Pokemon : Rewind

After leaving New Bark Town, Ash and his friends aimed for their next destination: Cherrygrove City.

This picturesque location, known as the "Gateway to Johto," served as the only path between New Bark Town and Violet City. 

It was not just a necessary stop but also a chance to take in the beautiful scenery and perhaps encounter some interesting Pokémon.

The journey led them through Route 29, a vibrant route teeming with life. The lush greenery and wild Pokémon attracted rookie trainers, eager to catch their first companions and hone their battle skills.

Ash, however, wasn't focused on catching Pokémon just yet. Though he kept an eye out for potential additions to his team, none of the wild Pokémon they encountered—mainly Hoothoot and Sentret—seemed like the right fit.

"It's not that I don't want new Pokémon," Ash mused aloud, his hands resting behind his head as he walked. "But I need ones that can really strengthen the team."

Misty, walking beside him, chimed in. "You're getting picky, Ash. Back in Kanto, you caught anything that moved!"

"That was different!" Ash replied with a grin, shrugging. "I didn't understand how important strategy was back then. I'm not about to catch something that doesn't fit the team. I've got to think about things like synergy and—"

"Synergy?" Misty interrupted, raising her brow. "Big word for you, Ash. Did you get that from Professor Oak or something?"

Ash laughed but didn't deny it—he "did" pick it up during their last visit to Professor Oak's lab. 

"Hey, it's important! If I'm going to be a Pokémon Master, I need my team to work like... like puzzle pieces that all fit together!"

Misty rolled her eyes at the lofty statement. "Whatever you say, Mr. Pokémon Master."

Meanwhile, Brock chimed in from behind the duo, carrying a full pack on his back. "You might be overthinking it. Sometimes the best Pokémon are the ones you don't expect. You've already caught amazing ones in the past without overanalyzing."

---

By midday, they decided to set up camp. While Ash and Misty began setting up the tent, Brock busied himself preparing lunch.

It was a peaceful routine until a lively voice carried through the air.

"Let's go, Chikorita! You've got this!"

The voice, full of energy, cut through the quiet forest, instantly grabbing their attention.

"Someone's having a battle," Ash guessed, pausing his work.

"It sounds close," Misty added, standing up to scan the area.

"Should we check it out?" Ash asked, looking to his friends for agreement.

"I'll stay here and finish up," Brock called after them, stirring a pot. "Try not to get into trouble before lunch is ready."

Ash gave a sheepish laugh as he bolted ahead, with Misty sighing and following right behind him.

---

Ash and Misty followed the voice through the forest, emerging onto a grassy field.

There, they saw a young girl, about ten years old, her purple hair tied into a short bob. 

She wore a yellow shirt with bold black stripes, a pair of white shorts, and a matching black-and-white cap.

"Chikorita! Tackle it now!" the girl shouted, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Her opponent was a wild Weedle, a Bug and Poison-type Pokémon with a segmented body and a small, sharp horn on its head.

"Chikorita"

Type: Grass

Category: Leaf Pokémon

Ability: Overgrow

Hidden Ability: Leaf Guard

The little Grass Pokémon on the field nodded, narrowing its big crimson eyes. 

The light-green Pokémon with a leafy crest on its head charged forward, kicking up small clods of dirt as it bolted toward the wild Weedle.

"Chiko!" it cried, its sturdy legs pounding the ground with determination. 

But the Weedle, quick and cunning, countered. It aimed its sharp horn and launched a sticky String Shot straight at Chikorita's legs.

"Watch out!" the girl called, but it was too late. The white strands of silk wrapped around Chikorita's short legs, tangling them and sending the Grass Pokémon tumbling to the ground.

Ash's eyes lit up as he watched from the tree line. "That Weedle's fast! Chikorita's going to have a tough time unless she thinks of something different."

Misty gave him a sideways glance. "We're just watching, right? No 'expert coaching' until they ask for advice?"

Ash smirked but stayed silent. He had learned from past experiences that jumping into someone else's battle didn't always go over well. 

Instead, he crouched lower, his hat pulled down to hide his face as he watched intently.

On the field, the Weedle was quick to press its advantage, darting closer while Chikorita struggled to free itself from the sticky mess. As it moved, it aimed its horn for a Poison Sting attack.

"C'mon, Chikorita! Use your leaf!" the girl shouted.

Though mired in the sticky silk, Chikorita remained calm. With an impressive flick of the large leaf on its forehead, it whipped at the sticky strands, tearing some of them as the Weedle lunged closer. As soon as its legs were free, Chikorita leapt into action.

"Good job! Now hit it back with Growl!"

The adorable but fierce Grass Pokémon let out a low, threatening growl that rolled across the clearing like thunder. 

Though relatively small, the move startled the Weedle, temporarily lowering its attack power and causing it to misjudge its strike.

"Now, Chikorita—use Tackle again while it's distracted!"

Chikorita surged forward, this time making direct contact as it slammed its body into Weedle. 

The Bug Pokémon rolled back from the blow, but it wasn't beaten yet. With a resilient cry, Weedle shot another String Shot, attempting to regain control of the battle—but Chikorita dodged this time by leaping to the side.

Ash whispered to himself, "Wow, she's got great instinct as a trainer."

Misty leaned closer. "Are you narrating in your head again?"

Ash flushed. "H-hey, I'm just... observing."

---

Despite Chikorita's valiant efforts, the battle ended abruptly. The Weedle, now realizing it was at a disadvantage, quickly scurried into the tall grass and disappeared. C

hikorita froze, blinking in confusion, before letting out a deflated sigh.

"No way! We almost had it!" the girl groaned, stomping a foot in frustration. She ran over to Chikorita, kneeling down to help brush off the remnants of String Shot. 

"Next time, we've got to be quicker."

Ash and Misty exchanged amused glances as they kept their distance.

"Looks like she has got a lot of energy," Misty remarked, smiling.

"Of course! I'm Casey, and I'm going to be the greatest trainer ever!" she announced proudly, her hands forming fists of determination.

Ash chuckled, impressed by her enthusiasm. "That's a big goal. But she's off to a great start!"

"Everyone starts somewhere. She will do great with Chikorita."Ash thought.

"Next time, I'll catch that Weedle for sure!" Casey declared.

Chikorita wobbled to her side, brushing off the String Shot remnants. Casey knelt to pat its head, her affection for the Pokémon clear.

---

Back at camp, Brock had finished preparing lunch, and the three friends settled down to eat.

"Did you find out who was shouting?" Brock asked, passing Ash a plate.

"Yeah, her name's Casey," Ash replied, between bites. "She's got a Chikorita and a ton of energy."

"She's training hard, but she's still got a lot to learn," Misty added, her tone fond.

Brock nodded. "Sounds like she'll do well if she keeps that determination."

As they ate, the trio reflected on Casey's passion, each of them silently rooting for her to achieve her dreams.

Though their paths had only crossed briefly, it was clear to Ash that Casey had the spirit of a true trainer.

"She reminds me of myself when I started," Ash thought, a small smile tugging at his lips.

With their meal finished, the group packed up camp and continued toward Cherrygrove City, ready for the next chapter of their adventure.

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