It had been a whole day since they left the Pokémon reserve, where Ash had managed to meet with his dear friend Brock again.
There was a great wave of cautious optimism after the success of Serena's last performance and catching Weepbud.
They weren't that far away from arriving in Hillsette Town, at that rate they would have reached it in a couple of hours of walking, but noticing Serena's tired expression, and his own hunger, Ash suggested to stop and camp for the night.
She happily accepted.
"Arriving tonight or tomorrow morning doesn't make much difference..." Ash repeated, opening the container with the leftovers that Brock had kindly given them.
"You were just afraid of not being able to handle your hunger." Serena teased and Ash's grin proved that she had got it right "But I admit that I also prefer this."
Ash chuckled "To think that back when you first started traveling you were scandalized at the idea of sleeping outside."
Serena's cheeks puffed "It happened once and it was only because it was my first time…"
Her friend conceded, it was true after all "Camping is fun."
The girl nodded "When you're prepared…" she thought briefly about their situation as tent mates.
She had gotten used to it. A little. It was just embarrassing when Ash used her as a stuffed animal in his sleep…
"I mean, we didn't do so bad these days! And I've gotten better at preparing!" Gone were the days when he would sleep outside every night, under a tree in case of rain.
He had learned that sometimes if there was the option of something convenient and more comfortable, it was better to take it. Resting and eating well gave him more energy to travel.
"I'm not at the level of Clemont or Brock, of course…" The thought of the friend they had bid goodbye to that morning left a bitter taste in Ash's mouth.
And Serena noticed that thoughtful expression right away "You wish Brock had come with us, right?"
Ash, surprised by that sudden comment, immediately turned around "What? No!"
Serena raised an eyebrow, without really answering.
"Not that I wouldn't have liked it!" He then clarified. "He's a very dear friend and if he had decided to follow us I wouldn't be against it!"
"That's not what I meant." Serena reassured him. She would never question the two's friendship "What I wonder is why you didn't ask him."
"What would have changed?" Did he think it didn't matter if Brock was there or not? Ash immediately shook his head, blaming himself for that thought. "Of course being with your friends is better than being alone… not that you're not great company!"
Serena rolled her eyes with a smile. He had specifically asked her to follow him, at that point she had more than enough proof that he wanted her with him.
However, she took advantage of that thought "So why not ask him too as you did with me?"
"A-Ah… it's different!" He blushed slightly, rubbing his neck. He looked for an excuse "You were there with me and you didn't have plans, but Brock did! What kind of friend would I be to ask him to drop everything to follow me?"
"A friend who is happy to be with him." Serena immediately specified.
"But it would be useless if he's already busy with his internship. Nothing would have changed."
"Maybe, probably, but now you would have one less weight on your chest. It's not selfish to want to ask someone to be with you. Force it? Yes, but that is not what you want, is it?"
Serena's words made her friend think.
She was right, on the one hand the reason why he hadn't asked Brock anything was to avoid putting him in the position of questioning his own goals, with such a request.
But he knew that his friend was very serious about his dream, and this shouldn't jeopardize it.
Honestly, as inexplicable as it was, the real reason was because he had been afraid.
Of what, precisely, he had no idea, but more than the refusal Ash almost had the impression of fearing the opposite.
Maybe he was afraid that Brock would accept.
It didn't make sense, because he loved Brock's company, he was one of his closest friends!
However, the idea of going to ask him almost made him feel... small. Even more if he had accepted.
Like a kid who needs a mentor again.
He didn't want Brock to get that idea.
But Serena was right. For this reason, in retrospect, so silly for him, he had wasted an opportunity.
But it was stronger than he could handle.
Asking her had been different, because it had seemed like the right thing to do given their situations and there had been no conflicting feelings to stop him.
He didn't think Serena could ever make him feel uncomfortable and as much as he had things to learn from her, it had never made him feel inferior.
"You're right, I don't know why I didn't ask, but it's done now, no point in dwelling on it, right?" Not that it was impossible to go back, but it wasn't worth wasting three days of walking. He could always call Brock on the phone if he changed his mind.
"I guess so…" Serena agreed reluctantly.
She certainly loved spending time alone with Ash and a journey just the two of them was intriguing, but she didn't want the guy to sabotage himself.
If he wanted to travel with someone besides her, she had no objection, especially since she liked traveling with more than one person, too.
She was in love with Ash, but that didn't mean she cared less about Clemont and Bonnie.
She sighed and looked up at the sky.
She had a feeling that the following day would be full of surprises.
…
"Pikapi, Pipika!" Pikachu called from the top of the hill, telling them to hurry.
"We're coming!" Ash replied, raising his voice, before turning to Serena. "Four legs would be nice."
"Tell me about it," she giggled, struggling to keep up. "You're the one who wanted to take the difficult path."
"I thought it was the only one, how could I know there was a path that went through the hill?"
Serena raised an eyebrow "You could have just waited for me to look on the map."
"Heh, but we would have missed this spectacular view!" Ash said, taking the last step to reach the top, immediately greeted by a beautiful landscape.
The girl arrived at his side and held back a gasp. "Wow…"
It was really wonderful for a semi-urban landscape. The city reminded her so much of Lumiose City for the atmosphere. That air of being in a city that had lived through the most important years of history…
Sure there was no Prism Tower, but in the center of everything there was a strange, ancient structure. An amphitheater? A stadium? Still, it was truly a unique view.
From the top of the hills, looking down was like observing the inside of a clay pot. The color of the buildings, the rural but at the same time modern style meeting together.
"I take it all back, we took the right path."
"See? The Ketchum Travel Agency is a guarantee!" Ash puffed out his chest.
"The Ketchum Agency will surely be able to take us to the professor's lab, right?" Serena challenged.
Despite the long trekking, they had arrived quite early in the morning. And getting lost wasn't a big problem, since they didn't want to wake up Professor Olivio early.
The young man nodded decisively, he had taken everything into account "Of course! Let's go!" and he set off at a quick pace.
Too quick. Ignoring the slope of the descent was a big mistake and he ended up going down at full speed, followed with difficulty by Serena and Pikachu.
"Ash! Wait! Don't run, or you'll get-" Serena didn't have time to warn. By now he had lost control of his speed and it was impossible to stop.
*BAM*
What stopped him was a poor tree that met with his face.
"-hurt. Right..." Serena concluded, hurrying carefully to reach him.
Ash fell backwards a little dazed, seeing his two friends quite blurry "Ouch..."
Pikachu leaned towards him, while Serena with a worried look tried to check that her friend wasn't completely broken. "Pikapi pipi chupi?" Pikachu asked, showing two fingers of his little paws.
"...Eight?"
…
Luckily for them, after a few minutes and a quick snack, Ash recovered completely and their expedition into the city under the guidance of the Ketchum Agency continued.
However, as Serena had predicted, they ended up seeing pretty much everything except the lab. And the extra time they had saved for themselves had long since run out.
"This… could be a lab, right?" Ash pointed to a random, elegant building, fully aware that he was clutching at straws.
"Hm… a very rich one, I would say." Serena smiled, reading the name of what was clearly a bank.
"You wouldn't guess from its looks." Ash offered.
Serena chuckled "Well, as nice as this tour was, maybe it's time for the Ketchum Agency to hire an extra employee," the girl said, taking out her tablet. "I have experience and excellent references!"
Ash smiled amusedly. "If you get me too used to it, I won't be able to do it on my own anymore."
"That means I'll stay at the agency until I retire." Serena's words slowed down, realizing what she was implying.
She was getting carried away.
Luckily Ash didn't get the unintentional veiled message. "I'd like that." but his response with that smile that had gone from playful to genuine, certainly didn't help Serena chase away the blush that was coloring her cheeks.
He didn't mean to do it, nor did he notice, but damn what he could do to her...
"Anyway, the lab should be close by. After that-"
"Psss, excuse me?" A male voice interrupted her.
The two teens looked around. "Huh?"
"Yes, you!" the man called again. "I beg your pardon, but could you give me a little help?"
Ash and Serena finally spotted the person calling them.
It was a young man who was waving at them, in a way that was far too dramatic for someone who didn't want to be noticed to the point of whispering.
The confusion didn't stop them from approaching, though. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
"It's a little embarrassing... but could you help me free my foot?" The man asked, clasping his hands in supplication. "I wanted to understand the difference between a Leafala and a Komala in climbing, but my foot got stuck."
The expressions of the two trainers and Pikachu conveyed the exact same thought…
"This guy is nuts!"
The look didn't help. That white jacket full of wrinkles, probably not ironed or hung properly, the messy copper-colored hair and the glasses held together with low brand glue…
But as bizarre as the situation was, they certainly couldn't leave him there like that.
"Sure…" Ash positioned himself next to the man and grabbed his stuck leg, although he wasn't fully convinced on the matter at hand.
"Thanks a lot! Now let's pull! GO!" The man exclaimed animatedly, as they began to pull. "Go! Go! Go!"
His shouts of encouragement attracted the attention of the passersby, who stopped to watch the scene.
When the first giggles reached Serena's ears, she covered her face slightly with her hand, trying to hide her shame.
"Listen, young man, maybe that Pikachu of yours could help us? Doesn't it have a move to break this part?" the man suggested.
Ash, however, continued to pull. "I'd rather not ruin a tree for nothing." He could certainly have told Pikachu to use Iron Tail, but in addition to causing unnecessary damage, the force of the attack would most likely knock everything down.
The man was surprised by those words, but found himself smiling "You're right. Then let's try again! POWAH!"
He started pulling again and Pikachu also joined in, pushing from the other side.
However, their intense collaboration was soon interrupted "Excuse me…?" Serena approached and addressed the man, "Bend your foot forward."
The three who had been trying so hard just a moment ago watched silently as the man slightly bent his foot like a ballerina and simply pulled it out of the tree.
"Ah…"
"Oh how nice!" The man exclaimed, happy to be free, without really feeling the slightest embarrassment. "How can I thank you for saving me?"
Ash and Serena exchanged a knowing look, "You're welcome, but we have to go now, we need to meet with someone."
"Of course! Oh, but if it's who I think it is, you're in the right place!"
"Huh?"
The man smiled, "You're Ash, right?"
Ash narrowed his eyes, "...Do we know each other?"
"You have to meet with Professor Olivio, right?" The man opened his arms, "Ahaha, it's me!"
Serena, Ash, and Pikachu widened their eyes, "HUH!?" "PIKA!?"
"Yes, I got it right! It really is you, Ash!" He grabbed the boy's hand and shook it vigorously "I'm Olivio, it's a huge pleasure to finally meet you!"
"T-The pleasure is mine!" The boy returned the greeting, a little perplexed. "Sorry if I didn't recognize you…"
Olivio downplayed it "Nah, no biggie. We only saw each other once on a call after all! I wouldn't have recognized you either if it weren't for the fact that I hung your photo on my nightstand so I could wake up every day and remember your face for when you came! Hahaha!"
Both Ash and Serena shivered"He's totally crazy…"
"And you must be… Serena, right?" He also greeted the girl, with the same force, leaving her completely shocked. "What a pleasure to meet you!"
"S-Same…"
"Good, I think we can head to the lab! You've traveled so much and you're my guests, so only the best awaits you!" said the professor, preparing to lead the way.
Serena and Ash followed, but remained a few steps behind.
Olivio laughed to himself "Ah, young love. Look at them being so close and secluded!"
But the two could not help but pine while trying to understand if they were facing a madman or a serial killer.
When they finally discarded the second option and agreed on the term "eccentric", they were now at the entrance to the laboratory.
The building was immense, like Prof. Oak's laboratory, only it appeared more rustic and was not surrounded by vast boundless fields. The interior was also much messier, full of various paperwork and boxes.
"Forgive me for the mess, but you caught me while my assistant Almia took her vacation and went to Almia, ahahahah! She's usually the one who cleans up all my junk!" the professor apologized, chuckling embarrassedly at the commotion, as they tried to walk, lifting their feet and struggling to make their way through the thickest mess at the entrance.
"Is the whole lab like this?" Serena asked, imagining the professor swimming through his things just to get around.
"Most of it, you should see my office! But that's fine like it is, it's what I call an organized mess! Otherwise I won't find my stuff..."
"I see... would you rather show us where you keep the Pokémon?" Ash asked impatiently, once they reached a freer entrance hall.
Serena shook her head with a smile, but the professor was positively surprised by Ash's impatience.
Ash was really a great trainer, Olivio felt like he was looking at his younger self.
Well, not much younger, he wasn't that old!
"Ahahah! Okay, let's do it like this; if you give me a moment to regroup some stuff so we can walk around better, then I'll take you to see them right away and while I'm at it I'll also set up some stuff for lunch! After all, I have to repay you for your kindness, right?"
Even from the two trainers' point of view, aside from his unique and eccentric aura, Olivio was quite a nice person.
"We could help out!" Serena offered, feeling this urgency to reorganize that chaos.
A little artistic disorder was normal, she herself could understand that, but this was really too much.
She glanced at Ash, who didn't even have the slightest thought of opposition. By now she had offered, and he certainly couldn't make her change her mind when she was so… convinced.
The performer picked up a duster and turned to Ash, winking "Let's get to work then!"
In the end, good for them, it was more a question of disorder than dirt. In a good hour, the bulk of the work was done and the entrance was accessible, as were the other main rooms.
"Well, the water is boiling for the spaghetti! I'll make you two a lunch that will make your tastebuds ascend!" the professor announced proudly.
He wasn't much of a tidy-up guy, but he knew his stuff when it came to cooking. Or at least he tried to do something decent.
After eating so much frozen food back in college, he had found the determination to learn to cook enough to not piss off his dietitian.
"S-Spaghetti?" Serena muttered, and turned to Ash, who was looking at her in the same way.
They immediately turned their heads away, blushing.
It would have been difficult to think of spaghetti in the same way, but they certainly couldn't ask the professor for another type of pasta for a reason like that…
Pikachu tried his best to hold back a laugh. Now that his trainer had talked it out with Serena, the fact was more of a thing to joke about than an episode of cosmic crisis as it had seemed at first.
"Of course! Acacio e pepe! Or acarbonara…! I have a piece of aged Mareep cheese that will make it perfect!" Olivio winked "But first I'd like to give you something!"
The professor walked towards an area that was much more organized, probably because everything was divided into cabinets specific to their purposes. When he came back, he handed each of them a sort of palmares.
"You guys are going to need a pokédex each, right?" the professor asked with a smirk.
"Oh! Thank you somuch, Professor!" they both grabbed theirs.
The two of them opened their pokédexes in half. Ash thought it looked a bit like the one in Kanto, but bigger.
"This pokédex is programmed like every other one you've ever used." Olivio showed, clicking the screen "If you give me your old ones later, I can transfer all the information you've already registered and your generalities. Also-"
He then pressed another button and suddenly the back of the left side opened, revealing a camera. "This is the Pokémon recognition mode. So you can register new ones."
"Wow, this is really cool!" Ash commented, an idea flashing in his head.
He grabbed a pokéball and released the Pokémon inside. "Tweeny! Come out!"
"Tweep!"
"Oh, what a surprise! You've already caught a Pokémon!" Olivio congratulated him. "And it looks like a fine specimen! The wings must be very strong!"
Tweeny chirped proudly. "Twee twee!"
"Well, let's see!" Ash opened his dex as instructed and pointed at the bird.
"Tweeny, the Canary Pokémon. Although small in size, its beak is strong enough to crush even the hardest seeds. In the past, it often accompanied miners, who could hear its chirping to determine if there was toxic gas in the air."
"Oh, I have to register Weepbud too!" Serena reminded herself, letting the little one out of the ball.
Weepbud looked around a little hesitantly, confused as to what to do.
"You've already caught a Pokémon too! Congratulations!" The professor nodded, without getting too close. He had enough experience to understand when a Pokémon was scared.
"Well, let's see!" Serena pointed with her dex.
"Weepbud, the Shrill Pokémon. Its leaves are known to be an excellent anesthetic against muscle pain. However, it is advisable to approach them with caution because they are very sensitive and their shouts are capable of leaving a person dizzy for an indeterminate number of hours."
"Now we won't struggle to recognize a Pokémon," Ash smiled, calling Tweeny back into the sphere, imitated then by Serena.
"Oh but it will be much more useful than you think! It has a navigation mode with a built-in map that's always updated. It can also act as a communicator, so you can call anywhere without having to stop at a Pokémon Center. Register your contact at the first Center you visit and every call will be forwarded to you directly!"
"That way I can call Mama more often!" Ash appreciated the feature. As his travels became longer and more frequent, he would try to call his mother as often as possible, but one big limitation was that most of the time he was outside in the wild, rather than in inhabited areas. Now he wouldn't have that problem anymore. "Science is really amazing…"
He just hoped that she wouldn't call him during… tricky situations. He would rather not have to answer a video call while he was in less safe situations than his mother would have liked.
"That's why I put that mode on. These days I go to my mother's house for lunch every Sunday, but when I was a traveling trainer it was difficult." Olivio explained. "Although I did not mind the lack of her calls to remind me to wear matching socks."
And with a quick look on the professor's feet, Ash and Serena realized that his mother was not entirely wrong.
"There are other useful little things too. You can take pictures, send messages and much more! It has most of the options of a normal phone. And if you log into the Pokémon Center database, you'll receive invitations and news about events specifically for trainers!"
The two teens stared at the device excitedly. "Thanks, Professor!"
Those weren't tools they were used to, but they would definitely come in handy.
And then again, hearing more from his old friends was a change that Ash didn't mind getting used to.
As if reading his mind, Serena also cheered in her thoughts. Ash would be able to hear from Brock and she would be able to ask him for cooking advice as they traveled! It was perfect!
Not to mention that now she wouldn't have to rely on her tablet to call Clemont and Bonnie. It was much more convenient this way.
At that point the Professor left them to fiddle with their new devices, while he prepared the necessary for lunch.
And once the pasta was in the water, he returned to them. "Okay, while we wait, now how about we go see the starters of the region? You won't need one but-"
"YES, PLEASE!" Ash immediately forgot what he was doing with the pokédex and jumped up.
"Ahaha I like your enthusiasm! Follow me!"
Olivio guided them to a dedicated area, at the back of the building. The garden was very large and part of it was enclosed in a glass dome, so that he could leave the Pokémon in their ideal habitat without risking bad weather.
The professor stopped in front of a pond and held out his hands in a presentable manner "Good, you already know how it works, so we can move directly to the Pokémon! Our water-type starter is Plarky!"
Suddenly a semi-anthropomorphic platypus jumped out of the bond. It had an orange beak and front legs, the rest of its body light blue with white patches, cute purple eyes and a rebellious tuft on its head.
"Plarky: Platypus Pokémon. Generally peaceful, it lives in more secluded streams, regardless of the water temperature. It has an out of the ordinary intelligence and never seeks a direct conflict, preferring to hit the opponent with a precise and debilitating blow in order to always give itself an initial advantage."
Serena couldn't hold back her emotions "How cute!" Her eyes were shining, moved by how adorable the Pokémon was.
"Plyy!" The small semi-aquatic mammal thanked her, while winking. It tried to look cool but just appeared even more cute.
A grin appeared on Ash's face, while glancing at Serena's reaction. He couldn't help but smile when she looked like that. It was nice to see her get excited about the things she liked.
Too bad she couldn't get that starter.
"Then we have Fiyenne, a fire-type!"
A fluffy and agile little bundle of fur jumped out of the bushes. A sort of orange canine with large ears.
"Fiyenne, Warm Stripe Pokémon. With an irreverent and impetuous temperament, it is able to radiate small sudden bursts of heat from the motif on its body. It's also a good companion animal but you must first take the right precautions if you want to raise one."
"We have reason to believe that it's a distant relative of Fennekin, but their evolutions are drastically different."
However, Serena didn't even catch that last sentence, putting her hands in front of her mouth in an attempt to hold back a squeak.
Ash placed a hand on her shoulder in understanding.
Another incredibly adorable Pokémon that she couldn't catch. But at least she had a little more self-control than him.
"And finally Leafala, a grass-type!" said the professor, pointing his hand towards the trees.
A koala slid very slowly out of one of them, and greeted the new acquaintances with a calm face. It was all green, with a bushy tail, large ears, and a large brown nose.
"Leafala, Marsupial Pokémon. It has a terribly lazy nature and it's often found clinging firmly to the trees of which the leaves mainly make up for its diet. However, if provoked, it knows how to keep steady on its paws and with its strength it's able to subdue enemies much larger than it."
"This one seems strong! But also…-" Ash searched for the right words so as not to offend the Pokémon "...calm?"
The professor laughed "Because that's how it is. Leafala are great at taking hits, then evolving all that energy makes them much more powerful."
Serena looked confused, while looking at the three starters "But doesn't that influence the choice of new trainers? I mean, for beginners it's more instinctive to want to take more offensive Pokémon, right?"
The expert nodded, adjusting his glasses seriously "That's right. Even if we can't say that Leafalas are never chosen, there is much more demand for Plarky and Fiyenne."
"It's a shame though…"
"Yeah, my hope is that everyone finds their chance, they just need a trainer that will bring out their true potential." Olivio nodded, "But that goes for any circumstance. I firmly believe that with the right trainer and a strong bond, there is no Pokémon that cannot bring out enormous potential! Like… look at your Pikachu!"
The professor pointed animatedly at the Pokémon, who cocked his head in confusion "I think there are few Pikachu this strong around. He did a great job at the Kalos League, especially in the finals!"
Pikachu blushed, scratching his head in embarrassment "Pika…"
"Indeed, Pikachu and I have made great strides together, but I'd say the credit goes mostly to him." Ash raised his hand, caressing his partner's cheek, who squealed with pleasure "He has always given everything he got, besides even from the beginning he has always had stronger electric attacks than expected."
Olivio nodded "Of course, having a specimen with natural talent helps, but it's always up to the trainer to use it in the right way. Especially if you have chosen not to evolve your Pokémon."
"Yeah, Pikachu didn't want to evolve and honestly, I'm fine with that!" Pikachu had always wanted to prove that he could be as good as, if not superior to, any Raichu they encountered.
He had always succeeded in that goal, even though it was obvious that a Raichu was superior in terms of natural strength. And to get to those results without evolving, something must have had an influence.
"Training, of course, strategies… but I think it's your bond that really influenced it. And that's what I base my studies on!" The professor clenched a fist with determination "That's why I'm curious to see you on the field. To observe how your future Pokémon will evolve! Whether they actually evolve or whether they stay the same."
Ash returned the gesture "And I can't wait to do it too!"
"Then I'd like to ask you a favor!" The professor took a Pokéball from his coat pocket "Would you like a quick battle? I'd like a taste of this bond between you two."
Ash's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Serena raised her finger to comment, but she couldn't stop the boy from accepting "Absolutely!"
Serena lowered her head, sighing. "I'm going to turn off the stove," she said, deciding to save what they were meant to eat.
Those two certainly didn't have the best choices when it came to timing.
"Well, let's not wait any longer!" Olivio announced, throwing the Pokéball into the air "Baubow, help me with this precious study!"
"Bwaaaw!" A large dog, with a plump coat and a sturdy build, appeared in front of Ash.
"It looks familiar!" Ash took the dex from his pocket and immediately scanned the Pokémon.
"Baubow, Rescue Pokémon. It's a faithful companion of the human being, ready to defend him in every occasion. Its fur has the peculiarity of swelling when in contact with water, allowing it to act as a lifesaver for people in danger."
Ash's eyes sparkled at the memory "Of course! When we arrived in Forsia we met a Muttiny! So this is its evolution, right?"
"One of the two!" Olivio confirmed. "Muttiny can evolve into two different Pokémon depending on its nature."
"Incredible!" Ash commented, putting the dex back in its place in the pocket, and then turning to the companion on his shoulder, "So Pikachu, are you ready?"
Pikachu jumped to the ground, ready for battle "Pika!"
Olivio nodded, then turning to the Pokémon in the garden "Please, stay beyond the pond. I don't want you to get hurt."
A battle like that would probably have been too intense for novice Pokémon like them.
Once they were all at a safe distance, the professor gave Ash an anxious smile. "Ready?"
"No need to ask!" Ash smiled. "Pikachu, attack with Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaa chuuuu!" Pikachu immediately charged his cheeks and released an electric charge in the opponent's direction.
"Baubow, dodge and use Bulk Up!"
The dog quickly jumped back and let out a howl. A red aura filled him, and when it disappeared, Baubow seemed much more energetic than before.
Ash initially paused for a moment to think, then smiled knowingly.
The dex said that Baubow was a Normal and Water type, which meant his attacks wouldn't be very effective against Pikachu. But using Bulk Up they would get as strong as any other move. And in turn Pikachu's attacks would lose effectiveness.
And if he used Bulk Up again, things could turn to his disadvantage.
"Baubow use Aqua Tail!" the professor ordered.
All the more reason to attack as soon as possible. "Pikachu, dodge and close in with Quick Attack!"
"Baaaaw!"
"Pikapikapikaaaaa…!" Pikachu quickly ran, avoiding the water ball and then jumping towards Baubow. "Okay, now hit with Iron Tail!"
"Protect! And then Bulk Up again!"
"Bow!" A protective field surrounded the dog just in time, preventing Pikachu's tail from landing where it was supposed to.
The mouse was thrown off by the shockwave it caused. It was no problem to land safely, but it gave enough time for Bowbow to howl again, "Boow!"
"Wow…" Ash smiled, somewhat amused by the increasing difficulty of the battle.
He hadn't expected Professor Olivio to be such a skilled, strategic, and quick-thinking trainer. And his Baubow was certainly not a Pokémon without battle experience.
That meant they wouldn't hold back. "Pikachu, send a bunch of Electro Ball!"
"Pika pika pika pikaaaaa chu pi!" Pikachu unleashed the first electric ball in Baubow's direction "Chupi! Chuupi!" And more followed quickly.
Olivio smiled smugly. Pikachu had an incredible reserve of electricity to be able to produce so many consecutive attacks. "Protect!"
"AUU!" Baubow raised his defense, preventing the various spheres from hurting him.
When the field disappeared, however, his opponent was no longer in front of him.
And from the scent he could smell, he was in a much more dangerous position for him.
"Iron Tail!"
Pikachu charged his tail and went to strike, this time successfully "Chu!"
"BAWH!" The big dog took the blow, but didn't move much, thanks to his increased defense.
"A diversion… very clever!" The professor praised "But now you're exposed as well! Baubow, Ice Fang!"
"RHAUU!"
Pikachu didn't have time to dodge, feeling the icy grip tighten around his tail. "Pi!"
"Pikachu!" Ash called, but Baubow started spinning his head in circles, quickly spinning the little mouse and thus preventing him from reacting.
Olivio smirked "Now Aqua Tail!"
Baubow let go, throwing Pikachu into the air and immediately charged up his next move "Bowwww"
"Pikachu! Try to use Electro Ball!"
Pikachu tried to balance himself, transferring his electricity to his tail, but just an instant before he could launch the move, Aqua Tail hit him full on, making him fall "Pika!"
He soon hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
But when it cleared, Olivio was not surprised to see, despite the obvious injuries, the Pokémon getting up with little struggle.
"Pikachu! Are you okay?"
"Chu…" nodded the mouse, clearly tired, but ready to continue.
"Baubow, Bulk up again!"
Seeing the Pokémon power up again, Ash frowned in concentration.
Olivio was an experienced trainer to not underestimate. He was on the same level as many opponents he had met in the league.
This excited and intrigued him, and at the same time it kind of worried him. Were all the trainers in Forsia of that level? Between Olivio and Duncan, it was certainly one of the most intense starts to a journey.
"Surprised?" The professor interrupted his thoughts.
"I shouldn't, but a little," Ash confirmed. He wasn't used to underestimating his opponents and in fact he had been giving his best for a good part of the battle, but of all the professors he had met, Olivio was certainly one of the most skilled in battling.
Olivio laughed genuinely. "My brother is a very strong trainer, he taught me how to battle. But I know you still have a lot to show me."
The guy in front of him, after all, had reached the finals of the Kalos league for a reason. He never, even for a moment, thought that beating him would be easy.
The determination painted on Ash's face proved it. "You bet! Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Protect!"
"Go around it!"
"Pika!" The shield went up again, just as Pikachu got closer, but instead of colliding, the Electric Pokémon curved and started spinning around it repeatedly.
Baubow tried to keep an eye on the little mouse, but eventually lost sight of it.
"Now, Pikachu!"
Pikachu hit Protect with his tail, right behind the opponent. It didn't seem to be showing any effect, though.
Taking advantage of the moment, Olivio ordered "Ice Fang!"
Protect gave way and Baubow aimed at Pikachu, but the little mouse smiled mockingly and moved his tail, doing a somersault backwards.
It landed at the Pokémon's feet with far too much ease, and then Olivio realized that they ended up in a trap.
Pikachu hadn't used Iron Tail, he had hit Protect without any moves, so he had no problems with his balance.
Frantically, Olivio tried to alarm his Pokémon "Watch out, at your feet!"
However, Baubow was unable to redirect the attack, allowing Pikachu to slide underneath him and grab onto his belly.
"What!?" Olivio exclaimed.
"Go, Pikachu! Full power with Thunderbolt!"
"PIKAAA CHUUU!" Pikachu charged and finally managed to unleash his electricity on the opposing Pokémon.
"BAUUUU!" The dog whined, feeling the attack taking away more and more of its strength, undaunted and showing no signs of stopping.
Ash had a good guess. With the opposing Pokémon powered up to that point, it was wise to avoid getting hit again, and he certainly couldn't waste time inflicting damage little by little. Especially if it was already difficult to land a single move.
He just had to find the right moment to land a sustained attack.
"Get Pikachu off of you!" Olivio suggested, but every attempt was useless.
Baubow rolled, fell flat on his belly, but Pikachu held on as long as he could.
If he had a move like Body Slam, it might have been possible to turn the tables in his favor, but he didn't have that card on his side.
He could continue to slam his opponent into the ground, but as much as they could stand there betting on Pikachu's stamina, they were also betting on Baubow's.
Olivio now had only one card at his disposal.
"Baubow, use Aqua Tail upwards and then let it fall on you!"
Ash's eyes widened "Huh!?"
"BOW!" Baubow struggled to hurl water spheres upwards. They reached a certain height and then fell back towards the sender.
The dog let itself be hit, but incredibly, instead of taking damage from its own move, it seemed to be invigorated.
To make matters worse, its fur slowly began to swell, almost giving the impression that the dog was twice as large.
Pikachu, who until a moment before had been clinging to the dog's belly, found himself losing his grip "Chu!?"
"Rawh!" Taking advantage of this, Baubow managed to shake off the opponent and get out of that grip that had come so close to knocking him out.
"I guess that's the thing the pokédex mentioned?" Ash speculated.
Olivio nodded "A special feature of Baubow. In addition to not taking damage from Water-type moves, when the fur comes into contact with any liquid it swells up like a life preserver. I needed something ingenious!"
"And it was!" Ash complimented. It was very similar to his electric charging tactic with Pikachu.
At that rate, if Baubow had reinvigorated himself with Aqua Tail repeatedly and used Bulk Up again, the battle would have lasted forever, or at least until one of the two was exhausted.
It was exciting, and a battle like that could only be a lot of fun, but Ash also wanted to take home his first real victory in Forsia.
He would have ended the battle as soon as possible, when Baubow was slowed down by his puffed up fur.
"That was great, but it only delayed the result! Pikachu, use Electro Ball!"
"Protect!"
The electric balls immediately flew towards Baubow, who however managed to raise the protective barrier just in time to deflect the attack.
Upon contact, instead of dissolving, Electro Ball changed trajectory and started heading towards the nearby vegetation.
At first neither Ash nor Olivio noticed, after all, the Professor's Pokémon had taken refuge in a safe position
However, when, out of the corner of his eye, Ash saw a figure right in the path of one of the spheres, he shouted, "Watch out!"
…
Nobody could ever understand.
Leafala continued to throw punches, one after the other, against the same rock that assisted him in every one of his training sessions.
When the news of a new trainer reached their ears, many of the Pokémon around there had exploded with joy.
For them, it was an opportunity like many others to find their ideal partner. For him, it was just a waste of time.
None of those rookie kids could help him bring out his true potential, if not the right one.
That's why he had always trained in anticipation, so that when the day came, his future partner would have no choice but to recognize his strength and take him with them.
It hadn't happened yet, but one day... It would come. For sure.
The reason why he was training at that moment, however, was not so much to find his ideal trainer, but because that news had turned out to be quite not what they expected.
It wasn't a rookie trainer who came to visit them, but an experienced one, whom the professor was eager to meet.
Initially, Leafala had not paid much attention to the matter, after all, as intriguing as it was, he could never join the team of a trainer who already had their first Pokémon, and who had even taken part in several leagues.
But then, after hearing the professor and his constant chatter, he had ended up getting infected by the enthusiasm.
The other Pokémon had indeed been disappointed and in a certain sense he shared the feeling, but at least this visit would be more interesting than the others.
And he could have compared his strength with that of someone who had a lot of it.
"Leaf!"
With a slightly more dynamic punch, a small crack appeared on the surface of the rock. Noticing it, Leafala nodded satisfied.
"Pikaaaa chuuuu!"
It was impossible to ignore the loud cry of attack that reached his ears, as well as the loud bang that followed.
Could they have already arrived?
He left his beloved rock behind and ran in the direction of the loud sounds of a fight. Luckily he had good hearing, he would never have forgiven himself for missing a battle like that.
He soon reached the edge of the vegetation and immediately his gaze fell on the unknown trainer who was giving orders to his Pikachu.
It was a flash of heat, like those old days when he had used to play with the Fiyenne and had gotten burnt on his belly
That strong fire deep inside grew the more he looked at the trainer's face.
Determination, of someone who knew how to channel himself fully into battles. Even while his Pikachu was taking hits, while the odds were clearly against him, the spark of tenacity did not die.
Leafala was really enjoying that fight. Absurdly, almost as much as the human and his partner.
"There must be something wrong with you."
"It was fantastic, but it only delayed the result! Pikachu, use Electro Ball!"
"Nothing is ever gonna change it."
"Protect!"
"If you stay like this, we'll be stuck."
The voices in his head became so annoying that he had to look away, shaking his head furiously.
No, there was nothing wrong with him.
It was everyone else. Only them, not him.
Only them…
"Watch out!"
He turned his head and saw the ball of electric energy approaching dangerously. His body reacted naturally, jerking to the side and only getting partially caught.
*KABOOM*
It missed him… but geez, did it hurt to even get partially hit.
"Are you okay!?" He heard footsteps running towards him and soon his eyes met those of the human visiting the lab.
"La…" Leafala nodded, standing up easily. He was definitely sore, but he wasn't going to show it.
What a shame, to be caught off guard like that, without even being able to take an attack.
Ash sighed, relieved "Good, I thought everyone had left this area."
Leafala looked around, and indeed noticed that none of the other Pokémon were there, rather all secluded on the other side of the pond.
Well, not that it would have changed much, he was certainly not one of them. He didn't need to hide!
Although the scratches on his behind said otherwise.
"You sure have good reflexes! To avoid that last Electro Ball and get up despite everything, you must be in pretty good shape!"
Ah, he had noticed that he wasn't exactly indifferent to the blow. At least he was complimenting him.
"Ah, I should have known…" Olivio reached them and chuckled tiredly. He didn't seem surprised at all.
Ash turned around confused, "Hm?"
"He probably didn't hear, he tends to be more on his own. Or he wanted to see from a closer spot, he really likes battles."
"Really?" The raven-haired boy asked with a surprised smile.
"Fala…" the koala nodded, trying to not look too impressed with their encounter.
"He really likes battling, so he trains every day to get ready for when a trainer chooses him," Olivio explained. Ash didn't notice that his smile was more forced.
Ash's grin grew "You train all by yourself? That's awesome!"
Leafala felt invigorated by that praise, blushing slightly but not turning around.
"Well, if you like battling so much, why don't you join us for some training?" the boy suggested.
The koala turned around quickly, shocked by that statement. They had just met and already that boy wanted to train with him? Among the many Pokémon he probably had?
"Oh yeah, I'm Ash! And this is my best friend, Pikachu!" Ash introduced himself, then turned to the professor "You can watch the battle there with me and then when we're done-"
"You know what, Ash?" Olivio interrupted him, his expression completely changed. "Why don't you train together right away?"
"Oh, but what about the battle?" Ash asked, confused.
"It's getting late and who knows how long it would have lasted! I wouldn't want to leave Serena to finish preparing the lunch I promised you. I'd be a terrible host!"
"Oh, that's right…" Ash remembered.
He wasn't entirely convinced by the professor's excuse. The battle wouldn't have gone on for long, if anything it seemed to be coming to an end. But Olivio didn't seem like the kind of trainer who would back down when the matter gets tough, and if he insisted so much he must have had a reason.
Besides, that Leafala seemed like an interesting Pokémon. They could definitely learn something by training together!
Olivio nodded "We can continue the battle at any other time, when we're not in a rush."
"You're right, but are you sure you got what you were looking for?"
"Absolutely! I've already observed a lot, I think you can be of great help to Leafala too."
A grimace of dissent appeared on the face of the grass-type Pokémon, however he quickly masked it, when Ash stood up and gestured to show him the way.
"Fala."
"Great! Then see you later!" said Ash, leaving with the Pokémon.
"Have fun!"
…
Meanwhile, Serena was busy with another kind of training; the forsian cuisine one.
She had managed to prevent all the water from coming out of the pot and flooding the stove, but the pasta inside had now become a mass of dubious consistency. It certainly couldn't be served as it was, so she took the liberty of keeping it aside to make a gratin. She hated wasting food.
In the end she didn't have to worry about being left empty-handed for lunch, Ash and the professor had been distracted for so long that she had not only managed to prepare the gratin and cook it, but also to make it according to Olivio's mother's recipe.
The recipe book was there in plain sight and looking through it she had found inspiration. What better way to thank for the hospitality than to cook something that the professor loved?
She only hoped she hadn't made some mistake and offended traditional Forsian cuisine, or that of his mother.
"Serena! Forgive me for being late!" The professor entered the kitchen some time later, finding the girl sitting comfortably at a table already set. "Oh, I'm a horrible host…"
"No, I'm happy to help! The only thing is that I had to make do with the pasta somehow, is that a problem?" She said, pointing to the oven.
Olivio whistled in surprise, leaning down to look at the oven "Are you kidding!? You saved us! And battles like that make you hungry, so something substantial was needed!"
"By the way, where's Ash?" The girl asked, expecting her friend to appear at the door.
"Ah, he's still out there, helping one of my Leafalas train…" Olivio explained "He got too close and we had to stop the battle. And since he loves that kind of thing, Ash offered to stay with him for a while. Who knows, maybe he'll really manage to do something miraculous."
Serena smiled, "If anyone knows how to conquer a Pokémon's heart, it's Ash."
"I don't doubt it, at this point he really is my last hope." the professor sighed, sitting down next to Serena.
She was confused by those pessimistic words "Why are you saying that?"
"I had already planned to introduce Leafala to Ash, because he had a bit of a turbulent history. His last trainer took him back after they had been together for a long time."
Serena gasped, surprised. It wasn't the first case she had heard of, Ash had already told her of other similar stories, but she didn't think it was that common "Why?"
"I discussed it a lot with the boy. Apparently the main problem was that he couldn't make it evolve, even though they won many battles and Leafala became more and more powerful. Then suddenly he started collecting a losing streak and he couldn't use Leafala in gym battles or against high-level trainers anymore."
"There must have been some reason. Maybe the training method?"
"I also think there was something wrong with the approach to battles. Leafala was chosen because it undoubtedly has very high potential and must have had a smooth path at the beginning. After that, probably his trainer wasn't able to refine that strength." the man speculated. "But it must also be said that Leafala is quite stubborn about his own ideas. The boy told me that he had tried other strategies but he couldn't get Leafala to listen, so I can't say that the blame lies only on one side."
"It still must have been hard for Leafala…"
"I think it was hard for both of them…"
…
"Are you really sure, Thommy?" Olivio asked. It was the first time it had happened to him. It wasn't forbidden to bring back your first Pokémon, in fact some even asked to change it. But he had hoped it would never happen to him.
"I'm sorry, I tried but… I don't think Leafala and I can understand each other." The boy explained, looking down sadly. "At first it was easy, I told him what to do and he did it. It worked! Then we started losing and when I tried other methods he stopped listening to me."
Thommy looked down at the pokéball with Leafala inside. "Also, the others who took their starters with me have already managed to evolve them! It's been a long time, but Leafala doesn't evolve."
"Evolution can be determined by various factors. If there's an emotional problem involved, you should face it to be able to solve it." Olivio explained, sincerely trying to make the boy change his mind. He wanted to help both Leafala and Thommy, because there was nothing more discouraging than a breakup in such a deep relationship. For him and his studies, of course, but above all for the two of them.
"That's why I'm here. Even Nurse Joy said something similar." Thommy tightened his grip on the pokéball, his hand shaking "If there's something wrong with Leafala, you're the only one who can help him. I don't know how to do it, I tried, but I just can't!"
"Thommy…"
"I'm not the right trainer for him. And he'll probably be the right Pokémon for someone else. Someone he will listen to and who will know how to handle him better."
Olivio sighed, running a hand over his face "Are you at least sure that Leafala is on the same page? It can be traumatic for a Pokémon to be abandoned."
Not that he was actually abandoning it, he could appreciate that. He could have released Leafala into the wild, traded it to someone, but by bringing it back to him, it would have been in good hands and would get another shot at being chosen.
But it still could be misinterpreted by the Pokémon.
"You can ask him yourself." The boy said, freeing Leafala from the ball.
"Leafala…" Leafala didn't look at him, refusing to raise his head.
Thommy knelt down behind the Pokémon "I wish it had gone differently, but we both deserve to be happy. Don't you agree?"
"Fala."
Thommy stood up and gave the professor an expectant look. He was waiting for confirmation.
Nothing would have stopped him from leaving even without it, so in a way he was cornered.
What could he do? Thommy had made up his mind now and he couldn't force him to keep a Pokémon in his team that he didn't want. And he couldn't even forbid Leafala from having a second chance with someone else.
The starter's answer had been firm and decisive. Did he agree? Did he not agree?
Olivio only knew that the Pokémon was definitely not happy at that moment.
"Okay… if you think it's the best choice."
…
"Honestly, I didn't think that boy was being mean. I'm not sure it was the right choice, but if neither of them believed in that bond anymore…"
Serena could understand the professor's doubts. As much as she wanted to believe that she would have kept trying if one of her Pokémon had ever gone through a similar period, she couldn't really know how much effort that boy, Thommy, had put in. Olivio had had no other choice. "Has anyone ever wanted to take Leafala since then?"
Olivio nodded, "Someone tried before Thommy, but they all brought him back. I think it's because he's indomitable and too particular for the standards of novice trainers, who don't know how to mold his strength. That Leafala is very eager to battle and prove himself, and it doesn't help that he doesn't respect his trainer enough to trust them and change his methods."
"Ash could succeed, it wouldn't be the first time he's had to deal with Pokémon with a troubling past. But even if he could convince him to try a different approach, in the end they would have to separate. Leafala should bond with another trainer, right?" Serena asked.
Olivio smiled sadly "...That would be the most correct option in terms of rules. Starters must be entrusted to new trainers. They are raised specifically for this. But if the two really got along well-"
"Could Ash...?" Serena speculated.
From Serena's point of view, Ash was always happy to have new Pokémon on his team, and if it could help that poor creature, why not?
Olivio nodded, "If it's for the right reasons, we could make an exception. I don't see why we shouldn't do that."
Truthfully, he had been thinking about asking Ash since he had been certain that he would come to Forsia.
But he obviously wanted to make sure that Leafala would actually open up to the boy. And that had worried him from the beginning.
He had only heard good things about Ash, but handing Leafala over to him out of the blue would have been an experiment. And playing with the heart of a soul that was already in a difficult spot was not something he could afford.
"Anyway, let's see if it works first! Then I'll talk to both of them."
He really hoped it would work. Even just convincing Leafala to rely on another trainer, if he didn't want to join Ash.
Any positive result from that meeting would have been welcome.
"If there's one thing I've learned from knowing Ash, it's that sometimes he may not be very good at talking, but he always succeeds in what he believes in!" the girl encouraged. "I'm sure he'll be able to help!"
Olivio didn't answer, but returned the hopeful look.
*DRIN*
"Ah, it's ready-" Serena stood up, reaching for the oven gloves, but the professor beat her to it.
"I'll get it! Why don't you go and call Ash?"
Serena's face became nervous "Uh, but now-" she didn't want to doubt the professor to that extent, but he had already almost condemned a pasta.
Olivio understood the fear, laughing heartily "Aha! I won't get distracted this time! At least allow me to serve you."
Serena blushed with embarrassment, but decided not to insist. She left the kitchen and ran to tell her friend about lunch.
…
The grass-type Pokémon led Ash and Pikachu to his rock. He didn't usually take anyone there, at most others found him, so he sensed a certain ambiguity.
But if there was anyone who had to notice his strength, it was that trainer.
"Okay, show me what you can do!" The boy urged him.
Leafala nodded and with determination aimed at the boulder, charged a punch and went straight to hit "FALA!"
*BAM*
A few rock crumbs fell from the slight groove in the rock, and a strong shockwave hit both Pikachu and Ash. Neither of them had any trouble staying on their feet, but they definitely felt the energy Leafala had put into its blow.
"Wow! Not bad!"
"Pika!"
Leafala's eyes shone for a moment, and that fleeting emotion made him throw another punch.
And another, then another.
He turned back to Ash, perhaps expecting an even more enthusiastic expression, a compliment…
And the boy was definitely smiling, but this time the surprise was replaced by a thoughtful expression.
"Hmmm" Ash crossed his arms. "You're really strong, I like your grit!" He complimented again, but he seemed to be curious about something else. "How about you battle Pikachu now?"
Leafala gasped "Fa…?"
Did he really want to make him fight that guy? He must have thought he was stronger than expected.
Leafala's initial hesitation turned into a huff, and he puffed out his chest with determination. He was going to prove that he could take on greater challenges!
"Fala!"
"Are you up to it, Pikachu?" Ash asked his partner, who nodded confidently.
He had had enough time to rest.
Pikachu immediately got into position, waiting for Leafala to make the first move.
The grass-type Pokémon didn't hesitate and ran forward, charging his fist and aiming for his opponent. "LEAF!"
"Dodge!"
"Pika!" Pikachu moved aside at the last moment, letting Leafala finish with a fistful of flies.
The koala couldn't keep his balance and his fist sent him flying to the ground.
He looked like a fool.
He would have understood if the trainer had laughed, but when he looked up he only saw an encouraging smile.
Leafala tried to swallow the own blow he had inflicted on himself and stood up, immediately charging back to face Pikachu.
With even more determination he charged forward, but Pikachu just as easily moved out of the way.
This time, however, it wasn't just his lack of success that sent him sprawling face first.
In an instant, Pikachu slammed his tail into Leafala's back.
Leafala charged forward in anger and immediately aimed for the little mouse, throwing a flurry of punches.
However, Pikachu seemed to dance effortlessly through the blows, dodging them all.
How could he be so hard to catch!?
"Fala, fala, fala, FALA!"
Pikachu's efforts were becoming less and less, to the point where the Pokémon only had to duck or move slightly to the side, without even jumping or running.
Leafala's impatience and tiredness increased, and he clearly began to lose speed and strength.
His arm was so stiff, he struggled to even lift it. And the more determination he put in, the more he became numb.
His limit was dangerously close, so in a desperate attempt, he threw a sudden Razor Leaf. "FA!"
Caught off guard, Pikachu took the blow, "Pi!" and it undoubtedly did its damage.
However, when he got back on his feet in a couple of seconds, it was then that Leafala felt completely exhausted. He wanted to continue, he wanted to throw another punch, but he sincerely doubted he could even move dirt in those miserable conditions.
"That's enough!" Ash declared, noticing Leafala's tiredness.
The koala grunted indignantly. The frustration was more related to the sense of shame that assailed him when he realized how, without the slightest effort, Pikachu had made him exhaust all his energy. He hadn't hit him directly even once and he was sure that his Razor Leaf had been among the weakest he had ever created.
"Can I give you some advice?" Leafala's sentiment did not escape Ash's eyes. "You have a lot of grit and strength, you just need to learn to manage it better!"
The advice seemed empty to Leafala's ears. He didn't understand, what did that mean? "Fala?"
"You see, when you face a fixed target, that you want to take down, it's one thing. But while you're on a battlefield, your opponent moves and not all Pokémon can be defeated in the same way. You will never have the same amount of time to prepare and hit, nor to put all of yourself into it." The boy explained. "I mean, you have to put all of yourself into it, yes, but you don't necessarily have to use your whole body in the same way."
Ash stood with his legs slightly apart, imitating Leafala's pose, or rather that of a boxer. He stiffened his whole body and then threw a punch. "This is similar to what you do."
He then changed tactics. His shoulders relaxed and he quickly pulled his arm back, then he aimed straight again.
He was much faster.
"If you relax the rest of your body and focus your energy at the last moment, only in the parts that matter, then not only will you be able to be faster, but you'll save energy."
"Leaf ala ala?" Leafala gestured, closing her fists and animating them. Wouldn't his punch be much weaker?
"Not at all, you'll waste less energy and concentrate your strength better." The boy explained, remembering the times when he trained with Primeape. "But even if that were the case, you have to remember that there are so many variables to consider in a battle. You can't always rely on just charging with the most powerful attacks."
The surrounding environment, the Pokémon's size, and the way they moved… All of these were details that Ash had learned to take into great consideration. Unconventional strategies sometimes came out of it, and it certainly took him time to refine his ability to adapt and be opportunistic, but it allowed him to make everything much more fun.
Leafala still wasn't convinced. Deep down, he had understood the message, but he couldn't accept it.
Ash continued to explain, "Think of it like the flame of a stove. Not all foods cook the same way!" he chuckled to himself, thinking that maybe that was the reason why he was still so bad at cooking anything slightly more elaborate than a pasta dish. "My mother often tells me, sometimes you need a quick cooking at full power, other times a slower and weaker one. Or you have to change the temperature gradually. That's how it is sometimes in battles, it all depends on who you have in your pot-that is, who is in front of you!"
Hearing such precious advice should have made Leafala feel better. He should have felt lucky. After all, it was what he had wanted and what he could not have even remotely dreamed of before meeting Ash.
That such an experienced trainer would take the trouble to help him in training, was the best of opportunities.
He didn't know what to feel.
Ash knelt down "You have to know how to dose your strength. Sometimes to reach your maximum potential you have to take a step back and review the basics."
The bitter pill in Leafala's mouth took on an even more unpleasant taste.
"Believe me, I know how boring and frustrating it is sometimes, but I'm sure that if you try you will make even greater strides!"
Leafala lowered his gaze. Sure, he could have tried, but there was a block in his mind that didn't want to move.
Maybe it was just a wall built by fear.
Because if he tried that advice he could find it true. And finding it true would have meant that his method was wrong. A method that he had spent a lot of his life on, believing it to be correct.
The boy reached out his hand "Are you okay? I didn't mean to offend you…" he tried to pet Leafala's head.
The koala considered moving away. Seeing that hand, he felt a sudden indecision take over.
Everything that had happened, had it really helped him?
He wanted so much to say no.
So he followed that desire. His body barely had time to pull away from Ash's hand, escaping the caress.
The boy was about to say something, but nothing came out of his open mouth, being interrupted by another voice.
"Ash? Here you are! Lunch is ready!" Serena called.
When the statement was followed by a rumble from his stomach, Ash stood up. He really wanted to talk to Leafala about the matter again, to explain himself better, but perhaps that was a sign that it was better to let him think about what to do.
He knew how frustrating such advice could be, especially for a hothead like he himself was. Regaining his energy and good mood would perhaps have borne better fruits.
He then turned to the Pokémon with a kind smile "We need to go eat, do you want to join us? Food is the best way to get back on track!"
Leafala shook his head. He wasn't hungry.
Ash sighed. "If you want to train with us again, you're welcome. You could battle Tweeny! I'm sure it would be a great challenge. What do you think?"
What was meant to be an outlet for Ash, for Leafala was nothing more than another brick falling on his head.
Pikachu was too much for him… too strong.
He needed someone weaker, like him.
But what options did he have now?
He nodded in shock, with little enthusiasm, but giving the boy enough confidence to dedicate himself to his lunch break. "See you later then!"
…
"What a sad situation…" James commented, genuinely feeling sorry for Leafala.
"Yeah, a Pokémon with that potential, being told to start over…" Meowth crossed his arms, shaking his head.
He had tried so hard, but his efforts hadn't been recognized as he wanted. He could understand that feeling, perhaps more than anyone else.
Jessie nodded "But if the twerp is right, it's not worth capturing him. We need Pokémon of a certain caliber to send to the boss."
"He could still be useful. Right now he's confused and sad. Why not bring him to our side?" Meowth suggested. If he wasn't needed anymore, they could send him to the base to hand him over to a recruit. In the meantime, however, they would have Pikachu in their grasp.
"Great idea!" Jessie agreed.
James nodded, his uncertain expression going unnoticed by his two companions, who began to plan their next moves.
…
Leafala remained sitting in the same spot where Ash had left him, unable to find the strength to get up. It wasn't that he was that tired, but on an emotional level he felt really down.
What was he supposed to do now? Everything he had done until then had proved useless.
"A great guy, huh?" a voice surprised him.
Leafala immediately jumped up, in a defensive position. After all, that language was the same as a human, and as far as he knew, there was no one else in the lab besides the professor, Ash and his friend. Even the assistants were away.
In front of him, a Meowth with a polite approach raised his paws "Oh, don't worry! I come in peace!"
Leafala raised a frown. Maybe… but he was definitely a strange guy "Lefa."
"My friends and I just want to talk to you!" The cat pointed a little further back. From behind a tree, two humans appeared, who greeted happily.
So there were indeed other humans, but how did they get in?
"Fala leafa."
"Yeah, we actually shouldn't be allowed in here, but you know, we're not exactly on good terms with the twerp."
"Fa?"
"Ash" Meowth specified. "You know, we couldn't help but observe your training session. It was… enlightening!"
Leafala knew he shouldn't trust a group of strangers so easily, especially if they couldn't be there. There had to be a reason, right? In that moment, however, he only felt the desire to indulge himself.
He didn't care, he didn't really feel interested in anything other than his own failure. "La…"
"The twerp is very good, right? We've known him for a long time, he's come a long way! And it shows, he immediately found something you could work on." Meowth cast a sly look at the koala "Don't you agree?"
There was no answer.
"But that's not what you wanted, right?" Jessie approached, sitting down in front of the Pokémon.
Leafala lowered his head further and further, confirming their suspicions, but also his own.
Ash had certainly done what anyone with a desire to learn would want. He had found his problem, perhaps the real reason why he couldn't make any real progress, and offered him a solution.
But now that he was here, with so many inspiring words in his ears, he realized that maybe he wasn't trying to find his problem after all. He just wanted confirmation that he didn't have one.
He wanted to feel reassured, noticed. He wanted to hear from an expert that-
"There's nothing wrong with you." Meowth murmured, his voice flattering and comforting.
Leafala looked up, "Fala?"
"Absolutely!" James insisted, sincerely. "You're perfect just the way you are. If anything, the rest of the world has problems!"
"Fala, fa fa la fa?" What if Ash was right? In the end, the example he had given him was right, maybe it was really what he needed to take the next step. Maybe Ash could have helped him.
There had to be a reason he got stuck in the face of the same obstacles, over and over again.
"Don't take it the wrong way, but do you really think the boy could help you in the long run?" Jessie asked.
"Lea?"
Meowth held back a grin "Think about it, he's already an experienced trainer. At most he can help you while he's here, but then he'll have to go. He's already taken his first Pokémon by right, he can't take another!"
"And then even if there was an exception to the rule, if you follow his method you'll have to start over and I didn't think he'd be patient enough to follow you all the way. He's got a polished team, you know?" Remembering Tweeny, Jessie quickly added, "At most he'll make exceptions for special cases, but he clearly doesn't consider you one of those, right?"
Leafala sighed. Of course, he knew he could never go with him. And if he really ever considered starting over with his training, he'd do it with someone he knew was competent, not a rookie trainer who didn't know what to do.
Shortly, he didn't have much of a choice.
Meowth walked over and wrapped an arm around the koala's shoulders, pointing to the sky with his other paw. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to shine on stage! You deserve it, and we'll give it to you!"
Leafala's head tilted. "Fala fala?"
"Join us! The Team Rocket!"
The koala was speechless, but his instincts told him to slip out of that hug. Join those guys?
"We don't follow the rules, and we're willing to give you every chance to shine! Team Rocket aims to revolutionize the world, to give power to those who are willing to do anything to get it! It recognizes the efforts of those who seek true strength."
If the world rejects you, you can't help but reject it back. And if they had learned anything in all the years they had worked alone and together, it was that the only way to hide the pain and the sense of inadequacy was to make enemies.
Noticing Leafala's ears twitching slightly, Meowth knew they were finally getting somewhere. "I won't lie to you, sometimes we have to do some dirty work, but in life you have to make sacrifices. If you want to get to the top, you have to be willing to do anything."
Sometimes, it was necessary to make hard choices, to go against your will, but that was their life.
Leafala wasn't stupid, he knew that these guys, Team Rocket, couldn't be good people. Joining them, a project he didn't know much about, seemed like a leap into the unknown.
But he could have continued to be himself.
They said they were going against the rules, and the rules had brought him nothing but disappointment.
They had talked about doing dirty work, well, he didn't have any issue with getting his paws dirty.
Maybe it was time to try other ways. After all, what could he lose now?
He wasn't going anywhere at that rate, both figuratively and literally. He might as well get out of that cage.
By hook or by crook.
"Fala."
"Welcome to the Team," Meowth congratulated. "And we already have a mission for you."
.
.
.
To be Continued…