c024: The Broken Pidgey Alarm Clock!
The Bubble Frog Pokémon Froakie is often given to novice Trainers. In the eyes of researchers such as Professor Sycamore (called Bratano in Kalos) and others at the Lumiose Lab, there's little differentiation among these Pokémon, as they are bred and distributed through the Pokémon League's standardized breeding program an assembly line of sorts.
However, the Froakie that crossed paths with Ash in the original timeline of the manga wasn't ordinary. Endowed by the natural blessing of Kalos' life energy, it carried a mysterious destiny from birth. This Froakie possessed an unusual independence, which made it hard to bond with.
Obsessed with growing stronger and frustrated by weak leadership, this Froakie went through several Rookie Trainers. Each time, it judged their strength and resolve to be insufficient, refusing to follow their commands during battles. It often abandoned its Trainers mid-journey sometimes even mid-battle.
A Pokémon like that, with such a sharp and rebellious streak, was impossible for an ordinary Trainer to handle. Only someone like Ash, destined for greatness, could earn its respect and loyalty, leading it to evolve all the way into Ash-Greninja through bond transformation.
In the vast world of Pokémon, there are countless species, but like humans, many of them are unremarkable common, forgettable, and destined to fade into obscurity. Most Trainers first evaluate Pokémon based on species, then talent, and finally temperament.
Ash, however, approaches it differently. Just as he did in the manga when he bonded with Pokémon like Charmander rescued from an abusive Trainer and Primeape, Ash sees beyond stats and types. He regards Pokémon as friends, family, and partners.
So, for Ash, the first quality he seeks is character.
That held true in the original manga timeline, and even more now after gaining powers beyond the ordinary. Having traveled through time and awakened the Aura, Ash can now help Pokémon reach their true potential. This gift gives him the power to bring out the best in them, but it also raises his standards.
Pokémon with mediocre hearts or no drive to improve are unworthy of being by his side. He now views his Pokémon not just as partners, but as comrades who'll protect his back and entrust theirs to him in return.
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There were still three days before the Pokémon Summer Camp began. Worrying about it too early wouldn't help.
Tomorrow, the students from the Kalos region would arrive in Pallet Town. As participants, Ash and the other local kids were expected to greet them on the outskirts of town a gesture of hospitality arranged by the Pallet Summer Camp Committee.
Aware of his reputation for oversleeping, teased earlier by his mom Delia, Ash had decided not to risk it. He didn't even turn on the TV, which was strange for someone raised in a world where media was everywhere.
As someone who'd lived through the 21st-century information explosion, Ash knew that traditional TV was obsolete. Smartphones and computers were now the gateway to fast, accurate information.
Before bed, Ash powered on his desktop computer the one Professor Oak gave him when he enrolled in the camp and browsed the Pokémon League's official site, looking for information about this year's Summer Camp.
This year's event was unique. Co-hosted by Professor Oak and Professor Sycamore, it was part of a large-scale Kanto-Kalos Cross-Regional Cultural Exchange Program. Unsurprisingly, the camp was being covered heavily by both League-affiliated news and independent media outlets.
The Kanto students had landed in Lumiose City, Kalos' economic hub, earlier today. In turn, the Kalos delegation had arrived at Saffron City International Airport around 4 PM and, after a brief layover, boarded a luxury coach toward Viridian City, the nearest metropolis to Pallet.
Escorted by Officer Jenny's motorcycle units through the urban routes and guarded by a specialized League security squad on the expressways, their arrival was treated with utmost priority. Despite appearing like a grassroots educational event, this summer camp was politically significant, representing deeper economic and diplomatic ties between the Kanto and Kalos Alliances.
Naturally, the press was all over it. News networks, bloggers, and even magazine photographers were covering the camp from every angle.
Ash clicked on every image, every photo gallery, not just for intel but to catch a glimpse of someone very important to him: Serena.
But to his mild disappointment, there was no sign of her. He remembered that, at this age, Serena was still shy and withdrawn, not yet the bright, confident girl who would later dominate the Tripokalons and win the hearts of many including his own.
Yet, instead of feeling discouraged, Ash found himself even more eager to see her again tomorrow.
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Ash spent nearly an hour scanning event updates and speculating on what challenges might await in this year's camp.
Unfortunately, the specifics of the upcoming assessments were tightly under wraps. Likely due to the scale and prestige of this exchange, the League had taken steps to prevent leaks. But Ash wasn't the type to back down. He researched past summer camps and drafted a few potential strategies in his notebook, just in case.
Once done, he yawned, stretched, and glanced at the Poké Ball-shaped Pidgey alarm clock on his bedside table.
He'd already exercised earlier using Calm Mind techniques, which helped stabilize his Aura. Overdoing it wouldn't help. So, fearing he might sleep through tomorrow's events, Ash set the Pidgey alarm for 7:00 AM and climbed into bed.
The night wind rustled the trees outside, and under a crystal-clear sky sprinkled with faint starlight, Pallet Town slowly drifted into peaceful slumber, lulled by the chirping of Kricketots and Venonat's Bug Buzz.
Not a word was spoken that night.
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The next morning, a crisp breeze jostled the window slightly, producing a rhythmic creak.
On the nightstand, the Pidgey alarm clock, its mechanical eyes glowing faintly, chirped right on schedule.
"Hoothoot... Hoothoot..."
Ash, buried under his blanket, stirred and groaned, his expression twitching mid-dream.
"Hoothoot... Hoothoot..."
"Pikachu, it's up to you BANG!"
Still half-asleep, Ash bolted upright, grabbed the Pidgey alarm clock, and hurled it like a Poké Ball across the room with startling accuracy.
It struck the wooden floor, split in two, and out popped a spring-mounted Pidgey figure, wobbling violently like a stunned Growlithe tail.
And just like that, Ash flopped backward onto the bed snoring softly, completely unaware that he had destroyed the very thing meant to save him from oversleeping.
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