It had been two years since Ash first met Pichu.
When Professor Oak initially heard that a wild Pichu had voluntarily decided to follow Ash, he was genuinely shocked. After all, it was incredibly rare for a Pokémon to willingly follow someone on its own—especially without being caught.
In this version of the real world, kids aren't allowed to travel alone as Trainers until they turn fifteen. However, they start learning essential Pokémon knowledge and foundational skills at the age of ten, preparing for the life ahead.
Over the past two years, Ash's system hadn't changed. He hadn't received a single attribute point, and it reached a point where he almost forgot the system even existed. Thankfully, the system's inherent data functionality still proved useful, so he didn't completely abandon it.
"Pichu, use Thunderbolt!"
At the training ground behind Professor Oak's lab, Ash stood tall. His red-and-white jacket fluttered slightly with the breeze. He had short, fluffy black hair, a familiar peaked cap atop his head, dark slacks, and clean white sneakers. In front of him stood his companion: a black-and-yellow Pichu, small but determined.
"Pichu!!" With a high-pitched cry, Pichu responded to Ash's command. Sparks crackled around its tiny body as it charged up, and in the next second—
Boom!
A stream of bright yellow lightning blasted forward, thundering against the training targets.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
When the smoke finally cleared, the training ground was a wreck. The charred floor bore witness to the raw power behind Pichu's move. To be capable of releasing such force at the baby stage—it was nothing short of genius.
"Ash really has a natural talent for raising Pichu," Professor Oak said from the edge of the field, clearly impressed. "Combined with his dedication and some of the techniques he's developed, I'd say among his peers, he's definitely at the top."
For someone Ash's age to raise a Pichu to this level—and to develop such control over a powerful move like Thunderbolt—was truly unprecedented.
"Pichu, that's enough! Take a break!" Ash called out, seeing the strain in Pichu's breathing. Training had to be done in moderation. Pushing too hard could backfire, especially for a young Pokémon like Pichu.
"Pii~ Pichu!" the little Pokémon chirped happily, squinting its eyes in a crescent-moon shape, clearly delighted. It dashed forward and leapt up to Ash's shoulder. After two years, Ash had a strong hunch—this Pichu was likely the pre-evolution of the very same Pikachu he'd journeyed with in his past life.
"Grandpa, let's head back. Mom's probably coming over soon," Ash said to Professor Oak, brushing dust off his jacket from the earlier training session.
Gary, Oak's grandson, only returned to Pallet Town during school breaks. Most of the time, he stayed in the city. Compared to the bustling urban life, Pallet Town was a simple countryside village.
Ash was originally supposed to attend the Pokémon Academy like other kids his age. But Professor Oak had firmly believed that with Ash's current abilities and insight, there was no need to go through the standard curriculum.
"Alright, alright," Oak chuckled. "It's a good thing you were around today, or I'd be stuck eating instant noodles again!"
With how focused he was on research, Professor Oak had no time—nor talent—for cooking. Most days, if not for Ash or Delia stopping by to help, the professor would survive off instant food alone. Delia would occasionally come by to cook him a proper meal, which he appreciated more than he let on.
Back inside the lab, Ash collapsed onto the familiar couch, letting out a contented sigh. Meanwhile, Pichu ran off to play with some of the other Pokémon around the lab. It was still young, after all—and full of energy.
"System, show me Pichu's and my current status," Ash said inwardly, closing his eyes as he rested.
Ding~
Trainer: Ash Ketchum
Level: Elite Peak
Age: 7
Strength: 15
Speed: 20
Mental Strength: 30
Innate Talents: Psychic (Unlocked), Flying (Locked)
Acquired Skills: None
Attribute Points: 0
Draw Chances: 3
Partner Pokémon: Pichu
Ding~
Pokémon:Pichu
Level: Advanced
Abilities: Lightning Rod, Static
Type: Electric
Potential: 100% (21% unlocked)
Moves: Charge, Shock Wave, Quick Attack, Agility, Thunderbolt, Cell Activation
(Note: No more new skills will be listed for now, to avoid overloading or breaking the story balance.)
—
Looking at his own stats and Pichu's, Ash—whose face usually showed little expression—smiled slightly. After two years of training and hard work, he was genuinely satisfied with the results. His own progress aside, it was Pichu's growth that gave Ash tremendous confidence in their future.
Pichu had already mastered both Thunderbolt and Agility, two highly advanced techniques for a baby Pokémon. On top of that, they'd developed a unique move: Cell Activation, a self-created technique that Ash had painstakingly tailored to suit Pichu's physiology.
With this skillset, if Pichu fought seriously—against a high-level opponent of similar strength—it could hold its own in a fair battle, provided there wasn't too large a gap in type advantage or experience.
The move Cell Activation was inspired by a concept from an anime in Ash's previous life—Naruto. Adapting it to Pokémon physiology was no easy feat. Since a Pokémon's nervous system and body structure differed greatly from that of humans, it took Ash an entire year to adjust the technique so Pichu could execute it safely and effectively.
Not just any Electric-type could learn this move. First, the Pokémon had to be an Electric-type to begin with. Second—and more importantly—it had to be compatible in body structure. Ash had developed Cell Activation specifically for Pichu's anatomy. Other Electric-types wouldn't be able to use it without major alterations.
Every Pokémon's body was built differently. Even if two species shared the same move, the way they executed it could vary. For instance, Thunderbolt used by a Pichu would be functionally and mechanically different from how an Electabuzz would channel the same attack.
Ash had discovered this during his deep dive into Professor Oak's research archives, where he read papers on energy pathways and neural feedback loops in Electric-types. It was this knowledge that allowed him to create a move uniquely suited to Pichu—Cell Activation—after a full year of experimentation.
He had also begun keeping a detailed training journal. In it, he documented Pichu's training method for Cell Activation in precise steps. Ash planned to do the same for every Pokémon he would train in the future—both as a memory and as a way to record his personal theories and experiences.
The technique itself worked by using stored electricity to stimulate specific muscle groups and nerve clusters in the joints. This allowed the user to temporarily break past its usual physical limitations and move at speeds that exceeded its current level.
Of course, such power came with trade-offs. The diverted energy meant that elemental attacks like Thunderbolt would weaken during the activation period, since part of the Pokémon's electricity was being redirected to boost physical performance rather than offense.
Ash had also theorized that other skills inspired by Naruto ninjutsu could be adapted into similar abilities. While the damage potential might not be as exaggerated as in anime, they would still offer unique utility in battle—uncommon but undeniably powerful.
Over the past two years, Ash had used his time at Professor Oak's lab to observe countless Pokémon up close. He studied their structures, measured their energy patterns, and recorded every bit of data. This deep foundation allowed him to tailor training methods for different species—even before catching them.
Once he captured a new Pokémon, he could immediately start developing them using customized plans, without wasting any time.
Talent, of course, played a major role. But if a Pokémon had the right aptitude, Ash's methods ensured they could master these techniques in record time.
Pichu had taken a year to learn Cell Activation, but that was because Ash had to create and refine the move simultaneously. Future students might not need as long—especially with the groundwork already laid.
...
TN:
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