After leaving Len Town, Ash and his friends finally arrived at a small town near Goldenrod City.
As long as they passed through this place, they would reach the third destination of their journey: the bustling Goldenrod City.
With the addition of Ralts and Alakazam, Ash was now carrying more than the six Pokémon limit.
They headed to the Pokémon Center to make some necessary adjustments.
"Noctowl can go back and keep Pidgeot company," Ash muttered while operating the transfer machine. "Ponyta is still young, so it's more suitable for Professor Oak to raise it for now."
Just as he finished the transfer, the video phone suddenly rang.
Professor Oak's face appeared on the screen.
"Ash! The Pokémon you just sent me... wait a second, is that... a Ralts on your head? Those are extremely rare in Johto! And it's Shiny too! Could you perhaps..."
"Sorry, Professor," Ash interrupted gently but firmly. "Ralts just went through some unpleasant experiences and still depends on me a lot. Besides, the Ponyta and Noctowl I just sent should be enough to keep you occupied for quite some time."
Professor Oak looked disappointed for a moment, but his curiosity quickly took over.
"Speaking of which, where did you get that Ponyta? Its coloration is rather unusual."
"I found it during the Pokémon Swap Meet in Palmpona," Ash replied casually.
However, he knew very well what kind of surprise this Ponyta with Galarian blood would bring to the professor.
Ash's current team now consisted of Pikachu on his shoulder, Ralts perched on top of his head, and the Poké Balls containing Bayleef, Quilava, Totodile, Houndour, and Alakazam hanging from his belt.
Ralts seemed particularly fond of sitting on Ash's head. It would quietly remain there, its blue hair swaying gently in the breeze.
From a distance, that patch of blue really did look like a rather unique hat.
As soon as they stepped out of the Pokémon Center, they were immediately drawn by the excitement filling the town.
People everywhere were enthusiastically discussing the same topic: Pokémon fortune-telling.
"My result was Pidgey!"
"I got Butterfree!"
"This fortune-telling is incredibly accurate!"
Listening to the conversations around them, they learned that a mysterious fortune book had become popular in town. It supposedly revealed a person's personality and future through Pokémon. Even more amazingly, encountering the Pokémon matching one's result was said to bring good luck.
"These kinds of things are all scams," Ash said dismissively with a shake of his head.
As someone from another world, he had always been skeptical of this sort of mysticism.
More importantly, he clearly remembered this part of the story.
The entire thing was a scheme set up by Team Rocket elites Butch and Cassidy.
Unlike Jessie and James, these two black-uniformed Team Rocket members worked directly under Giovanni and were far more cunning.
However, Misty had clearly been swept up by the craze.
"Come on, let's try it too!"
She grabbed Ash and Brock by their sleeves, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Unable to resist Misty's insistence, the three eventually arrived at a building with a sign reading "Day Care."
A kind-looking elderly couple warmly welcomed them. While introducing the wonders of Pokémon fortune-telling, they also took the opportunity to promote their Pokémon Day Care and trading services.
"Thank you for the introduction, but we don't need those services for now." Ash politely but firmly declined.
As he left, he cast a meaningful glance at the "elderly couple."
Butch and Cassidy... we'll meet again soon, he thought to himself.
After sitting down on a bench in the park, Misty eagerly opened the fortune book she had just bought.
"Ash first! Ash first!" she urged excitedly.
Ash smiled helplessly and decided to humor her.
He glanced at Pikachu on his shoulder and noticed that it had tilted its head, apparently curious about the book as well.
"Ash's corresponding Pokémon is... Bellsprout?" Misty read aloud from the description. "'Honest personality, easily influenced by others'... That's nothing like you!"
Ash couldn't help but smile.
If it had been the original Ash, perhaps the description would have been somewhat fitting.
But after everything he had experienced, he was no longer the impulsive boy he once was.
His companions who had traveled alongside him had all witnessed those changes.
"Now it's Brock's turn!" Misty flipped to the next page. "Onix? Serious personality, meticulous and careful... This one actually fits pretty well."
"Do I really resemble an Onix that much?" Brock stroked his chin before his eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait, I also have an Onix! Does that mean I'm destined for three beautiful encounters?"
Seeing Brock sinking into his fantasies, Ash smiled knowingly.
Surprisingly, this fortune was rather accurate.
In the Battle Frontier, Brock would indeed meet someone who genuinely liked him: Lucy.
Unfortunately, back then Ash had been entirely focused on his own challenges. Combined with Max accidentally interrupting things, it became one of Brock fans' greatest regrets.
Perhaps when the time came, he could give the two a little push and help bring about that relationship.
"Now it's my turn!" Misty declared confidently. "I'm definitely something elegant like Vaporeon."
Ash leaned over and, just as he expected, saw the fierce image of Gyarados printed on the page.
"T-That's impossible!" Misty snapped the book shut. "How could I be Gyarados?!"
"Personality-wise, it's actually pretty fitting," Brock foolishly added.
Bang!
A perfectly aimed punch landed squarely on the top of his head.
Misty clenched her fist as veins bulged on her forehead.
"What was that?"
"This book definitely has problems!" Misty huffed angrily as she stood up. "How dare they charge so much money when their fortunes aren't even accurate!"
Ash nodded thoughtfully.
"We really should go talk to them. Because from beginning to end, this entire thing has been a scam."
"A scam?" Brock asked in confusion while rubbing the lump on his head.
"You'll see soon enough," Ash replied with a mysterious smile, his gaze directed toward the so-called Day Care.
Ralts seemed to sense something and gently tugged at Ash's hair.
Ash softly patted its tiny hand.
"Don't worry. This time, it's our turn to expose them."
Pikachu also jumped onto Ash's other shoulder, eager for action. Tiny sparks crackled from its cheek pouches.
A good show was about to begin.
...
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