"Ash, this Krabby is so malnourished. Why do you even want to catch it?"
As they were leaving Bill's Lighthouse, Ash had unexpectedly run into that scrawny Krabby. Since he had encountered this particular Krabby which possessed extraordinary potential in the original story Ash naturally saw no reason to let it pass him by.
He didn't use a wooden stick to catch it like in the original series; instead, he used Pokémon food to bring it into the fold directly. However, after he caught it, both Misty and Brock expressed their doubts. After all, if one really wanted to catch a Krabby, they could find one at any large beach, and any random one would look much stronger than this stunted specimen. Hence their confusion.
Ash smiled slightly. "There's a method to my madness in catching this Krabby. When has my eye for talent ever been wrong?"
Misty and Brock glanced at each other but said nothing more.
After leaving Bill's Lighthouse, the trio continued their journey toward Vermilion City. On the way, a sudden, thick fog blanketed the road, reducing visibility to almost nothing. They were forced to slow their pace and began searching the roadside for dry firewood to start a fire for warmth.
"The fog is too thick. Everyone, be careful not to wander off," Ash cautioned. Simultaneously, he spread his Aura to perceive their surroundings and avoid any accidents.
As they were gathering wood, a harsh scolding voice drifted through the mist.
"Joe! Your movements are too slow! How do you expect to graduate at this rate?"
"I'm sorry! I'll go faster, I promise!"
Ash and his friends quietly approached the source of the noise. They saw several students in identical uniforms, under the supervision of a teacher, commanding a timid-looking boy named Joe to repeat high-intensity move training. His Pokémon, a Sandshrew, was already panting heavily from exhaustion.
"What are you doing? This kind of training is over the line!" Misty couldn't help but step forward and voice her disapproval.
The "elite" students looked at the outsiders with disdain. "Who are you? The affairs of Pokémon Tech are none of your business! Once we graduate, we can enter the Pokémon League Championship directly. Our training methods are obviously the most effective!"
Joe waved his hands frantically. "No, no, it's fine! The seniors are doing this for my own good! This is the only way to become strong!"
Ash looked at Joe and his exhausted Pokémon, his brow furrowed. He felt a deep revulsion toward this soul-crushing, almost cruel "elite education."
"Becoming strong shouldn't come at the cost of a Pokémon's happiness and health! I want to see the person in charge!" Ash declared.
This situation reminded him of the "academies" in his previous life that operated under the banner of "cultivating elites" while engaging in shady, contemptible practices. He wouldn't dwell on how dark those places were; one could look that up for themselves.
Under the reluctant guidance of the honor students, the trio arrived at a magnificent building within the academy grounds. In a spacious hall, they met the head of the academy and the leader of the students Giselle.
Ash was momentarily stunned. No wonder the Ash from the original story had been smitten at first sight. She was indeed exceptionally beautiful, possessing an elegant temperament like a princess. Brock's eyes instantly turned into hearts, and even Ash lost himself for a split second.
"Oh? So you're the ones who have an issue with my teaching methods?" Giselle's voice was crisp, but it carried a condescending arrogance.
Seeing Ash and Brock looking so "enchanted," Misty's temper flared. She stepped forward. "That's right! Your training method is completely wrong! If you've got the guts, prove who's right with a Pokémon battle!"
Giselle smiled contemptuously. "A battle? Fine. But if you lose, you must leave immediately and stop disturbing the order of our academy."
The one-on-one battle began. Misty sent out Starmie, while Giselle countered with Graveler!
"Starmie, Water Gun!" Misty shouted.
"Graveler, Harden, then Rollout!" Giselle commanded calmly.
After Graveler's defense was boosted, it tanked the Water Gun, curled into a ball, and began to roll violently! Starmie's Psychic-type moves were ineffective against the Rock-type Graveler, and its Water Gun was shrugged off. Soon, Starmie was struck by the Rollout and lost its ability to battle.
"How could this be..." Misty was in disbelief. She had the Type advantage, yet she had lost so decisively.
Giselle withdrew Graveler, her tone becoming even more mocking. "Do you see? This is the gap between theory and reality. You 'stray' trainers don't understand what true strength is." Her gaze shifted to Ash and the Pikachu on his shoulder. "And you, carrying such a common Electric Mouse... what hope do you have? Electric moves might work at the Cerulean Gym, but before a true expert, they are worthless."
Heh, this sharp-tongued little girl needs to learn how harsh the world can be, Ash thought.
"Pikachu's strength isn't something you can measure with a textbook!" Ash's eyes grew sharp. "I challenge you!"
"Hmph, how overconfident. Go, Cubone!" Giselle sent out her second Pokémon, the Ground-type Cubone!
"Wait a moment," Ash interrupted. "Let's make a wager. If my Pikachu wins, you not only have to apologize to Joe and Pikachu, but you..." Ash looked her up and down, "also have to grant me one request!"
Giselle felt uncomfortable under his blatant gaze. Flustered and angry, she snapped, "Fine, I accept. But what if you lose?"
"If I lose, not only will I apologize to all of you, but I'll provide free publicity for your academy!"
"It's a deal!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash opened with a probing attack.
Sure enough, the electricity struck Cubone and did absolutely nothing! The Ground type was completely immune to Electric moves.
"Hahaha! Do you not even understand Type matchups?" Giselle and her students burst into laughter.
Ash didn't panic. Instead, a smile played across his lips. "Pikachu, since electricity won't work, we won't use it! Charge in with Quick Attack!"
Pikachu transformed into a white streak of light, closing the distance to Cubone rapidly!
"Cubone, use Bonemerang!" Giselle commanded.
Cubone threw its bone club, but Pikachu was too fast and nimbly dodged the strike!
"Now! Jump and use Iron Tail!" Ash barked an order that seemed "incomprehensible" to Giselle.
In the next second, Pikachu's tail was instantly covered in a metallic luster as it slammed down hard onto Cubone!
"What?! How does a Pikachu know Iron Tail?!" Giselle and the students were frozen in shock. This completely defied the knowledge in their textbooks!
Bang! Iron Tail connected! It was super effective!
Cubone was blindsided by the sudden physical assault. It cried out and collapsed, unable to continue.
The entire hall fell into a pin-drop silence. Every elite student stood there with their mouth agape, staring at the scene in disbelief. Giselle's face went pale as she stared at her fallen Cubone and then at the still-spirited Pikachu.
Ash walked up to Giselle and said seriously, "Do you see? A Pokémon's potential is limitless. It can never be bound by cold textbooks or so-called 'common sense.' You and your students might have memorized every Type chart, but you've forgotten the most important thing the bond with your Pokémon and the heart that believes they can create miracles!"
Looking into Ash's clear, determined eyes, then at the stunned expressions of her students, and finally remembering Joe's exhausted face, Giselle's long-held pride and convictions completely collapsed. She slowly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"...You're right." When she looked up again, the arrogance in her eyes had vanished, replaced by reflection and sincerity. "I was too conceited. I was so caught up in book knowledge that I ignored the true power of Pokémon and our original intentions as trainers... I'm sorry."
She walked over to Joe and apologized sincerely. "Joe, everyone... I'm sorry. From today on, I will change our teaching methods. Let's all start over together and learn how to truly understand our Pokémon, okay?"
Seeing the usually haughty Giselle bow her head in apology, Joe and the other students were deeply moved and nodded one after another.
Giselle looked at Ash once more, a heartfelt smile appearing on her face one far more beautiful than before. "Ash, thank you. This battle taught me something more important than anything I've learned in years at this academy."
[Ding! The Host has defeated Giselle with innovative tactics, shattering her rigid perceptions and prompting a positive shift in Pokémon Tech's educational philosophy. Reward: 800 World Origin Points.]
[Current World Origin Points: 5500.]
As it was already late, Ash and his friends stayed the night at the academy as Giselle's guests.
That evening, there was a knock on Ash's door. He opened it to find Giselle standing there, wrapped in a large coat.
"Giselle?" Ash looked at her and gestured for her to come in.
"Ash... about... you said... that... I promised you a request..." Giselle's voice grew softer and softer.
"What are you thinking?" Ash flicked her forehead. "I just wanted to say that your academy should be properly open to commoners in the future, not just the nobility. That's all."
"Huh? Is... is that it?" Giselle's face turned beet red. What had she been thinking? She had actually misinterpreted his good intentions...
"However," Ash rubbed his chin as he looked Giselle over, "visiting me so late... why exactly are you here?"
Then, Giselle slowly began to unbutton her coat. The outfit she wore underneath left Ash completely speechless...
The rest of the night passed in silence.
The next day, the fog had lifted, and sunlight spilled over the land once more.
The trio bid farewell to the transformed Pokémon Tech. Giselle and Joe stood at the academy gates, watching them leave, their hearts full of new expectations for the future.
However, in Giselle's eyes, there was only Ash!
Well, some things are better left understood than spoken aloud!
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