Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Arrival of Professor Oak

The Twinleaf Festival had officially begun.

“Everyone, good morning,” Ash greeted as he descended from the second floor.

“Good morning, Ash,” they replied.

“Excellent, the schedule for today is all set. The festival is about to really get underway,” Ayako announced, rising and stretching after finalizing the day’s plans.

“Mom, what events are happening today?” Dawn asked.

“The first event is Professor Oak’s lecture.”

“Professor Oak’s lecture?” Cheng became instantly alert upon hearing Ayako’s words.

“Yes, Professor Oak should be arriving soon. Let’s go outside and check!” Ayako suggested.

“But we haven’t had breakfast yet,” Ash reminded them.

“Ash, you were the one who slept in. We’ve already eaten. Let’s head out, Piplup,” Dawn said, scooping up her Piplup.

“Ash, I left your breakfast on the table. Eat quickly and join us,” Ayako said, tidying up her things and preparing to leave. Just as she stepped out the door, she saw Ash had already finished his breakfast at lightning speed.

“Let’s go together. Come on, Pikachu.”

“Pika~”

They all headed into town, encountering the indecisive duo, who seemed to be there to welcome Professor Oak.

“Has Professor Oak arrived yet?”

“Not yet,” one replied.

“The airship should have arrived by now, but there’s still no sign of Professor Oak. Do you think something might have happened?”

“Let’s go check it out together,” Ash suggested.

“Alright, we’ll rely on you all then.”

“We’ll go too,” Dawn said, carrying Piplup along.

“Wait for me!” Brock called, hurrying after them.

“I’ll go as well,” Cheng decided, thinking perhaps he could help. Yet none of them noticed that, in the nearby grass, two people and a Pokémon were eavesdropping.

Ash and his friends ran along the road, soon spotting a car parked at the roadside. Not far away, they caught sight of a figure who seemed to be Professor Oak.

“Excuse me, is that Professor Oak over there?”

“Yes, he’s gone into the marsh to observe Pokémon,” the driver answered, holding his tools.

“That’s just like Professor Oak,” Brock remarked.

“Where’s Cheng?” someone asked, realizing Cheng hadn’t caught up.

“He’s probably behind us,” came the reply.

Indeed, Cheng was struggling to catch up. He couldn’t match their stamina and had quickly fallen behind.

“Let’s go find Professor Oak first.”

“Wait, that area is a marsh. I heard there are many hidden bogs,” Dawn suddenly remembered the dangers ahead.

“Then we need to hurry and bring Professor Oak back,” Ash said, leading Pikachu toward the marsh, with Dawn and Brock following.

Soon, they saw Professor Oak, but he was being led away by two Pokémon.

“Darn, it’s almost time for the lecture. Where is Professor Oak going?” Ash wondered, troubled by the distant figure.

“Something’s wrong—he seems to have been abducted by those two Pokémon.”

“Let’s hurry after them.”

“Wait, Ash,” Dawn called.

“I told you, there are many bottomless bogs here. If we rush in, it’ll be dangerous.”

“What should we do? We can’t just leave Professor Oak,” Ash protested.

“The marsh is dangerous, but we’ll have to proceed carefully,” Brock thought it over and decided they should try to rescue Professor Oak.

“Pip-pip~ Pip-pip~”

Piplup hopped down.

“What’s wrong, Piplup?”

“Pip-pip~ Pip-pip~”

Piplup patted its chest.

“Piplup, do you want to lead the way?”

“Pip-pip~”

Piplup marched forward confidently.

“Piplup’s a Water-type; it should know the safest path,” Brock said.

“Let’s go, then.”

They followed behind Piplup, who soon became stuck in the marsh. Piplup struggled, sinking deeper.

“Dawn, quick, send out Swinub and use Ice Beam!” Ash prompted.

“Go, Swinub! Use Ice Beam on Piplup!”

Swinub’s Ice Beam froze Piplup, making it easy to retrieve.

“Pikachu, Iron Tail!”

“Pika~”

Pikachu shattered the ice, freeing Piplup.

“Are you alright, Piplup?”

“Pip-pip~ Pip-pip~”

Piplup hopped down, ready to continue, when suddenly Croagunk leaped out.

“Croagunk~”

“Croagunk, do you want to lead the way?”

“Croagunk~”

Croagunk walked ahead, stopping abruptly and then veering left around a dangerous spot. Piplup, meanwhile, kept going straight and fell into the marsh again.

Croagunk rescued Piplup.

“Looks like Croagunk really knows the way,” Brock observed.

They followed Croagunk’s lead and avoided further hazards.

“Is everyone alright?” Cheng called out, floating above the marsh. After learning of the marshland, he had his Lunatone use Psychic so he could float safely above the bog.

“Do you need help?”

“No, Croagunk is guiding us just fine.”

“In that case, I’ll come down,” Cheng said, returning Lunatone and joining the group.

“Cheng, why were you so slow?”

“You ran too fast! I don’t know how you all have such stamina.”

“Alright, let’s hurry. Professor Oak is waiting for us, and the lecture is about to begin,” Brock interrupted.

They pressed on, following Croagunk at full speed.

Soon, they reached a cave. As they were about to enter, a Toxicroak and two Quagsires appeared.

“Who are these Pokémon?” Ash checked their information with his Pokédex. Cheng reviewed their stats—not particularly strong.

“Toxicroak~”

“Quagsire~”

Croagunk and Toxicroak faced off.

“What are they doing?” Dawn asked.

“They’re probably going to battle one-on-one,” Brock replied.

Toxicroak and Croagunk stared each other down. Toxicroak leapt and stomped down, while Croagunk countered with Poison Jab. They passed each other and stood back to back.

Toxicroak then half-knelt, wounded; the outcome was clear.

Cheng was bewildered—weren’t they Pokémon? Why battle this way? And Toxicroak, using a kick instead of a special move?

The two Quagsires tried to help but were stopped by Toxicroak.

“Toxicroak~”

Toxicroak headed for the cave entrance, with Croagunk following.

“Let’s hurry inside!” Brock urged.

They entered the cave, finding Professor Oak standing there.

“Professor Oak!”

“Oh, it’s you all.”

“Professor, why did they bring you here?”

“No, they’re very gentle Pokémon. They brought me here because of this Lotad,” Professor Oak explained.

“Lotad?” Everyone saw the Lotad sitting on a rock deeper in the cave.

“I remember Lotad is usually a cheerful Pokémon. Why is it like this?” Dawn noticed Lotad’s poor condition.

“Lotad used to be lively and mischievous, but something has changed. That’s why Toxicroak brought me here,” Professor Oak replied.

“How can you understand what they’re saying?”

“Oh, if you connect with Pokémon through your heart, you can generally understand them.”

“Amazing! Cheng, you can talk with Pokémon too, right?”

Cheng nodded.

“Oh? Cheng, you can converse with Pokémon?” Professor Oak was surprised.

“It’s just a use of psychic power. Nice to meet you, Professor Oak.”

“So you use psychic abilities? I didn’t expect that.”

“Yes, though I’m still learning. I can only manage simple communication,” Cheng admitted.

“That’s still impressive. Why don’t you try talking to Lotad?”

“Alright.”

Cheng approached Lotad and used his psychic abilities to communicate.

[Lotad, what’s wrong? Is there anything you need help with?]

After speaking with Lotad, Cheng understood its feelings completely.

“Professor Oak, I understand now.”

“Tell us.”

“After seeing everyone else evolve, Lotad felt its own power was weak. It wishes to evolve, to gain strength and better protect everyone.”

“I see, Toxicroak must have sensed this too,” Professor Oak said.

He pulled a blue stone from his pocket.

“This is a Water Stone,” Professor Oak revealed.

Cheng was surprised—he hadn’t expected Professor Oak to carry an evolution stone.

“I prepared this for the lecture, but since Lotad needs it now, let’s give it to Lotad,” Professor Oak said.

He handed the Water Stone to Toxicroak, who placed it in Lotad’s hands. The Water Stone resonated, and Lotad was enveloped in white light, evolving into Ludicolo.

“Ludi~”

Ludicolo was overjoyed and danced happily.

“It looks like everything’s fine now. Oh dear, the lecture has already started!” Dawn suddenly checked the time and realized they needed to hurry back.

“Professor Oak, we have to go!”

Dawn pulled Professor Oak away, with Cheng and the others following.

“Take care, everyone!” Professor Oak waved goodbye to the Pokémon.

They raced toward the main hall at full speed.

If Cheng remembered correctly, something interesting was still about to happen there.