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BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
Shortly after Misty recalled Psyduck, the ground suddenly began to shake beneath them.
"Huh? What's happening? Is it an earthquake?" Misty asked anxiously, feeling the tremors beneath her feet.
Though similar to an earthquake, the vibrations were relatively mild. Ash stood up and peered toward a dusty area in the distance.
"What is that?" Brock questioned with uncertainty.
Ash and Misty also turned to look and spotted a group of large Pokémon approaching. The sight was startling, causing them to instinctively step back.
All the Pokémon in the group were bipedal, with predominantly brown bodies and grayish-yellow ears and abdomens. Their shoulders and legs featured multiple protrusions resembling protective armor. Their most distinctive characteristic was the pouch connected to their bodies, each containing a small, adorable Pokémon.
"Those are Kangaskhan! What a rare sight!" Brock exclaimed in surprise.
The Pokémon before them were indeed Kangaskhan, with their offspring tucked safely in their pouches. The baby Kangaskhan had purple skin and lacked the thick hide of their parents, necessitating protection.
Although Kangaskhan appeared intimidating, they were actually quite docile creatures. However, there was truth to the saying that mothers were formidable protectors, and Kangaskhan embodied this principle perfectly. When their children were threatened, they would fight relentlessly regardless of their own injuries.
In the wild, trainers were cautioned against attempting to capture even a baby Kangaskhan playing alone, as its mother was invariably nearby. If her child was harmed or captured, the normally gentle Kangaskhan would become immediately enraged.
Being social creatures, Kangaskhan would come to one another's aid when in trouble. Consequently, encountering a solitary Kangaskhan was rare. Naturally, few trainers managed to capture one, making them uncommonly seen in trainer battles.
What intrigued Ash most was that Kangaskhan populations consisted entirely of females with no males—they were parthenogenetic Pokémon. Ash had always wondered: were baby Kangaskhan actually born from their mothers' pouches?
"The baby Kangaskhan are so adorable! I wish I could catch one!" Misty couldn't contain her excitement watching them.
While adult Kangaskhan were impressive, the babies were truly endearing. Small as a plush toy and seemingly harmless, their large black eyes could instantly captivate any girl's heart.
"Just dream on," Ash remarked with a slight smile.
Under these circumstances, catching any Kangaskhan was impossible—especially a baby. Simply throwing a Poké Ball would immediately draw the attention of the entire herd, leaving no chance of escape.
"I was just saying!" Misty replied, embarrassed. Though she genuinely wanted one, she recognized the danger involved. Capturing a Kangaskhan typically required battling the entire family.
But she only wanted a baby Kangaskhan, which would mean separating mother and child—a cruelty she couldn't bring herself to inflict.
None of them noticed that Pikachu was staring blankly at the herd, taking a few steps forward in a daze, its eyes flickering with emotion.
"Pikachu, what's wrong?" Ash sensed Pikachu's feelings. Though unsure of the cause, he clearly felt sadness emanating from his partner.
Having spent so much time together and formed a deep bond, Ash could perceive these emotions distinctly.
"Pika-pi..."
Hearing Ash's voice, Pikachu snapped out of its trance, wiped its eyes with its paws, and quickly shook its head to indicate everything was fine.
Nevertheless, Ash felt Pikachu's emotions and instinctively glanced back at the Kangaskhan herd. Something about them clearly affected Pikachu, but since his partner seemed reluctant to discuss it, Ash didn't press further.
He gently placed his hand on Pikachu's head and smiled reassuringly.
"I won't force you to tell me anything you don't want to share. Just wait until you're ready."
Regarding Pikachu's history, Ash knew only that Professor Oak had obtained it before giving it to him, but the Electric-type's experiences before that remained unclear.
"Pika-pi..."
Pikachu was visibly moved by Ash's understanding, nodding emphatically before returning its gaze to the Kangaskhan.
VRROOM! VRROOM!!!
Suddenly, the sound of an engine broke the moment. The trio looked up to see an off-road vehicle speeding toward them.
The vehicle skidded to a halt nearby, and a commanding figure stepped out, addressing them with stern eyes.
"You three! This is a nature reserve, and capturing Kangaskhan is strictly prohibited!" It was none other than Officer Jenny, undoubtedly a relative of the Officer Jennys they'd encountered previously.
"Beautiful Officer Jenny, though we haven't captured any Kangaskhan, my heart has been captured by you," Brock rushed forward without hesitation.
Ash and Misty exchanged weary glances at their friend's predictable behavior. Officer Jenny appeared momentarily confused by Brock before pushing him aside, then regarding the others suspiciously.
"There's a misunderstanding—we aren't trying to capture the Kangaskhan. We know this is a protected area," Ash explained quickly.
"Good! That's reassuring, but you should avoid getting too close to the Kangaskhan! Although they're generally docile, they'll attack without hesitation if they perceive any threat to their young," Officer Jenny cautioned.
Ash glanced back at Pikachu, noting how his partner continued to gaze at the Kangaskhan herd with an unmistakable longing. He wondered what connection Pikachu might have to these Pokémon, sensing there was a story there—perhaps explaining how Pikachu evolved from Pichu before eventually leaving the Kangaskhan to begin the journey that would lead him to Professor Oak, and ultimately, to Ash himself.