Pokémon: Trainer Paul

The Poké Ball bounced off the Drifloon just as it was about to capture it. A flash of red light erupted from the Pokémon, rejecting the capture attempt entirely.

When a Poké Ball fails to capture a Pokémon, aside from being defective, there's usually only one explanation.

"Been tamed? Hmph! how boring."

Paul snorted as he put the bounced Poké Ball back into his pocket.

"I told you to wait! Why did you attack? This is so..."

A sweet-looking girl hurried over from a distance, cradling the Drifloon in her arms. She scowled at Paul for attacking her Pokémon out of nowhere.

"If you can't even control your own Pokémon, you should just stay home. Don't come out here to waste my time." Paul snapped coldly, showing no concern for the girl.

"What did you just say? You insulted me? And you attacked my Pokémon without reason? How dare you! I'll battle you!" the girl retorted, her frustration boiling over.

"A battle?"

Paul stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.

"That's right! I'll defeat you!" The girl declared fiercely.

"Fine. Three-on-three. The first side to have all their Pokémon unable to battle loses," Paul said without hesitation. He welcomed the challenge, viewing it as an opportunity to further train his Pokémon.

"Uh... well..."

The girl's confidence wavered upon hearing the rules.

"Is there a problem?" Paul asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My Drifloon's injured because of you. I only have one Pokémon left that can fight." She admitted awkwardly.

"You don't even have three Pokémon? How dull."

Without another word, Paul turned and walked away, leaving the girl fuming behind him.

As he continued down the path, Paul couldn't shake a sense of familiarity. This scene... it reminded him of something.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced—his first encounter with Ash Ketchum. The scene replayed vividly in his mind.

"I wonder what the Ash of this world is like..." Paul murmured to himself, a spark of anticipation lighting his eyes. His fist clenched in excitement at the thought of meeting this "super rookie."

Kanto Region

On an endless expanse of grassland, a boy and his electric mouse companion ran freely.

"Pikachu, isn't it beautiful?" Ash said, grinning as he looked around.

"Pika~" Pikachu chirped in agreement.

After their playful romp, the pair lay on the grass, enjoying the gentle breeze and gazing into the distance.

"We're almost at Cerulean City. We have to work hard and win our first Gym Badge." Ash said, sitting up with determination in his eyes.

"Pika!" Pikachu cheered, punching the air with its tiny paw.

"We can do it! I know we'll become the greatest Pokémon Masters ever!" Ash exclaimed, pulling out a feather that shimmered like a rainbow from inside his jacket. His gaze was full of hope and excitement.

Though he had faced repeated failures, Ash's spirit remained unbroken.

"Pika!" Pikachu's eyes sparkled with longing as it stared at the Rainbow Wing, recalling the mysterious Pokémon they had encountered.

Unlike his anime counterpart, this Ash had yet to earn a single badge, and his journey lacked traveling companions. On the first day of his journey, he was attacked by a flock of Spearow and encountered a legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh—leaving him with the Rainbow Wing as a token of their meeting.

Upon reaching Viridian City, Ash's hopes of challenging the Gym were dashed when he discovered that the original Gym Leader, Giovanni, was no longer in charge. Green, Gary's older brother, had taken over as a temporary leader. However, the rules required a three-on-three battle, and Ash only had Pikachu.

Despite his pleas, Green reluctantly agreed to a one-on-one match. Even so, Ash was no match for him and had to leave empty-handed, vowing to return.

In Viridian Forest, Ash managed to capture a Caterpie and a displaced Taillow before arriving in Pewter City. There, he prepared to challenge the Gym, now overseen by Brock's younger brother, Forrest.

However, Forrest's lineup—a Rhyperior and an Onix—proved overwhelming. Pikachu, armed with only newly learned Iron Tail and Quick Attack, couldn't stand a chance. Caterpie and Taillow fared even worse.

Once again, Ash had to move on, setting his sights on Cerulean City to earn his first badge. Yet, despite the setbacks, his optimism remained unshaken. The future Rainbow Hero continued to grow as a trainer at an incredible pace, even if his team's progress lagged behind.

Paul, of course, knew none of this. The Paul of this world wasn't privy to the experiences of his anime counterpart. What he did have were his own memories.

As a reincarnated individual, Paul had spent years honing his skills, training relentlessly, and traveling with his older brother, Reggie, across various regions. His starting point as a trainer far surpassed that of most others.

Confronting challenges was second nature to Paul. He would always find a way to overcome them.

"Beep beep~"

Paul's phone buzzed as he finished releasing a Pokémon he deemed unfit for his team. Seeing Reggie's name on the screen, Paul answered the video call.

"Hey, Reggie. What's up?" Paul asked, curious. His brother rarely called without a good reason.

"Paul, where are you right now?" Reggie's voice was unusually urgent.

"I'm approaching Eterna Forest. I should reach Eterna City in a few days for the Gym challenge. Why?" Paul replied.

"Great! I recently got my hands on a rare item, and I'm sending it to you. It should arrive at the Pokémon Center in Eterna City soon. Just ask Nurse Joy to hand it over when you get there." Reggie said excitedly, his tone brimming with childlike enthusiasm.

"Uh... sure." Paul said, puzzled. What kind of item could get Reggie so worked up?

"Is that a Vulpix on your shoulder? Did you just catch it? It looks adorable. Anyway, I've got to run. Keep up the good work, Paul!" Reggie said hurriedly before ending the call.

"Vul?"

Paul and the Vulpix exchanged confused glances, the little fox tilting its head in bewilderment.

"Whatever it is, I'll find out at the Pokémon Center." Paul muttered, brushing off his curiosity. He had a faint suspicion but chose not to dwell on it.

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