“How does one get into that situation?"

Ash was sitting in the office of the Headmistress of Indigo Academy, he already returned Pidgeot after he got here and carried the boxes himself, and Pikachu was sleeping in Ash's hood like usual.

When he arrived due to the fact that he was literally still 10 the Headmistress confused him for a new student, and he almost got in trouble for not having a uniform, but a quick call from Oak and everything was resolved before an overused trope was made.

The Headmistress sat across from Ash after hearing about him from Oak, "I must say, I'm quite surprised that someone who is the same age as most students joining not only went on a journey but is already eligible to go into the League conference."

Ash played it off, "I mean it wasn't that hard, I did it in like 7 months, the hardest parts were the stuff in between,"

The Headmistress rubbed her head, "Only someone taught by that fool could say something like that, it makes sense, but for apparently 3 of you to have the same feat in the same year while being new, is practically unheard of."

"Yeah, well what can I say, we just work really hard and do what we can."

"Yes, I suppose that's true," The Headmistress said, "So back to the matter at hand those are all the Pokemon the Professor gave you."

"I didn't take any if that's what you're asking, I'm already training to go to the league I don't need a new Pokemon that I won't train,"

"Very well, as for the next part the professor had informed you of the rest I assume,"

"Yeah yeah, I stay here for like a week until the League starts, and I'm supposed to make a speech I guess," Ash said looking unbothered.

"Aren't you worried, I half assumed you would be panicking due to the loss of training time,"

Ash chuckled and pulled out his badge case and showed all 8 official badges, "I'm sure you see I'm more than fine, and besides, I plan to test out your students, I'm sure some of them need a reality check."

The Headmistress shook her head, "Yep, definitely taught by that fool, very well you will be allowed to use our facilities if you wish, and we have prepared a room for you, we hope you'll at least enjoy your stay."

Ash smiled wider, "Oh I plan to, and just in case, there wouldn't happen to be the stereotypical gang of delinquents around here that need a beating?"

—

{The next day}

All the freshmen were called to go to the auditorium for the welcome ceremony, Liko and her new friend/roommate Ann were also in the crowd as they took a seat.

The Headmistress walked onto the stage and into the microphone, "I would like to welcome you all to Indigo Academy, and welcome to the wonderful and exciting world of Pokemon!"

She began talking about the history of the academy and relations with the League and other academies, along with some basic knowledge that needed to be heard about Pokemon.

But most of it people either already knew, didn't care, or just flat out didn't listen, so most people were dozing off until the Headmistress finally finished and said something interesting.

"As I'm sure most of you are aware of the Indigo League will be holding the conference in less than a week, as such we bought a special guest, someone who will be participating in the League and a student of the Legendary Professor Oak."

As soon as the Headmistress started talking about the League people paid attention, and as soon as they heard someone was coming they got excited and began to talk among themselves on who it would be.

The general consensus was that they thought it would be someone significantly older, maybe someone who had scars from years of experience and wisdom from countless fights, that the Pokemon would be behemoths like a Dragonite.

Liko and Ann were also talking, well more Ann talking to Liko, then the door opened as the Headmistress welcomed the person inside,

Liko watched intently thinking to herself, 'So this is a real Pokemon trainer'

Through the door a foot came through, people were holding their breath ready to see someone who to them could fight Lance himself, but in the next moment, people in the room collectively thought the same thing.

 "Ehhh…"

Through the door came a boy, he looked to be the same age if not younger than most of them, and then there was his Pokemon that sat on his shoulder, a Pikachu. This was Ash.

People started wondering if this was right that maybe the trainer was waiting outside to test them but that thought was broken when the Headmistress allowed Ash to stand on the podium and speak into the microphone.

"Hello everyone, the Headmistress has already introduced me but I'll introduce myself further, I am Ash Ketchum and this is my partner Pikachu,"

Pikachu: "Pika pika!"

"Like she said, I am participating in this year's league conference!" Ash said overenthusiastically, mainly cuz he wanted to see people's reactions.

People looked stunned seeing Ash, mainly because of everything, so one person raised his hand, "Hey question, how old are you?"

"I'm 10,"

"So you started your journey and are going to enter the league all in less than a Year!" another student said.

"Yep," Ash said smiling as he pulled out his badge case, revealing all 8 badges.

People were shocked at just how carefree Ash was acting, this was nothing like what they expected, so the Headmistress coughed, "Maybe you could tell them about being a trainer, you are around the same age as them."

"Sure," Ash said as he looked at them, "I know what you all must be thinking, you think that because I'm the same age as the rest of you I'm either some kind of wannabe that paid my way to the top or that the Gyms must be pushovers."

"But you should know I'm a special case, I'm not going to sit here saying something stupid like that I'm the 1 in 1,000,000 chosen one or something, but I was prepared, I spent years planning to do stuff and days and nights training to battle those gyms."

"The Point that I'm trying to say is that don't think that because someone else does it you can do it too, but do it because you think you can do it, the hardest step is starting, after all when you hit the point of no return, that's the moment it truly becomes a journey. If you can still turn back, it's not really a journey."

"So if nothing else let me tell you all this, do what you want, do what you're good at, and make you happy, whether you choose to be a trainer or a breeder, as long as you think it is what you want you'll do great, and if you don't know that's fine too, after all I also spent a good few years trying to be a doctor."

With that Ash took a step aside and the Headmistress gave him a nod of approval, "Well said, I'm glad to see you don't have an ego, but you are hot blooded, but I suppose that's not your fault, it's simply your upbringing," she said.

Ash smiled but felt confused on the inside, that's the 3rd time she referred to him being Oak's student as a bad thing, is there history between them?

Ash whistled as from the door Machamp walked in holding all the boxes full of Pokeballs as the Headmistress continued, "Now it is time for you all to receive your first partner Pokemon, I'm sure you've all received the update to your phones."

The students were still sorta taken back after everything happened back to back, that being Ash's speech, Machamp a Pokemon that they actually expected from an experienced trainer instead of a Pikachu, and now they were getting their Pokemon.

But People still nodded and pulled out their phones which did have some normal phones but the majority looked to be Rotom Phones.

Ash slightly sighed on the inside thinking to himself, 'I really should get a Rotom Phone one of these days, well a phone at least after I'm done with this everything will be set,'

After a few moments, everything was set with the prototype Pokedex, which was apparently according to Oak a partnership deal so that they could get more research from other regions, in other words, Oak sold the rights to the Pokedex into an app that only People given the app can use.

Then the Headmistress started slowly calling People over one by one to come and pick a random Pokemon. There were all sorts of starters given out, the most common ones were from Kanto and Unova, but there were some from the other regions.

The whole time Ash was standing by the board next to Machamp as he kept switching them out after they were empty, and then the last crate was brought up and Ash gave Machamp a fistbump and then put him back in his ball.

The last few People started coming up, and he hadn't seen any of the Paldean Pokemon, which was weird since Oak told him that there should be at least 1 trio, which also made him think what he was supposed to do if there were extra.

As he was thinking Liko's friend Ann ran up excitedly after hearing her name, the Headmistress pointed towards the Pokeballs, "Go ahead choose whichever you'd like,"

"Alright!" Ann said, looking over at them, then grabbing one and running back to her seat next to Liko, releasing the Pokemon inside, an Oshawott.

"Ahh Oshawott, so cute!" Ann cheered as her Rotom Phone started displaying information about it.

As Liko was watching Ann suddenly she heard the Headmistress, "Next, Liko."

Liko quickly got up, "Here!"

Then she started stiffly walking towards the front where all the Pokeballs were, the Headmistress noticed her stiffness and gave a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, just pick whichever one calls out to you."

"R-right!" Liko said as she looked at the remaining Pokeballs and grabbed the one under the number 11.

Liko nervously went back to her seat and watched everyone continue getting the last of the Pokemon, she stared at her Pokeball and took a breath before finally releasing it, out of it came a green cat, Sprigatito.

Liko stared in awe at the cute cat as her phone started displaying things but she didn't pay attention, she held her hand out mumbling to herself, "Wow, you're the cutest,"

As her hand approached however Sprigatito growled and scratched her finger and started running away, making Liko gasp at the sudden attitude and start looking around. She was in the very back so she started slowly making her way to the door.

Not that it mattered because after the last Pokemon was given out the Headmistress dismissed everyone so they could go and get to know their Pokemon, although Ash did notice her leaving.

—-

Liko made her way out to the courtyard, the whole time scrolling on her phone trying to look for anything about Sprigatito, eventually coming across the fact that they emit a pleasant smell and prefer places with ample sunlight.

"Alright then sunlight, where can I…" Liko thought as she then looked up to the school roof, "Oh you've gotta be kidding me,"

Liko ran back inside and started running up the stairs to get to the roof, when she did she started Smelling around trying to find a pleasant aroma and then moving to the next, until finally she found a smell.

When she looked up she saw Sprigatito, up on another roof across from the one she was on, she sighed as Sprigatito noticed her.

'What can you be thinking,' Liko thought as Sprigatito turned around to see her and started running, "Wait, no no no, don't jump!"

But it was useless as Sprigatito made a running leap, causing Liko to instinctively hold her hands out in hopes of catching Sprigatito before it fell.

But instead, Sprigatito landed on her face causing her to lose balance and fall over the railings with Sprigatito in her arms.

They both screamed as they started falling and Liko pulled Sprigatito into a hug to protect it just a bit as she closed her eyes.

But then as she was bracing for impact she felt herself stop suddenly when she opened her eyes seeing what broke her fall she saw that she was in someone's arms, it was the same boy that was in the Auditorium.

It was Ash who caught her, he looked down at her and Sprigatito and gave them a complicated expression, "How does one get into that situation?"