"Wow! We're finally here!" Ash stood in front of the Safari Zone's gate, excitedly pumping his fists.
Pikachu cried "Pika Pika" on his shoulder, its tail trembling slightly with anticipation.
Brock squinted at the notice board: "The rules here seem very strict; Trainers weren't allowed to bring Pokémon in before."
"Who cares, let's just go in!" Ash impatiently pushed open the door to the administrator's office.
A burly man with a beard and a cowboy hat was sitting behind a desk, wiping a Safari Ball.
He looked up, revealing a kind smile: "Welcome to the Safari Zone, I'm Caesar, the administrator here."
"Hello, Uncle Caesar!" Xiao You politely bowed, "We'd like to explore the Safari Zone."
Uncle Caesar stood up and took three documents from a drawer: "First, sign the safety agreement.
Recently, there's been a space-time distortion phenomenon in the Safari Zone, so the rules have changed."
Brock asked curiously while signing: "Space-time distortion? Is that the natural phenomenon that brings rare Pokémon?"
"Exactly." Uncle Caesar nodded, "Because the space-time distortion has brought many Pokémon that didn't originally belong here, Trainers are now allowed to bring their own Pokémon inside.
However," he sternly raised a finger, "you can only use the thirty Safari Balls and special fishing rods we provide."
"That's great!" Ash jumped up happily, "Pikachu, we can explore together!"
Pikachu happily rubbed Ash's cheek: "Pikachu!"
Xiao You's gaze was suddenly drawn to a photo on the wall.
In the photo was a young Uncle Caesar, with a blue Dratini floating beside him.
"Uncle Caesar, is this…" Xiao You pointed at the photo and asked.
Uncle Caesar's expression instantly became complex; he quickly turned around, took down the photo, and put it in the drawer: "It's nothing, just an old photo."
Ash noticed Uncle Caesar's reaction, but he didn't care.
He touched the small spatial device on his waist, where an egg from an ancient Dragonite lay quietly.
He already had a Dratini and wasn't curious about Uncle Caesar's secret.
"Alright, here's your equipment." Uncle Caesar handed each of them a fanny pack containing thirty Safari Balls and a folding fishing rod, "Good luck!
Remember, you must be back before sunset."
The three walked out of the office and stood at the entrance of the Safari Zone.
The dense jungle and the undulating hills in the distance shimmered in the sunlight, and occasionally the cries of Pokémon could be heard from deep within.
"Let's split up," Brock suggested, "that way we can explore more areas."
"Good idea!" Ash nodded, "Pikachu, let's go!"
"Wait," Xiao You called out to him, "if you encounter danger, contact me immediately.
My Ivysaur can release a scent as a signal."
After agreeing on a meeting time, the three each chose a different direction and entered the Safari Zone.
Ash walked along a small stream, Pikachu vigilantly observing its surroundings.
The stream was crystal clear, and occasionally, the silhouette of a Magikarp flashed by.
"Pikachu, do you feel it?" Ash suddenly stopped, "There's a special aura…"
Pikachu pricked up its ears, the electricity on its tail flickering slightly: "Pika (Yes)…"
Just then, the bushes ahead shook violently, and a Pokémon slowly emerged.
It was clad in black and gold armor, holding two similarly black and gold greatswords, its helmet's flame plume swaying in the wind—it was a Shinny Ceruledge!
"Wow! It's a Shinny Pokémon!" Ash excitedly pulled out his Pokédex.
Ceruledge seemed to notice Ash too; it raised its two swords, adopting a battle stance.
"Looks like we're going to battle! Pikachu, get ready!"
"Pika! (Understood!)" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, its cheek pouches starting to charge electricity.
Ceruledge launched the first attack, rapidly dashing forward, its two swords crossing to slash at Pikachu.
Pikachu nimbly leaped away, and two scorched marks were cut into the ground where it had stood.
"So fast! Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu transformed into a golden lightning bolt, rushing towards Ceruledge at an almost imperceptible speed.
The electric light struck Ceruledge's armor, emitting dazzling sparks.
Ceruledge was knocked back a few steps but quickly regained its footing.
The blades of its two swords suddenly ignited with an eerie blue flame, and it unleashed a cross-shaped flame slash.
"Dodge it!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu leaped high, and the flame slash passed beneath it, cutting down a tree behind it.
"Too dangerous… Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's entire body erupted in brilliant golden light, and countless tiny lightning bolts rained down, all precisely hitting Ceruledge.
This attack clearly worked; Ceruledge knelt on one knee, and cracks appeared on its armor.
But it quickly stood up again, its fighting spirit even stronger.
It suddenly plunged its two swords into the ground, and a circle of eerie blue fire instantly rose around it, trapping Pikachu.
"Oh no! Pikachu, use Surf to break through!"
Pikachu summoned a huge wave, mixed with golden electricity.
It rode the wave towards the wall of fire, breaking through the blockade with a violent explosion.
Ceruledge seemed not to have expected this move and was knocked to the ground by the aftershock.
Ash seized the opportunity and quickly pulled out a Safari Ball.
"Go, Safari Ball!"
The Safari Ball arced through the air, accurately hitting Ceruledge.
The ball shook violently, making a "clack clack" sound.
Ash and Pikachu watched it nervously.
Finally, with a "ding," the Safari Ball stopped shaking.
"It worked!" Ash cheered, running over to pick up the Safari Ball, "I caught a Shinny Ceruledge!"
Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder, equally excited, crying: "Pika Pika (Yeah)!"
Meanwhile, on another side of the Safari Zone… Brock was moving along a rock face, his Onix slowly crawling beside him, helping him survey the terrain.
"The geological structure here is very unique," Brock muttered to himself, touching the rock face, "there should be Rock-type Pokémon living here…"
Suddenly, Onix let out a warning hiss.
Brock immediately became alert: "What's wrong, Onix?"
The pile of rubble ahead suddenly exploded, and several Geodude rolled out.
But one of them was different—its entire body was dark gray, and one of its features was the eyebrow-like part on its head, which was said to be iron sand attached due to Geodude's magnetism, and its hands only had three fingers.
"An Alola form Geodude!" Brock exclaimed in surprise, pulling out his Pokédex, "This is a rare variant!"
That particular Geodude seemed to have a personality; it didn't run away like its companions but rather rolled provocatively towards Onix.
"Interesting, want to challenge my Onix?" Brock smiled, "Onix, use Bind!"
Onix's huge body quickly coiled around Geodude, but Geodude nimbly rolled out of the gaps, then slammed into Onix's head.
With a "bang," Onix was knocked back a few steps.
Brock's eyes widened in surprise: "Such strong power!"
Geodude proudly spun in circles on the ground, seemingly showing off its strength.
"Looks like I need to take this seriously. Onix, use Rock Throw!"
Onix swung its tail, kicking up several large rocks that smashed towards Geodude.
Geodude nimbly dodged, but was still hit by a rock, rolling a few times before stopping.
Brock seized the opportunity to throw a Safari Ball: "Go!"
The Safari Ball hit its target and began to shake.
Brock waited nervously, finally hearing the pleasant "ding."
"Great!" Brock picked up the Safari Ball, "Another powerful partner has joined us!"
And in a flower field on the other side of the Safari Zone… Xiao You was cautiously advancing with her Ivysaur.
Suddenly, the flower bud on Ivysaur's back trembled slightly; it sensed something.
"What's wrong, Ivysaur?" Xiao You crouched down and asked.
Ivysaur pointed its Vine Whip towards a nearby bush.
Xiao You gently pushed aside the branches and leaves, seeing an Eevee watching her warily.
"It's an Eevee!" Xiao You whispered, afraid of scaring it away, "So cute…"
Eevee tilted its head, observing Xiao You, its nose twitching softly.
Suddenly, it turned and ran away.
"Wait!" Xiao You instinctively chased after it, Ivysaur following closely.
Eevee ran and stopped, seemingly guiding them.
Finally, it stopped under a large tree, where a wounded Espeon lay.
"Oh no, it's injured!" Xiao You immediately knelt down to check.
Espeon's front paw had a deep wound that was already infected.
Eevee anxiously circled Espeon, whimpering.
"Don't worry, I'll help it." Xiao You took out a first-aid kit from her backpack, "Ivysaur, use Vine Whip to help me hold it still."
With Ivysaur's help, Xiao You skillfully cleaned and bandaged the wound.
Espeon weakly licked her hand in gratitude.
Just then, the air around them suddenly distorted, and a space-time rift appeared not far away.
Several unfamiliar Pokémon fell out of the rift, and a fierce Honchkrow immediately locked onto the injured Espeon.
"Oh no!" Xiao You shielded Espeon, "Ivysaur, use Razor Leaf!"
Ivysaur fired sharp leaves, but Honchkrow easily dodged them and charged forward.
Just at the critical moment, that Eevee suddenly evolved—its body emitted a dazzling light, evolving into a Sylveon!
"It evolved!" Xiao You exclaimed.
Sylveon repelled Honchkrow with Dazzling Gleam, and the other Pokémon from the space-time rift fled at the sight.
The space-time rift also gradually closed.
Espeon cried out a few times gratefully to Sylveon, then limped away.
Sylveon turned to Xiao You, affectionately rubbing against her leg.
"Do you want to travel with me?" Xiao You asked softly, taking out a Safari Ball.
Sylveon unhesitatingly touched the button on the ball with its nose, turning into a red light and being drawn inside.
The Safari Ball didn't even shake, directly completing the capture with a "ding."
"That's great!" Xiao You jumped up happily, "Thank you, Ivysaur, it's all thanks to your Helping Hand."
As the sun set, the three returned to the entrance as agreed to gather.
Each person excitedly shared their gains.
"I caught a Shinny Ceruledge!" Ash boasted.
"I got an Alola form Geodude," Brock said with a smile.
"I met an Eevee, and it evolved into a Sylveon!" Xiao You said happily.
Just as they were about to return to Uncle Caesar's office, Ash suddenly stopped, his expression turning serious.
"What's wrong?" Brock asked.
"There's a… special feeling calling to me," Ash frowned, "It's over there!"
Ignoring his companions' shouts, he ran in the direction of the sensation.
After passing through a patch of bushes, he saw a Shinny Froakie—it was entirely golden, shimmering in the sunset.
"It's a Shinny Froakie!" Ash exclaimed.
Froakie also saw Ash, its blue eyes lit up, and it excitedly ran towards Ash.
"It wants to come with me!" Ash excitedly pulled out a Safari Ball.
But at this critical moment, the air behind Froakie suddenly distorted, and a space-time rift appeared without warning.
A powerful suction pulled Froakie backward.
"No!" Ash reached out, but grabbed nothing but air.
Froakie struggled to break free from the suction, extending its small hand towards Ash, its eyes full of reluctance.
But in the end, the space-time rift still swallowed it, then quickly closed, as if nothing had happened.
Ash stood frozen in place, the Safari Ball slipping from his hand.
Pikachu tugged at his pants leg worriedly: "Pikachu…"
Ash bent down and picked up the Safari Ball, forcing a smile: "It's okay… Maybe one day, we'll meet again."
When the three returned to Uncle Caesar's office to report their gains, Ash didn't mention the Froakie he missed.
But deep down, he secretly vowed that he would find it one day.
Uncle Caesar inspected their gains, nodding with satisfaction: "You are very lucky to have encountered rare Pokémon brought by the space-time distortion.
Especially this Shinny Ceruledge; I've managed this place for twenty years, and it's the first time I've seen one."
Ash stroked Ceruledge's Safari Ball, the regret in his heart slightly lessening.
Today's Safari Zone trip, though not perfect, was exciting enough.
"Come again next time!" Uncle Caesar stood at the door, waving goodbye.
"We definitely will!" The three replied in unison, embarking on a new journey.