"Roar… Ash, how do you plan to deal with this Drowzee now?"
Charizard asked in a low voice, still pressing the battered Pokémon beneath its foot.
"Are you going to kill it outright, or send it back to its Trainer?"
"Killing it isn't necessary," Ash replied calmly.
"At least for now, I don't want to completely tear things apart with Team Rocket."
"But since they dared to attack me," his eyes narrowed slightly,
"they need to pay a price."
"For the time being, keep it alive. I still have some use for it."
Ash glanced at Drowzee on the floor, its body covered in bruises and blood, and spoke with clear ulterior meaning.
He recalled Drowzee into its Poké Ball—without healing its injuries.
They were only external wounds, but enough to ensure it stayed obedient.
Ash then locked the Poké Ball, preventing Drowzee from breaking out on its own again.
"It's already very late," Ash said, turning to his Pokémon with a gentle smile.
"We still have training tomorrow. Everyone go rest."
"And tonight… Rotom, Frogadier, Charizard—you all worked hard."
"Especially you, Rotom. You get first merit tonight."
"Ro-to…"
"Frogadier…"
"Roar…"
The sudden nighttime attack had shattered their sleep, but once everything was settled, Ash turned off the lights and returned to bed.
The room fell back into silence.
Only a few dark red stains on the floor—yet to dry—quietly testified to what had happened moments ago.
-----
Dawn approached.
The sky brightened faintly in the east.
Birdsong echoed crisply from the distant mountains, especially clear in the early-morning stillness of late autumn.
Against the gray-blue sky, the black silhouettes of rolling mountains beyond Pallet Town gradually sharpened into view.
The incident from last night didn't disrupt Ash and his Pokémon's routine in the slightest.
When the alarm clock rang, Ash was woken by Pichu's "Nuzzle", then quickly got up—
washing, dressing, and heading out.
He jogged all the way to the riverside outside town.
Compared to before—when it was just Pichu, Frogadier, and Rotom—
today Pidgey and Charizard had joined as well.
With more members, Ash's little team felt noticeably livelier.
…
[Pokémon: Pichu]
Level: LV.18
Type: Electric
Nature: Timid
Ability: Static
Hidden Ability: Lightning Rod
Potential:Gold +0.33%
Blessed by the world's fortune, bearing miraculous power beyond reason!
Moves (Copyable):
Proficient (1/1000): Thunder Shock, Thunder Wave, Wish
Skilled (1/500): Charm, Sweet Kiss, Nuzzle, Tail Whip
Novice (1/100): Nasty Plot
"Pichu," Ash said,
"your morning training goal today is to raise Nasty Plot from Novice to Skilled."
As an Electric-type Pokémon, Ash's cultivation plan for Pichu focused on high speed and high burst damage.
Nasty Plot, which sharply raised Special Attack by two stages, suited Pichu far better than moves like Calm Mind or Charge.
That was why Ash placed great importance on it.
…
[Pokémon: Frogadier]
Level: LV.27
Type: Water
Nature: Serious
Ability: Torrent
Hidden Ability: Protean
Heaven-Granted Trait: Bond Transformation
Potential:Purple +2.3%
Favored by the fate of Kalos, destined to bear the mission of saving the region during a future calamity!
Moves (Copyable):
Proficient (1/1000): Water Shuriken, Liquidation Ring, Water Pulse, Quick Attack, Rain Dance, Smokescreen, Pound, Bubble
Skilled (1/500): Growl, Lick
Novice (1/100): Round, Mud-Slap, Grass Knot
"Frogadier," Ash continued,
"your training this morning will be heavier than usual."
"Your task is to raise Mud-Slap and Grass Knot—the moves you learned yesterday—from Novice to Skilled."
"These moves are simple and don't consume much stamina. While training, focus on casting speed."
"And most importantly—carefully feel the power of your hidden ability Protean. Get used to the shifts in your body's typing."
"Frogadier…"
The Pokémon nodded seriously.
…
[Pokémon: Pidgey]
Level: LV.20
Type: Normal / Flying
Nature: Lonely, Battle-Loving
Ability: Keen Eye, Strong Chest Muscles
Potential:Blue
Moves (Copyable):
Proficient (1/1000): Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Agility
Skilled (1/500): Air Slash, Razor Wind
Novice (1/100): Mimic, Roost, Whirlwind
"Pidgey," Ash said gently,
"you're still recovering, so your training intensity should stay low."
"Just casually practice Mimic, Roost, and Whirlwind today."
"There's no set target. Train until you're tired, then rest—don't push yourself."
"Coo…"
Pidgey nodded obediently.
"Rotom, you're free today. You can help by taking photos with your phone—good memories for the future."
"Charizard, I won't interfere with your training. Adjust it however you see fit."
"Roto—OK!!"
"Roar… got it!"
…
As his Pokémon began training, Ash didn't idle.
He first headed to Stone Bridge and Dashiwan Valley to heal wild Pokémon.
After a night, many injured and sick Pokémon had gathered again.
Stone Bridge: 12 Pokémon
Dashiwan Valley: 16 Pokémon
Viridian Blessing: LV.29 → LV.31
Ash had said yesterday evening that he was close to leveling up again.
Sure enough, after healing 28 Pokémon, his Viridian Blessing advanced two full levels, reaching LV.31.
Viridian Blessing mainly enhanced Pokémon—it also strengthened Ash's body slightly, but couldn't directly raise his combat power.
After finishing the healing work, Ash returned to the riverside and began his own training.
Running.
Frog jumps.
Push-ups.
Gary arrived late, arranged his Pokémon's training, then joined Ash.
Training with a partner was always more enjoyable, and they chatted as they worked.
"Ash," Gary asked,
"have any of the three Magikarp you accepted orders for learned Tackle yet?"
"No."
"Then what about a high-potential Magikarp?"
"Did my dad or Daisy find one for you?"
"No."
Time flew by during casual conversation.
An hour passed in no time.
After finishing their morning training, the two boys led their Pokémon back toward home.
The day moved on—
steady, relentless, and full of purpose.
--------------
T/N:
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