In the afternoon, after a short break, Ash and Misty set up separate training areas at a distance from each other, providing ample space for each to focus on their respective Pokémon. Misty was eager to train her Staryu and Starmie.
She had thought about contributing to Ash's training plan, but after hearing his detailed approach, she realized there wasn't much she could add and decided to focus on her own training.
"Pikachu, you've already mastered Thunder Shock and Quick Attack, so to enhance your abilities further, aside from gaining strength, you need to learn more moves," Ash said, sitting on the grass, arms crossed, addressing his Pokémon.
"Pika, Pika—!" Pikachu nodded in agreement, feeling its strength continuously improving, which was a result of the legacy of the Sky Dragon. Therefore, there wasn't an urgent need to boost its strength immediately. The priority was mastering a stronger move.
"Thunderbolt, that's your next target!" Ash told Pikachu. "Thunderbolt is not only more powerful than Thunder Shock but also faster. Once mastered, it can handle most situations and opponents, making it a very useful move."
"Pika!" Pikachu's eyes sparkled with recognition and enthusiasm. It was aware of Thunderbolt but hadn't yet grasped it.
"Thunderbolt is a stronger version of Thunder Shock, just with a greater output of energy, elevating the move's power to a new level," Ash shared, imparting knowledge he had learned from Professor Oak. Understanding the fundamentals of how a move works is crucial to training a Pokémon to master it.
"So, Pikachu, your training this afternoon will focus on maximizing your energy output to create an even more intense electrical current. With practice, you'll surely master Thunderbolt!" Ash instructed.
"Pika, Pika—!" Pikachu responded with high spirits, raising its little paws as a sign of commitment to its training.
"Go for it!" Ash patted Pikachu on the head, signaling it to begin its training. He then turned his attention to Pidgey.
After hearing Ash's analysis, Pidgey's gaze turned somewhat admiring. It hadn't expected this human not only to cook delicious food but also to possess such extensive knowledge. Being captured by Ash seemed more and more like a stroke of good luck.
"Pidgey, since I'm not yet aware of the moves you know, I need you to demonstrate them for me so we can develop a training plan tailored specifically to you," Ash explained to Pidgey.
"Pidgey—!" Excited, Pidgey took flight, understanding Ash's request. It aimed towards the pond, ready to showcase its skills.
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With a high-pitched cry, a white, semi-transparent energy enveloped Pidgey's body. It then surged forward, skimming the surface of the pond before circling back to Ash.
Ash nodded slightly; this was Tackle, a move most Pokémon know from birth and often the first they learn.
However, Pidgey's next demonstration surprised Ash. The bird harnessed its Flying-type energy, flapping its wings vigorously to whip up a strong wind that stirred the pond's water into churning waves.
"Gust... I didn't expect Pidgey to know that," Ash remarked with a smile. Gust was a relatively simple move for Pidgey to learn, requiring no intricate techniques, but its mastery by a relatively untrained Pidgey was pleasantly surprising.
The surprises continued; after stopping the Gust, Pidgey's wings shimmered with a layer of sky-blue energy that extended outwards, mirroring the shape of its wings.
"Wing Attack?!" Ash was genuinely taken aback this time. He hadn't expected Pidgey to know Wing Attack, a move far more powerful than Tackle or Gust, and considered one of the signature moves of Flying-type Pokémon.
Pidgey's ability to learn Wing Attack at such an early stage indicated significant potential, bordering on genius. In the Pokémon games, Wing Attack is typically learned at level 15, a skill usually acquired by more experienced Pokémon.
After demonstrating three moves, Pidgey ceased its display; those were the only techniques it knew at the moment. Ash was far from disappointed, however—Pidgey had already provided him with a great surprise.
"However... it hasn't mastered the simpler moves like Sand Attack and Quick Attack yet..." Ash pondered thoughtfully. Pidgey's combat skills were already formidable, but it lacked versatility. Quick Attack and Sand Attack could remedy this deficiency, making it urgent for Pidgey to learn these moves, especially Quick Attack.
Ash favored offense over defense. He disliked strategies that relied on defense to win. Aggressive and swift attacks suited him better; thus, he decided that Pidgey should first master Quick Attack.
After explaining the mechanics of Quick Attack, Pidgey seemed to have an epiphany, nodding its head. It had wanted to learn this move to better dodge and counterattack enemies but had never grasped how until Ash's explanation.
After sending Pidgey off to train, Ash finally had a moment to himself. He glanced at Misty, who was busily training her Staryu and Starmie, then let his mind wander to the lottery system he had access to—currently, he had two chances to draw.
"Hoping for a legacy, but I'll be happy with some good items to sell too!" Ash wasn't solely fixated on obtaining legacies; even if he didn't draw one, he remained confident in his future as the world's strongest Pokémon trainer.
"Let's draw!" He pressed the lottery button, and the machine interface whirred into action, with various terms flashing by in a blur, too fast to make out.
"Stop!" Ash pressed the stop button nonchalantly. After a few seconds, the rapidly spinning interface slowed down and finally halted, revealing a TM!
"A TM, huh? That's acceptable…" Ash paused, initially disappointed but recognizing the value of his prize. He decided to check its properties and effects.
TM: Aerial Ace – This TM allows a Pokémon to instantly master this move upon use.
"Instant mastery?!" Ash's eyes widened as he read the TM's effect. It mentioned 'instant mastery' rather than 'instant learning', implying that using this TM on Pidgey would allow it to master the move without any need for training—as if it had practiced Aerial Ace countless times!