Chapter 91 - Hoenn, Here I Come!

On the day of his departure, Julian waited outside the lab, ready to bid farewell to Professor Oak. The professor emerged from the lab, holding a special card in his hand.

"Take this," Oak offered, presenting the card to Julian. "This is an international ID card, and it will also serve as your credit card."

Julian accepted the card and examined it closely. It was an elegant black card, displaying his name and photograph along with a unique embedded private number, all crafted from a distinct metallic material. The card symbolized the new chapter of his journey and the support of his mentor, Professor Oak.

Julian expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you. I'll be on my way."

Professor Oak wished him luck with a warm smile, "Safe travels, and the best of luck on your journey."

As Julian prepared to ride off on his bike, a familiar voice calling his name caught his attention. He turned around to see Ash and his mother approaching, the unexpected reunion promising new interactions and stories on the horizon.

Ash's enthusiasm was contagious, and he eagerly proposed, "Julian, you're headed to the port, right? Take me with you. I'm going to Hoenn too!"

Julian hesitated for a moment, then sighed and agreed, "Alright, but I'll only accompany you until we reach Hoenn. After that, we'll go our separate ways."

Ash's face lit up with excitement, and he exclaimed, "YES!"

Delia, Ash's mother, observed the interaction with a warm smile, recognizing the enduring bond between her son and Julian as they embarked on new adventures together.

Delia, with a hint of concern and a mother's love, told Julian, "Take care of my son."

Julian acknowledged her request with a simple, "Hmm."

He then mounted his bike and motioned for Ash to join him, saying, "Hop on."

Ash eagerly hopped onto the bike, and they began their journey. As they rode along, the excitement of the adventure ahead kept Ash's spirits high, especially as Julian kept pushing the throttle, causing the wind to whip through their hair and the thrill of the unknown to beckon them forward.

Ash couldn't contain his excitement, his voice filled with exhilaration as he exclaimed, "HOOOO, this is awesome! I didn't think that riding on a bike would feel this great!"

His Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, shared his enthusiasm, its little head nodding excitedly.

As Julian brought the bike to a halt near the port, he informed Ash, "You should head to the ship. I have to visit the port's office to arrange for a vehicle transport service."

Upon hearing Julian's instructions, Ash dismounted from the bike, ready to continue his journey towards Hoenn.

Ash, determined to meet Julian on the ship, nodded and said, "Alright, I'll catch you on the ship."

As Ash headed toward the ship, Julian proceeded to the port's office, where he engaged an employee in a request.

"Hey, I need to transport my motorbike to Hoenn with me. Can you provide me with the necessary form?" Julian asked.

The employee responded, "Wait a minute. Here it is."

Julian accepted the form and began to fill it out. However, the serenity of the moment was disrupted by a sudden, thunderous explosion that reverberated through the port area. Julian turned around to witness two individuals and their Pokémon soaring through the sky after the unexpected explosion.

Julian couldn't help but sigh and shake his head, thinking, "Not even a few hours have passed, and he's already gotten into trouble."

Resuming his work, Julian efficiently filled out the form and submitted it, receiving a vehicle pass in return. He then rode back to the ship and boarded it with his motorbike. Parking the bike in the designated area, he made his way to the passenger section of the ship.

Upon entering, he spotted Ash eagerly waving at him. Julian muttered under his breath, "*sighs* I just hope that nothing will happen in these few days."

Nonetheless, he headed towards Ash, ready to continue their journey to Hoenn, keeping an eye on the excitable and adventure-prone young trainer.

Ash, full of enthusiasm, inquired, "Is your work all finished?"

Julian nodded and replied, "Yes."

Eager to make the most of their journey, Ash proposed, "Great! Can we have a battle? I saw a battlefield on the ship."

Julian glanced at Ash and briefly regretted his decision to bring him along. However, his keen observation allowed him to notice Pikachu's unusual breathing. He responded, "I don't think it's a good idea. Your Pikachu seems tired, and I assume you don't have your other Pokémon with you right now."

Ash, now aware of Pikachu's condition, turned his attention to his loyal partner and acknowledged the situation.

Understanding the importance of rest for Pikachu, Ash agreed, saying, "I guess you're right, Pikachu, you should rest."

Julian affectionately patted Pikachu's head and gently rubbed its cheeks, eliciting a contented "~pikkaaaaa~" from the electric Pokémon.

Julian advised, "Your Pikachu is really cute, but he looks tired right now. You should take him to the resting area."

Ash nodded and said, "Alright, see you later."

Julian returned the nod and then turned his gaze toward the direction of Hoenn, anticipation and determination burning in his eyes as their journey continued.

As the ship sailed closer to Hoenn, Julian couldn't help but think, 'What does Hoenn have in store for me? I can't wait to experience all the new adventures that lie ahead.'

A few days passed, and the ship arrived at a port near Littleroot Town, the destination Julian had set out for, and also home to Professor Birch.

Julian and Ash were on deck, but the mood was somber. Ash cradled Pikachu, who looked visibly unwell. Julian had grown fond of the little Pokémon over the past few days and shared Ash's concern.

Julian expressed his worry, saying, "It looks like Pikachu is suffering from an electric overload. You should take him to Professor Birch's lab quickly because there's no Pokémon Center in Littleroot Town."

Ash, concerned for Pikachu, questioned, "Electric overload? What's that?"

Julian explained, "Electric overload happens when an excessive amount of electricity is trapped inside Pikachu's body and can't discharge properly. Has Pikachu been exposed to electromagnetic waves recently?"

Ash explained, his frustration evident, "Yes, Pikachu was strapped to a huge magnet recently. If not for those Team Rocket goons, this wouldn't have happened."

Julian shared Ash's annoyance, thinking to himself, 'These Team Rocket troublemakers, they always seem to cause problems wherever they go.'

As the ship arrived at the port, Ash wasted no time. He rushed towards a call center to inquire about Professor Birch's presence at the lab and swiftly informed them about Pikachu's critical condition.

While Ash rushed to seek help for Pikachu, Julian made a responsible choice to deal with the vehicle registration process. He knew that it was a necessary step, even if it could be a bit of a hassle.

As he headed toward the vehicle area, Julian contemplated, 'Man, this registration thing is a real pain in the ass, but they are rules, so I can't do anything about it.' His willingness to follow the rules showed his commitment to being a responsible and law-abiding trainer.

After successfully completing the registration process at the police station, Julian felt relieved. As he resumed his journey, he mused, 'Now that this is over, let's head towards Professor Birch's lab.'

With determination, he mounted his bike and continued towards the lab. The rough road eventually gave way to a clearer path, and the lab came into view. But as he approached, his attention was drawn to a girl with brown hair, dressed in a red shirt, a white mini skirt, and blue cycle shorts, who cycled past him. The chance encounter added a touch of curiosity to his day.

Julian, his curiosity piqued by the sight of the girl on the bicycle, thought, 'Isn't that May?' However, he decided to push that thought aside and continued on his way toward the lab.

Upon arriving at the lab, he spotted a young man in a white coat standing outside, wearing a worried expression. Julian approached him, already having a sense of what might have occurred, and was ready to address the situation.

Julian approached the worried-looking young man and initiated the conversation, saying, "You must be Joshua, right?"

Joshua, his curiosity piqued, confirmed, "Ah, yes, I am Joshua. What can I do for you?"

Julian introduced himself, stating, "I'm Julian. I'm here to see Professor Birch."

Joshua, as he continued to look at Julian, said, "Ah, yes, I think I heard the Professor mention something about it. By the way, you look familiar."

Julian simply smiled in response, allowing Joshua to think for a moment. After a brief pause, recognition dawned on Joshua's face as he finally recalled where he had seen Julian before.

Joshua's eyes widened, and his hand trembled as he pointed at Julian, his excitement evident as he exclaimed, "Wait, it can't be! Yo-you are Julian, the Champion of the Kanto region!"

Joshua's reaction, filled with awe and exhilaration, highlighted the significance of Julian's achievement as the Champion of Kanto, causing a stir of excitement in the young man.

Joshua, overwhelmed with excitement, continued to express his admiration, gushing, "I'm your biggest fan! I watched all your battles, and your last showdown with Lance was sooooo AWESOME! Your Gyarados was incredibly huge and powerful, and your Kabutops, wow, it was unbelievably fast! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I never thought I'd get the chance to meet you at all."

Julian couldn't help but laugh awkwardly as he observed Joshua's enthusiastic fanboy moment. He had anticipated that his fame might have diminished over time, but it seemed he was mistaken.

Julian, trying to temper Joshua's enthusiasm, reassured him, saying, "Calm down, Joshua. I'm just a former champion, so relax."

However, Joshua persisted, stating, "If you hadn't forfeited your title, you'd still be the champion."

Julian chuckled and tried to steer the conversation in a different direction, saying, "Okay, okay, that's enough of that for now. So, where can I find Professor Birch?"

Even though Julian was aware of the professor's location, he asked the question to maintain a sense of normalcy and avoid creating an air of mystery in the interaction.

Joshua provided the information, saying, "Oh, I forgot to mention, Professor Birch has gone out to find an ill Pikachu who suddenly ran away."

Julian, realizing the connection, asked, "Ah, so Ash has already arrived here?"

Joshua, surprised, inquired, "You know Ash?"

Julian confirmed, "Yes, he came with me."

Joshua responded, "Oh, Mr. Julian, you should wait inside until they come back."

Julian agreed, saying, "Okay, let's go in."

Julian and Joshua entered the lab, and as Julian sat down by a window, gazing outside, Joshua didn't disturb him and continued with his work.

Julian, as he gazed out of the window, was suddenly alerted by a massive electric bolt shooting up into the sky.

Recognizing the source, he thought, 'It looks like Pikachu is right there.'

Deciding to take action, Julian informed Joshua, "I'll be heading out for a minute."

He left the lab without his bike, choosing to rush towards the area on foot. Although he wasn't on his bike, it didn't hinder his speed; he ran and leaped from one tree to another with remarkable agility. His swiftness was evident, making him faster and more powerful than many Pokémon.

Upon reaching the scene, Julian spotted Ash, Professor Birch, and May. Opposite them stood a colossal robot that had a firm grip on Pikachu and was in the process of analyzing Pikachu's electric power. The situation was tense, and Julian prepared to join the effort to rescue Pikachu.

Observing the events unfolding outside, Julian recognized the familiar figures of Team Rocket and couldn't help but think, 'Those are the Team Rocket idiots. Looks like everything is going well, and I didn't need to worry at all.'

Julian sighed in relief, confident that things were under control, and made his way back towards the lab. Along the way, he heard an explosion, confirming that Team Rocket had once again been blasted off.

Back inside the lab, Julian waited for Professor Birch to return. When they arrived, he saw Ash holding Pikachu, who was unconscious, indicating that their adventure had been eventful.

Julian inquired with concern, "Is Pikachu okay?"

Ash reassured him, saying, "Julian, yes, for now, he's fine, but we still need to treat him."

Julian nodded in understanding, then turned his attention to Professor Birch, recognizing that the well-being of Pikachu was a priority.

Julian, keen to ensure Pikachu's well-being, addressed Professor Birch, saying, "Professor Birch, nice to meet you, but before anything else, you should treat Pikachu."

Birch nodded and instructed Joshua, "Yes, Joshua, prepare the machine."

Pikachu was swiftly taken into the emergency room and received the necessary treatment. After a successful treatment, Professor Birch emerged from the room and approached Julian, ready to engage in conversation.

Professor Birch introduced himself with a friendly smile, saying, "Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Professor Birch. I suppose you already know who I am, hahaha."

Julian reciprocated the greeting, saying, "Indeed. I'm Julian. I came here to give you something. It's from Professor Oak."

Birch responded with humility, saying, "Well, I'm honored that a champion himself came to visit me."

Julian retrieved a container that held an evolution stone and some research work. He handed it to Birch, who, in turn, entrusted it to Joshua for safekeeping. The exchange marked the beginning of their collaboration and interactions in the world of Pokémon research.

Professor Birch, recognizing the effort Julian had put into his journey, offered some hospitality, saying, "You must have had a long and tiring journey. You should rest here for today."

Julian expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you."

He was then guided to a room, where he settled in to rest and recover from his travels, ready to explore the opportunities and adventures that awaited in the Hoenn region.