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It’s said that the most lasting impression anyone can have of someone is the first, which is why it’s so important to make a good one. In Tracey’s eyes, Ash had done exactly that.
***
At the time, they were just kids on the beach. No names, just kids on the beach. One about to go against three Pokémon that had been poorly trained and clearly neglected in several ways of care. The other observing said Pokémon.
But then, he saw Pikachu. A very clean, shiny-coated Pikachu with bright eyes full of confusion as to what was going on, but nonetheless very healthy. It was clear that his trainer took very good care of him and he absolutely had to make further observations to see the different ways Pikachu seemed strong, including getting a reading on the voltage meter he carried around. His task was interrupted by the delinquents about to sic their Pokémon on him from behind and Pikachu shocking them…and him in the process.
He recovered quickly though and saw to the injured Lapras, quite the young one should not be covered in bruises and whimpering in pain. He could see Lapras absolutely needed help, so he entrusted the Pikachu’s trainer with some medicine to give to Lapras while he hurried to get help from Nurse Joy.
Worried, he waited with the two kids from the beach and their Pokémon. No words exchanged, just patiently waiting with them for updates as to if the Lapras was okay. And while Lapras was mostly unharmed physically, psychologically was another matter. He spoke aloud of how the Lapras was definitely just a young one, surprising the boy from the beach. He explained that Lapras tend to migrate around the Orange Islands and that the young one must have been separated from his pod during a storm that recently hit the area.
Introductions were made after he explained he was a Pokémon Watcher, and he learned that the boy who trained a Pikachu was named Ash and the girl carrying a Togepi, quite the rare Pokémon, was named Misty. It was agreed that all three would work together to try to help Lapras trust humans again and get him back to the ocean.
Then he learned that Ash knew his idol Professor Oak. There was no denying now that he had to join the two he’d met on the beach in their travels if he hoped to meet the world renowned expert. Misty was scolding him about inviting himself - even though he’d later learn that she had done likewise all the way back at the start of Ash’s journey - when Nurse Joy informed Lapras was awake and would be okay to be transported back to the beach if they were able to get Lapras to trust them.
Tracey could see Ash was very determined to help poor Lapras. Wanting to try to soothe him with a lullaby, that had been interrupted by Jigglypuff, trying to reach out to him by joining him in the pool. When a trio of thieves, including a talking Meowth, known as Team Rocket appeared and stole away the poor Lapras, they all knew they had to help rescue him. Tracey called on his Venonat to help track the trio and with some bikes they found near the Pokémon Centre for hire, they all hurried after them.
Tracey quickly saw Ash’s determination still in force, the young boy pedalling his hardest to catch up to the truck trailer just enough to be able to jump onto Lapras, pat him for reassurance and then climb into the cabin through an open window. The truck kept going while Tracey and Misty had to stop, unable to keep up any further. Ash was there, he’d surely get the thieves to stop. Right?
They could only watch from afar as the truck continued to speed off, but then the cabin was airborne and the trailer was speeding back down the road and off a cliff. A big splash was seen through his binoculars, and even though he had only known Ash briefly, he was sure his heart had stopped at that moment. Did he just see a young boy, his Pikachu and a young Lapras die…?
No. Wait. His Venonat could see something. So he and Misty hurried back to the beach and called for Ash, hoping to find him. Venonat kept reassuring him that they were okay and in the area. And then, he heard Ash’s voice. All three of them were okay. But…wait, did Ash just say he caught Lapras…?
Upon reunion, Ash explained that having caught Lapras, it means they can travel with Lapras to find his family. It wasn’t unheard of for Lapras to allow trainers to ride on their backs across bodies of water, and it was more likely for them to find the pod than if they tried just taking ferries and cruises and the like. Not every island had designated ports, after all. Most would usually just have trainers land at the beach and explore the island from there. During time on land, Lapras would then be safe in a ball and easy to transport from one side of the island to the other.
That made a lot of sense, and while Misty had teased Ash about using his brain for once, which triggered some bickering, Tracey was impressed that Ash had thought about that. They’d all be setting off in the morning and yes, Ash had accepted Tracey would be joining them on their travels.
***
Tracey learned a lot about Ash very quickly. How he could be determined, or it could be seen as stubborn. How much he loved Pokémon. How despite the bickering, he saw Misty as a very valuable friend. How he would risk his very life for Pokémon if he had to. How he was willing to try new things.
And that was before they had reached the first Gym. He continued to be impressed though. It started to feel natural to believe in Ash, that his instincts should be trusted. Sure, there would be the occasional stumble. But, in Tracey’s eyes, he could see Ash as someone who was mostly reliable. Whenever Ash said I can do this!, he proved he could. How could Tracey doubt someone like that?
***
The only times Tracey felt doubt were when he saw Ash speaking from ego and not sincerely. If Ash got carried away, he would immediately be knocked back. But when he was sincere in his words and actions, it naturally worked out. Such as when helping a young woman struggling to bond with her Raichu. When Ash said he would teach her and started giving a lecture, he fell flat, forgetting the advice. It didn’t work out. Still, Ash wanted to keep trying to help. That was so like him.
Help he did. It was the simplest thing too. He didn’t have to lecture her, just reassure her that all would work out as long as she still wanted to be Raichu’s trainer. That was the Ash Tracey knew, the one who would see a problem, sincerely say it will be okay and it would be.
It later happened again when Ash helped give him advice on how to support his newly acquired Scyther. Advice that worked, though not in the exact way planned.
***
He had to admit there were times that it felt like Ash doubted him. Not in a bad way like he couldn’t do anything, but more out of concern or confusion. Tracey did feel a little hurt when that happened. He quickly got over it, knowing Ash wasn’t meaning to hurt him. Like when a Nurse Joy sped by in a kayak. Ash had doubted what Tracey had seen. But, Tracey indignantly stood by his position. After all, he was a Pokémon Watcher. He needed to rely on his vision being keen in order to spot Pokémon that were hiding or would speed past. Ash doubting him in that moment was like him saying he wasn’t good at what he did if he was mistaken in what he saw. But, Ash had agreed to go investigate and later, did apologise for doubting him, so it was fine.
***
He found that, in a way, he and Ash were similar. They both seemed to put themselves at risk if it meant helping others. After all, not everyone would see churning ocean waters, watch someone who was a reliable adult go out into them and decide I have to go after them. While Ash had first protested, Tracey going out after Nurse Joy had Ash going out too, with Misty following as well. It…could have gone better…all three of them being caught by a surprise wave and being thrown out of their kayaks was not what they had planned.
Tracey sometimes wondered if his usual cautious nature giving way to reckless was somehow inspired by Ash. There were things he would do that were just too risky that Tracey felt a need to caution him. But then sometimes, he’d be doing it with him. Like going into a town’s sewer to save not only Ash’s Bulbasaur, but to warn a mysterious creature that it was in danger, and then later swim through those waters in a tunnel that had no guarantee of being completely safe to rescue Misty and Togepi.
In the past, it would not have been something he’d conceive of doing, whether being in a sewer in the first place or swimming through those waters. Thankfully, they were treated waters that would be able to be cycled through pipes to homes so nobody got sick from being in them.
It started to feel more natural to go with the same inspired impulses anytime Tracey found himself needing to help someone in need. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t do so anyway, but there were times his cautious nature was overtaken by what would Ash do? in circumstances that came with high risks. Like risking himself to save a Charmander from a river or grabbing on to an Aerodactyl as it took flight.
Though he would still have preferred that he and Ash not be chased by a pink Rhyhorn because Ash had upset it in his approach, or both he and Ash not falling into a Vileplume’s head and getting point blank Stun Spore that paralysed them until Misty got them the antidote.
***
Ash had been given a very hefty task that moment. Save the world by fulfilling a prophecy. It was a time Tracey found his trust and faith in Ash at its highest. Everything he knew of him, everything he’d seen and heard, every glimpse into Ash’s personality including his stubborn determination and drive to help others, his promises of I can do this!, his willingness to do whatever it took…it had all come to having to save the world.
All Tracey could do…was watch. Watch Ash chase Pikachu into a storm. Watch Ash use his Pokémon to try to free Moltres. Watch Ash place spheres on a shrine. Watch Ash briefly doubt himself tearfully. Watch him and his Pokémon hurry across frozen waters to retrieve the final treasure to power up the song of the Pokémon Lugia to restore peace and balance while needing to dodge attacks from not only Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres, but the capture devices coming from a fallen airship as they trapped Lugia while Ash rode on them to return to the Shamouti shrine.
Just like the day they met, his heart stopped as he saw them plummet into the freezing ocean. He saw Ash and Pikachu come to the surface. But, something was wrong.
His fears were confirmed after Misty had swum out to rescue them, with him towing them back to shore, the waters too rough and cold for Misty to have paddled Ash back on her own. He helped her get Ash…unconscious…unresponsive…not breathing…out of the water, laid him down and while Misty performed CPR, Tracey contributed on trying to keep Ash away from The Light by calling him back. It was all he could do.
Thankfully, Ash was able to breathe again, heart picking up thanks to Misty’s chest compressions and he regained consciousness. But he was still shaky on weak legs from his near-death experience that he collapsed almost as soon as he tried walking. Tracey had caught him, only to be weakly pushed away. Ash collapsed again climbing to the shrine, but he rose again on his own, determined to succeed.
He did. The world was safe. A mother had to be reassured, but the world had been saved after the duty being entrusted to a stubborn, determined, always eager to help others, ten year old boy named Ash Ketchum.
In that moment, as the boy’s mother called him her hero, it was a sentiment shared. Not just because he saved everyone. But to Tracey, Ash was a continuing source of inspiration in how to live life. With a strong will, a heart that loved all, determined against all odds.
If Professor Oak was the idol who helped give him a dream, Ash was his hero in showing him new ways to face life.
And that night in the room the boys shared while Misty roomed with Melody, if he heard Ash crying after all that he had been through, out of relief that he had succeeded in doing something so hefty, if he silently shed his own tears as he reflected on the fact his best friend had almost died, none of that changed his opinion or high regard towards him.
***
He continued to see Ash prove himself. Facing different circumstances and challenges, but getting through them with the promise of I can do this!. Including winning in a six on six battle against the leader of the Orange Crew, and basically Champion of the Orange League, Drake. The moment Dragonite went down and Pikachu was still standing, it was nothing short of miraculous. But, Ash had entered that stadium with his I can do this! air that had Tracey knowing there was no doubt he would succeed. Drake had a tough team. But Ash had one too. And they were all just as determined as him to achieve victory.
Misty had been amazed, but Tracey had known it was achievable. Ash had been victorious and Tracey was proud of him.
***
They had managed to find Lapras’ pod. But something was wrong. They were avoiding Lapras. It was because he was carrying humans on his back…oh no. Humans hurting Lapras again. Not just that, they were pirate poachers terrorising the Lapras to try to capture them. Leaving it to Ash and Misty to protect the Lapras, Tracey had had his Marill paddle him back to the island so he could get help from Officer Jenny.
Upon reflection after they had said goodbye to Lapras, it was just like the day he met Ash and Misty. Humans causing harm to Lapras, him entrusting the care to Ash and Misty while he hurried to get help. And upon returning to their side, seeing he had judged right. Though, there had also been a difference. Back then, they were just kids on a beach he had to trust his faith in. At that moment though, he knew them as his best friends who he had utter faith in.
Especially the one he knew he would never be able to have any doubt in when he saw that sincere I can do this! attitude.
***
When staying at Professor Oak’s lab as his assistant, he made sure to reciprocate. He had his own promises of caring for Ash’s Pokémon the more they would be joining them. And he could see that Ash held just as much trust in him that he did in Ash. Because as he promised to take good care of them, he saw something in Ash’s eyes as he said he knew he’d be able to rely on him to do so.
He could see Ash had heard his promise of I can do this. And Ash had reflected back you can do this!. Mirrored faith and respect in each other.
There was mutual trust. No doubts.
And that knowledge of every time they would look at each other with a silent I can do this!, they would both keep that promise.
***
It was why he knew, even as he tensely watched the battle against Leon that took place in Wyndon Stadium, that Ash would be the overall victor and be given the champion title of World Monarch. Seeing Pikachu still standing after taking down the Charizard that had been in a Gigantamax state had him feeling the same jubilation for his best friend as the time the fallen opponent had been a Dragonite. His shouts of joy as he shared in the victory with most of Ash’s Pokémon, some physically celebrating with him through hugs and high fives and elbow bumps, were only barely heard among the cacophony of cheering Pokémon echoing through the air, loud enough to surely be heard all through Pallet Town.
***
When he and Ash reunited after having kept missing each other, he had been on the way out to do an errand that would have him gone for a couple of days, so he asked Ash to help cover his caretaking duties in his absence, knowing he was reliable. Once again, there were those words reflected in the boy’s eyes that he could never doubt.
After all of the times Ash’s promises were kept, after each grand surprise that young boy had given him, he had his own too. A few days after he’d finished his errand, he saw Ash was still in Pallet Town, not setting out just yet. So he was able to show him right away that his Venonat had evolved into a Venomoth.
Neither of them said a word between them. Tracey just looked back at Venomoth, and Ash and Pikachu knew immediately it was their old friend. He saw their eyes shining in amazement. It was finally his turn to surprise and impress Ash, and he knew that even though Ash was done with entering tournaments all the time, there would still be more moments for him to show his sincere I can do this! that Tracey could never doubt as the young boy continued on the path to achieving his main dream of being a Pokémon Master.
He knew in his heart Ash would absolutely become one after hearing what Ash thinks that truly means to him - being able to connect with all Pokémon in the world.
After all, it was a natural thing between them that had been kept from a first impression made when they were just kids on a beach. A boy who knew how to take care of his Pokémon and a Watcher who had noticed immediately.