Chapter 153

【Enemies are especially prone to anger when they meet. Upon seeing Ash, Team Rocket could no longer be bothered with capturing other Pokémon; all of their attention was focused entirely on Ash.】

【"Secret weapon, we must use the secret weapon." Musashi quickly pressed a button, and a giant cannon emerged from the robot's body, aiming directly at Ash.】

【Kojiro also rapidly pressed the button to gather energy, muttering as he did so, "Kid, feel the fury of Team Rocket!!!"】

【"What should we do now?"】

【Being targeted by the giant cannon, and with it gathering energy at high speed, Ade panicked instantly.】

【"We’d better run for our lives, Ash."】

【Ash had no intention of fleeing. He looked at Ade with calm composure and spoke slowly: "Ade, even you have never truly believed that Wobbuffet possesses abilities far beyond the ordinary, have you?"】

【Ash’s words sent a shock through Ade’s heart. At that moment, he even forgot he was in danger.】

【Yes, that was correct. Even though he liked Wobbuffet very much, like everyone else, Ade thought Wobbuffet was a mediocre Pokémon.】

【Before Ash, he had never heard anyone praise Wobbuffet from the bottom of their heart.】

【"Then today, I will let you witness Wobbuffet’s true ability. You can decide then whether or not to trade Wobbuffet away," Ash said with a smile.】

【Then, Ash looked at Wobbuffet with a smile. He didn't say a word, nor did he use his Aura. Man and Pokémon simply locked eyes, and their hearts were instantly in sync.】

【"Wobbuffet."】

【The calm voice carried a fighting spirit; Wobbuffet was ready for battle.】

【It was the first time Ade had ever seen Wobbuffet like this.】

【"Wobbuffet, Mirror Coat."】

【Upon receiving Ash’s command, Wobbuffet quickly took a step forward, blocking in front of Ade and Ash, as white light condensed around its body.】

Gōetsu: "Is this for real? Is Ash planning to have Wobbuffet reflect Team Rocket's attack?"

Diantha: "Well, let me just say, the robots Team Rocket builds are actually worthy of respect."

Malva: "And it looks like Team Rocket has a sufficient budget this time; this robot doesn't feel shoddy at all."

Alder: "Even for a Patient Pokémon, there is a limit."

Musashi: "Mirror Coat? What is Mirror Coat? Doesn't Wobbuffet only have the Counter move?"

Everyone: "..."

【"Hahaha, no way, that guy isn't actually trying to block Super No. 1's attack, is he?"】

【Musashi laughed.】

【To build Super No. 1, they had spent an entire year's salary in advance. Super No. 1 was a super robot built with cold hard cash; what could that dull, silly blue Pokémon possibly do to stop it?】

【"I can't wait to hear the brat's wailing." Thinking about how it was Ash’s tip-off that almost got him dragged away by his fiancée, Kojiro felt his teeth itch with hatred.】

【This time, he would settle both old and new scores.】

【"The brat's Pikachu is very strong. Let's give it to the Boss later. Meow."】

【Meowth was already prepared to be promoted to an executive and take over as a branch manager.】

【The light cannon was successfully fired.】

【But the scene Musashi, Kojiro, and Meowth were expecting never happened.】

【They wanted to see the light cannon flatten their opponent in one shot, but in reality, that Pokémon they looked down upon, called Wobbuffet, actually held the light cannon back.】

【Although it looked like it was struggling and kept sliding backward, it really did hold it off.】

【It wasn't over yet.】

【Blocking the move wasn't the end of it; Wobbuffet even bounced the move they fired right back at them.】

【"Damn it, damn it, damn it! A year's salary, hundreds of Pokémon, now all turned into bubbles."】

【In the air, Musashi was frantically scratching at her hair; she was going crazy.】

【"Ahhhhh, next time, next time, I will definitely get my revenge." Kojiro was also losing it; this brat was truly difficult to deal with.】

【"For the next few months, we can only eat instant noodles, and we have to work to pay back the Boss's money, meow."】

【"What an annoying feeling!!!"】

Bruno: "No way, that Wobbuffet really did it?"

Lance: "Is this fake? Is Wobbuffet really that ridiculous?"

Steven: "Still calling it Wobbuffet? Call it the God of Wobbuffet!!!"

Serena: "It’s my first time seeing a Wobbuffet reflect a light cannon with such power; it’s simply incredible."

Ash: "Is this really Musashi's Wobbuffet?"

Ash was starting to doubt his life.

That’s not right. Isn't Musashi's Wobbuffet usually beaten up by his Pikachu?

How did it suddenly become so strong?

Wallace: "Could it be that Dark Ash did something to it?"

Wallace felt that Dark Ash must have secretly used the power of Aura; otherwise, it would be impossible for Wobbuffet to reflect a light cannon of that magnitude.

Cynthia: "Is today your first day knowing Dark Ash? Would he do something like that?"

Leon: "The same Pokémon will show completely different performance in different hands. I can only say that Dark Ash's eye is indeed sharp; he was the only one who saw Wobbuffet's uniqueness."

【Because of Ash’s assist, Ade’s Wobbuffet suddenly became the most popular item at the trade convention.】

【Trainers who had rejected Ade not long ago were now bringing their own Pokémon, scrambling to trade with him.】

【Even the trainer of the Scyther appeared; as long as Ade nodded, he would trade his Scyther to Ade.】

【Happiness had come all too suddenly.】

【"That's great." Watching Ade in the crowd, Misty was genuinely happy for him. "Now Ade can finally trade for the Pokémon he’s always wanted."】

【"Is it really good?" Erika had a different opinion than Misty. "The people now don't truly like Wobbuffet; they are all after its ability. Once they realize they can't bring out that kind of power in their own hands, what will happen to Wobbuffet then?"】

【"Can't bring out the same power?" Misty didn't quite understand what Erika meant.】

【"Not everyone is worth a Pokémon giving its all." This was Erika's answer.】

【In Erika's view, the reason Wobbuffet had such a stunning performance this time was mainly to repay Ash’s trust.】

【It was precisely because of this that Wobbuffet unleashed all of its potential.】

Professor Oak: "Erika's words make a lot of sense. Perhaps it was to repay Ash for recognizing its talent that Wobbuffet was able to have such a heaven-defying performance."

Gary: "Wobbuffet itself must not be bad either; otherwise, no matter how much it exploded with power, it wouldn't be able to do something like that."

Steven: "If that's the case, it's a pity that Wobbuffet is with Musashi. Musashi doesn't even know what moves Wobbuffet can use; in her hands, Wobbuffet can only be buried."

Steven's words struck Musashi hard, leaving her unable to refute.

What Musashi didn't expect was that the first person to speak up for her wasn't Kojiro or Meowth, but Ash.

Ash: "But I think Wobbuffet is very happy with Team Rocket."

Steven: "Very happy?"

Ash: "Not all Pokémon have to battle. As long as Wobbuffet is happy, that's all that matters."

Happy to be with Team Rocket?

It sounded ridiculous.

Because everyone in the chat room knew what kind of life Team Rocket led—wandering every day, with even eating being a problem.

Would a Pokémon really be happy living like that?

Professor Oak: "They would. Pokémon are easily satisfied. As long as the trainer is good to them, they will be happy even if life is a bit tight."

Material life was never what Pokémon pursued; what they needed was love—love from their trainer.

So, did Musashi love Wobbuffet?

The answer was yes. Perhaps Musashi wasn't a good person, but she loved her Pokémon very, very much.

Arbok, Lickitung, Wobbuffet—whether it was the Pokémon she once had or the ones she had now, she loved them all.

Back to the video, Ade had also made his decision at this moment.

【"I'm sorry, this Wobbuffet cannot be traded!!!"】

【In the end, Ade controlled his inner greed. He didn't trade Wobbuffet away. Ade’s performance also made Ash very satisfied; with Ade, Wobbuffet would live happily.】

138: Karen appears. Is she also here to snatch Dark Ash?

【Just as Ash was about to leave, Ade stopped him.】

【"Ash, do you want Wobbuffet?" Ade suddenly asked.】

【"Huh?"】

— Author's Notes —

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