Ash was blissfully unaware of the intense conversation between Professor Oak and Giovanni, but a few realizations were starting to click. He'd begun to piece together his foster father's other identity—you know, the whole Boss of Team Rocket thing.
However, even with that realization, it didn't change much for him. Years of genuine familial affection couldn't be faked. Besides, thanks to the massive success of Ash's Continental Hotel, Giovanni had more than enough clean capital to work with. Over the years, Team Rocket had shifted from a pure criminal enterprise into something of a grey organization, purging the more unsavory low-level thugs and focusing on legitimate (or at least semi-legitimate) business.
What Ash didn't realize was that Team Rocket had actually collaborated with the Kanto League more times than anyone could count. Their goal? Protecting Ash. As a medical genius and the creator of Rare Candies, Ash was a prime target for international crime syndicates. But these foreign groups underestimated the sheer defensive wall surrounding him. With the Joys, the Jennys, Giovanni, Professor Oak, and the Kanto League all acting as a five-fold protective net, Ash had been able to develop in peace. His early decision to give out Rare Candies wasn't just generosity; it was a calculated move to prove his value and secure a super-umbrella of protection while he was still too weak to defend himself.
"Day two without Meowth... I miss him," Ash sighed, staring blankly at a signpost on the outskirts of Vermilion City.
"Are you a total lost cause?!" Giselle shrieked. "How do you manage to take the wrong turn every single time?!"
"I can't help it! Usually, Meowth handles the maps and the GPS," Ash said, looking utterly defeated. "I'm suddenly realizing how much he spoiled me..."
Pikachu: "Pika-pi!" (Stop making excuses!)Chansey: "Lucky!" (Meowth really did pamper him too much.)
Misty brushed a leaf off her shoulder, looking exhausted. "Can we please just find a place to stay and change clothes? I feel like I've been trekking through a jungle."
"Right. Vermilion City has a Continental Hotel. We're heading there. My treat."
Giselle let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, the miser's wealth comes in handy."
After a much-needed rest at the hotel, the group headed to the Pokémon Center for a routine check-up. However, the sight that greeted them was grim. Dozens of young trainers were rushing in with severely injured Pokémon—all of them suffering from extreme electrical burns.
"Hang in there, Rattata!"
"Pidgey, stay with me!"
"Oddish, please don't give up!"
Ash watched the chaos in silence before walking up to the counter. "Nurse Joy, please check my team when you have a moment."
"Of course, Ash."
"By the way... what happened here?"
Nurse Joy sighed, looking at the crowded lobby. "It's Lt. Surge, the Vermilion Gym Leader. His Raichu is incredibly powerful, and most challengers just aren't prepared for the intensity of his battles."
Ash scanned the room, his eyes hardening. "Honestly? I think Lt. Surge is actually being too easy on them."
Nurse Joy looked at him, surprised. Ash wasn't usually one to lack empathy, but he gestured toward the injured Pokémon.
"Look at them, Nurse Joy. These are fresh catches—Pidgeys and Rattatas that haven't even finished basic training. These kids think a Gym is a playground. Lt. Surge is a veteran who handles the city's security; he deals with real criminals every day. If he really had a temper, these Pokémon wouldn't just be burned—they'd be dead. These kids are wasting his time, and he's giving them a much-needed reality check."
"Well said!" A booming voice echoed through the center.
A massive, muscular man in military fatigues walked in. The other trainers scrambled to get out of his way, but the man didn't spare them a glance. He clapped a heavy hand on Ash's shoulder. "Spoken like a real soldier, kid! Glad to see someone understands the struggle of dealing with babies all day."
"It's a pleasure, Lt. Surge," Ash said, not flinching under the heavy grip. "I'd suggest putting up a warning sign outside your gym: 'No untrained Pidgeys allowed.' It might save you some headache."
Surge laughed and, after checking on his own Raichu, invited Ash to the gym. They spent the next hour talking—Brock and Misty joined in, bonding over the shared frustrations of being a Gym Leader and dealing with ill-prepared challengers.
"So, Ash," Surge asked, eyeing the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder. "I can tell that mouse of yours is a monster. Are you planning on using him to wipe the floor with me?"
"No," Ash replied with a smirk. "I'm not that much of a bully. I've got someone else in mind."
*
Surge released his signature Raichu. "Show 'em what real power looks like! Thunderbolt!"
Ash countered with his newest teammate. "Go, Bulbasaur!"
The battle was a masterclass in tactical positioning.
Bulbasaur used the gym's layout to weave through the electrical discharges, staying grounded and moving constantly.
Bulbasaur unleashed a Razor Leaf flurry, not to deal damage, but to force Raichu into a corner.
Just as Raichu prepared a Mega Kick to close the gap, Ash gave the command. "Vine Whip to snare, then Leech Seed!"
In real life combat, Leech Seed isn't just a slow drain—it's a physical constraint. Vines erupted from the seed, binding Raichu and siphoning its electrical reserves and stamina. Within minutes, the powerful Raichu slumped over, exhausted.
"You didn't even have to give half of those commands," Surge noted, looking impressed as he recalled his Pokémon. "That Bulbasaur knows exactly how you think. You've trained it well, kid."
Surge handed Ash the Thunder Badge. "Take it. You earned this fair and square."
"Thanks. That's three badges down," Ash said, patting Bulbasaur on the head. "Great job, buddy."
"Bulba!"
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