Back in the real world…
Jessie was holding a Meowth that could only meow helplessly, panic written all over her face.
“Meowth!
Say something!
You can even insult me if you want!”
James crouched beside them and waved a finger in front of Meowth’s eyes.
Meowth stared at it for a moment before randomly swatting at it with his paw.
“…He’s really gotten dumb,” James said in a trembling voice.
“Obviously!
I can see that!” Jessie snapped while hugging Meowth tighter.
“Twenty-four hours…
We have to wait twenty-four whole hours before he changes back…”
Meowth yawned in her arms, rolled onto his back, and exposed his belly.
Jessie: “…”
James: “…”
“Do you think…” James whispered, “…he sees us as his owners now?”
“SHUT UP!!!”
Special Seat Chat
Jessie: AAAAAAAAHHHHH!
MEOOWTH!!!
Does anyone know how to turn him back?!
Please think of something!!!
James: Please!
If anyone can help restore Meowth, Team Rocket is willing…
no, I’m willing to give away my entire bottle cap collection!
Ash: Bottle caps?
Who wants your bottle caps?!
Brock: Calm down, both of you.
The punishment clearly says it lasts twenty-four hours.
He should automatically recover afterward.
Jessie: Twenty-four hours?!
Do you know how long twenty-four hours is?!
He doesn’t even recognize me anymore!
James: A-and just now…
he was chasing his own tail…
Jessie: STOP TALKING!!!
James: Sorry…
The video resumed.
This time, the jump forward in time was much more obvious.
Rainbow had grown from a tiny child of four or five into a lively seven or eight-year-old girl.
Her orange-blonde hair was tied into a neat ponytail, her golden eyes sparkled with energy, and traces of baby fat still lingered on her cheeks.
In the backyard of the Cerulean Gym, Rainbow crouched beside a pool.
The Pokémon before her was no longer a Squirtle.
It had evolved.
A Wartortle.
Standing proudly atop a stone by the water, its fluffy tail swayed behind it.
The wing-like ears on its head gave it a more mature appearance, and it was noticeably larger than before.
Rainbow rested her chin in her hands and stared at it.
“Wartortle, ever since you evolved, it feels like you don’t smile as much anymore.”
“Wartortle?”
It blinked and tilted its head.
“It’s not that you never smile…” Rainbow thought for a moment.
“It’s just…
Now I’m usually the one looking for you.”
Wartortle was silent for two seconds.
Then it hopped off the rock and slowly walked over.
Bump.
It gently nudged her leg with its head.
“Wartortle.”
Rainbow froze for a second before breaking into a grin.
“Okay.
You’re still the same Wartortle.”
She reached down and rubbed its head.
Wartortle narrowed its eyes contentedly and let out a happy cry.
Special Seat Chat
Ash: Wait, wait, wait!
Squirtle already evolved into Wartortle?!
What did we miss?!
Gary: Time skips are normal.
You didn’t expect them to show every single day of her life, did you?
Ash: But I wanted to see the evolution!
Battling together, growing stronger together, and then evolving at the critical moment!
That’s the best part!
Brock: Ash, not every evolution happens in battle.
This is a growth documentary, not an action movie.
Ash: …That’s kind of boring.
Cynthia: Actually, I find it fascinating.
Wartortle’s personality hasn’t changed much after evolving.
That suggests it wasn’t forced into evolution through pressure.
It simply matured naturally.
Professor Oak: Precisely.
Pokémon evolution generally falls into two common categories.
The first is stress-induced evolution, triggered by intense battle pressure.
The second is natural evolution, which occurs after sufficient growth and development.
The former often results in a more aggressive personality after evolution, while the latter produces a stable transition, just like this Wartortle.
The video continued.
“Wartortle, Water Gun!”
A powerful stream of water shot from Wartortle’s mouth.
Compared to its Squirtle days, the attack was several times stronger.
The blast struck a target ten meters away dead center, sending water spraying everywhere.
“Yay!”
Rainbow jumped excitedly and ran toward Asher Winter.
“Dad!
Did you see that?!
Wartortle’s Water Gun has a one hundred percent accuracy rate!”
Asher sat comfortably in a folding chair with a teacup in hand.
He took a leisurely sip.
“I saw it.
But did you forget something?”
Rainbow froze.
She tilted her head and thought for a moment.
Then her eyes widened.
“Ah!”
She immediately ran back to Wartortle, crouched down, and wrapped her arms around it.
You were amazing!
That Water Gun was super accurate!”
“Wartortle!
Wartortle!”
Wartortle happily rubbed its head against her palm, eyes squinting into crescents.
Only then did Asher nod in satisfaction.
“Remember this.
Pokémon are partners.”
“It’s fine to be happy because they’re strong.”
“But don’t only praise them for being strong.”
“You should also acknowledge the effort they put in.”
“I know!” Rainbow replied.
“I’m not three years old anymore!”
“Funny.
I seem to remember you saying the same thing last year.”
“That’s because I wasn’t three years old last year either!”
Asher couldn’t help laughing.
He reached over and ruffled her hair.
“Alright, alright.
I know you’ve grown up.”
Rainbow quickly dodged away and puffed out her cheeks.
“Don’t touch my hair!
It’ll make me shorter!”
“Your mother says the same thing, but she…”
“What was that?”
A dangerous voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Asher’s smile instantly froze.
Slowly, he turned around.
Misty stood at the Gym entrance with her hands on her hips.
Beside her were Staryu and Starmie.
The expression on her face clearly said:
I heard every word.
“I was saying…” Asher replied smoothly, without changing expression, “…that your height is perfect, Misty.
Any taller and it wouldn’t suit you.”
“Hmph.”
Misty snorted.
Yet the corners of her mouth unmistakably curled upward.
“Good answer.”
Special Seat Chat
Brock: …Is this what they call survival instinct?
Gary: Very obviously.
Ash: But Misty really isn’t that tall.
Misty: ASH KETCHUM, WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!?!
Ash: I’m just telling the truth!
Brock: Ash, there are some truths you’re not supposed to say out loud.
Ash: Why?
Is telling the truth wrong?
Gary: No.
Gary: But if you say it, you’re going to get yelled at.
Ash: That’s completely unreasonable!
Delia: Sigh…
this boy really takes after his father.
Ash: Mom?!
Not you too?!