Pallet Town: Professor Oak's Backyard, Gary Oak was watching the footage while scrolling through the Heavenly Path Ranking forum on his phone to see if there were any interesting topics.
He happened across a thread mocking Ash and his friends for never changing their clothes. Just as he was about to join in and laugh at Ash, he froze.
He looked down at his own outfit. He realized... he only ever wore two sets of clothes himself. He wasn't any different from Ash.
'Dammit! After this ranking ends, I'm going shopping! How have I been wearing the same two outfits this whole time?!' Before someone pointed it out, he hadn't noticed.
Now that he knew, it felt more awkward the more he thought about it...
In the Footage—
Ash and the others were preparing to cross Mount Quena. However, the mountain was steep and full of cliffs. Generally, the only way to get across was via a bus that ran once a week. Unfortunately, they missed the bus by a split second!
With no other choice, they stayed at a lodge near the mountain. The owner was a beautiful woman named Luna.
She told them that besides the bus, they could take a wooden boat down the river, which would also take them around the mountain quickly.
Being his usual impatient self, Ash decided they would row out first thing the next morning.
In the morning, Luna invited them to taste the river water. Having lived at Mount Quena for years, she knew the water was better than anywhere else.
Luna filled two iron cups and handed them to Misty and Brock. After Misty drank, her eyes sparkled! She felt as if her entire body had been purified! Brock, meanwhile, was moved to tears—it was so good he literally cried.
Ash asked skeptically, "Is it really that great? It's just river water." "If you don't believe it, try it yourself!" Misty said, handing her cup directly to Ash. Without a second thought, Ash took it and drank...
Reactions Across the Regions
Kalos Region: Vaniville TownSerena: "!!!" How could this be?! Ash had an indirect kiss with another girl... and it happened before I could even get close! Waaaah!
Pallet Town: Professor Oak's BackyardWhoosh!Misty's face turned bright red instantly, and her heart began to race! What the heck! They're showing this?! Can't they skip this part?! Skip it!! And what was I thinking back then? Don't I know about personal space? How could I just give him my cup like that?!
"Oh my~ Misty, giving Ash your water just like that?" Delia teased, looking at the two with a knowing smile.
She had sensed it for a while, but now she was certain: Misty definitely liked her son! "No! Mrs. Ketchum, don't misunderstand—" "It's just a drink of water, what's the big deal?" Ash interrupted, sounding completely unbothered. "Misty and I are best buds! She wouldn't let me go thirsty, right?"
Misty/Delia/Gary/Brock: "..." Good grief! As expected of Ash, the Super Oblivious King! You have no idea what that sip of water implied, do you?'Why do I even care...' Misty thought, shaking her head as she tried to calm her heart. 'Stupid Ash is just stupid Ash. He'd never notice those details anyway.'
In the Footage—
Brock saw through everything but kept his mouth shut.
After Ash finished the water, he looked satisfied for a split second before returning to his usual expression. "It's okay... but I think my mom's hot cocoa tastes better." Delia's smile widened.
It seemed that even if her son found a wife, he wouldn't forget his mother!
Misty and Brock yelled at him, "How can you compare cocoa to natural spring water?!" "You have no taste!" "What do you mean 'no taste'?" Ash countered.
"Pikachu, you try it. It's just normal water." Pikachu and Togepi took a drink and immediately cheered with delight.
Their expressions showed they felt completely refreshed. "For real...?" Ash began to doubt his own taste buds.
The Quiz
The trio set off in a small wooden boat. Since they were going downstream, it didn't take much effort. They waved goodbye to Luna. Suddenly, the screen paused.
[Temporary Quiz: During the boat trip, the group encountered an accident and had to return upstream immediately. Who exerted the most strength to row the boat back against the current?]
A: Misty
B: Brock
C: Ash
D: Pikachu
[Time limit: 2 minutes. Format: First-to-answer.]
[Lance: Ha! Is this even a question? It's obviously C!]
[Diantha: While I know Lance's predictions are usually a jinx, who else but Ash has the raw power to row a boat upstream against a current?]
[Bruno: Exactly! It has to be Ash! Anyone who doesn't pick C is an idiot!]
Professor Oak's Backyard: "I hope I can get to the button in time..." Misty said nervously. "Actually... I think it might be A," Brock said, a spark of wisdom in his squinted eyes. "A? No way Misty has that kind of—wait," Ash started, then realized something.
People thought Misty was a delicate girl, but she was the woman who carried a fried bicycle and ran all the way to Viridian City in the rain. When she was angry or scared, even Ash might not be her match!
"Hey! That's rude! I'm a delicate lady!" Misty snapped. "Misty has the strength," Brock explained, "but look at the environment.
They're passing through a forest by the river. Clear water and forests are the favorite habitat of... Bug-type Pokémon." Ash and Misty realized it instantly.
Misty's fear of bugs was legendary. If there were bugs, she would turn into a human outboard motor.
The timer hit zero. The winner was... Gary Oak! Gary smirked. "Finally! My gaming reflexes paid off!" He confidently pressed Option A: Misty.
[Lance: What? Gary, do you even know how to play? Why A?]
[Lorelei: I've met Misty. She's a slender girl; I doubt she has that power. Gary, who told you that?]
[Gary Oak is... CORRECT. Reward distributed.]
The world was stunned. Misty? That "delicate" girl rowed a boat upstream?
The Reward
Gary was enveloped in light. When it faded, he was grinning like a madman. "Gary... what did you get?" Ash asked. "Hahaha! I got the Pokémon Training Manual of Blue! It's over for you, Ash! I'll surpass you in minutes! My path to becoming Champion is wide open!" Red's eyes sharpened.
"If you have time, could you show me some of that manual?" "Of course, Red! I'd love your input!" Gary's tone with Red was completely different than with Ash. Red was a master he respected.
In the Footage—
The boat was drifting peacefully when they encountered a group of Ledian. Misty smiled. "If it's cute bugs like Ledian, I'm totally fine!" But then... they entered a territory filled with Kakuna and swarms of aggressive Beedrill.
"AAAAAHHH!! I CAN'T TAKE IT! ESCAPE! ESCAPE! RUN!!" Misty grabbed the oars and, by her sheer terror-fueled strength, rowed the boat upstream so fast it left a wake like a speedboat, returning them to their starting point in seconds!
The audience was speechless. You call that a delicate lady?! With that arm strength, she could probably knock out a Magikarp with one punch!
Mewtwo's Solitude
The scene shifted to the top of Mount Quena. Mewtwo stood with the Clone Meowth and Clone Pikachu, looking at the full moon.
A group of Butterfree flew by, prompting Mewtwo to reflect on life. To this day, he was bothered by his status as a clone. Not that he hated it, but he wondered if a clone could ever live in peace like "real" Pokémon.
'What should we do from now on... how should we live?' Mewtwo asked. "Pika-pika! Pikachu!!" 'You're saying... hiding here is like being in a prison?' Mewtwo then turned to the Clone Meowth. 'And what about you, Meowth?' "Meowth!" 'No matter where you look from... the moon is round? But we are clones. We weren't born of this world...' "Meowth!" 'Whether we are clones or not, is the moon we see the same moon?'
A small smile played on Mewtwo's lips. 'Indeed... that makes sense.'
[Professor Oak: Mewtwo is still troubled by his identity. He feels guilty enjoying a peaceful life as a "fake." But Meowth told him that what he sees and feels is no different from any other Pokémon. He is a living being, and his origin doesn't change the reality of his existence.]
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