Heavy raindrops began falling without warning, soaking Ash and Misty almost instantly.
A fierce wind swept in with the rain, bending the wild grass along the roadside.
Misty cried out and raised her hands over her head.
The sudden movement nearly made her lose control of the bicycle.
“Over here, quick!” Ash shouted, though the storm nearly drowned out his voice.
He pulled a small capsule from his pocket.
It was a device that combined the convenience of Dragon Ball’s Capsules with the storage principles behind Poké Balls.
With Professor Oak’s help, an early version had already been released to the market.
Ash shook the capsule, pressed the button, and tossed it ahead of them.
Pop!
A flash of white light appeared, and a spacious tent unfolded before them.
The tent was sturdy and waterproof, barely moving even under the strong wind.
“Whoa, what’s this?” Misty stared at it as rainwater ran down her cheeks.
“Let’s get out of the rain first!”
Ash grabbed Misty’s hand and ran into the tent.
Pikachu and Eevee rushed in after them.
The inside was warm and dry, completely sheltered from the storm outside.
Misty shook some of the water from herself and looked around.
The tent was surprisingly spacious.
Several soft sleeping bags and basic supplies had already been stored inside.
“This is amazing, Ash.
How does it work?”
Ash smiled and wiped the rain from his face.
“Professor Oak and I worked on it together.
A Poké Ball can store a Pokémon, right?
This capsule works on a similar principle, except it stores things instead.
When you activate it, the tent unfolds.”
Misty stared at him.
“You’re really impressive, Ash.”
The rain grew even heavier.
Large drops hammered against the roof, but the tent remained steady.
Ash pointed toward a curtain nearby.
“There’s a bathroom behind there.
You’re soaked, so you should take a shower and warm up.”
Misty looked toward the curtain with curiosity.
She walked over and pulled down the zipper.
Behind it was a small but well-equipped bathroom.
The walls were pale blue.
A showerhead stood in one corner, with several towels and basic toiletries arranged nearby.
“I didn’t expect this tent to have a bathroom too.”
Misty turned back toward Ash and smiled.
“Thanks, Ash.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
“No problem.
Go ahead before you get cold.”
Ash scratched his head.
Misty nodded, stepped inside, and pulled the curtain closed.
After a moment, she poked her head back out.
“Ash, you won’t peek, will you?”
“Cough, cough.
Misty, how could you think that of me?
Do I look like that kind of person?”
Ash immediately put on his most serious expression.
“Hmph.
Who knows?” Misty said.
“Fine.
I’ll trust you this once.”
Before long, the sound of running water came from behind the curtain.
Outside, the rain continued to pour while the wind howled around the tent.
Ash sat with Pikachu and Eevee nearby as the two Pokémon ate their Energy Cubes.
“Heh.
Of course I won’t peek,” Ash muttered.
His psychic power activated, and soon, his vision passed through the curtain…
…
A while later, the bathroom curtain opened and Misty stepped out.
Her hair was still damp, and she had changed into loose sleepwear.
“That feels much better.” Misty shook some water from her hair.
“The bathroom is small, but it’s really convenient.”
Ash looked at her for a moment before turning toward the storm outside.
“Good.
Let’s stay here tonight.
Once the rain stops, we’ll head out again.”
“Mm, okay.”
Misty nodded.
She was glad Ash had been thoughtful enough to bring something like this along.
She tucked her wet hair behind her ear, then remembered something.
“Ash, you said earlier that Feebas can evolve into Milotic.
How does it evolve?”
Her hand moved to the Poké Ball at her waist.
Remembering Milotic’s elegant appearance in the Pokédex only made her more eager to see Feebas reach that stage one day.
Ash stood and led Misty toward the bathroom area, where he unfolded a collapsible bathtub beside it.
Clear water flowed into the tub from a hidden pipe.
“Feebas has unusual evolution requirements.”
Ash crouched beside the tub and tapped the surface of the water with one finger.
The other method is to raise its Beauty high enough and then have it level up.”
He looked at Misty.
“My suggestion is the second method.
If you train it yourself and help it improve little by little, you’ll both get something out of the process.”
Misty took out Feebas’s Poké Ball.
A flash of light appeared, and the dull-looking Feebas landed in the water with a splash.
Its ragged fins moved through the clear water as it looked around nervously.
Misty slowly crouched beside the tub.
“So I should help it become more confident while raising its Beauty?”
“That’s right.”
Ash smiled.
“What?
Is the future Water Pokémon Master already losing confidence?”
He took a special Pokéblock from his backpack.
The pinkish-purple block had tiny flecks running through it.
Ash dropped it into the water.
Feebas approached cautiously, then swallowed the cube in one bite.
A faint shine appeared across its scales.
“Training Feebas will take patience,” Ash said.
“But I know you can do it.”
Misty watched as Feebas became a little more energetic.
Her expression brightened.
She clenched her fist.
“You’re right!
Starting today, Feebas and I will work hard together.
One day, I’ll show everyone that my Feebas can become the most beautiful Milotic!”
Warm light reflected across the surface of the water.
Misty knelt beside the bathtub and touched the surface with her fingertips, sending small ripples across it.
Feebas stopped swimming around nervously and looked at her.
“Feebas, let’s work hard together.”
Misty slowly reached toward it, hesitating before her fingers touched its fin.
Feebas suddenly swung its tail and swam beneath her hand.
Its scales brushed against her fingertips, splashing a few drops of water onto her wrist.
Ash watched from nearby and smiled.
Feebas suddenly leapt from the water and splashed Misty’s hair.
Misty didn’t move away.
She wiped the water from her face and laughed.
“Then it’s a promise!”
Her earlier uncertainty was gone.
Under Misty’s care, this unassuming Feebas would one day have the chance to become the Milotic she dreamed of.
Outside the tent, the rain continued to fall.
Inside, Misty remained beside Feebas while Ash watched from nearby, the three of them sheltered from the storm.