Ashlyn was having a great start to her journey, ignoring the part where it had been delayed by a week because of the masked teen.
Gigi and Leaf went their separate ways, while Yellow is traveling on her own journey to become a doctor or to work in something related to healing Pokémon.
She left Pallet Town, at 12 pm, because Anansi had already set off to earn some gym badges. She hoped to meet him somewhere along the way. Lords knows that boy will get lost.
Route 1 stretched ahead like a green ribbon lazily unspooling into the horizon, tall grass swaying in the midday breeze as if whispering secrets to itself. The sky was clear, bright, and almost offensively cheerful. It was the kind of day that made journeys feel legendary before they even began.
Ashlyn walked down the dirt path with a lightness in her step, boots kicking up small puffs of dust. Her start had been delayed, yes, and the reason involved a certain masked idiot, but she refused to let that sour her mood. If anything, it made this moment feel earned.
She had finally begun.
At her side, her Charmander walked with a small but confident stride, tail flame flickering brighter with every step.
The Fire-type was only with her for nearly a month and already acting like she had something to prove.
Ashlyn glanced down at her partner, then crouched slightly. The Charmander looked up immediately, giving a small "Char!" in response, tail swaying behind her.
"Hey," Ashlyn said, voice softer now. "You're doing good."
Charmander puffed her chest out just a little at that, clearly pleased.
Ashlyn smiled faintly. "You need a name though."
The fire-type blinked.
"A nickname," Ashlyn clarified. "It's a special name. Just for you."
Charmander tilted her head, then nodded after a moment, tail flame flickering brighter in understanding.
Ashlyn hummed, thinking. Names rolled through her mind one after another. Some sounded strong, some elegant, some just… didn't fit.
None of them stuck.
"…Yeah, we'll come back to that," she admitted.
Charmander didn't seem bothered. If anything, she looked more interested in the grass ahead than the existential crisis of naming conventions.
A sudden rustle answered that curiosity.
Both of them turned.
A small yellow shape popped out of the grass, landing with a soft thump. Big ears. Tiny body. Cheeks sparking faintly like overloaded batteries.
It grinned.
Ashlyn blinked once, then reached for her Pokédex.
The device lit up as she pointed it forward.
Pichu — The Tiny Mouse PokémonPichu stores electricity in its cheeks. When it becomes startled or excited, it may discharge electricity unintentionally. Because it is still young, it struggles to control its power.
Ashlyn lowered the Pokédex slightly.
"Cute," she said simply.
The Pichu took that as a declaration of war.
A weak Thunder Shock snapped forward without warning, crackling through the air toward Charmander.
"Dodge."
Charmander reacted instantly, hopping to the side as the spark fizzled past. Her eyes sharpened, claws flexing as she turned back toward the Pichu.
The small electric-type snickered.
Fast.
Ashlyn noted that immediately. This Pichu must have accumulated considerable combat experience to be able to so effectively challenge her Charmander at this speed. They hadn't dedicated their entire training time to assisting Gramps with his newly acquired Pokémon into the Kanto ecosystem. In fact, her Charmander had been receiving invaluable strategic guidance and combat techniques directly from Gramps' powerful Charizard, and the progress she'd made was undeniably evident in her improved fighting style.
"Ember."
Charmander opened her mouth and spat a small burst of flame. Not huge, not overwhelming, but enough to force movement.
Pichu darted away, barely avoiding the attack, sparks flickering along her cheeks as she skidded across the dirt.
"Close the distance."
Charmander rushed forward, claws swinging in a quick Scratch. Pichu hopped back again, but this time she misjudged the timing just slightly.
The hit grazed her.
Not strong, but enough.
Pichu stumbled.
That was all Ashlyn needed.
She had already pulled a PokéBall from her bag, fingers slipping through the storage space like it was second nature. The ball clicked open in her hand.
"Back up."
Charmander disengaged immediately, stepping away without hesitation.
Ashlyn threw.
The PokéBall struck true, bursting open in red light as Pichu was pulled inside. It dropped to the ground, shaking once… twice…
Click.
Ashlyn walked forward and picked it up, turning it in her hand for a moment.
"…Not bad."
She tapped the Pokédex again, scanning the ball this time.
Pichu – The Mouse Pokémon
Type: Electric
Gender: Female
Ability: Static
Hidden Ability: Lighting Rod
Known Moves: Thunder Shock | Tail Whip | Quick Attack | Charm | Nuzzle | Thunder Wave | Electro Ball | Electro Web | Volt Tackle | Thunder Punch
Size: 1'4" – 13.2 lbs
Two Pokémon.
Already.
She glanced down at Charmander, who was watching her expectantly, tail flame flickering brighter like she was waiting for approval.
Ashlyn smirked slightly.
"Yeah," she said. "You did good."
Charmander beamed at that, letting out a proud "Char!"
[XxX]
Ashlyn didn't rush ahead.
That was the first difference between her and most trainers.
Instead of chasing the next patch of grass like it owed her money, she stepped off the main path and found a small clearing tucked between two trees. A decent-sized rock sat at the far end, half-covered in moss, like nature had kindly provided a training dummy.
Perfect.
She set her bag down, rolled her shoulders once, and looked between her two Pokémon.
She dropped her bag with a small thud, rolled her shoulders loose, and glanced over at her team. Charmander was happily tearing into a strip of beef jerky, sharp little fangs working with surprising efficiency, while Pichu sat nearby with peanut butter-flavored Poffins smeared across her cheeks like she had zero shame and even less intention of cleaning up.
The Charmander line were primarily carnivores, something a lot of beginners either forgot or learned the hard way. Protein-heavy diets, high caloric intake, and a tendency to burn through energy like a wildfire meant feeding them properly was half the battle. Pichu, on the other hand, would eat just about anything, though electricity/salty foods was clearly her favorite snack.
Ashlyn crossed her arms, watching them for a second before nodding to herself. Good. Healthy appetites, good energy, no hesitation. That was a solid start.
"Alright, break's over. Time to see what you two can actually do."
Charmander perked up instantly, tail flame flickering brighter as she swallowed the last bite. Pichu blinked, then scrambled upright with a small spark popping from her cheeks like she had just remembered she was supposed to be cool.
Ashlyn pulled out her Pokédex, flipping it open with practiced ease before aiming it at Charmander first. (Author's note: She may have forgotten to do this back in Pallet Town, but she was busy, okay?)
Charmander- The Lizard Pokemon
The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is enjoying itself. If the pokemon becomes enraged, the flame burns fiercely.
Sex: Female
Ability: Blaze | Hidden Ability: Solar Power
Potential Rank: A+
Moves: Scratch | Growl | Ember | Smokescreen | Bite | Dragon Breath | Flame Charge | Fire Fang | Dragon Pulse | Dragon Claw | Dragon Dance| Dragon Rush | Outrage | Dragon Tail | Ancient Power
Note: This specimen displays many traits that can be considered "draconic". This is likely due to a specialized breeding program and an excess of dragon type energy. It is a foot taller than the average Charmander and also appears to have the shiny gene which changes the coloration of the pokemon. The excess of dragon energy and draconic genes could affect the typing of the pokemon as it evolves. Please report future findings to your sponsored professor.
"Inferna. I didn't even know that you were a shiny! Holy shit! Gigi is going to to be fuckin' jelous of you! And man you're going to be very strong when you're older." Ashlyn complimented.
Turn the her second Pokemon Ashlyn pointed Dexter at Dynamo."Dynamo, you're next buddy. Even though I already scanned, I might have forgotten something."
Same as before.
Ashlyn grinned a little at that. "You're gonna be a problem, huh?"
Pichu puffed up proudly, cheeks sparking like she had just been handed a compliment and a challenge at the same time. Charmander huffed beside her, clearly not about to be outdone, flame flickering just a little higher.
Good. That was exactly the kind of energy she wanted.
She tucked the Pokédex away and jerked her thumb toward the mossy rock. "Alright, let's start simple. Inferna, Ember. Aim center mass. I want that thing dead!"
Charmander stepped forward, planting her feet like she'd seen in instinct more than training. She inhaled, then spat out a small burst of fire that streaked forward and splashed across the rock. It hit a little low, scattering embers across the moss instead of the center.
Ashlyn tilted her head. "Not bad, but you're dropping your aim at the last second. Lift your chin a bit next time."
Charmander chirped, adjusting immediately, clearly taking the note without any fuss.
"Again."
This time the flame struck closer to the center, tighter, cleaner. Not perfect, but definitely improving.
Ashlyn nodded once, satisfied. "There we go. Keep that."
She shifted her attention. "Dynamo, your turn. Thunder Shock. Same target."
Pichu bounced forward, cheeks lighting up before releasing a sharp crack of electricity. The bolt snapped across the clearing and struck the rock dead on, leaving a blackened mark with a faint curl of smoke rising off it.
Ashlyn let out a short laugh. "Alright, you've got power. Now we just need control."
Pichu—Dynamo, now—beamed like she had just won something, tiny chest puffed out like she'd already decided she was the strongest thing on Route One. Inferna, on the other hand, flicked her tail flame and gave the rock another look like she was personally offended it hadn't exploded harder.
Inferna loved destruction. Not just winning, not just hitting a target, but obliterating it. Her Ember had more force than finesse, and every time she used Scratch, it was fast, clean, and dangerous. The skill was there, buried in muscle memory and instinct, but the interest? Not so much. She didn't linger in close range. Didn't press advantages. Hit hard, then pull back like she was already looking for something bigger to burn.
Dynamo was worse.
The little sparkplug had zero interest in taking hits, trading blows, or even pretending to play fair. She darted, zipped, and repositioned constantly, always looking for angles, always moving. Even during rest, her ears twitched at every sound, every shift in the grass. If Inferna was a cannon, Dynamo was a lightning bolt that refused to stay in one place long enough to be caught.
"OK girls I got my plan set up for the next two months."
Training Regimen – Ashlyn Style (Yeah, we're doing this right)
Morning Grind (a.k.a. "Get Up and Move Before I Lose My Mind")
– 20–30 minutes movement drills: sprints, dodges, weaving through trees
– Reaction training: I throw stuff, you dodge it. If you get hit, that's on you
– Balance work: uneven ground, rocks, roots… if you trip, fix it
You will hate me and I will Laugh! (a.k.a. "Why Would We Train Normal?")
– Weighted Training:
– Endurance push: keep moving even when tired, because fights don't pause
– "One More Round" rule: when you think you're done… you're not
Travel Time (We're Not Wasting Steps)
– Stay alert: scan for wild Pokémon, terrain advantages, ambush spots
– Practice passive awareness: hear it, feel it, react before you see it
– Light drills while walking: footwork, pacing, energy control
Midday Break (Don't Pass Out on Me)
– Food, water, actual rest
– Quick check: injuries, fatigue, attitude
– Adjust plan if something's off
Evening Session (Now We Fight Smart)
– Mock battles: controlled, no reckless nuking everything
– Scenario drills: fast opponent, tanky opponent, multiple enemies–
Combo practice: Inferna pressures, Dynamo disrupts– Switch timing: don't just attack, think
End of Day (Yeah, You Earned It)
– Cool down, clean up, eat
– Short review: what worked, what didn't
– Sleep like the dead, repeat tomorrow
"Now where Leaf said she was going to me again?"