Pokémon: Starting with Ash's Mom

"Pikachu!"

Kazuki turned his head and exchanged a glance with the Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

Pikachu nodded in understanding, its ears perking up slightly as faint sparks crackled across its cheeks.

"Ha! Annoying Pokémon trainers! Get out of Dark City!"

Just as Pikachu readied itself, three young boys wielding wooden swords leapt down from a rooftop.

Kazuki casually waved his hand. "Pikachu! Use Thunder Shock!"

Seeing that they were just mischievous kids, Kazuki ordered Pikachu to use a low-powered Electric-type move.

In an instant, Pikachu became a yellow streak of lightning, leaping into the air.

"Pika—chu!" With a sharp cry, Pikachu unleashed a Thunder Shock, striking all three boys on the roof.

Before they could react, the boys were jolted into numbness, tumbling off the roof and landing in a pile of hay below.

"Ouch! That hurts!" The three kids clutched their tingling bodies, sprawled on the ground.

Nurse Joy, startled by the sudden turn of events, instinctively pressed herself against Kazuki's arm.

Once she realized it was just three children, she relaxed slightly—until she noticed her ample chest pressed against Kazuki's arm. 

Flustered, she quickly stepped back, putting some distance between them.

Her dazed expression soon turned to anger as she stormed forward.

"You three! How dare you attack passersby with wooden swords?"

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? Didn't your parents teach you better?"

Despite the lingering numbness, the boys glared defiantly at Nurse Joy.

One of them struggled to sit up and pointed accusingly at Kazuki. "We're not wrong! You have a Pikachu—you're Pokémon trainers!"

"Pokémon trainers are all bad people!"

"What's wrong with Pokémon trainers?" Misty, who had also been startled earlier, now stepped forward, hands on her hips, her temper flaring.

"You little brats, did Pokémon trainers eat your rice or steal your Poké Balls? What's your problem?"

"If you're going to hate someone, at least have a reason! We just got here—what did we ever do to you?"

The boy shrank under Misty's fierce glare but stubbornly insisted, "Pokémon trainers are all bad! They're always fighting and messing up our city! We don't like them!"

Misty's anger skyrocketed. "What kind of nonsense is that?" she snapped, jabbing a finger at him.

"That's your city's problem, not ours!"

"Besides, Pokémon trainers aim to grow and improve alongside their Pokémon! What do you kids even know?"

Her verbal barrage left the three boys speechless, their eyes welling up with tears.

Kazuki watched from the sidelines, quietly amused. Misty's really something with words. If I ever took a girlfriend like her home for the holidays, she'd have the relatives wrapped around her finger.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a middle-aged man rushed out of a nearby restaurant.

Sweating profusely, he hurried over and repeatedly bowed in apology. "I'm so sorry, so sorry!"

"I didn't discipline these kids properly. Please forgive the trouble they caused!"

Seeing an adult step in, Nurse Joy reined in her temper and waved it off. "We're fine. But you really need to keep a closer eye on them!"

Wiping his forehead, the man nodded eagerly. "Absolutely! To make it up to you, please come to my restaurant as my guests!"

"You're traveling trainers, right? Let me cover your meals and lodging in Gringey City!"

Misty crossed her arms and huffed. "Hmph! That's more like it."

With the tension diffused, Kazuki and the group followed the man into his cozy little restaurant.

Though modest in size, the place had a warm atmosphere, filled with the enticing aroma of food—enough to make Misty and Suzie's stomachs growl.

The owner seated them and brought out several signature dishes with a smile. "Please, try these specialties as my apology."

Kazuki didn't hold back, picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite. "Not bad at all. You've got skills, boss."

Pikachu hopped onto the table and happily dug into a bottle of ketchup.

Misty and Suzie also dug in with gusto.

However, Nurse Joy seemed to have lost her appetite. Frowning, she set down her chopsticks and turned to the owner. "Sir, I have a question for you."

The man nodded eagerly. "Go ahead."

Taking a deep breath, Nurse Joy spoke seriously. "I remember Dark City has two Pokémon Gyms, right? The Yas Gym and the Kaz Gym?"

"Aren't they supposed to promote Pokémon knowledge and protect the city with Pokémon?"

"So why do the children here hate Pokémon so much?"

The owner's expression darkened. He sighed heavily.

"You're right, miss. Dark City does have two Gyms. But the root of the problem… is those very Gyms!"

"Instead of teaching about Pokémon, they constantly hire traveling trainers as mercenaries!"

"They're always battling, turning the city into a mess!"

"That's why the kids have grown to dislike Pokémon."

Nurse Joy slammed the table in outrage. "That's absurd!"

"Pokémon Gyms are meant to nurture trainers and spread knowledge—not engage in meaningless fights!"

Her outburst startled Misty and Suzie.

Suzie whispered, "Nurse Joy's usually so gentle… I've never seen her this angry before."

Misty nodded. "Me neither."

Realizing her outburst, Nurse Joy took a deep breath and sat back down. "Sorry, I got carried away. It's just… Gyms shouldn't be like this."

The owner shook his head helplessly. "You're absolutely right, miss. But these two Gyms have been feuding for ages, fighting over which one gets official recognition."

"They don't care about the city—only their own interests. We ordinary folks can't do anything about it."

Nurse Joy pressed, "Official recognition? That's not how it works!"

"Official Gyms are approved by the League based on their contributions to the city and guidance for new trainers—not by defeating rivals!"

The owner scratched his head. "I'm just a cook, so I don't know the rules. But they're always shouting during battles that the winner proves they're stronger and deserves to be official."

Nurse Joy slammed the table again. "That's complete nonsense! The League would never endorse such barbaric behavior!"

The owner sighed. "You're right. But they won't listen. And tomorrow, they're holding another huge battle!"

"I just hope this time, they settle it for good."

"Though it's a shame—I just got fresh ingredients today, and they'll probably go to waste during the chaos."

Kazuki followed the man's gaze to the pile of ingredients by the door, his mind already working on a solution for his Heartfelt Mission.

After a moment, he set down his chopsticks. "Don't worry, sir. I might have a way to fix this."

The owner's eyes widened. "Y-You can fix it?"

Kazuki nodded. "I've got a good chance. I may not be a Gym Leader, but my Pokémon training skills aren't lacking."

"I'm confident I can handle it."

Knowing the Yas and Kaz Gyms rely on Electabuzz and Scyther, I've already got a counter plan.

"And through my journey, I've learned that Pokémon exist to protect and help people—not to be tools for petty squabbles. I'll make sure they understand that."

Though he only had two points of Heartfelt Reputation, Kazuki wasn't about to miss this chance to impress Nurse Joy.

As expected, his words struck a chord with her. Her admiration for him surged, her eyes flashing with approval.

"You're right, Kazuki," she said softly. "Pokémon should be used correctly, not abused."

The owner hesitated. "But young man, those Gyms are strong. Their battles are intense—can you really handle them alone?"

Before Kazuki could answer, Misty and Suzie stood up in unison. "Don't worry, sir! Kazuki's an incredibly strong trainer!"

Both girls blinked in surprise at their synchronized response.

Suzie didn't even know when she'd become so much like Misty.

The two exchanged a smile before declaring together, "And we'll help him too!"

The owner looked at Kazuki, then at the two girls supporting him, as if seeing the bonds and auras between them.

His confidence in them grew, and he nodded gratefully. "Then… I'll leave it to you. But please, be careful."

Meanwhile, Nurse Joy studied Kazuki, a strange new feeling stirring in her heart.

He's… different from other trainers.

Her earlier anger faded, replaced by a thoughtful smile as she watched him.

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