After resolving the blackout incident on Mandarin Island (South), which had been unintentionally caused by Electrode and left everyone both amused and exasperated, Ash and his group finally boarded a passenger ship bound for the Kanto region.
As the familiar outline of Pallet Town gradually emerged through the morning mist, Ash felt as if something had filled his heart, warm yet tinged with a faint sense of nostalgia.
After being away for so long and experiencing so much, he was finally home.
The harbor looked just the same as before, quiet and peaceful.
Walking along the familiar path, breathing in the air scented with grass and soil, even Pikachu seemed especially excited, hopping cheerfully along the roadside.
"We're finally back! Even the air feels different!" Misty spread her arms wide and took a deep breath.
"So this is Pallet Town. It really is such a peaceful place." Tracey looked around curiously.
At the same time, he was also quite excited, since he was about to meet the Professor Oak he had admired for so long.
Ash patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Professor Oak will definitely be satisfied when he sees your work!"
Pushing open the door, the familiar aroma of home-cooked food greeted them.
"I'm home!" Ash called out.
"Ash!" Delia, wearing an apron, hurried out of the kitchen, her face full of surprise and motherly warmth. "Welcome back! Oh my, Misty and Tracey are here too. Come in, come in!"
However, when Ash's gaze swept across the living room, he froze for a moment. Sitting on the sofa was a familiar figure, tanned skin, spiky hair, and wearing his signature short-sleeved shirt. It was Brock.
"Brock? What are you doing here?" Misty asked in surprise.
Brock had been staring off absentmindedly, but when he heard the voices, he looked up and forced an awkward smile. "Ah, Ash, Misty, and this is… you're back."
Delia quickly smoothed things over, inviting everyone to sit down as she explained, "Brock came back a few days ago. He said his research with Professor Ivy has come to a temporary end, so he returned to rest for a while and help Professor Oak organize some materials."
The moment the words "Professor Ivy" were mentioned, Brock's expression instantly darkened like a storm cloud, and he slumped to the side, looking utterly listless.
Seeing him like this, Ash already had a guess.
What temporary end to research? More likely, he had suffered a crushing emotional blow at Professor Ivy's place. That heart of his, always burning with affection for mature women, had probably been dealt a harsh reality check, sending him running back home in defeat.
"It's good you're here. We can talk about our plans going forward."
But Tracey, being straightforward, didn't think that much. He eagerly asked, "Professor Ivy? You mean the professor researching on Valencia Island? Brock, how was your study with her? Is she really amazing?"
The words "Professor Ivy" were like a key, instantly unlocking something inside Brock.
His expression dimmed at a visible speed, returning to his earlier state. His eyes drifted toward the window as if lost in some unbearable memory, a heavy gloom surrounding him.
"Professor… she… is indeed outstanding… her brilliance is too dazzling… I… I'm not worthy…"
Here we go again. Ash pressed his forehead helplessly.
Seeing Brock about to fall into his usual cycle of self-denial and melancholic despair, Ash quickly pulled out his trump card. He suddenly took out the shining, uniquely designed Winner's Trophy trophy from his bag and slammed it onto the table with a loud clang.
"Mom! Brock! Look! This is the Orange League Winner's Trophy! I won it!" Ash deliberately shouted with an energetic voice, trying to use this radiant honor to dispel the gloomy atmosphere.
As expected, the effect was outstanding.
"Wow! What a beautiful trophy!" Delia covered her mouth in delight, her eyes full of pride.
Hmm, it could even work as a dumbbell.
Brock was also dazzled by the sudden flash of gold, temporarily snapping out of his emotional slump. He stared at the trophy in astonishment. "The Orange League… Ash, you actually did it! That's incredible!"
Successfully changing the topic, Ash let out a sigh of relief.
After chatting for a while and enjoying the delicious lunch Delia had prepared, Ash could no longer wait and was eager to head to the lab.
"I need to give the GS Ball to Professor Oak as soon as possible, and check on my Pokémon!"
The group arrived at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
The lab looked the same as ever, carrying that faint mix of disinfectant and Pokémon food in the air. They went straight to Professor Oak's office.
"Oh! Ash! You're back!" Professor Oak was delighted to see them, especially when Ash took out the mysterious GS Ball. His eyes immediately lit up like a child seeing a new toy.
"So this is the Poké Ball that Ivy mentioned, the one that can't be transferred? The material really is quite special…"
Professor Oak carefully took the GS Ball and examined it under the light, muttering to himself.
Meanwhile, Tracey gathered his courage and took out the sketchbook he had been drawing all along, expressing his wish to become Professor Oak's assistant.
After taking a look, Professor Oak gave him high praise and agreed.
At the same time, no one noticed a few sneaky figures taking advantage of the noise created by the Pokémon in the backyard during feeding time, quietly infiltrating the laboratory.
Suddenly, the office door was slammed open!
"Wahaha! Since you've all gathered here so sincerely!"
"We'll kindly take you all in one fell swoop!"
"To protect the world from devastation! Just kidding!"
"To safeguard… uh, to secure the future of Team Rocket!"
"Jessie!" "James!" "That's right, meow!"
The Team Rocket trio struck their ever-present dramatic pose, blocking the doorway!
"Team Rocket! What are you doing here?!" Misty exclaimed.
"This place is a sanctuary for Pokémon research! We won't let you do whatever you want!" Brock stepped forward and shouted sternly.
"Hmph! Enough nonsense! We've had our eyes on this place for a long time!" Jessie planted her hands on her hips, looking smug. "Since everyone's gathered today, it's the perfect chance to capture all of you along with the Pokémon here. Especially you, Pikachu!"
"That's right! All the Pokémon data and rare Pokémon in Professor Oak's lab belong to Team Rocket now!"
"Go, Lickitung! Use Lick!"
"Victreebel, use Vine Whip!"
Lickitung shot out its long, sticky tongue toward the nearest Pikachu, while Victreebel's vines lashed out like green serpents toward Ash and the others.
At that moment, Muk suddenly stepped forward, positioning itself directly in front of Pikachu. Lickitung's tongue slapped against Muk's body, completely ineffective, and instead got stuck in its sticky, slimy mass!
At the same time, Muk shook its body, deflecting Victreebel's Vine Whip, and even wrapped its own body around the vines in return!
"Muk, use Sludge Bomb!" Ash commanded.
Muk spat out a large amount of foul-smelling sludge, splattering it all over Team Rocket and their Pokémon! Lickitung and Victreebel were completely covered, their movements instantly slowing as they gagged in disgust.
"Damn it! This Muk is so troublesome!"
"Victreebel, use Sleep Powder!"
Enduring the nausea, Victreebel shook its body, releasing a fine cloud of blue powder that drifted toward Muk. Though Muk had high physical defense, it wasn't particularly resistant to status moves. After inhaling the powder, its movements visibly slowed, its eyelids drooping, until with a loud thud, it collapsed onto the ground and began snoring.
"Perfect chance!" Meowth's eyes lit up. "Use the special capture net!"
James quickly pulled out a metal disc from behind his back and pressed a button. Instantly, the disc launched a large net crackling with electricity, spreading wide as it shot toward the fallen Muk and Ash's group behind it!
Just as the net was about to fall, Ash's eyes sharpened. He didn't even give a command, his body moved faster than his thoughts!
With a swift step forward, his right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the center of the disc midair before the net could fully deploy. The motion was unbelievably smooth!
"What?!" The Team Rocket trio stared in shock.
With a flick of his wrist, Ash applied a clever force. Instead of falling, the net was redirected, spinning through the air like a massive lasso before turning back toward Team Rocket and their Pokémon!
"Waaah!"
"What's happening?!"
"We got caught in our own net, meow!"
In an instant, Team Rocket and their Pokémon were tightly bound by the electrified net. Sparks crackled as currents surged through it, paralyzing them and leaving them unable to move.
Ash didn't stop. He took a deep breath, and a crimson-gold glow flashed in his eyes.
Aura, Sovereign Form activated.
His right fist clenched as crimson-gold energy gathered like molten lava around it. The surrounding air warped slightly from the intense heat.
"Team Rocket… this isn't a place for you to run wild!" Ash shouted. With a forceful step, the ground trembled slightly as he shot forward like a cannonball. His blazing fist, wrapped in crimson-gold energy, smashed straight into the tangled mass of Team Rocket!
"Sovereign Impact Punch!"
Boom!!!
It wasn't an explosion, but a pure, overwhelmingly concentrated impact force bursting forth! Bound together in the net, Team Rocket and their Pokémon were sent flying like they had been hit head-on by a speeding truck. Together, they turned into a massive "shooting star," crashing through the laboratory office window and hurtling toward the distant sky!
"What a horrible feeling!!!"
Silence returned.
The lab was in shambles, cold wind pouring in through the shattered window. Everyone stared blankly at Ash, still holding his punching stance, and at the rapidly disappearing speck outside.
"Ash… just now…" Misty's mouth hung open. The scorching aura around him earlier had—
Ash slowly lowered his fist, the crimson-gold glow fading as he let out a breath and scratched his head. "I… got a bit carried away."
At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the lab, followed by a voice with a hint of arrogance.
"Grandpa! I heard there was a disturbance here. Did something happen?"
Everyone turned to see Gary standing at the doorway, dressed in a sharp travel outfit, dusted from the road, his expression carrying both concern and alertness.
Behind him stood a powerful-looking Nidoqueen, its heavy steps and faintly radiating pressure making it clear it was no ordinary Pokémon.
Ash's gaze immediately locked onto Gary and the Nidoqueen behind him.
He could sense it. Compared to when he left, Gary's presence had become far more composed and restrained. The showiness was gone, replaced by the sharp edge of a true trainer.
And that Nidoqueen behind him brought a very real sense of pressure. Its solid defense and latent power were nothing to underestimate.
Gary also noticed the mess in the office and Ash standing there.
He raised an eyebrow, a familiar, challenging smile forming on his lips. "Well, if it isn't you making such a scene, Ash. I heard you've been doing pretty well in the Orange Islands. Even won some kind of trophy?"
His gaze swept over Ash, evaluating him. "Looks like you've improved a bit. So, how about it? Interested in a battle? Let me see what you're really worth. And I'll show you the results of my training out there." He deliberately emphasized the last words.
Ash looked at Gary, then at the battle-ready Nidoqueen behind him. The fire of battle ignited in his chest. He smiled slightly, his eyes sharp.
"Sure, Gary. I've been wanting to see just how strong you've become too."
The eyes of the two rivals met in midair, sparks flying as a new battle loomed, ready to erupt at any moment!
Next arc: Johto begins!
...
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