Chapter 42: The Twin Stars of Pallet Town Arrive to Save the Day
BOOM!
A violent explosion thundered through the first-floor lobby. Amid the rolling smoke and drifting dust, Ash and Pikachu stood tall, their silhouettes unwavering.
Though Ash could not help feeling slightly embarrassed as he glanced at what remained of the elevator.
He had freed the researchers, opened all the cages holding the captured Pokémon, and even squeezed out a moment to use the restroom. Proud of his perfect performance, he had allowed himself barely three minutes of satisfaction before reality slapped him in the face.
Because he had forgotten the biggest hostage of all.
In the top-floor president's office, the plump Silph Co. chairman was pinned face-down on the sofa while a Team Rocket grunt kicked him repeatedly.
The poor man wailed as if his soul were leaving his body.
"Help! Someone help me!"
Giovanni sat comfortably in the luxurious office chair, one leg crossed over the other, one hand supporting his chin as he spoke with cold amusement.
"Make him scream louder."
"Yes, Giovanni, sir!"
The grunt obeyed immediately, continuing his relentless kicks.
"AAAOOW!"
The chairman's face flushed red as he howled like a broken machine.
Ignoring the chaos behind him, Giovanni calmly watched the live security feed on the monitor. Onscreen, a boy wearing a blue cap cut down Rocket grunts one after another, striding fearlessly toward the top floor with Pikachu blazing a path beside him.
"So, you want to save him? Come and find me then."
After leaving that taunting line, Giovanni had taken the chairman with him into the private executive elevator and risen straight to the top.
Ash, meanwhile, climbed the stairwell while battling grunts and cursing himself the whole time.
"Blowing up the elevator felt amazing for five seconds… now I'm stuck climbing. This is karma. I am an absolute idiot."
He wiped sweat from his forehead as he ascended yet another flight.
"Stop!"
Two more Rocket grunts appeared at the landing.
"Go, Golbat!"
"Crush him, Koffing!"
Ash snapped his right hand forward.
"Charmander, Flamethrower! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Boom.
The duet of fire and lightning filled the narrow stairwell. There was nowhere to dodge; both opponents were instantly struck down.
Ash patted the dust off his clothes, sighing gratefully. The shock-proof vest and gloves he had gotten from Lt. Surge still worked wonders. Fireproof too — that man's music channel definitely deserved a like.
Fighting nonstop as he climbed, Ash eventually reached the top-floor office door. The reinforcements should be arriving any minute now. Brimming with confidence, he kicked open the door without hesitation.
"Hey! I'm here!"
Inside, Giovanni clasped his hands under his chin and observed him quietly. A flicker of admiration passed through his gaze, though his tone was nothing but mockery.
"This is the adult's world. Children really shouldn't interfere. The chairman and I have important matters to discuss."
"Important matters my butt!"
The chairman whined miserably from the sofa. "Another minute and I'll be permanently disfigured!"
"You're Giovanni, leader of Team Rocket, right? The wanted criminal?" Ash asked bluntly.
"Oh? That tone reminds me of someone who once barged into my headquarters many years ago."
Giovanni eyed him with interest.
"I don't care what you want with the Master Ball. But if your plans harm innocent Pokémon, I will never stand by and watch."
Giovanni chuckled.
"You're bold, I'll give you that. Thanks to your arrival, my timetable must shift earlier than expected. Truly, you troublesome brats are all the same. One child after another, thinking a single person can challenge Team Rocket."
Ash jabbed his thumb behind him.
"I'm not alone. The police are almost here. If I were you, I'd surrender now."
Giovanni laughed heartily.
"Defeating my subordinates all the way here does give you the right to speak. But an annoying child must be disciplined."
He rose smoothly from his chair.
"I am leaving now. Think you can stop me?"
Ash tightened his grip on his Poké Ball.
"I may look stubborn, but when it comes to protecting Pokémon, I never back down. If your plan puts them in danger, I will stop you no matter how many times I must fight!"
"How amusing."
Giovanni snapped his fingers. A Rocket agent beside him opened a briefcase containing four Poké Balls.
"In that case, I shall simply eliminate you here."
"Giovanni sir, we have no time. He's just a kid, there's no need—"
The agent spoke nervously.
"Oh? You're teaching me how to do my job?"
Giovanni's voice dropped dangerously.
"N-no sir!"
The agent bowed so low his nose nearly hit the floor.
Giovanni took a Poké Ball and looked back at Ash.
"He isn't just any child. I have a feeling about this one."
Ash likewise took out Dragonair's Poké Ball and braced himself. Against a Ground-type expert, Pikachu simply wasn't ideal.
"Go."
Giovanni released his Pokémon.
A burst of white light revealed a massive Rhyhorn-like titan — Rhydon.
"Dragonair, it's up to you!"
Ash sent out his partner. The elegant pokemon hovered in the air, eyes locked with its opponent.
"Rhydon, Drill Run."
Giovanni's voice was cold and clipped.
"Dragonair, Aqua Tail!"
Ash made the textbook-perfect counter, using type advantage.
But in the next second—
Wham!
Dragonair's tail, wrapped in swirling water, was caught directly by Rhydon's arm. The beast deflected the attack casually and rammed forward, its horn spinning with terrifying speed.
Crash!
Dragonair smashed through the wall and fell into the adjacent room, crying out in pain.
"Tch… the level gap is that huge?"
Ash clenched his jaw.
Giovanni smirked.
"That's all? I thought your strength could match your big mouth."
He snapped his fingers again.
"End it."
Rhydon leapt toward the broken wall.
Ash threw another Poké Ball quickly.
"Ivysaur, Petal Dance!"
Ivysaur spun midair, unleashing a spiraling storm of petals that struck Rhydon's back.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed.
"Fire Blast."
Rhydon's mouth ignited with blazing crimson heat. It turned and unleashed a blazing, kanji-shaped inferno that collided with the Petal Dance head-on.
BOOM!
Glass across the entire floor shattered. Smoke swallowed the room.
When it cleared, Ash stood battered and coughing, protecting Ivysaur in his arms while Pikachu and Dragonair shielded him anxiously.
Giovanni shook his head.
"How disappointing. I expected more of a challenge. Let's finish this. Hyper Beam."
Rhydon opened its jaws. A sphere of orange destructive energy gathered rapidly.
Ash hugged Pikachu and Ivysaur tightly, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"Well, this is where I die… If help doesn't arrive now, next year's today will be my memorial…"
Fortunately for him, the universe finally answered.
"Flamethrower!"
A roaring torrent of bright orange fire descended from above, slamming into Rhydon with overwhelming force.
Giovanni raised an arm to shield himself and looked sharply toward the window.
Outside, hovering at the edge of the top floor, was a majestic Moltres, wings blazing against the night sky.
Standing upon its back was a young man in a red jacket, his expression calm, the wind snapping his coat like a battle flag.
"Will you leave now, or do you wish to settle this with me here?"
Red's voice was steady, powerful enough to make anyone breathe easier.
Giovanni stared at Red for a long moment, then turned back to Ash. Saying nothing, he signaled his grunts and boarded the helicopter waiting beside the office.
Ash exhaled. Since even Red chose not to stop Giovanni's retreat, he had no business interfering.
Once the helicopter disappeared into the night, Red and Green — the Twin Stars of Pallet Town — stepped through the ruined doorway and helped Ash to his feet.
Green sniffed dismissively, though his tone carried warmth beneath the cool surface.
"You acted a bit reckless… but not bad."
Red, always simpler and more direct, gave a warm smile and patted Ash's shoulder.
"Ash, you did well. When you have time, we should train together. You lost to Giovanni today, but don't let that discourage you. If you're willing, I'll teach you how to grow even stronger."
Ash nodded sincerely.
"Thank you. I'll do my best…"
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 2 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.