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Ash already knew Green's personality—naughty and cheerful. She was always like this, so he didn't even bother to refute her.
Misty, however, didn't know Green well. After hearing her words, Misty unconsciously glanced at Ash. Seeing that he remained unresponsive, her expression revealed a hint of disappointment.
Noticing this, Green narrowed her eyes slightly, a flash of cunning crossing her face.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud noise startled everyone, echoing like an explosion.
"What's going on?" Misty exclaimed, alarmed. She turned her focus away from everything else and quickly asked. Green also turned toward the source of the sound.
"This is what I wanted to show you. Look over there!" Green said, pointing to a cliff nearby. Everyone noticed the location Green indicated—near the reservoir project that the uncle had previously mentioned. The rocks on the cliff had collapsed, smoke still billowing from the site.
"That's…?"
"Just watch carefully," Green instructed, gesturing again. Everyone turned their attention to the scene and observed flocks of Pidgeys taking flight and Rattata scurrying through the forest below. The landslide had crushed trees, leaving injured Pokémon behind as they scattered in panic.
"This…" Misty trailed off.
"For that reservoir project, they've been blasting the mountains and bulldozing the forests," Green explained, her tone serious. "It's destroyed the environment here, leaving many Pokémon without homes!"
Green's frown deepened as she watched. This was why she believed Ash's decision not to intervene was the right one.
"But is this why the Digletts are acting like this? Their homes are underground, so this shouldn't affect them much, right?" Misty asked, trying to understand the situation.
"You'll find out soon enough. Follow me!" Green replied, leading the group deeper into the forest. After walking for a while, they emerged in an open area.
The vast region before them stretched out, with fields layered like terraces. Some fields were planted with saplings, while others were barren. In these open spaces, figures of hardworking people could be seen tending to the land.
"This is…!"
As they moved closer, they noticed traces of soil disturbed on the ground—evidence of Diglett activity. Among them were larger Pokémon, distinctly different from the ordinary Diglett.
"Dugtrio?" Misty asked, puzzled. "Those aren't groups of Diglett. That's Dugtrio—Diglett's evolved form. They look like three individuals, but they are one body."
The group observed the scene before them, the landscape arranged in a ladder-like pattern, ascending from low to high. Ash, however, couldn't help but recall his long-standing suspicion that Dugtrio and Magneton were products of the author's early creative lapses.
"What are they doing?" Misty asked, her confusion evident.
"They're planting trees," Green explained. "I stumbled upon this by accident. After the nearby environment was damaged, the Diglett and Dugtrio began working tirelessly to restore it."
Green's expression softened as she watched the Pokémon's efforts. Although she had a cheerful and independent personality, she held a deep affection for Pokémon and their struggles.
"In fact," Green continued, "Diglett and Dugtrio have always been protectors of the forest environment."
Ash nodded in agreement. "Professor Oak's research supports that. Diglett populations are found worldwide, and their efforts to protect nature are well-documented. Most people just aren't aware of it."
"That's why they're trying to stop those people from destroying the environment!" Misty exclaimed, finally understanding the Digletts' actions.
"But…" Misty's expression turned anxious as she added, "that uncle has already brought in so many Trainers. What if the Digletts get hurt?"
"Let's go back and take a look!" Gary interjected, understanding now why Ash had hesitated earlier. "We need to act."
Everyone nodded. They realized that their Pokémon, who came from the wild and had a deep bond with nature, would never willingly fight Diglett if they knew what was happening. Forcing them to fight would only cause sorrow.
Without hesitation, the group rushed back to the reservoir construction site, where they found a large crowd gathered. The man they had encountered earlier had gathered numerous Trainers, describing the Diglett as vicious troublemakers.
"Everyone!" the man called out, addressing the crowd. "These vicious Digletts are constantly obstructing our project. We need skilled Trainers like you to eliminate this threat!"
He paused dramatically before adding, "And for anyone who succeeds, there will be generous rewards!"
The promise of rewards drew the attention of the assembled Trainers. Whether driven by greed, curiosity, or simply a desire to showcase their strength, the crowd had grown significantly, much to the group's concern.
"Diglett is not a vicious Pokémon! They are protecting the environment, and you're the ones destroying the Pokémon's habitat by building this reservoir!"
Hearing this, Green couldn't hold back anymore. She frowned, stepped forward from behind the crowd, and shouted, her voice carrying clear conviction.
The gathered Trainers and onlookers were momentarily startled, turning to look at the source of the interruption. The uncle, seeing Green step forward and hearing her bold statement, was visibly taken aback. His expression quickly shifted to one of irritation.
"You're talking nonsense!" the man retorted angrily. "These Digletts are deliberately sabotaging our work! Don't let her words influence you. Go and defeat the Digletts! The reward is waiting for you!"
It was clear that the uncle only cared about advancing his project and eliminating the Diglett problem, ignoring the impact on the environment. Just like the Trainers Ash and the group had once encountered during the Tentacool incident on the beach, the Trainers here seemed similarly motivated by profit and the promise of a reward, paying no mind to the true consequences of their actions.