After finishing lunch and helping the Pokémon that Melanie had sent over learn their new skills, Ash pulled out his phone.
Then, in the small Kalos friends group chat—which only included Tierno, Trevor, Serena, Shauna, Clemont, and a handful of others—he tagged everyone and explained that he was looking to borrow a Pokémon that knew Aura Sphere.
The reason he wasn't approaching Professor Juniper was simple.
Their relationship wasn't particularly close.
Even if the favor was small, asking her for help under those circumstances would still create a debt of gratitude.
And if Professor Juniper ever needed his assistance in the future, refusing would become difficult.
As a Pokémon researcher, the most common favor she might request would probably be permission to study one of his Pokémon.
For researchers like Professor Oak and Professor Juniper, such a request would be perfectly normal.
For Ash, however, it was something he disliked and found difficult to accept.
After all, a trainer's carefully nurtured Pokémon were among their most private and closely guarded assets.
And Ash's Pokémon were far from ordinary.
Take Pikachu, for example.
In the original anime, after encountering Pikachu just once, Team Rocket's trio had spent years trying to capture him.
As an elite operations team directly under Giovanni, Ash didn't believe Jessie, James, and Meowth lacked judgment.
Quite the opposite.
As members of an organization that specialized in stealing Pokémon, trafficking them on the black market, and conducting cruel experiments, they understood better than most what made a Pokémon valuable.
The fact that they had spent years obsessing over Pikachu proved that they had recognized something extraordinary about him.
Back when Ash had merely watched the anime, he had never fully understood what made Pikachu so special.
Now that he had transmigrated into this world and possessed the Ascension Trainer System, he finally understood.
Pikachu was just like the original Ash.
A protagonist.
A child of destiny.
A bearer of fortune.
Ash carried the destiny of humanity.
Pikachu carried the destiny of Pokémon.
On the very day the original Ash began his journey, he encountered Ho-Oh.
Because of his pure heart, Ho-Oh gifted him the Rainbow Wing, chose him as a Rainbow Hero, and bestowed its blessing upon him.
Pikachu was the same.
As the protagonist among Pokémon, as a favored child of fate, the data displayed on the system panel made everything clear.
Although Pikachu had reached the end of its evolutionary line after evolving from Pichu and could evolve no further, it possessed a mythical-level stat foundation of six perfect hundreds.
Within its body slept an incredible power of miracles.
Its aptitude had reached Gold Potential.
Gold always shines.
Protagonists always stand out.
Pikachu's uniqueness could never be completely hidden.
Especially not from top-tier researchers like Professor Oak or Professor Juniper.
Perhaps they wouldn't uncover all of his secrets.
But they would inevitably glimpse part of the truth.
And that was something Ash absolutely didn't want.
As for why he wasn't immediately mobilizing his massive fanbase to find a Pokémon that knew Aura Sphere...
The answer was equally simple.
He didn't want to owe strangers favors over something this minor.
Not that he feared being unable to repay those favors.
With his current resources and influence, that wasn't a concern.
But if his closest friends could solve the problem, there was no reason to trouble others.
Only if those friends had no suitable connections would he consider reaching out to his fans.
Fortunately, outstanding people often surrounded themselves with equally outstanding friends.
Not long after Ash sent his request into the group chat, replies began flooding in.
Shauna: "..."
Shauna: "..."
Serena: "..."
Tierno: "A Clawitzer or Clauncher that knows Aura Sphere?"
"My great-uncle Rodman is the curator of the Ambrette Aquarium."
"I remember he has a Clauncher, but I'm not sure whether it knows Aura Sphere."
"Let me give him a call and ask for you."
Ash: "@Tierno Thanks! (^^)"
Trevor: "..."
Clemont: "Oh right, Ash."
"Does it specifically need to be a Clauncher or Clawitzer?"
"Would another Pokémon that learned Aura Sphere through a TM work?"
Ash: "That works too."
"Do you know a trainer who has a Pokémon that knows Aura Sphere?"
Clemont: "Actually, yes."
"My father's ace Pokémon, Blaziken, learned Aura Sphere from a TM."
"If you need it, I can talk to my father later and ask if he'll lend Blaziken to you for your research."
Ash: "Seriously? That would be amazing."
"But are you sure it's okay?"
"Blaziken is your father's most important partner."
Being able to borrow the Pokémon he needed was naturally great news.
And because they were close friends, Ash wasn't worried about owing a favor that would come back to haunt him later.
But it was precisely because they were close friends that he cared about their feelings and didn't want to inconvenience them.
Clemont: "Don't worry."
"My dad is a really nice person."
"And honestly, because I spend most of my time locked up in the Gym doing research instead of going outside and socializing, he's always worried that I won't make any friends."
"A few days ago, when you returned from the Cerulean City Water-Type Pokémon Beauty Contest, you even sent gifts to Bonnie and me."
"Later, when my father helped us pick up the package and learned that a friend had sent it, he was so happy."
"When he found out I had become friends with someone like you—someone talented, kind, and successful—he actually hugged me and cried."
"So if he hears that you need to borrow Blaziken for Aura Sphere research, I'm sure he'll agree immediately."
"And besides..."
"I know you'll take good care of Blaziken, won't you?"
Along with the message, Clemont attached a silly smiling emoji.
Ash laughed.
"Haha, alright."
"As long as your father doesn't find it troublesome."
"And don't worry—if Blaziken comes over, I'll take very good care of him."
...
...
The problem that had seemed troublesome only moments earlier was already beginning to solve itself.
Once again, Ash couldn't help but realize how valuable genuine friendships truly were.
Sometimes, a single message was enough to accomplish what countless resources couldn't.
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T/N:
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