146. Surf Practice
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"Surfboard!" Ash exclaimed, unable to hold back his excitement.
He hadn't tried it yet and wasn't sure if it would work, but there shouldn't be any issues. Pikachu didn't need to be too big, so Ash decided to start.
"Surfboard? Ash, don't you usually train your Pokémon? Why are you suddenly practicing something else?" Misty asked, confused. Ash was usually very serious about his training.
"This is our next training project!" Ash said without looking up, still focused on shaping the surfboard himself. Misty looked even more puzzled by his response.
She glanced at Brock, but he only shook his head slightly, also unsure of what Ash meant by linking the surfboard to training.
"Okay, Pikachu, let's go!"
After a short while, the surfboard was finished, and Ash called for Pikachu excitedly.
"Pika!"
Pikachu responded enthusiastically, and the two of them carried the surfboard to the beach. Ash quickly changed into his swimming trunks, ready to hit the water with Pikachu.
Though the weather wasn't too cold, the water was a bit chilly, and Pikachu shivered slightly as they entered the sea.
"If you want to learn how to surf, you've got to understand how to ride the waves first."
Ash didn't have much experience with surfing himself, so he wasn't entirely sure about the technique. The move Surf isn't just about controlling waves; it also allows Pokémon to summon waves even on land.
Although Surf isn't as powerful on land as it is in the water, it can still summon waves. Water-type Pokémon easily understand this, but it was unclear how Pikachu, an Electric-type, would manage.
Actually, it's not unheard of—Pikachu isn't the only non-water Pokémon that can learn Surf. Even Rhydon, a Ground-type, can learn the move, so Ash was determined to figure it out on his own.
Perhaps Pokémon have some innate abilities that allow them to learn unexpected moves, even if their type doesn't align. Ash figured that learning to summon waves on land would be too advanced for now, so he decided to start with the basics—teaching Pikachu how to ride the waves like a normal surfer.
"Pika-Pika!"
After listening to Ash, Pikachu responded with determination, full of energy and ready for the challenge.
"Great! Let's do this!" Ash cheered as he led Pikachu to deeper waters.
"Did I hear that right? Pikachu is going to learn Surf?" Misty said, astonished, as she stood at the shore, watching.
For Misty, it sounded as unlikely as a Water-type Pokémon learning Electric-type moves, though she knew there were Water-types capable of doing just that.
"You heard right," Brock said, shaking his head slightly. He had never heard of Pikachu learning Surf before, and even though he was a knowledgeable breeder, this was new territory for him.
Some might argue against this approach, but when it comes to Ash, people tend to hold off on voicing their doubts.
Boom boom boom!
While Misty and Brock were still puzzling over it, the shoreline began to stir as Ash was already teaching Pikachu how to Surf.
After arriving in this world, Ash knew he would face many unexpected challenges, so he had taken the time to learn swimming, surfing, and skiing. Given that Pallet Town is near the sea, picking up these skills was relatively easy for him.
Riding the waves, Ash and Pikachu lay flat on the surfboard, paddling with their hands. It was Pikachu's first time trying to paddle quickly, but his movements were too frantic, causing him to lose balance when the waves hit.
"No, no! You were going too fast and got too nervous. You need to speed up gradually, relax, and maintain your balance!"
As Pikachu toppled over, Ash also stopped, both of them getting swept up by the waves. Emerging from the water, Ash shook the water from his hair and firmly advised Pikachu.
"Pika-Pika!"
Pikachu nodded seriously in response to Ash's words.
"Alright, let's try again!"
Encouraged, Pikachu gave it another shot. However, it wasn't as easy as it seemed. He made several mistakes, and it took about half an hour before Pikachu could manage to start paddling properly.
Even though he managed to get up on the board, Pikachu kept losing his balance and falling into the water.
Each time, Ash would dive in to help Pikachu, offering support and correcting his form. It wasn't just Pikachu who was getting exhausted—Ash's physical strength was being tested too—but Ash never gave up, always providing feedback and encouraging Pikachu to keep going.
Through repeated efforts, neither of them complained, and before they knew it, the whole morning had passed. Pikachu was now able to paddle and stand up, though he still struggled to keep his balance when the waves got higher.
Pikachu's short legs made it harder for him to control the surfboard with the same agility as a human, which was understandable. His body was built for sprinting, not surfing, so it would take some time to adjust.
"Ash! It's almost time for lunch!"
Just as Ash was about to start another round with Pikachu, he heard Misty calling from the shore. She waved, and Ash realized Brock had likely gone back to prepare lunch. It was already noon.
Looking towards the beach, Ash saw Charmander and the other Pokémon looking worn out. They had been practicing all morning without a break. Even the Pokémon, including Pikachu, were exhausted.
Ash noticed his own hands and feet were wrinkled from being in the water too long. Although everyone was eager to keep going, he knew it wouldn't be wise to overwork them.
"Let's take a break," Ash said to Pikachu. He put away the surfboard and led Pikachu to the shore, drying them both off.
"Let's rest for now. We'll continue this afternoon," he said, gesturing to the other Pokémon.
Although they were tired, the Pokémon responded with cheerful nods. Despite the intense practice, seeing Ash working just as hard kept their spirits high, and they never tired of it.