Blue was a man—a man trapped in the body of a teenager. Though, truth be told, it didn't make much difference; his late-twenties self from his past life had been no less youthful in spirit. But now, standing before the woman in front of him, his brain seemed to short-circuit, as if three-quarters of his mental capacity just evaporated. And he absolutely hated that feeling.
"Blue!" Elesa called out, pulling him into a warm hug the moment she spotted him in Celadon City. "Finally, you've come to visit me."
No woman in Kanto could rival Elesa's beauty. The sprites in the game hardly did her justice; they failed to capture the effortless grace she carried in every step, the magnetic charm in her voice, the cool confidence that surrounded her like a halo. In just a month, Elesa had risen to fame across the region. After Blue shared a stylish broadcast picture of her, she became a household name—practically everyone in Kanto knew who she was.
Her undeniable influence was why she now held sway over Celadon City. The city's importance rivaled only Saffron's—a rivalry that was still up for debate.
"So, where are we headed, Blue?" Elesa asked, eyes sparkling with excitement as she slipped her left hand around his arm, as if they were on a date. Both wore hoods, careful to stay unnoticed on their way out.
They exited through Celadon's east gate.
"Oh," Elesa smiled knowingly. "Route 7, huh? You completely sealed it off for weeks. No one has any clue what you're up to. Finally ready to show me?"
Blue nodded. "I told you—your position here is crucial. Because of where you are and what I need you to do in Celadon. Soon, Route 7 will become one of our most sought-after tourist destinations. That will boost your city—and Saffron City too, since both connect directly to the route."
Elesa's eyes gleamed. "But it was me you gave authority over Route 7, right?"
"Exactly," he confirmed. "But only because of your Type-specialty."
Elesa frowned, puzzled.
If you thought about Kanto—the region Blue ruled—what made it truly special? Beyond being the very first region, one word summed it up:
Pikachu.
The mascot.
That adorable, electric-yellow icon who had sparked a global phenomenon, making Pokémon the most beloved franchise ever.
And where was Pikachu's birthplace?
Right here—Kanto. Blue's domain.
As Elesa and Blue stepped onto Route 7, they were greeted by a sea of yellow. Everywhere they looked, the color shimmered and buzzed—electric, joyful, alive.
The moment they passed through the Gigavolt Gates, a towering statue of Pikachu came into view. It stood proudly, one eye winking playfully down at them. Above it, a flashing sign announced: Welcome to PikaLand.
Elesa stopped in her tracks. "An amusement park?" Her voice was hushed, awestruck. "I never thought I'd see one again."
Blue placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We left your old world behind, Elesa. No mad scientists, no ruins. This world's different."
Sure, there were some unhinged people in his world too, but he had no intention of telling her that. She and her three apocalyptic companions from Unova would likely launch a full-scale crusade against them. He was lucky they hadn't set their sights on Unova—yet. If they discovered that the same kind of criminals from their ruined homeland existed here as well, they'd probably go on a righteous killing spree. And he couldn't afford that kind of chaos—not this early in the game.
She smiled softly. "So is this world's Blue."
PikaLand stretched out before them like a lightning bolt of color—an electrified Disneyland where every corner, every ride, every treat was dedicated to Pikachu. Occasionally, a Pichu mascot peeked out here and there, almost like it had to sneak past quality control.
Blue scanned the sprawling park with a frown. "Roller coasters, stage shows, cafes, overpriced food, merch stands... You know, all the stuff that makes a dad cry into his paycheck."
Elesa raised an eyebrow. "You're not wrong."
"But do you know," Blue continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "why every kid on this continent will drag their poor parents all the way here?"
He snapped his fingers like a showman. A moment later, hundreds of Poké Balls materialized around him, hovering for just a second before opening with synchronized bursts of light.
An army of Pikachu poured out—cheering, scampering, electric sparks trailing from their cheeks. Every tenth ball released a baby Pichu, stumbling adorably before getting swept into the joyful chaos.
Elesa stared as the Pikachu stampeded through the park, filling every corner with real-life mascots. It was overwhelming. It was brilliant.
Blue grinned, wicked and proud. "This ridiculous little Route, Elesa... this is going to be our gold mine. Kids from Paldea to Sinnoh will beg their parents to come here. And parents? They'll give in."
Surrounded by hundreds of hyperactive Pikachu, Blue gave Elesa a pointed look, one eyebrow arched. "PikaLand isn't the only reason I'm here."
"Oh?" Elesa tilted her head. "Then what is?"
"We need to talk about your Pokémon team."
He handed her a sleek black case. Inside: six Poké Balls, nestled in velvet.
"Building a solid Electric-type team isn't easy," Blue began, folding his arms. "Variety's a challenge—Electric has few weaknesses, but Ground is a killer. So, I gave you one true counter for that. The rest?" He smirked. "They're just my favorites. The kind of team I'd build for myself."
Elesa tapped the first Poké Ball. With a flash, a familiar shape landed before her.
"…A Pikachu?" she said flatly.
"What?" Blue shrugged. "It's your ace, whether you like it or not. The most iconic Gym Leader paired with the most iconic Pokémon? That's marketing gold."
Elesa gave a half-smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."
What she didn't know—what Blue wasn't about to say—was that this wasn't just any Pikachu. He'd chosen it carefully, from dozens in his own ranks. It was a version from his world—battle-tested, optimally bred, packed with potential. The best one he could give her.
And still, he held something back.
There was an item—perfectly suited to Pikachu—that would unlock its full potential. But for now, Blue kept it tucked away. No need to tip the scales just yet.
Let her grow into the storm first.
The next Poké Ball opened with a flash.
Electrode.
Elesa blinked. "Really? Wait… this one looks different."
And it was different—sleeker, more natural, with a wood-like texture. Hisuian Form.
"Not my favorite," Blue admitted. "But it's here for one reason—it's part Grass-type. Your Ground-type insurance. Don't show it off like it's flashy, because right now, this thing's a rare fossil brought back to life. It's unique. Make it count."
Elesa nodded, a bit more seriously.
The third ball snapped open.
Magnezone hovered silently between them, humming with quiet power.
"This one's easy," Blue said with a shrug. "Steel is broken. Best defensive typing in the game. So, here you go—your walking fortress."
Elesa simply smiled, like none of this surprised her. As if no matter what she was given, she'd still run the table.
Then came the fourth.
Ampharos.
Blue chuckled. "Yeah, I've got no deep strategy for this one. I just like Ampharos, okay?"
Elesa laughed softly. "Finally, some honesty."
Next came Luxray. The lion roared as it emerged, crackling with electricity.
Blue sighed, rubbing his temples. "Okay. Screw it."
He reached into Elesa's box, snatched the sixth Poké Ball, and slid it into his pocket.
"What are you doing?" Elesa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your team's solid, but... it's missing a kick. And the last one I gave you? Too safe. So I'm swapping it out."
He reached into his coat, pulled out a different Poké Ball, and held it out to her.
"This one's spicy. Maybe too spicy," he muttered. "But screw it—let the others learn the hard way."
Before she could respond, Blue summoned his Starmie. It glowed briefly—then in a blink, he vanished, leaving only a shimmer in the air.
Elesa stared at the Poké Ball in her hand, then at the empty space where Blue had stood. "Bastard," she muttered. After all this time, and he just vanishes?
With a sigh, she opened the ball.
The Poké Ball burst open with a blinding surge of energy.
The sky darkened.
Wind howled.
Then—BOOM.
A deafening thunderclap tore through the clouds as a spear of golden lightning crashed down from above, scorching the earth in a brilliant white blaze.
From the heart of the storm, it emerged.
Zapdos.
Wings spread wide like jagged blades of lightning, its eyes burning with untamed fury. Each flap of its wings split the clouds, each cry shook the very ground beneath Elesa's feet.
The air itself sizzled.
Elesa staggered back, shielding her eyes from the raw force pouring off the legendary bird. "He… he gave me this?"
Zapdos screeched again, a war cry from the sky itself. A second bolt struck just meters away, exploding the dirt into glass.
The storm didn't come with Zapdos.
Zapdos was the storm.
Elesa stared upward, her breath caught in her throat, electricity crackling across her skin.
"...Well then," she whispered, awestruck. "Looks like he gave me a legendary."