152. Practice In The Rainstorm

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"Ah! Then I'll pay Ash now!" Misty, a little nervous after hearing the sound, hurriedly ran toward the base of the lighthouse, with Brock following closely behind.

Outside, the wind was already picking up, but Ash and his Pokémon by the sea didn't seem to notice. They were still focused on their training.

"Ash!!"

Brock and Misty reached the beach and called out to Ash, who was in the middle of a training session.

Hearing their voices, Ash slowly opened his eyes. Pikachu did the same, while Misty pointed toward the horizon. "Ash, there's a hurricane coming, and it's starting to rain! Hurry back!"

Ash, noticing the strong winds for the first time, stood up and looked out over the sea. The sky in the distance had grown dark, and the waves were becoming rougher.

"Forget it, let's head back and rest for now," Ash said, realizing the approaching storm. Even though their training wasn't finished, there wasn't much they could do about the weather.

"Pika!!" Pikachu called out, looking up at Ash and shaking his head, determination shining in its eyes.

Ash paused, noticing Pikachu's resolve. "Pikachu... alright, let's train a little longer. You guys go back first," Ash said, clenching his fists with a smile, understanding Pikachu's unwillingness to stop.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu responded eagerly, full of energy. Misty, however, was visibly worried. "Ash, do you know what you're doing? The hurricane is almost here—it's dangerous!"

"Don't worry, we'll be fine! You head back with the others," Ash reassured her. He intended to stay a bit longer with Pikachu, but he knew the rest of his Pokémon had completed most of their training.

Squirtle had finally perfected its Water Gun aim, so Ash motioned for the others to return.

"Squirtle!" 

"Bulba!"

But the Pokémon gathered around Ash, shaking their heads. It was clear that they, like Pikachu, had no intention of leaving him behind.

"You guys... Alright, let's keep training!" Ash said, seeing their determination. He didn't want to dampen their spirits. The storm couldn't stop their drive to become stronger.

With that, Ash sat back down, Pikachu joining him in quiet meditation. The other Pokémon returned to their training as well. Misty watched, her face full of helplessness—she even felt the urge to shout.

"Ash, did you even hear me? The hurricane is almost here, this is really dangerous!"

But Ash and Pikachu were already back in their calm, focused state, completely tuning out the storm and Misty's words. As Misty stepped forward, unsure of what to do next, the storm drew ever closer.

"Forget it, Misty. Ash won't listen to you right now, just let him be," Brock said, gently holding Misty back and shaking his head. He knew Ash well enough to understand that, while he would never put his Pokémon in danger, he also couldn't refuse them when they wanted to push themselves.

"But it's too dangerous!" Misty protested.

"I trust Ash knows what he's doing. Let's head back for now," Brock replied calmly, glancing towards Ash.

Misty, though still worried, had no choice but to follow Brock back to the lighthouse. Once inside, Professor Bill inquired about the situation. When he heard that Ash had chosen to stay, he was surprised but also impressed by Ash's determination. He didn't say much more.

Brock and Misty walked to the window, where they could still see the beach. The rain had already started, tapping steadily against the glass. Ash and his Pokémon remained by the water, continuing their training. The sea had grown more violent, but Ash and Pikachu stood firm, letting the waves crash over them without flinching.

Ash knew the storm was worsening—the rain was heavier, and the waves were becoming more aggressive. Inside, he felt anxious, hoping Pikachu would be able to finish its training soon. Both he and Pikachu had made progress, but they were just shy of reaching their goal.

Ash thought back to a moment from the past, when he first discovered a strange connection during his battle with a Fearow alongside Growlithe. He remembered how he had felt a sudden bond with Growlithe, instinctively knowing its moves, as if their minds were linked. *If I could merge my power with Pikachu's... could I help it learn faster?*

With that thought, Ash decided to act. He concentrated, and though invisible to others, a faint red aura began to surround him. His eyes were closed in focus, but if they were open, the glow would have been visible around his irises. This strange energy flowed from Ash and into Pikachu.

Pikachu twitched its ears, sensing the unfamiliar power entering its body. Yet instead of resisting, Pikachu embraced the energy, its fighting spirit rising to match Ash's determination.

*Bang!!!* The waves crashed harder against the shore, the wind howling fiercely. The other Pokémon struggled under the storm's intensity, yet none of them backed down. Even Charmander, despite the rain, kept up with its training.

Charmander's tail flame flickered under the downpour, but it refused to let the water extinguish it. Contrary to its usual vulnerability in the rain, Charmander's flame held strong, fueled by its determination and remaining strength. In the past, Charmander had nearly lost its flame due to exhaustion and injury. But now, with plenty of energy and a strong will, its flame would not be easily snuffed out, even in the harsh weather.

The Pokémon continued to push through the storm, united in their resolve.