Pokémon : An Unexpected Odyssey

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Time had slipped through Austin's grasp like sand through fingers, and before he knew it, the day he had been waiting for had arrived.

"No pushing."

In the room with an envelope in hand, the young trainer felt a flurry of movement as Rattata, Pikachu and Eevee vied for a spot on his shoulders, each trying to claim a better view. The playful jostling quickly grew cumbersome, prompting a slight look of annoyance to cross Austin's face. Deciding to bring some order to the chaos, he picked up Pikachu.

"Okay, let's do it this way."

The young trainer said as he set his starter gently on the table, giving the little electric mouse a better vantage point and more space to himself.

"You are going to help me open it."

Pikachu nodded.

He then adjusted Rattata and Eevee, positioning them more comfortably on his shoulders, easing the cramped cluster. Soon, the soft flutter of wings followed by the light pressure of Spearow landing on his head.

"You all need to learn how to give me some personal space," Austin sighed, his words falling on deaf ears as his Pokémon's attention remained fixed on the envelope.

With a careful slice from Pikachu, the envelope opened to reveal its contents: a card and some papers. The card resembled a driver's license, complete with all the necessary information displayed on the front alongside a yellowish chip. The back of the card was empty, plain and unadorned.

Austin carefully extracted the ID card, examining it for a moment before placing it into his wallet. He then turned his attention to the papers as he began reading it out loud.

[Subject: Official Entry to Kanto League Tournaments]

[Dear Ash Ketchum,

Congratulations on your eligibility to participate in all Pokémon League-sanctioned events across Kanto. As a recognized trainer, you now hold the privilege of competing in these prestigious tournaments, provided you meet the necessary prerequisites for each event.

Enclosed with this letter, you will find your official Indigo League Identification Card. This card serves as your primary credential for all Pokémon League events and is recognized as a valid form of government identification within the region. Should your ID card be lost, damaged, or stolen, please visit your nearest Pokémon Center for a replacement. Note that a fee may be applicable and can vary depending on the location.

Please be aware that participation in the Junior's Division of the Indigo League requires the successful completion of at least eight gym battles. These battles must be recorded and encrypted on your ID card to validate your qualifications.

We at the Pokémon League are excited to welcome you to this new chapter in your life, filled with adventures and the forging of new friendships. We wish you the best of luck on your journey as a Pokémon trainer.

Sincerely,

Blue Oak

Champion of Kanto]

Austin's hand froze, the paper trembling slightly as his eyes locked onto the final few words scrawled in bold print.

Blue Oak? Champion?!

A cold wave of disbelief rippled through him, his mind scrambling to make sense of the words. Blue Oak. The Blue Oak. The name practically leapt off the page, dripping with the weight of its implications.

Wait a minute. Blue Oak? Champion of Kanto?

His grip tightened as he re-read the words, his brain almost refusing to process them. It had to be a mistake, right? Blue Oak. It couldn't be that Blue, the one from the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Austin smirked, shaking his head. "I've got to be losing it."

Sure, he'd encountered elements of the manga in this bizarre Pokémon world—Sird from Team Galactic, see-through Pokéballs, and Vee—but this? This was pushing it.

"Let's think this through logically," he muttered. "I've already run into Gary Oak. Gary, not Blue. So how could Blue Oak exist here too? Unless…"

The thought lingered, unwanted and absurd, but Austin couldn't help entertaining it. What if Blue Oak was Gary's father?

He snorted loudly, the sound startling Pikachu.

And yet, as ridiculous as it seemed, the idea clung to his thoughts like a Stun Spore. Gary had never mentioned his father—at least, not in the anime.

The absurdity of it made him laugh again, this time more openly. So, what does that make me? If Gary's dad is Blue, does that mean my dad is Red? So what about Alexander Rothsvale?

Austin sighed, shaking his head. You know what? Forget it. If Blue Oak really is the Champion, I'll deal with that when the time comes. For now…

"Let's focus on what's ahead. Food, warm-ups, and then winning our first gym badge."

At his words, a chorus of cheers erupted from his Pokémon.

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[ Pewter City Gym ]

Austin approached the Pewter Gym, its architecture instantly recognizable from the anime as it was built from stone with a robust steel frame, loomed ahead just as it did in the anime. Bold letters spelling out "Pewter Gym" were mounted on the front. He pushed through the metal doors and was immediately greeted by a secretary who bore a strong resemblance to Brock.

As he handed over the papers for his gym battle, curiosity piqued.

"Excuse me, but is a gym reservation a normal thing?"

"Not for most gyms," the secretary, Sally, responded, her voice calm as she sifted through the documents.

"So why here?"

"The thing is, most gyms have a filter system where trainers would fight apprentice trainers of a gym," Sally explained, finishing up with the paperwork. "Pewter doesn't have the funds to sponsor apprenticeships because we have alot of mouths to feed."

The last part was left unsaid, but Austin managed to piece it together.

"So, Brock faces every challenger?"

"Yes." Sally confirmed, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Wow, he is amazing."

"I am sure Big brother would love to hear that," Sally smiled as she scratched Pikachu's head.

"Good luck on your match."

Austin grinned appreciatively before he pushed open the next set of doors and stepped inside, only to find the lights off. "Who goes there?" a voice called out.

A spotlight suddenly illuminated the other side of the room, revealing Brock dressed in brown cargo pants, an orange shirt, and a green vest, sitting with his legs crossed.

"I am here for my gym battle."

At his declaration, another one of Brock's siblings — Forrest, stepped into the rock-covered arena wearing referee clothing, marking another deviation from the anime. It was clear the gym wasn't just run by Brock; he had the support of multiple siblings.

"Excuse me, Sir, do you know the rules of the match?" Forrest inquired, his tone official.

"Run me by them."

Forrest nodded slightly, a hint of confusion flickering across his face before he composed himself to begin the briefing. "This will be an official gym battle with the gym leader using two grade 1 Pokémon."

"Grade 1 Pokémon?"

"Yes, a gym leader has multiple teams based on the number of Gym badges the challenger has. Since this is your first gym battle, Brock will be using Pokémon on the same level as a 1-badge trainer, also known as grade 1." Forrest explained.

Just like in Pokémon Origins.

"You are allowed to use up to six Pokémon," Forrest continued. "The rules will be that both trainers can only use up to four moves from a Pokémon, doing more will gain you a penalty. One item per Pokémon use, and any illegal items will result in disqualification or an arrest."

"There are illegal items?"

"Yes, many items like Rare Candies are extremely harmful to a Pokémon's health; hence why they are banned."

Austin nodded slowly, processing the information. If Rare Candies level up your Pokémon in the games, what does it do when levels aren't a thing?

Forrest continued with the rules, "Any intentional act of violence on trainers or audience will result in disqualification."

"Like if I have Pikachu attack Brock?"

"Yes," Forrest replied, then added, "Using illegal strategies will also result in a penalty."

"Illegal strategies?"

"Any strategy that can be exploited and harms the basics of battling, like recalling Pokémon the moment a move is made to save it from harm," Forrest detailed.

"Got it."

"The matches will last until a Pokémon is knocked out or the trainer forfeits. These are the rules, any questions?"

"No questions."

Forrest glanced at Austin, who offered a confident smile.

"Good, this will be an official 2 vs..." Forrest trailed off.

"Let's say several Pokémon," Austin stated ambiguously, leaving the exact number open, which was within his rights since there wasn't any official rule requiring him to disclose the number.

For the first time, Brock felt an unease against a rookie.

It was unsettling to him that this rookie, who refused to brag about how many Pokémon he caught, could be such an enigma.

'This guy is different,' Brock thought, his heart rate picking up as he readied himself for the challenge.

Forrest moved to the referee zone with a clipboard in hand, his body language professional yet visibly more tense.

"Let's begin the Pewter City Showdown!"

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[ Author's Note ]

Hey everyone! Before you go, let's talk about the rules I've established for Pokémon battles in this story. First off, I want to emphasize that the rules you're seeing are specifically for tournaments. Outside of tournaments, battles are more flexible—pretty much anything goes. But within tournaments, structure is essential, and that's why I created these guidelines.

Why did I create these rules?

Because it's a tournament setting, I wanted the battles to feel realistic, fair, and strategic. So I imagined how Pokémon battles would function as a serious competitive sport. Then I thought about all the potential exploits trainers could use and set out to ban them, creating a more balanced environment. Some of my ideas were inspired by the Pokémon Adventures manga, where, for example, a Team Rocket executive uses performance-enhancing drugs to forcefully evolve a Rhyhorn. This helped me establish the idea that certain items and tactics are "illegal" within official battles.

Why the 4-move rule?

I know some people might prefer more flexibility, but here's why I decided to stick with 4 moves per Pokémon:

Creativity Through Constraints

Writing battles with limitations forces me to get more creative. Personally, I thrive when I have rules to work within. No rules? It becomes chaotic, and I struggle to create something compelling. Many people might do better with total freedom, but I'm not one of them.

Consistency

The 4-move rule keeps things consistent with the games and anime. It's a classic staple of the Pokémon franchise, and sticking to it adds a sense of familiarity for readers.

Avoiding a Slugfest

Without move restrictions, battles would just become a free-for-all where Pokémon with the largest movepools dominate. It'd devolve into a mindless slugfest, where the winner is whoever can throw the hardest punch. That's not what I want this story to be. I want the battles to feel like intricate chess matches—each move, every piece of dialogue, and every countermeasure building toward something strategic and satisfying.

One of the things I didn't like about Unexpected Journey when I wrote battles there was how they often boiled down to "who can hit harder." It was entertaining in its own way, but as an author, I craved something deeper. I wanted battles where both trainers are playing a high-stakes game of wits, each trying to outthink the other with tactics and unpredictable maneuvers.

Trust me, the Austin vs. Brock battle is going to blow your socks off.

This is just the beginning. As the story progresses and Austin climbs the ranks, the battles will become increasingly strategic and creative. I'm excited to show you how Austin evolves as a trainer, growing with each victory—and each loss.

A note about Blue Oak and Alexander Rothsvale...

Yes, Blue Oak is Gary's father in this story. And yes, this is the same Blue Oak who appears in the games and manga.

As for whether Alexander Rothsvale (Ash's listed father) is the Red we know from the games... No comment.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your incredible support and engagement with this story. Your comments, theories, and enthusiasm mean the world to me, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the upcoming chapters. Have a fantastic day, and I'll see you in the comments!