After catching the energetic Totodile, Ash and his companions continued their journey toward Goldenrod City.
Along the way, Ash patiently guided Totodile in practicing Water-type moves. He soon discovered that Totodile's unique dancing style was perfectly suited for learning Swords Dance.
After a period of training, Totodile not only mastered Swords Dance, but also learned Aqua Tail and Ice Fang, two highly practical close combat techniques.
Upon arriving at the Pokémon Center, Ash decided to send Totodile back to Professor Oak's Laboratory first.
He believed that battling and training with the other Pokémon there would help Totodile master its new moves more quickly.
"Professor Oak, I'm leaving Totodile in your care," Ash said through the video phone.
"Don't worry, leave it to me," Professor Oak replied with a smile as he accepted the Poké Ball. "Oh, right. The Oddish you sent over earlier has improved a lot. It's already learned Razor Leaf from training alongside Bulbasaur."
"That's great!" Ash said happily.
After the call ended, Nurse Joy had also just finished treating their Pokémon.
Just as the group was preparing to leave, a boy carrying an injured Growlithe rushed into the Pokémon Center and collided headfirst with Ash.
"Ouch!"
Both of them fell onto the floor at the same time.
Brock quickly helped Ash up.
"Are you okay?"
Misty, meanwhile, looked concernedly at the Growlithe in the boy's arms.
"Is that Growlithe injured? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I lost a battle," the boy said dejectedly. "That Trainer was way too strong."
"So you rushed here to get Growlithe treated?" Brock nodded in understanding.
The boy stood up while holding Growlithe.
"That Trainer is still on the bridge at the mountaintop. You'd better stay away from there."
After saying that, he hurried toward the treatment room.
A spark of excitement flashed through Ash's eyes.
This was exactly the event he remembered involving the Skarmory Trainer.
His Cyndaquil had already mastered several Fire-type moves, and its stamina had improved significantly. This was the perfect opportunity to test the results of its training.
"Judging by that look on your face, you're planning to go challenge that Trainer, aren't you?" Brock asked knowingly.
"You really know me, Brock!" Ash clenched his fist. "Whenever I meet a powerful opponent, my blood starts boiling with excitement!"
"But we don't even know what kind of Pokémon they're using," Misty said worriedly.
"That's exactly what makes it exciting!" Ash replied confidently. "Let's go!"
When they arrived near the bridge on the mountaintop, they quickly spotted a lone figure.
It was a girl with a distinctive aura, quietly standing by the bridge.
In an instant, Brock appeared right in front of her, gently taking her hand.
"Beautiful young lady, my name is Brock. May I have the honor of knowing yours?"
To everyone's surprise, the girl showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, she responded gracefully.
"My name is Miki."
"What a lovely name! Allow me to escort you on your journey..."
"Do you have any Fire-type Pokémon?" Miki suddenly interrupted.
"Of course I do."
"Then please battle me."
Her expression changed instantly. She withdrew her hand, stepped back several paces, and smoothly pulled out a Poké Ball.
"We'll each use one Pokémon. A one-on-one battle. How about it?"
Brock froze on the spot as if a bucket of cold water had just been poured over him.
"So she's the Trainer who's been challenging people on the bridge!" Misty suddenly realized.
After calming himself down, Brock accepted the challenge.
"In that case, I'll be your opponent."
"Wonderful."
Miki tossed her Poké Ball.
"Go, Skarmory!"
The silver-white Skarmory spread its wings as it appeared. Its metallic feathers gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.
Ash smiled knowingly.
"Just as I thought."
"What do you mean, 'just as I thought'?" Misty asked curiously.
"Skarmory is both a Steel-type and Flying-type Pokémon," Ash explained. "Steel-types are only weak to Ground, Fighting, and Fire. But its Flying type removes the Ground weakness and gives it an advantage against Fighting-types. That means the truly effective types against it are only Electric and Fire."
Misty's eyes widened in surprise.
"Ash, you used to know almost nothing about type matchups. How can you analyze them so thoroughly now?"
"I worked hard at it," Ash replied with a proud wink. "Otherwise, how do you think I won the Indigo Conference Championship? Did you think I relied purely on spur-of-the-moment commands? You need solid fundamentals too!"
Brock nodded approvingly and then sent out Vulpix.
However, Vulpix, which wasn't particularly suited for battling, was quickly defeated by Skarmory's Steel Wing.
"I lost."
Brock accepted the result calmly.
"Do you have any other Fire-type Pokémon?" Miki asked.
"I don't, but he does." Brock pointed toward Ash.
Ash stepped forward.
"I'll take your challenge! Cyndaquil, it's your turn!"
As Cyndaquil appeared, the flames on its back burned more fiercely than usual, displaying its intense fighting spirit.
"Let me see the results of your special training! Cyndaquil, Flamethrower!"
"Skarmory, dodge!"
Skarmory skillfully flew into the air and avoided the flames.
Miki immediately counterattacked.
"Swift!"
"We'll use Swift too!"
The two waves of star-shaped projectiles collided in midair, exploding into dazzling flashes of light.
"Steel Wing!"
"Use Quick Attack to dodge!"
Cyndaquil transformed into a streak of red light, darting nimbly across the battlefield. Every one of Skarmory's attacks missed its target.
Taking advantage of the opening after Skarmory's attack, Cyndaquil had already maneuvered behind it.
"Now! Use Flame Charge!"
Wrapped in blazing fire, Cyndaquil slammed heavily into Skarmory's back.
Taking super effective damage, Skarmory let out a painful cry.
"Skarmory, hang in there! Counter with Steel Wing!"
"Cyndaquil, use Flame Wheel head-on!"
Cyndaquil, transformed into a spinning wheel of fire, collided fiercely with the diving Skarmory.
As the smoke from the explosion cleared, Skarmory, now suffering from a burn, weakly fell to the ground.
"Skarmory is unable to battle! Cyndaquil wins!"
"Fantastic job, Cyndaquil!"
Ash was overjoyed. He had originally intended Flame Charge and Flame Wheel to be secret trump cards, but today they had worked together perfectly.
"Cyndaaa!"
Cyndaquil cried out excitedly as its body suddenly erupted with a brilliant white glow.
It was evolving.
Its body grew larger and more imposing.
The flames on its back burned even more intensely, and its eyes were filled with confidence.
Quilava had been born.
"It evolved!" Misty exclaimed.
"It must have evolved from the joy of defeating such a strong opponent," Brock said with satisfaction.
At that moment, perhaps sensing its friend Cyndaquil's evolution, the other Cyndaquil obtained during the Pokémon Exchange Convention suddenly emerged from its Poké Ball.
Its body also began radiating a dazzling white light.
Moments later, another Quilava appeared before them, even taller than the one that had just evolved.
"It... it evolved too?"
Misty cried out once more in shock.
Even Brock found it hard to believe.
It was as though everything had happened naturally, yet somehow also felt like fate itself.
Ash gently stroked the heads of the two newly evolved Quilava, a deep sense of accomplishment filling his heart.
This victory had not only proven the results of their training, but had also witnessed the growth of his partners.
Miki recalled Skarmory and nodded respectfully toward Ash.
"That was a wonderful battle. Your Cyndaquil..."
Her eyes revealed genuine admiration and surprise.
She could tell that the taller Quilava possessed even greater potential than the one that had just evolved. If that Pokémon had been the one battling earlier, even back when it was still a Cyndaquil, her Skarmory would still have lost.
The only difference would have been how much faster the battle ended.
As the sun slowly set in the west, Ash exchanged smiles with his two new Quilava and continued onward toward Goldenrod City.
Every encounter and every battle was becoming another chapter in the legend they were writing together.
A/N: The two Quilava were still a little difficult to tell apart for now. In any case, one of them would eventually evolve into a Hisuian Typhlosion, so just bear with it for the time being. Once they both reach their final forms, distinguishing them will be much easier!
...