Chapter Text
Age 10, July 21 — “It’s a Trap!”
I checked in with Professor Oak as soon as we reached the Pokémon Center. When the screen turned on, I found him currently being chewed on by my Aerodactyl. It seems they’ve been wrestling since yesterday, but the Professor looked genuinely happy to be studying a living fossil up close, so I’ll assume he’s fine.
I was a little worried the Poké Ball hadn't connected in the chaos of the canyon, but I’m relieved to see Aerodactyl made it to the lab safely.
Misty, however, was stunned. She spent the last few days mocking me, saying things like, "Admit it, you really wanted that fossil Pokémon, didn't you? Too bad, LOL." She definitely didn't expect me to actually have caught the apex predator of the ancient world.
Once I explained that I caught it while it was asleep from Jigglypuff’s song, she put two and two together. She realized that between the canyon and our previous encounter, I was the only person who stayed awake. She officially figured out that I was the one who handed Jigglypuff the marker.
"This was a strategic ambush!" I argued.
"I don't care about your strategies! You let her draw on us!"
"It was a tactical necessity!"
I stood my ground, but man, she was steamed. Look, if you fall asleep on the job, you deal with the consequences. That's just the law of the trail.
Age 10, July 23 — “Hang in There, Bulbasaur”
Now that Charmeleon has evolved into Charizard, it seems he has completely mastered the ultimate fire move, Blast Burn.
This has been a massive blow to Bulbasaur’s morale. They’ve been training together every day since the Sevii Islands to master their respective ultimate moves, and seeing Charizard achieve perfection simply by evolving was a lot for him to take.
Bulbasaur has always been stubborn about evolving, but seeing the massive power gap that evolution provides has clearly shaken his resolve. Pikachu—who shares the "no-evolution" sentiment—has been trying to comfort him, but Bulbasaur’s mood remains grim.
He’s stopped his daily practice sessions for Frenzy Plant. It hasn't affected his performance in standard battles yet, but the psychological impact of Charizard’s evolution is weighing heavily on him.
Age 10, August 2 — “The White Hospital”
Pikachu got something stuck in his throat today. Since the nearest Pokémon Center was too far and it was an emergency, I forced our way into a human hospital. If we hadn't found help, he might have been in real trouble.
The doctor who helped us, a guy named Dr. Proctor, was a bit of a womanizer, but he was a damn good physician.
While we were there, a massive pile-up involving a Pokémon transport vehicle occurred. The hospital was suddenly swamped with injured Pokémon. Since Dr. Proctor couldn't handle the volume alone, we all stepped in to help. Even Team Rocket showed up and, surprisingly, helped us save every single Pokémon. They ended up "blasting off" at the end like usual, but I have to admit, they were actually pretty decent today.
Age 10, August 4 — “James's Double”
Apparently, James was supposed to get married today.
Wait... he didn't?
Oh, okay. Moving on.
Age 10, August 7 — “Discipling the Apex Predator”
Professor Oak called me again, practically begging me to do something about Aerodactyl. It was still rampaging in the lab. I had him transfer it back to me so I could establish some "Pallet-style" hierarchy.
The moment I let Aerodactyl out, it lunged at me. I was ready. I used my Pallet-Style Body Language Arts to remind it who was in charge. In the canyon, I let myself be caught to find the egg, but now that it’s my Pokémon, I expect obedience.
Aerodactyl was shocked that a human could fight back, but as the former king of the skies, it had a lot more pride than Primeape. It refused to back down. I eventually had to break out the Pallet Hundred-Crack Fist—the technique I used in Dark City. It’s the first Pokémon that’s ever forced me to go that far.
It took a while, but Pokémon are fundamentally honest creatures; once you communicate your strength (physically), they start to listen. It’s still glaring at me, but the biting has stopped.
The problem now is combat coordination. I tried a sparring match against Brock’s Onix, but Aerodactyl ignored every command I gave, trying to fight entirely on its own. It seems Charizard is obedient, but this one is going to be a project.
Relationship building takes time. We’ll get there.
Age 10, August 10 — “Star Stalk Stream (12-Hit Combo)”
I found a Trainer using a Farfetch'd to scam people. I sent out my own Farfetch'd and put an end to that immediately. I showed him the true power of the Dual-Sword style: Star Stalk Stream (a 12-hit Fury Cuttercombo). He didn't stand a chance.
Age 10, August 11 — “Togepi is Mine”
The Professor contacted me again to upgrade my Pokédex to the latest version. To be honest, I mostly just use it for move-set verification, but free tech is free tech.
At the same moment, the egg I’d been hiding in my bag finally hatched. A small, high-pitched "Togeprii!" echoed from my backpack. Misty and Brock were nearly scared out of their wits; they had no idea I’d even found an egg in the canyon.
Because I’d kept it a secret, there was no dispute over who found it, no Team Rocket theft, and no Misty claiming she was the "mother" just because she was the first thing it saw. I successfully secured Togepi as my own.
There, there, little one. I’m not as "soft" as Misty. We’re going to start training for battle soon, okay?
Age 10, August 13 — “The Arrival of the Prince”
Misty and Brock were still fuming about me keeping the egg a secret. "Don't you trust us?" "We wouldn't have stolen it!"
I’ve seen the original anime. I know exactly what they would have done. I regret nothing.
Togepi is officially in its Poké Ball, but since it’s still a newborn, it gets distressed if it's inside for too long. For now, I’m letting it ride on my shoulder alongside Pikachu. As I said before, I’m not going to coddle it like Misty would; we’re going to start with some basic drills as soon as it's steady on its feet.
Its ability is Serene Grace. I figured as much—the anime Togepi never showed any signs of "Hustle." This means it’s going to be an absolute nightmare for my opponents in the future.
Misty keeps trying to grab it for a hug, but Togepi keeps hiding behind me. It's stayin' with its Trainer. Sorry, Misty. (Actually, not sorry—my arms are already getting tired, you can hold it in a few weeks.)
Age 10, August 15 — “The Battle Bridge Challenge!”
We’ve reached a massive bridge that is currently hosting a "Battle Bridge" event. It’s a gauntlet-style tournament where you have to win consecutive matches to earn prizes, much like the Nugget Bridge in Cerulean but on a much larger scale.
The entry requirement is steep: you need at least four official Kanto Gym badges. This meant the level of competition was going to be much higher than the average road battle. I’ve been looking for a challenge lately, so this was perfect.
I swapped my team specifically for this event. Since Pikachu, Togepi, and Aerodactyl are currently fixed in my party, I only had three slots left. I realized I hadn't yet field-tested the three recruits I got from the Safari Zone. I brought along Tauros, Slowpoke, and Scyther.
Don't let the "new recruit" status fool you; they've been training. Slowpoke, in particular, is a beast. He has a Relaxednature, which makes him slow to react, but his defensive utility is top-tier. With the Own Tempoability, he’s immune to confusion and intimidation. Between Psychic, Surf, and Slack Off, he’s almost impossible to break through.
Wait, did you say I have a bad affinity with Water-types? And what about Krabby? I can't hear you over the sound of me winning.
There were 18 participants in the gauntlet. I was 4th in line. The "House" had 10 Trainers on standby; 7 of them defended the bridge, swapping out only when their Pokémon were fully defeated. It was a true test of endurance.
Matches were 1v1, no level limits, and TR moves were allowed. The first three challengers barely made it halfway across. The "defenders" were serious business.
My first match: Tauros, I choose you! He has the Intimidate ability, making him a nightmare for physical attackers. The opponent used a Fearow, which was a decent matchup, but Fearow being a Flying-type meant I couldn't use Ground moves. I’d been dying to show off his Fissure and Earthquake, but I guess they’ll have to wait.
I opened with our newly acquired Giga Impact. The Fearow didn't even have time to squawk before it was flattened. One win.
Second match: Slowpoke. The opponent laughed when he saw the pink, vacant-eyed Pokémon. Big mistake. He sent out a Ivysaur to target the type weakness. I just sighed. Using a Poison-type against a Psychic-type is a death sentence. He opened with Vine Whip—a physical move. Slowpoke just took it, barely flinching.
I could have used Amnesia to boost Special Defense or Slack Off to heal, but I didn't need to. I ordered Psychic. Slowpoke’s reaction time is legendary (for being slow), but once the move fired, it was over. Ivysaur was slammed into the bridge and knocked out. Two wins.
Third match: Scyther. This one has the Technician ability, so I’m eventually going to evolve him into a Scizor and become a "Bullet Punch" god. For now, I’m utilizing his Double Hit move. It hits twice, and when combined with "Anime Logic" (the Pallet-Style combat), it becomes a devastating combo.
I used a "Dual-Wing" style combo—Wing Attack mixed with Double Hit. The opponent’s Pinsir took the super-effective, technician-boosted hits and folded instantly. Three wins.
We kept up the momentum, clearing six defenders in a row using the Safari Trio. It came down to the final "Boss" of the bridge.
I had to choose my closer. Slowpoke was getting tired, so it was between Tauros and Scyther. But then, I felt a violent shaking in my bag. Aerodactyl’s Poké Ball was vibrating with intensity. It had been watching the battles and was desperate to prove it was still the apex predator.
Logic said no. You don't use a disobedient Pokémon for the final boss of a tournament. But I decided to take the risk. I figured the only way to break its pride and make it listen was to let it face someone it couldn't beat alone. The final defender was likely at a "6-badge" skill level—equal to or stronger than me.
The defender sent out Electabuzz. A terrible matchup for Aerodactyl.
The battle began, and I gave my first command. Aerodactyl ignored me immediately, lunging at the opponent’s Trainer instead. Of course.
"Is this the best a six-badge Trainer can do?" the defender mocked. I didn't even argue; he was right.
The Electabuzz intercepted Aerodactyl with a Thunder Punch to the face, sending the ancient bird crashing into the bridge. The hit paralyzed Aerodactyl. The defender asked if I wanted to forfeit, but I bowed my head and asked him to continue until the match was truly over. He saw my intent and nodded.
Aerodactyl struggled to its feet, but the paralysis kept locking it up. It took a barrage of Thunder Punches. The Electabuzz was clearly holding back to keep Aerodactyl conscious, but the proud fossil was too blinded by rage to realize it.
I ordered Iron Head—a fast, close-range move—but Aerodactyl tried to use Crunch instead. It left its mouth wide open, and Electabuzz just jammed a fist of electricity right inside.
Finally, broken and desperate, Aerodactyl used Roar. It forcibly returned Electabuzz to its ball. In a 1v1 gauntlet, a phazing move like Roar is a forfeit. Aerodactyl had "won" the exchange by making the opponent leave, but it had lost the match by the rules.
Aerodactyl stood there, panting, looking confused. It realized that forcing the opponent away was an admission of defeat—an act of cowardice. It had tried to play by its own "wild" rules and had been humiliated. It had been toyed with, shown mercy, and had ultimately run away from the fight.
Its "Apex Pride" was shattered. It wouldn't even look at me; it just slumped its head, staring at the ground. It didn't try to bite me when I approached. The realization that its wild strength wasn't enough to dominate a Trainer match had finally sunk in.
I thanked the defender and recalled my depressed Aerodactyl. He told me he’d love to have a "real" match with me someday. I’ll hold him to that—we’ll settle it at the Pokémon League.
Timeline Deviations
-
Aerodactyl: Ash successfully caught it but it is currently in a "depressed/rebellious" arc. Ash is using a mix of physical dominance and tactical psychology to bond with it.
-
The Marker Prank: Misty officially knows Ash was the culprit behind the Jigglypuff scribbles.
-
Evolution/Ultimate Moves: Charizard mastered Blast Burn upon evolution, causing Bulbasaur to fall into a depression regarding its own growth.
-
Togepi: Ash successfully kept it a secret from the group until it hatched, ensuring he is the official Trainer and "parent."
-
Battle Bridge: A new event where Ash tested his Safari Zone team.
Current Party
| Pokémon | Level | Notes |
| ---------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Pikachu | 43 | Learning to share the spotlight with Togepi. |
| Pidgeot | 41 | The eye in the sky. |
| Butterfree | 40 | Sleep support. |
| Rhydon | 42 | Physical tank. |
| Bulbasaur | 41 | Currently depressed about his growth. |
| Charizard | 44 | Mastered Blast Burn. |
| Squirtle | 40 | Solid backup. |
| Togepi | 1 | Newly hatched! Has Serene Grace. |
| Aerodactyl | 36 | Shattered pride; needs emotional rehab. |