"Without even realizing it, the Pokémon Summer Camp is already drawing to a close."
"For the past two weeks, we've gone through a lot—joyful moments, frustrating ones—but no matter what, I believe this camp has been an unforgettable memory for every one of you."
Professor Oak's voice echoed warmly across the campgrounds as he looked at the gathered students.
"Over these two weeks, we've completed nine different activities. And during each one, I've witnessed all of you growing stronger—both as Trainers and as individuals. That progress has truly made me proud."
"I hope that once the camp ends, and you all return to your normal lives and environments, you'll continue to face challenges the way you did here—with positivity, courage, and determination."
His gaze swept across the faces before him. Many had lost their earlier childishness and now bore hints of budding maturity.
Student A: "Yes, sir!!"
Student Z: "Yes!!"
The campers shouted in unison, voices clear and full of spirit.
"Excellent. That's exactly the energy young people should have."
"Now, do you all remember what I told you when the camp first began? When two strangers meet in the world of Pokémon, it's often through a battle that they forge the beginnings of a friendship."
"Well then, can anyone tell me—how do two Trainers who've already formed a deep bond say farewell before parting ways?"
Student A: "With a Pokémon battle!!"
Student Z: "A Pokémon battle!!"
Professor Oak nodded with a knowing smile. "Exactly."
"But unlike the start of the camp, where you all battled one-on-one with new partners, this final event will reflect just how far you've come. You're no longer strangers."
"Today, the tenth and final activity of this Pokémon Summer Camp—and our farewell ceremony—will be a [Friendship Tag Battle]!"
Cheers and gasps of excitement erupted from the students.
"Here are the rules: Each student must team up with someone from a different cabin. With 98 students total, that makes 49 two-person teams. Just like the first day, you'll challenge each other freely."
"Each team must face at least five other teams. A win gets you 4 points, a draw gets 2 points, and a loss scores 0. Each team can earn a maximum of 20 points, and those points will be split between teammates."
"That's the basic format. Understood?"
Student A: "Understood!!"
Student Z: "Understood!!"
"Great! Now go and find the partner you most want to team up with," Oak encouraged. "Let this final event be a celebration of the bonds you've formed!"
The forest campground instantly burst into lively chatter as students rushed off to find teammates, hearts pounding with excitement.
Since the rule was to pair up with someone from a different cabin, it made things interesting—and chaotic. But as expected, Ash and his crew didn't hesitate at all.
Even though Goh and Chloe had already left the camp, Tierno, who had been a bit of a loner early on, had also found a few companions during the past two weeks.
With just a glance, Ash and his close-knit group had already paired up, quicker than anyone else.
"Once your teams are ready, come register your names with me," Oak announced. "And feel free to give your team a cool name!"
And so the pairings were finalized:
Ash × Serena → Team Zena
Gary × Green → The Pallet Siblings
Shauna × Trevor → Performer & Photographer
Tierno × Jeanette → Beauty and the Beast
It took the rest of the students around ten more minutes, but eventually, everyone had a team.
"I now declare the final challenge of this year's Pokémon Summer Camp—the [Friendship Tag Battle]—officially underway!"
Ash turned to his friends with a smile. "Gary, Tierno—you guys go ahead and take your time. Serena and I will take the first match."
With a quick nod to the others, Ash and Serena walked confidently onto the battlefield.
"Whoa!! Ash and Serena are the first up?!"
"No way! They're the strongest combo in the entire camp!"
"Aaah, I'm so jealous of Serena! She gets to team up with Ash again…"
"I wanted to team up with Ash too!"
"Hey, why's everyone obsessed with Ash? Am I the only one who wants to team with Serena?!"
"Let's be real—Ash is super handsome and Serena is absolutely gorgeous. They're like the perfect golden couple! And it's not just looks—strength-wise, they're a top-tier team too."
"Exactly! Serena has been second on the camp's leaderboard for almost the entire time!"
"Oh, please—she only got second because Ash helped her. If he helped me, I'd be up there too."
"Tch—sour grapes much? Yes, Ash did help, but you can't deny Serena's own talent. Among everyone here, she's easily top five even without him!"
As Ash and Serena stood side by side on the battlefield, the campgrounds buzzed with excitement.
Ash glanced at the girl beside him. "Nervous, Serena?"
"Not really." She smiled back confidently. "But Ash… are you planning to do what you did on Day One—fight five matches in a row?"
She wasn't the shy girl who had once hidden behind Shauna's sleeve. Two weeks of growth had given Serena a new light, a new strength.
Ash grinned playfully. "What, are you scared?"
Serena shook her head, eyes gleaming. "Not at all."
"If you're going to battle five rounds… I'll fight them all with you."
The emotion behind her voice surged like a tidal wave—and Ash could feel it.
"Alright!" he said with a pleased smile. "If you're with me, Serena, then we'll hold the field and take on five straight battles."
"Let's make sure that on this final day… we remind everyone what it means to be dominated," Ash added with a smirk.
Then he turned to the rest of the crowd and shouted:
"So, who wants to be our first challenger? After today, there won't be another chance!"
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T/N:
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