Chapter 3

Heading outside the house, they notice Pikachu joyfully playing with Furret, Audino, and Komala in the yard. The atmosphere is light and playful, but Misty, curious, turns to Namie.

"So, how exactly do you know Ash?" Misty asks, her curiosity piqued.

Namie smiles softly. "Before I get into that, let me share a bit about myself. I'm originally from the Hoenn Region, Petalburg City, to be exact."

"Wait, Petalburg City?" May gasps, eyes wide with surprise. "That's my hometown too!"

Namie chuckles, nodding. "I know. You're May Maple, Norman's daughter, right? He's the Gym Leader there." She pauses, her smile growing a bit fonder. "He's been my idol for as long as I can remember, and that's why I love Normal-type Pokémon."

Namie's expression brightens as she continues. "Actually, my dream of becoming a Pokémon stylist all started during one of my walks through Petalburg Woods. I stumbled upon a Furfrou—wild and untamed. It looked a bit scruffy, but there was something about it that intrigued me."

May and the others listen closely as Namie goes on. "I could see how much care it needed, but I also noticed its potential beauty underneath. I ended up spending hours with that Furfrou, gently brushing and grooming it. And when it finally looked refreshed, something clicked inside me." She pauses, her smile growing wider. "That's when I knew. I wanted to bring out the best in Pokémon—not just in their strength, but in their appearance too. To help them shine in their own unique way."

Dawn nods, appreciating the story. "It sounds like you found your calling in that moment. It must have felt amazing, seeing that transformation."

Namie's smile softens as she recalls the memory. "It was about four years ago when I first met Ash and Alice. I was wandering near a river with my Furfrou by my side. That day, I heard the most beautiful song, and when I followed it, I saw the two of them—Ash and Alice—dancing together, with Meloetta singing along."

She laughs lightly, shaking her head. "Furfrou barked at the sight of them, and that's how they found me hiding nearby. I was a bit embarrassed at first, but they were so welcoming."

Chloe tilts her head in curiosity. "Wait, so Ash and Alice just happened to be dancing with Meloetta? That's... kind of amazing. Were they practicing something?"

Namie nods, grinning. "They were actually practicing for a small performance they were putting on for the local kids. But after we talked, I mentioned my dream of becoming a Pokémon stylist. They immediately thought of ways to help me. Ash and Alice reached out to Paris and Sherman, two famous stylists, and before I knew it, I was learning directly from them."

Goh, impressed, comments, "So Ash and Alice basically helped you kick-start your career? That's pretty awesome of them."

"Yeah," Namie says fondly. "I owe a lot to them for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to learn from the best."

As they continue watching, Brock narrows his eyes at the Pokémon playing nearby. "A Furret, an Audino, and a Komala... I don't remember Ash having those Pokémon."

Lillie smiles knowingly. "That's because Ash and Alice have completed the Pokédex. They've caught every single Pokémon—every species."

Goh's eyes widen, his mouth dropping open in disbelief. "No way! But how do they even manage that many Pokémon? I've caught a lot myself, but taking care of them all is exhausting!"

Namie chuckles softly. "You don't have to worry about that. Ash and Alice are pros at handling them. They have a system in place, and they genuinely love raising each and every one."

Cilan shakes his head in admiration. "That's seriously impressive."

Namie smiles before adding, "But it's not just the number of Pokémon that makes their story interesting. I bet it's how they met that really has your attention, right?"

Namie smiles warmly, recalling the story. "Ash told me that it all started with a Sentret he met long ago in the Johto Region, on Route 29. It was the same Sentret that played with Togepi when Team Rocket attacked using their Arbok robot."

Misty's eyes light up with recognition. "I remember that Sentret! It was so playful back then."

"Yeah, I remember that too," Brock adds. "It really bonded with Togepi during that chaos."

Namie nods. "When Ash and Alice traveled through Johto again, they came across that same Sentret, waiting for Ash. After all that time, it still remembered him, and Ash couldn't ignore that bond. So, he captured it."

Brock crosses his arms, smiling. "That sounds just like Ash. He always makes lasting connections with Pokémon."

"Exactly," Namie agrees. "Sentret trained really hard after joining Ash's team, especially during their journey through Union Cave. It wanted to get stronger, and eventually, it evolved into Furret with Ash's guidance."

Misty smiles, nodding. "Ash always had that way with Pokémon. Furret must have been thrilled to evolve under his care."

Namie continues. "Next, there's Audino. Ash found it on Route 20 during one of his journeys."

Cilan smiles, recalling the location. "Route 20, especially in autumn, is covered with fallen leaves, making the ground almost invisible. It's such a peaceful place. Audino must have felt right at home there."

Namie nods. "Exactly. Audino was wandering through the fallen leaves when Ash came across it. Its natural instincts for healing immediately caught Ash's attention, and they bonded quickly. Soon after, Ash caught it."

As they talk, Serena's eyes catch something sparkling around Audino's neck. "Wait a minute, is that a Mega Stone?"

Lillie nods, explaining. "Yes, Ash got that Mega Stone when he found Looker washed up at the Battle Resort in Hoenn. Looker had amnesia at the time, and Ash helped him recover. Afterward, Looker gave Ash the Mega Stone as thanks."

Dawn's eyes widen in surprise. "Looker? Wow, that must have been some intense situation. I remember him from our adventures in Sinnoh."

Cilan adds, nodding. "Yes, Looker is a remarkable detective. It must have been hard for him to lose his memory like that."

Namie continues. "Then there's Komala. Ash told me he found it on Route 11. The area was filled with bamboo, and Komala was nestled in the branches of one of the taller plants. Ash was immediately drawn to it."

Chloe smiles, intrigued. "Komala? That's a unique Pokémon to come across. I didn't know there were many in that area."

Namie nods. "It was a lucky encounter. Ash decided to capture it, adding it to his team, and Komala's been a reliable companion ever since."

Goh, fascinated, adds, "Finding a Pokémon like that in the wild is always exciting. Komala seems like it would be tricky to catch, though, considering how it never wakes up."

Namie chuckles. "That's exactly what made it a fun challenge. But Ash has a way with Pokémon, and Komala fit right in with the rest of his team."

As the conversation continues, Ash and Alice step out of the house, each with a Pokémon in their arms—Ash is carrying Dawn's Piplup, and Alice is holding Chloe's Eevee.

"We just finished massaging these two," Ash says with a grin. "But we've noticed a few things that might be causing them some trouble."

Dawn looks concerned. "What's wrong with Piplup?"

Ash gently strokes Piplup's head. "Well, Piplup's been having some tension in its neck and shoulders. It's likely from how hard it pushes itself during battles and training. It's always been determined, but it might be overworking."

Dawn sighs. "That sounds like Piplup, alright. Always trying to keep up, even when it's exhausted."

Alice nods. "And Eevee seems to have some stiffness in its back legs. It might be because Eevee tries to mimic so many different movements—probably from watching all the Eeveelutions out there. It's adorable, but it might be putting strain on muscles it doesn't normally use."

Chloe frowns, looking worried. "I had no idea Eevee was having trouble. Do you think it's serious?"

Ash shakes his head. "Nothing too serious. Just something to keep an eye on. A bit of massage and lighter training should help them both recover."

As Alice glances around at everyone, she asks, "What's going on?"

Lillie smiles and explains, "We were just sharing stories about Ash's Pokémon."

Ash and Alice nod in understanding before Ash turns to Pikachu. "Alright, buddy, let's get some training in." He then calls up his Rotom Phone, and the screen lights up with Meowth's face.

"Hey, Meowth," Ash greets casually. "Ready to help with the transfers?"

Ash's friends, still not used to seeing Meowth in this role, exchange surprised glances.

Brock furrows his brow. "Wait, since when does Meowth work with you?"

Lillie steps in, smiling. "Ever since the Team Rainbow Rocket incident, Meowth has officially been part of Ash's team. He helps with transferring Pokémon now."

Goh blinks in disbelief. "Team Rocket's Meowth, working for Ash? That's wild!"

Lillie nods. "And he can Gigantamax, too. He's actually been really helpful."

Meowth grins on the screen. "Yeah, yeah, I'm the best at what I do now! Transferrin' Pokémon, Gigantamaxin', you name it—I'm the top cat around here!"

As Ash prepares for training, he calls out the Pokémon from the transfer. A sleek Persian emerges, its eyes glinting with focus. Pikachu bounds up to its side, ready for the session.

Lillie watches the scene and explains, "That Persian was once a Meowth that Ash found on Kanto's Route 5, near the Day Care Center. It had been abandoned by a wealthy family and was taken in by the Day Care man."

Chloe, listening intently, frowns. "Abandoned? That's awful."

Lillie nods, continuing, "Yeah, it's really sad. The Day Care man told Ash about its story, and after hearing it, Ash decided to adopt the Meowth and give it a fresh start. It was a bit shy at first, but Ash worked with it patiently."

Goh smiles, watching Persian stretch, ready to train. "Looks like it's doing great now."

"Definitely," Lillie says with a smile. "After a lot of training and bonding with Ash, Meowth eventually evolved into Persian. It's become a strong and loyal member of his team."

Ash and Alice step forward, ready to begin the training. Pikachu and Persian stand side by side, their focus sharp.

"Alright, Pikachu, let's start with Quick Attack!" Ash calls out.

Pikachu dashes forward in a blur, zigzagging across the field with incredible speed. Persian, not one to be outdone, follows Alice's command for a Quick Attack of its own, moving swiftly alongside Pikachu.

"Nice work, Persian! Keep up with Pikachu!" Alice encourages.

The two Pokémon move in sync, darting around each other in perfect harmony. As they practice, Ash and Alice alternate between commands—Pikachu uses Iron Tail, while Persian counters with Bite on a training target.

Misty watches the scene with a thoughtful smile. "Pikachu's experience really shows, but Persian is holding its own. I can see why Ash trusts it so much."

Namie nods, eyes following the movements. "It's amazing how well Ash and Alice's Pokémon mirror their bond. They seem so in sync."

After a few more rounds of intense training, Ash grins, clearly satisfied with their progress. "Great work, Pikachu, Persian! You both did awesome!"

Alice wipes her brow, smiling. "Yeah, that was a solid session."

With the sun setting and a warm glow bathing the field, Ash and Alice recall their Pokémon, sharing a moment of pride in their teamwork and the strength of their Pokémon.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, I show some of Ash's Pokemon and I hope you like it.