Behind Professor Birch's lab, a small field stretched out, perfectly suited for Pokémon battles. On opposite ends of the field stood Ash and Brendan, preparing themselves for their upcoming battle. On the side stood Ashly and May, who made their contribution as members of the peanut gallery while Professor Birch stood at the sidelines, acting as the referee for the battle.
"The friendly match between Ash and Brendan will now begin!" Professor Birch announced. "This will be a one-on-one singles match. Each trainer may only use one Pokémon."
As soon as Professor Birch made his announcement, a translucent window popped up in front of Ash's face, something only he could see.
[Objective: Defeat Brendan in a friendly match.
Rewards: 500 pts ]
'Huh... interesting. The prize for this battle is just 500 points compared to what I got for my battle against Gary,' Ash thought to himself as he observed the translucent screen. 'Kind of makes sense I guess. Brendan just started his journey and his Treecko is just a baby compared to Gary who is a seasoned trainer with an experienced Blastoise as well as Ash's first rival. In hindsight, this reward seems quite fair. The system must be scaling the rewards based on the opponent's strength.'
Pushing his thoughts aside, Ash focused back on the field. Across from him, Brendan stood confidently, already releasing his Pokémon into battle.
"Treecko! This is our first battle together, so let's give it everything we've got!" Brendan called out.
The small, green Grass-type Pokémon appeared on the battlefield and struck a cool pose.
Seeing Treecko already in the field, Ash took a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it into the air. "Alright, Cyndaquil, I choose you!"
In a flash of light, Cyndaquil appeared, the flames on its back immediately flaring up in response to the battle. "Cyndaquil!" it cried out, assuming a fighting stance.
At that moment, Ash had five Pokémon on him mainly: Pikachu, his best friend, and permanent travel companion; Charizard, his Ace and backup for emergencies; Ralts and Larvitar, the babies of the team with whom Ash had no experience of battling at all; and lastly, Squirtle and Cyndaquil, the two guys he wanted to evolve to their second stages.
He could have used Squirtle to give Brendan a type advantage since it was his first battle, but the appearance of the objective changed things. His system rarely gave him a chance to obtain points, and here he was going to get 500 of them at once. So there was no way he was going to let that chance slip.
May observed curiously from the sidelines, while Brendan's eyes lit up at the sight of an unfamiliar Pokémon. He quickly pulled out his Pokédex and scanned Cyndaquil, but instead of an entry, the screen displayed 'No data found.'
"Dad, why doesn't my Pokédex have any information on this Pokémon?" Brendan asked, glancing over at Professor Birch with confusion.
"That's because what you have in your hand is a regional dex and Cyndaquil here is a Johto region Pokémon, which is why it doesn't appear in your current dex." Professor Birch explained. "In fact, Cyndaquil is a Fire-type starter for young trainers in the Johto region."
Brendan nodded, taking in the explanation, though a sense of nervousness settled over him. "So I'm facing a starter from another region? And it's Fire-type?" Brendan realized he was at a significant disadvantage, with his Treecko being a Grass-type, which was naturally weak to Fire. But despite the odds, he wasn't backing down. He clenched his fists as determination flared in his eyes.
Professor Birch looked between the two trainers. "Both trainers ready?" he asked.
Ash and Brendan nodded in unison.
"Let the battle begin!" Birch called, signaling the start of the match.
******
As soon as Professor Birch declared the match's beginning, Brendan wasted no time. "Treecko, use Quick Attack!" he commanded.
In a blur of green, Treecko charged toward Cyndaquil with surprising speed for such a young Pokémon.
Brendan grinned, hoping to catch Ash off-guard. However, Ash remained calm and collected. "Cyndaquil, dodge and use Agility!" he called out.
Just before Treecko's Quick Attack could land, Cyndaquill dodged the attack, leaving Treecko swiping at the air. Then Psychic-type energy enveloped Cyndaquil's body, increasing its speed stat.
Brendan's grin faltered slightly. "Whoa, that Cyndaquil's fast..." he muttered under his breath. But he quickly refocused, determined not to lose momentum. "Treecko, don't lose focus! Use Leer and slow it down!"
Treecko's eyes glowed red menacingly as it glared at the speeding Cyndaquil, its intimidating gaze lowering the Fire-type's defenses slightly.
"Good move, Brendan. Status-altering strategies can make all the difference in battle, especially if you stack them up," Ash said, offering a quick compliment. "But don't get too excited yet—we're just getting started. Cyndaquil, use Smokescreen!"
Cyndaquil's back flared, and it unleashed a thick, black smoke that quickly covered the battlefield, reducing visibility for both trainers and Pokémon alike.
Brendan squinted, trying to make out Cyndaquil's position through the thick smoke. "Treecko, be careful!" he warned. "Use Leafage in all directions!"
Treecko nodded, materializing glowing green leaves around him that shot out in multiple directions. A few leaves whizzed harmlessly through the smoke, but others sliced through the air, aiming for Cyndaquil.
"Cyndaquil, dodge and use Flame Charge!" Ash countered.
Through the dark haze of smoke, a bright flash of fire suddenly appeared as Cyndaquil raced forward, flames cloaking its body. With its increased speed from Agility, Cyndaquil shot toward Treecko like a blazing comet.
"Treecko, watch out!" Brendan warned, but it was in vain.
Treecko barely had time to react. The flaming tackle slammed into the Grass-type, sending it tumbling backward. Treecko winced but pushed itself back up, refusing to give in.
Brendan clenched his fists. "You okay, Treecko?"
Treecko gave a determined nod, brushing off the burn marks from Cyndaquil's attack.
Ash gave Brendan's Treecko a nod of approval. "Not bad! Your Treecko is quite tough. But let's see how it handles this. Cyndaquil, use Flamethrower!"
Cyndaquil inhaled deeply, then unleashed a roaring stream of flames toward Treecko. The heat from the attack distorted the air as it surged across the battlefield.
"Treecko, dodge with Quick Attack!" Brendan shouted.
Treecko moved swiftly, darting out of the way just in time, the flames grazing the ground behind it. Treecko was quick on its feet, but Brendan knew he couldn't keep running forever. He had to come up with a plan—and fast.
"Treecko, use Pound!"
Treecko pivoted on its heel, using its momentum to launch itself toward Cyndaquil, its tail glowing white as it prepared to slam it down on the Fire-type.
"Counter with Swift!" Ash commanded.
Cyndaquil responded by unleashing a flurry of glowing star-shaped projectiles. The stars flew at Treecko, hitting it before it could land its attack. The impact knocked Treecko back once again, leaving Brendan's Pokémon struggling to stand.
"His counters are well-timed," on the sidelines, Professor Birch nodded thoughtfully. "Brendan's Treecko is showing great potential, but Ash's experience and battle instincts are proving too much for him right now."
"Yeah, Ash is actually good," May crossed her arms, impressed. Throughout the years, she had seen many trainers battle and lose to her father, so she had a vague understanding of what a good trainer looked like.
"Yep! That's my big brother!" Ashly meanwhile beamed with pride, hearing others praise her brother.
Brendan gritted his teeth, seeing his Treecko forcing itself back on its feet. He knew Treecko had taken a lot of damage and it wouldn't be able to go on for long. But then something unexpected happened: Treecko's body started glowing, enveloped with a soothing green glow.
"What?" Brendan asked, staring at Treecko with wide eyes.
"This is called Overgrow. It's Treecko's ability that boosts the power of its grass-type moves by 50% when it becomes too tired or weak during the battle," Ash explained.
Now, he normally wouldn't have gone out of his way to explain things to his opponent, but this wasn't a serious match and Brendan was a new trainer who could benefit from this information. Besides, if push came to shove, he also had Blaze in the back of his pocket.
Meanwhile, Ash's explanation finally sank in Brendan's head, and newfound hope emerged in his heart. "Overgrow... We can still win this, Treecko! Use Leer, then follow it up with Leafage!"
Treecko locked eyes with Cyndaquil once more, its intense Leer lowering Cyndaquil's defense even further. Then, with renewed energy, it sent another flurry of glowing leaves toward Cyndaquil.
However, unfortunately for Brendan at that moment, Ash decided to stop stretching the battle. "Cyndaquil, Flame Charge, let's end this!"
Cyndaquil's back ignited in flames once more, and it charged forward with incredible speed, fire engulfing its body as it barreled straight through the oncoming leaves. The glowing leaves were incinerated by the intense heat as Cyndaquil closed in on Treecko.
Brendan's eyes widened. "Treecko, dodge! Quick!"
But it was too late. Cyndaquil's Flame Charge connected with Treecko, sending the Grass-type flying backward. Treecko hit the ground hard, struggling to stand back up. It was clear the battle had taken its toll.
Treecko tried to rise, but its legs gave out beneath it and it fell to the ground with spirals in its eyes.
"Treecko is unable to battle! Cyndaquil wins! The victory goes to Ash!" Professor Birch announced, raising his hand to declare the end of the match.
******
[Congratualtions! Objective Complete! 500 points successfully redeemed!]
"Thank you for your hard work. Take a rest now," Ash said, returning Cyndaquil to its Poké Ball. Then he looked up and saw Brendan standing still, his gaze fixed on the ground. The defeat had clearly affected him, and Ash couldn't help but feel sorry for him. After all, Brendan had lost their battle without landing a single hit on his Cyndaquil.
However, before Ash could say anything, Professor Birch walked over and placed a comforting hand on Brendan's shoulder. "Son, why don't you take Treecko inside the lab to get him healed?" he suggested kindly.
Brendan nodded, but his expression remained distant. "Right..." he muttered, returning Treecko to its Poké Ball. Without glancing at anyone or saying another word, he turned and walked back toward the lab, his head hung low.
Ash watched him go, feeling a pang of guilt. "Is he going to be alright?" he asked quietly as he approached Professor Birch.
Professor Birch sighed softly, though a small smile played at the corners of his lips. "He'll be fine. This was his first real battle, and losing can sting, especially when you feel outmatched. But Brendan is a passionate and determined boy. Today, he learned a valuable lesson—sometimes, losing is a step toward getting stronger. He just needs some time to process it."
Ash nodded, understanding well what Professor Birch was trying to convey through his words.
"And don't feel bad about defeating him," Professor Birch said, patting Ash's shoulder. "If you had held back or refused to take the battle seriously, it would have been far worse for Brendan. You gave him a real challenge—one he'll remember and grow from."
Once again, Ash nodded, appreciating Professor Birch's wisdom.
After a brief pause, Professor Birch changed the subject, glancing at Ash. "By the way, Ash, you're planning to compete in the Ever Grande Conference, right?"
"Yeah, that's the goal," Ash said, nodding his head.
"In that case, you'll need to register for the Hoenn League at the nearest Pokémon Center, which is in Oldale Town," Birch advised.
"Oldale Town, huh?" Ash muttered, pulling out his Pokédex and checking the map. It wasn't far from Littleroot Town. He then turned toward May, who was standing nearby. "May, what about you? Where are you heading next?"
"I'm actually going back home to Petalburg City," May explained. "I have to show my face back at home before officially starting my journey."
"In that case, would you mind if Ashly and I tagged along with you?" Ash suggested. "Oldale Town is on the way to Petalburg, and I was planning to challenge the Petalburg Gym anyway. What do you think?"
"Sure, I don't mind," May said, shrugging her shoulder. "It would be nice to have company on the way back home."
"Awesome! That means we're companions now!" Ashly cheered, pumping her fist into the air.
With their plan set, Ash, Ashly, and May prepared to leave Littleroot Town. After saying their goodbyes to Professor Birch, they began their journey toward Oldale Town. However, just as they stepped outside the town, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Wait!"
Turning around, they saw Brendan running toward them, breathing heavily as he caught up.
When Brendan reached them, he stopped, panting and trying to catch his breath. After a moment, he straightened up and faced Ash. "Ash, sorry for earlier," Brendan said in a sincere voice. "I know I acted weird after our battle. It was rude of me to just leave like that, so... sorry."
"It's okay, Brendan," Ash smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "I understand. Everyone takes a loss differently."
"Thanks," Brendan said with an appreciative smile. "But I promise, next time you see me, Treecko and I will be much stronger. We'll give you a real battle, and next time, we're going to win for sure!"
"I'll be waiting for your challenge then," Ash grinned, impressed by Brendan's renewed determination.
He extended his fist, and Brendan smiled, bumping it in return. "It's a promise."
With that, Brendan bid them farewell and headed back to Littleroot Town, while Ash, Ashly, and May turned toward the road leading to Oldale Town, the start of their new journey just beginning.
To be continued...