After catching Fletchling, Ash and his group continued their journey toward Santalune City.
At this time, the tired group sat on a fallen log to rest.
Bonnie hugged Pikachu and wiped him with a towel.
When his tail was wiped, Pikachu showed a look of enjoyment.
Seeing this, Bonnie quickly asked Ash, “Ash, does Pikachu feel happy when his tail is touched?”
“That’s right.
The tail is a sensitive part for many Pokémon, so some Pokémon feel very comfortable when their tails are touched,” Ash explained.
“Really?
Then I’ll touch it more!”
Bonnie looked completely unwilling to stop.
Serena smiled and said, “Bonnie, you really like being with Pokémon!”
“Mhm!” Bonnie nodded.
Her hands moved even faster as she continued stroking Pikachu.
Then she looked at Ash again.
“Ash, let out your other Pokémon too!
I’ll help take care of them.”
“Letting all of them out isn’t suitable, but…
Fletchling, Swirlix, come out.”
Ash only released two Pokémon.
Aside from Froakie, the others were not appropriate to release.
Annihilape was too fierce, and Pidgeot was too large.
Seeing Swirlix and Fletchling appear, Bonnie immediately put Pikachu down and ran over to groom their fur.
Dedenne, who had been quietly following the group, cautiously approached after seeing this harmonious scene.
Serena noticed and whispered, “Ash, look.
Isn’t that the Dedenne from earlier?”
Ash glanced at it and nodded slightly.
[Pokémon: Dedenne]
[Type: Electric, Fairy]
[Gender: Male]
[Strength: Ordinary Low-tier (11)]
[Ability: Cheek Pouch (Restores HP when it eats a Berry)]
[Held Item: None]
[Moves: Nuzzle, Charm, Thunder Shock, Tackle, Helping Hand, Dig]
Dedenne quietly observed, but when it saw Pikachu and the others eating, it could no longer resist.
It rushed forward and snatched a piece of Pokémon food from Bonnie’s hand.
“Isn’t that the Dedenne we met before?”
“The one we couldn’t adopt?”
Clemont and Bonnie both recognized it.
“That’s right.
It’s been following us this whole time,” Ash confirmed.
“Big brother, adopt it…
quickly adopt it!”
Bonnie urged anxiously.
Just as Clemont was about to take out a Poké Ball, Dedenne suddenly turned and ran.
“Dedenne~”
As if teasing them, it only ran a short distance before turning back and calling out.
“Wait!”
Bonnie, who had grown very fond of it, immediately chased after it.
Ash said, “Fletchling, stop it!”
Fletchling’s speed was extremely fast, and it blocked Dedenne in less than three seconds.
Dedenne looked at Fletchling like it was facing an enemy.
It suddenly rammed into it and followed up with Nuzzle, catching Fletchling off guard.
Dedenne had finally taken revenge for having its food stolen earlier.
Seeing this, Ash could only recall Fletchling and used Aura to lock onto Dedenne.
However, during the chase, Bonnie, who was running ahead, missed her footing and fell.
Serena quickly asked, “Bonnie, are you okay?”
“No…
no…
Dedenne, it’s here!”
Before Bonnie could finish, she saw Dedenne watching her from inside a hole.
She immediately lunged toward it.
But Dedenne moved like it was playing a game, quickly popping out from another hole.
Seeing this, Clemont threw a Poké Ball.
“Diggersby, get Dedenne out of there!”
Diggersby appeared and immediately dug into the nearest tunnel.
Ash said, “Let’s help too.”
Serena took out a Poké Ball.
“Alright, Fennekin, come out!”
Pikachu and Fennekin each entered different tunnels.
Ash also used Aura to detect Dedenne’s position, but the complex underground network made it difficult.
Often, Dedenne would surface first before Ash could lock onto it, and by the time he arrived, it had already escaped.
However, this process was not without benefit.
Ash’s Aura detection ability was gradually improving.
Pikachu dashed through the tunnels and soon encountered Dedenne.
With Pikachu blocking its path, Ash also sensed its location.
He pointed toward the edge of the forest and shouted, “Pikachu found it, over there!”
The others quickly followed.
However, Pikachu and Dedenne clashed briefly in the tunnel before rolling out together.
Ash sensed two Auras moving rapidly and immediately chased after them.
Pikachu and Dedenne finally tumbled out onto a grassy area.
When Pikachu got up, it saw a cliff nearly ten meters high nearby.
Dedenne glanced at the cliff, blamed Pikachu, released electricity from its cheeks, chattered angrily, and then turned to leave.
Pikachu quickly chased after it.
Meanwhile.
The Team Rocket trio, searching for Ash in their hot air balloon, spotted Pikachu and Dedenne.
Not seeing Ash, they immediately launched their plan to capture Pikachu.
James threw an Electro Web toward Pikachu and Dedenne.
Pikachu reacted instantly, grabbing Dedenne and rolling aside to dodge.
“Pikachu?”
Pikachu called out toward the direction of the attack.
“Since you sincerely asked about Pikachu,”
“We shall answer you with kindness…”
Before they could finish, Ash’s voice rang out.
“Fletchling, Razor Wind.”
Several wind blades shot toward Team Rocket.
Boom!
The Razor Wind shattered the rock beneath them, causing them to fall.
“Oh, how annoying!”
“You brat, at least let us finish our lines!”
Jessie and James were furious at being interrupted again.
They had already noticed that ever since arriving in Kalos, Ash had been cutting them off every time.
Ash looked at them calmly.
“Your introduction is too long, and there’s no creativity left.
I’ve heard it so many times my ears are tired.”
“Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
“Pika…chu!”
Pikachu immediately unleashed a Thunderbolt.
“Wobbuffet!”
Seeing the attack, Jessie pulled Wobbuffet in front of her.
Wobbuffet used Mirror Coat, reflecting the electricity back with double power.
Pikachu quickly grabbed Dedenne and dodged.
The reflected attack blasted a deep crater into the ground.
Seeing this, Ash could only sigh.
Wobbuffet truly lived up to its reputation.
“Inkay, you’re up too!”
James released the Pokémon he had just caught.
[Pokémon: Inkay (James)]
[Type: Dark, Psychic]
[Gender: Male]
[Strength: Ordinary Mid-tier (27)]
[Ability: Suction Cups (Prevents being forced out of battle)]
[Held Item: None]
[Moves: Psybeam, Tackle, Bind, Psyshock, Hypnosis…]