Chapter 95: Getting Less and Less Reliable
"No way." Natsume shook his head.
"Ah!" Ash immediately slumped, disappointed.
"But anyone who earns the golden belt receives a promise from Fighting-type Elite Four member Bruno," Natsume added, waving the newspaper in his hand.
"Then if I win the golden belt, Bruno will accept my challenge?" Ash asked, overjoyed.
"Of course! Who wouldn't agree to such a small request?" Misty rolled her eyes and dragged Ash back to his seat.
"Natsume, let's join the P1 Tournament!" Ash pleaded.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu looked to Natsume as well.
*Pika pika* the Midchu at the back shook his head vigorously at Natsume.
"Wait, Ash, do you have any Fighting-type Pokémon?" Giselle asked suddenly.
"The tournament isn't limited to Fighting-types," Rebecca's voice came. "Other Pokémon can participate too, but they can only use Fighting-type moves."
"What if they don't have Fighting-type moves?" Ash asked curiously.
"Then they must rely purely on physical strength," Rebecca's voice softened.
Judging by their reactions, it seemed none of them had Fighting-type Pokémon. That basically ruled them out.
"I have Geodude! ITS body is as hard as rock—please trust us!" Brock spoke up.
"Ah, a Rock-type in a Fighting tournament… hopeless," Misty groaned, covering her face. Clearly, Brock was distracted by Rebecca's charm.
Natsume grabbed Ash by the collar and approached Rebecca. "Can Trainers compete directly?"
"Uh… no, sir," Rebecca said, twitching her mouth, thinking this group seemed unreliable.
"But the rules don't say anything about that," Natsume said, shaking the poster in his hand.
"Natsume, where did you get that poster?" Misty noticed the issue date—it seemed to be from a year ago.
"I found it in her drawer," Natsume said matter-of-factly.
Rebecca: "?"
She suddenly felt a little scared.
Fortunately, these people weren't villains. After asking about the P1 Tournament location, they left.
"I still feel like none of this makes any sense," Misty muttered, shaking her head on the road.
"Natsume, if I joined the tournament, who should I send out?" Ash tilted his head, troubled.
"You can let Midchu go out, sleep through it, and exhaust your opponent," Natsume suggested.
*Pi!* The Midchu covered his face on Ash's shoulder. It knew.
...
**In front of the Fighting Gym**
"What a rundown Gym, meow," Meowth muttered.
After Natsume and the group left, three figures appeared.
"This place isn't even worth robbing," James waved dismissively.
"Hey, hey, hey! Watch your language. Stop talking about robbing stuff! Can't you two be a little less low-level?" Jessie yelled.
"We're now the Super Special Operations Squad!"
"Exactly! And I, Meowth, am now Boss Giovanni's favorite!"
Meowth puffed up proudly. Around his neck was a golden collar.
After the twists and turns in HopHopHop Town, the three had been promoted from Team Rocket Special Operations Squad to—Team Rocket Super Special Operations Squad!
The name didn't change much, but the raise and promotion were real.
Especially Meowth, who had even been given a gold collar by Giovanni himself.
"Hmph, you don't know… the Boss Cat's collar was just an ordinary leather one," Meowth bragged, walking with chest out and head held high every moment since.
*Creak~*
The wooden door of the Gym opened.
A delicate-looking girl peeked out.
"Um… would you… help me?"
After a while, Team Rocket's trio stormed out, fuming.
Jessie cursed loudly, "How awful—how can there be a man who just abandons his own daughter!"
Her own childhood made her sympathize deeply with Rebecca's situation.
"I sympathize too, but Jessie, do we really have to join that P1 Tournament?" James asked hesitantly.
"We're joining! Absolutely!" Jessie snapped, still furious.
"But we don't have any Fighting-type Pokémon, meow," Meowth spread his hands helplessly.
"There are so many participants… just grab one, why not?" Jessie said casually.
"You just said don't be so low—ah!"
Before James could finish, a large bump appeared on his head out of nowhere.
"Wow, if Trainers could compete, Jessie, you'd definitely have a chance, meow."
In front of the Fighting Gym's entrance.
"Sigh," Rebecca shook her head slightly. The three outsiders didn't seem very reliable.
Footsteps approached nearby. Rebecca tensed and slipped back inside the Gym.
After a while, the girl peeked out again, looking fragile.
"Can you help…?"
Rebecca froze.
At the Gym's entrance stood not Trainers, but two Pokémon: a Hypno and a Primeape.
"What… what are you two doing?"
Before Rebecca could react, Primeape led Hypno into the Gym, just as it had seen Natsume and Ash do.
After a while, an extremely furious Primeape emerged, dragging Hypno behind.
Hypno held a small basket filled with Berries and pastries.
*Ape-ape-ape!*
Primeape swung his fists in the air, ready to fight.
*Hyp-no~* Hypno yawned, looking disinterested.
Yet it still followed Primeape, setting off toward the P1 Tournament.
After eating someone's food, you have to work for them!
At the doorway, Rebecca silently watched Primeape march off.
What now? This is getting more and more unreliable.
...
The next day, in a small town not far from HopHopHop Town.
Inside a massive stadium, the crowd was roaring.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 5th P1 Grand Prix!"
The announcer stood on a Pokémon that looked like a UFO, hovering in the air, microphone in hand, addressing the crowd.
"Such a shiny metallic sheen—what Pokémon is that?" Ash asked curiously, taking out his Pokédex.
**Magneton, the Magnetic Pokémon, evolved from three Magnemite exposed to a special magnetic field.**
"Welcome, Judges!"
The announcer called out, and countless eyes turned toward a single aisle.
Ash, Brock, and the audience including Gary and Misty, all focused intently on that aisle.
Natsume hadn't appeared since that morning.
"What are you all looking at?" Natsume appeared behind Ash.
"I was wondering if you secretly became a judge, Natsume!"
Ash turned and saw Natsume, and behind him, a massive Dragonite.
"Natsume, you're actually following the normal procedure," Brock said in surprise.
"Otherwise, how else should I appear?" Natsume waved his hand.
He had always thought his behavior was perfectly normal—was there something strange about it?
You can read more (around 100+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.