Two days proved Ash right.
Pikachu's tail was already one of its strongest assets. The training took hold fast—it could swing Iron Tail smoothly now, even if real battles would sharpen the control.
Charizard's progress went deeper. The Power Bracer's unyielding grip no longer slowed it; the dragon moved through the restraints like they were part of its body.
"Again!"
Ash's fists glowed blue as Charizard's claw swept in. He stepped into it, meeting the strike head-on.
But the claw shifted mid-swing.
"Hm?"
Aura caught the change a heartbeat early. Ash twisted aside.
Green Dragon-type energy surged around Charizard's claws, sharpening into blades of piercing light.
The slash carved clean through the air—and into the rock wall behind him, splitting stone like paper.
"Hold!"
Ash called it off sharp. That hit would've torn through aura and flesh alike.
Brock and Misty rushed up, eyes wide.
"Ash, what was that?"
Ash glanced at Charizard, who looked almost as surprised as they did. "Dragon Claw. A Dragon-type move."
"Dragon Claw? That's incredible!" Misty's eyes sparkled. The sheer power of it lingered in the gouged rock.
"Charizard, get a feel for Dragon Claw. Training's done for now." Ash unclasped the Power Bracer.
"ROAR!"
Freed, Charizard flexed its wings and roared skyward. Flames erupted from its mouth in a column five meters high, scorching the air. It shook out its arms, feeling the new strength ripple through every muscle.
"Hey, what's this?"
Brock held up a jagged fragment of stone, its surface shimmering with deep, polished bands of color.
"Looks just like Iki's necklace," Misty said, leaning in.
Ash took it. "Lucky break. Charizard's first Dragon Claw just unearthed a piece of agate."
"Amazing—and Charizard found it!" Misty beamed at the dragon, who stood noticeably taller now, shoulders broader from the grueling work.
The numbers confirmed it. Bond value: 175 / 255. The training had forged something real.
Once Charizard had a handle on the new move, they packed up. With the agate shard tucked away, they tracked down Iki again.
"Iki! Destiny calls us together once more!"
Iki had spent the days on the valley's far side, guiding a young Sudowoodo to sniff out more stones. Brock vanished from Ash's side and reappeared at hers in a blink.
Misty yanked him away a second later.
"Ash, heading out already?" Iki guessed from their packs.
"Yeah. Found this—agate?" Ash handed her the shard.
Her fingers traced the bands. "High quality, too." Surprise colored her voice. When they explained Charizard's slash revealing it, she shook her head in quiet awe.
True to her word, she shaped it into two pendants free of charge. Ash gave one to Misty; the other went home to his mom, Delia.
"See you."
. . .
Sudowoodo Valley lay behind them, but the path ahead twisted into trouble.
They were lost again.
Aura guided direction, but something interfered here—something unnatural.
"Ash, figure this out quick! I don't want to camp in this creepy forest!"
Dusk settled fast. Misty hated wild camping on a good day; trees looming like skeletal hands made it worse. She edged closer without realizing it, her trust in him growing quiet and steady.
A chill laugh cut through the wind.
"Eek!"
Misty clamped onto Ash's arm. Faces twisted into view on nearby trunks—grinning, hollow-eyed phantoms.
"Pikachu, that way—Thunderbolt!"
Blue light sharpened Ash's senses. Pikachu's bolt lanced into empty air—and hit something solid.
"Grahaha!"
A pained yelp echoed, then more laughter.
"Hn. Pikachu—over there!"
Another strike landed true.
"Gengar, Haunter, Gastly!" Ash spotted the flicker this time. Ghost-types, weaving illusions.
"Don't worry, Misty. It's just their tricks," Ash said, keeping his voice level as she gripped tighter.
"Ash… can you stop it?"
"Aura finds them, but I can't break the illusions. Need a Pokémon with Foresight." He grimaced.
"You've grown, Ash," a voice called from the shadows.
Ash knew it instantly. "Gary?"
Gary Oak stepped out, rival's smirk in place. "Didn't expect to see you here."
A single-footed Hoothoot balanced at his feet.
"Hoot?"
"Hoothoot's Foresight cuts through the ghosts' illusions," Gary said. "Follow it out of Bewilder Forest."
Ash nodded. "Deal. We'll battle after—1v1."
"You're on."
Pikachu: 195 / 255
Charizard: 175 / 255
Snorlax: 135 / 255
Heracross: 100 / 250