Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

On the high platform.

The "old witch" transformed from the thousand-year-old Gastly has reappeared.

With a voice that seemed to have weathered many storms, he told the story one last time of the waiting and obsession that had entangled the coast for two thousand years.

The music was mournful, and illusions abounded. The emotional impact seemed particularly strong because it was the "final episode," and many tourists in the audience quietly wiped away tears once again.

After being reminded by Xiaozhi.

Gastly slightly modified the direction of its hypnosis—to make couples who come here like each other more and value their relationship more.

Of course, the level of hypnosis in this case is actually very low.

After all, it has been able to hold temple fairs here for hundreds of years without being attacked by humans... precisely because it never does anything that crosses the line.

It has already come up with the name to register with the alliance.

What kind of hypnosis is this?

This is called [a blessing of love].

funny.

The story ended, and thunderous applause erupted and lasted for a long time.

It was as if paying a final tribute to this legend that transcends time and space, and to this summer's end-of-summer revelry.

Today's audience seemed to shed tears more easily than usual.

laugh.

The crowd slowly dispersed, disappearing into the night with satisfaction and lingering memories.

For the vast majority of tourists who are just ordinary people, this is already the end.

What happened next was none of their business.

Unlike the previous nights.

About thirty or forty trainers did not leave.

Their eyes met in the air, and they walked in unison toward the open space behind the shrine.

And with the illusions cast by the Millennium Gastly, their actions went unnoticed.

After spending several days together, the tension and unfamiliarity had long been replaced by a peculiar sense of kinship.

The trainers' expressions still held anticipation, but now they showed more composure and understanding.

A silent communication filled the air.

Several trainers were taking out various carefully prepared small gifts from their backpacks.

There are special energy cubes that emit a faint glow, exquisite little ornaments made from fragments of dark stone, and even small cards drawn by skillful trainers using glow-in-the-dark paint.

...Ash isn't the only one who feeds the little guys.

Unlike Brock, Ash, and Misty, who only came to attend the fair, they came specifically to catch Ghost-type Pokémon, so of course they were well-prepared.

One point needs to be emphasized.

Most Ghost-type Pokémon that leave with their trainers are relatively new creatures.

The little ones are full of curiosity.

Under the watchful eye and guidance of the Millennium Gastly, they neither did anything wrong nor had much contact with the outside world.

Therefore, they are naive and easily deceived.

laugh.

Those ancient creatures, though not as long-lived as the thousand-year-old Gastly, but still living for decades or even centuries, are not so easy to recruit.

They are no longer as eager to achieve quick results as they were at the beginning.

Instead, treat the gift like a shy friend, gently placing it in a conspicuous yet intrusive place such as tree roots or stone steps.

Then step back a few steps to leave some friendly space.

That's all they can do.

Send some gifts to boost favorability, then leave it to fate.

In any case, it's impossible to use violence to arrest someone here and then cultivate a relationship with them.

...If sending gifts for so many days in a row still doesn't work, then there's nothing we can do.

"Hey, little guy, this is the last of our stock. Take it if you like," a young trainer said with a smile to the empty shadows, placing down a small bag of incense.

"Thank you for spending these past few days with me. I had a lot of fun," a female trainer said softly, placing down a small bunch of Ghost-type plants that glowed faintly at night.

Xiao Gang watched from the sidelines.

He's been quite busy these past few days, and with his unique appreciation for non-human forms, he's become a "celebrity" among these Ghost-type Pokémon.

Not only did he prepare snacks for Ash, he also offered advice to several other familiar trainers on how to please specific Ghost-type Pokémon.

He was whispering to a trainer beside him, "That Gastly prefers shiny things; it's been staring at your badge reflector for days."

Ash and Misty stood together.

Xiao Zhi was still holding a small plate in his hand.

Inside is an upgraded version of the special snacks that have been "highly praised" these past few days.

While Xiao Gang was researching cooking, he was also making improvements based on the tastes of these earth-type spirits.

It incorporates a newly formulated blend of spices that are even more appealing to Ghost-type Pokémon.

"Everyone seems... much more skilled now," Xiaoxia remarked softly, observing the natural and friendly actions of the trainers around her.

“This is one of the qualities of a trainer,” Brock said, arms crossed, watching the scene with satisfaction. “Catching animals isn’t just about battling.”

"Understanding, respect, and even 'pleasing' are all ways to connect with Pokémon. Especially with these sensitive and intelligent little guys."

He looked at Xiaozhi: "Your 'investment' these past few days seems to have worked well."

indeed.

Compared to the first night, there seemed to be more Ghost-type Pokémon appearing.

They are no longer in a hurry to hide or simply play pranks.

Instead, they floated in small groups at the boundary between shadow and light.

These Ghost-type Pokémon emitted soft, ambiguous whispers and laughter as they surveyed the departing humans.

Among everyone's gaze, the most eye-catching was the Candle Spirit.

The pale blue flames above its head burned quietly, seemingly brighter and more stable than in the previous days. Its white eyes gazed in the direction of the trainer, then looked at its wavering companion beside it, as if hesitating about something.

Clearly, it wants to travel.

On the other hand, they don't want to leave their friends.

Although it is a candle spirit that devours souls, it is also a kind and affectionate companion.

Lidgment and Chandelure are indeed considered inherently evil from a human perspective.

But for Ghost-type Pokémon, there is really no difference.

A Gastly playfully flew through a gift that a trainer had just placed down, carrying away a trace of energy and letting out a satisfied quack.

A roly-poly ball floated slowly above a small, glowing toy and curiously poked it with the thin string at its base.

The atmosphere was no longer eerie; instead, it had a subtle warmth unique to the eve of parting, a mixture of faint reluctance and a final chance.

All the trainers understood that this was their last chance.

But they also understand that forcing things is useless.

All they can do is show their utmost goodwill and patience.

Then it waits for one of those shadows to reach out its hand and take the first step into the human world.

This is also a collaboration between Millennium Gastly and the Pokémon League.

Ghost-type Pokémon also need to integrate into human society.

And for this purpose, it is necessary to breed Ghost-type Pokémon that have a friendly relationship with humans.

This kind of thing doesn't seem to change much in the short term.

However, it is very necessary in the long run.

Chapter 90 Big brother, can I come with you?

The interaction in the shrine's open space was nearing its end.

A small number of trainers have already reached an agreement with their favorite Ghost-type Pokémon; these are the lucky ones.

As for the unlucky loser, he has already begun packing his bags with a slight sense of regret.

Ash's snack dish was gradually running out. A few of the bolder Gastly and Driftballs even dared to get close to his fingertips to eat, but in the end, none of them showed any sign of wanting to leave with him.

how to say?

There is nothing we can do about this.

Let’s put it this way…

The trainers who successfully attracted Ghost-type Pokémon all seemed to have a rather gloomy demeanor.

Ash is clearly too cheerful.

They don't get along with these baby Ghost-type Pokémon.

If it's someone older... then they'd probably prefer someone like Ash.

"As expected, your aura is still too dazzling..." Xiao Gang stroked his chin.

This is also expected.

No matter how talented a trainer is, it's impossible to find a match for every Pokémon.

Pokémon are self-aware individuals with their own personality traits, behaviors, and other characteristics.

Ash's aura was clearly too intimidating for these Ghost-type babies.

Caw... It's the sun!

"It's rare to see Ash fail," Xiaoxia remarked with some emotion.

I thought Ash was going to dominate all the way to the Indigo League and win the championship.

"To gain it is my fortune, to lose it is my fate." Xiao Zhi is very open-minded about it.

Some things cannot be forced.

Or rather, being able to even strike up a conversation with this thousand-year-old Gastly would already be considered a great success.

In this seemingly peaceful atmosphere of farewell, on the roof of an ancient shrine, unnoticed by anyone.

A petite figure sat quietly, swinging her legs.

It was Momo who had served as a guide for Ash and Misty.

Her overly clear eyes were fixed on the black-haired boy below.

suddenly.

An aged voice, laced with a lazy laugh and audible only to her, resounded directly in her consciousness:

"So, Mengmeng? After looking around for so many days, haven't you decided yet?"

Theoretically speaking, the temple fair is a place to find trainers for newly born Ghost-type Pokémon.

However, it is actually possible for older Ghost-type Pokémon to dream of leaving.

There are no strict rules or restrictions in this regard.

To put it simply, the main purpose was the temple fair, and everything else was secondary.

Mengmeng didn't turn around, but pouted slightly, her voice weak as she responded directly in her mind: "Leader... is the human world outside really as interesting as you say?"

"Whether it's interesting or not, it's not up to me to decide; you'll have to see for yourself." The Millennium Gastly's voice carried a subtle hint of guidance.

"However... if you really want to go out for a walk, I suggest you consider that kid down there." This wasn't because Millennium Gastly wanted to curry favor with Professor Oak.