Just as the Poké Ball clicked, a shimmering blue screen materialized before Touma, visible only to him. [System Unlocked: Starter Pack Acquired!] a cheerful, feminine voice echoed in his mind. [Starter Pack includes: Unique Move – Moonwalk! Moonwalk is one of the Navy Six Styles, and can be taught to one of your Pokémon.]
Touma's eyes widened. Moonwalk? From One Piece? This was going to be incredibly useful! Without hesitation, he focused on Vulpix's Poké Ball. [Teach Moonwalk to Vulpix? Y/N] He mentally pressed "Y." A soft glow enveloped Vulpix's Poké Ball for a moment before fading.
"Alright, Pidgey," Touma said, taking out a small potion and gently applying it to the newly caught bird Pokémon, healing its minor injuries. "No hard feelings, okay? You're going to be a great teammate." He then introduced himself to the Pidgey, stroking its soft feathers. He pulled out his Pokedex again, pointing it at his new capture.
[Pidgey]
[The Tiny Bird Pokémon]
[Type: Normal/Flying]
[Ability: Keen Eye]
[Gender: Male]
[Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Quick Attack, Whirlwind]
Satisfied, he looked up at the sun, noting its position. They had a bit of a trek to Viridian City. "Alright, Pidgey," Touma called out, "I need you to fly high and scout ahead, show us the clearest path out of this forest." Pidgey chirped and ascended, circling above the treeline.
"And Vulpix," Touma turned to his starter, "time to practice your new move! Follow Pidgey, but try using Moonwalk. It's a method of propulsion by kicking the air repeatedly. Think of it like walking on air, but fast!" Vulpix tilted her head, then, with a determined bark, she launched herself upward. She stumbled at first, kicking out awkwardly, but soon, with incredible focus and surprising agility, she began to move through the air in short, rapid bursts, almost skipping along invisible platforms. It wasn't graceful yet, but it was unmistakably Moonwalk.
With Pidgey scouting from above and Vulpix attempting to follow, albeit clumsily, by Moonwalking through the upper branches.
Touma easily navigated the winding paths of Route 1. The strategic advantage of having aerial reconnaissance and a Fire-type capable of quick, elevated movement meant he made excellent time.
It was during this trek, as Vulpix gracefully floated and darted between branches, that a magnificent golden flash caught her eye. A figure of pure radiance, its rainbow-colored wings shimmering in the sunlight, descended silently from the sky. Ho-Oh.
The legendary Pokémon appeared first to the practicing Vulpix and the scouting Pidgey, its gaze filled with an ancient curiosity. Vulpix, momentarily stunned, instinctively ceased her Moonwalk, hovering in place. Pidgey froze mid-flight. Ho-Oh observed Vulpix's unusual aerial movement with an almost benevolent intensity, its brilliant eyes focused on the little fox. Then, as if drawn by an invisible thread, Ho-Oh turned its gaze towards the ground where Touma walked. It sensed the profound connection between the young human and the floating Vulpix.
As Touma looked up, startled by the sudden stillness of his Pokémon and the shift in the forest's aura, a single, iridescent feather, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, detached from Ho-Oh's wing and floated gently down, landing softly in his outstretched hand. Ho-Oh lowered its majestic head slightly, offering what felt like a nod of acknowledgement to Touma. With another magnificent beat of its radiant wings, the legendary Pokémon ascended into the sky, vanishing as swiftly and silently as it had appeared, leaving behind only a lingering scent of warmth and wonder.
Touma stared at the feather in his hand, his mind reeling. A Ho-Oh feather! And it had come directly to him. This truly was going to be an extraordinary journey. He carefully tucked the precious feather into his bag.
Touma also took out his PokeNav which recorded video of Ho Oh up close, he can write detailed documents of Ho Oh encounter to post on his professor forum and send the video to professor Oak after copying it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
He arrived in Viridian City much earlier than he would have otherwise, bypassing any potential 'storm' that might have occurred, and notably, Team Rocket hadn't appeared yet. Perhaps when Ash arrives, the usual chaos will unfold, Touma mused internally.
His first stop was the Pokémon Center. As he approached the counter, Nurse Joy looked up, and her eyes widened. "Touma?! Junior Professor Touma!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. She was clearly fangirling.
Touma quickly made a "shh" gesture with his finger, a charming, almost apologetic smile on his face. "Please, Nurse Joy, just Touma for now. I'd rather not attract too much attention on my first day in a new town." He didn't want to be swarmed by eager fans and trainers just yet.
"Oh! Of course, Professor… I mean, Touma!" she corrected herself, blushing deeper. He handed over his Poké Balls for his Pokémon to be healed and rested. While they were being cared for, Touma headed to the cafeteria for a quick, anonymous meal.
Later, he collected his refreshed Pokémon from Nurse Joy. "They're all in perfect health, Touma!" she chirped, then, with a hopeful glint in her eye, she slid a small notepad and pen across the counter. "Would it be too much trouble for an autograph, Professor?" Touma chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not at all, Nurse Joy. Thank you for taking such good care of them." He quickly scribbled his signature, and her face lit up.
He didn't just get a regular trainer room. Being a renowned Junior Professor came with perks. He was ushered into a more spacious, well-equipped Professor's Room, a private suite typically reserved for high-ranking researchers on official business. The service was undeniably better.
Later that evening, as dusk began to settle, the familiar shouts of a certain aspiring trainer echoed through the Pokémon Center's entrance. Ash arrived, looking disheveled, his Pikachu sparking weakly on his shoulder. Close behind him, looking equally exasperated, was Misty.
Just as Touma had predicted, the calm was shattered moments later by a familiar, theatrical motto. "Prepare for trouble!" "And make it double!" Team Rocket, in all their glory, burst in, intending to steal all the Pokémon in the center. Jessie's Ekans and James's Koffing materialized, ready for action.
"To protect the world from devastation! To unite all peoples within our nation! To denounce the evils of truth and love! To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessiiiiie! Jaaames!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
And then, from between them, stepping forward with a dramatic paw flourish, came Meowth. "And Meowth, dat's right!"
A hush fell over the Pokémon Center. Trainers dropped their sandwiches, nurse Joy froze mid-stride, and even a few Pokémon stopped napping. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. A talking Meowth?! It was an almost unheard-of phenomenon, a legendary whisper from the rarest of Pokémon occurrences. The sheer surprise was palpable, a wave of stunned silence before a collective murmur of shock rippled through the room.
Touma, having heard the commotion from his room and anticipating their arrival, stepped out quietly. He knew this script. "Vulpix, Quick Attack!" he commanded, a calm authority in his voice that contrasted sharply with the chaotic scene. Vulpix, a blur of red and white, zipped forward, hitting Koffing squarely and sending it reeling. "Now, Tail Whip!" Vulpix's tails lashed out, catching Ekans as it tried to strike, sending it tumbling back with Koffing. Both Team Rocket Pokémon crashed unceremoniously into James and Jessie with Meowth squawking indignantly as he was caught in the pile.
Ash, surprised by the sudden, decisive intervention, quickly recovered. "Pikachu, Thunder Shock!" he yelled, and a powerful jolt of electricity surged from Pikachu, sending Team Rocket blasting off into the night sky with their signature "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
Ash, exhausted but relieved, carefully handed his still-sparking Pikachu over to Nurse Joy. As Pikachu received urgent care, Misty, having watched the entire swift exchange, turned to Touma.
"Wow! That was amazing! You really took them out fast!" Misty exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration. "I'm Misty, by the way. And you are?"
"Touma from Pallet Town. It's a pleasure to meet you, Misty," he replied, offering a polite nod.
"Touma? Wait a minute... the Junior Professor Touma?!" Misty's eyes widened even further, her initial admiration quickly turning into excited disbelief. "Oh my! I've read your papers! Can I get your autograph?!"
Touma managed a small, strained smile. "Sure, Misty," he said, then with a well-practiced speed he signed his autograph, he quickly excused himself and returned to the sanctuary of his Professor's Room, leaving a slightly dumbfounded but still star-struck Misty behind. He really was going to have to work on being low-key.