The next approximately 20 minutes were dedicated to integrating the new Bull into the group dynamic and introducing them to the team. This recent addition was akin to a new family member, especially given the inclusion of the Water Types. Upon spotting the lake adjacent to the group's residence, the Tauros snorted and charged toward the water, causing both the Pokémon and Ash to react with panic.
"Wait, wait, wait!" he called out, attempting to impede their advance. Nevertheless, with a resounding splash, the Paldean Tauros landed in the water... and floated? Ash observed from the lakeside as the Tauros glided around in the water, contentedly swimming by propelling streams of water from their horns.
"Huh?" Ash was puzzled, but his Rotom chimed in, reading the Pokédex entry for the new arrival.
"It propels itself by expelling water from its horns. The most distinctive characteristic of the Aqua Breed is its substantial body fat, facilitating effortless buoyancy," Rotom recited. "This one is female and possesses the Intimidate ability. Her moves include Raging Bull, Zen Headbutt, Trailblaze, and Close Combat."
"What are Raging Bull and Trailblaze?" Ash inquired, retrieving his phone to look up these two moves.
"Raging Bull is a move capable of bypassing barriers such as Light Screen, Reflect, and Aurora Veil. It can only be learned by Tauros, and its type depends on the Tauros executing it. For Kantonian Tauros, it's a Normal-Type move; for Combat Breed, it's Fighting-Type; for Blaze Breed, it's Fire-Type; and finally, for Aqua Breed Tauros, it's Water-Type," Rotom elucidated. Ash's Kantonian Tauros paid attention, absorbing the explanation with a tinge of envy directed toward the new member. He approached the pond's edge, processing the information.
– PokeSpeech On –
"Hey!" he called out to the swimming female. It took several attempts before he managed to capture her attention.
"Yes?" she responded, slightly vexed by the disruption to her swim.
"That move you know, Raging Bull? I'm interested in learning it!" he declared, stomping his hoof and emitting a snort in an endeavor to exude toughness. She snorted in response, amused by his effort.
"Is that all? Your desire is merely to acquire a move I'm already acquainted with?" she questioned, drawing closer to the shoreline. "Given that we are now part of the same team, I'd be more than willing to aid you, cutie~" She playfully winked. He blushed and faltered in his words as he replied.
– PokeSpeech Off –
Ash observed the interaction and grinned, discerning the female's teasing nature. He decided to participate in the jest. "Hey, you two, ease up a bit! I don't require more Tauros," he intervened lightheartedly, chuckling at the ensuing blushes. The male Tauros leapt away from his female counterpart, strenuously disclaiming his trainer's assertion. The female Tauros cast a wistful gaze at the male before departing.
"Alright, everyone, carry on with your training! Tomorrow, I'll formulate a demanding training regimen, more challenging than anything we've encountered before," he proclaimed, eliciting resolute cheers from the group, even the usually languid Snorlax.
"Oh, and Tauros and, um, Tauros, I'd like the two of you to train together. I observed Kantonian Tauros's interest in learning Raging Bull, so please collaborate. While you're at it, see if you can instruct her in Take Down as well," he requested, nodding to both Tauros. The Kantonian Tauros led his regional counterpart to a patch of trees, presumably to demonstrate Take Down.
Retreating to the lab, Ash took a seat behind the computer that Oak had graciously provided. Pikachu remained outside, training with the team to enhance Thunderbolt's accuracy. The subsequent few hours were consumed by a quest for effective training techniques that would challenge his Pokémon without causing harm. Ash also devised new dietary plans for each Pokémon, calculating their necessary fluid intake. He explored various activities like pre-training stretches and endurance exercises that he could undertake alongside his team, maintaining a separate page for future reference.
"Chat Request!" The sudden notification startled Ash, nearly propelling him out of his chair. Rotom's digitized voice reminded him that someone on the GTS was seeking a chat. Returning to the GTS interface, he noticed the request originated from someone in Alola and promptly accepted it.
Ash Ketchum: Hello?
Ash still found online messaging somewhat awkward, being naturally extroverted and preferring face-to-face conversations.
Joshua: OMG! Are you the Alolan Champion, Ash!?
Ash Ketchum: Indeed, I am. What can I do for you?
Perplexed by the inquiry, Ash responded candidly. After a brief pause, Joshua replied.
Joshua: I apologize, I just had a fangirl moment. I'm an enormous admirer of yours. Pardon me if this sounds odd, but I've been tracking your journey since your appearance in the Sinnoh League against that person with the purple hair—sorry, I can't recall their name. Your loss against Tobias saddened me, and to be frank, your Unova League wasn't all that impressive. However, your battles in the Kalos and Alola Leagues were absolutely mind-blowing.
Feeling a surge of warmth from the accolades, Ash received sincere praise that wasn't something he frequently encountered outside of his close friends and family. While the notion of someone following his journey since the Sinnoh days initially unnerved him, he realized that League battles were televised and accessible on a trainer's profile, which alleviated his unease.
Ash Ketchum: Thank you kindly! It's genuinely heartening to be acknowledged and valued.
Joshua: Valued? Dude, you're my ultimate champion! Sure, you're the newest one, but you've already left an indelible mark on the Pokémon world. Your battles in Kalos and Alola were the stuff of legends! It's surreal to be chatting with you right now.
Ash Ketchum: Much appreciated! I did my utmost, though the credit goes to my team—they've put in the hard yards to reach their current level. I merely guided them on the path.
Praised by Joshua, Ash blushed but steered the conversation back to its original purpose.
Ash Ketchum: Thanks. So, were you interested in trading or just having a chat?
Joshua: Oh, right! I got carried away with meeting my hero. Yes, I'm keen on trading!
Ash Ketchum: Not an issue at all. So, what are you looking to trade?
Joshua: Here's the thing. I work on a Berry Farm on Melemele Island. Recently, I had a bit of a mishap—I fell off a ledge, broke my leg, and now I have to be off it for a couple of months. The predicament is that my dad is getting on in years and struggling to keep up with demand. He's having trouble lifting baskets and managing everything. Plus, our Growlithe aren't up to the task of guarding the crops. Thus, I'm searching for a pair of Tauros to assist, at least until I'm mobile again. I'd be willing to trade a Sandshrew and a Rattata that I recently captured in exchange for two of your Tauros.
Ash Ketchum: That's unfortunate to hear!
Joshua: Thanks, it was an accident without anyone to blame. Anyway, I'm hoping to offer you an Alolan Sandshrew and a Rattata.
Intrigued, Ash had encountered Alolan Rattata before and knew they were distinct from the Kanto variety in appearance and type. But an Alolan Sandshrew? He wondered if it was akin to the Alolan versions of Diglett and Rattata.
Ash Ketchum: Those seem like good choices! I'm more than willing to trade with you. Just give me a moment to retrieve their Poké Balls.
Joshua: Perfect! I'll wait for your signal.
Ash swiftly retrieved the appropriate Poké Balls, rushed back, placed them on the transporter, sent the Trade Request, and waited for Joshua to accept. After a few moments, the request was accepted, and the two Poké Balls were replaced with a standard Poké Ball and a Premier Ball.
Joshua: All set on my end! I'll go inform my dad. Catch you later!
Ash Ketchum: Take care, and I hope everything goes smoothly!
Ash decided the duo was compact enough that it was acceptable to release them inside the lab. From the standard Poké Ball emerged the Alolan Rattata, nearly identical in appearance to its Kantonian counterpart. However, it had charcoal-black fur, darker brown fur around its belly, paws, and lower face, along with red eyes and notably sharper teeth. Amusingly, two elongated tufts of fur near its ears and tail's tip resembled a mustache, and the teeth were particularly pointed.
The Alolan Sandshrew displayed a substantial contrast. While retaining the characteristic brick-like pattern, it boasted a pure white hue with a cream-colored underbelly and striking blue eyes. It also featured what Ash could best describe as a collar framing its face.
As the duo glanced around, evidently bewildered, Ash knelt down and offered them his warmest and most friendly smile.
"Hello, Rattata and Sandshrew. I'm Ash Ketchum, your new trainer. Just like with all my Pokémon, I want you to understand that I take this responsibility seriously. To me, the Pokémon I capture aren't just team members; they're family. And if you choose to join, I promise to nurture your growth and strength to the fullest extent."
The duo appeared perplexed by the declaration but exchanged cheerful "Rattata!" and "Sandshrew!" responses.
"Alright! I'm going to use my phone to scan you two, checking out your moves and abilities."
He smiled, instructing his Rotom Phone to initiate the scans.
"Alolan Rattata, a Normal/Dark-Type. It exhibits a distinct disinterest in anything but fresh items. If taken shopping, it excels at selecting ingredients. It possesses the Gluttony ability and is familiar with the moves Bite, Hyper Fang, Counter, and Quick Attack."
"Alolan Sandshrew, an Ice/Steel-Type. Its habitat consists of snowy mountains. While its steel shell is exceptionally hard, it's so rigid that it can't curl its body into a ball. It possesses the Snow Cloak ability and knows the moves Rapid Spin, Rollout, Metal Claw, and Powder Snow."
Ash was puzzled. The Pokédex indicated Alolan Sandshrew couldn't roll into a ball, yet it knew the move Rollout. He needed to unravel this inconsistency.
"Hey, how about we step outside and put those moves to the test?" he proposed to the duo. They responded with eager cheers and dashed outdoors, momentarily baffled by the new environment and uncertain of the exit's location. Ash chuckled.
"Follow me," he instructed, proceeding toward the exit. The Dark and Ice-Types obediently trailed their new trainer, and once outside, they enthusiastically demonstrated their moves on a fence post. Alolan Sandshrew was particularly endearing, rolling around in an unconventional manner, resembling a cartwheel, instead of curling up like its Kantonian counterpart. Ash summoned them back and knelt down to their level.
"Alright, guys, let's get down to business. Join the rest of my team for training and master the moves you currently know. Afterward, we'll explore learning Crunch and Ice Punch, respectively," he explained, indicating the campsite's location. Rattata and Sandshrew nodded enthusiastically, bounding off to join their newfound family. Ash trailed behind to ensure they navigated successfully without getting lost. Once he was certain of their safe integration, he returned to the lab to resume his research.
After a while, Ash thought about his food situation. He could afford the amount of food he needed for all his Pokémon due to his years of battling in Gym Battles, League Battles, and other public events that had cash rewards depending on how far the individual trainer got in said event. However, considering the cost of vitamins like Carbos, HP Ups, Proteins, and Irons, he realized that they would require a significant portion of his budget. Although they were technically unnecessary, he wanted to ensure his Pokémon were as healthy as possible. But this also clashed with the issue of buying healing items like Potions and Revives.
He pondered the situation, becoming curious. He opened a new tab and began researching cheaper alternatives, stumbling upon a rabbit hole of herbs and other natural remedies such as Revival Herbs, Energy Roots, and Healing Powder. What excited him the most was how easy these plants were to grow at home, so he ordered some seeds for each plant and checked out care guides and videos on their proper cultivation. He also found a few articles about Moomoo Milk's health benefits, which piqued his interest and made him consider getting a Miltank.
Remembering that he could request specific Pokémon on the GTS, he contemplated whether it would be appropriate to request a Miltank solely for its milk. He decided to think about it later as he heard his phone ding with a notification for a trade request.