The days of training flowed by like a stream, and in the blink of an eye, only three days remained before the Indigo League began.
Ash and his companions carefully packed their belongings and set out on the final leg of their journey to the Indigo Plateau.
The closer they got to their destination, the more trainers they encountered along the way. The air was filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation.
"We're almost there," Misty said, gazing at the faint outline of the Indigo Plateau buildings in the distance, unable to hide her excitement. "We've been through so much on this journey. Thinking back on it now, it really feels overwhelming."
Brock was carefully checking the Pokémon food and medicine in their bags. "We have to make sure all our Pokémon are in peak condition for the tournament. Especially your Charizard, Ash. It's improved incredibly fast during the recent training. Could it become your final trump card?"
Ash smiled slightly but said nothing.
This time, he was fully prepared. He would not allow the regrets of the original timeline to happen again.
Pikachu stood excitedly on Ash's shoulder, chirping "Pika pika," as if expressing its anticipation for the upcoming battles.
As they passed through a dense oak forest, a gloomy looking trainer suddenly stepped out from behind a tree, blocking their path.
He held a bone club in his hand, and beside him stood a sharp eyed Marowak. The bone gleamed coldly under the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
"I am Otoshi," the trainer said in a hoarse voice, as if he had not spoken to anyone for a long time. "If you want to pass through here, you must first defeat me and my Marowak."
Ash immediately recognized him. From his memories of his previous life, Otoshi was a pitiful man who had fallen into despair after his badges were stolen. He replied calmly, "We can battle, but there's no need to…"
"The loser must hand over all their badges!" Otoshi interrupted him excitedly, his eyes gleaming with near obsessive intensity. "This is the only way to prove a trainer's worth!"
"That's too much!" Misty immediately protested. "Badges are proof of a trainer's hard work and growth. How can their ownership be decided in a single battle?"
Brock frowned as well. "Those conditions really aren't reasonable."
Yet, to their surprise, Ash nodded. "Alright, I accept."
"Ash!" his two companions exclaimed in unison, their faces full of confusion.
Ash gave them a reassuring look, then turned back to Otoshi. "But I hope you understand, badges are worth far more than that."
The battle began in a clearing within the forest.
Otoshi's Marowak was indeed formidable. Its use of the Bone Club as a boomerang was masterful, each throw slicing through the air with force.
But Ash's Wartortle, strengthened by recent training, was even better. It not only used Water Gun with precision to neutralize every attack, but also cleverly used the surrounding terrain to its advantage, bouncing streams of water off rocks to create multi angle assaults.
"Now, Water Pulse!" Ash seized the moment when Marowak was retrieving its bone and gave the command decisively.
The water energy gathered by Wartortle formed into a massive pulsing sphere midair, spiraling as it struck Marowak directly.
Otoshi collapsed to his knees, staring in disbelief at his defeated partner.
Unexpectedly, instead of handing over badges as agreed, Otoshi slumped to the ground, his voice filled with despair and self blame.
"I'm sorry… I lied to you. I don't have any badges to give…"
He clenched his fists, tears welling up in his eyes.
"My eight badges… they were all stolen by Team Rocket! They were something Marowak and I worked so hard to collect. Every single one carried our memories…"
Ash stepped forward and looked at him calmly.
"I already knew."
Otoshi suddenly looked up, shock flashing in his eyes. "Y… you knew?"
"Because your eyes were filled with unwillingness, not greed," Ash said gently yet firmly. "Someone who truly wants to take others' badges wouldn't show such pain after losing."
Misty suddenly understood. "So that's why you deliberately accepted such an unfair challenge?"
Ash nodded, anger burning in his eyes.
"Gym badges represent a trainer's journey, their sweat and growth. They record the most precious bond between a trainer and their Pokémon. I will never forgive something like this happening."
Ash closed his eyes, and the vast Aura he had newly acquired began to surge and circulate rapidly within his body.
A pale golden light surged from within his body, forming dragon scale like patterns across his skin, while his eyes turned into a radiant gold. This was the Aura, Dragon Vein Form.
"What is this…" Misty and Brock were both stunned by Ash's transformation. They could clearly feel the overwhelming energy surging through the surrounding air.
In Dragon Vein Form, Ash's perception increased exponentially. He quickly locked onto the residual energy traces left behind by Team Rocket.
"Over there!"
Following Ash, the group arrived at a hidden camp deep within the forest. There, James and Meowth were busy sorting through the stolen goods, yet there was no sign of the badges.
"Hand over Otoshi's badges." Ash's voice carried unquestionable authority. In Dragon Vein Form, he exuded an imposing presence even without anger.
James jumped in fright. "Y-y-y-you brat! How did you find this place?!"
Meowth hurriedly hid behind James, its tail standing straight up. "The badges aren't with us, meow! Jessie already took them to the Indigo Plateau…"
"What?" Ash's anger made the very air tremble, and the golden light of his Dragon Vein Form grew even brighter. "She actually dares to take stolen badges to the League?"
James stammered, "Jessie said… she said she wanted to experience standing in the spotlight too… She said this is the stage she deserves…"
"After her!" Without another word, Ash immediately led the group toward the Indigo Plateau.
The Dragon Vein Form granted him speed far beyond that of an ordinary human. With every step, faint golden marks were left on the ground.
On a path leading to the Indigo Plateau, they quickly caught up with Jessie, who was hurrying along.
Sure enough, she was carrying a bulging backpack, humming a self composed tune while occasionally checking her reflection in a small mirror.
"Jessie! Stop right there!" Ash shouted. The dragon like pressure in his voice made her whole body tremble.
Jessie jumped in shock, but when she saw it was Ash, she forced herself to calm down and struck a battle pose.
"Since you asked so sincerely…"
"Cut it out!" Ash interrupted her immediately. "Hand over Otoshi's badge case."
"Why should I?!" Jessie clutched her backpack tightly, her face filled with unwillingness. "We worked so hard to…"
Before she could finish, Ash had already turned into a streak of golden light and appeared right in front of her.
In Dragon Vein Form, his speed left Jessie no time to react. The backpack was effortlessly taken from her hands.
"Give it back!" Jessie shouted in frustration as she released Arbok. "Arbok, use Poison Sting!"
Ash let out a cold snort and casually waved his hand. A barrier instantly blocked all of Arbok's poison needles.
At that moment, James and Meowth came rushing over, panting heavily. The three of them hurriedly struck their classic pose.
"Since you asked so sincerely!"
"We'll kindly tell you!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
...
Ash snorted coldly and did not even send out a Pokémon.
He brought his hands together in front of his chest as the Dragon Aura condensed into a radiant golden sphere in his palms.
"Dragon Missile."
"Take this!"
The golden energy sphere instantly split into three, leaving dazzling trails of light as they precisely struck the Team Rocket trio.
They did not even have time to shout their classic "What a terrible feeling!" before they were blasted off like shooting stars, disappearing beyond the clouds.
Ash dispelled his Dragon Vein Form and solemnly returned the badge case to Otoshi.
"Now, it's back where it belongs."
Otoshi accepted the recovered badge case, his hands trembling with excitement.
"Thank you… I almost went down the wrong path because of a moment of despair. These badges record every step of the journey Marowak and I have taken together…"
He carefully opened the case, gently touching each badge inside, his voice choking with emotion.
"Look, this Boulder Badge was our first Gym victory. Back then, Marowak was still just a Cubone. This Cascade Badge witnessed our intense battle against the Cerulean sisters. We spent three whole days studying our strategy. And this Thunder Badge…"
Ash smiled and patted his shoulder.
"At the Indigo League, let's settle things with our true strength. I believe after this experience, the bond between you and your Marowak will only grow stronger."
Otoshi nodded heavily, determination reigniting in his eyes.
"Definitely! I'll see you at the Indigo League!"
...