With the help of Team Rocket, Ditto was finally able to transform perfectly. Duplica was excited to showcase her performance again.
"Thank you all so much! Although Ash, your method was a bit extreme, Ditto really succeeded."
"It's no problem. As long as it worked, that's what matters. This method needed a bad guy in charge, and Team Rocket really came through."
"Well then, how about letting us go?"
Team Rocket, tied up beside them, took the opportunity to plead for their release after hearing Ash's words. Ash patted their bindings and said, "Of course I can let you go. However, to prevent you from causing us trouble, I'll send you off with a little gift… my Meowth's special Double-Kick Firework will definitely blow your minds!"
Standing next to Ash, Meowth grinned and added, "Don't worry! My Double-Kick Firework is absolutely safe, but it just goes pretty far!"
"All right, Charmeleon, ignite it!"
"Char!"
Charmeleon lit the fuse of the firework with its tail, and Team Rocket looked on in fear as the fuse slowly burned down.
"Wait! We're not ready!"
Boom!
With a loud explosion, Team Rocket was launched into the air.
"What a refreshing feeling!"
Accompanied by the brilliant fireworks, Ash said goodbye to Duplica.
"Consider this firework a celebration for your reopening of Ditto's show! Goodbye!"
"Goodbye! Thank you all! Be sure to visit when you have the chance!"
After bidding farewell to Duplica, Ash and his friends continued on the road to Stone Town. Along the way, Misty, Suzy, and Lyn began to pester Ash about how to properly train Eevee. Ash explained the details while Brock took notes diligently.
"In general, Eevee's training does depend on its nature, but the Eevees found in Stone Town should all be fine. I'll help you keep an eye on their diets and write up a recipe for you later. Those fruits will be perfect!"
Looking up at the fruits in the trees, Ash said to Pikachu on his shoulder, "Pikachu, go pick a few fruits down for us."
"Pika!" (Leave it to me!)
With Pikachu quickly climbing the tree and returning with the fruits, Ash held them up and said, "See? These fruits are great! They can be made into jam or fruit pies that Pokémon who enjoy this flavor would love."
"Oh?" (Are there snacks?)
Upon hearing about snacks, Psyduck, who had been sleeping behind Ash, immediately opened its eyes. It turned its head and couldn't take its gaze off the fruits in Ash's hand.
"Open wide."
"Waah!"
After tossing the fruits into Psyduck's mouth, Ash said to Misty, Suzy, Lyn, and Brock, "This is perfect timing for us to demonstrate how to make it!"
Misty, Suzy, and Lyn had no objections to Ash's suggestion. Brock, however, asked, "Are those fruits safe?"
"Don't worry! These berries are a favorite of my Zigzagoon, so I know them very well."
"Zigzagoon?"
Suzy, Misty, and Brock weren't very familiar with this Pokémon from the Hoenn region, but Lyn chuckled and explained, "It's one that Ash adopted when he went to Hoenn. It was very clingy to Ash from the start."
"Yeah, just like a second Chansey," Meowth chimed in.
Smack!
Chansey, displeased, swatted Meowth. "I'm Ash's baby! Zigzagoon is a pet!"
"Meowth, are you jealous?"
"No way!"
Seeing Chansey getting jealous, Ash smiled and patted its head, saying, "It's okay, Chansey. You're special; I've raised you since you were an egg."
(I love Ash so much!)
Hearing Ash say that, Chansey happily hugged him. Ash chuckled, saying, "You've grown up so much, but you're still so affectionate."
Suzy and Lyn exchanged smiles, knowing how clingy Ash's Chansey was when it was still a Happiny.
Misty watched Chansey being affectionate and laughed, saying, "Chansey really loves Ash!"
"Well, of course! Chansey is my partner. Now, that's enough for Chansey; I need to start making the jam!"
"Let me hug Ash again!"
"Meowth, it seems like she wants one more hug. You just keep going, Ash!"
"Pika!" (Dad needs to pamper this big baby!)
"Okay, when are we going to eat?"