Caleb strolled through the streets of Vailstone City. With the Fighting-type tournament underway, Fighting-type Pokémon were everywhere.
A Conkeldurr lugging a concrete pillar, a Sawk in karate robes, a pointy-headed Heracross, a green-skinned Machamp, and even a Farfetch'd wielding a huge leek...
Wait—was that... Annihilape?
"This year's Fighting Specialist Tournament really is stacked... they've even got an Annihilape!"
Caleb was genuinely surprised.
Annihilape is a new evolution of Primeape, achieved by using Rage Fist twenty times. But since Rage Fist is a Ghost-type move, it's not exactly easy for a Fighting-type like Primeape to learn.
So Annihilape were still quite rare—except, apparently, in Paldea, where Mankey and Primeape seemed to have a natural knack for mastering it.
Which meant it was easier to evolve them there.
The moment the Annihilape appeared, it drew a crowd. Everyone was fascinated by this ghostly, wild-looking Fighting-type Pokémon.
Among those gathered, Caleb spotted a familiar face.
Ash?
Ash noticed Caleb too and waved cheerfully. "Caleb! Didn't expect to run into you again so soon!"
Caleb pushed his way through the crowd and noticed how close the Annihilape was acting toward Ash. "What's going on here?" he asked curiously.
Ash grinned. "Let me introduce you! This is Primea—uh, I mean, Annihilape now. It's been training with Master Anthony for a while."
A burly man nearby—Anthony—chuckled. "It's got serious talent. Beat every Pokémon in my dojo. Just evolved recently too. When I heard about the tournament, I figured it was time to bring it out."
After listening to their explanation, Caleb recalled something—Ash did have a Primeape.
From way back in the original series, when Mankey stole Ash's limited edition cap, got into a scuffle with Team Rocket, and was launched by James's legendary kick...
And of course, it evolved into Primeape mid-battle.
Later, after winning the P1 Grand Prix, Primeape was left with Anthony for training—classic Ash, always sending off his Pokémon.
Caleb leaned in and whispered, "So what's your plan with Annihilape now?"
"Oh, since Master Anthony said there's nothing left to teach it, and I haven't seen it in ages, I'm thinking of taking it with me to the Lily of the Valley Conference," Ash said, clenching his fist with determination.
Caleb nodded, relieved. One childhood regret—finally resolved.
Then he added, "Hey... you still remember the Pidgeot you left in Viridian Forest?"
Say yes. Say you remember.
You promised to come back for it.
Caleb had waited in front of the TV for years. Years!
"Of course," Ash replied with a nostalgic smile. "Once Pidgeot finishes watching over its flock, I'll go back for it."
He tilted his head. "Though... how'd you know about that, Caleb?"
That question stumped Caleb. He fumbled for a response, then blurted, "Uh… Professor Elm told me. Yep. That's it."
He coughed. "Anyway, I gotta go."
And with that, Caleb made a swift exit.
In the center of Pastoria's public park, merchant booths were set up everywhere.
Caleb spotted Green sulking at her stand.
"What's wrong? Something got you down? Come on, share with the class so I can enjoy it too," Caleb teased with a grin.
Green sighed and pointed toward another booth nearby. "Them. They stole all my customers."
Caleb turned to look.
It was a bare-bones stall, nothing fancy, yet it was packed with customers.
Behind the stand were a man and a woman—and a cat?
Wait... that cat looked really familiar.
"Thanks for your purchase! Here's your coin. Meow."
The cat, dressed in store uniform, handed over an item to a customer.
That was Meowth from Team Rocket!
Which meant... those two were—
Yep. That woman's dramatic red hair? Jessie.
And that guy with the blue hair? James.
"Can't believe I, Green, am losing to them in business. This is humiliating!" she growled.
Honestly, Caleb thought, if she just ran over and yelled "Who are you people?!", they'd probably recite their motto, and Officer Jenny could cart them off.
He kept that to himself.
Meanwhile, Haunter caught a whiff of something delicious and drifted over to the stall.
Jessie: "Get your Fury Buns here!"
James: "Eat one and your Pokémon's strength will soar!"
Meowth: "Even Elite Four member Bruno said it was tasty! Meow!"
Wobbuffet: "Wobbuffet!"
Jessie: "Who let you out?! Get back in the ball!"
Passerby A: "These are the Fury Buns! I saw Bruno buy a whole stack from this stall!"
Passerby B: "But didn't this place get fined yesterday for not having a food license…?"
Passerby C: "So what? Bruno eats them, how bad can they be?"
Passerby B: "I mean, still…"
Passerby A: "If you don't want any, move aside."
Haunter looked longingly at the ever-growing line and tugged at Caleb's sleeve.
"Ghaast~"
Old man wants a bun.
"Nope," Caleb replied flatly. "It's Team Rocket. Probably expired food. You'll end up with food poisoning."
"Ghaaast~"
"You're Poison-type? Still doesn't matter. Poison-types aren't immune to everything, you know."
Seeing Haunter's dejected expression, Caleb finally sighed and handed over some cash. "Fine. Just one, okay?"
"Ghaast! (＞^w^＜)"
Haunter happily floated off to join the line.
Turning back to Green, Caleb said, "You know why I'm here, right?"
Green smirked and pulled a stack of cards from her bag. "5,000 a piece."
Caleb smiled politely.
"…Okay, okay! 5 each. 5 each. Happy?"
He snatched the cards from her hand. "Five cents. Take it or leave it."
Green shrieked. "Do you know how much these cost to print?!"
"Hmm? I said 5 cents for the whole stack."
Caleb replied with a deadpan smile.