Pokemon: A different Ash

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After Devileon is Pikachu, and after Pikachu's unintentional change in the Saffron Gym last time, if he can master it, the subsequent matches will have a good chance of success.

During the training, Pikachu used a new move, Zippy Zap. However, Ash felt it was time for Pikachu to learn Thunderbolt. Based on Pikachu's current electrical strength, evolving Thunder Shock into Thunderbolt should be straightforward. After this training period, the power of Pikachu's electric moves had reached the required standard.

The next step was to continue increasing power to complete Thunderbolt training, which would be easier for Pikachu compared to other Pokémon.

Axew continued honing its melee skills. The next move it focused on was Dual Chop. While not exceptionally powerful in the games, it was still highly practical. In real battles, the strength of moves could scale with a Pokémon's ability rather than relying on fixed in-game data. After learning Dragon Claw, Axew should find mastering Dual Chop relatively simple.

Pidgeotto, who learned Steel Wing previously, had already achieved impressive attack power and speed but still lacked some flexibility. Aerial Ace was an ideal choice. Though primarily an offensive move, Aerial Ace involved swift, confusing aerial maneuvers to increase speed while ensuring accuracy—a perfect fit for Pidgeotto's current needs.

Finally, Squirtle had learned Aqua Jet. The speed and effectiveness of Aqua Jet were impressive, but Squirtle's ability to combine it with other techniques needed improvement. During the last encounter in Lumiose City, Squirtle and Gary tested the Ice Aqua Jet fusion move, yielding great results. However, in standard 1v1 battles, relying on an opponent's Ice-type move could be risky. 

To maximize the move's utility, Squirtle needed to learn an Ice-type move like Ice Beam or Blizzard independently. With this, Squirtle could freeze the water flow from within while using Aqua Jet, achieving Ice Aqua Jet solo. The resulting ice would also provide additional defense.

"Okay, that's the plan! Let's get started!" Ash called out, signaling his Pokémon to begin their training. Pikachu practiced continuous Discharge to boost its electric power, requiring little direct supervision from Ash.

Squirtle trained in the water. While Ice- and Water-type moves often shared roots, learning Ice Beam would demand higher-level mastery. Yet Ash was confident in Squirtle's potential, much like Bulbasaur, who learned Solar Beam despite its evolution stage. Squirtle's strength and determination should help it reach this milestone.

Axew continued sharpening its claws. After mastering Dragon Claw, training for Dual Chop became noticeably easier.

As for Devileon, Ash was uncertain about the mechanics of Dark Pulse. Logically, the energies of Dark- and Ghost-type moves should have similarities, but Dark Pulse countered Ghost-types. Unlike elements like water or fire, which were grounded in physical principles, Dark- and Ghost-type energies were mysterious. Ash could only encourage Devileon to experiment with energy distinct from Shadow Ball to develop Dark Pulse.

Training for Pidgeotto posed more challenges. A.J.'s booster item provided a useful advantage, but mastering Aerial Ace required refining agility and coordination.

Although Pidgeotto had adapted to the booster's weight, it no longer hindered its flight, allowing it to fly normally without a drop in speed. However, the physical exertion rate still increased. Unlike before, when Pidgeotto simply relied on its natural speed as a Flying-type Pokémon, training for Aerial Ace demanded much more.

Aerial Ace required exceptional flexibility. The precision of turning back mid-air, maintaining sharp angles, and swiftly adjusting speed while balancing the body were all crucial. Additionally, sharp eyesight was essential to accurately navigate obstacles and hit targets.

To train, Ash designed a challenging exercise. Pidgeotto needed to practice cornering skills that went beyond avoiding obstacles. It had to maintain its high speed, bypass objects about to be hit, and strike a target hidden behind them. This required a level of control and finesse that made the training significantly harder.

Ash set up two tree stumps for the exercise. The smaller stump was placed behind the larger one. Pidgeotto had to approach in a straight line, avoid touching the first stump, make a sharp turn, and strike the second stump while maintaining full speed. Slowing down was not an option, as Aerial Ace depended on maintaining speed to retain its power.

"If you can achieve this with the booster," Ash explained, "you'll be able to execute Aerial Ace perfectly without it."

Ash stood on the side, offering guidance. At first, Pidgeotto, accustomed to straight-line speed, struggled with the sharp turns and repeatedly collided with the front stump. Each failure became a learning experience, and Pidgeotto made adjustments with every attempt.

Despite the challenges, training progressed steadily. To an onlooker, this scene might have seemed like a typical training session, but Ash's determination reflected lessons learned from his past with Charmeleon.

Meanwhile, deep in the mountains behind the camp...

Bang! Boom! Boom!

A series of loud explosions echoed through the valley. Amid the scorched, steaming pits that dotted the rocky ground, a figure stood alone, panting heavily.

It was Charmeleon, drenched in sweat and surrounded by the smoldering aftermath of its intense training.