The Pantheon

First Day

Ashley Ketchum's alarm clock blared like a wild Jigglypuff concert gone wrong. She groaned and slapped at it blindly, missing twice before finally smacking it silent with a loud clunk. The sunlight was merciless, creeping in through the gap in her curtains and landing right across her face. "Ugh, Sun! Take a hint," she mumbled, yanking her blanket over her head. For a split second, she entertained the brilliant idea of using Dig to escape deeper under the covers. Her toes wiggled as if prepping for action, but her brain kicked in a moment later.

Today wasn't just any day—it was the day.

Her eyes shot open like a Staryu's gem, and she bolted upright in bed, her blanket flying off her like a Togekiss taking off. "Today's my first day as a trainer!" she squealed, practically vibrating with excitement. She threw her legs over the side of her bed and stood up so fast she almost tripped on her Pikachu-patterned pajama pants.

Ashley spun around her room, arms wide as if she could hug the entire day. The room was a chaotic mix of childhood memories and budding trainer aspirations. A stack of Pokémon magazines was precariously leaning near the bookshelf, a half-finished Poké Ball puzzle sat abandoned on her desk, and a hand-drawn poster of the Indigo League hung above her bed. On her dresser, her stuffed Jigglypuff stared at her with judgmental button eyes, clearly unimpressed by her morning theatrics.

"Sorry, Puff," she said with a cheeky grin, giving it a quick pat as she sprinted to the bathroom.

Ashley tossed her pajamas onto the bathroom floor with the precision of someone who absolutely planned to clean up later—probably, maybe. She turned on the shower, letting the water heat up, and grabbed her toothbrush. Foam bubbled as she brushed, leaning against the sink and glancing at her reflection in the slightly fogging mirror. The excitement buzzing under her skin was almost enough to distract her from the fact that it was stupidly early. Almost.

She rinsed out her mouth, rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and then stepped into the shower. The first blast of water hit her like a Water Gun attack, startling her. "Whoa! Cold! Cold!" she yelped, hopping on the spot until the warmth kicked in. As the steam filled the small bathroom, she let out a long, satisfied sigh. The hot water ran down her face and arms, washing away the last hints of grogginess.

"This is worth it," she mumbled to herself, tilting her head back under the spray. Waking up this early wasn't her usual vibe—she preferred to roll out of bed closer to brunch than sunrise—but today was special. Today, she'd be the first one at Professor Oak's lab. No way was she letting Gary Oak, of all people, beat her there.

Her fingers absently traced the tiles on the shower wall, following the faint grooves and patterns like they might somehow ground her racing thoughts. The water cascaded down her back, warm and steady, but her mind was anything but calm. She'd been waiting for this moment forever—or at least it felt that way. Back when she was a kid, turning 10 had seemed like the magical finish line, the moment when her whole life would finally begin. Ten was the age when trainers got their first Pokémon, hit the road, and became legends in the making. It was supposed to be her golden age, her ticket to adventure.

But then, just as that dream was within reach, it had all been snatched away. That law. She could still hear the monotone voice of the news anchor breaking the story, his expression painfully neutral, as if he didn't realize—or didn't care—that he was crushing the dreams of kids everywhere.

"No trainers under 18," she muttered now, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she mimicked his dry tone. Her hand tightened into a fist against the tile, and she gave a frustrated sigh. She'd been furious back then, a bubbling volcano of anger and disappointment. For weeks, she'd stormed around the house, demanding answers from her parents, from the universe, from anyone who'd listen.