Chapter 157. Mail Carrier Dragonite, Mewtwo's Letter
By a roadside in Pallet Town.
"Stop right there.
I challenge you!"
Every passing Trainer, without exception, was challenged by the boy with two Pikachu perched on his shoulders.
On one side of the road was a hillside.
A long table was set with fruit for a small picnic.
Everyone sat on stools and sipped tea while watching Ash Ketchum battle random passersby.
A few days ago, Professor Westwood had temporarily taken over many of Professor Oak's laboratory affairs.
Everyone finally had some free time.
During that break, Ash reflected and decided he couldn't keep slacking off.
On Natsume's advice, Ash switched to a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, grabbed a bug-catching net, and came to the road near Pallet Town to challenge anyone he met.
"Natsume, this outfit you suggested really works.
Way more Trainers agree to battle me now!"
Ash, hugging two Pikachu, walked over wiping sweat.
"Heh, you used to wear all eight Badges on your chest; who in the world would agree to battle you like that?" Misty said, too tired to roast him any further.
Ash didn't banter like usual.
He snatched a prepared sandwich and stuffed it into his mouth at once.
"Pika-pi!"
"Pika—"
Pikachu and center-parted jumped down at once and split a sandwich between them.
After a whole morning of battles, they had burned a lot of energy and were starving.
Beside them, Natsume held a Master Ball in his hand, blue light flashing in his eyes as he carefully probed the circuitry inside.
On the second day after Professor Westwood opened the lab, he had already produced an Ultra Ball Rotom.
Ultra Ball Rotom, Level 56.
Type: Electric and Psychic.
Base stat total: 600 (HP 200, Attack 20, Special Attack 40, Defense 160, Special Defense 160, Speed 20).
Moves: Curse Ball, Heal Ball, Extinction Ball, Rob the Rich and Help the Poor Ball, Protect.
Ability: Ultra Ball (exerts a powerful suppressive effect on Pokémon).
A base stat total at pseudo-legendary standard!
Although Ultra Ball Rotom didn't provide new moves, the stat gains exceeded those of Great Ball.
At the same time, the damage and healing from Curse Ball and Heal Ball each rose a little.
In fact, starting from Great Ball, all the Poké Balls were performance upgrades with no new moves added, just as Natsume expected.
"Wooo~"
A wailing sound drifted from the sky, and a gale swept over.
Ash, in shorts, was blown flat onto the ground.
"Mmph—who is it?"
With the sandwich still in his mouth, Ash stood up in annoyance.
He looked up and saw a Dragonite.
This Dragonite wore a mail cap.
It carried a large satchel, with many letters faintly visible inside.
"Wooo—wooo—"
Dragonite gave everyone a once-over, then pulled a letter from the satchel and handed it to Ash.
Ash froze and looked to Natsume, at a loss.
"A Dragonite mail carrier.
Top-tier service from a delivery company—fast arrival, and pricey too.
Whoever's willing to send you a letter like this probably has something urgent."
Natsume lifted his gaze from the Master Ball and looked at Ash.
"Could it be Mom!"
Ash got excited.
Delia Ketchum had gone on a secretive vacation to the Kalos region.
Every time Ash called, she hurried to hang up.
Right as she hung up, Ash could just make out a head of brown hair or a beret.
He tore the envelope open, only to find a small card-like device inside.
"What's this?"
Ash looked at the mail-carrier Dragonite in confusion.
"Wooo~"
Dragonite shook its head, indicating it only delivered the mail.
It pulled out a positive-feedback form, grabbed Ash's hand to stamp it, then beat its wings and shot into the sky, vanishing from sight.
"Natsume."
Ash held up the card, helpless.
"Easy.
Download an app called Kanto Express and you can leave it a bad review."
Natsume didn't even lift his head.
"…"
"No, I mean the card."
Ash set the card on the picnic table.
"Looks like an invitation," Misty said, leaning in curiously.
"There's a button here."
Honora spoke and pressed it.
"Zzzzt—"
The card lit up, and a hologram appeared above it.
It was a woman dressed like a cleric, her hair entirely wrapped up.
"Hello.
I am the housekeeper of the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer.
We invite Trainers of ability to visit for an exchange and discussion."
When the speech ended, everyone fell silent.
"Awesome!
I didn't think I'd already caught the attention of the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer!"
Dimensional Ash was thrilled.
"Idiot!"
Misty punched Ash.
"How is this not a scam?"
"But… would a scam bother sending a physical letter?
And by the most expensive Dragonite delivery, at that."
Brock walked over carrying a bowl of soup and set it down in front of everyone.
"That's… true…"
Misty tilted her head in frustration.
In the end, all eyes turned to Natsume.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
Natsume felt baffled.
"Natsume, should I go?"
Ash raised the card in his hand.
"That invitation was sent by Mewtwo.
Do you want to go?"
Natsume lifted the Master Ball in his hand, held it up to the sun, and wiped the dust from it.
"Ah—that scary Pokémon!"
Misty shrank her neck at once.
"Mewtwo… it's a Pokémon, so why call itself the world's greatest Trainer?"
Ash was full of curiosity.
"What's there to care about?
A Drowzee even battled us," Brock blurted out.
He thought for a second, then realized that sounded a little strange.
"Of course it matters!"
Ash snapped.
"What gives it the right to claim it's the world's greatest Trainer?
I don't agree!"
"…"
"In that case, you're planning to accept the invitation?"
Natsume stretched lazily.
"Of course.
I'm going to defeat it!"
Ash still brooded over losing to Mewtwo last time.
He reviewed that battle many times and finally concluded that Natsume was right.
Letting Pikachu command him in battle might just win.
He had beaten Primeape that way, and it was far faster than his first one-on-one fistfight with Primeape.
"In that case, let's head back and prepare."
Natsume stood up.
He had planned to work on papers for the next two months.
But now it looked like he had to deal with Mewtwo's situation first.
Mew's Divinity had been split in half, and it might come looking for Mewtwo soon.
Then he could conveniently record another Divinity datum.
Every single Divinity datum was a Master Ball-tier scratch-off reward.
Natsume thought it over and felt it was a good deal.
Worst case, he would pull a few more all-nighters when he got back.
"But… is this really reliable?
A letter out of nowhere…
Then we go to Vermilion City to board a ship and head to a remote island overseas."
Misty was still shrinking her neck.
"This is exactly how horror movies start…
Hey, wait up for me!"
Seeing everyone pack up to leave, Misty had no choice but to follow.
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