Chapter 24 A Taxi Problem

As Ash and his group pass through the towering gate, they find themselves in the bustling heart of Rustbolt City. The sight of sleek cars weaving through traffic and people strolling alongside their Pokémon fills Ash with awe. The city hums with life, a stark contrast to the more tranquil places they've visited before.

Just then, Rodney appears, sprinting toward them with a wide grin. "Ash! Alice! You made it here, too!"

"Hey, Rodney!" Alice responds with a smile. "How have you been?"

"I won my gym battle!" Rodney exclaims, his excitement bubbling over. "It wasn't easy, but I did it!" He then notices Delia standing beside them and quickly bows, his tone turning respectful. "It's so nice to see you, Your Highness."

Delia smiles warmly. "No need to be so formal, Rodney."

Rodney's eyes then shift to Elena, his expression brightening with recognition. "And you must be Princess Elena! It's an honor to meet you in person."

Elena nods graciously. "Thank you, Rodney."

Turning to Ash, Alice gently tugs on his sleeve. "Ash, since you're new to this place, there's something you should know. Rustbolt City is huge, and with all this traffic, it's not safe to walk on the roads. But don't worry, there are crosswalks to help you get across safely."

Rodney nods in agreement. "Yeah, and I heard there's a taxi company here. Maybe we should find it to get around more easily. Anyway, I'm going to explore a bit. Just remember, stay off the roads and look out for those taxis!"

As Rodney waves goodbye and hurries off, Ash and the others continue to explore the city. The towering buildings cast long shadows over the streets, and they make a conscious effort to avoid drawing too much attention to themselves, blending into the rhythm of the city.

Inside one of the cozy houses nestled in Rustbolt City, Ash and Alice encounter a rugged hiker, his backpack resting heavily on the floor beside him. The hiker greets them with a hearty smile. "Hey there! You two look like you've traveled a long way to get here! Did you know that some items can cause certain Pokémon to evolve when they hold them?"

Ash, curious as always, steps forward. "Yeah, we know about that. What about them?"

The hiker grins and reaches into his bag. "Well, here, take these!" To their surprise, he hands them a Razor Fang and a Razor Claw, the items gleaming in the light.

Alice's eyes widen as she takes the Razor Claw. "With this, we can evolve Beopup! Though, it has to be nighttime."

Elena, standing nearby, nods thoughtfully. "And the Razor Fang can be used later after you evolve your Vambat."

Ash, holding the items carefully, smiles appreciatively. "This is so helpful. Thank you."

The hiker chuckles, clearly pleased with their reaction. "Glad I could help! These items can make all the difference in a tough battle."

As they step outside, Pikachu's nose twitches as he catches a scent from a nearby trash can. He scampers over, letting out a sharp cry to get Ash's attention.

"What is it, Pikachu?" Ash asks, following his companion to the trash can. There, nestled among some discarded items, he spots a glint of something unusual. Ash crouches down and carefully picks up the object. "It's a Thunder Stone..."

Elena peers over his shoulder. "Pikachu can evolve with that, right? Are you going to use it?"

Ash shakes his head, glancing at Pikachu, who looks back at him with determined eyes. "No, Pikachu doesn't want to evolve into Raichu. I respect his choice, and I trust him." Pikachu squeals in agreement, nuzzling Ash's leg.

Elena smiles at their bond. "Then maybe you should give the Thunder Stone to Zuppy. It can evolve with it too."

Ash nods, looking at Zuppy, who seems eager. "Good idea." He carefully places the Thunder Stone near Zuppy, who begins to glow with a bright, electric light. The light intensifies, and before their eyes, Zuppy evolves, growing larger and more formidable, resembling a powerful dog-like Pokémon.

Rushot: The Zapping Pokemon: Electric Type. Evolved from Zuppy with the Thunder Stone. A Pokémon said to able to move as fast as a lightning strike, Rushot are attracted to the sound of thunder and follow it relentlessly.

Ash kneels down to greet his newly evolved Pokémon, a wide smile spreading across his face. "You look great, Rushot."

Rushot, full of affection and energy, licks Ash's face happily, his tail wagging furiously. Ash laughs, feeling the bond between them grow even stronger.

After their recent adventure, Ash and his group make their way to the local Bike Shop. As they enter, the vendor behind the counter immediately recognizes Delia and bows respectfully. "Oh my, Your Highness, what can I do for you today?"

Delia smiles warmly as she hands the vendor two Bike Vouchers. "My son and his friend would like to purchase a bike each. Is that possible?"

The vendor's eyes light up with excitement. "Of course, ma'am. It would be my pleasure." He then guides Ash and Alice over to the selection of bikes, each gleaming under the shop's bright lights.

Ash carefully examines the options before picking out a sleek Red Bike, admiring its vibrant color. Alice, after a moment of consideration, chooses a Light Blue Bike, its soft hue matching her style perfectly.

With their new bikes in hand, the group heads outside, eager to explore the city. However, they soon notice a large crowd gathered near the taxi stands, the atmosphere tense as people murmur among themselves, clearly unhappy about something.

"I wonder what's going on..." Alice muses, her gaze fixed on the restless crowd.

"I'm not sure," Elena responds before stepping forward to ask one of the bystanders for more information. As she returns to the group, Ash notices the troubled expression on her face, sensing that the news isn't good.

"What is it, sis?" Ash asks, concerned.

Elena sighs, glancing back at the crowd. "It seems there are no taxis running in the city. The drivers have gone on strike."

"A strike, you say?" Delia interjects, her tone thoughtful. "I heard the Taxi Company is located northwest of here. Perhaps we should go there and find out what's causing the problem."

With their decision made, the group heads toward the Taxi Company. When they arrive, they are greeted by the sight of numerous workers sitting idly in the company's waiting room, their faces a mix of frustration and resignation. None of them seem willing to step outside and drive, leaving the group puzzled by the situation.

Delia, her voice firm but gentle, addresses the workers. "What is going on here?"

The taxi drivers quickly recognize the royal family and rise to their feet, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness..." one of them murmurs.

Ash steps forward, his expression serious. "We noticed that people at the stands are unhappy, and it seems like you're on strike. Can you tell us why?"

One of the workers steps forward, his voice tinged with frustration. "I apologize, Your Highness. You see, our boss doesn't pay us enough, so we won't work for him until he raises our pay!"

A second worker hands over a document, his face earnest. "Here's the contract, if you need proof. Our wages are far too low."

Delia takes the contract, her eyes scanning the details. As she reads, her expression hardens, anger flashing in her eyes. "This is intolerable. Where is your boss? I can't believe you're forced to accept these low wages."

"If you wanna find him, he'll be at the Central Park. He goes there to battle Trainers." a third worker explains. "We've tried talking to him, but he refuses to listen."

"Thank you for telling us," Ash replies, determination in his voice. "We'll go and have a word with him about this."

The workers' faces brighten with hope, grateful that the royal family is willing to intervene on their behalf.

As Ash and his group arrive at Central Park, they notice a heated argument taking place between one of the workers and the boss. The worker, his face flushed with frustration, stands firm. "Rustbolt City can't function without taxis, and we won't work until you raise our pay!"

The boss, his expression indifferent, scoffs. "Why should I?"

"Because we work hard all day, every day, and we deserve it!" the worker retorts, his voice rising with determination. "If you raise our pay, we'll get back to work!"

"Forget it!" the boss snaps, turning on his heel to leave the park, oblivious to the presence of Ash and the others. The worker sighs in defeat, but his eyes widen in surprise when he finally notices the royal group. Quickly, he bows in respect.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that," the worker mutters, his frustration evident. "He just won't listen. Maybe you can have a word with him... I think he's headed back to his office at the Taxi Company."

The group agrees, and the worker leads them back to the company. As they approach the office, Ash and Alice decide to go in first, while Elena and Delia wait outside, giving them space to handle the situation.

Inside the office, the boss, still fuming from the earlier confrontation, doesn't notice Ash and Alice's entrance. He continues to argue with the workers who have followed him in. "I SAID NO! Why should I raise your wages!? I need the money to train my Pokémon!"

One of the workers steps forward, trying to reason with him. "Boss, I understand that, but we work hard all day and night. We're only asking for a small increase, something to acknowledge our hard work. And about your Pokémon... Why don't you train them yourself? Have you forgotten how much fun it is to take care of your own Pokémon?"

The boss's eyes narrow, his tone defensive. "My Pokémon need this training! I want to compete in the next Rikoto League, so they have to be strong. I don't have the time to train them myself!"

"Oh yeah? The Rikoto League isn't going anywhere. You don't have to rush," Ash counters, his voice calm but firm.

The boss sneers, looking Ash up and down with disdain. "And who are you supposed to be? A trainer? You don't look like one, kid. Haha!"

Ash meets his gaze without flinching. "I am a trainer, and I'm collecting badges to compete in the Rikoto League."

The boss laughs mockingly, his arrogance evident. "Don't make me laugh. The Rikoto League isn't meant for little kids like you."

One of the workers steps forward, trying to interject. "What are you doing, boss? Don't you know who he—"

"Don't," Ash interrupts, holding up a hand to stop the worker. He turns back to the boss, his expression determined. "How about a battle then? If you win, the workers will end the strike and return to work with their current pay. But if I win, you have to raise their wages."

The boss throws his head back, laughing dismissively. "Hahaha! Are you serious? Do you really think you can beat me? A mere kid?" His laughter dies down as he eyes Ash with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "This is a bet I can't lose. Now, I'll show you the strength of my Pokémon."

The room tenses as the challenge is set, the stakes high for both sides. Ash's calm confidence seems to unnerve the boss, though he tries to mask it with bravado.

As the battle begins, the boss confidently sends out his first Pokémon, Stotox. Ash responds by releasing Raizid, who stands ready for the challenge. Stotox immediately uses Poison Sting, but the attack barely fazes Raizid. Seizing the opportunity, Raizid retaliates with a powerful Earthquake, quickly defeating Stotox.

Undeterred, the boss sends out his next Pokémon, Glowing, the evolved form of Glocoon. But Raizid proves to be a formidable opponent, defeating Glowing with a combination of Mud Shot and Stomp.

Realizing he's down to his last Pokémon, the boss calls out Platyplat. Sensing the shift in strategy, Ash recalls Raizid and sends out Bushoo. Bushoo wastes no time, using Spore to put Platyplat to sleep. With the opponent defenseless, Bushoo finishes the battle with a decisive Mega Drain.

"What? I've lost?" The boss stares in disbelief, the reality of his defeat sinking in. "You're stronger than you look..."

"That's because you've neglected your training," Delia says as she and Elena enter the room. The boss's eyes widen in shock, recognizing the queen and the princess. Elena, being one of the loyal customers of the taxi service, adds, "Your Pokémon may be strong, but without proper training, they can't reach their full potential."

The boss, realizing who Ash is, stammers, "Your Highness... then you're... the prince?" He quickly bows, his earlier arrogance replaced by humility. "Forgive me for insulting you."

Ash sighs, his expression calm. "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. But as you can see, we really need you to raise the workers' wages, or the city will fall into disarray."

The boss, knowing he's outnumbered and seeing the logic in their words, sighs in resignation. "Fine... I suppose it's time I start training my Pokémon myself, like I used to. I'll raise their pay."

With the new contracts in place, one of the workers turns to Delia and the group. "Your Highness, thank you all. Our Rustbolt Taxi Company can get back to business."

Delia gestures toward Ash. "It's my son you should thank. He's the one who made this happen."

The workers all bow to Ash, causing him to blush with embarrassment.

As they leave the company, they hear a voice calling out to them. "Wait up!"

They turn around to see the worker they met earlier in the park rushing toward them. "Hello, my name is Buck. I'm one of the taxi drivers here in Rustbolt City. We really appreciate what you did, convincing the boss to raise our wages."

"It was nothing, Buck," Ash replies modestly.

Buck shakes his head, smiling. "Oh no, it was a big deal for us. We've decided that as a token of our gratitude, you can ride with Rustbolt City taxis for free!"

Ash and his friends are taken aback. "Are you sure?" Alice asks. "We can pay, you know."

"There's no need for that," Buck insists. "So, where to? Need a lift?"

"Yes, we need to rest at the Pokémon Center," Ash says, glancing at the setting sun. Buck nods and cheerfully drives them to the Pokémon Center, where they can finally relax after a long day.

Here is a new chapter, and Ash solves the Taxi problem in the city. I hope you like this chapter.