In addition to his Arcanine, Ash hadn't let his other Pokémon out in a while. Now was the perfect chance to give them some exercise.
"Don't worry, I'll handle the registration for you!" Mr. Laramie said with a smile after hearing Ash's request. But the wealthy young man nearby still looked a little overwhelmed—Ash's reputation carried more weight than most people could handle.
"Prepare three rooms for us. I'll take Arcanine out for a while," Ash added, seeing Lara's dazed look. He could only sigh helplessly. His name alone was enough to shake people, and while he never intended to use it to intimidate others, that was simply the effect it had.
When Ash mentioned three rooms, Cynthia's face instantly flushed crimson. She fanned her face with both hands, trying to cool her embarrassment. The implication was obvious: one room for him and Cynthia, one for Sabrina, and one for Suzie.
Since the last time he had to share a bed, Ash no longer bothered hiding his intentions. Though he hadn't crossed the final line with Cynthia yet, simply lying beside her each night, surrounded by her warmth, was a happiness he quietly cherished.
"Hmph, pervert…" Sabrina muttered irritably. She fully understood what Ash meant, and her expression showed her frustration. Recently, Ash and Cynthia had been spending so much time together that she rarely had a chance to stand out.
As for Suzie, she only smiled gently, her calm, sisterly demeanor shining even brighter in moments like this. Sometimes Ash truly felt she was like the elder sister he never had.
"Come on out, my friends!"
After leaving Lara's house, Ash stepped onto the wide, open plains and released his Pokémon. The vast land was perfect for them to stretch and breathe freely.
The moment his partners emerged from their Poké Balls, they looked around excitedly. Normally, Ash rarely released them all at once—most were either too destructive, too rare, or too intimidating. But here, they could finally enjoy themselves.
"You've all worked hard lately. Since we've found such a wide place, take the day to rest and play!" Ash said with a genuine smile as he watched his partners stretch their limbs and wings.
For Ash, Pokémon companionship was always easier than human relationships. Pokémon had no hidden motives; if you gave them your heart, they would return it a hundredfold, lending their strength without hesitation.
"Rooaar!" Tyranitar bellowed.
"Wooo!" Dragonite responded.
No sooner had Ash told them to relax than Tyranitar turned to Dragonite, clearly itching for a battle. She'd been holding back for too long and wanted to unleash her strength. Dragonite, just as fierce despite being female, agreed without hesitation. The two immediately squared off.
Meanwhile, Suicune rested gracefully to the side, lying down as though basking in the moonlight, radiating elegance.
Venusaur, heavy-bodied as always, preferred to sprawl out and nap beside Suicune. Overhead, Pidgeot soared freely, crying out as it cut through the skies.
Scizor, who had been working hard at flight training, finally managed to fly properly and with impressive speed. He looked quite satisfied with his progress.
And Pikachu? He had already betrayed Ash—nestled snugly in Sabrina's arms, looking completely relaxed. Ash's face twitched in annoyance. Over ten years of friendship, and Pikachu still preferred her embrace over his shoulder.
"Haah!!"
BOOM!!
Tyranitar and Dragonite clashed at blistering speeds, moving with Soru footwork so fast they blurred into afterimages. Only the thunderous collision of fists gave away their positions. This was just sparring, but the sheer impact shook the ground.
"It looks like Moon Step isn't something every Pokémon can master…" Ash muttered thoughtfully. "So far, Pikachu, Tyranitar, Dragonite, and Scizor can pull it off, but the others struggle."
Through long observation, Ash had realized that not all Pokémon could execute the Six Forms perfectly, even if they were physically capable. Their unique body structures sometimes limited how well they could adapt certain techniques.
At present, Tyranitar, Scizor, and Pikachu showed the most promise with Soru. Dragonite, though powerful, preferred aerial combat, making ground-based speed techniques less natural for her.
Although Suicune and Arcanine had also learned Soru (Shave), the technique wasn't quite as effective for them. Pokémon with four legs faced a unique challenge—while two legs made it easier to control the rhythm of explosive bursts, four legs required much finer coordination.
If the rhythm faltered, not only would their speed drop, but the recoil of mismanaged power could even harm their own bodies.
"Arcanine, tomorrow you'll be racing with me in the Pokémon Competition. How about it—are you up for it?" Ash asked with a smile.
Until he was certain which of his partners could fully master Soru and Moon Step, he refused to teach the others recklessly. Overloading them with techniques they couldn't handle would only hinder their growth.
"Arf! Arf!" Arcanine barked happily, wagging his tail before suddenly leaning in and licking Ash across the face.
"Hey! Don't lick me, you big lug! Now my face is all slobbery!" Ash laughed, pushing against Arcanine's massive muzzle. With his size, the majestic Pokémon could practically swallow half of Ash's body in one gulp. His tongue was no less overwhelming.
"Alright then—show me your speed! Go!" Ash commanded as he swung himself onto Arcanine's back, gripping tightly onto the thick fur at his neck.
"Arf!" With a powerful cry, Arcanine bolted across the plains. His strides were massive, his speed nothing short of breathtaking.
"So fast…" Ash whispered in awe, then grinned. "Let's push it further!"
The moment Arcanine shifted into Soru, ghostly afterimages appeared at his paws, and his pace skyrocketed. His speed multiplied three to five times in an instant, tearing through the prairie like a comet streaking across the land.
"Wooooooh!" Ash threw back his head and shouted into the wind, his voice carrying across the plains. The sheer thrill of the speed was enough to shake the heaviness from his heart. No matter how strong a person was, sometimes all they needed was a single wild cry to feel alive again.
Neither Ash nor Arcanine realized that they were being watched.
From a distance, a young woman with flowing emerald hair stood silently, her eyes following them. It was Suzie.
She gazed at Ash's carefree smile, her heart skipping. They had known each other for several days now, but this was the first time she had seen him like this—completely free, laughing without restraint.
And in that moment, Suzie couldn't deny it—she was captivated.
...
TN:
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