1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 37: Strong Steps

The sky over the Wild Area was overcast when we left Stow-on-Side behind. After Alice's Ghost Badge, the gray light felt gentler than the stadium darkness, but it still pressed low enough to make everyone quieter than usual.

Pikachu rode on my shoulder, one paw against my collar, "The clouds are not heavy like fear. They are heavy like a pause."

"That sounds about right," I said.

Alice walked with her badge case tucked safely away. She looked tired, but not shaken. Gengar's Gigantamax battle had left a strange chill around all of us, and I could tell she was still thinking about Allister's quiet, Mimikyu's anger, and the way darkness could be controlled without being dismissed.

Gloria glanced toward the road ahead. "So we are really doing a Pokémon Job before the next capture trip?"

Jane's call arrived through Rotom before I could answer. "You are, because the Fighting-type module opened and the weather is stable enough for a controlled work assignment."

Elena smiled at the screen. "Stable means overcast now?"

"In Galar, stable means not actively trying to blow you into a pond," Jane replied.

Meowth folded his arms. "That is a low standard."

"It is an honest one," Jane said. "The Fighting board has several options, but you only choose one job. One. Not all of them, not three because they sound useful, and not Bookmark's thirty-Pokémon lifting request because Ash feels polite."

I raised both hands. "I heard that."

Jane opened the board. The listings filled Rotom's screen: Good Fit wanted three Fighting-type Pokémon to prove their shoes were durable. Wyndon Monorail wanted four for inspection and maintenance. Macro Cosmos Air wanted martial artists for airport security. Densoku wanted help developing wrestling shoes.

The list kept going. Macro Cosmos Construction wanted muscles for a worksite. Macro Cosmos Media wanted impressive Pokémon for a fitness campaign. Timburr Builders wanted Fighting types for construction support. Dream Diary needed strong arms for plowing fields, and Bookmark needed thirty Pokémon to carry heavy books.

Alice read them carefully. "That is a lot of heavy lifting."

"Fighting-type work often is," Jane said. "But the safest fit for your current route is Good Fit. Three Pokémon, clear safety rules, and a licensed training lane with a Power Spot for Max Knuckle."

Gloria pointed at the Bookmark listing. "Thirty Pokémon for books?"

"Large dictionaries," Flora said seriously.

Meowth stared at her. "You say that like dictionaries bite."

"They bite your back if you carry enough of them wrong," Helen said.

Jane looked as if she appreciated the fact that the jokes were happening after the decision instead of during it. "Good Fit is selected. The other jobs stay on the board for other Trainers."

A familiar voice called from the path before the call ended. "Then you will want someone watching footwork."

Mark stood near a set of low training barriers, one hand raised in greeting. His bag was slung over one shoulder, and he looked far too pleased that he had arrived exactly when useful.

"Mark?" I asked. "You followed us from Dragon Manor?"

"I came ahead by transport after Minami said you would probably turn a simple job into a full lesson," he said. "She was not wrong."

Alice laughed softly. "Probably not."

Jane narrowed her eyes through the screen. "Mark can help with safety and movement evaluation. He does not replace the job system."