As the countdown ended, the image on the white screen finally came into focus.
---
A quiet, isolated town appeared, with several spacious cottages clustered together.
The scene slowly panned, eventually locking onto a boy who had been completely charred black after oversleeping and getting blasted by Thunderbolt.
[Misty: Isn't that Ash?!]
[Tracey: Impressive—you can recognize him even after he's been electrocuted like that.]
[Misty: Of course! We traveled through three regions together. I'd recognize that annoying guy even if he were turned into ash.]
[Ash: Huh?! That really is me! Could the Legendary Trainer they're talking about… be me?]
It was just that his entrance was… a bit embarrassing.
[Misty: With your reckless personality, how could the word "legendary" have anything to do with you? This is obviously just the opening scene. The real protagonist hasn't even shown up yet, idiot~]
[Ash: You're the idiot! When it comes to Pokémon battles, I won't lose to anyone!]
---
In the real world, Delia Ketchum and Professor Oak glanced at each other and smiled.
As seasoned adults, they could naturally tell that Ash and Misty's relationship was… special.
[Cilan: Mmm~ I'm sensing a sweet flavor, with just a hint of sourness!]
[Leon: Using Pikachu's Thunderbolt as an alarm clock… Ash, your physical durability is honestly terrifying.]
[Bruno: After decades of training, I still haven't reached that level! Does natural talent really exist in this world?!]
[Brock: Don't say that, Master Bruno. Ash's physical strength came at the cost of his emotional intelligence.]
[Lance: Emotional intelligence? Bruno doesn't have that either—otherwise he wouldn't be this old without a girlfriend.]
[Bruno: That's because I don't want to date! Women would only slow me down!]
[Lorelei: Sigh… terminal case of "straight-man syndrome." Completely incurable.]
---
Meanwhile, watching Ash and Misty banter in the chatroom, Serena felt a faint pang of sadness.
That girl named Misty… she really knows Ash well…
---
On the white screen, Ash—finally awake—headed to Professor Oak's lab.
After accepting Professor Cerise's invitation, he traveled with Delia and Professor Oak to the newly opened research institute in Vermilion City.
Along the way, Delia and Oak chatted cheerfully, while Ash quietly focused on eating.
"You seem a bit… unnecessary."
In the real world, Paul, who was watching alongside Ash, coldly delivered his verdict.
A dark vein popped on Ash's forehead.
This guy is still just as annoying as ever…
---
At the Cerise Laboratory's opening ceremony, Ash learned that an extremely rare Pokémon had appeared at the harbor.
Excited, he immediately rushed out—only to be blocked by a massive Snorlax lying across the road.
At the same time, strange ripples formed on the ocean's surface.
With a thunderous cry, the Legendary Pokémon Lugia emerged.
After effortlessly defeating a group of Trainers who attempted to capture it, Lugia prepared to depart.
Without hesitation, Ash leapt onto Lugia's back.
At the same moment, a dark-skinned boy did the same.
---
[Leon: Now I understand why Ash was chosen. Right after leaving home, he encounters a Legendary Pokémon—and rides it. That experience alone surpasses 99% of Trainers.]
[Volkner: Feeling utterly defeated. After all these years, my first time seeing a Legendary Pokémon is through someone else's journey.]
[Goh: Hey—hey! Why is everyone only paying attention to Ash?! I'm the one who deduced Lugia would appear at the harbor! And the other person riding it was me!]
[Lance: Heh. Traveling with Ash, I've seen quite a few Legendary Pokémon—including Lugia.]
[Lance: No wonder he's called the Legendary Trainer. He's encountered more Legendary Pokémon than I've even heard of. Is he really blessed by fate? I'm honestly jealous.]
[Dawn: Come to think of it, I also saw Sinnoh's guardian deity while traveling with Ash.]
[Iris: Same here! I saw Meloetta and the Forces of Nature in Unova with Ash.]
[Meloetta]
[Zygarde]
[Serena: Hehe~ Even Kalos's guardian Zygarde traveled with us for quite a while.]
[Jessie: Hmph! When it comes to companionship, none of you girls can compare to us—the Team Rocket trio!]
[James: That's right! We've followed the brat and seen every Legendary Pokémon!]
[Giovanni: Oh really? Then why haven't you captured a single one and brought it back? Not even a report. All funding for next year—canceled.]
[Meowth: You two idiots! Being background characters isn't something to brag about! Take this—Fury Swipes!]
---
Watching the chat completely ignore him, Goh's face darkened to the extreme.
Legendary Trainer?
I was the one who figured out Lugia's location!
Surely Ash was just being shown first as an introduction.
Once everyone noticed the other figure on Lugia's back—him—they'd be shocked.
Filled with anticipation, Goh stared at the white screen.
Then—
[Goh: I protest! Why is my face pixelated?!]
[Ding! To ensure optimal viewing quality, certain irrelevant individuals have been intentionally blurred.]
"Irrelevant… individual…"
It felt like ten thousand Mareep trampled through Goh's heart.
Silently, he picked up a stick and walked off to a corner.
---
On the white screen, Lugia showed no anger at Ash and Goh riding on its back.
Instead, it took them on a breathtaking journey—soaring through the sky, diving into the ocean, letting them experience the true world of Pokémon.
During this, Goh proudly declared that he acknowledged Ash as his friend.
[Gary Oak: Who do you think you are, acknowledging Ash? How arrogant.]
In the end, Lugia dropped the two into a field of flowers and flew off without a second thought.
No return trip. No explanation.
"Just dropping them off and leaving… Lugia is just as annoying as Hoopa. Honestly, Pokémon from the ocean are all troublemakers!"
---
High above the endless seas of Hoenn Region, Groudon watched Lugia's irresponsible behavior and recalled some unpleasant memories.
Fuming, it stomped the ground twice more.
Meanwhile—
Kyogre:
What does this have to do with me?! I must be dreaming… and it's a nightmare!
---
To be continued…