No One's POV:
While Liam was taking a lunch break, Joe and Axel were hiding in some bushes on the outskirts of Viridian Forest. The small swarm of Beedrill was still chasing them.
"It looks like the coast is clear."
Joe peeked out from the dense bushes, carefully looking around their surroundings before turning toward Axel.
"Alright, let's go, kid. We'll have to walk to the nearest Team Rocket hideout from here."
Axel was furious about what had happened. The fact that he had been defeated by a newbie trainer who had a Wimpod of all things was humiliating.
"Damn it!"
Joe immediately crouched down and looked around before trying to shush Axel.
"Shhh! Axel, are you trying to lure them back here?"
"I don't care, Joe! It's humiliating that I lost to a damn noob with a Wimpod!"
Axel spoke in a low voice, his frustration over the loss clearly evident.
Joe could only pat him on the shoulder in an attempt to calm him down and keep him from attracting the Beedrill.
However, both of them suddenly noticed a huge shadow passing over them, followed by the sound of a bird's cry.
When they looked up at the sky, they froze.
He had returned.
"W-Why is that bastard back!?"
"Please don't tell me we're getting punished. Damn kid, this is all your fault!"
Joe stood there, knowing it would be futile to escape Noir's grasp. Meanwhile, Axel took a few steps back, ready to run if things came down to it.
And if matters couldn't get any worse, they heard the buzzing of Beedrill behind them. Turning around, they saw a small swarm of at least thirty approaching.
"Just great! Two problems coming at us from both sides. So, what's the plan, Joe?"
Joe gave him a sidelong glance and sighed before coming up with an answer.
"Well, we're probably going to get punished. From what I've heard from other grunts who've been punished by Noir, he's going to work us like slaves for an entire year. As for the Beedrill... well, he should be able to take care of them with ease."
As soon as Joe finished speaking, the Beedrill were already close enough to attack.
But in an instant, a blue blur rushed past them.
When they looked ahead, all thirty Beedrill were lying unconscious on the ground.
"Didn't I tell you idiots to be careful around that trainer?"
When they turned around, they saw Noir standing behind them in his all-black outfit and Houndoom mask. He then tossed thirty Poké Balls into the air.
Each Poké Ball landed on an unconscious Beedrill. Their red lights began blinking before eventually going dim, signaling that they had all been caught.
Joe and Axel watched in stunned silence as Noir captured thirty Beedrill in less than a minute.
"H-How did he catch them so quickly!?"
Axel was bewildered by what he had just witnessed, and he couldn't help feeling envious of Noir's abilities.
"Well, I guess I'll lighten your punishment... for now."
Noir continued walking, passing both Joe and Axel as though they weren't even worth stopping to scold.
"Lucario, come help me pick these up. You two, if you don't want to get punished, help me with this, and I'll give you both a job to do."
Rawr.
A blue-and-black bipedal canine Pokémon emerged and walked over to Noir. It was Lucario, and it immediately began helping him collect the Poké Balls.
Joe nudged Axel, giving him a look that clearly said, Let's help him so we don't get into any more trouble. Maybe we can get on his good side.
Axel let out an annoyed sigh and began helping as well, with Joe following close behind.
Both hoped that after helping Noir, things would work out in their favor.
---
Liam POV:
"The sign says Pewter City."
After a couple of days traveling through Viridian Forest, I had finally reached the outskirts of Pewter City.
"Wow, the view is nice from up here, especially with all the rocky terrain surrounding the city."
I took a moment to admire the scenery before remembering what I needed to do.
"Well, I'd better hurry to the Pokémon Center first and then head to the Gym for my first Gym Badge!"
I smiled as I began running downhill toward the Pokémon Center.
During the past few days, after catching Bulbasaur, I had been training with my current team while traveling. I wanted to get a better understanding of my Pokémon, their moves, and their abilities. I had also been conducting my own research so I could confirm some things before sharing my findings with Professor Oak.
After walking through Pewter City and taking in the sights, I finally found the Pokémon Center.
When I stepped inside, I couldn't help look around. This was my first time inside a Pokémon Center since arriving in this world and beginning my journey.
"Whoa! Now this is what I'm talking about!"
As I continued taking in the view, a feminine voice called out to me.
"Can I help you?"
I turned to my left and saw someone I had seen countless times throughout the Pokémon series: Pewter City's Nurse Joy.
I walked toward her, ready to hand over my Pokémon so they would be at full health for my first Gym battle.
"Yes, um... are you the older sister of the Nurse Joy from Viridian City?"
Pewter City's Nurse Joy looked surprised that I had gotten it right. Most people who came by were confused about who she was related to and often mistook her for one of her other relatives. Only a few people could tell the difference between them.
"Yes, I am the older sister of the Nurse Joy in Viridian City. And who might you be?"
"My name is Liam Valiant. I'm a new Trainer, and I came here to heal my Pokémon before my first Gym battle."
I handed her my Poké Balls, and she placed them on a tray before giving it to Chansey, who carried them to the back.
"Alright. Your Pokémon should be ready within a couple of hours. There's a cafeteria over there on the far left side if you're planning to wait here, Liam."
"Thank you!"
I thanked her and immediately headed toward the cafeteria to grab something to eat before contacting Professor Oak.
After getting my food, I looked for an empty table. However, before I could find one, I heard a voice that was all too familiar—one I'd heard countless times through a screen.
"If you ask me nicely, Ash, I can help you."
The boy wearing jeans, a jacket, and a hat with the Pokémon League logo was busy stuffing his face with food as he answered.
"I don't need any help!"
The tomboyish girl with ginger hair, whom I recognized as Misty, became angry with Ash and stormed away from the table.
She passed by me, and I took a few steps to the side. I didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
"Hey! You can't leave me with the bill!"
After hearing Ash complain, I walked closer to his table.
"Excuse me, are you by any chance Ash Ketchum?"
Ash turned to his left and saw a boy who looked a few years older than him. He seemed confused about how I knew his name.
"Yes? I am. How do you know my name?"
"My name is Liam Valiant. I'm a new Trainer who got his Pokémon a while back from Pallet Town."
Ash looked confused. He had thought he was the last person to leave Pallet Town on his journey.
"You're from Pallet Town too? I don't think I've ever seen you around town before."
"Well, that makes sense. Do you mind if I sit down and tell you my story? I can split the bill with you, too."
"Sure thing!"
Ash immediately agreed after hearing my offer to split the bill.
I began telling him about my journey, leaving out the part about being regressed in age and transported into the Pokémon World. I told him about meeting Daisy and Professor Oak, as well as saving Wimpod and befriending him as my partner Pokémon.
After hearing about my journey so far, Ash wanted to know more about Daisy.
That surprised me. I had always thought of Ash as the dense type, but then I remembered his manga counterparts, who had a crush on Daisy and weren't quite as dense when it came to the opposite sex.
"So, how is Daisy!?"
I gave him a wary smile and started telling him a little about her. It was becoming pretty obvious that Ash was more interested in hearing about Daisy than anything else.
If Misty saw Ash acting like this, she'd probably get annoyed and yell at him.
Then I remembered something Daisy had told me to pass along if I ever saw the others.
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. She told me to say hi to you."
"That sounds like Daisy, alright! Man, if I hadn't been in such a rush and had stayed just one more day, I could've had Daisy see me off. I'm so jealous of you!"
I gave him a bewildered expression after hearing that.
Is this really the same dense Ash from the anime?
Then again, this world had elements from the games, manga, and novel mixed in with the anime, so perhaps I shouldn't be too surprised.
"It really isn't that special, Ash. Both she and Professor Oak saw me off."
Before Ash could say anything else, a voice came over the speakers built into the building.
[Ash Ketchum and Liam Valiant, please come to the front desk. Your Pokémon are fully healed and ready.]
"Well, I guess we can talk later. Want to grab our Pokémon and speak to Professor Oak before heading to the Gym?"
"Sure! Hopefully, Daisy is still there."
Yep, he's got it bad for her.
I shook my head and walked with Ash to retrieve our Pokémon from Nurse Joy.
Afterward, we headed to a video phone to call Professor Oak.
The call connected, and an image appeared on the screen. It was Daisy, wearing a lab coat and smiling happily.
[Daisy: Wow, this is a surprise! How are you doing, Liam? And it's great to see you again, Ash! Is that the Pikachu I've heard so much about?]
Pikachu happily waved at the screen.
Pika! Pi!
"Yeah, he is, Daisy! And right now, I'm about to go get my first Badge!"
Ash immediately began talking about everything that had happened on his journey so far.
"Oh! Sorry about that, Liam. You did say you had some things to tell Professor Oak, right?"
"Yeah. Um, Daisy, is Professor Oak there right now?"
[Daisy: Sorry, Liam. Grandpa is out running a couple of errands, but I can let him know you called.]
"Sure, that's fine. I'm sending over some data I've been gathering while traveling. It's going to interest both of you!"
After sending over the research data I had compiled on certain things so far, I began telling her about everything I'd done during my journey.
[Daisy: That's amazing, Liam! I can't believe you caught that Bulbasaur from Viridian Forest that I've heard about, and you even saved all those Weedle!]
Daisy had a joyful expression as she listened to everything I told her.
"Well, it was thanks to Samurai and my Pokémon that I was able to free those Weedle and catch Bulbasaur in the first place."
We continued talking for a while, sharing more about our experiences.
Ash, who had been watching us talk, eventually grew annoyed and interrupted our conversation.
"Hey, Daisy!"
Both Daisy and I stopped talking and turned toward him.
[Daisy: Yes, Ash?]
"I heard you plan on becoming a researcher like Professor Oak, right?"
When Ash brought that up, Daisy smiled happily. She clearly enjoyed talking about her new occupation.
[Daisy: Yeah, Ash! It's amazing! I'm learning so much from Grandpa, and he said that if I keep this up, it won't be long before I become a proper researcher like him!]
"That's great!"
And just like that, all three of us continued talking for a little while longer before Ash and I said our goodbyes to Daisy and ended the call.
We both got up from the booth and headed toward the front entrance of the Pokémon Center. As we walked, I looked over at Ash.
"So, Ash, are you ready to challenge our first Gym and get our first Badge?"
"I sure am! Right, Pikachu?"
Pika! Pi!
And just like that, the two of us walked out of the Pokémon Center and headed straight toward our first official Gym battle at the Pewter City Gym.