“Who’s there?!”

Ash was startled by the sudden voice, but no matter how he looked around, he was the only one there. Oh, and there was a completely burnt bicycle next to him, looking like a dried fish.

“Right, whose bicycle is this?”

Ash only remembered that in a moment of urgency, he had grabbed a random bike, but as for the original owner of the bike… he had no impression. At that time, he seemed to have seen a very cool Gyarados in the river. Should he go back and take a look?

Meanwhile, Red entered a mysterious space, hazy all around, but he could perceive the thoughts of this miraculous young man, a seamless connection. However, the constant novelty of these thoughts made his scalp tingle. Do normal human thoughts really have so many twists and turns?

If he didn't interrupt, who knew where this person's thoughts would wander, so Red finally couldn't help but remind him:

“Pokémon Center.”

This voice startled Ash again. Only then did he, with his carefree nature, come to his senses. Ho-Oh’s healing was not omnipotent. The most important thing now was to go to the Pokémon Center. If Pikachu were to suffer from any future ailments like rheumatism, that would be a big problem.

Regardless of whether he was possessed, Ash put the rainbow feather into his embrace, picked up Pikachu, and ran in one direction. As for the destination, he didn't know; he just ran in the direction Ho-Oh had left.

...

At the Viridian City Pokémon Center, Ash handed Pikachu over to Nurse Joy. He hadn't expected that his aimless running would actually lead him out of the forest and into a big city.

Then, under Joy’s guidance, Ash took out his Pokédex and registered as a Trainer. This way, he could enjoy unlimited benefits from the Pokémon League for Trainers, such as free use of Pokémon Center facilities, free treatment, free accommodation, and so on… One should know that Pokémon Centers are a chain brand across the country, even the entire world.

Soon after, Pikachu also came out wrapped in bandages, with no major injuries except for some minor ones. According to Nurse Joy, the situation was very critical at the time; if Pikachu had been brought in any later, it might have had to heal itself…

“Pika!”

Pikachu leaped directly onto Ash’s shoulder, which made Ash’s sense of pride surge. He immediately felt like a true Trainer, and couldn't help but smile and rub Pikachu.

Seeing that he was still covered in mud, Ash decided to go to the accommodation rooms behind the Pokémon Center for a good bath. However, when Ash saw the public phone nearby, he couldn't help but go over to it.

...

“Hello, this is Ash’s mom.” The phone connected, and Delia’s voice came through.

Ash couldn't help but say proudly, “Mom, I’m in Viridian City.”

“Ah, Ash, why are you covered in mud?”

“Oh, oh, it was raining heavily in Viridian City just now, and a passing car splashed me.”

Ash didn't tell the truth, and he quickly hid Pikachu, who was wrapped in bandages, otherwise, if Delia saw him, she would probably start nagging again.

“You are such a clumsy person, remember xxx…”

However, even so, Delia still began to nag incessantly. As she spoke, she suddenly thought of something, and a hint of pride appeared on her face.

“But it’s really amazing that you could reach Viridian City in one day. Back in the day, your father took many days to reach Viridian City.”

Ash looked bewildered. Memories of his father hadn't appeared in his mind for a long time.

“In short, you must become a Trainer stronger than your father and your grandfather. Go, Ash!”

After saying that, Delia hung up the phone. Ash put down the phone, intending to go back and take a bath. As he turned around, he happened to see four Pokémon-shaped totems carved on a wallpaper in the Pokémon Center. Three were bird-type Pokémon, and one of them was somewhat similar to the colorful bird he had encountered earlier.

So Fearow is that famous outside?

“Beep beep beep…”

The phone next to him suddenly rang. Ash looked around; there was no one else, so he cautiously picked up the phone. In the video was a gray-haired old man, wearing a white lab coat, with a hint of goofiness in his serious expression.

This was Professor Oak, the one who gave Pikachu as a starter Pokémon to Ash.

“Oh, oh, Ash, I heard from your mom that you’ve already reached Viridian City, so I called.”

Ash smiled proudly and nodded.

“Mm-hmm, I didn’t have much hope for you originally, but casting a wide net always catches big fish. In short, the better you perform, the more glorious I’ll be…”

Professor Oak rambled on, which made Ash have the urge to hang up the phone directly.

“Right, how many Pokémon have you caught already?”

Ash, startled, could only brace himself and reply, “For now, one…?”

Professor Oak’s expression instantly changed, incredibly fast, filled with disappointment.

“You really are just a small fry…”

Ash quickly tried to retort, “But I saw a magical Fearow, very similar to this icon here!”

“It’s just a Fearow… And the Pokémon on here are super special Pokémon; it’s impossible for a beginner like you to…”

Before he could finish speaking, Professor Oak suddenly opened his mouth wide and stared with wide eyes, his eyeballs almost popping out of the screen.

Ash had already taken out that colorful feather, trying to prove himself again:

“It’s really a super cool Fearow, just a bit bald. This is a feather it dropped.”

Professor Oak: “!!!”

Even through the screen, he could feel a sacred light. This colorful feather was incredibly special, radiating colorful light all over, simply incomparable to the feathers of ordinary Pokémon.

This kid really encountered a legendary Pokémon?!

Professor Oak’s expression changed instantly again, his speed even three times faster than before.

“Ash-kun, you are a good child. How about you mail the feather over for me to see…”

“Hey, hey, hey, the signal here is bad, I’m hanging up first!”

Ash, however, looked up at the sky, pretended to talk for a bit, and then directly hung up the phone.

This young master isn't easily bullied!

Thinking this, he directly put away the rainbow feather and turned back to take a bath.

...

Shortly after he left, a short-haired orange-haired girl walked in, carrying a dried-fish-like bicycle. She first looked around, didn't find her target, then threw the scrapped bicycle on the ground and walked straight towards the inner door, with an exasperated expression.

Having her bicycle inexplicably snatched and then ruined into a dried fish would infuriate even an immortal.

“That Trainer with Pikachu, I will definitely not let you off!” The girl named Misty secretly vowed.

...

At night, Ash and Pikachu were sound asleep. This was his first night as a Trainer. He practically collapsed into sleep, sleeping very sweetly, in a very ungraceful posture, and Pikachu next to him was the same. The two who had just formed a bond now had identical movements.

Suddenly, Ash sat up like a zombie, looking at his hands with a blank expression.

“Pika!”

Pikachu, beside him, raised its small head, looking at its Trainer very alertly, yellow electric currents already sparking from its cheeks.

Pokémon are different from humans; they have special senses. Although Ash’s appearance hadn't changed, Pikachu had keenly sensed it.

This person isn't its naive Trainer!

Red: “…”

And at this moment, it was he, Red, who had been inexplicably absorbed into Ash’s body, controlling it. Red closed his eyes, sensing everything around him, feeling the air brush against his body. This was a different feeling than before, and it further confirmed that his previous self was merely a fictional character.

But perhaps this young man named Ash is also fictional, and he just arrived in a higher-level fictional world?

“Pika!”

The Growl next to him brought Red’s thoughts back to reality. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a Pikachu baring its teeth at him.

Red also had a Pikachu; he knew that when a Pikachu made this gesture, it was usually about to attack.

“I mean no harm…”

No big deal. Red smiled and slowly extended his hand to touch Pikachu’s cheek. The latter gradually lost its hostility under his hand, gently licking Red’s palm.

Pokémon all have special senses; they can perceive human good and evil. This human, at least, had no ill intent.

Red was an old hand at dealing with Electric Mouse, but this magical feeling of touching a Pokémon was refreshing to him.

“Is this what real Pokémon are like?”

Saying this, Red embraced Pikachu. If Ash were to suddenly wake up and see this scene, he would probably spit out old blood. He had almost risked his life to gain Pikachu’s trust, and now a stranger had just ‘cuckolded’ him of Pikachu?

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Red tickled Pikachu’s chin. Pikachu understood and jumped onto his shoulder. The two slowly walked out of the room.

He didn't know how long this state would last, so he wanted to take this opportunity to properly see the real world.

Unexpectedly, just as he walked out of his room, the opposite door also opened, and a short-haired orange-haired girl walked out.

The two looked at each other, and Misty instantly erupted, her tiger-like eyes glaring, Snarling loudly:

“You little thief who stole my bicycle, I’ve finally caught you!”

Then Misty watched as the other person walked directly towards the Pokémon Center door, not even giving her a glance.

“Damn it!”

What was more infuriating than having her bicycle stolen in front of her was that the person who stole it just brazenly ignored her?

Saying this, Misty quickly chased after him, reaching out to grab Red’s clothes.

“Click!”

But before she could touch Red, he had already extended a hand and grabbed her wrist.

Red turned his head, his eyes almost devoid of any emotion, only exuding a strong, unapproachable chill. He asked faintly:

“Who are you?”

Misty: “???”

He’s wiping his mouth clean and not recognizing her in less than 24 hours?!