Sometimes a battle reveals far more than strength—it reveals the kind of bonds that can shape the future.
Ash opened his eyes and found himself standing in a strange, dreamlike space.
"Where… is this?"
Just as confusion set in, the sky before him began to churn. Clouds twisted and parted, and from within them emerged a magnificent creature radiating holy light.
"This is… a Pokémon?"
Ash stared in awe at the being that resembled a majestic, celestial alpaca.
He had never seen a creature so sacred and untouchable before. He wasn't even sure if what stood before him truly was a Pokémon—or something far more mysterious.
The radiant being slowly lowered its head, gazing down at Ash.
Then a distant, ethereal voice echoed in his mind.
"My small friend, you have fallen into the wrong world. I am sorry—I cannot send you back. But I can grant you a small measure of help."
"The wrong world? Friend? What are you talking about? What do you mean by the wrong world?"
But the white creature didn't answer.
Instead, it raised its head and looked toward the endless void.
"Return now. There are still things you must accomplish."
"Wait—!"
Crack!
Before Ash could finish speaking, the ground beneath his feet shattered.
He plunged straight into an endless abyss.
...
"Ah!"
Ash jolted awake.
"Froa…?"
Beside him, the half-asleep Froakie opened its eyes groggily, glancing at Ash with confusion.
"…Just a dream?"
Ash muttered to himself.
Seeing Froakie looking at him, he scratched his head.
"Sorry. I had a nightmare and woke you up."
"Froa."
Since nothing seemed wrong, Froakie simply turned its head and went back to sleep.
You're already this old and still waking up from nightmares… I'm seriously questioning your qualifications as a Trainer.
That was Froakie's final thought before drifting back to sleep.
Fortunately, Ash didn't understand Pokemonlanguage.
His mind was still focused on the dream.
"What… did I just dream about?"
He frowned, trying hard to remember.
But dreams were strange things. The moment someone woke up, ninety percent of them vanished instantly—and the remaining ten percent faded away within seconds.
In the end, Ash couldn't recall anything at all.
"…Forget it."
He relaxed his brows.
If he couldn't remember, there was no point forcing it.
The most important thing now was resting well so he could continue searching for a way out tomorrow.
With that thought, Ash lay back down in his sleeping bag and closed his eyes.
Still…
He had a feeling.
Someday, he would remember everything.
...
Early the next morning.
After washing up briefly, Ash and Froakie continued their journey through the forest.
"Froakie, you don't like staying inside your Poké Ball either?"
"Froa…?"
Froakie glanced at Ash, its expression filled with blatant disbelief.
Have you seen any other Pokemonoutside their Poké Ball besides me, you rookie Trainer baby?
"Uh…"
Somehow, Ash miraculously understood the meaning.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Now that I think about it… you're right."
Since leaving home, he had been wandering lost in the forest and hadn't encountered any other Trainers.
And Mimikyu rarely came out on its own.
Logically speaking, Froakie should have been the only Pokemonhe'd seen that disliked Poké Balls.
And yet…
For some reason, Ash felt like he had seen something like this before.
Rustle.
Suddenly, the bushes beside them shook.
A boy burst out wearing a samurai-style helmet, a sleeveless vest, and holding a bug-catching net.
A classic Bug Catcher of Viridian Forest.
The two locked eyes.
In that instant—
Everything was understood.
"A wild Trainer? Perfect! When eyes meet, battle must begin!" the Bug Catcher declared boldly, waving his net. "Show me your Pokémon, challenger!"
"That's right! Let's battle!"
Ash's blood began to boil.
His very first Trainer battle had finally arrived!
"I choose you—Froakie!"
"Froa."
Froakie chose to ignore him.
And used the move Sleep.
"…."
Ash slowly lowered his hand.
He was starting to get used to this.
"But it's fine! I have another Pokémon!"
Ash pulled a Poké Ball from his belt.
This was exactly why he had caught Mimikyu.
"I choose you—Mimikyu!"
"Mimi!"
Mimikyu appeared energetically.
It glanced at the Bug Catcher—
Then immediately turned to Ash.
"Mimi?"
Is it mealtime?
"Uh… not yet. Food comes after the battle, okay?" Ash said quickly when he saw the excitement in Mimikyu's eyes collapse into disappointment. "If you help me finish this battle, I'll pick even more kinds of berries for you afterward!"
"Mimi mimi?"
Really?
"Really!" Ash nodded firmly.
"Mimi!"
Mimikyu's fighting spirit instantly surged.
Its small black eyes locked onto the Bug Catcher.
"Is that a Pikachu?" the Bug Catcher asked curiously. "Why does it look so weird?"
"It's not Pikachu," Ash explained. "It's Mimikyu—from the Alola region."
"Alola? You've been there?"
"No, I met Mimikyu here in this forest."
"…Wait, there are Pokemonfrom other regions here?" The Bug Catcher looked shocked. "I've lived in this forest for ten years and never seen one!"
"Uh… maybe your luck isn't great?" Ash guessed.
"…."
The Bug Catcher froze.
Then his expression twisted in outrage.
"You're one of those lucky guys too?! Damn it—I'm definitely beating you!"
"What? Why are you suddenly mad?" Ash asked, startled.
"Shut up! Lucky people don't get to talk!"
The Bug Catcher threw a Poké Ball.
"Go, Pinsir! Teach this lucky jerk a lesson!"
"Pinsiiir!"
A massive stag beetle Pokemonlanded before Mimikyu.
"Pinsir, use Swords Dance!"
The battle had begun.
"Already?!" Ash quickly responded. "Mimikyu, use Mimic!"
"Mimi!"
Mimikyu's eyes widened.
Moments later, the same swirling aura surrounding Pinsir appeared around Mimikyu.
Both Pokemoncompleted their attack boosts simultaneously.
Their bodies radiated the same sharp, dangerous presence.
"Strike first! Pinsir, use X-Scissor!"
"Pinsir!"
Pinsir's pincers glowed white as it charged forward.
"Mimi!!"
The sheer momentum made Mimikyu step back instinctively.
"Don't panic! Mimikyu, use Double Team!"
"Mimi!"
Dozens of Mimikyu illusions formed, circling Pinsir.
Pinsir's attack struck one—
But it wasn't the real one.
"Now's our chance!" Ash shouted. "Mimikyu, use Wood Hammer!"
"Mimi!"
Mimikyu's lightning-bolt tail expanded and hardened into a massive hammer shape.
Leaping into the air, it spun once—
Then smashed down with centrifugal force.
BOOM!
"Pinsiiir!"
Pinsir cried out in pain.
Despite its resistance to Grass-type attacks, the earlier Swords Dance boost meant the blow was devastating.
Pinsir dropped to one knee.
"Pinsir!" the Bug Catcher gritted his teeth. "Hang in there! Use Bug Bite!"
"Pinsir!"
Enduring the pain, Pinsir twisted around and lunged upward—
CRUNCH!
The attack connected.
But before the Bug Catcher could celebrate—
Something strange happened.
Mimikyu's body slipped free, leaving behind something like a shed layer.
The real Mimikyu emerged unharmed.
"What the heck was that?!" the Bug Catcher shouted.
Ash quickly checked his Pokédex.
"Ability: Disguise. The Pokemoncan completely block damage from one attack."
"That's amazing!"
Even Ash, a beginner, could tell how powerful that ability was.
But then—
He noticed something was wrong.
"Mimikyu?"
Because Disguise had activated, the rag covering Mimikyu was torn and full of holes.
Through the gaps, a faint shadow of its true body could be seen.
More worrying—
Mimikyu was trembling.
The Pikachu head on its disguise hung crookedly, making it look eerily like a broken neck.
Black mist slowly seeped from its body.
"Mimi…"
Its voice sounded weak.
Nothing like the lively Pokemonfrom earlier.
"Froa?"
Even Froakie turned its head to watch.
"What's wrong, Mimikyu?" Ash approached anxiously. "Are you hurt? Don't worry—I'll take you to a Pokemon Center right away—"
"MIMI!"
Suddenly, Mimikyu exploded with rage.
Two enormous shadow claws burst from beneath its rag and slashed toward Ash.
"Hey!" the Bug Catcher shouted.
But before the attack landed—
A blur of blue flashed.
Ash was knocked backward.
Standing before Mimikyu now was Froakie.
A white energy blade formed in its hand, blocking the Shadow Claw.
"Froa…"
Froakie looked up at the berserk Mimikyu.
For the first time, a slightly excited smile appeared.
Interesting.
I misjudged you.
You're worthy of being cut.
Froakie suddenly withdrew its blade.
The Shadow Claw lunged forward faster than ever.
At that exact moment—
Froakie drew its blade again.
Its eyes gleamed.
Flash.
No one saw the movement.
In the next frame—
Froakie stood behind Mimikyu.
The blade in its hand slowly dissolved.
Froakie's speed…
Was terrifying.
Sword One: Swallow Return.
BOOM.
The massive Shadow Claw shattered.
Mimikyu collapsed.
Its eyes spun into spirals.
Mimikyu had lost the ability to battle.
The victor—
Was Froakie.
"Froa."
Froakie glanced back.
Satisfied.
Another thing worthy of cutting.
Then it calmly returned to Ash's side.
The Bug Catcher stared in stunned silence.
"…Your Pokemonare all this weird?"
Ash rushed to Mimikyu.
"Mimikyu… what happened to you?"
The Bug Catcher spoke thoughtfully.
"Maybe it hates people seeing its true form."
Ash remembered the Pokédex entry.
"…That might be it."
"Honestly," the Bug Catcher continued, "a Pokemonlike that is hard to use in battle. If it goes berserk every time it gets hit…"
He shrugged.
"Maybe you should release it."
Ash bit his lip.
He knew the Bug Catcher wasn't wrong.
But—
"I won't give up on Mimikyu."
Ash's voice was firm.
"If it can't get hit… then we'll just make sure it never gets hit."
"I'll train it properly. I promise."
"I'll never abandon Mimikyu!"
"…You're stubborn," the Bug Catcher muttered.
After a moment, he sighed and recalled Pinsir.
"Fine. The battle's over anyway."
He turned to leave.
Then looked back.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and follow me."
"Huh?"
"Your Pokemonneeds treatment, idiot! The Pokemon Center is far from here."
Realization hit Ash.
"Oh! Right!"
Soon they reached the Bug Catcher's wooden hut.
After carefully treating Mimikyu and sewing up its rag disguise, the boy handed it back.
"Thanks so much."
Ash smiled in relief.
"I'm glad you're okay, Mimikyu."
The Bug Catcher shook his head.
"You said you're from Pallet Town, right? What is with people from that place?"
"You've met others?"
"Yeah. One guy dressed like you but way better at tactics. Another blond loudmouth at the same level. A girl thief who stole half my stuff."
"And some tan kid with a really strong Pikachu."
"…Pikachu."
Ash froze for a moment.
"That Pikachu was incredible," the Bug Catcher continued. "Honestly wasted on that Trainer."
"…A Trainer can always grow stronger," Ash said quietly.
After a pause, he stood.
"We should get going."
"Pokemon Center's that way." The Bug Catcher pointed.
Then he handed Ash a yellow glass whistle.
"This can cure confusion. Might help your Mimikyu if it goes berserk again."
"That's too valuable. I can't—"
"Stop being stupid!" the Bug Catcher snapped. "If it helps train your Pokémon, take it!"
Ash hesitated.
"…Thank you."
The Bug Catcher waved it off.
"Just become a good rival."
He grinned.
"Let's finish our battle at the Indigo Conference."
"You're entering too?"
"What, you looking down on Bug Catchers?!"
"Not at all!"
Ash laughed.
"Then I'll see you there."
"But the champion will be me."
"With those monsters competing?" the Bug Catcher snorted. "I'll settle for beating you."
They both laughed.
Soon Ash stepped outside.
"Come on, Froakie!"
"Froa."
As Froakie passed the Bug Catcher, it glanced at him.
You might be worth cutting someday.
Train well.
"…I think we just got looked down on, Pinsir."
"Pinsir…"
But the Bug Catcher smiled.
"Good."
He grabbed his net.
"Let's train harder."
"At least enough to crush that arrogant Froakie."
"Pinsir!"
As the sun set behind the forest—
Two young Trainers parted ways.
Each stepping forward into an endless, unknown future. 🌅
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