Pokemon : Rewind

"Chikorita, we may have lost today, but we can't give up! Let's sing a victory song for the next battle!" Casey exclaimed with boundless enthusiasm, her fist raised high in the air.

"Chiko!" Chikorita responded energetically, swaying the leaf on its head in sync with Casey's exuberant singing.

"Riding on the wind of Mt. Mortar~ Quick Attack Is coming strong~ Light Screen tricks you won't see~" Casey sang at full volume, her voice ringing with joy.

Ash and Misty paused mid-step, captivated by the unexpected performance. They exchanged amused glances as Casey continued her song, oblivious to their presence.

Finally, with a dramatic flourish, Casey finished her melody. She then turned to Chikorita and said with a grin, "You did great! Rest up for now."

She retrieved Chikorita's Poké Ball and called her Pokémon back, the red light gently enveloping it before it disappeared.

Turning back, Casey suddenly noticed Ash and Misty standing nearby.

"Ah! Who's there?" Casey demanded, squaring her shoulders as if preparing for a battle.

Despite her attempt at a fierce stance, her youthful features and sparkling purple eyes gave her a cheerful, almost playful appearance. Misty couldn't help but find her utterly adorable.

Before Ash or Misty could respond, Casey's demeanor shifted completely.

"Oh my gosh!" she squealed, running straight toward them.

Ash blinked in surprise, unsure how to react as Casey stopped inches from him, her eyes wide with excitement.

Her intense gaze wasn't directed at him, though. Instead, she was staring at his shoulder, where Pikachu sat comfortably.

"Is that… a Pikachu? A real Pikachu?" Casey gasped, her voice rising in pitch. Without waiting for permission, she scooped Pikachu into her arms, holding it close to her face.

"Pika?!" Pikachu yelped, caught off guard by the sudden embrace.

"You're so cute! So yellow and perfect! I've always dreamed of seeing a Pikachu up close!" Casey gushed, rubbing her cheek against Pikachu's fur.

"Wait, Casey—" Ash began, trying to warn her.

"Pika… chu!" Pikachu, startled by the overwhelming affection, released a gentle Thunder Shock. Sparks flew as Casey's body briefly crackled with electricity.

Casey staggered back, her hair standing on end, but to Ash and Misty's astonishment, she seemed more delighted than deterred.

"That was amazing! Pikachu's electricity is so cool!" she exclaimed, her eyes still sparkling.

Pikachu blinked, unsure how to handle such relentless enthusiasm.

"Um, Casey? Maybe give Pikachu a little space?" Ash suggested, gesturing for her to let go of his startled partner.

"Oh, of course!" Casey quickly set Pikachu down but leaned in to whisper, "Don't worry, Pikachu! I'll play with you again later!"

Pikachu shot a wary glance at Ash, clearly hoping he'd intervene if Casey got too excited again.

"I'm Casey from New Bark Town!" she announced proudly. "I'm training to become the greatest Pokémon Master ever!"

"Nice to meet you, Casey!" Ash replied warmly.

"And I'm Misty," Misty added, smiling.

"That's Brock over there, making lunch," Ash continued, pointing to their camp where Brock was focused on his cooking.

"Hello, everyone!" Casey greeted enthusiastically, waving at Brock even though he was too busy to respond.

Suddenly, Casey froze, her eyes narrowing as she studied Ash closely.

"Wait a minute…" she murmured, tilting her head. "You look… really familiar. Where have I seen you before?"

Misty chuckled. "You've probably seen him at the Indigo Conference. Ash won the championship."

Casey's eyes widened as realization dawned. "No way! You're the Indigo Conference Champion?! That's incredible!"

Ash scratched the back of his head, feeling slightly embarrassed by the attention.

"Wow, this is so cool! But…" Casey's gaze shifted back to Pikachu, who was now cautiously playing with Togepi.

"Pikachu… It's so amazing to see one in person! It's perfect—yellow with stripes! Just like my favorite Pokémon!"

"Pikachu, yellow with stripes…" Misty echoed, curious. "Why do you like those kinds of Pokémon so much?"

"Because they remind me of Electabuzz!" Casey declared, puffing out her chest with pride.

"Electabuzz?" Ash asked, tilting his head.

"Yes! My family has been Electabuzz fans for generations! My grandfather, my father, me—we're all die-hard fans of Team Electabuzz!" Casey exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over.

Ash snapped his fingers. "Team Electabuzz… That's a baseball team, right?"

"Exactly!" Casey's excitement surged as she stepped closer to Ash. "You're a fan too?"

"Not exactly," Ash admitted with an awkward laugh. "I've heard of them, but I don't really follow baseball."

"You should! Baseball is amazing!" Casey insisted. "And Team Electabuzz is the best! One day, I'll be their number-one fan and a Pokémon Master!"

Her passion for both Pokémon and baseball was infectious, and Ash couldn't help but smile.

"You've got big dreams, Casey," he said, offering a fist bump.

Casey grinned and bumped her fist against his. "Of course! And one day, I'll beat you in a battle!"

Ash laughed. "I'll be looking forward to it."

---

As the group sat down for lunch, Casey's boundless energy filled the campsite with laughter and chatter.

Her passion for Pokémon and baseball made her stand out, and it was clear to Ash, Misty, and Brock that this lively young trainer would go far.

"She's got the drive," Misty said quietly as she watched Casey animatedly talk to Pikachu.

"And the spirit," Brock added.

And as Casey continued to chat about her dreams and ambitions, Ash found himself rooting for her, knowing that her journey was just beginning.

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