"Magikarp, Feebas—this is Pallet Town. It's the place where I've lived ever since I was little.
The scenery isn't bad, right?"
"And just outside Pallet Town, there's a small river. Follow it downstream and you'll reach the sea.
When we have time, I'll take you there…"
Holding the water basin in his arms, Ash walked along the dirt road toward the outskirts of town, chatting as he went and patiently introducing Pallet Town to the two newly arrived Pokémon.
Because he possessed both Aura Power and Viridian Power, communicating with Pokémon posed no difficulty for Ash at all. Still, having just arrived under a new Trainer, Magikarp and Feebas remained somewhat reserved and cautious.
That wasn't only because the environment and Trainer were unfamiliar.
It also had a lot to do with their personalities.
According to the system scan:
Shiny Magikarp — Timid
Shiny Feebas — Inferiority
Feebas's inferiority complex was easy to understand.
Its appearance was already far from appealing, and becoming Shiny hadn't made things better—in fact, it made it worse. Its purple scales made it look like some kind of poisoned "purple tuber," ugly to an extreme.
In both human society and the Pokémon world, the rules were cruelly consistent:
Good looks brought preferential treatment.
Ugly appearances invited rejection, ridicule, and strange looks.
From a young age, Feebas had likely been excluded not only by other Pokémon species, but even by members of its own kind.
Over time, that constant rejection carved deep scars, shaping an intensely self-deprecating personality.
Shiny Magikarp wasn't much better off.
Magikarp as a species tended to be blunt and straightforward—appearance mattered little among them; strength was everything.
But Magikarp was infamous as the weakest Pokémon in the world.
Even Wishiwashi—smaller, more fragile, with lower base stats—could learn offensive moves.
Magikarp couldn't.
In the wild, Magikarp were perpetual victims.
Ash had already seen this countless times while healing injured Water-type Pokémon beneath the small bridge outside town—most of them were Magikarp.
And being Shiny only made things worse.
If it were strong, those translucent golden scales like glazed jade would earn respect.
But weak and eye-catching?
That just invited even more bullying.
Long-term abuse had naturally molded Shiny Magikarp into a timid, fearful Pokémon.
"Nature is cruel," Ash said softly, his voice carrying calm reassurance.
"Being Shiny gave you extraordinary talent—but it also brought harsher trials."
"But now that you're with me, as my Pokémon…"
"Whether it's me, or Pikachu, Frogadier, or Pidgeotto—your partners—we'll all protect you."
As he spoke, Ash used his natural affinity and Viridian Power to soothe their wounded hearts, his tone firm and unwavering.
"Gu…"
"Wa…!"
The two Pokémon in the basin were deeply moved.
Especially Shiny Magikarp—long accustomed to being bullied for its weakness—its affection toward Ash surged rapidly at those words.
"Frogadier, help me hold Magikarp and Feebas for a moment. I'll treat the Water-types gathering under the stone bridge," Ash said as they reached the outskirts of town, handing the basin over.
"Froge—!"
(Got it!)
Frogadier obediently took the basin.
…
Magikarp.
Shellder.
Poliwag.
Krabby.
Goldeen.
Marill.
Seaking…
Beneath the small stone bridge outside Pallet Town, there was a human boy named Ash—someone who had awakened a healing ability—and who healed injured Water-type Pokémon for free, every single day.
As news spread through the river and into the shallow coastal waters near the estuary, more and more injured Pokémon came seeking his help.
And just as the rumors said, Ash never asked for payment.
By now, the name "Ash" wasn't just famous among Trainers—it was widely known among the surrounding wild Pokémon communities as well.
Stone Bridge — 16 Pokémon
After more than ten minutes, Ash finished healing all sixteen Pokémon gathered beneath the bridge.
Each time he healed a Pokémon, the Viridian Power within him surged, boiled, and strengthened.
But as his mastery of Viridian Power increased, leveling up required more and more "experience."
At first, healing a single Pokémon was enough to level up.
Later—two or three.
Five or six.
Ten.
Twenty.
Now?
Twenty-seven to twenty-nine Pokémon for a single level.
"Super Trainer System"(Severely Damaged)
Host: Ash Ketchum
Gender: Male
Age: 6
Strength: 7 (Adult average: 10)
Stamina: 8
Intellect: 10
Charm: 10
Talents:
Viridian Power LV.34
Aura Power LV.17
Pokémon:
Pikachu, Frogadier, Pidgeotto, Shiny Magikarp, Shiny Feebas
Item: Soothe Bell
-----
A week ago, healing twenty Pokémon was enough for Viridian Power to level up.
Now, at LV.34, it took nearly thirty.
Aura Power was similar—despite the efficiency boost from the Mew Imprint, progress had slowed. Viridian Power had reached LV.34, yet Aura Power was still only LV.17.
The higher the level, the more effort required. Growth inevitably slowed.
Ash had expected this long ago, so he didn't feel discouraged.
Whether it was raising Pokémon or strengthening his own powers—
effort was unavoidable.
You don't get a Snorlax without eating first.
…
After finishing the treatments, Ash didn't disperse the Pokémon as he usually did. Instead, he gathered them together.
"Everyone," he said warmly,
"Magikarp and Feebas are Pokémon I just took in today."
"You're all Water-types, and in the future, I'll often let them play in the river or the sea."
"When that happens, I hope you'll all look after them."
With that, Ash gently released Shiny Magikarp and Shiny Feebas into the river, openly introducing them to the surrounding Pokémon.
Ripples spread across the water.
And somewhere beneath the surface, new bonds quietly began to form.
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