Pikachu went all out, utterly thrashing Gary!
Serves him right for being so arrogant!
As the crowd in the stadium began to disperse, Ash wandered to a nearby vendor's stand—where he spotted a tall, beautiful woman in a black overcoat standing before Team Rocket's ice cream stall.
"This guest, have you decided what flavor you want, nya~?" Meowth rubbed his paws together nervously. This blonde lady was way too hard to deal with.
"Let me think~"
Cynthia looked genuinely torn. Which flavor should she choose?
Meanwhile, the match had ended, and Ash was leaving the arena. Cynthia still hadn't made up her mind—until she spotted him.
Her golden eyes brightened. "Ash, over here!"
Hearing someone call out to him, Ash quickly looked toward the voice.
Not far ahead, a graceful woman with long golden hair smiled warmly at him, holding two ice cream cones.
Ash jogged over. Though he didn't know who she was, Cynthia gave off a comforting aura.
"Here, this one's strawberry flavor!"
Ash had just reached out to take it—when a deafening boom rolled across the sky.
[Live Broadcast Room Upgrade Complete. Countdown Resumes.]
[Legendary Trainer's Journey—Resumed]
The long-vanished light curtain reappeared!
Excitement spread like wildfire.
It was back—finally!
Everyone's curiosity about Ash had only grown stronger.
If so many unbelievable things had happened during his first year of travel, then what about five years later?
Right now, Ash was like a sweet candy wrapped in layer after layer of mystery—irresistibly tempting to unwrap.
[Bruno: Finally! I knew it'd come back!]
[Korrina: I hope Ash helps Riolu train! I want to see him recreate Sir Aaron's bond with Lucario!]
[Bea: Just say you want to copy his techniques.]
[Cynthia: If you want to learn, just ask. Ash's right beside me—he won't mind sharing.]
[Ash: Yeah! No reason to keep secrets!]
[Lance: ???]
[Lance: Wait, Champion Cynthia—you actually went to find Ash?!]
[Cynthia: smiles]
For some reason, that simple word "smiles" sent a chill down Lance's spine.
He hadn't said anything wrong… had he?
The screen's light grew stronger—
and a new scene appeared.
After Ash captured Riolu, the little Pokémon stayed at Professor Cerise's lab, training in the backyard with the others.
One morning, as usual, Riolu was throwing punch after punch. Though still a pup, it was no ordinary dog—its sweat poured like a human's, not from panting.
By the time Ash woke up, Riolu was already drenched, yet still swinging its fists tirelessly. With every strike, faint blue ripples pulsed through the air.
Aura!
That was Aura!
Viewers, now familiar with this mysterious force, were astonished. Riolu's potential was unreal.
[Bruno: The broadcast said Ash and Sir Aaron had a teacher-student bond, but maybe reincarnation is possible. What if this Riolu is Lucario reborn? That would explain why Ash can sense its Aura.]
[Lorelei: Finally, a comment that makes sense.]
[Korrina: Or maybe, like before, Ash just recognizes Lucario's Aura in Riolu.]
[Lillie: Aww… Lucario reincarnated to find Ash again, how touching!]
[Cynthia: Riolu's talent is terrifying. To wield Aura right after hatching—its potential's at least Champion level.]
[Lance: Look! Ash's wearing Sir Aaron's gloves!]
[Aaron: No way! Did he… borrow them permanently?]
[Ash: What? That's impossible! It must've been a reward from the broadcast room!]
The chat: ???
Something didn't add up.
The rewards were for present-day Ash, not the one five years later.
Something felt… off.
In the footage—
A sleepy Ash finally appeared. Just as everyone had noticed, he was wearing the Aura Guardian's gloves.
He walked up to Riolu and ruffled its fur gently.
Heh, soft as ever.
"Rio~"
Feeling that familiar touch, Riolu closed its eyes happily.
"Let me teach you how to grow stronger, Riolu," Ash said softly.
Riolu instantly perked up. Enjoying head pats was nice—but becoming stronger mattered more!
"Hold my hand. Feel it carefully."
The other Pokémon paused their own training, gathering curiously around them.
"Pika."
"Raboot!"
They watched their Trainer with wide eyes—
as the golden stripes on Ash's gloves began to glow like veins of light.
Faint blue ripples flowed between his palms.
"Gengar!"
Gengar's eyes lit up—it knew this power well!
Aura! The very same energy that once nearly captured it!
As the waves of energy spread, Riolu closed its eyes, focusing.
Though it was still just a Waveform Pokémon—not yet a true Aura Pokémon—it tried to follow Ash's lead.
"Aura, be with me."
"Rio~"
Riolu didn't understand the words—but instinctively repeated them.
And that phrase worked like a key—unlocking the bond between them.
Their Auras intertwined, surging together like twin streams merging into one river.
A moment later, blue light sparkled into the sky.
"Feel it with your heart—Aura lives within us!"
Ash pulled back his hand, once again patting Riolu's head.
"Rio!"
Riolu's eyes shone with admiration.
Its Trainer was so strong!
But before it could finish marveling, Ash grinned.
"Watch closely, Riolu!"
All the other Pokémon quickly cleared a path—
because when their Trainer said that, it only meant one thing.
Big move incoming.
Ash placed his hands at his waist.
A bright blue orb gathered between them.
Aura Sphere!
He pushed it forward—
the glowing sphere shot across the sky like a comet.
Had Ash not restrained its power, that Aura Sphere could've shattered Professor Cerise's entire training field.
Riolu froze.
It pointed at Ash, then at the disappearing orb.
That… that came from him?
Humans could do that?!
The chat burst out laughing.
[Aaron: Hahaha, that face! That's exactly how I looked the first time Ash did it!]
[[RECURRING] Riley: With the Aura Guardian's gloves, Ash's Aura feels even purer now!]
[Drake: I remember his special reward was Aura enhancement. Maybe these gloves really are that item.]
[Professor Oak: But that doesn't make sense. If future Ash got this reward, he shouldn't have lost in the Silver Conference!]
[Sabrina: Something's strange. Let me think...]
[Ash: Wait, you're right! After seeing my future self use Aura, I could use it too! And even the Silver Wing—Lugia's gift to my future self—appeared in my hands!]
[Bruno: My head's spinning... are you saying what I think you're saying?]
[Professor Oak: I have a theory. Ash, you and your future self are actually the same person, existing simultaneously because of the broadcast. That's why anything one of you gains, the other also receives.]
[Professor Kukui: So basically… Ash just unlocked a life-wide cheat code!]
[Bruno: Can you put that in simpler words?!]
[Lorelei: If you don't get it, just smile and nod.]
(Author's note: In short, anything five-years-ago Ash gains, future Ash also possesses—and vice versa!)
From that day onward, Riolu trained even harder.
If his Trainer could command such overwhelming Aura, then he too had to grow worthy of him.
Day after day, Ash accompanied Riolu in training, helping it harness Aura even before evolution.
And then one morning—
Ash received an invitation for the ranking advancement battles!
The Red Ball to Great Ball promotion matches—
held in Kalos's Shalour City!
Ash's eyes lit up.
Finally, a real match again!
Pikachu! Riolu! Let's go!
He looked down at his gloves—
now modified by Chloe's father, with a Key Stone embedded in the center crystal.
The Aura flowing through made the gloves fit him perfectly.
If he was heading to Kalos, he'd wanted to reunite with old partners—
but then sighed.
Goodra had returned home.
Greninja was guarding Kalos's ecosystem.
He really missed them both.
Could he summon them back the way he did Lapras—with their bond?
Ash scratched his head. "Man… that'd be nice."
Back in Kalos, he never had a Mega Stone or Key Stone.
But then he looked at his gloves again—
and his eyes gleamed.
Right. He had this!
"Ash! You ready yet? We're leaving!" Chloe's voice called from outside.
She peeked in, puzzled.
"So weird… normally Ash would be the first one out the door!"
Inside, Ash was finishing a call with Professor Oak.
"Yes, please send it through."
After a few beeps, a Poké Ball appeared on the transport pad.
Ash grabbed it, tucked it into his pocket, adjusted his backpack straps—and strode out.
"Let's go, Chloe."
"Mm!"
Kalos Region – Shalour City.
A seaside city of sunlight and ocean breeze.
Unlike Vermilion City's industrial ports, Shalour's coastline was dotted with sandy beaches and shining lighthouses.
"Wow… it's so beautiful!"
Chloe's eyes sparkled.
Girls could never resist a view like this.
"Yeah… it really is."
Ash inhaled deeply, tasting the salt in the air.
It felt like coming home.
"C'mon, Chloe! My match is about to start!"
Compared to sightseeing, Ash cared far more about battling!
The promotion event wasn't exactly formal—
more like a gathering of trainers around the 1000-point mark, challenging each other for ranking advancement.
At this level, points were hard to gain by random encounters.
So these coordinated battles were the fastest way forward.
Ash handed over his trainer ID. After verification, he waited for his match.
Each round was a 2v2, so the matches flew by.
Soon, it was his turn.
Ash opened with Riolu—letting it warm up and adjust to the battlefield rhythm.
Before Riolu fainted, he swapped it out—sending Pikachu to finish both opponents.
Victory after victory followed.
His rank climbed rapidly to 1050.
Just two more wins, and he'd reach Great Ball tier!
His next opponent used a Clawitzer.
After a fierce exchange, both sides were down to their last Pokémon—
Pikachu versus Clawitzer.
The opponent was skilled.
"Clawitzer, use Aura Sphere Cannon!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Their attacks collided—
but the electric surge barely fazed the opponent.
The audience gasped, impressed by Clawitzer's defense.
Ash, however, just smiled.
Clawitzer, huh?
Not the first time he'd faced one.
"If electricity won't work… then let's finish this with Iron Tail!"
He tipped his cap forward, eyes flashing.
His opponent stood firm, trusting in Clawitzer's power—
but unfortunately for him, his rival wasn't just anyone's Pikachu.
This was Ash's Pikachu.
The true "Pika God."
Clawitzer took the Iron Tail head-on—
and went down in one strike!
Another victory. Another step forward.
Ash Ketchum, once again, was rising toward greatness.
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