The days after, the gang went out exploring more of the island. Dewford Town was only a small part of it, after all, there was far more everywhere else.
So Ash just took advantage of that and helped his Ralts train her Teleport every day. They'd march out, then Ralts would try to teleport them back to the beach house, and the next morning they'd teleport back to where they were. It was… wonky, but hey, she wasn't Abby. Abby's Teleport was stronger, but Abby herself was… you know.
Still, it was pretty good training for Ralts. May also tried getting her Ralts to help, but she ended up in the water and got spat out by a random Wailmer. It was probably the same one that soaked Brock too.
And since we're on the topic of May, Ash finally finished her training yesterday. After her Silcoon evolved into a Beautifly… well, that wasn't what stopped the training, but May had reached a point where she could probably beat a one-badge Gym Leader's team. Her Pokémon, anyway. Her actual battle experience was… lacking.
But that wasn't his job to fix… unless she asked. So Ash let her go, and she was so happy she almost cried, until Ash reminded her to keep up her training because if she ever slacked, he'd have no choice but to start her training again.
Right now, though, it was morning, and they were waiting for Ash's Ralts to finish her snack so she could teleport them back to where they left off yesterday. As for Pikachu and Vee, they were just chilling, they'd found tiny sunglasses and were sunbathing, even though they couldn't get a tan since they had fur.
Ash sat looking through his phone and pulled up a map of the island. He knew where he wanted to go. He wanted one more thing on this island before he went after Brawly… whenever he came back.
Brock was in the house packing lunch boxes for everyone since they probably wouldn't come back until dinner. Max was playing around with his PokéNav, and May, well, she was practicing her choreography with her Beautifly, Torchic, and Ralts.
"Okay, here we go, one more time. A one and a tw—" May started, but she was cut off.
A sudden jet of water blasted her from the side, launching her face-first into the sand.
The culprit?
A Wailmer.
The same one from before. Maybe it had a personal rivalry with the group. Maybe just May. Hard to tell.
Beautifly panicked, Ralts panicked, Torchic panicked, Max panicked, and May, her face smooshed into the sand, muffled something like, "M'gonna f… fighf tha' Whailmf…"
Ash walked over and helped her sit up, brushing sand off her face.
"Hey," he said cheerfully, "you're improving. Last time you got hit by that thing, you flew like ten feet. Today it was, like, eight."
Brock sighed. "Ash, that's not comforting."
"It kinda is," Max admitted.
May coughed up sand. "Why does the ocean hate me…?"
Ralts nudged her bandana back onto her head with psychic energy. "Raalts… [You okay?]"
May hugged her. "At least someone cares."
"Yeah yeah, sure," Ash rolled his eyes
"I resent that!" May pointed at Ash. "But sure, let's just get away from the water before I swim after that Wailmer."
Ash chuckled. "Alright everyone, come on, get close. Ralts, will you do the honors?"
Ash's Ralts nodded as she held onto the back of Ash's head, sitting on his shoulder. She held her little arms out, glowing faintly… and
FLASH.
Everyone landed on the trail… kind of.
Ash was upright. Brock was upright. Max was upright. Pikachu and Vee landed next to Ash perfectly on their feet.
May was upside-down in a tree.
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME?!" she yelled as Torchic hopped in circles below her, distressed.
"Hey," Ash called up. "At least you're not in the ocean this time."
"That is not the comfort you think it is!"
May tried to wiggle free, but her legs were tangled in the branches like some sort of wild Beautifly cocoon. Beautifly fluttered up frantically, trying to help by tugging on her bandana.
"You look kinda stuck there, sis," Max called up like that helped.
"I KNOW I'M STUCK!" May shouted back, flailing like a Magikarp. "HOW ABOUT INSTEAD OF SAYING THE OBVIOUS YOU HELP ME?!"
Ash casually reached up, grabbed her ankle, and with absolutely zero ceremony, pulled her down. She fell right into his arms, briefly, and then he just… dropped her onto her feet.
"You're good," he said, dusting off his hands like he'd just moved furniture.
"My soul left my body for a second," May muttered as she pulled leaves out of her hair.
Ralts hopped off Ash's shoulder and clapped proudly. "Raaalts! [Teleport success!]"
Ash patted her head. "Yeah, that one was your best yet. Only one person got displaced. New record."
Pikachu and Vee just looked at each other and sighed, knowing it wasn't worth the effort.
May glared. "Stop acting like I'm a unit of measurement."
"You kinda are," Max said.
She threw a handful of leaves at him.
"Anyway, where are we? This doesn't look like the place we were at yesterday," Brock said, looking around. "Did Ralts teleport us somewhere random?"
"Hey, she's doing her best. I don't see YOU teleporting us around," Ash said, holding Ralts with one arm and pointing at Brock with the other. Ralts nodded, puffing out her little cheeks.
Brock raised his hands defensively. "Hey, hey, I'm not blaming her. I'm just saying this is definitely not the trail from yesterday."
Ash pulled out his phone, squinting at the map and then at the forest around them. Even though he knew exactly where they were, he wanted them to be here, he played along. "Hmm… okay, so… we were supposed to be south of here, kind of near the rocky shoreline."
Max climbed onto a nearby boulder and pointed. "Then why are we in the forest? There aren't even rocks here. This is like… the opposite of rocks."
Ralts proudly puffed her chest out on Ash's arm. "Raaalts! [Improvisation!]"
"Ok, it's fine. Just another excuse to look around. Besides, worst case we're lost, we can just get Abby over here… wherever she is. I swear I have to put a tracker in her one of these days to see what she does." Ash rubbed his chin and shrugged.
"Anyway, pick a direction, May. Just know if something goes wrong that means it's all your fault!"
May put her hands on her hips. "Why me?"
"Because you're the one who picked the last three wrong turns," Ash said.
"That was Ralts!"
Ralts hid behind Ash's collar. "Raa… [I tried…]"
"Uh-huh," Ash said. "Anyway, your turn. Lead the expedition, Captain May."
May groaned dramatically but turned toward the forest. "Fine. We're going… this way!"
She marched forward with all the confidence of someone who had gotten lost several times in the last two days.
They walked down the narrow forest path, sunlight flickering through the leaves. It was peaceful, too peaceful, almost. No Wingull, no rustling, no ocean noise.
Max tugged at Ash's sleeve. "Hey… does this place feel weird to you?"
"A little," Ash admitted. "But weird usually means something interesting."
"Yeah," May muttered, "or something that wants to attack me."
Torchic nodded. "Tor! [Probably that.]"
"I mean, look at the ground here," Brock called out as he tapped his foot on the ground. "It's way too dry."
"I mean, isn't that to be expected? It hasn't rained the entire time we've been here," Max asked.
"Yeah, you're right, and that's the problem. This doesn't feel like dirt that got dry. This feels more like some kind of wetlands that got too dry, which is a very bad thing."
"I mean… if that's the case, shouldn't the rangers do something about it? Like bring water or something?" May asked.
"Oh please, the rangers hardly do anything," Ash rolled his eyes.
"Hey Ash!" Brock called him out.
"Oh what, Brock? Look me in the eyes. Look at me and tell me: when's the last time the rangers did their job, and WE didn't have to deal with it ourselves?" Ash challenged.
Brock raised his finger, stopped, and thought about it. "I… um… what about the Pinsir and Heracross?"
"Oh, you mean the problem they sent Gary out to fix, and I needed to help Gary clean it up? Right. Super helpful ranger stuff."
Brock opened his mouth… then closed it again. "…Okay, fair. But still."
Ash waved him off. "Point is, I just stopped having expectations for the rangers to do their job. Usually WE are the ones that end up having to fix it."
"Jeez, what did the rangers do to you?" May asked.
"Nothing, and that's the problem. They've done NOTHING," Ash huffed. "Anyway, let's just keep going an—"
Ash was cut off when Max screamed.
"Ahhh!" Max pointed frantically at a clearing. When the gang looked over slowly, they saw a Marshtomp and a few Mudkip buried in the dry soil up to their necks.
Ash froze mid-step.
Brock's mouth opened slowly… and closed.
May made a sound like a broken flute.
Pikachu and Vee both gasped, putting their hands on their cheeks.
"…oh," Ash said quietly. "Yeah. That's… not ideal."
The Marshtomp blinked at them, its face cracked with dry mud. "Marsh… topp…" it croaked weakly.
A baby Mudkip sneezed out dust.
Brock immediately rushed forward. "They're dehydrated! Completely! This whole wetland must've dried out too fast for them to relocate!"
Ash set Ralts down. "Check if anyone's hurt," he told Brock as he went to check on the Marshtomp.
May, meanwhile, crouched next to one of the Mudkip. "How did you guys even end up like this? Did you sink? Did the water just, vanish?"
Mudkip blinked back at her and gave a tiny, pathetic, "Kip…"
May clutched her heart. "Ash, I can't handle how sad they are!"
"Yeah, yeah, I can see that. These guys need water. I guess since it hasn't rained for days, the mud must've dried up with them still here, and they couldn't get to one of the lakes."
Just then, they heard bushes rustling. When they looked over, they saw about four Marshtomp carrying leaves filled with water, and a big Mudkip who looked like the leader of the pack. It looked like they had been trying to slowly bring water from the nearby river to get these guys out.
The Mudkip leader, who was guiding the Marshtomp, jumped in front and growled the best it could. Seeing humans there, it immediately assumed the worst.
"Hey, we're not here to hurt anyone!" Brock quickly waved his arms.
Mudkip didn't trust Brock, but seeing as they were desperate and their friends were getting more and more dehydrated, they didn't have the luxury of being picky.
So the Mudkip nodded at the Marshtomp, and they slowly walked up and poured the water out of their leaves onto their friends, the babies and the other Marshtomp. It hit their heads and cooled them a little, but when it hit the dry dirt, it got sucked in like a sponge and didn't do much.
"It's no good. The ground's too dry." Brock frowned, kneeling down and rubbing the spot where the water had been absorbed. Max went over and grabbed a stick to try and use it like a shovel, but it broke on the ground because it was too dry.
"Wait, why don't all these guys use Water-type moves? Wouldn't that help?" May asked.
"That's not how it works. What, do you think all Water-types have an unlimited amount of water they can use?" Ash asked as he dug through his bag a little too casually.
"I mean… isn't it?" May asked, a little quieter.
"No. All Water Pokémon have a limit to how much water they can use before they get dehydrated. And if these guys also get dehydrated, then it's bad for everyone. Why do you think the Marshtomp didn't try something like Water Gun to get himself out?" Ash asked as he finally found what he was looking for.
"Well then what do we do?!" May cried out.
"Oh, easy. Do what you guys always do and let me take care of it. It's actually a pretty easy fix," Ash said as he pulled out a Poké Ball and tossed it casually.
From the ball, Dragonite jumped out, stretching her arms like she had just woken up from a good nap. She looked around, then down at the Water types stuck in the dry ground.
"Hey Dragonite, they're kinda stuck. You mind helping them out with a little Rain Dance?" Ash asked.
Dragonite clapped her hands and nodded before flapping her wings and lifting into the air. She spun, letting out a happy little melody. Meanwhile, Ash grabbed what he had been searching for, a few umbrellas, and passed them to May, Brock, and Max.
"You're gonna need these," he mused, opening his and holding it over his head. Pikachu, Vee, and Ralts immediately scooted underneath him.
Dragonite's melody echoed through the sky like a cheerful little choir. Clouds gathered unnaturally fast, swirling overhead.
May frowned up at the forming storm. "Do we… do we really need the umbrellas?"
Ash looked at her flatly. "May. It's Dragonite."
"…Right." She snapped hers open.
The sky went BOOM.
A second later
WHOOSH.
Rain slammed down like a waterfall dumped directly over the clearing. Brock's umbrella nearly inverted. Max's was ripped sideways. May's umbrella tried to lift her into the air like she was Mary Poppins.
"TOO MUCH RAIN!" Max yelled.
Ralts squeaked and immediately teleported back under Ash's umbrella, clinging to his jacket. Pikachu and Vee both held onto Ash's pant legs to avoid being washed away. Ash just stood there casually.
But more importantly, the soil drank the water greedily and turned back into mud. The mud loosened fast, cracking apart and softening under the torrent. The trapped Marshtomp blinked as the mud around its neck went from stone-dry to soft sludge.
Brock knelt down, hands already muddy. "Alright, big guy. Easy… let's get you out."
With Ash pulling from the back and Brock lifting from the front, the Marshtomp popped out of the ground with a loud SCHLUURP.
A baby Mudkip wiggled free next, flopping into Ash's arms like a soggy pancake.
"Kip!" it chirped weakly.
"Yeah, you're welcome," Ash said, patting its head before handing it back to the group.
As Dragonite finally stopped and floated back down next to Ash, humming proudly, she nudged his shoulder, asking if her job was done.
"Good girl," Ash said, patting her snout. "Perfect amount of rain."
May's soaked bangs plastered to her forehead. "PERFECT?! I almost drowned standing up!"
Ash shrugged. "Nah, you're fine. It builds character."
"I HAVE ENOUGH CHARACTER!"
Then her scream made something jump. From the bushes nearby, a man with a haircut that looked suspiciously like a Mudkip leapt out. When he realized he'd been spotted, he scratched the back of his head. A Mudkip necklace hung around his neck.
"Err, hello there. I suppose I should start by asking who you all are. After all, this is my swamp," the man said.
"Oh, um, hi there," Max started. "Sorry, um, we just got teleported here with Ash's Ralts, oh wait, you don't know who that is…um…" He pointed at Ash. "He's Ash, and that Ralts he has teleported us here on accident, I swear."
Ash chuckled. "Real smooth, Max." He patted Max's shoulder and looked up at the old man. "But he's right, we're here by accident. We didn't mean to sneak in. Like he said, I'm Ash, he's Max, the one with your Mudkip is Brock, and the one with the bandana that makes her look like she has bunny ears is May."
"Wha—Ash!" May yelled at him, face burning.
"Hm. Yes. Bunny-ear girl. Makes sense," the man said thoughtfully.
May's eye twitched. "They're NOT bunny ears, it's just the way my headband is!"
But the man was already walking past her, squishing through the soft mud to check on the Marshtomp. Only now did they notice he also had a bucket filled with water. The Mudkip and Marshtomp all brightened the moment they saw him.
"Ah. There you all are," he said gently, kneeling beside the big Marshtomp Ash and Brock had rescued. "Got yourselves stuck again, did you?"
Marshtomp croaked apologetically.
Brock rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh—sorry about the rain bomb. We just saw they were dehydrated and—"
"No no," the man waved him off. "I appreciate the help. Frankly, I wasn't getting much water over here fast enough." He chuckled, gesturing at his single bucket.
"Oh, let me introduce myself. Just call me Mr. Swampy, and I run this shelter for Mudkip, where I raise and breed Mudkip and Mudkip eggs for the Pokémon League, starter Pokémon for beginning trainers."
May looked around at the recovering Mudkip and Marshtomp, her heart melting all over again. "So this is like… a rescue home? A sanctuary?"
"Wait, then why do you have Marshtomps?" Max asked.
"I have a few Swamperts too. I need to protect this place from poachers, don't I?" he said with a little smirk.
"That… makes sense actually," Max muttered.
"Anyway, I have to thank you for helping save these little ones. We didn't expect a drought to happen, but hopefully things will turn out better when the rain comes back. I've also been trying to teach one of my Swampert Rain Dance for this exact situation, but I haven't had much luck," he said sheepishly.
"Ah, makes sense, you'd want that," Brock nodded as he walked up to him.
"Yes. Um, would you all like to come to my cabin so we can continue our conversation? And it looks like some of you need to dry off," he said, vaguely gesturing to them.
"Yes please," May and Max said in unison.
Mr. Swampy chuckled. "Very well, follow me."
He turned and started guiding the group. Meanwhile, the big Mudkip looked at them leaving, then turned the other way, seeing the Marshtomps guiding the baby Mudkips away. So he turned and started following the gang to the cabin.
–
A while later, in the cabin, Mr. Swampy was laughing over some tea while Brock, May, Max, Pikachu, and Vee were with him, enjoying tea too.
As for Ash, he was in the cabin as well, but at a separate table filling out some paperwork. A lot of paperwork. You see, since Ash was a League-registered trainer, he did the reasonable thing and asked Mr. Swampy if he could get a Mudkip, to which he said sure…
But Ash had to fill out the proper paperwork and then pay an amount depending on which one he got. Now money itself wasn't a problem, he was rich, that was fine, but again, like Ash said before, he hates paperwork.
"So what's this one for?" Max asked, peering over Ash's shoulder.
Ash didn't look up. His soul was already halfway gone.
"This one," he sighed, "is the 'Trainer-Guardian Contract of Temporary Custody for Water-Dwelling Pokémon Distributed by Official League Breeding Facilities.'"
Max blinked. "...What does that mean?"
"It means," Ash said through clenched teeth, "I have to sign a form to get permission to sign the next form."
May cackled from her seat with her tea. "You sure you want a Mudkip? This looks like torture."
Ash turned a dead-eyed stare her way. "May. I just saved a literal swamp today. I can handle paperwork."
Five seconds later, he slammed his forehead onto the table.
"I CAN'T handle paperwork."
Mr. Swampy laughed heartily from the kitchen counter. "Ahh, don't be dramatic, boy, you're almost halfway done!"
Ash lifted his head, looking more tired than any of them had ever seen. "Halfway?"
Brock held his cup of tea like a calm monk. "Ash, it's standard procedure. Adoption forms for League-distributed starters are always like this." To be honest, he was enjoying seeing Ash have to sit down and stop being a troll more than he should.
"Then abolish the system," Ash muttered, flipping another page.
Even Ralts, gave a sympathetic pat to his cheek, "Raaaalts… [You're suffering…]"
Pikachu rubbed his back encouragingly, "Pika… [C'mon buddy…]"
Vee hopped onto the table and laid flat like a defeated pancake in solidarity.
Meanwhile, Max glanced at the big Mudkip standing near the fireplace. It had followed them inside like a loyal dog and now sat politely on the rug, staring intensely at Ash.
Like it was judging him.
Or waiting.
Or maybe thinking about mud.
May sipped her tea. "So that Mudkip… that's the one Ash is adopting?"
"Oh no," Mr. Swampy chuckled. "That one is too old to be given out as a starter. I can't give him out like that." He went over and rubbed the Mudkip's head. "This little one has quite the story. He didn't evolve with his other friends, the Marshtomp, and he can't make friends with the Mudkip since they have to leave to find trainers."
"Aww, that sounds lonely…" May muttered.
"Yeah, though sometimes I wish he could go out and see the world. I just know he'd have much more fun outside," he said in a tone that was very obviously throwing major hints toward Brock, the one he saw as the oldest and probably most responsible of the group.
The big Mudkip made a soft, low "Kiiip…" and lowered its head.
Even Ash stopped scribbling long enough to glance up.
May held her heart. "That is the saddest thing I've ever heard. Ever."
Max frowned. "But if he can't leave because he gets lonely, doesn't that mean he'll never find a trainer?"
Mr. Swampy sighed. "That's what I worry about. He's one step away from evolving into a Marshtomp, but he refuses. It's like he's stuck between wanting to grow up and being scared of it."
Brock folded his arms thoughtfully. "A Pokémon not evolving for emotional reasons isn't unheard of…"
Ash, meanwhile, turned back to his paperwork, mostly so he wouldn't have to acknowledge the heavy lump forming in his chest.
On page twelve.
Of forty-six.
Ralts patted his cheek again. "Ralts… [You're suffering emotionally AND physically…]"
"Yeah," Ash muttered as he picked her up and set her down on his lap, giving her a few headpats while he worked. "Thanks."
But then, the Mudkip walked out of the corner, looked at everyone, and moved over to Brock. He waddled right up to him… and gently pressed his head against Brock's knee.
Everyone froze.
"…Huh?" Max whispered.
Ash stared at the Mudkip.
Mudkip stared back, big round eyes shining like it was making some kind of decision.
Then it croaked softly, "Kiiiiip…!"
Mr. Swampy's eyebrows shot upward. "Well I'll be… I've never seen him walk up to anyone like that. Usually he runs from strangers. I guess he likes you."
Brock froze like someone had pressed the world's pause button. Mudkip nuzzled his knee again.
May gasped.
Max leaned so far forward he nearly face-planted off his chair.
Pikachu and Vee exchanged looks like ohhh this is gonna be good.
Even Ash stopped writing. His pen hovered above the page. His eye twitched.
"…Brock," Ash said slowly, "why is the Mudkip choosing you?"
Brock blinked, stunned. "I—I don't know! I didn't do anything!"
Mudkip hopped up, head-butted Brock's chest lightly, and looked up with those eyes.
"Kiiiiip!"
Mr. Swampy slapped his knee and laughed. "Well, I'll be a Swampert's uncle. Looks like he's made his choice! Boy, he likes you!"
Brock looked at Mr. Swampy, confused. "W-Wait…does this mean…?"
"Oh, absolutely!" Mr. Swampy grinned. "If a Pokémon chooses their own trainer, I'm obligated to honor it. That's League policy."
"…what…" Ash said slowly.
Mr. Swampy gestured kindly. "The bond supersedes the process, of course. So no paperwork needed!"
Ash stood up so violently his pen flew out of his hand and landed in Pikachu's tea.
"NO. PAPERWORK?!" he yelled.
May choked on her drink laughing. "OH NO, THIS IS AMAZING."
Ralts, sitting in Ash's lap again, patted his stomach sympathetically. "Raaalts… [He's dying.]"
Vee covered his mouth trying not to giggle. Pikachu didn't try at all.
"B-But Mr. Swampy," Brock said softly, "are you sure? This Mudkip seems like he means a lot to you."
"Oh he does," Mr. Swampy chuckled. "But I've wished for years he'd find someone who could give him the courage to explore. He's been waiting for someone special."
The big Mudkip hopped into Brock's lap like he owned the place.
Max pumped a fist. "BROCK GOT PICKED BY A MUDKIP! THAT'S SO COOL!"
May clasped her hands. "This is the cutest thing I've ever seen, ever."
Ash deflated like a punctured balloon.
"…So Brock gets a Mudkip," he said hollowly.
"A good Mudkip."
"For free."
"With no paperwork."
"And no fees."
"And no forms."
"And no signatures."
"And no legalese about water ecosystems and trainer responsibilities,"
"Ash…," Brock started.
"AND I HAVE TO FILL OUT FORTY-SIX PAGES."
He slumped over the table again, forehead thunking against Paperwork Page #13 with the soft sound of a dying warrior.
Mr. Swampy patted Ash sympathetically. "Well, you are adopting an official, League-distributed infant Mudkip. That requires regulation."
"I hope a tree falls on the League," Ash groaned into the paper stack.
May snorted so hard she nearly spilled her cup. "You sound like my dad filling out League paperwork."
Ash didn't even look up. "Your dad is a Gym Leader. He's supposed to deal with paperwork."
"Doesn't mean he likes it," May said with a shrug.
"Yeah, but at least that has a point. Not like these stupid things, like—" He snatched Page 18. "Why is there a section on 'Mudkip Noise Waiver Liability'?"
Brock looked over, still petting Mudkip. "What does that even mean?"
"It says," Ash pointed, voice drained of all joy, "that if my Mudkip makes noise at night and disturbs wildlife, I accept full responsibility." He pointed lower. "And here, if my Mudkip doesn't make enough noise at night and disturbs wildlife, I also accept full responsibility."
May blinked. "…How can making noise and not making noise both be wrong?"
Ash dropped his head dramatically.
"So which Mudkip is Ash even getting anyway? Does he choose orrr—?" May started.
"No, I already picked. Or, well, one just kinda followed me," Ash said, never looking up from the paperwork.
"Wait, what?" May blinked.
"Yeah, one followed me and is currently sleeping in my bag, so I'm probably gonna get that one," Ash said, flipping through another page as he continued giving Ralts head pats.
"Wait—WHAT do you mean it's sleeping in your bag?!" May screeched, almost spilling her tea all over Beautifly, who quickly zipped out of the splash zone.
Brock blinked. "Ash… when did THAT happen?"
Ash didn't look up. "Couple hours ago."
" A…A COUPLE HOURS?!" Max practically levitated out of his chair. "You mean the entire time we're talking here, there has been a BABY MUDKIP in your backpack?!"
Ash calmly flipped another page. "Yep."
Mr. Swampy choked on his drink. "Now hold on, Ash, which one followed you?? I didn't see any of the infants wander off!"
Ash pointed lazily over to his bag lying beside the chair. "That one."
The bag rustled… once… twice…
Then a very tiny Mudkip head popped out, blinking sleepily, still partly tangled in Ash's spare jacket like a nest.
"Kiiip…" it squeaked, before flopping out and onto Ash's lap with all the grace of a wet potato, right next to Ralts. She just rubbed its belly since they were right next to each other.
May melted instantly. "OH MY GOSH IT'S ADORABLE LOOK AT ITS TINY FACE LOOK AT IT ASH WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW US EARLIER?!"
Ash shrugged, still writing. "It crawled in, passed out, and I didn't want to wake it."
Mr. Swampy clapped his hands. "Well then! If he chose you, that means you can skip the infant selection process!"
Ash froze. And slowly turned his head to look at him. "…skip what process?"
Mr. Swampy smiled kindly. "Oh, the other forty pages."
Ash blinked and slowly put the pen down on the table, taking a deep breath. "Are you telling me… that I did 15 pages-" he slowly looked up, then screamed, "FOR NO REASON??!!"
May was already on the floor laughing, kicking her feet.
Max fell out of his chair, holding back his own.
Pikachu rolled onto his back wheezing.
Vee buried his face in his paws, vibrating with suppressed laughter.
The baby Mudkip, utterly unbothered, was still asleep.
Mr. Swampy nodded calmly. "Indeed. Since he chose you, the League paperwork is bypassed. It happens almost never."
Ash sank back into his chair, hands limp at his sides, staring vacantly at nothing.
"I want… to scream into the void…"
Brock tried to hide his smile. "Well… look on the bright side-"
"Brock I swear to you, if you say 'at least you have a Mudkip now,' I will punch you so hard you'll taste colors."
"I'll just stay quiet then…" Brock quickly said. After all, it wasn't the first time Ash had punched him; last time wasn't that fun.
"Good, now let me finish this stupid paperwork before I break something," Ash muttered as he grasped his pen again and went back to work.
--
1000 stone chapter, lets go!