While traveling toward Rustboro City, Ash and the others accidentally entered a Pokémon preserve.
There, they met the ranger Kelly, drove off the troublesome Team Rocket members, and Max formed a deep friendship with a Poochyena—eventually witnessing it evolve into a Mightyena.
After saying goodbye to Kelly, the group arrived at a clear lake and prepared to go swimming.
“Haha!
This place is great!”
“The air is fresh, it’s peaceful, and it feels wonderful.”
“Yeah!”
Everyone splashed about in the lake.
“Pika?”
“Hmm?”
Ash and Pikachu suddenly looked toward the center of the lake.
“What is it, Ash?
Pikachu?” Brock and the others followed their gaze.
Numerous objects resembling lily pads floated across the lake toward them.
“W-what are those?
There are so many!” May hurried toward the shore.
“Those should be Lotad.
They’re Water- and Grass-type Pokémon that usually live in ponds and lakes.
But there really are a lot of them,” Ash explained.
“Then this is the Lake of Lotad!” Max exclaimed.
“Let’s get out first!
The Lotad are getting closer.
We’re going to be pushed away!”
“Okay!” ×2
Soon after they reached the shore, the Lotad climbed out as well.
“Ah!
They came onto land!
What are they doing?!” Σ(°△°; )
May hid behind Ash.
“Don’t be afraid, May.” Ash sensed their goodwill through Aura.
“Look, they’re all smiling.”
“Really?
Are they looking for us to play with?” (✧▽✧) Max asked excitedly.
“I think so too,” Brock agreed.
“Pika~”
Pikachu pointed toward the Lotad.
The Lotad lined up and sprayed columns of water into the sky.
The streams collided, forming a fountain, and the splashing water sparkled in the sunlight.
“Wow!” (✧▽✧)
May stepped out from behind Ash.
“I didn’t expect Lotad to know Water Gun, and their performance is so beautiful!
They could score highly in a Pokémon Contest,” Ash praised.
“Huh?
What’s a Pokémon Contest?” May asked.
“A Pokémon Contest is scored according to how beautiful and impressive a performance is.
Usually, there are two rounds of judging.
After receiving approval from the judges, contestants enter the Contest Battles.
The battle rounds use an elimination format, and the final winner receives a Ribbon.
Collect five Ribbons, and you can enter the Grand Festival.”
Ash knew May was a complete beginner and explained patiently.
“Ah, I see!”
May nodded thoughtfully.
“Look, doesn’t that Lotad seem a little different?”
Brock noticed one special Lotad.
The other Lotad were shooting their water streams high into the sky, while this one’s only rose a few dozen centimeters.
“That one is really behind.
It looks kind of absent-minded,” May said bluntly.
Everyone nodded.
Even after all the other Lotad had finished, this one was still spraying.
“Hey, Lotad!
It’s already over!”
Brock walked over.
Hearing that, Lotad suddenly increased the power of its Water Gun and gave Brock a free facial wash.
Only then did it leisurely chase after the others.
“Hahaha!” (≧▽≦)
At that moment, a freckled girl with red pigtails walked over, put her hands on her hips, and pointed at them.
“Hey!
This is the Lake of Lotad!
How can you go swimming in it?
All of you are coming to my house!”
“So bossy.
Just like Max,” May immediately said.
“You’re annoying.”
Max rolled his eyes.
“Um… why are we going to your house?” Brock asked carefully.
“Isn’t it obvious?
To get scolded!”
“What?!” ×3
The four reluctantly followed her home.
In the end, however, the ones who had expected to be scolded were not scolded at all—the girl herself was the one who received a lecture.
“Natalie, you can’t act like that.
You should be kinder to travelers from other places,” a blue-haired girl reprimanded.
“But, Nicole, they…”
Natalie lowered her head and tried to argue.
The group, who had been prepared to be scolded, instead watched Natalie receive the lecture.
“I’m sorry.
My little sister spoke rudely to you,” Nicole apologized.
“It’s fine.”
“Pikapi~”
“Hello.
I’m Nicole, and she’s Natalie.
We sisters run this flower shop together.”
Everyone introduced themselves, though Brock soon became a little inappropriate.
“M-my name is Brock.
By the way, this beautiful flower shop is just as beautiful as Miss Nicole herself.”
“Huh.” (・_・;)
“A flower shop this beautiful could only have been created by a beautiful woman like Miss Nicole.”
“Thank you.
By the way, the pie I made is almost ready.
Would you all like some?”
Brock really did have a talent for sweet talk.
If only he was just a little more handsome, he would definitely have had the potential to become a master playboy.
“Really?
Thank you so much!”
Another girl with short green hair came in from outside.
“Big sis, the drainage pipe in the orchard is broken.
Watering cans alone aren’t enough.
Oh?
Guests?”
“Ah!
And this other beautiful lady is…”
Brock immediately turned around with sparkling eyes.
“She’s our second sister, Rita.
There are three of us.”
“Hello!”
“I would also love to use that watering can to cultivate flowers as beautiful as you, Miss Rita…”
“Max, I’m giving you a sacred mission.”
Ash pulled Max aside with a serious expression.
“W-what mission?”
“From now on, whenever Brock gets lovestruck, drag him back.”
“Uh… okay.” (・_・?)
“Hey!
You act completely differently around me than you do around my sisters!
Don’t you know that’s rude?”
Natalie angrily pointed at Brock.
“Ah?
Well… um…” Σ(°△°; )
“Haha, Natalie has fallen in love at first sight again.”
“Love at first sight?!
Again?”
‘But I’m not a lolicon!
I only like mature older women!’ (╥﹏╥)
Everyone sat down for pie and chatted with the three sisters.
“Delicious!
I’ve never tasted anything like this!” May said excitedly.
“It’s a pie made with Oran Berries.
The flavor is very rich,” Nicole explained.
“The water and air around here are very clean, so we can grow all kinds of Berries.
There are many trees in the back.
Would you like to take a look?”
“Really?
Of course!”
They went into the orchard, where many kinds of Berry trees grew in a beautiful, fresh environment.
The sisters explained the uses and effects of various Berries.
“Big sis, repairing the drainage pipe will take a long time.
The connectors are too old, so we have to replace the entire pipe,” Rita said.
“That’s troublesome.”
Nicole frowned.
Then the Lotad came over with water balanced on their leaves and poured it over the flowerbeds and Berry trees.
“Thank you for helping!” Nicole said.
“Why are they helping?” May asked.
“I think it’s because we often give them Berries.
They’re repaying us.”
“Then let’s help too,” Ash suggested.
“We’ll repay you for treating us to food.”
“Pikapi~”
“Exactly!”
They released their Pokémon to help.
Everything went fairly smoothly, except for one small incident in which the special Lotad became absent-minded and caused a traffic jam.
Brock walked over.
“What’s wrong?
Everyone behind you is waiting.”
“Lotad~”
Following Brock’s instructions, Lotad lowered its head and poured the water off its leaf.
“That’s right!
Exactly like that!”
Brock nodded.
“Success!
Great!”
“Lotad~”
Lotad bowed in thanks.
At dusk, Ash and the others escorted the Lotad back to the lake.
“Thank you so much for helping today.
Lotad, you can go back into the lake now,” Rita said.
The Lotad returned to the water.
Only the special Lotad remained on shore.
“Huh?
Everyone else has gone.
Aren’t you leaving?”
“Lotad~”
It looked at Brock.
“Brock, I think Lotad likes you.
It wants to travel with you,” Ash said.
“Really, Lotad?”
“Lotad~”
It nodded.
“Great!
Then I’ll be counting on you!”
Brock took out a Poké Ball and caught it.
Just then—
Boom!
A strange boat raced across the lake.
Team Rocket was aboard.
“Wahaha!
We’ll take all the Lotad!”
They drove toward the Lotad and trapped them in cages.
“Team Rocket, you won’t get away with this!
Taillow, Pikachu, ride on Taillow!
Get close and use Iron Tail!”
“Pika~”
“Taillow~”
Pikachu jumped onto Taillow’s back.
Taillow carried Pikachu toward Team Rocket, and Pikachu used Iron Tail to smash open the cages.
“Good!
Pikachu, finish them with Thunderbolt!”
“Pikachu~!”
Boom!
“What a terrible feeling!”
“Wobbuffet!
(〒﹏〒)~”
The next day, Ash and the others continued toward Rustboro City.
To be continued…
….