Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

"Yup!"

He pointed to the Psyduck that Xiaoxia had already put back into the water.

“Look at how silly it is,” Ash said seriously, “it has managed to grow up so big and healthy, so it must be really amazing in some way!”

"..."

Xiao Gang fell silent.

He thought it was Ash's sixth sense acting up again.

It turns out that after all that fuss, it was because of this!

But to be honest, what Ash said... seems to make some sense?

After all, to survive in such a state and still be alive and well, one must have some special abilities!

In the world of Pokémon, being weak means being easily bullied.

And someone who's this dull and lifeless, if placed in the wild, would be a walking treasure trove of experience!

But this Psyduck not only escaped unharmed, it even managed to sneak into Misty's Poké Ball without anyone noticing.

Although my taste isn't great.

But this strength... is indeed not to be underestimated!

......

riverside.

Unaware of their conversation, a unique swimming lesson was underway.

Xiaoxia rolled up her trousers and stood in the shallow water, with a wet Psyduck standing in front of her.

"Listen up, Psyduck!"

Xiaoxia looked very serious and held up one index finger in front of Psyduck.

"You are, after all, a Water-type Pokémon! Although you can't swim right now, that's only temporary!"

"As long as you study hard, you will definitely be able to learn it!"

Psyduck's eyes were glazed over, and it showed no reaction whatsoever.

"very good!"

"Your attitude is very good!"

Xiaoxia nodded in satisfaction.

"Much better than some starfish!"

The starfish was leisurely floating on the water, basking in the sun, its five tentacles softly outstretched, enjoying the sunlight.

Upon hearing this, the red gem on his body flashed suddenly.

It slowly turned its body and stared at Xiaoxia.

I carefully recalled my performance over the past few days—

It hasn't done anything these past few days, has it?

I didn't slack off or cause trouble.

How did it become a negative example?

Completely ignoring the starfish's protests, Xiaoxia turned and walked into the deeper water, which was above her knees.

"Let's start with the basics—paddling!"

"Look at me, like this—"

Xiaoxia demonstrated the movements by paddling her hands in the water.

"Alternately swing your arms forward while gently pushing off with your feet. It's very simple!"

She turned around and looked at Psyduck, who was still standing there, tilting its head and looking at her.

"Come on, come down and try!"

Psyduck looked down at the river at its feet.

He looked up at Xiaoxia again.

Xiaoxia's face was full of anticipation, and her eyes were full of encouragement.

However, Psyduck took two steps back and retreated directly to the shore.

A starfish that had floated over from the water patted Xiaoxia's thigh.

Then he pointed at Psyduck with one of his tentacle fingers.

Is this what you mean by a good attitude?

Xiaoxia: "......"

"Get down here!"

Enraged, Xiaoxia grabbed Psyduck.

Refined on the spot!

Left with no other choice, Psyduck slowly made its way into the deeper water.

It moved very slowly, lifting itself up and swaying before lowering itself down with each step, as if testing the water for traps.

As the water gradually spread to Psyduck's chest, Misty nodded.

"Okay, now let's start paddling! Just like I did!"

Psyduck looked down at its two little arms floating on the water.

Lift up the one on the left.

It swayed.

lay down.

Lift up the one on the right.

It swayed.

lay down.

Then he looked up at Xiaoxia.

"Gah."

Xiaoxia took a deep breath, and a vein bulged on her forehead.

"...I'm not asking you to greet me, I'm asking you to paddle! Paddle with your hands!"

"Gah."

Psyduck was stunned for a while, and then, like a program that had stalled, it started to respond again.

It raised both hands.

Simultaneously swipe forward—

"Pfft!"

It plunged forward, face down, into the water.

"Coo-coo-coo-coo—"

A string of bubbles rose to the surface.

Xiaoxia reacted quickly, grabbing one of its legs and lifting it upside down out of the water.

Psyduck spat a few mouthfuls of water at Xia, but its expression remained unchanged, still blank.

"It's not about paddling with both hands at the same time! It's about alternating! Alternating!"

"Gah."

After another long while, Psyduck tentatively moved again.

Then, unsurprisingly, he fell into the water again.

"..."

Gyarados lay on the shallow water by the shore, watching this scene with its huge head tilted slightly and its eyes filled with confusion.

In all its years of life, this was the first time it had ever seen a water-type Pokémon that couldn't swim.

The seahorse sat on its head, with the same expression.

Only the goldfish, oblivious to its surroundings, was blowing bubbles in the shallow water, one after another rising to the surface, completely immersed in its own bubble art.

"Don't just stand there and watch!"

Xiaoxia wiped the water droplets from her face and waved to them.

"Everyone, come and help teach it!"

Gyarados, Horsea, and Goldeen exchanged a glance.

help?

How to teach a Water-type Pokémon to swim?

Does this thing even need to be taught?

But the trainer has spoken, and there's nothing we can do.

Gyarados swam over first.

It stopped in front of the Psyduck, lowered its head, and slowly swung its tail from side to side in the water, demonstrating the correct swimming posture.

Psyduck is looking at its tail.

Then he looked down at the small, short tail behind him.

Finally, he held his head and stared blankly at Gyarados.

"Gah."