"For the boss! For promotion and a fat raise!!"
"For the boss! For promotion and a fat raise!!"
"For the boss! For promotion and a fat raise!!"
After hyping each other up, the two humans and one Meowth continued to huddle miserably inside the bushes, feeding the night mosquitoes while waiting for Ash—who surely had to pass through here on his way out of Viridian Forest.
What the trio didn't know was that as early as four o'clock in the afternoon, Ash had already ridden his Pidgeot back home to Pallet Town. After finishing his reading and study session, he had gone to bed comfortably and fallen fast asleep.
The night passed without incident, until the eastern sky began to pale with the first hint of dawn.
Ash rose early, bringing Pichu and Frogadier with him as he headed out for a new day of morning training.
"..."
Within the hazy morning mist, beneath the stone bridge outside Pallet Town, Gyarados was already waiting there.
"Good morning, Gyarados~"
Ash greeted it casually, and as he did so, he quietly circulated his Viridian Power, letting that gentle, cleansing energy flow into Gyarados's body.
"…Ash, didn't you say yesterday that if a Pokémon gets injured, you'd help treat them for free?"
"…Yesterday, I led a few subordinates to fight over territory, and I got hurt. Could you… help me heal?"
The moment Gyarados finished speaking, six to seven Magikarp popped out of the water one after another, looking at Ash with pitiful, pleading eyes.
"No problem."
Ash nodded readily. "Also, Gyarados, remember to spread the word for me. Tell the other Water-type Pokémon in the river and the sea—anyone who's injured can come here. I'll treat them for free."
Then he added with a faint smile,
"If you hide this information and don't tell the others, then next time your subordinates get hurt, don't come looking for me~"
Ash glanced at the scene before him. Today, Gyarados had brought only its own injured underlings—no other wild Water-type Pokémon at all.
Coupled with what Ash sensed through Aura Perception, the subtle calculations stirring in Gyarados's mind were impossible to miss. That was why Ash issued the warning.
After all, the reason he wanted injured Water-type Pokémon from the river and sea to come to him was simple—to grow his powers.
Gyarados, however, had deliberately concealed the news, clearly hoping to monopolize Ash as its personal healer, turning this place into a private "Pokémon Center" for itself and its gang.
That selfish thought made Ash distinctly displeased.
"…I was wrong. Starting today, I'll help you spread the word with everything I've got."
Gyarados didn't dare offend Ash. Not only was it relying on him to improve its Pokémon Potential, but Ash was also healing its subordinates free of charge.
As Ash's Viridian Blessing grew stronger, it took him less than five minutes to finish treating all the injured Magikarp. While Magikarp had no valuable moves worth copying, healing six injured Pokémon in succession caused the Viridian Power within Ash to surge noticeably—something that made him genuinely happy.
"All right, their injuries are healed."
Ash straightened up and said calmly. "Gyarados, remember to spread the news. I want to see results today."
"Guah—!"
As Ash spoke, Frogadier beside him released a powerful aura of its own. Though it had only evolved yesterday, its level was already not much lower than Gyarados's.
"…Don't worry. On my way back, I'll make sure every wild Pokémon in the river hears about this."
"Mm."
Satisfied with Gyarados's assurance, Ash nodded. Then he added casually,
"By the way, Gyarados, have you found your mate yet? If you do a good job spreading the word, I can help raise her potential as well."
"Roaar—! Don't worry, Ash! I'll handle this perfectly!"
A balance of reward and punishment—firm authority paired with tempting incentives.
Earlier, Ash's warning—that he wouldn't heal Gyarados's subordinates in the future—had forced Gyarados to agree reluctantly.
But now, the promise of improving its mate's Potential instantly ignited Gyarados's enthusiasm.
"Go."
Seeing its reaction, Ash nodded in satisfaction.
Still, Gyarados's little scheme today gave Ash a new realization.
To humans, Pokémon seemed pure and simple—but that purity was only relative.
Pokémon were highly intelligent beings, just like humans, with emotions, desires, and their own social circles. Among wild Pokémon, there were also conflicts of interest, struggles, and selfish motives.
Just like now.
Yesterday, Ash had clearly told Gyarados to spread the word—that any injured Pokémon could come here for free treatment.
Yet Gyarados had hidden the news entirely, hoping to monopolize Ash's "favor" for itself alone.
"..."
Feeling that relying solely on Gyarados might not be safe enough, Ash activated Aura Projection and used Mind Reading & Telepathy to send his voice directly through the river.
"Attention, all wild Water-type Pokémon in the river.
My name is Ash, a resident of Pallet Town.
I possess a special power that allows me to heal injuries and illnesses.
If you are wounded or sick, you may come to the stone bridge outside Pallet Town. I will treat you for free."
"Splash—!"
"Plash—!"
In the wild, getting injured or sick was a common occurrence.
Now that a kind human "doctor" had announced free treatment, large numbers of injured and ill Water-type Pokémon immediately began swimming toward the area Ash had mentioned.
"Splash—!"
"Plash—!"
Ash had thought it would take some time for the message to take effect. Instead, less than a minute later, injured wild Water-type Pokémon were already arriving to seek treatment.
"Everyone, please wait a moment."
"Frogadier, Pichu—you two start your morning training over there first."
"Frogadier, your task today is to raise the proficiency of Smokescreen from Novice to Skilled. After that, keep training Water Shuriken."
"Pichu, your task is to raise Thunder Wave, which I helped you learn yesterday, from Novice to Skilled. After that, continue practicing Thunder Shock."
"No slacking. I'll be checking your progress later."
After the encounter with Team Rocket yesterday, Ash's desire to grow stronger had only intensified.
"Pichu! Pichu!"
"Guah—!"
Sensing Ash's determination, both Pichu and Frogadier nodded seriously. In truth, they didn't need reminding—neither of them would ever slack off during training.
Because they, too, burned with the same intense desire to become stronger.
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T/N:
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