The streets of Republic City were filled with the usual hum of activity. Airbenders, earthbenders, waterbenders, and nonbenders alike moved through the marketplace, chatting and laughing. The air was fresh, the sky clear, and all seemed peaceful, as it had for years since the reign of Avatar Korra.

But today, something—someone—was different.

Ash Ketchum, the Monarch, world champion of the Pokémon world, stood in the center of the city's plaza, looking completely out of place. His clothes were slightly tattered from travel, his familiar cap perched atop his head, and by his side, Pikachu sat with a slight scowl, annoyed at the bustling crowds and the noise.

"Come on, Pikachu, let's go explore the city a bit more!" Ash grinned, adjusting his backpack.

Pikachu flicked his tail and gave a soft, disinterested "Pika."

While Ash was used to his partner's occasional grumpiness, he still couldn't help but feel that something was off. They'd ended up here after a strange incident involving a mysterious portal that had appeared while they were on a routine journey. Ash had hoped it was just another one of Team Rocket's weird schemes, but when the portal opened, they'd found themselves in a whole new world—one that looked nothing like the bustling cities or verdant forests they were used to.

Ash was snapped from his thoughts by a voice that broke through the noise of the crowd.

"Hey, hey! What is that?!" A burly figure with an easygoing grin approached, his hands held up in a sort of confused curiosity.

"That" turned out to be Pikachu, who was still giving off a slightly irritable vibe. Ash turned to face the source of the voice.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with a mess of dark hair and a smile that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. He wore an earthbender's uniform—loose, comfortable, with earth-toned clothes—and his eyes were full of energy. His appearance was warm and inviting, like someone who had never met a stranger.

"Hey there!" the man said, crouching down to Pikachu's level. "You're adorable, but, uh… what are you exactly?"

Ash raised an eyebrow. "You don't know what a Pikachu is?"

The man blinked a couple of times before chuckling. "Uh, no! I know all kinds of creatures, but this… this little guy? What is he, some kind of electric squirrel?" He squinted at Pikachu with an almost exaggerated sense of curiosity.

Pikachu's ears twitched in irritation. "Pika!" He growled, turning his back to the man.

"No no no, don't get mad!" The man quickly raised his hands in mock surrender. "I was just guessing! Is it a hamster? A chinchilla? Or—wait! Maybe a… mutant rat of some kind? You look kinda sick."

Ash blinked at the man, taken aback by the odd guesses, but Pikachu was already glaring at the man with a fierce intensity. The small electric mouse took a deep breath and then unleashed a small but powerful Thunderbolt at the ground. The shockwave sent a small dust cloud up into the air, and the man's grin faltered for a moment.

"Whoa! Okay, okay, I get it! You're not a mutant rat!" he laughed nervously. "But, man, you are one feisty little critter, huh?"

Ash rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling. "Yeah, he's a bit like that sometimes.."

The man raised his hand, still chuckling. "Yeah, sorry about that! So, uh, what exactly is a Pikachu? It's not like anything I've ever seen around here."

Pikachu crossed his arms and turned his back fully to Bolin.

Ash couldn't help but laugh at his partner's grumpy reaction. "You won't believe it, but Pikachu is a Pokémon. He's my partner in my journey to become the Pokémon Master. We've traveled all around the world together."

Bolin's face contorted into one of pure confusion. "Pokémon? What's that?"

Ash blinked in disbelief. "You've never heard of Pokémon? They're creatures with all kinds of powers, and they're found all over the world! You train them, battle with them, and form strong bonds with them. Pikachu here, for example, is an electric-type Pokémon."

Bolin scratched his head, looking more and more baffled. "Wait, wait, hold on a second… electric-type? So, like, a mutant rodent, right? With electric powers?"

Ash chuckled. "Well, I guess you could say that, but he's much more than that. Pikachu's been my partner through thick and thin. We've had some amazing adventures together."

Bolin's mouth dropped open as he processed this information. "Wait, so you're saying that this little yellow ball of fur has the power to shoot lightning, and you train them to fight? For real?"

"Yup, that's pretty much it!" Ash said with a wide grin. "Pokémon battles are a big part of the world I come from. It's all about strategy, teamwork, and friendship. The bond between a Pokémon and its Trainer is the key to success."

Bolin's eyes widened in disbelief. "That is… crazy! You mean to tell me that there are more of these little guys running around?"

Ash nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah! There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of different species of Pokémon. Each one is unique, with its own abilities and personality. Some are friendly, others are a bit more wild, but they all have their own special place in the world."

Bolin glanced back at Pikachu, who was still sulking and refusing to look at him. "Man, this is wild. I never imagined something like this existed. But hey, I've gotta admit, it's kinda cool, too!"

Ash scratched his head. "There's always more to discover, more Pokémon to meet!"

Bolin let out a loud laugh. "I gotta see this! Maybe you can show me some of these, uh, Pokémon you've got in your team. I mean, it sounds kinda nuts, but I've gotta admit, the idea of lightning-shooting rodents has me intrigued!"

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Well, maybe not all of them are like Pikachu... but I can definitely show you some of my other Pokémon."

Pikachu, who had overheard Ash's words, shot him a look that was a perfect blend of annoyance and resignation. He clearly wasn't thrilled about the idea of showing off to Bolin.

"I think Pikachu's had enough for now," Ash said with a grin. "But hey, maybe next time."

Bolin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Next time, huh? You've got me curious now! You've gotta tell me more about these creatures, buddy!"

Ash laughed, clapping Bolin on the shoulder. "I promise, next time I'll give you a full tour of my team. For now though, we've gotta figure out where we are. This place is a bit… unfamiliar to me."

Bolin raised his hand, pointing toward the horizon. "Well, you're in Republic City, one of the coolest places on Earth! If you need anything—anything at all—you just let me know. I know a lot of people around here!"

Ash smiled. "Thanks. That means a lot."

"By the way, "I'm Bolin. The greatest Earthbender who ever lived!" Bolin announced with a big grin in a proud stance, earning confused glances from Ash and Pikachu.

"A what now?"