A/N: I hope you find this chapter interesting.
Chapter 8: A Legendary Pokémon and A Legendary Friendship
Outside a yellowish-brown building with a red roof, children gathered with their parents, chatting excitedly. The blue-and-white wind turbine beside the building spun gently in the morning breeze, adding a serene backdrop to the bustling scene.
"Serena, be a good girl and listen carefully to Professor Oak, okay?" A woman in her early thirties knelt down to address her seven-year-old daughter, her blue eyes full of encouragement.
"Okay, Mom," Serena replied softly, brushing away a speck of dirt from her pink sundress. Her own blue eyes reflected a mix of nerves and curiosity.
The woman placed a brown straw hat over Serena's honey-colored hair, smiling warmly. "I'll come to pick you up later. Have fun." With that, she joined two other mothers nearby, leaving Serena to stand among the other children.
Nearby, a maroon-haired girl with bright green eyes raised her hand eagerly. "Professor, isn't it time to go?"
Professor Oak, a man in his fifties with a kind face, smiled patiently. His black eyes glanced up at the sky. "Almost. But we're still waiting for one more person."
The girl giggled, clasping her hands behind her back. "They should have been here a long time ago."
Oak chuckled. "Well, we're waiting on a lively young man from the neighborhood."
A black-haired boy with sharp blue eyes butted into the conversation. "I bet he was so excited about camp that he couldn't sleep! Bet he's the kind of guy who's super simple-minded and totally irresponsible."
The maroon-haired girl, Chloe, raised an eyebrow at him. "Goh, you just described yourself."
The other children burst into laughter, and Goh pouted. "You're so mean, Chloe."
Professor Oak, amused by their banter, leaned slightly toward Chloe. "By the way, how's your father doing, Chloe?"
"He's fine, Professor Oak," she replied politely.
"Chloe's father is a remarkable researcher, just like me," Oak said to the group, his tone filled with admiration. "He's been a genius since he was young—a promising mind in the field of Pokémon research."
Goh, still sulking, waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, but how long are we going to wait for this kid? I mean, it's kind of rude, don't you think?"
Professor Oak scratched the back of his head, clearly torn. "Well, delayed leaving does mean delayed returning…" His expression shifted into one of reluctant decision. "But I suppose we can't wait forever. Let's get going!"
All about 20 children erupted into cheers, their excitement bubbling over. All except Serena, who stood quietly at the back of the group, her head dipped slightly under the brim of her straw hat.
Professor Oak adjusted the Pokéballs on his belt as a precaution before leading the group. "All right, everyone, follow me!"
As they made their way into the nearby forest, Oak began to explain the vibrant ecosystem, pointing out the various Pokémon that called it home. The children listened in awe, their eyes darting between the professor and the lush greenery surrounding them. Meanwhile, Serena trailed a bit behind, quietly absorbing the sights and sounds of the adventure ahead.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
The sharp honk of a car horn jolted a raven-haired boy awake. Groaning, he sat up groggily, his foot nearly catching on a broken Poké Ball-shaped alarm clock discarded on the floor. He instinctively pulled out a scotch tape from his bedside drawer, tore a small piece, and patched the newest crack in his alarm clock. As he rubbed his eyes and stared out the window, he noticed a car parked outside. His mother, bag in hand, was walking toward a sleek convertible with three other women inside.
"Mom! Where are you going?" Ash shouted, leaning out his bedroom window.
His mother turned, her face lit with surprise. "Oh my, Ash? I thought you'd already left for Professor Oak's Summer Camp! I packed your lunch—it's in your bag on the kitchen counter," she called, opening the car door. "Lock up before you leave, sweetie. See you later!"
Before Ash could get another word in, she slid into the car, and the women drove off toward Viridian City, chatting about their planned shopping spree.
Ash froze, his brown eyes widening as the realization sank in. "Wait a second… SUMMER CAMP!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the quiet neighborhood. The memories of his dream—exploring forests and playing with Pokémon—rushed back to him, replaced by the harsh truth: he had overslept.
"Ahhh! What time is it?!" Panicking, he flung off his pajamas and scrambled into his everyday clothes. He darted to the kitchen, grabbed the bag his mom had mentioned, and bolted for the door, locking it in one hurried motion before sprinting toward the lab.
Halfway down the road, he passed a familiar porch. Sitting there, leisurely eating breakfast, was an auburn-haired boy with a smirk that could only belong to Gary Oak.
"Hey, Ash! What's with the rush?" Gary called, clearly amused as his friend sprinted past.
Ash stopped, jogging in place as he shouted back, "I'm late for Professor Oak's Summer Camp! Aren't you coming?"
Gary leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "You can hardly call that a real summer camp. Gramps barely has time for it—he's only taking the kids out for one day. And it's not like they're going anywhere exciting. Just the forest outside town to look at a bunch of weak Pokémon." He snickered, clearly unimpressed.
"Still better than sitting here doing nothing!" Ash retorted, scowling.
Gary chuckled, pointing down a different road. "Doesn't matter. You're probably too late anyway. They've already left—that way."
Ash turned, following Gary's outstretched finger. For a split second, he felt defeated, but then determination flickered in his eyes. "I won't give up until it's over!" he declared, turning on his heel.
Gary shook his head, laughing to himself. "You're hopeless, Ash. But hey, good luck!"
"Thanks for the tip, Gary!" Ash shouted over his shoulder as he sprinted off, the dust from his sneakers kicking up behind him.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
"A wild Caterpie!" Goh shouted in excitement, dashing ahead of the group and Professor Oak to get a better look at the scene unfolding in a small forest clearing.
In the clearing, a blue turtle-like Pokémon with a brown shell and a yellow underbelly stood confidently in front of a green bug-type Pokémon. "Squirtle, use Bubble!" commanded a girl, roughly ten years old, pointing decisively at the Caterpie. The Squirtle obeyed, releasing a stream of bubbles from its mouth that burst against the Caterpie, leaving it weakened. "Now, go, Pokéball!" the girl shouted, hurling a Pokéball at the bug Pokémon. The Caterpie was enveloped in a red light and pulled into the ball. After rocking a few times, the Pokéball clicked shut with a chime.
"Yes! I just caught a Caterpie!" the girl cheered, raising the Pokéball in victory. Her male companion congratulated her, clapping enthusiastically.
The group of kids watching from the path stared in awe. "Whoa!" they gasped, mesmerized.
Professor Oak adjusted his glasses with a small smile. "As you just observed, by using a Pokéball on a wild Pokémon, you have the chance to capture it. When the rest of you turn ten, " that made him pause for a second, remembering that the League was considering increasing the age requirement for trainers to address the growing concern from parents. But he shook that information away for now and continued, "You too will be eligible to become Pokémon Trainers. At that time, you'll get to choose a partner Pokémon suitable for beginners, and with their help, you can embark on your very own Pokémon journey."
"That's so cool!" the kids exclaimed in unison, their excitement buzzing in the air.
The professor held up a finger, signaling them to focus. "But remember, it's very important to learn all you can about Pokémon before then."
"Yes, Professor! We will!" the children chorused, throwing their hands in the air.
Goh folded his arms, his confidence shining through. "Although, to be fair, there probably isn't anything about Pokémon I don't already know."
Chloe groaned, narrowing her eyes at him. "You just had to say that, didn't you?"
Professor Oak chuckled good-naturedly and resumed leading the group through the forest trail. Every time they encountered a Pokémon, Goh took the opportunity to share every fact he knew about it, relishing the impressed expressions on some of the kids' faces. However, as time went on, the other children began to distance themselves, clearly growing weary of his endless lectures.
"Goh, this is exactly why you don't make any friends," Chloe said bluntly, falling into step beside him.
Unfazed, Goh shrugged, his hands clasped behind his head. "Who needs friends anyway? I'm going to catch a Pokémon nobody's ever seen before!"
Chloe sighed in exasperation as they crossed a stone bridge, the sound of water rushing below. "You're hopeless."
"Don't make fun of me!" Goh retorted, but his attention was quickly stolen by a low growl emanating from the trees. Curious, he stopped in his tracks and squinted at the dense foliage. "What's that sound?" he whispered, motioning for Chloe to follow as he crept closer.
Peering through the trees, the duo spotted a large violet Pokémon with a menacing horn on its head—Nidoking. "That's a Nidoking!" Goh exclaimed in a hushed tone, recognizing the drill Pokémon. But his focus quickly shifted to the creature it was battling—a smaller, pink Pokémon.
The mysterious Pokémon had a sleek, cat-like appearance with pointed ears, bright blue eyes, and a long, thin tail with a bulbous tip. Its short arms ended in three small fingers, and its oversized feet seemed to float slightly off the ground. "Who's that Pokémon?" Goh whispered, his heart racing with excitement.
The two kids watched in awe as the pink Pokémon playfully toyed with the Nidoking, effortlessly teleporting out of harm's way before counterattacking with what seemed to be the same moves Nidoking had just used. It giggled with amusement, its demeanor almost teasing as it overpowered its larger opponent. After a few moments, the Nidoking slumped to the ground in defeat, and the pink Pokémon turned its attention to the onlookers, its blue eyes locking onto Goh and Chloe.
"Did it just… notice us?" Chloe whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
The pink Pokémon tilted its head curiously before emitting a soft chirp and darting off into the sky. Without a second thought, Goh took off running after it.
"Goh! Wait up!" Chloe yelled, scrambling to keep pace with him as they disappeared deeper into the forest.
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Serena sighed deeply, her small shoulders slumping as she trudged along the forest path. They had been walking for what felt like hours, though in reality, it had only been two. A boy in their group had taken it upon himself to narrate every detail about the Pokémon they encountered. While Professor Oak added more insights whenever the boy missed something, Serena found herself tuning out, her attention drawn instead to the rustling leaves above and the uneven ground beneath her feet.
If someone had asked her, she would've gladly stayed home and learned about Pokémon by watching a documentary on TV. She had even argued this point with her mother that morning, but her mom had insisted that the camp was a valuable experience—one where she could learn firsthand about nature and perhaps even make some friends. Now, lost in her own thoughts, Serena could only sigh again, dragging her feet as the group crossed a stone bridge into yet another part of the forest.
Her patience was wearing thin. The path seemed endless, and while the other kids excitedly chattered away or observed their surroundings, Serena felt detached. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see the two children who had been arguing earlier about interrupting Professor Oak. But as she turned, her heart sank. The kids weren't there. In fact, there was no one behind her.
The voices she'd been faintly hearing moments ago were gone, replaced by an unsettling silence. Serena froze, her wide blue eyes scanning the path nervously. "Where is everyone?" she muttered under her breath. Panic began to bubble up inside her chest, and she called out louder, "Where did you all go?"
There was no answer.
Her breathing quickened as fear clawed at her. She took a hesitant step back, the forest suddenly feeling much larger and darker than before. The rustling of leaves nearby made her heart leap into her throat. Her head snapped toward the sound, and she spotted a pair of glowing eyes staring at her from within a bush.
Serena gasped and stumbled backward. Her mind screamed at her to run, and without thinking, she bolted off the main path, sprinting blindly into the trees. Twigs snapped beneath her sandals as she crashed through the undergrowth, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. "Help! Somebody!" she cried, her voice echoing through the dense forest.
She wasn't watching where she was going. Her foot caught on a twisted branch, and she tumbled forward, landing hard on her hands and knees. A sharp pain shot through her leg as her knee struck a jagged rock. "Ow!" she whimpered, tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to sit up. Clutching her injured knee, she sobbed, her earlier frustration now replaced with sheer terror.
"I-I knew I didn't want to come here," she choked out, trembling as she sat in the dirt. "I knew it… Mommy!" Her cries echoed in the silence of the forest, her small voice sounding so fragile against the vastness of the wilderness.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
To catch up with Professor Oak and the group, Ash decided to take a shortcut through the woods instead of following the main road. In his hand, he clutched a wrinkled pamphlet with a small map of the professor's planned route. The map showed the lab, the forest, a river, and a small hill where the group would stop for lunch before returning to the lab the same way.
Ash marveled at the wildlife around him as he ventured deeper into the woods. "This is so cool! Who needs a road anyway?" he said to himself, grinning as he admired the scenery. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a small blue Pokémon resting beneath a tree. "Whoa, a Poliwag!" he exclaimed, his excitement startling the Pokémon.
The Poliwag, with its round blue body, spiral-patterned belly, and thin, translucent tail, cried out in alarm, "Poli!" before leaping away in fright.
"Wait! Don't go! I just want to pet you!" Ash called after it, chasing the fleeing water-type Pokémon. He saw it dart into a bush and crouch there, hiding. Determined not to scare it again, Ash got down on his hands and knees and crawled slowly toward the bush. He could barely see it behind the leaves, its back towards him. Its attention was seemingly drawn to something else on the other side of the bush.
Before he could reach it, a scream cut through the forest air, somewhere across the bush, startling him. He noticed the Poliwag leap away toward the direction of the sound. "Huh? What's going on?" Ash muttered as he stood up, looking around in confusion.
Then he heard it again—a louder scream, filled with panic.
"Mommy!!!"
Ash's heart raced. Someone needed help. Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted toward the sound. Sprinting through the forest, he weaved through trees and bushes, his pulse pounding in his ears. The scream grew louder, guiding him.
Finally, he crashed through yet another dense bush, emerging on the other side in a clearing. His sudden appearance startled someone.
"Ahhh!" a feminine voice cried out in fright.
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"Ahhhh!" Serena cried, her eyes tightly shut as the rustling from another bush sent panic coursing through her veins. Tears streamed down her face, her heart racing in fear. She could hear something step out of the bush, and her hand instinctively raised in front of her chin, trembling, a weak attempt to protect herself. Her other hand pressed into the ground, supporting her weight as she sat, frozen with fear.
"Hey, are you alright?" a calm voice reached her, soft and reassuring.
"Huh?" she responded, barely a whisper as she opened her eyes. The sight that met her took her by surprise—a boy about her age, with messy raven-black hair. His warm brown eyes looked at her with concern.
He offered her a friendly wave, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Hi, I'm Ash. Who are you? What's wrong?"
"I… I hurt my…" Serena started, her words faltering as she glanced down at her knee. "…my knee," she finished, her voice quiet.
Ash knelt down in front of her, adjusting the strap of his bag before slipping it off his shoulder. He rummaged through it, then pulled out a light blue handkerchief, neatly embroidered with a pokéball design in the corner. "Don't worry. See this?" he said, showing it to her with a reassuring grin. "This will make it better." He gently tied the handkerchief around her knee, carefully covering the bruise, as he always did with tape to the cracks of his abused alarm clock. "All done!"
Serena hesitated, trying to move her leg but wincing in pain. "Ouch…"
Ash grinned, clearly unfazed. "Now, watch this," he said, waving his hands over her knee with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Feel better, feel better, right away!" he cheered, his arms lifted high in the air, clearly influenced by some kid's show on TV.
Serena managed a small laugh, though the pain still lingered. "It still hurts… I can't stand up."
Ash stood up, offering her a hand with a determined expression. "You've got to at least try, alright? Don't give up 'til the end, okay? Come on. Try to stand on one leg." His warm tone and unwavering optimism made Serena's right hand move almost instinctively, reaching out to take his.
With gentle strength, Ash helped her up. The pain made her wobble, but he caught her easily, his shoulder supporting her as she stood. "There you go," he said with a reassuring giggle. She stared at him in awe, her heart swelling with gratitude for his kindness.
When he was sure she wouldn't fall, Ash crouched in front of her, his back turned slightly. "Here, hop on my back," he said, looking over his shoulder.
"You sure?" Serena asked, unsure, but Ash gave her a confident nod.
A hesitant smile flickered across her face, and, after a brief pause, she removed her straw hat and held it in one hand. Then, with a soft blush creeping up her cheeks, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist. Ash's hands slid under her legs, his fingers interlocking to secure her gently in place.
"Okay, here we go," Ash said as he stood up, carrying her effortlessly. "I think we should head back to Professor Oak's lab."
"Ah, um, okay," Serena murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder. She could feel her heartbeat quicken, the warmth of her blush intensifying as she nestled into him, a mix of emotions rushing through her. For a moment, it felt like the world had slowed, the air between them charged with a strange sense of closeness.
Ash tilted his head slightly, his cheek resting against the top of her head. "Hey, are you okay? You're a bit hot… do you have a fever?" he asked with genuine concern.
Serena, unsure of how to respond, simply squeaked in surprise, burying her face deeper into his shoulder. She didn't notice the pain in her knee fading, the comforting pressure of Ash's hold soothing her more than she expected.
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"Huff… huff… huff," Professor Oak panted as he jogged up the hill, his lab coat billowing slightly in the breeze. A small Pidgey perched on his shoulder fluttered its wings briefly, watching the children. "So this is where you two have been. Pidgey and I have been searching high and low for you!" He rested his hands on his knees, taking a moment to catch his breath.
Goh and Chloe turned to face him, their expressions mixed with relief and excitement. They hurriedly explained everything that had happened—the strange battle they had witnessed, the elusive pink Pokémon, and their chase through the forest.
"Hmmm…" Professor Oak straightened up, his expression thoughtful. "It sounds to me like you may have encountered Mew."
"Mew?" Goh asked, his curiosity piqued as he leaned forward.
Professor Oak nodded. "Yes. Mew is said to live deep in the jungles, far from human settlements. It has the ability to vanish at will, making it incredibly elusive. In fact, very few people have ever seen it. It's considered a mythical Pokémon, and its DNA is believed to resemble that of all other Pokémon."
Chloe's eyes widened. "So… it's an extremely rare Pokémon?"
"Exactly," Professor Oak confirmed.
"Whoa! Mew's the ultra-awesome Pokémon!" Goh exclaimed, practically bouncing in excitement. He clenched his fists and looked up at the sky as though making a solemn vow. "Man, I wish I was 10 years old already! Then I could become a Pokémon Trainer and catch that Mew—the ultra-awesome Pokémon!"
Professor Oak chuckled at Goh's enthusiasm but quickly became serious again. "Alright, you two," he said, pointing to the Pidgey on his shoulder, "follow Pidgey, and it will lead you back to the others. It's very important that you stay with the group."
The Pidgey chirped and took flight, hovering in small circles above them, as if urging them to follow.
Chloe tilted her head in concern. "Wait, Professor… where are you going? Shouldn't you come with us?"
Professor Oak gave her a reassuring smile. "There's still another child unaccounted for. I need to find them."
"Another missing child?" Chloe asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Before the professor could respond, his phone began ringing. He quickly pulled it out of his pocket, checking the caller ID before answering. "Hello? Daisy? Is everything alright at the lab?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
On the other end, his assistant and granddaughter, Daisy, spoke in a calm tone. Oak's expression softened as he listened.
"Ah, that's wonderful! I'm relieved to hear they're safe," he said with a sigh of relief. "I've been searching for her out here. Please keep an eye on her, and let the others know what happened. Oh, and be sure to inform her parents as well."
.
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"It's delicious! Thanks, Ash!" Serena said with a bright smile, holding a neatly wrapped sandwich in her hand. They were seated at a small wooden table in the cozy corner of Professor Oak's Lab, the shelves around them stacked with books on Pokémon and nature. The warm afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow.
"I told ya! My mom's really good at this!" Ash replied, though his words were muffled by the fact that his mouth was stuffed with food. Crumbs fell onto the table as he chewed enthusiastically, causing Serena to giggle.
The two kids, now safe and under Daisy's care, spent the rest of the day playing board games to pass the time while waiting for their parents to arrive. Although their field trip with Professor Oak hadn't gone as planned, they still managed to enjoy themselves and create some fun memories together.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
Ash and Serena sat at the kitchen counter, Serena's phone resting between them. On the screen was a photo of four people: a younger Ash, a young girl in a straw hat, and their respective mothers standing beside them, smiling for the camera. Ash leaned closer, his eyes widening as realization dawned on him.
"Now I remember!" he exclaimed, pointing at the girl in the photo. "You're the girl with the straw hat! Oh wow, Serena, that was you?"
Serena giggled softly, her cheeks tinged pink. "Yep, that was me. Ever since I saw you on our first day at school, I had this feeling I'd seen you before. Then, one day, it finally clicked. I called my mom, and she took a picture of this photo from my room just so I could show you!"
Ash scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a guilty smile forming. "Sorry I didn't realize sooner. I guess I'm not the best at noticing stuff like that." He stood up and turned off the stove, letting the pot cool while Serena waited patiently for him to return.
As he sat back down, Serena reached into the small side pocket of her skirt and pulled out something neatly folded. "Ta-da!" she announced, holding up a familiar light-blue handkerchief. "I asked my mom to send this to me. I've been wanting to give it back to you for so long but never got the chance until now. Thank you for that day, Ash."
Ash's eyes widened as he recognized the handkerchief. "Wow, you've been keeping this all this time?" His grin stretched wide, his happiness shining in his brown eyes. "That's so kind of you, Serena. Thank you for holding onto it."
Instead of taking the handkerchief, Ash placed his hand gently over hers, their fingers briefly touching. Serena's blush deepened as her heart raced, but she didn't pull her hand away. Ash smiled warmly and pushed her hand back toward her. "I think you should keep it," he said. "Take it as a token of our friendship. But in return, I have one small favor." He pulled out his phone, his grin turning mischievous. "I want a copy of this photo."
Serena's smile grew even brighter, her heart soaring. "Thank you, Ash!" She carefully tucked the handkerchief back into her pocket. "But don't think of this photo as payment for the handkerchief. I actually have something even better in mind for you!"
Ash tilted his head, intrigued. "Something better? What is it?"
Serena winked playfully, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's a secret! You'll just have to wait and see!"
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
A/N: I hope I managed to stitch two separate canonical events into one, in an interesting way. I added some extra spice into how Ash and Serena met when they were kids. While I don't find the original recipe bad, I thought you guys would want a bit more flavor to easily differentiate this from other stories.
I hope Ash could also give you a piggyback ride to the next chapter.
As usual, thanks for your time!
-Areyem Meyera