[Elesa: Hehe, Pikachu is so cute! And a little bit mischievous, isn't he? Ash, if you ever snub him again, he can come live with his big sister in Nimbasa City!]
[Ash: No way! I'm never letting Pikachu go, and I'm definitely not ignoring him again!!]
[Caitlin: Elesa, stop teasing the boy. Look at them; their bond is the foundation of everything.]
[Cynthia: It's true. Pikachu's 'black-bellied' (mischievous) side only makes him more endearing. It shows a personality that has grown alongside Ash for years.]
[Shauntal: It's almost like Cynthia's own hidden mischievous side, right?]
[Cynthia:? I advise you to choose your words carefully. When have I ever been 'black-bellied'?]
[Lorelei: Oh, we've seen the way you smile when you're about to sweep a team, Cynthia. It's definitely there.]
In the Footage—
Bathed in the "electricity of friendship," Ash and Pikachu fully reconciled. From that day on, Pikachu was front and center for every training session.
Ash realized that his "hasty" promotion of Riolu and Farfetch'd was actually putting an undue burden on them. True growth shouldn't be rushed by benching your strongest partner.
Life settled into a comfortable rhythm. Ash performed research tasks with Chloe and sought out World Coronation Series opponents in his spare time. His ranking steadily climbed to 801.
One afternoon, Chloe made a suggestion. "Ash, I want to go to the Hoenn region. I want to see what a true Pokémon Contest looks like!" While Kanto had contests, Hoenn was their ancestral home. Ash readily agreed, hoping to run into old friends like May.
Upon arriving in Hoenn, they visited a familiar face in Littleroot Town: Professor Birch. The Professor was famous for his hands-on (and often dangerous) field research. As they approached the lab, they saw the Professor in his signature lab coat and shorts.
"Professor Birch! Long time no see!"
Birch turned around, blinking at the tall, confident teenager before him. "Is that… Ash? And Pikachu? Haha! It's been ages!"
The reunion was warm, but Ash's attention was soon drawn to a man standing next to the Professor. He had brown hair, a tracksuit, and a face that sparked a fierce memory in Ash's mind.
"Wait… Harrison??"
Even after years, Ash hadn't forgotten the man who had defeated him at the Silver Conference in Johto. Harrison was the rival who first introduced Ash to the idea of the Hoenn region by using his Blaziken.
Chloe was confused. She knew Professor Birch, but she had never heard of Harrison. Ash quickly introduced everyone, explaining that Harrison was the trainer who had handed him his most pivotal defeat years ago.
Chloe looked at Harrison with curiosity. This man defeated the Ash I know? That seems impossible now.
[Lance: So this is the young man who stopped Ash at the Silver Conference? He looks much older than Ash back then.]
[Blaine: I wonder if Ash's Charizard was back from the Valley yet. If Harrison beat a Valley-trained Charizard, he's a monster.]
[Leon: Seeing a past conqueror always ignites a fire. Ash will definitely want a rematch.]
[Professor Birch: Harrison has been traveling for years now. He actually started his journey about a year before Ash did. He's a very talented trainer.]
In the Footage—
Just as the world predicted, the reunion between Ash and Harrison sparked an immediate desire to battle. It turned out that Harrison was also a participant in the World Coronation Series, currently ranked 650th in the Super Class. This was the perfect opportunity for an official rematch!
"It's been years since our last fight! I've missed this feeling!" Ash said, his eyes glowing with excitement.
Harrison gripped a Poké Ball. "I remember our last battle vividly. I almost lost! My Blaziken was so exhausted that he couldn't even participate in the next round. I've traveled through many regions since then. Let me show you how much I've grown!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Both trainers swapped their current teams for their "All-Star" members using Professor Birch's PC system. Ash knew that against Harrison, his new recruits wouldn't cut it.
He needed his heavy hitters. They moved to the battlefield in Birch's backyard, and a Rotom Drone flew in to referee the match.
The two stood opposite each other, the air crackling with tension.
"I still remember the heat of that final exchange," Harrison said, tossing his ball. "Go, Blaziken!"
The fire-fighting starter emerged with a sharp cry, its white feathers fluttering like a cape. Ash countered with a roar of his own.
"Charizard, I choose you!"
The iconic orange dragon landed on the field, a literal pillar of flame erupting from its tail.
"Just like last time," they said in unison.
[Blaine: Charizard vs. Blaziken… the classic rematch. It's a shame Ash lost the first time due to a narrow margin.]
[Caitlin: Blaziken's Fire/Fighting type gives it a disadvantage against a Flying-type like Charizard. If Ash loses this time, it's a matter of raw power levels.]
[Lance: Ash's Charizard was able to hold its own against a (suppressed) Reshiram. You won't seriously tell me a Blaziken can…]
[Diantha: Stop right there, Lance! Don't you dare 'jinx' this battle with your commentary! Let the dragon fight!]
In the Footage—
Harrison made the first move. "Blaziken, use Flamethrower!"
"We'll meet it with our own Flamethrower!"
Two torrents of white-hot fire collided in the center of the field, merging into a massive sphere of inferno. The temperature in the backyard skyrocketed. Chloe and Professor Birch had to step back, shielded by the sheer heat of the clash.
"Charizard, press him down!" Ash commanded.
Charizard let out a roar that shook the trees. The fire from his mouth surged, turning from orange-red to a deep, visceral crimson! The expanded flame instantly swallowed Blaziken's attack and washed over the Fighting-type Pokémon like a tidal wave.
Harrison shielded his eyes, stunned. His Blaziken was nearly at an Elite Four level of power, yet Ash's Charizard was simply overpowering him through sheer brute force. This wasn't about tactics yet—it was a gap in fundamental firepower.
Blaziken leaped out of the flames, using his own heat to offset the damage, but he was clearly shaken. Harrison gritted his teeth, focusing entirely on the duel.
"Use Brave Bird!"
Blaziken took to the air, his body cloaked in a brilliant golden-blue energy. He dove like a comet toward Charizard, the "Brave Bird" aura forming a massive avian shape around him. It was a high-speed, high-stakes tackle.
At that speed, a normal Charizard shouldn't have been able to react. Harrison looked at Ash, expecting to see panic. Instead, he saw a man who looked completely at peace. The Ash of today was light-years removed from the boy at the Silver Conference.
"Charizard, block it with Dragon Claw."
"ROAR!!"
Charizard didn't move an inch. He simply extended his talons, which glowed with a sharp, emerald-green energy. He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
BOOM!!
The impact sent a shockwave across the town. Professor Birch covered his head to block the dust. When the air cleared, the world gasped. Charizard had caught the Brave Bird with his bare claws.
Harrison stared in disbelief. Ash stood there, a "Champion's aura" radiating from his very posture—confident, resolute, and in total control.
How? Harrison wondered. We were equals back then. What has this boy been through to reach this level of god-tier strength?
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