Professor Oak was already waiting at the entrance of the Pokémon Camp, standing straight with his hands folded behind his back, his calm and dignified presence carrying the weight of decades spent nurturing trainers and protecting Pokémon alike. The morning air was fresh, filled with the distant cries of Pokémon and the excited chatter of children arriving from different places.
The moment he noticed Cynthia approaching along the gravel path, a gentle smile appeared on his face as he stepped forward to greet her personally.
"Champion Cynthia," he said warmly, giving her a respectful nod, his tone filled with genuine familiarity. "It's always a pleasure to see you."
Cynthia slowed to a stop beside him and returned the greeting with a faint smile, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You seem to be doing well, Professor. You look healthier than the last time we met."
Oak chuckled softly as he adjusted his glasses. "I've been trying to listen to my own advice for once."
As he spoke, his sharp eyes naturally shifted downward, finally noticing the young boy standing quietly at her side. Alex's posture was straight, his expression calm and attentive, far more composed than most children his age. That alone made Oak pause, his curiosity immediately piqued.
"And this must be Alex," Oak said, his voice softening as he addressed him directly.
Alex straightened a little more and bowed politely. "Professor Oak. My mother asked me to pass on her greetings. She also told me to remind you not to skip meals."
For a brief moment, Oak froze—then burst into warm, genuine laughter. "Ah… that certainly sounds like her," he said fondly, looking at Alex with renewed interest.
Before the conversation could continue, Cynthia's Pokégear vibrated sharply. She glanced at the screen, and the relaxed air around her immediately shifted.
"It seems I'm needed," she said, her voice turning serious. She placed a hand on Alex's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Be good. Don't cause trouble."
Alex nodded calmly. "I will."
Oak watched Cynthia depart before turning toward the gathered children, clapping his hands lightly to draw their attention.
"Alright, everyone," he announced kindly. "We have a new camper joining us today. Please welcome Alex."
A boy with messy black hair and an energetic grin immediately stepped forward. "I'm Ash Ketchum!" he said loudly, eyes shining with excitement. "And I'll become the Champion one day!"
A spiky-haired boy beside him crossed his arms and scoffed. "Gary Oak. Try not to slow us down."
Another boy smiled shyly and waved. "Charles."
Alex returned their greetings with a small smile, quietly taking in their personalities.
The rest of the day passed smoothly, filled with simple lessons, supervised play, and interactions with Pokémon. Eevee darted happily between the children, Caterpie crawled through the grass, Magikarp flopped uselessly near a pond while Ash cheered it on, and a tiny Joltik clung nervously to a tree branch.
By the time lunch arrived, everyone gathered around long wooden tables beneath the trees, laughing and talking over shared meals.
Alex picked up a berry and casually held it near his head.
The fruit vanished.
The entire table went silent.
Ash's eyes widened so much they looked ready to pop out. "Huh?! Where did it go?!"
Alex scratched his cheek lightly. "There's an invisible Pokémon sitting on my head."
For a second, no one reacted—then excitement exploded.
Every child immediately began offering food, eagerly passing berries, Pokéblocks, and snacks toward Alex. One by one, they vanished into thin air, causing gasps and laughter to ripple across the table.
Unable to resist the eager, hopeful looks directed at it, Victini finally turned off its invisibility and appeared atop the table, happily munching on food with a cheerful cry.
The children's eyes sparkled.
"It's so cute!"
"Look at that V-shaped hair!"
Victini happily accepted food from everyone, clearly enjoying the attention, while Alex watched quietly with a faint smile.
Professor Oak approached carefully, awe clearly written on his face as he observed the mythical Pokémon up close. For a moment, his researcher's enthusiasm slipped out.
"Amazing… truly amazing…"
Victini startled, its body tensing before vanishing again in a flash of light.
Oak immediately stopped, straightened, and bowed slightly toward the children. "That was my fault," he said sincerely. "I allowed my excitement to frighten it. I apologize."
The children glanced at one another, their initial disappointment easing as they saw his genuine remorse.
"To make up for it," Oak continued with a gentle smile, "how about this? Tomorrow, I'll take you to see fully evolved Pokémon from the Kanto region, and I'll even arrange a ride with Water-type Pokémon."
The mood changed instantly.
Cheers erupted, completely washing away the earlier tension.
That night, the children were guided to their rooms. Alex ended up sharing a room with Ash, Gary, and Charles. As they lay in their beds, the room slowly grew quiet, the soft sounds of the forest drifting in through the window.
Ash turned his head and spoke excitedly, his voice barely above a whisper. "When I get my Pokémon, I'll become Champion faster than anyone."
Gary snorted lightly. "Dream while you can."
Charles smiled sleepily. "I just want to travel with my Pokémon."
Ash glanced at Alex. "Is that Pokémon on your head your starter?"
Alex looked upward. Victini had reappeared, curled comfortably atop his head, fast asleep.
"I don't know," Alex replied softly. "It doesn't seem interested in leaving."
The conversation slowly faded as sleep claimed them one by one. With Victini's warmth gently resting above him, Alex closed his eyes, drifting into peaceful rest—unaware that the legend sleeping on his head had already chosen him long ago.