Pokemon : Rewind

"Quag!" Quagsire let out a guttural roar, its Ground-type energy flaring to life. 

With a forceful motion, it spewed khaki-colored mud from its mouth—an attack known as Mud Shot!

"Chikorita, use Vine Whip to block the attack!" Ash commanded instinctively, his words fueled by habit rather than conscious strategy. 

He momentarily forgot that Chikorita had not undergone formal training since joining his team.

Yet, despite the inexperience, a spark of determination lit in Chikorita's eyes. She had never used Vine Whip in this way before, but Ash's trust emboldened her to try—even if failure loomed.

Her vines flew out, whipping through the air as she focused intently on the incoming barrage of mud balls. One by one, her Vine Whip intercepted the projectiles, scattering them in midair.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The sound of impact echoed as Chikorita swung her vines like an impenetrable net, breaking apart the muddy assault and sending debris flying harmlessly away.

"Chikooo!" Chikorita let out an excited cry, clearly proud of her success.

"Well done, Chikorita!" Ash praised with a smile, nodding in approval.

He had issued the command to test her limits, curious to see how she would perform under pressure. To his amazement, her skill and potential far surpassed his expectations.

Quagsire, on the other hand, was stunned. It had never expected its attack to be thwarted so easily. That surprise quickly turned to anger as it prepared to launch another strike.

With a powerful surge, Quagsire charged forward, its tail glowing as water swirled around it—a clear sign of Aqua Tail!

"Chikorita, use Vine Whip to hit the ground and propel yourself into the air!" Ash shouted.

"Chiko!" Without hesitation, Chikorita obeyed. Her vines shot downward, striking the ground with enough force to launch her skyward.

Quagsire skidded to a halt, staring upward in confusion. It clearly didn't anticipate Chikorita's sudden aerial maneuver and hesitated, unsure how to react.

"Now, Razor Leaf!" Ash commanded, his fist pumping with excitement.

Still airborne, Chikorita stabilized herself and released a flurry of sharp, glowing leaves. The Razor Leaf attack struck true, slicing into Quagsire and dealing significant damage.

"Bang!" The impact caused Quagsire to let out a pained roar. Its energy-infused tail faltered, the attack dissipating into harmless droplets of water.

Chikorita landed gracefully, her confidence growing as she faced the now-weakened Quagsire.

"Use Vine Whip to throw it!" Ash instructed, his tone brimming with confidence.

With a determined cry, Chikorita launched her vines again, wrapping them tightly around Quagsire. 

She heaved with all her strength, lifting the larger Pokémon off the ground before swinging it through the air.

"Thud!" Quagsire hit the ground ten meters away, bouncing slightly from the impact. It roared weakly, its energy clearly drained.

Quagsire hesitated, fear flickering in its usually blank eyes. It had yet to land a single hit on Chikorita, and the battle had taken a toll on its stamina. Eyeing its opponent warily, Quagsire glanced at the river nearby.

After a moment of indecision, it turned and leapt into the water, fleeing the battlefield.

"Chiko?!" Chikorita blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting her opponent to retreat. She stood frozen, unsure how to react.

Ash, however, had anticipated this outcome. "Let it go, Chikorita," he said calmly. "We weren't planning to catch Quagsire, and its retreat means you've won the battle."

Hearing Ash's words, Chikorita's expression shifted to one of delight. She realized what had just happened—her first real battle had ended in victory!

"Well done, Chikorita!" Ash knelt beside her, rubbing her head affectionately.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu chimed in, congratulating its new teammate. Though it viewed the battle as simple, Pikachu respected Chikorita's effort and growth.

Chikorita's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Ash and Pikachu. With a joyful cry, she leapt into Ash's arms, nuzzling against him in gratitude and happiness. 

She finally understood—it was Ash's guidance that had allowed her to achieve this triumph.

"This Chikorita has incredible talent!" Brock remarked as he and Misty approached. "To execute strategies like that without any formal training is remarkable."

"Definitely," Misty agreed. "She's a natural, and with Ash's guidance, she'll become even stronger."

Hearing their praise, Chikorita beamed with pride. She looked up at Ash, her eyes filled with admiration and a hint of mischief.

"Well, you're definitely something special," Ash said with a grin, giving her another affectionate head rub. Chikorita let out a soft, contented sigh, savoring the moment.

---

After returning to camp, Brock began preparing lunch while Ash considered Chikorita's future training. Her talent was undeniable, but her offensive arsenal needed expansion.

That afternoon, Ash introduced her to a new move: Magical Leaf. Unlike Razor Leaf, which was a physical attack, Magical Leaf was a special attack with homing properties, making it a versatile addition to her skillset.

Chikorita threw herself into the training, eager to impress Ash further.

Meanwhile, Ash also worked with Snorlax, helping it adapt to using its Quick Movement technique in battle. 

The goal was for Snorlax to master this strategy and eventually pass it on to other Pokémon in the team.

As the sun set on another productive day, Ash watched his team with pride. Every Pokémon, from Chikorita to Pikachu, was striving to reach new heights—and together, they would achieve greatness.

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