Ash accompanied Max as he searched for Pokémon.
Max looked everywhere until he finally spotted a Shroomish in a small alley.
“Awesome!
A Shroomish in the city!” Max’s eyes lit up.
(✧▽✧)
Max was about to rush over, but Ash stopped him.
“Wait.
If you approach a Pokémon carelessly, it might attack you.
Besides, Shroomish usually live in forests.
Isn’t it strange to see one in a city?”
“R-right!”
“Pika~”
Sure enough, Shroomish was watching them warily.
Ash took out several Grass-type Energy Cubes, placed them on the ground, and smiled.
“Here.
These are delicious.”
“Pika~”
Pikachu also encouraged Shroomish.
After a long while, Shroomish finally approached and tasted one.
“Shroomish~!” (≧ω≦)/
Its eyes narrowed happily as it began eating with delight.
Ash walked over and picked it up.
Shroomish did not resist.
“So awesome…” Max looked at Ash holding Shroomish with envy.
Before long, Max became friends with it as well.
“Come on, Max.
Shroomish doesn’t belong in the city.
Let’s take it home.”
“Okay!”
“Pika~”
“Shroomish~”
Shroomish happily showed them the way.
Meanwhile, May and Brock finished their shopping and arrived at the Pokémon Center, where they heard people talking about the curse of the Green Mansion.
May immediately activated her Explorer title, second only to her Foodie title, and dragged Brock off to investigate.
———————— Green Mansion ————————
“Huh?!
Ash!
Max!
What are you doing here?”
“Sis, what are you doing here?”
The siblings spoke at the same time.
“We heard this place was cursed, so we came to explore.
What about you?
Don’t tell me you came here to explore too?”
“What exploration?
We’re taking Shroomish home.”
Max showed her Shroomish.
“In that case, the curse is solved.
I think the so-called curse was simply caused by the Shroomish using Stun Spore to protect themselves.”
“I see!” ×3
“Hey, you four!”
A young man dressed in green approached them.
“How can you just walk in here?
I’m trimming the garden trees.”
After introducing themselves and explaining why they were there, they learned that the man was the mansion’s owner, Alex.
Alex looked at Shroomish in surprise.
“Huh?
There shouldn’t be any Shroomish left in this city.”
“Were there a lot of them before?” Ash asked.
“That’s right.” Alex nodded.
“When I was little, there were lots of Shroomish around here.
Shroomish were my favorite Pokémon!”
“This house belonged to my grandfather.
I used to come here all the time and spend entire days playing.
But then the forest disappeared and was replaced by tall buildings.” He sighed.
“After my grandfather passed away, the Shroomish disappeared too.
I never imagined this place had become their home.
And this mansion is about to be demolished.”
“If the Shroomish really live here, then they’ll have nowhere to go!” Max exclaimed.
“Let Shroomish lead us there, and we’ll find out.”
Everyone agreed.
Led by Shroomish, they arrived at the place where the Shroomish lived.
A group of Shroomish watched them with fear and wariness.
Only after the Shroomish that had brought Ash and the others explained the situation did they finally relax.
“I can’t believe the Shroomish have been living here all this time,” Alex sighed.
“Because the forests disappeared, they had no choice but to live here.
How sad…”
Boom!
Just as the atmosphere grew emotional, it was suddenly ruined.
“Wahaha!
We’ll take all the Shroomish!”
“Who are you?” Alex blurted out.
“Prepare for trouble!”
“And make it—”
“Team Rocket, I’ve heard your speech enough already.
Tyranitar, Hyper Beam!
Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
“What?!
Twerp, you’re being unfair again!”
Boom!
“What a terrible feeling!”
“Wobbuffet!
(〒﹏〒)~”
“Mr.
Alex, may I ask you something?” Ash turned toward him.
“Uh… what is it?”
“You said you were going to demolish the mansion.
Please don’t.”
“Yeah, yeah!” Brock and the others agreed.
“Hmm… sorry, but I’m still going to demolish the old house.”
After thinking for a moment, Alex smiled at the Shroomish.
“But I’ll plant a great number of trees here and give the Shroomish a proper home.”
“That’s great!” ヽ(^Д^*)/
Max jumped happily.
And so, everyone was satisfied.
“Shroomish~”
The Shroomish that had led Ash there handed him a stone.
“This is a Mega Stone!
Is it for me?”
Shroomish smiled and nodded.
“Thank you.”
Ash silently called out, System, appraise it.
[Ding~ Appraisal successful.
This is a Sceptile Mega Stone.]
Great!
I just saved ten thousand points.
ヾ(≧▽≦*)
“What is that, Ash?
You seem really excited,” May asked curiously.
“Hehe!
It’s a good thing.”
Ash answered vaguely.
After saying goodbye to Alex and the Shroomish, the group rested at the Pokémon Center before continuing their journey.
———————— Another City ————————
“Ash, look!”
Max pulled Ash toward a sign.
It read:
[THE GYM OF THE WORLD’S STRONGEST POKÉMON]
“Interesting.
Let’s go see this world’s strongest Pokémon.”
“World’s strongest Pokémon!
Could it be a Legendary Pokémon?” Max asked excitedly.
Ash shook his head inwardly.
‘Kid, you’re still too young.
Travel with me, and even Legendary Pokémon will no longer feel legendary.’
They soon arrived at the Gym.
The supposedly strongest Pokémon was… a Pelipper.
Everyone except Ash was disappointed.
The Gym Leader, Anthony, was extremely arrogant.
The battle began.
[Pelipper]
[Strength: Peak Elite Tier]
Pelipper was actually fairly strong, but…
“Go, Tyranitar!”
Ash did not hold back and sent out his strongest battler.
“Pelipper, use Vine Whip!”
Everyone: (・.・?)
A Pelipper could use Vine Whip?
Ash merely smiled.
“Tyranitar, grab the Vine Whip and pull it down.”
“What?!
No!
Don’t!”
Anthony shouted in panic, but it was too late.
A Bellsprout was pulled out of Pelipper’s beak.
“What…?”
Everyone was stunned.
“I get it!
You hid other Pokémon inside Pelipper’s mouth, didn’t you?” Max immediately understood.
“That’s cheating!
I’m reporting you to the League!” Brock shouted.
“Exactly!” May said angrily.
“This is the world’s strongest?” Ash looked at Anthony teasingly.
“I-I’m sorry!
It’s my fault!”
Anthony dropped to his knees.
“I wanted to make Pelipper the strongest Pokémon, and before I knew it, I just got carried away…”
“Hmph.
It was just your own wishful thinking.
And your Pelipper isn’t actually weak.” Ash lectured him.
“If you want to become the strongest, you should work hard together.
Don’t take shortcuts like this!”
Anthony looked at his Pelipper.
“Yes!
Thank you for teaching me.”
Ash and the others left.
May and Max surrounded Ash.
“Awesome, Ash!
You looked so cool while lecturing him!”
“It was nothing.
I just said what needed to be said.”
The group continued their journey.
To be continued…
….