How to Act as a Pokémon Champion

Chapter 8: Beyond the Battle

(Ash’s POV)

The exhilaration of beating Leon was still buzzing through my veins, but as the adrenaline wore off, a wave of uncertainty washed over me. Marnie had vanished as quickly as she'd appeared, giving me a wide grin and a promise to meet up tomorrow for her first official training session. As I sat alone, staring at my phone with its ludicrous ranking, everything felt a bit…unreal.

Pikachu nuzzled his cheek against mine, a soft murmur his only question.

"I… I dunno," I admitted, sinking onto the hotel bed. "Everything's happening so fast… the win, the ranking… and now Marnie."

My other Pokémon clustered around, their curious gazes fixed on me. Sceptile gave me a gentle nudge, while Greninja remained silent, his expression as unreadable as ever. Even Gliscor, usually so aloof, seemed to sense my unease.

A sigh escaped me. "Marnie…she reminds me of myself, back when I first started out. So…eager. And a bit lost, maybe."

Sceptile inclined his head, a subtle flicker of understanding in his eyes. Was it really so obvious?

"Well, what do I know about teaching someone?" I gestured helplessly. "All I do is jump into things headfirst."

My Pokémon exchanged knowing glances. It was true; strategy had never been my strong suit. Pikachu patted my leg reassuringly, but Greninja remained still, his gaze distant. Had something changed in him too? Why had he chosen now, after all this time, to come back?

"Greninja," I began, but the words faltered. How do you even ask something like that?

My phone vibrated, breaking the tense stillness. It was Mom. Time for damage control. She'd seen the news reports by now, and would definitely be freaking out.

After reassuring her that I was alive and mostly in one piece, I recounted my improbable adventure – the win against Leon, the invitation, my new ranking.

"And, oh yeah," I added casually, "there's this new girl from Galar, I'm gonna train her a bit."

A delighted squeal erupted from the phone. "Ashy, that's so wonderful! Like a big brother…" Before she could dissolve into a puddle of embarrassing sentimentality, I quickly interjected.

"So, any chance you could put Professor Oak on? Got some mentor questions..."

While I waited for the transfer, my Pokémon offered their own form of encouragement. Sceptile chirped confidently, Pikachu rubbed against my cheek with a reassuring spark. Even Greninja gave me a subtle nod.

Professor Oak's familiar face beamed into view. After the congratulations, I got down to business. Explaining Marnie's situation made my own inexperience alarmingly clear.

"Don't worry, Ash," the Professor reassured me. "Mentorship's about sharing your passion and experience. But," he added with a twinkle in his eye, "every trainer must walk their own path. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step back and let them find their way."

As I ended the call, his words resonated with me. Marnie needed to find her own purpose.

The next morning, Marnie was a whirlwind of energy, bursting into the hotel lobby with that same determined gleam in her eyes.

"Ready to get started, trainer!" she announced, with a playful salute. A smile tugged at my lips.

"Actually," I said, choosing my words carefully, "I can't join you on your journey across Galar. A mentor shouldn't give you all the answers. You need to make your own discoveries, have your own adventures."

Her face fell, disappointment clear, but then her chin lifted with renewed resolve. "Right. Gotta find my own path. But, you'll still train me, yeah?"

"Absolutely. But first, let's battle!" A grin spread across my face. "Think of it as lesson number one – figuring out your own style."

As we headed towards the nearest battlefield, I couldn't shake the sense of rightness settling over me. I might still have a lot to learn about being a mentor, but something told me that this was going to be one amazing journey – for both of us.