"Very good! Keep moving, pay attention to predicting the attack trajectory!" Ash shouted instructions, his gaze closely following the movements of the two Pokémon.
This was clearly part of their daily training, aimed at improving Gyarados's control over its flight posture and its ability to dodge Pidgeotto's attacks.
For Pidgeotto, it was also a training method to provide control over its moves.
Pidgeotto specialized in Swift, a move very suitable for bird Pokémon.
...Ash really didn't think that bird species fighting in close combat was a good choice.
Misty sat on the beach, hugging Horsea, watching with a smile.
Unlike Ash, Misty wasn't in a hurry to train her Pokémon.
Pikachu was at her feet, occasionally cheering "Pika Pika" for its aerial partners' performance.
Meanwhile, Brock had already packed up the picnic utensils.
At this moment, he was taking out some special materials from his all-purpose backpack again—things like ground Dusk Stone powder, grave dust full of spiritual power, and some ghost-blue Berries with a peculiar smell.
He skillfully began processing them.
Soon.
A small saucer of [snacks] that looked somewhat peculiar, emitting a faint chill and a strange smell, was ready.
"Ash," Brock handed this saucer of special snacks to Ash, who had walked back, "take this."
"What is this?" Ash took the plate, looking curiously at these dark cubes emitting a faint ghostly glow.
—It didn't feel like something humans could eat.
—Would I die if I ate it?
—At most, I'd probably just get diarrhea, right?
"Just some small refreshments that suit the tastes of Ghost-type Pokémon." Brock wiped his hands and explained, "I used some materials they like."
He pointed in the direction of the forest, "Since they are curious, we might as well take the initiative to show some friendliness."
"If you can get close to one or two because of this, it would be a good thing for you too."
Brock paused: "The Indigo League requires forming a complete team. If you can gain the recognition of a Ghost-type partner here, it would be a very good addition. Their abilities can often produce miraculous effects."
Misty watched from the side and couldn't help but sigh: "Brock, you really think of everything, you're so thoughtful!"
Brock smiled slightly, accepting the praise calmly: "Thank you."
"After all, as companions, helping each other is what we should do."
"Go, Ash."
"I choose you~~"
Brock suddenly became playful as he spoke.
Don't ask why.
If you ask, it's because he learned bad habits from Ash.
Hilarious.
"..." Ash was somewhat speechless, "In the future, when we go back, absolutely do not say you learned this from me..."
How he missed that once serious and earnest Brock.
Why has Brock become like this now?
After speaking, Ash carried the small saucer and walked carefully toward the edge of the forest.
Pikachu also hopped onto his shoulder, sniffing the contents of the saucer curiously.
Immediately, it let out a small sneeze.
Evidently, it wasn't quite adapted to this flavor specifically for "ghosts."
And that was indeed the fact.
Normal living creatures really couldn't eat this.
The closer he got to the forest, the more obvious the feeling of being watched became.
Ash could feel that many gazes were projecting from the shadows of dense foliage and behind thick tree trunks, carrying a bit of wariness and thick curiosity.
...These Ghost-type Pokémon were protected very well by the Thousand-Year Gastly; although mischievous, they were very innocent.
Ash stopped his steps, not venturing rashly deeper, but simply placed the saucer in his hand gently on a relatively flat tree root in the shadows.
Although Ghost-type Pokémon aren't afraid of the sun, most of them don't like sunlight.
"Hi, everyone," Ash tried to make his voice sound friendly and harmless, "These are snacks for you, try them and see if you like them?"
At first, the forest was silent, with only the rustling sound of wind blowing through leaves.
It seemed those small peepers were still hesitating and observing.
Ash wasn't in a hurry either, just standing there patiently waiting.
After a while.
A blurry, purple mist-like figure appeared.
It was a Gastly.
It was the first to be unable to hold back its curiosity.
The curiosity of Pokémon like Gastly is indeed very heavy.
In a sense, this is also one of the most common Ghost-type Pokémon.
Rather than calling it a Ghost Pokémon, it's more like a Gas Pokémon.
Gastly is a gas-like life form, almost impossible to be seen, hard to grasp.
It can use its thin gaseous body to sneak into any place, but as long as the wind blows, it will be blown away.
After encountering strong winds, the gaseous body will be blown apart and become smaller in the blink of an eye. Gastly that have dodged the wind will gather under eaves.
Both the Gastly and Haunter stages have bodies made of gas.
Once they reach the Gengar stage, there is a qualitative change.
From a Gas Pokémon to a Shadow Pokémon.
This Gastly floated out cautiously from behind a large tree, circled the saucer of snacks once, looked warily at Ash and Pikachu again, and let out a faint "Gya-gya" sound.
Finally, it moved close quickly, sucked away a small piece of snack, and then whoosh, shrank back behind the tree.
With the first attempter, the follow-up went much more smoothly.
A Misdreavus tugged at the tips of its red hair and emerged from the shadows.
It sniffed with its petite nose, then carefully tasted a bite, immediately letting out a pleasant, faint laugh like a bell.
Next, Drifloon, Duskull... and even that Litwick were all attracted out one after another.
They still kept their distance, their movements swift and wary, but they all successively took their own share of small refreshments from the saucer.
For a time, the edge of the forest seemed to be holding a small, quiet Ghost Pokémon tea party.
Although they quickly vanished back into the shadows of the forest after eating, the gazes cast toward Ash before that obviously held much less guard and a few more degrees of friendliness and inquiry.
In short, this was a good start, though obviously impossible to achieve in one step.
"...They are all interesting little guys." Ash's gaze fell on these Pokémon.
"By the way... Pikachu."
"What Pokémon do you think [Mengmeng] is?" Ash muttered as he watched the retreating figures of these Ghost-type Pokémon.
"Pika?!" Pikachu was startled first.
Then it started to think.
"Pika Pika..."
"Pika!"
Pikachu's arm pointed at the Litwick.
If you ask why... it was an instinct.
Instinct told Pikachu that this Litwick wasn't right.
So Pikachu chose to believe in instinct.
"You say this is what instinct told you... you subconsciously feel it's Litwick?" Saying so, what Ash cared about wasn't this answer.
Ash felt it was [Misdreavus].
"Partner, do you know the difference between a king and a mount?" Ash suddenly spoke of irrelevant things, his expression changing.
"Pika?" A look of disgusted despair appeared on Pikachu's face.
It knew its Trainer was about to start chattering again.
"Instinct!" Before Ash could finish speaking, he suddenly found that Pikachu had darted out, "...The King..."
"Hey!"
"Don't go, partner!"
"Partner!"
"You can't do this!"
"You can't treat me like this!"
"At least let me finish speaking!"
And as for Ash's words.
Pikachu's response was.
"Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika..."
Even Pikachu's two ears drooped down.
This is the Schrift [D], The Deaf.
Hilarious.
______
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