Originally, Ash had only planned to supervise Pichu's training briefly—just enough to help the little guy find its rhythm before heading off to do his own physical workouts.
But he hadn't expected Pichu to be that cute.
Watching the little furball earnestly practicing "Wish" was so heart-meltingly adorable that Ash forgot all about his own routine. Before he knew it, he'd spent a full hour sitting beside Pichu, watching and encouraging it the whole time.
That said, having a Trainer present throughout the session proved incredibly effective.
Whether it was Froakie, already a seasoned trainee, or Pichu, who was just beginning its first day of real training—their motivation and efficiency skyrocketed with Ash at their side.
And it showed in their progress.
[Froakie]
[Proficient]: Pound (200/1000), Bubble (200/1000), Aqua Ring (23/1000), Quick Attack (1/1000), Water Pulse (1001/1000 → now Mastered!)
[Skilled]: Growl (23/500), Lick (117/500), Rain Dance (112/500)
[Pichu]
[Skilled]: Thunder Shock (50/500), Wish (3/500)
[Novice]: Tail Whip (7/100), Charm (5/100)
In less than an hour, Froakie had upgraded the already mid-to-high base power move [Water Pulse] from [Skilled] to [Proficient], and then even crossed into the rarefied realm of [Mastery]!
Meanwhile, Pichu had also stunned expectations by upgrading [Wish]—a freshly learned move with zero foundation—from [Novice] to [Skilled] in a single session.
If other Trainers caught wind of this kind of insane training speed, they'd probably be left speechless with shock.
But this was the power of the [Ascension Trainer System]—and it made Ash unwaveringly confident in both himself and the future of his team.
With the time nearing 7:30 a.m.—the end of their morning training block—Ash decided to skip his workout entirely today. Instead, he simply waved to Gary and, with Froakie and Pichu in tow, took off running toward home.
"Gary! After breakfast, take a half-hour rest. We'll resume training at 8:00 sharp!"
"Pichu! Froakie! Keep up the pace! Stay in formation!"
Gary watched Ash's back as he sprinted away with his Pokémon, then muttered with a mix of annoyance and admiration:
"Ash, could you not try so hard all the time? Geez…"
Ash just grinned and called back, "Sure—but only if you don't mind eating my dust, loser!"
...
Training was exhausting. Most Trainers didn't enjoy the tedious, repetitive grind it required. That's why, in the vast profession of Pokémon training, the majority had average—or downright poor—skill levels.
Like many industries, the skill distribution in the world of Pokémon Trainers followed a pyramid model. But here, the base of that pyramid was especially wide and bloated.
"Ten minutes on stage takes ten years of practice behind the scenes."
"Suffer first. Sweetness comes later."
"A second life grants second chances."
Ash understood all of these truths.
He wasn't just capable of enduring the monotony—he embraced it.
In fact, to be completely honest, he didn't find training boring at all. Quite the opposite—he enjoyed it.
He cherished the time spent with his Pokémon. Helping them grow stronger, sharing every little milestone—it filled his heart with joy.
And really… the way Pichu and Froakie earnestly focused on training… was just too cute for words.
After breakfast, Delia went to the cornfield on the hill to pull weeds. As the sun continued to rise, quiet little Pallet Town gradually came alive with activity.
Some villagers climbed hills to work the land. Others weeded fields. A few middle-aged women carried heavy baskets full of dirty, mud-caked clothes down to the riverside to wash what their husbands had soiled while laboring in the fields.
After finishing breakfast, Ash and Gary crossed the river to a more secluded and peaceful spot—perfect for uninterrupted training.
"Hey Ash," Gary said with a competitive glint in his eye, "before we start training, how about we warm up with a battle?"
"You've got two Pokémon. I've got two Pokémon. Let's do a 2v2 match!"
Compared to dry, repetitive drills, Pokémon battles were clearly more exciting.
"2v2?" Ash raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Alright. I'm game."
...
On the grassy clearing across the river, two boys of similar height took their positions on opposite sides of the field.
Ash bent down and picked up a smooth river stone, testing its weight in his palm.
"I'll throw this into the river. The splash will be our signal to start."
"Got it!" Gary nodded confidently.
"Good. Then send out your first Pokémon. I'll go with Pichu."
"Pichu! Pichu!" The little electric mouse squeaked excitedly and bounced into position, tail swaying as it stood ready.
"Electric-type first, huh?" Gary said with a smirk, then pulled out a Poké Ball. "Then my lead will be you—Eevee!"
Being Professor Oak's grandson, Gary clearly understood type advantages.
Instead of choosing his Squirtle, he wisely sent out a Normal-type Eevee to face Pichu.
[Pokémon: Eevee]
Level: 5
Type: Normal
Nature: Timid
Abilities: Adaptability, (Hidden: Anticipation)
Potential: Blue
Known Moves:
[Skilled]: Tackle, Sand Attack
[Novice]: Covet, Helping Hand, Growl, Tail Whip
[Egg Move]: Wish
"Get ready…" Ash warned.
Then—swish!—he flicked his wrist and launched the river stone into the air.
As the splash echoed across the clearing…
"Now, Eevee—Tackle!" Gary shouted without hesitation.
"Eevee!" the small, fox-like Pokémon let out a squeaky battle cry. Gritting its teeth and closing its eyes, it charged toward Pichu with all the might its tiny frame could muster.
"Haha… Gary, your Eevee's a bit too timid!" Ash teased. "Can't even look its opponent in the eye while attacking? What's it afraid of—breaking its precious little nose?"
But he didn't just talk. Ash followed up instantly with a calm command:
"Dodge right, Pichu."
"Pichu~!" Pichu didn't flinch. Its short little legs moved with surprising agility, hopping nimbly to the side as the blind-charging Eevee rushed past.
WHUMP—!
Crash!
Eevee's tackle missed completely. The poor thing faceplanted into the dirt and tumbled across the ground like a kicked plush toy. Its creamy neck ruff ended up a tangled, muddy mess.
"Eevee…" Gary groaned, embarrassed at how badly that went.
But Ash wasn't about to show mercy.
"Now, Pichu—use Tail Whip!"
"Pichu~!"
Tail raised high, Pichu darted forward, eyes gleaming with mischief as the battle truly kicked off…!
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