Ash awoke early the following morning, Yawning, he entered the Kitchen to find not just Hayley, but Professor Juniper as well.
'Oh, hey Professor Juniper. this is a surprise" Ash said, to which Professor Juniper replied "Hey Ash, and I'm just catching up with Hilda's mom, we go back a long way"
"Ah, lovely" As replied as he got breakfast and started. Soon, Hilda exited into the Kitchen, and said "Oh hey Professor Juniper, good to see you again"
'Good to see you too Hilda. I see you've only just woken up, so we'll you two get breakfast and freshen up before I talk to you about something" Professor Juniper replied, smiling. Hilda nodded, and once Ash and Hilda had gotten ready, Professor Juniper was in the Living Room.
"So, what's up?" Ash asked, to which Professor Juniper replied "Well, I was thinking that you could pay a visit to areas past Virbank City. There are two additional towns and a Ranch to visit. I hope you'll enjoy yourselves there"
"Hey, that sounds great. How do we get there?" Ash asked, to which Professor Juniper replied "Well, how did you get to Virbank City before?"
"We took a boat from Castelia City to Virbank City" Ash replied, to which Professor Juniper noded.
"Good. Oh, when you get to Aspertia City, say hi to Cheren for me. And Bianca if she's there too" Professor Juniper said, to which both Ash and Hilda nodded,
"I think they'd be thrilled to see me again, I guess because I was Hilbert's little sister, both Cheren and Bianca also did likewise" Hilda replied, to which Hayley smiled, and said "They were always protective of you, it was cute to see", to which Hilda blushed slightly at that.
"As for asking us to go, sure. Maybe we could catch up with Nate, Rosa and Hugh, I believe they live in Aspertia City, right?" Ash asked, to which Professor Juniper nodded.
"Cool. Well, we'd better get going then" Hilda replied, to which Ash nodded, and after Hilda hugged Hayley and Professor Juniper, they headed out.
Meanwhile at Castelia City
Two hooded figures are standing at one of the ports, waiting for something.
"Meloetta's moved to the land on the other side of the river. If we're to capture her for the boss, we're going to need to keep track of it" the female said. Soon, a speedboat rode up, with Petrel controlling it.
"Get on. You're going Mythical hunting" Petrel said, and the two figures got onboard.
As they headed for Virbank City, Petrel said "I wonder why the boss isn't using the other duo for this mission?" Petrel sneered, to which the male figure replied "They're not specialised for capturing Mythical and Legendary Pokémon. We are"
"Ah, good. Then I assume you won't have any trouble with it" Petrel sneered, to which the man replied "It won't be that easy, this particular Mythical can turn invisible, and can put people and Pokémon to sleep using its signature move. But with what we've been given, we should be OK"
'Then I wish you good luck in that endeavour" Petrel replied. Soon, they reached the Virbank City port, and the figures disembarked before Petrel shot the speedboat away.
"Now, where did we last sense her?" the female asked, to which the male replied "Near Floccesy Ranch. I say we lock it down, so we and our Pokémon can come every square inch of the ranch, so we can find this being"
"Agreed. Now let's get going" the female replied, and they headed for the ranch.
When Ash and Hilda reached the Castelia City train station, they departed the train and headed for the port to take them to Virbank City.
"I wonder if we could take a detour to Pokéstar Studios, do a bit more movie-making" Ash wondered. Hilda responded "Maybe once we come back from Aspertia City and Floccesy Town"
"True" Ash replied, nodding. Soon, the boat arrived, and Ash and Hilda got onto it.
On the way, Ash saw a black speedboat leaving the Virbank City port. A close look saw that it seemed to be a Team Rocket Speedboat.
"Looks like Team Rocket's up to something in, or around, Virbank City," Ash said, pointing it out to Hilda, who nodded.
"That's not good, we'd better investigate," Hilda said, to which Ash nodded.
Soon, they arrived at the Virbank City port. They got off and thanked the sailor.
"So, let's ask around, and see where these guys went," Ash said, to which Hilda nodded, and they started asking around.
It took a bit, but after a few minutes they found out that two hooded figures had headed for Floccesy Ranch about an hour or so ago.
"Well, sounds like we know where they're going," Hilda said, to which Ash nodded, and replied "I get the feeling that's where Meloetta might be too"
"Then let's go" Hilda replied, and they headed out for the Ranch.
Meanwhile at Floccesy Ranch
Meloetta was playing and singing with the local wild Pokémon, enjoying the sight of happy Pokémon listening to her music. However, she suddenly sensed that something was wrong.
"Uh oh, those figures there don't look friendly," she said. She then turned to the others and gave them warnings. They dispersed, and she went invisible and into hiding. She was strong, but she'd rather not have to fight people who are trying to hurt her.
Meanwhile, the figures pulled off their robes, revealing Cassidy and Butch.
"Now, let's get our protection, and sensing equipment to hunt Meloetta on," Butch said, to which Cassidy nodded, and they got out noise-cancelling headphones, infra-red goggles and other equipment, ready to go.
"Now, let's get in there and catch ourselves a Meloetta" Cassidy stated, and they headed inside Floccesy Ranch.
Cassidy and Butch bring all of their Pokémon out, and they start locking down the Ranch.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" came one of the ranch owners and his Stoutland. Cassidy pointed to her Granbull, who immediately charged it, and they engaged in battle. The other Ranch owner exited, and Butch stuck his Cloyster onto it.
"Now Mightyena, use your sensitive nose to find Meloetta's scent. Aggron, you lock down the entrance. The rest spread out and cause chaos" Butch stated, to which his Pokémon nodded, and went to their roles.
Cassidy then added "Do the same team. Charizard, lock down the skies. Tentacruel, lock down the water. Houndoom, scent out too. The rest. also cause chaos" and her team did likewise.
Mightyena and Houndoom initially had a bit of trouble finding Meloetta's scent. The other issue is that loads of Pokémon are around, so her heat signature is masked by all of the others, making their infra-red goggles hard to use. After a few moments though, they locked on and ran into the north of the ranch in pursuit.
"Let's go," Cassidy said to Butch, and they followed.
Also, Shuckle made it harder for people to get in by throwing Stealth Rocks at the entrance, leaving floating stones around the area.
Ash and Hilda soon reach the entrance to Floccesy Ranch to see it in chaos. An Aggron and Shuckle blocks the way, with Stealth Rock floating around them,
"Aggron and Shuckle? OK, I think I know who's behind this, and it's not Jessie and James" Ash stated. Hilda wondered "There's more than one duo?"
"Yep," Ash replied. He then called "Braviary, I choose you" and Braviary materialised. Hilda nodded, then called "Now Mienshao, let's show them what we can do" and Mienshao materialised.
Battle: Braviary and Mienshao VS Shuckle and Aggron
Braviary takes Moderate damage from the Stealth Rock, while Mienshao takes only Slight damage.
"Mienshao, use Fake Out on Aggron" Hilda called, and Mienshao cloaked its hands in white energy, and clapped Aggron, inflicting Slight damage and causing Aggron to Flinch.
"Alright Braviary, use Defog" Ash called, and Braviary flapped its wings hard to blow the pointed stones away.
"Now Mienshao, use Rock Slide" Hilda called, and Mienshao dropped a bunch of rocks onto Shuckle and Aggron. Aggron took Slight damage, while Shuckle took Minor damage.
"Now Braviary, use U-Turn on Shuckle" Ash called, and Braviary coated itself in teal energy, and turned into Shuckle, inflicting Minor damage and allowing Ash to withdraw Braviary.
"Now Emboar, I choose you" Ash called, and Emboar materialised.
Aggron's head then glowed with silver energy and charged at Mienshao.
"Whoa, Emboar, block that, then use Brick Break" Ash called, and Emboar intercepted the hit, taking Minor damage, then his hand glowed with orange energy, and slashed Aggron, inflicting Severe damage.
Shuckle then summoned more pointed stones using Stealth Rock.
"End this one Mienshao, use Drain Punch" Hilda called, and cloaked its fist with Orange energy, and struck Aggron, KO'ing it.
"Now let's focus on Shuckle," Ash said, to which Hilda nodded. Ash then called "Now Emboar, use Flare Blitz" Ash called, and Emboar cloaked himself with flames, and crashed into Shuckle, inflicting about a quarter of Shuckle's max health in damage, taking Slight recoil.
Shuckle then used a quarter of its health to hide behind a doll.
"Mienshao, use Rock Slide" Hilda called, and Mienshao summoned a bunch of rocks to drop on Shuckle, but failed to break the Substitute.
"Emboar, use Brick Break" Ash called, and Emboar cloaked its hand in a blade of orange energy, and slashed the doll, destroying it. Shuckle then shot three rocks at Emboar, inflicting Slight damage both each and overall.
"End this Mienshao, use Drain Punch" Hilda called, and Mienshao cloaked its fist with orange energy and punched Shuckle, KO'ing it.
Conclusion: Braviary, Emboar and Mienshao win.
With Meloetta
Seeing the Rockets hunting her, as well as the Houndoom and Mightyena tracking her scent, Meloetta called over a Riolu, who was able to use its Abilities, however, limited, to mask her scent enough for her to move to another part of the ranch without leaving her scent behind, mostly.
With Team Rocket
Houndoom and Mightyena were continuing to track Meloetta's scent when they saw Aggron being knocked out.
"Aggron's been KO'ed. Who the hell is interfering?" Butch snapped, and he turned his scanners towards the entrance, and saw Ash and Hilda,
"It's the twerp, Ash I think it was. What is he doing here? And he seems to have got himself yet another travelling companion" Butch stated, to which Cassidy replied "It is. What the hell is he doing here? Is thought he was supposed to be running around the mainland of Unova"
"Apparently not. We'd better get Meloetta and get out of here before he finds us, we've been told not to confront him. Maybe we could use our Pokémon to distract him and buy us a bit more time to track Meloetta down" Butch stated. They then followed Mightyena and Houndoom, as their scent tracking continued.
Back to Ash and Hilda
Braviary was called back in, taking about a quarter of its health in damage, then Ash called "Braviary, use Defog" and Braviary flapped its wings hard to blow away the Stealth Rocks.
"Let's go," Ash said to Hilda, who nodded, and they headed inside. Here, they saw the two Ranch Owners fighting a Granbull and a Cloyster.
A Charizard was shooting Flame Bursts at both Stoutlands and combining these Pokémon, Ash knew who they were facing.
"Cassidy and Biff. Just great" Ash said, to which Butch, having heard this, gritted his teeth and yelled "It's Butch, not Biff! Can't you get my name right?", which confirmed it to Ash.
"Well that confirms it, Cassidy, Bitch, I'm coming for you" Ash called. But Cassidy and Butch ignored him, as they continued to pursue Meloetta.
"Alright, we've got another battle on our hand. Braviary, take down that Charizard. Hilda, I spy a Tentacruel, so get Samurott to take that one down" Ash told Hilda. Hilda was surprised by Ash's sudden tone change,
"Ash?" Hilda asked, nervous, to which Ash replied "You're going to have to trust me, Hilda, these two are more dangerous than Jessie and James. They're not stronger, just more dangerous. Now go"
"Alright" Hilda replied, both elated that Ash trusts her to defeat the Tentacruel, but also surprised by his tone change. Charizard, meanwhile, had turned its attention to Ash, and his Braviary got ready to strike.
Shortly afterwards, Hilda's Samurott got Tentacruel's attention.
Battle; Braviary VS Charizard
Charizard roared, then shot a Flame Burst at Braviary.
"Dodge it Braviary, and use Return" Ash called, and Braviary narrowly avoided the burst of fire, then charged at Charizard while cloaked with a heart of white energy, and smacked into Charizard, inflicting Considerable damage.
Charizard then struck Braviary with a blade of sky blue energy, inflicting Moderate damage.
"Braviary, use Rock Slide" Ash called, and Braviary summoned, then threw, a bunch of rocks at Charizard, but a Focus Blast from it destroyed most of the rocks, so Charizard took no damage.
"Braviary, quick, use Brave Bird" Ash called, and Braviary cloaked itself in sky blue energy, and crashed into Charizard, KO'ing it and almost KO'ing itself in recoil.
"Great job Braviary, now rest up with Roost" Ash called, and Braviary landed and rested his body, restoring half his health.
Conclusion: Braviary win.
Battle: Samurott VS Tentacruel
The Tentacruel threw up a barrier to sharply increase its Defence. Hilda, seeing this, called "Samurott, use Swords Dance" and Samurott summoned a bunch of white swords, and danced frenetically, sharply raising its Attack stat.
Then, Tentacruel unleashed a wave of Poison at Samurott.
"Dodge it, then use Return" Hilda called, and Smaurott narrowly avoided the wave of Poison, and its seamitar glowed with a heart of white energy, and slashed Tentacruel, inflicting Moderate damage.
Tentacruel then grabbed Samurott and started wringing it out, a Wring Out attack, which inflicted Minor damage.
"Samurott, get free with Megahorn" Hilda called, and Samurott's horn glowed teal, and bashed into Tentacruel, forcing Tentacruel to let Samurott go, taking Minor damage in the process.
Tentacruel then shot a blast of water at Samurott, a Hydro Pump attack, inflicting Minor damage.
"Now Samurott, use Hydro Pump yourself" Hilda called, and Samurott responded with its own blast of water, inflicting Minor damage to Tentacruel. Tentacruel then unleashed a wave of poison at Samurott, a Sludge Wave, and inflicted Moderate damage. This knocked Samurott into the range of Torrent, causing Samurott to glow with blue energy.
"Now Samurott, use Hydro Pump again" Hilda called, and Samurott shot a blast of water, covered with an aura of blue, and it was powerful enough to KO Tentacruel.
Woohoo! That was awesome Samurott" Hilda called, and she gave her Samurott a big hug, which he returned. Then she healed Samurott up, and they headed back to Ash.
Conclusion: Samurott wins.
With Butch and Cassidy
Their Pokémon were withdrawn to them as they were KO'ed.
"This is bad, the twerps are stronger than we expected" Butch snapped, to which Cassidy replied, "Let's just get Meloetta and get out of here then".
However, at that moment, they're all blown back by Meloett'a Hyper Voice. Mightyena took about two-thirds of its max health in damage, while Houndoom took Considerable damage.
"There she is" Butch called, and recklessly fired a net at the spot. However, it got tangled in the trees.
And it was at that moment, that Ash and Hilda caught up with them.
"I thought I heard you two over here," Ash said. And, well, they launched into their motto.
"Prepare for trouble, a blast from the past" Cassidy said, to which Butch added "And make it double, moving super fast"
They both then called "Here's our mission, so you better listen"
Then Cassidy called "To leave the region in devastation", to which Butch added "To destroy all people within the nation"
Cassidy then called "To denounce the goodness of truth and love" to which Butch added "To extend our wrath to the stars above"
"Cassidy", "Butch", before Cassidy added "We're the true Team Rocket, taking over Unova at a breakneck pace" before Butch continued with "Surrender now or you'll lose the fight"
"Cassidy and Dutch, eh? You don't seem so tough, not like Jessie and James" Hilda boasted, to which Butch snapped "It's Butch, not Dutch, can't you ever get my name right?" before Cassidy responded by firing a net at Hilda, which caught her and shut her up real quick.
"Hilda" Ash called, then he added "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt" and Pikachu sent a blast of electricity at Cassidy and Butch, but they were ready.
"Not this time Ash, we're ready for you too," Cassidy said, and she produced a Lightning Rod which redirected their attacks. Butch then did a quick scan and said "Darn, she got away. We'd better get out of here"
"Hmph. Well, we've got more important things to do than scuffle with a twerp like you. Good luck getting your girlfriend out. Mwahaha!" Cassidy said, and they threw a smoke bomb and headed out.
Pikachu sliced open the net and freed Hilda. She sighed, then said "I'm sorry Ash, I got too arrogant and got instant karma"
"I did warn you, Hilda, they're a lot nastier than Jessie and James" Ash replied, to which Hilda nodded. Ash then asked, "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'll be OK" Hilda replied. Pikachu briefly sensed Meloetta but lost sensing of her.
"We'd better get back to Virbank City and regroup" Ash replied, and they headed back towards the entrance.
As they reach the entrance, the Ranchers said "Thanks for helping us out, we owe you a lot"
"No worries, we're glad to help" Ash replied, smiling. He then asked, "Are you two OK?"
"Yeah, we'll be OK" the second Rancher replied. The first Rancher then asked, "Who were those guys?"
"Team Rocket. A group I've fought against numerous times in the past. But they've gotten much more aggressive since arriving in Unova. This is not something I've seen in them before. We're just glad you're OK"
"Thanks. You two OK?" the first Rancher asked, to which Ash replied "I'll be fine. Hilda will be OK, but I've just got to talk to her a bit" and he wrapped an arm around Hilda, who smiled slightly.
"Well, good luck" both Ranchers replied, waving, to which both Ash and Hilda returned, then headed back to Virbank City.