After breakfast, while taking a short walk to aid digestion, Ash got back to work.
He released the Pokémon entrusted to him by customers of his Skill Disc shop, carefully feeding each one. At the same time, he had Rotom record videos and send them to their respective trainers—so they could see with their own eyes that their Pokémon were being well cared for.
It might have seemed like a small gesture…
But for trainers who had entrusted their partners to someone else, it meant everything.
It eased their worries.
It built trust.
And trust, in turn, strengthened his reputation.
A strong reputation attracted more customers.
One step led to another—
And his business continued to flourish.
—
After feeding the Pokémon, Ash helped some of them learn their requested moves before sending them back via teleportation.
With each completed order…
Another significant amount of income flowed in.
—
"Ash, I've already prepared lunch for you," Delia Ketchum called out. "It's covered in plastic wrap and kept in the fridge—just heat it up at noon."
"I'm heading to the flower shop in Viridian City with your Aunt Miho."
"Got it, Mom," Ash replied.
—
Once Delia left with Miho, Ash finished up his remaining tasks and headed out again with his Pokémon for another round of training.
Just as he stepped out and closed the courtyard gate—
"Morning, Ash!"
Next door, Green was also coming out.
Recently, she had been preparing to participate in a short trip organized by the Celadon City Breeder Association. However, there was a requirement—
Participants had to own at least one Pokémon above LV.20 — Intermediate Tier.
Because of that, Green had joined Ash and Gary's training group.
Every morning, they trained together by the river outside town. In the afternoons, they went to the city arena, where Ash and Gary would team up with her in double battles to help her gain experience and level up.
That said, she only had one Pokémon—Dedenne.
Her training efficiency was high, and she was already close to reaching the requirement.
So while she still joined them daily, she didn't participate in the early morning runs.
After all—
Her goal was to become a Breeder, not a battle-focused trainer.
—
"Ash! Green!"
Gary came rushing over as well, having just finished breakfast, his energy as lively as ever.
After exchanging greetings, the three of them set off together along the packed dirt road toward the riverbank.
—
Gary rode his bicycle, with Wartortle and Umbreon running alongside him.
Green walked at a relaxed pace, while her small Dedenne energetically darted around on her shoulder.
As for Ash—
He carried Pikachu in his arms.
Beside him, Greninja helped hold the tanks containing Magikarp and Feebas.
Meanwhile, high above—
Pidgeot and Fearow soared freely, enjoying the open sky.
Watching them fly so happily, Ash couldn't help but think—
Maybe it was time to train Pidgeot in carrying a human.
After all, his mom was already considering enrolling in driving school…
And here he was, with a perfectly good aerial mount.
Not making use of it would be a waste.
—
"By the way, Ash," Green suddenly asked, walking beside him, "what's that bling-bling thing on Pidgeot's ankle? It almost blinded me just now."
"Bling-bling thing?" Ash chuckled. "Oh—you mean that."
"When I became Giovanni's disciple, he gave me a set of Mega Evolution stones as a gift. And it just so happened—they were for Pidgeot."
"So I took them to a jewelry shop and had them crafted into wearable equipment."
"There are two pieces in total."
"The one on Pidgeot's ankle is called the Divine Catalyst Ring—it holds Pidgeot's Mega Stone."
"And the other one…"
Ash rolled up his sleeve, revealing the item on his wrist.
"This is the Green Pearl Bracer. It contains the Key Stone."
"When the two resonate with each other, they activate their power—allowing Pidgeot to Mega Evolve."
—
But these two items were far more than simple carriers for Mega Stones.
They had been crafted by Master Caldor, a reclusive master craftsman from the renowned jewelry shop Rainbow Radiance in Viridian City.
They were powerful artifacts in their own right.
—
Divine Catalyst Ring
+200 HP
+60 Special Power
+60 Magic Resistance
+20% Cooldown Reduction
+20% Energy Recovery
Green Pearl Bracer
+200 HP
+100 Strength
+60 Magic Resistance
+60 Physical Defense
+20% Energy Recovery
—
The Divine Catalyst Ring alone granted immense enhancements—far beyond what standard equipment in the outside world could offer.
And the Green Pearl Bracer was no less impressive.
The boosts to durability, strength, and recovery meant that Ash himself was becoming increasingly resilient.
In the future—
Once he began developing his Aura abilities further—
He would practically become a Pokémon in human form.
Catching Pokémon barehanded?
Even subduing Legendary Pokémon?
Not impossible.
—
"Mega Evolution—I know about that!" Green said excitedly. "At the summer camp, Shauna told me about the Kalos Champion and famous actress, Diantha. Her Gardevoir can Mega Evolve!"
"So, Ash—since you already have the Mega Stone, and Pidgeotto has evolved into Pidgeot…"
"Can your Pidgeot Mega Evolve now?"
"I really want to see what it looks like!"
Green's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Beside her, Gary wore the exact same expression—clearly just as eager.
Gary had already known about the Mega Stone.
He had even accompanied Ash when the Divine Catalyst Ring and Green Pearl Bracer were crafted.
But—
Mega Evolution itself?
That was a different story.
Whether it was Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, or Dynamax—
These were the pinnacle powers of Pokémon battles.
No trainer could resist being curious about them.
—
"Uh…"
Seeing both of them staring at him with such expectant eyes, Ash found himself in a difficult position.
As long as it didn't involve the secret of the Ascension Trainer System or his identity as a transmigrator, he usually didn't mind sharing things.
But this…
This was something else entirely.
--------------
T/N:
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