Max immediately jumped up. "Dad actually lost?!"
Ash stepped forward and helped Annihilape to its feet. "Thanks, Annihilape. You were amazing!""Ha-cha~" Annihilape pounded its chest proudly in response.
Norman walked up, smiling. "Ash, that was a fantastic battle. Here—this is proof of your victory: the Balance Badge."He handed over the badge.
"Thank you, Mr. Norman!" Ash held up the badge triumphantly."I got the Balance Badge!""Pika~!""Ha-cha!"
Max didn't look disappointed—just stunned that his father had lost without winning a single round.
[Ding~ You received the Balance Badge! Reward: 1000 points.]
Later, at the Petalburg Pokémon Center, Ash rotated his Pokémon via transfer, though this time, Professor Oak wasn't on the call. Instead, Tracey handled the exchange.
Ash's current team lineup: Pikachu, Eevee, Bulbasaur, Lairon, Torkoal, Grovyle, Croconaw, and Beautifly.
As his returning partners appeared, they leapt into Ash's arms."Long time no see, everyone!""Dana~""Wani~""Ke~"
With five Gym Badges secured, the group said their goodbyes to Norman and Caroline. Their next destination was Fortree City, but first, they planned a detour to Littleroot Town to visit Professor Birch.
Just as they exited the forest path toward Littleroot, a pickup truck came flying down a slope, tires skidding in a dramatic drift as it stopped in front of them. At the wheel—none other than Professor Birch himself!
"Hey there! Long time no see, everyone! What brings you out here?"
"Professor Birch! Ash just won the Balance Badge from my dad!" May beamed. "So before we left, we thought we'd come visit you!"
Birch nodded. "I see! I was actually heading to the port to pick up Professor Oak!"
"Professor Oak?!"(✧∇✧)
"So that's why he wasn't at the Pallet Town lab!" Brock added.
Birch scratched his head. "Yeah, I got so caught up in fieldwork that I lost track of time! I need to hurry before I'm late!"
Ash and Brock hopped into Birch's pickup to join him. May and Max continued on foot to the lab to wait for them.
On a cliffside trail, Birch waved at a passing Skarmory, slipping into his research mode."Look! A wild Skarmory!"
Ash quickly warned him, "Professor Birch, watch out! There's a cart up ahead!"
Ahead of them was a slow-moving flatbed pulled by an old man, seemingly undisturbed by the speeding truck. The man radiated calm—clearly someone experienced!
Birch panicked and swerved to avoid collision.
Ash looked back at the cart—and his eyes widened."Wait, Professor Birch! That man lying in the straw... That's Professor Oak!"
"Huh?! You're right!" Brock confirmed.
Birch quickly reversed and pulled up beside the cart."Professor Oak!""Professor Oak!"
"Mmm...?" Professor Oak stirred, opened one eye, and then smiled. "Ah, so you finally made it."
Birch jumped out of the car, full of guilt. "I'm so sorry, Professor Oak! I lost track of time while doing fieldwork!"
"Haha, no worries. I know how it is," Oak chuckled, then turned to Ash and Brock."Long time no see! Ash, Brock—and Pikachu and Eevee look fantastic!""Pika~!""Eevee~!"
Professor Oak climbed into the truck, and the group drove straight to the Littleroot Research Lab.
At the lab, May and Max were helping the assistants take care of Hoenn's starter trio: Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip. When Professor Oak arrived, Max was so starstruck he could barely speak.
He nervously held out some photos. "P-Professor Oak, can I get your autograph?!"
Oak signed happily, always glad to meet enthusiastic young Trainers.
He had come to Hoenn to share knowledge with Professor Birch—and brought along Kanto's starter trio: Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle!
To see the starters of both Kanto and Hoenn together was an extremely rare event. But even more shocking to Max: Ash had already collected the starter Pokémon of three different regions!
He quickly joined the six starters in play, unable to contain his joy. Even May was drawn to Ash's Bulbasaur and seemed to get along well with it.
Meanwhile, Oak was enthusiastically chasing Pikachu and Eevee around the yard, trying to observe their unique Partner traits."Oh, Pikachu, Eevee—stay still! I just need to measure your auras!"
Of course, all this chaos had drawn the attention of the Team Rocket Trio, who were spying from the bushes.
"This is our chance!" James whispered. "The starter Pokémon of two whole regions, and Ash's Pikachu and Eevee?! We'll be rolling in promotions!"
They launched their latest invention: a giant Skiploom robot built from all their savings!
Boom!!
"Is that a Skiploom? It's enormous!" May gasped.
"No—it's Team Rocket!" Max groaned.
"Wahahaha! Since you asked so sincerely... that's how it is, Meowth!""Wobbuffet~!"
"We've made it indestructible this time—resistant to electricity, fire, AND water! We're invincible!"
Ash smirked. "That so? Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Torkoal, Overheat! Croconaw, Ice Beam!"
The combined attack melted, froze, and electrocuted the robot in a matter of seconds—BOOM!
"Our savings!""All gone, meow!""We'll be eating dirt tomorrow!""Such a bad feeling!""Wobbuffet (˃ʍ˂)~"
Ash watched them disappear into the sky like a shooting star.Sigh... With brains like theirs, Team Rocket could've been top scientists in another life.
That afternoon, Ash's group stayed at the lab while Professor Oak conducted some partner Pokémon research, particularly studying Eevee and Pikachu's special skills.
By evening, it was time to leave. Ash and his friends said their goodbyes and boarded the final ferry departing from Littleroot Town toward Fortree City.
After landing, the group ventured back into the dense forest routes. They spent the night at a Pokémon Center along the way and continued their journey on foot the next day.
During the walk, May turned to Ash with a spark in her eye."Ash, can you teach my Beautifly Quiver Dance too? Ever since I saw yours do it... I can't stop thinking about it!"
To be continued...