Their Pokemon can act as a bond between them. For example, if Ash has a Pokemon that gets along really well with Diantha's, it can bring them closer. Pokemon battles can also be a way for them to show respect for each other's skills. If Ash's Pikachu battles Diantha's Gardevoir and it's a close match, they'll admire each other more.
Well, the Pokemon can be like matchmakers. Ash's energetic and friendly Pokemon might encourage Diantha to open up more. And Diantha's elegant Pokemon could make Ash more aware of different training approaches. In battles, their Pokemon can also create a sense of competition that is healthy for their relationship. They can learn from each other's Pokemon strategies and use that knowledge to improve their own bond. Also, when their Pokemon need help or are injured, they can rely on each other, which deepens their relationship.
The Pokemon are a crucial part of their relationship. First of all, they can start conversations. For instance, Ash might ask Diantha about her experience in training a certain type of Pokemon. Their Pokemon also accompany them on their adventures, which means they are constantly in each other's company. When they train their Pokemon together, it's a great opportunity for them to interact on a deeper level. And in some fanfictions, their Pokemon might even communicate with each other in their own ways and influence the relationship between Ash and Diantha, like a Pokemon giving advice to its trainer about the other person.
Chapter 200, "Xu An, Ten Thousand Urgent, Presenting Treasure", is the clearest early answer because Great Xia gets a payoff that changes the stakes. It opens with After Xu An finished speaking, Li Hun hurriedly set the young man... and closes on And they are gathering other camps to jointly attack Great Xia?. The key payoff is that the chapter closes with ..., which gives Great Xia a stronger narrative position and pushes the battle onward.
Chapter 254, "Alchemy, Special Envoy, and the Partition of Longyou", is the clearest early answer because it turns Jade Bone's situation into a concrete plot event. A useful checkpoint is the way the scene starts with The cultivation method at the Cold Resistance Level is absolutely... and follows through with They've arrived, and quite quickly at that!" After a moment of....
Chapter 261, "The Shock of Peng Bo and Chen Yingyuan, Great Xia Martial Gathering (Part 3)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Qin Feng's situation into a concrete plot event. Early on, Liu Ming might simply think that his grandfather is not too.... By the end, The price of beast meat has been lowered, now 1 contribution point....
Chapter 203, "Shock, Prisoner Rules, and What Constitutes Guilt? (Part 2)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Camp Supply Department's situation into a concrete plot event. It opens with 5,321 people; 124 captives from the Earth-digging Realm, 821 from the... and closes on Then I'm not letting go, wasn't planning to anyway..
Chapter 295, "Deploying the Beehive, Splitting Into Two Groups", is the clearest early answer because it turns Li Xuanling's situation into a concrete plot event. The setup is They came fiercely, but ended up with nothing., but the pressure keeps building through Li Xuanling must be dumbfounded by now..
Chapter 250, "Rescue, Intimidation, and Surprise (Part 2)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Yang Zhong's situation into a concrete plot event. A useful checkpoint is the way the scene starts with Those people in light gold armor have been using solidified fire oil... and follows through with Especially seeing Lu Yang and others who just now seemed proud, now....
Chapter 287, "Cloud Dragon Army's First Battle, Zhou Yuan's Bloody Struggle, Decisive Victory and Unexpected Windfall", is the clearest early answer because the buildup finally cashes out in a real clash. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Once we start circling around, find a chance to leave the group!" The... to Upon hearing, Zhou Yuan's brows furrowed deeply..
Chapter 214, "Meritorious Deed, A Fortunate Accident (Part 3)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Chen Yingba's situation into a concrete plot event. The setup is Among the hunting team's thirty-odd squads, the one with the..., but the pressure keeps building through Xia Hong showed a hint of surprise on his face, looking up at Chen....
Chapter 250, "Rescue, Intimidation, and Surprise (Part 2)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Xia Chuan's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Those people in light gold armor have been using solidified fire oil... to That thing can actually eliminate dew, it's amazing!" Among the three....
Chapter 209, "Dragon Sparrow Coldblood, Luo Ming's Sense of Loss", is the clearest early answer because the buildup finally cashes out in a real clash. It opens with A kilometer to the west of the valley, a black city wall running... and closes on I had already arranged with him at Jing Valley as per the leader's.... The key payoff is that the chapter closes with "You can also try softening the land with coal stone and transplant some medicinal plants to test;