[Caitlin: So, Bond Evolution with Greninja and Waveguide Resonance with Lucario both drain Ash's stamina. They are remarkably similar.]
[Professor Oak: Indeed. Greninja represents a century-old legend of bond form, while Lucario represents a thousand-year-old waveguide legacy. Both require Ash to be the 'battery.']
[Steven Stone: This leads to a tactical problem. If Ash has to use both in one battle, his physical fitness would be the bottleneck. Even a 'Super True Rookie' has limits. Can he actually specialize twice in one fight?]
[Sabrina: Unless his physical fitness and waveguide capacity improve, the Ash in the image will likely be restricted to one specialization per high-level match.]
[Cynthia: Hehe, but remember, the Ash in our real world has already seen these inventories. If he spends a year or two training specifically to handle this drain, his physical fitness might surpass the version we're seeing. He might become a 'Humanoid Mythical Beast.']
In the Footage—
The battle ended with a complete reversal of history. Cameron, who had once defeated Ash with a five-to-six handicap, had now been swept by a single, newly evolved Lucario. The tactical and power gap was undeniable.
"Ash!" "The Alola Champion!" "Champion, give me an autograph!"
Before Ash could even offer Cameron a word of comfort, the surrounding crowd erupted. Half the beach-goers were Alolan locals who had recognized their hero, while the other half were tourists, utterly confused by the sudden "star-chasing" frenzy.
"Wait, that kid is a Champion? Of Alola?" a tourist asked.
"Yes!" Professor Kukui replied, his chest swelling with pride. "He is the first Champion of the Alola League. He is our pride!"
Kiawe, Mallow, and the others walked over, grinning. "Surprised, Cameron? You were fighting a Champion all along!" Kiawe added, crossing his arms. "He's the rival I acknowledge! Being Champion is only natural!"
Cameron watched Ash, who was now barely visible behind a sea of fans. The boy he had beaten two years ago in Unova had ascended to a throne.
The gap between them had become a canyon. What has he been through in these two years? Cameron wondered, a newfound respect replacing his usual recklessness.
The commotion eventually settled. The Alolan people, while passionate, were respectful of their Champion's need for rest.
After a brief period of signing autographs and taking photos, the crowd dispersed, leaving Ash and his exhausted Lucario to recover.
Ash's ranking in the World Coronation Series jumped again, landing at 695. The rest of the day was spent in pure, Alolan bliss.
After healing their Pokémon at the Center, the group returned to the beach for a farewell celebration.
Lucario, now evolved, had adopted a much cooler, more stoic personality. While the others splashed in the surf, he sat cross-legged in the sand, meditating on his new power.
That was, until Gengar and Pikachu teamed up to douse him with a bucket of mud! The stoic facade shattered instantly, and a chaotic, happy brawl ensued between the trainers and their Pokémon.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of violet and orange, it was time to say goodbye.
"Chloe, come back to Alola often!" Mallow invited, hugging her.
"I will! I want to learn more about Alolan cooking next time!" Chloe replied. The two had become fast sisters over their shared love of domestic arts and school life.
Ash stood with Kiawe and Sophocles, exchanging final fist bumps. But just as he turned to Professor Kukui, a streak of yellow light descended from the heavens.
Tapu Koko had appeared.
"Eh! Tapu Koko! You came to see us off?" Ash's eyes lit up.
"Pika-pi!" Pikachu cheered.
The patron saint of Melemele Island landed softly, reaching out to tap the brim of Ash's hat—a gesture of immense respect and a wish for a safe journey.
He was telling Ash that Alola would always be his second home.
"I'll be back soon! I promise!" Ash shouted as he and Chloe boarded the plane.
Kukui and the students stood at the gate for a long time, watching the plane disappear into the clouds. "Alright, everyone," Kukui finally clapped his hands. "Let's head back for dinner. It's not the first time we've said goodbye, and it won't be the last. They'll be back."
[Professor Kukui: The bond between Ash and Alola is so deep. Even the second parting is hard to watch.]
[Lance: It's ironic. In Kanto, his first home, he struggled to crack the Top 16. In Alola, his second home, he became the King.]
[Goodshow: Does this mean Ash will represent Alola in the Master Eight? After all, he is their reigning Champion.]
[Cynthia: Alola may be a new region to the world stage, but once Ash starts the Master Eight tournament, the whole world will know exactly how powerful Alola is.]
In the Footage—
The flight back to Kanto was quiet. Ash, drained from the waveguide resonance and the day's activities, fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. Chloe sat beside him, holding Pikachu in her lap.
"He's had a long day, Pikachu," she whispered, stroking the electric mouse. "Let's let him rest."
She caught herself looking at Ash's sleeping face again. This was the second time she'd seen him like this on a flight. He looked so much younger when he wasn't battling—innocent, even. She felt a strange urge to poke his cheek but resisted.
An hour later, the plane touched down in Vermilion City. Ash woke up with a massive stretch. "REBORN!"
"Don't shout at the airport, Ash!" Chloe hissed, embarrassed, as they hurried away from the curious stares of other passengers.
They soon arrived at the Cerise Institute. Despite the late hour, the lights were blazing. Inside, Professor Cerise was standing with a grave expression, looking at a series of monitors. The atmosphere was heavy, completely unlike the usual cheerful research environment.
"Ash, Chloe... I'm glad you're back," Cerise said, his voice low. "Something has happened. Something big."
The screen behind him flickered, showing a satellite feed of a strange, purple energy storm brewing over the Galar region. The readings were off the charts.
"Is that... Dynamax energy?" Ash asked, his fatigue vanishing instantly.
"It's more than that," Cerise replied. "The Darkest Day... it might be returning."
A new shadow was falling over the world of the image, and the peaceful Alolan vacation was officially over. ]
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