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After returning the Primeape, Ash and his team continued their journey without delay. After bidding farewell to Anthony and his daughter, they pressed on.
Ash sent money home but chose not to call. Knowing his mother's personality, a phone call would lead to a long conversation, potentially delaying their departure further. He preferred to avoid the hassle and focus on their progress. He also ensured that every penny of the bonus money was returned, as he couldn't use it outside of its intended purpose. Besides, he still had funds from dealing with the previous poacher.
By the time they said goodbye to Rebecca and her group, it was already afternoon. That evening, Ash, Misty, and Brock set up camp in the wilderness, unable to reach the next city before nightfall. They planned to resume their journey the following day. Fuchsia City was still a considerable distance away, making it impossible to reach within a single day due to the delays caused by their recent battles.
"Huh? Why is it getting dark already? It's just noon!" Misty commented, glancing at the sky as they prepared to set out again after breaking camp. Her voice carried a note of concern as the once-clear sky began to darken ominously.
"Is it going to rain?" she wondered aloud.
Ash shook his head. "It's not rain. Look ahead," he said, gesturing toward the horizon.
The group paused, peering into the distance. Far ahead, a dense column of black smoke rose into the sky. Misty gasped. "Is that... a fire?"
"It doesn't seem likely. If it were a fire, we'd feel the heat even from here," Ash replied thoughtfully. The massive smoke plume was unnerving, its scale enough to obscure the sky in the distance.
"What could it be?" Misty asked, frowning as they debated the possibilities.
"Let's check it out and see for ourselves," Ash suggested.
Quickening their pace, they ventured through the jungle. As they emerged, a city shrouded in black smoke came into view. The closer they got, the stronger the acrid stench of chemicals became, assaulting their senses even before they stepped foot inside.
Upon entering the city, the scene was grim. Numerous enormous chimneys spewed thick black smoke into the air, darkening the skies above. The river that ran alongside the city was not merely shadowed by the gloom but had itself turned black, polluted and lifeless.
As Ash, Misty, and Brock wandered deeper into the city, they noticed how eerily empty it was. The streets were void of people, and factories seemed to dominate every block they passed.
"This place is so deserted!" Misty said, her voice echoing slightly in the silent streets.
Brock consulted the travel guide. "This is Gringey City. It was once a booming industrial hub," he explained. "Because of the factories, the city thrived for a time. But all that prosperity came at a cost. The skies and the nearby ocean were heavily polluted, and the environment became so unlivable that people began to leave."
He continued, "We're close to Fuchsia City now, and this river flows into the sea. The factories here took advantage of that and dumped their wastewater directly into the river. Over time, the pollution drove away both the residents and any potential visitors."
Ash remained silent, taking in the bleak surroundings. Despite the advanced technology of the Pokémon world, environmental issues like these still persisted. He couldn't help but reflect on the parallels to his own world, a somber reminder of the importance of protecting nature.
"Let's head to the Pokémon Center," Ash suggested after a moment. "We need to rest and get out of this polluted air."
"Good idea. I feel dizzy just standing out here," Misty agreed, pinching her nose against the chemical stench that permeated the air. It was no wonder the streets were so empty; the toxic atmosphere made it unbearable for anyone to stay outside for long.
As they walked toward the Pokémon Center, a sudden commotion caught their attention. From the polluted river, something floated up and moved onto the road nearby.
"What's going on?" Ash asked, halting in his tracks.
Before them appeared a peculiar Pokémon. Its spherical body hovered in midair, dominated by a single, enormous eye. Spiral screws protruded from the top of its head and the sides of its cheeks, giving it an almost mechanical appearance.
The trio stood in stunned silence, unsure of what to make of the strange Flying Pokémon.
On either side of the strange Pokémon's spherical body were two U-shaped magnets with opposing positive and negative poles, resembling arms.
"Is that a Magnemite?" Brock asked, squinting to get a better look.
"Wow wow wow!!"
Suddenly, flashes of red light appeared from the murky depths of the polluted river. Pairs of glowing red eyes emerged, and Misty gasped in horror as figures began to surface.
"Ah! A water ghost!!" she shrieked, clutching Ash's arm and hiding behind him.
"Calm down and look closely!" Ash said, stepping forward cautiously.
As the figures crawled out of the blackened water, the trio could make out their grotesque shapes. Brock's eyes widened in recognition.
"This is—!"
In front of them was a group of Pokémon with purple, sludge-like bodies. Their slimy forms were marked by dark purple wavy patterns, and each had big, round eyes and a wide, gaping mouth. Sticky, gooey hands dragged them ashore.
"Grimer?!"
Misty recoiled at the sight and immediately covered her nose. "Ugh! They smell horrible!" she exclaimed.
The stench wafting from the Grimers was overpowering. Unlike the sweet and tangy scent of Gloom's attack in Rainbow City, this smell was harsh and chemical, mirroring the polluted environment surrounding them.
The Grimers seemed fixated on the Magnemite hovering above them. They shuffled toward it, their gooey hands outstretched, as the Magnemite darted through the air in a panic to avoid them.
"Magnemite looks scared," Brock observed.
The Grimers, growing frustrated, opened their wide mouths and spewed blobs of sticky, dark mud at Magnemite. Although Magnemite tried to dodge, the effort slowed its movements as the attacks came closer and closer.
"We have to help it!" Ash said, reaching for a Pokéball.