join patreon.com/worldoffanfiction for advanced chapters and to support the daily update
Azalea Town. Although it was just a small town in the Johto region, in terms of prosperity, it couldn't compare to Violet City at all. However, a mountain doesn't need to be high to be famous if an immortal lives there; water doesn't need to be deep to be spiritual if a dragon resides within. Just like Pallet Town in the Kanto region, despite being a rural village, it was highly regarded because the renowned Pokémon Professor Oak lived there. In this Azalea Town, lived Mr. Kurt, a man who could use special Apricorns to create Poké Balls with unique functions. Besides that, this was also the location of the Johto region's Bug-type Gym.
Ash's destination was precisely here. He had accepted Professor Oak's request to deliver a special GS Ball to Mr. Kurt for investigation. However, leaving that forest, the sun grew increasingly intense as they walked. Along the road, the landscapes on both sides became more desolate, and the farmlands appeared almost withered. It seemed Azalea Town hadn't seen rain in a long time.
"Bayleef, Quilava, you two should rest too!" Taking advantage of the strong sun, Ash naturally wanted to train his two Pokémon. Under sunny weather, both Bayleef and Quilava's training effects were excellent.
Water-type trainer Misty threw out her Poké Ball. "Staryu, please help water everyone!" The Water Gun descending from the sky brought much coolness to everyone. Bayleef, after basking in the sun, would surely grow even better with the nourishment of water. Ash, however, didn't cool off with Misty and Brock; he just took some water for Quilava to drink. This was a Water Gun move, which could harm the Fire-type Quilava.
After a good rest, Ash and his companions, refreshed, entered Azalea Town. It hadn't rained for so long that the river had dried up. Furthermore, due to the continuous drought, Azalea Town had begun implementing timed water rationing, and most public places, including the Azalea Gym, were temporarily closed. So, Ash and his companions decided to find Mr. Kurt first.
In this small town, Slowpoke could be seen everywhere. They seemed to have formed a symbiotic relationship with the local residents. Ash and his companions walked cautiously. According to the travel guide, the people here highly respected Slowpoke, referring to them as "Slowpoke God." The guide mentioned that 400 years ago, Azalea Town experienced an even more severe drought than the current one, with intense, scorching sun and no rain for a long time. Then, one day, a Slowpoke appeared. It yawned, drawing dark clouds, and instantly a torrential downpour began, saving the entire town. From then on, Slowpoke were worshipped as deities here, and a Slowpoke Well was even opened for the Slowpoke Gods to reside. If they accidentally stepped on one, the entire town's residents might rush out and fight Ash and his friends to the death.
But just as they reached Mr. Kurt's house, the group was run into head-on by a giant Slowpoke!
"Pikachu, stop!"
Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity; this was merely its subconscious reaction to a sudden attack. Ash quickly stopped Pikachu, only then realizing that this wasn't a Slowpoke at all, but a person wearing a Slowpoke costume!
"Oh dear, my back!" Indeed, an elderly voice emerged from the costume. Ash and Brock quickly helped the person up. After all, it was the Pokémon world, so they weren't worried about being scammed by an elder.
"Sir, are you alright?" Ash asked with concern. The "Giant Slowpoke" shook its head. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I don't have time to worry now, I must go!" As he spoke, he tried to stand up and run, but the earlier collision had thrown out his back, leaving him in too much pain to move. "Oh, my back..." "No, I must hurry to the Slowpoke Well! I just noticed strange sounds coming from the Slowpoke Well!" he said, struggling to move.
Ash immediately carried him on his back and rushed towards the Slowpoke Well.
"Young man, thank you!"
Arriving at the Slowpoke Well, Ash and his companions once again encountered familiar faces. Team Rocket's trio, having apparently heard that the Slowpoke here could summon rain, had once again built a machine and had already captured several Slowpoke!
"Team Rocket, it's you again!"
But this time, Team Rocket had no intention of battling Ash and his friends. They controlled their machine to dig a hole and escaped.
"Don't think you can get away! Give the Slowpoke back!"
Ash put the elder down and darted forward, but Team Rocket's machine dug incredibly fast, disappearing in an instant.
"Damn it!"
Just as Ash was about to use Aura Power to track them, a Slowpoke, noticeably larger, approached Ash. It looked at him, then suddenly let out a cry, and all the other Slowpoke responded. Under the leadership of that large Slowpoke, all the Slowpoke began to walk out, arriving at a high ground outside the well. Ash and his companions quickly emerged from the well with the elder, only to see that the Slowpoke were all yawning in unison. It looked like yawning, but this was actually not the Yawn move, but the rain-summoning move, creating a cloud of water vapor.
In no time, the sky, which had been bright and sunny moments before, suddenly became overcast. A torrential downpour whooshed down, and the sounds of joy could be heard throughout Azalea Town. The rainwater gathered, pouring into the well, and then surging into the large hole dug by Team Rocket, washing them right out! After all, this was the combined rain-summoning ability of dozens of Slowpoke; the amount of rain was truly astonishing. If it weren't for the Slowpoke Well, Azalea Town, having just overcome a drought, might have faced floods.
"Team Rocket, you won't get off lightly this time!" As Ash's words fell, Pikachu was already sparking with electricity, its Thunderbolt ready to burst forth at any moment. Just as Team Rocket was in a panic, the noticeably larger Slowpoke suddenly appeared beside Pikachu. This Slowpoke, having just commanded the others, looked very different; its eyes were particularly bright!
"Pika?"
"Pika!"
Pikachu seemed to communicate with the Slowpoke, and instantly became overjoyed, looking at Ash and cheering "Pika, Pika!" for a while. Pikachu's bond value was extremely high, and Ash immediately understood its meaning. "Alright then... Slowpoke, use Water Pulse!" This Slowpoke's reaction was nothing like a typical Slowpoke. The moment Ash's words fell, the Water Pulse move was already activated. The combined Water and Electric move blasted Team Rocket flying!
The Slowpoke that had been captured by Team Rocket all ran out, gathering around that particular Slowpoke. However, that large Slowpoke slowly turned around and looked at Ash. The elder in the Slowpoke costume gasped in surprise at the sight. "I never expected this young man to receive the Slowpoke God's acknowledgment! He's truly amazing!"
"Young man, your name is Ash, isn't it? Please, catch this Slowpoke!"
Catch a Slowpoke?
Ash didn't think much of it. After quickly nodding, he looked at the Slowpoke. "Alright then, Slowpoke, here we go!" He threw out a Poké Ball, capturing the Slowpoke. It only flickered slightly before the light went out.