"oki~"
After eating a little something, the restless Aipom began to focus its attention on the food in Pikachu's bowl again.
Although Brock specially made different types of food according to the preferences of each type of Pokémon, in theory, both Pikachu and Aipom were eating their favorite flavors.
But Aipom just likes to set its sights on the food in other people's bowls, as if snatching food would make it taste better.
It knows that if it takes the initiative to ask Pikachu to give it a little food to taste, Pikachu will definitely give it, but it just won't!
Only the food snatched by its own ability through schemes is the most delicious.
That's what it means to earn a living by your own ability!
"oki~okii!"
Thinking like this, Aipom reached out and poked Pikachu.
Seeing that Pikachu's attention was no longer on its bowl, Aipom had even thought about which steit would take later to steal some food from Pikachu's bowl without anyone noticing.
"oki!"
"pi?"
As Aipom pointed and said that, Pikachu really "innocently" shifted its gaze away.
At that moment, a mischievous smile appeared on Aipom's face, and it stretched its tail towards Pikachu's bowl.
Just then—
"pi~ka!"
Pikachu was like a seasoned hunter, anticipating Aipom's movements without even turning its head.
It vigorously swung its tail backward, quickly knocking Aipom's tail away.
"oki!?"
"pi~"
Facing Aipom's incredulous question, Pikachu simply answered frankly.
It had been tricked by Aipom at least dozens of times from the past until now.
If it still hadn't learned its lesson of course this, it would be too much of a failure.
Seeing that its plan had failed, Aipom could only dejectedly lower its head and prepare to continue eating its own food.
But just as Aipom turned back, it only felt a shadow flash before its eyes.
Along with the sound of the bowl tipping over onto the ground, Aipom's Pokémon food suddenly decreased a lot.
"oki!"
Aipom's
Shouting also attracted the attention of Ash and the others who were sitting on stools.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked first.
He was originally eating his meal peacefully, but he only heard two sounds.
When he turned his head, he saw that Aipom's Pokémon food had all been knocked onto the ground, and it was staring angrily at a certain spot.
"It's over there!"
"That Pokémon is..."
With Dawn and Brock's additions, Ash looked up and saw a small Pokémon standing on a tree in front of Aipom.
It was holding its head high, looking very proud, and it had quite a bit of Pokémon food on its claws.
It looked like it had snatched it from Aipom.
"Starly, huh."
Ash looked at the figure standing on the branch and said its name while also using his Pokémon Index to record it.
Even though he probably knows what he needs to know, he still needs to complete the task that Professor Oak gave him.
"Did it steal Aipom's food, making it so angry?"
Dawn also understood what happened between the Starly and Aipom at this moment, and considering Aipom's personality, it's no wonder it's so angry now.
"Stealing food... reminds me of Taillow.
They are two Pokémon with dissimilar racial traits, but this Starly seems to have quite a temper."
Brock commented on the Starly in front of him from a more professional perspective.
Being able to compare Starly to Taillow should be considered an affirmation of this Starly.
"Are you going to catch it?" Brock asked Ash.
"Of course.
" Ash pressed down on the brim of his hat and walked to Aipom's side.
"Since it offered itself up, there's no reason not to catch it, and besides, if I don't battle it now, Aipom won't be satisfied, right?"
"Oki!"
Aipom nodded desperately, agreeing with Ash's statement, and it has now made ample preparations for battle.
Watching the commotion below, the Starly leisurely finished the Pokémon food it had harvested in its claws in a flash, then continued to cast a disdainful look at them, flapping its wings and diving down preemptively.
"So fast?!
" Dawn exclaimed.
Although it was Dawn's first time seeing a wild Pokémon battle in person, she had at least watched many Grand Festival recordings.
The fact that she still praised its speed under this premise shows that this Starly really has the capital to be arrogant.
"Double Team!"
Regardless of speed, as long as you can dodge this kind of close-quarters skill, you have a chance to counterattack.
The moment Ash's command was given, Aipom instantly created 5 or 6 shadow clones.
The movements between the shadows were completely identical, causing the Starly's diving body to stop abruptly and then turn to fly back into the sky.
"Don't let it get away! Swift!"
Seeing that Starly was about to escape Aipom's attack range, Ash naturally wouldn't give up the attack so easily.
This Starly's battle awareness was obviously not bad.
If he missed this opportunity, it wouldn't be so easy to turn the battle situation into what he wanted.
"oki!"
Several shadow clones merged again, and as Aipom's tail swung, countless golden stars poured out towards The Sky, hitting Starly, who didn't expect this.
After the explosion, Starly's body immediately lost its balance and fell towards the ground, and Ash also commanded Aipom to pursue the victory.
"Focus Punch!"
"oki!"
Aipom's tail began to gather strength while running towards the direction Starly was falling.
The Starly, who had been keeping its eyes closed, suddenly opened its eyes when it felt Aipom was about to approach.
Its wings were covered in a white light, and then, as if it had succeeded, it directly swung Wing Attack at Aipom's abdomen.
But
"bang~"
"mu~?!"
Wing Attack didn't feel like it hit Aipom's body, but rather an empty sensation.
The next second, Aipom's body turned into white smoke and dissipated into the air.
Double Team?
Just as Starly was surprised that it had hit a fake, the real Aipom approached Starly from another direction.
Under its unwilling gaze, Focus Punch landed on its body without reservation, knocking Starly several meters away.