One month had passed, and the time for the summer camp was getting closer.
During that month, Licht had started teaching Ash about aura. The little kid, realizing he had powers similar to a Pokémon, was overjoyed. Every day, Licht would drag Ash up to the mountains for training.
Although Ash's aura powers couldn't compare to the divine gift Licht had received from that higher being, they were still far stronger than what a normal person could achieve. That was expected from Licht's memories, he knew Ash was a descendant of the Aura Guardian, Sir Aaron. So was he, though in Licht's case, his powers had fused and become even stronger. In truth, their entire family was part of a long-forgotten bloodline connected to Sir Aaron.
One day, Licht asked his mother about their ancestry. He learned that long ago, someone from her side of the family had been born in the Rota Kingdom, though there wasn't any direct connection left. When he brought up the topic, Delia did get a little suspicious, but Licht didn't lie at least, not completely. He couldn't exactly tell her that his abilities were a gift from a god who sent him here. Instead, he explained that both he and Ash had something called "Aura." He told her that after discovering his powers, he had done some digging online, found an old book about Sir Aaron, and learned how to train this power properly.
Delia scolded him for being reckless, but deep down she was proud. She was happy knowing her boys were growing stronger strong enough to protect themselves once their journeys began.
And so, Licht and Ash continued their training until the time finally came to register for the summer camp and start paying the League. Since they were both seven years old now, it was time to pay the small League tax that marked the first step toward becoming official Pokémon trainers.
One quiet morning, while the three of them sat at the breakfast table, Delia looked up from her plate and asked,
"Licht, Ash have you two decided to become Pokémon trainers?"
Ash, as always, was full of energy. "Yes, Mom! I'm gonna be one of the strongest Pokémon trainers ever, and then I'll become a Pokémon Master!" he said, his eyes shining with excitement.
"I also want to go on a journey and become a Pokémon trainer," Licht said, looking up at his mom, his eyes shining with determination.
Delia shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched him. "Well, then I guess I'll contact the league and register both of you."
Licht waved a hand dismissively, smiling. "You don't have to do that, Mom. I've already talked to Professor Oak and sorted everything out."
Delia blinked, frowning slightly. "But why, Licht? Your father prepared all of this for both of you. You should've talked to me first."
Seeing her about to launch into a lecture, Licht quickly added, "Well… you don't have to spend that money on this. We can use it for something else, if you want."
Delia softened, looking at her son with a mix of affection and concern. "You still carry some resentment toward your father, don't you? Red is a strong trainer, and the place he went… it's far, far away from the mainland, a completely unexplored region. Both your father and Blue, Gary's dad, are there making sure everything is fine. You should be proud of him he's a strong trainer."
Hearing that, Ash paused mid-bite, sensing the sudden heaviness in the room. Noticing his mom's somber expression, he grinned brightly and said with his usual energy, "Well, when he comes back, I'm going to challenge him and beat him up for making you sad, Mom!"
Delia laughed, a warm, heartfelt sound. "Hahaha, Ash, I'll be waiting for that," she said, her eyes glistening. Then, with a playful grin, she added, "And maybe I'll join in too."
Far away, a man riding a Charizard suddenly shivered, a chill running down his spine. He looked around, confused, but saw nothing unusual, and shrugged it off, continuing his exploration.
Licht exhaled softly, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "It's not that I hate him, Mom. I'd just… I'd feel prouder if he stayed here with us." He glanced at her, sensing her worry, and added, "Anyway, what's done is done. All the paperwork is finished. I've earned a lot from my research, and I've been saving the league's payments, and… did you forget I'm a professor now too? The league even gives me some free passes."
Delia sighed, shaking her head with a fond smile. "Alright, alright, my little professor."
"You know, big brother," Ash said suddenly, his face serious as a stone, eyes practically glowing with dollar signs, "if you have any of those passes left, we could sell them and make a lot of money."
Licht froze, staring at him. "...."
Delia's mouth opened slightly, then closed, speechless. "..."
Licht shook his head slowly, a small chuckle escaping him. He was always baffled by Ash's shamelessness. Usually careless and a bit scatterbrained, Ash could somehow turn into a completely different person whenever money was involved. No one, Licht thought, could match him in sheer audacity.
Some time ago, Ash barged into his room and excitedly shared his idea for making money by catching lots and lots of Tauros.
And then it clicked. When he remembered the anime, Licht realized that Ash hadn't caught all those Tauros by accident he'd been using them to make money. But now that he thought about it, it made sense. Plenty of trainers and farmers used Tauros for breeding and farming purposes anyway.
Licht leaned back, shaking his head with a small, amused smile. Sometimes, he thought, his little brother was the cleverest one in the room, even if he was the most shameless.
.............................................
Some days later
The time had finally come it was the start of the summer camp. Ash dashed up to Professor Oak's lab, panting as he reached the door, his backpack bouncing with every hurried step. He spotted his brother talking with Professor Oak, while Gary lounged on the couch, still half-asleep and yawning, one hand lazily rubbing his eyes.
"Did I make it in time?" Ash gasped, leaning forward to catch his breath.
Professor Oak chuckled warmly, shaking his head. "Yes, my boy. You're surprisingly on time."
"Well, looks like the slowpoke finally learned to run faster," Gary said, smirking, his grin dripping with mockery.
"What did you call me, you bastard?" Ash snapped, his eyes narrowing, clearly provoked.
Before long, the two boys were at each other's throats, shouting and shoving, their voices echoing through the lab.
Watching the chaos unfold, Licht leaned casually against the doorway, a small, amused smile tugging at his lips. "Say, Professor… do you think if one of them had been born as a girl, they could have become lovers?" he asked, his tone teasing but calm.
Professor Oak blinked in surprise for a moment, then burst into laughter, leaning back on his chair. "Oh, I can't even imagine Gary or Ash dressed in girls' clothes, calling out to each other!"
The laughter made Gary and Ash freeze mid-argument. They both turned toward Licht and Oak, eyes wide, mouths hanging open, their faces almost comically horrified. They yelled in unison, teeth bared in shock, "Do not say those words ever again!"
"Jeez, calm down! Can't you even take a joke?" Licht said, grinning, clearly enjoying their reaction.
Professor Oak wiped a tear from his eye, chuckling. "Gary, Ash, go to the class. Licht, check the presentation and make sure everything is ready they'll arrive any moment now."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a bus pulled up outside. The students tumbled out, laughing and chattering excitedly. Professor Oak stepped forward to greet them, shaking hands and exchanging quick introductions, while the room began filling with the buzz of new energy.
Licht finished the last checks on the presentation and entered the classroom alongside Professor Oak. The moment they stepped in, every student's gaze snapped toward them, eyes wide and sparkling with curiosity and excitement, clearly eager to see the Pokémon on display.
Professor Oak straightened, clearing his throat. "Hello, everyone! Although many of you already know me, I am Professor Samuel Oak, and this is my assistant and fellow professor…" He gestured toward Licht, signaling him to introduce himself.
Stepping forward, Licht smiled warmly, hands folded lightly in front of him. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Licht Ketchum. Although it may not seem like it, I'm also a professor, like Professor Oak. I hope that during this summer camp, we can all get along and learn more about Pokémon together."
A few students whispered excitedly to each other, while others eagerly leaned forward, their eyes following Licht as he moved across the room, already imagining all the Pokémon adventures they were about to have. Although some had heard of Licht before, most of the students had never met him in person, and he certainly wasn't as famous as Professor Oak. When they realized that someone so young held the title of professor, many were shocked, finding it hard to believe.
After the introductions, Licht stepped down from the stage, letting Professor Oak begin the class. He stayed nearby, explaining things when asked and observing the room. As he looked around, he noticed several familiar faces: Goh, Chloe, Dawn, Barry, Serena, Alain, Shauna, Paul, May, Lyra, Bianca, Drew… and, to his surprise, Yellow and Green were also there.
Once the class ended, Professor Oak left to arrange the field trip, leaving Licht in charge of the students. The moment Oak stepped out, all eyes turned to him, sparkling with curiosity. Questions came fast and relentless, one after another, making Licht's chest tighten. A cold sweat began forming on his forehead.
"Professor, what kind of research are you doing?" May asked, leaning forward, her voice full of curiosity.
Dawn chimed in, eyes wide. "Yeah! Tell us about your work!"
Licht exhaled slowly, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "You don't need to call me that I'm not used to it yet. As for my research, it focuses on the evolution of Pokémon and the ancient history and languages of certain ruins."
Chloe tilted her head, frowning in thought. "Are those two topics connected somehow?"
"Yes," Licht said patiently, spreading his hands slightly as if to emphasize his point. "Pokémon in ancient times were very different from the ones we see today. Their behaviors, evolution, and even some species have changed or gone extinct entirely. Understanding the past helps us understand the present."
The questions kept coming, each one faster than the last, but Licht answered calmly, carefully explaining Pokémon behavior, habitats, and evolutionary patterns. Time passed quickly, the classroom buzzing with excitement and curiosity.
Eventually, Licht led the group to a nearby forest, a place Professor Oak had previously scouted and deemed safe for Pokémon observation. As the students walked along the winding forest paths, both Oak and Licht pointed out various Pokémon, explaining their habits, habitats, and abilities. Birds flitted between the trees, and small rustlings hinted at hidden Pokémon, keeping the students wide-eyed and alert.
When they returned to the backyard, Licht noticed Yellow standing apart from the group, her body tense, eyes scanning the area frantically.
"Is something wrong, Yellow? Are you trying to find someone?" Licht asked, his voice calm but firm as he approached her.
Yellow's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "May… Dawn… and Serena… they're missing," she said, her voice trembling with panic.
Licht froze, a flash of memory crossing his mind Serena had gone missing once before, and Ash had found her. But why were May and Dawn missing as well? Had the timeline shifted, or had something gone wrong?
Shaking off the thought, Licht called out sharply to Ash and Gary. "Ash, go get Professor Oak. Some students are missing. I'll go ahead to find them. Gary, keep an eye on everyone else here."
Without waiting for a response, Licht sprinted into the forest, his heart pounding, eyes scanning every shadow. On the other side, Ash dashed toward the lab to find Professor Oak, while Gary stayed behind, alert and ready to protect the remaining students.
Deep in the forest, Licht retraced the group's path, spreading his aura outward, trying to sense any hint of the missing students. Meanwhile, May, Dawn, and Serena huddled together, panic creeping into their movements.
"May, Dawn… what do we do now?" Serena's voice shook, tears threatening to fall. "We've been trying to find our way back for over an hour."
May and Dawn exchanged worried glances. Their faces were pale, lips trembling with fear. They had been following a Pokémon they didn't recognize, dragging Serena along but now, they had no idea which way to go. They were completely lost.
Dawn forced a confident tone, trying to reassure the others. "Yellow is still at the camp, right? She'll notice we're missing and inform the professor."
May's panic flared again. "But what if they can't find us? We're deep in the forest, and Professor Oak specifically warned us not to wander off!"
Suddenly, a shadow flickered between the trees, and all three girls froze. Their breaths hitched. Hundreds of glowing red eyes reflected the dim light, watching them from the darkness of the trees. The sound of rustling leaves and faint growls made their blood run cold.
Their hearts pounded in unison as the horrifying realization hit they had wandered straight into Spearow territory.
Soon, the Spearow swooped down, their screeches piercing the forest as the three friends ran for their lives. Branches scraped against their arms and faces, thorns tore at their clothes, and every step seemed slower than the last.
Back at the camp, Gary paced anxiously, wringing his hands. He couldn't shake the fear gnawing at him for the missing students. Just then, Professor Oak arrived hurriedly with Ash. "Where are they? And where is Licht?" he asked, urgency in his voice.
Gary explained that Licht had gone into the forest to search for them. Professor Oak nodded grimly. With a swift command to his Dragonite, he leapt onto its back. "Do not wander off. Stay where you are. I'll bring them back," he said, before flying off toward the forest.
Half an hour passed, and the sun began to sink, painting the sky in orange and purple streaks. Most of the Spearow had returned to their nests, but a few stubborn ones still circled above, their sharp cries making the girls shiver. Huddled inside a hollow tree, gasping for air, covered in mud and scratches, the three of them tried to remain silent.
May whispered, her voice trembling, "Are we safe now?"
Serena's eyes glistened with tears. "I… I just want to go home."
Dawn looked up, spotting two Spearow still circling above. Shaking her head, she said, "No… there are still two of them."
May's voice was low but firm. "We have to get rid of them first. Otherwise, we'll be stuck here."
Suddenly, Dawn's chest rose with determination. "I'll distract them. Both of you run. After all, I'm the one who dragged you here."
Before they could protest, she dashed from their hiding spot, shouting at the Spearow above. "Hey! You stupid birds, over here!"
May and Serena widened their eyes in shock, but instead of fleeing, they ran toward Dawn, ready to protect her.
The Spearow dove, talons outstretched. The three friends closed their eyes, bracing for the strike, their hearts hammering in panic. But then, a deafening blast echoed through the forest. When they dared to open their eyes, both Spearow lay unconscious on the forest floor.
A calm, yet firm voice cut through the chaos. "You caused some serious trouble, you know. Heading into the forest without any Pokémon is dangerous."
Turning, they saw Licht walking toward them, small arcs of blue lightning crackling from his hands.
Relief washed over them, and they clung to each other, tears streaming freely. Licht watched, quietly baffled. You were so brave wandering the forest and confronting wild Spearow without a tear. And now, when you're safe, you cry? He sighed, unsure of how to respond.
Kneeling, he extended his hand. A faint, glowing energy flowed from his palm, and to their amazement, their wounds began closing at impossible speed. Even their energy seemed to return instantly.
When Licht finished, the three of them stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless.
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Licht said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "There are a lot of things in this world you don't know yet. Wipe your eyes. Let's go everyone's worried about you."
He tore his handkerchief into three pieces, handing them to the girls. Then, he turned to the Spearow, healing them as well. Once the wild Pokémon were taken care of, the group left the clearing, still wide-eyed and shaken from the encounter.
As they wiped their tears, all three whispered in unison, "Thank you for saving us, Licht."
Licht waved them off, gesturing for them to follow him.
The walk back to camp was quiet, with slight blushes on the girls' faces.
The forest was calm, and the tension from earlier was slowly fading.
They exchanged small, grateful glances at each other and at Licht, who walked slightly ahead, occasionally looking back to check on them.
Dawn, May, and Serena felt a quiet trust growing toward him, realizing how much he had risked to keep them safe.
After a moment, Licht spoke, his voice firm but calm, "No one can know about my powers. Keep this between us."
The girls nodded, understanding the importance of his words.
When they arrived, Yellow rushed forward, tears streaming, and hugged them tightly.
Professor Oak soon returned, worried, but when he saw Licht and the children safe, he sighed in relief. After a long lecture, he finally allowed them to return to their dorm rooms the lab's empty rooms serving as temporary dorms.
After dinner, the boys and girls went to separate rooms, leaving only Licht and Professor Oak in the main area.
"Did you use your powers to defeat the Spearow, Licht?" Oak asked, concern etched on his face.
"Yes. And I healed them too. Don't worry," Licht replied calmly.
Oak exhaled. "That's what worries me. If the world finds out about your power, it could cause problems."
"I know. But don't worry I told them to keep it a secret. They might talk about today, but I'm not too concerned," Licht said. Then he added, looking at Oak, "Professor, the three of them should only tell Yellow. And Yellow has powers like mine."
Oak's eyes widened. "Yellow has the same powers as you?" He paused. "Still, you should tell them not to spread this."
Licht nodded. After chatting a little more, he left for the boys' dorm.