When Ash returned to the Pokémon Center, Misty - already changed into fresh clothes - was waiting for him.
"Ash, you're back! Nurse Joy has a Pokémon here that needs your attention."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Then Nurse Joy walked over holding a Psyduck and said, 'See? This is the little one. It still seems to be suffering from a headache.'
As Ash locked eyes with the Psyduck that Nurse Joy was holding, the Psyduck simply stared back at him, letting out an occasional cry.
"Nest? Nest."
As he looked at the Psyduck, Ash silently turned toward Meowth and gestured. Understanding the intention, Meowth fetched a piece of apple. When Ash placed the apple in front of the Psyduck, its eyes immediately locked onto the apple, following the movement of Ash's hand.
Ash handed the apple to Psyduck. Misty commented: 'Its IQ seems a bit... questionable.'
"I hate to say it, but even among headache-prone Psyducks, this guy's a real masterpiece in the IQ department." Ash patted Psyduck's head as he spoke. The creature actually nuzzled against his hand contentedly.
"The cause of this situation might be because his psychic powers are extremely powerful. However, this has instead caused his headaches to worsen and even lowered his intelligence..."
Nurse Joy's cheek twitched. If even Ash called this Psyduck intellectually challenged, it must truly be a special specimen. Ash patted the Psyduck's head and said, "This guy would struggle to survive without a patient trainer. Any hot-tempered owner would probably turn him into stewed duck soup."
Drip, drip.
Psyduck stared at Ash with drool hanging from its beak. Ash wiped the saliva away helplessly and sighed, "Silly thing. That one got stewed—it's you." Ash stared at the drooling Psyduck, nearly driven to tears by its stupidity. It was a miracle this creature had survived this long.
After waiting for Ash to wipe its drool, Psyduck glanced at the Luxury Ball on his waist and lightly tapped it. The ball enlarged, and the dim-witted creature accidentally tapped it again—flashing red as it was captured instantly.
Meowth stared at the scene, opening and closing his mouth several times before finally saying, "It's a miracle it's still alive—"
"Pika pika." (That's beyond a miracle.)
Misty and Nurse Joy watched this scene speechlessly, finally understanding just how severe the IQ problem Ash mentioned was.
Looking at his Luxury Ball, Ash silently released Psyduck. The yellow Pokémon stared back at him with that same vacant, clueless expression.
"Psyduck, you're my Pokémon now. Understand?"
"Nest?"
Ash couldn't bear to watch the confused Psyduck and turned his head away, slicing some fruit and placing them one by one on the ground. The creature then picked them up one by one to eat, until it walked right up to Ash and stared at the apple in his hand.
Ash was genuinely driven to tears by its stupidity. Hugging the Psyduck, he said, "Alright, kiddo. You'll stick with me from now on. I'm seriously crying over how adorably dumb you are."
"...Me?"
Watching Psyduck maintain its utterly clueless expression, all the trainers present shook their heads in disbelief.
In the end, this adorably dumb Psyduck was captured by Ash. The Pokémon currently accompanying Ash include Pikachu (who refuses to stay in a Poké Ball), Meowth, Chansey, a clingy Ralts, his regional bird Pidgeot, a Beedrill capable of Bond Evolution, a Charmeleon ready for its next evolution, a constantly training Bulbasaur and Squirtle, and a Primeape. Then there's the Psyduck that makes Ash facepalm with its stupidity. As for Ash's giant Snorlax and giant Tentacruel? The colossal Snorlax still travels with him, while the enormous Tentacruel was sent back to Professor Oak for nutritional support after Lusamine's group returned home. After all, Team Rocket's trio had enlarged it using some 'homemade triple-vinegar' concoction, leaving it with developmental deficiencies.
"By the way, Ash, you looked really cool when you dressed up as a gentleman earlier."
"Misty, the way you disguised yourself as a lady was pretty good too. What about the Pokémon Fan Club members?"
"They're all such good people. So they really love Pokémon that much."
"Otherwise why would it be called the Pokémon Fan Club?"
Watching Ash and Misty who had completely left the area, Meowth couldn't help saying: "Boss, seems like we forgot someone, didn't we?"
"Forgot someone?"
At this moment in the hotel's fitness center, Brock trembled like a weak chick surrounded by muscular Machokes during their training regiment.
"Ash! Misty! Hurry up and save me! This feels awful!!"
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