The rippling surface of the river reflected a face that wasn't his own.
A young boy with bright eyes and a reckless spark stared back at him—the same eyes that had seen Pikachu perched eternally on one shoulder. Axel Adler exhaled a slow breath, realization dawning like a quiet storm.
"So… I've become Ash Ketchum."
An ironic smile tugged at his lips. Of all people to turn into, he had ended up as the protagonist himself.
Memory came rushing in like a flood: Ash had just finished his journey through the Kanto region, making it into the top sixteen of the Indigo League. After that, he conquered the Orange League, earning the title of Honorary Champion, before returning home to Pallet Town.
Now, together with Brock and Misty, he was ready to set off toward Johto—the next great adventure. Professor Oak had entrusted him with a special mission: deliver the mysterious GS Ball to Kurt, the Poké Ball craftsman of Azalea Town.
Axel drew in a steadying breath, feeling his consciousness fully fuse with that of Ash. The foreign dissonance vanished.
"From this moment on… I am Ash."
The words echoed like a quiet vow. His fingers clenched into a fist.
The Silver Conference in Johto, the Ever Grande Conference in Hoenn, the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh, the Vertress Conference in Unova… he remembered them all, the near-misses, the heartbreaks, the unrealized dreams.
This time, he would change everything.
"I'll win every league," he whispered. "And then I'll become the Champion of Kanto—the dream I could never reach before. No regrets, not in this life."
But even a vow needed a foundation.
"Still," he muttered, glancing at his reflection, "Ash's Johto run was kind of pathetic. None of his starters even evolved. And Venusaur—poor guy ended up babysitting Professor Oak's yard."
He sighed. "No wonder fans always complained."
A soft chime rang in his mind, breaking the moment.
[Bond System Activated.]
The words shimmered in midair. Axel blinked in surprise, excitement quickly replacing confusion.
A system ,for a Pokémon trainer?
The name alone brought a clear image to mind: Ash's bond with Greninja, their mysterious transformation during the Kalos League. That evolution—born not of stones, but of spirit which had captivated the world.
That connection… that was what this system was built upon.
Aside from an internal store and some inventory space, it came with one specialized function: Bond Value Detection.
He skimmed the interface. Whenever the bond between trainer and Pokémon reached its limit, they could undergo a transformation akin to Ash-Greninja—a shared evolution of trust and power. Even Mega Evolution-capable Pokémon could awaken new forms through it.
"Man…" he grinned. "That's actually awesome."
The store offered typical items like battle gear, potions, and rare powers known across the world: the Aura of Rota, the Dragon Force of Blackthorn. But Pokémon couldn't be purchased; the system rewarded points only through victories in battle.
After his Kanto journey, his predecessor had accumulated 3,000 points. Not bad for a fresh start.
"Aura…" he murmured, tapping his chin. "Ash had latent aura powers, didn't he? The Aura Guardian with a Pikachu partner."
If his prior ability to bond-transform came from aura, maybe…
He browsed the system menu again. A faint pulse of blue light enveloped him as he confirmed the selection.
[3,000 Points Deducted — Basic Aura Activated]
Blue light gathered around his hands, then surged through his vision. Knowledge—instinctive, ancient—filled his senses. He could feel life around him. The rhythm of Pikachu's tiny heartbeat. The sway of the trees. The flow of a distant river.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted its head, curiosity gleaming in its eyes. The mouse Pokémon could sense something had changed.
Ash smiled. "Heh, don't worry, buddy. Things are just getting started."
He checked the bond display next:
Pikachu: 180 / 255
Charizard: 140 / 255
Snorlax: 120 / 255
Squirtle: 120 / 175
Bulbasaur: 120 / 180
The second number puzzled him—it seemed to represent potential harmony, the maximum cap of connection. The closer that cap to 255, the deeper the bond could grow.
It changed over time, influenced by trust, evolution, and the shared journey, much like how couples grew alike after years together.
To achieve a bond transformation, the value had to reach 255. That meant, for now, only Pikachu, Charizard, and Snorlax had the potential.
He blinked. "Wait, Snorlax? Seriously? That's unexpected."
Pikachu, though—there was no surprise there. Even without evolution, its bond was uniquely strong. It truly was his destined partner.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu chimed proudly, chest puffed up.
Ash laughed. "Alright then, partner. Let's do our best together!"
A voice suddenly cut through the forest.
"Ash! What are you doing? We're lost again!"
Misty's exasperated tone carried faintly through the mist. Ash startled, realizing where they were, the forest west of Pallet Town, en route to New Bark Town, the place where the wind of beginnings was said to blow.
They should've reached the outskirts by now, but the fog had swallowed the path. In truth, they'd been wandering when the transmigration happened.
"It's okay, Misty! We'll find the way soon!" Ash called back, confidence brightening his tone. Now that he could sense the flow of aura, getting lost seemed… impossible.
That's when he felt it—a gentle, powerful presence nearby. A ripple in the aura field, vast and pure.
He turned toward the riverbank.
A silhouette shimmered on the water's surface—a majestic, blue figure outlined in light.
"Suicune…" he breathed.
The guardian of the northern winds gazed at him for a heartbeat, then leapt skyward, disappearing into the fog but leaving a trail of radiant energy in its wake. It was guiding them.
Ash's chest tightened, something primal stirring inside him.
"Thank you, Suicune!" he called, voice carrying through the mist. "Wait for me in Johto, wherever you are!"
The forest fell silent again, save for the distant murmur of wind.
Somewhere beyond that veil, destiny stirred awake. The journey had begun anew, and this time, he would meet it head-on.
The wind of beginnings had truly begun to blow.