"Wobbuffet, you need to straighten your back! Your posture has to be perfect!"
"And try to look a bit cuter, then everyone will like you!"
Just as Ash and his companions emerged from Ilex Forest and arrived at the outskirts of Palmpona, they heard a voice calling out. Following the sound, they saw a boy their age training a blue Pokémon.
Ash's eyes lit up. Wasn't that Jessie's Wobbuffet?
This Wobbuffet, which had followed Jessie through several regions, had been traded for her Lickitung by accident at a swap meet. It became Team Rocket's ultimate shield, often leaving Ash's group frustrated.
They eventually realized this Wobbuffet had a very high IQ and possessed excellent tactical instincts. Even though Jessie always ordered it to use Counter, Wobbuffet could independently determine if an incoming move was physical or special, choosing between Counter and Mirror Coat accordingly.
"Hello, I'm Ash. What are you doing?" Ash asked, though he already knew.
"I'm Benny," the boy introduced himself. "I want to take Wobbuffet to the Pokémon Swap Meet! I'm giving him some final adjustments!"
Ash recalled his previous experience trading his Butterfree for a Raticate, a decision he had quickly regretted and reversed. To him, he would never trade a Pokémon he had worked hard to raise.
However, if it was the Pokémon's own decision, he was willing to respect it. Looking at this Wobbuffet, it clearly looked forward to being traded to find a new master.
"But this Pokémon looks so unremarkable. Can you really trade it?" Misty said, being brutally honest.
Brock quickly nudged her from the side. Realizing her slip, Misty quickly changed her tune. "No, I mean... if you look closely, it's actually quite cute." She laughed awkwardly.
Benny didn't mind. "Yeah, I really like Wobbuffet, but I want to try raising other Pokémon too."
Ash glanced at his Psyduck's status. It seemed to have rested well in its Poké Ball and looked much more energetic. Benny seemed like a good fit for Psyduck; he cared more about nurturing than combat strength. Psyduck would live well with him.
"How about this? I have a Psyduck here!" Ash summoned the Pokémon. Its mental state was still a bit poor, but it was improving.
"Ash, when did you catch a Psyduck?" Misty asked in surprise.
"Back in Ilex Forest," Ash explained. He looked at Benny. "Benny, if you're willing, I'd like to trade this Psyduck for your Wobbuffet. But I want you to promise to take good care of it and never trade it again."
Benny felt as if he could sense the melancholy hidden behind Psyduck's blank gaze. It was strangely charming. "Ash, can I ask what happened to this Psyduck?"
Ash checked their compatibility using his system function. Benny and Psyduck had a compatibility of 150, which was more than enough for Benny to raise it well.
"Its previous trainer released it in Ilex Forest, so it's a bit depressed. Please, raise it well if you can," Ash told him the truth without concealment.
Benny stared into Psyduck's eyes and nodded. "I will. And I promise you, Ash, I will never trade it away!"
With both parties in agreement, the group followed Benny into Palmpona. They discovered the festival was full of events, including unique competitions held before the swap meet. Just as the trade was completed, a herd of Tauros charged into town from the outskirts!
"Yeah! Go, go!"
The townspeople didn't panic; instead, they cheered with excitement.
"What is this?" Brock asked from a distance.
"It's a local specialty, the Tauros Tussle!" Benny explained, holding his new Poké Ball. "Anyone who manages to touch a Tauros horn is praised as the bravest!" It was a point of honor, but highly dangerous.
"Wait, where's Ash?" Misty searched around and saw Ash standing right in the path of the stampede. "Ash, it's dangerous!"
Ash couldn't hear her over the noise. "Watch me!" He smiled confidently, and the Pikachu on his shoulder didn't look worried either.
Ash grabbed the lead Tauros by the horns, flipped 360 degrees through the air, and landed steadily on its back!
"Amazing! This young man did it! He even mounted the Tauros! Let's cheer for him!"
"Did everyone enjoy the chase? Next is the program you've all been waiting for: the Tauros Battle, a one-on-one duel!"
Ash rode the lead Tauros into a small arena where the tournament had already begun. Before the herd stopped, he jumped down and went to the Pokémon Center to call Professor Oak.
"Professor, could you send me Tauros number 12? Also, please send this Pokémon to my mother."
To make room for Psyduck, Ash had temporarily sent Heracross to the Professor for research. As for this Wobbuffet, its compatibility with Ash was 200, but he felt it was better suited to accompany Delia Ketchum.
Wobbuffet was a very gentle species and would be perfect company for her. Tauros number 12 was the strongest of the thirty Ash had caught, with a compatibility of 235.
"Understood, I've received it!"
Ash returned to the arena with his Tauros.
"Ash, you're back!" Misty and Brock had been waiting for him.
"Incredible! Fernando's Tauros has achieved an eight win streak! Wait it's the brave youth who grabbed the horn! He's back! Let's cheer for him again!"
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town. Tauros, I choose you!"
Ash's Tauros appeared with an imposing aura. Fernando's Tauros was also formidable.
"Brave youth, show me what you've got!" Fernando was ready to go all out.
"Tauros, use Take Down!" Both trainers gave the same command.
The two bulls charged, the ground trembling under their hooves. Their horns collided in a fierce struggle of strength. Ultimately, Ash's Tauros was superior. It achieved ten consecutive wins, taking the final victory!
Tauros (12): 130/238
The Celebi plot will follow the movie version. The GS Ball was originally meant to lead into the Celebi arc in the main story, but the movie took that plotline, and the GS Ball was dropped. However, stay tuned for how the GS Ball is handled in this book!
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