It turned out Ash's judgment was correct.
Although Pikachu still lacked training, its tail was always a very important part of its body.
It took only two days to complete learning Iron Tail. Of course, it could now perform the move smoothly, but to truly master it would require actual battle experience.
What truly satisfied Ash was Charizard, wearing the Macho Brace—he had completely adapted to the Macho Brace's heavy, rigid restraints!
"Again!"
Ash's fists shone with a blue glow. Facing Charizard's swinging claws, Ash did not retreat, but charged forward with a punch.
However, right then, Charizard's claws suddenly changed.
"Hmm?"
Ash's Aura sensed it just in time, and he quickly dodged aside.
Turquoise Dragon-type energy began to gather at Charizard's claws, flickering with a sharp, dazzling turquoise light!
Crash!
That Dragon Claw was sharp enough to slice through stone; after Ash dodged, it stabbed right into the rock wall behind him.
"Stop!"
Ash quickly called out. If those claws had really hit him just now, even with Aura Power, he might have gotten seriously hurt.
Brock and Misty had already run over.
"Ash, what was that just now?"
Ash looked at the equally confused Charizard. "Charizard, it looks like you've learned Dragon Claw—that's a Dragon-type move!"
"Dragon Claw? That's incredible!" Misty's eyes sparkled—this move really was amazing.
"Charizard, practice using Dragon Claw. That's it for today's special training!" Saying this, Ash took off Charizard's Macho Brace.
"Raaaar!"
With the repressed power restored, Charizard leapt in celebration, shooting Flamethrower high into the sky, the pillar of fire over five meters tall.
Shaking out his arms, Charizard felt stronger than ever before.
"Huh, what's this?"
Suddenly, Brock exclaimed in surprise. In his hand he held a piece of very beautiful stone.
"That looks like the necklace Miss Rochelle wore—could it be?" Misty's eyes were full of delight.
Ash took the fragment from Brock's hand. "Looks like we're really lucky. Charizard used his newly-learned Dragon Claw and actually found a small piece of agate!"
"Amazing, and it was Charizard who found it!" Misty looked at Charizard with joy. "Wait, I think Charizard looks a little bigger than before."
Charizard had indeed grown a bit. The effect of the Macho Brace seemed to be excellent.
Not only that, but Ash's Bond Value with Charizard had reached 175/255. This special training was clearly a great success.
Once Charizard was a bit more familiar with the new Dragon Claw move, Ash and the group packed up their things. With their small agate fragment, they found Miss Rochelle again.
"Miss Rochelle, it must be destiny that brings us together again!"
Miss Rochelle had spent the past few days on the other side of the valley, training a young Donphan to search for agate.
The moment he saw her, Brock vanished from Ash's side, reappearing in front of Miss Rochelle.
Then, Misty vanished as well, dragging Brock away.
"Ash, are you leaving already?" Seeing Ash and the group like this, Rochelle knew they were about to leave.
"That's right, Miss Rochelle. We found this—can you tell us if it's agate?" Ash handed over the stone fragment to Rochelle.
It really was agate—and very good quality too, which truly amazed Rochelle.
When she asked how Ash's group had found the agate, Rochelle was also impressed by Ash and Charizard's good luck.
Since Rochelle had agreed to do free processing, Ash accepted without hesitation.
This piece of agate was just enough to make two pendants. Ash gave one to Misty, and the other, of course, to his mother, Delia.
"Well then, it's time to say goodbye!"
...
After saying goodbye to Miss Rochelle and crossing Donphan Valley, Ash and the group got lost again.
Even though Ash had Aura Power to scout the way, there was definitely something strange about this place.
Something truly ghostly!
"Ash, hurry up and think of something—I really don't want to camp in a forest like this!"
It was getting dark. Although they were used to sleeping outdoors, this place looked so spooky that Misty couldn't handle not knowing what might jump out at any moment.
Even she hadn't realized it, but she was slowly starting to rely on Ash.
But just as she finished speaking, a cold, eerie laugh came out of the wind in the forest.
"Ah!!"
Misty instinctively clung to Ash's arm. This kind of thing was her worst fear.
Not only that, but they distinctly saw strange ghostly faces appearing on the tree trunks around them.
"Pikachu, over there—Discharge!"
A flash of blue light, and Ash decisively ordered Pikachu to attack the direction where he sensed an eerie Aura.
"Hohohohoho!"
Sure enough, even though nothing seemed to be there, Pikachu's electricity struck true.
But after a wail of pain, another eerie laugh followed.
"Hmph, Pikachu, now hit that direction!"
Ash pointed again and, as expected, another hit.
"That's Gengar, Haunter, and Gastly!" This time, Ash caught a glimpse of the fleeting shadows.
They were all Ghost-type Pokémon!
"Misty, don't be scared—it's just illusions caused by these Ghost-type Pokémon!" Ash gently consoled Misty beside him.
"Ash, can you do anything?"
"I can find the Aura of these Ghost Pokémon, but I can't break the illusions. If only we had a Pokémon who could use Foresight!"
Ash said with a wry smile.
"Ash, it looks like you've grown a lot!" A voice came from deep in the forest.
Ash knew that voice all too well. "Blue, is that you?"
It really was Blue, Ash's eternal rival. "Didn't expect to run into you here!"
At Blue's feet was a small owl Pokémon, standing on one leg.
"Hoothoot?"
Clearly, Blue was going to use this Hoothoot's Foresight to counter the illusions in the forest.
"To get out of this confusing forest, we'll need Hoothoot to lead us!" Blue explained.
Hearing this, Ash nodded. "Alright, Blue. Let's travel together and leave this forest. Tomorrow, we'll have a one-on-one battle!"
"Deal!"
Pikachu: 195/255
Charizard: 175/255
Snorlax: 135/255
Heracross: 100/250