Part 1

Quick disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon! All rights reserved to the owners! Any pictures I use are not mine!

"Boys, gather around! I've got some big news that I think will surprise you," the brown-haired researcher announced with a confident grin. The group of friends quickly huddled together, curious about what was going on.

"What's up? What's the big deal?" Paul, the purple-haired trainer, asked, clearly impatient.

"According to my grandpa, we're getting a new student today," the researcher replied, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"A new student? That's kind of surprising. We haven't had one since last year, I think," Drew chimed in, joining the conversation. He was a green-haired coordinator known for his overconfidence with the ladies.

"I think I might know him," Gary added with a knowing smirk. "Gramps did mention that he's a trainer from Kanto."

"Oh, well, at least something good might come out of this. More competition for me," Paul remarked with his usual arrogance. The others couldn't help but exchange looks at his response.

"Is that all you think about? Battling?" Gary asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Got a problem with that?" Paul shot back, locking eyes with Gary in a challenge.

"N-No, Paul. Relax," Gary stammered, nervously chuckling in the process.

Just then, the school's "Queens" strolled by. Misty, May, Dawn, Iris, and Serena—five of the most popular students in school—were known for their beauty and their overwhelming presence. Despite only being first-year students, they had already established themselves as the top girls in school.

"Oh, well, hello there, ladies," Gary greeted flirtatiously, a grin spreading across his face. The others, not wanting to get involved, stayed back.

"Ugh, what do you want, Gary?" Misty called out, clearly irritated.

"Ah, still playing hard to get, I see," he teased, a sly grin never leaving his face. Misty, not amused, swiftly kicked him in the shin. Gary cried out in pain, clutching his leg.

"Let's go, girls," Misty said, turning on her heel. The others followed, casting one last look of disgust at Gary as they walked away.

"You really should've seen that coming, dude," Drew commented, helping Gary to his feet with a bemused smile.

Now with the new student

Ash sat quietly on the bus, waiting as it neared the school. His best friend and partner, Pikachu, was nestled on his shoulder, the little Pokémon eagerly watching the passing scenery.

"This place better live up to how Professor Oak hyped it up. I'm going to be so pissed if it's not," Ash muttered to himself, adjusting his cap.

"Pika-Chu!" Pikachu squealed in agreement, his little cheeks sparking with anticipation.

The bus finally arrived in front of Lumiose High, and Ash couldn't help but stare up at the towering school, awed by its sheer size.

"Pika!" Pikachu squeaked in excitement.

"Yeah, it's pretty big, but don't get too excited just yet," Ash replied, trying to keep his expectations in check. They made their way through the crowded hallways, eventually locating the principal's office with little trouble.

When Ash entered, he was met by a tall man dressed in a sharp black suit, his red hair adding a striking contrast to his serious demeanor.

"Can I help you, young man?" the principal inquired, his voice smooth but authoritative.

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. Professor Oak sent me to pick up my schedule," Ash replied casually, trying to sound confident.

The principal nodded and handed him the schedule with the room numbers and class times. "I'm Principal Lysandre. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ash. Professor Oak spoke very highly of you."

"I'll catch you later, Lysandre," Ash said, eager to get moving. Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the office, making his way toward his first class, which was with Professor Sycamore. The bell rang just as he entered the classroom, signaling that he was already late, but Ash didn't seem to mind.

"Ah, there you are!" Professor Sycamore exclaimed upon spotting Ash. "I was starting to think you weren't going to show up."

Ash didn't respond immediately, standing in the doorway with a blank expression. Sycamore's smile faltered as Ash gave him a stern look.

"Would you mind introducing yourself to the class?" Professor Sycamore requested, slightly flustered.

"Ash. From Pallet Town," Ash grunted bluntly, causing the class to look at him with growing curiosity. Serena, one of the "Queens," immediately perked up at the mention of Pallet Town. That name caught her attention; her childhood friend had come from there, after all.

"Ashy-Boy! It's you!" a familiar voice called out, and Ash let out a long, exasperated sigh.

This day just keeps getting better...

Gary Oak suddenly appeared, slinging an arm around Ash's shoulder, but Ash quickly shrugged it off, annoyed.

"Get off," Ash muttered, pushing Gary away.

"Ash, Gary, please, take your seats. We need to get started," Sycamore interjected before things could escalate.

Lunchtime

Ash had seriously underestimated the size of the school. There were no empty tables, and he certainly wasn't about to sit with anyone he didn't know.

"Ash! Over here, dude!"

He didn't even look up. He recognized Gary's voice all too well. Reluctantly, Ash made his way over to Gary's table and sat down. Gary grinned smugly.

"I knew you'd come over and sit with your old pal Gary," he said with a self-satisfied smile.

"I have no choice, you twit," Ash shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What is this? Your fan club?"

Misty, sitting nearby, rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Fan club? Seriously?"

Paul, however, smiled knowingly. He was already starting to like this new kid despite his apparent tendency to be a bit of a loner.

"No, these are my friends, Ash," Gary said, gesturing to the large group around him. "You can talk to them later, but for now, let's catch up. What have you been up to lately?"

"It's none of your business, nerd," Ash retorted, crossing his arms in defiance.

Paul chuckled, clearly entertained by the exchange. "So, new kid, Gary here says you're a strong battler. Is that true?"

"Yeah. So what?" Ash responded, his tone casual but confident.

"Well, how about a battle?" Paul smirked, clearly itching for a fight.

Ash glanced at him for a moment. Paul didn't look like much, but Ash wouldn't know that for sure unless they battled. That was just how he was—always up for a challenge.

"Fine. Are you okay with a 1v1 for now? I've only got Pikachu with me," Ash said, already preparing for the battle ahead.

"Sure, that works. Meet me around back after school. There's a battlefield there," Paul directed.

"Whatever," Ash muttered, accepting the challenge. The group watched, stunned, as the lunchtime chatter died down.

Time Skip – After School

"Ash?" A blue-haired girl called out, stepping up to him after the bell rang.

"What?" Ash responded, turning to face her.

"Do you know who Paul is?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Of course not. And I don't know who you are either," Ash replied flatly.

"I'm Dawn, a friend of Gary's," the girl introduced herself. "But Ash, Paul is one of the strongest trainers in our school. Are you sure you want to battle him?"

"Easy," Ash responded, a confident grin appearing on his face. "I'll put him to rest quickly. You'll see."

With that, Ash turned and walked away, heading toward the battlefield with Pikachu hopping along beside him. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder just what kind of challenge Paul was going to bring.

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I'm going to stop it here for now. This is my first time writing any story so I'm sorry if the writing is rubbish and my English too.  Please do let me know what I can do to improve I appreciate it!