Ash opened his eyes and found himself in a fantastical space.
"Where is this place?"
As confusion set in, a sudden storm surged in front of him. A moment later, a majestic beast bathed in divine light appeared.
"Is that… a Pokémon?"
Ash stared at the alpaca-like creature in awe.
He had never seen such a sacred and unapproachable being before, and couldn't even be sure if it was a Pokémon or something else entirely.
The white beast seemed to hear him. It lowered its head slightly and looked into Ash's eyes. Then, a serene voice echoed in his mind:
"Little one, you've fallen into the wrong world. I cannot return you to your own, but I can offer you a small gift."
"The wrong world? What are you talking about?" Ash demanded. "What do you mean, wrong world?!"
But the creature didn't respond.
Instead, it raised its head and gazed into the infinite void.
"Go back now. You still have unfinished business to attend to."
"Wait—!"
CRACK!
Before Ash could finish, the ground beneath him gave way, and he fell into a bottomless abyss.
Ash shot up, drenched in sweat.
"Quack...?"
The Froakie beside him blinked sleepily, clearly annoyed.
"Just a nightmare," Ash muttered, realizing it was only a dream. "Sorry for waking you."
"Quack."
Satisfied that Ash wasn't in danger, Froakie rolled over and went back to sleep.
If this guy wakes up screaming from nightmares, I seriously question his potential as a trainer... were the last thoughts Froakie had before dozing off again.
Ash, of course, couldn't understand him and was fortunate not to hear it.
His attention lingered on the dream.
"What was that all about?"
He tried to recall it, frowning, but the images faded too fast. Dreams are fleeting; 90% vanish upon waking, and the rest are gone within seconds.
"...Forget it."
He sighed and relaxed.
No use dwelling on something he couldn't remember. Right now, the important thing was resting up and continuing the search for a way out tomorrow.
Still… deep down, Ash had a strange feeling.
He would remember everything. Eventually.
The next morning…
Ash woke early, freshened up, and resumed his journey through the forest with Froakie.
"Hey, Froakie, you don't like being in the Poké Ball either, huh?"
"Quack...?"
Froakie gave him a look—baffled, skeptical, and a little judgmental.
Have you seen any other Pokémon besides me walking around outside their balls? Are you even a real trainer?
"Uh..." Ash scratched his head, oddly understanding Froakie's meaning. "Now that I think about it..."
Since leaving home, he hadn't seen any other trainers—probably because he was still lost in the woods. Mimikyu wasn't the type to roam around either, so technically, Froakie was the only Pokémon he'd seen out and about.
Still… he had this strange feeling like he'd seen others act the same way.
Rustle.
A sudden noise from the bushes snapped both of them to attention.
A boy in a samurai helmet, vest, and wielding a bug-catching net burst through the foliage—a classic Viridian Forest Bug Catcher.
Ash and the boy locked eyes, and in that moment, they both understood.
"A wild trainer? Excellent! Our eyes have met—let's battle!" the boy declared, dramatically brandishing his net. "Send out your Pokémon!"
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Ash lit up. His first trainer battle since setting out!
"The choice is yours, Froakie!"
"Quack."
Froakie, uninterested, used Ignore Orders and attempted to nap.
"..."
Ash slowly lowered his hand.
He was really starting to get used to this.
"No matter! I've got a second Pokémon!" Ash declared, pulling a Poké Ball from his belt.
This was what he'd caught Mimikyu for.
"Let's go, Mimikyu!"
"Mimikyu!"
The disguised Pokémon materialized, glanced at the Bug Catcher... and then looked back at Ash.
"Mimikyu?"
Is dinner ready yet?
"Uhh… not yet," Ash replied awkwardly. "Can you hold off a bit? Help me with this battle, and I'll pick you even more berries after, okay?"
Mimikyu's eyes lit up.
Really?
"Really!" Ash promised sincerely. He would never lie to his Pokémon.
"Mimikyu!"
Energized, Mimikyu turned to face the opponent. His little bean-like eyes sparkled with intensity.
"Is that… Pikachu?" the Bug Catcher squinted at Mimikyu. "Why does it look so weird?"
"It's not Pikachu," Ash explained. "It's called Mimikyu. A Pokémon from the Alola region."
"Alola? You've been there?"
"No, I found Mimikyu in this forest."
"What?! There are Pokémon from other regions in this forest?!" the Bug Catcher looked floored. "I've been here ten years and never seen anything like that!"
"Uh… maybe you've just had bad luck?" Ash offered.
He vaguely remembered seeing Pokémon from other regions in Viridian Forest as a kid.
"..."
The boy's face turned from stunned to stricken.
"You're one of them, aren't you? A damn lucky bastard!"
"Huh? What did I do?!" Ash backed up a step.
"Don't talk to me!" the boy shouted, whipping out a Poké Ball.
"Come out, Pinsir! Teach this lucky dog a lesson!"
Ash blinked. Lucky…dog?
He didn't know it, but among the bug-catching community, there was a legend: those blessed by the forest could glimpse its "true form." This so-called "true form" had many meanings—but chief among them was the ability to encounter rare, unusual Pokémon.
Being able to see such Pokémon? That made you a golden child. And to this poor bug catcher, Ash was now a lucky bastard of the highest order.
"Pinsir!"
With a cry, a hulking beetle Pokémon emerged from the Poké Ball, almost half as tall as a man.
"Pinsir, use Swords Dance!"
"So we're starting already?" Ash snapped to attention. "Mimikyu, use Copycat!"
"Mimikyu!"
Mimikyu stared wide-eyed at the opposite side. In the next second, the same kind of updraft that had surrounded Pinsir flared around it. Almost simultaneously, both Pokémon's auras stabilized—neither strengthening nor weakening. They now radiated the same sharp fighting spirit.
"Attack first, Pinsir! Rush forward and use X-Scissor!"
"Pin!"
Pinsir's claws glowed white. Lowering its head slightly, it aimed its terrifying pincers at Mimikyu and charged forward.
"Mimikyu!"
The sheer force of the charge made Mimikyu instinctively take a step back.
"Don't be afraid, Mimikyu! Use Double Team to dodge it!"
"Mimikyu!"
Though still shaken, Mimikyu perked up at Ash's voice. It cried out, and in the next moment, multiple illusions surrounded Pinsir in a loose circle. Pinsir struck one of them—only to pass through air.
"Now's our chance!" Ash's eyes lit up as he saw Pinsir stumble, off-balance from the failed strike. "Mimikyu, use Wood Hammer!"
"Mimikyu!"
At Ash's call, Mimikyu's lightning-bolt tail twisted and grew into the shape of a heavy mallet. It leapt high into the air, spun halfway, and used the momentum to bring the hammer crashing down on Pinsir's back with brutal force.
"Pin!"
Pinsir let out a cry of pain. The impact brought it to one knee.
Though Pinsir, being a Bug-type, resisted Grass-type moves like Wood Hammer, Mimikyu's earlier Sword Dance had significantly boosted its strength. The hit didn't knock Pinsir out, but it did leave it heavily injured.
"Pinsir!" The bug-catching boy grit his teeth, his expression hardening. "Damn it! Hang in there! Use Bug Bite!"
"Pin!"
Despite the pain, Pinsir obeyed. It turned its head slowly, forced open its pincers, and lunged at Mimikyu, who was still descending from the air.
Clack!
Pinsir's pincers clamped down—but instead of a shriek, there was a strange sensation. Mimikyu slid right out of its grasp, as if shedding a skin. The real body had slipped away, completely unharmed.
"What the hell!?" the bug-catching boy gasped. He'd never seen a Pokémon so bizarre.
"Uh…" Even Ash was confused. He quickly pulled out his Pokédex.
Beep
Mimikyu's Ability, Disguise, nullifies the first instance of damage it takes in battle.
"What an amazing Ability…"
Ash couldn't help but admire it. He'd recently skimmed a characteristic encyclopedia during his downtime—though he hadn't memorized much. Still, he understood that Abilities were crucial in battle, and even a novice like him could tell that Disguise was incredibly strong. A few basic strategies were already forming in his mind.
But just as quickly, something else caught his attention.
"Mimikyu?"
Now that its Disguise had been broken, the Pikachu-like cloth it wore hung in tatters. Ash could faintly see the black mass of Mimikyu's true body beneath the rags. And… it was trembling.
The Pikachu hood had slipped sideways, twisted at an unnatural angle. From a distance, it looked as if someone had broken Pikachu's neck.
Black mist began rising from Mimikyu's body.
"Mimikyu…" It cried out softly, its voice far weaker than before—haunted, even. It didn't sound like the same Pokémon.
"Croak?"
Froakie, resting nearby, suddenly looked up.
"What's wrong, Mimikyu?" Ash asked, stepping closer in concern. "Are you hurt? Don't worry, I'll take you to the Pokémon Center—"
"Mimikyu!"
Before he could finish, Mimikyu exploded with a shriek. Two massive, ghostly claws burst from beneath its cloak and lunged straight at Ash.
"Hey!" the bug-catching boy shouted in alarm—but before the claws could strike, a blur of blue dashed between them and Ash.
Ash was flung backward. The boy turned just in time to see Froakie standing protectively in front of Ash, a glowing white blade in hand. The frog Pokémon had blocked the Shadow Claw.
"Croak…"
Froakie tilted its head and eyed the berserk Mimikyu. The corners of its normally indifferent mouth curled upward slightly.
Interesting. I was wrong about you. You're worth killing.
Froakie suddenly withdrew its blade, letting the Shadow Claws close in.
At the same moment, it holstered its lightsaber-like blade. Just before the claws struck, Froakie raised its gaze.
Slash.
No one could see Froakie's movement clearly. It was like watching a skipped frame. One moment it stood before Mimikyu, the next it was behind it, blade fading from existence.
Its speed was unreal.
Secret Sword: Swallow Return.
Boom!
The massive claws evaporated. Mimikyu collapsed, swirls in its eyes.
Mimikyu has fainted. The winner is Froakie!
"Croak."
Froakie looked down at Mimikyu and gave a satisfied nod.
Another target marked for death.
Then it casually returned to Ash.
The bug-catching boy stood there, stunned. What's with this kid's Pokémon? Do they all have personalities like that?
"Mimikyu!" Ash rushed over, worried sick. He cradled the unconscious Pokémon. "What happened to you…"
"Maybe it freaked out from being seen?" the bug-catching boy suggested. "Look—its disguise got torn. Maybe it panicked because it didn't want anyone to see its true form?"
"…Doesn't want to be seen…" Ash murmured, remembering what the Pokédex said about Mimikyu. "Could that really be it?"
"Well, either way, it's dangerous to keep a Pokémon like that," the bug-catching boy said bluntly. "My Pinsir definitely hit it, but it didn't seem to take any damage, and then it went wild. If one hit causes it to lose control… is that even usable in battle?"
"You should probably release it."
"…"
Ash bit his lip. The boy wasn't wrong. Mimikyu was unstable. But…
"I'll never give up on Mimikyu," Ash said firmly. "If getting hit is a problem, then we just won't get hit."
"I'll train Mimikyu properly. I swear I'll never abandon it!"
"…You're really stubborn." The bug-catching boy scratched his head, looking away. "Whatever. Our battle's over. I can't keep going like this."
He turned to leave—but after a few steps, he glanced back.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and follow me."
"Eh?"
"What do you mean 'eh'? Your Pokémon needs treatment, right? The Pokémon Center isn't exactly nearby. Or do you want Mimikyu to suffer side effects?"
Ash snapped out of his daze. "Ah—right! Sorry, and… thanks!"
"Save it." The bug-catching boy rolled his eyes and mumbled, "Gonna cost me a fortune…"
He led Ash to a wooden cabin—his temporary base in the forest. Inside were medicines and an assortment of weird odds and ends scavenged from the area.
"Okay, this should do it."
The boy applied medicine to Mimikyu, even patching up its ragged disguise. Then he handed it back to Ash.
"Thank you," Ash said sincerely, watching Mimikyu sleep peacefully in his arms. "I'm so glad you're okay…"
"…" The boy looked at Ash's smile, then turned away with a sigh.
"You said you're from Pallet Town? Damn… what is it with people from that place?"
"You met others from Pallet Town?" Ash asked, curious. "What were they like?"
"Huh? You've never met them?" The bug-catching boy looked at him strangely, then shrugged. "Let's see… One's like you, but a tactical monster. Another's a guy with a bad mouth but scary skills. One girl's a thief who stole a bunch of my stuff…"
"Oh, and a tanned kid with a really strong Pikachu."
"…Pikachu…" Ash's expression faltered at the mention.
"That Pikachu's nuts," the boy continued. "But honestly, it's wasted on that guy. He's not worthy of it."
"…A Trainer's level can always improve," Ash said softly, pushing the thought aside. "Thanks for treating Mimikyu. It's late—we should head out."
"You know the way to the Pokémon Center? You've clearly been lost."
"Two weeks," Ash admitted sheepishly.
"…No wonder you look like a wild man." The bug-catching boy pointed. "Just head that way, you'll find the Center. But don't leave yet—I've got something for you."
He rummaged through the pile of random items.
"Found it."
He handed Ash a yellow glass whistle.
"I found this in the forest. It seems to help relieve confusion. I don't know what's up with your Mimikyu, but it looked like it was in a frenzy—kind of like being confused. This might help."
"That's too valuable," Ash said, trying to return it.
"Don't be dumb!" the boy snapped. "You're trying to train Mimikyu like that and you're turning down tools that could help? Are you stupid?"
Ash blinked, frozen by the scolding.
The boy sighed and softened a little. "It's useless to me. Just take it. Otherwise, it's going back into the junk pile."
"…Alright. Thanks."
"Don't thank me." He turned away. "I just think you'd make a good rival. Let's finish our battle at the Indigo League."
"You're entering the League too?"
"What, think bug-catchers can't dream big?" The boy raised his fist. "I'll represent all bug-catchers by kicking your ass!"
"I didn't mean it like that—okay, I get it! See you at the League."
"Damn right. Though I'm not challenging a Gym until I'm ready."
"You'll do great," Ash smiled. "But I'll be the champion."
"With those monsters around? I'm aiming for second place at best."
"Hah! You almost lost to me just now!"
"That was a fluke! I've never even seen a Mimikyu before!"
"Information is power. A win's a win."
"…Tch." He clicked his tongue. "Fine. You win."
"Anyway, you'd better get moving. It'll be dark soon."
"Ah! I didn't realize it was this late!" Ash stood up and rushed for the door. "Let's go!"
"Croak."
Froakie followed at a slow pace, then turned to look at the bug-catching boy.
You might be worth killing too. Don't disappoint me~
"…Pinsir, did that frog just look down on us?"
"Pin…"
He couldn't understand Froakie's exact thoughts—but the message was clear. That Pokémon was dangerous. The way it had taken down Mimikyu… the boy still didn't understand how the move worked.
He hadn't even seen it.
If Ash could fully command that Froakie, Pinsir wouldn't stand a chance.
"…But that makes it all the more fun."
The bug-catching boy smiled.
"Let's go, Pinsir. Training continues."
"Pinsir!"
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows as the two boys walked their separate paths—
—toward the same distant future.