Full Day of Recovery

After the battle with Paul, Ash's Pokemon were being treated by Nurse Joy and her helpers Chansey and Blissey. Pikachu, Lucario, Empoleon, Grotle, Monferno and Staraptor had been badly beaten and they had bandages wrapped over their bodies. Ash, Tomo, Dawn and Piplup were watching Nurse Joy tend to the Pokemon.

"Nurse Joy will have the Pokemon fixed up in no time." Brock said.

Ash couldn't stop thinking about his battle with Paul.

"Hey Ash, are you okay?" Dawn asked.

"Yes, but I need to sit down." Ash said.

"You go sit down Ash and try to relax for a bit." Brock said. "You look a bit beat yourself."

Ash agreed and walked off.

"Is something wrong with my brother?" Tomo asked.

"Ash is just thinking about how his battle with Paul went." Brock said. "He always knew Paul was a strong trainer, despite him and Paul being different when it comes to training. So it's obvious Ash realized during the battle how strong Paul and his Pokemon really are."

Dawn and Tomo looked at each other in wonder.

Ash made his way to a sofa in the Pokemon Center and had a drink of water. He began to think about his battle and what had happened during that battle. He had to admit it; Paul really did give him a tough battle. At that moment Dawn and Tomo approached; they were worried about him.

"Are you okay Ash?" Dawn asked.

"Well to tell you the truth Dawn I keep thinking about what happened during the battle." Ash said. "During that battle I figured out Paul's true style; his Pokemon are all aware of his expectations and know exactly what they must do to live up to them."

"Is that why they put up with his harsh training?" Dawn asked. "Because they know his determination?"

"Yes." Ash said. "Just like our Pokemon know our determination whenever we are training."

"That's right as you and Brock have told me before, Pokemon feel emotions their trainer is feeling." Dawn said.

"Exactly." Ash nodded.

Dawn understood what he said now.

Meanwhile Brock was helping Nurse Joy treat Ash's Pokemon. They were bandaging up their wounds, taking care of Pikachu's burns and Monferno's paralysis. Happiny was helping out too.

"Oh dear." Nurse Joy said. "I need some Cheri Berries to cure Monferno's paralysis. Brock, do you think you can find and get some from the woods for me please?"

"I'd be happy too." Brock said.

So Brock went out to look for Cheri Berries, but finding them wasn't easy. He walked for a while before coming to Lake Acuity. He looked around to see if he could find any berries there. Suddenly a ripple appeared in the lake and a ghostly figure manifested.

"It can't be." Brock said.

He ran over to the lake to have a look. The figure stood still for a moment and then it disappeared. At that moment Brock noticed a bush full of Cheri Berries and picked some right away.

As soon as Brock got back to the Pokemon Center, Nurse Joy mashed up some of the berries and gave them to Monferno. He felt better in no time. Just then Ash, Dawn and Tomo came over.

"Hi everyone, how are you doing?" Ash asked his Pokemon.

Ash's Pokemon were feeling okay; still sore and achy from the battle though.

"Nurse Joy, may I take my Pokemon outside for a bit?" He asked. "I wish to talk to them."

"Of course. Spending time with you will perk them up again." Nurse Joy said.

"Okay, come on all of you." Ash told his Pokemon.

The Pokemon followed him outside.

"I can see Ash has a strong bond with his Pokemon." Nurse Joy smiled.

She was always happy to see the friendship between humans and Pokemon.

Ash spoke to his Pokemon as soon as they got outside.

"Well everyone." He said. "You all did very well out there and I have to admit our battle with Paul ended up being one of the hardest Pokemon battles I ever went through. But that experience isn't going to get us down, is it?"

All of the Pokemon shouted out no in their own languages.

"Of course not." Ash said. "Pikachu as you know we have been in many difficult battles in the past, including ones we've lost."

Pikachu remembered it all.

"So after that excitement we went through, you and the rest of the Pokemon I've caught in Sinnoh and myself will need to work harder if we want to beat Paul the next time we battle him. We will beat him soon, I know we will."

Ash's Pokemon agreed with him and they all gave him a group hug to prove that.

"Hey come on all of you. You're heavy!" Ash laughed.

After the talk Ash went back into the Pokemon Center with his Pokemon.

"Ash listen." Tomo said quickly. "Brock said he saw it."

"Saw what?" Ash asked. "Wait, you mean you saw Uxie at Lake Acuity Brock?"

"Well, it's more like the shadow of it really." Brock admitted.

"Like how Dawn and I saw the shadows of Mesprit and Azelf?" Ash asked.

"Yes, exactly." Brock nodded.

Nurse Joy had a book which told the legends about Azelf, Mespirt and Uxie.

"According to this book Mesprit, Azelf and Uxie are said to have been born from the same egg." She said.

"So it's like those three Pokemon are triplets." Ash said.