"Wobbuffet, you need to straighten your back. That posture looks way better!"
"And try to act a little cuter—then everyone will love you!"
Just as Ash and his group walked out of Ilex Forest and arrived on the outskirts of Leaf Town, a voice suddenly caught their attention.
They looked toward the source and saw a boy about the same age as Ash training a blue Pokémon.
Ash's eyes lit up—that was Wobbuffet, the same one that had been following Jessie around for several regions!
Back then, during a Pokémon exchange event, Wobbuffet had accidentally been traded for Jessie's Lickitung. Ever since, it had become Team Rocket's ultimate defensive shield, and had caused Ash's team more trouble than they cared to admit.
Later, they realized that Wobbuffet had an exceptionally high IQ and was capable of strategic decision-making during battles.
Even though Jessie's only command was always "Counter!", Wobbuffet could distinguish between physical and special attacks and choose the appropriate move—either Counter or Mirror Coat—entirely on its own.
"Hi, I'm Ash. What are you doing?" Ash asked, though he already had a good idea.
"I'm Benny. I'm preparing Wobbuffet for the Pokémon exchange meet! Just making some final adjustments," Benny explained.
Ash had once participated in a Pokémon exchange himself, swapping his Butterfree for a Raticate… only to regret it almost immediately and reverse the trade.
To him, the Pokémon he raised with care were never something to give away lightly. But if it was the Pokémon's own wish, he would respect that.
This Wobbuffet clearly looked forward to the exchange, eager to find a new Trainer and a fresh start.
"But your Pokémon doesn't look all that impressive… Can it really be traded?" Misty said, brutally honest as ever.
Brock quickly nudged her from the side.
Realizing her blunder, Misty quickly corrected herself, "I mean, um, on second glance, it's actually kinda cute!"
She chuckled awkwardly, trying to save face.
Benny didn't seem to mind. "Yeah, I really like Wobbuffet, but I also want to try raising other kinds of Pokémon."
Ash glanced at Psyduck's Poké Ball. It seemed like the little guy was getting some solid rest inside. From the look of things, it had recovered quite a bit of energy.
And Benny… Benny was just the kind of Trainer Psyduck needed—someone who genuinely cared about nurturing Pokémon, not just about battle strength. Psyduck would surely have a good life with him.
"In that case, I've got a Psyduck here!" Ash released Psyduck from its ball.
Sure enough, Psyduck looked a little dazed but much better than before.
"Huh? Ash, when did you catch a Psyduck?" Misty asked, puzzled.
"Back in Ilex Forest," Ash explained briefly, then turned to Benny. "Benny, if you're willing, I'd like to trade this Psyduck for your Wobbuffet. But I hope you can promise me—please take good care of it. And never trade it away again."
Benny looked into Psyduck's blank, unfocused eyes… and saw a deep sadness hidden underneath. That melancholic gaze had a strange, endearing charm to it.
"Ash, may I ask… what happened to this Psyduck?" Benny was already starting to grow fond of it.
Ash checked his system—it would cost some exchange points to unlock the Compatibility Scan feature. If he had already redeemed the 'Bond of Exchange' tied to the Viridian Aura, he wouldn't need to check like this at all.
Still, he confirmed that Psyduck's compatibility with Ade was at 150—a solid foundation for proper care and growth.
"Its previous Trainer abandoned it in Ilex Forest," Ash said honestly. "It's a bit depressed, so… please raise it with care."
Ade stared deep into Psyduck's eyes, then nodded seriously. "I promise, Ash. I'll give it all the care it deserves. And I swear—I'll never trade it away."
Since both sides agreed, Ash and his group followed Benny into Palmpona Town.
It turned out that the town's festival was bustling with all kinds of activities—even before the exchange meet began, there were tons of special contests happening!
Right after Ash and Benny finished their trade, a herd of Tauros suddenly stormed in from the outskirts!
"Yay! Here they come!"
But rather than panic, the townspeople cheered and clapped with excitement!
"What's going on?" Brock asked from a distance, a little confused.
"It's one of the local traditions—the Tauros Stampede Festival!" Ade explained, holding Psyduck's Poké Ball. "If anyone can touch a Tauros by its horns, they'll be hailed as the bravest of the brave!"
It was an honor.
But also incredibly dangerous—definitely not something to mess around with!
"Wait… where's Ash?" Misty had just seen him pocket Wobbuffet's Poké Ball, and now he was nowhere in sight!
Then she spotted him—standing right in the path of the charging Tauros herd!
"Ash, get out of there!" she shouted.
But her voice couldn't reach him anymore.
"Watch this!"
As the thundering Tauros raced toward him, Ash's confident grin widened. Even Pikachu on his shoulder looked totally calm.
With perfect timing, he grabbed the lead Tauros's horns, leapt into the air, and spun 360 degrees before landing cleanly on its back like a rodeo master.
"Whoa! That kid's amazing! Not only did he touch the horns—he's riding it! Give it up for the brave young man!"
The crowd erupted in cheers!
"Alright folks, now that you've had your fill of the Tauros chase, it's time for the main event—the Tauros One-on-One Battle Tournament!"
Tauros battles!
Riding the lead Tauros, Ash entered a small stadium set up for one-on-one duels. The tournament had begun!
Before the Tauros could even stop running, Ash dismounted and rushed to the Pokémon Center to contact Professor Oak.
"Professor Oak, could you please send over Tauros #12? And also, please send this new Pokémon to my mom."
Ash had earlier transferred Heracross to Professor Oak in order to make room for Psyduck. The professor had been requesting Heracross's help to gather data for a while now.
As for Wobbuffet—Ash's compatibility with it was surprisingly high at 200. But instead of keeping it around as a battle tank, he thought it would be much better company for his mom, Delia.
Wobbuffet was such a gentle Pokémon. It would definitely make a wonderful companion for her.
Tauros #12, on the other hand, was the strongest out of the thirty Ash had caught—and their compatibility hit a whopping 235!
"Got it! Just sent the transfer through!" Professor Oak confirmed.
With Tauros in hand, Ash returned to the battle arena.
"Ash, you're back!" Misty and Brock had been waiting anxiously.
"Fantastic! The contestant Fernando's Tauros has already won eight consecutive battles! Wait a minute—isn't that the brave warrior who touched the Tauros horns earlier? He's back! Let's give him another round of applause!"
The crowd's roaring cheers and thunderous claps—it was the honor of a true Trainer.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town. Tauros, I choose you!"
Ash's #12 Tauros entered the field with an overwhelming presence. The opposing Tauros, with eight straight wins, was clearly no pushover either.
"Come on, warrior—show me your strength!" Fernando, the other Trainer, admired Ash's courage and was determined to go all out!
"Tauros, use Take Down!" x2
Both bulls charged forward, hooves thundering across the battlefield, their impact shaking the very ground!
When their horns clashed, the collision was intense. Neither one gave an inch.
But in the end, Ash's Tauros proved stronger, securing the win—and not just that, it achieved a ten-win streak, earning ultimate victory!
Tauros #12: 130/238
….
!