Since the age of three, Ash had trained his body with purpose and discipline. With the added blessing of his Super True Human physique, his strength had long surpassed that of an ordinary person. He could even go toe-to-toe with elite-level Fighting-type Pokémon using just his fists and reflexes.
With such a monstrous foundation, carrying one Serena felt like nothing at all. In fact, he could probably carry a few more people without breaking a sweat.
Serena, nestled in Ash's arms, was so flustered that her face turned as red as a ripe berry. She tightened her grip around his neck, burying her face against his chest. Her heart pounded wildly, but she dared not lift her head to meet his gaze.
Ash, meanwhile, was enjoying the warmth of the moment. The girl in his arms was soft, light, and smelled faintly of wildflowers. He silently praised himself for seizing the opportunity this time.
"Pichu~"
Pichu, perched on Ash's shoulder, leaned forward curiously and chirped a friendly greeting at Serena, who was nestled in Ash's arms.
Serena raised her head slightly and offered a shy smile. "Hello, Pichu!"
Ash nodded with a grin. "I just caught him a little while ago."
"He's adorable," Serena said warmly.
"Pi~"
Pichu puffed out his chest proudly, clearly delighted by the compliment. His tiny eyes sparkled as if to say, Of course I'm cute!
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in Ash's mind.
"Ding! New mission detected: Successfully escort Serena back to the camp and increase her favorability. Reward: Pokéblock Master Recipe (Beginner), Cooking Skill +1, and 500 system points."
Ash's expression didn't change, but inwardly he grinned. "System, you're really giving me missions at the perfect times."
While walking along the forest path, Ash glanced down at the girl in his arms and thought to himself, Raising favorability? That should be easy enough.
The mission was practically halfway done already.
"Serena, have you always liked Pokémon?" Ash asked, trying to ease the atmosphere and deepen their bond.
Serena nodded slightly. "Yes... but I've always been afraid I wasn't good enough to be a Trainer."
"That's not true," Ash said firmly. "You just need someone to believe in you. And I think you'd be an amazing Trainer."
Serena blinked in surprise. No one had ever said that to her before—not even her parents. Her heart warmed at Ash's sincere tone.
Maybe… this summer camp isn't so bad after all, she thought to herself.
Ash smiled, knowing his words had reached her.
Meanwhile, the Pichu on his shoulder glanced between them and let out a soft sigh.
So… this is what it feels like to be a third wheel.
Just like that, the two people and one mouse made their way through the forest path, chatting along the way. The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, and the quiet tension Serena had felt earlier had completely faded. The warmth of Ash's presence, paired with Pichu's occasional playful chirps, made her forget her sprained ankle entirely.
As they reached the forest's edge, they spotted two familiar figures walking toward them—Gary and Xiao Chun, side by side.
Gary raised an eyebrow when he saw Ash carrying a girl princess-style. He gave a low whistle and grinned teasingly.
"Well, well, Ash! Didn't expect you to find yourself a pretty companion so quickly."
Ash shot a glance at Gary, then deliberately looked down at the two clasped hands between Gary and Xiao Chun. He smirked.
"You're not doing too bad yourself, Gary."
At that, Serena's cheeks turned rosy again, while Xiao Chun looked away shyly. The air between the four of them shifted—less awkward, more playful, as if something unsaid had been acknowledged by both boys.
After a brief silence, Xiao Chun was the first to speak up. "Gary, aren't you going to introduce me?"
Serena followed suit. "Ash, you too?"
Realizing the girls were curious about each other, Ash and Gary stepped back slightly, letting the introductions flow naturally.
"I'm Serena. I came here from Vaniville Town in the Kalos region."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Xiao Chun, from Cerulean City."
The girls exchanged polite smiles, though the faint blush on their faces hadn't faded.
That's when Gary's gaze shifted upward. He noticed the small yellow Pokémon perched proudly on Ash's shoulder.
"Hey, what's the story with this Pichu?"
Ash lifted a hand and gently patted Pichu's round head. "He's a Pokémon I just caught in the forest."
"Pi~!" Pichu chirped, puffing up his chest as if to say, I wasn't caught—I chose him.
Ash chuckled and explained briefly how he had encountered Pichu, saved him from a Nidorino, and earned his trust.
Gary crossed his arms and looked impressed. "Not bad. Starting off with a Pichu, huh? Looks like you're getting ahead of the game."
Ash gave a modest shrug, but the glint of pride in his eyes didn't go unnoticed.
Serena gazed at the cheerful Pichu, her eyes soft. "He really does seem close to you already."
"Of course," Ash replied. "We're going to be partners for a long time."
As the four of them continued toward the camp together, chatting and laughing, the sun finally dipped low on the horizon. The forest behind them grew quiet again, as if giving its blessing to the new bonds formed within its shade.
"Ash, you're amazing!"
Serena's eyes sparkled as she looked at him, completely full of admiration. At that moment, her fondness for Ash had clearly peaked.
Then, a familiar electronic chime rang in Ash's ears.
Ding! Detected Serena's favorability towards the host has reached 100.Congratulations! Hidden quest 'Capturing a Maiden's Heart' completed.Rewards: 2 Pokémon Eggs (Ralts), 2 Key Stones, and 2 Gardevoir Mega Evolution Items.
Ash's eyes lit up with delight.
"Not bad, system, you're really learning how to support a proper protagonist. Two Ralts eggs and a full Psychic Queen Mega kit? That's top-tier waifu support right there."
Of course, Ash wasn't going to just toss these gifts around immediately. Timing was everything—if he handled it poorly, it could backfire instead of deepening their bond.
While Ash was lost in thought, Gary noticed his dazed expression and nudged him on the shoulder.
"Yo, Ash, what's with the blank look? You spacing out already? Get Serena back to camp so they can look at her ankle."
"Pi?" Pichu tilted his head, patting Ash's cheek with a tiny paw. (Ash? Don't go Silly on me now...)
Ash blinked and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I just remembered something important and got distracted."
Gary gave him a skeptical look. "What could be more important than the injured girl in your arms right now?"
Ash chuckled, brushing it off. "Nothing, you're right. Let's get moving."
Serena and Xiao Chun both stared at Ash, puzzled. From the earlier banter between him and Gary, it was clear the two boys shared a close bond—so Ash spacing out mid-conversation felt odd.
Ash smiled and waved it off. "Nothing serious. I just suddenly remembered someone I saw in the forest earlier during the Summer Camp. Poor guy seemed like he was missing a few screws... and luck."
Serena blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
"Yeah," Ash continued, clearly enjoying himself. "First, he provoked a whole flock of Spearow. Then, while running for his life, he managed to anger even more wild Pokémon. It was like the forest itself hated him."
Serena gasped slightly and unconsciously touched her own sprained ankle. Compared to that miserable adventure, her day suddenly didn't seem so bad. "Oh wow... So there really are people that unlucky?"
Ash gave her a sly nod.
"No way," Gary said, squinting at Ash suspiciously. "That sounds a bit made up. You sure you're not just messing with us?"
Xiao Chun echoed his doubt, "Yeah, how could anyone get hit with that much bad luck in one day?"
Ash crossed his arms smugly. "Believe what you want, but the world's a strange place. I even recorded it all. Once we're back at camp, I'll show you."
He grinned, already picturing the looks on everyone's faces when they watched Goh's string of unfortunate disasters. That footage alone would be enough to scare off any other kids thinking of sneaking into Tokiwa Forest—and maybe even give Professor Oak some peace of mind.
Just then, a sharp cry pierced through the trees.
"Help!"
The panicked shout came from behind a nearby bush. Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
Ash narrowed his eyes. "Someone's in trouble!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Xiao Chun's cheerful mood immediately sank.
A moment later, a ragged figure burst from the bushes in a full sprint—his shirt shredded, arms and cheeks swollen with angry red welts, and his backside so puffed up it looked like he had sat on a nest of exploding Pineco. Worse yet, a foul, almost tear-inducing stench wafted behind him.
Goh.
And of course, he wasn't alone. Hot on his heels were two angry mobs—dozens of Spearow diving from above and a swarm of Beedrill zooming in at waist height, both equally determined to exact revenge.
Gary's jaw dropped. "Ash... the guy you mentioned, is it him?"
Ash squinted in mock confusion. "Hmm… judging by the torn clothes, swollen butt, and emotional trauma, it might be."
It took everything Gary had not to burst out laughing. "This is historic. Spearow and Beedrill working together to chase a single person? I thought natural enemies couldn't coordinate like that."
Serena blinked, stunned. "That's horrible! Shouldn't we help him?"
Ash was about to reply when Gary calmly stepped in like a professor giving a lecture. "Serena, there are too many of them. With just one Pichu on our side, jumping in now is just asking to get stung."
Serena bit her lip, clearly conflicted. "But… if something really happens to him, won't Professor Oak be in trouble?"
Ash smiled and pointed into the distance. "No need to worry. The Professor's already on the way."
High above, a majestic Dragonite soared through the sky, its scales shimmering in the fading sunlight as it approached with a powerful flap of its wings.
Gary's eyes lit up. "Grandpa's Dragonite!"
He instantly recognized the Pokémon that had been by Professor Oak's side since he was little.
Even before Dragonite landed, its imposing presence alone was enough to send the Spearow and Beedrill into a panic. Both swarms scattered in opposite directions, vanishing back into the depths of Tokiwa Forest as fast as they had come.
Seeing his salvation arrive, Goh suddenly regained his voice. With a mixture of exhaustion and indignation, he spun around and shouted into the empty air, "That's right! Run, you cowards! Ganging up on me while I was vulnerable—if you've got guts, face me when I'm lucky! Just you wait! When I catch Mew, I'll come back and wipe out every last one of you pests…"
He didn't get to finish.
With a dramatic wobble, Goh's eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed face-first onto the grass, unconscious.
Gary scratched his head. "He really just fainted mid-monologue. That's a new one."
Ash chuckled and gave a half-shrug. "Well, at least the forest is quiet again."
Professor Oak, riding on Dragonite, couldn't help but question his decision after hearing Goh's outrageous rant.
Even Dragonite cast a menacing glance at the unconscious boy. Whether it was because of Goh's infuriating words or some hidden taunt from Ash's system buff, no one could say for sure.
Oblivious to Dragonite's reaction, Professor Oak gave an order. "Dragonite, please bring this child back to camp for treatment."
"Woo woo!" (Oak, are you serious? You're asking me to carry something this foul-smelling?)
Dragonite growled in protest, even giving Professor Oak a warning Thunderbolt as a sign of defiance.
"Z-zapped!" Oak twitched, momentarily stunned.
Still grumbling, Dragonite reluctantly picked up Goh and flew off toward the camp.
Professor Oak turned back to Ash and Gary, about to lecture them. "Ash, Gary, just what were you two—" But the moment he saw Serena nestled in Ash's arms and Koharu (Chloe) holding hands with Gary, his tone softened with a teasing chuckle. "Really now! Taking your girlfriends on a date in Tokiwa Forest? If you wanted to see Pokémon, you could've just visited the lab's backyard. And if you wanted a city date, it's not like you couldn't ask the driver."
Serena and Chloe, overwhelmed with embarrassment, buried their flushed faces into the arms of the boys beside them.
"Professor, please don't tease us. Serena sprained her ankle. I need to get her treated quickly," Ash said seriously.
"Injured? That's a bit more troublesome. Dragonite's already flown back with that other kid," Oak muttered, stroking his chin. "Alright then, Ash. Bear with it a little longer and carry her back to camp. Oh, and when you have time, come find me."
Professor Oak was hoping to confirm whether Ash recognized Goh. After all, he had personally tracked the presence of five missing campers—Ash, Gary, and three others. Judging by the current scene, Serena and Chloe weren't a problem. But that boy, Goh... his wild behavior, bad luck, and delusional ambition raised too many red flags.
Oak had seen enough trainers to know: someone like Goh would bring trouble to Pokémon and people alike.
"Understood, Professor," Ash nodded.
Without wasting another moment, he carried Serena and returned to camp at full speed.