[Status.
Species: Pidgeotto.
Level: 21.
Type: Normal/Flying Type.
Talent: Keen Eyes.
Attack: B [A+]
Agility: B+ [A+]
Defence: C [B]
Sp. Attack: A [A+]
Sp. Defence: B [B+]
Moves: Tailwind [Lv. 2], Aerial Ace [Lv. 1], Peck [Lv. 3], Quick Attack [Lv. 3], etc. ]
Looking at Pidgeotto's stats displayed across the translucent system screen, Ash felt his eyes brighten with genuine satisfaction. This wasn't just a good catch—this was easily one of the finest wild Pokémon he had encountered since reincarnating and meeting Pikachu.
Its numbers spoke for themselves, but more than that, its behavior during battle had already proven its intelligence.
Just a moment earlier, Ash had clearly witnessed it use a speed-boosting technique, and while he suspected what it was, confirmation brought a grin to his face. Tailwind.
A proper boost-type move—rarely used correctly by wild Pokémon. Yet this Pidgeotto had not only learned it but also reached level 2 mastery, meaning it used the technique regularly and consciously.
No wonder it had managed to keep up with Pikachu's speed so well; it wasn't luck but disciplined instinct honed by territorial battles.
He closed the system with a satisfied huff. "Hmm. Then shall we go?" Calling Pidgeotto back into its ball with a flash of red light, Ash turned toward Yellow. The girl had been sitting comfortably with Bulbasaur in her arms.
When she stood, the little Pokémon waved one of its vines toward Pikachu. Pikachu, naturally, waved his tiny paw back, chirping brightly as if greeting an old friend.
"It's Bulbasaur… that's awesome," Ash murmured, unable to hide a little awe. Even after living in this world for years, the idea of casually travelling beside one of the iconic Kanto starters still excited him.
Bulbasaur wasn't just strong—its temperament made it one of the most beloved starter choices, even among experienced trainers.
"Yeah! He's my partner." Yellow beamed proudly, patting the Grass-type on the head. Bulbasaur puffed up with dignity at her affection.
"Seeing you talk with Pidgeotto earlier… I felt like Bulbasaur wanted to walk around with me too. And now that he's out, he seems happy about it."
"Bulba!" the Pokémon grunted affirmatively, his expression serious despite his small size.
"He's saying he'll protect you," Ash translated with a gentle smile. Yellow had begun learning to sense and interpret Viridian energy, but she wasn't nearly as attuned as he was yet.
Still, the fact that she could feel anything at all was impressive; her connection with nature was naturally sharper than most.
Ash wiped a small bead of sweat from his forehead. 'If she uses Viridian Power inside a forest with Bulbasaur, her battle potential will skyrocket…' He could already imagine it. The forest practically hummed to Viridian Essence.
Yellow would be fighting with the environment itself.
'Not that I can complain, I've got both Aura and Viridian… if I ever pick up a grass-type, I might break the difficulty curve myself.'
With their pace picking up again, the two resumed their journey along Route 1. The morning eventually softened into a warm afternoon breeze.
After a while, they arrived near a small riverside clearing, the water flowing gently over round stones and sending a calm, cool whisper through the air.
Ash decided it was a good place to rest. They had walked farther than expected without running into any trouble—in particular, they had avoided the large flock of Spearow that he remembered from the anime.
That was a relief.
With Yellow beside him and her relatively weaker physical endurance, he didn't want to drag her through a chaotic flock battle. Even with Pikachu's strength, fighting a swarm would be risky, and protecting Yellow at the same time would stretch things thin.
"Let's camp here," Ash said, glancing at her.
"Hmm, I was also feeling a bit tired…" 'Yellow Brook', she admitted softly as she sat on a flat riverside rock. She looked exhausted, her breath slightly uneven. Travelling on foot wasn't something she often did, especially not at this pace.
Ash lowered his backpack, and the moment he set it down, he felt the egg inside shift lightly—almost like a small nudge.
'This little thing… it might hatch tonight,' he thought with a flicker of anticipation.
"I think it will hatch tonight," Yellow said quietly, echoing his thoughts with surprising accuracy. She sat beside him, stretching her legs as Bulbasaur settled on her lap.
Ash nodded.
He sensed it too.
The life inside was growing more restless with each hour. Yellow's intuition with Viridian was frighteningly sharp despite being new to it.
The system hadn't exaggerated—she really was a natural genius in manipulating Viridian Essence. The more she grew, the more she would inevitably push and shape his own control forward as well.
He leaned back against the grass, watching the gentle river glisten under the afternoon light.
"Come on out, Pidgeotto."
Ash tossed the Poké Ball lightly, and a familiar flash of red light bloomed in the clearing. Pidgeotto emerged with a sharp flap of wings, landing neatly atop a nearby log. By now, the campsite had been fully set up—the tent secured, the fire pit arranged with stones, and the faint crackling sound of burning wood blending into the distant chorus of nocturnal Pokémon cries.
Dinner preparations were already complete, but Ash wasn't done yet.
From his bag, he took out a small sealed package bought earlier from the system shop—normal-type jelly staples, priced at 100 Battle Points. Carefully, he sliced the translucent jelly into bite-sized pieces and placed them onto a clean leaf.
"This is for you two."
"Pii~ Pidgeotto!"
Pidgeotto pecked at the jelly, and the moment it tasted it, its wings fluttered in delight. Its chirp rang clearly through the camp, loud and energetic, as if announcing its approval to the whole forest.
Nearby, Yellow quietly took out another pack Ash had bought earlier—a grass-type special jelly. She cut it neatly and placed it before Bulbasaur. The jelly gave off a faint, fresh scent, almost like crushed leaves after rain. Rich in nutrients and specially formulated for grass types, it was an excellent growth staple.
However, its price was steep, which was why Ash usually avoided buying it unless it was during intensive training periods.
In those times, it served as a recovery diet that significantly hastened progress.
"Piika—Wiiga."
Pikachu munched happily as well, cheeks puffing slightly with each bite. This jelly ranked among her favourite snacks, second only to tomato ketchup. Still, as always, Pikachu made no attempt to mix the two—a mystery Ash had long given up trying to understand.
"Bulba~~"
Bulbasaur's ember-like eyes sparkled faintly as it enjoyed the jelly, its body swaying slightly in contentment. Yellow watched quietly, a small smile forming on her lips. She didn't say anything to Ash—not a word of thanks. Their relationship wasn't warm enough for that yet, and expressing gratitude felt strangely awkward to her.
Ash didn't mind. He knew this diet was listed in the breeder guide, but it required a breeding skill at Lv. 4—something he had yet to reach. For now, he could only rely on purchased supplies.
Once everyone had eaten, Ash turned back toward the pot simmering gently over the fire, steam curling upward with a savoury aroma. He was just about to check the seasoning when a faint whirring sound reached his ears.
A bicycle.
He looked up and spotted a figure approaching along the dirt path, pedalling briskly before slowing down near the clearing.
The girl waved energetically.
"Hey! Can I camp beside you?"
She had bright orange hair that caught the firelight even from a distance. Ash immediately recognised her and smiled.
Out here in the wild, danger didn't only come from Pokémon. Trainers from illegal organisations—Team Rocket among them—were known to roam freely. Because of that, many trainers followed an unspoken rule: set up camp near others whenever possible. Safety in numbers. If no one was around, they would wait and see if others joined later.
"That's fine," Ash replied easily. "I'm Ash Ketchum, a rookie trainer from Pallet Town."
He lifted his Pokédex and showed it openly, letting her scan his identity. Yellow followed suit, presenting her own Pokédex after a brief pause.
The orange-haired girl relaxed visibly.
"Misty. I'm from Cerulean City."
She smiled freely as she showed her Pokédex as well. Ash noticed immediately that she made no effort to hide her background—it clearly displayed her connection to the Cerulean Gym.
In this world, the Cerulean Gym was no ordinary gym. It was under the leadership of Misty's father, a dignified and powerful gym leader. Unlike the anime's portrayal, it was considered one of the top four hardest gyms in all of Kanto.
A mega-evolving Gyarados stood as one of his core Pokémon, making challengers think twice before stepping inside.
Thanks to that upbringing, Misty felt different.
She wore her long hair in twin ponytails, giving her an energetic yet refined look. There was confidence in her posture, and an active aura surrounded her—far removed from the temperamental girl Ash remembered from another life.
"So, you're related to the Cerulean Gym," Yellow spoke up calmly, glancing at the Pokédex screen. "Hehe! Yeah. I'm the fourth daughter of the Cerulean Gym Master," Misty said cheerfully. "I'm out on my journey right now." There was pride in her voice—but no resentment, no reluctance.
"Nice to meet you, Misty," Ash said. "If you like, join us. We were just about to have dinner."
"I'm Ash," he added, a little more firmly this time.
"An aspiring Pokémon Master."
"Nice to meet you too, Ash."
As the three of them settled in, the atmosphere gradually warmed. The fire crackled softly, embers drifting upward into the darkening sky. Yellow and Misty, both being girls, found it easy to talk, their conversation flowing naturally from Pokémon to travel stories.
Misty, however, kept sneaking glances at the food.
When Ash finally served dinner, her eyes widened in genuine surprise.
"You made this?" she asked.
Yellow nodded, already digging in. Having eaten Ash's cooking countless times, she was unfazed. Between bites, she casually mentioned several other dishes Ash was good at, each one making Misty look more incredulous.
"This is way better than what I usually eat on the road," Misty admitted with a laugh.
Ash scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.
With occasional laughter, light teasing, and the soft sounds of Pokémon resting nearby, the night passed on peacefully. The forest no longer felt threatening—only quiet, alive, and warm beneath the shared glow of the campfire.