Chapter 62: It’s a Tree... That’s Weird
The next morning, after enjoying breakfast together, Ash and his team bid farewell to Casey once again.
While Ash and his group continued on their journey to Ecruteak City, Casey set off toward Goldenrod City to earn her third Badge.
"Next time we meet, I'll show you how much I've grown!" Casey said with a confident thumbs-up. Despite her earlier embarrassment, she was determined to surprise Ash with her progress.
"I'll look forward to it," Ash replied with a smile. Watching Casey head off, he turned to his friends, and they began walking in the opposite direction.
—
Two days later, Ash and his friends arrived at a wide river. They initially planned to cross via a nearby bridge, but they discovered that it had been damaged by severe flooding caused by a recent hurricane. On one side of the bridge, a group of workers was busy with repairs.
After asking around, they learned that it would take at least two weeks to restore the bridge.
However, crossing the river wasn't impossible—local boat operators were offering rides to travelers.
Still, Ash and his team didn't need to rely on boats. They released Lapras, who could easily ferry them across the water.
Just as Ash and Misty climbed onto Lapras's back, an older man, likely in his sixties or seventies, approached them in a hurry.
His silver hair shimmered under the sunlight, but he carried himself with the vigor of a much younger man.
"Wait a moment, young folks!" the man called out, waving his hands.
"What's the matter?" Brock, who was still on the riverbank, asked curiously.
"Well…" The man hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly. Originally, he had planned to offer the three of them a boat ride in exchange for help recovering a Pokémon.
However, seeing that they didn't need his assistance to cross the river, he quickly changed his approach.
"I was wondering if you could help me catch a Sudowoodo," the man explained.
"A Sudowoodo?" The name instantly caught Ash and his friends' attention. Sudowoodo was a rare and unique Pokémon, often mistaken for a Grass-type due to its tree-like appearance.
In reality, it was a Rock-type Pokémon known for its Mimicry and dislike of water.
"Sudowoodo? I didn't expect to find one around here!" Brock exclaimed, his interest piqued. "Ash, can we check it out?"
"Sure," Ash agreed readily. While he usually determined their travel plans, he valued his friends' input and didn't mind taking a detour for something interesting.
Recalling Lapras, Ash and his friends followed the man's directions into the nearby mountains.
It took about an hour of hiking before they reached the location where Sudowoodo had been sighted.
—
"Do you think there's really a Sudowoodo here?" Misty asked skeptically. "Even if there is, how are we supposed to find it? They're experts at hiding."
"That's true," Brock admitted, "but it's worth a try. If we can't find it by tomorrow, we'll move on."
To cover as much ground as possible, Brock released his Golbat and instructed it to use Supersonic to locate Sudowoodo. Unfortunately, even with Golbat's abilities, the elusive Pokémon remained hidden.
An hour passed, and Golbat began to tire. Seeing this, Ash spoke up. "Let's give Golbat a break."
Realizing his oversight, Brock nodded. "You're right. Thanks, Ash."
He handed Golbat a Pokéblock from his backpack to restore its energy. Then, noticing the time, Brock suggested they take a break and let their other Pokémon out to enjoy some fresh air and snacks.
Ash and Misty agreed, releasing their Pokémon as well. Since there wasn't a Pokémon Center nearby, Ash still only had five Pokémon with him, as Gengar had yet to be transferred back.
Brock, ever the dedicated caretaker, prepared a proper afternoon tea for their Pokémon instead of just handing out Pokéblocks.
The enticing aroma of the food wafted through the forest, catching the attention of a peculiar figure hidden among the trees.
The creature, resembling a shrub with three round growths on its branch-like arms and a "Y"-shaped crest on its head, cautiously moved toward the source of the smell.
Its appearance was so convincingly tree-like that it could easily be mistaken for just another part of the forest.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu suddenly perked up, sensing something unusual. It stopped eating and stared intently at the nearby woods.
Snorlax also seemed to notice but, unsurprisingly, prioritized its meal over any potential excitement.
The mysterious figure froze under Pikachu's sharp gaze, blending perfectly with its surroundings in an attempt to avoid detection.
"Pika—!" Pikachu tugged at Ash's sleeve, pointing toward the woods.
"What is it, Pikachu?" Ash asked, following its gaze. His eyes landed on a tree that seemed out of place. A closer look confirmed it—it wasn't a tree at all.
"That's Sudowoodo!" Ash exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
—
Sudowoodo
Type: Rock
Category: Imitation Pokémon
Ability: Sturdy or Rock Head
Hidden Ability: Rattled
When hit by Dark-, Ghost-, or Bug-type moves, speed increases by one stage. If intimidated, speed also increases by one stage.
Strength: Silver Level
Ash's sharp observation skills and Pikachu's alertness had paid off. The rare Pokémon had been found. Now, it was up to the team to decide their next move.
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