201. A Traveling Companion

"What a powerful Thunder Shock attack!"

Professor Birch was now out of danger, and the first thing he did was to observe Ash and his Pikachu's sudden appearance, "It's really a very well-developed Pikachu!"

Ash looked apologetically at the charred bicycle behind the beautiful girl, "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and this is my Pikachu, I'm really sorry about your bike, I will definitely pay for your bicycle!"

Fortunately, bicycles in the real world are not that expensive as Misty showed all those years ago, so the money Ash has in hand is more than enough to pay as a compensation.

"Uh, no, no, no, it's all an accident... Oh yeah. Hello, I'm May from Petalburg City!"

Now the current Ash is strong, tall, and has a handsome face (Red), and he still has that aura of being a powerful trainer. When May, a newbie, faces Ash, she fely a little embarrassed and blushed after seeing him!

"I will buy you a new bicycle when I get a chance!" Ash did not dwell on the topic of the bicycle anymore after this. He took the Poké Ball from May's hand, turned around and looked at the Water-type blue cutie and smiled and said , "Mudkip, come back!"

After he took Mudkip back to its Poké Ball, Ash jumped down the hillside, and also Pikachu jumped up back on his shoulder, "Professor Birch, are you okay?"

"Are you that Ash that Professor Oak called about?" Professor Birch recognized Ash at a glance but wanted to make sure that it was indeed him, "You came to save me just in time!"

"May, please excuse me, it's been a while since I last saw you, and you've become as beautiful as your mother!" Although May couldn't help him, Professor Birch still thanked May for trying.

"No, I didn't help you at all. It was all thanks to Ash and his Pikachu that you are safe!" May knew that she did not help little at all right now.

In fact, she is very bad at handling Pokémon, and she doesn't want even want to become a Pokémon Trainer. She just wants to travel around and see the world, just without any Pokémon's.

"So you already know each other!" Professor Birch stopped thinking about introducing the two of them, "Sure enough, young people get to know each other quickly!"

"Alright then then, May, you're here to choose your first Pokémon, right?"

With that said, the Professor looked at Ash and invited him too, "Ash, would you like to come and have a look too? I'm really sorry that I ran out of the field in excitement and forgot that you and May will be arriving soon in the Lab! I just thought of something wanted to test it."

Of course Ash wants to take a good look at the three Royal Starter Pokémon's from the Hoenn Region!

Back at Professor Birch Laboratory, there were three Poké Balls placed in front of May. Professor Birch picked up one of them and said, "First of all... is this one."

The first one to be released was a green gecko with cute big yellow eyes and a large green tail.

But Treecko just looked at May, and she was immediately startled and stepped back a couple times, "Why is staring at me like that?"

"Treecko, the Grass-type Starter, now that's a Pokémon I want!" Ash's fighting style mainly revolves on high speed and attacks, so agile Pokémon like Treecko and Sceptile are very suitable for him.

Seeing that Ash already knew the names of the three Royal Starters from the Hoenn Region, Professor Birch was surprised and asked, "Ash, do you already know some of the Pokémon's from the Hoenn Region?"

Ash nodded a little, "I know a little bit. I met Harrison and his Blaziken during the Silver Conference! On the way here, I browsed through the Pokémon Pokédex when I had nothing to do an researched it!"

"So it turns out to be Harrison again. It's really impressive that you were able to defeat him. After all, he's strong!" Professor Birch nodded, and then released the second Pokémon, which was Mudkip.

"You've seen this one before, this is the Water-type Starter Mudkip!" Professor Birch introduced.

"But this Mudkip didn't even want to listen to my words just now!" It was obvious that May would not choose this Mudkip for personal reasons.

So Professor Birch opened the third Poké Ball, which is the pre-evolution form of Blaziken, Torchic!

As soon as this Torchic with the three not so small feathers on its head came out, it ran to May's feet and rubbed her leg with its face. It was obvious that she liked this May very much even though they haven't met before.

"This one is so cute, I want this one!" May picked up her Torchic and said, "Okay, I decided to chose this Torchic as my Starter!"

This completes the selection of May's Starter Pokémon. Professor Birch also gives the May a Pokémon Pokédex and six empty Poké Balls to catch some Pokémon's.

"Work hard, you can definitely become a Pokémon Trainer that surpasses your father with some hard work!" After giving her Torchic's Poké Ball, Professor Birch said all that to encourage May.

Hearing this, May had no choice but to bite the bullet and nod, "Yes!"

Seeing Professor Birch put away the other two Starter Pokémon's, Ash also stood up, "Then Professor Birch, I have to say my goodbye here too!"

"Okay, Ash, I wish you a pleasant journey!" Professor Birch sent the two of them to the door, "Next, you have to go to the Pokémon Center and log in to participate in the Hoenn Region Ever Grande Conference!

"I know that!"

This is the same as in Johto Region Silver Alliance, except there is no Pokémon Center in Littleroot Town, so he has to go to the next town, which is Oldale Town to register his name.

And May and her little Torchic became very familiar with each other in the very short time they were there for.

One thing about Pikachu is that no matter how powerful he gets, he still likes to play with Pokémon that are similar in size to himself.

"That... Ash!" May hesitated but finally called out to Ash.

Ash was just about to call Pikachu on the way for their separation, when he heard May wants to say something, "What's the matter, May?"

"How about we go to Oldale Town together? I know the way, I'll take you there!"

This girl used the excuse that she knew the way, but actually she just wanted to go with him, which Ash could sense very well with his Aura Sense.

From Petalburg City to Oldale Town, May rode a bicycle so that she could avoid the wild Pokémon on the road as much as possible.

But even so, she was scared to death along the way by a Duskull. Although she was looking forward to traveling, she knew that she couldn't travel all alone now, so she decisively chose to go with Ash for now, which looked to be a safe choice.

Of course Ash would not refuse her, the more traveling companions the better, not to mention that May is also very beautiful in his eyes!

[May's Picture]

After his time with Misty, Ash felt something awaken within him. That made him want to have Special Bonds with humans too, female to be exact.

"I see, then Ash, please take care of May, she is just a newbie!" Professor Birch and May's father Norman are very good friends, so of course they take care of their families.

Ash's character and strength are recognized by the entire Pokémon Alliance, not to mention Professor Oak himself. He is relieved of see thag May can travel with Ash. At least that would somewhat guarantee her safety during her journey.

"By the way, May, just leave your bicycle with me first. I will repair it for you and then send it back to your home. Just like Ash, you should be down-to-earth and travel! Ash is already a very powerful Trainer. You can definitely learn a lot from him!" Professor Birch warned May one last time.

"Yes Professor! Then let's go!"

The two waved their hands together, then turned and hit the road.