Chapter 159. Mewtwo's New Island
"Alright, let's get on."
There was a QR code on Lapras's neck, and once Natsume scanned and paid, they could ride.
Everyone sat on Lapras, which glided steadily toward the distance.
Lapras moved gently, with no rocking at all, yet it didn't lack for speed.
In no time, they caught up with the Trainers ahead who were each relying on their own methods.
Lapras even put up Reflect over their heads, forming something like a rain awning, and the group felt as if they were on a sightseeing boat—elegant and comfortable.
They silently watched the surging sea, the roaring sky, and those few Trainers pushing on through the downpour alongside their Pokémon.
"Ah—suddenly I think this isn't bad at all," Misty said.
She took out a row of small drinks and handed one to each person.
As they drank, it felt like someone was staring at them.
They turned to see four Bibarel.
With their honest, stocky bodies, two on the left and two on the right, they stood clutching Lapras's neck.
From time to time they glanced back at the group.
But right now, all four Bibarel were staring at the juice in their hands.
"By the way, what are these four Bibarel even for?" Misty asked, puzzled.
"These four Bibarel come as a package, and they can provide all kinds of convenient services," Natsume yawned.
"Convenient services? They're so small—what can they possibly provide?" Misty eyed the four Bibarel, about the size of her Psyduck.
"Cut, Dig, Rock Smash, Waterfall, Surf—they can do it all," Natsume said without turning around.
"Normal-type Pokémon are that versatile?!" Brock was stunned.
"Natsume, you said they can Surf!" Ash's eyes flashed with excitement.
When they passed those Trainers earlier, he had wanted to experience moving forward in wind and rain, but he hadn't had the chance.
Natsume saw right through Ash's idea in a second and beckoned a Bibarel over.
"Bibarel!"
The Bibarel raised a hand to its temple and, comically, saluted Natsume.
"…"
After a few years, the flourish sure had gotten fancy.
Back then, Natsume had crossed the sea riding a Bibarel simply because it was cheap.
There was a QR code on the Bibarel's neck, just like Lapras's.
"Scan and pay, and you're good," Natsume said.
Ash did so, and discovered he was underage with no bank card.
He looked back and locked eyes with Natsume.
"Fine, I'll open you a supplementary card," Natsume said, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Yay!"
"Pika!"
Ash hugged the Bibarel in delight.
After paying, his Pokédex popped up information on various Berries.
"What's this?" Ash asked curiously.
"Tipping," Natsume explained. "If you think a Bibarel's service is good, you can purchase the corresponding virtual Berries. When they get back to the operator, the treats will be delivered to them as a reward."
As soon as Natsume finished, the Bibarel looked up at Ash with pitiful eyes.
Ash patted its head, then suddenly noticed a small line of text beneath the QR code on this Bibarel's neck.
"May's… Bibarel?"
"Natsume, what does that mean?" Ash read the words out loud.
Hearing the name "May," Natsume's expression turned a bit odd.
Does May have a Bibarel?
It could just be a duplicate name, but thinking of how her father is the Normal-type Gym Leader Norman, Natsume felt it was very likely the May he was thinking of.
After a moment's thought, Natsume didn't say more and simply explained, "Some independent Trainers also send their own Pokémon out to earn money."
"I see."
Thinking this May might be living under tough circumstances, Ash went ahead and spent 1,000,000 Pokédollars to tip one ton of Oran Berries.
The supplementary card Natsume opened for him held the endorsement fee from the P1 Grand Prix last time—a whole lot—and Ash felt like he'd never spend it all in his lifetime.
"Bibarel!"
The Bibarel jumped into the water and beckoned Ash.
It didn't know what Ash had tipped, but it was excited all the same.
"Alright, Bibarel, I'm counting on you!"
Ash lightly stepped onto Bibarel's back.
Pitter-patter—the rain drummed on his face, and his clothes visibly soaked through.
Once he pushed past the initial sense of suffocation, Ash felt his whole body loosen up, as if he had found a rhythm, and he urged Bibarel to keep accelerating.
"Faster!" Ash overtook Lapras.
"Faster again!" Ash passed Fearow.
"Keep going!" Ash vanished into the wind and rain.
"Whoa, Bibarel not only knows Surf—it can go this fast?" Misty covered her mouth in surprise.
"Pika!"
Pikachu tugged at Natsume's sleeve, a little worried.
"You can ride on center-parted if it knows Surf," Natsume said.
A red flash at his waist, and center-parted appeared, fast asleep.
"Pika—" center-parted opened its eyes in a daze.
Why was it involved again?
Fortunately, their worry was unnecessary.
Reaching the island mentioned in the letter, they found Ash on a sheer cliff at the coast.
His head was stuck in the cliff face, and beside him, a Bibarel was tugging his legs like pulling a turnip, trying to yank him out.
"…"
Natsume tried using his psychic power to pull Ash free.
"Huh?" Blue light flashed in Natsume's eyes, but Ash didn't budge.
"What is it, Mr. Natsume?" Honora turned and noticed something was off.
"It's nothing. Bibarel, use Dig and get Ash out."
Natsume's heart sank.
He had sensed a very powerful psychic field blanketing the entire island.
The moment his psychic power touched Ash, it was brutally severed.
"Bibarel!"
The Bibarel froze, but Natsume made sense.
Its paws started furiously digging—two small paws, astonishingly efficient.
In just a minute or two, it dug a big hole in the cliff, and Ash was rescued by Bibarel.
"Faster—"
Bibarel carried a woozy Ash back onto Lapras's shell, and he was still muttering subconsciously.
"By the way, Mr. Natsume, it looks like there's no way up this island?" Honora looked up at the sheer cliff.
"Yeah, are we supposed to climb?" Misty asked.
"There should be a way up…"
Natsume looked left and right as he spoke.
Though it was all cliffs here, he remembered that Mewtwo's island absolutely had a way up.
Unfortunately, the island was covered by that overwhelming psychic power, so he couldn't scout it out.
"How about we circle the island once?" Brock suggested.
"Natsume, didn't you say Bibarel can do everything? Bibarel!" Ash, fired up again, looked to Bibarel.
"Bibarel!"
It snapped one leg straight, raised a hand, and gave Ash a crisp salute.
The next second, Bibarel carried Ash straight toward the nearly ninety-degree cliff.
Whoosh—
In an instant, with all four short legs churning, Bibarel charged up onto the island with Ash.
"Huh? It can use Rock Climb too?" Brock, who was just about to send out Onix, went slack-jawed.
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