Delia, a full-time homemaker and Ash's mother, looked curiously at the glowing orb.
"Is this… the reward from the live broadcast?"
She reached out, and the orb dissolved into her hand.
At once, words surfaced in her mind:
[List of Ash's Future Girlfriends & Their Contact Info]
Delia's eyes lit up.
She eagerly flipped it open—
and froze on the very first page.
The first name was… Cynthia.
Sinnoh – Celestic Town.
Cynthia had returned home after leaving the café.
Leaning against her Garchomp, she relaxed in her courtyard, eating a Swiss roll she'd taken to go.
Ash's performance had surpassed all her expectations.
He had even defeated a god.
Her determination to bring Ash to Sinnoh only grew stronger.
Just then, a colorful orb appeared before her.
She caught it, and text immediately filled her mind:
[Bond Transformation: Form a special bond with a Pokémon to unlock its Bond Form! All stats rise, and a unique ability is unlocked. (Note: This new ability stacks with the original ability instead of replacing it.)]
"Bond power? Hm… I wonder how it compares to Mega Evolution. My Mega Garchomp is already overwhelming enough."
Kalos – Vaniville Town.
Serena poked at the glowing orb that appeared after the live broadcast ended.
It dissolved into her hand.
[Ash's Diary: Records Ash's secrets from childhood onward! (Automatically updates in real time.)]
Her heart skipped a beat.
This was the perfect reward!
She immediately flipped through it, searching for her name.
Page after page…
Nothing.
The diary was filled with notes on battles and Pikachu.
The only mention of her was one line:
"The girl I rescued at summer camp."
Serena's forehead twitched with irritation.
"Ash!! Just you wait—I'll make sure your entire diary is filled with me!"
At ten years old, Serena had set herself a lifelong goal.
Kanto – Pallet Town.
Ash and Gary found themselves face to face.
Neither expected to run into the other here.
Gary in particular was mortified.
He'd claimed he didn't support Ash—
yet secretly, he had been one of the few who'd voted for him.
Now, Ash was looking at him with eyes burning with gratitude.
Gary wanted to disappear on the spot.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea!" he stammered. "I just didn't want you to have no votes. We're both from Pallet Town, after all."
Ash smiled. "I understand."
"You understand NOTHING!!"
Gary exploded, his face red, before storming off.
Out of Ash's sight, he finally exhaled in relief.
Then he checked his reward:
[Focus Band: Wearing it makes those around you admire you, boosting both Trainer and Pokémon strength.]
"Not bad," Gary smirked. "Perfect for me. After all, I've got my cheer squad."
He clenched his fist.
"Ash, at the Silver Conference, you'd better be ready!"
Ash wasn't bothered by Gary's theatrics.
"Gary wouldn't be Gary if he weren't so stuck-up."
He checked his own reward:
[Fire Master: Boosts Fire-type Pokémon stats and enhances abilities. (Example: Blaze → Super Blaze, with similar upgrades for other abilities.)]
Ash scratched his head.
"…But I only have Charizard. Doesn't seem that useful."
(Infernape & Incineroar: "…HELLO??")
Soon after, the light curtain flared again.
[Legendary Countdown – Act II Begins]
[Theme: Legendary Trainers Ascend to the Champion's Throne – Companions]
The footage resumed.
Ash had finished lunch—
but his Rotom Phone still hadn't matched him with a suitable opponent.
Tens of thousands of participants, yet nothing.
He began doubting the matchmaking system itself.
Since Oak couldn't help, he went to Vermilion City for Professor Cerise.
Cerise discovered the issue instantly:
Ash's phone didn't even have GPS installed.
No location data meant no opponents could be found.
Relieved it could be fixed, Ash left the phone with Cerise.
It would take three days.
In the meantime, Cerise made a request:
"Ash, could you go to Unova for me? A desert ruin has surfaced. Legend says a giant once guarded the city there. I need you to investigate."
Ash agreed immediately.
That same day, he and Goh flew to Unova.
For this trip, Ash had brought along his Unova ace—
the shades-wearing powerhouse, Krookodile!
Though it hadn't battled often, it had the highest win rate of his Unova team—
his undisputed trump card.
Since Ash's phone was being repaired, Goh navigated with his own.
The desert heat made the sand too hot to step on.
"Uh, Ash? How are we supposed to cross this?" Goh complained.
"Simple—we'll fly! Dragonite, come out!"
Ash tossed a Poké Ball.
But instead of Dragonite—
a massive red crocodile with sunglasses emerged.
"Krookodile!"
"Whoa! So cool!" Goh's eyes shone.
"Krookodile!"
Krookodile smugly adjusted its shades.
At last—someone who recognized true style.
Ash blinked in confusion.
"…Did I just grab the wrong Poké Ball?"
Before he could react, Krookodile stepped onto the sand.
As a Ground-type, the scorching desert was nothing to it.
It looked back at Ash, smirked, and pushed its glasses higher.
"You really can't cross this? Pathetic."
Then it turned to Goh, eyes flashing with energy.
"Leave it to me."
With a stomp, it shaped the sand into a massive sandboard.
It beckoned them on with a finger.
The board only had room for one.
So Ash scooped Goh up bridal-style, and the two balanced together.
Krookodile nodded in satisfaction.
"Perfect. I am a genius."
[Lt. Surge: This Krookodile is even cockier than me!]
[Alder: Not just showy—look at that mastery of Ground energy. Impressive.]
[Ash (comment): Awesome! When I get to Unova, I'm catching one of these!]
[Misty: …That's literally your Pokémon, Ash.]
[Serena: Even your Pokémon understands girls better than you!]
Serena's cheeks flushed red with anger.
Barely into the new broadcast, and already Goh was clearly captivated.
Worse—she'd realized Ash always traveled with a new girl in each region.
Which meant she had at least 4–5 rivals.
She seethed.
"I was here first!"
[Sabrina: This Krookodile is entertaining. Ash, come to Saffron sometime—Haunter misses you.]
[Ash: Sure! After the Silver Conference, I'll visit!]
Serena: "…Another rival?!"
The sandboard carried them swiftly across the dunes to a half-buried ruin.
They dismounted.
"Is this the place, Goh?" Ash asked.
"Yes," Goh confirmed after checking his Rotom Phone.
"Legend says a giant rests here."
But suddenly—
a stone pillar shattered, and a Darmanitan leapt forth, eyes blazing red.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cried in alarm.
"Goh, watch out! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
A sandstorm surged, blocking the incoming Overheat.
Krookodile had stepped in.
"Krookodile!"
"I'll protect my Trainer's love life!"
More statues cracked open—
five more Darmanitan awoke.
Krookodile coolly scanned them.
Six in total.
"No problem."
Ash pulled Goh behind him.
"These guys are dangerous. Be careful!"
But Goh surprised him.
"No, Ash—I want to fight too. I want to be a real Trainer!"
He tossed three Poké Balls.
"Misdreavus! Stantler! Yamper—let's go!"
His eyes burned with determination.
"I want to stand beside you. I refuse to be a burden!"
Ash grinned.
"Alright then—let's fight together!"
"Pikachu, Krookodile—Thunderbolt! Dragon Claw!"
"Goh, give it all you've got!"
The desert erupted in battle. ⚡🔥
[Professor Cerise: My daughter… finally grown up. She's found her path!]
[Lorelei: Too bad she's gonna be stolen by Ash.]
[Lance: Don't be jealous, Lorelei. That's called young love. Unlike you, unwanted.]
[Lorelei: …Lance. You. Are. Dead.]
Goh's inexperience showed.
Even with three Pokémon, he could only barely hold off a single Darmanitan.
But it was a start.
Pikachu, meanwhile, quickly dispatched two with Iron Tail and Thunderbolt.
Then dashed to Goh's side to help cover him.
No Pokémon was more caring than Pikachu. 💛
At the center—
Krookodile faced three at once.
Two were cut down swiftly by Dragon Claw.
The leader remained.
It was much stronger.
But Krookodile was just hitting its stride.
Its speed and precision grew sharper with every exchange.
In a flash, it was behind the leader.
"Now! Crunch!" Ash commanded.
Krookodile's jaws glowed with dark energy.
It bit down once—
and the leader fell instantly.
"Krookodile!"
"Another victory in the name of defending love."
The battlefield quieted.
Only Goh's fight remained…
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