Pokemon: Ace's Adventures!

Ace pushed open the lab door, his heart pounding with anticipation. The familiar scent of books, polished equipment, and the faint hum of machinery filled the air. Standing near a desk cluttered with papers and Poké Balls was Professor Cerise, his kind smile lighting up as he spotted Ace.

"Ah, Ace! Right on time," Professor Cerise greeted warmly, gesturing for him to come in.

"Good morning, Professor," Ace replied, stepping inside and letting the door close behind him. He adjusted the straps of his backpack, excitement bubbling under his composed exterior.

"I've been expecting you," Cerise said as he walked over, placing a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder. "Come with me. There's someone who's been waiting to see you as well."

Intrigued, Ace followed Cerise through the lab, weaving past rows of equipment and shelves until they reached a large back door. The Professor opened it, revealing a massive dome-like structure connected to the lab. The glass roof allowed sunlight to pour in, illuminating the lush greenery inside.

As they entered the dome, Ace's sharp blue eyes immediately caught sight of Talia and Chloe standing near a patch of flowers. Talia's face lit up the moment she saw him, and she wasted no time rushing over.

"My little Ace!" Talia exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a warm hug. She rubbed her cheek affectionately against his, much to Ace's embarrassment.

"Talia—wait! Everyone's watching," Ace stammered, his face flushing as he awkwardly returned the hug.

"You're growing up so fast!" Talia said with a mock sniffle, pulling back to look at him with sparkling eyes.

Ace scratched the back of his head, offering her a sheepish smile. 'She really treats me like I'm her own,' he thought, noting how Talia's affection wasn't just maternal—it was almost like she wanted to fill a void. Unlike the anime where Chloe had a brother, here, she didn't, and Talia had clearly adopted Ace as her surrogate son.

As Talia stepped back, Chloe approached, cradling her Yamper in her arms. Her cheeks were dusted with a faint pink as she smiled shyly.

"Good morning, Ace," she greeted softly.

"Morning, Chloe," Ace replied, his gaze softening as he noticed her blush. He reached out to pat Yamper on the head, and the electric-type Pokémon wagged its tail enthusiastically before licking Ace's hand.

"Looks like someone's happy to see you," Chloe said with a small laugh. Ace chuckled, scratching Yamper behind the ears.

Professor Cerise cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "Now then," he began, motioning for Ace to follow him toward a small area with several Poké Balls lined up on a table. "Ace, as you know, today marks the start of your journey as a Pokémon Trainer. I've prepared something special for you."

Ace nodded, his curiosity piqued as he glanced at the Poké Balls.

"I've trained these Pokémon to starter level," Cerise explained. "I know how important it is for every trainer to have a strong bond with their first Pokémon. While you won't be starting with the traditional Kanto starters, I've ensured that these Pokémon are ready to meet the challenges ahead."

Ace's expression softened as he listened. 'It makes sense,' he thought. 'The starter Pokémon from each region are rare and ridiculously expensive. Professor Cerise isn't as well-known here as he was in the anime, so getting a Kanto starter would've been a tough ask.'

He glanced at the table, noting the variety of Poké Balls. 'Still, I don't mind,' he thought, his mind flashing to the iconic Pikachu from the anime. 'Every Pokémon has the potential to be amazing. Ash and Pikachu took down legendaries and even won the World Championship together. It's not about the rarity—it's about the bond the Pokemon and trainer share that lets them unleash their full potential in battle.'

Cerise continued, his tone thoughtful. "These Pokémon were hatched from eggs I received during my research. I've been raising them myself, and I believe one of them will make a fine partner for you."

Ace nodded with a smile. "I'm fine with that, Professor. Honestly, I believe all Pokémon are great in their own way. It's the journey and the bond that make them strong."

Talia beamed with pride at his words, while Chloe looked at him with admiration in her eyes. Cerise nodded approvingly.

"Well said, Ace," Cerise replied. "Now, let's find the Pokémon that will be your first partner."

Ace's eyes widened as Professor Cerise gestured toward the table, where eight Poké Balls rested neatly in a row. Each Poké Ball was marked with a type symbol: Fire, Water, Grass, Normal, Flying, Poison, Dark, and Ice.

"These are the Pokémon I've prepared for you," Cerise said, his tone filled with pride. He carefully released each Pokémon from their respective Poké Balls.

In flashes of light, the Pokémon materialized one by one, standing before Ace with curious or eager expressions.

Ace's gaze swept over them: a Vulpix, Wooper, Seedot, Smeargle, Fletchling, Salandit, Inkay, and Snom. He took a deep breath, his excitement palpable.

'Eight choices,' he thought, scanning each Pokémon with a discerning eye. 'This is more than I expected. Let's see who'll be my partner.'

He crouched down to get a better look at Vulpix, whose orange fur gleamed under the sunlight filtering through the glass dome. The Fire-type tilted her head, her six tails swishing gracefully.

'Vulpix is amazing,' Ace mused, recalling its evolution. 'Ninetales is one of the best Fire-types in Kanto, right behind Charizard. But let's not rush.'

Next, he turned his attention to Wooper. The Water-type smiled up at him with its signature carefree expression.

"Wooper, huh?" Ace muttered, a grin tugging at his lips. 'I've used one in the games, and Quagsire is an absolute beast with its typing. A solid choice for sure.'

Seedot caught his eye next. The small Grass-type shifted slightly, its tiny feet almost hidden under its acorn-like body.

'Seedot's final form, Shiftry, can be a powerhouse,' Ace thought, imagining its speed and offensive capabilities. 'With the right items and moves, it could be a deadly battler.'

He moved on to Fletchling, a small bird Pokémon that chirped softly, fluttering its wings.

"Hey there, buddy," Ace greeted, gently extending a hand. Fletchling hopped closer, its beady eyes studying him curiously.

'Talonflame was one of Ash's best regional birds and a great Pokemon in the X and Y series,' Ace thought, his lips curling into a small smile. 'It'd be awesome to have one on my team.'

Salandit came into view next, its sleek, black body shimmering faintly. The Poison/Fire-type let out a small hiss, observing Ace with sharp eyes.

'Salandit would be great,' Ace considered. But as he examined it closely, he noticed something. 'Wait… it's a male. That means it won't evolve into Salazzle. Shame, but that makes the decision easier.'

Inkay was up next, its round body floating slightly above the ground as its tentacles twitched playfully.

"Interesting," Ace murmured, recalling the Pokémon's evolution. 'Malamar looked both scary and cool. And James from Team Rocket had an Inkay in the anime—it was pretty strong.'

His gaze shifted to Snom, a tiny Bug/Ice-type that blinked up at him with innocent eyes.

'Snom's final form, Frosmoth, is really elegant,' Ace thought, remembering its beauty and potential. 'But let's see the last one before deciding.'

Finally, Ace's attention fell on Smeargle, who stood at the end of the line. The Normal-type Pokémon wagged its tail, the tip dipped in paint-like liquid, as if it were sizing him up.

"Smeargle…" Ace muttered, his blue eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

'It doesn't evolve,' he thought, recalling everything he knew about the Pokémon. 'But it has that insane move, Sketch, which can permanently copy any move it sees. That's ridiculously powerful if used right.'

He remembered from his present memories how Smeargle was often overlooked in competitive play, with trainers citing its limited potential. Even the best Smeargle ever recorded had only shown elite-level strength after years of research and training.

'But that's because people give up on it too easily,' Ace thought, standing up straight. Smeargle tilted its head, its big eyes looking up at him with a mixture of curiosity and playfulness.

A smile broke out across Ace's face as he reached down, gently picking up Smeargle. The Pokémon let out a delighted sound, wagging its tail as it looked at him expectantly.

"I choose you, Smeargle," Ace said firmly, his voice filled with confidence.

Professor Cerise raised an eyebrow, surprised but impressed by the choice while Talia and Chloe exchanged smiles.

"An interesting choice," Cerise remarked. "Smeargle's Sketch has incredible potential, but it will take creativity and determination to unlock it to it's full potential."

Ace looked at Smeargle, who was now perched comfortably in his arms. "I'm fine with that," he said with a grin. "I'm ready to put in the effort. Smeargle and I will make a great team."

'This might not be the easiest start,' Ace thought, looking at his new partner. 'But if there's one thing I've learned from my past life, it's that the journey is what makes us stronger. Let's show them what we can do.'

Smeargle wagged its tail again, as if agreeing with Ace's determination and thoughts.

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Pokemon:Ace's Adventures!)