Ash Ketchum blinked as the glowing light around him began to fade. One moment, he was walking through Vermilion City with Pikachu, enjoying a sunny day, and the next, he found himself standing in a high-tech facility filled with whirring machinery and holographic screens. Pikachu, as confused as his trainer, hopped onto Ash's shoulder, his cheeks sparking in apprehension.

"Where... are we?" Ash muttered, scanning the room.

Before he could take a step, a purple-haired young woman wearing a shield almost as big as herself approached.

"Hello! You must be the new Master!" she said with a geninue smile. "I'm Mash Kyrielight. Welcome to Chaldea!"

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Uh, Master? I think you've got the wrong guy. I'm just a Pokémon Trainer. What's Chaldea?"

Before Mash could answer, a holographic screen behind her lit up, and the image of a cheerful man in a lab coat appeared. His messy orange hair and glasses gave him an approachable, if somewhat overworked, appearance.

"Ah, you must be Ash Ketchum! I'm Doctor Romani Archaman, Chaldea's director—or at least, for now. Long story short, you've been summoned here to help us save the world. Again." He chuckled nervously.

"Save the world?!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes wide. "I mean, I've done that before, but usually it's with Pikachu. What's going on?"

Mash smiled. "You've been chosen as a Master of Chaldea. That means you can summon Heroic Spirits—legendary figures from history and myth—to fight alongside you against threats that could destroy humanity."

Pikachu tilted his head. "Pika?"

"Summon legendary figures? Like, Pokémon, but people?" Ash tried to wrap his head around it, but before he could question further, a confident, feminine voice echoed behind him.

"Well, well, well! A new Master, huh? And such a cute one at that."

Ash turned to see a striking woman with two swords at her hips. Her long, flowing hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her bright blue kimono fluttered as she approached. Her grin was wide and mischievous, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I'm Miyamoto Musashi, Saber-class Servant. You must be my new Master. Gotta say, you're a lot younger than I expected, but I like your energy!" She leaned down, poking Ash's cheek with a gloved finger. "And look at this boyish face. Adorable!"

Ash took a step back, his face turning as red as a Cheri Berry. "H-Hey! I'm not a kid! I'm the Pokémon World Champion!"

Musashi laughed, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction. "World Champion, huh? Impressive! Guess I hit the jackpot with a strong Master like you."

Before Ash could respond, the room's lights flickered, and an alarm blared. Romani's voice came through the intercom, more urgent now. "Mash, Saber! We've got a Singularity detected nearby. Looks like you'll be heading out sooner than expected."

"A Singularity?" Ash repeated, looking at Mash.

"It's a distortion in history that threatens humanity's future," Mash explained quickly. "We need to go there and fix it—fast!"

Musashi drew one of her swords with a big grin. "Looks like it's showtime. You ready, Master?"

Ash nodded slightly. "Uh, sure. Let's do this, Pikachu!"

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu agreed, his cheeks sparking with energy.

The next thing Ash knew, he was standing in what looked like a medieval battlefield. Smoke filled the air, and the distant sounds of battle echoed around them. Mash held her shield in front of her, scanning their surroundings.

"Stay close to me, Master," she said. "This could get dangerous."

Musashi grinned, already drawing her second sword. "Dangerous is my middle name. Let's see what this kid can do."

Before Ash could respond, a group of skeletal warriors emerged from the shadows, their empty eye sockets glowing with eerie light. They charged, weapons raised.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded instinctively.

Pikachu leaped from Ash's shoulder, releasing a crackling bolt of electricity that zapped several skeletons into ashes. Mash looked at Pikachu in awe. "That's incredible! Is he your... familiar?"

"Familiar?" Ash blinked. "He's my partner!"

Musashi laughed as she cut through the remaining skeletons with a series of graceful, precise strikes. "I like your style, Master! You've got guts, bringing a tiny yellow guy into battle. But hey, it works!"

As the dust settled, a larger figure emerged—a towering armored knight with glowing red eyes and a massive sword. It roared, the force of its voice shaking the ground.

Mash stepped forward, shield raised. "Master, give me a command! Should I engage?"

Ash hesitated, looking between Mash and Musashi. "Uh... Musashi, can you take it down?"

Musashi winked. "Watch and learn, Master!"

With a burst of speed, she dashed toward the knight, her swords flashing like lightning. Her movements were a blend of elegance and raw power, each strike chipping away at the knight's armor. As she landed the final blow, the knight crumbled to dust, and Musashi turned back to Ash, her grin wider than ever.

"Not bad, huh? So, how'd I do for my first impression?"

Ash couldn't help but smile. "You're amazing! I've never seen anything like that!"

Musashi sheathed her swords and ruffled Ash's hair. "You're not so bad yourself, Master. I think we're gonna make a great team."

Mash approached. "You handled your first battle like a natural, Ash-Senpai. I think you're going to do just fine as a Master."

"Ash-Senpai?" Ash blinked.

It felt kinda weird for someone to call him that.

Ash looked at the two Servants. "Thanks, you guys. I don't know much about this Master stuff yet, but I promise I'll do my best!"

Musashi threw an arm around his shoulders. "That's the spirit!" Then she looked at Ash with a twinkle in her eye. "Hey, Master, you hungry? A battle like that works up an appetite, and I know the perfect snack to celebrate our victory."

Ash blinked, caught off guard by her sudden shift in tone. "Uh, I guess I could eat... What do you have in mind?"

Musashi's grin widened. "Dangoooooo!" she said, drawing out the word as if it were the name of some sacred treasure. "Sweet, chewy, and absolutely delicious! Trust me, kid, you'll love them."

Ash tilted his head. "Dangos? Never heard of them. Are they anything like jelly-filled donuts?"

Mash chuckled softly. "Actually, Ash-Senpai, dango is a traditional Japanese sweet made of rice flour. They're served on skewers and often topped with sweet syrup or red bean paste."

Musashi clapped her hands together, clearly delighted. "Exactly! Sounds good, right? C'mon, Master, I know a great spot in the food court back at Chaldea." She leaned in closer, her teasing grin returning. "Besides, it's on me. Call it my treat for my adorable new Master."

Ash's cheeks flushed slightly, and Pikachu gave a curious "Pika?" as he looked between Musashi and Ash.

"I-I'm not adorable," Ash mumbled, crossing his arms. "But if you're offering, I guess I can't say no!"

"That's the spirit!" Musashi laughed, patting Ash on the back so hard he almost stumbled forward. "Let's go! And don't worry, I'll even get your little friend his own skewer."

Pikachu's ears perked up. "Pika-chu!"

Back at Chaldea, Ash and Pikachu sat across from Musashi in the cafeteria. The swordswoman was already enthusiastically munching on her dango skewer, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"You've gotta try this," Musashi said between bites, holding out a skewer for Ash. "This is the mitarashi flavor—sweet and salty. It's the best one, hands down."

Ash hesitated for a moment before taking a bite. His eyes lit up as the flavor hit his tongue. "Wow! This is actually really good!"

Musashi smirked. "Told ya! You've got great taste, Master. Stick with me, and I'll show you all the best snacks Chaldea has to offer."

Mash watched the scene unfold, a soft smile on her face. "It's nice to see you two getting along so well. A strong bond between Master and Servant is essential for success in battle."

"Thanks for the treat, Musashi," Ash said, holding up his skewer in a mock toast. "I'm lucky to have someone like you on my team."

Musashi's grin softened into something more genuine. "Right back at ya, Master!"