minds when they saw him in harm's way again. If he were in their shoes, he could understand the horror of someone you know putting themselves in a dangerous situation for your sake. He sighed inwardly and grasped both of their hands, freezing both of their seething anger and drawing flushed expression as he assumed a more apologetic and mellow expression.

"I won't do it again, sorry for worrying both of you." Kayla exhaled her pent up anger and nodded, she would forgive him now since he did create a path for them and felt genuine remorse. A detour would mean they won't have made it to Pewter before dark. She turned behind to face the bridge, how he thought of a solution and acted on it so quickly was baffling.

"That was very resourceful of you Ash, I honestly thought we were stuck there." Marble nodded in agreement, having an insane person on their team does have its merits after all.

"Ah it was something I learned from Miss Roxanne, she taught us about terrain shaping and how it can be applied beyond battlefield settings. Besides, as you said field utility right?" The lighthearted tone shadowed into a quiet and meek one when the two slowly turned to him with cold steel daggers piercing his soul.

"Don't ever do something like that again Ash." Pressured and suffocated by the two, Ash mustered a small nod with Pikachu holding onto his shoulder out of pure unadulterated fear.

"Y-Yes ma'am."

---

"We're here! Finally Pewter City." Drenched in sweat and fatigue, a huffing Marble leaned onto Kayla for support when the young Joy scowled at the sticky heat from her friend. She pushed her off towards Ash who unfortunately became a victim of a sweaty hot girl pinning her body onto him for dear life.

"Just before nightfall too." Kayla let out a stretch, completely oblivious to Ash losing his marbles to Marble's antics. He cleared his throat and unslung the bag off shoulder, revealing damp patches of sweat on his wet jacket and shirt.

"L-Let's visit the Pokemon Center first." The two girls nodded in agreement, Pewter City is not what they expected at all. Though located high in the mountains, the city had seen some major upgrades to infrastructure while adhering to its ancestral roots, towering skyscrapers are few and far in between, instead many lovely homes built and town centers were filled to the brim with street stalls selling yummy skewer meat and traditional Kantonian cuisine. The warm glow of the lanterns illuminated the entire streets, with families, tourists and trainers from all backgrounds flooding the streets, chatting and clinking beer glasses with friends and family. All things considered, the homely atmosphere of the mountain can still be felt despite Kanto's rapid gentrification. But now was not the time to reflect on the city, onwards to the center they go!

It didn't take long for the trio to reach the air conditioned Pokemon Center, the cool air instantly hit their salt ridden skins, providing respite and relief to the teenagers. On cue, the local Nurse Joy of the pokemon center looked up from her reception desk to greet the trainers.

"Welcome trainers- ah Kayla!" Rivaling the speed of a Ninjask, Nurse Joy dashed towards her precious niece and hugged her close, not caring if she was drenched in sweat. Kayla sighed inwardly at the public affection and raised her voice, ignoring the snickering Marble who was used to this sight.

"Hi Aunt Joy." The older Joy beamed and broke the hug, eyeing her niece who had grown considerably taller. She looked so much like her mother! Which isn't saying much considering Joy genetics but that she had blossomed into such a radiant and beautiful girl, while maintaining her independent and strong-willed nature.

"Its good to see you, look at you! All grown up now!" The Pewter City Nurse Joy turned to Marble and grinned at the presence of a young Jenny.

"You must be Marble!"

"I am, hello Mrs Joy." She clasped her hands together, feeling a little relieved her niece is traveling with a friend. Her curiosity however piqued when she noticed that a young man was accompanying them too, which was odd given Kayla's mother made no mention of a boy.

"This young man is?" Seeing Ash's flustered response, Kayla stepped in and placed one hand on her chest.

"Ash, he is our classmate. He is joining us for the moment." The older lady studied the young man for a moment, his Pikachu looked happy and healthy with him, so it's safe to say he was a decent person with how he treats his pokemon. Marble was still clinging onto him too, so physical touch between them was accepted. All and all, it didn't seem like he was a bad person, her relative in Viridian was right about him.

"I see, pleased to meet you Ash. On behalf of all Joys, thank you for looking after my niece." The curt bow from her made Kayla's face flushed red, why does everyone assume they needed to be taken care off?

"Actually it is the other way round. Kayla and Marble have been looking after me." Now the Azumarill hole goes deeper, her normally independent and stoic Kayla actively taking care of someone? Her lips curled upwards into a wicked grin, an interesting development.

"Oh I see, but rest assured you are in very capable hands." The subtle sultry voice from her sent a chill down Ash's spine, he stiffened up and nodded, drawing two annoyed looks from Kayla and Marble who were aware of the older lady's shenanigans.

"Auntie, we would like to rent a room." The strict and tense tone from her niece was well observed, perhaps they were more protective than she initially thought.

"Unfortunately all the rooms are full dear. You can try the other Pokemon Centers in the city, your aunts would be happy to see you too!" Kayla expected that much, this was the first Pokemon Center trainers and travelers would stumble upon, it would make sense it's the most popular one out of sheer convenience.

"Thank you, I wish we can stay longer but we need to leave."

"Mhmm! I understand, stay safe you three!" With formalities and a family reunion out of the way, it was time to repeat the same thing when they reached the other Pokemon Centers. For Ash however, he always thought that every city only had one Pokemon Center which in hindsight, was pretty stupid to think that way.

"How many Pokemon Centers does Pewter have?" The rose haired Joy tapped her finger against her chin, if memories serve her every city has at least 20 Pokemon Centers.

"Around 23 or so, it may seem a lot but compared to Saffron or Fuchsia, it pales in comparison." Pewter City is considered a mid size city with populations around 330,000 residents or so. Thanks to its stunning scenery, beautiful mountains and tranquil rivers, many famous poets and artists hail from the mountain city. For Ash, the flowing creeks and the misty summits surrounding him reminded him very much of Pallet Town.

"Meanwhile our small town only has one pokemon center and one police station."

"Well the population of Pallet Town is only in the few hundreds, not to mention that Professor Oak's lab also works as a Pokemon Center too. Mom always lends a hand there."

"Must be stressful." Kayla nodded solemnly to it, her mother is often swamped with work especially when flu season hits. Sometimes she overwork herself to exhaustion, it was honestly heartbreaking seeing her work so hard with little to no recognition or acknowledgement from the townsfolk.

"It is but I always try my best to help out, I just wish mom takes it easy." Seeing her pensive expression, Marble placed her arms around her friends and pulled them in closer.

"We will do the registration this time Ash, why don't you go out and explore the city to pick a restaurant? You can hand us your bag." Scouting out a restaurant for their dinner? This monumental task requires every bit of his attention. He gingerly gave his backpack to the fair ladies and hastily took out his pokedex, locating a suitable restaurant that would sate them of their appetite.

"Sure, thanks!" The two ladies chuckled when Ash ran off with Pikachu clinging onto his shoulder with its eyes closed. After much pointless running and numerous bad reviews online, Ash took a moment to stop and stared at the very land below. He leaned onto the brick wall barriers and watched the sun slowly setting over the horizon, the hue of orange and gold meshed with the looming purple brush. To witness twilight at such a high attitude with all of the world seemingly below you is an indescribable feeling.

"So this is Pewter city Pikachu, it is quite high up. I mean it makes sense, being on a mountain and all."

"Pi!"

"Hard to believe we were juuuust down there a few hours ago, now we are here. It's pretty isn't it Pikachu? The world around us is so colourful and huge." His eyes shimmered against the last ounce of daylight, though it was just the start of the journey, Ash was already enamored by the sights and sceneries. He took a moment and took a picture, hoping to create a collage of pictures of sorts just like Marble at the end of his journey.

"Come on buddy let's find that restaurant, I'm sure Shroomish would like to see what the city is like too!" The electric mouse nodded in agreement, Shroomish probably never entered a city before. So with a stylish flick, the mushroom pokemon was released into the streets of Pewter with the faintest idea of where he is at.

"Shroomish?"

"Hi buddy, I thought you would like to see what the city looks like. I will keep you outside of the pokeball okay? Just stay close to me and don't wander far off." The fungus pokemon nodded in joy, he always wanted to see human settlements. It took in the sights and was awed by the sight of cars, street lamps and the tall brick houses of the humans.

"Shroom!" Ash chuckled and decided to scoop the little one up in his arms with Pikachu on his shoulders. The trio of friends continued to explore the streets of Pewter, relying on intuition alone to find a suitable restaurant for dinner rather than online food reviews. Passing through boutique shops, cafes and jewelry stores, he spotted a peculiar looking restaurant that had strong Galarian motifs.

"Hey this looks good guys, what do you think? Galarian fish and chips and shepherd's pie, this looks promising." Peering through the glass, the dark timber wood and hearty fireplace gave it a rustic charm. He glanced at the menu with the pokemon poking their heads to scan through the pictures. After thoroughly checking the price and food servings, Ash had made the decisive choice that dinner shall be held here.

"This place seems good, let's head inside." The sound of the doorbell ringing and a waiter attending to him was quite the experience. Ash sat down on a cushion chair and placed Shroomish on the seat next to him, though its short height made it difficult for him to see what's going on. The raven haired teen pulled out his phone and dialed the ladies' number, hopeful they could locate this place without any issue.

"Kayla, Marble I just sent you my location. Mhmm, order for you two first? Uh okay sure, I will do my best." Tasked with ordering dinner for the two girls, Ash raised his hand to get the waiter's attention.

"Hi, can I get three sets of fish and chips and one shepherd's pie? They come up with lemon water right?"

"Yes sir, they are complimentary. Right now we are having a promotion for new trainers, if you order an extra oxtail soup, we will give a 20% discount off on the total bill." It was a bait, discounts such as these were created to tempt value savvy customers to give in and spend more. Ash however had seen through the shroud of trickery, so there was no way he would ever-

"Really? Add one more oxtail soup please." As the waiter left with their order, Ash turned to his pokemon who looked utterly unamused and baffled by their trainer's ravenous appetite and its ability to cloud his judgment. Ash chuckled sheepishly and placed Shroomish on the table to allow the mushroom pokemon to look around.

"I know, I know, I ordered a little bit too much but I never tried Galarian cuisine before. I'm sure they won't mind, I will just pay my share of the bill more since I'm the one who ordered it." Satisfied with trainer's generosity and questionable chivalry, the two pokemon exchange chit chat with Ash watching them interacting with one another. As usual, Ash hid the ketchup bottle under the table to prevent a tomato addicted Pikachu suffering from withdrawal. It wasn't long when the sound of door chime ringing that Ash saw both Marble and Kayla, apparently they must have showered since they smell like fresh flowers and perfume.

"Hey Ash you ordered?" Dressed in their casual jackets, tank top and shorts, Ash was keenly aware of how disheveled he looked compared to the two girls.

"Yeap, I may have over ordered." The two nodded in acknowledgement, what else is new?

"That's fine, we are very hungry, we didn't climb that mountain for nothing." Treacherous, steep and utterly exhausting, the uphill incline and trek through Pewter was equally tiring as it's beautiful. Many breaks the trio had was just to enjoy the beautiful lakes, sprawling trees and pokemon splashing around in the water.

"This restaurant has a cozy cottage vibe to it, I like it. I have never been to Galar before, I heard it's very industrial and steampunk-ish." Ash has chosen well, Galarian cuisine while bland to some is filled to the brim with hearty dishes perfect for the cold weather. Marble glanced around the restaurant, they seemed to be the only customers given how empty it is, perhaps it wasn't peak hours yet.

"So Ash, how is Pewter City?" Kayla sipped on her lemon water as she poked Pikachu's red cheeks with her other hand, the little tap and squish to the electric type earned giggles and content squeaks.

"Really breezy and nice, the air is fresh and clean. I thought the city would be nothing but pollution and cars."

"Since we're here now, what's your plan for Brock?" On the topic of a gym battle, Ash crossed his arms and thought more deeply about it. Prior to Shroomish, Ash was certain it was impossible for him to win against him. But now with a Shroomish by his side, he can confidently say that Shroomish would just sweep the entire match if he plays his cards right.

"Shroomish would be my ace in the hole. Pikachu can't really deal with rock or ground types, even with Iron Tail, Brock's defensive Rock types would just stall out Pikachu." Marble nodded in agreement, she held the utensils in her hand and twirled the silverware around her fingers with much skill and finesse.

"Hmm, rock types are rookie trainer's pokemon but they are incredibly difficult to deal with if you don't have the tools or tactics against them."

"Shroomish would be my answer then." The fungus pokemon proudly nodded, much to Kayla's amusement. She hardened her gaze to Ash and spoke matter of factly.

"But Brock is familiar with dealing with grass types, you're not going to automatically win just because you have the type advantage." The young man had the perfect plan for Brock's gym and it all relies on sustained attacks and encroachment. Leech Seed is a very powerful move, disgustingly so in certain situations.

"I plan to use Leech Seed to trap Brock's pokemon and slowly deny them space to move around, especially Onix who needs a large room to generate momentum attacks. Once I sow the seeds of my strategy and have roots in the underground arena, Brock has a limited amount of time to defeat me. If the battle goes long enough, the Leech Seed will keep sprouting roots and vines until there's no room to burrow or tunnel around." The serious cadence of Ash was honestly surprising to the two, what Ash was suggesting here completely destroys Onix's preferred method of attacks, burrowing underground and ambushing from below. Limiting a pokemon's ability to evade or gap close is by far the easiest way to win battles, control their movement and you control the battle.

"That is scarily effective Ash, you can just restrict Onix's ability to burrow underground and force it to fight on the surface." Ash gave a thumbs up, the plan was to force Onix to fight on the surface at all times while Leech Seed does its magic. Once Brock realized he can't win a head-on battle, he would resort to surprise ambush attacks from the grounds below, by then Leech Seed would have sprouted roots to cover the entire underground and snagged the solid snake by sapping its vitality.

"I'm impressed Ash, I thought you only favour speedy hit and run tactics."

"Miss Roxanne had taught me a lot about adjusting to a pokemon's strength, rather than relying on your own tactics. But even if I can pull it off, Onix can easily break free and tunnel towards Shroomish." Marble raised her eyebrows, Ash does seem to respect Miss Roxanne a lot. She is a nice teacher, very experienced in battlefield tactics and utterly obsessed with pretty rocks. Honestly, the best gift to a rock living scholar like her is gemstones.

"Grass types recovery options allow them to fight the long haul, as long as you can stall him out, you have the badge in the bag. Besides, if Onix tries to rush Shroomish to end the battle quickly, Absorb would just be the end of it too." Kayla definitely has what it takes to be a trainer, Ash was starting to believe the two are more skilled than he initially believed.

"That's true." He trailed off when the waiter brought them their meal, the fragrant smell of oxtail soup quickly rumbled Ash's stomach and stimulated his mouth. He rubbed his hands together as his eyes gleamed in the shape of a star, time for a feast!

"Marble and I won't be battling Brock, but we will be rooting for you." He halted his carnivorous battle with the fish and glanced at the two who gave a reassuring smile to him. Despite the short time they knew each other, having their support and confidence just made Ash feel like he can achieve anything.

"Thanks guys, the pressure is on heh." Marbled dismissed his sentiments and cut the fish with her utensils, the sound of the cutleries sinking into the crispy baked skin was divine as steam quickly rose upwards. Well battered and fresh, the hint of lemon zest in this simple looking meal looked delicious.

"We will help you out, no matter what happens, you would definitely ace it! If you ever need a training partner, you only need to ask." Marble spoke between her bites before she quickly fanned her mouth with her hand over the fish that nearly incinerated her tongue. The sight of Marble having her tongue out while she bounced up and down with hand waving in the air was undeniably a sight for sore eyes.

"Marble's right, you're a good trainer, don't sweat it. If you need help with training or pointers, let us know." Kayla spoke calmly as her best friend chugged down the ice lemon water with one gulp, saving her mouth from the piping hot fish.

"Thanks girls, I really appreciate it." Marble's antics aside, Ash finds this meal to be a wholesome one. He looked down on his meal and found himself wondering how different his journey would be if he really traveled alone. Would he ever get memorable moments like this? The two are a lovable bunch who always looked after him, it felt strangely pampering to have them treat him like this. Seeing him being sappy around them made Marble roll her eyes, unlike him to act like this.

"Oh don't get all shy around us Ash, compliments go both ways you know?" Marble leaned against her hand, giving a cheeky grin to Ash who was amused by her quick recovery.

"Just don't overdo it, yeah? We know if you are trying to flirt with us." Kayla ended the sentence with a wink, drawing giggles from both of the ladies who were entertained by Ash's flushed expression. The tingling crimson blush on his cheeks was a cute sight on itself, ganging up on him was indeed a fun experience. The Pallet Town teen sighed and looked away from them bashfully, his dinner quickly becoming the least of his priorities with how quickly his heart was beating.

"Man, how are you two not taken yet?" The whisper meant for himself silenced the fit of giggles and sound of utensils moving. Deafened by the stillness, Ash glanced up to stare at them, only to find their cheeks flushed in pink with their fluttering eyes staring at him in disbelief over what he just said.

Dinner for that night was equally awkward, as it was sweet.