051: Get Your Own Pokémon! !
"Ash… just look at those sealed boxes next to Professor Oak," Xiaolan whispered with excitement as she leaned closer to Ash. "I bet those are the Pokémon we're going to receive later."
Standing on the grass-paved dam, surrounded by the warm afternoon sun, they and the other summer camp students had gathered following the loudspeaker broadcast. All eyes were locked on the three large cardboard boxes, each reinforced and secured tightly with straps, sitting squarely at Professor Oak's feet.
Not only Xiaolan, but many of the other summer camp students boys and girls from various regions like Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Kalos had expressions of eager anticipation. After all, one of the main draws of this prestigious summer camp was more than just making friends with peers it was the chance to interact directly with real Pokémon.
The Pokémon Summer Camp wasn't just a social activity; it was also a hands-on educational program organized by Professor Oak and his research team. Each participant would be assigned a random Pokémon, drawn from a carefully selected group curated from both the Kanto and Kalos regional Pokédex.
Although the Pokémon weren't permanent partners and would be returned to the lab at the end of the camp, for many of these children under ten—who by law couldn't own a Pokémon yet it would be their first time training one.
Even Ash, who had already bonded with Pokémon like Pikachu and encountered others like Butterfree and Caterpie in earlier chapters, was filled with excitement. He knew this temporary assignment could affect his performance in the upcoming evaluations.
The camp included competitions, field training exercises, battles, and survival simulations each heavily reliant on the strength and compatibility between trainer and Pokémon. If Ash wanted to win the top rank at the end of the two-week summer camp and earn Professor Oak's personal recommendation, then which Pokémon he received today could be a game-changer.
He clenched his fists slightly, eyes sharp with determination.
Click.
A mechanical latch on the side of the center crate released. At that moment, a hush fell over the buzzing crowd. Professor Oak clapped his hands, holding a rolled paper tube the student roster and stepped forward, standing beside Nurse Joy and the other staffers.
"Alright, students. Quiet down, please," Oak's voice rang clear across the dam.
When the murmur settled, he offered a small smile and cleared his throat.
"Good afternoon, future Pokémon Trainers," he said, using his signature warm, grandfatherly tone. "My name is Professor Samuel Oak, and I'm honored to be the organizer of this Pokémon Summer Camp, hosted here in Pallet Forest."
"Just like the variety of Pokémon that live in different habitats from the coral coasts of Vermilion to the snowy ridges of Snowbelle you children have gathered here from many cities, and even from different regions."
He glanced at Xiaochun, Shauna, Trevor, and Tieruno in the crowd, each hailing from Kalos or different parts of Kanto.
"For the next two weeks, you'll eat, sleep, and train side by side. I hope you'll cherish this rare opportunity to learn not only from Pokémon, but also from one another."
He paused, letting the message settle. "Friendship isn't just formed with your partners. It's formed with each other."
Clap clap clap…
Clap clap clap…
The students responded with spirited applause, some nodding at their bunkmates or new friends, fully absorbing the weight of Oak's words.
As the applause settled, Oak gestured to the team behind him.
"Now, let me introduce the staff members who will be supporting you throughout this camp. First, this is Ms. Joy assigned by the Kanto Pokémon League. She will be in charge of treating and caring for all your Pokémon partners during camp."
He stepped aside, and Ms. Joy, dressed in her classic pink nurse uniform with her signature white cap and red cross, stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"Hello, everyone," Joy said kindly. "A temporary Pokémon Center has been established here in camp. No matter what happens be it training fatigue or battle injuries you can bring your Pokémon to me anytime for care."
Clap clap clap!
Thunderous applause echoed again, especially from students like Trevor, who had shown scientific interest in Pokémon biology during the ride to camp.
"And now, allow me to introduce Ms. Catarino," Oak continued, gesturing to the woman on his left. She was tall and slim, wearing a forest ranger's uniform with a wide-brimmed hat, a whistle looped around her neck, and a sharp gaze under silver-rimmed glasses.
"She's the chief coordinator and forest operations manager for the Pallet Town Summer Camp. If you need help with anything rules, cabin issues, safety guidelines Ms. Catarino is the one to go to."
Ms. Catarino gave a firm nod, one hand on her hip.
"Welcome, trainers. As long as you respect the forest and each other, I'll make sure your camp experience is as smooth and safe as possible."
The students stood straighter, clearly catching the no-nonsense tone behind her words.
All eyes returned to the boxes again.
The anticipation was reaching its peak.
The moment was near: soon, one by one, the children would be called up to receive the Pokémon who would become their temporary partners for better or worse in the days of training, bonding, and adventure ahead.
"Hi everyone, I'm Catarino, the administrator of this summer camp," said the tall, thin woman with sharp eyes and a calm, steady voice. "For the next two weeks, I will be responsible for making sure you all have access to the healthiest, tastiest, and most nutritious meals possible. And to make sure the quality is top-notch, I've invited an excellent culinary team to assist."
She stepped forward with a warm, composed smile that slightly softened her otherwise stern demeanor.
"Please take care of me~"
"Please take care of me~"
"Please take care of me~"
Behind her, three staff members in white chef uniforms bowed politely to the students in perfect unison. But if anyone had been paying close attention earlier, they would have realized these weren't just ordinary chefs they were the very same three individuals who had helped carry the sealed cardboard boxes to Professor Oak earlier at the dam.
Jessie, James, and Meowth currently in disguise stood perfectly still, hiding their excitement behind fake smiles and folded arms. None of the students noticed anything suspicious.
"…"
"…"
"In addition," Professor Oak stepped up beside Ms. Catarino and raised his voice slightly, "this Pokémon Summer Camp will follow a daily evaluation system based on each student's participation in scheduled activities and challenges."
He held up a clipboard containing printed score sheets and continued with a hint of playfulness in his tone.
"Each day, your performances will be assessed by myself, Ms. Catarino, and our appointed assistants. At the end of camp, the three students with the highest total points will be awarded the honorary title of 'Excellent Student of the Pokémon Summer Camp' along with generous prizes."
Professor Oak's expression turned more serious, though still encouraging. He added meaningfully, "By the way, do you know who else once received the Excellent Student title during their youth?"
He let the question hang for a beat.
"Mr. Lance, current Champion of the Indigo Plateau in Kanto and Mt. Silver League in Johto… and Ms. Diantha known as Karune in Kalos the reigning Champion of the Kalos League and an internationally celebrated actress."
Gasps rippled through the crowd of children.
"Wow!! Even Mr. Lance from the Indigo Plateau won the Excellent Student title before?"
"Miss Diantha she won it too? That's amazing!"
"She's a movie star and a Champion?!"
"If I also win the Excellent Student honor… does that mean I could stand on the same level as Mr. Lance or Ms. Diantha someday?"
"Maybe I can even challenge them in the future!"
Yulongdu—better known internationally as Lance is revered by students in both Kanto and Johto for his mastery of Dragon-type Pokémon. Meanwhile, Diantha (Karune), beloved in Kalos, is admired equally for her Mega Evolution battles and film roles. With Oak naming them as past participants, the competitive spirit among the students surged.
"Alright, future Trainers," Professor Oak smiled again, his hands resting behind his back. "Now, who remembers why we signed up for this summer camp?"
"To make friends!"
"To meet Pokémon!"
"To become Trainers!"
"Exactly." Oak nodded approvingly. "Besides making new friends, you're all here to get your very first taste of life as a Pokémon Trainer."
"Which means," Oak gestured toward the boxes at his feet, "it's time for each of you to come forward and receive your Pokémon partner for the duration of camp!"
As he spoke, the straps securing the cardboard boxes were loosened. Gang Ping and Sophie his assistant and the researcher from Professor Sycamore's lab in Lumiose City knelt beside the crates, flipped them open, and revealed dozens of clean, gleaming Poké Balls neatly arranged in rows.
Every single student in the dam whether from Pallet Town, Lumiose, or distant regions stood still with wide, sparkling eyes. The Pokémon inside those Poké Balls represented not just companions, but the beginning of a dream.
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