The Poké Ball bounced off the Drifloon just as it was about to capture it. A fsh of red light erupted from the Pokémoing the capture attempt entirely.

  When a Poké Ball fails to capture a Pokémon, aside from beiive, there’s usually only one expnation.

  “Been tamed? Hmph! how b.”

  Paul snorted as he put the bounced Poké Ball bato his pocket.

  “I told you to wait! Why did you attack? This is so...”

  A sweet-looking girl hurried over from a distance, cradling the Drifloon in her arms. She scowled at Paul for attag her Pokémon out of nowhere.

  “If you ’t even trol your own Pokémon, you should just stay home. Don’t e out here to waste my time.” Paul snapped coldly, showing no for the girl.

  “What did you just say? You insulted me? And you attacked my Pokémon without reason? How dare you! I’ll battle you!” the girl retorted, her frustration boiling over.

  “A battle?”

  Paul stopped in his tracks and turo face her.

  “That’s right! I’ll defeat you!” the girl decred fiercely.

  “Fihree-on-three. The first side to have all their Pokémon uo battle loses,” Paul said without hesitation. He weled the challenge, viewing it as an opportunity to further train his Pokémon.

  “Uh... well...”

  The girl’s fidence wavered upon hearing the rules.

  “Is there a problem?” Paul asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “My Drifloon’s injured because of you. I only have one Pokémohat fight,” she admitted awkwardly.

  “You don’t even have three Pokémon? How dull.”

  Without another word, Paul turned and walked away, leaving the girl fuming behind him.

  As he tinued dowh, Paul couldn’t shake a sense of familiarity. This se... it reminded him of something.

  Suddenly, a memory surfaced—his first enter with Ash Ketchum. The se repyed vividly in his mind.

  “I wonder what the Ash of this world is like...” Paul murmured to himself, a spark of anticipation lighting his eyes. His fist ched iement at the thought of meeting this “super rookie.”

  Kantion

  On an endless expanse of grassnd, a boy and his electric mouse panion ran freely.

  “Pikachu, isn’t it beautiful?” Ash said, grinning as he looked around.

  “Pika~” Pikachu chirped in agreement.

  After their pyful romp, the pair y on the grass, enjoying the gentle breeze and gazing into the distance.

  “We’re almost at Cerulean City. We have to work hard and win our first Gym Badge,” Ash said, sitting up with determination in his eyes.

  “Pika!” Pikachu cheered, pung the air with its tiny paw.

  “We do it! I know we’ll bee the greatest Pokémon Masters ever!” Ash excimed, pulling out a feather that shimmered like a rainbow from inside his jacket. His gaze was full of hope aement.

  Though he had faced repeated failures, Ash’s spirit remained unbroken.

  “Pika!” Pikachu’s eyes sparkled with longing as it stared at the Rainbow Wing, recalling the mysterious Pokémon they had entered.

  Unlike his anime terpart, this Ash had yet to earn a single badge, and his journey cked traveling panions. On the first day of his journey, he was attacked by a flock of Spearow and entered a legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh—leaving him with the Rainbow Wing as a token of their meeting.

  Upon reag Viridian City, Ash’s hopes of challenging the Gym were dashed when he discovered that the inal Gym Leader, Giovanni, was no longer in charge. Green, Gary’s older brother, had taken over as a temporary leader. However, the rules required a three-on-three battle, and Ash only had Pikachu.

  Despite his pleas, Greeantly agreed to a one-och. Even so, Ash was no match for him and had to leave empty-handed, vowing to return.

  In Viridian Forest, Ash mao capture a Caterpie and a dispced Taillow before arriving ier City. There, he prepared to challehe Gym, now overseen by Brock’s younger brother, Forrest.

  However, Forrest’s lineup—a Rhyperior and an Onix—proved overwhelming. Pikachu, armed with only newly learned Iron Tail and Quick Attack, couldn’t stand a ce. Caterpie and Taillow fared even worse.

  Once again, Ash had to move oing his sights on Cerulean City to earn his first badge. Yet, despite the setbacks, his optimism remained unshaken. The future Rainbow Hero tio grow as a trai an incredible pace, even if his team’s progress gged behind.

  Paul, of course, knew none of this. The Paul of this world wasn’t privy to the experiences of his anime terpart. What he did have were his own memories.

  As a reinated individual, Paul had spent years honing his skills, trainilessly, and traveling with his older brother, Reggie, across variions. His starting point as a trainer far surpassed that of most others.

  fronting challenges was sed nature to Paul. He would always find a way to overe them.

  “Beep beep~”

  Paul’s phone buzzed as he finished releasing a Pokémon he deemed unfit for his team. Seeing Reggie’s name on the s, Paul answered the video call.

  “Hey, Reggie. What’s up?” Paul asked, curious. His brother rarely called without a good reason.

  “Paul, where are yht now?” Reggie’s voice was unusually urgent.

  “I’m approag Eterna Forest. I should reach Eterna City in a few days for the Gym challenge. Why?” Paul replied.

  “Great! I retly got my hands on a rare item, and I’m sending it to you. It should arrive at the Pokémoer ierna City soon. Just ask Nurse Joy to hand it over when you get there,” Reggie said excitedly, his tone brimming with childlike enthusiasm.

  “Uh... sure,” Paul said, puzzled. What kind of item could get Reggie so worked up?

  “Is that a Vulpix on your shoulder? Did you just catch it? It looks adorable. Anyway, I’ve got to run. Keep up the good work, Paul!” Reggie said hurriedly before ending the call.

  “Vul?”

  Paul and the Vulpix exged fused ghe little fox tilting its head in bewilderment.

  “Whatever it is, I’ll find out at the Pokémoer,” Paul muttered, brushing off his curiosity. He had a faint suspi but chose not to dwell on it.

  [TL/N: This is from the Author:

  This version of Ash draws inspiration from the movie I Choose You! with a reimagioryline and a full powerhouse team. While his jourarts slow, his growth as a trainer is rapid after earning his sed badge and capturing a Charmander. Meanwhile, Paul tinues his path as a seasoned aermirainer, carving his own lega this interected Pokémon world.]

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