When Ash and his friends finally accompanied Sanpei to the place he was heading, Sanpei's masked attacker revealed himself.
It turned out that this person was none other than his own master—Saizo.
Sanpei finally understood. The ambush wasn't real hostility at all—it was a test. His master had orchestrated the entire scenario to gauge his growth and resolve.
And the so-called "scroll" Sanpei had been carrying? Nothing more than a blank parchment.
There was nothing inside it at all.
Still, Saizo declared that Sanpei had passed his trial. Both Sanpei and his Greninja felt immense relief and pride.
Ash, too, had gained much from this encounter—his Froakie had evolved into Frogadier. Everyone had walked away with something valuable.
With Sanpei and Greninja waving them off, Ash and his friends continued on their way toward Coumarine City.
It wasn't far now!
------
That day, the group found themselves in a wide valley.
"Come on! Don't fall behind, Clemont, hurry up and climb this slope!" Serena and Bonnie were leading the group with energy and excitement.
"Serena, you seem really fired up about the Showcase competition. You're bursting with spirit," Ash commented.
"Of course I am!" Serena answered with a nod.
She had been practicing hard with her Fennekin and Pancham, preparing countless performances for the Pokémon Showcase stage.
"Serena," Ash said suddenly, "when your first Showcase is over, I'll have a special gift waiting for you."
"Huh…? R-Really? Then I'll be looking forward to it, Ash," Serena replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
Clemont shot Ash a knowing look.
But ten minutes later…
Serena's energy had drained away, and she and Clemont had fallen to the back of the line, trailing in exhaustion.
"Why does this slope never end… I can't go on…" Serena groaned.
"That's what I'd like to know…" Clemont muttered, practically on the verge of collapse. If the slope stretched on any longer, he felt he might just faint on the spot.
"Hurry up, you two! You're way too slow. Look, this is the top already—just beyond here it's all downhill!" Bonnie called from ahead, waving.
Ash was keeping pace with her.
Finally, after another six or seven grueling minutes, everyone reached the summit.
"Ugh… I'm wiped out. That slope was endless…" Serena panted as they all sat down to rest.
Ash glanced around, and something about this place triggered his memory.
"Wait a second… This is where we meet Goom—"
Before he could finish, something soft plopped from the sky and landed right onto his hand.
The sensation was squishy and sticky, wrapping around his palm.
It was… a Goomy.
"Ah! What just fell on you, Ash?!" Bonnie yelped in fright.
Serena quickly pulled out her Pokédex, and the device scanned the creature.
"Goomy, the Soft Tissue Pokémon. Known as the weakest Dragon-type Pokémon, it lives in damp and swampy places."
"The weakest Dragon-type? It doesn't even look like a Dragon-type at all…" Serena stuck out her tongue in disbelief.
Ash studied the little blob clinging to his hand. "Yeah, Goomy may look weak… but it's still a Dragon-type. Looks like this one is in bad shape—it probably needs lots of water to stay healthy."
He glanced down the slope. Sure enough, a sparkling brook flowed at the valley floor.
Without hesitation, Ash carried Goomy to the stream, gently placing it in the water. The little Dragon floated and blinked faintly. Ash scooped water into his hands and poured it carefully over its head.
"Goomy…"
Its eyes fluttered open at last.
Knowing the story from the original timeline, Ash couldn't help but feel sympathy for the little Pokémon. Left alone, this timid creature might never overcome its fears. But with care, it had the potential to grow into something truly great.
And Ash wasn't the same as his past self—he would never squander the power of a pseudo-legendary like Goodra. Every Dragon, no matter how small, was worth raising with pride.
This time, he didn't wait for Team Rocket's usual antics to "help" things along. Instead, he activated both his Aura and Aura Power.
Both of these abilities had healing properties, and Ash channeled them together, soothing Goomy's body while gently speaking to it through telepathy.
"Goomy…"
Almost instantly, the little Pokémon felt comfort and warmth, pressing its squishy head affectionately against Ash's hand.
"Wow! It really seems to like you, Ash. Are you going to catch it?" Bonnie asked eagerly, with Dedenne peeking curiously from her shoulder.
"Dene!"
But the moment Goomy noticed Dedenne, it recoiled in fright, curling itself into a tight ball.
"It must be because Dedenne is a Fairy-type," Ash explained softly. "Don't worry, Goomy—Dedenne is gentle and sweet. It won't hurt you."
"Dene…" Dedenne chirped reassuringly.
With another wave of Aura, Ash calmed Goomy's trembling body.
Yes—if he comforted it every day, the little Dragon would steadily gain courage.
Ash smiled warmly. "So, Goomy, how about it? Want to come with me?"
"Goo! Goo!"
Goomy nodded vigorously. To it, Ash already felt like family.
Ash pulled out a Heal Ball and tapped it gently against Goomy's body.
Click!
The capture was immediate and successful.
"Alright! I caught Goomy!" Ash declared proudly.
With a new Dragon-type partner by his side, Ash and his friends continued down the trail.
Ahead of them, just beyond the valley, lay their destination—Coumarine City.
By the time they reached the outskirts, it was already mid-afternoon, a little past three.
There, they came across an old man tending a farm. Ash respectfully asked if they could cut through the farmland as a shortcut to the city.
Of course, Ash already knew who this gardener truly was—the Gym Leader of Coumarine City, affectionately known as "Ramos."
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