Pokémon: Dreams Come True Starting in Sinnoh

"what happened?"

The sudden turn of events left Xiao Guang somewhat bewildered.

She thought Pikachu was about to attack, but an attack from behind actually relieved the pressure on Pikachu.

Meanwhile, the Ariados, who had thought they had victory in their grasp, scattered like birds and beasts, quickly fleeing the scene.

Although the Ariados weren't exactly timid Pokémon, they were all quite intelligent.

They had already given their all against Aipom and Pikachu, and with reinforcements arriving on top of that, the Ariados realized they were outmatched and retreated.

"These guys are so realistic..."

Ash couldn't help but make this comment as he watched the Ariados scrambling to escape through the mist.

But that's just reality, isn't it?

Ash was complaining about Ariados and the others' escape, while Dawn breathed a sigh of relief and said with a hint of relief:

"Phew~ Thank goodness we're alright... By the way, who was helping us just now? Was it Xiao Gang?"

In his panic, Xiao Guang didn't seem to hear Bojiaman's cry and assumed that Xiao Gang had come to help them, but—

"It's not Brock. Brock doesn't have any Water-type Pokémon on him."

"Huh? Isn't that right? Then what is it...?"

Just as Xiao Guang was wondering about the identity of the mysterious person who helped them, a short, stout figure finally emerged from the thick fog. It held its head high, its eyes filled with pride and unruliness, like a rich young master who had stepped out of a novel.

Under Xiaoguang's gaze, it slowly approached her, crossed its arms, closed its eyes, and said, "Poga!"

Xiao Guang: "......"

Time seemed to stand still at that moment. Xiao Guang looked at Piplup, then at Xiao Zhi, and finally, amidst their puzzled gazes, she slowly squatted down, stretched out her hands to Piplup, and then grabbed it.

"Ash! I caught Piplup, who tried to escape!"

Ash: "......"

Bogarman: "??!!"

Ash and Piplup's expressions perfectly conveyed their drastically different feelings.

Xiao Zhi was trying not to laugh.

Bogarman, on the other hand, was seething with anger.

"Poga!!"

"Hahaha!"

Piplup couldn't resist breaking free from Dawn's embrace and started pecking at her wildly, while Ash laughed loudly on the side.

He never expected that Xiao Guang would do something so naturally silly in this situation.

It's unclear whether her mind went blank for a moment or if she simply didn't believe the mysterious person who helped them was Bogaman.

"Eh?! Why are you pecking me?! Ouch! Waaah~ Ash, what are you laughing at? Come help me!!!"

A cheerful atmosphere suddenly filled the forest.

.......

"So... Piplup helped Pikachu just now...?"

"Poga!"

Bogarman puffed out its chest again, looking proud and smug. Xiao Guang felt a sense of familiarity when he looked at it, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

"Yes, if it weren't for Piplup's help, Pikachu's use of an Electric-type move could have easily gotten us involved. In that respect, we really should thank Piplup."

"Poga Poga!"

Piplup nodded repeatedly in agreement with Ash's statement.

It was clearly the one who saved people from danger just now, but for some reason, this seemingly not-so-bright human girl in front of it had captured it, as if it were some kind of fugitive. That's why it was punishing Xiaoguang for such rude behavior.

“Is that so... If that’s the case, then I was indeed rude just now... I’m sorry, Bogarman.”

"Poga~~"

Bogarman's nodding slowed down, as if he were an elder affirming the younger generation.

However, Bogarman's enigmatic demeanor did not last long; in less than ten seconds, its body began to sway.

"Are you okay?"

Seeing this, Xiao Guang quickly squatted down and caught Bogaman, who was about to fall to the ground. Bogaman's head was drooping, and he didn't even have the strength to make a sound. He looked like he was about to die.

"Ash! Piplup...!"

"Are you hungry?"

"Eh?"

Xiao Guang was surprised to receive such an answer from Xiao Zhi, and before she could react, she gave a strange reply.

“I said Bogaman is fine, he's probably just too weak from hunger.”

"But how do you know...?"

"Goo~~~"

Xiao Guang: "......"

Alright, after hearing this voice, Dawn finally understood why Ash knew Piplup had fainted from hunger.

"Even if you didn't hear Bogarman's stomach growling, you must have heard what the researchers were saying, right? Bogarman ran away without even finishing his lunch. He must be starving after running all the way from the research institute to here, right?"

"I'm so sorry... I wasn't listening properly..."

Xiao Guang knew he was in the wrong, so he hurriedly started apologizing again. However, Xiao Zhi didn't care much, since he wasn't treated like a criminal like Piplup.

"Anyway, Xiaoguang, just feed it for now, consider it compensation, right?"

Ash smiled and then planned to take out some Pokémon food from his backpack, but as he turned around, he realized that something seemed to be missing.

"Hmm?" Ash looked around in confusion, but he still couldn't find the figure he was looking for. So he looked down at Pikachu and asked, "Where did Aipom go?"

“pi?”

When Ash asked this question, Pikachu was about to point to the spot next to it, because in its memory, this was where Aipom had last stood.

But when Pikachu turned its gaze over there, there was no Aipom anywhere.

It was completely empty; there were no people or Pokémon on it.

"This guy..."

Ash clutched his head helplessly. He never expected that in just a short while, Aipom would run away on its own.

"Anyway, I'll leave this place to you for now! I'm going to find Aipom."

"Huh? I..."

"Give!"

Xiao Guang: "......"

Xiao Guang looked at the Pokémon food in his hand and was momentarily confused.

By the way, should we just stuff it directly into Bogarman's mouth?

Xiao Guang was deep in thought.

......