"So Ash, what's our plan?" Cassie asked. "I mean you said it yourself, you don't know what to do about your other two badges."
"I'm not sure." Ash admitted. "I guess I could call Professor Oak, maybe he knows the location of some more gyms."
"Well what are you two doing here?" Jonas said, walking up to their table.
"Mr Jonas." Ash and Cassie said surprised. "What are you still doing here?"
"Ahh, I met up with some old compatriots of mine." Jonas said. "Why the long faces?"
"I'm not sure where to go next." Ash said.
"Well, did you ever make it to Lavender Town?" Jonas asked.
"No, we only just wrapped back up here to Saffron." Ash realized. "Cassie, I know what we're going to do today!"
Outside Saffron City
"Alright, this is our territory, if you want to pass, you'll have to pay a toll." A gruff voice said.
"Please, I'm just trying to visit my grandkids, I don't have any money." An elderly lady said.
"Well she might not, but her Grandkids should have plenty of cash." A woman's voice said.
"Please, I'm begging you, they don't have much left either." The elderly woman said.
"Hey!" Ash exclaimed. "Leave her alone!"
"Ash." Cassie warned.
"What this little kid wants to play hero?" The gruff voice said, getting off of his motorcycle, standing tall above Ash.
"I'd back down if I were you, I'm no helpless kid." Ash said confidently.
"Hear this, he's got a spine." The gruff man said with a chuckle. "Let's break it. Tauros let's go!"
Ash was quickly face to face with a herd of Tauros, all angrily staring him down.
"Okay, something big, I need to take out a lot of them at once." Ash said.
"Whoa there." Jonas's voice was heard, as his cart came to a stop.
"Beat it old man, this doesn't concern you." One of the bikers said.
"Well you see, I'm making it my concern." Jonas said. "I've been around these parts for quite some time, and I know for a fact that there's never been a payment to get through this road."
"Newly installed." A different biker chuckled.
"Wesley Gorbisher, does your mother know you're borrowing her bike?" Jonas asked.
"Wait, your name is Wesley?!" One of the girls blurted out.
"No, let's talk about the fact that the bike he's using isn't even his." Another laughed.
"Angela and Melody Forbischer, what happened to you two, you had such bright futures in the ballet." Jonas asked.
"Okay you two being in ballet has nothing on me being named Wesley." Wesley commented.
"Jonas, what are you doing?" Ash muttered.
"Like I said, I've been around for a while, plus emotions are a powerful thing in the wrong hands." Jonas said. "If a trainer loses their confidence, their Pokémon loses it too."
"Look old man, quit it with the head games, you aren't getting through." The gruff man barked. "You've got nothing on me."
"Maybe not." Jonas said, calmly walking through the Tauros.
"Wait, how are you doing that?!" The gruff man said.
"You work with Tauros as long as I have and you start to learn some things about them, like as long as you keep bitter leaves in your pockets, they'll ignore you." Jonas said. "Now while I don't have any knowledge of who you are, I can do this."
Jonas reached up and pinched the neck of the biker, making his body fall limp, and the gang go silent.
"Now leave, and don't do this again. You kids are too young to do this foolishness." Jonas warned.
"Mr Jonas that was incredible!" Ash exclaimed as the bikers and their Pokémon ran off. "What did you do to that guy?"
"He'll be out for a bit, but I'll let nearby authorities know about this just in case they don't learn their lesson." Jonas said. "Are you all okay?"
"They never got close." Ash said.
"You two showed up in the knick of time." The elderly woman said. "I should be going to Lavender Town though, my kids will be expecting me soon."
"Here I'll give you a ride." Jonas offered. "Just give me a minute."
"What's wrong?" Ash asked.
"Kid, you got in way over your head there, if I hadn't come by, you'd be paste." Jonas warned. "I don't want to see you getting a big head just because you have a few badges now. There are ways to solve problems other than violence."
"Okay Mr. Jonas." Ash said.
"Good, now good luck on your way to Saffron, and best of luck getting your remaining badges." Jonas said.
"Wait you aren't giving us a lift?" Cassie asked.
"Sometimes the long road is worth traveling." Jonas said, as he got onto his cart. "I'd get going if I were you, who knows when they'll return."
Authors Note
I know, not a lot of Pokémon in this chapter. I'm writing this on day 2 of legends Arceus and really needed to start writing, I promise next chapter will have a battle.