Chapter 217: Departure, Return to Tokiwa City

After receiving the precious gift from Blaine, Ash and his friends returned to their hotel room, where they resumed their unfinished dinner. The group celebrated Ash's victory in the Cinnabar Gym battle, enjoying the warmth of success after a tough fight.

"I never expected something this good to happen!" Ash said happily, taking a bite of his food. "It seems like Togepi's birth has really brought us good luck!"

Misty, who had Togepi nestled comfortably in her arms, smiled warmly. "Maybe Togepi really is our good luck charm!"

After dinner, Ash and Brock changed into their swimsuits and headed to the hot springs to relax. The warm, soothing water helped ease the tension from their battles.

Meanwhile, Misty had already soaked earlier, so she took Togepi back to their room, as the baby Pokémon had started to get sleepy.

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The Power of the Light Ball

As Ash and Brock settled into the hot springs, Brock turned toward Ash with a curious expression. "That Light Ball you got from Blaine… it should have a huge impact on Pikachu's power, right?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah. The Light Ball doubles Pikachu's attack power, meaning he can use his strongest moves with only half the usual energy. It's a huge advantage for battles. Not only does it help Pikachu's endurance, but it also makes him a real trump card in tough situations!"

Brock's eyes lit up with realization. "Wait… does that mean Pikachu can now use Thunderbolt without draining all of his energy?"

Ash paused, thinking for a moment. "I'm not sure… I haven't tested it yet," he admitted.

In the past, Pikachu's Thunderbolt was so powerful that using it took almost all of his energy. Even though Pikachu had grown stronger through his inheritance abilities, he still had a limit. If Pikachu used Thunderbolt in battle and didn't defeat his opponent, he'd be left too exhausted to continue fighting.

That was why Ash avoided using Thunderbolt during battles—it was a double-edged sword.

But if the Light Ball's effect was strong enough, it might allow Pikachu to summon Thunderbolt while using only half his stamina. If that was true, then Pikachu could still keep fighting after unleashing his most powerful attack.

"We should find an opportunity to test it," Brock suggested.

Ash nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But not now. The Thunderbolt's power is too intense, and it could cause trouble if we use it in the wrong place."

After soaking in the hot springs for a while, the two returned to their room, washed up, and went to bed.

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Morning Training & Testing Pikachu's Strength

The next morning, Ash woke up early, took his Pokémon outside, and headed to a park near the hotel for morning training.

The park was located in a remote area, and since it was still early, the place was completely empty.

During the training session, Ash decided to ask Pikachu directly. "Hey, Pikachu, do you feel any difference after carrying the Light Ball?"

"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head in confusion.

"Do you think the Light Ball's power affects your Thunderbolt?"

Pikachu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Pika-pi…"

Ash sighed. "I guess we'll have to test it in battle to know for sure."

Because of the mysterious power of the Three Phantom Gods, buffs and debuffs only lasted for one round in battle. If the Light Ball worked like a magic card in the Yu-Gi-Oh world, its effect might not be as powerful as expected.

But until they tested it, there was no way to be sure.

After finishing their morning training, Ash returned to the hotel, where Brock and Misty had already woken up.

Brock was busy preparing breakfast for their Pokémon, while Misty was feeding Togepi.

"Morning, Ash!" Misty greeted him with a smile.

"Morning!" Ash replied, sitting down to eat.

After a quick breakfast, the group decided it was time to say goodbye to Blaine. They asked one of the hotel waiters if Blaine was still around, but the waiter informed them that he had already left for the gym.

Ash and his friends felt a little disappointed, but they asked the waiter to send their regards to Blaine before checking out of the hotel.

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A New Destination: Vermilion City!

After leaving the hotel, Ash, Misty, and Brock headed straight to the harbor to buy S.S. Tickets for their next journey.

Their next destination was not Pallet Town's harbor in the south, but instead—

Vermilion City!

"We're going to Vermilion City?" Misty asked in surprise.

Ash nodded. "Yeah. From there, we'll head to Tokiwa City before continuing to the Pokémon League!"

Brock crossed his arms, thinking. "That makes sense. Vermilion City is one of the biggest transportation hubs in Kanto. From there, we can easily travel to Tokiwa."

As they walked through the harbor, Misty looked around excitedly. "It's been a while since we took a ship. This should be fun!"

Ash grinned. "Yeah, let's just hope we don't run into another Team Rocket scheme like last time!"

Misty rolled her eyes. "Don't jinx it!"

The group arrived at the ticket booth and purchased their boarding passes for the next available ship to Vermilion City. With tickets in hand, they stood by the dock, watching as the waves gently rolled against the wooden planks.

Ash looked up at the sky, feeling the ocean breeze brush against his face. "We're getting closer to the Pokémon League. I can feel it."

Misty and Brock smiled, standing beside him. Their journey was far from over, but every step brought them one step closer to their ultimate goal.

As they waited for the boarding announcement, Ash clenched his fist in determination.

The road to the Pokémon League continued…