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"What's going on??" Seeing this scene, Misty couldn't help but ask.
"Pikachu!!" Ash lowered his head and motioned to Pikachu.
"Pika-Pika!!"
Pikachu nodded knowingly after hearing the call, then ran forward and appeared in front of the Grimer group.
"Thunderbolt!!"
"Pika~~~Chuuu!!"
As Pikachu heard the command, he immediately leapt up. A large amount of electricity instantly surged from his body and was released directly at the large group of Grimer in front of him.
The powerful electricity struck a Grimer at the forefront. Its entire body was shrouded in lightning, and the current spread to the others nearby. None of the Grimer behind were spared.
"Graahhh!"
Because they had just emerged from the water and their bodies were still wet, the electric attack was even more effective. A large group of Grimer became immobilized.
As the power of Thunderbolt faded, the Grimer recognized Pikachu's strength and retreated one after another. The Magnemite hovering in the air breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.
"Well done, Pikachu!" Ash praised as he led Misty and Brock over to Pikachu.
"Pika-Pika!!"
Pikachu cried out excitedly. At that moment, the Magnemite descended and hovered near Pikachu. Its metallic body shone, making it hard to discern expressions, but its half-closed eyes suggested happiness. Slowly, it approached Pikachu and rubbed against him. A faint blush appeared on the metallic surface as if it had overheated.
"Huh? What's going on?" Misty was puzzled by this scene. "Why did Magnemite suddenly turn red?"
"Could it be because Pikachu saved it, and now it's fond of Pikachu?" Brock speculated with his usual calm demeanor.
"Ah?? No way... While Pokémon can have feelings, Magnemite, being a Pokémon made of mechanical parts, makes this kind of reaction feel strange!" Misty exclaimed, still baffled by the sight.
"That's right!!" Brock nodded enthusiastically, but he still couldn't figure out how to explain Magnemite's behavior in terms of its Contest Condition.
"Stop guessing," Ash interrupted. "Magnemite is attracted to strong radio waves and feeds on electricity. It must've been drawn to the electricity Pikachu just released."
While Pikachu was loved by many Pokémon, this was purely about Magnemite's fascination with Pikachu's electric waves.
"So that's it!" Misty said, finally understanding.
"Okay, let's get moving!" Ash signaled to continue their journey. With a nod, Misty and Brock followed him.
Magnemite, however, continued trailing close to Pikachu, its attention unwavering. Pikachu tilted its head, clearly confused by the persistent attention.
Seeing no harm in it, the trio allowed Magnemite to follow. They soon arrived at a desolate area. It was clear this place was avoided by most Trainers. With its harsh environment and lack of a gym, it wasn't exactly appealing.
"Is anyone here??" Brock called out, his voice echoing through the empty space.
Misty and Ash exchanged knowing looks. They both understood Brock's eagerness—his excitement about visiting Pokémon Centers was a familiar routine.
"Who's there?? Aha!" A lazy voice responded. Moments later, a figure emerged from the corridor behind the counter. The person, rubbing her eyes and yawning, was none other than Nurse Joy—though something seemed off.
"Are you Nurse Joy?" Misty asked, puzzled. "Why do you seem so... different from other Nurse Joys? You don't act the same."
"Different? They're the weird ones," Nurse Joy retorted, her tone slightly annoyed. "Now, who are you?"
"We're Trainers passing through," Ash explained. "We need to help our Pokémon recover and rest before moving on."
Nurse Joy sighed but seemed to perk up slightly. "Alright then, come on over and register for accommodations." Her demeanor lightened, perhaps due to the rare arrival of visitors.
"Thank you!" Ash said as the three of them stepped forward to complete the process.
Just then, the door slid open automatically, and several Magnemite floated in. They approached the Magnemite that had been following Ash and his friends, emitting soft growls.
"Huh? More Magnemite?" Misty said in surprise. It was unusual to see so many of them together at once.
"Is that Magnemite your Pokémon?" Nurse Joy asked curiously.
"No, not at all!" Misty replied quickly. "We found this little one on the road—it was being attacked by Grimers."
"I see," Nurse Joy said with a nod, a slight smile forming. "So you're not just visiting Trainers—you're also kind-hearted ones."
Magnemite communicated briefly with its companions, its expression suddenly shifting to one of panic. It hesitated for a moment, glancing at Pikachu with a look of reluctance that left Pikachu startled. Handling one Magnemite's attention had been puzzling enough for Pikachu; now, dealing with a whole group left it completely bewildered.
Then, without another sound, Magnemite turned and left with its companions. The unexpected departure left Brock and Misty confused.
"What's going on with this Magnemite?" Misty wondered aloud. "It was sticking to us earlier, and now it's running off."
"Did something happen?" Brock added, scratching his head in confusion.
"I don't know," Ash replied, shaking his head. The reason for Magnemite's abrupt exit remained a mystery.