Pokemon: The Journey

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PERARARARRARARAAAAAAAAA...

The sleepy town of Pallet woke up to the cries of a Dodrio, signaling the start of the day.

Slowly rising from behind the hills, the sun casts its rays through the morning fog.

Reflecting the morning dewdrops on the grass and trees...

The different cries of Pokémon from Professor Oak's Lab could be heard in the quiet town.

With the rays falling on his face from the window, Ash started getting out of his sleep.

Getting out of bed, he stretched and yawned.

With sleepy eyes, he went to the bathroom and started brushing his teeth.

While doing so, he remembered his dream and started to cry.

"Even if it was a dream, I got a friend now. How pathetic am I?"

'Yo. Good morning.'

Ash choked on the paste.

Using the water from the tap to drink down the stuck paste foam, he started looking around.

"Where and who are you?"

'Hey-hey-hey. We just talked, remember.' 

"R-Roshi?..."

"Wait, so it wasn't a dream? Then how can..." Ash's talk was abruptly ended.

"Ash, are you up?"

From downstairs, Delia's voice was heard.

"Yes, Mom!"

'Think about what you want to say to me, and don't say it out loud. Only you can hear me. You also cannot talk about my existence to anybody.'

"Why..."

'What do you think people will think about you when they hear you talking with a fictional person residing within your head?'

'A-a freak...'

'Okay. I was going for lunatic, but that also works. Hey, do not go into dark thoughts. You are a child, not a freak. What if you are a freak? That would mean that you are special in some way, and they are jealous of you. If you have yet to find what makes you a freak, then find it.'

'What if I am a bad sort of freak, then?'

'Then don't be.'

'What do you mean?'

'A person's actions should define their worth. Not their birth, status, or circumstances out of their control. Every person has a gift of sorts. How you use them is completely up to you.'

'Thanks'

'No worries. You should now go downstairs, otherwise your mother will be suspicious and concerned.'

Nodding mentally to Roshi, Ash went downstairs to have his breakfast.

Roshi started to think about what to teach Ash so that he is prepared for the journey.

During his musings, Ash had already settled down at the table and started eating breakfast.

Glancing at the TV screen to see what Ash was seeing, Roshi saw something that derailed his entire thought process.

'Nonononono, you have got to be kidding me.'

The more he thought about it, the more it started to make sense to him, and he, fortunately, or unfortunately, concluded what to have Ash work on.

He was hoping that it was not true, but as they always say, that every deal has something that will screw you over in life.

'Roshi, what's wrong?'

'Ash, after breakfast, we need to talk.'