"Ugh!! Seriously! Why did we have to meet someone like that on the first day of our journey? It's so annoying!"
Even though they had been separated from Paul for a while and had resumed their journey, Dawn's mood still didn't seem to improve.
It was obvious that Paul's words had indirectly negated Dawn's beliefs.
"There's no need to be so angry.
Meeting strange people and strange things is possible during the journey.
We've even met a talking Meowth."
"Huh? What's that? Pokémon can talk? You're not making up some story to trick me, are you?"
Dawn didn't feel any better after hearing Ash's comfort, and instead felt that Ash was just making up a story.
But, Brock's answer afterwards made her start to doubt herself, or to doubt the world.
"Are you talking about Team Rocket's Meowth? Speaking of which, why bring them up at this time... Could it be that those three guys are also..."
"Have also come to Sinnoh~ Also, we've already fought once."
Brock: "..."
Although it should already be a common occurrence, of course, they chased all the way from Kanto to the Orange Islands, and then to Chengdu and the Hoenn region.
Even if they followed Ash to the Sinnoh region now, it doesn't seem like a strange thing.
It's just that their guts are really admirable.
Even though Brock has known Ash for so long, if it weren't for chance, they wouldn't continue traveling together, and the time that those three have been chasing Ash is longer than the time he and Ash have been traveling together.
"If there really is a talking Meowth, I'd really like to see it~"
Dawn fantasized.
If Meowth were to perform a tongue twister live on the stage of a Pokémon Contest, it would probably shock the entire audience, right? Although, I don't know if that would pass the first round of judging.
"It's better if we don't meet."
Ash said, and then, under Dawn's curious gaze, he slowly told her about Team Rocket.
Time slipped away in the gaof their conversation, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Professor Rowan's Pokémon Lab in Sandgem Town.
Because most Pokémon Labs require large spaces, they are usually built away from urban areas, and Professor Rowan's Lab is also the same.
It is located next to a long and winding road northwest of Sandgem Town, quietly waiting for new trainers to arrive.
"Hoo~" Standing in front of Professor Rowan's Lab, Dawn took a deep breath.
"What should I do! I suddenly feel so nervous..."
"Don't be nervous, you're just picking up a starter Pokémon.
If you don't dare to go in, I'll go ahead~"
"Eh--wait!"
Before Dawn could finish speaking, Ash had already pushed open the door to Professor Rowan's Pokémon Lab, but what awaited them wasn't three neatly lined-up starter Pokémon, nor a tidy and orderly lab, but...
"Ah!! What do we do!? If this keeup, we're done for when the professor comes back!"
"Alright! Stop complaining! Hurry up and sort out the documents here first! Then we'll go look for the escaped Pokémon!"
"Seriously! Why did it have to happen today of all days! When the Trainers who are here to receive their starter Pokémon are about to... huh?"
"?!!"×n
One of the researchers who was sorting things suddenly froze on the spot, and the others seemed to sense something as they all looked up, only to see several strangers standing at the door looking at them speechlessly.
"T-that..." Seeming to understand something, one of them stepped forward and cautiously asked, "Are any of you the new Trainers who are here to receive a Pokémon today?"
"It's me."
Dawn came out.
Today was supposed to be the day she came to receive her starter Pokémon, but hearing the researchers' conversation just now, she seemed to have guessed what had happened.
"Excuse me... where is my Pokémon?"
Originally, she was prepared to come in and meet the three Pokémon, but this happened instead.
Dawn's mood was naturally low.
"Hmm... that..."
The researcher looked flustered, but because he didn't want to lie, and couldn't lie to Dawn, he still told the truth.
"We are really sorry! There was a small problem in the laboratory just now, which caused the Staraptor, Staravia, and two of the new Trainers' Pokémon in our laboratory to escape!"
Dawn was silent, and then looked at Ash with questioning eyes, as if asking him if this was also a surprise she would encounter on her journey?
"Ahem... similar things will always happen.
" Ash turned his eyes away and said.
Although the accident in the laboratory had nothing to do with him, he was the one who painted Dawn a grand picture before the trip, so he felt a little embarrassed when Dawn asked him that.
But fortunately, Dawn didn't attribute the fault to Ash.
She was just teasing him with a half-joking tone.
Today was the first day of her journey, but on such a day that should have been full of surprises, she not only encountered that annoying trainer from before, but even two of her new Pokémon ran away.
"So, what should we do now?" Dawn asked the researcher for advice.
"This..." the researcher stammered.
"Either you can wait here for us to clean up and then go find the new Pokémon, or if you like, choose this one as your new Pokémon."
After speaking, the researcher pointed to the Turtwig hiding in the corner, slowly eating Pokémon food.
When the Turtwig realized that the researcher and Dawn were staring at it, it panicked and lowered its head to continue eating its food.
"Forget it, let's think of another way," Dawn said with a sigh.
Although this Turtwig is also very cute, its personality seems a bit too Defeatist and doesn't match her own personality.
Turtwig probably wouldn't be her best choice.
"Or else, let us help you find the Pokémon that got lost.
" Just then, Ash interjected.
"Really?!!"
The researchers looked at Ash with eager eyes, as if grasping at the last ray of hope.
"I mean, this is the most efficient way.
But before that, I need to borrow your phone and Pokémon Teleportation Device."
"Please, please, use them! Don't mention just these things! Whatever you need, just ask us! As long as we can provide it, we definitely won't be stingy."
"That won't be necessary."
Ash smiled and waved his hand, then walked towards the direction of the phone and Pokémon Teleportation Device inside the Pokémon Lab.
Dawn and Brock also believed that Ash's choice was the most correct, so they had no reason to refuse to help.