"Go, Poké Ball!" Ash approached Aerodactyl, took out a Poké Ball, and threw it.
The Poké Ball hit the unresponsive Aerodactyl, opened, and enveloped it in a red light, capturing it inside.
The Poké Ball landed on the ground and shook slightly, only twice, before a burst of Golden stars lit up. With a click, Aerodactyl was successfully caught!
"That's amazing, Charizard, and Ash! You not only defeated Aerodactyl but also caught it!" Brock stepped forward, looking at Charizard in amazement. Charizard's displayed strength once again exceeded Brock's expectations.
Misty hugged Ash. At this moment, she was completely relieved. Today's experience had been overwhelming. When Aerodactyl attacked Ash, she thought she would lose him forever.
"It's okay..." Ash patted Misty's back and took out his Pokédex. He needed to choose a Pokémon to send back to Professor Oak, and he didn't have much time.
"Wartortle, I'll have to trouble you for now..." After some thought, Ash decided to send Wartortle back to Professor Oak first. He would send Aerodactyl back to the lab after fully taming it.
"Let's go, let's head out." Ash comforted Misty and, after she had recovered, recalled Charizard, picked up Pikachu, and walked outside.
"What happened?" Halfway out, Ash and his friends encountered the Alliance personnel who had come to investigate. The commotion earlier had been significant, affecting not only the cave entrance but also the surrounding excavation sites.
"We don't know; the impact erupted from the depths of the cave!" Ash didn't intend to reveal the truth. Before leaving, he, Misty, and Brock had concocted a story.
As for how long this lie could hold, they didn't know. At least for now, Ash didn't want anyone to know he had captured Aerodactyl, as it would cause a lot of trouble.
Many Trainers came here for Aerodactyl. If they found out, they would pester Ash, wanting to see or even trade for it.
"Something happened in the depths..." The Alliance staff didn't doubt their story. Frowning slightly, he signaled to his companions and left with Ash and his friends.
The commotion reaching the outside world indicated something dangerous had occurred inside. The staff member's abilities were insufficient to investigate the situation, so reporting it was the best course of action.
Outside the cave, besides Alliance personnel, many people, including diggers and trainers, had gathered near the entrance. Even those at the camp had heard about the incident, and some were rushing over.
Ash, Misty, and Brock, emerging from the cave, naturally attracted attention. People asked what had happened, but Ash maintained they didn't know, directing them to the Alliance staff.
With that, the trio left the crowd and quickly returned to the camp, finally able to relax.
"Brock, Misty, you stay here and prepare dinner. I'll go outside and treat Aerodactyl." It wasn't suitable to release Aerodactyl in the camp, not only to avoid exposure but also because of its temperament.
If an accident occurred, Aerodactyl could cause significant damage, potentially even casualties.
"Let me go too!" Misty looked at Ash worriedly. After considering it, Ash decided that with Charizard around, there shouldn't be any danger, so he agreed.
"Be careful." Brock chose to stay. The priority was to prepare dinner for everyone and the Pokémon. He would have plenty of opportunities to learn more about Aerodactyl later.
Ash left the camp with Pikachu and Misty, found a secluded spot, released Charizard, and treated Pikachu together. To his surprise, Charizard's injuries had healed, though its stamina was depleted, requiring minimal treatment.
"I'll leave it to you later, Charizard." Ash patted Charizard's shoulder. He was going to release Aerodactyl and treat it.
If left untreated, Aerodactyl's injuries, while not life-threatening, could lead to hidden complications.
"Hooo!" Charizard nodded slightly and gave Ash a thumbs-up.
Pikachu received medicine first, then Ash took out Aerodactyl's Poké Ball, enlarged it, and opened it. A white light appeared, and Aerodactyl lay on the ground, still in a fainted state.
This state was a protective mechanism for Pokémon. No matter how severe the injury, a Pokémon entering this state after exhaustion would be safeguarded and wouldn't die immediately.
However, if attacked in this state or if the injuries were too severe and couldn't heal quickly, the Pokémon's life would still be in danger.
Ash checked Aerodactyl's condition and then applied the spray and potion to its wounds. The potion, developed by Silver, was remarkably effective. Aerodactyl's injuries and stamina were rapidly recovering.-----Misty watched anxiously from the side, growing increasingly nervous as Aerodactyl began to stir unconsciously. However, the presence of the dependable Charizard nearby eased her worries.
"Roar..." After a few minutes, Aerodactyl slowly opened its eyes, its gaze unfocused and clearly disoriented. After a few seconds, it gradually regained its senses and noticed Ash and Charizard.
Upon seeing Charizard, Aerodactyl's pupils contracted sharply. Its body tensed, and it abruptly stood up, adopting a vigilant posture.
Charizard, however, merely exhaled a small flame in disdain. Even a fully healthy Aerodactyl wouldn't be its rival, let alone one in its current weakened state.
Aerodactyl's expression froze. It understood Charizard's contempt. Though angered, it had no choice but to turn its attention to Ash.
Ash met Aerodactyl's gaze calmly, unwavering.
Aerodactyl studied Ash, seemingly lost in thought. After glancing at Charizard beside him, it looked back at Ash and finally lowered its head in submission.
Aerodactyl's reasoning was simple: if the powerful Charizard had surrendered to this human, it seemed acceptable for it to do the same, even if it couldn't defeat Charizard.
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