At the same time, in the Kanto region, Pallet Town.
On the country road leading to Professor Oak's laboratory, a boy in pajamas was sprinting at full speed.
"Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, any of them is fine, just wait for me!"
Ash was full of regret. Today was the day he was supposed to receive his starter Pokemon, but he had been so excited the night before that he barely slept, which meant he woke up way too late.
At this hour, all the kids in town had probably already picked their starter Pokemon and set off on their journeys!
"Please don't let them all be taken!" Panic churned in his chest.
He pushed himself harder, legs burning, and finally reached Professor Oak's lab just before the last Trainer was about to leave.
In front of the lab, a cheer squad made up entirely of pretty girls surrounded a handsome, arrogant-looking boy, cheering nonstop.
"Amazing! Amazing! Gary, Gary, go, go!"
Ash hurriedly shoved his way through the crowd and slammed straight into him.
"Ow!" Ash clutched his head.
"I'm the one who should be saying that," Gary replied. When he saw who it was, a curious smile spread across his face. "Ash?"
"Gary?"
"So it really is you?" Gary said, his expression turning strange. "Ash, you were late from the very start, huh?"
"Gary…"
"Call me Mr. Gary!" he said proudly. "But you actually showed up late today. As my rival, you already lost to me completely right out of the gate!"
"You mean… you already got your starter Pokemon?" Ash's eyes went wide.
Gary smiled faintly and pulled out a Poke Ball. "That's right. It's right in here!"
"Gary, Gary, you're amazing!" the cheer squad shouted again.
Gary raised both hands confidently. "Thank you, everyone! Thank you, my girlfriends! I'll definitely become a Pokemon Master and make Pallet Town famous across the world!"
"Yeah! Mr. Gary is the best! Being his girlfriend is so amazing!"
Ash glanced back at the girls. He felt a little lost, but what really caught his attention was which starter Pokemon Gary had received.
They had grown up together in the same town, long since treating each other as rivals.
Now that Gary had his starter, Ash couldn't help but feel intensely curious.
"So what did you get?" he asked. "Charmander? Bulbasaur? Or Squirtle?"
Gary answered mysteriously, "That wouldn't be convenient to tell you. After all, I'm the grandson of the famous Pokemon scholar Professor Oak. My starter is naturally something special."
With that, Gary bade everyone farewell, turned around, and climbed into a red convertible.
The cheer squad followed after him.
In an instant, the lively scene in front of the lab vanished, leaving Ash standing there alone.
Whatever. It wasn't like this was the last time he'd see Gary anyway.
Ash turned and rushed into the lab, shouting, "Professor Oak! Professor Oak! I'm Ash, I'm here to get my starter Pokemon!"
Inside, Professor Oak was eating instant noodles. Hearing the noise, he stepped out, looking surprised.
"Ash? Why are you so late?"
Ash scratched his head awkwardly. "I was too excited last night and stayed up too late. Professor Oak, where's my starter Pokemon?"
"They've already been taken by the kids who weren't late," Professor Oak said.
"None left at all?!" Ash stared in shock.
"Well…" Professor Oak rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There is still one."
He reached out and picked up a Poke Ball marked with a lightning symbol.
With a click, a Pokemon with yellow fur and two brown lightning-shaped stripes on its back appeared in front of Ash.
Mount Tensei, the Secret Base.
Fuyuki stared at the Pokemon in front of him, still unable to make a choice.
If he picked Raikou, Entei would be unhappy. If he picked Entei, Suicune would be hurt. And if he picked Ho-Oh, all three Legendary Beasts would feel disappointed.
It was way too hard.
For an ordinary new Trainer, this wouldn't be such a problem. After all, they'd never met their starter Pokemon before, so not being chosen wouldn't hurt that much.
But this was different.
They were family. They had lived together for ten years.
So the Legendary Pokemon saw Fuyuki look up at them with pitiful eyes and ask softly, "Can't we all travel together?"
"We all have missions in different regions," Ho-Oh replied.
Raikou, Suicune, and Entei fell silent.
Before long, though, they realized something. This choice was clearly tormenting their child.
We shouldn't be doing this to him, Ho-Oh sighed inwardly.
Fuyuki had grown up with them since he was little. No matter who he chose, the ones left behind would be hurt.
He didn't want any of them to be sad, which was why he couldn't decide.
"That's enough," Ho-Oh said, making its decision at last.
Its gaze settled on Entei. "In that case, Entei will stay by Fuyuki's side for now and protect him."
Entei froze. "Ho-Oh…"
Raikou frowned, clearly dissatisfied. "Ho-Oh!"
Suicune opened its mouth, then closed it again without speaking.
"Fuyuki was brought back by Entei, and Entei has always been the closest to him," Ho-Oh said, looking at the other two. "Raikou, Suicune, there's no need to worry. If you encounter Fuyuki and Entei later on, you may take over Entei's role and remain by his side to protect him."
That way, it was fair to Entei, to Raikou, to Suicune, and to itself.
Hearing this, the Legendary Beasts no longer objected.
"Yes, Ho-Oh!"
Entei finally let out a long breath. As expected, Ho-Oh was fair.
With the decision made for him, Fuyuki also felt a weight lift from his chest.
"Then it's time for us to leave Mount Tensei," Ho-Oh said.
Raikou felt a little reluctant, but it understood that this was Ho-Oh's decision.
If it came down to it, it could always go find Entei later and take over guarding Fuyuki.
At that very moment, the same thought crossed both Ho-Oh's and Suicune's minds.
Fuyuki and Entei saw the three Pokemon off.
Before parting, Fuyuki waved at them. "We'll see each other out there!"
Raikou and the others nodded in response. They didn't linger on Mount Tensei, turning and leaving, quickly disappearing from view.
Fuyuki let out a long breath, gazing at the rainbow stretching across the sky and the vast world beyond Mount Tensei.
At last, he could leave this place and truly set out into the Pokemon world.
Pokemon world, here I come!
"So… when do we leave?" he asked Entei.
"Whenever you're ready," Entei replied.
They needed to prepare properly before setting off. Over the past three years, Fuyuki had only gone out once with Ho-Oh, just to bring Suicune up to max level.
After daily expenses, he still had around a hundred thousand Shock Points left, more than enough for everyday needs.
Even if he spent them all, it wouldn't be a problem.
He was grown now. If needed, he could always have Entei cooperate with him and battle other Trainers or Gym Leaders, earning Shock Points that way.
Still, before officially departing, they had to visit Professor Oak's lab in Pallet Town. Fuyuki wanted to ask Professor Oak if he could help him get something like a Pokedex, an item that could prove his identity and make travel in the human world easier.
Only…
Fuyuki glanced at Entei beside him.
Last time, it had been Raikou accompanying him to see Professor Oak. Now it was suddenly Entei instead.
How was he supposed to explain that?
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You can read up to chapter 104 on patreon.com/NiaXD.