Chapter 9: Departure

Ash and Delia walked side by side along the familiar path leading out of Pallet Town. The cheerful energy that had marked Ash's earlier victory and excitement for his journey had quieted into a more somber mood as they reached the town's edge.

The weight of the moment settled over them. It was no longer a simple walk; it was a goodbye.

"Mom…" Ash finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with hesitation. He stopped and turned to face Delia. "This is far enough. Let's say goodbye here."

Delia paused, looking at her son. At some point, he had grown tall enough that she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his eyes. Her gaze softened, and a gentle smile spread across her face.

"Alright, Ash," she said, her voice calm but full of warmth.

Ash adjusted his cap, his hands tightening on the straps of his new spatial backpack. He took a deep breath. "I guess… I'm leaving now." His usual enthusiasm faltered, replaced by the weight of parting.

Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, sensed his unease. The small electric Pokémon patted Ash's cheek lightly with its paw, as if offering silent comfort.

Delia stepped closer, smoothing a wrinkle on Ash's shirt out of habit. "Be careful, Ash. If you run into danger, don't hesitate to avoid it. And please… don't get hurt." She stopped herself, realizing she had already said these words before. Instead, she smiled and said, "Tailwinds all the way, my son."

Ash's lips curved into a bittersweet smile. "Goodbye, Mom!" he said, bowing respectfully before turning away. His steps were firm, his head held high as he walked toward the unknown future that awaited him.

Delia stood rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on his retreating figure. She stayed until he disappeared from view, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Fly high, Ash," she murmured. "It's your time to soar."

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A Trainer's First Road

The road out of Pallet Town was quiet, shaded by tall trees on either side. For several minutes, neither Ash nor Pikachu spoke. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant cries of wild Pokémon filled the silence.

Finally, Pikachu broke the quiet, letting out a soft "Pika…" It patted Ash's head again, trying to lift his spirits.

Ash chuckled, his somber mood lifting as he glanced at his partner. "Thanks, Pikachu. I'm fine now," he assured with a smile.

"Pika!" Pikachu grinned back, its bright eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ash paused beneath the shade of a large oak tree, setting his backpack down. "Alright, Pikachu. Let's figure out our next move," he said thoughtfully.

His immediate destination was Viridian City, but he faced a choice: travel quickly and avoid unnecessary risks, or take his time and train along the way. The surrounding area was home to Earl Dervish-level Pokémon—low-level wild Pokémon that would be perfect for practicing battles. However, lingering too long meant camping outdoors, something Ash wasn't entirely eager to do on his first night away from home.

"What do you think, Pikachu? Should we train or go straight to Viridian City?" Ash asked.

Pikachu tilted its head, considering the options. "Pika… chu," it said finally, pointing to the road ahead.

"Viridian City it is, then," Ash decided. But as he prepared to pick up his bag, a thought struck him.

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The System

"Wait a second…" Ash muttered, his eyes narrowing in concentration. He remembered something about the strange system that had activated when he first received Pikachu. At the time, he had been too caught up in the excitement of becoming a Trainer to pay it much attention.

"Let's see what this thing can actually do," Ash said, closing his eyes and focusing. Almost immediately, a glowing interface appeared in his mind. It displayed several tabs: Attributes, Achievements, Goals, and Lottery.

"Huh… interesting," Ash murmured, intrigued.

Out of curiosity, he opened the Achievements tab first. A list of grayed-out entries appeared, but two stood out as completed:

Earl Dervish Pokémon: Obtain your first Pokémon. Reward: Lottery Ticket x1 (Completed).

First Victory: Win your first Trainer battle. Reward: Lottery Ticket x1 (Completed).

"Looks like I've got two lottery tickets," Ash noted. Below these were numerous other achievements, including milestones like Capture Your First Wild Pokémon, Win a Gym Badge, and even Capture a Legendary Pokémon.

Ash laughed at the last one. "Legendary Pokémon? Yeah, right. That's way out of my league." He knew that legendary Pokémon were more than just powerful—they were near-mythical beings. Capturing one wasn't just a challenge; it was an impossibility for most Trainers.

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Setting Goals

Next, Ash navigated to the Goals tab. Unlike the achievement list, it was refreshingly simple:

Capture Your Second Pokémon: Reward: Lottery Ticket x1.

"That's… straightforward," Ash remarked. He had initially planned to wait before catching a second Pokémon, wanting to be careful about selecting one with a compatible personality and strong potential. But the promise of another lottery ticket made him reconsider.

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to start looking," he said with a grin. "But first, let's see what this lottery is all about."

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The Lottery

Opening the Lottery tab, Ash found a colorful wheel spinning in front of him. It was divided into several segments, each marked with a potential reward:

Poké Balls x10

Rare Candy x3

TM (Random)

Held Item (Random)

Evolution Stone (Random)

Wildcard (Special Reward)

"This could be interesting," Ash said, rubbing his hands together.

He used his first ticket, and the wheel began to spin rapidly. Pikachu watched with wide eyes as Ash waited for it to stop.

"Come on… something good…" Ash muttered.

The wheel slowed, finally landing on TM (Random). A small box appeared in his mind, labeled "TM: Thunderbolt."

"Thunderbolt!" Ash exclaimed. "That's perfect for Pikachu!"

Pikachu's ears perked up at the mention of the move. "Pika?" it asked, curious.

Ash smiled. "Looks like we're going to power you up, buddy."

He used his second ticket, and this time, the wheel landed on Rare Candy x3.

"Not bad," Ash said. Rare Candies were a valuable resource that could boost a Pokémon's level instantly.

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A New Resolve

Feeling more confident, Ash closed the system interface and turned to Pikachu. "Alright, Pikachu. Change of plans. Let's spend some time training here before heading to Viridian City."

"Pika-chu!" Pikachu agreed, sparks dancing on its cheeks in anticipation.

Ash picked up his bag and began scanning the area. He knew the wild Pokémon here weren't particularly strong, but this was the perfect opportunity for Pikachu to practice its new move.

"Let's find our next teammate while we're at it," Ash added. "Who knows? Maybe we'll meet someone special today."

As the sun climbed higher into the sky, Ash and Pikachu set off down the winding road, their spirits high and their resolve stronger than ever. The journey ahead was filled with uncertainty, but one thing was clear: Ash Ketchum was ready to embrace whatever challenges came his way.

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