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"The fight looks good!" Ash remarked, observing the situation with a calm demeanor.
Ash didn't particularly mind Pokemon battles. Fighting between Pokemon wasn't necessarily harmful - it was often just a natural way for them to show affection and bond with each other. These interactions helped strengthen their relationships and understanding.
"So, are you planning to retrieve Aerodactyl this time?" Professor Oak inquired through the video call, his voice carrying genuine curiosity about Ash's strategy.
"No, I think it's better to let it stay there for a while longer," Ash replied thoughtfully. "It has just awakened from its ancient slumber, so it needs time to adapt to this modern era. The world has changed significantly since its time. Instead, I'd like to switch out Ivysaur."
Ash shook his head slightly as he considered his options. From his current assessment of the situation, the next gym he was determined to challenge would be the Viridian Gym. This decision required careful planning and the right team composition.
From what he understood through various sources, the Viridian Gym operated as a multi-type gym in some contexts, but traditionally functioned as a Ground-type gym. The gym's reputation preceded it, known for its challenging battles and skilled leadership.
According to what he had learned, Team Rocket's Giovanni was rumored to be an expert specializing in Ground-type Pokemon. If this information proved accurate, then Ivysaur would have a significant type advantage in any potential battle, being a Grass-type Pokemon with moves that were super effective against Ground-types.
However, Ash remained realistic about his chances. If he truly faced Giovanni in battle, he wouldn't dare claim he could easily achieve a reverse-type victory. Giovanni's reputation suggested he was no ordinary gym leader - his skill level might rival that of Elite Four members, or even approach championship-level trainer abilities.
"You want to switch for Ivysaur? That's no problem at all," Professor Oak responded enthusiastically. "Which Pokemon are you planning to send over in exchange?"
"I'll send Fraxure," Ash decided after a moment of careful consideration. The choice made strategic sense for multiple reasons.
After Axew evolved into Fraxure, the next evolutionary step would require an extensive amount of time and training. In terms of level requirements, Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon had the longest evolutionary periods among all Pokemon species, typically needing to reach level 55 before their final evolution.
For Fraxure specifically, evolution into Haxorus required reaching level 48, which was second only to Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon in terms of difficulty. This level requirement was even higher than most starter Pokemon needed for their final evolutions.
Given the current circumstances, Fraxure had reached the limits of what could be accomplished through immediate training. Ash decided it would be more beneficial to temporarily replace it and focus his efforts on preparing Ivysaur for the upcoming Viridian Gym challenge.
"Fraxure? Excellent choice! Just give me a moment to prepare everything," Professor Oak replied with obvious excitement in his voice.
Professor Oak was genuinely thrilled with this arrangement. During this recent period, he had received several fascinating Pokemon to study - first Pikachu for routine check-ups, then the ancient Aerodactyl, and now Fraxure. These Pokemon would provide him with plenty of research opportunities for quite some time.
Although Fraxure wasn't a newly discovered Pokemon species, nor was it an ancient Pokemon like Aerodactyl, its primary habitat was located in the distant Unova Region. This geographical separation made it quite rare to encounter and study Fraxure in other regions, making this opportunity particularly valuable for his research.
Ash took advantage of this preparation time to release Fraxure from its Poke Ball. He knelt down to its level and carefully explained the current situation, making sure his Pokemon understood what was happening and why this change was necessary.
"Fraxure, I need you to go stay with Professor Oak for a while," Ash explained gently. "You'll be helping with important research, and I want you to get along well with all the other Pokemon there. Can you do that for me?"
Fraxure listened attentively and nodded its understanding, readily accepting Ash's arrangement. The Dragon-type Pokemon had always been cooperative and understood that sometimes sacrifices were necessary for the greater good of the team.
Professor Oak soon returned to the video screen, carrying a Poke Ball containing Ivysaur. Both trainers moved to their respective Pokemon transfer machines, carefully placing their Poke Balls on the designated teleportation platforms.
After pressing the activation button simultaneously, both Poke Balls became enveloped in a surge of electrical energy. The advanced technology hummed to life, creating a brief but brilliant light show. Soon, Fraxure's Poke Ball disappeared from Ash's sight, while another Poke Ball materialized on his teleporter platform.
"Transfer complete on my end, Professor!" Ash announced, confirming the successful exchange.
"Everything looks perfect here as well!" Professor Oak replied from his laboratory, examining the newly arrived Poke Ball. "The transfer was completely successful."
"That takes care of everything for now. I'll continue to ask you to take good care of everyone at the lab," Ash said gratefully.
"Absolutely no problem! I enjoy having them around," Professor Oak assured him with a warm smile.
After exchanging farewells, both trainers ended their video call. Ash picked up the Poke Ball containing Ivysaur, feeling a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. It hadn't been too long since he had first caught Ivysaur, but the Pokemon had been sent to Pallet Town relatively quickly afterward.
During its time at Professor Oak's laboratory, Ivysaur had distinguished itself by maintaining order among the other Pokemon, just as it had done during its time protecting the hidden Pokemon paradise where Ash had first encountered it.
"Come out, Ivysaur!" Ash called out, throwing the Poke Ball into the air with practiced ease.
The Grass-type Pokemon materialized directly in front of him, its bulb glowing slightly in the afternoon light. Ivysaur looked around, taking in its surroundings and recognizing its trainer.
"It's been a while, Ivysaur. I'm counting on you for what comes next," Ash said warmly, squatting down to Ivysaur's level and extending his hand in friendship.
"Ivy... saur!" the Pokemon responded with obvious pleasure, its voice carrying notes of happiness and recognition.
Ivysaur extended one of its vine whips and gently grasped Ash's outstretched hand, a gesture that demonstrated their continued bond despite the time apart. The Pokemon seemed genuinely delighted to be reunited with its trainer after such an extended separation, but Ash noticed something troubling in its expression.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked with concern, picking up on Ivysaur's subtle signs of worry.
"Ivy... saur..." the Pokemon responded, its tone carrying undertones of anxiety.
"Are you worried that the other Pokemon might not behave properly with Professor Oak while you're not there?" Ash asked perceptively, reading his Pokemon's body language and vocalizations.
Ash had always known that Ivysaur possessed a strong sense of responsibility and leadership. Even though the Pokemon was no longer physically present at the laboratory, it remained concerned about the welfare and behavior of Ash's other Pokemon in its absence.
"Ivysaur!" the Pokemon nodded emphatically, confirming that Ash's interpretation was completely accurate.
"Don't worry about that! Those guys know how to behave themselves," Ash said with a reassuring smile.
Although some of his Pokemon certainly had strong personalities and occasional tempers, Ash felt confident that they understood proper behavior and wouldn't cause serious problems for Professor Oak or the laboratory staff.
"Alright, stop worrying about things you can't control right now. Let's go find everyone else! Return for now," Ash said gently, producing Ivysaur's Poke Ball.
After helping Ivysaur feel more at ease about the situation, Ash recalled his Pokemon and prepared to leave the Pokemon Center. He had other commitments to attend to, and dwelling on concerns wouldn't help anyone.
Upon leaving the Pokemon Center, Ash checked his watch and realized that the local competition had likely already begun. However, he wasn't particularly rushed about attending. This type of contest didn't especially interest him, as it seemed more focused on appearance and entertainment than serious Pokemon training.
When he arrived at the shopping mall where the event was being held, he found quite a crowd had gathered. The area outside was packed with people, and many appeared to be enthusiastic fans of the popular idol group that was sponsoring the event. Ash managed to squeeze through the crowd and took an elevator to the top floor where the competition was taking place.
Upon reaching the top floor, he discovered that the auditorium was completely filled with spectators, but the actual battle arena appeared empty. Based on the timing and crowd reactions, it seemed like one match had just concluded.
"Ash, over here!" a familiar voice called out.
Turning toward the sound, Ash spotted Brock waving at him from across the seating area. Grateful to see his friend, Ash made his way over and took the empty seat beside him.
Jigglypuff was occupying another nearby seat, contentedly munching on popcorn and seemingly enjoying the entertainment. Ash smiled at the sight, gently picked up Jigglypuff, and settled the Pokemon comfortably on his lap before turning his attention to the current situation.
"How are things going?" Ash inquired, wanting to catch up on what he had missed.
"Everything's going smoothly! Pikachu and the others have been performing exceptionally well throughout the competition. We're at the finals now - this is the last match of the entire tournament," Brock explained, bringing Ash up to speed.
Ash felt genuinely surprised by this news. The competition had progressed much faster than he had anticipated. He hadn't been particularly late in arriving, yet somehow the event had already reached its final stage.
Noticing Ash's surprised expression, Brock took the opportunity to explain the circumstances that had led to such rapid progression through the tournament brackets.
It turned out that many of the female contestants had entered the competition primarily for the prize dolls and merchandise rather than for serious Pokemon battling. While many of these participants were attractive and photogenic, they advanced through early rounds based more on appearance than actual Pokemon training skills.
Unfortunately, most of these contestants were not professional Pokemon trainers. Some weren't even trainers at all, instead borrowing Pokemon from boyfriends, friends, or acquaintances for the duration of the competition. Their lack of experience and training knowledge made them essentially unable to command their Pokemon effectively in battle.
Given this situation, Misty - who had access to Ash's well-trained Pokemon and possessed genuine Pokemon training experience - found herself able to defeat opponents with relative ease. Her superior command abilities and strategic thinking allowed her to advance through the tournament rounds without significant difficulty.
The finals would now determine the champion between Misty and Jessie from Team Rocket. Although Jessie typically suffered defeats in her encounters with Ash and his friends, the members of Team Rocket still possessed more genuine battle experience and Pokemon knowledge than the inexperienced contestants who had populated most of the tournament bracket.