"Dedenne…!!"
Seeing Dedenne sent flying, Green snapped back to her senses and cried out in panic.
With Double Team + Agility + Quick Attack, even though Quick Attack's base power wasn't high, the triple-layered speed boost had transformed speed into sheer destructive force. Combined with a 20-level gap, Pidgeotto needed just a single strike to completely overwhelm Dedenne.
"One hit…"
"One move… and it's over…"
"Dedenne is unable to battle. This match goes to Pidgeotto."
On the sidelines, Gary Oak promptly declared the result.
"…I lost."
Green rushed forward and scooped up Dedenne, her voice tinged with disbelief and helpless laughter.
"I didn't expect an Electric-type to lose this badly against a Flying-type… Ash, your Pidgeotto is just too strong."
She looked at Ash, then at the descending Pidgeotto, her heart filled with complicated emotions.
They had grown up together—neighbors, childhood friends. Back then, Ash had always been energetic, impulsive, even a little reckless. None of them had truly shown their talent as Trainers yet.
And if she were honest…
Back then, she had always thought Gary had more potential.
But everything changed two months ago.
After that accident—after Ash fell into the river and was hospitalized—he came back… different.
More mature. More composed.
The boy who used to butt heads with Gary had somehow become the one Gary now followed without hesitation.
And the "weakest" member of their childhood trio…
Had quietly risen far ahead of them both.
Green's smile faded slightly as she held Dedenne closer.
She knew the truth.
Without Ash, she would never have earned the "Outstanding Camper" title at Professor Oak's summer camp—never would've received her starter Pokémon early.
And not just her.
Serena, Shauna, Tierno, Trevor… even the others who joined later—
Without Ash, none of them would've achieved what they did.
But beyond gratitude…
What truly overwhelmed her was everything Ash had accomplished since.
A one-in-a-million psychic.
A six-year-old who built a successful business—Ash's Move Mastery Room.
A Trainer who, in just two months, raised his Pokémon to near-Elite levels.
Once, she thought Ash would fall behind.
Now—
He had already left them far in the dust.
-----
Ash, meanwhile, had no idea what was going through her mind. He had no habit of prying into others' thoughts with his Aura.
After the battle, he simply stepped forward and used his Viridian Power to heal Dedenne.
The air grew quiet.
One treating a Pokémon.
One lost in her thoughts.
Until suddenly—
"PIDGEOTTOOO!!"
A sharp, soaring cry split the silence.
Even without understanding Pokémon speech, both Green and Gary could feel it—
Excitement. Joy. Breakthrough.
Then—
"SHAA—!"
A surge of energy erupted from Pidgeotto's body, blazing into a brilliant white light that engulfed it completely.
At the same time, Ash heard the familiar system notifications:
[Ding! Defeated LV.16 Dedenne. EXP +230]
[Ding! Pidgeotto leveled up → LV.37]
[Ding! Evolution conditions met… Pidgeotto is evolving!!!]
Within the dazzling light, Pidgeotto's body began to grow.
Larger. Stronger. Majestic.
Moments later—
The light shattered into countless fragments.
And in its place—
Stood a brand-new Pokémon.
Pidgeot — The Sky Sovereign
Its form resembled Pidgeotto, but everything about it had been elevated.
A larger, more imposing body
Wider wingspan, capable of commanding the skies
Sleek, powerful talons
Cream-colored plumage blending into rich brown
Sharp, piercing eyes that radiated authority
But what stood out most—
Was the magnificent crest flowing from its head, red and gold feathers streaming like flames in the wind.
Paired with its elegant tail and grand wings, it no longer resembled a simple bird Pokémon.
It looked like—
A king of the skies.
Gary and Green both stood frozen, mouths slightly open in shock.
Ash, though calmer on the surface, couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes.
Pikachu. Fearow. Greninja.
All of them had already reached their final forms.
And now—
Pidgeotto had finally caught up.
A sense of completeness welled up in his chest.
But beyond that—
This evolution meant something even more important.
First.
Unlike Fearow, whose body wasn't suited for riding, Pidgeot could now become Ash's true aerial mount. With some training, he would finally have a partner to carry him across the skies.
Second.
The Mega Evolution item he had forged earlier—through Master Caldor at Rainbow Radiance—could finally be put to use.
Ash exhaled slowly, a smile forming on his lips.
"System… scan Pidgeot."
The next stage—
Had officially begun.
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