My Wings

by DestinyHead123

This vast world is filled with uncertainties, from ancient myths to urban legends. Stories passed down for centuries have become intertwined with current cultures, producing this reimagined world in which our hero, Ash Ketchum, chases the answer to an age-old question. What does it mean to be a Pokemon Master? – AU, adult characters, real-world cultures

6. Bitter Work

Chapter 6

---

Monday, May 11th

Spenser lived a quiet life in Ecruteak City. Gone were the days of his youth. Adventure and mystery were but an afterthought to him. He was content with the slow, tranquil lifestyle of Ecruteak City. But when a Froakie arrived at Bell Tower almost two years ago, he had the inkling of suspicion that his peaceful days were numbered.

Froakie wasn't any ordinary Pokemon. Spenser could tell at a glance that Froakie possessed something special deep within him…something that only one person on this earth could bring out. Spenser expected this person to arrive soon after Froakie, but days became weeks and weeks became months.

In that time, Froakie honed his skills, but without the guidance of a trainer, his progress was underwhelming. It was a frustrating experience for Froakie, but he practiced nonetheless. Day in and day out until finally…one night…a young man appeared at Bell Tower. A young man who caused Froakie's wings to flutter.

Spenser marveled as Froakie made more progress in one night than he had in one year!

That alone was all the evidence Froakie needed to determine who this young man was. This was his trainer. The person he was waiting to meet.

Ash Ketchum.

Ash's arrival left Spenser with the inkling suspicion that his quiet days were numbered, and that proved to be true within a month. Spenser observed Ash and Froakie closely during the second day of the festival. With every battle, they improved, and that rapid progression culminated in the display that Spenser witnessed on the final day of the festival.

As Ash and Froakie faced Gary and his Squirtle, Spenser could see their wings ruffling. Even that much movement from their wings was reflected on the battlefield as Ash and Froakie started to act in unison. In that brief contest, their bond grew stronger. And then in their next contest, their opponent, Bruno, didn't hesitate to push them until they finally broke through the barrier. They stretched out their wings and Froakie evolved.

What came next was a phenomenon that Spenser saw among a select group of trainers who met their partner Pokemon. They could unleash their Pokemon's full potential in combat to unlock new and frightening abilities. But Ash and Frogadier went a step farther. Spenser couldn't see it clearly, but he was certain that Frogadier gained pieces of Ash's appearance while he was surrounded by the cyclone of water. Proof of how deep their connection could be.

Frogadier suddenly became a startling opponent and if they faced anyone else in the city, they would've won the battle handily. But Bruno was special in his own right, and Tyrogue was no slouch. He mercilessly crushed Frogadier to end the battle, but that was everything that Spenser needed to see. There was no doubt that Ash and Frogadier were on the cusp of discovering something truly spectacular…and he was determined to help them obtain it.

---

It was early in the afternoon when Spenser arrived at the Izumo Estate, and he was glad to find Ash and Frogadier practicing in the courtyard. Growlithe was the first to notice Spenser as he entered the courtyard and she ran to the gate to greet him. Spenser kneeled to address her kindly for her warm welcome while Ash and Frogadier joined them.

"Afternoon," Ash said as he and Frogadier bowed. "Are you here to see Lady Satsuki?"

"I'm here to see you and Frogadier, actually," Spenser revealed, which caused the duo to share a glance. Growlithe barked and Spenser smiled at her. "And Growlithe, of course!"

"What can we do for you?"

"I wanted to check in on you all," Spenser began. "We got to speak briefly when you visited Bell Tower the other day, but I wanted to speak with you some more."

"That's fine with me," Ash said as he invited Spenser to join him on the porch steps.

"So, how do you feel about the time you've spent in Ecruteak City?" Spenser asked once they were settled. Growlithe leaned against Ash's side and awaited his answer.

"It's been refreshing," Ash answered immediately with a smile as he placed his arm around Growlithe. She wagged her tail and Ash could feel it hitting his back. "I feel like being here has really helped me to get through a rough patch."

"I'm glad our fair city was able to help," Spenser said with a soft smile before he looked to Frogadier. "And would you say the same?"

Frogadier stole a glance at Ash before he gave a nod. Spenser posed the question to Growlithe as well, and she gave a cheerful yip in reply.

"It's great to hear that from all three of you," Spenser remarked as he looked to Ash. "It really seemed to show during the tournament. You're an impressive trainer."

Ash scratched at the back of his neck as he gave a weak chuckle. "I wouldn't say that yet," Ash responded.

"Well, clearly you have the mind of someone who has studied Pokemon battles for many years. You have a keen understanding of the basic principles, and you'd be surprised how many trainers lack those skills," Spenser explained. "But during the tournament, you started to discover the emotional spectrum involved in battles and I must say, your progress was astounding."

"Emotional spectrum?" Ash repeated as he looked up in thought.

"I'm sure a trainer of your caliber understands that a Pokemon battle is more than simply combat. When you embrace the emotional aspects, it deepens your connection to your Pokemon and allows the two of you to ascend far beyond your abilities."

"Deepens your connection," Ash repeated as he placed a hand on his chest. "So, what I felt with Frogadier when he evolved…"

Spenser raised his brow and nodded.

"Your hearts aligned," Spenser stated which caused Ash and Frogadier to share a glance again. "And then after that…what did you feel?"

Ash paused as he kept his eyes on Frogadier. They recalled various details about the battle, but it didn't take long for them to realize what Spenser was talking about.

"It felt like we were one person," Ash answered and Frogadier agreed. "I've felt that way before…" Ash hesitated for a moment, "With my first Pokemon, but with Frogadier, I felt even closer to him. Whenever he got hit by Tyrogue, I felt it too."

"Froga-Froga-dier," Frogadier added as he looked to Spenser with his sharp eyes. "And when Ash felt strong, I felt strong!"

"Yeah…from the moment I met you as Froakie, it felt like we were connected," Ash noted.

"Excellent," Spenser said. "It's good that the two of you recognize this connection because it's something special. And I'd like to help the two of you develop it further."

"Develop it?"

"Yes. What the two of you demonstrated against Bruno was just the beginning. I believe with the proper training, the two of you develop this connection into a unique ability for Frogadier," Spenser declared.

The prospect of a unique ability excited Ash and Frogadier.

"Ah, already here to steal Ash away from us?" A new voice inquired. The whole group turned to find Lady Satsuki approaching them from the main entrance of the building.

"Why must you make it sound as though I'm up to some mischief, Satsuki?" Spenser asked with a chuckle. She smiled playfully and the two of them shared a laugh.

"So, what do you think of Spenser's offer, Ash?" Satsuki asked him.

"It sounds exciting," Ash replied and she nodded to him.

"I know that we had an agreement that you would work while you stayed with us, but we're ready to put that aside while you're training with Spenser if you choose to accept, of course," Satsuki explained and Ash jumped to his feet to bow to her.

"That's incredibly generous," Ash said to her, and Frogadier mimicked his actions.

"Spenser possesses a wealth of experience as a trainer. This is a valuable opportunity for you to learn and I wouldn't want to hold you back," Satsuki stated.

"Then we accept!" Ash announced to Spenser.

"Wonderful," Spenser said. "Come to Bell Tower tomorrow morning at sunrise."

---

Tuesday, May 12th

Ash raised a hand to shield his eyes from the morning sun as he looked up at Bell Tower and all its majesty. As he observed the feudal age skyscraper, he wondered if the people of that era knew that towers of this height would be commonplace centuries later. He put that thought aside and used the moment of peace to stretch out his arms once more.

Growlithe yipped at his side and stretched out her limbs as well. Frogadier remained poised as he double-checked their surroundings.

"So, what kind of training do you think we'll do with Spenser?" Ash asked aloud and he caught sight of a gleam in Frogadier's eyes. According to Lady Satsuki, Spenser was an 'experienced' trainer and Frogadier held Spenser in the highest regard. Ash wouldn't doubt their words, and he intended to learn everything he could from Spenser. "Maybe some strength training since you're so skinny, Frogadier."

Frogadier sent a leer at Ash who chuckled.

"I'm just saying," Ash retorted. "A little muscle couldn't hurt."

Growlithe voiced her opinion and Frogadier directed his sharp gaze at her. She merely stuck out her tongue and winked in return.

"Ah, right on time," A voice remarked and the group turned. They spotted Spenser approaching them from the opposite path, and he was accompanied by a sizeable Pokemon that Ash recognized as a Venusaur. As Spenser and Venusaur came close, the trio bowed them.

"Good morning," Ash greeted them.

"It's good to see you here," Spenser responded before he motioned to his Pokemon. "I believe this first time you've seen Venusaur, correct?" They nodded to him. "This is my partner. He's been with me since I started my journey.

"Wow, nice to meet you, Venusaur," Ash said before Growlithe and Frogadier addressed Venusaur. In response, Venusaur extended multiple vines from his back to each of them to shake their hands, or paws in Growlithe's case. As a conversation began between them, Ash placed himself beside Spenser to pose a question. "Uh, Spenser, have you already decided what kind of training we're going to do with you?"

"Eager to start, are we?" Spenser asked him with a chuckle. "I'm glad. I've given it some thought, but I still have plenty of time to make decisions."

"But…aren't we starting today?" Ash inquired.

"Oh yes, but not with me," Spenser responded and Ash furrowed his brow. "Bruno actually requested some time with you and Frogadier. Since he intends to journey back to the mountains, it would make more sense to let him work with you first."

"Bruno?" Ash exclaimed as he pictured the man and his towering presence.

"He's very excited to spend some time with you and Frogadier after the battle you had against him," Spenser noted. "Be careful around Bruno. He forgets his strength at times."

Ash remembered that Bruno said that before. Was he truly that dangerous?

"Come with me, Bruno might be ready for you now," Spenser said with a gesture for the group to follow him. They ventured to the back of Bell Tower and followed a pathway that soon opened up into a familiar sight. The delta where Ash and Froakie first met.

But before they could appreciate the area, their attention was drawn to the shallow area of the water where Bruno and his Sawk sized each other up. Each of them only sent a glance at their audience before they resumed their spar. As Sawk's fists collided with Bruno's guard, the blows produced a deafening thud. Bruno hardly winced, though Ash could see some discolorations on his skin. Sawk wasn't pulling any of his punches.

It was frightening to watch Bruno spar with Sawk. The man was tremendous in size, but that posed no limitations to the fluidity of his movement. Bruno was nimble! The speed of his limbs was something to behold as he kept up with the pace of Sawk's offense, and made use of every opportunity he was given.

Sawk lashed out with a side kick at Bruno's exposed torso. His shin connected and the man clearly grimaced from the blow, but he trapped Sawk's leg in his arm before the Pokemon could withdraw his leg. Bruno grabbed Sawk's shoulder with his free hand and hoisted his opponent up into the air where he gave a shout of triumphant before hurling Sawk into the deeper waters of the delta. Bruno threw his head back and roared.

Sawk soon emerged from the water that reached his upper torso and Ash saw that one of his three-fingered hands glowed white. Bruno's celebration became his downfall as Sawk thrust his hand forward to launch a sphere of compressed air at Bruno. The attack skated across the surface of the water as a blur and detonated right in front of Bruno which doused him with water.

"Oh, so that's how you're going to play?" Bruno asked as he sent a sharp glance at Sawk. He charged into the deeper waters to continue his contest with Sawk and Spenser sighed.

"I think he still needs some time," Spenser noted. "How about we go a quick walk? You'll be spending a lot of time here, so you might as well become familiar with the area."

Ash agreed with Spenser's suggestion and followed the group to the mouth of the delta. Spenser made a gesture to the various waterways that he traveled into the forests and smiled.

"According to the old tales of this city, this delta was created by the phoenix to provide the city with a water source. The people irrigated the delta which has provided freshwater for centuries," Spenser explained and Ash raised his brow.

"I've heard a lot about the phoenix since I got here," Ash pointed out and Spenser gave a nod.

"The phoenix is at the heart of Ecruteak City's culture and history," Spenser remarked with a smile. "He was their savior and protector for centuries. They credit almost everything to him."

"Since you've been around here for you while," Ash said as he took a glance at Spenser. "Do you know what happened to the phoenix?"

Spenser looked up to the skies above.

"His disappearance coincided with the Great Crisis," Spenser replied. "The people here came to the conclusion that the phoenix took flight to restore the peace that was lost during that event."

"But, why hasn't anyone seen the phoenix?" Ash inquired and Spenser shook his head.

"One of the mysteries of this generation," Spenser remarked. "Where has the phoenix gone?"

Ash creased his brow, but it was clear that Spenser didn't know more than anyone else. The whereabouts of the great phoenix of Ecruteak City would remain a mystery.

One of the waterways from the delta ran alongside a pathway, and Spenser guided them down it. Soon enough, they arrived at the entrance to a beautiful garden.

The waterway from the delta opened up into a pond that sat at the heart of the garden. It was populated by a group of Poliwag who ducked under the surface of the water after they spotted the group. Venusaur gave a nod to Spenser and went on his way into the garden where he extended multiple vines from his back to adjust some of the flowers. Spenser invited the group to accompany Venusaur as he performed a quick check of his garden.

As they followed Venusaur, Ash caught sight of a gravestone with a bright flowerbed around it. As Ash came closer, he saw that there was a name inscribed on the stone in English. Luxray 'Goodshow.'

"Goodshow?" Ash repeated and Spenser turned to him in question. When he saw the gravestone, his expression softened.

"Ah, yes…Luxray was partnered with a dear friend of mine," Spenser answered. "His name was Charles."

"Charles…Goodshow," Ash concluded.

Spencer nodded. "You're familiar with him?"

"Yeah, I knew him back when I still lived in Vermilion City," Ash answered. "What was he doing here?"

"This was from a long time ago when Charles was still traveling," Spenser answered. "He came here to hide due to some…unfavorable circumstances."

Ash heard the change in Spenser's tone, and he decided that it would be best to avoid this subject. So, Ash returned to the question that Spenser dodged earlier with the hope that he would be more compliant this time.

"Just out of question, and I don't mean any disrespect when I ask this, but how old are you?" Ash inquired. It took a moment before Spenser's expression brightened and he chuckled.

"If I gave you a straight answer, you wouldn't believe me," Spenser retorted.

"Try me."

Spenser shot him a smirk. "I'll be two hundred and six this year," He answered.

Ash blinked. "T-Two hundred?" Ash exclaimed. "How is that possible?"

"It's rare that I meet someone who might understand…" Spenser began. "I was chosen by the Unown along with Venusaur. And until we complete our task, we will continue to live."

The mention of the Unown made Ash uneasy. His only experience with them was hard to describe and the conversations about them only left him with more questions.

"Who…who, or what are they?" Ash asked Spenser.

"The Unown are Pokemon…special Pokemon," Spenser informed him. "But they are hard to understand when you first meet them. I think it would be best to talk about them later on."

"That's what everyone has told me so far," Ash muttered. "None of this makes any sense and at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a bunch of crap."

Ash bit down on his lower lip after he said this. He didn't know what to say or believe about the Unown. On one hand, he knew that his first and only encounter with the Unown was very real. But since then, there was hardly any proof to back up that experience.

"I promise you, Ash, we will talk about this again," Spenser assured him with a smile. "As I said, the Unown are difficult to understand, but I know that your training with Frogadier will help you to understand what the Unown expect of you."

"Really?" Ash said as he raised his brow.

"Based on my experience with them, I feel that is a safe assumption," Spenser confirmed with a nod.

"Speaking of which, you still haven't really told us what kind of training we're going to do," Ash pointed out and Spenser was glad that their subject was finally on something they could speak freely about.

"I have a few exercises in mind that you and Frogadier will practice daily to strengthen your bond," Spenser replied. "But I think meditation will be the most significant part of your training."

"Meditation?" Ash said skeptically and Spenser nodded.

"A Pokemon and trainer can improve remarkably through regular training and repetition. But the key to unlocking your full potential and gaining a better understanding of each other is through meditation," Spenser elaborated for him. "It won't be easy, especially at first. Be patient with Frogadier and yourself."

Ash still wasn't sure what exactly Spenser meant by meditation. He could remember taking the time to go over old battle footage with Giselle, and often went over what he practiced with Pikachu back in Vermilion City, but Spenser seemed to be describing something else. Ash could only wait and see.

Their travels around Bell Tower continued as they left the garden. Spenser shared various details about his life before the Great Crisis, and Ash was enthralled with his stories.

The world that Spenser described was everything Ash dreamed of. A place where children were encouraged to find a Pokemon and explore the world. An idea like that was shunned today, but Ash was glad to know that his dream wasn't simply that. It was entirely possible!

After roughly an hour, they returned to the delta and found Bruno seated at the edge of the water with Sawk and Tyrogue. Both were drenched, but of course, neither of them cared.

"Great, you're back!" Bruno declared when he caught sight of the group of five. "Ash! Frogadier! Thanks for coming!"

"I was told not to pass on a chance to learn from you and Spenser," Ash replied.

"Good attitude," Bruno replied as he invited everyone to have a seat with him at the edge of the water. Frogadier took a seat beside Tyrogue and they shared a quick nod as a greeting. Growlithe sat beside Venusaur and leaned against his front leg. He extended a vine to pat the top of her head in reply. "During our battle, I saw the building blocks for a move that I think Frogadier could make good use of."

Bruno crossed his arms as he recalled the match yesterday. Frogadier faked high but swung low. He drilled his fist into Tyrogue's abdomen and it was obvious that the attack hit home as Tyrogue grimaced. No one in the competition was able to hit Tyrogue as effectively as Frogadier did. That was no small feat.

Clearly, Frogadier was taught how to throw a proper punch. No wasted movements, good target selection, and how to generate power despite his thin frame. Knowledge like that could be used to turn a basic skill into a powerful move.

"We want to teach Frogadier a move called Brick Break," Bruno announced and Frogadier smirked.

"Brick Break," Ash repeated and it gave him chills. He remembered seeing that move in action at the Hidden Cove. It was signature to Cross' Lycanroc - their ruthless nature left Ash with bad memories of the move. But, while Lycanroc's use of the attack was less than appealing, there was no doubt that it was a strong attack to add to Frogadier's arsenal.

"We have one week to teach it," Bruno added.

"Huh, why just a week?" Ash exclaimed.

"I only visit Ecruteak City to take part in the festival. Usually, I return to the mountains immediately, but I'm making a special exception for you," Bruno explained.

"Oh, uh…thank you then," Ash said quickly to make up for his lack of tact.

"It's not a problem, this is an exception that I'm glad to make," Bruno remarked with a smile.

"I'll leave them in your care," Spenser stated. "I trust you won't harm them physically."

Bruno flashed a broad grin as he looked at Frogadier.

"I hope you're ready Frogadier, we're going to break your hands today!"

Ash held back a chuckle. Bruno wasn't aware of it, but Frogadier was already well versed in that art.

---

Their group relocated themselves to the rocky area near the waterfall. Once there, Tyrogue selected a target and demonstrated Brick Break for them. Ash could see that his hand gained a faint white glow before he struck a rock that was equal to his size. It shattered on impact and Ash's eyes widened as he recalled that Frogadier took a blow of similar power during their battle.

Frogadier immediately lined up alongside Tyrogue and mirrored his stance, eager to try the attack for himself. As Tyrogue explained the basic instructions, Ash and Bruno observed them closely.

"So how exactly does Brick Break work?" Ash inquired and Bruno pursed his lips.

"Combat can be broken down to its most basic aspects, offense and defense. Throughout the ages, a strong defense typically triumphed over a good offense, and the same holds true in Pokemon battles," Bruno explained. "But Brick Break was designed to defy that rule and crush all forms of defense, natural or summoned, through the very foundation of combat. Striking your opponent."

"But what makes it stronger than a regular punch, for example?" Ash asked.

"It takes a Pokemon's latent power and focuses it all into one blow," Bruno announced.

"Latent power…" Ash said softly. "So, the source of their abilities?"

"Yes…and no," Bruno answered. "Energy resides inside of all things and it takes on many different forms. All Pokemon possess a means to manipulate this energy. Most are capable of manipulating this power externally in different forms…like fire, water, or electricity as an example."

Ash nodded his head slowly as he tried to understand the bigger picture of this discussion.

"However, there are Pokemon that can only use the energy that resides within themselves," Bruno went on with a gesture to his partners, Sawk and Tyrogue. "Since they are unable to manipulate the natural environment, they focus their own energy into physical prowess."

Ash looked to Tyrogue as he demonstrated Brick Break once again for Frogadier. Tyrogue tightened his stance and tucked his arm against his side. His muscles visibly tensed and for the second time, Ash saw a white aura coalesce around his hand. Tyrogue drove his fist into the stone in front of him, and it shattered from the blow.

Physical prowess…

"But if Frogadier can already manipulate this energy as water, how can he do the same things as Tyrogue?" Ash inquired which earned a chuckle from Bruno.

"Don't be so narrow-minded, Ash," Bruno remarked with a smirk. "Pokemon are no different from you and I. Nothing is fair about what they are born with or what they can learn. Some are gifted, while others are held back by limitations outside of their control. But they work hard to refine their strengths and overcome their weaknesses, like you and I."

After witnessing several demonstrations of the move Brick Break, Bruno paused the lesson to teach Frogadier the most basic aspect of Brick Break – how to draw out his internal energy.

"You've used it many times, Frogadier," Bruno stated as they stood together near the edge of the water. "Think of when you use Water Pulse."

Frogadier struggled to make the comparison. How did Water Pulse translate to Brick Break? Bruno saw that Frogadier tilted his head in question and continued with his explanation.

"Think of how you manipulate the water to create that attack," Bruno said with a gesture to the waterway in front of them. "Do it right now, and pay close attention to everything you feel."

Frogadier nodded slowly as he took a step closer to the edge of the water. He extended his hands and focused on the air around him. The air was saturated with moisture from the delta, so it was easy to feel what he was searching for. The water in the air…felt like an extension of his fingertips as he collected it into the palm of his hands. It obeyed his every command and gathered into a sphere between his hands.

He held the Water Pulse in his hands for a few moments and he could feel the water swiveling within the confines of the sphere. It was the only way to keep it contained so that it functioned as an attack.

"Do you feel the flow of the energy?" Bruno asked after a few moments of silence. Frogadier gave him another nod. "That same energy exists inside of you and it is yours to command. Focus on yourself and bring it out."

Ash stood in silence, watching closely as Frogadier followed Bruno's instructions. His physique made it obvious that he trained both himself and his Pokemon daily, but his guidance was proof of how thoroughly he studied Pokemon. Bruno's use of Water Pulse to help Frogadier understand a different move was proof of his wisdom. Ash felt a chill as he stared at Bruno.

They never stood a chance against him during their battle.

Frogadier took a deep breath before he shut his eyes. He searched his body for what he felt in the air, but he furrowed his brow. There wasn't anything like this within him…

"Don't give up," Bruno stated. "Surpassing your limits isn't easy, and that's what utilizing this power involves."

"Surpassing your limits…"

Frogadier opened his eyes and looked at Ash. He said the same thing the night when they were practicing Agility.

"Froga?" Frogadier asked.

"How do you surpass your limits?" Bruno repeated his question before he looked up. "You must put aside your distractions and immerse yourself in the possibilities. In your reality, have you chosen to be defined by your limitations…or have you decided that you can go beyond them?"

Frogadier raised his brow somewhat at the question. He knew the answer. His current form was proof of that.

Frogadier would never accept a reality where he felt powerless again.

It all clicked as Frogadier shut his eyes again. He wasn't searching for something that resided within him. All Bruno wanted him to understand was that the source of his power was his desire to break boundaries. To understand his limits and go beyond them.

Bruno wore a toothy grin and Ash's eyes widened as Frogadier produced a gust of wind. That same fiery sensation he felt in his chest, Frogadier felt it envelop his whole body again. His commitment to go beyond himself…

---

Ash walked in silence between Growlithe and Frogadier. There was only one thought on his mind.

Bruno was absolutely incredible!

Of course, Bruno was well respected based on his reputation. The Kimono Girls and Spenser both spoke very highly of him as a trainer, but Bruno easily surpassed every expectation that Ash had. The man was a savant when it came to Pokemon.

The more Ash listened to him instruct Frogadier about Brick Break, the more Ash realized how little he actually understood about Pokemon.

'Latent power.' 'Flow of energy.' 'Surpassing limitations.'

Even after all those months that he trained with Pikachu, and the years they spent together, Ash barely understood how Pikachu's abilities worked. Volkner and Ampharos were the ones who helped Pikachu to understand his electrical abilities. It was Brock who taught Pikachu how to utilize his speed.

Was it even fair to call himself Pikachu's trainer? He had so little to do with Pikachu's development…

He didn't want a repeat of that with Frogadier, but Bruno was already creating the same situation. Frogadier was counting on him to be his trainer and guide him, not Bruno. But, what could Ash do?

That question brought a smile to his face. Pokemon were absolutely amazing and there was so much for him to learn!

---

Wednesday, May 20th

After a week under Bruno's tutelage, it came time to test what they learned and it came in the form of a battle. Not against Bruno, but against…

"Alright Ashy-boy, Squirtle and I have been looking forward to seeing if Frogadier has gotten any stronger," Gary declared as they stood in the courtyard of the Izumo Estate. The two of them stood proudly, eager for the challenge.

Having already agreed to the battle, Ash and Frogadier stood on the opposite side of the courtyard, and they looked to Zuki who would be the judge of their contest. She gave a nod to each of them before she raised her hand as the signal to start.

Gary still wore his trademark smirk as he studied Frogadier's appearance. During the past week, he hardly saw Ash and Frogadier whenever he came to the estate. He wanted to see Frogadier practice at least a little bit, but a battle would more than suffice. After all, Ash and Frogadier were among the best competition in the city.

"Squirtle, start off with Water Gun!"

His only command of the battle would result in its conclusion.

Frogadier twitched as he sensed the familiarity of the situation. They practiced so hard for this before the festival, but now, he was completely different. Now he understood why he struggled so much with Agility going into the battle against Squirtle. He questioned his own ability. Was he fast enough to close the distance between Water Gun attacks? Could he make it there in time?

'In your reality, have you chosen to be defined by your limitations…or have you decided that you can go beyond them?'

Frogadier wouldn't ask those questions anymore. He wouldn't question his abilities. He would act with the belief that all things are possible! Ash wore a smile as Frogadier lowered his center of gravity in preparation. Only Ash could see it, but Frogadier was spreading his wings.

Squirtle spewed a jet of water from his lips and surged toward Frogadier, but the target practically vanished before impact. Without a command, Frogadier darted across the field as nothing but a blur and he closed his right hand into a fist as he approached Squirtle.

The next stage of his training with Bruno came to mind.

'All of your latent power, gather it into your hand and unleash it onto your opponent!'

Unfortunately, Frogadier lacked the physique to produce the destructive force that Tyrogue and Sawk possessed. The rocks he struck with Brick Break didn't shatter…they split. Bruno's instruction changed immediately. Of course, Frogadier wasn't a natural fighting type, so his latent power lacked the ferocity of a fighting type. So, they opted to follow the course of refinement.

"You won't shatter a defense through brute force," Bruno explained as he showed Frogadier the back of his fist. Bruno ran his fingers along his knuckles. "Your Brick Break must be sharpened and focused. Shape your power into a point and use it to penetrate through someone's defenses."

Squirtle's Water Gun sputtered to an end as Frogadier stood in front of him with his fist planted against the front of Squirtle's shell. Frogadier punched him right in the gut and Squirtle almost threw up his lunch. He gagged as the punch went straight to his core. Squirtle never experienced anything like that. His shell always protected him…

His vision became unfocused before he fell forward beside Frogadier. Gary's smirk was gone as Frogadier took a step back from his partner.

"Sq-Squirtle?" Gary asked but there was no response. Gary ran out onto the field and kneeled down next to Squirtle to see for himself. There was a groan from Squirtle as he writhed slightly. "Are you okay?"

Squirtle didn't even want to move. Gary looked to Frogadier out of the corner of his eye and he saw white energy disperse from around his hand.

"What in the world did you hit him with?" Gary asked Frogadier as Ash and the rest of their audience joined them on the field to check Squirtle.

"It's a move he learned," Ash replied as he scratched the bridge of his nose. "Brick Break."

"Brick Break," Gary repeated the name. He was familiar with this attack. A move designed to pummel the strongest defenses into submission. "And it looks like you guys have gotten the hang of Agility too…"

Gary stole a glance at Ash but held a stoic expression. How did they improve this much in only a week?

"Ee-vee-vee!" Gary's Eevee declared as he approached Frogadier. He stomped his front paws and showed his tiny fangs as a challenge. Frogadier raised his brow at Eevee's determination but he welcomed the challenge.

Squirtle grimaced as he was finally able to walk off the field with some support from Growlithe, and he was forced to sit on the sidelines and observe the next battle from the sidelines. Squirtle's jaw became tight as he looked at Frogadier. Memories of his mock battles against Froakie came to mind, and Squirtle couldn't believe that he faced the very same Pokemon. He was so strong now!

Was this frustration what Froakie felt after every loss to him? Squirtle tightened his hand into a fist as Frogadier and Eevee engaged in battle. The outcome mirrored the battle between Squirtle and Frogadier. A one-punch knockout.

Eevee was sent skidding back to Gary's feet where he gasped for air. It was at that moment that Gary and all his Pokemon shared the same mindset.

We have to beat them!

---

As a combat expert, Bruno struggled to hold back a smile as Ash and Frogadier retold their success against both Gary's Squirtle and Eevee. It made him wish that he was there to see it himself! Bruno, Tyrogue, and Sawk all sat in front of Ash and Frogadier, leaning forward slightly as they listened to every detail.

Ash shared it all proudly, though Frogadier was more reserved about the outcome of the battle.

"…and Squirtle went down from one Brick Break," Ash explained as he pumped his fist. "It was like he didn't even have that shell protecting him."

Bruno gave a large nod as he studied Frogadier. Even after centuries, he still saw Pokemon wield their power in new and exciting ways!

"Man, the last week of training with you has been awesome. We start tomorrow with Spenser and I can't wait to see what we'll be like when we finish his training," Ash commented and Bruno gave a laugh. Ash looked to Bruno with a raised brow. "What's so funny?"

"Spenser's training isn't one that you 'finish,'" Bruno replied as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It's going to be different from what you've done in the past, so be prepared."

Ash pursed his lips before he glanced at Frogadier. A different kind of training…? He couldn't wait to see what it was!

"It's a shame I can't stay any longer," Bruno stated as he rose to his feet. "I would've liked to see how you and Frogadier handled Spenser's training, but I'm sure he'll send me a letter telling me all about it."

"So, what's next for you? Where are you headed next?" Ash asked but Bruno shook his head.

"I'm not a traveler anymore, I live in the mountains to the east of Blackthorn City," Bruno replied and Ash craned his neck.

"The mountains?" He exclaimed.

"It's the best place to train. Total solitude, no distractions. There are strong Pokemon present to practice against, and the terrain makes you stronger," Bruno declared as he hit his chest.

Ash pictured Bruno alongside his Pokemon, shattering boulders with one punch and correcting their stances. It was no wonder Bruno understood his Pokemon so well. He was fully immersed in training them.

"Perhaps you and Frogadier will visit us one day," Bruno commented. "I imagine there will be a rematch between Tyrogue and Frogadier."

As Ash and Bruno spoke, the duo of Pokemon went off to continue their own practice together. Tyrogue demonstrated the form for a proper high kick and with some further instruction from Tyrogue, Frogadier attempted to mirror his actions.

"Yeah, definitely…" Ash trailed off as he studied Bruno. "I'm looking forward to facing you too. I have to pay you back for all your help during the festival."

"Help?"

"Everything you said, before our battle and during it," Ash pulled at the collar of his robe. "I made some mistakes that I thought I could never recover from. But you helped me to remember that I can't get knocked down and stay down. I have to get back up and keep pushing forward. I don't want to give up…ever again."

Bruno raised his head and wore a smirk.

"I'm very glad to hear you say that. You and Frogadier wouldn't stand a chance against us without that level of resolve," Bruno remarked as he rose to his feet. "I'm excited to see how the two of you develop."

They shared a mutual nod and looked to their Pokemon. Tyrogue and Frogadier sensed that their time together was close to its end and they bumped fists as a parting gift. There was a fire in their eyes as they looked forward to their next meeting and another showdown.

---

Gary leaned against the far wall of his studio apartment, seated on the floor as he watched Eevee and Squirtle conduct their training in the center of the room. Eevee practiced his Tackle attack while Squirtle absorbed each blow with the front of his shell.

Since their loss to Frogadier earlier today, the two of them practiced non-stop. Squirtle and Eevee were no slouches, but their intensity was on another level. When he had asked them to take a break, both sent a glance that made him take a step back.

On the floor beside Gary was a hand-held device that he received as a gift from his grandfather before he left Pallet Town. It was a gadget that Samuel was working on for as long as Gary could remember, a sort of encyclopedia for Pokemon. Something like this already existed on the PokeHub, but it was designed to be a personalized log for any trainer in possession of one. It also came with a plethora of other uses. One of the features Gary appreciated the most was its long-distance communicator, which could connect him directly to Samuel's laboratory in Pallet Town.

"I wouldn't say that their behavior is odd at all, Gary," Samuel noted. "In fact, it's perfectly normal."

Gary shrugged as he watched Eevee slam his shoulder into Squirtle's shell again.

"I wasn't really sure, gramps," Gary replied. "It's the first time they ever ignored something I said."

Samuel stifled a laugh at Gary's comment. "Don't forget, they can think and act on their own. Squirtle should be about four years old, right? And Eevee is…"

"Two and a half," Gary answered.

"They're still very young, so I'm not surprised they're so bothered by getting beaten by Ash and Frogadier," Samuel continued. "Pokemon are naturally inclined to develop rivalries and that will play a big part in their development. You should start to prepare yourself now, Gary."

"Prepare? For what?"

"Frogadier's evolution and improvement must have come as a reality check for them. It's fair to say that Squirtle and Eevee were significantly better than Frogadier when they first met, correct?" Samuel asked.

Gary recalled their first several mock battles. "Yeah, we won pretty easily up until the tournament," Gary breathed out in reply.

"Exactly. To see Frogadier eclipse them so quickly, especially considering what they witnessed as his starting point, it can be a tough pill to swallow," Samuel stated as Gary watched his Pokemon. Eevee stomped his front paws before he dove in at Squirtle again. "They don't want to lose, so their expectation is to grow. You will have to support their adjusted mindset and match their intensity."

Squirtle puffed out his chest and tapped the front of his shell, beckoning Eevee to come at him one more time.

"One thing worth noting is that Pokemon trainers are also influenced by rivalries like Pokemon," Samuel pointed out and Gary couldn't help but think of Ash. Gary saw his change in attitude since he first arrived in Ecruteak City and it certainly played a part in Froakie and in time, Frogadier's progression.

Ash clearly understood how to bring out the best in his Pokemon.

Gary spent the last year in Ecruteak City training with Eevee and Squirtle, but when he compared it to what Ash achieved in a fraction of the time, it felt like he did so little. Gary bit down on his lower lip as he felt a tickle in his chest. He understood Squirtle and Eevee's eagerness to train.

The frustration of being beaten so convincingly by someone they were clearly better than a few weeks ago. Frogadier was their goal…and Ash was his.

"I've always found it intriguing how much Pokemon and humans have in common," Samuel brought his rambling to an end as he focused on Gary again. "Here's what I'll do. In the morning, I will send you a few articles on something you can teach Squirtle and Eevee. That way you can help them start to take the next step."

"Is there any way that you can send it now, gramps?" Gary asked in return.

"It's awfully late here. If Daisy finds me on my computer, I'll never hear the end of it," Samuel muttered but then he chuckled. "But I'll see if I can find you something quickly."

"Thanks," Gary said, and their call came to an end.

Gary rose to his feet and ran a hand through his hair and he called for Squirtle and Eevee's attention. They didn't even look in his direction and continued their practice, so he raised his voice.

"That's enough!" Gary snapped at them. Squirtle and Eevee paused as they heard the change in Gary's tone. "I get it, you guys want to get stronger. But butting heads in here isn't going to get you guys anywhere. We need to start working on real skills if you guys want to beat Frogadier, and that's what we're going to do!"

Gary kneeled down in front of them and put his hand out. Squirtle quickly placed his own hand on top of Gary's, Eevee set his front paw at the top of their stack, and they shared a nod.

"Don't get too comfortable Ashy-boy, we're comin' for ya!"

---

Thursday, May 21st

A dozen Pidgey landed onto the highest roof of Bell Tower and nestled themselves together. They trilled and cooed as they enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun. There was something about how Bell Tower shined during the sunrise that lifted Ash's spirits. He saw it every day during his jogs around the Izumo Estate, but today as he approached it once again, he found himself trembling.

He hardly slept during the night as he anticipated what sort of training that he would do with Spenser. Thankfully, he felt no fatigue, at least not yet. Hopefully, he would feel this way throughout the day.

"How are you guys feeling today?" Ash asked as he looked down to Frogadier and Growlithe.

Growlithe barked twice before she ran a circle around Ash. He wasn't the only one who was excited today. While Frogadier was always more reserved, his little fist pump was proof that he shared similar feelings to them.

They arrived at the entrance to Bell Tower, and as expected, Spenser was there waiting for them along with his Venusaur. They put on great smiles as Ash and his Pokemon approached.

"Good morning, Ash," Spenser began with a bow. "It's good to have you all to myself."

"Yeah, we've been looking forward to it," Ash replied as they returned his gesture. "I was up all night thinking about what kind of lesson you might teach us."

Spenser merely smiled in return as he motioned for Ash to follow him. Since he spent the last week with Bruno learning the property of Bell Tower, Ash was now very familiar with the area. Spenser first guided them to the delta where he requested that they help him fill several buckets of water. Once complete, they returned to the tower and entered the first floor where they watered the potted plants around the room.

The first floor of the tower was decorated with various silver statues of the phoenix, and hanging on the far wall was a sizeable mural. Ash came to a full stop in front of the painting and took a few moments to observe it. The painting was exceptional, but the colors of the phoenix were far from what Ash expected. Based on what he heard, Ash pictured the phoenix as some sort of fiery bird, but the phoenix was more like a rainbow. His vivid colors lit the sky.

"So, the phoenix really used to live in this tower?" Ash inquired as Spenser joined him in front of the painting.

"Not this tower," Spenser answered as he shook his head. "The original tower was struck by lightning during the Great Crisis, and it burned to the ground. The people of Ecruteak City built a second one, exactly like the former as they waited for the phoenix to return."

"But he still hasn't come back…" Ash trailed off.

"It's not something to dwell on, not now at least," Spenser motioned for Ash to follow him.

They left Bell Tower and Ash asked about their training again. Spenser only smiled as he led Ash to a small house behind the tower. Venusaur opened the sliding door and invited them inside. It was a one-room house with only the essentials.

"Is this where you live?" Ash asked and Spenser gave a nod.

There was a low table at the center of the room, and Spenser set down some cushions before he told them to take a seat. In the meantime, he joined Venusaur in their kitchen area where they quickly prepared some tea for them. Ash took a deep breath and summoned his patience. Growlithe sensed the strain on his mood and nuzzled herself against his side, so Ash occupied some of his time by grooming her mane.

That helped the time to pass before Spenser took a seat on the opposite side of the table and set down a tray with several stone cups. He poured each of them a cup and encouraged them to have a taste. Ash lifted the up to his lips and the scent of the tea punched him in the nose, but he took a sip anyway. Ash puckered his lips, overwhelmed by the pungent taste. Spenser laughed as he caught sight of Ash's expression.

"I'm sorry, Venusaur and I like our tea strong," Spenser replied. "It's not often we have guests, so I didn't think to water it down a bit."

Ash saw that both Growlithe and Frogadier drank with no issues, so he waved off Spenser's apology and downed the rest of the cup. It scalded his throat, but he put down the cup triumphantly and looked at his Pokemon. Growlithe beamed in return while Frogadier stuck out his tongue.

"Alright Ash, now that we have an opportunity to talk, let me ask you something," Spenser said and he received their full attention. "You and Frogadier have become quite close since you first met."

"Yup," Ash nodded in agreement. "We've agreed to work together going forward."

"But what do you hope to achieve working together?"

Frogadier didn't hesitate to give his answer.

"I want to become stronger!"

But Spenser's question caused him to pause and consider his reply. He knew that he wanted to be around Pokemon again…but what was his endgame? What did he want to achieve? He didn't have an answer to these questions, at least not yet.

'What does it mean…to be a Pokemon Master?'

That was a question that was always on his mind a few years ago. This was a topic that he spoke about at length with N and as Ash listened to N's opinions on the subject, it helped Ash to flesh out his own idea of what a Pokemon Master should be. Was this still an acceptable goal for him? What would he have to do to become a Pokemon Master?

"I don't know," Ash admitted as he met Spenser's gaze.

"That's alright," Spenser stated. "Admitting that you're lost will help you to figure out where you are, so that you start to make progress again."

Spenser took a sip of his tea and sighed with a grin on his face.

"The training that you will begin isn't like the training you are used to… it's for very specific people and Pokemon," Spenser continued as he looked from Ash to Frogadier. "I've lived for a long time Ash, and I've met trainers that could do things with their Pokemon that were beyond your wildest dreams. You and Frogadier fall into that same category."

"What category?"

"Trainers and Pokemon that have a special bond. When you meet your partner Pokemon, your bond allows you to break all sorts of barriers," Spenser remarked. "It seemed like you were beginning to scratch the surface of this power the two of you share during your battle with Tyrogue."

Ash frowned. Bond? Partner Pokemon?

"There is a long history of trainers like you Ash. Many of them became significant figures in history," Spenser raised his brow with a smile. "There was even a point when they played a part in shaping human civilization. You and Frogadier could have a similar impact on history, for all we know."

Ash put his hands to stop Spenser before he could continue. "Hold on, you're losing me here. What's all this you're going on about?"

"I'm an old man, perhaps I ramble too much at times," Spenser noted with a laugh. "The goal of this training is to strengthen the bond between you and Frogadier so that you can begin to explore Frogadier's transformation."

"So, how do we strengthen our bond?"

"Let's start with the first step…"

---

The roar of the waterfall met Ash as they returned to the delta. The place where he met Froakie for the first time, trained with Bruno, and now, it would be his training ground with Spenser. However, unlike Bruno, Spenser led him to a special location, a place Ash didn't even think to look. There was a pathway of rocks that led behind the waterfall. Despite his age, Spenser hopped from one to the next with ease and beckoned for Ash and Frogadier to follow. Venusaur used one of his vines to hold back Growlithe who whined as she watched them go.

Only Ash and Frogadier could go back there.

As Ash and Frogadier made their way across the rocks, they soon disappeared behind the waterfall where an alcove was waiting for them. It was completely dry and rather dark. Spenser cleared his throat before he spoke. Ash was surprised that Spenser could bring out such a deep voice, but it was needed to be heard over the waterfall.

"Have a seat," Spenser ordered them with a gesture to the rocky floor of the cove. "The first step is to train your senses. I want the two of you to sit here and meditate together. Remember what you experienced during battle, and bring it out in a relaxed setting. You must connect!"

After receiving their instruction, Spenser left them in the alcove. Ash and Frogadier looked at each other.

"So, what should we do, Frogadier?!" Ash hollered.

"And no talking!" Spenser's voice echoed.

Ash cringed before he lowered his shoulders. This was going to be harder than he thought. When he trained, all communication was done verbally. How were they expected to improve if they weren't allowed to talk to each other?

Frogadier crossed legs and straightened his back. That reminded Ash of Spenser's instruction to meditate, so he mimicked Frogadier's posture and they sat together.

'Remember what you experienced during the battle, and bring it out in a relaxed setting. You must connect!'

Ash breathed and shut his eyes. What triggered the union between Frogadier and himself? It was…it was combat. When they trained and battled together, as they faced adversity, they would band together and strengthen each other. They were both ready to act, but now, there was no action.

Their only option was to sit still. So, what could they do to connect?

Ash opened one eye to take a peek at Frogadier. Clearly, they both had the same idea in mind as they found themselves looking at the other through one eye. They relaxed their shoulders and Ash scratched at the back of his head.

He had no idea what to do…

Fortunately, neither did Frogadier. They were both clueless. So, they laid back on the rocky floor and listened to the waterfall.

How were they supposed to trigger something that only appeared while in combat, in a non-combative environment? Ash racked his brain for an answer and watched as the angle of the sunlight changed.

At long last, Spenser returned to the alcove and invited them back outside. As they put some distance between themselves and the waterfall, Ash couldn't help but notice how quiet it was. He didn't even realize that he adjusted to the roar of the falls. Waiting near the opposite side of the delta was Venusaur and Growlithe along with their lunch. The sight of the meal caused Ash to glance upward and he saw the sun was at its peak. Noontime.

"How long were we in there?" Ash asked Spenser.

"I'd say about three hours," He answered with a chuckle, and Ash stumbled before he glanced back at the waterfall. How did all that time pass so quickly?

Growlithe barked as a greeting when they came close to the picnic site. Ash kneeled down to scratch the top of her head before he took a glance at their meal. Rice balls, berry kebabs, and a hot pot of tea, courtesy of Growlithe's Ember attack. They all took a seat on the grass at the edge of the delta to eat, but while everyone else partook, Ash and Frogadier only observed.

"You're not hungry, Ash?" Spenser inquired before he took a sip of his tea.

Ash frowned as he took a look at his lunch. There were plenty of rice balls, which somehow made him think that Spenser knew about his appetite. The berries looked delicious, and tea was there to wash everything down…but his empty stomach wasn't his biggest concern.

"I'm hungry…it's just that, I don't want to eat until we figure this out," Ash said in reply.

"What's bothering you?"

"I don't understand what Frogadier and I are supposed to do to connect," Ash admitted. "Is there some kind of trick to this?"

Spenser snorted before he set down his cup.

"There are no tricks to this," Spenser answered as he made a gesture to Venusaur. "It's simply a matter of building your bond with your Pokemon. It's learning to understand what the other is feeling and allowing your hearts to align."

"But we've only been able to do that during a battle, or when we're training. That's the trigger for it," Ash explained for Spenser. "How are we supposed to do it if we're not training or battling?"

Spenser stroked at his beard and gave Ash a nod.

"I understand your concerns," He replied. "But this isn't the traditional form of training that you're accustomed to. These exercises are designed for you to examine other aspects of bond building. There is more to your relationship than practicing and battling together," Spenser paused and took a moment to look at Ash and then Frogadier. "Am I correct in saying that?"

They shared a glance before they gave Spenser a nod.

"Your goal isn't to improve as a trainer and Pokemon. You are now one collective being, and over the next few days, the two of you will come to understand what that means," Spenser continued. "Each of you possesses experiences that the other lacks, but when you connect, everything will be shared between you. Think about everything that you have to offer your counterpart."

"Wait, we still don't even know how to connect," Ash interjected.

"The answer lies in your past experiences. Don't depend only on what you have done with Frogadier, look through your entire history," Spenser repeated. "Select those key moments and apply them to your current situation."

Spenser returned to his meal and Ash could tell that they wouldn't be speaking any further on the subject. Thankfully, Spenser did give him something to work with. Ash was so caught up in Frogadier, that he didn't even think about his previous experiences as a trainer. His time with Pikachu…

Ash ate absent-mindedly as he remembered his life in Vermilion City. His chest grew tight as remembered receiving a thundershock as a wake-up call from Pikachu if his alarm clock failed to get him out of bed. They shared breakfast together every morning and dinner in the evening. Their daily training with Giselle and later Volkner. They talked and laughed as much as they trained. Ash loved Pikachu from the bottom of his heart.

"Pikachu is…my brother."

"I choose you, Pikachu."

"Welcome to team 'Quest.' It's a pleasure to meet you, Pikachu."

There was one common idea throughout all of those instances…a commitment to each other. Ash took a glance at Frogadier and watched him for a moment. Frogadier raised his brow as he noticed Ash's gaze and stared back.

What commitment did they have to each other?

"I want to be a Pokemon trainer again…"

"I wanted to know if you'd be willing to come along with me?"

Ash didn't make any sort of commitment to Frogadier. Their partnership started roughly a month ago and, in all honesty…they hardly knew each other.

Their goals were mutual when they first met: self-improvement. But what was the next step in their relationship?

"You're very open and honest," Kuni pointed out.

Ash felt his stomach sink as he realized what came next. For all the confessing he did in front of Frogadier, Ash still wasn't totally honest with him.

"Frogadier…" Ash began with a sigh and all eyes went to him "We've only just started to get to know each other, but I know that if we're going to have the bond that Spenser keeps talking about, I need to be completely honest with you."

Ash pursed his lips as he thought about where to start.

"I told you before that I let myself get consumed by all sorts of distractions a few years ago, and it led to me making some bad decisions," Ash went on and he maintained eye contact with Frogadier. "My mom was killed, and I wanted answers. That became my driving force and I let it cloud my judgment, to the point where I sacrificed everything for revenge. Looking back on it, it's the lowest point of my life because…" Ash swallowed the lump in his throat and took a break. "Because I chose to abandon my Pokemon at the time."

Ash paused for a moment as he studied Frogadier. There was no change in his expression, so Ash ignored the tightness in his chest and continued.

"You agreed to join me on my journey, but I think you should know what I've done," Ash took a breath. "I fully intend to go back to Pikachu and apologize. I don't know if he'll accept me, but I want to make things right at the very least. I understand if this is a dealbreaker between us and you'd rather not travel with me."

"Froga?" Frogadier wrinkled his forehead and tilted his head. "Ga-dier!"

He got onto his feet and took a step toward Ash.

"I don't care what you've done in the past. I see you for what you are now."

"Are…are you sure?"

Frogadier gave a nod and extended a closed fist toward Ash.

"We're in this together, right?"

Ash felt a chill run down his spine when Frogadier posed the question. It was something he and Pikachu always said to each other. Ash bit down on his lower lip, struggling to suppress a smile. Then he raised a hand to bump fists with Frogadier.

"Right! Together!"

---

Once again, Ash and Frogadier were seated in the alcove behind the waterfall. They sat back-to-back with their legs crossed and eyes shut.

They breathed, in and out. Frogadier could feel the reverberation of Ash's heartbeat against his back. With each breath, his heartbeat slowed. They needed to be in sync, so Frogadier matched Ash's breathing pattern, and in turn, his heartbeat slowed as well. The roar of the falls gradually faded.

It was the two of them in total silence.

"Just keep breathing," Ash whispered.

In through the nose. Out through the mouth.

Frogadier listened closely. He could hear their hearts beating in unison. It flooded his eardrums, becoming far louder than the waterfall ever was. He leaned against Ash's back harder and he could feel himself sink into it.

Ash gasped and his eyes shot open. His peripheral vision was…expanding. It was hard to take it all in, as though he was viewing the world as a panoramic. And it wasn't only his sight that changed. The pores on his skin tingled as he felt everything! Every drop of water in the air, the coldness of the rocky floor…it was overwhelming.

"Wha-what's happening?" Ash exclaimed. He looked over his shoulder and found Frogadier looking back at him. The red hue was in his eyes, and Frogadier saw the same in Ash's. "Is this…is this what Spenser was talking about?"

They turned to face each other and tested the movements of the other like when they first met. Their gestures were mirrored perfectly. Despite the roar of the waterfall, Ash still picked up on the sound of Spenser's footsteps. He only turned his head partway, but he could see Spenser clearly as he entered the alcove.

"As expected," Spenser stated with a smile as he observed them. The glow in their eyes was proof that they achieved the first step. "You have connected."

They nodded together to the older man and Ash tucked away his thought process to reach this point. Without any physical training or practice, their bond grew stronger today, and Ash realized that Bruno was right. Spenser's training was unlike anything he experienced before.

"That will be all for today," Spenser stated as he invited them to follow him out of the alcove.

"Wait," Ash exclaimed. "That's it? Nothing else today?"

"Or tomorrow," Spenser added.

"Huh?"

"For the next week, I want you and Frogadier to maintain what you're doing right now. Keep this connection going. This will allow you to experience the world from the other's perspective," Spenser explained to them. "Use this opportunity to continue learning more about each other."

Considering the results so far, Ash wouldn't question Spenser's methods.

---

Wednesday, May 27th

One week sharing each other's shoes, so to speak.

It was a fascinating experience for both parties. Ash needed the whole week to adjust, and even after seven days, it was still difficult for him to function under the conditions that Frogadier worked with. They certainly weren't handicaps, but for Ash, it was frustrating at times.

Expanded vision. His peripheral vision was larger than ever. He could see everything to his sides clearly, and with a slight turn of his head, he could account for what was behind him. It was scary at first. All this information was always available to him and it was both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, when he was in and around the estate, Ash could see everything. He was never surprised when a certain someone, Miki, would try to sneak up on him. Not even the Eevee gang could launch a successful surprise attack, although Frogadier was now their newest victim. But on the other hand, it was also an information overload. They received a task from Koji that sent them into the bustling shopping district of Ecruteak City. Ash only lasted a few minutes before he turned back with a headache. The tension around his head was unbearable and the sun was glaring in his eyes. He was at a loss as to how Frogadier functioned like this.

However, Ash wasn't the only one asking this of his counterpart. With his sense of sight exchanged for Ash's, Frogadier's neck was sore. As an extremely vigilant Pokemon, Frogadier was accustomed to checking his surroundings constantly, but now he had to turn his neck to get a proper view of the area which left him with a stiff neck that he grumbled about frequently.

The negatives aside, the two of them did have some invaluable experiences during this time. Their sense of taste was swapped, and Frogadier discovered why Ash would gorge himself at every meal. Food tasted…amazing! Everyone at the dinner table was surprised by Frogadier's behavior during his first dinner with Ash's sense of taste. His typically calm demeanor was gone and in its place was someone who going through their introduction to the delicacies of the culinary world. Frogadier tried everything and with exclamations of glee, he devoured every dish that was set down in front of him.

On the other hand, food was bland for Ash, so his appetite faded somewhat. There were remarks from the girls at the dinner table that Ash and Frogadier must have swapped bodies, little did they know that their joke had some merit. While he might have lost his favorite of the five senses, he did gain something brand new from Frogadier, though it took him until the end of the week to understand it.

The sensory overloads Ash experienced in high-traffic areas forced him to stay in the estate for most of the week. However, on the final day of this exercise, it rained. It frightened Ash at first when he was outside. He could feel the change in the air and as the raindrops came down, he could see each of them clearly. They stood frozen in time and it gave him chills to observe it.

Was this how Pokemon saw the world that they shared with humans?

It was the same earth, but the way they experienced it was magical, so extraordinary, so…different.

As they sat on the porch of the estate during the final night of their exercise, Ash shared a glance with Frogadier.

"You know," Ash began as he tilted his head. "There are things that are definitely different about us. I mean, we look nothing alike, we don't talk the same language but, I think Spenser wants us to understand that regardless of the differences…we do have a lot in common too."

Frogadier gave a nod as he looked to the courtyard.

"Ga-dier…Froga-froga," Frogadier added. "'The same earth, the same air, the same sky. Maybe if we look at what's the same, instead of what's different, well, who knows?'"

Ash raised his brow at the sentiment. Focus on what's the same, ignore the differences. That was the key to the world that he dreamed of and if their hunch was correct, the key to unlocking that strange power.

---

Thursday, May 28th

The trio of Ash, Frogadier, and Growlithe stood before Spenser at the entrance to the alcove and gave a bow as a greeting. Seated on the back of his Venusaur, Spenser peered down to Ash and Frogadier, carefully observing their eyes. The red hue was still present, their connection intact.

"How was your week?" Spenser asked them.

"It was kind of tough at first, but it taught us a few things about each other," Ash answered.

Frogadier gave a big nod of agreement.

"Give me an example," Spenser said with a motion for Ash to continue.

"Experiencing the world the way Frogadier does made me look at all the differences. But then Frogadier said that maybe if we ignore the differences and focus on what we have in common…well," Ash paused as he took a glance at his partner. "We can accomplish anything."

Spenser beamed. "Excellent. The two of you are already starting to grasp how special the bond is between people and Pokemon," Spenser lifted his hand in a motion to their surroundings. "There are many mysteries to this world around us that we will fail to see if we choose to remain alone. Only together will we unravel the secrets around us."

Spenser gave Venusaur's back a quick pat and his partner shuffled a bit before a pair of vines extended from the base of the flower. They circled around Spenser's waist several times over before they latched on and lifted him. Spenser was gently set on his feet and he thanked Venusaur with a nod.

"Very good," Spenser remarked. "Let's begin the next stage of your training."

"I've been dying to know about what you want to teach us," Ash began.

Spenser stifled his laughter. "Your teachers are in the alcove. I'll call them for you."

Spenser gave a shout and after a few moments, a pair of Pokemon stepped out from behind the waterfall. After all the time he spent on the PokeHub, Ash was surprised to see a pair of Pokemon that he didn't recognize in the slightest. Based on the similarities of their appearance, Ash could assume that they were of the same evolutionary line. Once they arrived, they put their hands together and bowed to everyone.

"This is Mienfoo, and the evolved form, Mienshao," Spenser introduced them. "They will be your teachers going forward."

"They will?" Ash questioned.

Everyone moved to the opposite edge of the delta where the ground was even and grassy. Venusaur spoke briefly with Growlithe and the two of them followed one of the streams to the garden that Venusaur would tend to. This left the area to be occupied exclusively by the teachers and their new students.

Mienfoo and Mienshao stood alongside each other and took a fighting stance. Their knees were bent, back straight, with one arm extended to show their palm to their opponent. The other arm they kept tucked against their torso with the muscles tense to generate power.

"Now that the two of you have practiced making an effort to be in sync with each other at all times, we want to apply that to combat, and to do that, the two of you will need to have the same foundation," Spenser explained as he motioned to the pair of fighting Pokemon. "They will teach you their fighting forms that the two of you will master together."

"Learning kung fu from a Pokemon," Ash said to himself as he grinned. "I never would've thought of doing something like this."

"That's not all, you will follow the entire regime of physical training that they perform each day," Spenser added. "I'm sure they will keep the two of you very busy going forward."

---

Ash and Frogadier rested in the hot spring of the bathhouse within the Izumo Estate, grateful that it was operational every day. He and Frogadier floated in the water on their backs to allow the water to soak the soreness out of their arms, legs, and core.

Their newest instructors were a pair of slave drivers!

Ash considered himself a workhorse, and Frogadier wasn't shy about putting in the effort. But fighting type Pokemon took training to a whole new level. Their training was like a war of attrition.

Their actions may have been small, but it was constant, all day long.

Form practice. Twenty-minute run. Form practice. Pushups, squats, and situps. Form practice. Sparring. Form practice. So, on and so forth. They didn't rest, but Spenser was kind enough to cut in on a few occasions to allow Ash and Frogadier an opportunity to catch their breath.

Thankfully, their form of training wasn't going to make Ash any bigger. In fact, if he was mindful of his portion sizes at dinner, he could cut down on some of the muscle mass he developed in the correctional facility. However, this was the highest level of exhaustion that he ever experienced.

He remembered a conversation with Bruno.

"Since they are unable to manipulate the natural environment, they focus their own energy into physical prowess."

This was how a fighting type Pokemon made up for their inability to manipulate their environment. Constant practice and refinement of their bodies to achieve perfection when in combat. That was what was expected of Ash and Frogadier going forward. After only one day, Ash could tell that in a few months, not only would Frogadier have a solid foundation for his battle mechanics, but he would also have a well-developed physical profile. Training with them would be a priceless guide for training other Pokemon as well.

After twenty minutes in the hot spring, Ash and Frogadier dried themselves and Ash collected a robe to spend the night in. As they crossed through the estate, Ash came face to face with someone who he rarely saw during the past few weeks.

"Ash, long time to no see," Naoko remarked.

"I could say the same," Ash replied.

Both Espeon and Frogadier greeted each other with a nod before they ventured into their own conversation.

"So how is it working with the city council?" Ash inquired.

Naoko pursed her lips before she answered. "It's even more time-consuming than I expected."

"Believe me, I noticed," Ash said in reply. "I only ever see you at dinner nowadays."

Considering how the conversation at dinner was a free for all with the topics being determined by who could speak the loudest, Naoko was rarely in control of their discussion. In fact, she was probably too tired to reign in the likes of Miki and Sayo as they bickered over a subject.

"Do you get to practice with Espeon at all?" Ash asked as he looked down at Naoko's partner.

Naoko gave a sigh as she shook her head. "Not nearly as much as I would like to. We've had to forgo being Gary's training instructors to keep up with our new duties," Ash raised his brow at the mention of Gary. "To my understanding, Zuki has taken on that role with him."

"Really? I haven't seen them training here at the estate," Ash noted with a frown.

"I believe they changed their practice time to accommodate Zuki's schedule," Naoko revealed.

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

"And what about your training? How is that going?" Naoko asked curiously.

"It's…interesting. Bruno gave us a crash course on Brick Break before he left,"

"Bruno gave you a lesson?" Naoko exclaimed as she broke her usual composure. She caught herself and her cheeks turned pink.

"Yeah," Ash said with a chuckle. "Is that a big deal?"

"Bruno only visits our city once a year, he is revered among the people here," Naoko explained. "But due to his short visits, very few people get to know him, and I don't think anyone has ever received a lesson from him."

Ash raised his brows. Bruno was such a great teacher; so Ash was surprised that Bruno didn't engage other trainers to share his wisdom.

"I'm actually a little jealous now," Naoko admitted. "Don't tell Miki, she idolizes Bruno, so you'd never hear the end of it."

Ash immediately pictured Miki, the shortest of the Kimono Girls, seated on one of Bruno's massive biceps as he held her up. She had stars in her eyes, and the mental image earned a laugh from Ash. "Thanks for the heads up."

"So, go on," Naoko said as she motioned for him to walk with her. "Tell me what Bruno was like."

They went to the courtyard to continue their discussion, and Ash explained some of his lessons from both Bruno and Spenser. He was eager to return to the delta by Bell Tower in the morning. This training was unlike anything he'd done in the past, and he was anxious to continue.

---

Thursday, June 11th

Seated on the back of his Venusaur with Ash's Growlithe snuggled up against his side, Spenser observed Ash and Frogadier as they stood in the shallow end of the delta. Together, they faced their opponents, Mienshao and Mienfoo, in a sparring contest. This was the focal point of their training - harmony and focus.

Their matches were done in pairs against the opponent of similar height. Since Ash and Frogadier both lacked formal training in hand-to-hand combat, the first week was spent learning and practicing their stances. Spenser would often interject and offer an explanation regarding the significance of their forms.

"Your stance must be sturdy, like earth. Do not yield any space to your opponents."

After three days of stance and transition practice, Ash and Frogadier were deemed ready to take part in a spar. To start, their only focus was defense.

"Be fluid, like water. Direct your opponent's energy away from you to avoid damage."

Then they began to blend movement with their stances, and their transitions became seamless.

"Your movement must be free and flexible, like the wind. Ready to adjust to all situations."

And finally, in the third week, they were taught how to attack.

"Your attacks must be intense and aggressive, like fire. When the opportunity presents itself, you mustn't hesitate to strike down your opponent."

After three weeks of practice, Spenser was impressed with their progress. However, the end goal wasn't merely to learn martial arts. It was for them to synchronize their actions and unfortunately, they reached a plateau a few days ago.

Mienshao attacked with a jump kick and Ash was late raising his guard. He barely got his shoulder in place to protect his jaw, but he was knocked off balance and sent down into the water. The spar came to a stop since Frogadier was successful in blocking the same kick from Mienfoo, but they were out of sync again.

For the first few minutes of a spar, Ash and Frogadier could attack and defend in unison. But after some time, Ash would always start to lag behind and their actions would ultimately fall out of sync.

Spenser watched Frogadier closely as the Pokemon watched Ash get back to his feet and shake out some of the water from his hair. Frogadier's eyes were sharp as he sent a leer at Ash, his hands squeezed tight and trembling. Spenser tilted his head to the side and pulled at his beard.

"Hmm, I wonder how this will develop?"

---

Ash and Frogadier weren't the only ones training.

Back at the Izumo Estate, Squirtle and Eevee met with a thud as their shoulders connected. Their Tackle attacks ended in a stalemate as they jumped away from each other for some separation.

"Squirtle," Gary called out to his partner. "Are you ready?"

Squirtle set his feet with a smirk as he looked at his opponent in Zuki's Eevee. Then he gave a nod back to Gary.

"Zuki, let's do it again!" Gary called out to her.

"One more time, Eevee," Zuki said as she extended her hand. "Use Shadow Ball!"

Eevee threw her head back with a shout. Some of the grass around her wavered from the gust of wind as a sphere of crackling black lightning formed in front of her. She gave another shout and the orb was propelled at Squirtle who stared right at it. The attack met with the front of Squirtle's shell and detonated on impact. A plume of black smoke erupted around Squirtle, concealing him from sight.

On the porch, Miki jumped to her feet with an exclamation and her Eevee did the same. Kuni and Sayo remained seated as they waited with bated breath to see the result. Gary crossed his arms as he wore a smirk.

They succeeded this time. He could feel it.

A breeze came through and cleared the smoke somewhat. Squirtle was revealed, standing tall with a smirk that matched Gary's. There wasn't a scratch on him despite tanking a Shadow Ball.

Zuki raised her brow as Squirtle tapped the front of his shell proudly. Squirtle's shell naturally did an outstanding job of protecting him, but since arriving in Ecruteak City, Gary and Squirtle continued to refine their defense. They added Rapid Spin as means to spread out the impact of powerful attacks and avoid taking significant damage. But today, they reached the pinnacle of the art of defense. Their newly developed Protect finally reached a level of consistency that could be used in battle!

Before their battle could continue, Squirtle was tackled by Gary's Eevee in an act of celebration and that was a cue to all the Eevee that observed the battle from the porch. The usual dogpile formed on top of Squirtle, but there were no protests from Gary about the interruption. Squirtle's Protect was spot on and the praise was well deserved.

Having observed Gary for most of his time in Ecruteak City, Zuki could see a stark contrast between Gary's drive before and after his loss to Ash at the festival last month. Gary was by no means a slouch when it came to training, but he didn't seem particularly driven. He trained when it was convenient and relied on the natural abilities of his Pokemon. But that loss to Ash and Froakie was a wake-up call.

When Zuki filled the role of being Gary's training partner for Naoko, it was like she was meeting him for the first time. She could only train with him late in the evening, so she expected Gary to wait until then. To her surprise, he would train privately for most of the day, and then when she arrived at the empty lot near his apartment, they would train into the night. He invested far more time into regular practice, and the results were showing!

Amid the chaos, Squirtle poked his head out of the dogpile and looked to Gary. They shared a moment of eye contact and Gary gave his partner a proud nod. However, that moment was short-lived as Squirtle was engulfed in light. Rays of white light pierced through the holes in the dogpile and the Eevee quickly scattered to observe Squirtle. With his body ignited in light, he grew larger as he got back onto his feet.

When the light faded, there were exclamations from all over the courtyard at Squirtle's new form. Gary stood with his eyes wide and lips parted. Squirtle…evolved! His partner for almost four years evolved! Squirtle was now a Wartortle!

Zuki looked to Gary and held back a giggle as she saw his face. It was nice to see that even he possessed a bit of purity underneath all of his confidence. She squinted as another thought crossed her mind. Perhaps he was stripped of some of the confidence by none other than Ash…that aside, she could tell Gary noticed her stare because he scrambled for a moment to find some composure. But then he saw Wartortle again, all he could do was relax his shoulders and smile.

Wartortle didn't even get a chance to marvel at his new appearance. All the Eevee present pounced on him again, but for the first time, he was able to remain standing despite their weight. They were barely half his size now only a fraction of his weight.

"Awesome!" Miki screamed from the porch before she joined the merriment. She took Wartortle by both of his hands to dance with him amongst the Eevee.

"So," Zuki began as she approached Gary. "This is a big milestone for guys. Do you think you're ready to face Ash again?"

Gary was a Pokemon trainer, so his answer was exactly what Zuki expected to hear.

---

Gary and his Pokemon remained at the estate until late in the evening as they waited for Ash to return. For the first time in a few weeks, Gary was present when the acting Kimono Girls, including Naoko, returned from their duties as council members.

As she stepped into the courtyard, she was greeted by the sight of an Eevee dueling with none other than Gary's Wartortle. Their mock battle came to an end as everyone in the courtyard greeted the Kimono Girls and during that short space of time, Naoko put the pieces together before she approached Gary.

"Lady Naoko," He said as Wartortle came to stand beside him. Together they gave her a short bow.

"I can't say I'm surprised," Naoko remarked as she kneeled down to address Wartortle. "I knew you were budding with potential when you first arrived in Ecruteak City. It's good to see that you've taken such a significant step. Congratulations."

Wartortle beamed as he placed a hand behind his head. Naoko then straightened up to speak with Gary.

"Wartortle's evolved…which means you've changed as well," Naoko commented and Gary raised his brow.

"Nothing new here," Gary answered as he looked away. Naoko put on a faint smile.

"You don't have to talk about it…" She replied. "It will show when you battle Ash."

As expected, Ash arrived with his usual company of Frogadier and Growlithe, and they were all surprised to find Gary waiting for them. As Frogadier and Wartortle made eye contact, both parties grew restless. There was no need for a challenge. It was obvious what they were here for.

Their audience got settled on the porch while Ash, Gary, Frogadier, and Wartortle took their places on the field. Frogadier spent this time sizing up his opponent, scanning Wartortle for every new detail that he could grasp. Wartortle was now the taller of the two of them again and his body was bulkier. There was no doubt that Wartortle was stronger in new and exciting ways.

"We'll let you go first," Gary announced and Wartortle raised one hand with a gesture for them to attack.

Ash and Frogadier bent their knees and slid into a fighting stance.

"Frogadier, let's start with Agility and Brick Break!"

Frogadier went up on his toes before he raced forward. On the sidelines, Naoko raised her brow. Frogadier's speed was remarkably improved since she last saw him. Despite the growth of Ash and Frogadier, the question remained, how much did Gary and Wartortle bridge the gap?

Gary still got chills whenever he thought about when Squirtle crumpled to the ground from one Brick Break during their last battle. This is what they were preparing for.

"Protect!"

Wartortle sucked in a breath of air, stretched out both of his arms and a transparent barrier formed in front of him. It could only be seen thanks to the light that was reflected from the lanterns on the porch.

Ash was familiar with Protect. The ultimate defense, a move that could negate almost any form of attack. He and Pikachu made good use of that attack on a handful of occasions back in Vermilion City, but he was also reminded of Bruno's lesson regarding Brick Break.

"Brick Break was designed to crush all forms of defense, natural or summoned, through the very foundation of combat. Striking your opponent."

Ash tucked his arm against the side of his torso as Frogadier neared his target. They threw a punch together and it met Wartortle's Protect. There was sound to mark the moment of impact, but a gust of wind traveled outward that was felt by everyone in the courtyard. Wartortle held his breath, his hands wrenched into tight fists. It took every ounce of his willpower to maintain his shield, but it still succumbed to Frogadier's attack.

"You won't shatter a defense through brute force," Bruno explained as he showed Frogadier the back of his fist. Bruno ran his fingers along his knuckles. "Your Brick Break must be sharpened and focused. Shape your power into the finest point you can and use it to penetrate through someone's defenses."

The Protect split down the center and a gap formed for Frogadier to break through. His hand met with the front of Wartortle's shell, and Frogadier's eyes became unfocused. The pain shot right up his arm and he winced as he jumped away from Wartortle.

Gary leaned slightly, waiting for Wartortle's reaction. His Pokemon remained completely still which left him fearful of the outcome. Wartortle deflated. All the air he was holding in came out in one breath and he hunched over.

"Wartortle?" Gary asked. "Are you okay?"

Wartortle turned his head slowly and looked back to Gary. His face was scrunched up as he writhed, but he raised a hand to give Gary a thumbs up. His shell was thicker, with the structure reinforced as an adjustment for its new size. With it and a combination of Protect, they survived Brick Break and that brought a smile to Gary's face. However, he wouldn't celebrate this small success. The next step was victory!

Frogadier held his wrist while he bit down on his lower lip. He looked to Wartortle with a glare, his nose wrinkled in fury. He was back at square one!

"Don't lose focus, Frogadier," Ash called out as fell back into their primary stance. "They've gotten stronger, but so have we!"

Frogadier shook his hand before he assumed the same stance as Ash with a nod to his trainer. He didn't get any weaker…Wartortle was the one who improved. No, not just Wartortle. The trainer standing behind him improved as well. Frogadier could see it in Gary's eyes. There was a hunger for growth!

"Frogadier, let's go! Use Agility!"

"Wartortle, battle back with Rapid Spin!"

Their battle continued until Naoko clapped her hands as a signal for Frogadier and Wartortle to separate. There was no time remaining for their mock battle, so it was judged as their first draw. While the others began to make their way into the estate for dinner, Miki noticed that Gary was collecting his bag.

"You're not staying for dinner, Gary?" Miki asked him. Wartortle and Eevee were already at the exit of the courtyard. Once he threw his bag over his shoulder, he shot a glance back at her before he looked to Ash and Frogadier.

"We're not satisfied right now, we're gonna do some more training," Gary stated before he gave everyone a two-fingered salute.

Frogadier tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.

---

Friday, June 19th

Another week passed and Spenser felt a new level of concern for the team dynamics between Ash and Frogadier. The progress of their synchronized martial arts practice floundered like a Magikarp out of water. With each session, the lack of harmony between them became more pronounced.

Spenser frowned as Ash had his feet ripped out from underneath him by Mienshao's sweep kick while Frogadier successfully jumped over the same attack from Mienfoo. With Ash resting on his back in the water, their exercise came to a brief stop with all eyes on him. Mienshao offered a hand to help him back to his feet, but Spenser paid close attention to Frogadier.

He didn't even look in Ash's direction right now. Rather, he continued to practice his stances as they all waited for Ash. It took Ash a moment to sit upright in the shallow water and he wiped his face.

"Sorry guys," He apologized as he shook his head. "I don't know, I keep falling behind."

"Ga-dier," Frogadier scoffed, and Ash furrowed his brow.

"What do you mean, 'I'm not trying hard enough?'" Ash asked him.

Frogadier shot a glance over his shoulder at Ash, but then he looked away to continue his practice. "Froga-Frogadier."

"I am not dragging us down," Ash stated in return as he gave Frogadier a hard stare.

"Dier," Frogadier said in return, and Ash immediately got back onto his feet. Mienshao took a step away from him while Mienfoo looked back and forth between the duo.

"There's no need to talk to me like that," Ash commented. "I'm doing my best."

Frogadier looked back at him. "Fro?"

Ash narrowed his eyes. When did Frogadier get an attitude like that this?

"What's your problem?" Ash asked him. "We're supposed to be working together."

"Froga," Frogadier turned to face him, and he glared up at Ash. "Froga-dier!"

Ash bit down on his lower lip and swallowed a hasty response. "I'm trying! This isn't as easy for me as it is for you!"

"If you can't do it, then leave!"

Ash's eyes grew wide. Spenser raised his brow. Mienshao stepped in between them. The roar of the waterfall eliminated the silence, but the heavy footsteps of Venusaur arriving in the clearing were welcomed by Spenser. As Venusaur came into view, Spenser saw that his partner was carrying two baskets with his vines that contained their lunch.

"How about a break?" Spenser suggested before things could escalate.

Frogadier didn't hesitate to brush past Ash who lowered his head with his hands balled up.

"Ash, I'd like to speak with you," Spenser said with a nod.

With a frown, Ash took one last look at Frogadier before he followed Spenser to one of the streams from the delta. They followed the small pathway alongside the stream. Spenser listened to the water as it flowed beside them, with the occasional chirp from a Pidgey in the trees nearby. Ash, however, was absorbed in the comments Frogadier left him.

"Is that really your best?"

"It's not good enough!"

"I wasn't expecting anything like that from the two of you," Spenser noted to break the silence.

"Neither was I," Ash muttered.

"You know, most Pokemon are inherently ambitious," Spenser continued. "It can be frightening at times, especially when they begin to channel that into their training for the first time."

Ash looked to Spenser with his lips pursed. "What do you mean?"

"As they grow, all Pokemon want to improve," Spenser explained and Ash gave a nod. "While they are young, they might need guidance to understand their abilities. As time passes, they eventually reach a point where they can stand on their own. Like when a child needs to be fed and cared for by their parents, one day they will gain their independence. Pokemon are the same."

"So Frogadier is independent now?" Ash questioned.

Spenser chuckled. "Not quite. But he's reached a point where the dynamic of your relationship has changed," Spenser made a gesture toward Ash. "When you first met him, you established a student-teacher relationship. You gave Froakie the guidance he needed at the time. But now that he has evolved, his expectations of you have changed. The two of you are now partners, equals," Spenser paused with a smile on his face. "As equals, Frogadier expects from you what he expects from himself. An example of that would be that he expects you to improve on your exercises at the same rate as him."

Ash looked up in thought. "So, he's irritated with me because I hit a plateau."

"That's one way to put it," Spenser remarked.

"It's true though," Ash went on. "Now that I think about it, he's been really intense for the past week...ever since Gary's Squirtle evolved into Wartortle. We've battled them twice, and our record is a draw and a loss."

"Oh really?"

"I think it might be bothering him that Wartortle caught up to him," Ash explained with a frown. "And it doesn't help that I'm not keeping up with him."

"It's not something to be ashamed of," Spenser interjected as he raised his hand to pat Ash's shoulder. "No one has ever said that it would always be easy to work with a Pokemon. Some of them can be very easy to manage while others are more…temperamental. But as a trainer, it's your responsibility to help them achieve their full potential."

'What do you hope to achieve working together?' Spenser asked them that question when they first began to receive his instruction.

Frogadier's answer came immediately. 'I want to become stronger!'

But Ash lacked an answer.

"If I'm not as driven as Frogadier, how am I supposed to keep up with him?" Ash inquired as he looked to Spenser.

"Another part of your responsibility is understanding what drives their ambition," Spenser replied. "You might lack your own personal driving force, but if you create a mutual goal, you will find the drive that you need to meet Frogadier's expectations."

Ash remained silent but nodded his head in agreement.

"And remember Ash, it's okay not to have a goal," Spenser reminded him. "Frogadier may not even understand what exactly his goal is, but he understands what he needs to do to progress toward it. That is why he puts forth so much effort. Go find out why that is…and prove to Frogadier that you're willing to put forth the same effort that he does."

---

They returned to the delta where they found all of the Pokemon seated at the edge of the water as they ate lunch. Ash approached the group and kneeled down in front of Frogadier which earned everyone's attention.

"Frogadier, I'm sorry," He began. "There are still some things I don't fully understand about you, and I'd really appreciate it if you'd come and talk to me for a while."

Frogadier finished the rice ball he held and wiped away the remnants around his mouth before he looked to Spenser. The older gentleman raised his brow before he nodded his head. Then Frogadier agreed. Spenser smiled as the duo ventured off on the same pathway that he returned from with Ash.

Once they were alone, Ash didn't hesitate to speak. "Look, I want you to know that regardless of what happens, no matter what you say or do, I'm not going to walk away," Ash looked to Frogadier but the Pokemon beside him avoided eye contact. "If you want to break this off, you'll have to leave me…because I'm not going to abandon another Pokemon."

Frogadier sent him a quick glance but quickly averted his eyes.

"Even though I was a trainer a few years ago, these lessons from Bruno and Spenser have been a real eye-opener for me," Ash confessed. "I might have a little bit of experience around Pokemon, but they made me see how little I actually knew. There are things about you that I didn't even consider and things that I ignored," Ash sighed before he continued. "In hindsight, I wish I tried harder to learn more about you earlier."

"Froga?" He asked in return.

"Well, a certain someone was watching me since I came to Ecruteak City," Ash noted with a thought of Kuni. "She was kind enough to tell me some of the things she noticed about me. It helped me to understand myself a bit better and she learned a few things about me along the way. I want to take a page out of her book and try the same thing with you."

Frogadier scratched at his chin before he gave Ash a nod.

"From the moment I first met you, I could tell that you were really trying to improve yourself," Ash began. "You wouldn't take no for an answer, no matter how many times I turned you down. You were obsessed with improving your Water Pulse. Then when you moved into the estate, I saw you practice your Pound attack every day. You never skipped training," Ash explained as he sent a smirk down at Frogadier. "Most people would assume that you're just trying to get stronger, but I recognize that look in your eyes. There's something else that motivates you."

Frogadier finally looked at Ash directly as they walked.

"I know that look because I used to have the same look," Ash admitted. "I was trying to improve as a trainer, but it wasn't for my Pokemon or for me. It was to find the man who killed my mom. When that became my only motivation, it started to change me and…not for the better. That's why I want to understand your motivation."

Ash didn't push any further as he left the stage open for Frogadier. They walked in silence for a while, which allowed Ash to look at the details he missed when he was with Spenser a few minutes before. He smiled faintly as he listened to the babble of the stream before his vision warped around him.

He didn't even need to turn his head to see Frogadier whose eyes glowed red. They were connected.

Images overwrote his eyesight.

He rested in the corner of a small cage, curled up tightly. There was nothing but darkness and unfamiliar voices around him.

Ash knew this feeling. He felt it every day that he was in the Cerulean Correctional Facility. He was alone.

"Are these…your memories?" Ash inquired.

"Froga," Frogadier replied with a nod.

The images continued. He was in lockdown with the other Pokemon, always under the vigilant gaze of several Magneton. If anyone even dared to act out, everyone would receive a Thunder Wave that left them twitching on the floor of their cage. As far as he could tell, they were all in one large cargo container that shook frequently.

Then one day, he finally saw daylight again. It felt like ages since he last saw the sun. This was the first time he saw the ocean. His parents told him stories about the ocean, but he never imagined that it would be so vast. His appreciation for the ocean was short-lived as their cages were transferred from the cargo container to the back of a truck.

The scent of the ocean quickly faded, and whispers began to spread of an attempt to escape. It came sooner than he expected. They had to hurry because they were near a place called the 'sacred city.'

The pandemonium started when his cage was blasted open with a Water Pulse from his neighboring Poliwhirl. The Magneton that watched over them were bombarded with attacks and the truck came screeching to a halt. Skirmishes broke out and the previously captured Pokemon made a break for it. A trio of trainers in black jumped out of the front of the truck and summoned a handful of electric type Pokemon. Thunder Waves were unleashed to stun those that were within range.

Only a few of them managed to get into the woods. Froakie was among them, but a familiar voice made him stop. His father's voice.

Froakie concealed himself within the bushes on the side of the road and he observed the battles that took place on the roadway. He soon spotted his father dueling a pair of Manectric. Each of them unleashed a volley of shockwaves, but his father weaved his way through the lightning bolts. It was far from a fair fight as the rapid attacks kept his father at bay. There was never an opportunity to strike back.

Even with his presence hidden in the bushes, Froakie felt a chill as his father locked eyes with him. He shouted for Froakie to leave, and that momentary lapse in concentration left him vulnerable to attack. A Thunderbolt struck him and he fell to the ground. One of the Manectric raised his head and sniffed the air, and with a snarl he looked to where Froakie was hidden.

Froakie felt his heart leap into his throat as electricity crackled from Manetric's fur. But, before Manectric could act on it, a sphere of water slammed into his side and that recaptured his attention. Back on his feet, Froakie's father gave one more shout for him to leave before he was zapped by another Thunderbolt. With his tiny hands balled into fists, Froakie dropped them against the ground before he turned in the opposite direction.

From the moment this whole ordeal began…he couldn't do anything. He was completely powerless.

"I don't ever want to feel this way again!"

Ash blinked as he found himself standing on the forest pathway beside the stream again. He looked down to Frogadier and the red hue in his eyes faded.

"I'm sorry," Ash began. "I know exactly what you felt that day."

Ash still had vivid memories of the moment his mother was killed. The gunshot gave him chills and his heart would thump in his chest. Despair was frightening…

"I understand what it feels like to see someone you love get hurt and there is nothing you can do to stop the pain…" Ash went on as he kneeled down to be on eye level with Frogadier. "I know you want to get stronger, but answer this for me. If you get the power that you wanted but forget who you are in the process, did you really gain anything at all?"

Frogadier lowered his eyes for a moment as he considered his answer.

"I didn't understand until it was too late. I'm not saying that you'll have the same outcome as me, but there's no reason that you have to learn that lesson the hard way, like I did," Ash commented as he placed his hand against Frogadier's chest. "You're going to be great, so don't sacrifice your future for something in the past."

Frogadier tightened his hands into fists, and he shook his head. "Froga-Frogadier?"

"I'm not telling you to let go of it," Ash answered. "Something like what you've been through is a powerful motivation. If you let go completely, you won't have the same determination that you do now. But hold it too close and it could change you into someone you don't want to be."

"Ga-dier…"

"Yeah, there's a magic sweet spot for this sort of thing. It's really confusing, believe me," Ash remarked with a small chuckle. Then a thought dawned on him. "How about we make a promise?"

Frogadier tilted his head with a narrow gaze.

"If I ever see you starting to change, I'll talk some sense into you, alright?" Ash offered. "That is if you still want me as your partner?"

Frogadier pursed his lips in a brief moment. Then he placed one of his hands against Ash's.

"Froga…ga," He said in reply.

"Thanks for looking out for me," Ash said as he beamed at him. "I'm sorry that I wasn't working hard enough to meet your expectation. I'll make sure I work harder going forward."

They bumped fists as an agreement and returned to the delta.

Spenser was glad to see them return and after a brief meal, they resumed their training. The difference was like night and day. Ash was reinvigorated and more vocal than ever. When he was knocked down, he was quick to get up and there was a glimmer in his eyes…a newfound intensity that matched Frogadier's.

As the day continued, they were finally back on the same wavelength and there was some harmony between them.

Even now, under the patchy violet and blue skies of twilight, Ash, and Frogadier were still practicing their forms in the water. With each transition, Ash and Frogadier would give a shout and Growlithe would bark in unison from the edge of the water. It brought a smile to Spenser's face as he watched them continue.

It was as if Frogadier was Ash's shadow, mirroring his actions perfectly. Then they spun and reversed their positions which placed Frogadier at the forefront. It was a seamless switch as Ash took on the role of the shadow.

Their wings stretched out behind them.

Where would they ascend to…?

---

Saturday, July 11th

"What a rare occasion for us to gather like this," Lady Satsuki noted as she sat at the head of the table within the dining room of the Izumo Estate.

It was indeed a rare sort of gathering that took place today. A mixture of both young and old was present. Satsuki first looked to her contemporary in Spenser who sat closest to her. Then she looked to the duo of Naoko and Zuki, both of which sat with their backs straight, ready for the conversation to begin.

"Thank you for inviting me here today," Spenser said with a nod as he watched an attendant pour each of them a cup of tea.

"We're grateful that you made time to join us," Naoko remarked.

Spenser chuckled as he waved off her comment. "I'm just an old man. I'm far from busy," Spenser then looked to Satsuki. "Now what can I do for you?"

"It's not what you can do for me," Satsuki answered as she shook her head. "Naoko asked me to invite you."

Spenser raised his brow as he looked to the newest matriarch of Ecruteak City.

"Forgive me for using Lady Satsuki to get you to join us," Naoko began. "But I wanted to hear your opinion on our discussion."

"Not a problem," Spenser said with a motion for her to proceed. "Please, go ahead."

Naoko bowed once more before she began to speak. "Forgive me for being presumptuous, but I want to make Pokemon battles a larger part of the culture in Ecruteak City."

Spenser raised his brow and he shared a glance with Satsuki. She shot him a smirk in return.

"The citizens of Ecruteak City have indeed built a strong relationship with Pokemon, but they've barely scratched the surface," Naoko noted as she looked from Satsuki to Spenser. "To my understanding, there are a few places around the world where trainers place an almost extreme emphasis on battles to improve the bond between them and their Pokemon. Their bonds are forged in fire and reinforced when under pressure. It's something very few people have obtained here in Ecruteak City, but I feel that it's important for us to build upon our bonds in new ways."

"I agree with her," Zuki interjected. "Watching Ash and Gary, I've realized that there are depths to a relationship with a Pokemon that I never would've considered."

Spenser and Satsuki chuckled, which caused the two younger women to look at each other.

"What's so funny?" Zuki inquired.

"Your observations match some of my own," Satsuki answered. "This is why I gave my position on the council to you, Naoko. Your awareness is amazing!"

Naoko's cheeks turned red and she lowered her head at the compliment.

"Yo-You're too kind, Lady Satsuki," She muttered in reply, searching for her composure.

"Since it's clear you've given this a lot of thought, tell me how you plan to make this change," Satsuki said as an invitation for Naoko to continue.

Naoko cleared her throat and spent a moment straightening out her kimono before she went on. "I want to establish daily lessons and exercises that the citizens can take part in to help them gain more battling experience. As it stands, most people only battle for special occasions like the phoenix festival. But I want it to be something that they experience all the time."

"Daily lessons and exercises," Spenser noted. "Is that why you've been coming to observe Ash and Frogadier at Bell Tower?"

Naoko gave a nod as she looked to Spenser. "Yes. They're the perfect example of what I want to achieve. And I was hoping you would be willing to teach some of these lessons."

Spenser tilted his head. "Why not you? You've shown some talent as a trainer, Naoko."

"I don't have much to offer. Gary may have considered me his mentor, but it didn't take him very long to surpass me. And I think it's safe to say Ash has done the same, especially under your direction," Naoko bowed to Spenser once more. "That is why I would be truly grateful if you could help the people of Ecrtueak City to understand their Pokemon even better."

Spenser interlocked his fingers as he considered his reply. He pursed his lips a few times, which would cause his beard to move rather humorously. Naoko looked up to him, her eyes shimmering, but Spenser shook his head.

"I'm sorry Naoko, but I see another opportunity here," He responded. "This could be an excellent chance for the next generation of Kimono Girls to make their first impression on Ecruteak City. As the future matriarchs, you girls should be the ones to teach these lessons," Spenser reasoned with them. "I see it as a valuable opportunity for you all to learn more about Pokemon and develop your leadership qualities."

"A splendid idea," Satsuki said with a nod of agreement.

"You want us…to teach everyone?" Zuki exclaimed; her brow raised.

"You are all more than capable," Satsuki answered. "Perhaps you don't see it yet, but I'm sure this will help you all to grasp what you are capable of."

"And I think teaching would be a wonderful experience for Ash," Spenser added. "He lacks confidence at times…but he loves Pokemon and I believe he will be a capable teacher."

"And if we're using Ash, you know Gary's going to want to get in on it too," Zuki remarked with a smirk. Naoko snorted as she looked at her peer. "And I'm being serious about it. Ever since he lost to Ash and Froakie during the festival, Gary and his Pokemon have been completely different. He was always sort of nonchalant about his training before Ash got here. He was still making progress, but seeing how quickly Ash and Frogadier leap-frogged them, that's been pushing Gary and his Pokemon to get stronger because they don't want to get left behind."

"Impressive observations," Spenser noted. "Having a rival is a very powerful tool in the development of both people and Pokemon. It brings out sides of us we may not have even known we had."

"Yeah, these are all the things I never gave a second thought, even with Naoko pestering me about them," Zuki admitted as she placed a hand on Naoko's shoulder. "But seeing it all now, I understand why you want all of Ecruteak City to experience what Ash, Gary, and their Pokemon are experiencing."

"Ho ho, and to be honest, the best is yet to come," Spenser interjected as he gave them a peace sign. "The battle between Ash and Gary today, pay close attention to everyone involved. They will provide you with more insight into how rivalries can influence trainers and Pokemon."

---

The porch alongside the courtyard of the Izumo Estate held its largest audience ever. Both the younger and older generation of the Kimono Girls were present, and all of the staff of the estate were invited to attend the battle as well. Even Spenser was present, seated alongside Lady Satsuki.

Miki stood at the center of the battlefield, bouncing on her feet as she watched Ash, Frogadier, Gary, and Wartortle complete their final preparations for the battle.

"Well, Ashy-boy, are ya ready yet?" Gary inquired as he and Wartortle stood with their chests puffed and smirks wide.

Ash and Frogadier took a fighting stance together and extended one hand toward their opponents.

"Bring it on!" Ash hollered in return as he motioned for them to attack.

"Awesome!" Miki exclaimed as she threw up her arms. "This is going to be a one-on-one Pokemon battle using festival rules. Sayo has an eight-minute timer that will start on my mark," Miki looked at each of the participants as the final check-in. She received a nod from each of them so she bolted to the edge of the field. "Hajime!"

"Frogadier, we haven't battled them in a while, so let's get a feel for them first," Ash proclaimed and Frogadier nodded before he raced across the field.

"Yeah, keep things slow for right now Wartortle and stick to a pace you like," Gary called out in return. Wartortle planted his feet and engaged when Frogadier came close, using his thick forearms to block the initial onslaught of punches and kicks.

There were ooh's and ahh's from their audience at Frogadier's use of martial arts. Fighting at close range always favored Frogadier because of his agility and thin frame. However, with actual fighting knowledge at his disposal, his footwork, positioning, and coordination were vastly improved over their previous battle.

Frogadier feinted a low kick and Wartortle lowered his guard in response. In that instant, Frogadier withdrew his leg and turned his attack into a high snap kick that struck the side of Wartortle's head. He stumbled backward from the blow and Gary clicked his tongue. Wartortle lost a bit of his quickness in exchange for some extra bulk when he evolved, and that would cost them in a duel like this. However, they had something up their sleeve to turn the tide in their favor.

"Wartortle, let's try out your natural fighting style," Gary commanded and Ash raised his brow with intrigue.

He expected Gary and Wartortle to have some new tricks, and he couldn't wait to see them.

"Frogadier, keep the pressure on them!" Ash called out in return.

Frogadier closed the distance between them again and pounced at Wartortle to launch a jump kick. Wartortle remained flatfooted as Frogadier's shin approached his head, but he swung through nothing but air. Frogadier landed and looked back to Wartortle to see that he pulled his head back into his shell — the mark of a fighting style that was signature to Wartortle and his evolutionary line.

Withdraw became a form of defense and offense. Wartortle lacked the mobility that Frogadier possessed, but by retracting his arms, legs, and head into his shell, he could protect the vulnerable parts of his body. All of a sudden, the stationary Wartortle became a slippery target since his shell was still too solid for Frogadier to hit with a basic attack. With his already limited targets now vanishing at the drop of a hat, Frogadier was forced to pull his punches and kicks to avoid bashing Wartortle's shell needlessly. That worked to Wartortle's advantage as he used those moments of hesitation to strike.

"Mix in Rapid Spin!" Gary shouted and the battle became one-sided.

Ash's mouth was left slightly open as Wartortle became nimble in an extremely small area. He avoided Frogadier's attacks and with his arms and legs retracted into his shell, he hurled himself at Frogadier. It sounded like a lengthy process, but Wartortle was adept at it. He did it all in the natural flow of battle and Frogadier struggled to grasp the timing as he was hit and knocked away repeatedly.

"Hmm, Gary and Wartortle are quite resourceful," Spenser remarked on the sidelines. "They found a way to make up for the difference in quickness."

"Does Ash have an answer for this?" Satsuki asked him in return. Spenser shrugged his shoulders and motioned to the field.

"Alright Frogadier, it's our turn now," Ash declared as Frogadier separated himself from Wartortle. "Let's see how they handle it when you use Double Team!"

Frogadier lowered his center of gravity and his form blurred as two after-images flickered into existence beside him. They rushed forward in a triangle formation and Wartortle planted his feet in preparation. Frogadier opened with a spinning roundhouse kick that Wartortle raised his arms to block but the after-image phased through him. The second Frogadier went straight for Wartortle's stomach with a Brick Break attack.

Wartortle hunched over as Frogadier's punch went straight to his core, however, Frogadier was far from done. Wartortle took a knee to his chin that forced him back a step, and Frogadier immediately followed with another snap kick to Wartortle's jaw. Frogadier assumed control of the battle as the threat of Double Team forced out different reactions from Wartortle as he struggled to differentiate between Frogadier and his after-images.

"Wartortle, this is just like we practiced!" Gary called out. "Protect and Rapid Spin, trade hits if you have to!"

Frogadier's control over the pace was short-lived as Wartortle answered immediately. His shell became the centerpiece of his offense as Protect became the wrinkle he needed to slow down Frogadier's rapid attacks. Frogadier hesitated to attack a Protect head-on with Brick Break which opened a small window of opportunity for Wartortle's Rapid Spin to land.

Gary smirked with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Frogadier was forced to take his distance even though he dominated Wartortle at close range in the past.

"Man, Protect and Rapid Spin is such a strong combination," Ash noted as he and Frogadier paused to think of a countermeasure.

"We got the idea from you," Gary proclaimed and Ash raised his brow. "I went hunting through some of the footage of your battles at the Hidden Cove. You and your Pikachu combined Quick Attack and Double Team to attack and defend at the same time."

Ash raised a hand to his chest as it grew tight. He couldn't believe that this was inspired by Pikachu. A smile formed on his face that he couldn't suppress.

"Wow Gary, I really appreciate that," Ash exclaimed as he looked at Gary. He never would've imagined his battles at the Hidden Cove influencing another trainer in a faraway place. "You guys keep getting stronger and that just fires us up, right Frogadier?"

Frogadier nodded as he stared intently at Wartortle.

"Forty-five seconds left!" Sayo announced.

Ash pulled at the sash of his gi and joined Frogadier in shifting through a set of stances. "Frogadier, let's give this everything we've got!"

Spenser raised his brow as he saw their wings fluttered.

A gust of wind assaulted Ash's eardrums and he winced visibly. He opened his eyes tentatively, one at a time, and he saw that he was no longer in the courtyard of the Izumo Estate. He was seated at the edge of a steep cliff with nothing but the sky above him and clouds below. The mountaintop!

Ash furrowed his brow as he felt something leaning against his back. He looked over his shoulder and found Frogadier there. The wind he felt a moment ago came through again and a sparkle caught Ash's eyes. Glitter floated all around him and gathered together, forming a white stairway at the edge of the cliff that gradually ascended into the skies above. He stared at it for a moment and his chest grew hot as a cyclone of water erupted around Frogadier.

He blinked and the courtyard returned. Frogadier gave a shout and water spiraled around his body.

Gary staggered slightly as he saw a red glow in the eyes of both of his opponents. "What the heck?"

Frogadier clapped his hands together and as they separated, the water around him gathered into a Water Pulse attack. It churned violently, his hands trembling as he tried to keep the attack contained. He compressed it, but it resisted his command. If he released his hold on it, Frogadier was certain that it would burst well before it reached its target. His only option was to hold on to it.

Frogadier looked back to Ash and relayed the message. He nodded in return and Frogadier leaned forward with his eyes set on Wartortle. Gary recognized that look and he opened his mouth as Frogadier burst forward.

"Protect!"

By the time Gary uttered the word, Frogadier was in front of Wartortle and thrust his Water Pulse attack into the front of Wartortle's shell. Their audience was forced to raise a hand to shield their eyes as they were pelted by the wind from the impact. A plume of steam concealed the combatants for a moment before Wartortle came skidding out of the cloud on his back.

Gary's eyes widened as Wartortle struggled to get back on his feet. It seemed as though Wartortle managed to summon his Protect in time but to be sent flying meant that it couldn't absorb the impact from that Water Pulse. As the cloud settled, Gary could see Frogadier's silhouette approaching Wartortle with his glowing red irises.

"Time's up!" Sayo shouted and the battle concluded.

Naoko's Espeon cleared away the smoke on the field through the use of Psychic, while Ash and Gary joined their Pokemon on the field. Gary helped Wartortle back onto his feet and he furrowed his brow as he saw the front of Wartortle's shell. There was a bruise on it that matched where he was hit by Frogadier's final Water Pulse. Was that attack so powerful that it managed to do some damage through their Protect?

Gary looked to Frogadier and studied the water cyclone that spiraled around him. Was that really the power of the ability Torrent…or something else? The cyclone dissipated as Ash came close to Frogadier and gave him a pat on the back. After inspecting their Pokemon, they all met at the center of the field to shake hands. Then Ash and Gary turned to look at Spenser and Naoko respectively.

"Ah, under festival rules, this contest would be determined by the score, correct?" Spenser inquired with a glance to Naoko. She nodded in return. "Based on my score…it wasn't particularly close," Spenser pursed his lips as he looked from Wartortle to Frogadier. "Wartortle showed some exceptional skill to keep Frogadier at bay with Protect and Rapid Spin. A combination that allows the user to simultaneously attack and defend is a very powerful tool. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like Ash and Frogadier could do much to overcome that."

"I'm in agreement," Naoko added. "Frogadier had his ups and downs, but Wartortle was consistent throughout. Even with those heroics at the end, the score favors Gary and Wartortle," Naoko announced as she raised a hand toward her selection.

Spenser did the same the audience applauded the battle participants for their impressive show.

"Hey Ashy-boy," Gary said to get Ash's attention. "What was that thing Frogadier did at the end there? Is that some kind of ability he has?"

"Oh, that…?" Ash trailed off with a chuckle, placing a hand behind his neck. "It's not really an ability, but we've been working on it together. In fact, Spenser is the one who has been showing us how to work on it. It has something to do with the bond between us. But that was the first time we've done it in a battle since the phoenix festival, so I don't really have much to say about it."

Miki and Sayo approached Ash with both their hands raised for a double high five. They did the same to Frogadier and then Wartortle, but Gary couldn't take his eyes off of Frogadier.

"So, they've got something special that they're working on…" Gary muttered and his lips curved up in a smirk. "Ah, it doesn't matter how much stronger they get, we'll just be better."

---

The skies grew dark and Ash sat alone on the porch beside the courtyard. He swayed back and forth with glassy eyes.

"I went hunting through some of the footage of your battles at the Hidden Cove. You and your Pikachu combined Quick Attack and Double Team to attack and defend at the time."

Ever since Gary mentioned Pikachu during their battle, he could hardly focus. Today was the first time in years that the thought of Pikachu didn't cause his heart to sink. It felt like…like the shackles were finally gone. Maybe he could do this. Maybe he could resume that life that revolved around Pokemon.

There was a bark and Ash's skin crawled. He looked around and discovered that Growlithe was beside him, wagging her tail. Once they made eye contact, she came close and snuggled against his side. Ash put on a smile as he put his arm around her.

"You know, Growlithe," Ash began. "I don't know where I'd be right now if I didn't come to Ecruteak City. I never would've met Frogadier or the Kimono Girls, and I wouldn't have run into Gary either. I'm glad I came here now," He noted and Growlithe yipped. "Everyone here helped me to see past my mistakes. I want to thank you for coming along Growlithe."

She barked and rubbed her head against his chest.

"By the way, Growlithe," Ash said as he furrowed his brow. "I don't even know what you came to do. Did you come with me to get stronger or travel?"

She separated from him and met his gaze. Then she shook her head.

"I like to look after people and I was told that you needed someone to be there for you," She answered.

Ash raised his brow. It must have been Samuel or Daisy before they left Pallet Town. Regardless of who made the suggestion to Growlithe, Ash was glad that they did, and he gave her a squeeze.

"Thanks. I really mean that," He said in reply.

Ash was truly glad that he came to Ecruteak City. He would have to thank Samuel and Daisy for giving him that 'gentle nudge' to travel here.

It was well over four years since he last saw Vermilion City. He could only wonder what happened during his absence.

---

A/N

Good god, this was a monster of a chapter to write! I've never written anything quite this long, but I struggled to find a spot where I was comfortable ending this chapter, so it became this behemoth. I don't know if future chapters will be this size, but it certainly feels like they have the potential to.

The next chapter will conclude the Ecruteak City arc and then, as promised, the pacing will start to pick up. I don't have another arc planned that is as long as this one (Chapters 2-7) so hopefully, you can use that to gauge the pacing going forward.

Again, just to follow up on a little of what I said in the last author's note about the Ash-Greninja transformation, this chapter was sort of exploring what's required to achieve it. Also, you'll find that I break some of the combat rules in the games/anime, for example, Brick Break breaking Protect in this chapter. Thoughts and concerns are appreciated as you will see me experiment and push boundaries in terms of combat as we keep going.

And my last point of discussion, if this chapter is any indication, Pokemon training involves A LOT of grinding. (Think HGSS and the massive level curve heading to the E4, if anyone gets that's reference lol.) I feel like in Caged Wings, I put Ash and Pikachu on the fast track, despite that story being pretty damn long. But as I look back, Ash and Pikachu were both advertised as relatively new in the early chapters, but in roughly nine months they were competing with and beating trainers that had years of experience on them. Now, I have nothing against the idea of a rookie trainer becoming really good during their first year as a trainer, but for me, my plan is to show a career over the span of several years, which means the time investment for a Pokemon to become really strong will be pretty substantial. And then in battles, factors like experience, physical improvements, battle sense, and natural abilities play a more significant role in giving one Pokemon the edge over another. We haven't hit my first significant battle just yet, we're getting close, but I think you will start to understand what I'm blabbing about here once we get some real action.

One last thing hehe, any ATLA (Avatar: The Last Airbender) fans in here? Hope you enjoyed some of the references. There will be more, as I am a huge fan of that series!

That's all for now! Special shoutout to MjrGenMatt for his beta work. I've never sent this much at once, but he powered through this like a boss. Thank you for reading, leave a thought if you'd like and I'll see you all at the next one!