"Yeah, I'm heading out on my journey soon. You don't need to worry about me, Elesa. But what about you? Did you skip breakfast again because you were too busy? I saw your latest Kamitsure Show performance; you looked beautiful as always, but your gait was a bit off when you walked off stage. Your body is strained."
With handsome black hair, sharp red eyes, and a black tank top accentuating his lean, well-defined muscles, the 15-year-old Ash chatted with Elesa while pulling on his signature red jacket.
Kamitsure was the stage name Elesa used after her debut, though to Ash, she was just the same person. His connection with Elesa and Diantha had never wavered; the three of them often chatted about their lives, though living in different regions made it difficult to meet in person.
Elesa lay on her bed, kicking her legs back and forth as she listened to Ash's nagging with a smile. "Alright, alright, I know I need to watch my health. It's just been a hectic schedule lately. Besides, don't I have that medicine you sent me?"
"That's not enough. Taking medicine isn't a substitute for taking care of yourself. Just be careful and don't overwork yourself."
"Got it, got it. You just focus on starting your journey. When you make it to the Unova region, make sure to come see me. I am waiting for you."
"I will. Just don't hold back during our Gym battle."
"Oh, I won't. And when you lose, I'll let you cry in my arms, Ash."
"Understood. Well, I've got to get going. Bye!"
"Bye!"
Ending the call, Ash began his final checklist. He needed to be fully prepared for the road ahead.
"Cash: check. Bank card: check. Ultimate Black Card: check. Clothes: check. Cooking tools and emergency ingredients: check. Candies for gifts: check. Excellent! This backpack is amazing!"
Patting the high-tech backpack (a marvel of Pokémon-world engineering), Ash nodded in satisfaction. A knock came at the door, and a Chansey poked her head in.
"Lucky!"
"I know, I'm coming down. Did you pack everything you need?"
"Lucky!" Chansey nodded with a smile.
"Good. Let's go."
When Ash reached the ground floor, Meowth, Pikachu, a Miltank, a Ralts, and a Growlithe were already waiting for him.
That's right—Pichu had evolved into Pikachu. Ash knew his Pikachu was legendary, but he didn't care much about the details anymore. He had forgotten most of the original plot, though he retained his vast knowledge of Pokémon species and types. He was no dense brat.
To introduce the others: Miltank was purchased by Ash from a ranch specifically so Happiny could have fresh milk. Even now that Happiny had evolved into Chansey, the household still relied on Miltank for milk. Ash's specialized nutritional fodder made Miltank very happy, and combined with a special massage technique he developed with a certain girl aspiring to be a breeder, the milk she produced was exceptionally delicious. This Miltank wasn't for battling; her sole job was to provide fresh milk, eat, and relax.
As for the Ralts, her origin was quite prestigious—she was the offspring of Diantha's Gardevoir. Diantha had gifted her to Ash as a thank-you for the heavy discounts Ash provided her family on his patented medicines. In fact, Ash gave discounts to the families of Diantha, Elesa, Professor Oak, and even that aspiring breeder girl. For the Joy family, these discounts were a drop in the bucket compared to the massive profits Ash's patents generated. Speaking of Diantha, Ash heard she had recently become the Champion—quite an impressive feat.
Finally, the Growlithe was a gift from the Jenny family. Over the years, Ash had used his patent royalties to open a chain of restaurants across many regions. He had one strict rule: Law enforcement officers could eat hot meals there for free at any time, and the chefs had to prioritize serving them without any slacking. This policy won him the immense favor of the Officer Jenny families. While the expenses were high, money was now just a number to Ash. He was effectively a tycoon; the monopoly of his medical patents meant he had more than enough money to last several lifetimes.
Between his wealth, Meowth's translation abilities, and his connections with Professors in every region, Ash was starting his journey with every cheat imaginable. But he had one more secret weapon—something he had crafted himself.
"Return for now, Growlithe, Miltank."
After recalling them into their Luxury Balls, Ash held Ralts's hand. With Meowth and Chansey by his side, Pikachu on his shoulder, and his mother Delia watching on, he spoke. "Well, Mom, I'm heading to the lab to get my Pokédex."
"Go ahead. Be quick, though—your friends are waiting for you outside."
Delia pointed toward the wild Pokémon gathered outside their house. Ash looked at the group and smiled. "I'll be back soon. I'll say my proper goodbyes then."