"Cough, cough!"
Officer Jenny gave a tactical cough and awkwardly turned her head to the side.
She saw the raging forest fire not far away, the firelight reflecting on her slightly flushed, pretty face.
This young man... the fire is practically at his doorstep and he's still there... but she was a well-trained police officer after all; she instantly suppressed her stray thoughts, her expression changing abruptly.
"This is bad!"
Jenny cried out, her voice laced with obvious anxiety.
"If that forest fire continues to spread and the blaze grows any larger, it will threaten Blue Water Town!"
Her words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the lingering ambiguous atmosphere in the clearing.
Roy and Misty both jolted at the same time.
The two of them hurriedly separated and stood up.
Misty, with a red face, straightened her wrinkled T-shirt, not daring to look at Roy. Meanwhile, Roy quickly scanned the surroundings to observe the fire.
Thick smoke was already billowing from deep within the forest, and the heatwaves were pungent.
Tongues of fire were devouring the trees, making a crackling and popping sound.
"We have to find a way to put out the fire," Roy said in a deep voice.
His gaze fell on the several Squirtle not far away.
These little guys had just broken free from the net and were huddling together, seemingly observing the fire as well.
The leader, the Squirtle Boss, wore sunglasses and had a serious expression.
Roy's heart stirred, and he walked over.
He crouched down in front of the Squirtles, trying to keep his tone as calm as possible.
"I know about you guys."
"You like to play pranks in town—spraying water, stealing food, and scaring pedestrians."
The Squirtle Boss tilted its head as if to say: So what?
"But I also know," Roy's tone shifted, "that you do these things because you actually want to get everyone's attention, right?"
The Squirtle Boss's body stiffened slightly.
The other four Squirtle lackeys also looked at each other.
"Being abandoned by a Trainer, or being ignored because of a lack of potential," Roy said slowly. "So you use this method to make others notice your existence."
He paused, looking into the eyes behind the Squirtle Boss's sunglasses.
"But playing pranks isn't the only way to get attention."
Roy pointed toward the spreading forest fire in the distance.
Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed.
"Do you see? Right now, there's something that needs attention even more."
The Squirtle Boss looked in the direction of Roy's finger.
It stared at the burning forest, its sunglasses reflecting the firelight.
It hesitated for a moment.
Only for a few short seconds.
Then, it suddenly turned around and waved a claw at its four lackeys.
Squirtle! Squirtle Squirtle!
(Brothers, let's get to work!)
The four Squirtle lackeys immediately understood and quickly lined up in a row.
The five Squirtles raised their heads simultaneously and took a deep breath.
Five thick streams of Water Gun erupted from their mouths, converging in the air into a massive pillar of water that crashed toward the nearest part of the fire!
Water and fire collided, evaporating into a large amount of white steam.
"Staryu, let's go spray water too!"
Misty also snapped out of it, picking up Staryu and pointing toward another area where the fire was smaller.
Staryu jumped from her arms, the gem core in its center glowing brilliantly.
A powerful stream of water shot out from the center of its body, accurately dousing a patch of flames that was about to spread.
"And you too, Starmie!"
Misty pulled out another poké ball and tossed it high.
A flash of white light occurred.
A larger Starmie with an even more radiant red gem in its center appeared in the clearing.
"Use Water Gun!"
Starmie immediately began to spin, and a stream of water even thicker than Staryu's gushed out.
"Goldeen... uh, never mind, you stay back!"
In the end, she didn't release Goldeen.
After all, this was a forest, not a body of water; Goldeen would only flop around uselessly and couldn't help.
Time passed minute by minute.
With the concerted efforts of the many Pokemon, the fire was gradually brought under control.
By the time the last flicker of flame was extinguished, the entire forest was covered in charred remains and water stains.
The thick smoke hadn't completely dissipated yet, but the crisis had been averted.
"We... we succeeded?" Misty panted, her forehead covered in beads of sweat.
Her Staryu and Starmie were also exhausted; Staryu, in particular, had a gem core that was flashing quite dimly.
The Squirtles were simply slumped on the ground, gasping for air.
After using Water Gun continuously for so long, their physical stamina was heavily depleted.
"That's wonderful!" Officer Jenny breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her brow.
Her police uniform was completely filthy, her pencil skirt and black stockings covered in mud and tears, but she couldn't care less at the moment.
With the crisis averted, the atmosphere relaxed significantly.
The Squirtle Boss recovered its strength, scrambled up from the ground, and wobbled over to Staryu.
It naturally raised a claw and rested it on Staryu's "shoulder."
Squirtle, Squirtle Squirtle!
(Brother, your Water-type skills are pretty good! That Water Gun just now was very accurate!)
Its tone carried a bit of admiration and... brotherly intimacy.
Staryu tilted its body, its gem core flashing.
Staryu, Staryu Staryu~
(Thanks for the compliment, your Water Gun's power is also very strong.)
Although the two Pokemon could not understand each other's language, the rapport from fighting side-by-side was real.
Just then, Officer Jenny walked over.
Her footsteps were light, but the Squirtles still keenly noticed her.
The four Squirtle lackeys instinctively backed away, hiding behind their boss.
The Squirtle Boss also immediately withdrew its claw from Staryu's shoulder, its body tensing slightly as it assumed a defensive posture.
They were used to being chased and scolded.
But this time, Officer Jenny didn't pull out handcuffs, nor did she have a stern face.
She stopped in front of the Squirtles and then—
Bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
Jenny's voice was very sincere.
"Thank you for helping to put out the forest fire and protecting Blue Water Town."
She raised her head, looking at the stunned Squirtles.
"If it weren't for your Water Guns, the fire might have spread to the town, causing incalculable damage. You are the heroes of Blue Water Town."
Heroes?
The Squirtles looked at each other, the small eyes behind their sunglasses filled with confusion.
No one had ever said such words to them before.
No one had ever thanked them.
When the townspeople saw them, it was either with disdain, anger, or they were simply driven away.
But now... this female police officer who had been chasing them was actually thanking them?
The Squirtle Boss was the first to react.
It stood up straight, raised a claw, and somewhat clumsily scratched the back of its head.
Squirtle... (It's... it's nothing...)
Its tone had clearly softened.
The other four Squirtle lackeys also poked their heads out from behind their boss, looking at one another.
Then, they gradually realized one thing: this feeling of being thanked... seemed much better than being chased and cursed at after a prank.
Watching the change in the Squirtles' expressions, Roy knew the time was ripe.
He stepped forward and stood before the Squirtle Boss.
"How about it?" Roy spoke, his voice calm. "Is getting attention this way better than through pranks?"
The Squirtle Boss looked up at him.
The look behind its sunglasses was complex.
There was realization, relief, and a hint of... anticipation?
After a moment, it nodded vigorously.
Squirtle! Squirtle Squirtle!
(Yeah! Much better!)
It even grinned, showing a beaming expression.
Roy also smiled.
He crouched down to look the Squirtle Boss in the eye.
"Well then, let me tell you, there's another way to get even more people's attention."
"Do you want to know?"
The Squirtle Boss was instantly interested.
It leaned in, its sunglasses almost touching Roy's face.
Squirtle? Squirtle Squirtle?
(What way? Tell me, tell me!)
Roy spoke slowly, his voice carrying a strange magnetic pull.
"I can take you to the biggest stage in the Kanto region."
"Even the biggest stage in the world."
"The Indigo League Conference, the Silver Conference, the Champion League... and even more battlefields than you can imagine."
"There, every Water Gun you use, every battle you fight, thousands upon thousands of people will cheer for you."
"Your name will be remembered by countless people."
"Your figure will be etched into trophies and records."
"That kind of attention—do you want it?"
With every sentence Roy spoke, the Squirtle Boss's eyes grew brighter.
When he mentioned "thousands upon thousands of people cheering for you," its body even trembled slightly.
That was excitement.
That was yearning.
It was a dream buried deep in its heart for a long time, one it had never dared to imagine.
It almost nodded in agreement immediately.
But the Squirtle Boss suddenly paused.
It turned back to look at its four Squirtle lackeys behind it.
The four little guys were also looking at it, their eyes filled with blessings, envy, and a hint of... reluctance to part.
The Squirtle Boss hesitated.
It remembered the origins of these lackeys.
They were all Squirtles who had been abandoned by their Trainers because they were deemed to have insufficient potential and were unfit for battle.
They had huddled together for warmth.
As the boss, it had always looked after them.
If it left... these lackeys would once again become Pokemon that no one cared about or noticed.
Squirtle... (But they...)
The Squirtle Boss lowered its head, its voice growing soft.
It wanted to go with Roy, to the bigger stage.
But it couldn't leave its brothers behind.
Watching this scene, Roy was already prepared.
He stood up and walked toward Officer Jenny.
"Officer Jenny," Roy spoke in a formal tone.
"Yes?" Jenny looked at him, somewhat confused.
"Blue Water Town's police force has always been understaffed, right?" Roy asked. "Many times, public servants have to do several jobs at once."
Jenny nodded and said with a bitter smile, "That's true."
"Well then." Roy pointed to the four Squirtle lackeys. "Could you consider recruiting them as auxiliary Police Pokemon?"
Jenny was stunned.
"Police... Squirtles?"
"Yes," Roy explained in detail. "They can help you with daily patrols and maintain the town's security. Their Water Gun skills can also serve as part-time firefighting work to respond to sudden fires."
"The town will have four fewer mischievous Squirtles and four more Police Squirtles guarding justice."
"What do you think of this proposal?"
Jenny fell into deep thought.
She looked at the four Squirtles.
They were currently staring at her nervously, their little claws rubbing together anxiously.
A moment later, Jenny's eyes lit up.
"This suggestion... is very feasible!"
Being a police officer, she instantly thought of many practical application scenarios.
They could weave through the alleys and report any anomalies in time.
When firefighting, their Water Guns would indeed come in handy.
Roy's universal Favorability value played a role here.
Jenny's trust in Roy was already high, and since the suggestion truly solved a practical problem, she made a decision almost without hesitation.
"Alright!" Jenny nodded and walked toward the four Squirtles.
She crouched in front of them, her expression serious yet gentle.
"Are you willing to become auxiliary Police Pokemon for Blue Water Town?"
"Are you willing to help me guard this town and protect the people and Pokemon here?"
The four Squirtles were stunned.
They looked at each other.
Then, almost simultaneously, they nodded vigorously!
Squirtle! Squirtle Squirtle!
(Willing! We're willing!)
Their voices were full of excitement and thrill.
They had always been the invisible ones in the group, existences that were ignored.
But now... they were going to become Police Squirtles protecting the town?
They were going to be needed by everyone?
They were going to be noticed?
The four Squirtles danced with joy, then suddenly remembered something; they lined up in a row, raised their right front claws, and gave Jenny and Roy a salute that wasn't quite standard but was very forceful.
Squirtle!
(Hello, Officer!)
Seeing his lackeys so jubilant, the Squirtle Boss finally let go of its last concern.
It turned around and looked at Roy.
Its gaze was firm.
Squirtle!
Roy smiled.
He pulled out an empty red-and-white poké ball, but he didn't throw it immediately; instead, he crouched down again to look the Squirtle Boss in the eye.
"Well then, welcome to the team."
The Squirtle Boss nodded and was about to touch the poké ball of its own accord when it suddenly remembered something and turned to walk toward Staryu.
It raised its claw and once again rested it on Staryu's shoulder.
Squirtle, Squirtle Squirtle!
(Brother, we can fight side-by-side from now on! Let's spray water together!)
Its tone was full of pride and anticipation for the future.
"Hey, Roy~"
Misty leaned over at this point, her head tilted, a mischievous smile on her face.
"The Pokemon you catch really have the same personality as you~"
She pointed to the Squirtle's claw on Staryu's shoulder.
"A perverted turtle, touching my Staryu at every opportunity."
Roy: "..."
Squirtle Boss: "...?"
It slowly turned its head to look at Misty, the small eyes behind its sunglasses full of confusion.
Squirtle?
It looked at its claw on Staryu's shoulder again.
Is there something wrong with this movement?
Isn't this a normal way for brothers to express closeness?
Roy was also confused: "Does Staryu have a specific gender?"
"Of course~"
She puffed out her chest proudly; although its scale was far less confident than when it was just held by Roy, her tone was very boastful.
"A Staryu can be male or female. Since I'm such a beautiful girl, my Staryu is naturally a fragrant and soft girl too~"
"Eh?" Roy was also stunned for a moment. "So that's how Staryu's genders work?"
Misty gave him a sidelong glance. "What else did you think?"
The scene suddenly went quiet.
The Squirtle Boss stiffly turned its neck, looking once more at the Staryu under its claw.
Fragrant and soft... girl... It had always treated Staryu as a brother, a comrade-in-arms.
And now it was suddenly told that this was a girl?
And it had just been resting its claw on her shoulder, acting like they were "best buds"?
Then that would be... The Squirtle Boss's face turned beet-red at a visible speed!
As if it had been burned, it violently retracted its claw and the whole turtle jumped back a large step in a panic.
Its sunglasses even went crooked.
It looked at Staryu, then at its own claw, then at the stifling-their-laughter Misty and Roy, and finally its gaze landed on Officer Jenny.
Whoosh!
The Squirtle Boss suddenly turned around and, with the fastest speed in its life, charged at Roy!
Before Roy could react, he saw a blue figure leap into the air and accurately use its head to hit the switch button on the red-and-white poké ball in his hand!
The poké ball opened, a red light shot out, and enveloped the Squirtle.
The Squirtle turned into a red light and dove into the ball.
The poké ball landed in Roy's hand; it didn't even shake once before the indicator light in the center made a "ding" sound and went out.
Capture... complete.
The Squirtle's comical side immediately filled the surroundings with laughter.
Who would have thought that the ultimate move to finally defeat Squirtle was shyness!