stonecrandall Chapter 400 Dawn and Ash: Promises and Bonds
Chapter 400 Dawn and Ash: Promises and Bonds
Water Lily Town.
Registration for the highly anticipated Water Lily Festival has closed.
After a full day of preparation, both the contestants who saw their formidable rivals on site and the various media outlets left with a wealth of information.
But on the outskirts of the town of Water Lily.
A vacant lot that is difficult to find.
"Curly Ear, Freeze Ray!"
"Meow!"
Unrestrained by any suppression, the freezing ray shot forward with tremendous force, forming a massive ice crystal in a short time before exploding. Blue specks of light, accompanied by a cool breeze, drifted through the forest, creating a pleasant sensation.
"How was that! Great, right!"
Hikari puffed out his chest, put his hands on his hips, and looked at Satoshi with a plea for praise, asking for his opinion.
While it was called a consultation, it actually carried a hint of showing off.
After all, this stage performance, led by Juanjuan'er, was the result of her long and painstaking thinking.
Moreover, she did not seek Ash's help at all and completed the task on her own.
"Hmm, the level of completion is quite high. If you can perform normally on stage, advancing to the second round will definitely not be a problem."
"Pikachu~!"
Ash and Pikachu clapped in turn, expressing their approval of Dawn's performance.
"Of course! A mere promotion is nothing! I'm not the same person I used to be!"
Although seeing him so smug is still a bit worrying, it's better than failing due to a lack of confidence.
Xiao Zhi thought to himself.
"Let's take this opportunity to get the last ribbon medal! That way we'll have all five ribbon medals needed to participate in the grand celebration."
Ash offered words of encouragement.
It's a grand celebration.
Xiao Guang gazed at the setting sun, feeling somewhat sentimental.
It's almost like a dream to have qualified to participate in a major celebration in just one year since her debut.
From my first disastrous performance to my current confidence.
Hikari couldn't say whether it was because of her own rapid growth or because of Satoshi's encouragement.
"Speaking of which, I didn't eat much for lunch today. I'm a little hungry. How about we go get some ramen later?"
"Pikachu~"
Hikari picked up Curly-eared Shrimp and quietly watched Ash, who was still discussing what to eat later.
Even without Xiaozhi's encouragement, she might have been able to get through it all.
But if Ash isn't around...
I feel like I might lack motivation.
Thinking about it this way, Xiao Guang couldn't help but feel a little scared again.
It's not that I'm afraid of this Water Lily Festival, nor am I afraid of the large-scale celebrations that will follow; it's that I'm afraid of what will happen after everything is over.
The scene of them going their separate ways.
Just thinking about that scene makes Xiaoguang's heart pound involuntarily with panic.
Saying goodbye.
Even knowing that all good things must come to an end, could she face it calmly when the time really came?
She has her two friends, Xiaozhi and Xiaogang, by her side now. What if she becomes all alone next year?
Waking up alone, eating breakfast alone, traveling alone, getting lost alone, and spending the night alone in the forest.
.......
Oops.
I felt nauseous for no reason.
Even the soreness in the corners of my eyes was starting to get uncontrollable.
Sure enough, once you get used to being with a group of people, you don't want to be alone anymore.
slap~
"?!"
"What are you thinking about? You look like you have something on your mind. Weren't you happy just a moment ago?"
Before she could react, Xiao Zhi had already taken her hand and led her out of the woods.
"this......"
My heart was filled with the sorrow of parting.
Even this hand-holding, which would normally make her nervous, didn't stir much emotion in her heart at this moment.
Even if it was just to seek a little peace of mind and comfort, Xiao Guang then spoke up: "Xiao Zhi, you've experienced many partings, haven't you?"
"parting?"
Ash stopped in his tracks, seemingly surprised that Dawn would ask such a question.
But Xiao Zhi quickly came to terms with it.
After all, it's come to this point, and it's inevitable to feel a sense of melancholy at parting.
"Of course, I've experienced it quite a few times."
Whether it's with your own Pokémon or with your travel companions.
Once you embark on a journey, parting is hardly surprising.
"So, Ash, do you feel sad every time we part? After all, we might not have many chances to meet again."
"Of course I feel sad, but I feel mostly blessed." Ash thought about this question for a while before answering it, because he had never thought about it in such depth before.
He continued to explain, "Because parting ways means that everyone is continuing to strive towards each other's dreams. Even if we gradually become alone during the journey, it also means that we have grown into people who can endure loneliness, right?"
After Xiao Zhi finished speaking, he awkwardly scratched his hair.
Is being able to endure loneliness a good thing?
He also had some doubts about this.
After all, he was never short of friends to travel with during his past journeys.
But most people who embark on a journey seem to have very few truly close friends to travel with.
Thinking about it this way, I'm actually quite lucky?!
Xiao Zhi was a little slow to realize it.
"So... Ash, after you left the Kanto and Hoenn regions, how often do you contact your former companions?"
Ash: "......"
hiss.
He wouldn't have reacted if Xiao Guang hadn't said anything.
It seems that after each separation, he rarely takes the initiative to contact his former companions.
Here, it's always Xiaoyao and Xiaoguang who take the initiative to come to him, rather than him taking the initiative to find them.
So, I really am such a heartless and ungrateful person?
Ash gazed at the sky, which was dyed red by the setting sun, and reflected on his crimes.
Even so, he still indirectly told Hikaru, "As long as we travel, we will eventually meet again!"
Pikachu: "......"
Ash's behavior at this moment was so easy to understand that even Pikachu, standing on his shoulder, cast a disdainful look at him.
Dawn, on the other side, clearly realized that given Ash's personality, he wouldn't take the initiative to contact others when he arrived in a new region.
In that case...
Why not—
"Really? I understand." Xiao Guang took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, a hint of cunning appeared in the corner of his eyes.
"Then let's make a promise~" Xiaoguang smiled, her previous annoyance completely gone, and the youthful energy unique to girls radiated from her face once more. "If we break up later, I'll contact you every week. Don't run away then, or don't blame me for coming to find you myself~"
Once an agreement is made, a bond is formed.
Even if they separate, as long as they have this promise, Xiaoguang feels that he will not be as afraid as he was at the beginning, even if he is alone.
......