On a bright, sunny afternoon, a gentle breeze swept across the suburban grassland, bringing with it the fragrance of wildflowers.
Ash, Xiao You, and Brock spread out a picnic blanket on an open patch of grass, surrounded by their Pokémon companions.
"Ah, what perfect weather!" Ash stretched, lying on his back on the grass with his hands behind his head.
Pikachu immediately jumped onto his stomach, letting out a cheerful "Pika Pika (Yeah)" sound.
"Hey, hey, Pikachu, you're heavy!" Ash protested with a laugh, but still dotingly rubbed Pikachu's head.
Not far away, Brock was preparing lunch, his Onix coiled nearby acting as a sunshade, while two Geodude of different forms—one Kanto form and one Alola form—helped hand him seasonings.
A Zubat hung upside down from a nearby branch, quietly napping.
"Brock, how much longer until lunch?" Xiao You asked, stroking the Sylveon lying on her lap.
Her Venusaur and Charizard were in the distance, competing to see who could make flower petals float the furthest.
"Almost ready," Brock said without looking up, flipping hamburger patties on the grill, "Wartortle, can you hand me the ketchup?"
"Warty!" The blue turtle-like Pokémon immediately retrieved a bottle of ketchup from the picnic basket and handed it to Brock.
Pidgeot circled once in the air before landing beside Ash, elegantly preening its feathers.
Metagross floated quietly nearby, its metallic shell gleaming in the sunlight.
"Pikachu, look over there!" Ash suddenly sat up, pointing to a patch of wildflowers not far away, "Do you want to go pick some flowers to decorate our picnic?"
"Pika! (Okay)" Pikachu's ears perked up excitedly, and it jumped off Ash, bouncing towards the flower patch.
Ash smiled as he watched his partner, suddenly noticing how exceptionally cute Pikachu looked among the flowers—its golden fur shining in the sun, its red cheeks appearing even rosier with excitement, and its tail gently swaying with its jumps.
"What a perfect picture..." A strange voice came from behind Ash.
Ash whirled around to see a young man wearing a baseball cap and a professional camera around his neck, intently staring at Pikachu.
The man looked to be in his early twenties, dressed in a multi-pocketed photography vest, observing Pikachu through his lens without blinking.
"Wow! Who are you?" Ash asked in surprise, standing up warily.
Brock and Xiao You also noticed the stranger, stopping what they were doing.
Sylveon's ears perked up alertly, and Venusaur and Charizard stopped their game, walking towards them.
The man finally lowered his camera, offering an apologetic smile: "Sorry if I startled you all.
I'm Ache, a Pokémon photographer." He pointed to the press pass on his chest, "I'm shooting material for the 'Pokémon world' magazine."
"Photographer?" Ash's guard lowered slightly, but he still stood between Ache and Pikachu, "Why were you secretly taking pictures of my Pikachu?"
Ache's eyes sparkled with fervent light: "Because that's the most perfect Pikachu I've ever seen!
Its fur color, physique, expression... everything is just right!" He gestured excitedly, "I've been looking for a model like this to help me win the Annual Best Pokémon Photography Contest!"
Just then, Pikachu emerged from the flower patch, curiously looking at the stranger.
When it noticed the camera in Ache's hand, its ears immediately drooped, and it hid behind Ash's leg.
"Pika..." It squeaked softly, clearly uncomfortable.
"Hey, don't be scared, Pikachu." Ash knelt down to comfort it, "He just wants to take your picture."
Ache immediately knelt on one knee, aiming his camera at Pikachu: "That's it! Hold that expression! Be natural!"
The flash suddenly went off, startling Pikachu, who shrieked "Pika!" and all its fur bristled, quickly scrambling onto Ash's shoulder.
"Hey! You scared it!" Ash said, annoyed.
Ache, however, completely ignored Pikachu's fear, excitedly checking the photos he had just taken: "Fantastic! This startled expression is also very precious! Let's get a few more from different angles!"
"Wait, Mr. Ache," Brock walked over, saying gently but firmly, "It seems Pikachu doesn't like being photographed.
Perhaps you should get to know it first?"
Ache finally looked up, noticing Pikachu clutching Ash's collar tightly, clearly very nervous.
He looked confused: "How can that be? I've photographed hundreds of Pikachu, and I've never seen one so shy."
"Every Pokémon has its own personality," Xiao You walked over, Sylveon at her feet, "Just like my Sylveon, it also doesn't like sudden flashes."
Ache frowned in thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "I know! It needs some guidance!" He took out a Pikachu doll from his backpack, "Look, little one, this is your friend!"
Pikachu sniffed the scent of other Pikachu from the doll, relaxing a little and peeking out curiously.
"Yes, just like that!" Ache whispered excitedly, quietly raising his camera, "A little closer..."
Just as Pikachu was about to touch the doll, Ache pressed the shutter.
The sudden "click" and flash startled Pikachu again, and it quickly jumped back onto Ash's shoulder, knocking off Ash's hat.
"Enough!" Ash angrily picked up his hat, "Can't you see it's scared?"
Ache, however, was completely immersed in his own world: "Not natural enough... I need its most authentic side..." He muttered, completely oblivious to Ash's anger.
Seeing this, Brock quickly intervened: "Ache, why don't we eat something first? I just finished making the burgers."
Ache finally came back to his senses, scratching his head somewhat awkwardly: "Ah, sorry, I was too focused.
Thank you for the invitation."
During lunch, Ache's eyes still occasionally glanced at Pikachu.
Pikachu sat next to Ash, cautiously nibbling on a piece of Pokémon food, flinching whenever it felt Ache's gaze.
"So, Mr. Ache," Brock handed him a burger, "Why are you so insistent on photographing Pikachu?"
Ache took the burger but didn't eat it immediately: "Do you know about the Annual Best Pokémon Photography Contest?
That's an honor every Pokémon photographer in the world dreams of." His eyes sparkled, "I've participated for five years, always just missing out.
This time, I must win with a perfect Pikachu photo!"
"But why specifically Pikachu?" Xiao You asked curiously.
"Because Pikachu is the most representative symbol of the bond between humans and Pokémon!" Ache said excitedly, "Its expressions are rich, its movements are agile, and it's deeply loved by people.
A perfect Pikachu photo can move anyone's heart!"
Ash looked at the sulking Pikachu on his shoulder, frowning: "But if Pikachu isn't willing, what's the point of even the most perfect photo?"
Ache was stunned, seemingly having never considered this question: "But... but this is art!
For art, sometimes a little sacrifice is needed..."
"Pikachu isn't your art prop," Ash said firmly, "It's my partner.
If it's not happy, I won't be happy either."
Lunch ended in a slightly awkward atmosphere.
Pikachu clung to Ash, barely touching even its favorite ketchup.
Ache sat aside, constantly reviewing the photos he had just taken on his camera, sometimes shaking his head, sometimes sighing: "None of them are perfect enough... Something is missing..."
Ash couldn't stand it anymore and walked over to Ache: "Listen, Mr. Ache, I understand your desire to take good photos.
But Pikachu clearly doesn't like being photographed.
Why can't you respect its wishes?"
Ache looked up, a flicker of struggle in his eyes: "You don't understand... This is very important to me.
I... I need this photo."
"Why?" Ash pressed, "Is it just for the contest?"
Ache was silent for a moment, then finally said in a low voice: "It's not just the contest... My father is a famous Pokémon photographer, and he... he never believed I could inherit his career.
This contest is my chance to prove myself."
Ash's expression softened a little: "I understand your desire to prove yourself.
But by forcing Pikachu to cooperate, can you really take a good photo?"
Ache looked at Pikachu, who was hiding under a distant tree, and fell into deep thought.
Just then, Venusaur suddenly let out a wary growl.
Everyone turned to look and saw a wild Zangoose quietly approaching their food basket.
"Watch out!" Brock yelled.
The Zangoose was startled and immediately assumed an attack stance.
Seeing this, Pikachu unhesitatingly jumped out to block everyone, its cheek pouches beginning to spark with electricity.
"Pika—chu!" A bolt of lightning accurately struck the ground in front of the Zangoose, a clear warning.
The Zangoose was intimidated, hesitated for a moment, then turned and fled into the woods.
"Good job, Pikachu!" Ash happily ran over and picked up his partner.
Pikachu proudly puffed out its chest, its tail wagging happily.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden halo around it.
Ache's eyes widened.
He slowly raised his camera but didn't immediately take a photo, instead saying softly: "Pikachu... thank you for protecting us just now."
Pikachu turned its head, surprised to find that Ache wasn't eagerly pressing the shutter as before, but was looking at it sincerely.
"I... I'm sorry I scared you earlier," Ache continued, his voice trembling slightly, "I was just too focused on taking the perfect photo, and I forgot the most important thing."
Pikachu's ears perked up, curiously looking at this photographer who had suddenly changed.
Ache put down his camera and took out a Pokémon food from his pocket: "This is something I made myself, a small gift specifically for my subjects.
Would you... like to try it?"
Pikachu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ash.
Ash smiled and nodded: "Go ahead, Pikachu."
Pikachu cautiously approached Ache, took the food, and took a bite.
Its eyes immediately lit up: "Pika! (Good)" It clearly liked the taste.
Ache smiled, and this time he didn't rush to take a photo, but gently stroked Pikachu's head: "As long as you like it."
Pikachu seemed to finally relax, beginning to curiously examine Ache's camera.
"Want to see?" Ache turned the camera screen towards Pikachu, showing the photos he had just taken, "This is how you protected us just now, very cool."
Pikachu looked at itself on the screen, blinked in surprise, then happily chirped "Pika Pika (Of course)".
Ash, Brock, and Xiao You exchanged smiles.
Ache finally understood what was truly important.
"Hey, Pikachu," Ache said softly, "Can I take a picture of you and your Trainer together?
Just one, no pressure."
Pikachu looked at Ash, then happily nodded, jumping onto Ash's shoulder.
Ash smiled and scratched Pikachu's chin: "Ready, partner?"
"Pika!" Pikachu affectionately rubbed Ash's cheek.
At that very moment, Ache pressed the shutter.
There was no deliberate posing, no forced postures, only the most natural interaction and the most genuine emotion.
Ache looked at the photo on the screen, his eyes moist: "This... this is the photo I've always wanted to take."
Ash walked over to look, and in the photo, he and Pikachu smiled at each other, the sunlight gilding them, as if the whole world contained only them.
"This is true perfection, isn't it?" Ash said with a smile.
Ache nodded, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes: "Yes... I finally understand.
A perfect photo isn't about technical flawlessness, but about capturing that ineffable bond between a Pokémon and its Trainer."
He turned to Pikachu and said sincerely: "Thank you, Pikachu.
Thank you for teaching me this."
Pikachu happily jumped onto Ache's shoulder, gently patting his hat, as if saying "You're welcome."
The sun set, casting golden rays across the grass.
Ache packed up his camera and suggested to the three: "Thank you for your hospitality, and... thank you for your understanding.
I hope I can temporarily join your journey."
"You can," Brock, Ash, and Xiao You replied upon hearing this.
Ache smiled: "Then please take care of me."
Ash waved: "Welcome to the team, Ache!"
"Pika Pika! (Welcome, welcome)" Pikachu also enthusiastically welcomed him.
Everyone laughed, beginning to clean up the picnic in the glow of the setting sun.
Pikachu happily helped pick up trash, occasionally glancing at Ash, its eyes full of happiness.