"I'm only here today to hear your opinion and deliver your reward," said Elite Four Drake. "I've got other business to attend to, so I won't stay long."
"But I have a feeling Wallace will drop by in the next few days," he added. "After all, you saved his life. Wallace isn't the type to leave something like that unacknowledged—he'll want to thank you face to face."
"I understand," Ron nodded. "I'll be staying here a few more days. I'll resume my journey after I meet with Wallace."
With that, Elite Four Drake stepped out of the training hall and strode briskly toward the western wing of the Pokémon Center.
Back inside, Ron couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Four hundred million League Credits. That kind of money, if spent wisely, could easily buy two Attribute Plates well-suited for his Nidoking, with plenty left over.
Of course, Ron knew this was no ordinary reward. It was clearly the Hoenn League's way of thanking him for saving Wallace and helping buy time to turn the tide of the battle.
Judging by the mission report alone, there was no way he'd be awarded that much money.
There was also the Psychic-type Attribute Plate that Wallace had given him as a personal token of gratitude. Ron couldn't help but think maybe he had made it too easy when rescuing Wallace.
In hindsight, he mused, maybe he should've staged a few injuries, coughed up a bit of blood—heck, even had Gardevoir feign a serious wound. If he had done that, perhaps he could've walked away with two Plates—one for Gardevoir as well.
A few days later, after meeting with Wallace, Ron didn't linger any longer and resumed his journey.
Perhaps it was the operation to take down Team Aqua that reignited his battle instincts. Whatever the case, Ron had felt stifled in the training hall these past few days.
Now, back in the forest, he felt like a fish returning to the sea, a bird back to the forest—free and alive.
"Time to push forward, Frogadier. Whether you can obtain that kind of power depends on this evolution."
Frogadier gave a determined nod. He knew it too. The battles and transformation ahead would define his path. For a Pokémon still so young, the weight of such a moment was heavy.
"It's okay," Ron reassured him gently, stroking Frogadier's head. "No matter what ability you gain, you'll become strong. That much is certain."
Nearby, a cluster of sharp hash marks appeared on Ursaring's forehead—its rage practically tangible.
Can you imagine it? A wild Ursaring, expecting a fierce battle when suddenly a human and his Pokémon show up, start chit-chatting right in front of it—and then, out of nowhere, they get all sentimental?
With a deafening roar, Ursaring could no longer hold back. It charged forward in a blind fury.
Machamp and the others had suppressed their auras, so while Ursaring felt danger, it wasn't overwhelming enough to stop it from attacking.
Now that it had lunged, the others merely watched in amusement, curious to see who Ursaring would target first.
No surprise—Ursaring chose Frogadier, the one that seemed the least threatening.
Its claws gleamed with a cold light, as it used Brick Break .
"Alright, Frogadier! Use Water Pulse to block its charge—then follow up with Quick Attack, close in, and hit it with Lick!"
Ron's commands echoed through their telepathic bond.
A ball of swirling water burst forth, slamming squarely into Ursaring's chest.
Instinctively, Ursaring tried to counter with another Brick Break, but the blast of the Water Pulse and its disorienting waves slowed its movements for just a moment.
That was all Frogadier needed.
He activated Quick Attack, and thanks to his Low Elite level and his mastery of Shave—he appeared before Ursaring in a blink.
Then came Lick—his tongue lashed out, striking Ursaring with enough force to push the massive bear backward.
"Frogadier—Dark Pulse, then Scald!"
Dark energy gathered in his palms, then shot forth as a wave of black force.
Ursaring, despite just being struck, reacted swiftly—another Brick Break shattered the Dark Pulse in mid-air.
But then came Scald. Boiling hot water splashed across Ursaring's fur.
"ROARRR! ROARRR! ROARRR!"
The searing pain made Ursaring thrash in agony. It pounded the ground and nearby trees wildly, trying to shake off the burning sensation.
"Frogadier—use Bubble to slow it down! Then follow with Round!"
A flurry of pristine white foam surged forward, quickly engulfing Ursaring in its wake.
The Round move was unleashed in quick succession, striking Ursaring again with considerable damage.
"One final blow, Frogadier! Charge in and use Scald!" Ron commanded.
After the relentless onslaught, Ursaring's reflexes had significantly slowed.
At the very instant Frogadier used Shave, it appeared directly in front of Ursaring—and blasted it with another pulse of steaming Scald.
The boiling water struck Ursaring with force, sending it stumbling backward. Roaring in pain, the Normal-type collapsed to the ground, no longer able to battle.
With the foe defeated, Frogadier, originally at Level 35, leveled up to 36. This triggered its second evolution—one that would ultimately shape the path of its destiny.
"Clear the field!"
Ron's voice echoed as Gardevoir swiftly moved to remove the fallen Ursaring from the battlefield.
The rest of the team—Machamp, Lucario, and others—immediately shifted into high alert. Lucario began channeling its Aura, casting its senses outward, sweeping the surrounding area for threats.
Gardevoir returned moments later and began to unleash her psychic powers, this time focusing intently on the skies above.
A white light radiated from Frogadier's body. As Ron had anticipated, Fighting Aura flowed freely through it, golden threads of power coiling around Frogadier like a sacred ritual.
This was the moment of truth.
Would Frogadier awaken with Torrent, its standard Hidden Ability, or would it transcend into something greater—Battle Bond, the rare power of transformation shared only with a Trainer who fights as one?
Ron held his breath. He could feel time stretch unnaturally long, as though the very air had thickened.
Then suddenly, a strange feeling welled up from deep within him.
It was as though an unseen force had been watching, waiting.
Ron instinctively closed his eyes—and in that instant, wisps of water materialized from thin air, swirling toward the evolving light around Frogadier.
The glow of evolution faded.
There, standing tall and reborn, was Greninja, now a fully evolved ninja warrior.
But something was off.
A sphere of water still surrounded Greninja. It hadn't fully dissipated.
Then, Ron's eyes snapped open.
The water sphere burst into a spiraling Aqua Vortex, dancing upward like a water dragon—violent, yet beautiful.
In that moment, Greninja's Ability shifted.
Battle Bond had awakened.
This was Greninja's first transformation.
Where Ash's Greninja once gained red markings and wielded a colossal water shuriken on its back, Ron's Greninja took on a darker form.
Instead of red, purple markings now adorned its head. The massive shuriken on its back shimmered with a deep violet hue—sinister, yet commanding.
On both forearms and shins, new kunai—formed entirely from pressurized water and glowing purple—had taken shape.
The vortex burst apart.
A strange, unfamiliar power radiated from Greninja's body.
Gardevoir—being attuned to Psychic energy—sensed it instantly.
It was unmistakable.
This… was Psychic power.
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