The next morning, I woke up feeling like a kid on Christmas.
I mean, come on—I caught a freaking Mewtwo yesterday. One of my childhood dreams has been accomplished.
After stretching and doing the usual routine, I set up breakfast outside the Pokémon Center.
I summoned another five-star meal from the Inventory and also dropped some top-tier Pokéfood for the squad—Zephyr, Sun, Levi, Blaze, and now… Astra.
Yeah, I wasn't calling her "Mewtwo" every five seconds. I have standards..
Naturally, people couldn't stop sneaking glances at her..
I mean, it's not every day you see a Mewtwo just vibing outside a Pokémon Center.
A few trainers even had the audacity to come over and offer trades.
I just stared at them like they had some kind of brain damage.
Seriously.
You think I'm trading Astra for your level 12 Pidgey? Be serious.
Make me want to shove Ea to their ass.
Eventually, after breakfast, we made our way to the Cerulean Gym.
The place was huge, basically an indoor water park. A massive swimming pool took up most of the space, with floating platforms set up across the surface like a battle-ready obstacle course.
What surprised me, though, was the smell—or lack of it. No harsh chlorine sting in the air, nothing chemical. Just clean water and fresh air.
At the entrance, I was greeted by a gym attendant, a teenage guy, clipboard in hand.
He stared at me. "Challenger?"
"Yup," I said casually. "Name's Aiden. Here to battle Misty."
"Cool," he nodded, scribbling something down. "Three-on-three format. You'll be battling on water platforms, so keep in mind footing can get tricky. Misty's wrapping up her current battle, but you're next."
Then he looked back at me. "How many badges you got so far?"
"Just one," I said. "Why?"
He shrugged like it was no big deal, but his tone turned a bit more official. "Gym Leaders usually adjust the strength of their Pokémon depending on how many badges a challenger has. It's kinda a balancing thing, so rookies don't get steamrolled right away."
"Ah," I nodded, filing that away. "So basically, she's holding back."
"More like... playing fair," he offered with a small grin. "You'll still have to earn it."
Fair enough. I could work with that.
I gave the guy a thumbs-up and stepped aside to wait, watching the end of the current match. Some poor kid's Goldeen was getting absolutely wrecked by a Starmie. Brutal.
Then my eyes landed on Misty.
Huh.
She didn't look quite like the versions I remembered from the anime or manga. No bright yellow crop top or side ponytail.
Instead, she had that appearance from the HeartGold and SoulSilver games, wearing a swimsuit with a jacket on top, and her short orange hair fell to her neck. She also looks older.
So, this universe is basically the game universe. Fine by me. I really couldn't be bothered with the whole anime and manga chaos. I'm just here to chill and enjoy, and maybe catch some more legendary Pokémon while I'm at it.
While I waited, I glanced at my team, still in their Pokéballs.
And Astra? Yeah, she wasn't really one for gym battles.
Back when I first caught Astra, we had a conversation.
"Do you intend for me to fight often?" she had asked, calm and direct, her voice echoing in my head.
I remember shrugging. "Only if you want to. I'm not here to use you like a tool."
She was silent for a moment before replying.
"I do not enjoy battle. I've had enough of it. If possible, I would prefer peace."
From the start, we had a clear understanding.
She travels with me, sees the world but she fights only when she decides to. No pressure. No orders.
So, that left the lineup as:
Zephyr—my ever-dramatic Pidgeotto,
Sun—the chaotic kung-fu furball Mankey,
And Blaze—an eager Growlithe who has a type disadvantage.
A solid lineup. We'd be fine.
Just as I finished mentally going over the team, Misty's Starmie sent the last challenger's Pokémon flying into the water with a dramatic splash.
The kid looked soaked but proud—honestly, I respected the confidence.
The gym attendant looked over at me and gave a small wave.
"You're up."
I nodded and made my way to the water platform. Misty gave me a small, confident smile, probably sizing me up like I was just another challenger.
"Ready?" she asked, her voice steady.
I said, throwing a casual grin her way. "Yep."
She flicked her hand toward the battlefield. "Then let's get this started! Psyduck, come on out!"
She tossed her Pokéball, and the goofy little water type appeared, wobbling and shaking its head, looking as confused as ever.
"Psyduck?" I raised an eyebrow. "Then I choose you Blaze."
Blaze materialized, standing tall and eager to take on the challenge.
"A Growlithe, huh?" she mused, a little surprised by my choice. "Let's see how well he fares against Water-types."
Blaze barked excitedly, and I could tell he was raring to go.
"Blaze, let's go! Bite!"
Blaze rushed forward, teeth bared, ready to clamp down on Psyduck. But before Blaze could reach him, Misty shouted, "Psyduck, use Confusion!"
The blue duck's eyes glowed a soft yellow as the psychic energy shot out, hitting Blaze mid-charge. He stumbled back, his momentum halted by the blast.
"Psyduck, Water Gun!" Misty commanded.
Before Blaze could fully recover, a pressurized blast of water slammed into him, forcing him back toward the edge of the platform. He dug in, claws scraping against the surface, but he was clearly feeling it.
"Type advantage is no joke here," I muttered under my breath. This wasn't like the anime, where a Pikachu could somehow cook an Onix. In this world, typing mattered—a lot.
He barked defiantly, shaking off the water as best he could.
"Blaze, Quick Attack—go low and hit hard!"
He darted forward, zigzagging low across the surface before ramming into Psyduck's legs. The duck stumbled, flailing, but managed to stay upright.
Misty narrowed her eyes. "Another Water Gun!"
Blaze jumped to dodge, but Psyduck adjusted mid-attack. The jet of water struck him in the side, and that was it. Blaze was thrown across the platform like a soaked towel and skidded to a stop, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
He still tried to stand. I saw him struggle to rise on shaky legs, trying to push through. But I held up a hand.
"That's enough, Blaze, you did great," I said softly, recalling him back into his Pokéball. He had given it his all, and I couldn't ask for more than that.
Misty's Psyduck, meanwhile, was standing tall, still somewhat disoriented but in much better shape. The battle ended with Blaze slumping on the water platform, looking a little defeated, but not entirely out of
Misty nodded, her face serious now. "You've got heart. But I'm not going easy on you."
I couldn't help but smile. "I couldn't ask for more."
"Alright, Sun," I said, grabbing the next Pokéball from my belt. "You're up."
With a burst of red light, Sun landed on the platform, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet. He cracked his knuckles and looked over at Psyduck.
Misty blinked at the Mankey. "A Fighting-type?"
I grinned.
Psyduck wobbled, clearly still dazed from the last round, and Misty frowned. "Psyduck, Confusion!"
But Sun was already moving. A blur of motion. A single clean Karate Chop right to Psyduck's forehead before the psychic energy could even build. The duck went flying backward, hit the water with a loud splash, and didn't resurface.
The ref blew his whistle. "Psyduck is unable to battle!"
Sun gave a quick flex, clearly proud of himself, and I gave him a nod. "Nice. Real clean."
Misty didn't waste time. "Let's even the score—Goldeen, let's go!"
She threw her next Pokéball, and Goldeen emerged with an elegant splash, landing on a water-covered platform with a graceful arc of her horn.
Sun narrowed his eyes.
"Goldeen, Aqua Jet!"
Before I could even give a command, Goldeen became a blur of water and slammed into Sun like a speeding missile. Sun rolled across the platform, skidding to the edge before catching himself.
"Hey!" I shouted. "Don't let her set the pace—Low Kick, now!"
Sun surged forward, trying to time his kick just right, but Goldeen dipped into the water and popped up behind him, hitting him again with a Peck to the side.
Misty was sharp. She wasn't holding back—and I loved it.
"This is what I'm talking about," I muttered with a grin. "Sun, focus! Feint to the left, and then Karate Chop when she charges!"
Sun glanced back, caught my meaning, and nodded.
Goldeen darted forward again in another Aqua Jet, but this time Sun evaded to the left and slammed a Karate Chop across her back as she passed. The momentum worked against her. She hit the platform hard, flopped, and tried to regain her balance.
"Keep the pressure on!" I yelled. "Fury Swipes!"
Sun jumped on her position, landing hit after hit, horn narrowly missing him each time she tried to fight back. It wasn't pretty, and it definitely wasn't easy, but in the end, Goldeen slumped against the platform, panting and twitching.
The ref raised a hand. "Goldeen is unable to battle!"
I exhaled. "Phew. That was close."
Sun gave a little victorious whoop and raised his fists in the air.
"Alright," I said, stepping up to the edge, heart pounding now. "Final round."
Misty was already pulling her last Pokéball, face focused. "Let's finish this strong. Go, Starmie!"
The Pokéball burst open, and her ace twirled into the arena, its core pulsing with ominous light.
Sun looked back at me, a little out of breath but grinning like a lunatic.
I shook my head. "Nah, you've done enough, buddy. Take a break."
I returned Sun, grabbing the final ball on my belt. "Alright, Zephyr. Showtime."
I tossed Zephyr's Pokéball into the air. With a sharp cry, he burst out, wings wide.
Misty's POV
Misty was impressed.
Not a word she used lightly—especially not for novice trainers.
She had to admit, she'd underestimated Aiden. Just a little. At the start of the battle, she hadn't been going all out—more like playing with her food, as bad as that sounded. But she was the Cerulean Gym Leader, and most challengers who showed up were still early in their journeys, two or maybe four badges in. She had to hold back. If she didn't, no one would make it through her gym. Not unless they were already seasoned—and most weren't.
She didn't even use her main team for these kinds of matches. And still, that was usually enough.
Then Aiden walked in.
Her first thought was: older. Not that old, just… not what she expected. He was around her age, which wasn't common for challengers this early in the gym circuit. Most older trainers were already further along, or retired, or working jobs.
He started with a Growlithe. A Fire-type. In a Water gym. Bold. Maybe a little dumb. But the way that Growlithe fought? Persistent. Strategic. It landed solid hits, kept pushing even when the odds were against it. It still lost, sure, but it made Psyduck work for it.
Then came the Mankey.
And that's where things shifted.
She'd expected a bit of a scuffle. Maybe a few decent hits. What she didn't expect was for Psyduck to go down so fast. She trusted that Psyduck could hold his own, even while tired. But Aiden's Mankey was on a different level. There was raw power there, yeah—but also precision. Purpose.
Misty blinked as she recalled Psyduck afterward, honestly a little stunned.
She wasn't used to being wrong like that.
Then, in the next round, her Goldeen barely lasted a few minutes.
Even after the win, Misty noticed that Sun was still up, still charged, still itching to fight. He had enough in him for another round, easy.
But Aiden called him back.
Was it overconfidence?
No. That wasn't it.
Aiden didn't seem like someone who underestimated opponents. If anything, he was careful. Respectful. Tactical.
And then came the final round.
The final battle was with Starmie—her ace, even outside of her main team. It was the kind of Pokémon that could end most early challengers in under a minute. But Aiden's Pidgeotto was nothing like the others she'd fought. That bird was fast. Smart. Precise.
Every command Aiden gave was sharp and purposeful. Dodge. Feather Dance. Quick Attack. He wasn't just throwing out moves—he was reacting, adapting.
What followed wasn't just a fight—it was a back-and-forth chess match. His Pidgeotto danced across the battlefield with afterimages and precision strikes.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, Misty's eyes briefly drifted to Aiden's belt.
She froze.
Among the usual Pokéballs, one stood out—a gleaming purple sphere with a bold "M" on it.
A Master Ball.
She blinked, genuinely thrown for a moment.
She'd only seen one of those in person once before, years ago. Even among Gym Leaders, Master Balls were almost mythical—guaranteed capture. No failure. No chance. It wasn't the kind of thing you used on just anything.
And he just had one on his belt like it was no big deal?
Her heart picked up.
What was in that?
She couldn't help but wonder.
It had to be a Legendary. And yet… he didn't use it. Didn't even reach for it. It wasn't even in the conversation.
She realized, then, that Aiden wasn't just another badge chaser. The last time she'd felt this sense of quiet, overwhelming presence from a challenger… was Red. And he became Champion.
A shiver of excitement ran through her.
Maybe in the near future, she thought, we'll get another one of those insane legendary battles, like Red vs. Blue.
That match was practically Pokémon history at this point. Misty hadn't seen it live—most people hadn't—but the League posted the full recording online a few days later. Of course they did. Honestly, not sharing that would've been a crime against humanity.
It was one of those videos everyone had watched at least once. Some people even made reaction vids or breakdowns of every move. It was that iconic.
Back in the match, Zephyr was soaked, panting, feathers sagging—but still airborne. Still fighting. Starmie's gem flashed for one more Swift, but the bird powered through it, wings trembling as he slammed into the core with one last burst of willpower.
The gym lit up in red and gold. Water sprayed. And when it cleared…
Starmie was out.
Zephyr was still up.
She smiled.
This wasn't just some trainer trying to collect badges.
This was the kind of trainer who made history.
A champion in the making.
Aiden's POV
When the water settled, Starmie's gem dimmed. It floated there for a second, lifeless, then dropped into the pool with a soft splash.
Zephyr was still up, hovering low and wheezing.
The ref raised a flag. "Starmie is unable to battle! Victory goes to the challenger!"
He gave a weak chirp and closed his eyes, still dramatic even when half-dead.
Misty recalled Starmie and walked up with a smile. "Well fought! You deserved this badge."
She handed me the badge, shiny, blue, shaped like a drop of water.
Then I saw her glance at my belt, not that one, I mean the Pokéball belt.
Specifically, the Master Ball.
Her eyes lingered on it for a second too long. I could tell she wanted to ask, but the question never came.
Just a beat of silence.
Then she gave me a nod and turned to leave.
Fair enough.
"Two down," I said, staring at my newly acquired badge before slipping it into the case.
Zephyr made a soft, exhausted coo.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll get you snacks."
Gotta say, earning my second gym badge felt pretty damn good.
After that, I made a beeline for the Pokémon Center.
Blaze, Zephyr, and Sun were all banged up after the gym fight. Even Zephyr looked like he'd flown through a hurricane and back.
Once I was done at the Pokémon Center, I found myself at a bit of a stump.
Based on the games, I had two paths I could take—head straight to Saffron City, or go the old-fashioned route through Rock Tunnel and hit Lavender Town first.
Honestly? Either was fine by me. I wasn't really in a rush.
"Welp," I muttered, fishing out a coin from my Inventory. "Let's do this the classic way. Heads for Saffron, tails for Rock Tunnel."
I flipped it. The coin spun in the air, glinting in the sunlight, and landed neatly in my palm.
"Tails, huh?" I said, pocketing it. "Alright then, suffer it is."
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