Pokémon: The Path of Ascension

"Toshi, Toshi, where are you?" A clear and hearty voice came from the distance.

"I got it, I'll be right back!"

A youth dressed in blue and white, wearing a shirt with a vividly depicted Pikachu, stood up, cupping his hands like a megaphone in front of his mouth, responding loudly.

"Hurry up, your mom is calling you back for dinner!" The urgent voice called out again.

Thinking about how his mom would blow up if she saw him come back late, the youth shivered involuntarily.

"Butterfree…"

A reluctant voice sounded beside the youth, Toshi.

"Sorry, Butterfree, I have to go back right away." Toshi tilted his head a bit sheepishly.

"Butterfree…" Butterfree settled on the youth's shoulder, its eyelids drooping down.

Toshi gently stroked Butterfree's head and smiled, saying, "Alright, alright, I promise you, I will come back to play with you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!" Upon hearing this, Butterfree instantly perked up, spreading its wings and spinning around the youth non-stop.

It was as if it was saying: We made a promise, you can't go back on your word!

Toshi waved goodbye to Butterfree, who was still flying in the sky, "See you later, Butterfree, you should go back soon too. By the way, it's been a bit unsafe in the mountains lately; I heard that restless Pinsir have been fighting with Scyther again, so be sure to avoid them."

Butterfree shook its wings casually, flecks of silver light scattering from its wings, creating beautiful sparkles in the sunlight.

This scene seemed to convey to the youth: I am still strong, so don't worry.

Toshi smiled, "See you tomorrow!"

Then he turned and set off on his way home.

Butterfree continued to fly in the sky, watching the youth's figure grow distant…

After a long while, it reluctantly flew back towards the mountain behind it…

Toshi looked back, one hand resting on his forehead, gazing at the evening glow in the sky, and the other hand spread wide as he reached towards the setting sun.

In the youth's eyes, it seemed as if he was grasping the whole sun!

The fading light of the sunset trickled through his fingers, and the youth couldn't help but smile softly.

…

"Dad, Mom, I'm back." Toshi greeted his parents upon returning home.

"Now that you're back, quickly sit down. If you're any later, your mom was about to lose her temper again."

In the living room, a sturdy man dressed in green work attire immediately stood up and walked out upon hearing the voice.

He was Toshi's father, Hideo.

At that moment, a woman wearing a red apron, embroidered with a cute Vanillish, walked out of the kitchen. Though she was only in her late twenties, time seemed to have left delicate traces on her face.

This was Toshi's mother, Emiko, who was currently carrying two plates of dishes that were Toshi's favorites.

"Back home?" Mom Emiko smiled at Toshi and said, "Today I specially made your favorite dishes, so hurry up and sit down to try them!"

"Thank you, Mom!" Toshi responded with a smile.

...

At the dinner table, Toshi's family was happily enjoying their meal.

"By the way, son, isn't it a week until Ranger Academy starts?" Dad Hideo asked while scooping rice.

Toshi put down his chopsticks, "Yes, Dad, I just received the news about Ranger Academy's opening in my email yesterday."

Mom Emiko also set down her bowls and chopsticks, "Toshi, if I remember correctly, this semester, the school is requiring you to bring your own Pokémon to enroll, right?"

"Yes, the notice specifically mentioned that…"

After saying this, the family fell into silence, and even Hideo, who had just been eating heartily, looked serious now.

"Toshi, it is my fault for not being able to find you a suitable Pokémon all this time. I'm sorry…"

Toshi quickly stood up, "Dad, please don't say that. You still have the Pokémon egg from your Rapidash for me; how can you say there isn't a suitable Pokémon?"

"But the Rapidash Pokémon egg is just meant for…" Hideo looked despondent. "Forget it, I won't say any more."

At that moment, Mom Emiko spoke up, "Toshi, you know our family situation. Your dad has been running around all the nearby areas these past few days, trying to find a suitable Pokémon, but he hasn't managed to find one…"

Toshi didn't want his parents to continue, so he quickly interrupted, "Mom, don't worry. Even if it's just a Rapidash, you have to believe in your son. I will definitely make something of myself!"

"Good boy…" Mom Emiko's eyes grew a bit moist. "I believe in you. Over the past two years, you've always come back with first-place awards. I know you can carve out your own path!"

...

After dinner, Dad Hideo returned to his room and brought out an Egg Incubator containing the Rapidash Pokémon egg that Toshi had just mentioned.

"Toshi, my Rapidash is just a Pokémon of average quality, so its offspring will likely be the same. I've searched almost every place I could to find a Pokémon with better potential, but I haven't found anything…"

Toshi took the Egg Incubator from Dad Hideo, "Dad, don't say that. I understand all of this, and I won't mind. Also, please rest assured, I'll take good care of it."

Gently swiping his hand over the Egg Incubator, Toshi smiled and said, "Maybe one day it will be even stronger than your Rapidash. Who knows? Hehe! Dad, you have to believe in your son."

Although Hideo knew Toshi was just trying to comfort him, and he was proud to have such an understanding son, it still left a lingering guilt in his heart that wouldn't dissipate.

"Yes, my son will definitely surpass me in the future; I've always believed that!"

...

Back in his room, Toshi placed the Egg Incubator on his desk by the window.

Toshi bent down and pulled out a book from a pile of books, the title clearly read "Ponyta Cultivation Records."

This was given to him by his dad a long time ago, detailing the entire process of raising a Ponyta to a Rapidash after his dad acquired it.

It was detailed and solid.

Even though Toshi had flipped through it countless times, he learned something new each time he opened it.

"To review the old and know the new, I've heard this phrase countless times in my past life but never practiced it. Who would have thought that after coming to this world, I would have to do it every day?" Toshi laughed and shook his head.

"But that saying is indeed correct; if it weren't for this, I would hardly have been able to secure first place every semester…"

"First place, I will hold onto it forever and not let anyone take it away!"

Toshi's gaze was determined and full of confidence.