“What?
Hoenn?”
Giovanni was completely dumbfounded when he heard that the Team Rocket trio had made their way to the Hoenn region.
After all, Team Rocket hadn’t even extended its reach this far yet!
“That’s right!
In order to capture that rare Pikachu and present it to you, Boss, we chased it all the way to Hoenn!” Jessie said ingratiatingly.
“We’ve been working wholeheartedly for Team Rocket all this time, meow~”
Giovanni wasn’t interested in the Pikachu they were talking about in the slightest.
No matter how special it was, it was still just a yellow mouse.
There were plenty of those things running around Viridian Forest!
“So, after going to all this trouble to get a call through to me, do you actually have some good news to report?” Giovanni asked impatiently from the other end of the phone.
“Uh…”
The Team Rocket trio suddenly found themselves at a loss for words.
“Actually… we couldn’t even scrape together enough money for today’s meals, so…” James said cautiously.
“No!”
Giovanni immediately cut him off.
“I am absolutely not sending you any supplies.”
“Ugh~”
The Team Rocket trio sighed helplessly.
“However, I can give you a great opportunity.
Team Rocket doesn’t have a base of operations in Hoenn yet, so you three can work hard there!
Make a name for Team Rocket.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you accomplish!”
Giovanni had suddenly started painting them a very enticing picture.
“Thank you, Boss!
Thank you, Boss!” (≧▽≦)
The three of them became extremely excited at the prospect and immediately decided to make a name for themselves.
“This is amazing!
Boss Giovanni actually gave us a direct order!” Jessie said, deeply moved.
“In other words, we’re basically the top dogs in the Hoenn region now!” James said dreamily.
“Then that means we’re the branch leaders of Hoenn, meow~” Meowth covered his mouth in disbelief.
Meanwhile, back at Team Rocket’s secret headquarters, Giovanni casually stroked Persian as a smug smile appeared on his face.
‘Hmph.
Using these three idiots to gather information on Team Magma and Team Aqua in Hoenn… this is practically free profit!
Hahaha!’
— Pokémon Center —
Ash brought May to the restaurant, where they sat down and enjoyed a delicious meal.
“Mmm~ This is so good!
I never expected the food at a Pokémon Center to be this delicious!
And it’s free, too!
This is awesome!” (≧ڡ≦)
May happily took another bite.
She immediately transformed into a complete foodie, devouring her meal at an impressive speed.
“Of course!
This is a resting station for Trainers, after all.
As long as you have a Pokédex, the food is free!
And the lobby is also a great place to exchange information!”
Ash replied while watching Pikachu happily gobbling down ketchup.
“Wow!
So people here can tell you about nearby shopping spots, hot springs, restaurants, and all sorts of other things.”
“Uh… only Pokémon-related information, actually.
Listen.”
“You know?
I heard the Petalburg Gym has a new Gym Leader.”
“Petalburg Gym?”
“Yeah!”
“Uh…” (・・;)
May awkwardly listened to them discussing her father’s Gym.
“Hey, you two!
Glad to see you made it here safely.”
At that moment, Professor Alden approached them.
“Ah!
Professor Alden, hello!”
Professor Alden then led the two of them to his research institute, where a painting of the ancient ruins hung prominently on the wall.
The three of them began discussing the ancient ruins and the ancient Pokémon that might have once lived there.
During their conversation, Professor Alden brought out a stone tablet.
“This describes how to enter the stone chamber.
Unfortunately, no one has managed to find the four keys so far.”
“What a shame!”
Suddenly, all the lights went out.
Bang!
The door was smashed open, and three people wearing red uniforms entered, each accompanied by a Houndoom.
“Ah!”
May was frightened and instinctively grabbed onto Ash.
“Wh-who are you?” Professor Alden asked nervously.
“Professor Alden, we’d like you to come with us to the ancient ruins,” the leader of Team Magma said.
[Houndoom]
[Strength: Gym-level, mid-stage]
[Strength: Gym-level, late-stage]
[Strength: Gym-level, mid-stage]
“Hmph!
You think you can take Professor Alden away without asking me first?
If I’m not mistaken, you’re members of one of Hoenn’s criminal organizations—Team Magma!
Come out, Pidgeot!”
Ash stepped forward.
May immediately hid behind him.
At the moment, she didn’t have a single Pokémon to defend herself with.
“Pidgeot!”
“Pika!”
Pikachu charged forward as well.
Ash deliberately didn’t send out Eevee or Phanpy.
The difference in strength between them and these opponents was simply too great.
“Hmph!
Kid, are you looking to die?
Houndoom, use Flamethrower!”
“Pikachu, Pidgeot, dodge!
Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on them!
Pidgeot, dive down and use Giga Impact on the Houndoom in the middle!”
Pikachu and Pidgeot swiftly evaded the attack and immediately launched their counterattack.
“Damn it!
Houndoom, use Smokescreen!
Spread out!”
Having sensed the terrifying aura radiating from Pikachu and Pidgeot, the Team Magma members realized with shock that both Pokémon had already reached the peak of Gym level.
They quickly issued their orders.
“Pika~”
“Pidge~”
With the power outage already leaving the room in darkness, Pikachu and Pidgeot could barely see anything.
Now that smoke was filling the area as well, their vision was almost completely obscured.
“Hahaha!
Go!
Houndoom, use Fire Fang!”
“Pika…”
“Pidge…”
As canine Pokémon, the Houndoom had a natural advantage in the smoke.
Their ambushes were frighteningly accurate!
“Damn it!
Pidgeot, use Hurricane!
Pikachu, wait for the right moment and use Thunder to finish them off!”
“Pidge~!”
Pidgeot flapped its wings violently, blowing away the smoke and revealing the three Houndoom.
“Quick!
Now’s our chance!
Pikachu, go!”
“Pika!”
“Arf~!”
A powerful Thunderbolt struck directly.
The Houndoom lost their ability to battle.
“Damn it!
You little brat!
How dare you interfere with Team Magma’s plans!
Team Magma won’t let you get away with this!”
The three Team Magma members immediately abandoned their Houndoom and tried to flee.
“You’re still trying to run?
Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!”
“Pika—CHUUU!”
“Aaah!
Damn it!”
The three Team Magma members were promptly restrained and tied up, ready to be handed over to Officer Jenny.
“Thank you so much, Trainer!”
Nurse Joy stepped out at that moment.
She had originally intended to come over and inform Professor Alden about the power outage, but after hearing the sounds of battle, she had hidden herself instead.
“Ah!
As expected of you, Ash!
That was amazing!” (✧∀✧)
May, who had been hiding behind Ash, looked at him with open admiration.
[Ding!
— Achievement Completed: First Defeat of Team Magma!]
[Reward: Awakening of Aura]
“What?!
Aura?!
Hahaha!
This is great!
System, bring up my status!” ヽ(≧▽≦)ﾉ
Ash was ecstatic.
[Host: Ash]
[Physique: Super True Rookie]
[Ability: Aura]
[Pokémon: Pikachu, Pidgeot, Bulbasaur, Charizard…]
Before long, Officer Jenny arrived and arrested the three Team Magma members.
She also handed Ash the four gemstones that had been found on them.
Using this opportunity, the authorities managed to capture all the Team Magma members who had been hiding around the ancient ruins.
Of course, the true protagonists lurking there—the Team Rocket trio—had escaped without being caught.
They had already slipped away unnoticed!
“Thank you very much for your help, Mr.
Ash!
These four gemstones should be the reason they were trying to take Professor Alden.
Goodbye, Mr.
Ash!” Officer Jenny said.
“All right.
I understand!”
Ash then handed the gemstones over to Professor Alden.
“This…!
These are the keys!” Professor Alden exclaimed in surprise.
The Next Morning
May went to the front desk and retrieved the Poké Ball containing Torchic.
After breakfast, everyone headed to the ruins.
Using the gemstones, Professor Alden opened the entrance to the ancient ruins.
The walls inside were covered with carvings depicting numerous ancient Pokémon.
Eventually, guided by the light reflected from the gemstones, they discovered a hidden passage.
Deep within the underground waterways, they finally found an ancient Pokémon living beneath the ruins—
Relicanth!
Professor Alden immediately decided to apply to the Pokémon League to have the ancient ruins designated as a protected area, ensuring that the Relicanth living there would be preserved.
Meanwhile, Ash and May set off toward Petalburg City.
To be continued…
….