Mingyou vs. Ash: Their First Battle

Dragging Team Rocket's robot out of the forest, Mingyou spotted Ash nearby, picking up a Cyndaquil. A Bayleef stood beside him. It seemed they had found all their Pokémon.

"Looks like you don't need my help after all."

Mingyou walked over and greeted them. They turned around, but the robot immediately caught their attention.

"What's that...?"

"A robot I found by the roadside. Looks like Team Rocket threw it away. I'm taking it back to pull it apart and study it. If nothing else, I can sell it for scrap."

"..."

Could you really find something like that by the roadside?

Dawn and Brock looked doubtful, though neither said anything. Ash believed Mingyou without the slightest hesitation. Then he noticed the Bloodmoon Ursaluna dragging the robot.

Seeing a Pokémon he didn't recognize, Ash instinctively pulled out his Rotom Phone. In an age when information moved so quickly, dedicated Pokédex devices were a thing of the past. Every Rotom Phone now came with a National Pokédex, ready to check at any time.

But after scanning Bloodmoon Ursaluna, Ash frowned. He tried several more times, yet nothing appeared on the screen.

"That's weird... The National Pokédex doesn't have any information on this Pokémon either. What's going on?"

"Huh? Seriously?"

Dawn scanned it with her own Rotom Phone. No information came up for her, either.

Brock studied the Pokémon for a moment through narrowed eyes. "There are lots of Pokémon that haven't been registered in the Pokédex. Trainers investigate and record them, then pass their findings to researchers. Only after the researchers process and compile everything do those Pokémon get added."

"Right. And the Pokédex is regularly updated with information on Pokémon ecology. Pokémon with too little reliable information usually aren't included, so Trainers looking them up won't be misled."

Mingyou picked up