The instructor walked up to Ash while he was performing the 'surgery' he had already printed out the degree, but now he took Ash aside and took his picture to put on a license. Finally, in front of all the other instructors, doctors, and students, Ash walked up to the stage.
The instructor handed him both his new degree and license. "Congratulations. I must admit, I underestimated you, but I guess Samuel did say you would surprise us."
Ash took them and smiled. He had finally earned his degree and license. It only took his literal death and 11 more years. "Thanks. Really nice to know I have this."
Then the head instructor looked at him and, in front of everyone, said, "Say, how would you like to work under me? You may have everything, but there is always more to learn, and I can guarantee you a high position."
Yeah, it was obvious that his tone had changed. After all, Ash was literally 11 years old and now a licensed surgeon.
He had a colleague in Sinnoh who once told him about a similar case—a 5-year-old who became a pharmacist.
But he had let that talent slip through his fingers, and he didn't want to make the same mistake if he could help it.
So people were understandably surprised. He was known to be strict with everyone, and now he was offering Ash a position directly under him. That pretty much guaranteed a bright future.
Ash looked slightly amused. Oh, how people change when you have worth. "Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline."
A hush fell over the auditorium. The head instructor blinked, momentarily stunned by Ash's response. The murmurs among the gathered doctors and students grew louder—this was unbelievable. In their eyes, Ash was just a mere child, yet now a licensed surgeon, turning down a golden opportunity that others would kill for. Did he even realize what he was rejecting?
The instructor recovered quickly, not wanting to give up just yet. "Are you certain?" he asked, his voice composed. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer, Ash. A guaranteed high position, access to the best resources, and an environment where you can refine your already remarkable skills. You wouldn't throw that away, would you?"
Ash met his gaze, completely unfazed. He tilted his head slightly but still looked amused by the change of events. "I appreciate it, really," he said, tucking his license and degree neatly under his arm. "But I'm not interested. My main dream is still to be a Pokémon trainer."
The instructor's fingers twitched slightly before he regained his composure. "Ash," he said, his voice lowering as he took a step closer, "do you realize what you're rejecting? You need guidance. Without the right connections, without the right mentor, you might waste your potential. You're a rare genius—you have a license in both human and Pokémon medicine. I can count on one hand the number of people I've seen with even half your talent."
Ash chuckled lightly. "It's funny how just a few hours ago, I was just some cocky kid to you. Now, suddenly, I'm 'wasting my potential' if I don't work under you. So it's fine if you belittle me, but when I reject your deal, suddenly there's a problem?"
The instructor's jaw tightened, but he forced out another smile. "I misjudged you. I admit that. But I won't make the same mistake again. You're an exceptional talent. Someone like you doesn't just walk away without leaving an impact."
Ash tilted his head slightly and smirked. "And yet, that's exactly what I'm doing~"
The instructor took a breath, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "What do you want, Ash?" he asked. "I can offer you more. A research team? A leadership role? Resources beyond what any independent doctor could dream of? Name it. You can't possibly say you want to waste your life catching silly Pokémon when you could make a difference."
"I am making a difference," Ash said with a smile. "But I'm doing it my own way. I choose how my story goes, and I choose how it ends. So I choose my life—the one where I'm free. Maybe you're right. Maybe one day I'll settle down and be a doctor permanently. But if I do, it'll be on my terms."
The instructor could only bite his tongue as Ash walked past him. After all, it wasn't like they could kidnap Ash and force him to comply. If they did, he would just refuse to work, and then everyone would lose. Begrudgingly, he had to accept it.
As Ash walked out, he gave a small wave behind him before stepping through the doors, leaving behind stunned students, instructors, and onlookers.
Outside, the sun was starting to set. It was getting late. He whistled, calling Abby to him, then teleported back to Goldenrod.
When he arrived at the hotel room, it was empty. Looking around, he saw his jacket folded neatly where he had left it. He glanced down at the sweater he was wearing. Normally, he had a short-sleeved shirt underneath, but whatever, he thought, pulling his jacket on. His hat, however, wasn't there—since he had given it to Pikachu. He left his hair tied up and let it be.
He decided to keep his promise and head over to Whitney's ranch to check on her. And hey—now that he was legally allowed to give her some painkillers, that was a bit of a flex.
Since her ranch was a bit far, he didn't want to waste time going back and forth. Thankfully, he hadn't put Tauros back in the PC yet. He let him out, hopped on, and dashed off toward the ranch.
With Tauros' help, it only took about five minutes. He was fast—this was the leader Tauros, after all, and Ash's strongest one. He hadn't really used him in battle much. Sure, the Kanto breed wasn't as combat-driven as the Paldean breed, but they still liked to battle now and then.
Speaking of which, that was kind of surprising. Paldea, the one region that wasn't as focused on battling, unlike every other region, was the only place with a Combat Breed of Tauros. Kind of ironic.
Also, kind of sad for someone like Nemona. She loved battling, but Paldea was more focused on school and research. If she had been born in any other region, she'd probably thrive. But meh. Not like it had anything to do with him.
Not like Nemona would even know who he was.
—-
{Meanwhile}
An older girl with freckles and orange eyes, with a streak of green running through her black locks, was rewatching something on her Rotom Phone, for like the tenth time.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a tall woman with long black hair and a sharp suit stepped inside. This was none other than Geeta, the top Champion of Paldea.
"Nemona, what are you doing here? You know you have new duties now," Geeta said, her voice firm.
Nemona, who was only twelve years old and had recently achieved Champion status in Paldea, looked up and laughed helplessly. "Sorry, Ms. Geeta, I was just thinking about having some battles, but there was no one around, so I was watching this."
It was worth noting that the quality of Champion-ranked trainers in Paldea was lower than even Alola's. Since fewer people in Paldea were interested in battling, Nemona wouldn't have reached Champion level in any other region, not even close.
Geeta sighed and shook her head. She had been obsessed with that video since it came out. "I get it, but you should focus on your duties now. You have a responsibility. Being a Champion isn't just about battles."
"…It's not?" Nemona tilted her head in confusion.
Geeta sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Never mind. I forget how you are sometimes. That will take some getting used to."
She glanced down at Nemona, who had already turned back to her phone, watching the video again. "So, what is it about that video you like so much?"
Nemona grinned, quickly moving over to show her. It was none other than the final battle of the Indigo League, Ash vs. Gary, their climactic final clash.
Nemona loved watching other regional leagues to scout for strong trainers, but this battle had sparked her interest more than any other since Ash and Gary were so young.
"It's this! The final battle was so exciting! I never get bored of it. I wish I could battle them. Oh, that would be amazing! If only they came to Paldea, we'd have so many battles, lots and lots of battles! We could battle every day, every hour! We wouldn't even need to battle anyone else!"
Geeta chuckled helplessly. This was a tendency she still had to get used to. Shaking her head, she sat beside Nemona and watched the video with her.
"I have to say, quite impressive that they managed to accomplish all of that in less than a year," Geeta remarked. "The Kanto League is far less forgiving than what we have here in Paldea. If you had to choose, which of them do you think is better?"
"Well, isn't that obvious? That one." Nemona pointed to the screen. "Ash. He's the Champion, after all. Oh, I wish I could battle him! But just watching this… I'm worried I'd get addicted if I did," she said, only half-joking.
Geeta could only sigh. "Well, enough of that. You can watch it later. You still have classes, your duties as Student Council President, and your responsibilities as Paldea's newest Champion."
"Okay, okay, está bien," Nemona mumbled as she got up to follow Geeta. Then, glancing at her, she asked, "Hey, do you think we could-"
"No," Geeta cut in immediately. "You already asked. No, I can't send them an invite to come to Paldea. And no, you can't leave to visit Kanto."
Nemona sighed dramatically. "Fine… but I swear, one day I'll get that battle. And we'll battle again and again and again… every single day."
—-
{Back in Johto}
Ash arrived at the ranch and let Tauros stay out to stretch his legs. Some of his herd might even be here, so if he ran into them, that would be a nice bonus.
As he hopped off Tauros, he suddenly felt a shiver run down his back. He wasn't sure why, but he decided not to think too much about it.
Walking up to the door, he knocked and waited. It would be rude to just walk in, so he stood there for a moment. After a few seconds, the door opened, and he raised an eyebrow.
Inside, he saw his friends sitting with Whitney no less. Before he could ask anything, Green suddenly stepped out from the side and grabbed him in a headlock.
"Hey there! Bet you weren't expecting us here, huh?" she teased. "Thought you'd get some alone time with your patient, didn't you~?"
Ash didn't even bother trying to fight back. "She isn't my patient," he said flatly. "I just came to check on her and maybe give her some medication if she needed it."
Green let him go, and Pikachu immediately jumped off Yellow's lap, still wearing Ash's hat.
"Pika!" Pikachu called, leaping onto Ash's shoulder and nuzzling his cheek.
"Hey, bud. Yeah, sorry it took so long. You will not believe what happened," Ash said as he scratched Pikachu's ear.
"Sooo, come on, spill the beans," Misty said, leaning forward. "How did it go?"
Ash shook his head, smirking. "Please, it's me. I passed that thing easily—shut them up real quick. You should've seen the look on their faces when I aced it with a perfect score."
"So you're like a real doctor now, huh? That's pretty cool!" Whitney said excitedly. It looked like she wanted to jump up, but Brock and Misty held her down, reminding her that her arm was still injured.
Ash walked over and knelt in front of Whitney. "Let me see your arm," he said, inspecting it carefully. Then he glanced at the others. "So what are you guys even doing here? Haven't you ever heard of doctor-patient confidentiality?"
"Oh, hush. That doesn't apply here, and you know it," Green teased, flopping onto the couch.
"What she means is that we came to meet you after you passed," Brock explained. "We thought you'd want to celebrate your accomplishment. It is very impressive."
"Hmm, I see," Ash said, pressing lightly on Whitney's arm. "Does that hurt?"
"Uhm… a little. Kind of like a pricking feeling, but not as much as before," Whitney answered as Ash gently traced his fingers along her arm.
"Alright, it looks good. And just to be sure, no pain?" Ash asked. "And you managed to get some sleep, right? I can get you something for that now if you need it."
"No, it's fine," Whitney said with a giggle. "I just had some of Mil Mil's Moomoo Milk, and I was out like a light!"
Her arm was still really sensitive, and Ash tracing his fingers across it tickled just a little, making her laugh.
"So, does that mean you're going to stop being a trainer and become a doctor instead?" Yellow asked nervously, hugging Chuchu close.
"Ha, nah," Ash said as he started wrapping Whitney's arm again. "I just wanted to have it—better to be prepared. Besides, I still like my freedom, and I like traveling with you guys. And yes, even you, Misty."
"Aww-wait, why was I singled out!" Misty said as she was about to say Ash's reason was sweet but then she was immediately close lined by the last part
Ash chuckled and didn't answer. To be honest, he didn't dislike Misty, not at all. But he couldn't help comparing her to other versions of herself. Game Misty was hard to gauge, but based on Masters EX content, she had probably always been nice. In both manga adaptations, she was also pretty different.
Her Adventures manga counterpart was probably his favorite, she had more of a big sister vibe. And in The Electric Tale of Pikachu, she was a cute tsundere. In his opinion, the anime version of Misty, at least the original series version, was probably the worst interpretation of her, even if she does get better later.
To be fair, she had started calming down after turning eleven, becoming less aggressive. Maybe she was slowly becoming more like her manga counterpart. Who knows?
Finishing up, Ash handed Whitney another Tylenol, just to be safe, before getting to his feet and glancing at his friends. "So, shall we go?"
Just before they could respond, a sudden knock echoed, not from the door, but from a hatch connecting the house to the ranch.
Whitney excused herself and opened it, revealing ten Tauros eagerly peering inside. Half of them were looking toward the fence where Ash's Tauros stood, while the others were staring at Ash excitedly.
"Eh? What's up, Tauros?" Whitney asked as she followed their gaze.
"Isn't that your Tauros?" Brock asked, looking over with curiosity.
"Yeah, it is," Ash replied, waiting to see how long it would take them to figure it out.
"Why do all those Tauros look so happy to see you?" Yellow asked, since unlike everyone else she could understand them
"[He's here!]"
"[Boss! Boss! Hi!]"
"[BOSS CAME TO VISIT US!]"
"I don't know," Whitney said, tilting her head. "I rented these Tauros from a breeding company. Do you know them? I mean, I know you have a Tauros, but these guys seem to know both you and that one really well."
"Hmm, I dunno," Ash said, still waiting to see who would figure it out first.
Misty frowned, trying to remember something. Then it hit her. "Hey… what happened to those Tauros you caught in the Safari Zone? You never sent them over to Professor Oak, did you?"
"Hmmmmm," Ash hummed, drawing it out as Pikachu grabbed Ash's hat, using it to cover his mouth—because he knew the answer too.
It took a moment for everyone to put the pieces together. Then Brock looked at Ash, narrowing his eyes.
"Did you sell your Tauros to a breeding company?"
Ash smiled. "Close," he said, rubbing one of his Tauros behind the ear.
Green, ever the expert on making money, gave Ash a look of begrudging respect. "I see what happened… You sneaky son of a gun. You started an entire Tauros breeding company, didn't you?"
Everyone turned to stare at her, unable to believe what she was suggesting.
Misty waved her hands dismissively. "No way, there's no way that's w—"
"Nope, yeah, that's pretty much what happened," Ash interrupted, casually giving the Tauros with a cracked horn a rub on the head. This one was his third strongest and had earned him a pretty penny when Whitney rented him.
"Eh…" they all said in unison.
"Wait, wait, wait—no, that doesn't make sense," Brock tried to reason. "There's no way. When would you have had the time?"
Misty nodded. "Yeah, I mean, you've been with us the whole time. The only time was… but then there was… and then there was…" She trailed off as memories started surfacing—memories of all the times Ash had disappeared for some reason or another.
"You know, now that I'm saying it out loud… it's kinda obvious," Misty muttered.
Ash shook his head with a smile. "Yeah, it's not like I ever tried to hide it. You guys just never asked. But yeah, pretty much, I own a Tauros ranch and raise them myself to be rented out."
"Really?" Whitney said, eyes sparkling. "You really raised them all personally? I thought I was the only one who did that!"
"I'm just still trying to process the fact that you literally own a business…" Misty groaned, running a hand through her hair. "What's next? Are you gonna tell me you own hotels too?!"
Ash laughed. "No, no, that would be impossible," But internally, he thought, 'Not until Blaine starts the construction, anyway.'
"So I guess that means we're technically business partners, huh?" Whitney said, looking amused. "You supply the Tauros, and I promote them just by having them at my gym."
"Yeah, thanks for that," Ash said with a smirk. "Really helps when we can put Gym Leader Approved in our motto~"
Whitney raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what if I give you a badge? Can I get the next three months rent-free?" she teased.
Ash chuckled. "Don't tempt me."
"But how about I give you my super cute smile instead?" Whitney teased, flashing a bright grin. "Bet you're totally infatuated right about now."
That line and smile alone was enough to cause Brock physical damage over in the corner.
"Eh, seven out of ten," Ash said, smirking as he took his hat from Pikachu and rubbed his cheeks. "Pikachu smiles cuter than that."
"Pika!◕‿‿◕." Pikachu said happily
"Twist my arm, why don'tcha," Whitney said with mock offense, letting out a bit of her accent and crossing her arms. "Just for that, when we do battle, I won't hold back at all!"
Ash grinned. "Looking forward to it."
"Anyway, enough about that," he said, finally putting his hat back on. "How about we finally go celebrate? I'm starving."
"You know," Green mumbled, "I kinda preferred your hair tied back."
"Yeah, well, I like hats, bite me," Ash said, shaking his head as they all left Whitney's ranch to go celebrate.