Inside the cave, a rock fell from the cliff, and Ash poked his head out of the cave.
Seeing no one in the cave, Ash instantly felt a chill run down his spine.
He had already thought of the most terrifying thing: Squirtle had executed Xiao Xia.
But he had clearly returned before noon the next day, as Squirtle had instructed. He could already hear Xiao Xia's desperate cries.
Just then, Ash, as if seeing a lifeline, quickly ran towards Squirtle, who was showing his body outside the cave, and angrily shouted, “Squirtle! Why did you execute Xiao Xia? I’ve returned as promised!”
He completely ignored the Squirtles, who were looking at the self-absorbed Ash as if he were an idiot. Behind Ash, Yu Teng Sheng Dai and Brock were holding back Xiao Xia, who wanted to make a move.
“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine!”
Xiao Xia was unhappy that she couldn't teach Ash a lesson with her fists, but doing nothing wasn't her style either, so she could only vent with words.
Ash stared blankly at Xiao Xia, who had come back to life, completely oblivious to the mocking Squirtles surrounding him.
“Xiao Xia, you’re alive! Did Yu Feng take your place?”
Ash was truly overjoyed to the point of tears, not expecting Xiao Xia to have escaped this threat. But he looked around and realized Yu Feng wasn't there.
Suddenly, a bad premonition surged in Ash’s heart again. Could it be that Yu Feng had taken Xiao Xia's place to save her?
“What are you doing? Where’s Pikachu’s medicine?”
Xiao Xia, no longer indulging Ash, who was getting increasingly outlandish, interrupted his thoughts and asked where the medicine he bought for Pikachu was.
Hearing Xiao Xia's words, Ash finally remembered why he went out and handed the Potion to Xiao Xia.
After receiving the Potion, Xiao Xia squatted down and carefully applied the medicine to Pikachu. Although Yu Feng had treated it, applying the Potion would definitely make it heal faster.
“Eh, Xiao Xia, weren't you executed? And where’s Yu Feng?”
Seeing that Pikachu’s condition was still acceptable, Ash finally asked his question. Although he had arrived quickly, it was indeed already noon, and Xiao Xia should have been executed by this time.
“Well, I’m very sorry, but I’m perfectly alive. Yu Feng went out to train because you kept not coming back.”
Xiao Xia was quite speechless as to why Ash didn't wish her well, but considering he had returned, she still explained to him.
“You were pranked. The Squirtles said they only play pranks and don’t do bad things.”
It was Brock who cleared up Ash's confusion. After all, pranks don't usually lead to serious trouble.
Squirtle also mocked the frantic Ash from the side. Even Jenny wasn't in such a hurry to deal with them.
“Ah!!!!”
...Yu Feng stretched his body, expressing his dissatisfaction to the forest. Saffron City wasn't far, and he would soon be able to go solo, away from Ash.
“Kirlia!! (Big brother, did you really need to be so heavy-handed?)”
Shiny Kirlia wiped the bloodstain from the corner of her mouth, rubbing her bruised body.
Big brother was really heavy-handed this time! He usually wouldn't be so harsh. She didn't know what she had done wrong. If it was about the Pikachu incident, she had already apologized, and given big brother's personality, he wouldn't pursue it further.
He didn't realize that Yu Feng now felt that walking with Ash was not a wise decision. By his own pace, he would have already finished the Saffron Gym and had a showdown with Blaine.
The reason was Ash's tendency to get lost. Yes, getting lost in the forest for several weeks certainly takes time!
But thankfully, after challenging the Gym in Vermilion City, the next stop was Saffron City, so there wouldn't be as many problems.
“We should head back too. That training session felt good.”
Yu Feng came back to his senses, sprinkled some Life Dew on his younger sister, and then walked towards the cave. Ash should be back by now, right? He couldn't really have fallen asleep, could he?
“What a nasty feeling!”
Yu Feng vaguely heard such a voice. He stood still and looked up at the sky, where a bright star was shining brilliantly.
“Kirlia? (What’s wrong?)”
Shiny Kirlia was rather confused as to why big brother suddenly stopped. She also looked around but didn't find anything.
“Did you hear a ‘what a nasty feeling’?”
Yu Feng poked his ears, seemingly trying to confirm that his ears weren't malfunctioning. He seemed to have heard the voices of Team Rockets.
“Kirlia. (No, I didn’t. Maybe you’re overthinking it? I only saw the stars in the sky, although it’s strange to see stars during the day.)”
Shiny Kirlia didn't understand what big brother was saying. Besides that star, there was nothing else strange in the sky.
“Maybe I was just imagining things. Let’s go.”
Yu Feng also felt that he had misheard. Team Rockets shouldn't be here at this time, and Meowth had already been tied up by him, so what other tricks could they pull... After extinguishing a large forest fire, the Squirtle Squad was also honored as the town’s fire department, and Ash and his companions finally resumed their journey.
But would it really be that smooth?
“Hey, Ash, look, they’re following us!”
Xiao Xia whispered to Ash. Two Squirtles were slowly following behind them.
Everyone stopped and turned to look at the Squirtles behind them.
“Why don’t you just come with us, Squirtle?”
Ash invited Squirtle Boss. They had formed a deep friendship during this time.
“Squirtle!”
Squirtle Boss put away his sunglasses and happily jumped into Ash’s arms.
“Hahaha, I caught Squirtle!”
Ash happily hugged Squirtle and laughed. This was the Pokémon he wanted most!
(Bulbasaur and Charmander: You’re full of it!!)
“You call that catching a Pokémon? By the way, where’s the other one? Was it captivated by me, the great Water-type Pokémon Master?”
Xiao Xia first looked helplessly at the excited Ash. He was probably the only one who would catch a Pokémon this way. But then she became smug. The other Squirtle must have been captivated by her, the world’s number one Water-type Pokémon Master!
“Squirtle, Squirtle!”
Squirtle shook her head and then looked seriously at Yu Feng. She clearly felt Yu Feng's strength. Following this fellow Pokémon would surely allow her to reach a stage many others couldn't even touch, and this fellow Pokémon was really handsome!!!
“What! Why Yu Feng!”
Seeing that Squirtle wasn't there because of her, Xiao Xia directly fell to the ground. Was she just being wishful?
“I prefer Psychic-type and Fairy-type Pokémon, so…”
Yu Feng didn't explicitly reject Squirtle’s request, but saying that he only liked Psychic-type and Fairy-type Pokémon could be considered a rejection.
“But don’t you have Charmander?”
Ash suddenly spoke up. He didn't understand why anyone would refuse to catch a Pokémon, especially when the Pokémon itself wanted to follow him.
“Ash, if you can’t say anything sensible, don’t speak. Charmander is a starter Pokémon; I can’t decide the type of a starter Pokémon.”
Yu Feng looked at Ash, who didn't understand his meaning, with a headache. Squirtle was about to give up, but Ash’s words reignited her hope. She looked at Yu Feng with watery eyes, hoping he would catch her.
“You go, convince her.”
Yu Feng was truly helpless and had to ask his younger sister, who was watching the show, to convince her. He wouldn’t catch just any Pokémon.
“Kirlia! (Leave it to me!)”
Shiny Kirlia nodded. Her big brother’s team was already full, so she had to handle this matter.
Shiny Kirlia led Squirtle aside and whispered something. Not long after, Shiny Kirlia, with a satisfied expression, led the delighted Squirtle out.
Under Yu Feng’s bewildered gaze, she casually took a Poké Ball from his waist and caught Squirtle, then smugly patted her chest at Yu Feng.
