"Is this… Togepi Paradise?" May asked, gazing around in confusion. "But… why is everything so dry and dead?"
Max knelt beside a shriveled leaf and lightly touched it—only for it to crumble into ash in his fingers.
Princess Sara lowered her head, expression heavy.
"Togepi here grow by forming bonds with kind-hearted people. But with everything happening in the Mirage Kingdom... I'm afraid this sacred place has been corrupted."
Meanwhile, outside the mirage, Hansen was celebrating the disappearance of Ash and the others.
"Good riddance!" he laughed darkly, rallying his guards and launching a coup against the kingdom. He was becoming obsessed—jealous of Togepi's mysterious power, especially its ability to instantly teleport so many people.
—
Back in Togepi Paradise, Misty's Togepi hovered in the air, its tiny face saddened by the desolate world around it. Then, as if sensing something, it suddenly floated off toward a hillside.
"Togepi! Wait!" Ash shouted as they all rushed after it.
They soon arrived… and were stunned by what they saw.
A whole group of Togepi lay weakly on the dead grass, their energy completely drained. Misty's Togepi rushed to them, filled with worry.
"No… this is horrible…" May whispered."How did it come to this?" Max asked, voice trembling.
"It must've been that creep Hansen!" Misty growled, fists clenched.
Sara gently picked up one of the frail Togepi and nodded.
"With Hansen's ambition growing out of control… I'm afraid it's affecting the balance of this place. The Togepi are in pain."
Suddenly, lightning crackled across the gray sky. Misty's normally cheerful Togepi floated upward, its face set with an uncharacteristic fury, and took off again.
"Togepi—wait!" Misty shouted, and they all followed.
They found Togepi in front of a floating blue mirror—a portal-like screen. Reflected in it were Hansen and Team Rocket, shown attacking the very structure of the mirage itself!
"They're damaging the mirror!" Max gasped."So that's what's corrupting the paradise…" Brock realized.
"Those creeps are still at it!" Misty growled, her anger boiling over.
Togepi floated toward the mirror—and passed through it.
"Togepi!" Misty cried.
Ash closed his eyes and activated his Aura, focusing his power.
"Everyone, grab on!" With his Aura guiding them, Ash transported the group back into the real world.
—
"Whoa—what?!" Jessie stumbled as the group reappeared."They're back?!" James yelped."Oh great, the twerp squad again!" Meowth groaned.
"Hansen!" Sara pointed at him furiously. "What you're doing—this is not what Togepi, the guardian Pokémon, would ever want!"
"Tch!" Hansen scoffed, sending out Ninjask and Shedinja.
"Go, Torchic! Use Ember!" May commanded."Electrike, use Discharge!" Ash commanded.
Torchic spat a stream of Ember that Burned Ninjask, while Electrike released a surge of blue lightning. The two attacks struck true, knocking one Ninjask out of the sky!
"Chamo~!" Torchic suddenly glowed—its entire body wrapped in evolution light!
Everyone watched in awe as Torchic grew taller, sprouted claws, and gained a more defined form—Combusken stood proudly before them!
"Torchic evolved!" May beamed. She quickly pulled out her Pokédex:
Combusken – The Young Fowl Pokémon."Combusken's kicks are fast and furious, capable of dealing powerful blows. It unleashes fiery attacks in rapid succession."
[Strength: Advanced – Early Stage][Moves: Double Kick, Flamethrower, Feather Dance…]
"Let's go, Combusken! Use Flamethrower!"
"Chamo!" Flames roared from Combusken's beak, striking the remaining Ninjask and knocking it out cleanly.
Now only Shedinja remained.
"Ugh! Shedinja, use Solar Beam!" Hansen shouted in desperation.
Shedinja charged energy and unleashed a glowing beam—but just before it could strike, a blue-green barrier formed in front of the group, completely absorbing the hit.
"A shield?" Ash blinked. "Wait—that's Safeguard!"
Just then, dozens of Togepi floated out from the mirage, all of them forming a radiant circle around Misty's Togepi. They waved their tiny hands, and blue energy surged toward it.
Ash smiled.
"It's time."
Misty's Togepi began glowing brilliantly, its eggshell cracking and vanishing as it grew larger, sprouting tiny wings and a slender body—
"It's evolving!" May gasped.
Togepi had become... Togetic!
"Togetic~!" it chirped joyfully, flying into Misty's arms.
"Togetic… you're beautiful," Misty whispered, overwhelmed with joy.
Togetic turned back to the mirage, face serious once again. It hovered toward Hansen and glared.
"You may have evolved, but I won't back down!" Hansen screamed. "Shedinja—Solar Beam again!"
But again, the attack was blocked by Togetic's Safeguard.
"You think defense alone will save you?! You can't win by just guarding!" Hansen barked, clearly unhinged now.
"Then I'll take care of this myself!" Misty stepped forward, pulling out a Poké Ball."Let's go—my newest partner!"
"Gyaooooh!!"Out came Gyarados—the same Pokémon Misty used to fear. Now, she stood confidently beside it.
"You're going to try beating my Shedinja with a Water-type?!" Hansen mocked."Hilarious!"
"Oh? How about this? Gyarados, use Flamethrower!"
"Gyarados can use Flamethrower?!" Max blurted out.
Gyarados unleashed a torrent of flames, striking Shedinja hard. The ghost Pokémon fell, instantly knocked out.
The blast singed Hansen's beard and eyebrows.
"AHHH!! MY FACE!!"
Just then—
"Hansen! Your crimes end here!"The Old King and Queen arrived with guards."Arrest him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"The guards swiftly restrained Hansen.
As the chaos settled, Team Rocket used the moment to vanish.
"Looks like we're blasting off without a fight this time…""Wobuffet~!"
Meanwhile, the remaining Togepi returned to their paradise, floating back into the sky.
Misty turned to her partner.
"Togetic… it's time to say goodbye."
Togetic hesitated, looking toward the mirage with concern.
"It wants to stay behind," Ash said softly. "It's worried for the other Togepi."
Misty looked at the paradise, then at Togetic. She smiled gently.
"Don't worry. Since the mirage is connected to Mirage Kingdom, Sara will protect this place. Right?"
Sara stepped forward.
"I promise. Even if I don't become queen, I'll continue to protect this paradise with my life."
Togetic's eyes sparkled. It gave a soft chirp and smiled, snuggling one last time against Misty.
Just then, a tug at Sara's dress caught her attention.
"Bojibuli~"
At her feet… stood a new Togepi, smiling up at her.
"Togepi? Didn't you return to the mirage?"
"Jiaoji jiaoji~" it chirped.
Ash smiled.
"Looks like that Togepi is the one who's chosen you, Princess Sara."
Sara's eyes welled up with tears. She knelt and hugged the Togepi tightly.
"Thank you… all of you."
The Next Day
Ash and the group stood beside the airship. It was time to leave Mirage Kingdom—and time for Misty and Togetic to part ways with them once again.
"Goodbye, everyone! Train hard, okay?" Misty smiled."Jiaojigu~!"
"Say hi to your sisters for us!""Pika~!""Eevee~!"
"And come visit Cerulean City sometime!"
With that, Misty boarded her flight back to Kanto—waving goodbye as the airship disappeared into the sky.
To be continued…