"You were somewhere wandering alone again. Why?"
"It's none of your business."
"Tell me!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I already said. It's none of your business."
"Lucario, I warn you..."
"Oh, really?"
"Tell me! Now!"
"No."
It had been two days since Ash, Serena, Gou, and Chloe had left Ballonlea for Circhester and Ash's sixth Gym battle. They had been walking all the time through the forest that Serena had found to be called Glimwood Tangle, and there they were now too.
They had just stopped in a small square and set up their tent on it. Gou and Chloe prepared lunch, with both Yampers, Scorbunny, and Skwovet begging for something to eat all the time. Serena, on the other hand, had gone to gather firewood for the campfire, with the help of Braixen and Greninja. And Ash... well, he had tried to do something useful, but had somehow ended up arguing with Lucario again.
The subject was familiar. It was again about what Lucario was doing alone in the woods. Namely, he always sneaked somewhere during the day, was away for many hours, until he returned tired and dirty. Ash, of course, didn't like that kind of mystery and of course wanted to know what Lucario was up to in the woods.
The only problem was that Lucario refused to tell it. He hadn't given the slightest hint of his stuff and Ash hadn't yet gotten to spy on them from him. In the end, these attempts almost always ended in disputes between the two, which, unlike in the ordinary, were completely silent. Namely, they were done with the help of Aura.
"It's weird to watch a quarrel that doesn't even make a sound," Chloe said as she watched Ash and Lucario fight wordlessly. She had just chopped carrots into a bowl and both Yampers were sitting next to the table, hoping something would drip from there. "Like watching an old silent movie"
"Yeah," said Gou, who carried a bowl of water while glancing at the begging Yampers. However, they didn't care about his gaze and continued staring at Chloe with their mouths open and a hoping look in their eyes. "But Ash should help us too. He hasn't really done anything at all."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he does something," said Serena, who just came out of the woods with Braixen and Greninja. They all had a lap full of firewood and Serena had just dumped her cargo to their campfire site. "And he can start by ending that useless quarrel"
She watched Ash and Lucario quarrel a little sourly until she shook her head and turned to Braixen. "Braixen, let's lit that campfire," she said to her Pokemon and Braixen nodded with a smile. "Braixen!" she said, and took her from her tail, and set it on fire.
"Great! And Greninja, could you and Pikachu go get some more firewood? I don't think these are enough," Serena said, turning to those two Pokemon and they nodded.
"Ninja!" "Pika chu!" they exclaimed with a salute, and having said that, went back into the woods.
Serena watched as those two Pokemon disappeared into the woods and then turned to look at Braixen. "Braixen, let's lit the campfire," she said and Braixen nodded with a smile.
"Braix braixen!" she said cheerfully and blew fire from her branch towards the firewood in the campfire. They ignited in an instant and created a warm glow in the darkness of the forest. Braixen, on the other hand, looked at the campfire with her hands on her hips and nodded in satisfaction. She then turned off her branch and put it back on her tail.
"Thank you, Braixen," said Serena, and Gou, who was squatting to tie his shoelaces, said, "Yeah it's good that we have a Fire-type Pokemon like Braixen."
However, his sentence ended in a nasty exclamation as something hard hit him in the head with force. "OUH! Who did it?!" he exclaimed, rubbing his back of his head and blinking around looking for the culprit. And looking back, he saw a sour-looking Scorbunny throwing pebble he had taken from the ground with his paw in the air.
"Why did you do that?" asked Gou his fire bunny, but only got another stone in his head, this time on his forehead. Rubbing the resulting burn, he saw Scorbunny pointing first to Braixen, then to him, and finally folding his arms and saying irritably, "Scor bun bun! Bunny scor bun!"
"I'm not paying enough attention to you? Is that what you think? What was that thing when..." Gou said in disbelief after hearing Scorbunny's explanation, but before that too swelled into a dispute, Serena stepped in and said, "Don't bother fighting. Ash and Lucario are enough"
Gou and Scorbunny stared at each other for a moment until Gou sighed, "Fine," and Scorbunny turned his back on him, his arms still folded. Serena, on the other hand, looked pleased that one quarrel had been avoided and she clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "Great!"
"Very," Chloe said a little sarcastically, knowing that Scorbunny and Gou would start their argument again immediately when Serena would turn her back. To prevent this, she looked up at the potatoes she was now chopping and said, "Gou, could you get me another bowl? This former one is already starting to be full."
She looked at the bowl, which was about half full of potatoes. Gou also looked at it for a moment until he nodded and said, "Sure. Where do you keep them?"
"I think there's one in my backpack," Chloe said a little distractedly as her Yamper tried to reach for the carrots on the table. "In that big pocket"
"Right. And where's your backpack?" Gou asked, looking at it with his gaze. Chloe, who had just scolded Yamper for begging, looked up at him and said with a smile. "In the tent. You know, in our tent."
Gou stopped and grimaced a little. "Right. In our tent," he said, saying the word to "our" a little faster than the other words and then left to pick up the bowl.
Serena looked after him, smiling a little mischievously. Namely, she remembered what had happened that night when they had left Ballonlea and set up camp for the first time in four.
Flashback:
"Aww man, I'm full!" said Ash, holding his stomach and yawning slightly. "It was delicious, thanks Serena"
"Don't thank me, thank Gou. It was his grandmother's recipe," Serena said with a smile and scratched Yamper under his chin. "I just helped a little"
"Well, whoever made it, it was still good," Ash stated and stood up. He stretched out his arms a little and then looked at the sky. Although it couldn't be said very easily, Ash was pretty sure the sun had already set. "And I think it's time for us to go to bed. It's getting late."
"I agree," said Chloe, and yawned a little. Her Yamper also yawned in her lap and she looked at it with a little tired smile. "I guess I'll go to bed already. Good night!"
"Night!" said Serena as Chloe got up from the table with Yamper in her arms and headed for the tent. Others watched as she picked up her bag from the ground where she had left it and headed for the tent that had served as Gou's tent. And then it hit Gou like a lightning bolt.
"Wait! But that's my tent!" he exclaimed and suddenly got up. The movement made the others startle and Pikachu bounced up and exclaimed his cheeks sparking, "Pika!" Chloe, on the other hand, stopped and turned a little confused to look at the others.
"Well, yeah, but I have to sleep somewhere, too," she said, tilting her head and Yamper barking in her lap, agreeing. Gou, on the other hand, looked a little nervous and stammered, blushing a little, "But... but... but then we have to sleep together! And that tent is nothing very big..."
"Oh, right," Chloe said, now realizing it herself and bit her lips. Serena, on the other hand, didn't see any problem with it, but said happily, "That's just nice! We're going to a place where it's cold, so at least you're not going to have cold! And if you have, you can always push closer to each other, as Ash and I do!"
She smiled broadly and Gou flushed deep red when he heard her words. Chloe seemed also blush a little when she heard them. Scorbunny, on the other hand, snickered at Gou's look and Gou looked at him murderously.
"Well, Serena is right, we're really going to a cold place," said Ash, who didn't seem to realize the reason for Gou's blushing at all. "And the heat in the cold weather is a pretty nice thing"
Gou looked at him, but Ash just stare at the sky. Then he moved his gaze to Serena and said, looking a little lost, "But... couldn't you sleep in the same tent?" pointing to Chloe and then Serena herself. However, Serena just smiled cheerfully and said happily, "Won't work! I have no intention of changing the tent again! So get over it. The smaller tent is now yours and Chloe's. Don't get too excited."
And when she had said that, she got up, grabbed Yamper with her, and disappeared inside her and Ash's tent. She left Gou cheeks flushed to stare after her, Scorbunny howling with laughter at Gou's look, Chloe confused with her mouth open to stand Yamper in her arms and Ash staring at the sky, saying, "Beautiful night, eh?"
Flashback ends
Serena's thoughts abruptly interrupted when she heard Ash exclaim angrily, "FINE! Then don't say anything!" and marching angrily away from Lucario. He watched as Ash sat sourly across Chloe at the table and snatched one piece of carrot from the bowl, which began to chew angrily.
"I don't understand why he refuses to tell me what he's doing in the woods all day!" he said sourly, meaning clearly to Lucario. He leaned his head in his hands and was so angry at the moment that he didn't notice Lucario sneaking into the woods again. However, Serena noticed it, but decided not to tell Ash about it. Instead, she stepped to him, sat down next to him, and said, "Well, maybe he has reasons not to tell you."
"Yeah, but what are they? Yes, Lucario is always a little mysterious, but he usually tells me if he has some big project going on," said Ash and took another piece of carrot from the bowl. "Besides, what is so secret that he refuses to give the slightest hint of it?"
"Well, who knows," Chloe said, moving the carrot bowl out of Ash's reach before he ate them all. "But I'm sure he will tell you it one day"
"Yeah, or not," Ash said, and the others didn't really have anything to say about it. Instead, a silence descended on the table, which Gou eventually broke as he came out of the tent and said, "I found your bowl, Chloe." And when he saw others' faces, asked, "Who's dead?"
When the food was finally ready, it was time to eat. But unlike usual, the meal was not a happy conversation, but a silence. Serena tried many times to start a conversation, but in response received mere grunts and murmurs. Eventually, she gave up and they ate their food out in silence.
But when the food was eaten, she finally got enough. Watching Ash, who was still sulking because of Lucario, and Gou, who was irritated because of Scorbunny, irritation began to grow inside her. This day needs some refreshment, she thought and stared at her plate wondering what it would be.
And suddenly she came up with. She quickly got up and stepped opposite the table. She studied her surroundings for a moment until she said to herself, "This is fine." She then turned back to the others and noticed Ash and others looking at her with interest.
"Braixen, Sylveon, Pancham, I need your help," she said to her three Pokemon and these looked at each other in confusion. However, they stepped up to Serena and Serena smiled at them.
"Braixen?" said Braixen questioningly as she reached Serena and Sylveon looked at Serena questioning look on her face. Pancham scratched his head with an equally confused look and Serena smiled at their confused expressions.
"I know you guys are confused, but I know you can do this," Serena said to her Pokemon, and these looked even more confused. However, Serena didn't seem to be upset about it, but continued, "We haven't practiced much, but it doesn't matter. The stage is a little small, too, but don't let it bother you. The most important thing is that we can cheer up this atmosphere."
It took a moment for the Pokemon to realize what Serena meant. But when they realized, wide smiles spread across their faces. Serena saw it and satisfied she turned to her audience, who still watched her full of confusion.
"This day needs a little cheer up, right?" she said and the others nodded, albeit a little insecure. Serena didn't mind this, but she went on cheerfully, "So, I decided to bring it here. Surely, this is not a Master Class type of performing, but I'm sure it's still good!"
Hearing Serena's words, it only took a second for Ash to realize what she meant. "Wait, are you going to perform for us?!" he exclaimed in surprise and Serena nodded with a smile.
"Yep. I thought it would be a good way to cheer up the mood," she said and Ash looked excited. Gou and Chloe, on the other hand, still looked a little confused, but Serena didn't let it bother her. Instead, she looked at her Pokemon and exclaimed, "Okay, guys! Let's do this! And Yamper and Hatenna, watch closely!"
"Braix-een!"
"Syl sylveon!"
"Pancham!"
Exclaimed Pokemon and Braixen raised her branch. Serena smiled at them until she turned properly towards her audience. But before she started her performance, she happened to remember something more important.
She took her Rotom from her pocket and quickly tapped something on it. Then she exclaimed, "Hey Ash, put it on!" and threw her Rotom at him. He caught it, grinned and pressed the start button.
The music started playing and Serena and the Pokemon took their place. When the music had reached a certain point, Serena nodded to Braixen and Sylveon. Braixen lit a fire from the mark on her branch and then she ran across the stage, making a wide arc with her branch. It left behind a beautiful, reddish-gold glitter that left to float slowly to the ground.
Then it was Sylveon's turn. She made Fairy Wind, which formed a pink, shimmering swirl and at the same time lifted Serena into the air. The moment Serena had gotten all the way up, Pancham hit his hands on the ground and made Stone Edge. It caused large boulders to rise from the ground and Serena, still up, set out to step down on them. And at each step, Sylveon made a Swift, causing small, golden stars to explode into the air.
When Serena got back to the ground, Pancham's boulders exploded into a cloud of blue, shimmering dust behind them. That's when Serena nodded to Pancham, who nodded back and ran across their stage. But halfway through, Serena still nodded to Sylveon, who also nodded and smiled resolutely.
When Pancham reached her, she grabbed him with her feelers and threw him into the air. Pancham rose into the air and made a flip. Landing back on the ground, he made Dark Pulse, sending it into the air as well. That's when Braixen lifted her branch in front of her and made a Flamethrower.
The two moves met in the air and exploded into shimmering rain. That's when the music also ended and Serena and the Pokemon lined up and bowed to their audience.
These were silent for a moment until her audience burst into applause. Ash got up and raised his fist and exclaimed, "Yeah!" Serena's Yamper and Hatenna looked very excited, Gou exclaimed, "Wow, that was awesome!" and Scorbunny bounced in his chair up and down. Greninja, on the other hand, couldn't get his eyes off Braixen, and Pikachu wondered when Sylveon had looked as cute as now.
Serena, on the other hand, smiled broadly and bowed again. She was glad that her cheering attempt had been successful and her audience had liked it. Maybe I should do this more often, she thought as she watched as Ash smiled broadly and Chloe asked, "How did you do that Fairy Whirl thing?"
After getting the table clean again, they dispersed each doing their own thing. Ash went to train with his Pokemon, Chloe dug a book out of her bag that she started to read and Gou tried to settle his quarrel with Scorbunny. Serena, on the other hand, tried to teach Yamper not to beg, but the results were poor, as a) Yamper was not interested b) if Yamper did not get a treat, he gave everyone nearby an electric shock.
As Serena rubbed her forehead and her smoky hair, while wondering how thick skull that dog had, there was a rattle from a nearby bush. It caused Yamper to lose even the last traces of interest and rush to bark at the bush. It also caught the attention of others and they turned their gazes in the direction of the Yamper.
"Yamper, what are you barking at now?" Serena asked as Yamper did not stop barking. She walked over to her Pokemon and took this in her arms. Yamper stopped barking as soon as he got in Serena's arms and happily licked Serena's cheek. Serena instead glanced quickly at the bush Yamper had barked at, but that glance quickly turned into a stare. She was, after all, quite sure that someone, or something, was staring back at her.
Serena froze in place and remained to stare into those pretty, big eyes. She was just stepping closer to the bush when she suddenly heard Ash exclaim, "Serena, is everything all right?!" and the moment was interrupted. What had been in the bush, on the other hand, was apparently frightened and Serena heard it... gallop? off.
"Wait, don't go!" she exclaimed and dropped Yamper to the ground at the same time. She rushed into the bush and after galloping creature. "Serena, where are you going?!" she heard Ash shout, but didn't care about it now. She wanted to know what the creature staring at her was.
She was pretty sure the creature had been some Pokemon, but she didn't remember seeing similar eyes in any of the Pokemon she knew. Maybe it's one of those that are only in Galar, she thought as she ran through the bushes and dodged the thick roots of the trees. Or it's just something I haven't met yet.
Suddenly the bushes ran out and Serena noticed that she had arrived in a small opening. It was much smaller than the one they had encamped in and the trees formed an almost impenetrable wall on its sides. On its edges and sides also grew those shimmering mushrooms and ferns.
But the ferns were not the thing that caught Serena's attention. No, it was something completely different. Namely, a small, pastel-colored Pokemon that looked a bit like a pony. Or maybe more of a unicorn.
It had crouched over one such shimmering mushroom and looked scared. It stared straight at Serena and kicked the ground nervously with its hooves. Serena knew that it could fright any sudden movement or sound, so she stepped slowly forward and said in a calm voice, "Hi, I'm Serena. Who are you?"
The Pokemon didn't respond, but still seemed nervous. However, Serena didn't let it discourage her, but took a step forward again and continued in a calm voice, "I'm not going to hurt you or do you any harm. I just want to know who you are and what kind of Pokemon you are. Will it work for you?"
She still looked straight into Pokemon's beautiful, purple eyes and Pokemon looked back at her. And it was as if Pokemon understood what she really meant, for it clearly ceased to be nervous and seemed to relax in front of Serena's eyes. It took one cautious step closer until it was encouraged, and walked over to Serena.
Serena watched in surprise as Pokemon came up to her and rubbed its nose against her hand. At the same time, Serena felt that Pokemon had a soft, cotton-like mane. She also took her Rotom from her pocket and scanned the Pokemon with it:
"Ponyta, Unique Horn Pokemon and Galarian form. Psychic-type. This Pokémon will look into your eyes and read the contents of your heart. If it finds evil there, it will promptly hides away."
"Galarian Ponyta, right?" said Serena after Rotom had scanned Ponyta. "Well, at least Pokedex's description tells you why you don't scare me anymore. You seemed to read my heart a little, don't you?"
Ponyta uttered the agreement and Serena smiled and scratched it from behind its ear. At the same time, she found that the Ponyta was slightly smaller than its normal form. But it doesn't matter at all, Serena thought as Ponyta jumped around her. You're just fine.
Suddenly there was a rustle near them and Ponyta raised her head and ears upright vigilantly. She turned her head, blinking around at the same time, until suddenly, before Serena had time to block it, she sprinted and disappeared into the trees.
"Wait!" Serena exclaimed, holding out her hand, but Ponyta had already disappeared into the woods. Serena remained with her hand outstretched to stand still until there were noises behind her and she heard Ash and the others coming into the square.
Serena stared for a moment at the place where Ponyta had disappeared into the woods until she sighed and turned to look at the others. She saw Ash stepping into the square first, Pikachu on his shoulder, and Greninja behind him. Behind them came Gou and Chloe and other Pokemon. Scorbunny jumped ahead of Gou and Chloe carried the Yamper in her arms. Serena's Yamper walked beside her and sniffed the bushes with interest. The others, on the other hand, seemed relieved to see Serena, and Ash rushed over to her after getting out of the ferns.
"You okay?" he asked as he approached Serena and Serena nodded. "Yeah, I am," she said with a smile and hugged Ash. "I had no worries, here was just me and one nice Ponyta"
"Ponyta?" said Ash and Serena nodded. "Yeah, Galarian form. It must have scared you and ran in that direction," she explained, pointing to the point where Ponyta had disappeared. Ash and partners seemed interested in this new information and Gou looked for a picture of Galarian Ponyta in his Rotom.
"Wow, it's very different than a regular Ponyta," he said as Rotom projected a hologram image of Ponyta on its screen. "Yeah, like a little unicorn," Chloe said, dropping Yamper to the ground. It immediately went to sniff the nearby ferns with Serena's Yamper and Greninja watched that they didn't get lost somewhere in the depths of the forest.
"I'm wondering where could it run?" said Serena and the others also seemed thoughtful. "Maybe it has a herd or friends here somewhere. Maybe it went to them," Gou suggested as he put his Rotom away. "That could be the right answer"
"Yeah, or..." Ash began, but didn't have time to say anything else when there was a horrible cry from somewhere. It made them all startle, Pikachu falling from Ash's shoulder, shouting, "Pika!" and Chloe grab Gou by the hand. However, Serena seemed to hold on to her blue ribbon and look around anxiously. For some reason, she felt like she had recognized the voice.
"What was that?" asked Ash with caution, Gyarados and the lake in mind. Chloe, who squeezed Gou tightly from his hand, said, "I don't know, but it didn't sound very nice," Gou uttered something, agreeing, but Serena instead suddenly realized what the sound had let out.
"It was Ponyta!" she exclaimed and others looked at her a little strangely. However, she didn't care about them, but continued anxiety, "And it's in danger!"
"How do you know it was Ponyta?" Ash asked, but Serena didn't listen. Instead, she quickly stepped to the point where Ponyta had disappeared into the woods. "We have to help it," she said, a little nervous. "Come on, let's go!"
And having said that, she dived again into the dense world of ferns and bushes, leaving the others in the square again. "Hey, wait for us too!" exclaimed Ash and went to follow Serena. Pikachu and Greninja followed him and eventually Gou and Chloe also followed after them, Chloe whistling the Yampers as well.
Serena ran through the dense forest, ignoring the roots, shrubs and branches that scratched her face. She could only think of the little Ponyta she had just met, and she wondered what made it make such a horrible sound. At least nothing very nice, she thought bitterly as she jumped over one thick tree root.
Suddenly she noticed that more light was visible in front of her and then suddenly she found herself coming out of the woods. She stopped in surprise and found herself coming to a large meadow bordered by the dense forest of Glimwood Tangle. Long hay grew on the meadow, swaying in a rather strong wind, but Serena didn't care about it at that very moment. Namely, she searched for Ponyta, fearing that she would also find the one who had hurt it.
And then she saw it. It was imprisoned in a cage and kicked its bars with its hooves. Serena also saw in horror that a little further afield was a herd of other Ponyta as well as bigger Pokemon that looked very much like Ponyta. They were all imprisoned in a large net and they tried in vain to get rid of it.
Serena watched this mouth open in horror while hearing Ash and the others arrive in the meadow. They stop next to Serena, just as horrified to see them, and Chloe said, "Who did this?"
"I don't know, but those Pokemon need help!" said Ash angrily, and Serena, who knew he hated everything like this, knew he would doing anything to free the Ponytas and those bigger Pokemon.
But when Ash left to run towards the captured Pokemon, however, Serena felt that something didn't feel right. However, she could not say what it was, but some instinct urged her to be careful. That's why she exclaimed, "Ash, wait!" and went running after the boy to warn this... well, about something.
Ash turned to Serena's cry, but didn't stop. However, he slowed his pace, so he now walked rather than ran. "What's the matter, Serena?" he asked when Serena got to him, and she explained breathlessly, "Ash, we have to be careful! I have a bad feeling about this."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked and Serena was just starting to explain to him when many things suddenly happened.
As they both took a step forward, they felt the ground crumble and turn into a big hole. Beneath them opened a large and deep pit, along the edges of which they both now slid. Eventually, they stumbled to the bottom of the pit and lay down in it.
"ASH! SERENA!" exclaimed Gou and Chloe after seeing this and Pikachu also exclaimed, "Pikapi! Pika pikachu!" They were just rushing to help Ash and Serena when suddenly a net flew over them too, capturing them on the ground. Pikachu and Greninja left confused to stand next to them and then, suddenly, there was malicious laughter from above and it made them look up very confused.
Ash and Serena, who had just stood up at the bottom of the pit, also heard it. It made Ash very unbelievable, for he recognized that laughter far too well. No way, it couldn't be true...
But yes it was. From the bottom of the pit, he saw how too familiar a Meowth-shaped hot air balloon appeared from behind the trees, riding a trio he had finally thought would get rid of. But apparently that hadn't happened and Team Rocket was again his nuisance. With their annoying motto:
"Prepare for trouble!
And make it double!
To protect the world from devastation!
To unite all people within our Nation!
To denounce the evils of truth and love!
To extend our reach to the stars above!
It's Jessie!
And James!
Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!
Surrender now, or prepare to fight!
Meowth! That's right!"
"You!" he shouted irritably when Team Rocket had finished their motto and grinned now at him from their balloon. "I already thought I got rid of you!"
"You thought wrong, twerp, you'll never get away from us!" exclaimed the magenta-haired woman, Jessie, grinning grimly. "But you're right, it's been a while since we last met."
"Yeah," said the purple-haired man, James, casually leaning against the railing of the balloon. "I guess we last saw in Alola, if I remember correctly"
"Right, Jimmy, in Alola it was," said the talking Meowth, grinning viciously. "But now we're in Galar and it's time to get back to normal business. Namely, to grab that Pikachu!" And they all laughed viciously.
Ash, on the other hand, didn't laugh, but clenched his hand angrily into his fist. "This pit, or rather a trap, is, of course, your deed, too, isn't it?" he shouted up at the balloon and Team Rocket smiled annoyingly smugly. "As well as capturing those Pokemon"
"That's right, twerp. The boss will definitely like them, we've heard that Galarian's Ponytas' and Rapidashs' have all sorts of interesting abilities," said Jessie, and Serena found out what those bigger Pokemon were. "But our main focus, of course, is still Pikachu. And that's why, James, please."
"Thank you, Jessie," James said, pulling the lever that was in the balloon basket. As a result, an iron grapple protruded from the basket, rushing toward Pikachu next to Greninja and finally grabbed him.
"Pikapi!" exclaimed Pikachu and Ash shouted in rage, "Release Pikachu immediately!" However, Team Rocket just laughed viciously and Meowth said, "And why would we do that? Won't work, twerp! Your little Pikachu is now our property and you can't do anything about it!"
And when he had said that, the grapple that captured Pikachu slipped back into the balloon and, once there, captured Pikachu in a cage similar to the one Ponyta had been captured. This made Ash squeeze his fists angrily and Team Rocket laugh viciously again.
At this point, we may need to pause for a moment. You're sure to wonder what Team Rocket suddenly did at Galar and why did they just step into the story now? Well, let me tell you.
When Team Rocket had finally returned to their headquarters after their time in Alola, Giovanni had not been very happy with their performance there. Especially when they hadn't brought a single Pokemon with them. He had also got enough of the trio's trys to grab Pikachu. Therefore, for these reasons, he temporarily demoted Team Rocket as cleaners to headquarters. The trio was not allowed to leave headquarters or participate in any of the plans.
This, of course, hadn't been a very nice thing about Team Rocket. After the first day, they had begun to devise a plan to help them escape headquarters. And after many months, Team Rocket was once again able to fulfill their obsessive mission of grabbing Pikachu.
They had spent some time figuring out where Ash and Pikachu were at the time, but eventually they had found out after spying on Ash's mother. They had immediately headed towards Galar and the grand prize waiting there for all that work. They had finally gotten to Galar and started tracing Ash and their partners there. Eventually, they had found out that a strong trainer from Kanto toured Galar's Gyms and immediately connected it to Ash.
They had started their tour around Galar. Unfortunately for them, they always come like a day or two after Ash to town, and at that time, he had always had time to leave from town. The closest they had got in Motostoke was when Ash and his partners had stayed there a little longer. But even then, Ash and Pikachu had time to disappear from there before they had gotten there.
But in the end, they had succeeded. They arrived in Ballonlea just an hour after Ash left and thus easily followed in his footsteps. They quickly found the camp they had camped in, but had not yet struck by then. Instead, they had developed a plot for which they had needed a nearby meadow of Ponytas and Rapidashs.
And to their delight, the plan was a complete success. They had been lured to the meadow that silly Kalos twerpette and Ash to follow her. They had acted exactly as they had wanted and finally, after many frustrating years, Pikachu was finally theirs.
But Ash really wasn't going to let that happen. He sent a request for help through Aura in his mind and hoped Lucario would hear it. Then he looked at Serena and said quietly but resolutely, "Ready?"
"Absolutely," Serena said with equal determination and grinning, raising her fist. Ash grinned back and then he took a determined look on his face. "Then... let's go!"
He took one of his Pokeballs from his belt and shouted, "Dragonite, help us!" He threw the ball in the air and then an orange Pokemon appeared in front of them. Ash didn't explain something in vain, but said directly, "Dragonite, help us up from this pit."
Dragonite nodded, though she wasn't really amused to help the human girl. However, she knew her Ash had wanted it, so she reluctantly agreed. "Nite!" she said, pointing to her back and then to Ash. Ash nodded, realizing what Dragonite meant.
He climbed on Dragonite's back and then Dragonite took to the air before Serena had time to do the same. For a moment, Serena thought it was going to leave her at the bottom of the pit, but then she felt the Dragonite fly at her and grab her armpits. She lifted her into the air and then flew lightly to the edge of the pit.
Team Rocket's smug smiles froze as they saw this. "We didn't take that into account, but you still can't get Pikachu back!" shouted Jessie, but Ash didn't answer. Instead, he climbed down Dragonite's back, turned his cap on the other side, and said in a toxic voice, "Is that what you think? Greninja, Water Shuriken!"
Greninja acted immediately. He formed shurikens with his hands and threw them towards Team Rocket's ball. They realized he was going to puncture the ball, and Jessie exclaimed, "Wobbuffet, now!"
Wobbuffet appeared from his Pokeball and made Mirror Coat. As a result, the shurikens of Greninja just collided with it and then changed direction. Ash and Greninja both had to dodge that the shurikens had not hit them.
The Team Rocket trio laughed viciously at their failure and Ash growled angrily. "Don't give up!" Gou shouted from under the net and Chloe continued, "Yeah, you can do it, Ash!"
They're right, Ash thought and got back up. I must not give up. The thought gave him new energy and he exclaimed, "Greninja, Water Shuriken again! And Dragonite, use Dragon Pulse!"
"Nite!" exclaimed Dragonite and opened her mouth and tossed the turquoise ball towards Team Rocket's balloon. Greninja also formed shurikens with his hands and threw them towards the trio's ball.
Wobbuffet got to dodge Dragonite's Dragon Pulse, but not Greninja's shurikens. They hit the trio's ball and punctured it. Team Rocket members looked at each other in horror and James sighed, "Oh well."
Their ball crashed to the ground and Pikachu's cage flew a short distance away. However, it did not open, and Pikachu still remained inside it. Team Rocket had finally managed to make a durable cage. Ash was rushing towards it, but Meowth prevented it by stepping in front of the cage, exposing his nails and saying, "Not a step, twerp, or you'll feel how sharp my nails really are."
"Don't care," Ash said, rushing toward Pikachu's cage. Meowth did the same and at the same time whipped Ash towards his face. However, Ash was able to repel the attack by making Aura shield in front of his face and grabbing Pikachu's cage into his hands.
Gou and Chloe cheered for this, but Team Rocket growled angrily. They were so close to succeeding in capturing Pikachu that they were not going to surrender. That's why Jessie turned to James and said, "I guess it's time to release it."
"Yeah, me too," James said, taking one Pokeball from his pocket. He magnified it and then looked at Jessie and Meowth a little cautiously. "Ready? It hasn't eaten in a while, so it can be quite hangry"
"Do it, Jimmy," said Meowth, and James took a little breath and threw the Pokeball into the air. A bright flash, and then a Pokemon appeared in front of them, much like what Marney had been in Stow-on-Side. However, this Pokemon had angry red eyes and a fierce look. It was also much darker and more malicious looking. And it didn't help that there was dark energy circling around it.
It saw Ash standing in front of him and send a large electric shock towards him. Ash didn't have time to react, and he couldn't really, for he had Pikachu's cage in his arms. Dragonite and Greninja didn't have time to do anything either, but just as Ash thought the eruption hit him, something rushed out of the woods in front of him and formed a shield from Aura in front of him.
The eruption hit it and slid Lucario backwards. It also bounced back and towards Team Rocket. They looked at its approach with their eyes wide and James said again, "Oh well." Then it hit them and sent them on an air flight that had become quite familiar to them.
"We're blasting off again!" they exclaimed as they disappeared somewhere far away. Ash and the others watched as they flew away until Ash turned his gaze to Lucario and said through Aura, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Master. Morpeko's Hangry form is no small thing," Lucario replied with a small grin until he looked behind Ash, where Gou and Chloe were still a prisoner of the net. "But I feel like we should release them"
"Yeah," Ash said and then they all walked over to Gou and Chloe. Greninja formed one shuriken with his hand and cut the net with it. Gou and Chloe were finally released, as were the Yampers, who had also been taken prisoner by the net.
"Thank you, it wasn't very nice there," Gou said, stretching his arms and Chloe nodded. "Yeah, it wasn't," she also said, until a thoughtful look rose on her face. "But who were those guys? They seemed to know you."
"They were Team Rocket," Ash explained, squeezing Pikachu's cage in his arms. "They've been after me for as long as I can remember. They want to grab Pikachu and give him to their boss. I thought they had finally given up when they didn't show up at Galar, but apparently I was wrong."
"Oh, don't sound very nice," Chloe said, shaking, and Ash shrugged. "Well, they're actually pretty harmless. Rarely they do any great harm."
Gou and Chloe nodded and then they heard a familiar voice behind them shouting, "Ash! Gou! Chloe! Look, I got all the Ponytas and Rapidashes released!" They turned in the direction of the sound and saw Serena smiling wide and scratching one Ponyta behind its ear.
Yeah, Serena. When Ash had battle Team Rocket, Serena had rushed to release Ponytas and Rapidashes. But the task had been more challenging than she had imagined. Ponyta's cage hadn't meant to open at all and she had already been about to give up. But then Ponyta had pushed her by her horn, pointed at the captured Rapidashes, and then at Serena's pocket, where she kept her Rotom.
Serena had been in amazement for a while until she realized. She had picked up the Rotom and used it to scan Rapidashes. Rotom had scanned them and provided Serena with information that was quite important:
"Rapidash, Unique Horn Pokemon and Galarian form. An evolved form of Galarian Ponyta. Psychic- and Fairy-type. Little can stand up to its Psycho cut. Unleashed from this Pokémon's Horn, the move will punch a hole right through a thick metal sheet"
"Through the metal sheet..." Serena muttered and then she came up with. She quickly stepped up to the Rapidashes trap, picked up one Pokeball, and released Braixen.
"Braixen, use Scratch on that net," she had said when a fox-like Pokemon had appeared next to her. Braixen had nodded and waved the net with her nails. It had disintegrated neatly and the Rapidashes had finally been free.
They had gathered in a close circle, and Serena said reassuringly, "Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just asking you to help me."
Rapidashes had seemed to be listening to her, and Serena had continued, and at the same time pointed to the cage in which Ponyta was imprisoned, "One of you must break the lock on that cage. Otherwise, we will not get that poor Ponyta free."
Rapidashes had seemed to think for a moment until one of them had stepped forward. Serena had smiled gratefully at her and then showed her the cage lock. Rapidash had pointed a lock on its horn and then an energy discharge had discharged from its horn. It had pierced the lock and the cage door had opened. Ponyta had been free again and had gotten to her herd again.
And so Serena had saved the Ponytas and Rapidashes. After telling others her story, she wanted to hear how Ash had defeated Team Rocket and freed Gou and Chloe.
When Ash had finished, there was still one more thing to do. Pikachu was still imprisoned in that cage and had to get out. And Serena knew how to do it.
She turned back to Ponyta, asking her for help. But when she was asking it, she noticed that Ponyta had gone to one Rapidash and rubbed her nose against Rapidash's nose. The sight made her a little wistful and she guessed that in front of her was a mother and daughter.
She felt someone stepping next to her and recognized the comer as Ash. "You would have liked to take her with you, would you?" he asked quietly and Serena nodded a little sadly as she watched Ponyta jump happily around her mother.
"Yeah, but that wouldn't be right," she said, smiling a little sadly. "Her place is with her mother, and I would only be selfish if I took her out of it" She didn't have to look at Ash to know that he was looking at her understandingly.
She felt Ash grab her by the hand and gently squeeze it. She finally turned to look at her boyfriend and saw him smiling with his familiar smile. "You're right, but Pikachu is still in the cage," he said and Pikachu nodded briskly. "And that's why you have to ask your friend to help. Come on, let's ask her!"
And having said that, he set out to step towards Ponyta and her mother, pulling Serena with him at the same time. As they walked up to Ponyta, Gou and Chloe looked at it a little further away with Greninja and Lucario
"They really fit each other," Gou said as they watched Ponyta break the cage lock, and Pikachu was free again. "They really are real soul mates"
"Yeah," Chloe said, spinning her braid with her fingers, and then said contemplatively, "What does it feel? When you have your own soul mate. And where I can find one?"
"I can be yours if you want," Gou blurted out before he had time to stop himself. He quickly realized what he had said, and flushed bright red. Chloe instead turned to look at him a little surprised and then said with a hint of pink on her cheek, "Oh, um, okay. Fits me."
"Really?" asked Gou in surprise and Chloe nodded, looking a little confused. "Yeah, that would be nice," she said, smiling a little. Gou smiled back and then they each turned to look in the other direction, each cheeks more or less red.
Behind them, Greninja and Lucario watched the situation and Greninja grinned at Lucario. "Week," he said and Lucario raised his eyebrows.
"A week? I say three days," he said and Greninja thought for a moment. Then he came up with a great idea.
"Let's bet. Whichever gets closer, wins," he explained and Lucario nodded. "What about the prize?" he asked and Greninja grinned a little mischievously.
"The winner is allowed to take Braixen on a date, and the loser is not allowed to murder him because of it," he said and Lucario stiffened.
"No way!" he exclaimed, but Greninja just shrugged. "Take it or leave it," he said and Lucario thought for a moment.
Finally, he sighed and said, "Okay, but the winner isn't allowed to talk about it again after that," Greninja thought for a moment until he nodded.
"Fine," he said and then they shake their hands as a sign of agreement.
Once Pikachu was released, it was time for Ash and his partners to head back toward the camp. Serena said goodbye to Ponyta a little wistfully, but realized this was the best. So she waved at her with a longing mind as she stood beside her mother and watched them leave.
But just as they were stepping back into the woods, Serena heard the galloping footsteps behind her and turned to look. To her surprise, she saw Ponyta gallop towards her and she stopped in wonder.
Ponyta reached them and walked over to Serena. She squatted to her level and said, "I don't understand. Why do you..."
However, her sentence broke when Ponyta touched Serena's forehead with her horn. "Thank you," Serena heard a voice say inside her head and realized that Ponyta had used telepathy. Ponyta then took her horn off Serena's forehead and, to Serena's surprise, tore herself one hair.
Ponyta handed the hair to Serena and she received it with a little confused. Then she felt the horn on her forehead again and heard Ponyta say telepathically, "It's a memory of me. Keep it safe so you don't forget."
Then Ponyta took her horn off Serena's forehead again and turned. Serena watched as she walked back to her herd and then she got up and turned to the others.
"Let's go," she said and then they all disappeared into the woods again and back towards their camp.