On a bright, sunny afternoon, Ash, Pikachu, Xiao You, and Brock were walking along the path leading to Pallet Town. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers.
"Pika Pika! (Over there!)" Pikachu suddenly jumped off Ash's shoulder, pricked up its ears, and pointed towards a bush by the roadside.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash stopped and looked in the direction Pikachu was pointing.
A rustling sound came from the bush, and a pink figure was faintly visible. Xiao You narrowed her eyes: "What Pokémon is that?"
Brock stroked his chin: "From the silhouette, it looks like..."
"It's a Mr. Mime!" Ash shouted excitedly, quickly taking a Poké Ball from his waist, "Awesome! I haven't caught a Mr. Mime yet!"
"Mime?" The Mr. Mime in the bush heard the commotion and cautiously peeked out. It had a pink body and a white, clown-like mask for a face, and its hands instinctively drew a transparent Light Screen in front of it.
"Pikachu, get ready to battle!" Ash struck a battle pose.
"Pika!" Pikachu's cheek pouches sparked with electricity.
Just as Ash was about to give a command, a clear female voice came from behind: "Please wait a moment!"
Everyone turned around and saw a young woman in a fancy performance outfit walking quickly towards them. She had long, shiny black hair, big, bright eyes, and an elegant demeanor unique to a stage performer.
"Wow..." Brock's eyes immediately turned into hearts, and he conjured a bouquet of roses from somewhere, "My beautiful lady, may I know your name...?"
"Brock!" Xiao You sighed helplessly, grabbing Brock's ear and pulling him away, "Now is not the time to hit on someone!"
"Ow! Easy, easy!" Brock cried out in pain.
The woman smiled slightly: "Hello everyone, I am Ajin, the director of the Pokémon Circus. That Mr. Mime... could you let me catch it?"
Ash lowered his battle stance and asked curiously: "Why do you need this Mr. Mime?"
Ajin sighed, her expression turning worried: "Our circus's star is a Mr. Mime, but it's been on strike recently and refuses to perform. I want to catch a new Mr. Mime to put some pressure on it..."
"Mime!" The Mr. Mime in the bush, hearing this, seemed startled and turned to run away.
"Wait!" Ash shouted urgently, simultaneously using his special ability to communicate with Pokémon, "We won't hurt you!"
The Mr. Mime stopped, turned back, and looked at Ash in confusion: "Mime? (You can understand me?)"
"Of course I can," Ash nodded with a smile, "My name is Ash, and this is my partner Pikachu. We are not bad people."
"Pika Pika! (Hello there, Mr. Mime!)" Pikachu waved its small paw in a friendly manner.
The Mr. Mime hesitated for a moment, but finally shook its head: "Mime Mime! (No, I don't want to be caught!)" After saying that, it quickly created more Light Screens for cover and vanished into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye.
"It got away..." Ash said with some regret.
Ajin also looked very disappointed: "Sigh, another failure..."
Xiao You stepped forward: "Miss Ajin, you said your Mr. Mime is on strike? Perhaps we can help. Ash can communicate with Pokémon, so he might be able to find out what the problem is."
"Really?" Ajin's eyes lit up, "That would be wonderful! Our circus has pitched its tent in the clearing ahead, could you please come and take a look?"
"Of course!" Ash readily agreed, "It's our responsibility to help Pokémon and Trainers in need!"
"Thank you so much!" Ajin said gratefully, "This way, please."
Along the way, Brock kept trying to get close to Ajin: "Miss Ajin, do you like roses? I specially prepared these for you..."
"Brock!" Xiao You grabbed his ear again, "Focus on walking!"
"Ow, ow, ow! I know, I know!"
Soon, they arrived at the circus camp. The colorful big tent was particularly eye-catching, surrounded by several beautifully decorated carriages. Some Pokémon were practicing performance moves under the guidance of their Trainers.
"This is our circus," Ajin introduced, with pride in her voice, "We tour everywhere, bringing joy to people. But now..." Her voice dropped, "Without Mr. Mime's performance, the entire show loses its soul."
"Where is it?" Ash asked.
"Follow me." Ajin led them to a specially decorated tent, "This is Mr. Mime's exclusive resting area."
Inside the tent, a Pokémon slightly larger than a normal Mr. Mime was sitting in a corner, with its back to the entrance. Hearing someone enter, it only stirred slightly, without turning around.
"Mime..." Its Growl sounded listless.
"Ash, I'm counting on you," Ajin whispered.
Ash nodded and slowly approached the Mr. Mime: "Hello, I'm Ash. Can you tell me why you're unhappy?"
The Mr. Mime turned its head, glanced at Ash, and then turned back: "Mime Mime. (Don't want to talk.)"
"It doesn't want to communicate," Ash told Ajin helplessly.
Ajin sighed: "It's been like this lately. It used to love performing, full of energy every time it went on stage..."
Just then, there was a sudden commotion and the panicked cries of Pokémon outside the tent.
"What's going on?" Xiao You asked alertly.
"Oh no! Director!" A circus member ran in frantically, "It's Team Rockets! They're here to steal our Pokémon!"
"What?!" Ajin's face changed drastically, and she rushed out of the tent.
Ash and his companions quickly followed. Outside, it was already chaotic, with three familiar figures directing a group of mechanical arms to capture the circus's Pokémon.
"If you ask us so kindly!"
"We will mercifully tell you!"
"To prevent the world from being destroyed!"
"To protect the peace of the world!"
"To carry out love and truth, the evil!"
"The cute and charming villainous characters!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"We are Team Rockets, soaring through the galaxy!"
"A white hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!"
"That's right! Meowth!"
"It's you again!" Ash shouted angrily, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—chu!" A dazzling bolt of electricity struck Team Rockets' machine, but it was blocked by a suddenly appearing shield.
"Hahaha! This time we came prepared!" Jessie laughed triumphantly.
The mechanical arms continued to capture the panicked Pokémon. Ajin tried to protect a Ponyta but was cornered by a mechanical arm.
"Watch out!" Ash yelled, but it was too late to stop it.
Just in the nick of time, a pink figure suddenly rushed out, blocking Ajin. "Mime!" Mr. Mime waved its hands, and a sturdy Light Screen instantly formed, blocking the mechanical arm's attack.
"Mr. Mime!" Ajin looked in surprise at the Pokémon blocking her.
Mr. Mime didn't look back, focusing on maintaining the Light Screen: "Mime Mime! (I won't let them hurt you and everyone!)"
"It says it wants to protect you and everyone!" Ash translated.
Ajin's eyes welled up: "But it's been ignoring me these past few days..."
"Mime! (That's because you only care about the new Pokémon!)" Mr. Mime cried out while resisting the attack.
Ash quickly translated: "It says you've recently only cared about the new Pokémon and neglected it."
Ajin was stunned: "So that's it... I thought it just didn't want to perform anymore..."
Team Rockets' machine suddenly increased its power, and cracks began to appear in the Light Screen. Mr. Mime gritted its teeth and held on, but it was clearly struggling.
"We can't just stand by!" Xiao You shouted, "Brock, have your Pokémon help!"
"Understood! Onix, come out!" Brock threw his Poké Ball.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt Encore!" Ash commanded.
Under everyone's combined attack, Team Rockets' machine finally gave way, exploding after emitting a puff of black smoke.
"What a dreadful feeling!" The Team Rockets trio vanished into the sky like shooting stars.
After the crisis was resolved, Ajin immediately ran to Mr. Mime, who was slumped on the ground from exhaustion.
"Are you okay?" Ajin lovingly checked Mr. Mime's condition.
Mr. Mime avoided her gaze: "Mime... (I'm fine...)"
"I'm sorry..." Ajin said softly, "I really have been too focused on the new Pokémon lately and neglected your feelings. But you have always been my most important and most trusted partner!"
Mr. Mime looked up, its eyes flickering with uncertainty: "Mime? (Really?)"
"Of course it's true!" Ajin said firmly, "Without your performance, the entire circus loses its sparkle. I... I need you."
Mr. Mime's eyes lit up: "Mime! (I need you too!)" It suddenly pounced into Ajin's arms.
Ajin hugged it tightly: "I promise I'll spend more time with you from now on, and we'll practice new acts together, okay?"
"Mime Mime! (Okay!)" Mr. Mime nodded excitedly, then suddenly broke free from the hug, performed a graceful somersault in the air, and with a wave of its hands, countless colored light spots rained down, forming beautiful patterns.
"This is..." Ajin looked at the impromptu performance in surprise.
"It says this is a new act it came up with!" Ash translated with a smile.
"That's wonderful!" Ajin applauded, "The audience will surely love it!"
Watching the Trainer and Pokémon reconcile, Ash and his companions all showed relieved smiles.
"Looks like the problem is solved," Xiao You said.
"Yes, the bond between Pokémon and Trainer is truly amazing," Brock mused, then suddenly turned to Ajin, "Miss Ajin, since the problem is solved, why don't we go for some tea...?"
"Brock!" Xiao You grabbed his ear again, "We need to keep going!"
"Ow! I know, I know!"
Ajin walked over with a smile: "Thank you all so much for your help. Without Ash's special ability, I might never have known Mr. Mime's true feelings."
"I'm glad I could help." Ash scratched his head, "Well then, we'll be going. I wish your circus a successful performance!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu also waved goodbye.
"Mime!" Mr. Mime performed a funny farewell gesture.
After leaving the circus, the trio continued towards Pallet Town. As the sun set, they finally saw the familiar outline of the town.
"Finally home!" Ash stretched, "I wonder if Mom has dinner ready..."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu suddenly jumped off Ash's shoulder and ran ahead.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash followed, puzzled.
At Ash's doorstep, they saw a familiar figure—the wild Mr. Mime they had met in the forest, helping Delia tidy the garden.
"Mime~" Mr. Mime hummed happily, completely without its previous wariness.
"Huh? Isn't that..." Xiao You's eyes widened in surprise.
Delia heard the commotion and turned around: "Oh, Ash, you're back!" She introduced with a smile, "This is the new Mr. Mime who joined our family. I found it in the yard this afternoon, and it seemed to really like it here, so it decided to stay."
"Mime! (It's great here!)" Mr. Mime said happily.
Ash paused for a moment, then burst out laughing: "What a coincidence! It seems every Pokémon we meet finds its own home!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu jumped in front of Mr. Mime and greeted it friendly.
The afterglow of the setting sun spread over Pallet Town, bringing a perfect end to this wonderful day.