"I am Hansen, the Regent of the Mirage Kingdom. For certain reasons, I need to use Togepi. You will leave Togepi behind and get out of this place as soon as possible!" Hansen said with a slow, arrogant tone.
"Give me back Togepi right now!" Misty said angrily.
"In that case, I'll have to forcibly show you the door!" Hansen snapped his fingers, and a Pokémon flew out from behind him.
"Ah! It's Shedinja!" Max exclaimed.
The white 'halo' on Shedinja's head began to gather solar energy, ready to unleash a Solar Beam!
"Eevee, Sappy Seed! Pikachu, use Zippy Zap and save Togepi!" "Eevee" "Pika" The two little cuties on Ash's shoulders launched their attack!
Pikachu flashed past like lightning, shattering the cage that held Togepi and rescuing it! Eevee released its Sappy Seed, which hit Shedinja, knocking it out before it could finish gathering solar energy!
Everyone was stunned... So weak!
Pikachu brought Togepi back to Misty. "That's great, Togepi! Thank you so much, Pikachu!" "Pika~"
"You're so amazing, Ash! You defeated Shedinja in one hit!" May said admiringly.
"Not at all. Shedinja's ability is Wonder Guard, so it can only be hurt by super-effective moves. But once it's hit, it's knocked out!" Ash explained.
"Ash, you've gotten stronger! And you've grown up!" Misty looked at Ash deeply and said with a smile. Brock, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
"Damn it! Give me back Togepi! Go!" Just then, two Ninjask flew out!
"Ah—" Misty started to tremble all over.
"What's wrong, Misty?" May asked with concern.
"Uh... Misty is afraid of bugs," Brock explained. Misty nodded.
May and Max...
"Then let's finish them off at once!" Ash said confidently. "Pikachu, Zippy Zap! Eevee, Bouncy Bubble!"
With Ash and Pikachu's friendship at a maximum, and Eevee's not far behind, the two Ninjask were instantly knocked out!
Team Rocket saw that things were going badly and had Arbok use Haze before making their escape! Hansen angrily recalled Shedinja and the Ninjask, and also fled before the haze could dissipate!
Ash and the others had to search for an exit and came to a garden, where they met a beautiful young woman with light red hair, wearing a blue dress and a blue hat. She had a companion with her. The hearts in Brock's eyes started to glow, but Max managed to hold him back!
"Togepi Togepi Togepi" The Togepi in Misty's arms cried out happily.
The young woman was surprised to see Togepi. "Ah! A Togepi!"
"My name is Sara, and I am the princess of the Mirage Kingdom!" Sara curtsied and introduced herself with a noble flourish.
Everyone gave their serious introductions, except for Brock, who was barely held back!
Afterward, the young woman took everyone to see the old king. The old king heard their situation and said, "I'm so sorry for causing you all this trouble. The regent, Hansen, and I often clash over how to rule the kingdom! I think he has some ulterior motive for wanting to use your Togepi!"
Sara said earnestly, "Please believe us, we never intended to take your Togepi from the very beginning! And we have no intention of doing so!"
The old king continued, "Please prepare a boat for these honored guests so they can leave our Mirage Kingdom!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Ash and the others followed Sara to the palace entrance.
"Please wait. If you don't mind, could you tell us more about the situation?" Misty couldn't help but ask.
"Our kingdom has always worshipped Togepi, believing it to be the guardian Pokémon of freedom and peace. So in this kingdom, every person who inherits the throne has a mission to find a Togepi somewhere in the world! And to receive its approval!" Sara thought for a moment before speaking.
"A mission!" (⊙o⊙) Everyone was shocked!
"So where is the king's Togepi now?" Brock asked curiously.
"It has returned to a distant place. According to our kingdom's legends, when a Togepi is about to leave, the heir is officially recognized as the rightful king. My father was recognized by a Togepi and officially became king!"
May sighed with emotion, "Togepi is a truly amazing Pokémon!"
"The succession ceremony was supposed to be held tomorrow in this temple, to grant the person with a Togepi the right to the throne!" Sara paused and then added, "But I haven't found a Togepi before the designated day! So, I'm not eligible to inherit!"
"So you're saying that the reason he wants my Togepi is for the ceremony?" Misty asked in confusion.
Sara shook her head. "I think Hansen might be trying to use your Togepi to claim that he is the one with the rightful claim to the throne!"
At that moment, while everyone was distracted, Brock suddenly knelt down on one knee and took Sara's hand. "Please don't worry, my princess! I am here to save you from this power struggle..."
Sara was completely stunned! Just as Max was about to pull him away...
Misty had already reached out a hand, expertly grabbing Brock's ear. "We know everything now. You, come back here!"
"Ow, ow, ow, that hurts!" Brock felt the familiar grip, which was far stronger than anything Max could do.
(???) Max looked at Misty with sparkling eyes. So amazing! I have to ask her to be my master!
"Princess Sara, if you don't mind, we can help!"
Sara shook her head. "I can't drag you into this danger! So, please leave this country as soon as possible!"
"But, if you don't have a Togepi, then, Princess..."
Sara said optimistically, "Don't worry about me. I'll figure something out!"
Afterward, Sara saw Ash and his friends off at the airport. "Ms. Misty, please go quickly! Before Hansen's pursuers get here, please take Togepi and everyone else and leave this place!"
Just then, a mirage appeared in the sky. The blue sky above the temple was like a mirror, reflecting the image of the temple!
Everyone was awestruck by the sight! And Togepi suddenly began to glow with a pale blue light and floated toward the mirage!
Sara covered her mouth in disbelief. "Could it be that Togepi sensed the paradise on the other side of the mirage?!"
At that moment, a Shedinja appeared in front of Togepi again. The halo on its head began to gather solar energy!
"Ah! A Shedinja!" Misty quickly jumped up to hug Togepi, dodging a green energy beam that Shedinja shot out!
Hansen, along with Team Rocket, also appeared in Ash and his friends' line of sight. "You can't escape!" "Just hand over Togepi, meow!"
Misty was furious. "You villains! I will never give Togepi to you!"
"Hmph, you're hopeless! Shedinja, use Solar Beam!" Hansen commanded, pointing at Ash and the others.
"I won't give you a chance! Pikachu, Fly!"
Everyone (?◇?)??? Pikachu can Fly???
"Pika~" Pikachu flew directly toward Shedinja and... wham! Shedinja was instantly knocked out!
Shedinja is useless once you know its weakness, you just need a move that's super-effective against it!
Hansen's face turned red with anger. "Damn it! Ninjask, use Hyper Beam!"
The two Ninjask began to gather energy, and two purple-black energy beams shot out. "Eevee, use Protect!" "Eevee~"
Eevee put up a green shield in front of Ash and the others, blocking the Hyper Beams.
Just as Ash was about to give the command to defeat Hansen, a silvery-white light shot out from the mirage, enveloping Ash and his friends and teleporting them to the Togepi Paradise inside the mirage.
To be continued...