"I have a bad feeling about this—"
"Me too—"
Sitting in the cockpit, Kojiro and Musashi watched the flickering electrical sparks, cold sweat already beading on their foreheads.
Judging by their extensive experience, those flickering sparks likely meant the robot's central core had been destroyed.
In layman's terms, it was about to explode!
"Boom!!"
As expected, the robot did explode, and the Team Rockets trio, while shouting about their terrible feeling, flew directly into outer space (exaggeration.jpg).
Watching Team Rockets turn into stars again, Ash couldn't help but shake his head: "Why do these three never learn their lesson? They've never beaten me, yet they still persistently come to bother us."
Speaking of which, the Team Rockets trio are really durable!
Saying they were blasted into outer space might be an exaggeration, but they were indeed consistently sent flying, at least hundreds, or even thousands, of meters away.
Under such circumstances, every time they were seen, they were perfectly fine, without broken arms or legs, which shows their physical fitness is exceptionally strong. Are those guys the humanoid Pokémon?
"Perhaps they're a bit like you, Ash," Xiao Xia said, coming forward with the Squirtle squad after Team Rockets had been defeated.
"How so?" Ash pouted, a little displeased that Xiao Xia was comparing him to Team Rockets.
"You never know, you both seem equally stubborn~" Brock also came forward, saying with a chuckle.
Ash's personality was fully displayed in their daily lives. When facing setbacks like failing to cook or train skills, Ash never knew what it meant to give up, but instead persistently worked until he succeeded.
This stubborn personality indeed had something in common with Team Rockets. Ash's face was covered in black lines, and he decided not to argue with Xiao Xia and Brock anymore.
He picked up an injured Squirtle with one hand and then said to the Squirtle leader: "Let's go, take them for treatment first. Although they are minor injuries, it's not good to drag them out."
"Squirtle—" The Squirtle leader scratched his head upon hearing this, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
He was asking if the townspeople would still be willing to treat them, given how much trouble he had caused them earlier.
"Don't worry, they didn't take it to heart, and you guys were just playing minor pranks. Just don't do such things again in the future," Ash said, leading the way.
Ralts also lifted an injured Squirtle with Confusion and followed with his short legs.
The remaining Squirtle, who hadn't sustained much damage, and the Squirtle leader exchanged glances and quickly followed Ash's steps.
1:
At the town's Elf Center, "Alright, they're fine now. Just make sure they get plenty of rest when they go back." Joy walked out with three almost recovered Squirtle, smiling at everyone.
The three little ones happily reunited with their leader, and after a brief exchange, everyone simultaneously looked at Ash and his companions.
"Squirtle! Human, we can't repay your kindness in saving us. Tell us whatever you need us to do!"
The Squirtle leader thumped his chest, speaking in a very righteous manner.
As he spoke, he also gestured wildly with his hands and feet, afraid that Ash wouldn't understand.
Ash, however, waved his hand with a smile and said, "It was just a small favor. If possible—can I become your Trainer? Whether it's a battle or you want me to prove something, you can test me however you like, as long as you can accept me!"
Ash had never thought of taking advantage of kindness. The interaction between Team Rockets and the Squirtle squad was not part of his plan. Originally, he had intended to use delicious food and his sincerity to persuade and advise Squirtle, to see if he could convince him to battle him and then capture him.
Ash wasn't very confident about this, as being abandoned by a Trainer is definitely an indelible trauma for a Pokémon, but with Team Rockets' interference, things seemed to have become simpler…
Squirtle paused upon hearing Ash's words. A few seconds later, he took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of watery, big eyes. Ash finally understood why Squirtle wore sunglasses; without them, he truly had no fierce appearance at all.
If he took off his sunglasses, he couldn't possibly be a gangster. No matter how much mischief he caused, he wouldn't have any intimidating presence and would probably just be laughed off. The Squirtle who had taken off his sunglasses patted his shell, saying "Squirtle." Even without a translation, Xiao Xia and Brock understood that Squirtle was choosing to follow Ash!
This meant Ash had captured another starter Pokémon, and all the Kanto starters were complete! His luck… was truly unparalleled.
Ash, upon hearing Squirtle's words, showed a strange expression. Translated into human language, it meant: A life-saving grace, for which there is no repayment. This life is yours.
This scene, how was it similar to Charmander—no, not just Charmander, but Bulbasaur as well.
Thinking carefully, out of the three starter Pokémon he captured, two were assisted by Team Rockets, and the other by a scumbag, which led to him being able to capture these three Pokémon without battling.
Could it be that Team Rockets were actually good guys? Haha, that's impossible!
It's just that they might have a physique where whatever they do results in the opposite effect, which is why their every disruption turns into an assist.
Ash shook his head, casting aside the jumbled thoughts in his mind, then took out a Poké Ball and gently tapped it on Squirtle's head.
The Poké Ball absorbed Squirtle, then shook gently twice before emitting a crisp sound.
"I caught Squirtle!!"
"Pikachu!"
"Ralts! Ralts~~"
It was still his signature capture phrase, but this time Squirtle was Ash's seventh Pokémon. Professor Oak had set it so that if he had more than six Pokémon, they would automatically be transferred to Oaks Research Institute.
If he didn't use the Pokédex to change the transfer setting, the default was to transfer the most recently captured Pokémon.
So, after striking his pose, Ash quickly took out his Pokédex, made a setting, and transferred Butterfree back.
As of now, Butterfree's progress in the team had slowed down. Sending him back to Oaks Research Institute for Professor Oak to train for a period before bringing him back might allow him to improve faster.
After sending Butterfree back, Ash released Squirtle. He couldn't just leave after capturing Squirtle; at the very least, Squirtle had to say goodbye to his little brothers.
After Ash released Squirtle, Squirtle also communicated with his little brothers. Xiao Xia and Brock, who couldn't understand Squirtle's words, watched them gesticulate, looking utterly bewildered.
Ash's expression, however, grew increasingly strange. He walked over to Brock and Xiao Xia and whispered, "If this Squirtle squad chooses to become your Pokémon, would you be willing?"
Xiao Xia: !!!
"Is that even a question? Of course, I'm willing!" Xiao Xia's voice initially cracked with excitement, but under Ash's "shush" gesture, her voice suddenly dropped.
When Xiao Xia saw Ash capture Squirtle, she was actually very envious.
Along the way, she had seen quite a few Pokémon, but she hadn't captured a single one.
On one hand, those Pokémon weren't Water-type, and on the other hand, they weren't very cute.
The only one she wanted to capture was Clefairy at Mt. Moon, but Clefairy had its own tribe, and she didn't want to separate Clefairy from its family, so she gave up the idea of capturing it.
This resulted in her traveling outside for so long without capturing a single Pokémon.
When she saw Squirtle, Xiao Xia naturally wanted to capture it, but the leading Squirtle followed Ash, and the other Squirtle were all together, so she didn't have any ideas.
But now, Ash actually asked this question, did that mean there was a chance to capture Squirtle?!
Brock also showed an intrigued expression because Ash hadn't asked Xiao Xia just now, but both of them.
"What are the Squirtle saying?" Brock asked.
"The Squirtle leader said that life on the outside is difficult, and he can ask me to tell you to capture them, at least to give them a place to settle down. Otherwise, if he's not around, he's very worried about his little brothers."
Ash's words made both of them overjoyed. Such a good thing?!
Having been with Ash for so long, had they also gained some of Ash's good luck?
Today, they might even capture a starter Pokémon with Ash. If it really worked out, that would truly be great fortune!
"Squirtle!" After communicating with his little brothers, Squirtle came back and continued to gesticulate with Ash.
Ash squatted down, gently stroking Squirtle's rounded head with his palm, and chuckled, "You don't need to do so many gestures, I understand what you're saying. You want your little brothers to come with us, right?"
Squirtle paused, still looking confused, but nodded frantically.
He had never heard of humans understanding Pokémon language. It seemed this Trainer, besides having good character, also had extraordinary abilities!
"My companions are very willing to accept them. They will choose two Squirtle as their Pokémon. As for the remaining little brothers… they'll be transferred to Oaks Research Institute for Professor Oak to raise. Professor Oak is a very good person, he—"
Ash briefly described Professor Oak and explained the environment of Oaks Research Institute. In short, it was much better than wandering outside.
Moreover, two of the four Squirtle little brothers would be captured by Xiao Xia and Brock. The remaining two couldn't possibly be left outside, could they?
Life was already tough for the five of them as a group. If they lost their leader and two companions, it would definitely not be a friendly situation for the remaining Squirtle.
So, with two Squirtle being captured by Xiao Xia and Brock, Ash had already thought of a place for the remaining two.
That would be to hand them over to Professor Oak.
He would be at ease if Professor Oak looked after them.
Finally, the Squirtle leader agreed with Ash's suggestion and then stepped aside, allowing Xiao Xia and Brock to choose one Squirtle each as a companion.
Xiao Xia's face showed clear excitement. She seemed to float as she walked up to the Squirtle, eventually choosing the one she had carried back for treatment earlier.
Although these Squirtle all looked the same, there were still subtle differences, and Xiao Xia could still recognize which one she had brought for treatment.
Brock also chose one of the Squirtle. It was no big deal for a Rock Gym Leader to capture a Water-type Pokémon. Who wouldn't want a rare starter with strong growth potential?
Finally, Ash put the remaining two Squirtle into Poké Balls and transferred them back to Oaks Research Institute, explaining the reason to Professor Oak via the town's phone.
Professor Oak said he would arrange for the remaining two Squirtle. If there were good Trainers, they could be their starter Pokémon; otherwise, he would keep them in the backyard and train them well.
At this point, the incident in this town came to an end. After Ash and his two companions slept in the town for one night, they set off early the next morning. Two days passed, and this time the trio successfully arrived in Vermilion City, without getting lost again in between.
This incredibly long journey finally came to an end.
Along the way, Xiao Xia walked with a spring in her step, a smile constantly on her face. It seemed that capturing a Squirtle had an unparalleled soothing effect on her mood.
Even her tone when speaking to Ash had softened considerably, as capturing Squirtle this time was entirely thanks to Ash.
Before, she could only watch Ash's continuous good luck, but she never expected to have a day where she also benefited. Is this what good luck feels like? It's simply too amazing!
After capturing Squirtle, Ash went into the group chat to learn about Squirtle's training methods and was then reminded that he might have new gacha draws.
Turns out he did, and it was two more times.
One draw was provided for capturing six Pokémon.
Another draw was for completing the achievement of collecting all the starter Pokémon.
Ash used both draws immediately. This time, his luck wasn't as good as before; he only drew two B-rank abilities.
One ability was Cooking (B). Compared to the comprehensive Breeder ability from before, Cooking (B) only improved Ash's culinary skills.
But this ability allowed Ash's cooking skills to improve by leaps and bounds, almost catching up to Brock's.
Brock even wondered why Ash's cooking proficiency had become so high in the past two days. Before, there were still some awkward aspects, but recently they had completely disappeared, and he even knew some dishes that Brock didn't.
To this, Ash replied, "It's all because Brock taught me so well!"
Passing the buck had already become Ash's norm. The other B-rank ability was Speed Aptitude Limit B. Ash thought about it and decided to give it to Pikachu.
On one hand, Pikachu benefited the most from this ability's boost. On the other hand, Pikachu was his starter and currently his strongest Pokémon.
His level had already reached the peak of advancement, and making his ace stronger was a good thing.
After Ash applied the B-rank Speed Limit to Pikachu, Pikachu's speed aptitude remained A, but his ability fluctuation changed from C-B+ to B-B+. The upper limit remained the same, but the lower limit increased.