The foundation of Moon Step lay in first mastering Shave. Though both Arcanine and Suicune could use Shave, coordinating the rhythm with four legs proved tricky. Adding Moon Step on top of that? Ash could already imagine the chaos.
"Alright, don't look so down," Ash said, smiling at his disappointed partners.
"Once the Indigo Plateau Conference is over, I'll find time to train you in other techniques."
"Luca~! Luca!"
"Rooaaar!"
Just then, Cynthia's Garchomp joined Lucario, clearly eager to practice as well. Cynthia's cheeks flushed slightly—having her own Pokémon learn techniques directly from her fiancé's methods was… embarrassing, to say the least.
Ash, however, didn't mind.
"It's fine," he said warmly. "You're my wife. Our teams are one and the same. Teaching them is only natural."
And so, the day passed in relentless training.
All of Ash's Pokémon practiced Moon Step tirelessly. Even with the foundation of Shave, learning to move upon the air itself wasn't something that could be achieved overnight.
Among them, Lucario and Dragonite showed the most promise.
Dragonite, already a natural flier, only needed to refine his control. For him, mastering Moon Step came almost instinctively. Lucario, however, impressed everyone—his Aura control allowed him to balance his footing in midair, progressing faster than even Ash expected.
Two weeks slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Before long, the long-awaited Indigo Plateau Conference had arrived. Ash and Gary checked into their hotel near the grand stadium atop the Plateau.
"Come on! Let's do this!"
The entire Plateau buzzed with excitement. Thousands had gathered to witness the region's greatest trainers clash. Thanks to Ash's growing reputation, this year's conference was the most anticipated in decades.
The stadium alone could seat nearly thirty million spectators, yet only a little over a hundred competitors would step onto that battlefield. Earning eight Gym Badges was no small feat—and half of those trainers would be eliminated in the early rounds.
Today was the Torch Relay Ceremony—a sacred tradition of the League.
Normally, Team Rocket would have tried to disrupt the event, but since Ash had already reformed Jessie, James, and Meowth, no one was foolish enough to interfere. Even the remnants of Team Rocket were too preoccupied with Mewtwo's escape to cause trouble.
The torch itself was lit by the Sacred Flame of Moltres, one of the Kanto region's three Legendary Birds.
Few in the world had ever even seen Moltres, and its fire—burning with pure life energy—was a symbol of the League's indomitable spirit. Many had sought to capture the Legendary Birds, but all had failed.
That night, long after midnight, Ash lay awake in his hotel bed.
No matter how much he tried, sleep wouldn't come. The excitement, the pressure, the memories of everything that led to this moment—it was all too much to ignore.
Knowing how restless he'd be, Cynthia had chosen not to share a room this time.
Even so, Ash could still feel her quiet support in his heart.
Unable to stay still any longer, he rose, dressed, and quietly slipped out into the night.
The Plateau was silent. The moonlight shimmered over the massive arena, empty and peaceful under the stars.
"This is it," Ash murmured, stepping into the shadow of the colossal battlefield.
"My first true step in Kanto… I can't afford to lose. Not for my dream… not for the effort of my partners."
He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination.
Losing here wasn't an option—not with both Professor Oak and the Draconis Family counting on him. The weight of those expectations pressed heavily on his shoulders.
But beyond the tournament itself lay an even greater challenge.
Should he triumph at the Indigo Plateau, four more battles awaited—against the Elite Four, and then finally… Shiro Draconis, the reigning Champion of Kanto.
Defeating the three Elites would grant him the right to challenge Shiro directly.
If he won, he wouldn't just be the strongest Trainer in Kanto—he would become its new Champion, and the official representative of the entire region.
As the cold wind swept across the silent field, Ash looked toward the horizon.
The stars above gleamed like sparks of destiny—reflections of the fire burning in his heart.
Tomorrow, everything would begin.
"It seems Ash is under a lot of pressure," Professor Oak said quietly, gazing at the live feed from the Quartz League arena.
His voice carried a thoughtful tone as he stood beside the wide screen, hands behind his back. Around him were several other elders—veterans of Kanto's most powerful families—each watching the same battle with keen, assessing eyes.
"Is that your grandson, Ash?"
Masaki Oak asked with a teasing smile.
"He looks sharp—certainly better than that lazy grandson of mine. That boy sleeps like a Snorlax every night."
At his comment, the white-bearded man standing nearby chuckled. It was Garan Redwood, father of Bruno—one of the Elite Four.
Gathered in this reception hall were the patriarchs of Kanto's eight great families: Samuel Oak, Skye Draconis, Agatha Nojikuko, Ryo Ignatius, Takeshi Glacienne, Garan Redwood, Seiji Mugino, and Kenjiro Blackstone. These men and women were the pillars upon which Kanto's power and history rested.
Not all were present, however. Both Kenjiro Blackstone and Takeshi Glacienne had passed away years ago, leaving their descendants to carry the torch. Still, the meeting continued in their honor, guided by tradition.
Tonight, none of these elders had chosen sleep.
They had gathered to review the data and footage of trainers competing in the Quartz League, hoping to discover new talent—young trainers whose potential might one day strengthen their families or even the Pokémon League itself.
Even among the great families, lineage alone was not enough to endure. Fresh blood and new potential were vital. The League, too, shared this hunger for rising stars.
Ash's sudden emergence was something of an anomaly—a spark that none of them had foreseen.
And at that very moment, far from the noise of the spectators, Ash stood alone, his thoughts heavy.
If his mood hadn't been so conflicted, he would never have wandered off to such a quiet, wind-swept place.
From here… his journey was only just beginning.
...
TN:
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