Nurse Joy, seeing what was essentially a humanoid Pokémon before her eyes, was completely stunned.
Even the most advanced medical technology in the Pokémon Center couldn't do anything for Riolu's condition, yet this boy had simply placed a hand on Riolu's head, and the dying Pokémon's vitals were rising before her eyes.
'What… is this?' she thought in disbelief. 'Isn't this boy practically born to be a doctor?'
For a fleeting moment, Joy even wanted to ask if Ash would consider working at the Pokémon Center. If he agreed, the entire Joy family would probably welcome him with open arms.
But now clearly wasn't the time. The situation was serious, and all she could do was watch.
As Ash continued channeling Aura, Riolu's condition steadily improved, and the mental connection between them became sharper and clearer.
Through their link, Ash gradually learned the truth about Riolu's suffering.
Riolu's consciousness had actually awakened three years ago.
That meant he had been aware all this time, conscious yet unable to move, trapped inside his own body, living for three long years on the brink of death.
It was a state that could only be described as living hell.
And yet, Riolu had endured.
If his talent could somehow be restored, even to a modest level, Ash was certain Riolu's willpower alone could propel him to greatness.
During those three years, Riolu had also learned human speech by listening to Professor Cerise and his family's conversations. Through that, and his own natural perception, he had gradually grasped how to control Aura.
That was how he had been able to reach out to Ash yesterday.
As for why he hadn't sought help from Professor Cerise before… it was simple. If the Professor had been able to save him, he would have done so long ago.
The only reason Riolu had survived this long, even within the Poké Ball, was because he had been suppressing his own Aura to slow the loss of his life force. The Clear Lake spring water could only sustain him so far, his survival was largely thanks to his own self-discipline and endurance.
But recently, he had felt his strength slipping away completely. In desperation, he made one final attempt, releasing what little Aura he had left, hoping that someone, anyone, might sense it.
That someone had been Ash.
The moment Riolu sensed Ash's Aura, he had been overwhelmed. It was immense, pure, steady, almost divine.
And so, he reached out one last time. That single plea for help had drained the very last of his energy. If Ash hadn't sensed it, that faint spark of life would have gone out for good.
Fortunately, fate had brought them together.
This human he had called for help wasn't just powerful, he was kind. Even burdened with Riolu's condition, he hadn't hesitated to take responsibility.
Riolu had overheard countless conversations while trapped within the egg. Every expert who examined him had declared the same thing: that there was no hope.
He had survived somehow, but his existence had been a half-life at best, conscious, but immobile.
He had even heard Nurse Joy's assessment earlier, that the best-case scenario would be learning to walk again, not to fight.
Hearing that had shattered him. Fighting was what he had been born for.
If he couldn't even do that… what good was he?
When Ash heard Riolu's despair through their shared Aura, he immediately responded:
"Don't worry. I can fix this. It'll take time, but you'll recover. You're not a useless Pokémon, Riolu, you'll become the strongest Lucario in the world. I promise you that, as your Trainer."
Those words weren't empty comfort.
Riolu's innate potential was extraordinary, one of the highest a Riolu could possess. If he could regain even a fraction of that lost power, he would rise above all others.
For a long moment, Riolu was silent. But through the Aura link, Ash could feel it, his faith, his gratitude, his quiet acceptance.
Ash's sincerity reached him, clear and unshakable.
If the Pokémon Center couldn't save him, then Ash would.
So many people had pronounced him beyond hope, yet this single Trainer had already achieved what none of them could.
Riolu no longer needed words. Gratitude wasn't something to say, it was something to prove.
When the day came that he could stand and fight again, he would repay Ash through battle, through victory.
Minutes later, Ash finally stopped channeling Aura. The light faded from around his hands, and the room returned to normal.
Riolu's physical condition had stabilized. His heartbeat was steady, his breathing even.
But he still hadn't opened his eyes.
According to Ash's estimation, Riolu would need only one or two more Aura sessions before he could move normally again.
However, for a full recovery, restoring his abilities and returning to his optimal condition, it would take at least one to two months.
Until then, Ash decided, there would be no training, just regular meals and rest.
In addition to daily Aura infusion, Riolu's nutrition had to keep up as well. And there was one undeniable truth: Pokémon were expensive to raise.
Though Ash had reassured Riolu that he wasn't a burden, in his mind, he was already calculating the food bills, medicine, and supplies that would come with adding another team member.
His mom's allowance wouldn't stretch that far.
He sighed inwardly. He was half an adult now, it was time to start earning his own money.
And if it came to that… well, he still had that top-grade Moon Stone tucked away. Selling it could at least cover travel expenses for a few months.
After completing the treatment, Ash gently returned Riolu to his Poké Ball and clipped it to his belt. Inside, it was a bit stuffy, but far more stable than the outside world, and it would also help accelerate Riolu's recovery.
Just as Ash was fastening the Poké Ball, a blur of pink and white darted in front of him.
"You're Ash, right?!"
Before he could react, Nurse Joy had seized both of his hands. Her eyes sparkled with manic curiosity.
"How did you do that just now?! Why did Riolu's condition recover so fast? That blue light, was it some kind of healing energy? Can it be replicated?!"
Her words came rapid-fire, and the fine spray of her enthusiasm dotted Ash's face.
It was obvious, the sight of a boy healing a terminally ill Pokémon by touch had completely shaken her composure.
"That's Aura, Joy," Misty interjected with a small, knowing smile. "Only Riolu can be treated that way. Other Pokémon can't, and it's also a special ability unique to Ash. We've checked online, there's no record of anyone else who can do it."
She subtly stepped between them as she spoke, gently prying Joy's delicate hands off of Ash's.
Joy blinked, then sighed with visible regret. "I see… that's really a shame. If this could be used to treat other Pokémon, the Pokémon Center's medical science would advance by decades."
Before Ash could respond, Brock suddenly appeared beside Joy, his eyes shining with familiar, misguided passion.
"Joy!" he declared dramatically, pressing one hand to his chest. "Even if I don't have Aura, I do have a burning heart! Do you think this heart could heal the wounds of Pokémon?"
A bead of sweat slid down Joy's forehead. She waved her hands quickly. "Ah, no need, really! I'm fine!"
Ash and Misty exchanged a helpless glance, both suppressing small sighs. Brock's antics were becoming a habit now, and his "colorful" side was growing bolder by the day. Once shy, he was slowly evolving into someone far too confident, especially around women who carried themselves with calm maturity.
After that brief comedic detour, the group finally left the Pokémon Center.
Although Riolu's official diagnosis had been grim, Ash's ability to stabilize him was an undeniable miracle. For now, that was blessing enough.
Professor Cerise didn't ask for details about Riolu's recovery plan. As long as the little Pokémon could grow safely, that was all that mattered, and it would be enough to satisfy Aurant Town's concerns.
On their way back through Vermilion City, the trio was suddenly approached by two brightly dressed women. With big smiles, they rushed over and handed out two shining tickets.
They eagerly explained that a luxury cruise liner, the St. Anne, was about to set sail, and Ash and his friends had been selected as lucky passengers to enjoy the voyage for free.
The women described it enthusiastically: the ship was filled with entertainment halls, swimming pools, Pokémon battle arenas, and all-you-can-eat gourmet meals. The trip itself normally cost a fortune, but this invitation was completely complimentary.
Misty and Brock exchanged a look of surprise, then turned toward Ash.
Before they met him, they might have thought this was suspicious, after all, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
But after traveling with Ash?
They were used to it.
This was the same guy who had found a shiny Ralts, caught three of the Starter Pokémon, and rescued a Riolu, all within a month.
At this point, "luck" didn't even begin to cover it.
So, without giving it a second thought, they accepted the boat tickets.
After the two women left, Ash, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke.
"Those two are Team Rocket."
"What?!"
Everyone froze on the spot. The tickets in their hands nearly slipped to the ground.
Professor Cerise blinked in disbelief. "Ash, do you even know who Team Rocket is? That's the largest criminal organization in all of Kanto! How could they possibly hand out free luxury cruise tickets?"
In Kanto, almost no one didn't know the name Team Rocket. Even brand-new Trainers learned about them within their first few weeks on the road, their reputation was that infamous.
But now Ash was saying that those friendly, well-dressed promoters were Team Rocket? That was hard to swallow.
Misty frowned. "Ash, the Team Rocket you're talking about… you mean those guys?"
They all knew exactly who she meant. Since their journey began, the only Rockets they'd run into were that eternally unlucky trio.
Ash nodded.
His expression turned oddly conflicted as he said it.
Honestly, if he hadn't been using Aura to maintain his connection with Riolu, keeping his perception wide open, he might never have noticed. No matter how perfect the disguise, Aura didn't lie, and Ash had already memorized the unique Aura signatures of those three Rockets long ago.
That's why he'd recognized them immediately… though the reason for his strange look was something else entirely.
He just couldn't figure out how James had managed to pull off such an impressive figure while wearing that bikini.
"To have that level of disguise skill and use it for petty theft," Ash thought, half amused, "is such a waste of talent."
No wonder all the experts in the chat group called Team Rocket a trio of geniuses who used their brilliance in all the wrong ways.
"The blue-haired woman was James?! Are you kidding me, Ash?"
Misty's voice pitched high in disbelief. Her expression froze between shock and outrage.
"That kind of body, those curves, and you're telling me that was James?! Then what does that make me?"
Brock, meanwhile, had a pensive look. Normally, when faced with an attractive older woman in a swimsuit, his heart rate would spike to dangerous levels. But earlier, he hadn't felt anything.
That alone was suspicious enough.
"Come to think of it," Brock murmured, "Ash might be right."
Ash crossed his arms. "My Aura doesn't lie. Those two are definitely Team Rocket. And these tickets, something's off about them. Should we go to Officer Jenny?"
The seriousness in his tone wiped away any doubt. Misty glanced down at the tickets and felt her stomach twist. If those two were Team Rocket, then these "lucky passes" were either fake, or part of something much worse.
So instead of heading back to Professor Cerise's home, the group detoured straight to the police station.
Ordinarily, Jenny wouldn't have taken a report like this seriously, people making wild claims about cruise ships happened all the time. But since Professor Cerise himself vouched for them, she agreed to check.
And, as it turned out, Ash had been right.
The St. Anne was a trap.
Team Rocket had planned a massive ambush aboard the ship. Jenny's quick investigation uncovered the plot before the ship even departed, and with help from the main task force, the entire operation was shut down before it began.
Team Rocket members were rounded up in droves.
The St. Anne incident ended quietly, without a single innocent person being harmed.
As the one who had raised the alarm, Ash received official recognition from the Pokémon League, and a surprisingly generous bounty for his help.
His wallet, which had been empty that very morning, suddenly felt much heavier.
"Guess that takes care of my living expenses for a while," Ash said with a grin.