Pokemon : Rewind-Chapter 469 - 57: National Park

In the evening, Ash discussed the terms of his agreement with Whitney.

Whitney carefully considered Ash's conditions and found no significant issues with them. Ultimately, she agreed to Ash's request for advertising—under one stipulation: the promotion had to remain subtle during the event.

Ash readily nodded in agreement. His plan wasn't overly ambitious—he only intended to wear his brand's merchandise during the opening ceremony. There would be no overt promotional behavior during the event.

Whitney also promised to visit Goldenrod Radio Tower as a guest on the day Ash's brand launched. In return, she would casually mention the brand during her radio interview.

The station's host, a well-known personality named Mary, was Whitney's best friend. With just a word to Mary, Whitney could ensure the brand was subtly promoted to a wide audience.

Learning about this connection, Ash couldn't help but marvel at how useful relationships could be.

Without Whitney's help, he might have spent a fortune on advertising with Goldenrod Radio Tower.

---

The next day, Ash and his companions left Goldenrod City, setting out for their next destination: Ecruteak City.

The journey was long, and at their current pace, they estimated it would take about two weeks to reach the city.

As they left Goldenrod, they passed by the construction site of a massive stadium. While still in its early stages, the scale of the foundation suggested it would hold at least 70,000 people when completed. The sheer size of the project made it seem more like a small town than a simple arena.

Not far from the construction site lay the famous National Park of the Johto Region, known for its weekly Bug Catching Contest.

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The Bug Catching Contest, organized by the Johto Pokémon League, provided Trainers with a safe and controlled environment to capture high-quality Bug-type Pokémon. Participants were only allowed to use the special Park Balls distributed at the event.

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The rules were straightforward: Trainers would compete based on the quality of the Pokémon they captured. The winner would receive a prize, making the event highly competitive and exciting.

Park Balls, specially designed for the contest, had a higher capture rate than standard Poké Balls.

However, their effectiveness was limited to the confines of the National Park. Outside of the park, they became completely useless, effectively turning into collector's items.

---

Since there wasn't a Bug Catching Contest scheduled for that day, Ash and his friends decided not to rush to the park. Instead, they traveled at their usual pace and stopped to camp for lunch.

During their break, they noticed several Trainers passing by, all heading toward the park in preparation for tomorrow's contest.

As they ate dinner that evening, Ash turned to Misty. "So, have you decided if you'll participate in the contest tomorrow?"

Misty hesitated, a slight frown crossing her face. While her fear of Bug-type Pokémon had lessened over time, the thought of handling them still made her uncomfortable.

"I think I'll pass," she said finally.

Ash nodded, understanding her reluctance. He then looked at Brock. "What about you?"

Brock shook his head. "I think I'll sit this one out too. Pineco is all I need for now."

With neither Misty nor Brock interested, Ash decided he would participate alone.

---

The next morning, the National Park was bustling with activity. The park's sprawling landscape, with its mix of plains, jungles, and small lakes, resembled a miniaturized wilderness.

Outside the park, a registration booth was set up for participants. The area was lively, with Trainers from Johto and beyond gathered for the event.

Misty and Brock opted to relax in a nearby rest area, where various food trucks offered snacks and drinks. The festive atmosphere felt more like a celebration than a competition.

Ash's arrival at the registration booth caused a stir among the other Trainers.

"Is that Ash?"

"I can't believe he's joining the Bug Catching Contest!"

Excited whispers spread through the crowd. Some Trainers were eager to test their skills against Ash in a competition where raw battle power wasn't the sole determining factor.

"This is my chance to beat Ash!" one Trainer exclaimed, brimming with confidence.

---

At the back of the line, a familiar voice called out.

"Ash! Ash!"

Ash turned toward the voice and smiled as he recognized the speaker. It was Casey, a spirited Trainer he had encountered before.

"Casey! Long time no see!" Ash greeted her warmly as she ran up to him with her Chikorita by her side.

Casey beamed. "It's great to see you again, Ash!"

Her eyes quickly darted to Pikachu, who was perched on Ash's shoulder. Pikachu shifted uncomfortably, sensing what was coming.

Before Pikachu could react, Casey had scooped it up and was enthusiastically rubbing her cheek against its fur. "Pikachu! Did you miss me?"

"Pika..." Pikachu let out a muffled squeak, its face squished in Casey's grip. It glanced at Ash with a look of helpless resignation, silently pleading for rescue.

Ash chuckled at the scene, amused by Casey's boundless energy. As the Bug Catching Contest drew closer, Ash couldn't help but feel excited about what the day had in store.

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