Ash: A Pokémon Tale

After a satisfying dinner with Misty and Brock, Ash felt the fatigue of the day begin to ease. The journey had been challenging, but traveling together made every step feel meaningful. As the trio headed to their rooms for a well-deserved rest.

He made his way to the Nurse Joy's desk, he greeted her with a hopeful smile. "Nurse Joy, is my charmander healed up?"

Nurse Joy smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes, Ash, your Charmander is all healed up. Here you go." She handed him the Poké Ball containing his Pokémon.

"Thanks!" Ash said eagerly, accepting the Poké Ball before making his way back to his room.

Once inside, Ash dropped his things on the floor and collapsed onto his bed. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his Arc Dex, the device that had become essential to his journey. He activated it with a flick of his wrist, scanning the Poké Ball in his hand.

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Charmander

Level: 20

Gender: Male

Type: Fire

Nature: Timid (Boosts Speed, reduces Attack)

Ability: Blaze (Boosts Fire-type moves when HP is low)

Hidden Ability: Solar Power (Boosts Special Attack in sunny weather, causes HP loss)

Moves:

Scratch (Normal)

Growl (Normal)

Ember (Fire)

Leer (Normal)

Dragon Rage (Dragon)

Fire Fang (Fire)

Smokescreen (Normal)

Flamethrower (Fire)

###

Ash studied the details, nodding in approval. Still, a nagging thought tugged at him. Why did Damien abandon him? The question didn't make sense. Charmander was strong, full of potential, so why leave him behind?

He sighed, pushing the thoughts aside. "Arc Dex, do a full-body checkup on Charmander," Ash ordered quietly, hoping to confirm everything was in order.

The Arc Dex buzzed, its automated response quick. Buzz... everything is normal with Charmander.

Ash relaxed slightly, but his mind was still racing. He needed to figure this out. Maybe it's a psychological thing? he wondered. The abandonment still didn't add up. That would be something for another day, though.

Another thought suddenly struck him. "Arc Dex," he began, "you mentioned something about a simulated battle earlier. What's that about?"

The Arc Dex responded flatly, Buzz... simulated battles help your Pokémon gain experience.

Ash's eyes widened with excitement. "Wait, you can do that? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" His voice was filled with eager anticipation.

 no need to get so excited. This function is locked.

Ash's face fell, his excitement deflating a little. Locked? he thought, frustration creeping in. But his curiosity was far from extinguished. "Can I at least see a demo?"

would you like to see a demo? 

"Yes!" Ash responded eagerly.

The Arc Dex flashed, projecting a holographic battlefield near the window of Ash's room. Two figures appeared on the field, and Ash blinked in surprise.They looked… just like him. One wore a red tag, and the other wore a blue one. Ash guessed the red figure was his replica, but it was the blue figure that grabbed his attention.

Without delay, the battle began. The red Ash commanded his Pikachu to use Quick Attack, followed by Iron Tail. The Pikachu executed the moves flawlessly, but the blue Ash, with his own Pikachu, retaliated quickly with Electroweb, trapping the red Pikachu, and followed up with an Iron Tail of his own. The battle was swift, ending just as quickly as it had begun.

Ash stared at the spot where the blue Ash had been. The blue Pikachu seemed much stronger than his own, despite both being level 25. Ash couldn't help but wonder: Why was my Pikachu so much weaker? His mind spun with possibilities.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. "Arc Dex, can you increase the red Pikachu's level to 30?"

Buzz... simulation cannot exceed level 30.

Ash nodded but watched the result with growing curiosity. The red Pikachu continued to battle with intensity, yet the blue Pikachu, using its Electroweb and Iron Tail, was more efficient. Even at level 30, the disparity between the two was clear.

"Why… why is there such a difference?" Ash muttered, struggling to piece together the puzzle.

Buzz... demo has ended.

Ash sat back, processing the information. Level isn't everything, he thought, staring at the spot where the battle had taken place. I need to train better, not just level them up.

He lay back on his bed, feeling the exhaustion of the day settle over him. His mind, however, was still active. Reflecting on the battle, the limitations of levels, and the need for deeper understanding of his Pokémon, he made a silent promise: Tomorrow, I'll train better. I'll push my Pokémon further than I thought possible.

The first light of dawn cast a soft glow across the horizon. Warm sunlight filtered through the window as Ash's eyes opened, his body stretching instinctively. 

Quietly, he glanced over to Pikachu, who was curled up at the foot of his bed. Ash leaned forward, gently nudging his companion."Hey, Pikachu," he whispered, a smile tugging at his lips. "Wake up, buddy. We've got work to do."

"Pika-pi…" Pikachu yawned, stretching his small arms with a sleepy squeak before hopping onto Ash's shoulder. The little Electric-type gave his trainer a bright-eyed look, now fully awake and ready for the day.

Ash grabbed his gear and crept out of the room, careful not to disturb the quiet hum of the Pokémon Center. The training area behind the building was perfect—wide, open, and surrounded by tall trees that rustled gently in the breeze.

Once in the clearing, Ash took out his Poké Balls. With a series of bright flashes, his team emerged one by one. Pikachu hopped off his shoulder, tail sparking with excitement. Charmander appeared last, glancing around nervously, his tail flame flickering low.

Ash opened his Arc Dex, quickly navigating to the shop. A few taps later, he purchased Macho Braces for his team. With a flick of his wrist, he handed one to each Pokémon.

"Alright, everyone," Ash began, his voice calm yet brimming with determination. "Today, we're going to push harder than ever. You're going to spar with each other—learn each other's moves, cover weaknesses, and grow stronger together. Got it?"

"Pika!" Pikachu cheered, sparks dancing around his cheeks.

The rest of the team nodded, their resolve shining in their eyes. They paired off, leaping into motion as bursts of energy and light filled the clearing. Ash watched for a moment, before turning to Charmander, who stood apart from the group.

The little Fire-type scuffed the ground with his claw, his tail flame flickering nervously as he avoided eye contact.

Ash crouched down to meet his gaze. "Charmander," he said softly, his tone warm yet steady, "why don't you train with me today?"

"Char?" Charmander tilted his head, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Come on," Ash encouraged, standing and extending a hand. "We'll take it slow. Just you and me, okay?"

Charmander hesitated for a moment, glancing at Ash's outstretched hand. Then, with a determined nod, he let out a small, "Char!" His tail flame flared slightly, the flicker of resolve unmistakable.

Ash led him to a quieter spot in the clearing, away from the others. He knelt down to Charmander's level, his expression serious but kind.

"Are you ready?" Ash asked, his voice both firm and reassuring.

Charmander looked up at his trainer, nerves giving way to determination. "Char!" he replied, his voice stronger this time.

Ash smiled, standing tall. "Good. Let's get started."

Ash stepped back, crossing his arms as he watched Charmander closely. "Alright, Charmander," he said with a calm, encouraging tone. "Let's start with Fire Fang.

Charmander hesitated but nodded, his tail flame flickering slightly with uncertainty. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth and focused hard. A flicker of fire sparked around his teeth. With a determined lunge, Charmander snapped his jaws forward, but the flames sputtered out before he could complete the motion.

Charmander froze, his shoulders slumping as he lowered his head. He glanced up at Ash nervously, his eyes filled with worry, clearly bracing for disappointment.

Instead, he felt a warm hand on his head. Startled, he looked up to see Ash smiling at him, pride evident in his expression.

"You did great for your first try," Ash said, his voice gentle yet reassuring. "Moves like this take time and practice to get right. But you're already off to a solid start. Keep at it, and soon enough, you'll be landing Fire Fang like a pro."

Charmander blinked, then gave a small nod. His tail flame flared slightly, reflecting his renewed confidence. He let out a determined, "Char!" as his nerves melted away.

"That's what I like to see," Ash encouraged, stepping back to give Charmander more space. "Let's go again. This time, focus on building the flames slowly and keeping them steady."

Charmander squared his shoulders and opened his mouth once more, concentrating harder this time. Flames swirled to life around his teeth, brighter and steadier than before.

"That's it!" Ash cheered, his voice filled with excitement. "You're getting the hang of it! Keep it up!"

With each attempt, Charmander showed improvement. The flames burned longer, and his movements became sharper and more precise. Ash remained by his side, offering guidance and encouragement at every step.

By the time the sun climbed high in the sky, signaling noon, Ash called for a break. "Alright, Charmander," he said with a grin, wiping sweat from his forehead. "That's enough for today. You were amazing out there."

Charmander nodded, his small body clearly tired, but his spirit burning brighter than ever. His tail flame flared proudly as he followed Ash back to the main clearing.

The rest of Ash's team had finished their training and were waiting eagerly. "Great job today, everyone!" Ash said, setting out bowls of food for his Pokémon. "Come and eat—you've earned it."

As his team dug into their meals, Ash added vitamins to the mix, ensuring they recovered fully and grew stronger. He watched them with a sense of pride, already planning the next steps for their training.

"This is just the beginning," Ash thought, determination glinting in his eyes.

Once his Pokémon had eaten their fill, Ash returned them to their Poké Balls. Pikachu, as always, leapt onto his shoulder, nestling into its usual spot.

Ash made his way back into the Pokémon Center, where Brock and Misty were waiting.

"You're back," Misty greeted with a smile. "How did training go?"

Ash nodded confidently. "Really well. Everyone's improving fast, and we're going to keep getting stronger."

Brock gave an approving nod. "That's good to hear. Hard work pays off."

"Of course it does," Ash replied, his voice full of determination. "We're not stopping until we're the best."

With that, the group set off, the road to Vermilion City stretching out before them—the next step in Ash's journey to becoming a Pokémon Master

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"I added Charlizard's status to Ash's Pokémon—go check it out!

Also, check out my new fanfic, Fairy Tail: Lost One!"