Chapter 27 "Twist"

I looked up slowly and a smile formed on my lips.

"I knew it."

Andrew looked away, uncomfortable.

"What gave me away?"

"Red hair isn't that common, and you reacted so much when you were talking about Lance," I replied, "not to mention that connection to the dragon Pokémon…"

He put away his card without saying anything. But his face showed an expression that was neither resignation nor coldness. It was peace.

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Author's Notes: If you want to support the story and read some advance chapters https://www.p@treon. com/Jayjayempi , it would also help me a lot if you have comments on how the story is going or if you would be so kind as to leave a review, Thank you very much for reading!

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The wind blew the leaves through the park as the sun slowly set, dyeing the sky shades of orange and violet. After the fight, after everything that had happened with Dratini, the silence between Andrew and me wasn't awkward… it was thoughtful.

We were sitting on a stone bench by the path that led back to the center of Pewter City. Nidorino and Deino were resting under a tree, exhausted but at peace. Ralts was dozing next to me, resting her head on my leg.

"I guess we won't be seeing each other for a while," I said finally, breaking the silence.

Andrew nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Not until Cerulean City, at least. That's where the next gym is," Andrew replied.

"Misty, right?" I asked, even though I already knew.

"Yes. But first… tomorrow I have my battle against Brock."

I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

"So fast already"

"I already have two Pokémon. That's enough to try. Besides… I think it's time," he said, briefly touching the belt where his Poké Balls rested.

"And you'll leave right after?"

"As soon as I get the medal. I have no reason to stay any longer."

I nodded slowly. I already knew it, deep down. But hearing it from her gave it a different weight.

There were so many things I wanted to ask him. About Lance. About his family. About the gym at Blackthorn.

But I didn't.

"I'm not going to ask you about Lance," I said suddenly.

Andrew turned his face toward me, one eyebrow slightly raised.

"No?"

I shook my head, still looking at the stone that had been playing between my fingers.

"No. Because if you want me to know, you'll tell me. I don't need answers right now."

Andrew looked down, and for the first time I felt something like... relief. As if he'd been waiting too long for someone not to push him into talking.

"Thank you," he said, almost in a whisper.

"Besides," I added with a smile, "I already have my suspicions. And they're juicy."

That drew a brief, unexpected, almost warm laugh from him.

I took out my PokéNav and extended it towards him.

"Here. Give me your number. That way we don't lose touch."

Andrew pulled out his and we synced the devices. A high-pitched beep confirmed the connection.

"Let me know when you beat Brock," I said, putting the device away. "I want to know how the mysterious guy from the dragon gym is doing."

"You too, send me a message when you get your first medal," he replied, with a half smile.

We were silent again for a few seconds. Then he spoke, in a lower tone.

"Traveling alone… will be weird, after all this."

"Yes. But it's necessary. Our Pokémon need it. If we travel together, it'll be easier, but our Pokémon will gain less experience. Since we both want to be champions, it's better for us to travel separately. Besides, you're already farther ahead than me. It would only slow you down."

"True, and I also want to train enough so we can have our rematch in Cerulean City. So far we're tied," Andrew replied with a smile.

The silence continued for a few seconds until Andrew nodded slowly. Then he looked at me.

"Max."

"That?"

"Thank you for today. For not telling me the Dratini was mine. For the fight. For not pressuring me about Lance. For everything."

I looked back at him. I smiled.

"That's what it's all about. Being friends and Trainers. Not just for the fights… but for everything else. For growth."

We stood up. The sun was almost setting behind the mountains, and the shadows of the trees were beginning to spread across the park.

"So... you'll face Brock first thing tomorrow morning, huh?" I said in a calm tone.

"Yes. At eight," he replied with a thoughtful look.

"Good luck. I don't think you need it, though."

Andrew didn't respond immediately, but he held out his hand to me.

"See you in Cerulean City, Max."

I shook it firmly.

"See you, Andrew."

We turned around at the same time, each taking a different path through the park.

But for some reason, I didn't feel like we were growing apart. I felt like we were… moving forward.

The next day, the orphanage dining room was buzzing with noise at that time of day. Laughter, spoons clanking against plates, children arguing about Pokemon, and the unmistakable smell of curry rice filling the air. I was sitting by the window, my tray half-finished, staring absentmindedly up at the sky, when I felt a vibration in my pocket.

It was the PokéNav. I pulled it out automatically, thinking it was another weather alert or a message from Helen at the Pokémon Center.

But no. On the screen, a small red bell flashed alongside a personalized notification.

[Activity Notification – Registered Contact]:

Andrew Wataru has defeated Gym Leader Brock.

Fight time: 08:00 am

Location: Pewter City.

I couldn't help but smile. Of course, I had the achievement tracking feature enabled: when you added someone to your PokéNav and both agreed to share progress, you were automatically notified of their important accomplishments, like catching rare Pokémon or winning gyms.

He'd done it. He certainly went straight to the point first thing in the morning. I wasn't surprised; that's how Andrew was. Silent, direct, efficient.

A few seconds later, another vibration.

Andrew Wataru:

"See you in Cerulean City. Don't be long."

I read the message a couple of times, as if his words carried more weight than they appeared to.

Maxwell Jones:

"I don't plan on doing that. Keep that medal safe, next time we meet, I'll have mine."

I put away the PokéNav as I finished the last few spoonfuls of my lunch, but my mind was already elsewhere.

That was the last time I saw Andrew. At least for a while. Because after that message, one of the hardest—and most rewarding—weeks of my life began.

For the next seven days, I was already up and about every morning. While the orphanage children were still asleep, I would walk out the back door with my backpack, my Poké Balls on my belt, and Ralts and Nidorino ready for another day of training.

The Pewter City park field became our growing ground. The first serious battle I had was against a young explorer with a Machop. It was on the third day, and I was surprised by how quickly that kind of physical combat strained my Pokémon.

Nidorino withstood the Machop's initial onslaught, using Karate Chop with a swiftness he hadn't expected. But after receiving the first blow, Nidorino reacted instinctively, using Horn Attack with such force that it knocked the Machop back to the ground. He then finished with a Double Kick, executed with a precision he didn't even know he possessed.

That day, Nidorino showed me that he was no longer little Nidoran.♂He was already a real fighter.

Another memorable battle was against a Psychic-type Trainer using a Spoink and a Wynaut. The battle began as a dance of illusions. Ralts used Double Team to confuse the Wynaut, who countered with Mirror. The fight dragged on until Ralts finally made direct contact and drained it with Draining Kiss, weakening the Wynaut without activating its counter ability. The Spoink fell shortly after thanks to a combination of Disarming Voice and Hypnosis.

It wasn't all victories. An experienced trainer with four badges already defeated me in less than three minutes with a Fearow. That Pokémon's aerial speed caught me completely off-balance, and Ralts fell before executing a single technique. It was an ego blow, but we learned from it.

After that fight, I devoted two full days solely to defensive tactics. We ran simulations. Ralts learned how to use Teleport to dodge from different angles. Nidorino practiced feints and blocks, learning to use his weight not only to attack, but to resist.

By the end of that week, the two looked different. Ralts had gained precision and a strange poise: when she fought, she no longer seemed a fragile creature, but a focused psychic, capable of taking control of the battle from the first move. Nidorino, on the other hand, had become more imposing. His horn glowed more brightly, and her body moved with a new ease, as if his muscles finally understood how to work together.

I also realized that I had changed. My voice was firmer when giving orders. My strategy was more flexible. I learned to adapt to the unexpected, to read my opponents. And most importantly, I began to truly trust my Pokémon, and they, in me.

The orphanage door closed with a soft click behind me. The sky was still a pale blue, as if the sun had just begun to rise. I adjusted my backpack and took a deep breath. The most important day since I came into this world was about to begin.

"Max?"

I turned around. Mother Clarisse stood in the doorway, wrapped in her kitchen smock, flour smeared on her cheeks and her sleeves rolled up. Her soft eyes looked at me with a mixture of pride and concern.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

I smiled and approached. I didn't know how, but she always appeared at just the right moments, as if she sensed when I needed her. I stopped in front of her, not knowing what to say.

"Are you eager to see if the promise is fulfilled ahead of time?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

She shook her head, crossing her arms, but her gaze was soft.

"Don't be silly. You're not going to lose. Because I know how much this matters to you. And because you made that promise from your heart, not on a whim."

He looked at me for a moment longer, then reached up with a trembling hand and smoothed back a stray strand of my hair.

"Remember, Max… I will always support you, even if I don't agree, I hope you achieve what you set out to do."

I nodded silently. Clarisse never wavered from her support for me. Even though she was afraid of Pokémon, she supported me. She let me go out, train, take risks… all for that dream I knew so clearly.

For that dream of reaching the top that I've been carrying around since my previous life.

"I will win, Mother Clarisse," I said, my voice firmer than I felt. "Today, and every day after this."

She smiled sadly, but also proudly. Then she leaned over and kissed me on the forehead.

"Go, champion," he whispered, "and give that heart of yours one more reason to keep beating strong."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. I just turned and started walking toward the gym, my heart pounding in my chest.

I continued my walk toward Brock's gym, feeling a mix of nerves and determination. The city was quiet in the morning, with the fresh air and calm before the action. Every step I took brought me closer to that crucial moment. I had trained for a week, overcome my doubts and my own limits, and now I was ready to face Brock.

Along the way, I pulled out my PokéNav to check for any messages from Helen, as usual. Upon unlocking the screen, I instantly saw her name, along with the words already waiting for me.

Helen:

"Max, I know you'll make it. Don't forget to believe in yourself. I'll see you soon!"

I smiled. It was comforting to know someone else believed in me. I wanted to win too, for her, for myself, but most of all for the dream Mother Clarisse had seen in my eyes from the very beginning.

I put away the PokéNav and hurried a little further, letting my thoughts focus on the approaching moment.

Upon arriving at the gym, the first thing I saw was the large rock door, with the Rock-type emblem in the center. I felt my stomach tighten a little, but I held firm. I headed to the counter where Junior, the receptionist, looked at me with his usual smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Maxwell Jones!" she greeted enthusiastically. "How can I help you today?"

I felt flattered that he still remembered me. "I'm here to face Brock," I replied calmly, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

Junior raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. He was the same one when I signed up as a Trainer and knew I didn't have much time to face Brock, but true to his job, he processed my application without question.

When Junior finished preparing the papers, he looked up at me with a somewhat mischievous smile, as if he already knew what was coming.

"Before you begin, Mr. Maxwell, there's something you should remember." His tone became slightly more serious, though it maintained that playful energy that always characterized him. "This is your first gym, right? So if you win, you'll receive $10,000 Pokedollars as a prize. But…" He paused briefly, as if to let it sink in, "if you lose, you'll have to pay $5,000 Pokedollars as an entrance fee."

My mind stopped for a second, processing what I had just heard. $10,000 Pokedolars was quite generous for a rookie Trainer, it was five times the amount we received month after month as part of the league's subsidy for rookie Trainers, but since I was already somewhat desensitized to money due to the amount I got when I captured the Crazy Hypno, I didn't feel worried at all, so I just nodded seriously.

Junior continued, noticing my reaction.

"It's part of the rules. The more badges you have before facing a Gym Leader, the stronger their Pokémon will be, but also the more money you can win if you defeat them. So it's all a gambling game, you know?" His tone softened a little. "And trust me, as you get closer to the stronger Gyms, those prizes and the bets will get bigger. So don't worry, you're in for a great experience!"

I nodded with a slight smile, honestly with how much my team had grown this week I doubted I would lose and even if it did happen with the money that only grew in my account I wasn't too worried about running out of funds even if I lost.

Junior, seeing my concentration, quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, before you go face Brock, do you want to see the latest trainers who have defeated him?" he asked, pointing to the screen by the counter where the last 10 trainers to defeat Brock were displayed.

Without hesitation, I approached the screen, now much more curious. I saw the names of several Trainer, but what caught my attention most were some of the ones I knew…

I approached the screen, curious to see who the latest trainers to defeat Brock were. The list unfolded before me, and as I looked at it, I found a few names I immediately recognized.

1.- Charlotte Leroux– Average team level: 16

Apparently Charlotte had managed to defeat Brock a little before Andrew, that would explain why I didn't see her around the city anymore, seeing the average level of her team I suppose she was finally able to evolve her Fennekin, I was happy to see familiar names on the list.

2.- Andrew Wataru– Average team level: 18

The next name was, without a doubt, the most anticipated: Andrew. While I wasn't surprised to see him here, it gave me a mixture of pride and jealousy knowing that he had already defeated Brock before me. It was clear that he deserved that badge with his Dragon Pokémon.

The list continued with other Trainers I didn't know, some apparently came for their fourth or fifth badge since the average level of their Pokemons rose to level 30 or 35 but the further I went down the list I noticed a couple of names that made me open my eyes in amazement.

9. Blue Oak– Average level: 16

Blue's name popped up. Blue, Red's eternal rival, known for his strategic skill and relentless ambition, I had no idea would be on this same list. In fact, I found it hard to believe. How could he be here, facing Brock in what seemed like a first step toward the championship title?

10. Red Satoshi– Average level: 16

Red. The Red? The Kanto Champion, the man whose fame transcended the entire Pokémon world, the one who had defeated every Gym Leader, including Giovanni. I never imagined someone like him would appear on such a… common list. This world was different from the one I knew. Confusion coursed through me. I couldn't understand how it all fit together. Red, in this world?

I stared at the screen, completely still, as shock washed over me. I didn't know what to think. I hadn't heard anything about Red or Blue since I arrived in this world. Did they really exist here? Was this the same Red who had defeated every Gym Leader in Kanto? And Blue? His rivalry with Red was almost legendary.

The list seemed to confirm what I'd struggled to accept: this world had its own versions of the stories I knew. It could be that, at some point, the trainers' lives would intersect in ways I couldn't yet comprehend.

Junior, seeing my reaction, raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly.

"Were you surprised by the names?" he asked with a mischievous smile.

I nodded, my mind still processing what I had read.

—"Red and Green? Are they... real?" I asked, feeling a little foolish for not knowing.

Junior laughed softly, as if it was obvious to him.

"Real? Of course, Mr. Maxwell. They are two of the trainers sponsored by Professor Oak himself, they have just started their journey, apparently the leader of the Viridian Gym is unwell so they started their Gym circuit with us, they are actually good kids, this Red guy is a bit quiet but he seemed like a good kid" he said with a smile while remembering the young Trainers

My thoughts kept revolving around those names. Red and Green were here, in this world, fighting for their first medal. The story I knew was taking a completely unexpected turn, and somehow that unnerved me.

"In fact," he added matter-of-factly, "they came early yesterday. They defeated Brock one after another and left as quickly as they came. They barely stayed in the city a couple of hours before moving on."

I felt a strange emptiness in my stomach.

Yesterday? Had they been here, in this very city, while I was training like crazy in the park? How was it possible I hadn't seen them even once?

Red. Blue. They were here. They'd passed through Pewter City right in front of me... and I didn't see them.

I stood frozen, my mind racing through impossible calculations. If they were in this world too, if they were really starting from scratch like me… then the road to the championship had just gotten a hell of a lot harder. Not only would I have to stand out among hundreds of rookie trainers… I would have to survive in the same world as Red and Blue.

A world where those legends walked around like they were just another couple of kids with dreams.

For the first time since I arrived, I felt a tingle of doubt. Not because I thought I couldn't do it. But because I now knew who some of those on the way were.

Trainer License

Trainer: Maxwell Jones

Hometown: Pewter City

Sponsorship: None

Money: $74,900 Pokedollars ↑$20,300

Badges: None

Bag

5 potions –

Candy Bar 3 Fury

10 Pokeballs ↑2

1 escape rope

1 red handkerchief (with 20 orange berries)

3 Poison Cure

-12 Spaces Available-

Pokémon

Nidorino

Gender: Male

Level: 20 ↑4

Moves: Leer, Peck, Focus Energy, Double Kick, Poison Sting, Fury Attack, Horn Attack

Ralts ✨

Gender: Female

Level: 16 ↑4

Moves: Disarming Voice, Teleport, Growl, Double Team, Hypnosis, Draining Kiss, Lucky Chant↑

EXTRA

Pendulum necklace