Despite Ash's attempts to dissuade him, Lucario was still completely unconvinced! In fact, it would be more accurate to say that he had become even more defensive and stubborn.
Under normal circumstances, although he maintained a cool and aloof exterior, he was always deeply considerate of his partners and possessed an incredibly calm, grounded temperament.
Now, however... a highly unfamiliar, intense emotion had triggered an inexplicable wave of irritation deep within his chest.
He simply could not accept suffering a definitive loss to Greninja! He could handle losing to practically anyone else on the roster—but losing to Greninja was absolutely unacceptable!
Perhaps it was precisely because Greninja's presence, narrative role, and deep connection to their trainer were so incredibly similar to his own that Lucario had been completely swept away by a wave of competitive jealousy!
Grit-toothed, the canine forced himself back up onto his feet, letting out a sharp, echoing roar at Greninja as the Aura Sphere in his paws flared to life once more, instantly hurtling forward in a desperate, secondary assault!
Greninja merely shook his head with a trace of helpless exasperation. With absolute composure, he brought a single hand down to his side, gripping the empty air before executing a swift, fluid drawing motion!
A slender, razor-sharp blade of pure white light materialized instantly in his grip—the signature move, Cut!
Swif!
Whoosh!
With a decisive, singular slash from Greninja, a clean arc of white light divided the air. Under Lucario's completely incredulous gaze, before the Aura Sphere could even leave his paws, the energy projectile was cleanly sliced right down the middle!
The severed energy sphere instantly destabilized, erupting into a localized explosion right beside Lucario. While a massive booming sound echoed and a powerful shockwave whipped up the surrounding dirt, Lucario stood frozen, completely deaf to the noise.
The staggering disparity in their sheer combat efficiency had dealt a massive blow to his pride. He had logically deduced that a gap existed, but he never anticipated that the chasm between them would be this glaringly obvious.
"Lucario..."
Witnessing his partner's utterly demoralized state, Ash felt a sharp pang of sympathy in his heart. Ever since he had first caught
Lucario as a Riolu, they had practically enjoyed an undefeated streak on the battlefield! No matter how staggering the adversity, they had always found a way to persevere together.
He had never expected that Lucario's very first definitive defeat would come at the hands of his own veteran Greninja... and to make matters worse, it was Lucario who had actively initiated the challenge, launched the aggressive assault, and ended up being neutralized at lightning speed.
For a naturally proud and ambitious Pokémon like Lucario, this psychological blow was bound to be astronomical.
Even Ash found himself temporarily at a loss for words; losing a hard-fought match to an outside opponent was one thing, but being completely outclassed by a senior teammate was a highly delicate situation to navigate.
"Lucar!"
With a sharp, frustrated cry, Lucario suddenly leaped directly into the dense underbrush, sprinting away at full speed!
He didn't have a specific destination in mind; he simply knew that if he remained standing there for another second, the sheer humiliation would make his face burn like an active Flamethrower. It was simply too embarrassing!
"Lucario, wait!"
Seeing him bolt, Ash immediately prepared to give chase, but Greninja extended a webbed hand, calmly blocking his path.
"Ko-gai."
"I'll leave it to you then... I completely trust you, Greninja! Go help Lucario clear his head and calm down!" Ash said, nodding gratefully.
With a swift leap, Greninja vanished into the canopy to trail after his junior. As for whether he could successfully track down the runaway canine... within this wilderness, Lucario's intense Aura signature shone as brightly as a beacon in the dead of night.
No matter how deep into the forest he ran, hiding from a master tracker was entirely impossible.
"Ash... how did things turn out like this? Lucario normally never behaves so recklessly..." Chloe noted, having witnessed the entire intense exchange from the sidelines. She stepped closer, her expression clouded with worry.
Back when he was a Riolu, he had been so remarkably endearing, well-behaved, and dedicated. Even though his general demeanor had grown somewhat more reserved and stoic after evolving into Lucario, he had always remained deeply considerate of his teammates, maintaining an unshakeable composure without throwing tantrums.
Why had he suddenly flared up with such intense aggression toward Greninja today, going so far as to force a direct confrontation? Could it be that their personal compatibility was fundamentally flawed?
Ash offered a helpless, understanding smile. "I think... it's precisely because Lucario perceived an identical presence within Greninja.
The sacred bond Greninja shares with me, alongside the fated nature of our initial meeting, aligns almost perfectly with Lucario's own journey."
"Just as Lucario stands as my fated partner for this era, Greninja held that exact same role during our time in Kalos! It's precisely because he recognizes that deep parallel that his competitive drive kicked in; he simply refuses to be viewed as second best to him."
Chloe nodded slowly, a wave of understanding washing over her. "So that's why Lucario felt compelled to challenge him... But if that's the case, won't it be incredibly difficult for the two of them to get along in the future?"
Ash shook his head confidently. "Not at all. In fact, it's precisely because of this shared trait that they are destined to become spectacular friends! Exceptional partners, even. This is just a minor, temporary misunderstanding that they need to work through. Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu chirped with absolute certainty, nodding his head vigorously.
Jealousy was a concept he was entirely familiar with; he had certainly thrown his own share of tantrums in the past! But in the end, hadn't he forged a spectacular dynamic with Lucario anyway?
Since Lucario and Greninja shared such a profound baseline of traits, once the initial awkwardness settled and they opened up their hearts, they were bound to form an unbreakable brotherhood that eclipsed standard partnerships!
Clemont walked up alongside Bonnie, checking in on the situation. "Ash truly possesses an unmatched understanding of Greninja and Lucario's inner thoughts! So, should we set up camp and wait here, or should we start trailing after them?"
"Let's follow them at a relaxed pace. By the time we catch up to their positions, the two of them should have successfully sorted things out between themselves."
Pressing down the brim of his cap, Ash locked onto the overlapping Aura signatures of Lucario and Greninja moving through the deep woods, leading Chloe, Clemont, and Bonnie along the trail.
...
Global Forum Chat Board
[Blaine]: The current Ash... has truly transformed into an absolute master of emotional intelligence regarding Pokémon! He accurately deduced the underlying cause of Lucario's sudden behavioral shift on the spot, and even successfully predicted their impending reconciliation!
[Caitlin]: Credit where credit is due—Ash has always possessed an incredibly keen, almost miraculous perception when it comes to reading the emotions of Pokémon! His ability to connect with them is unmatched.
[Sabrina]: Hmph. If he only managed to allocate a tiny fraction of that precise emotional intelligence toward understanding the feelings of human girls, he wouldn't be in the position he's in right now...
Mid-thought, Sabrina suddenly caught herself, cutting her commentary short. The reality was that even if Ash theoretically dedicated a portion of his emotional awareness toward the girls in his life, it wouldn't necessarily change her own dynamic with him.
After all, their personal intersection had been limited to that singular, intense period during his early badges.
While she held an incredibly vivid memory of his impact on her life, Ash viewed her primarily as a respected Gym Leader friend rather than a close traveling confidante.
[Cynthia]: Hehe, but it is precisely because of this unadulterated, pure focus that Ash is capable of effortlessly securing the profound affection and respect of so many elite Pokémon—including Mythical and Legendary entities!
[Caitlin]: A certified emotional savant when dealing with Pokémon, coupled with being an absolute block of wood regarding human romance! Hahaha!
[Brock]: That is an incredibly accurate summary!
Backyard of the Oak Research Laboratory:
Ash scratched his head in complete confusion, leaning over to whisper to Brock. "Hey Brock... am I really that completely oblivious when it comes to understanding people's feelings?"
Brock stared at him, entering a brief state of internal crisis. Can you please stop putting me on the spot with these incredibly awkward questions?
"Well... let's just say that compared to your absolute mastery over Pokémon emotions, your awareness of people is a little bit less developed!" Brock answered tactfully.
Seeking a second opinion, Ash turned to look down at his starter. Pikachu merely offered a solemn, symmetrical nod of agreement, leaving Ash completely deflated as he sank into deep contemplation. Was he truly an absolute idiot when it came to human emotions?
In the Footage—
Lucario had sprinted until he reached a secluded, tranquil pool deep within the wilderness, dropping onto his knees by the water's edge as a wave of intense frustration washed over him.
He had lost. He had been completely, effortlessly neutralized! To make matters worse, he had suffered this absolute defeat right in front of his trainer's eyes!
The sheer loss of face made him feel entirely unworthy of looking Ash in the eyes again. He was the one who had stubbornly forced the conflict, yet he was the one who had been cleanly dealt with in a single exchange.
Thud.
Greninja descended softly from the canopy, landing with absolute weightlessness onto the grassy clearing. Wielding his exceptionally refined Aura senses, Lucario had naturally perceived his approach from a mile away.
He refused to turn around, nor did he make any move to initiate a secondary challenge. He was currently the definitive loser of their exchange; he lacked the standing, and frankly the right, to demand another battle from Greninja.
"Ko-gai?" (Are you truly planning to just throw in the towel and pout here forever?)
Faced with Greninja's direct, probing inquiry, Lucario's pride finally flared. He slowly rose to his full height, turning around to face the veteran head-on, his eyes burning with an unyielding, fierce competitive spirit.
It was clear he hadn't emotionally surrendered, but the crushing nature of the previous exchange had dealt a severe blow to his confidence, prompting his sudden flight.
The thought of facing his trainer after failing so spectacularly against a senior teammate had simply been too much to bear.
"Lucar!" (If I had been granted the exact same amount of training time alongside Ash as you've had, there's absolutely no way I would have lost to you!)
"Ko-gai." (Your perspective is fundamentally flawed, Lucario.)
"Ko-gai! Ko-ko-gai!" (When a trainer and a Pokémon suffer a definitive failure, the absolute first priority should be to analyze their own shortcomings, rather than scrambling to make convenient excuses for their defeat!)
Lucario's defensive, angry expression froze instantly, the irritation gradually draining from his features as a deep, analytical focus took its place.
Sometimes, a hard truth delivered by an esteemed rival carried far more weight than comfort from a teammate. More importantly, Greninja wasn't merely a superior opponent; he was a senior partner fighting under the exact same banner.
Under Greninja's blunt, grounding words, Lucario finally snapped out of his emotional spiral. He realized his immediate priority was to clearly identify his tactical vulnerabilities and address his current limitations, rather than wasting energy complaining that his chronological training time didn't match a veteran's tenure!
Besides, what could complaining possibly achieve? Would the flow of time magically accelerate to grant him power, or would the universe force his rivals to stand perfectly still? Absolutely not!
The only logical path forward was to pour every ounce of his dedication into rigorous training, closing the gap between them through pure effort!
He could even actively seek out Greninja to absorb his extensive combat wisdom. That was the true mark of an ambitious combatant.
"Lucar..."
After a brief internal struggle, Lucario finally cast aside his stubborn pride. Placing his paws firmly on his thighs, he executed a deep, profoundly respectful bow directly toward Greninja.
Please guide me. I want to become stronger!
Greninja crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing into a satisfied line as he offered a firm, approving nod. The kid was highly receptive to teaching.
Every single Pokémon Ash brought into his inner circle possessed an incredible depth of character and fighting spirit; they were never fools. It was precisely because he knew Lucario's true nature that Greninja had assured Ash he could handle the situation alone.
By the time Ash and the rest of the group navigated their way to the clearing, the tense atmosphere had completely evaporated, replaced by a perfectly harmonious training session.
The refined manipulation of Aura wavelengths, defensive coverage positioning, offensive weight distribution... every single specialized combat principle Greninja had developed during his extensive tenure patrolling alongside Zygarde was being systematically shared with Lucario without a single shred of reservation.
Looking at Lucario's fierce determination, Greninja couldn't help but see a vivid reflection of his own past self.
"Hey there! Looks like you two have successfully made up, Greninja, Lucario!" Ash called out cheerfully, waving as he stepped into the clearing.
Lucario immediately paused his training movements, turning toward his trainer to deliver a formal, respectful bow.
I am incredibly sorry for my willful behavior earlier, Ash, Lucario communicated directly, projecting his thoughts cleanly through their shared Aura wavelength.
Ash waved his hand dismissively with a bright, warm smile. "Don't worry about it at all! Tapping into that kind of intense competitive drive is completely natural. The important thing is that you two are working together beautifully now!"
"Let me tell you, Lucario—Greninja has spent this entire past year mastering an incredible array of new strategies and combat applications while working alongside Zygarde! You need to absorb every single bit of that knowledge and make it your own! Haha!"
Lucario offered a solemn, resolute nod. Ash didn't even need to vocalize the instruction; he had already resolved to do exactly that.
Now that his head was perfectly clear, the emotional storm that had clouded his judgment had completely settled. He found himself looking back at his frantic, dramatic flight with a sense of utter bewilderment.
How on earth had he allowed himself to lose control like that? It appeared that intense comparison and jealousy truly held the power to make a Pokémon unrecognizable to themselves!
"By the way, Greninja, what's the current status of the negative energy cores across the Kalos region? Do you have a clear reading on how many are left?"
"Ko-gai." (Given our current pace, I can guarantee the entire region will be completely purged within the next three months.)
"Three months..." Ash calculated the calendar dates internally, his eyes lighting up with immense excitement as he looked back at his partner.
"Three months means you'll finish up right in time for the Masters Eight Tournament! What do you say, Greninja? Do you want to join the roster and storm the Masters Eight stage alongside me?!"
The tournament rankings wouldn't lock in their final configurations for another three and a half to four months. Mathematically speaking, the timeline lined up perfectly for Greninja to officially wrap up his environmental duties and rejoin the active team for the absolute pinnacle of global competition!
That was the ultimate stage that would definitively crown the number one trainer on the planet.
As for whether he could successfully break into that elite bracket... if he couldn't even secure a spot among the top eight trainers in the world, he wouldn't possess the face to ask a legendary ace like Greninja to stand beside him!
"Ko-gai?" (The Masters Eight? What exactly is that?)
"Ah, right, you've been completely isolated out here in the wilderness, so you haven't heard the news..." Ash realized.
Greninja had spent his days deep within the Kalosian forests systematically slicing down corrupt roots, leaving him entirely cut off from global sporting updates.
Even Ash had only fully parsed the structure of the World Coronation Series this year, so it was completely natural that Greninja was oblivious.
Ash immediately dove into a detailed breakdown of the tournament mechanics, explaining how the Masters Eight represented the absolute apex—the top eight combatants selected from every region across the globe.
Hearing that this tournament served as the definitive platform to challenge the reigning Monarch, the traditionally tranquil, unshakeable eyes of Greninja finally rippled with an intense, familiar fire.
Cast your mind back.
During the finals of the Lumiose Conference, he had fallen just short against Alain's Charizard. That same evening, Ash had stood on the field, looking completely exhausted yet unyielding. The memory of that heartbreaking near-miss remained incredibly vivid in his heart!
And now... the ultimate opportunity for Ash to ascend to the position of the world's strongest trainer was laid out right in front of them. How could he possibly choose to stand aside?
"Ko-gai!"
Greninja offered a powerful, heavy nod, extending his webbed fist. To see you crowned as the strongest trainer in the world, I will gladly stand at the front lines!
With that definitive pact, Greninja officially locked in one of the premier roster seats for the upcoming Masters Eight Tournament! When that day arrived, the legendary reputation of the Battle Bond phenomenon would officially resound across the entire globe!
Trainer and Pokémon slammed their fists together in a perfect mirror of their classic synchronization, sharing a fierce, brief embrace.
"Um... Greninja, where exactly is he resting right now?"
Seeing that the intense, foundational discussion between Ash and Greninja had finally drawn to a close, Bonnie could no longer contain the burning question she had been waiting to ask all day.