During the battle against Darkrai in the future—
The bond between Ash and Sceptile was far deeper than what was shown here.
That unwavering trust…
That light-like faith from Pokémon to Trainer…
There had to be something that happened later.
Cynthia believed this firmly.
The footage resumed—
Ash's adventures on Citrus Island had ended.
Next was the final Contest of the arc,
and after that—
His fifth Battle Frontier challenge: the Battle Palace!
As the group arrived on Metal Island,
Ash started letting his Pokémon warm up.
Everyone else trained normally.
But Sceptile—
Still couldn't use a single move.
Days had passed since his heartbreak.
But that failure—
the wound of losing his love—
had etched itself deeply into Sceptile's heart.
Until he could let go of Meganium…
let go of that rejection…
His strength would not return.
[Lance: That heartbreak hit him THAT hard?! Love is dangerous!!]
[Steven: It's not just love. Grovyle beat Tropius—yet still lost in the field of romance. That contrast must've crushed him.]
[Diantha: Oh? Steven seems very experienced in this~]
[Cynthia: He's Hoenn's golden bachelor, heir to Devon Corp. Did you think he's as innocent as he looks~?]
[Steven: HUH?!]
Why are they slandering him live in the chat?!
They're all right next to each other—
If they want to roast him, they can do it verbally!
Cynthia, you've changed!
You're starting to sound like Diantha!
The footage continued—
Sceptile struggled for an entire afternoon.
Nothing.
As dusk settled, Sceptile panted heavily, face twisted in frustration.
Why… can't I use my moves?
Why… am I so weak now?
Why… am I so helpless?
His fury and self-loathing boiled over—
And he dashed into the forest.
Ash immediately followed.
May and the others tried as well,
But Brock blocked them.
"Let Ash go.
Calming a Pokémon—that's a Trainer's responsibility.
Sceptile isn't angry at others.
He's angry at his own weakness.
Ash… will bring him back."
No one understood Ash as Brock did.
After traveling together across three regions—
He knew what kind of person Ash was.
Ash could reach Sceptile.
Always.
Sceptile ran deep into the forest.
He slammed his head again and again into a tree trunk—
punishing himself, hating his helplessness.
A gentle voice rose behind him.
"Stop, Sceptile."
Sceptile froze.
But he didn't turn around.
He didn't dare face his Trainer.
How could someone so worthless…
so powerless…
stand beside Ash?
Across the world, viewers felt their hearts ache.
That proud, fearless Grovyle—
the one who once stood unshaken to protect his friends—
Was now afraid of being abandoned.
When someone who once held great strength loses it…
Their world can collapse.
Ash stepped closer.
"It's okay, Sceptile.
Even if today doesn't work…We still have tomorrow."
"Everyone's worried. Let's go back together."
"Cha…"
Sceptile trembled—
caught between despair and hope.
But then—
Both Pikachu and Sceptile turned sharply to the side.
Ash sensed it too.
A shadow shifted in the forest—
And suddenly—
A massive swarm of Beedrill descended upon them.
Without hesitation—
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt!!"
Pikachu blasted a cluster away—
But another wave came.
Then another.
And another.
The Beedrill nest was endless.
"A run for it, Sceptile!"
"Cha!!"
The three sprinted wildly—
But the Beedrill kept chasing,
forcing them toward a cliff's edge.
Below—
a raging river.
There was nowhere left to run.
The swarm closed in—
Sceptile stepped forward, arms wide—
ready to shield his Trainer with his own body
despite being unable to use any moves.
"Ash!" Misty shouted, instinctively watching the footage—
Only to remember—
Her Ash was standing right beside her.
"I'm fine, Misty!" Ash grinned.
"If something happened here, there wouldn't BE me in the future!"
All the girls watching—Serena, Dawn, May, Lillie, Lana…
(and possibly one extra who snuck in)
All felt their hearts tighten watching him fall.
The footage resumed—
The cliff gave way.
Ash, Pikachu, and Sceptile plunged into the river.
Sceptile's Poké Ball bounced away, left on the cliff.
Brock: "Oh no!"
Misty: "ASH—!"
In the torrent—
Ash displayed his infamous Super Rookie Physique—
Grabbing a rock with one hand
while keeping his grip on Sceptile with the other.
But Pikachu—
Was swept away.
Ash dragged Sceptile ashore.
Despite desperately wanting to search for Pikachu—
He couldn't abandon Sceptile,
who was on the brink of collapse.
Night fell—
Ash gathered fruit to feed Sceptile.
"Rest first.
We'll find Pikachu tomorrow, okay?"
"Cha…"
Sceptile curled up, exhausted.
Ash gazed at the sky—filled with worry.
'Pikachu… please be safe.'
"Bro, this is emotional."
"Ash loves Pikachu too much…"
"And Sceptile too!
If he only cared about Pikachu, he would've left Sceptile and rushed off!"
"Sigh… Sceptile, why'd you even fall in love?! With a Trainer like Ash, why need romance?!"
"Is it just me… or is Sceptile's future power-up not about Meganium at all…
But about Ash?"
"THE PROPHET HAS SPOKEN."
"Get the tally! Hunt the prophet before he reveals spoilers!"
Meanwhile—
Pikachu was rescued by the Battle Palace's caretaker, Spenser,
and reunited with May's group.
But Ash—
Was still missing.
Back in the forest, Sceptile woke up restless.
Then—
In his sleep—
Ash mumbled softly:
"Don't worry…
If it doesn't work today…
tomorrow will…
be fine…"
Even in dreams—
He was reassuring Sceptile.
The words calmed Sceptile's heart.
The turbulence inside him eased.
His eyes softened—
And he slowly drifted into peaceful sleep.
[Cynthia: So this… this is how their bond was forged.]
[Lance: By never abandoning Sceptile… Ash earned that trust.]
[Professor Oak: Few in this world can care for Pokémon the way Ash does.]
[Professor Kukui: Truly! No wonder even Tapu Koko favored Ash and gifted him a Z-Ring!]
Ash's gentleness—
his refusal to give up on his Pokémon—
moved the entire world.
Even critics
could no longer deny
that Ash deserved strong partners.
Because not everyone…
Can risk their life
for a Pokémon.
The footage continued—
Ash supported the injured Sceptile at dawn, limping through the forest.
Sceptile noticed the wound on Ash's leg
from his fall earlier.
"A little scratch," Ash smiled.
"Your injuries are worse.
Just hold on a little longer—
We'll find Pikachu soon."
Sceptile's eyes wavered.
That gaze—
Those soft, shining eyes—
Looked at Ash
as if he were the light of the world.
[Cynthia: Of course. Of course, this leads to that kind of bond.]
[Lance: A Pokémon who finds light in its Trainer will always become strong.]
[Oak: Their relationship is something even adults struggle to imitate.]
[Kukui: This is why Island Guardians approve of Ash. His heart is sincere.]
Across the world, people felt humbled.
Not many could treat Pokémon this way.
Even fewer could be this selfless.
But trouble wasn't over.
Ash and Sceptile stumbled straight into—
A Beedrill nest.
The entire swarm reacted instantly.
Ash tightened his grip on Sceptile.
"Not good! Run!!"
They sprinted toward an opening of sunlight—
Only to find—
Another dead end.
A cliff wall.
Nowhere to run.
Beedrill closed in, buzzing violently.
Ash looked at Sceptile—
Then set him gently down.
He lifted a wooden stick from the ground.
"Sceptile can't use moves right now."
His eyes sharpened.
"So I'll fight."
He stepped forward—
between Sceptile and the swarm.
"Come on!
I'll be your opponent!!"
[Bruno: No way. No WAY he's about to do THAT.]
[Brawly: That's a whole Beedrill SWARM. Even a Fighting-type Pokémon couldn't handle this!]
[Bea: …I might need more training before challenging Ash.]
With a roar—
Ash swung the stick—
And SMASHED a Beedrill clean out of the air.
Then another.
Then another.
Wood blurred into a storm of tallies—
A wall of sweeping strikes, fast and brutal,
shielding Sceptile completely.
Dozens of Beedrill charged—
But not a single one got past Ash.
Every Beedrill that approached—
He was knocked unconscious with one mighty blow.
The world fell silent.
"…That's not a human."
"He's… he's a humanoid Pokémon, right?!"
"He's USING MOVES. THAT'S A MOVE."
"The stance—! The swings—! That's literally Fury Attack with a stick!!"
"No, idiot! That's Rage Dance! The human version!!"
Even the greatest martial artists broke into a cold sweat.
[Bruno: Terrifying. I admit defeat.]
[Brawly: I withdraw all past challenges.]
[Bea: …I will train for ten more years before approaching him.]
Ash Ketchum.
The boy who fought an entire Beedrill army with nothing but a stick.
The chat erupted—
[Cynthia: Has he… ascended? That strength isn't human.]
[Steven: I feel like if he hit my Metagross with that swing… it would take quadruple damage.]
Around the conference venue—
Gary wiped sweat from his forehead.
Yep.
From now on, He was going to provoke Ash a LOT less. Because if Ash ever got excited and swung at him—
One hit and he'd be hospitalized.
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