Ash joining Team Rocket is really good news for Damian.
We're thriving as Team Rocket!
And just thinking about future dialogues between Ash and Red, Damian can't help but laugh.
Though Ash is still that Ash, he can't do evil deeds, but Damian believes his Team Rocket now runs legitimate business.
Well, sometimes the methods are a bit extreme, but Ash doesn't need to do that stuff.
Seeing Ash and the three of them still buzzing with excitement while discussing the Team Rocket organization app content, Damian doesn't interrupt them.
Instead he leads Caitlin and the others toward Tree of Beginning Park.
Ash and the three of them follow right behind; having just joined Team Rocket, plus the app content is really "hot," they're still puzzled.
"Mr. Damian—"
Not long after entering Tree of Beginning Park, Erika, wearing a maple leaf kimono, arrives gracefully.
"Erika, long time no see."
Damian opens his arms; Erika blushes and smiles, mostly because there are many people behind Damian.
But her longing wins out, and the flower-arranging miss hugs the boy around the waist, resting her face against his chest as they embrace.
"Wow~"
"Pikachu~"
Ash and Pikachu both let out a light surprised cry, their expressions identical.
For a boy whose mind is on battles and dreams, he doesn't understand or care about romance between men and women.
A girl? Pikachu isn't interested in that.
On the path to becoming a Pokémon Master, romance isn't needed (smirk).
But it doesn't stop Ash from enjoying the sight of people he knows together.
"Gym leader Erika is actually with Damian!" Misty whispers with gossip and envy, astonished.
Previously Erika said she was on a date with Damian; Misty half believed it.
Now the two are hugging!
Huh? So cold!
Suddenly Misty shudders, looking around with a wary gaze. She notices Caitlin's lips still curling in a faint smile, and Caitlin's gaze seems to be watching Misty.
Wait, did Misty do something to offend her?
After a moment, Erika steps back shyly.
"It wasn't long, only about a month."
Erika speaks softly.
"Sinnoh region has been smooth sailing, so not long stayed."
Damian replies; Sinnoh has indeed been smooth.
And Team Galactic hasn't had much difficulty or fun.
"Recently managing this park, is it hard?"
"Not hard. I find this work meaningful, and the Pokémon here don't mind me."
"But today the security was too lax; Ash and the others just walked in, and then…"
Erika looks curiously at Ash and the three.
"Ash, how did you all come back?"
Erika is extremely curious; when they left, Ash's impression of Damian wasn't great, especially Ash's sense of justice.
"Haha, what can I say, Erika, things change in this world."
Ash awkwardly rubs his nose.
"I talked with Ash; now Ash, Misty, and Brock are Temporary Members of Team Rocket."
Damian smiles.
"Really?" Erika is shocked.
Time isn't long, is it? Mr. Damian convincing Ash and them to join Team Rocket so quickly?
Temporary member is still a Team Rocket member, but Ash, this hot-blooded boy with such a strong sense of justice, joining Team Rocket…
Did Mr. Damian put him under a spell? After all, Team Rocket's reputation in Kanto is rotten to the core.
"Hey, Damian said Team Rocket is now an organization to fight villains; I'll see if that's true."
Ash speaks plainly about his ideology.
"That's not a lie, and within the organization there are many strong Trainers; Ash, you can schedule Friendly Matches and special training with them."
Erika's voice is soft; she clearly sees Ash as a monster-level rookie, and if he truly commits, it would strengthen Team Rocket.
"Yeah! I will!"
Ash nods vigorously; he's very excited.
For example, that hated Paul from the recent battle, though he's abrasive with his words, Ash admits he's strong and vows to beat him and teach him a lesson.
And not only Paul, also the blue-haired girl Dawn; no doubt she's strong as well.
"That's right; within Team Rocket you can arrange battles with top-tier Trainers from other regions, like Unova; they're roughly your age and similar strength to Dawn and Paul—great opponents."
Damian mentions Rosa, Hilda, Drayton, etc.
Team Rocket now has many excellent young Trainers.
Ash's eyes light up; he loves strong rivals!
"Erika, tell Ash and the others about some things inside the organization; they probably have questions now."
Damian suggests to Erika.
"I'll go inside to check."
"Okay."
Erika nods.
Then Damian and Caitlin head toward Tree of Beginning; Dawn and Paul don't chase, curious about Team Rocket's farms, so they wander on their own.
They approach the entrance near Tree of Beginning; Therian Forme Landorus passes by, glances at Damian and exits.
Looks like someone in charge.
Tree of Beginning seems like a paradise for Pokémon.
Inside, Mew holds down the fort; beneath Tree of Beginning, Regigigas sleeps.
A perfect ecosystem; this place could be a den.
As Damian nears Tree of Beginning, the ground trembles slightly.
The ground before Damian rises, and a giant "giant" slowly springs from the soil.
Regigigas.
"Regigigas, how's stay here?"
Damian waves at Regigigas.
"Not worse than my old sleeping spot."
Regigigas' telepathy sounds heavy and mechanical.
"Humans, you smell on you…"
The round dot on Regigigas' chest shimmers, gazing at the human it hasn't seen for a while.
"What is it?"
"Have you had contact with Arceus?"
"You can tell, can't you? That's right."
"Its aura—no way I'd mistake it, humans, you're lucky."
Regigigas falls silent for a moment, then speaks.
Arceus' aura is extremely sensitive to Regigigas, especially the strong "smell" of Arceus on Damian.
Regigigas can't help but notice.
"Oh? Regigigas, are you very familiar with Arceus?"
Damian raises an eyebrow, hinting.
"…Long ago I did encounter it."
Regigigas' telepathy carries a hint of helplessness, then sighs.
But obviously that sigh holds a story.
Damian doesn't press; that's a bit rude.
Though he suspects Regigigas' slow start body may tie to Arceus.
But that's old news; for Regigigas, it's not something to take pride in.
"Alright, Regigigas, could you call Mew out for me? This little one, I've called but it won't answer."
Damian smiles at Regigigas.
"One moment."
Regigigas doesn't enter Tree of Beginning; it seems to stare off in thought for a moment.
Damian suspects he's contacting Mew via telepathy.
"It's out."
"Thanks for that."
Of course, Mew appears after a few minutes, a pink light emerges from Tree of Beginning, revealing adorable Mew with a bright, cute Telepathy.
"Mew, what's going on?"
Damian had hoped Mew would be on time, but seeing Mew now, he's surprised.
Mew looks noticeably plumper than last time, especially the protruding belly like a beer belly.
"I don't go out much lately, so I'm a little round, don't make a big deal."
Mew is not feeling very confident; its two little paws cover its belly, looking cute.
Caitlin's delicate features look puzzled.
"You call that… a little round?"
Damian points to Mew's belly and then to his own eight-pack abdomen, signaling.
"Damian, you're rude; I'm still growing! It's normal to grow! Meow~"
Mew pouts and huffs, hands on hips.
Isn't it true that Mew has just eaten more and hasn't done much activity, so it's a bit round?
Damian: …
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