Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 109 Galaxy

As the sun completely sank below the horizon, several bonfires were lit one after another on the open ground at the edge of the wetlands, their orange flames leaping and dispelling the evening chill.

The air was filled with the aroma of delicious food, and the scent of moisture and grass from the wetlands. The laughter of trainers and Pokémon mingled together, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Zhang Jianying and Xiao Gang were busy around one of the campfires.

He was skillfully handling the ingredients. The wicked frog was helping by handing him seasonings, while Little Lucky Egg was holding a wooden spoon almost as big as itself, diligently stirring a pot of thick soup that was bubbling away.

Zhang Jianying was responsible for looking after the skewers of roasted meat that were placed on the fire.

The surrounding campfires echoed with the occasional chatter of other trainers.

"Who exactly is this Ash Ketchum player? He swims faster than Water-type Pokémon?"

"I saw it with my own eyes! He was carrying Pikachu and swimming faster than a speedboat!"

As Xiao Gang sprinkled the last of the spices into the soup, he listened to the surrounding discussions and nodded in deep agreement.

"Indeed, Ash has always been like this, always able to create unexpected miracles." He said with a touch of emotion.

Zhang Jianying paused in his hand as he flipped the grilled meat, then turned to look at Xiao Gang with a somewhat subtle expression.

"You're still nodding?"

He lowered his voice, "Don't you think you're pretty outrageous yourself?"

Xiao Gang looked confused.

"I?"

"Yeah, right," Zhang Jianying gestured with his chin towards the little Egg of Fortune who was hugging a large spoon and humming a song, "Is it legal for this little Egg of Fortune to carry its trainer through a cross-country race?"

Xiao Gang paused for a moment, then scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

He put down the spice jar, squatted down, and gently patted Little Lucky Egg's head. Little Lucky Egg looked up and made a soft, sweet "Fu Fu~" sound.

"Every Pokémon is unique."

Xiao Gang's voice was gentle, and the firelight danced on his face, making his usually composed face appear exceptionally soft. "They have their own talents, their own strengths, and their own desires."

He glanced at the naughty frog, who was seriously trying to hide a piece of charred meat, but he caught it red-handed and it froze.

"I'm so glad I met them," Xiao Gang said.

At that moment, Zhang Jianying wondered if it was just his imagination due to the flickering firelight, but he seemed to actually see Xiao Gang's eyes. Not the usual two thin slits, but gentle, smiling eyes.

But in the blink of an eye, Xiao Gang had regained his signature squinty eyes, as if what had just happened was merely a trick of light and shadow.

Zhang Jianying shook his head, putting that question aside. He looked at the little ones beside him.

"You're right." Zhang Jianying smiled and divided the grilled meat skewers into several plates. "It's our luck to have found them."

A commotion arose from the side.

"Poga—!!"

Hikaru's Piplup was once again accurately hit by a meteor shower falling from the sky.

Although Ash's Gible had tried its best to vomit in a secluded spot, the landing point was still difficult to control precisely. Piplup, with a small tuft of charred fur on its head, was hopping madly, while Dawn was frantically wiping its face, feeling both annoyed and amused.

Ash clasped his hands together and apologized repeatedly, "I'm so sorry! Gible is still practicing its aim—Pikachu, please comfort Piplup!"

Pikachu sighed helplessly, picked out the plumpest berry from its own portion, and handed it to Piplup. Piplup hugged the berry, glared at Gible next to it which was hanging its head and drawing circles on the ground with its paws, and finally "humphed," turned its face away, and began to eat the berry that its babysitter Pikachu had fed it.

Ash scratched his head, his gaze sweeping across the campfire before suddenly fixing on a certain direction.

Far from the lively bonfire in the center, near the edge of the wetland reeds, Shinji sat alone on a rock. The flickering firelight could only vaguely outline his straight back.

In front of him, Gastrodon was half-submerged in a shallow puddle, comfortably squinting its eyes. Electivire was holding a pile of firewood, helping Shinji to stoke the small fire in front of him. Ursaring was holding a large jar of sweet treats, its face covered in food. Shinji would occasionally glance at it, but he didn't say anything, just continued to wipe a Poké Ball in his hand with a clean cloth.

Xiao Zhi looked at it for a few seconds, then suddenly stood up.

"Ash?" Hikari asked, puzzled.

"I'll go get him," Ash said, and before anyone else could react, he ran toward Shinji.

Zhang Jianying and Xiao Gang stopped what they were doing and looked over there.

They were a bit far away, so they couldn't hear exactly what was said. They only saw Ash run up to Shinji and say something. Shinji's expression remained indifferent.

But Xiao Zhi didn't give up. He pointed to the lively campfire in the center, grinned, and said something.

Shinji remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he stood up and began to recall his Pokémon one by one, except for Ursaring. Ursaring, clutching its Sweet Pot, followed closely behind him.

Shinji followed Ash toward the campfire where Zhang Jianying and the others were.

"I always felt," Xiaogang nudged Zhang Jianying with his elbow, adding the last bit of salt to the soup as he lowered his voice, "that Shinji guy is just stubborn. Deep down, he's actually starting to agree with Satoshi's ideas."

Zhang Jianying glanced at Xiao Gang in surprise.

Goodness, you, the "thick-browed and big-eyed" Pewter Gym Leader, are gossiping about this?

"Maybe," Zhang Jianying said softly, handing another plate of roasted meat to the Gardevoir that floated over, indicating that it should share it with the Pokémon.

Shinji walked to the campfire, nodded to Gon and Zhang Jianying as a greeting, and then sat down a little distance from the fire. Circly Bear sat down next to him, still clutching the honey pot, but his movements were noticeably more refined.

Xiao Gang clapped his hands and announced loudly, "Alright! Dinner's ready!"

"Pikachu!"

"Meow~!"

"Poga!"

The Pokémon, already itching to get their hands on the food from the aroma, cheered and gathered around the campfire. Brock and Zhang Jianying began distributing the food.

Special Pokémon soup, nutritionally balanced energy cubes, and specialty snacks made to suit different Pokémon flavors.

Each Pokémon received its own portion, and even Shinji's Pokémon were called out by Brock to share the food.

The circle bear watched longingly as Xiao Gang added another large spoonful of honey mixed with tree berries, and let out a low growl of joy.

The campfire crackled, its warm glow enveloping this small patch of land.

The atmosphere became increasingly relaxed.

It's unclear who started it, but around some campfires in the distance, trainers and Pokémon began singing and dancing. A trainer started playing a lively harmonica, and several Skaven spontaneously joined in, the melody drifting melodiously through the wetland night sky.

"Gah?"

Several Psyducks, attracted by the aroma and excitement, waddled closer, tilting their heads.

Zhang Jianying smiled and handed them the universal energy cubes. Xiao Gang also ladled out several small bowls of light soup and placed them on the ground.

The Psyducks stared blankly at the food, then at Zhang Jianying and Xiao Gang. After several seconds, they seemed to realize what was happening, slowly approached, and began to eat in small bites.

As night deepened, the bonfire burned brighter and brighter, and the atmosphere of the party reached its climax.

However, under the same night sky, deep within the vast wetlands, a completely different scene unfolds.

"Meow—! I'm exhausted, meow!"

Meowth plopped down on the damp moss, rubbing its aching calves with its paws. "Why did we get lost in a place like this, meow! We were following that brat and his Pikachu, but instead of catching Pikachu, we ended up in this godforsaken place!"

Musashi, looking exhausted, leaned against a crooked tree and glared at Kojiro, who was smiling obsequiously beside him.

"It's all Kojiro's fault! He said there were super rare Pokémon in the Great Wetlands, and if he gave them to Boss Giovanni, he'd definitely get a promotion and a raise, and be on his way to becoming a manager—and look what happened!"

Kojiro smiled awkwardly and touched the wind chimes that were wrapped around his neck as a scarf.

"Ring-ring."

The wind chimes gently swayed their bells, seemingly trying to comfort everyone.

"Well, it was an accident, all an accident," Kojiro tried to explain. "The map seems a bit damp, the writing is blurry."

"That's why it's blurry, meow, after you accidentally fell into the pot and cooked it last time!"

Musashi exposed him without any mercy.

The trio were blaming each other when suddenly Meow Meow raised her paw and pointed it at the sky.

"Look over there, meow!"

Musashi and Kojiro looked up in the direction it was pointing.

The stars were sparse against the deep blue sky.

But in the southeastern sky, a flowing, shimmering "river of stars" was slowly moving by.

That's not a real galaxy.

Instead, it is tens of thousands of poisonous moths that are carrying out their seasonal migration under the moonlight.

Their wings reflected the moonlight and their own faint glow in the night, and their scales drifted gently, forming a dazzling band of light, like a dream.

"So beautiful—"

Musashi murmured unconsciously.

A Poké Ball on her waist suddenly opened automatically.

A flash of red light appeared, and a poisonous moth appeared beside her.

The Poisonous Moth glanced at Musashi, then looked up, gazing blankly at its migrating kin in the sky.

Moonlight spilled onto its pale purple body, and the flowing "galaxy" was reflected in its compound eyes.

Its wings fluttered slightly, producing a low, deep sound.

Musashi looked at his poisonous moth, and the weariness on his face was gradually replaced by a complex emotion.

She didn't speak, but simply watched the silhouette of the poisonous moth gazing up at the starry sky.

Meanwhile, at the campfire party camp.

Hikaru, holding the well-fed and dozing Pogaman, let out a soft gasp of amazement.

Everyone looked up and saw the magnificent starry sky stretching across the night sky, composed of countless poisonous moths.

"Wow!"

"What a nice view----"

Xiao Guang said softly, and Bogaman rubbed his eyes and stared blankly.

Ash tilted his head back, hugged his knees, and gazed at the "galaxy" for a long time without saying a word.

The firelight danced on his young face, and his ever-energetic eyes, now reflecting starlight, also held a hint of distant longing.

"So beautiful," Zhang Jianying exclaimed. Egui was leaning against his leg, her mask beside her, her little face full of curiosity and admiration as she gazed at the sky.

Ash suddenly spoke softly, his voice not loud, but clear in the gradually quieting campfire: "They remind me of the first Pokémon I caught after I officially embarked on my journey."

Everyone looked at him.

"The Great Butterfly".

Xiao Zhi said, a gentle smile playing on his lips, "It was in this season, on this night, that it met its beloved companion and left with the migration of its kind."

He paused, his gaze still following the band of light in the sky.

"I believe it is doing very well and is very happy now. I will always bless it."

Xiao Zhi's tone was calm, without sadness, only sincere wishes.

Zhang Jianying smiled knowingly and gently patted Egui Peng's head. The bond wasn't just about being together.

Shinji sat silently in the shadows, watching Ash's profile. The firelight flickered in his cold eyes, but it couldn't reflect any clear thoughts.

Just then, a muffled sob came from another campfire not far from their campfire.

Everyone turned to look.

It was a young female trainer, and beside her, a different colored dust moth with a faint golden sheen, its color slightly different from the others in the sky, was flapping its wings nervously.

The Vibram looked at its colony in the sky, then at its trainer, its compound eyes filled with struggle and longing.

It gently touched the trainer's arm with its antennae and let out a mournful cry.

The female trainer covered her mouth, her eyes red-rimmed, tears constantly wetting her fingers.

She looked at her companion, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Finally, she took a deep breath, wiped her face hard, and stood up.

"The dust moth." Her voice choked with emotion, but she forced a smile. "We—we're saying goodbye here."

The poisonous moth shuddered.

"You want to go with them, don't you? I can see it in your eyes."

The young trainer crouched down and gently hugged the Toxad. "Go. Fly. Follow your kind to the wider skies. This is your journey, your choice."

The dust moth shook its head violently, its antennae tightly wrapped around the trainer's wrist, and emitted a rapid chirping sound.

The trainer's tears welled up again, but she laughed even harder.

"It's okay, really. I'll be fine. You take care too."

She stood up, took one of the butterfly's forelegs, and said, "Come on, I'll take you. I'll take you to where they are."

She took her companion's hand, turned around, and headed towards the direction the swarm of poisonous butterflies had flown, walking deeper into the wetlands.

In the instant he turned around, in a direction the poisonous butterflies couldn't see.

Zhang Jianying, Xiao Zhi and his group, as well as the silent Shinji, all clearly saw that the young trainer's tears finally broke free and flowed freely down her face.

But she didn't turn back, nor did she stop walking.

Shinji stared blankly at the backs of the man and his Pokémon as they gradually disappeared into the night.

The campfire cast flickering shadows on his face.

His lips were pressed tightly together, and something seemed to be trembling slightly, shattering, and then reforming in his eyes, which always appeared calm and even cold.

Suddenly, he stood up.

Without saying a word, he simply raised his hand and used Poké Balls to recall his Pokémon one by one.

The red light flashed repeatedly. Then, he walked straight away, his figure disappearing into the shadows.

There was no farewell, no explanation.

It was as quiet as when he arrived.

Ash stared in the direction where Shinji had disappeared, opened his mouth as if to call out to him, but ultimately made no sound.

The campfire crackled and sputtered, sending up a few sparks.

After a moment of silence, Ash stood up and patted the grass clippings off his pants.

He looked in the direction the swarm of poisonous moths was flying; the dazzling band of light was gradually moving deeper into the wetlands, but it was still clearly visible.

"Shall we go take a look too?"

Xiao Zhi turned around and said to Zhang Jianying, Xiao Gang, and Xiao Guang, "The migration of the poisonous moths is a very rare sight."

Xiao Guang hugged Bogaman and nodded vigorously. Bogaman also called out "Boga Boga" in agreement. Xiao Gang smiled and began to neatly tidy up the kitchen utensils and leftover food.

"Let's go."

The four of them smiled at each other and followed the flowing "river of stars" in the sky, stepping into the deep and tranquil night of the wetland.

The night breeze rustled through the reeds, creating a soft, whispering sound, as if providing accompaniment for this farewell and departure.

In the distant sky, swarms of poisonous moths scattered tiny, luminous scales, which slowly drifted down over this wetland teeming with life and stories.