Chapter 4 Settling the Scorbunny!

The next day, Ash and Serena are having a new morning as they are brushing their teeth. "Look at this, Serena! It's a huge discovery!" Ash is brushing his teeth rapidly and Serena asks, "A huge discovery?"

"You can brush your teeth really fast if you do this!" Ash says, and Pikachu is mimicking Ash's movements, and Serena can only sigh, "You'll make yourselves dizzy doing that."

"I'll be fine-" Ash and Pikachu are now dizzy as they fall to the floor, causing Serena to sigh.

When Mimey is preparing breakfast, Ash is looking at the phone and he says, "Check this out, Serena!"

"Ash?" Serena is confused as Ash rushes out of the dining room to the lab. As they follow them, they find Professor Cerise and Ash says, "Professor Cerise!"

"Good morning, everyone." Cerise says. Ash shows his phone and says, "Look at this data! It says there's a phenomenon about Pokemon growing gigantic!"

"Gigantic?" Serena says as she thinks of a giant Pikachu in the city, stepping and destroying cars and trees. She shivers at the thought as Professor Cerise just laughs, "Now, now, calm down. That's a phenomenon seen in the Galar Region."

"Can we go there?" Ash asks. "I want to go there!"

Cerise says, "Very well...it's a great opportunity. You can see Pokemon gigantification with your own eyes. Go and etch the experience into your minds and bodies."

Ash and Serena are excited as they head towards the Galar Region by taking a plane.

When they are sitting on the plane, Ash is sleeping until Serena says, "Look, there is the Galar Region!"

Ash quickly gets up and looks through the window, they can see the region below them. After taking the train ride, they get to a city known as Wyndon.

Serena is checking the schedule and she says, "The next train to the Wild Area is 6 hours...which means we have a lot of time to look around the place."

"6 hours? That sure is long..." Ash says. "What are we going to do in the meantime, then?"

Serena smiles and she grabs Ash's arm, "Ever since we confessed, we haven't had a proper date. How about we have it here?"

Ash is nervous about having a date with Serena, but he agrees. They look around the whole city by seeing the sights, dresses shop, Serena has changed her clothes as she is now wearing a Green colored Knit Beret, with the Blue Ribbon tying on her hair, a pink simple shirt dress with green socks and brown boots. She also changes her bag and she asks, "How do I look, Ash?"

Ash smiles and he says, "You look perfect, Serena."

After that, they also go to the park to relax, going to the Ferris wheel for a ride, and eventually, they are stopping by a store with Galar's famous scones.

"Excuse me, can you give us some of these nice-smelling tiny thingies!" Ash asks, and the owner nods as he gives him the treats. Ash and Serena are sitting at the river as they enjoy the treats.

While enjoying the treats, a stone is thrown overhead, hitting a nearby bin. Pikachu goes over and picks a rock. Ash says, "A rock?"

"It came flying over here, didn't it?" Serena asks.

Another stone appears, and they turn around and see a Scorbunny covered in soot. "It's a Pokemon!" Serena says. "But what is it?"

"I don't know." Ash says as they are trying to get their Rotom Phones. While the couple is distracted trying to get a shot of Scorbunny, three Pokemon suddenly pilfer through Ash's bag for food. One looks like an imp but it is colored pink, one is a fox like Pokemon, and one looks like a Zigzagoon but it is black and white colored. The fox Pokemon runs off with Ash's backpack, along with the other two Pokemon.

"My backpack!" Ash yells, and the Scorbunny is also getting away as well. Serena asks, "Were they working together?"

Ash and Serena chase after the thieves, and Serena asks, "Hey, Ash. Your ticket to the Wild Area was in that backpack, wasn't it?"

"Yeah!" Ash says. As they chase them down in the alleyway, they find Scorbunny kicking a rock at them while the other Pokemon are getting away.

"Serena, you go that way, I'll go this way." Ash says as Serena nods.

While splitting up, Ash soon spots a series of footprints left by Scorbunny down one of the laneways, as for Serena, she only gets to a dead-end.

"Serena!" Ash calls out to her with the phone as she answers the call. They are getting together again as they spy on the Pokemon. Ash takes the opportunity to scan the Pokemon.

"Nickit, the Fox Pokémon. A Dark type. Nickit likes to steal food that other Pokémon have found. It uses its fluffy tail to erase any footprints it leaves behind.

Impidimp, the Wily Pokemon. A Dark and Fairy type. It sneaks into people's homes, stealing things and feasting on the negative energy of the frustrated occupants.

Zigzagoon, Galarian Form, the Tiny Racoon Pokemon. A Dark and Normal type. Its restlessness has it constantly running around. If it sees another Pokémon, it will purposely run into them to start a fight."

As Ash tries to scan Scorbunny, it fails because it is covered with soot. "No data? Is that a new species of Pokemon?" Serena asks, and Ash says, "I don't know."

They are now seeing how Scorbunny splits the spoils and the Pokemon enjoy the scones.

"It looks like that one's the leader." Serena says.

"Yeah." Ash says.

After seeing how the Pokemon are acting, Ash is furious as he says, "How dare they eat my scones!"

But the comment is heard by Scorbunny as Ash rushes towards them. "Give me back my backpack!"

However, Scorbunny kicks Ash's backpack sky high and out of Ash's reach. Scorbunny then turns its attention to Ash, though Pikachu blocks its incoming Double Kick.

"Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ash says as Pikachu uses the attack, but Scorbunny makes a stealthy dodge with Quick Attack, running up a wall before striking down at its opponent, though Pikachu dodges. Pikachu replies with a Thunderbolt, but Scorbunny speeds off, only to run into a bin.

"Electro Web!" Ash yells, and the attack ensnares Scorbunny, delivering a direct zap and defeating it.

"Nice job, Pikachu." Ash says as he cheers for Pikachu with the win. Scorbunny is frustrated by the loss.

Pikachu scales a light pole and throws Ash's backpack down to its rightful owner. Ash turns his attention to Scorbunny and says, "You're a fun guy!"

But Scorbunny is angry as he kicks Ash from behind in revenge. Pikachu promptly shocks Scorbunny and Ash to settle the situation.

Ash slowly gets up and says, "Scorbunny, I was telling the truth, you are not half bad...that was a nice kick."

The Pokémon seems chuffed by the compliment, rubbing its face to reveal some of its naturally white fur underneath the soot, much to Ash and Serena's surprise. "Wait, are you..." Ash says.

"Hey! Give it back!" They hear a sound and they see the scone man yells at the three Dark Type Pokemon for running off with his scones. He corners them in an alleyway, and lifts Scorbunny by the ears as it tries to intervene.

"You again, you have to stop causing trouble." The man says to the Scorbunny.

"Hey, hold on a second!" Ash yells as the man turns to Ash and Serena. Ash suddenly apologizes and says, "Sorry! That's my Pokemon!"

"What? This one? It's yours?" The man says with surprise.

"Yes! We'll tell it off, so it won't cause trouble again!" Serena adds.

"So, please forgive it! I'm really sorry!" Ash says.

After having the three Dark Type Pokemon a plate of scones, the man says, "Geez...why did you lie like that?"

Ash is surprised that the man knows he lied, the man laughs and says, "It was obvious. But even Scorbunny was surprised that you'd lie for it."

"Scorbunny..." Serena says, "I think I remember that it is a Starter Pokemon from the Galar Region...and I think it is Fire Type."

Ash takes out the Pokedex and it says, "Scorbunny, the Rabbit Pokémon. A Fire type. Once Scorbunny is ready for battle, the pads above its nose and under its feet give off intense heat. The soles on its feet are also said to bring good luck."

"But why is it brown instead of white?" Ash asks.

"It covered itself in the dirt." The man says. Serena asks, "But why? Why would it do that?"

"Those three Dark Type Pokemon have lived in this city for a long time. They shied away from others and how should I put it...Well, they've always been pretty hostile. But then, Scorbunny arrived. It was brown, having covered itself in the dirt. I bet it was trying to fit in with them. Somewhere along the line, it pretty much became their leader."

"I see." Ash says.

"The Nickit, Impidimp, and Zigzagoon haven't gone hungry ever since." The man says. "But still...I realize they're just trying to live, but they're still causing a nuisance."

Ash stands up from his seat and says, "Could it be that you've resigned yourselves to living like this?"

This causes them to blink their eyes, and Ash smiles as he pets Scorbunny. "Don't give up until it is over. The world is a huge place! If you just want it bad enough, you can go anywhere! Meet all sorts of people, too! So, go and give everything a try!"

"Ash..." Serena says with a smile, "He's right, you know!"

Ash adds, "Also, apparently, your legs bring luck! So if anything bad happens, just give it a good kick with those strong legs!"

Scorbunny is surprised, and Serena asks, "Ash, what're you going to do if it kicks you?"

"I am sure he won't..." Before Ash can finish, Scorbunny kicks him from behind. And Pikachu is angry as he chases the bunny around.

Serena looks at her phone and she gasps, "Ash! It's time for the train!"

"Let's hurry!" Ash says as they quickly run and bid farewell to the man. The four Pokemon just look at them in awe, and they decide to follow after them together.

As Ash and Serena are now on the train, they didn't notice that the four Pokemon also board the train. Scorbunny also cleans itself as it becomes white after boarding the train.

Ash and Serena are talking to Professor Cerise on the phone and he says, "So the leader of the Dark Type Pokemon...it was a Scorbunny?"

"Yeah! A really interesting one!" Ash says.

"And Scorbunny you met deliberately covered itself in the dirt to look like a Dark Type Pokemon?" Cerise asks.

"That might be why the Rotom Phone didn't recognize it at first!" Serena says.

"I expect so. It was a very intriguing tale, for sure." Professor Cerise says. "Thank you."

Ash says, "Next, we're going to see huge Pokemon in the Wild Area!"

"Right, take good care of yourself." Cerise says as he ends the call, but then Ash feels hungry as he remembers that the scones are eaten by the Dark Type Pokemon. Serena smiles and takes a bag, Ash says, "When did you get those scorns? Serena?"

"The man gave me some." Serena says as she takes out a bottle, "I also brought this milk tea."

Ash hugs Serena as they also share the food, spending their time on the train that heads to Wild Area.

Here is the fourth chapter, and Ash and Serena are now in the Galar Region, what will happen for them when they go to the Wild Area? I hope you like this chapter.