Some encounters feel unreal—especially when even Legendary Pokemon start questioning reality.
After a bit of discussion, Ash finally learned something shocking.
Normal Trainers… actually cook meals while traveling.
They didn't just cook on special occasions.
And they definitely didn't survive purely on berries the way he had.
In fact—
A Trainer who lived entirely on berries like Ash was apparently considered an extremely rare oddball.
"…Unbelievable."
Ash ate three full bowls of rice before he managed to calm down from the shock.
With Serena traveling alongside him, both Ash and his Pokemon experienced a sudden leap in food quality.
Their meals improved by several levels overnight.
Still, Ash felt a little guilty that Serena was always the one cooking.
So one afternoon, he volunteered to prepare a big lunch for everyone.
He gathered every berry he could find nearby.
If it could be sliced—he sliced it.
If it could go into soup—he threw it in.
After a long and enthusiastic cooking process…
He successfully created a meal that inflicted:
Paralysis.
Confusion.
Poison.
Burn.
And several other status conditions.
…Technically speaking, it did improve everyone's resistance to status conditions.
So maybe it wasn't entirely bad.
Probably.
Cough.
After that incident, Ash was officially banned from touching cooking equipment.
Though they still let him gather berries so he could feel involved in meal preparation.
After all, berries were commonly used as seasonings.
In many places, berry powder even functioned as spices.
Logically speaking, even if Ash's cooking was bad, it shouldn't have been toxic.
Yet somehow—
He had managed to take berries meant to heal status conditions and turn them into food that caused those conditions.
The effect was completely reversed.
Which was frankly ridiculous.
Although…
From a certain perspective, Ash might actually have impressive culinary talent.
Just… in the wrong direction.
Anyway.
Cooking disasters aside, the journey itself remained enjoyable.
Along the road they witnessed countless strange scenes.
Magikarp swimming upstream and evolving into Gyarados.
A Sandshrew accidentally digging into an Onix's body, sending the giant Pokemoninto a rampage.
Even encountering the rare PokemonHitmonchan.
For Serena, it was the first time realizing how many fascinating things happened in the wild.
She finally understood why some people spent their lives exploring nature with Pokémon.
After all, Pokemontruly lived up to their nickname—
"Pocket Monsters."
Creatures filled with wonder and mystery.
Ash, however, wasn't nearly as surprised.
He had known about the incredible nature of Pokemonsince childhood.
So throughout the journey, most of his attention stayed focused on training.
After battling Red, Ash finally understood what true strength looked like.
Red had become his benchmark.
And with that goal ahead of him, Ash trained almost constantly.
Under normal circumstances, improving this quickly would be unusual.
But Ash trained alongside his Pokémon.
Sometimes even harder than they did.
When the Trainer fought this hard…
How could the Pokemonpossibly slack off?
Still, this method probably wouldn't work for most Trainers.
Not everyone had a body as absurdly strong as Ash's.
Regardless—
If it worked, it worked.
And during the journey, Ash's Weedle finally evolved.
After accumulating enough experience, it transformed into Kakuna.
Bug-type Pokemonevolved quickly by nature.
And with Ash's intense training, the evolution came even faster.
Unfortunately, that meant Ash temporarily had only two Pokemoncapable of battle.
Because Kakuna knew only Harden.
Technically it could still fight…
But intense battles were out of the question.
Still, Kakuna insisted on continuing its training.
Which created a small problem.
How exactly did a cocoon with no arms or mouth train?
After thinking long and hard, Ash came up with a solution.
Froakie would spar with Kakuna.
Froakie used its sword techniques to strike Kakuna.
Kakuna used Harden to defend.
Essentially—
Kakuna became a whetstone for Froakie's blade.
Honestly, it was a dangerous idea.
Froakie's swordsmanship was no joke.
Fortunately, Froakie possessed excellent control over its strength.
Otherwise Kakuna probably wouldn't survive the training.
Even after evolving into Beedrill later, the species would remain fragile.
Ash wasn't sure if this training would increase Kakuna's defense.
But even if it didn't, it gave Kakuna something to focus on.
However—
Kakuna didn't treat it like a game.
It considered this serious training.
Deep inside, Kakuna made a vow.
The day it could withstand Froakie's full-powered strike—
Would be the day it evolved.
Breaking the cocoon.
And overturning the mighty frog.
"Froa."
When Froakie heard Kakuna's ambition, it scoffed.
A tiny bug thinking it could surpass it?
Ridiculous.
But even so…
Froakie gradually increased the power behind its strikes.
It wasn't afraid of being surpassed.
But a tougher training partner meant a better whetstone.
Let's see how much you can endure.
Little bug.
One day, thick fog suddenly rolled through the mountains.
Travel became difficult.
"This fog is really heavy," Serena said nervously.
"It's dangerous to keep moving like this. We might get lost."
"Then let's stay here until it clears," Ash replied.
"Okay."
They waited.
Thirty minutes passed.
The fog didn't thin.
If anything, it grew even thicker.
"This isn't good," Serena said, unconsciously moving closer to Ash.
"It's getting late. Maybe we should just camp here tonight."
"Looks like we have to."
Ash nodded.
"Then I'll prepare dinner."
"I'll gather berries and firewood."
"Wait!" Serena stopped him.
"The fog is too thick today. You might get lost."
Ash waved casually.
"Don't worry."
He tapped his nose proudly.
"My nose is really sensitive."
"I can follow my sense of smell back."
"…Are you a human or a Growlithe?"
Serena had no idea how to respond.
But before she could say anything else—
Ash had already disappeared into the fog.
"I'll be back soon!"
"Hey—Ash!"
Serena sighed.
Then she looked at Froakie.
"Froakie… why is Ash's body so strong?"
"Froa."
Froakie answered seriously.
That is a mystery I am still investigating myself.
Serena: "..."
"Never mind."
She turned toward Mimikyu and Braixen.
"Mimikyu, Braixen—help me prepare the ingredients."
"Mimi!"
"Bra!"
Meanwhile, Ash moved quickly through the fog.
Within minutes he had gathered a massive pile of berries and firewood.
"This should be enough."
The bundle was so large it nearly blocked his vision.
Just as he prepared to return—
His nose twitched.
A strange scent drifted through the fog.
It was incredibly fresh.
"What's that smell?"
Ash turned instinctively.
He had never smelled anything like it before.
If he had to describe it…
It smelled like the north wind.
Why the north wind?
Why not east, west, or south?
Ash had no idea.
It just felt like the north wind.
Peering through the mist—
He saw something.
A blue, four-legged creature moving silently through the fog.
"What is that?"
Ash stepped closer.
The creature noticed him.
Then it began running.
Its long legs carried it forward like it was gliding across the forest.
Within seconds—
It vanished.
"Wait!"
Ash dropped the firewood and berries instantly.
Then chased after it.
Using his nose to track the scent, Ash sprinted through the forest.
His stamina and strength let him crash through the terrain with incredible speed.
Gradually—
The distance closed.
"…Wait."
Suicune was startled.
What was wrong with this human?
Why was he running faster than it was?
This wasn't normal.
If the boy actually caught up…
Suicune's mysterious legendary image might collapse completely.
It quickly scanned the surroundings.
Then spotted a large estate nearby.
Without hesitation, Suicune leaped toward it.
Ash followed.
Suicune vaulted over the massive iron gate.
Ash immediately jumped after it.
Then—
BANG!!!
A deafening crash echoed through the fog.
Ash slammed face-first into the iron gate.
The impact left a human-shaped dent in the metal.
Suicune's eyes widened.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
This was terrifying.
Without hesitation, Suicune fled at full speed.
Today it had clearly encountered a ghost.
Better leave immediately.
"...Ow."
Ash slowly pulled himself out of the dented gate.
He rubbed his sore nose.
Then he heard hurried footsteps.
And a girl's excited voice.
"Where's the rampaging humanoid Pokémon?!"
"Where?!"
"Oh! There it is!"
"Judging by the size… it must be a Machop!"
"And it even bent the iron gate! This Machop must be very high level!"
"Perfect!"
"Come with me to the Indigo League!"
"Go, Poké Ball!"
WHOOSH!
Ash looked up just in time to see a Poké Ball flying toward him.
BONK.
"OW!"
"…Wait."
"The Machop can talk?!"
"You're the Machop!"
Ash shouted angrily toward the gate.
"I'm obviously a human! Are you blind?!"
"Oh?"
The girl stepped closer.
Now Ash could see her clearly.
A cute brunette girl.
"You actually bent the iron gate."
She covered her mouth in surprise.
"Are you descended from gorillas?"
Instantly—
Ash decided she was no longer cute.
"You're the gorilla!"
The boys behind her glared furiously.
"How dare you insult Lady Sherry!"
"Unforgivable!"
"What?" Ash cracked his knuckles.
"You want to fight?"
He punched the wall beside him.
His fist sank halfway into the stone.
"I'm ready anytime."
"…."
The boys instantly fell silent.
Even Sherry stared in shock.
"My goodness."
"Where did this caveman come from?"
"Say that again—"
"Fighting is barbaric," she said calmly while opening a fan.
"If we want to settle a dispute, we should use Pokemonbattles."
"You want a Pokemonbattle?" Ash said excitedly.
"Sure!"
He reached for a Poké Ball.
"Alright! Then it's decided—Mimikyu, I choose—"
He froze.
Mimikyu was still helping Serena cook.
Even a Pokemoncooked better than him.
Cough.
"…Uh."
Ash started sweating.
Froakie wasn't with him either.
Which meant he only had one Pokemonleft.
"Well?" Sherry said smugly.
"Don't tell me you don't even have a Pokémon."
"I do!"
Ash gritted his teeth and threw the Poké Ball.
"Then let's do this!"
"Go—Kakuna!"
Flash.
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