"Whoa!!!"
The moment Tierno and Trevor stepped into the Oak Laboratory's so-called "backyard," both boys froze in awe, their jaws practically hitting the grass.
First came the shock at how massive the place was—stretching farther than the eye could see.
Then came the second wave of wonder—at just how many Pokémon filled this private paradise.
And not just any Pokémon.
"These are all species from the Kanto Region! You can't find them in Kalos at all!"
"There are so many Pokémon here!" Trevor exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement. Even Ash, who'd grown up in Pallet Town, felt his heart pounding as he took in the sight before him.
The group had just entered the grassland section of the backyard—a vast, open field that stretched across gently rolling hills.
Everywhere they looked, Pokémon moved freely.
Sunlit petals swayed as Vileplume, Gloom, and Bellsprout soaked in the morning light, while Victreebel hung lazily from tree branches, letting its leaves flutter in the breeze. Herds of Tauros grazed beside slow-moving Miltank and Mareep, their soft bleats echoing across the meadow.
Unlike wild Pokémon, these were all trained and trusted partners left here for rest or research. Many of them had clearly been raised by powerful Trainers—their presence radiated experience and strength.
Ash's eyes landed on a few familiar figures: a majestic Charizard stretching its wings, a bulky Venusaur resting beneath a tree, a Blastoise gazing calmly across the lake—and towering among them all, a purple-skinned, horned beast whose very breath seemed to shake the air.
"Nidoking…" Ash murmured.
"Click, click, click!"
Trevor, aspiring photographer that he was, couldn't help himself—his small camera flashed repeatedly as he darted forward, snapping photo after photo of every Pokémon he saw.
Meanwhile, Tierno pointed excitedly toward the hulking figure nearby. "Ash! What kind of Pokémon is that? It looks so cool!"
Ash smiled knowingly. "That's Nidoking—a Poison and Ground-type Pokémon. It evolves from Nidorino, which in turn evolves from the tiny Poison Pin Pokémon, Nidoran♂, around level sixteen. But to reach this form, it needs a special evolution stone—a Moon Stone. It's a powerful Pokémon with incredible physical strength and resilience."
Tierno's eyes widened. "Whoa! You know somuch, Ash!"
He had to admit—when they'd first met, Ash's tardiness had left him thinking this kid was just lazy. But after spending some time together, that first impression was being torn apart piece by piece.
Now, hearing Ash explain with such clarity and precision, he couldn't help but be impressed.
"You even know its evolution stages, its typing, and the level it evolves? That's amazing!" Tierno said, genuinely amazed.
Trevor, who usually prided himself on being the "Pokémon Encyclopedia" among his friends, was stunned silent. Before coming to Kanto, he'd studied the region's Pokémon from the library back in Kalos—yet even he didn't know this much detail.
Even Gary, standing beside them with his usual confident air, couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
"Not bad, Ash. Since when did you get this knowledgeable about Pokémon? Even I didn't know you were studying this hard."
Ash grinned and shrugged. "I've always known quite a bit—you just never noticed. My goal is to become the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer, remember? If I'm serious about that, I have to understand Pokémon inside and out."
Gary chuckled but still looked skeptical. "Huh… since when did you get this mature about it?"
Ash smirked slightly, eyes gleaming with something deeper. "Actually, ever since that… incident when I nearly drowned, something incredible happened to me. You'll be shocked when you find out."
Gary immediately perked up. "What? What happened?"
Tierno and Trevor also leaned closer, curiosity blazing in their faces.
Ash simply chuckled. "Heh, it's a secret for now. But don't worry—once the Summer Camp begins, you'll see it for yourself."
"Ugh, keeping secrets now? That's so unfair!" Gary grumbled, looking almost betrayed.
Ash only smiled, hiding what he truly meant. He wasn't about to mention the truth—that his near-death experience had awakened his Viridian Power, the mysterious "Power of Aura." For now, he was only willing to reveal a small part of that—his healing ability.
"Relax," Ash said, patting Gary's shoulder. "You'll know soon enough. But for now, there's something I want to test."
Gary blinked. "Test? What are you planning?"
Ash didn't answer. Instead, his gaze returned to the Nidoking resting nearby.
"Hey, Ash!" Gary's voice turned sharp. "Don't get too close! That Nidoking might be trained, but it's still territorial. If a stranger gets too near, it could lose its temper!"
Ash waved him off. "It's fine. I'll be careful. I can tell—it won't hurt me."
He took a steady breath and walked forward, step by step.
The massive Nidoking stirred. Its crimson eyes snapped open, locking on to the approaching boy. With a deep, rumbling growl, it rose to its full height, towering like a living wall of muscle and armor.
"Roooarrrr…"
The air trembled from the sound.
Behind Ash, Gary, Tierno, and Trevor froze where they stood. Cold sweat ran down their necks as they watched the boy they'd just been laughing with walk fearlessly toward the creature.
Ash's expression, however, remained calm. His eyes gleamed not with fear—but with trust.
He could feel the Pokémon's emotions, the pulse of its life force. Its wariness wasn't hostility—it was merely curiosity.
Ash smiled.
"Easy there, Nidoking… I'm not here to hurt you."
The massive Pokémon tilted its head slightly, watching him.
Step by step, Ash closed the distance, the golden light of the afternoon sun glinting softly in his eyes.
Whatever he was planning, it was clear—this was no reckless move.
It was a test.
A test of the strange, wondrous power that now flowed within him.
…
…
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T/N:
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