“Meowth, why are you here?
Have you finished your work?”
“Yeah.
Didn’t we tell you to go catch those Pokémon?”
Jessie and James placed their hands on their hips and looked down at Meowth as they questioned him.
Meowth nodded.
“Of course I already finished it all.”
“Time waits for no one.
Before the League cops arrive, let’s get out of here first!”
As Meowth spoke, he took out a remote control.
He pressed the red button in the center of the remote.
With a thunderous boom, the ceiling of the Pokémon Center shattered.
A giant Meowth hot-air balloon appeared before everyone’s eyes.
Below the hot-air balloon was a huge iron cage, imprisoning a large number of Pokémon.
These Pokémon were all Pokémon that Trainers had left at the Pokémon Center for treatment.
Each of them had injuries, and not even one percent of their strength remained.
Even an ordinary iron cage was more than enough to imprison them.
“That’s my Oddish!”
“My Metapod was caught too!”
“Damn it!”
“…”
Such a huge commotion immediately drew the attention of the Trainers in the Pokémon Center.
However, their attention could not interfere with the Team Rocket trio.
“Let’s go!”
Jessie, James, and Meowth—the Team Rocket trio—looked at one another, then quickly climbed onto the hot-air balloon.
“Ash, what’s wrong…” Misty noticed something unusual about Ash beside her.
Ash took a deep breath and reached out to hug Pikachu.
“Don’t worry, Pikachu.
I’ll definitely protect you.”
Ash’s expression was extremely solemn.
The Team Rocket trio on the hot-air balloon casually glanced over.
“There’s another Pokémon over there,” James said, pursing his lips.
Jessie spread her hands and shrugged with an indifferent expression.
“It’s a Pikachu, as common as stray dogs on the roadside.
That kind of Pokémon isn’t worth much.”
Meowth grinned, speaking in human language.
“Even a mosquito leg is still meat, meow.
Only by accumulating little by little can we improve our performance!”
As he spoke, Meowth took out a launcher.
He pressed the switch, and a mechanical arm reached toward Pikachu, grabbing it in one motion.
“Don’t even think about going after Pikachu!
I’ll definitely protect Pikachu!”
As Ash spoke, he grabbed the mechanical arm tightly.
Inside his backpack, the Rainbow Feather gave off a faint glow.
The ability known as Aura slowly began to awaken.
Ash knew nothing of any of this.
He exerted force with his arms, and Meowth was actually dragged down directly.
“What incredible strength, meow!
Is this guy really human?” After landing, Meowth adjusted his posture and raised his head to look at Ash, his face filled with disbelief.
“Meowth, are you okay?” Seeing this, Jessie and James hurriedly got down from the hot-air balloon and asked Meowth with concern.
“I’m fine, meow.” Meowth shook his head, but when he looked at Ash, a trace of ferocity appeared in his eyes.
“Ash, you actually dared to resist Team Rocket.
In that case, we’ll let you see how powerful we are!”
Jessie and James exchanged a glance, then took Poké Balls from their pockets.
“Ekans, show this little brat who hasn’t even grown all his hair yet what you can do!”
“Koffing, use Tackle and ram that stinky brat away!”
Jessie and James sent out their Pokémon.
The two Pokémon appeared and immediately pounced toward Ash without another word.
“Pikachu…”
Pikachu moved as though it was about to step forward and attack, but Ash held it tightly.
“I still have three other Pokémon.
Pikachu, just stay properly in my arms.” Ash had no intention of letting Pikachu enter the field.
“As long as I defeat you here, I can avoid this crisis, right?” Ash’s eyes sharpened.
Facing the two attacking Pokémon, he also took out two Poké Balls.
“Come out, Weedle, Caterpie!”
After releasing the two Pokémon, Ash immediately gave his order.
“Use String Shot!”
The two Bug-type Pokémon spat out a large amount of silk the moment they appeared.
The two streams of silk were very effective, binding Ekans and Koffing.
However, Team Rocket was clearly not so easy to deal with.
Meowth quickly stepped forward and swung the sharp claws in his hand.
The silk that had been binding Ekans and Koffing was instantly cut apart.
“Despicable!
You’re actually using three Pokémon!” Misty could not help cursing loudly.
Jessie covered her mouth and mocked loudly, “Little girl, we’re villains.
Despicable is the best compliment you could give us.”
“Ekans, use Poison Sting!”
The corners of James’s mouth rose.
“Koffing, continue using Tackle.”
The two Pokémon launched another attack.
Poison Sting sprayed from Ekans’s mouth, all of it landing on Weedle.
With just one move, Weedle was knocked out and lost its ability to battle.
Koffing’s Tackle followed closely behind.
Just like Weedle, Caterpie ended up being defeated in one hit.
“Weedle, Caterpie, thank you for your hard work.
Come back for now.” Ash gritted his teeth, but he could only helplessly recall the two defeated Pokémon.
In that case, only you’re left—Pidgey!”
Ash released Pidgey.
A small bird appeared in front of him, spreading its wings and flying into the air.
“I’ll help too!
Come out, Starmie!” Misty also took out a Poké Ball and released her Pokémon.
It was a Pokémon whose entire body looked like a gemstone.
Just looking at it gave one a mysterious and unfathomable feeling.
The situation was urgent.
Misty waved her hand and immediately had Starmie attack.
“Starmie, go!”
“Pidgey, we’ll attack too!”
Ash and Misty commanded their Pokémon to launch an attack.
Jessie and James naturally refused to be outdone.
The Pokémon from both sides immediately tangled together in battle.
However, with Meowth joining the fight, Ash’s side immediately fell into a disadvantage.
This scene made Ash clench his teeth tightly.
The situation was becoming more and more dangerous.
Once they lost, Pikachu would be taken away by Team Rocket…
Ash did not dare imagine such a thing happening.
“Pika, Pikachu…”
Pikachu seemed to understand the worry Ash had been carrying all this time.
It forcefully broke free from Ash’s arms.
It did not speak.
It only met Ash’s eyes.
They clearly had not spent much time together, yet Ash could see trust in Pikachu’s gaze.
His mouth opened slightly, as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held it back.
Ash’s gaze became even firmer.
“I understand.
Pikachu, I choose you!”
Pikachu smiled and leapt into the battlefield.
“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!” Ash shouted loudly.
Electricity crackled from Pikachu’s cheeks.
As Pikachu exerted its whole body, a fierce electric current swept across the entire field.
Under the effect of this terrifying current, Ekans, Koffing, and Meowth were instantly electrocuted until they were charred on the outside and tender on the inside, their entire bodies pitch-black.
Meowth spat out a puff of black smoke and stared at Pikachu in shock.
“What a powerful Thunderbolt.”
“Jessie, James, we all misjudged it, meow!
This Pikachu’s strength is extraordinary.
It’s not an ordinary Pikachu, meow!”
“As long as we catch it, our performance might be enough for us to get promoted and receive a raise!”
Meowth’s eyes were filled with longing for a promotion and a raise.
Ash, however, smiled confidently.
“No.
You won’t have that chance.”