Pokemon : Rewind

The boy's smile was warm and inviting. He appeared older than Ash and Misty but not by much, likely around fourteen or fifteen years old.

"Hello, Tracey. No need to use honorifics with me; just call me Ash," said Ash, shaking Tracey's hand firmly yet kindly.

"My name is Misty. Nice to meet you!" Misty greeted him, her expression equally friendly.

"Hello, Misty," Tracey replied with a nod.

"Pikapi!"

"Pok-bi!" Pikachu and Togepi chimed in cheerfully, hopping in excitement as if to thank Tracey for his quick thinking in contacting the Pokémon Center.

"By the way, Tracey, how do you know my name?" Ash asked curiously, a slight frown on his face. Misty also tilted her head in interest.

"Well, Ash..." Tracey hesitated, still addressing him formally. But when he noticed Ash's disapproving shake of the head, he corrected himself. 

"Ash, are you unaware of your popularity as the Indigo Conference Champion?"

"Huh?" Ash blinked in surprise, clearly taken aback. "People in the Orange Islands know who I am?"

"Of course!" Tracey nodded enthusiastically. "Though I'm not a native of the Orange Islands—I'm just traveling here—I've definitely heard your name. You broke numerous records at the Indigo Plateau Conference. Your battles made headlines! I even looked up your details online."

Tracey continued with admiration. "Maybe not everyone knows all the specifics, but anyone interested in Pokémon battles has at least heard of you."

"I see..." Ash nodded, trying to absorb this revelation. Misty, however, was grinning ear to ear, clearly thrilled by Ash's growing reputation.

"By the way, Tracey, you mentioned being a Pokémon Observer earlier. What kind of job is that?" Misty asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Pokémon Observing is a relatively niche profession, so it's not surprising if you've never heard of it," Tracey explained patiently. Despite Misty's somewhat blunt question, he didn't seem offended.

He elaborated, "Observers work closely with researchers. Our job is to study Pokémon in their natural habitats, whether they're wild, captured, or even companions to Trainers."

"We record data on their behaviour, lifestyle, and interactions, then share it with researchers to help them better understand Pokémon."

Tracey smiled as he continued. "Many details we know about Pokémon today were discovered through the work of Observers. For example, when Professor Oak was younger, he had an Observer assisting him before he established his lab and started conducting his own observations."

"That's amazing!" Ash and Misty said in unison, genuinely impressed. Even Ash, despite having trained with Professor Oak, hadn't known the specifics of this profession.

Tracey chuckled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "It's not a big deal, really..."

"By the way, Ash," Tracey suddenly perked up, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Would it be okay if I observed Pikachu? Your Pikachu is incredible—its performance at the Indigo Conference was unforgettable! Some people even compare it to a Legendary Pokémon!"

Ash smiled, his response thoughtful. "I don't mind, but it's up to Pikachu. He's my partner, not my possession."

Tracey's admiration for Ash grew. "Thank you! That's a wonderful way to treat your Pokémon."

"Pika pika!" Pikachu didn't fully understand the concept of being "observed," but he found Tracey likeable. Nodding happily, he agreed.

"Fantastic!" Tracey exclaimed, pulling out a sketchpad and quickly setting to work.

As Tracey observed Pikachu, he couldn't help but marvel at the little Pokémon. Unlike most Pikachu, whose fur was a bright yellow, this Pikachu's fur had a unique golden hue that shone like saffron under the light. It was clear that Pikachu had been raised with exceptional care.

The more Tracey studied Pikachu, the more astonished he became. From its posture to its muscle tone, everything about this Pikachu was extraordinary.

"Unbelievable..." Tracey muttered while sketching furiously. "Ash, your Pikachu is phenomenal. Its physical condition far surpasses that of a normal Pikachu—it's on par with a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, maybe even stronger!"

"Of course! Pikachu is Ash's trump card!" Misty said proudly, crossing her arms with a satisfied grin.

"Without a doubt," Tracey agreed. "It's rare for a Pikachu to be a Trainer's main Pokémon, but this one? It's not just rare—it's exceptional!"

After completing his observations, Tracey showed Ash and Misty his notes and sketches. The level of detail in his work was astonishing. 

Though the portrait of Pikachu was just a sketch, it captured the Pokémon's personality perfectly.

"Amazing!" Ash gave Tracey a thumbs-up. "You noticed so much in just a few minutes. You've got real talent, Tracey!"

Tracey smiled, clearly pleased with the praise. "Thanks, Ash. It's an honour to observe such a special Pokémon."

—-----

After some time, Nurse Joy emerged from the treatment room, catching their attention immediately. Ash, Misty, and Tracey hurried over to her.

"How's Lapras doing?" Ash asked, his tone filled with concern.

Nurse Joy smiled warmly. "Lapras is going to be fine, though it's still weak. It's incredibly young—less than ten days old. Those thugs really did a number on it."

"Less than ten days?!" The three gasped in shock. Even Ash and Tracey, who had suspected Lapras was young, hadn't imagined it was that young.

"Yes," Nurse Joy confirmed. "It was likely separated from its pod shortly after birth, which makes it even more remarkable that it survived."

Ash clenched his fists, his determination shining through. "Then we'll do whatever it takes to make sure Lapras recovers. Right, Pikachu?"

"Pika pika!" Pikachu nodded, sharing Ash's resolve.

Misty and Tracey exchanged smiles, knowing that Lapras couldn't have asked for a better protector than Ash.

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