Age 9, Month 10, Day 6 『It Seems I Have a Talent for This』
It's been about half a year since I started keeping this diary. I'm apparently more diligent than I thought; I haven't missed a single day so far.
I've been training my body for just as long, and recently, I've started to show glimpses of my Pallet Town heritage. I sometimes display power that I, myself, can't believe is coming from a kid. My training is progressing smoothly, and I'm really enjoying it.
Tomorrow is the last Pokémon Camp before I set off on my journey, but I've been helping out at the lab for so long that Professor Oak asked me to help run the camp this time. Why me?
Age 9, Month 10, Day 7 『I WILL BITE YOU WHOLE』
The day of the camp.
While doing the jobs Professor Oak gave me, I watched the participating kids. For some reason, Gary was also participating as staff.
It seems he's changed since that fishing trip and now has a more mature personality from the later half of the anime. It's like he's turned over a new leaf; talking to him isn't a pain anymore.
I kind of feel like I've broken the original story, but since I've become "New Ash," the original story is pretty much non-existent anyway, so I probably shouldn't worry about it.
As the kids ran around playing, I was working hard behind the scenes when one of the kids started lecturing everyone else about Pokémon in this stuck-up way. He's just like the old Gary, so annoying.
I instinctively crushed him with a full-on "brute-force assault of knowledge." Gary, who was watching, seemed to have his trauma triggered and backed away from me. Don't run away!
The kid was trembling with frustration, which was very satisfying, but then Professor Oak got mad at me. "What are you doing to a child!" Hey, Professor, I'm a kid, too.
"You and Gary are special cases. Good grief, why do you think I put you on this side?"
Apparently, he figured from our usual behavior that we'd just stick out if we were in the kids' group, so having us participate as organizers was his way of being considerate.
The other kids around us were surprised to hear that, but after hearing the knowledge I'd dropped earlier, they seemed to understand. They were looking at me with respect. The kid from before even did a complete 180, sucking up to me like, "Wow, you're amazing, Ash!" Well, it doesn't feel bad to be admired. Ash is an only child, so it feels like I've gained a little brother or sister.
Age 9, Month 10, Day 9 『He Did It Again』
Now that Gary has matured mentally, we get along pretty well.
He must have a researcher's personality, because we have surprisingly lively discussions about Pokémon. Because of that, I end up talking about things I didn't mean to, and the Professor has submitted another new report to the academic conference.
Even Gary was giving the Professor a deadpan stare, and I did the same, just staring at him without a word. Then, for some reason, we ended up getting tickets to the Red vs. Lance match that's happening at the Indigo Plateau next year. Sweet!
"...So this is why we got to meet Mr. Lance before."
Age 10, Month 12, Day 2 『My Training is in its Final Stage』
It's started to snow. I'll be leaving on my journey in about three and a half months.
As for my training, I've completely mastered the fundamentals. The master told me, "Starting tomorrow, we will begin transmitting the secret techniques," so it seems the Pallet-Style Physical Language Technique is finally entering its ultimate phase.
Preparations for my journey are going well, so it's about time I came to my conclusion.
I am Ash. There's no doubt about that. But there's no point in worrying about the anime's plot. Gary is already different from the original story, so I've decided to just do whatever I want. When you think about it, the original Ash didn't win a Pokémon League for over twenty years. If I do the same things, there's no way I'll win.
If anything, I have all this knowledge from my past life. I should focus on using it effectively.
I'm Ash of Pallet Town, but I'm "New Ash." I don't need to do everything exactly like the anime. I'll take the good parts and ignore what I don't need. I won't release my Pokémon, and I'll make sure to use strong, "meta" Pokémon.
Age 10, Month 2, Day 23 『Indigo Plateau: Kanto Champion League』
It's finally the day of the Champion's and Lance's match. The Professor had an urgent matter and couldn't come, so Mom came along as our guardian.
The members are me, Gary, Daisy, and Mom.
Daisy apparently came back just for this. Honestly, I thought she was all about Contests and wasn't interested in battling, so this is a surprise.
We have really good seats, too. I heard one ticket costs 15,000 yen.
Looking at the pamphlet, both the Champion and Lance have come this far undefeated. The result of this match will decide the new Champion.
I asked Gary, who was next to me, who he thought would win. He agonized over it, saying, "Emotionally, I want Mr. Lance to win, but the Champion's strength is on another level..."
We were making small talk for a while when the stadium suddenly went dark.
It looked like the contestants were entering. With a flashy explosion, Lance appeared on the field, illuminated by rainbow-colored lights.
The crowd went wild. I went wild. I'd been calling myself "mentally an adult," but I couldn't help shouting, "UOOOOOOOHH!!"
After Lance's entrance, it was the Champion's turn.
In contrast to Lance's flashy arrival, the Champion's was silent. He was illuminated by a single ray of light, his light footsteps echoing, but there was no real performance.
However, this, in turn, created more of an atmosphere, giving him the air of a Champion.
While the commentators were introducing the two, they seemed to be exchanging words, but we couldn't hear their voices from here. Still, I could feel Lance's fighting spirit even at this distance.
Once both were ready, they raised their Poké Balls.
Tension filled the air, and the stands fell silent.
After a long moment that felt like minutes, the signal to begin the battle shattered the silence, and the two threw their Poké Balls onto the field at the same time.
(Match details are long, so omitting the rest)
It was an amazing match. As expected, Red was in a league of his own.
Lance fought hard, but Red's fourth Pokémon, a Blastoise, was just too strong, and from that point on, it became a one-sided game.
It was a shame, as it had been a good match up until that point, but I got to see a lot of interesting things, so I'll take it.
I was especially shocked when Red's Pikachu nullified Lance's Aerodactyl's Supersonic by using the crackling sound of its 100,000-Volt Thunderbolt.
I wondered if that was even possible, but according to Gary, "The effect of sound-based moves changes with distance. At that range, the effect would be weaker, so the Champion must have judged it was possible." This anime-world really is a free-for-all. It made me realize once again that I shouldn't be bound by conventional logic.
Age 10, Month 3, Day 19 『My Win. You Fought Pretty Hard, Too, Though.』
Today, like every other day, I went to Professor Oak's Lab and then to the dojo.
It's crazy, my journey starts in about a week.
The three starter Pokémon for beginners arrived a month ago, and as someone who's been helping take care of them, I still want to take Charmander over Pikachu.
Charmander really is the best. Ash's Charmander was cool, but that thing gets a real attitude problem and stops listening for a while after it evolves.
But, with only one week left, what does he mean Pikachu isn't here yet? Even if it's just to make up the numbers, you'd think he'd have it ready sooner.
Well, anyway, today I had a one-on-one serious match with my master.
My training in the secret techniques finished last month, and he's already declared me a master, but he said he wanted to confirm my current strength one last time. I didn't have anyone to compare myself to, so I didn't know how strong I'd gotten either. It was a good opportunity.
The result: I won. It seems I've become even stronger than I thought.
Age 10, Month 3, Day 24 『He Did It, That Old Geezer』
Three days left. The Professor is running around in a panic.
He must have forgotten he was one Pokémon short. He's been leaving all the Pokémon care to me lately and just focusing on his research.
He probably plans to just catch one nearby, but he won't have time to train it to be suitable for a beginner. It's almost certainly going to play out just like the anime. If he tries to force Pikachu on me, I'm going to raise hell.
Age 10, Month 3, Day 31 『Zzz...』
One day left. Crap, I'm getting nervous. I can't sleep.
No, calm down. This is the time to show the results of my training.
Regulate your breathing,
Release the unnecessary tension from your body,
Calm your spirit,
And put your mind at ease.
...Zzz.
Age 10, Month 4, Day 1 『Pallet Town: Departure Day, Part 1』
Morning. I managed to wake up without oversleeping.
Mom and I did all the preparations for the journey yesterday, so all that's left is to say goodbye. "Do your best, Ash!" she called out as I headed to Professor Oak's Lab.
But the gate is still closed, probably because it's not time yet. Well, I usually come a little later, so this is about right.
As I was waiting for the gate to open, Gary showed up. "You're early, Ash," he said, but it's not that early.
The Professor still wasn't here, so I was making small talk with Gary. About ten minutes later, a girl arrived, and five minutes after that, a boy.
They're probably the other two who weren't in the original story. Ash has never spoken to them, but he recognizes their faces. A strong-willed-looking boy and a girl with a cute smile.
"It seems you're all here."
Just as the two of them joined us, the Professor showed up.
He kept us waiting long enough. We can finally set off.
Or so I thought. That old geezer... of all the things, he had the nerve to tell me to take Pikachu. Depending on how this goes, I'll show him the secret technique of the Pallet-Style Physical Language Technique, dammit.
He must have sensed my killing intent, because he started making excuses. "W-Wait! There's a reason for this!"
It wasn't a big deal, though. Just as I'd predicted, he forgot to prepare the Pokémon. This Pikachu isn't used by Trainers yet, so it's a handful for a beginner. That's why he wants me, someone who's used to Pokémon, to take it.
You've got to be kidding me. I was the first one here, and my only choice is Pikachu?
There's no way I can accept that!
I moved to take the Poké Ball containing Charmander without another word. "Wait. Please, Ash. I'm begging you," he said, bowing his head.
But what value is that geezer's head? If you're that desperate, give me something in return. If you can provide something I find acceptable, I'll take the Pikachu.
"...What is it you want?"
If I'm taking Pikachu, you'd better at least get me the TR for Surf.
I know TMs and TRs exist in this world. A Surfing Pikachu is at least usable in battle. I wouldn't mind taking it then. If you can't, I'm taking Charmander.
"Mmmph... TRs are valuable, you know. They're even harder to make than TMs, so they're not easy to get. You know that, don't you?"
So what? If you can't, I'm taking Charmander.
Man, I wonder what would happen if the Pokémon Board of Education found out about this?
Oh well, it's got nothing to do with me. I have no intention of compromising or feeling sorry for him. This is all his own fault.
"Gnnn... Fine. I'll get it... Just give me a month. When it's ready, I'll have it delivered to whatever town you're in. Will that do?"
No, I can't wait that long. One week.
"One week?! That's impossible!"
If it's impossible, I'm taking Charmander!
"Guuuh... Fine! One week it is!"
He can probably pull some strings. He really is an authority in the Pokémon world, even if he is a moron.
It's almost insulting to even call him "Professor Oak" at this point, but if I can get a Surfing Pikachu out of it, I'll give up on Charmander. If the original story holds, I have a way of getting one of those anyway.
Now that my business was finally settled, Gary chose his Pokémon.
He seemed to have decided from the start, picking up Squirtle. It seems this part is following the original story. Or maybe he was influenced by the Champion's Blastoise he saw at the end of last year? I stared at Gary, and he looked away bashfully, so that must be it.
After him, the girl took Bulbasaur. The boy took Charmander. If I remember right, the other two besides Gary drop out part-way. Sorry, Charmander.
Well, time for me to meet Pikachu.
I grabbed a pair of rubber gloves from the lab for electrical-proofing and threw the Poké Ball. Pikachu looked around for a second, then immediately noticed me. Our eyes met.
Yo, Pikachu. I'm your Trainer, New Ash. Nice to meet you.
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