Pokémon: Dreams Come True Starting in Sinnoh

"Evolution..."

Walking through the forest, Xiao Guang kept muttering to herself, seemingly engrossed in something.

Knowing the truth, Ash and Brock understood Dawn's thoughts, so Brock spoke first, saying, "Are you still thinking about what happened yesterday?"

“Hmm…” Xiao Guang answered, but still seemed a little out of sorts. “Because before this, I had never thought about evolution… I always thought that evolution was something every trainer and Pokémon longed for, but there are people like that in this world… who have even formed a fairly large organization.”

The group Xiao Guang was referring to was the B-Button Alliance, which they had encountered in the previous city yesterday. This organization's goal was to train Pokémon to be the strongest by preventing them from evolving. Their pursuit was quite different from that of most trainers.

It was precisely because of this clash of ideas that Xiaoguang began to think more deeply about his own thoughts.

"Ash, what's your opinion? You've said before that you don't plan to let Pikachu evolve, right?"

After thinking for a long time, Xiao Guang still couldn't figure it out, so he handed the topic over to Xiao Zhi, hoping to get some answers from him.

“I really don’t plan to let Pikachu evolve.” Ash and Pikachu, who was perched on his shoulder, exchanged a glance and smiled at each other. “It’s just that Pikachu doesn’t want to evolve, and I’m just agreeing with Pikachu’s own idea. When we first started our travels, we came across an Electric-type Gym, and the Gym’s ace was Raichu.”

Ash recalled his battle with Lt. Surge in Vermilion City and continued:

"The first time we faced our evolved form, Pikachu and I were utterly defeated by it... The evolved Raichu surpassed Pikachu in the power of Electric-type moves, its pure strength, and even the coverage of its moves. Perhaps Pikachu at that time was just unwilling to accept defeat? When faced with the Thunder Stone given to it by Nurse Joy, it resolutely chose to refuse to evolve and defeated Raichu in its current form."

"I didn't know such a thing existed."

Xiao Guang had never heard of Ash and Pikachu experiencing this situation before. She originally thought that Pikachu was unwilling to evolve simply because of its unique personality. After all, Ash had said that his relationship with Pikachu was not smooth at the beginning of his journey, mainly because Pikachu disliked people.

Now it seems that Pikachu's decision to refuse evolution was simply due to resentment?

"Of course." Seeing through Dawn's thoughts, Ash also helped Pikachu explain, "An important decision is certainly not made on the spur of the moment. Now it seems that the crushing defeat at that time was just the fuse. Pikachu probably never wanted to evolve from the beginning."

Xiao Zhi shrugged and said:

"Evolution is not all good for Pokémon. Many Pokémon lose something after evolving. What they lose may be their previous personality, some of their abilities, and their fighting style."

Xiao Gang added at this point: "A typical example is the evolution chain from Slaking to Apexisk to Slaking. Each evolution of Slaking is a transformation, but along with the transformation comes changes in its personality and fighting style."

Perhaps it was because he was thinking about the Pokémon from afar, but Brock's example was quite realistic and detailed.

"But ultimately it depends on the Pokémon's own ideas. After all, according to the official survey, Raichu's speed can actually be faster than Pikachu's. However, after evolving into Raichu, it is difficult for the Pokémon to get used to the sudden increase in weight and the larger body. In addition, after evolving into Raichu, most trainers will no longer train Raichu in the same way they used to train Pikachu. Speed ​​has become secondary, and strength training is more important."

"Huh..." Brock was curious after hearing Ash's words. "You know so much? If you hadn't said that, I would have always thought that Raichu's speed was actually much slower than Pikachu's."

Ash, aiming to become the world's number one breeder, began to reflect on whether he hadn't read enough, and Ash naturally shifted the blame to—

"That's what Professor Oak said."

Anyway, he wasn't there, so even if you asked him, he would only give a positive answer. After all, Professor Oak doesn't remember when he said what he said.

"So it was Professor Oak who said that? That makes sense..." Brock nodded, muttering to himself in deep agreement.

After all, he's a top Pokémon professor, so it's normal for him to know things that most people aren't sure about or understand.

"Huh? Professor Oak is the one who... writes Pokémon senryu?! That's amazing... So Professor Oak is your mentor, Ash?"

Hikari immediately showed admiration after hearing Professor Oak address her, but her focus seemed to be on the wrong thing.

But is Pokémon senryu really that popular?

Xiao Zhi was really puzzled.

"Whoo~"

Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept by, and Ash, who was walking on the road, suddenly felt as if something was blocking his vision. Under the curious gazes of Dawn and Brock, Ash finally revealed the paper... or rather, the promotional poster, that the north wind had blown over his face.

"Grand Contest?"

Xiao Zhi looked at the contents above and read it aloud.

"In the small town."

"Official in nature."

The three exchanged a glance, and in that brief second, they understood exactly what the promotional poster was about.

Today, an official grand competition will be held in a nearby town, and the winner will also receive a ribbon medal.

Since this is unofficial advertising, there won't be many participants, which means...

"Isn't this my best chance!?"

Xiao Guang shouted excitedly.

She lost to Xiaowang in the first Grand Contest and missed her first Ribbon Medal, but this time it's different. There are no famous contestants in the Grand Contest held in such a remote forest town. Isn't this the best opportunity that God has given her?

.........