Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Xiaoxia and Xiaogang, on the other hand, both suffered from insomnia.

I spent the whole night thinking about what it's like to have a custom-made grave mound at such a young age.

The next morning.

As dawn broke, Ash took Pikachu to a secluded clearing on the edge of Lavender Town to begin their morning exercise.

After a sweat-drenched training session, he returned to the town center along a familiar path.

From afar, one could see several elders from the town gathered under an old tree, beginning their daily game of chess.

"Oh, it's Xiao Zhi!" An old man looked up and greeted him with a smile. "You're up pretty early? Have you had breakfast yet?"

"Just got back from exercising, not yet."

Upon hearing this...

Fuji's eyes lit up as he turned his head and spoke in a low voice to the reluctant-looking Kara Kara.

"That's just in time! Good boy, come and try this to fill your stomach."

Fuji breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pushed the basket of cookies piled high on the table toward Satoshi.

Since I went home yesterday with an empty basket.

The granddaughter thought she hadn't eaten enough.

Before I could explain, he baked a lot more, even more than yesterday.

She was worried about how to coax Karakara into eating more.

Then our savior arrived.

Ash and Pikachu didn't stand on ceremony; they thanked them and started eating the cookies.

Under the grateful gaze of Karakara, who thought, "What a kind person," the two quickly devoured most of the cookies.

"Eat slowly, don't choke." The old man Fuji watched with trepidation, then, as if remembering something, asked, "By the way, you went to see that Gengar last night... how did it go?"

"Oh, thank you..." Ash took the water from Cubone, took a sip, and casually replied, "...I caught it."

"Oh, I didn't see him... Oh well, just be careful... Wait!"

The elderly Fuji and several other elderly men playing chess stopped at the same time, turning their heads in astonishment.

"You subdued it?!"

"Yes."

Ash casually took a Poké Ball from his waist and tossed it gently.

With a "thump," a large, purple Gengar appeared in the open space.

It first gave Ash a resentful look.

Then he silently turned around, squatted in the corner, and drew circles on the ground with his short fingers.

A thick, low-pressure atmosphere permeated the air.

Upon seeing this, the elderly men all gasped in shock.

It really is that Gengar!

They were well aware of the Gengar's strength and never expected that the young man in front of them could capture it.

"Incredible... truly incredible!"

The old man, Fuji, circled Gengar twice, marveling at it repeatedly.

“Indeed,” Ash nodded, thinking the old man was lamenting how troublesome Gengar was. “Gengar is indeed formidable; it took me a long and arduous battle to defeat it.”

Upon hearing this, Gengar, who was drawing circles, paused and its ears perked up.

“Especially its hypnotic ability,” Ash said seriously, “even I fell for it. If I hadn’t woken up in time, things would have been really difficult.”

Gengar's back straightened imperceptibly, its fingers moving more nimbly in circles, and it even secretly turned its head to steal a glance at Ash.

That resentful look was gradually replaced by a smug expression that said, "You've got good taste, kid."

"Oh, right!"

As if remembering something, Xiao Zhi took out the flute from his pocket.

He handed it back to the elderly Fuji.

"Grandpa, here you go."

"Old man Fuji said with a smile."

"How about that? It's come in very handy, hasn't it?"

This flute I made myself.

Simply blow the whistle, and both Pokémon and humans can be awakened from their sleep.

It was specifically lent to Ash based on Gengar's characteristics.

"Um......."

Ash glanced at Pikachu.

His eyes held a subtle expression.

The old man, Fuji, did not take the flute.

A gentle, wistful smile appeared on his wrinkled face as he shook his head.

"Keep this flute."

"Huh? But..."

"It has played a real role in your hands."

The old man Fuji's gaze swept over Ash, then landed on Gengar behind him, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"The power that allows you to gain Gengar's approval is more important than the flute itself."

“I’m old, but you can still use it if you keep it with you.”

Seeing the old man's resolute attitude and sincere expression, Xiao Zhi stopped refusing and put the flute away.

Although this thing looks useless and feels very light.

But it was, after all, a token of goodwill.

......

A few bites.

Under the almost starry-eyed adoration of Cubone, Ash swiftly finished off the remaining cookies in the basket, then patted the crumbs off his hands.

Karakara stared at the empty basket, paused for a moment, and then her eyes really welled up with tears.

Its short claws were clenched tightly against its chest.

hero!

This is simply a great hero who saved it from endless toothache!

Its gaze first fell back on the Pokémon Flute in Ash's arms, then it looked down at itself.

No... we can't just let it go like this!

Since Fuji has given something, it should reciprocate by giving something in return!

bone......

This is my own personal magical artifact.

No, no.

mask......

Caracalla will never take off her mask!

That won't work either.

It anxiously rummaged through its meager possessions, its short paws suddenly pausing as if it remembered something.

It pulled out a smooth, round stone.

That was something that the old man Fuji had casually given it to play with before; it was deep in color and had a strange luster under the light.

That's it!

Caracara solemnly picked up the stone with both hands, stood on tiptoe, and handed it to Ash.

"Kara!"

Its call was full of sincerity and expectation.

"Huh? Is it for me?"

"Thank you."

Xiao Zhi took the stone; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, and there seemed to be a faint, swirling light inside.

"Does Caracara also give gifts?"

"Old man Fuji said with a smile."

"Looks like it really likes you..."

But the moment he saw the stone clearly.

His expression suddenly changed.

"Wait! Why did you give this away?!"

Xiao Zhi keenly sensed the unusual tone in the old man's voice, and he looked down to examine the stone carefully.

"...This is...a Mega Stone?"

Fuji was taken aback when he heard this, not expecting the little AI to recognize him.

"I cannot accept this."

Although Xiaozhi didn't know the specific origins.