"Gwah~ (=_=) That guy is sneaky. Trying to overtake us on a corner? Not happening. I'm going back to training too."
"Pidgeot~ (?_?) My foolish little brother. He'll never surpass his big brother."
With that declaration, Pidgeot spread its wings and soared into the sky, immediately throwing itself into another round of rigorous training.
...
Gyarados and Milotic reacted much the same way.
One after another, they dove back into their training routines.
Competition existed not only among Pokémon in the same tier but also between different tiers.
Everyone was striving to improve.
Everyone was chasing those ahead of them.
Bulbasaur, who had only been caught yesterday and was participating in Ash's group training for the very first time, stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before it.
Its expression practically screamed:
"Do all of you really work this hard?!"
Ash crouched down and gently patted Bulbasaur's head.
"Being a Trainer is a profession that pursues strength and combat power."
"And strength doesn't come from being lazy every day."
"As for why the Pokémon in the Sanctuary were abandoned by their Trainers... let's not discuss that."
"But if you truly want to become stronger…"
"If you want to keep pace with everyone here…"
"Then you'll have to work hard."
Ash looked deeply into Bulbasaur's eyes.
"Bulba! Bulba!"
(I want to become stronger!)
(I don't want to be a frog trapped at the bottom of a well!)
(I want to stand on a huge stage! I'll work hard!)
Bulbasaur's gaze burned with determination.
Its fighting spirit surged like a blazing fire.
"Good!"
"That's what I like to hear."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"Get training!"
"First, run ten laps along the riverbank to warm up."
"Then use Tackle on a training stump one hundred times."
"After that, hit the stump three hundred times with Vine Whip."
"Give it your all, Bulbasaur!"
"You're tomorrow's superstar!"
Ash shouted encouragingly.
"Bulba! Bulba!"
(I'll do it!)
(I'm going to become tomorrow's superstar!)
Filled with enthusiasm, Bulbasaur charged off like an energetic young Tauros calf.
Watching the little Pokémon throw itself into training with such passion, Ash couldn't help smiling.
The look on his face was one of pure satisfaction.
[Ding! Move "Thunder Wave" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Thunder Shock" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
[Ding! Move "Icy Wind" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Gunk Shot" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
[Ding! Move "Substitute" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Sand Attack" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
[Ding! Move "Scary Face" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Feather Dance" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
[Ding! Move "Whirlpool" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Facade" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
[Ding! Move "Attract" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Hydro Pump" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Hydro Pump" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
[Ding! Move "Tackle" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
[Ding! Move "Vine Whip" trained once. Proficiency +1.]
...
...
As all of his Pokémon trained diligently, the familiar stream of system notifications echoed endlessly in Ash's ears.
Although he had already turned the notification volume down significantly, it still sounded like a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing around him.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Yet Ash didn't find it annoying in the slightest.
On the contrary.
He loved it.
Because every notification represented progress.
Every notification meant his Pokémon were becoming stronger.
It was a form of happiness that other Trainers could never truly experience.
...
An hour passed quickly.
The morning training session came to an end.
Ash called a halt to everyone's training and led his Pokémon back toward town.
By the time they returned home, Delia had already prepared breakfast.
Not only that, she had also finished cooking lunch in advance.
After letting the dishes cool, she covered them with plastic wrap and stored them in the refrigerator.
She wouldn't be home at noon, so all Ash would need to do was heat the food up before eating.
"Ash!"
Delia picked up her beige canvas handbag from the rack near the door.
"Mom's heading to Yoshiki Town today to discuss a flower order with some growers."
"I'll be leaving first!"
"Remember to take care of yourself!"
"Got it~"
After breakfast, Ash watched his mother excitedly leave the house.
A moment later, she climbed into Mihoko's car and disappeared down the road.
Ever since Ash had begun standing out and proving himself, Delia no longer had to worry about his future.
She no longer needed to remain in Pallet Town as a hardworking farmer struggling day after day.
Now she could finally return to being herself.
She had reopened her flower shop.
Taught flower arrangement classes.
Bought beautiful fabrics and designed clothes.
Every day was filled with things she genuinely enjoyed.
Her life had become rich and fulfilling.
Seeing these changes, Ash felt genuinely happy.
His mother had sacrificed so much for him over the years.
Now she could pursue her own dreams.
Live the life she wanted.
That was a wonderful thing.
And when the day came for him to leave home and begin traveling, he wouldn't need to worry about her being lonely.
"Take care!"
Ash waved at the distant car.
A warm smile spread across his face.
...
After cleaning up the house and locking both the front door and the yard gate, Ash once again led his Pokémon outside town for training.
"Same training assignments as this morning."
"Everyone, continue where you left off."
"Pika~ (^3^) Roger!"
"Gwah~ (-_-) Got it."
...
...
The Pokémon responded one after another before immediately returning to training.
Meanwhile, Ash walked alone to the Stone Bridge.
The previous evening, after returning from Viridian City, he had already used Aura telepathy to notify the nearby wild Pokémon:
The clinic would officially reopen today.
Now, after breakfast, he checked the surrounding area with his Aura.
Just as expected.
Whether beneath the bridge, within the river itself, or among the overgrown grasslands and rocky valleys of Dashiwan Valley, a large number of injured and sick wild Pokémon had already gathered.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting."
Ash stepped onto the bridge and addressed the assembled Pokémon.
"Please line up according to arrival order."
"I'll treat everyone one at a time."
"Splash splash splash..."
"Splash splash splash..."
The moment Ash spoke, the Pokémon below immediately organized themselves into neat lines.
Most of them were familiar faces who had visited the clinic before.
Even the newcomers quickly learned the rules from the regular visitors.
First come, first served.
And no matter what grudges existed between them—
No fighting at the clinic.
Pokémon might not possess human civilization.
But in many ways, these simple creatures followed rules better than humans ever could.
"Healing Grace."
A gentle green light flowed from Ash's hands.
The first patient floated forward.
A wounded Shellder.
The clinic that had been closed for days had finally reopened.
And another busy day was about to begin.
--------------
T/N:
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