Ash was with Max, looking for Pokémon. Max looked left and right, and finally, in a small alley, he found a Shroomish!
"This is awesome! We found a Shroomish in the city!" (?) Max yelled in surprise. He was about to rush forward but was stopped by Ash.
"Wait a minute. If you approach a Pokémon rashly, you might get attacked! Besides, most Shroomish live in forests. Isn't it strange to see one in a town?"
"Right! You're right!" "Pika~"
Looking over, the Shroomish was indeed on guard against them!
Ash took out some Grass-type Pokéblocks and put them on the ground. He smiled at the Shroomish and said, "Here, these are very tasty!"
"Pika~" Pikachu also tried to persuade the Shroomish.
After a long time, the Shroomish finally came forward and took a bite.
"Moo~" (≧w≦)/ The Shroomish's eyes narrowed as it ate happily.
Then, Ash walked up to it and picked it up. The Shroomish didn't resist.
"That's so cool~" Max looked at Ash holding the Shroomish with envy.
Gradually, Max also became good friends with the Shroomish.
"Let's go, Max. Shroomish doesn't belong in the city. We'll send it back." "Okay!" "Pika~"
"Moo~" Shroomish was also happy to lead the way for Ash and his friends.
Meanwhile, Brock and May, who had finished their shopping, arrived at the Pokémon Center and heard a passerby talking about the curse of the Green Hall.
May immediately switched from "Gourmet" to "Explorer" mode and dragged Brock to the Green Hall for an adventure.
Green Hall
"Huh?! Ash! Max! What are you two doing here?" "Big sister, what are you doing here?" When the four of them met, the siblings asked at the same time.
"We heard this place was cursed, so we came to explore. What about you? You aren't here to explore, too, are you?" May said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Explore? We came to help a Shroomish get home," Max said, showing May the Shroomish.
"In that case, the curse is solved. I think the so-called curse was just the Shroomish using Stun Spore to protect themselves!" Ash put the pieces together and explained.
"I see!" x3
"Hey, you guys!" Just then, a young man in a green uniform walked up. "How can you just break in here? I was trimming the trees in the garden."
Ash and the others introduced themselves and explained why they were there. They learned the owner's name was Alex.
Alex looked at the Shroomish in surprise. "Huh? There shouldn't be any Shroomish left in this city."
"Were there a lot before?" Ash asked.
"That's right!" Alex nodded. "When I was a child, there were many Shroomish around here. My favorite Pokémon was Shroomish back then!"
"This mansion belonged to my grandfather. I used to come here and play all day. But then the forest disappeared and was replaced by skyscrapers." Alex reminisced. "After my grandfather passed away, the Shroomish disappeared too! I can't believe this has become a place for them to live. And to think this place is about to be torn down."
"Oh! If Shroomish are really living here, they'll have nowhere to go!" Max said, shocked.
"Let's have this Shroomish lead us to where they live and see for ourselves!" Ash suggested. Everyone agreed.
Following the Shroomish, they arrived at where the Pokémon were living.
A group of Shroomish looked at Ash and his friends with caution and fear. However, after the Shroomish who led them there explained, they calmed down.
"I can't believe the Shroomish have been living here this whole time." Alex said, sighing.
"They were forced to live here because the forest disappeared. How pitiful!"
Bang! Just as everyone was getting emotional, a noise broke the mood.
"Wahahaha! The Shroomish are ours!"
"Who's there?" Alex yelled instinctively.
"Since you asked so nicely!"
"Then I..."
"Team Rocket, I've heard enough of your motto. Come out, Tyranitar, use Hyper Beam! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash directly cut them off.
"What?! Twerp, you have no honor!"
Boom! "This feels so bad!" "Wobbuffet! (?)~"
"Mr. Alex, can I ask you for a favor?" Ash turned to Alex.
Alex had just recovered. "Uh... what is it?"
"You said you were going to tear down the old mansion. Please don't!"
"Yeah, please don't!" Brock and the others echoed.
"Hmm... I'm sorry, but the old mansion still has to be torn down," Alex said after thinking for a moment. He then smiled at the Shroomish. "But I'll plant a lot of trees here to provide a home for the Shroomish."
"That's great!" .ヽ(^Д^*)/. Max jumped up happily.
And so, everyone was happy.
"Moo~" Just then, the Shroomish who had led Ash here handed him a pearl.
"This is a Mega Stone!" Ash looked at the pearl. "Is this for me?"
The Shroomish smiled and nodded.
"Thank you!" Ash said, then thought to himself, 'System, appraisal.'
[Ding~ Appraisal successful. This is a Sceptilite.]
Awesome! That saves me 10,000 points! ヾ(^▽^*))) Ash was overjoyed.
"What is it? You seem really excited, Ash," May asked curiously.
"Hehe! It's a really good thing!" Ash said ambiguously.
Afterward, Ash and his friends said goodbye to Alex and the Shroomish, rested at the Pokémon Center, and continued their journey.
In a certain city
"Ah! Ash, look quickly!" Max pulled Ash's arm and pointed to a billboard.
The billboard read, [THE WORLD'S STRONGEST POKÉMON GYM.]
"Interesting. Let's go see this 'world's strongest' Pokémon." Ash immediately walked toward the gym.
"The world's strongest Pokémon! Could it be a Legendary Pokémon?" Max said excitedly.
Ash shook his head silently, thinking, You're still too young, kid. Follow me, and Legendary Pokémon won't be legends anymore.
Soon, Ash and his friends arrived at the gym, and the "strongest" Pokémon was a Pelipper. Everyone except Ash was disappointed.
The gym leader, Anthony, was also very arrogant.
And so, the battle was about to begin.
[Pelipper]
[Strength: Peak Elite-Level]
Ash had to admit that the Pelipper had some strength, but what a shame!
"Come out, Tyranitar!" Ash didn't hold back and sent out his strongest fighter, Tyranitar.
"Pelipper, use Vine Whip!"
Everyone (???.???)???? Pelipper knows that move? Ash just smirked.
"Tyranitar, grab the Vine Whip and pull it down."
"What?! No!" Anthony was startled and yelled, "No," but it was too late!
A Bellsprout was pulled out of Pelipper's beak.
"What?!" Everyone was shocked.
"I get it! You're hiding Pokémon in Pelipper's mouth!" Max figured it out instantly.
"You're cheating! I'm going to report you to the League!" Brock yelled.
"Yeah!" May said, fuming.
"So this is the 'world's strongest'?" Ash said with a playful tone, looking at Anthony.
"I... I'm sorry, it's my fault." Anthony knelt and begged for forgiveness. "I wanted Pelipper to be the strongest Pokémon, and I got carried away..."
"Hmph, that's just your wishful thinking! Your Pelipper isn't weak, though," Ash said, lecturing Anthony. "If you want to be the strongest, you should work hard together, not take shortcuts like this!"
Anthony looked at his Pelipper. "Yes! Thank you for the lesson."
Ash and the others left right after.
May and Max came up to Ash. "You're so cool, Ash! You were awesome when you lectured him!"
"Nah, I was just telling the truth."
Afterward, Ash and his friends continued their journey.
To be continued...