Chapter 97: Serena, Hear My Clever Defense!

Being scolded like that by Serena, Keerni snapped out of her excitement and instantly regretted it.

She was also terribly afraid of breaking her relationship with Serena.

She hurriedly apologized in panic. "Serena, listen to my explanation!"

"No need to explain! Because…"

Under Keerni's anxious gaze, Serena let out a giggle, "Because I wasn't angry at all!"

"That… how could that be!" Keerni couldn't believe it.

"Hehe, Keerni, didn't you notice that these past days your obvious happy mood of being with someone you like has plainly written your affection for Ash on your face?"

"Eh, did it write on my face?"

Startled, Keerni instinctively rubbed her face, then snapped out of her initial bewilderment and grasped Serena's meaning.

Embarrassed shame covered her head.

This sudden scene instantly made everyone burst into laughter.

"No, why are you so cute!"

Serena stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Keerni's shoulder,

A glance at the lingering light caught Ash laughing foolishly like nothing, and Serena instantly pouted in anger.

She released Keerni,

quietly approached Ash and whispered softly into his ear.

"How about it? Between Keerni's feeling and mine, which is better!?"

"That's obviously Keerni…"

"Hm?" Serena frowned,

"You beside me!" Ash said with a mischievous grin.

Then, under everyone's gaze, he quietly leaned toward Serena's ear and spoke in a voice only the two of them and the nearby Keerni could hear,

"The difference between a light taste and a deep savor, what do you think?"

The breath from his mouth instantly flushed the girl's cheeks red.

Mepuru smiled at the trio's interaction, sighed in relief, this is fine,

so she wouldn't have to live in guilt forever.

Clemont, like a carefree person, laughed so hard his face blossomed, completely oblivious to the envious Yurie beside him.

That brother of hers,

Compared to Ash in romance, he's truly useless, a total dead weight, and she has to worry about him.

At that moment,

Super Lucario walked up to the group,

"Lucario!"

"Lucario! Great, you've successfully controlled that wave!"

"Lucario, Lucario!"

One person and one pet happily embraced each other,

Ash smiled while watching, not forgetting to remind aloud,

"Keerni, you've already won, go capture the Ferrothorn quickly."

Thanks to Ash's reminder, Keerni finally, albeit a beat late, recalled the Ferrothorn matter.

She hurried forward, threw a Master Ball and captured it.

Picking up the now still Master Ball, Keerni, with a puzzled expression, walked back to Ash's side.

"Ash, what exactly is going on with this Pokemon?"

Talking about the Ferrothorn, everyone became interested,

Serena, showing curiosity, pulled out the Pokédex and waved it, "The Pokédex gives no response!"

"That's because this isn't a Pokemon of this world at all, but a creature similar to a Pokemon from another world, called an Ultra Beast by the residents of the Alola region.

Ferrothorn! Designated UB02: Beautiful."

"Alola?" Clemont scratched his head, "Does the Alliance govern such a region?"

Everyone glanced at each other, confirming they all didn't know, then all turned their gaze toward Ash.

"It's an archipelago on the ocean, with no Alliance presence, but there's a famous conglomerate there, the Ether Foundation.

Information and countermeasures regarding Ultra Beasts mostly come from the Ether Foundation, and even the Master Ball in your hand, Keerni, is a product of their group."

"So it was them."

Ash's explanation clarified things for Clemont.

"Gigi, have you heard of them?"

"Of course…" Clemont's eyes showed reminiscence,

"I recall receiving many orders from that group, all rescue equipment for saving wild Pokemon."

"But keeping such a dangerous being in my hands, is that really okay?" Keerni's pleading gaze turned to Ash.

Seeing this, Ash reached out, rubbed Keerni's golden hair, and smiled, "That depends on its will."

Up… hand… now!

Serena watched Ash's natural movement, her mouth twitched,

Did she just copy all the experience she brushed off onto Keerni?

Fine, Ash, when you rest, I'll definitely make you look good!

While Serena silently noted in her little notebook, Keerni, following Ash's instructions, released the captured Ferrothorn.

Since Keerni's crisis has been resolved, there's no need to resort to the low‑efficiency method of injury medicine now.

Directly summoned the unwilling, sulky Latias to come out and help with the treatment.

It was during this process that Keerni realized the ones competing with Ash were not only humans.

Ash's charm is truly terrifying!!!

Seeing Latias's ferociously cute expression that Ash found adorable, Keerni was genuinely frightened, internally shouting "so scary, so scary!"

A continuous stream of healing waves poured down,

The injuries were healed, and Ferrothorn's consciousness gradually cleared.

"Ferrothorn, you have now been defeated and captured. Will you become Keerni's Pokemon?"

What a Pokemon should do after becoming a trainer's Pokemon, Ash has already told Ferrothorn, so now all that is needed is Ferrothorn's answer.

His gaze fell on Keerni, then glanced at the withdrawn‑from‑Mega‑Evolution Lucario,

Although this dog is very slow, the tracking attack just now was commendable; I, Ferrothorn, acknowledge you.

Finally, Ferrothorn nodded in acknowledgment.

"It seems she is very willing to become your Pokemon. Congratulations, Keerni. Although Ferrothorn's dual resistances are weak, its power and speed are astonishing. Later I will ask Professor Oak to publish a paper on Ferrothorn, so you can use that paper as a complete reference for its training. Also, note that Ferrothorn's type is Bug + Fighting; remember that. As for its ability and moves…"

Ash carefully shared the information he had gathered with Keerni,

"Thank you, Ash!"

Keerni flopped into Ash's arms, wrapping both arms around him, feeling the warm feedback and the sound of his heartbeat,

A happy smile appeared on Keerni's face.

However,

At present Keerni is happy, but soon she reaches an embarrassing moment.

Because Y God destroyed half of the villas, the total number of rooms became insufficient.

Divided evenly, there are only three rooms,

One for the old lady herself, one for Clemont and Yurie siblings, and Keerni can only be forced to share a room with Ash and Serena.

That night,

The three, in pajamas, lay together on one bed; the optimistic Keerni's face was flushed, timidly nodding.

"Ash, Serena… I… it's my first time, I'm so nervous!"

"Hehe, just as expected of you, you say whatever comes to mind, so straightforward," Serena teased, covering her mouth.

"But I'm really nervous about pregnancy and having a baby; can we wait until I'm ready before proceeding?"

"Don't worry, the windows here still let the wind in; this is hardly a place for such a sacred act. We're just making do for one night, don't overthink it."

Saying that, Ash wrapped his arms around Keerni's waist from behind, while Serena wrapped her arms around Ash.

Seeing Ash linger without moving, Keerni's nervousness finally eased; her consciousness gradually blurred during the chat with Ash and Serena, and she fell asleep.

……

The next day,

Having fully completed her cultivation, Keerni naturally had to depart,

But Ash did not follow Keerni on the plane to the Sora Gym,

The reason was that Ash had arranged a martial‑arts match with Keerni, and Mepru casually mentioned,

In the nearby forest there is a great Fighting‑type spirit, dubbed the Forest Boxing King.

So while the workers arrived and began rebuilding the villa, Ash's party, after leaving a card, headed straight for the forest Mepru mentioned.