"Pichu was very well-behaved these past couple of weeks," Delia said as they stepped inside, "but the poor little thing missed you terribly. Every day, he clutched the remote and sat glued to the TV watching the summer camp livestream."
"But…" Delia added with a knowing smile, "when he saw you eating and sleeping beside Froakie—training together every day—he got a little jealous. So when you see him, you better coax him properly."
"No worries, Mom," Ash laughed. "Froakie is my Pokémon—but so is Pichu. I'd never play favorites."
"The only reason I didn't bring him to camp was because I didn't have my official Trainer qualification yet. If I could've brought him, I wouldn't have left the little guy home alone in the first place."
Mother and son chatted as they entered the house. After two weeks away, stepping back into his own home brought Ash a wave of calm and comfort.
"Pichuuuu~"
"Little Pichu, my adorable buddy, where are you hiding? Why didn't you come greet me at the town gate today?" Ash called out as he carried Froakie and his backpack upstairs, leaving his suitcase downstairs in the living room.
Click—
"I brought you gifts, little guy! Where are you hiding?" Ash opened his bedroom door and scanned the clean, tidy room his mom had prepared.
Everything looked normal—except for one suspicious little bulge under the neatly folded blankets on the bed.
"Pichu? Where are you? Can't find you anywhere. Guess I'll have to eat all the almond cookies, apple pies, and tomato candies by myself…"
"Piiichuuuu~"
At the mention of his favorite treats, the triangular ears under the blanket twitched.
Ash tiptoed toward the bed, eyes on the wriggling bulge in the blanket—then suddenly yanked it open.
Fwoosh!
"Found you, little Pichu!!" he grinned as he caught sight of Pichu with his face buried in the blanket and his tiny butt sticking out.
"Pichuuu~ Pichuu!" The little Pokémon popped up from the covers and instantly leapt into Ash's arms with a joyful cry.
"I know, I missed you too," Ash whispered, hugging him tightly. "It wasn't that I didn't want to bring you. I just wasn't allowed to yet. But guess what? Summer camp is over—and I've officially been granted Trainer certification by the League."
"That means from now on, I can bring you with me wherever I go!"
He scratched Pichu's soft, fuzzy cheek with a gentle finger.
"Pichuuu~"
"Come on, Pichu. Let me introduce you to a new friend," Ash said with a grin, placing him on the desk beside Froakie. "Mom said you watched the whole livestream every day, so I bet you already know Froakie, right? But today is your first time meeting face to face—be nice, okay?"
"Froaaakie~ Want some apple pie and tomato candy?" Froakie chirped, already holding out a sweet-smelling slice of apple pie from the paper bag Ash had brought home. He remembered what Ash told him—Pichu's favorite snacks were red apples and red tomatoes.
"Pichuuu~!"
The moment Pichu saw the pie, all his leftover jealousy vanished in an instant.
But being the sweet Pokémon he was, Pichu didn't just gobble it down. He broke the pie in half and handed one piece back to Froakie.
"Froa~!"
Froakie beamed. Seeing how easily they got along made Ash's heart swell with happiness.
"Alright, Pichu. I brought you tons of almond cookies, apple pies, and tomato candies—but don't eat too much now. Lunch is coming soon."
"You two play in the room while I go take a shower."
"Pichuu Pichuu!"
"Froaaak!"
"Ugh, fine—you two clingy fluffballs want to come too?" Ash chuckled as he grabbed clean clothes from the wardrobe, scooped both Pokémon into his arms, and headed to the washroom.
After a hot shower, freshly dressed and with his hair blow-dried, Ash returned to his upstairs room, now wearing comfy slippers.
He sat down at his desk by the window, pulled out a notebook from his System backpack, and began jotting down plans for what came next.
Because of the talent he had revealed during the camp, he had already drawn attention from Team Rocket—and even from their boss, Giovanni himself.
That made one thing clear: until his official debut as a full-time Trainer, Ash couldn't afford to draw more attention. He needed to lay low. He needed to grow.
Which meant one thing: stay in Pallet Town and train quietly.
He divided his focus into two main categories: Self-Development and Pokémon Development.
The first was simple enough. After all, Ash carried two major powers within him.
To cultivate the power of Aura, he had to meditate daily using the "Listen to All Living Things" technique.
And now, with the imprint of the "Dream Law" awakened—thanks to the tsundere little Mew—his Aura training speed had received a massive boost.
As for the Viridian Power, its growth could be nurtured by healing others, channeling energy into people or Pokémon, and using cleansing rituals.
Both powers required discipline, focus, and hard work.
But growing stronger wasn't just about powers.
Ash knew that even though he carried the memories of a past life, including knowledge of many Legendary Pokémon and secrets, he still lacked the deep understanding of this world's unique history, geography, and culture.
This world, shaped by Pokémon, had developed in a completely different direction from his previous life.
If he wanted to merely become an Elite or even a member of the Elite Four, then maybe his past-life knowledge would be enough.
But that wasn't his dream.
His dream was bigger than that.
He wanted to stand at the very peak. To become the world's greatest Trainer—a true Pokémon Master.
And for that, he needed to study, to learn, to immerse himself in the Pokémon world.
On the other side of the plan: Pokémon Development.
Right now, Ash had two Pokémon—Pichu and Froakie. Both were extraordinarily talented, blessed by destiny and born with incredible potential.
There was no way Ash was going to waste such treasures by not training them properly.
With these two by his side, he didn't plan on catching any new Pokémon in the short term.
Of course, if he happened to meet one that was truly exceptional… he wouldn't hesitate. After all, the League allowed Trainers to hold up to three Pokémon before their official journeys began, and he'd only used two of those slots.
As for the kind of Pokémon he wanted to catch next…
That would come in time.
For now, the journey ahead was clear:
Grow stronger.
Train harder.
And prepare—for the adventure that would change the world.
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