Not reconciled… not reconciled to being this weak…
Treecko's inner voice trembled as Ash's chakra washed through him.
"How about it?" Ash asked softly. "Whether you choose to become my Pokémon or not, I'll let you stand at the very peak of strength."
He let the chakra's meaning flow directly into Treecko's mind—warm, steady, and unyielding.
Treecko's fingers twitched.
Ash was unlike any human he had ever met. Many had tried to capture him before, but none of them had made him feel such overwhelming pressure. Pikachu alone had already demonstrated an absurd level of strength—greater than anything this forest's Houndour pack could dream of.
Ash looked ordinary enough, but his power was deep, unfathomable, terrifying.
Even his lightning-quick partner could wipe out an entire Houndour tribe with a single attack.
Treecko had never dared imagine that kind of power.
"Do you want to be our partner?" Ash continued. "To stand at the top of the world? To become the strongest Pokémon—and fight beside the strongest human? I can feel the unwillingness burning in your eyes."
The Sharingan spun hypnotically, drawing Treecko's gaze. Chakra pulsed with an irresistible pull. Almost without thinking, Treecko reached out and placed his small, trembling hand into Ash's right hand.
Ash's lips curled slightly.
Treecko was a Pokémon with potential worth cultivating. Even unevolved, his hidden strength ran deep. With the right training, his future achievements would be astonishing.
Ash took out a Master Ball.
A brief flash of light—Treecko was captured effortlessly.
Ash closed the Master Ball and smiled. "Welcome to the team."
He and Sabrina continued down the path in a lighter mood.
"I didn't expect you to be that good at… persuasion," Sabrina said coolly, though her eyes sparkled with amused meaning.
"Er—" Ash's good mood cracked instantly. Her remark choked him harder than being hit while drinking water, and he wisely chose not to argue.
"Less talking," he muttered.
Nightfall — Log Cabin
That evening, Ash used Mokuton to create a sturdy wooden cabin. Since the next city was still far away, he decided they would rest here for several days.
Perfect time to train.
"Alright everyone, this is our new partner—Treecko. Treat him well."
As Ash released his Pokémon, each greeted Treecko warmly.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Dozens of Ash's clones burst into existence, immediately taking positions to supervise training. The clones were incredibly efficient—equivalent to several champion-level trainers working in unison. Since they could also use some of Ash's abilities, their value in this world was immeasurable.
"For Treecko, training will follow the same model as Bulbasaur did back then," Ash said. "He'll start practicing Shave and Moon Step. With his body structure, his growth will outpace the others."
Treecko's fighting-type potential made him perfect for techniques requiring explosive movement.
One Week Later
Ash and Sabrina stayed in the cabin for seven full days.
With Ash's chakra aiding their development, every Pokémon grew significantly—especially Murkrow and Treecko.
Murkrow had evolved into a Honchkrow, its power soaring.
Treecko had reached elite-tier strength; with Ash's custom-designed techniques, even a King-tier Pokémon wouldn't intimidate him anymore.
The easiest one to manage was Pikachu.
His power had long since plateaued, so his routine was simple: one or two hours of training, then eating, drinking, and relaxing with Ash.
Magic Island — Dream Forest
Back on Magic Island, Ash's earliest Pokémon companions rested in their territories, gathering occasionally to sunbathe. Life was peaceful—except for the Charizard.
Ever since Ash sent the Charizard from Charizard Valley to the Dream Forest, Mewtwo had assigned them the volcanic territory.
That immediately caused problems.
The Scarred Charizard, proud and aggressive, challenged Ash's Charizard the moment he arrived. At first, Ash's Charizard couldn't be bothered—the gap in skill was too large. Even Pokémon like Venusaur and Blastoise found the situation ridiculous.
With their own special techniques and chakra-enhanced training, Ash's Pokémon were the pinnacle of strength in Dream Forest—examples every other Pokémon aimed to surpass.
In the end, Ash's Charizard finally lost patience.
After enduring the Scarred Charizard's constant provocations for days, he rose to his feet, wings flaring, eyes burning—and accepted the challenge.
The battle that followed made the entire Charizard group tremble.
They were the same species. The same evolutionary stage. The same natural strength.
But their combat experience… their skills… their technique…
They weren't even close.
The Scarred Charizard learned that the hard way.
He was overpowered, outmaneuvered, and overwhelmed at every turn.
Ash's Charizard wasn't just stronger—he was a warrior forged through countless life-and-death battles. A veteran who had followed Ash through impossible fights.
By the end of the duel, the Scarred Charizard could only kneel, panting, acknowledging the undeniable truth.
Ash's Charizard was now the new king of the Charizard group.
And the other Charizard accepted it without resistance.
But with that new position… came new problems.
Every day, young Charmander, Charmeleon, and inexperienced Charizard trained in front of their new leader.
Their methods were sloppy. Amateurish.
Play-fighting, half-hearted flames, clumsy footwork.
Ash's Charizard had tolerated it at first.
But after a few days?
He snapped.
With a single sweep, he flattened the entire training group—Charmanders, Charmeleons, and even the full Charizards who still hadn't grasped real combat technique.
One blow.
No room for excuses.
Strength defines kings.
From that day on, the Scarred Charizard voluntarily followed Ash's Charizard as his personal training partner.
With Ash's permission, the scarred one also began practicing Ash's original chakra-based techniques—moves designed to push a Charizard to its limits.
Ash's Charizard gladly handed all the troublesome duties—guiding, scolding, training—to the Scarred Charizard.
He could finally relax again.
With responsibilities off his shoulders, Ash's Charizard spent his days dozing in the sun with the other Pokémon.
Pikachu lounged lazily on Ash's shoulder.
Sceptile-to-be trained relentlessly.
Snorlax snored in the shade.
Lapras floated peacefully in the lake.
Happiness came easily in Dream Forest.
All the Pokémon respected Ash's partners—they were the strongest of all. And Mewtwo's days were equally lively; he played several matches every day with Ash's Dragonite and Suicune, strength shaking the sky each time they clashed.
But none of them realized…
The same fate that had caught Charizard was coming for them.
Ash had already made his next decision:
He intended to bring the strongest Pokémon groups of every type into Dream Forest.
Once they arrived, every Pokémon—no matter how lazy they were now—would have no choice but to train again.
The peaceful days were numbered.