The backyard of the Oak Laboratory was a sprawling battleground of manicured grass and reinforced earth, designed to withstand everything from a Hyper Beam to a simple Tackle. The air was thick with the scent of ozone—courtesy of Pikachu, who was still sitting three feet away from Ash, looking bored but occasionally flicking its ears toward the field.
Professor Oak sat on a stone bench, his weathered face composed, though his eyes were sharp with professional scrutiny. Ash sat cross-legged on the grass nearby, leaning forward so far he was practically tipping over.
"Alright, Regina! Show me what you've got!" Ash cheered, oblivious to the fact that his own starter was currently contemplating a nap instead of a battle.
Gary took his place on the opposite side of the field. He flicked his wrist, his "cool guy" persona returning the moment he stepped onto the dirt. "Don't think I'm going easy on you just because you're a girl, Regina. My Squirtle is a high-spec starter, bred for excellence. This isn't a classroom. Type advantages are real."
He tossed the Pokéball. *Pop.* A Squirtle emerged, tucking into its shell before sliding across the grass with a practiced, cocky flourish. It let out a confident "Squirtle-Squirt!" and took a defensive stance.
[Data Scan: Gary's Squirtle]
Level: 10
Class: Elite Class
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Gary," I replied. I felt the weight of the moment. My heart was a drum in my chest, but unlike the messy scuffle with Joey, my mind was cold. Calculating. "Nugget, center stage!"
Torchic hopped from my shoulder, her deep red feathers ruffling in the wind. She didn't look at the Squirtle; she looked at me, waiting for the spark.
### The Battle: Fire vs. Water
"Squirtle, use **Bubble**!" Gary commanded instantly.
"Dodge and use **Flame Charge**!"
A swarm of shimmering blue bubbles drifted toward Torchic. On paper, it's a simple move. In reality, they moved like heat-seeking missiles. Torchic didn't just run; she ignited. A cloak of crimson fire wrapped around her, increasing her speed exponentially. She blurred through the gaps in the bubbles, the heat popping them before they could touch her feathers.
"Now! **Peck**!"
"Retract!" Gary barked.
The Squirtle vanished into its shell just as Torchic slammed into it. The impact sounded like a hammer hitting a stone. The shell spun backward, but Gary didn't miss a beat.
"**Withdraw** into **Rapid Spin**!"
The shell began to whirl like a saw blade, kicking up dust and tearing through the grass. It was a tactical nightmare. Torchic couldn't get a grip on the rotating surface.
"Keep your distance! **Ember** to the ground!" I shouted.
I saw Gary's eyes widen. Instead of aiming for the shell, Torchic spat bursts of fire at the grass in the Squirtle's path. The sudden heat and smoke created a localized updraft, causing the spinning shell to wobble.
"Now, **Quick Attack** from above!"
Torchic leaped, a red streak against the blue sky. She slammed into the top of the shell, forcing it to stop spinning. But Gary was ready for the close-quarters transition.
"**Water Gun**, point-blank!"
A high-pressure stream of water erupted from the shell's opening. It caught Torchic square in the chest. I felt a pang in my own heart as she was blasted backward, her flame sac sputtering. She tumbled across the dirt, her feathers damp and matted.
"Torchic!" I yelled, my hand reaching for my bag. No—I couldn't help her now. This was her fight. "You've got this! Remember the Blaziken poster! Badass, right?"
Torchic struggled to her feet. She let out a screech that sounded less like a bird and more like a dragon. The air around her began to shimmer. **Blaze** had activated.
"Finish it with **Skull Bash**!" Gary yelled, losing some of his composure as the sheer heat from the tiny bird began to singe the grass.
"**Counter**!" I screamed, betting everything on the move Nelly had said was still 'unlocked.'
In that split second, the world slowed down. The Squirtle launched itself like a cannonball. Torchic stood her ground, her tiny wings glowing with a white, kinetic energy. The impact was deafening. A shockwave of dust and steam rolled across the battlefield.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then, Torchic's legs gave out. She slumped into the dirt, eyes spiraling. Fainted.
Two seconds later, the Squirtle, who had been standing triumphantly, suddenly wobbled. The redirected force of the Counter was too much for its internal stamina. It keeled over, unconscious.
### The Verdict
The field was silent. Gary stared at his Squirtle, then at my Torchic. He looked genuinely shocked. He had the type advantage, the formal training, and the pedigree—and he had barely scraped by.
"Double knockout," Ash breathed, his eyes wide. "That was... so cool."
"It's a tie," Gary said, his voice quiet as he recalled his Pokémon. He looked at me, his usual smirk gone. "I can't call that a win."
I was already on my knees next to Torchic, spraying a Potion onto her singed feathers. She chirped weakly, leaning her head against my hand. I looked up at Gary and smiled—a genuine, tired, girl-boss smile.
"No way, Gary. You're the winner," I said firmly. "My Torchic hit the ground first. Rules are rules. But don't get too comfortable in that winner's circle. I'm definitely going to defeat you next time. Fight on, right?"
Torchic let out a sudden, energetic chirp of agreement, her eyes snapping open with a competitive fire that matched my own.
Gary just stood there, frozen again. His face went that familiar shade of pink. "Yeah... whatever. Just don't make me wait too long for the rematch."
Ash stood up, grinning. "My turn! Pikachu, let's show them—"
*BZZZZT!*
Pikachu let out a disinterested spark that sent Ash face-first into the grass. We all burst out laughing—even Ash, who sat up with smoking hair, joined in. Torchic and Pikachu shared a look of mutual confusion, as if wondering why humans found physical pain so hilarious.
### Shadows of the Past
Samuel Oak watched the three children laughing in the sun, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. For a moment, the backyard of the Pallet Lab seemed to ripple, the figures of Regina, Gary, and Ash being replaced by shadows of the past.
It's happening again, Samuel thought, his chest tightening.
He remembered them. Red—Ash's father, a boy with an unshakeable will. Blue—his own son, Gary's father, who hid his brilliance behind a wall of pride. And Green—a girl from the Leaf family, sponsored by Linda Leroz back when Linda was the most ambitious woman in the Kanto region.
They had been the "G-Group." The trio that was supposed to revolutionize the Pokémon world. They rose through the ranks faster than any trainers in history. And then... the wormhole incident. An Ultra Beast research mission gone horribly wrong. They had vanished into the rift, leaving behind three broken families and a world that moved on without them.
Linda had never recovered. She'd gone from a vibrant researcher to a recluse, stopping her sponsorship program entirely out of a crushing sense of guilt—until Regina came along.
Samuel looked at Regina, who was currently letting the Eevee climb onto her shoulder while she checked her skateboard wheels. She reminded him so much of Green—the same fierce independence, the same refusal to follow the "standard" path.
Is that why Linda chose her? Samuel wondered. As a penance? Or as a second chance?
He saw Gary looking at Regina with a determination to not lose next time. He saw Ash's raw potential, unrefined and dangerous as a live wire brimming with excitement for his own first battle.
"Congratulations to both of you," Samuel said, snapping out of the memory and forcing his voice to be steady. "That was a high-level display of tactics. If this is how you start your journeys, the Kanto League had better prepare itself."
He turned away, looking toward the horizon where the sun was beginning to climb higher over the Pallet cliffs. He prayed that this generation would be luckier than the last. He didn't think he could survive losing another trio to the silence of the stars.
"Now," he said, clapping his hands together. "Who's ready for breakfast before you hit Route 1?"
"FOOOOOD!" Ash screamed, his stomach growling in perfect sync with his shout.
Regina rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth quirked up. "Well, I guess I can delay my destiny for a stack of pancakes. Right, Nugget?"
Torchic chirped a loud agreement. The journey had officially begun.