This time, Team Rocket took the initiative to put themselves exactly where they should have been all along.
Their goal? To help Ditto return to the film crew safely—without raising anyone's suspicion.
So, Team Rocket launched a "guaranteed-to-succeed" failure plan!
The most critical step of the plan was simple: don't let Ash suspect anything.
After thinking it over, they realized… this wasn't hard at all.
So—action! Team Rocket decided to act real.
First, they lured Ditto's manager into a small forest, then demanded ransom.
All of this was just to make sure the manager wouldn't question Ditto's "abduction."
Right at this moment, Ash arrived.
The trio exchanged glances and immediately started mocking him, while deliberately letting Ditto appear.
At first, Ash was furious. But the more he listened, the stranger it felt. Who kidnaps someone just to stand around mocking him?
"Brat, if the manager doesn't hand over the ransom, we'll torture Ditto mercilessly!"
"Getting nervous, are you? Then battle us! Unless you use something as powerful as Thunderbolt, you'll never win, nya~!"
"But even Thunderbolt won't work—we're super strong now, hehe~!"
Jessie even winked at Ash.
Ash instantly understood. After all, he'd been dealing with these three for five years.
Sometimes, your rival knows you better than your family.
"Pika!!"
Ash wanted to say something, but Pikachu was already charging up! Electricity crackled across its cheeks, ready to unleash Thunderbolt the second Ash gave the command.
"Brat, didn't I tell you to use Thunderbolt? Hurry it up already!" Jessie roared.
Pikachu was set. Ash, however, still hadn't caught on.
Seeing this, Jessie's temper exploded. How can someone have EQ this low?!
"Since you've begged so earnestly… I'll graciously grant your wish. Pikachu, maximum power Thunderbolt!!!"
Jessie, James, Meowth: "???"
Meanwhile, Ash secretly told Pikachu with Aura: Dial the power down. Make it look huge, but don't actually hurt them.
"Pika?"
Pikachu was speechless. At this point, it wanted to throw down its job and tell Ash: "You do it, since you're so picky!"
Still, a trainer's orders were absolute. Pikachu sighed inwardly and obliged.
"Pika—CHUUU!!!"
A dazzling Thunderbolt burst forth, lighting up the forest in golden brilliance.
Wobbuffet even popped out to stand gallantly beside Team Rocket, taking the hit with them.
The entire trio was blasted together, sparks flying.
"Wonderful—wait, no! What a nasty feeling!"
"Brat! I'll never forgive you for stealing our lines!"
"Sho—naaaas!"
The last bit was already muffled beyond recognition as they flew away.
Ditto's manager wasted no time rescuing it, while Ash tactfully left the heartwarming reunion between manager and Pokémon untouched.
But Misty (Spring) tilted her head suspiciously.
"Why do I feel like Team Rocket wanted to be blasted away this time?"
"They were… trying to help Ditto clear its name," Ash explained calmly. "From the start, they planned to get it back to the crew."
"Huh? Team Rocket doing good deeds?"
"Didn't you notice? The manager said Ditto always messes up when it's nervous. But this time, its transformation was flawless."
"Now that you mention it…"
"There've been other times too. Team Rocket has secretly helped others. Honestly, sometimes I wonder—why join Team Rocket if they're this kind? And why keep trying to steal my Pikachu?!"
"…Maybe they have no choice."
"Maybe. But if they do bad things again, I won't forgive them!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu agreed.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat erupted.
[Jessie: There's no "no choice"! Our dream is promotion, raises, and becoming executives! We're Team Rocket! We're villains!]
[James: Exactly! And brat, stop stealing our lines!]
[Lillie: Mother, isn't this what people call tsundere?]
[Lusamine: No, dear. They're being oppressed by Team Rocket. Remember that admin Mad Bird? She was docking wages. Turns out even a huge organization like Rocket treats its staff terribly.]
[Gary: Funny thing—I saw three people selling lemonade outside the Silver Conference. Looked just like them. Don't tell me Rocket can't even pay wages and makes their grunts fund themselves?]
[Ash: Now that you mention it, I did see them running stalls many times. So that's why…]
[Diantha: See? Crime has no future!]
[Mad Bird: Lies! Slander! Team Rocket offers full insurance, weekends off, and a starter Pokémon on day one! Isn't that enough?!]
[Lance: Oh, and the part about being wanted criminals by the League? Funny you "forgot" to mention that.]
[Archie: Exactly! Come join Team Aqua instead! Seven insurances, two pensions, and a month of paid vacation! Plus, treasures of the deep sea!]
[Ghetsis: Ugh, talking about money is beneath us. Join Team Plasma and embrace the future of Unova!]
[Mad Bird: Aqua? Plasma? Fine—you're all dead!]
Viridian Gym, Kanto.
Giovanni's office was heavy with pressure. The air itself seemed to drop in temperature.
Mad Bird stood frozen, sweat dripping down his back.
Boss Giovanni was furious. Those fools dared to compare themselves to Team Rocket? Courting death.
"Mad Bird. Spread the word. Within one month, I don't want to see Team Aqua or Plasma in my territory." Giovanni's voice was calm, almost too calm.
"Yes, sir!"
The calm before the storm. Rocket wasn't some third-rate gang for rivals to mock.
"Oh, and… cancel Meowth's year-end bonus."
"Yes, sir!"
…
For Ash, all this was just a small interlude. His focus remained on the upcoming World Championship.
In Vermilion City, he couldn't find worthy opponents anymore. So he expanded the matchmaking system to the entire world.
His ranking had climbed steadily to around 1200 in the Poké Ball tier.
At the Vermilion Pokémon Center, meanwhile, a blue-and-white patterned egg lay glowing faintly inside an incubator.
Nurse Joy frowned with worry. The egg had been there a long time. It often pulsed with eerie blue light, but never hatched—no matter how many methods they tried.
[Korrina: Wait, that pattern, that color—it's a Riolu egg!]
[Professor Magnolia: Could also be Sobble. Their eggs look similar.]
[Aaron (descendant): I feel it… the Aura inside this egg!]
[Elaine: What's wrong with its Aura?]
[Aaron: It's identical to the Aura in the staff!]
[Elaine: Don't tell me… this Riolu egg is the reincarnation of Lord Aaron's partner?!]
[Cynthia: Reincarnation exists, but mostly among Ghost-types. It's rare for Fighting-types. I'm not sure…]
[Flint: What are you people talking about? I don't get it.]
[Bertha: If you don't understand, then hush.]
[Professor Rowan: I can add some insight. This egg is waiting for something. Once the time is right, it'll hatch on its own.]
[Lillie: Really?!]
[Professor Rowan: Of course. I've never lied.]
Cynthia's mind drifted back to an old legend about Sir Aaron:
"A bond lasting a thousand years will not fade. Though I may perish, in another age we will meet again.
Riolu, forgive me for abandoning you.
I hope time will mend everything. I hope our bond endures, even a thousand years later."
Vague words, until now.
If Ash carried Aaron's Aura… then perhaps this Riolu was waiting precisely for him.
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, eyes distant.
Aura, huh?
I want it too.
…
Back at Oak's Lab—
Ash had just returned from another match and collapsed into a chair, exhausted. He downed a glass of water in one gulp.
"So tired! And Gary's competing in the World Championship too?! He's already in the Great Ball tier!"
Remembering their encounter in Goldenrod, Ash groaned. Winning one battle years ago shouldn't still count! And yet Gary still mocked him for being in Poké Ball tier.
Just then, his Rotom Phone buzzed. A new opponent had been matched.
"Hajime from Fuchsia City, rank 1024."
Without hesitation, Ash dashed out the door. Spring (Misty) spotted his fleeing figure and immediately chased after him.
At the battlefield, Rotom Referee explained the rules: 1v1, until one Pokémon fainted.
Ash chose his newly evolved Raboot, while Hajime sent out a Tauros.
Ash's eyes sparkled—he had thirty Tauros at Professor Oak's ranch! He knew this species inside out.
But something was off. Hajime's Tauros snorted smoke, eyes glowing red, enraged at the sight of Raboot's crimson fur.
Ash remembered wearing red pajamas once and almost getting trampled by his herd. Probably the same reason.
Still, wasn't Hajime also wearing red? Weird.
The battle began. Tauros charged ferociously, but Raboot's agility kept it safe. With growing experience from recent matches, Raboot pressed the advantage.
Finally, a blazing Flame Charge collided with Tauros's Iron Head—knocking the bull flat.
Hajime was stunned. Kids these days were this strong? He'd struggled hard to reach Great Ball tier, and here he was losing cleanly. Still, he accepted defeat gracefully, shaking Ash's hand before leaving.
Ash turned to praise Raboot—only to see it collapse in pain.
"Pika!"
"Are you okay?!"
Rushing over, Ash discovered Raboot's leg was broken.
"Raa…" Don't worry, Master, I'm fine.
But Ash scooped it into his arms and sprinted toward the nearest Pokémon Center—ironically, the very one where Riolu's egg rested.
As he approached, the egg's glow intensified, pulsing as if calling out.
Suddenly, Ash stopped in his tracks.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted its head.
"I… I think someone's calling me."
In that moment, Ash felt it. A familiar Aura, resonating deep within him, beckoning.
Spring clung to his arm nervously. "Don't scare me! Don't tell me it's a Ghost Pokémon!"
"No… it's not a ghost." Ash's voice was steady.
Because—
His Aura had awakened!
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