The June sun gently cast its light on the streets, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers.
Ash adjusted his cap and looked up at the clear blue sky.
"Pika Pika! (Ahead)" Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder, its small paw pointing towards a colorful building not far away.
"Is that a kindergarten? It's decorated so beautifully!" Xiao You looked in the direction Pikachu was pointing, seeing the walls adorned with colorful balloons and Pokémon-shaped paper cutouts.
Brock squinted at the banner above the entrance: "It's Children's Day today, no wonder it's so lively."
The four walked into the kindergarten, and the cheerful children's songs grew clearer.
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman with glasses and a ponytail rushed out of the main gate.
"You're finally here! The children have been waiting impatiently!" She grabbed Ash's hand and pulled him inside without explanation, "I'm Matsumoto, the principal here.
Please come in quickly!"
"Wait, have you mistaken us for someone else?" Ash tried to explain.
Principal Matsumoto stopped, pushed up her glasses in confusion: "Aren't you the Trainers sent by the Pokémon League to celebrate the holiday with the children?"
Xiao You and Brock exchanged glances, and Brock began: "We're just passing by..."
"The promised Trainers didn't come?" Ash interrupted Brock, his brows slightly furrowed.
Principal Matsumoto sighed: "Yes, they just called to say they had an emergency and couldn't make it.
The children have been looking forward to it for so long..." She looked into the courtyard, and several small faces peeking out from the windows immediately withdrew.
Ash looked at Pikachu, who winked at him.
"Pikachu! (Let's go take a look)" It gave a thumbs-up.
"Then let us accompany the children!" Ash flashed a brilliant smile, "We have so many Pokémon we can show them!"
Principal Matsumoto's eyes instantly lit up: "Really? Thank you so much!"
"Ash..." Brock wanted to say something, but Xiao You held him back.
"It's Children's Day, let's just consider it a good deed," Xiao You said with a smile.
Venusaur jumped out of her Poké Ball and let out a cheerful cry.
On the kindergarten playground, over fifty children sat in a large circle, excitedly whispering to each other.
Principal Matsumoto clapped her hands: "Children, these Trainer big brothers and big sisters are going to show us their Pokémon, so watch carefully!"
"Okay—" The children responded with drawn-out voices, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"So, who wants to go first?" Ash looked at his companions.
"I'll go first." Brock stepped forward and tossed out two Poké Balls.
"Come out, Onix, Geodude!"
With two flashes of white light, a giant rock snake and a small, round rock Pokémon appeared in the center of the field.
The children gasped in amazement, and a few brave ones even wanted to go up and touch them.
"Onix may look scary, but it's actually very gentle," Brock said, stroking Onix's head.
"It can help build houses and roads."
"Geodude likes to roll around, but be careful not to get your feet crushed by it." Brock's words made the children giggle.
Next was Xiao You, who elegantly twirled around: "Venusaur, Sylveon, say hello to everyone!"
The flower bud on Venusaur's back emitted a faint fragrance, while Sylveon's ribbon-like feelers gently swayed, drawing a chorus of "So beautiful" praises.
"Sylveon can use Fairy-type moves, watch closely—" Xiao You waved her hand, "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
Sylveon leaped up, its body emitting pink light, which sprinkled over the children like stars.
The children reached out to catch the specks of light, letting out cries of surprise.
It was Ash's turn.
He took a deep breath: "Are you ready, Pikachu?"
"Pika! (Anytime)" Pikachu jumped to the center of the field, its cheek pouches sparking with electricity.
"This is Pikachu, my third partner," Ash introduced gently.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack plus Iron Tail!"
The yellow figure instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning, flipping in the air before its tail glowed silver, precisely striking a wooden board Ash had placed at the edge of the field, splitting it in half.
"Wow!" The children's mouths dropped open, and applause thundered.
"Next..." Ash took out another Poké Ball, "Come out, Metagross!"
After a Shinny flash, a blue-black figure, different from an ordinary Metagross, elegantly appeared before everyone.
Its skirt-like appendages moved without wind, and its eyes gleamed with intelligence.
"Oh my goodness! It's a Shinny Metagross!" Principal Matsumoto exclaimed, "I've never seen such a beautiful Pokémon!"
Metagross bowed slightly, saluting the children, then raised its hand, and several light-flowers bloomed in its palm, transforming into butterflies that flew towards the children.
"Metagross can sense people's hearts," Ash explained, "It knows you are all very happy right now."
"It's so magical!" a little girl timidly asked, "Can I touch it?"
Metagross actively walked up to the little girl, bending down to let her touch its arm.
Tears immediately welled up in the little girl's eyes: "So warm... like my mom..."
Ash smiled and took out another Poké Ball: "The next one might be a bit big, everyone step back a little.
Come out, Metagross!"
The huge silver-white metallic body landed with a thud, glittering dazzlingly in the sunlight.
The children gasped and retreated a few steps, but their eyes were full of curiosity, not fear.
"Don't be afraid, Metagross is very friendly," Ash patted Metagross's foreleg.
"Although it looks serious, it actually loves children."
Metagross emitted a low metallic sound, slowly lowering its body so the children could clearly see its complex structure.
A small boy boldly tapped its metallic shell, producing a crisp sound.
"So hard!" the boy exclaimed.
"Metagross's body is harder than steel," Ash explained, "but it will be careful not to hurt anyone."
Finally, Ash took out his last Poké Ball: "This one might be the biggest, everyone needs to step back even further.
Come out, Pidgeot!"
When the huge orange-red figure spread its wings, the entire playground seemed to be enveloped in shadow.
This Pidgeot was twice the size of a normal one, its feathers shimmering with a golden luster.
"So... so big!" Principal Matsumoto held onto her glasses, which almost fell off.
Pidgeot meekly lowered its head, letting Ash stroke its beak.
Several brave children, encouraged by Ash, also reached out to touch its smooth feathers.
"It looks like it could carry people to fly!" said a girl with pigtails.
"It certainly can," Ash chuckled, "but there are too many people today.
Next time, if there's an opportunity, I'll let everyone experience it."
After the demonstration, Ash suggested that the Pokémon and children play games together.
The playground quickly turned into a sea of joy: Venusaur swung children on its Vine Whip like a swing; Wartortle performed Water Gun acrobatics, precisely knocking down empty cans in the distance; Gardevoir performed magic tricks with its Psychic powers, turning children's small handkerchiefs into flowers; and Pidgeot let a few children sit on its back, circling low over the playground.
Ash noticed Brock directing Onix and Geodude to help the children build a giant sandcastle, while Xiao You's Sylveon was teaching a few little girls to dance.
The entire kindergarten was filled with laughter.
However, amidst this joyful atmosphere, Ash noticed a small boy sitting alone on a bench in the corner, not participating in any activities.
He was about five or six years old, with short black hair, wearing blue shorts and a yellow T-shirt, clutching a drawing book.
Ash walked over and crouched down: "Hi, why aren't you playing with everyone else?"
The boy looked up, his eyes red as if he had just cried: "I don't want to play."
"I'm Ash, what's your name?"
"Xiao Xiang..." the boy replied softly.
"Xiao Xiang, look," Ash pointed to Pikachu, who was performing a backflip, "Pikachu is so amazing, don't you want to see it up close?"
Xiao Xiang shook his head: "I want to see Meowth..."
"Meowth?" Ash was a bit surprised, "Why Meowth?"
Xiao Xiang lowered his head, his fingers intertwined: "Grandma is sick in the hospital... She used to tell me stories about Meowth... I want to draw a picture of Meowth for her..."
Ash's heart softened: "So that's it." He looked back at his Pokémon and said regretfully: "Unfortunately, I didn't bring Meowth today..."
"Ash!" Xiao You suddenly ran over, "Principal Matsumoto said there might be a wild Pokémon rummaging through the trash cans in the backyard!"
Ash immediately stood up: "I'll go check.
Xiao Xiang, can you play with everyone else for now? I'll figure out a way to help you find Meowth later."
Xiao Xiang nodded, but his eyes remained dim.
Ash followed Xiao You to the backyard and indeed saw a grey figure rummaging near the trash can.
Hearing footsteps, the creature suddenly turned its head—
"It's Meowth!" Xiao You exclaimed.
This Meowth looked malnourished, its fur disheveled, but its eyes were alert.
Seeing humans, it immediately arched its back and bared its fangs.
"Wait, we mean no harm." Ash slowly approached, "Are you hungry? We can give you food."
Meowth's nose twitched a few times, but it didn't relax its guard.
Just then, a scream came from the direction of the playground.
"Oh no!" Ash turned and ran, and Meowth, startled by the sudden commotion, also followed them towards the playground.
The sight before Ash made him gasp: a startled Raticate had appeared from nowhere, charging wildly across the playground, sending children scattering in panic.
Metagross was trying to intercept it, but feared hurting the children and dared not use powerful moves.
"Pidgeot!" Ash shouted, "Use Wing Attack to drive it away! Be careful not to hurt anyone!"
Pidgeot spread its wings and swooped down, but Raticate nimbly dodged, charging straight towards—the bench where Xiao Xiang was sitting!
Xiao Xiang was frozen in fear, his drawing book falling to the ground.
In the nick of time, a silver figure flashed by, and Metagross blocked Xiao Xiang with its body.
Raticate crashed into the metallic shell, falling to the ground dazed, then fled in a panic.
"Xiao Xiang! Are you okay?" Ash ran over to check on the boy.
Xiao Xiang was pale but shook his head.
Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he pointed behind Ash: "Meow... Meowth!"
Ash turned around and found that the wild Meowth had followed them at some point, watching them warily.
Seeing Xiao Xiang pointing at it, Meowth turned to run away.
"Wait!" Ash had an idea.
He pulled out a bag of Pokémon food from his backpack: "Meowth, look, this is for you."
The scent of the food made Meowth stop.
It hesitated, looking back, its nose twitching continuously.
Ash slowly crouched down, placed the food on the ground, and retreated a few steps: "It's all yours, we won't hurt you."
Meowth cautiously approached, quickly snatched a piece of food, and retreated.
After repeating this several times, it seemed to confirm there was no danger and began to gobble down the food.
Xiao Xiang gently slid off the bench, picked up his drawing book, his eyes fixed on Meowth: "It... it's just like in Grandma's stories..."
"Do you want to draw it?" Ash asked softly.
Xiao Xiang nodded vigorously.
"Meowth," Ash said gently, "This little friend wants to draw your portrait, can you cooperate for a bit? Just for a moment, there will be more food afterward."
Meowth looked up, first at Ash, then at Xiao Xiang's expectant eyes, and surprisingly, slowly sat down, licked its paw, and began to wash its face.
"It agreed!" Ash said in surprise, "Xiao Xiang, draw quickly."
Xiao Xiang hurriedly opened his drawing book, his pencil quickly gliding across the paper.
Meowth was surprisingly cooperative, even striking a few poses.
Ten minutes later, Xiao Xiang held up his drawing book: "It's done!"
The Meowth in the drawing was lifelike, especially its eyes, full of a sense of story.
Ash was amazed by the little boy's talent for drawing.
"That's amazing!" Ash gave a thumbs-up, then turned to Meowth, "Thank you, Meowth.
This is the food I promised you." He gave Meowth the remaining half-bag of food.
Meowth picked up the food bag and, unexpectedly, walked up to Xiao Xiang, gently rubbed its head against his leg, then quickly ran away.
Tears shimmered in Xiao Xiang's eyes: "It likes me..."
"Of course it likes you," Ash patted his shoulder, "Your drawing is wonderful, Grandma will definitely love it."
Principal Matsumoto and the other children gathered around then, asking what had just happened in excited whispers.
"Big Brother Ash helped me find Meowth!" Xiao Xiang proudly held up his drawing book, "I'm going to give it to Grandma!"
As the sun set, the Children's Day celebration drew to a close.
The children reluctantly bid farewell to the Pokémon.
Principal Matsumoto gratefully shook Ash's hand: "Thank you all so much, today will be an unforgettable memory for the children."
"We had a lot of fun too," Ash said with a smile, Pikachu nodding in agreement on his shoulder.
Xiao Xiang ran over and hugged Ash's leg: "Big Brother Ash, thank you!"
Ash crouched down: "Promise me you'll play more with everyone else from now on, okay?"
"Mm!" Xiao Xiang nodded vigorously, "When I grow up, I want to be a Pokémon Trainer like you!"
As they left the kindergarten, Brock looked at the three: "Today went pretty well, didn't it?"
"Yes," Xiao You said, stroking Venusaur, "It feels good to help others."
Ash looked back at the kindergarten, where many small faces were still pressed against the glass, waving at them.
He raised his hand and waved back, then turned towards the unknown road ahead: "Let's go, my friends, our journey continues!"
"Pika—chu!" Pikachu's cry was exceptionally loud in the sunset, as if bidding farewell to this special Children's Day.