Chapter 547: First Meeting with Ash

"Pika pika!"

An alert cry rang out.

All Baimu's eyes lit up. What did he hear? One of the most classic lines from the Pokémon anime series—

Pikachu, voiced by Ikue Ōtani!

That pure "pika" was truly unforgettable in this lifetime; the moment he heard it, it was like his DNA activating, and the image of Pikachu with its tail held high, gazing this way, quickly formed in his mind.

He forcibly held back the urge to run over, and called out loudly: "Excuse me, are you Ash and the Gym Leader Clemont over there?"

"No! Don't come over!"

Volcanion refused crisply.

Then came a little girl's silvery-bell-like exclamation, "Brother, it seems like he knows you! And he knows Ash too!"

"Dummy, how can you just agree to that…"

Volcanion seemed a little annoyed.

"Acquaintances?"

That relatively mature girl's voice should be Serena. Both names are transliterations, the difference being one is the official translation and the other a fan translation.

"I don't know either… that voice isn't very familiar… what about Ash?"

That should be Clemont.

"Huh? I-I don't know, hahahahaha."

Ash! Rica Matsumoto! The standard hot-blooded dummy voice!

It was just like a stage play where all the main characters appear one by one; listening to them talk, All Baimu couldn't help feeling a bit happy.

The power of childhood memories, huh?

He also didn't know if Team Rocket was nearby; they should be here at this point, right? Secretly spying on Ash and the others.

All Baimu asked again: "May I come over?"

"No!"

"Beep beep beep~"

"Really not… ah, alright alright Magearna, I got it."

Volcanion seemed to have been persuaded by Magearna, and said helplessly: "Come over then, but don't say I didn't warn you—if you have any ill intentions, I'll blast you away."

【Blast away】, literally.

The stubborn Volcanion was a Mythical Pokémon that did what it said.

"Rest assured."

All Baimu pushed through the dense shrubs; the first thing he saw was a campfire burning brightly by the stream, followed by the people gathered around it, Pikachu, Magearna, and the massive Volcanion.

Among them, Ash, dressed like an astronaut, was quite eye-catching.

The ever-unchanging hairstyle, the cheerful and bright temperament, paired with this strange outfit.

Even though he was extremely familiar with this part of the story, seeing the real people now, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Stay right there!"

Volcanion undid the thick long arm on its back and pointed it toward him; a pale blue light swirled at the tip, as if it could unleash a combined blast of water and energy at any moment.

All Baimu raised both hands in a surrender gesture, and under everyone's gaze, first glanced twice toward the other side of the stream.

Although the night dimmed his view and limited his sight, his exceptionally sharp eyes still clearly detected two large and one small shadows behind a few bluestones.

Team Rocket was indeed watching from the shadows.

He didn't want to tip them off; anyway, those guys would definitely attack later anyway.

"Hello everyone, my name is All Baimu, a member of the rescue organization cooperating with the International Police."

All Baimu said to everyone, especially Ash: "Ash, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with the International Police. Do you still remember handsome?"

"Handsome!"

Ash's memory was still pretty good; hearing that name, he immediately fell into reminiscence, and his already scant wariness completely vanished.

Pikachu tilted its head to glance at him, and seeing All Baimu's smiling face, dropped its guard.

"Pika?"

"International Police?"

Serena clearly watched a lot of TV dramas in her daily life; hearing that name was like hearing the FBI in a past life. She looked nervously at Ash, then at Clemont, and said: "Ash! Clemont! Have you two had contact with the International Police?"

"No no no, how could we!"

Clemont waved his hands repeatedly in denial.

Bonnie, not even waist-high, her eyes sparkling, dashed to All Baimu and asked: "Are you with the International Police? That's amazing! Where are your handcuffs? And your spy trench coat—"

"Bonnie!"

Clemont was scared out of his wits; a mechanical arm flew out from the large backpack on his back and dragged his mischievous little sister back.

He hurriedly bowed in apology, "Sorry sorry, Bonnie didn't mean any harm."

"It's fine, you don't need to be nervous, and it seems there's a bit of a misunderstanding."

All Baimu took out his phone and displayed the temporary credentials he had gotten from Master Liu Ge, saying frankly: "I'm not with the International Police, at most an auxiliary member."

Volcanion hadn't understood a word since the beginning, but it also realized he wasn't some bad person, and snorted: "There are too many humans now. Once we've rested, let's hurry home, Magearna."

"Beep beep beep~"

Magearna gazed at All Baimu, and upon hearing its words, nodded.

The other side of the stream.

Jessie lowered the night-vision binoculars, puzzled: "Where did this stranger come from?"

"It seems they don't know that person meow."

Meowth said blankly.

"He's a handsome guy, and a really young handsome guy!" Musashi said excitedly, drawing speechless sidelong glances from the person and cat beside her.

Kojiro said troubledly: "He doesn't look like a passerby. What do we do, should we notify Jarvis?"

"No need! Just stick to the original plan! Don't forget the secret weapon we just got our hands on." Musashi decisively rejected the suggestion, revealing the dark-gold bracelet on her wrist.

Seeing this, Kojiro and Meowth couldn't help getting excited too.

"Yeah!"

"That's right, meow!"

"Idiot, you're too loud! Shh! Shh!"

"Oh oh oh oh—"

——

Ash's side.

After a round of self-introductions.

Baimu had initially gained the trust of the group, the key being that he had persuaded the only brain among them — Clemont.

After all, among these four people, Ash had the most traveling experience but was the least wary.

Serena generally took Ash as her leader, occasionally relying on Clemont, but if Ash was absent or fell into some predicament, she could certainly carry the banner.

Bonnie went without saying — an optimist and a little rascal, with no opinions of her own except when picking brides for her brother.

Only Clemont, this young inventor, was barely reliable.

Why say barely?

Because a normal person couldn't possibly keep making inventions that explode and perm hair; he felt that if Clemont went to research bombs, he'd surely achieve extraordinary success.

Actually there was also a hidden brain among the four — Pikachu — but persuading it was far too difficult.

Everyone sat down around the campfire.

Clemont spoke up first:

"Baimu-san…"

"Just call me Baimu is fine."

"Alright, may I ask what business you have with Ash and me?"

"If I have to say, what I'm actually looking for isn't you — it's the thing in Miss Bonnie's bag." Baimu smiled and pointed at Bonnie's bag.

Bonnie opened her waist-bag in confusion and said: "Looking for Dedenne?"

"Dedene?"

Dedenne popped its head out blankly.

Clemont, on the other hand, seemed to suddenly realize and exchanged glances with Ash and Serena; his expression grew serious, and he asked again: "Are you going to… take Zygarde away?"

"Pururururu?"

Another green, planarian-like being poked its head out of the yellow little bag.

"Take Zygarde away?"

Bonnie's face changed drastically; she quickly closed the bag and refused: "No! Don't take Zygarde away!"

Baimu said somewhat helplessly: "Of course not, you can rest easy. The reason I sought you out is to cooperate with Z1… Zygarde."

"Cooperate?"

The group exchanged uncertain glances.

Just as he was about to explain, the corner of his eye caught Z1 gazing at him with considerable gravity.

Then, a vast, grand yet slightly piercing voice sounded in his mind.

"Art thou the Will of the Land?"

"The Will of the Land?"

Baimu was taken aback for a moment; the first image that flashed through his mind was the scene from before he came, when he had gone to the deepest part of the Awakening Shrine.

He couldn't help lowering his head to look at himself all over, and meeting the puzzled gazes of Ash and the others, asked: "May I ask what makes you say so?"

"…Pay it no mind, it was my poor eyesight."

He hadn't expected Z1 to respond with a single line about poor eyesight before pulling its head back in.

Baimu: "…"

Fine then.

Once Z2 is rescued, I'll come interrogate you properly — we'll see if you talk then.

He looked at Ash's group and said: "I expect you've already had contact with Team Flare, and the reason these people are capturing Zygarde and another Zygarde Core is to use their power to kill other people in Kalos."

"Kill…"

Ash and Clemont were full of disbelief, Serena covered her mouth with trembling eyes, Bonnie's fine brows rose as if quite indignant.

The Z1 that had just ducked its head also poked it back out, gazing at Baimu as he spoke softly.

Volcanion, listening on the side, gave a cold laugh.

"This is humanity — oppressing Pokémon isn't enough, they even want to use Pokémon to oppress their own kind. Heh heh heh heh."

"It's a portion of humanity; your categorization is far too sweeping."

He replied, then continued: "To stop these people's plot, I hope to obtain Zygarde's help — to break into Team Flare's base together with it and rescue the other Zygarde Core before they can manipulate it."

"Isn't that too dangerous…"

"Of course, I won't be acting alone — many others will be involved too."

Baimu glanced into the distance; Porygon2 had just confirmed that Team Rocket wouldn't overhear their conversation, and he said softly:

"If I'm not mistaken, Team Flare will act very soon, which is why I came here — to gain Zygarde's help."

"I accept!"

Z1 agreed without a moment's hesitation.

This left All Baimu, who had prepared a whole series of persuasive arguments, with nothing to say. He stared at Z1 in astonishment, and Ash and the others were equally surprised.

Why was Z1, who rarely agreed to anything, so forthcoming today?

Yurika asked in surprise, "Is Xiaoruan okay with it?"

"Pururururu…"

Z1 nodded, then went limp.

It seemed that during its escape, part of its strength had transferred to Manon' s Hariyama, causing the latter to fall into a coma, and it had also become terribly frail — like Ultraman, its fighting time was limited.

"Th-then is the big brother going to take Xiaoruan away?"

Yurika looked at All Baimu with a pitiful expression.

As the provisional trainer who would later form a pact with Z1, she was naturally extremely reluctant to part with Z1, but she could also hear the importance of the matter in its tone.

"It won't come to that — you can come along with Xiaoruan. Of course, we won't assign you any operational tasks; that would be too dangerous."

All Baimu smiled.

He had actually come to find Ash and the others for another purpose — to borrow the latter's "justice always prevails" buff.

Regardless of how strong they were at the League Conference, whenever it came to fighting evil, Ash and Pikachu absolutely could not lose to anyone.

Even if they couldn't handle it themselves, legendary Pokémon would come to their aid.

There was no reason not to keep such a human-shaped super buff by his side to ensure the operation's success.

Yurika's smile returned — wonderful, no inner struggle needed! She jumped up and shouted, "Yay! I don't have to be separated from Xiaoruan!"

"Dedenne!"

"Beep beep beep~"

Sensing her joy, Dedenne and Magearna joined in the cheering.

"Hmph!"

Volcanion let out a snort of laughter, but its gaze toward Magearna was especially gentle,

Citroon looked at his sister with doting affection, then lowered his head toward All Baimu and said gratefully, "I'm sorry, my sister has caused you trouble."

"Not at all, not at all."

All Baimu waved his hand, and glanced at Mi Ke Li, who seemed a little worried but kept mending Ash's clothes without pausing.

What "the loving mother mends with thread in hand"?

Or "Shi Niang sews you a new robe"?

He looked at Ash's adorably blank face and sighed inwardly — that young Miss was being so direct and you didn't react at all!

A battle simpleton, nothing more.

"Speaking of which, I'd say Ash and I are quite fated."

All Baimu smiled as he opened his phone's photo album, flipped to the pictures with Dawn and the others, and said to Ash and Pikachu, "I've pretty much met all your old traveling companions by now — they always talk about you."

"Ehehe? Really?"

Ash scooted over with great excitement, his movements a little comical because he wasn't used to his thick clothes.

But he didn't mind — he just looked eagerly with Pikachu at the photos of All Baimu with Dawn and the others.

"Ah! It's Dawn! Piplup!"

"Pikachu!"

"Brock's here too! Happiny has already evolved into Chansey…"

"Pika~chu~"

"Max! He's already started traveling? What Pokémon is this? It looks really strong!"

"Pi!"

"It's May! Huh? This is… Drew? Hariyama! Ursaring! This is the Wallace Cup? Who won in the end? Huh? You're a Coordinator too? Amazing!"

"Pika? Pika!"

At first only All Baimu, Ash, and Pikachu were discussing it, but soon Yurika joined in, then Mi Ke Li, and finally Citroon came over to join the fun.

Even Volcanion couldn't help craning its neck to take a look.

The cheerful atmosphere instantly swept away the earlier gloom, and the matter of Team Flare was temporarily forgotten.

"Hahahaha! It's really been too long since I've seen everyone — I miss them so much. It's great to see they're still so healthy."

Ash sat on the ground, gazing up at the starry sky with Pikachu.

"Pika~"

"Everyone misses you too — they often talk about you with me, especially Max." All Baimu said with a smile.

"Max? Really?"

Ash was visibly surprised — after all, Max privately said he was unreliable all the time.

All Baimu nodded. "Of course. He said the trainer he admires most is you, and he's been traveling hard with you as his goal. He's looking forward to your performance at the Kalos League."

"Hehehe, that's kind of embarrassing to hear."

Ash rubbed his nose and said softly, "I see, Max…"

His former companions held too many precious memories, and those memories could become the driving force that pushed him forward.

All Baimu realized he might have just given him a "friendship buff" — who knows, there might even be a flashback scene in the finals.

Night had fallen.

Ash and the others informed All Baimu of the current situation.

The latter, with Volcanion's "suit yourself" consent, was able to head to the Nebel Plateau together with them.

It was clear that this Mythical Pokémon, which didn't trust humans, had already let down its guard against him.

Pokémon were often like this — saying they didn't trust, didn't trust, but once a human showed kindness and a desire to get close, they would gradually come to believe them.

The group stopped to rest in a mountain cave, preparing for the journey ahead the next day.

All Baimu was also a bit drowsy, so he closed his eyes briefly to rest.

Waiting for Team Rocket to come knocking and deliver themselves.

He didn't know how long had passed.

He opened his eyes slightly and saw the Volcanion beside him and the Pikachu opposite both rising at the same time.

"You sensed it too?"

Volcanion glanced at him and Pikachu.

"Pika!"

Pikachu nodded and immediately darted out of the cave at top speed.

All Baimu followed right behind, while Volcanion took its heavier steps; the magnetic shackles on its feet activated with its movement, forcibly waking the sleeping Ash.

Outside the cave.

The instant Pikachu ran out, countless emerald-green projectiles rained down behind it, thudding onto the ground and sending up plumes of green smoke.

The fierce-looking attack didn't hit a single time.

All Baimu, following behind, twitched the corner of his mouth, then saw Pikachu's body crackle with electric current as it shot a bolt of lightning upward.

"Pika-chu—!"

Boom!

Smoke curled around the mountaintop, jolting the others awake inside the cave.

All Baimu turned his head and gazed at the two people and one Meowth standing on the mountaintop looking exceedingly proud, along with the Heracross and Pinsir even higher up.

A smile gradually crept across his face as he asked, "Who are you people!"

The three-person Team Rocket group on the mountaintop beamed at his words, laughing heartfully as they struck coquettish poses.

Jessie: "Since you have so sincerely asked!"

All Baimu: "Then I will graciously tell you!"

James: "Then I will graciously tell you… huh?"

Jessie: "Uh… To protect the world from devastation?"

All Baimu: "To unite all peoples within our nation!"

James: "To… hey…"

Jessie: "…To denounce the evils of truth and love?"

All Baimu: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"

James: "Hey, hey…"

Jessie, hands on hips: "Jessie!"

All Baimu, right hand raised high: "James~!"

James, who could no longer hold back, grabbed his head and shouted frantically, "Wait, wait, wait! Those are all my lines! What's wrong with you!"

"Hahahaha, I couldn't help it for a moment, couldn't help it, you guys go on." All Baimu waved his hand, but really couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing with a snort.

It left Ash and the others staring at him with utterly bewildered expressions.

Three black lines slid down Meowth's forehead. "What is this guy doing? How does he know our entrance lines, meow?"

James grimaced. "I'd like to know that too!"

Jessie, brimming with confidence, planted her hands on her hips and said, "Maybe he's our fan!"

"Fan?"

Meowth and James looked at her in unison.