"Ah, I guess it still wasn't enough."
Ash stepped forward, picked up the Pikachu that had lost its ability to battle, and spoke helplessly.
"Pika..."
Pikachu lay weakly in Ash's arms and called out to him apologetically.
They had been in such a favorable position, but it hadn't seized the chance and had ultimately lost to Shuckle.
What a shame. Otherwise, it could have defeated older brother Lu Ze.
"It's okay, Pikachu."
"We've improved a lot, haven't we? We almost defeated older brother Lu Ze this time." Ash smiled as he comforted Pikachu.
"That's true. You've gotten much stronger."
Lu Ze picked up Shuckle as well and walked over to Ash.
"Still, you don't know enough about many Pokémon. That's why Pikachu lost to Shuckle."
Lu Ze shook his head helplessly. Ash was good in every way, except that he knew far too little about Pokémon information.
He had been traveling as a Trainer for so long, too.
"Mm, I understand."
"Come on, the tea's ready."
After Ash nodded in agreement, Clemont spoke up from the side.
"Let's go have some tea and talk while we drink."
"Okay, I'll go get Serena."
Ash nodded and ran toward Serena.
Serena had been a very unqualified referee.
Not long after the battle began, Serena had run off.
After running off, Serena sat on the ground and made flower crowns for all the Pokémon to wear on their heads.
Not only Crobat and Snorlax, but even the usually cool Lucario and Iron Valiant wore the flower crowns Serena had made. They were now sitting on the grass, looking slightly embarrassed.
However, just as Serena placed a flower crown on Dedenne's head, Dedenne got excited, and the crown fell off.
There was a slope right in front of them, and the flower crown rolled