A Technical Machine, or TM for short, was one of the true miracles of the Pokémon world.
Normally, for a Pokémon to learn a new move, it had to observe it first, study its form, grasp its rhythm, and then painstakingly practice again and again until it could finally master it.
But a Technical Machine changed all of that.
Simply place the disc-like device onto a Pokémon's head, and their body would automatically absorb and activate the energy recorded within. As long as the Pokémon was capable of learning the move in theory, it could instantly perform at least a rudimentary version of it after using the TM.
It was, essentially, a shortcut, bypassing months, if not years, of training.
A Pokémon's overall growth depended on four aspects: skills, stats, level, and form. Among these, learning new skills was by far the most time-consuming. One had to first understand the technique, then train, then refine it, and not every move was even useful in battle.
Most Trainers therefore didn't bother spreading themselves too thin. They typically focused on a handful of counter-type moves, while prioritizing the three pillars of raw power: level, form, and stats.
Those were the hard facts of strength, effective against anyone, anytime.
So for Trainers who could afford it, buying a TM was a no-brainer. Time was money, and if money could buy time, why hesitate?
But for ordinary people… Technical Machines were little more than a dream.
Their prices were astronomical.
Take something as common yet versatile as Protect, a single-use TM cost at least 500,000!
And yes, single-use.
Once a TM was used, the energy contained within it would dissipate completely, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell. Reinfusing it with energy required rewriting its internal recording circuit, a process so costly it was practically identical to manufacturing a brand-new TM.
For an average person, or, say, a penniless traveling group like Ash's, it was the kind of thing that could make them faint just by seeing the price tag.
Who in their right mind would spend that kind of money?
Brock and Misty certainly wouldn't. They weren't obsessed with competitive strength or flashy moves. For them, steady progress through training was enough. Skills could be learned naturally with time.
As for Ash… well, he was practically a walking TM himself.
Through his unique Aura Fusion, once one of his Pokémon learned a new move, he could sense how the energy within that move flowed and formed, and then replicate that understanding to teach the same move to his other Pokémon.
Who needed an overpriced TM when you could do that?
Granted, Aura Fusion required an exceptionally strong bond between Trainer and Pokémon, but for Ash, that wasn't an issue. His Pokémon all trusted him completely, heart and soul.
To him, TMs were usually a waste of money.
But the one Erika had given him was different. None of his Pokémon knew Grassy Glide, and he had only witnessed the move in battle a few times. It could take weeks, or longer, to figure it out on his own.
Erika's gift was undeniably generous.
Ash's grin returned, wide and bright. "Thanks, Erika! I'll never forget your great kindness, even without teeth!"
Erika blinked. Then her shoulders started to shake with laughter. "It's 'never forgotten,' not 'without teeth.' Don't use idioms you don't understand, alright?"
"Oh, come on, it's close enough! It still means 'without teeth,' right?" Ash asked, completely serious.
Erika giggled behind her hand. "No, it means 'for a lifetime', that you'll remember the kindness forever. Where did you even learn such a half-baked phrase?"
Ash froze, smile stiffening as the realization hit him. 'Wait… that's what it meant?'
He'd seen it once in a chat group and vaguely remembered it had something to do with gratitude. He hadn't realized he'd just made a fool of himself again.
"Ahem! I'll remember it next time!" he said, scratching his nose in embarrassment.
Erika gave a light, teasing smile. "Hehe, you're quite the interesting one. Well then, if you really do become a Champion someday, don't forget my investment. When that time comes, make sure to give the Celadon Gym a little special treatment, perhaps a few extra resources?"
Ash puffed out his chest, grinning again. "Of course! If I become the Kanto Champion, Erika, you'll have one-third of the credit!"
Erika couldn't help but laugh again, shaking her head.
"Alright, no more jokes," Erika said with a small smile before her tone turned serious. "That Grassy Glide Technical Machine you have, it's not a single-use type. It can be used up to ten times, but I've already used it seven times, so there are only three uses left. After that, the internal skill circuit will wear out and need to be re-recorded. You'll have to think carefully about which Pokémon you use it on."
Her expression grew more earnest as she spoke.
This TM wasn't ordinary, it was a special multi-use model, crafted with technology that even the League considered advanced. Machines like this were extremely rare, and combined with a move as uncommon as Grassy Glide, the overall value of the item was astronomical. No wonder Erika had said it "couldn't be bought with money."
Ash nodded, understanding the weight behind her words, but his response was completely calm. "Don't worry. My Pokémon are all really talented. As long as one learns it, the others can pick it up just by watching."
Erika blinked in surprise. For a moment, she thought he was joking, but then remembered the battle they'd just fought.
This boy's Pokémon were extraordinary.
From the Kirlia that could multitask like a veteran Psychic, to the Charmeleon who had evolved mid-battle and fought on sheer willpower… Ash had long since proven that "impossible" wasn't in his dictionary.
She smiled softly. If it were anyone else, she might have doubted those words. But coming from Ash, they almost sounded reasonable.
Perhaps, she thought, this boy really did have the makings of a Champion.
No, not just a Champion.
A Pokémon Master.
After chatting a little longer, Ash and his friends finally said their farewells. The Celadon Gym battle had come to an end, and not only had he earned the Celadon City Badge, but two of his Pokémon had evolved and grown stronger in the process.
That, more than the Badge itself, was what satisfied Ash the most.
Because for him, Gym challenges weren't about collecting shiny tokens, they were about becoming stronger.
After all, if you only had badges but lacked the strength to back them up, even eight badges wouldn't save you at the Indigo Plateau. You'd just end up as cannon fodder in the first round.
If Ash simply wanted the badges, he could have gone to the smaller, easier Gyms. He could even use his reputation to ask stronger Gyms to lower the challenge difficulty.
But that wasn't his way.
True growth only came from facing pressure head-on.
And it worked, two of his Pokémon had evolved to their final forms and reached Elite, joining Pikachu as part of his powerhouse trio.
Pikachu himself was already close to Professional Level.
With this lineup, Ash believed he could already stand toe-to-toe with a lower-tier Professional Gym Leader.
Higher-tier Professionals or Gym Leaders at their peak were still out of reach, but at this pace, he might just bridge that gap before the Indigo Plateau Conference.
Gym Leader level in half a year.
Even Ash had to admit, it sounded unbelievable when he said it out loud.
"Hey, Ash, what are you grinning about?" Misty asked, nudging his side with a teasing smile. "Still thinking about Miss Erika?"
"What?!" Brock's ears perked up instantly. "Ash, you're interested in Miss Erika too? Oh no you don't! Let's duel! I won't let you take her away from me!"
The outburst snapped Ash right out of his daydream. He sighed, giving Brock a tired look.
"Can you not lump me in with you? My goal is to be a Pokémon Master! I don't have time to think about things like that. I was just wondering if I could raise my Pokémon's levels to Gym Leader tier before the Indigo Conference."
At that, Misty blinked, then frowned.
The faint disappointment that had flickered in her eyes when she thought he might actually like Erika was quickly replaced by genuine shock. "You're still not at Professional Level and you're already thinking about Gym Leader level?!"
Ash just grinned, lacing his hands behind his head as they walked. "Why not? It's been barely two months, and I already have three Elite Pokémon! There's still four more months before the Conference. Doesn't seem impossible to me!"
Misty wanted to retort, 'What do you think Gym Leader level is, some side quest'? but she stopped herself.
Because if it were anyone else, she'd call it a fantasy.
But Ash… was different.
He'd already achieved in two months what most Trainers couldn't in a year. Maybe he could keep breaking expectations.
As the trio continued talking, they finally reached the Pokémon Center. Ash handed over his Poké Balls to Nurse Joy for treatment.
Even though he possessed the healing powers of Tokiwa, it was still much easier, and safer, to rely on a professional.
Meanwhile, Brock… was being Brock.
The moment he saw Nurse Joy, his whole personality reset. His eyes sparkled, his heart floated, and his mouth started spouting cheesy lines like a reflex.
Misty didn't even hesitate this time. She grabbed his ear and yanked hard, dragging him away like a misbehaving Meowth.
With that small commotion over, Ash headed to the video booth to call home.
When Delia's cheerful face appeared on the screen, he grinned from ear to ear. "Mom! Guess what, I just won my fifth badge! Less than two months, and I've already got five! Pretty amazing, right?"
"That's wonderful, Ash! You're progressing so fast…" Delia said over the video call, her face glowing with pride. But before Ash could bask in that warmth, her tone shifted into full Mom Mode.
"But tell me, have you been listening to me lately? Are you brushing your teeth morning and night? Are your meals balanced? Don't skip breakfast! You need meat for protein, and vegetables for vitamins! You're still growing, you can't be picky..."
"Ahhh…"
Ash's head was spinning.
He'd called home to share his good news, not to be hit by a verbal Hyper Beam of motherly concern!
Still, hanging up on his mom wasn't an option. So he gritted his teeth, endured the barrage, answered each question dutifully, "Yes, Mom… okay, Mom… I'm eating fine, Mom…", and finally, mercifully, ended the call.
The moment the screen went black, he slumped in his chair with a long exhale.
"It's unbearable… not even fighting a Professional-Level Pokémon is this exhausting. Don't you think so, Pikachu?"
"Pika pika~." Pikachu stood by the videophone, lifting his paws helplessly.
What could he say? That was Ash's mom, after all.
Once his mental HP recovered a little, Ash dialed Professor Oak to share the same good news. The old Professor congratulated him warmly, then added, "By the way, Gary's doing quite well too. He's also earned five badges already, one of them being the Saffron City badge."
"What?!" Ash nearly fell out of his chair. "That Gary beat Sabrina?!"
He'd only managed it himself with the help of his elite-level Gengar and his own Aura powers. How had Gary done it?
Oak chuckled, eyes twinkling. "Heh, not quite. He's not that extraordinary. The Saffron Gym Leader has changed."
"Changed? What do you mean?"
"Sabrina's father has taken over as the Gym Leader again. The Gym's still strong, stronger than most, but not quite as overwhelming as before."
Ash blinked. "Then where's Sabrina?"
"She's gone on a journey."
"She what?!"
The exclamation came not just from Ash, but from Misty and Brock too.
Sabrina? Traveling?
The idea alone felt surreal. When they'd last seen her, she'd been recovering and regaining her humanity, but setting out on a journey of her own? That was hard to imagine.
Professor Oak's gaze softened with amusement. He decided against mentioning the private talk he'd had with Sabrina's father.
For all his youth, Ash certainly had a knack for attracting attention, and not just from Pokémon. His grandson might have charisma, but at least Gary didn't accidentally charm Gym Leaders into personal interest.
If Ash ever crossed paths with Sabrina again, the boy would have a real headache waiting for him.
"Do you know where she went?" Ash asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"It seems she headed for Johto," Oak replied.
"Johto, huh?" Ash sighed, leaning back. "Then I probably won't run into her again anytime soon."
Misty, meanwhile, quietly released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
'Good,' she thought. 'The farther, the better.'
The memory of Sabrina's intense gaze, and that faint affection she never quite hid, still sent a chill down her spine. Misty would be perfectly happy if the two never met again.
"By the way," Ash said suddenly, "what difficulty did Gary beat Saffron Gym at?"
Oak tapped his chin thoughtfully. "He's managed to defeat the second difficulty tier, Superior-level Pokémon. I'm not sure which exact level, though."
"Superior level, huh…" Ash muttered, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Gary's not falling behind either. His Wartortle must've evolved into Blastoise by now. I've got to pick up the pace!"
...
Bonus @200 PS
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