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"I have a perfect one!" Ash blinked and responded calmly.
"Which... Ah! You... you don't mean the Primeape, do you?" Listening to Ash's words, I tried to think of a suitable Pokémon for him, but none came to mind. Suddenly, I remembered that Ash didn't just carry all of his Pokémon with him.
I quickly thought of the Primeape he had trained before. That Pokémon was indeed a strong choice, but the key question was, could Primeape really be obedient?
"Yes! Professor Oak said that guy has a lot of energy and gets into fights with Ivysaur and the others every day. It's the perfect opportunity for him to channel that energy by competing!" Ash explained.
Once, when Ash had called Professor Oak's lab to check on his Pokémon, Professor Oak had mentioned that Primeape's fiery temper and boundless energy were often a challenge. Sometimes, even Professor Oak got caught in the crossfire while observing other Pokémon.
Primeape often clashed with other Pokémon, but fortunately, Ivysaur was there to step in and keep the peace. Though Ivysaur consistently defeated him, Primeape always came back for more battles, gradually forming a bond with him. Their ongoing rivalry wasn't hostile but rather became a sign of mutual respect.
Primeape truly was full of energy. Even Professor Oak, who was used to lively Pokémon, admitted it was exhausting. And Ivysaur seemed a little weary of the constant challenges as well.
Ash, however, wasn't particularly concerned about Anthony's situation. He had seen similar scenarios before—Brock's father, Sabrina's father, and now Rebecca's. It had all become somewhat routine to him.
Still, the idea of competing for that golden belt excited Ash. Winning an honor for any of his Pokémon was worth the effort, and it would also allow Primeape to release some of his excess energy—a win-win situation.
"That's right!"
"Miss Rebecca, is there a teleporter here?" Ash asked after making up his mind.
"Yes! There's a phone and a transmitter over there. Please follow me!" Rebecca replied, feeling a bit more relieved. Ash seemed far more reliable than Brock.
At the same time, Ash asked Rebecca to help him with the registration. She immediately agreed, registering both Ash and Brock, while Ash called Professor Oak's laboratory.
"This is Professor Oak's laboratory!"
"Professor, it's me!" Ash said as the phone connected.
Professor Oak's face lit up when he saw Ash. "Oh! It's Ash! Where have you been?" he asked, his tone tinged with excitement. Every call from Ash seemed to bring new adventures or surprises, so he always looked forward to hearing from him.
"On the way to Fuchsia City!" Ash replied confidently.
"Ah, so you've already earned the Rainbow Badge, haven't you?" Professor Oak guessed, his enthusiasm growing.
"Yes!" Ash confirmed with a nod.
"Well, congratulations! What's the reason for your call today?" Professor Oak asked, leaning forward slightly, curious about Ash's request.
"Professor, I wanted to ask, how's Primeape doing?" Ash inquired, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Primeape? Oh, he's as energetic as ever! He challenges the other Pokémon every day, especially your Gyarados. Both of them are hot-tempered and can't seem to meet without sparking a fight!" Professor Oak chuckled. Though he sounded a little exasperated, there was no trace of anger—he loved observing these natural behaviors, and his lab was designed to nurture and study such dynamics.
Ash smiled at the description. "That's no problem. Professor, can you send him over?"
"Hmm? Is it for a gym battle?" Professor Oak asked, intrigued by the sudden request.
"Not exactly. We came across a P1 Grand Prix being held along the way and decided to join. I think Primeape would be perfect for it!" Ash explained.
"The P1 Grand Prix? I've heard of that—it's a high-level fighting tournament. Primeape certainly has a knack for combat. Alright, give me a moment. I'll get him for you," Professor Oak agreed enthusiastically. He left the phone for a while to retrieve the Poké Ball.
When he returned, his white lab coat was slightly torn, and a faint bruise marked the corner of his eye.
"Uh... Professor, are you alright?" Ash asked, concerned.
"Haha, don't worry about me! It's nothing!" Professor Oak waved off the question with a hearty laugh. He held up Primeape's Poké Ball. "Here it is! So, who do you want to exchange for him?"
Ash couldn't help but smile at the sight of the Poké Ball, his excitement for the competition growing.
"I'll send Devileon over first," Ash decided after a moment's thought. It seemed like a good idea to let Ivysaur and the others see its evolution, and he could always switch it back after the competition. Besides, Professor Oak was likely eager to continue studying its unique traits.
"Devileon? That's fantastic! I only managed a brief study of it last time, and I've been wanting to learn more," Professor Oak replied, his excitement unmistakable. He appreciated Ash's thoughtfulness in sending Devileon, knowing how much the Professor loved examining rare and mysterious Pokémon.
"Alright, let's start the exchange. Devileon, be sure to get along well with Professor Oak and your new companions!" Ash said, holding the Poké Ball. The ball trembled slightly in response, as if acknowledging Ash's instructions.
Ash walked to the teleporter, carefully placed the Poké Ball on it, and pressed the button to initiate the transfer. At the same time, Professor Oak placed Primeape's Poké Ball on the machine on his end. Both Poké Balls were quickly enveloped in glowing light, then vanished into the teleporter with a flash of current.
Moments later, the light on the teleporter fell again, and the Poké Balls appeared on the respective transmitters. The screen displayed a message confirming the successful exchange. On Ash's screen, Professor Oak was holding Devileon's Poké Ball.
"Transmission complete, Ash! I've received it," Professor Oak said, his satisfaction evident.
"I've got Primeape's Poké Ball as well," Ash replied as he retrieved it. "Take care of Devileon for me, Professor."
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of it. Best of luck in the competition!" Professor Oak added, though his eagerness to study Devileon was clear.
"Thank you, Professor! That's it for now," Ash said, sensing the Professor's enthusiasm and deciding not to interrupt further. He ended the call.
Standing in front of the teleporter, Ash looked at Primeape's Poké Ball in his hand. He hoped that its time with Ivysaur and the others would be beneficial. However, there was no time now for the kind of careful training he had once given Charmeleon. This competition would be a trial by fire.