Chapter 26: The Xiao Yan Pokémon
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
In an open area on the outskirts of the Town.
Ash and the Squirtle gang had already taken their stances.
The Squirtle that had been Unable to Battle was now full of vigor again.
Five Squirtle wearing black Sunglasses simultaneously raised their heads and puffed out their chests, their imposing manner unwavering.
"Jeni Jeni!"
The lead Squirtle shouted, speaking in an incomprehensible turtle language.
The meaning was probably asking whether Ash wanted to take on the five of them alone, or if the five of them would take on him.
"Squirtle, for the sake of taming you and letting you feel the warmth of humanity again, I will definitely catch you!"
Ash strode forward, clenched his fist, and pointed with his thumb.
"Don't go easy this time, Pikachu!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu took a deep breath, lowered its center of gravity, and walked forward with heavy, slow steps.
Swaying back and forth, it had the distinct air of Admiral Kizaru.
On the other side, the leader Squirtle also pointed a claw, and a Round-framed Sunglasses Squirtle underling immediately stepped forward.
"Pika!"
"Jeni!"
The Mouse and the turtle drew closer and closer, until their bellies and the Tortoise Shell made contact.
*Thwack!*
Pikachu abruptly shoved its belly forward, forcefully knocking the Round-framed Sunglasses Squirtle back and flipping it onto the ground.
Due to the inherent limitations of turtle-like Pokemon, it lay on its back with its shell facing up, limbs flailing wildly in Mid-air, unable to right itself.
The ultimate turtle dilemma.
"Great job, Pikachu!"
Seeing one taken down, Ash was overjoyed.
In a contest of tonnage between similarly sized opponents, his Pikachu would absolutely not lose!
The Squirtle leader frowned and once again gestured with its thumb.
Its three other Squirtle underlings then puffed out their chests and advanced, only to be quickly knocked over one by one by Pikachu, all falling into the ultimate turtle Crisis.
"Jeni jeni..."
"Jeni jeni..."
The sight of the four Water Type turtles struggling on their backs was quite comical.
Finally, the Pointed-Frame Sunglasses Squirtle Boss could bear it no longer. It stepped forward with heavy steps, forcefully puffing out its belly and shell.
"Pikachu, don't lose to it!"
Pikachu also stood on its hind legs to make itself appear a few centimeters taller, its round, yellow belly charging forward.
"Pika!"
"Jeni!"
Neither would give an inch!
Just then, Ash suddenly yelled, "Pikachu, now's your chance! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Jeni?"
The leader Squirtle's eyes widened. It turned its head to look at Ash, completely bewildered.
Wasn't this supposed to be a simple belly-bumping match?
*BZZZT-BOOM!!*
The zero-distance contact gave the Squirtle no time to react at all.
A golden Lightning burst forth and spread out, instantly electrifying its entire body until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
"Jeni..."
When the electric light faded, the leader Squirtle was already on its back, its eyes spinning, Unable to Battle.
It was Super Effective.
"I choose you, Poké Ball!!"
Ash threw five Poké Balls from one hand, swiftly capturing the leader Squirtle that was Unable to Battle, along with its four underlings who were still stuck in the ultimate turtle dilemma.
*Beep... Beep... Beep!*
In less than a moment, all five Poké Balls stopped shaking.
*It was always a proper battle. Who ever said this was a belly-bumping contest?*
With a serious expression, Ash collected the five Poké Balls.
Now that he had caught a Bulbasaur and a Squirtle—with a thousand-year tortoise and a ten-thousand-year turtle on his side—Ash was immensely pleased.
"I hope I run into a hundred-year-old Charmander tomorrow..."
Back at the Town's Pokémon Center.
Ash released the leader Squirtle and couldn't help but reach out, wanting to rub its bald head.
"Jeni-CHOMP!"
The Squirtle snapped its mouth open to Bite. If not for Ash's maxed-out agility, his arm would have been nearly bitten off.
"Be careful. It's wearing Sunglasses, so that Bite could tear your arm off," Brock reminded him.
It was common knowledge that Sunglasses could increase the Power of the Dark Type Move, Bite.
"Jeni Jeni!"
This Squirtle was clearly incensed by Ash's dishonorable Method of capture.
It was enough to make a turtle furious!
"Squirtle, let's discuss something..."
Ash clearly had no intention of continuing the Battle. He sidled up next to it and began his Talk-no-jutsu capture route.
"If your underlings keep going like this, they'll definitely be caught by someone else and thrown into Pokémon Prison. And you know, they love tender, fresh-faced Newcomer Pokemon in prison."
Ash spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
"But now that you're with me, I can help you find suitable Trainers for them. One capture, two successes, three parties benefit. You're coming out way ahead."
Hearing this, even the Squirtle lowered its head and began to ponder.
"Jeni..."
It sat on the chair, its two short legs not even reaching the floor.
Ultimately, all their mischief and pranks were just to get noticed and attract attention.
As the Boss, it also hoped for a good home for its underlings.
"Jeni jeni..."
It became hesitant.
This was truly Troublesome for a turtle...
After some discussion, the Squirtle agreed to join Ash's Team.
Ash quickly used the Pokémon Center's phone system to transfer the other three underling Squirtle back to Professor Oak's Research Institute, instructing him to be sure to find suitable Trainers for the three of them.
Anyway, everyone from Pallet Town was a good person.
On the video screen, Professor Oak, who had just received three free Starter Pokémon, suddenly asked:
"By the way, Ash, you should be getting close to Vermilion City, right?"
"Almost there, almost there."
Having gained another great team member, Ash was clearly very happy, and his tone was cheerful.
"The Map says after we cross the mountain ahead, then cross the Ocean beyond that, and walk another 10 kilometers, we'll pretty much be in Vermilion City. It's not far."
Professor Oak: "..."
"In any case, you all should pick up the pace. The Cerise Laboratory is about to have its official opening, so you have to resolve the strange incident there as soon as possible," he urged.
He knew that the Cerise Laboratory was in a big city, with many people coming and going every day.
If there really was a Pokemon causing trouble behind the scenes, it would be a huge problem.
It wasn't like his Research Lab, which was out in the countryside with barely any visitors, aside from the occasional neighbor dropping by.
"Oh, right. Brother Sakuragi said that if you resolve this matter, he can also give you a few luxury Cruise Tickets for the S.S. Anne. That stuff is pretty expensive."
"S.S. Anne?" Ash looked bewildered.
"It's the most high-class Cruise Ship! I heard about it when I was in Cerulean City!"
Misty explained cheerfully.
She had overheard the key words in Ash's conversation with Professor Oak.
A few cruise tickets.
That meant if she and Brock played their cards right, they could live the high life!
It was worth mentioning that she had also taken the opportunity to get one of the Squirtle earlier.
After all, as a woman with the Blue Will, no one was more suited to adopt a Squirtle than Misty.
Soon, the three of them set off again toward Vermilion City.
Not long after, this time following the Map, they arrived at a barren mountainside.
Once they crossed this mountainside and the Ocean ahead, they would be nearly at Vermilion City. It truly wasn't far.
Along the way, they even discovered a Wild Pokémon on a Rock Platform.
It had dark, fiery red skin, sharp claws, a long, thin tail with a Flame constantly burning at its tip, and a pair of eyes full of spirit.
A Charmander!
"What amazing luck! I'm starting to suspect I might be the Protagonist of this World!"
Ash was struck with wonder, moving closer with an excited look on his face.
He couldn't believe that in less than three days, he had encountered all three of the Kanto Region's Starter Pokémon Trio.
"Pokedex Beep. Charmander, the Xiao Yan Pokemon. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully a youth for being poor."
The Pokedex automatically reported.
"Xiao Yan?"
The three of them looked at each other, all completely baffled.
What a strange Name.
Just as Ash, with a fiery gaze, was about to send out his Utility Bird to properly Weaken the Charmander's Stamina, Brock promptly stopped him.
"Ash, look at its tail."
"The tail?"
Ash paused his throwing motion and looked over in confusion.
The flame wasn't very large, seeming to flicker in and out of existence.
And this Charmander's Stamina was clearly not at Full Health.
"Aww..."
Even just half-lying on the High Platform, it was panting heavily, its expression exhausted.
Did this mean it was ready to be caught?
"Go, Poké Ball!"
Ash suddenly hurled a Poké Ball!
*Swoosh-smack!*
Even though it was extremely tired, the Charmander still leaped into Mid-air and sent the Poké Ball flying back with a Sweep of its tail.
But the returning Poké Ball was light and flimsy; a clear sign that the opponent barely had any strength left to even hit it.
For a moment, even Ash wasn't sure what his next move should be.
After thinking for a long time, Ash had no choice but to send out Pikachu.
"Pikachu, you're good with words. Go and have a chat with it."
"Pika?"