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"Huh?"
"Jigglypuff?"
Misty froze.
So the voice she'd heard earlier hadn't been her imagination after all—it was real.
The realization hit her all at once. She jolted awake, sprang to her feet, and hurriedly looked around, searching for that familiar figure from her nightmares—
The pink menace.
But after listening carefully, she quickly realized something else.
The singing wasn't coming from nearby.
It wasn't even coming from the inn.
The melody seemed distant, echoing faintly from somewhere far away.
That discovery alone made her breathe a small sigh of relief.
That also explained why neither of them had fallen asleep immediately after hearing the song. If Jigglypuff had been closer, they would have ended up just like before fast asleep with their faces turned into a canvas.
Turning toward Kai, Misty asked cautiously,
"Kai… what do we do now?"
"Obviously, we go check it out," Kai replied through clenched teeth. "If we leave it alone, who knows how many people it'll put to sleep. And don't forget it drew all over our faces last time. That score isn't settled yet."
Judging by his expression, Kai was clearly holding a grudge.
…Was he planning to catch it?
They quickly left the hot springs, changed back into their clothes, and regrouped in the courtyard of the inn.
To minimize the effects of the singing, both of them put on headphones. They wouldn't block the sound completely, but at least they'd weaken its hypnotic effect.
Following the direction of the voice, they left the inn and made their way onto the hot spring street.
It was around 10 p.m.
The street, normally lively at this hour, was a complete disaster.
People were sprawled all over the ground, fast asleep, smiles plastered across their faces. Some even had snot bubbles forming as they slept.
The singing continued—and grew closer.
When they reached the end of the street, beneath a massive rock, they spotted a round, pink Pokémon.
It had set down its microphone, popped the cap off a marker, and was happily drawing all over the sleeping people's faces.
It was Jigglypuff.
And there was no doubt about it this was that Jigglypuff.
The same one that had traveled from Kanto to Johto… and even followed all the way to Hoenn.
Which meant one thing.
Ash had already arrived in Hoenn as well.
Though his whereabouts were unknown for now, his journey here had clearly begun.
To be safe, Kai released both Gengar and Gardevoir, signaling them to flank Jigglypuff from either side.
This time, it wasn't getting away.
Only then did he take out Blaziken's Poké Ball.
Just as Misty suspected he really was planning to capture it.
Unlike his previous captures, this one wasn't about strengthening his team.
He was catching it simply because he wanted to.
So far, only two Pokémon had ever made him feel this way: this Jigglypuff and Celebi from the Ilex Forest.
Blaziken's appearance immediately caught Jigglypuff's attention.
But after using Sing for so long without resistance, Jigglypuff had grown overconfident. No matter what Pokémon appeared, they usually collapsed the moment they sang.
It didn't feel threatened at all.
That confidence lasted right up until Blaziken got close.
Jigglypuff puffed out its cheeks, glaring up at Blaziken with wide, unblinking eyes.
Before it could react, Blaziken lifted its leg and kicked it squarely in the body.
Caught completely off guard, Jigglypuff went tumbling backward, rolling across the ground more than ten times before slamming into a rock.
Blaziken turned its head toward Kai, clearly confused.
That's it?
The look in its eyes practically screamed disbelief.
Despite Jigglypuff's frequent appearances, its actual combat strength was mediocre at best. Its move pool was limited, and it functioned more as a mascot than a fighter.
Still, Kai didn't lower his guard. He gestured subtly, and Gengar and Gardevoir tightened the encirclement.
Jigglypuff staggered around for a moment before regaining its balance. When it finally focused on Blaziken, the Pokémon that had attacked it, it exploded with anger and charged forward.
Reaching Blaziken, it raised its tiny pink hands and unleashed Double Slap, aiming straight for Blaziken's face.
But with Jigglypuff barely fifty centimeters tall and Blaziken standing close to ninety, it had to stand on its toes just to reach.
An unprepared, straight-line charge from that distance was laughably easy to avoid.
Without even waiting for an order, Blaziken simply stepped back, effortlessly dodging the attack.
Jigglypuff refused to give up. It rushed forward again then suddenly dove headfirst, attempting a body slam.
"Detect," Kai ordered calmly.
Light flashed in Blaziken's eyes.
In that instant, Jigglypuff's movements slowed dramatically, its attack riddled with openings.
As Jigglypuff closed in, Blaziken extended an arm, pressed a hand against its round head, and redirected the momentum—
Boom!
Jigglypuff crashed straight into another rock.
It rubbed its head dazedly before finally realizing—
This opponent wasn't easy prey.
Without hesitation, it reached behind itself and somehow pulled out its microphone.
Kai had been waiting for that.
Without a word, Gardevoir used Psychic, snatching the microphone out of Jigglypuff's hands and floating it toward Kai.
Jigglypuff's eyes widened in shock.
It chased after the microphone but Blaziken stepped in front of it once more.
"Yes!" Misty exclaimed in relief.
Without its microphone, Jigglypuff couldn't use Sing.
The pink Pokémon stood there, cheeks puffed with rage, its body swelling slightly as its anger peaked.
But anger didn't change reality.
When Blaziken's abdomen glowed and a burst of fire shot toward it, Jigglypuff finally realized the gap between them.
It turned and ran.
But Kai had no intention of letting it escape.
Gengar and Gardevoir closed in from both sides, forcing it back into position.
"Blaziken—Double Kick!"
Blaziken dashed forward and launched itself into the air, both kicks landing cleanly.
Jigglypuff was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, rolling helplessly across the ground.
Kai immediately threw a Poké Ball.
Red light enveloped Jigglypuff and pulled it inside.
The ball shook once… twice…
Then burst open.
Jigglypuff escaped.
"Oh?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "Still got strength left?"
Interesting but not a problem.
Just as he was about to order another attack, something occurred to him.
…Right.
His eyes lit up.
Instead of another Poké Ball, he reached for a different one.
Outcome: Beldum.
Misty blinked then instantly understood, breaking into laughter.
Holding Beldum in his arms, Kai walked toward Jigglypuff with a gentle, almost cheerful smile.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Under normal circumstances, a Beldum that only knew Take Down could barely defeat anything.
But right now?
Jigglypuff was practically defenseless.
And Kai had done this before.
More importantly—
This was revenge.
Beldum, despite being under fifty centimeters tall, weighed a staggering 95 kilograms.
Thankfully, it hovered. Otherwise, Kai wouldn't have been able to lift it at all.
Raising Beldum high above his head, he aimed carefully—
And dropped it.
Jigglypuff, barely conscious after Blaziken's assault, could only stare in horror as a massive black shadow fell toward it.
Smack!
The collision was decisive.
Jigglypuff's eyes rolled back, and it passed out instantly.
"Done."
Kai dusted off his hands, picked up the Poké Ball, and pressed it gently against Jigglypuff.
This time, the ball barely shook before clicking shut.
Success.
Perfect.
Revenge taken.
Jigglypuff captured.
A flawless outcome.
Glancing back, Kai met Misty's gaze—both of them grinning.
Only then did he notice her buttons were fastened crookedly. She must have rushed out in a panic.
Looking around, the sleeping victims were still sprawled across the street, faces covered in Jigglypuff's artwork.
They'd wake up soon.
Without disturbing them, Kai and Misty quietly returned to the inn.
After that ordeal, neither of them felt like using the hot springs again.
With a hint of disappointment, they said goodnight and returned to their rooms.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
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