Nurse Joy helped Charizard clean the mud off its body, then treated it to restore its stamina. After about half an hour, Charizard regained its vitality. Ash also recalled Charizard, then bid farewell to Nurse Joy, and the three of them left the Pokémon Center together, continuing their journey.
The group had to continue towards Vermilion City. To get to Vermilion City, they first had to pass through the White Strait, and there was still a long way to go. However, having continuously caught Ivysaur and Charizard, they were in good spirits throughout the journey.
"We've encountered so many things on the way! But it's quite interesting. I never knew traveling could be so fun before." Walking, Misty walked ahead, appearing to be in a good mood. She walked backward while facing Ash and Brock, talking with a smile.
"This is the fun of traveling! Not knowing what will happen, not knowing what kind of Pokémon you'll encounter." Brock also agreed. If he hadn't left Pewter City, if he hadn't continued to follow Ash, he might never have had the chance to experience these things in his life. He was grateful that he had affirmed his dream in his hometown of Pokémon.
"I said, you don't have to be so excited, do you? If you fall, it'll hurt a lot!" Ash also said, reminding Misty, who was walking backward.
"Hmph! I'm the genius beautiful girl Misty! How could I easily fall... Ah!!!"
Boom!!!
Just as she was speaking, walking backward, a sudden booming sound echoed. Misty was instantly startled. She felt her feet lose solid ground, and her body uncontrollably fell backward, her hands flailing wildly.
"Hey!!"
Ash instinctively reached out and grabbed Misty's hand. Misty's body fell from the air. Ash grabbed her, quickly planted his feet, and with a bit of effort, managed to hold her. Brock, seeing this, also quickly hugged Ash.
"I told you to watch where you're going!!" Ash said with some difficulty. Misty's weight wasn't heavy, but her sudden fall downwards meant Ash was caught off guard and couldn't fully exert his strength. Even Pikachu jumped down and hugged Ash's leg.
"How was I supposed to know there'd be a pitfall? Ash, don't let go!" Misty said, her voice trembling slightly in fear as she looked down at the bottomless hole.
A moment later, the two pulled Misty up. Misty slumped to the ground, panting, still shaken.
"Seriously, why is there a pitfall in the middle of the road?" Indeed, no one expected such a large hole in the middle of the road. If it weren't for Misty, they would have all fallen in.
"This pitfall is dug quite deep. It looks like it must have taken a lot of time." Brock said, standing next to the hole, pinching his chin.
"I almost fell in! And you have the nerve to praise it? If I find out who dug a pitfall in a place like this, I won't let them off!"
Squirtle, squirtle, squirtle!!!
Just then, a sound rang out. Ash and Brock looked back, while Misty looked directly. They saw several figures standing side by side behind them, now emitting mocking laughter.
"Squirtle?" Misty looked at the figures in front of her with some confusion. Not just one Squirtle, but five Squirtle! Usually, even one was rare, let alone five.
Squirtle, its entire body was blue, its appearance similar to a turtle's, with a hard brown shell on its back. Its curled tail looked like a water wave. The leading Squirtle was larger, wearing butterfly-shaped sunglasses,
while the other four Squirtle wore identical round sunglasses. Squirtle was also one of the three starter Pokémon used by trainers, just like Charmander and Bulbasaur, so they weren't usually common. Yet, five appeared at once this time.
Pika-pi!!!
Squirtle, squirtle, squirtle!!!
Pikachu looked at their mocking expressions, jumped to Ash's front, and barked at the Squirtle in front of it. The Squirtle also responded after hearing Pikachu, their faces showing mischievous smiles. Pikachu listened to the Squirtle's response, a little annoyed. It turned to Ash, then pointed at the pitfall behind them, and then at the Squirtle.
"You mean the Squirtle dug the pitfall?" Ash asked, seeing Pikachu's reaction.
"Pika!!" Pikachu nodded affirmatively.
"Seriously? Why would you do that?" Misty almost fell in, so she was naturally the most upset, but they were Pokémon, so she couldn't bear to blame them too much.
Squirtle, squirtle, squirtle!!!
Pika-pika!!!!
Squirtle communicated with Pikachu for a while, then Pikachu turned back again and began to gesture wildly. Ash, although not having the special ability to directly understand Pikachu like some special ability users, could generally understand what it meant due to their默契.
"You mean, they're happy to see humans in trouble, is that it?"
"That's just terrible." Misty angrily stood up, dusting off her butt. But just as Misty stood up, the leading Squirtle launched an attack towards Ash and his companions. A thick blue water jet shot directly from its mouth, heading towards the three. Seeing this, Ash quickly stepped in front.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!!"
Pika~~chu!!!
Pikachu rushed in front of Ash, facing the Water Gun attack. It unleashed a powerful electric current from its body. With a roar, electricity was released, and the two energies collided.
Bang!!!
Pikachu had been training with Ash for so long, and its power had also increased. Moreover, Electric-type moves naturally countered Water-type moves. Soon, the electricity overpowered the Water Gun and surged towards the Squirtle.
Bang!!
Squ... Squirtle, squirtle, squirtle!!!
Just as the Water Gun was about to hit the leading Squirtle, another Squirtle next to it suddenly pushed it aside. The electric attack hit it instead, and its entire body was instantly enveloped in electricity, zapped by Pikachu's Thunderbolt until it couldn't speak clearly. After the electricity dissipated, this subordinate Squirtle directly fell to the ground.
Squirtle!!!
The leading Squirtle, seeing this, worriedly went forward and hugged it. Then, gritting its teeth, it angrily stood up and confronted Pikachu, seemingly ready to fight.
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