At this moment, Squirtle was undergoing formal training. After putting on the booster, Squirtle was still able to function, and it rushed directly toward the sea. As a Water-type Pokémon, it yearned for the ocean even more.
However, entering the water was challenging. The resistance of the sea was high, and though Squirtle usually moved like a fish in water, the booster made it difficult to fight against the waves. Still, Squirtle didn't give up and continued to persist.
"Pidgeotto, use Steel Wing to cut through the waves!"
Next up was Pidgeotto. Before mastering Steel Wing, Pidgeotto usually trained by striking trees, but now even the thickest trees couldn't withstand its strength.
The current power of its Steel Wing was about the same as Wing Attack, but it hadn't yet reached its full potential. If Pidgeotto could slice through the waves, it would surely boost its strength.
After listening to Ash's command, Pidgeotto flew into action. Having been with Ash for so long, it was used to training diligently. It soared above the sea, waiting for the perfect moment to slice through the incoming waves.
"Axew, your task is to sharpen your claws!"
Axew's strength was already impressive, but now it needed to hone its physical abilities in preparation for learning Dragon Claw.
Ash found a massive reef for Axew to sharpen its claws on, and Axew eagerly began its training.
Meanwhile, Eevee was continuing its practice of Shadow Ball, progressing similarly to Pidgeotto, with both nearing mastery of their respective moves.
Charmander had just learned Flamethrower, and the priority now was to stabilize this new move. At the same time, Ash wanted Charmander to increase its power by using Flamethrower to battle the waves.
Even though water naturally counters fire, it wasn't impossible for Fire-type Pokémon to battle Water-types. After all, every Elite Four trainer had the ability to overcome type disadvantages. Ash knew it was still early, but he planned to start training Charmander in this area.
With most of the training set, Ash turned his attention to Pikachu. Pikachu had already mastered Iron Tail and Electro Ball, and its speed and power were now well-refined.
The next step was to find ways to combine these powerful moves. Even though Iron Tail was effective against Rock-types, Pikachu's greatest challenge was the Ground-type. Iron Tail wasn't as useful against Ground-type Pokémon, so Ash needed to further diversify Pikachu's move set.
"Is there any suitable move?" Ash thought hard, sitting on the beach in deep concentration while Pikachu stood beside him, head tilted in curiosity, trying to figure out what Ash was pondering.
Suddenly, loud sounds filled the air—Charmander was blasting its Flamethrower at full power, fighting against the waves. At the same time, Pidgeotto swooped down, slicing through the waves with its wings like blades.
The moment the waves crashed, a loud noise echoed as water splashed into the air. Pidgeotto and Charmander were giving it their all, and this caught Ash's attention.
"Water? Waves? Yes! Waves! That's it!"
Staring at the spray and the rhythm of the waves, a spark of inspiration flashed in Ash's mind. Although Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon, which naturally counters Water-types, Ash recalled something important—Pikachu isn't incapable of learning Water-type moves. In fact, in the games, Pikachu can learn moves like Rain Dance to power up Thunder in weather battles.
It was just different from reality. In the games, Pokémon stats, like Species Strength, determine how often certain Pokémon are used, and Pikachu's wasn't particularly high. But here, in the real world, Ash knew that with enough training, even Pikachu could become physically stronger—just like humans.
Looking at the crashing waves, Ash had an idea of what move Pikachu should learn next: **Surf**.
Surf, a powerful Water-type move, is one of the more advanced techniques. In the games, it's classified as a Hidden Move (HM), and its power ranks among the best. Pikachu may not be a Water-type, but Ash wasn't expecting the same level of strength from Pikachu as from Water-types. All he needed was for Pikachu to be able to summon waves. That alone would greatly amplify the power of Pikachu's Electric-type attacks.
Ash remembered that there was even a surfing Pikachu in the anime's legendary episodes, which further convinced him that Pikachu could learn this move.
"Pikachu, come with me!"
Excited, Ash grabbed Pikachu and ran into the nearby forest. He asked Pikachu to use Iron Tail to break down two trees. After finding some tools in his backpack, Ash instructed Pikachu to cut off the excess wood with Iron Tail, while he worked on refining the pieces with his own knife.
Meanwhile, at the lighthouse, Brock and Misty were just waking up. The sun had already risen.
"Good morning, Professor! I've made breakfast. Let's eat together!" Brock called out.
"Thank you! Why don't you ask Ash to join us?" Professor Bill replied, glancing toward the forest where Ash and Pikachu had disappeared, wondering what they were up to.
"Don't worry about him, Professor. Once Ash gets into training, he forgets everything else. He'll come back when he's hungry," Brock said with a chuckle. Misty nodded in agreement—they both knew Ash too well to bother calling him now.
"Haha, full of spirit, I see! Let's eat first, then!" Professor Bill smiled, thinking how Ash truly lived up to the praise of Professor Oak.
The three headed downstairs to have breakfast. Afterward, while Professor Bill went off to do research, Brock and Misty decided not to disturb him and instead went outside to the coast, curious to find out what Ash was doing.
When they reached the forest, they saw Ash surrounded by wood shavings, busy with some kind of project. Next to him was a smaller piece of wood that had already been shaped.
"Ash, Pikachu, what are you two up to?" Misty asked, puzzled.
"What's this?" Brock added, pointing to the crafted piece nearby.