Chapter 4: Formal – The Beginning of the Journey
Soon, the one-month Pokémon Summer Camp would come to an end, and Alex and Sai Lena would soon part ways. Mano would return to the Unova Region, while Sai Lena would return to the Kalos Region.
After getting along for such a long time, the group had truly bonded and become trusted companions. To be honest, none of them wanted to say goodbye just like how Red, Green, and Blue felt at the end of their intense training under the Masked Man in Johto.
Sunset Pallet Town Airport.
"Goodbye, Alex... I really look forward to seeing you next time," Sai Lena said tearfully, recalling the memories they'd made, from the double battles to the wilderness survival challenge, similar to the events of Pokémon Trainer School in Alola.
Alex looked conflicted for a moment. "Goodbye, Sai Lena." After all, it would be a lie to say he hadn't formed a genuine connection after so much time together especially after they both faced that rogue Beedrill swarm in Viridian Forest.
At this time, Mano came over too and said, "Goodbye, everyone." Her voice was calm, but her eyes shimmered with emotion, much like when Bianca left Nuvema Town in the Black and White manga arc.
Ash and Gary also had tears in their eyes. Though they usually bickered, this parting hit them hard.
Mano and Sai Lena boarded their respective flights one headed for Castelia City, the other toward Lumiose City.
The plane rose across the skies, its shadow slowly shrinking across the horizon until it vanished from view just like when Wallace took off after the Sootopolis Contest in Hoenn.
"Okay, don't be sad it's not like we'll never see each other again. Let's go back," Alex said, comforting the two younger boys with the maturity of someone who'd studied under Professor Oak for years—they were still kids after all, even if one of them would someday be called "the chosen one."
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In the next four years, Alex used the deep knowledge of Pokémon from his previous life to help Professor Oak solve numerous theoretical and practical challenges. Among the breakthroughs, he revealed all seven known evolutionary methods of Eevee, causing a global stir across Pokémon research circles.
Professor Sycamore from Kalos and Professor Birch from Hoenn both sent detailed letters and video calls, inviting Alex to assist with Pokémon ecology research and Mega Evolution analysis.
However, Alex politely declined, stating that he wasn't ready to pursue formal Pokémon research for now leaving the two professors slightly disappointed but understanding, much like when Red chose to continue traveling instead of becoming a Gym Leader.
During those four years, Alex's Charmander evolved into Charizard through intense and constant battling. Through this journey, his bond with Charizard came to mirror that of Alain's Mega Charizard X—ferocious but loyal.
Meanwhile, the system assigned him seven missions: five bronze, and two silver. Each one was tied to helping Professor Oak with rare Pokémon or challenging high-level trainers missions reminiscent of the Pokédex Completion Quests in the Adventures manga.
One mission led him deep into Mt. Miyacha, where he subdued a massive Onix with impressive durability almost as strong as Brock's Onix during the Indigo League arc.
Later, near the mist-shrouded Kosna River, Alex encountered and tamed a majestic Dragonair, whose serene temperament and powerful Aqua Tail made it a valued part of his growing team.
Both Pokémon were quasi-Elite level not easy to find in the wild, and rarer still to capture without a Master Ball. He earned their respect through strength and strategy, not brute force.
The bronze quests rewarded Alex with evolutionary stones Fire, Thunder, Leaf but these were mostly common items for him by then.
However, one silver quest gave him a rare Teal Pokémon Egg—its species still unknown and an energetic Elekid, who trained rigorously and later evolved into a powerful Electivire.
Now, Alex's current team was: Charizard, Garchomp, Dragonair, giant Onix, Gyarados, Electivire, and a mysterious Pokémon Egg. With this lineup, Alex believed he could enter the top rankings at the upcoming Kanto Pokémon League Conference maybe even reach the semifinals, like Ritchie once did.
Tomorrow was the official Pokémon Trainer Registration Day. In the Pokémon world, age twelve marks the rite of passage to begin one's journey as a full-fledged trainer just like Red in Pallet Town years ago.
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The next day, after the other trainers had received their first Pokémon, Ash Ketchum the canon protagonist rushed in late, bursting through Professor Oak's lab door wearing a wrinkled pair of green-striped pajamas, his hair wild like a freshly hatched Doduo.
"Professor Oak! I overslept I blame my mom for not waking me up!"
True to the original anime and manga, Ash missed out on receiving Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. But as fate would have it, he was handed Pikachu the rebellious Electric-type with attitude.
As expected, Pikachu zapped Ash with a full-powered Thunder Shock the moment their eyes met causing his hair to frizz and his legs to wobble like Jigglypuff's mic stand after a Sing attack.
Still, Ash stood up with a big grin.
Professor Oak patiently explained how to use the Poké Ball and the Pokédex, both standard-issue tools for trainers and both designed with tech developed in part thanks to Alex's input during field trials.
Ash: "Yay! I finally have my own Pokémon! Pikachu, hello!"
Pikachu gave him a glare sharper than a Scyther's scythe and delivered another Thunder Shock in return, like the early days of Pokémon Yellow.
"What did I do?! I didn't even touch you!" Ash cried out, sparks still crackling from his shirt.
Professor Oak approached Alex and Gary, his expression serious but full of pride. "The journey ahead is yours to walk alone. I've upgraded both of your Pokédexes to the National Mode, which will now register Pokémon beyond the standard Kanto species. Make the most of it and give it your all."
"Got it, Grandpa," Gary and I responded in unison, our voices firm with anticipation and respect.
"Of course, remember: if you catch any rare Pokémon, be sure to send them back for research. Especially if they show any unusual abilities or regional traits."
Over the past four years, Professor Oak had closely studied Alex's five core Pokémon: Charizard, Garchomp, Dragonair, Electivire, and the towering Onix from Mt. Miyacha. Time and time again, Oak found himself shocked by the strength and synergy of Alex's team especially Garchomp's combat instincts, which reminded him of the Pokémon once used by Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion.
Gary, unlike his early, arrogant depiction in the anime always flanked by cheerleaders chanting "Gary Gary, he's our man!" had matured greatly. Years of training alongside Alex had forged a calm, focused rival who now shared the same dream: to become a Pokémon Master. Their partnership resembled the rivalry between Red and Blue in the Pokémon Adventures manga competitive, respectful, and driven by ambition.
"Alex, let's do our best together. We'll aim straight for the Pokémon Master title," Gary said with determination.
"Absolutely. See you at the Conference," Alex replied confidently, a mutual resolve forming between them.
"I'm proud of both of you," Professor Oak said, watching them with glistening eyes. "It's rare to see such strong will and friendship in such young trainers. Go on, make your mark."
And with that, Alex's Pokémon journey officially began.
Meanwhile, in the back room of the lab, Ash Ketchum was still arguing with his stubborn Pikachu, who refused to get into its Poké Ball much like in the early chapters of the Electric Tale of Pikachu. The contrast was striking. Alex already had six powerful Pokémon and a detailed understanding of advanced battling, while Ash was just figuring out how to dodge Thunder Shock without passing out.
Alex and Gary took their first steps out of Pallet Town, heading down Route 1.
"Alex!" Gary called out suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
"What's up?" Alex turned, curious.
"Let's have one last friendly match before we go our separate ways!" Gary's eyes gleamed with intensity. Over the past four years, his Squirtle had evolved into a strong Blastoise, and he had tamed several other skilled Pokémon. Despite never winning a match against Alex's battle-hardened team, Gary's competitive spirit burned as fiercely as ever.
"Sure. Let's go."
"Let's do this—Blastoise, battle ready!"
"Go, Garchomp!"
These two Pokémon had clashed countless times in training. They were intimately familiar with each other's tactics and movements.
"Garchomp, use Stone Edge!" Alex commanded.
A barrage of jagged stones erupted from the earth, launching at high velocity toward Blastoise.
"Blastoise, counter with Hydro Pump!" Gary shouted.
A massive column of water surged forward, intercepting the stone blades mid-air and neutralizing the attack with sheer pressure.
"Garchomp, get in close and use Brick Break!"
The dragon-type lunged forward and landed a crushing blow to Blastoise's shell, sending vibrations through the air.
"Hang in there, Blastoise!" Gary called out in concern.
"Blaaast!" Blastoise responded, firm on its feet despite the impact.
"Alright, Megaton Punch, now!" Gary followed up.
"Garchomp, no mercy—Earthquake!"
With a deafening rumble, the ground split beneath them. Blastoise lost its balance and fell into the crack as tremors destabilized the battlefield.
"Now, Garchomp l Dragon Rage!" A concentrated burst of blue flames surged from Garchomp's mouth and engulfed the area around Blastoise, causing a direct hit.
Blastoise staggered upright, panting and bruised but not out.
"Still going? Impressive," Alex muttered. "Then let's finish it. Garchomp—Outrage!"
Garchomp's eyes gleamed red with fury as it launched a spinning, dragon-powered charge into Blastoise. A violent shockwave erupted on contact.
When the dust settled, Blastoise was lying still, fainted.
"I still couldn't beat you…" Gary murmured, disappointed but not defeated. "But I'll get stronger. Next time we battle, I'll win count on it."
"Good." Alex extended a hand. "Let's both give it our all."
They clasped hands firmly, then parted ways at the edge of Pallet Town rivals destined to meet again on a grander stage.
Alex opened his Pokédex and checked the route to Pewter City, where Brock, the Rock-type Gym Leader, awaited. His journey had officially begun with the dream of becoming Champion burning brightly in his heart.
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