Chapter 20: Shadow Lurkers
Ash and Melody moved swiftly through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth beneath them. The humid night air clung to their skin, the scent of salt from the distant ocean mixing with the crisp fragrance of pine. Overhead, the moon peeked through the thick canopy, casting fragmented silver light over their path.
Just as they neared the forest's edge, Ash halted abruptly, raising a hand. Melody nearly bumped into him, startled, but she obeyed, her breath catching in her throat at his sudden urgency.
Before she could ask why, Ash grabbed her wrist and gently but firmly guided her behind a thick tree trunk. Melody tensed, but then she heard it—a low commotion from beyond the treeline.
They cautiously peered out, just enough to glimpse the source of the noise.
A local police officer was on his knees, gritting his teeth as two Team Rocket grunts wrenched his arms behind his back, binding them tightly with thick restraints. A third grunt sneered as he plucked a Poké Ball from the officer's belt, clicking it open. A fainted Growlithe disappeared into red light.
The officer struggled. "You won't get away with this—ugh!" One of the grunts slammed a boot into his back, forcing him lower.
"Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say." The Rocket grunt twirled the stolen Poké Ball between his fingers. "You islanders are really stubborn. Too bad that won't help you now."
A Muk oozed forward, its noxious fumes making the air feel heavier, while two Grimer slithered behind the group. The officer barely had time to throw another glare before the Rockets dragged him away, their figures soon swallowed by the darkness of the streets.
Ash's heart pounded. Team Rocket. His mind snapped back to that night at school, when two of their high-ranking members had tried to steal his school's Pokémon. His jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists.
"They're here," he whispered, his voice laced with disdain.
Beside him, Melody's breath was shallow. She recognized the group—news about them often flooded her social media feed. A dangerous criminal organization operating in Kanto and Johto, always causing trouble. "Could they be the ones attacking the Legendary Birds?" she whispered, voice laced with growing fear.
Ash's only response was to pull out his phone. His gut told him yes, but he needed more proof. Instead, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. His fingers moved quickly, ready to call Miss Chrysa, Goh—anyone. He pressed the call button only to grimace when the screen flashed 'No Service.'
He tried again. Still nothing. His brows furrowed, frustration creeping in. "Something's blocking communications."
Melody checked hers, only for the screen to mirror Ash's. A tight knot formed in her stomach. "Ash… my family. What if something happened to them?".
Ash inhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. He set a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll find them." His voice was firm, but inside, his stomach twisted with unease. His instincts screamed at him to run straight to the hotel, to make sure his friends were okay. But he clenched his fists and pushed that impulse down.
"The treasures," he muttered. If they could secure them, they could still stop this.
Melody swallowed hard, steadying herself. "The treasures were supposed to be delivered to the shrines for tomorrow's festival. But I don't know if they've already been placed… or if Mr. Tobias still has them."
Ash's gaze sharpened. Tobias.
"Then we find him first."
They took a moment to steady their breathing, scanning their surroundings for any other patrols. When they saw no immediate threat, Ash grabbed Melody's hand, and together, they sprinted out of their hiding spot, dashing into the shadowed alleys of the town.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
The village, once alive with music and laughter, was now eerily silent.
Ash and Melody crept forward, their movements careful and deliberate as they used the buildings for cover. Distant voices echoed from the main plaza—sharp, barked orders mixed with the hushed murmurs of fearful villagers.
Ash signaled for Melody to stay low. His body was coiled with tension, his mind racing as they inched closer. When they found an opening to see what was happening, Melody peeked first—
—and gasped softly, clamping a hand over her mouth.
The plaza was full of people. Entire families huddled together, their faces pale with fear, their hands gripping each other for comfort. But this wasn't just a gathering of captives. It was organized. Split.
Team Rocket had divided the villagers into two groups.
On the left, a smaller cluster of men stood together—young adults to middle-aged fathers. Their hands were tied behind their backs. Their postures were rigid, their gazes defiant even as they were surrounded by at least two dozen armed Rocket grunts. The strongest of the villagers, the ones most likely to resist, were guarded heavily, with stun batons gripped tight and Pokémon at the ready.
On the right, the larger group consisted of women, the elderly, and children. Their faces bore the weight of helplessness—shoulders hunched, eyes darting anxiously between the uniformed enforcers. Though their hands were unbound, their movements were still restricted, kept in place by the constant, watchful eyes of their captors.
It was here that Ash spotted his class—his friends.
Dawn. Serena. Chloe. Goh. Gary.
And among the hostages were Tobias and Melody's family. Her older sister stood protectively in front of their mother, who clutched a trembling child tightly against her chest.
Ash's breath hitched. A sharp chill ran down his spine, his stomach twisting into knots. His fists clenched so hard his nails bit into his palms.
He wanted to move. Wanted to do something.
"They've… separated them," Melody whispered, her voice shaking.
Ash swallowed hard. Divide and control. The men—anyone who could fight—kept under tighter security. The rest—kept as leverage.
Ash's jaw tightened. It was deliberate. It was cruel.
His heart pounded as he scanned the enemy forces. Too many. Armed Rocket grunts stood in formation, their Houndooms, Golbats, and Toxicroaks ready to strike at the first sign of trouble. A reckless attack would be suicide.
Ash's eyes remained locked on his friends, heart pounding as he weighed their options. But something else caught his attention—a faint movement just beyond the cluster of grunts. His gaze shifted, narrowing on one of the Team Rocket members from earlier, the one who had taken the Poké Ball from the police officer.
The Rocket grunt stood to the side, unceremoniously dropping the confiscated Poké Ball into a sack. It clinked against others that were already inside, creating a dissonant symphony of stolen Pokémon. The grunt tied the bag shut with a rough tug before passing it to another member, who gave a small nod before walking off.
They were going to store them somewhere.
Ash's stomach twisted.. They had to get those Poké Balls back, but the more he looked, the less hope he had in rushing in headfirst.
Melody's breath hitched beside him, drawing his attention back to her. Her grip tightened on his arm, her voice barely a whisper. "If we rush in, we'll just get captured too."
Ash forced himself to calm his thoughts. He wanted to storm the plaza, break through the Rockets and free his friends, but his gut told him that wouldn't do anyone any good—not when the Rockets had all this under control.
Think, Ash. Think.
He exhaled sharply, steadied his pulse. He needed to be smarter than that. They couldn't fight every grunt head-on; it wasn't just about rushing in—it was about having the right opportunity.
"Then we need a plan," he murmured, his gaze still fixed on his friends, on the captured villagers.
Melody swallowed, nodding in agreement. Her expression was tense, but there was a spark of determination in her eyes.
With one last look at the plaza, they slipped back into the shadows, hearts heavy with the weight of what they were up against.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
The battle had raged for over three hours.
What had begun as a display of untouchable power—lightning tearing through the sky, flames engulfing the battlefield, and ice sculpting the land into a frozen wasteland—had become a desperate struggle for endurance.
The night sky crackled with energy as Zapdos let out another piercing shriek, its wings spreading wide as a desperate Thunderbolt split the heavens. The golden arcs of lightning streaked downward—but instead of striking true, they sputtered, dispersing into the restless sea below. The Electric Titan, once a force of nature itself, was beginning to weaken.
On a separate island, Moltres beat its fiery wings furiously, embers trailing behind like dying stars. Its flames had burned through squad after squad of Team Rocket's Pokémon, yet more kept coming. A torrent of Hydro Pumps from a pack of Golducks forced the Fire Legend back, steam rising in thick clouds around it. The radiant flames that once coated its body now flickered, dimming as its stamina waned.
Meanwhile, Articuno was struggling against an unrelenting assault. Rhyperior's Stone Edge ripped through the air, forcing the Ice Bird to twist mid-flight, narrowly dodging the sharp, jagged rocks. The once-graceful glider was flapping harder now, its wings struggling against the storm it had conjured. The howling winds turned erratic, no longer bending to its will. Below, the ice-covered battlefield was littered with fallen Team Rocket Pokémon—but more were arriving in waves, pressing the assault with merciless efficiency.
Despite their power, despite their dominance over the elements, the Legendary Birds were tiring.
Butch stood in the command center of one of the airships, his gloved fingers tapping impatiently against the side of a monitor. The glow of the screen illuminated his face, highlighting the deep furrow in his brow as he reviewed every single field report from their scattered units.
"Status report!" he barked into his communicator.
A grunt's voice crackled through the line, strained and urgent. "Zapdos is still airborne, but it's slowing down. Our ground squads are running low on Pokémon—half of them are down. We're throwing everything we have left!"
Butch's scowl deepened. "And the others?"
Another voice cut in. "Moltres is burning through our reserves! But its fire is dimming. If we keep the pressure up, it won't last much longer!"
A third report followed immediately. "Articuno's ice storms aren't as strong as before. We've lost a lot of units, but we've forced it into a defensive position. It's only a matter of time!"
Butch exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the monitor. They were close. The operation had been costly, but the Legendary Birds were finally showing cracks. He flicked his gaze to the rapidly depleting numbers on his screen—Pokémon reserves were dangerously low across all squads.
It was now a question of who would fall first.
The weather, once dictated by the birds, now spun into pure chaos.
The wind shrieked like a living beast, tearing through the islands with unrelenting fury. Waves crashed violently against the cliffs, their white crests illuminated by the erratic bursts of lightning above.
Something beneath the ocean was stirring.
And it was getting ready to rise.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
A sudden drop in temperature swept through Shamouti Island, sending a ripple of shivers through the captives. Their breath turned to mist, visible in the frigid air, and even the Team Rocket grunts exchanged uneasy glances as they rubbed their arms for warmth. The weather had changed far too quickly, and the island felt ominously off-balance.
The sea churned violently, waves crashing against the cliffs with unnatural force. A deep tremor shook the ground beneath Shamouti Island, a low rumble that vibrated through the earth, adding to the unease. The captives shifted nervously, casting fearful glances at the horizon, the ominous sounds of the storm and earthquake amplifying their dread.
Tobias, standing among the crowd, narrowed his eyes, noticing the sudden and bizarre weather changes. His years of experience with the natural world told him something was wrong—something far bigger than simple storms or earthquakes.
Keeping his composure, Tobias scanned the area, his sharp eyes landing on two figures a short distance away. An older man, not much younger than himself, stood barking orders to a group of grunts. Beside him was a golden-haired girl, her sharp purple eyes glinting with authority. As they watched the others move with discipline, Tobias quickly deduced that these two were in charge.
Taking a deep breath, Tobias stood taller and took a bold step forward. The guards around him tensed, their hands resting on their stun batons, but they didn't stop him.
"This storm… these earthquakes…" Tobias said, his voice calm but edged with warning. "You're playing with forces beyond your control." His eyes flicked over to the tumultuous sea, then back to the pair. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
Dr. Namba turned to face him, unfazed. A slight smirk tugged at his lips. "Ah, you must be the head town elder. You're a smart man. You should already know."
Tobias's jaw clenched, the weight of the situation growing heavier by the second. "You're forcing the Legendary Birds into submission. If they fall, the balance of the Orange Archipelago will fall with them."
Cassidy's eyes flickered with a brief flash of regret, but she quickly masked it, her expression hardening as her gaze met Tobias's. She shook her head slowly, as if trying to convince herself. "No… this is necessary. It has to be."
Tobias's heart sank at her response. The stakes were far too high. He pressed further, his voice stronger. "Do you really think this is worth it? The Orange Islands will be destroyed. You'll be responsible for the deaths of Pokémon and people alike."
Cassidy's fists clenched tightly, but she said nothing, her gaze shifting to the storm above them. A brief moment of hesitation passed before she steeled herself. "Once we're done, we'll leave you and your people. No harm done."
Tobias met her glare, his eyes cold. He didn't believe her. The island's balance was already tipping, and no matter what they promised, the region would suffer. But before he could voice his thoughts, a Team Rocket grunt grabbed the back of his neck, pushing him roughly back into the crowd.
Minutes passed in tense silence. Tobias sat among the captives, frustration gnawing at him, but then he felt a presence at his side. He turned and saw Gary Oak, urgency in his eyes.
"We can't just sit here. We have to stop this before it's too late."
Tobias nodded gravely. Before he could respond, Dawn, Serena, Chloe, and Goh managed to inch closer, their faces pale but their eyes burning with determination.
"What exactly is happening?" Dawn whispered, her voice thick with concern.
Tobias exhaled sharply and glanced around the plaza. The guards weren't paying close attention. They were more focused on the other group of captives. They had a moment.
He turned to the group. "Team Rocket is trying to capture the Legendary Birds."
The group looked at him in shock.
Tobias continued, his voice dark with the gravity of the situation.
"These three aren't just any Legendary Birds. They maintain the balance of the entire Orange Archipelago." He paused to let the weight of his words sink in before continuing.
"Moltres keeps volcanic activity at bay."
"Zapdos regulates thunderstorms."
"Articuno stabilizes freezing winds."
"If they're weakened, captured, or defeated," Tobias's voice lowered, "the entire region will suffer the full force of these disasters."
Goh's fists clenched tightly. "Then we can't let that happen."
Tobias nodded, but his face grew even more serious. "And if the birds fall… there's only one last hope."
The group leaned in, their eyes wide with anxiety.
"The Great Water Guardian."
Silence settled over them.
"What's that?" Chloe asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Tobias's expression darkened further. "A being that will rise if the birds fall. It will try to hold back the elements, but it won't last forever."
The implications hung heavily in the air. Serena's voice was urgent. "So what do we do?"
Tobias took a deep breath, steadying himself. "The Chosen One must gather the three island treasures. They contain the power of the Legendary Birds—acting as an emergency backup. Once placed at the Shamouti Altar, the Song Maiden must play the Song of the Sea. The song will channel the energy from the treasures into the Guardian… allowing it to restore the balance."
At the mention of the Chosen One, the group turned to Gary, who had a mix of concern and confusion in his eyes. "But where are the treasures now? Do you still have them, or have they already been placed in their respective shrines for the festival?"
Tobias glanced toward the building near the stage, his gaze sharp. "The treasures are still stored in a chest, the one I showed you earlier," he explained, his voice low but steady. "I managed to hide it under a pile of rugs in the corner of that room just before Team Rocket broke in. I've been watching that room since. No one has entered it since then."
Gary nodded, processing the information. "So I have to retrieve them, then?"
Tobias nodded in agreement, but before he could continue, Serena's voice cut through the tension. "And what about the Song Maiden? Where is she?" Her worried eyes scanned the crowd, but it was clear she hadn't spotted Melody among the captives.
Tobias's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "I don't know. But Melody is a smart girl. If she's not here, she must be hiding somewhere—waiting to play her part. Hopefully."
As those words hung heavy in the air, Dawn, Chloe, Serena, Goh, and even Gary exchanged glances. Ash was missing, and each of them had their own memories of his unwavering resolve to take action when it mattered most.
Chloe's mind drifted to the time Ash had courageously saved her from a burning branch that went airborne in the midst of a fire at school.
Dawn recalled the time Ash had selflessly intended to absorb a Thundershock for her, though Pichu had ultimately rushed in to save him, from that Plusle in his mother's restaurant.
Serena's thoughts went to that swimming class, where Ash had decisively recalled the enraged Golduck back into its Poké Ball, stopping the Pokémon's relentless barrage of Hail.
Gary, who had known Ash since their childhood in Pallet, was sure of one thing: Ash would never give up. No matter the odds, he would find a way to turn the situation around.
And Goh, who had come to admire Ash's unshakable love for Pokémon, knew deep down that Ash would do anything to protect them.
They all knew Ash could be out there somewhere, waiting for the right moment to act. Each of them held onto the belief that he wouldn't give up on them, even when the odds seemed impossible.
The silence weighed heavily on them. It was clear to all of them that time was running out, and the pressure was mounting. This was it—the moment where everything could either fall apart or be salvaged. They had to act now.
Above them, another deafening crack of lightning split the sky. The storm was worsening, its violent force a reflection of the chaos threatening to consume the region. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and with every passing second, the pressure grew heavier. The fate of the entire Orange Archipelago now rested in their hands.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
The night air was thick with tension as Ash and Melody slipped into the dark alleys, their hearts pounding. With Team Rocket's attention on the plaza, they ducked behind a rusted garbage container, pressing themselves into the shadows.
Ash's sharp gaze locked onto a lone grunt striding down the dimly lit alley. A large sack of confiscated Pokéballs was slung over the man's shoulder, clinking softly with each step as he made his way toward the ship. Unaware of the two figures lurking nearby, he walked with confidence.
The sour stench of rotting food clung to the air, but Ash ignored it, his fingers tightening around a rolled-up rug in his grip. Melody barely breathed beside him, her eyes never leaving the grunt. Ash could feel Pichu's tiny paws pressing into his shoulder, the little Pokémon coiled with silent tension.
The moment passed in a breath. The grunt moved past them, his back exposed.
Now.
Ash sprang forward, swift and precise. In one motion, he yanked the rug over the grunt's head and pulled it down tight, muffling the startled grunt's cry. The man barely had time to react before Pichu leapt from Ash's shoulder, releasing a crackling jolt of electricity. The bolt struck the grunt's torso, his body seizing in a violent spasm before he crumpled to the ground.
Melody lunged, yanking the sack of Pokéballs free from the grunt's grip, her hands shaking. Meanwhile, Ash and Pichu dragged the unconscious man behind the garbage container. The stench made Ash's stomach churn, but there was no time to hesitate. With swift motions, he gagged the grunt with the rug and tied his arms and legs with stray rope they'd picked up earlier.
Pichu kicked loose debris over the man, burying him deeper under the trash, leaving only his nose exposed for air.
Melody tensed, eyes darting to the street. "Two grunts—headed this way," she whispered, her voice sharp with urgency.
Ash stiffened. Footsteps were approaching fast.
He barely had time to think—only to react. He pulled Melody closer, instinctively wrapping his arms around her as they pressed deeper into the shadows. Their bodies were rigid, hearts hammering against their ribs. Every breath felt deafening.
One of the grunts hesitated near the alley entrance. "Are you sure you heard something?"
"Yeah, somewhere around here," the other muttered, stepping closer.
Ash felt his throat tighten. The grunts were just steps away. He fought the instinct to hold his breath, his pulse hammering as their shadows loomed closer.
And then, without warning, Pichu moved.
The small electric Pokémon leapt from Ash's shoulder, its tiny paws landing with a soft thud on top of the garbage container. Time seemed to freeze.
Ash's heart leapt into his throat. No—Pichu, don't!
The grunts stopped dead.
"What's that?" one of them hissed, eyes narrowing.
"It's just a Pichu," the other scoffed, watching as the tiny Pokémon darted across the street and disappeared into the shadows. "Tch. Not worth catching. Let's go."
The two exchanged a glance before turning back toward the plaza. Their footsteps faded into the night.
Ash exhaled in a rush, his shoulders sagging. "We're safe," he murmured, though the words didn't sound real. His hands still trembled with adrenaline as he slowly let go of Melody.
Then, from atop the garbage container, something stirred.
Two wide eyes peered down at them.
Both Ash and Melody sucked in a sharp breath.
It was Pichu.
The little Pokémon had returned, staring at them proudly.
Ash ran a hand down his face, caught between exasperation and relief. Instead of scolding, he let out a breathless chuckle and reached up to scoop the electric mouse into his arms. "You…" He sighed, scratching Pichu behind the ears. "You saved us."
Pichu chirped happily, nuzzling into his palm.
Ash hoisted the sack of Pokéballs over his shoulder. "Let's go," he murmured, urgency creeping back into his voice. They weren't done yet.
The night was far from over, and neither was Team Rocket.
With silent steps, they vanished into the darkness once more.
:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:
"Disturb not the guardians of Fire, Lightning, and Ice,
Lest destruction consume the land, sea, and skies.
The world shall tremble beneath their cries,
Though the Water's Great Guardian shall rise."
Slowking recited the ancient scripture, his voice a whisper of wisdom, the words as engraved in his mind as the markings on the stone tablet. His gaze remained fixed on the distant elemental islands, where explosions lit up the sky like a fiery storm.
Butch grinned as the legendary birds began to fall. Moltres crashed to the ground in a burst of flames, scorching several Team Rocket Pokémon in its wake. Zapdos skidded to a halt, discharging wild bolts of electricity that struck those foolish enough to chase it. Articuno collapsed in a meadow, its wings freezing the earth beneath it in a blanket of ice.
"Put them in Poké Balls," Butch ordered, his voice dripping with satisfaction, but before any of his subordinates could act, the ground trembled beneath them. The entire Orange Archipelago shook as an earthquake split the earth, rattling the region with a force that could not be ignored.
The winds howled, carrying an unnatural chill. Lightning streaked through the sky, painting the night in jagged flashes of raw power.
Fear spread through the ranks of Team Rocket, the locals, and tourists alike. Trees were uprooted, and fragile structures crumbled, their foundations no match for the fury of nature.
Then, the sea itself exploded. The waters between the elemental islands and Shamouti Island surged as a figure shot into the air—its speed so great it shattered the sound barrier in a series of deafening cracks.
And then—silence.
The winds died. The earth stilled. The skies cleared, leaving only the debris of the chaos behind—fallen trees, shattered buildings, and the remnants of destruction.
The figure hovered in the sky, its immense wings spread wide, catching the moonlight in shimmering waves. Its body, sleek and streamlined, gleamed in the pale glow—an ethereal white, like ocean mist. Deep blue markings traced its back and encircled its piercing eyes, eyes that burned with an intensity capable of piercing the souls of those who dared to challenge the balance.
With a single flap of its mighty wings, the very air trembled, sending ripples across the ocean below. Its long, graceful neck arched, its regal gaze sweeping over the battlefield as if passing judgment. The five spines along its back flared, like the fins of a great leviathan, signaling the power that lay dormant within.
And then, it cried out. A deep, resonant sound that echoed across the heavens, not out of rage or desperation, but as a force of nature—a call to restore the balance that had been disturbed.
"That is…" Tobias' eyes widened—not with surprise, for he had foreseen this moment, but with dread, realizing that the legendary birds had fallen. His voice barely rose above a whisper. "Lugia."
All eyes in the plaza locked onto the majestic figure as it soared through the night, its presence a harbinger of change. The sheer force of its arrival sent shivers through the battlefield, an unspoken promise that the tides had turned.
But before anyone could fully comprehend the scope of this shift, the shadows themselves seemed to come alive.
From every corner of the plaza, Pokémon surged forward in a deadly dance—swift, merciless, and precise. Attacks erupted in a symphony of destruction, cutting through the air with lethal grace, slamming into Team Rocket's Pokémon before they even had a chance to react. Some Pokémon lunged directly at the grunts, their vengeance fueled by the suffering their trainers had endured.
The plaza erupted in chaos. Cassidy's eyes widened in disbelief as her forces faltered under the onslaught. The resistance was no longer a spark—it was an inferno.
"Move!" Cassidy barked, spinning on her heel to shout frantic orders, but the storm had already been unleashed. There was no stopping it now. The tide had turned.
And then, amidst the madness, a voice rang out—strong, unwavering, like a trumpet of war.
"Team Rocket! Your time is up!"
The words cut through the chaos like a blade, silencing the clamor with their power. Every head turned, instinctively drawn to the source.
Cassidy, Dr. Namba, and those who knew that voice turned as one, their faces frozen in disbelief.
The streetlights flickered, their glow casting long, eerie shadows across the ruined square. And from the depths of darkness, a figure stepped forward.
Time itself seemed to pause.
"Ash!"
The cry rang out, unified and triumphant, from Dawn, Chloe, Serena, and Goh. In an instant, the heaviness of fear lifted, replaced by an electrifying surge of hope. His presence was a beacon cutting through the storm, a reminder that victory was within their reach.
Gary, standing apart, allowed himself a brief smirk. "Good job, Ashy-boy," he thought, his gaze calculating. He knew exactly what his fellow Pallet native was doing—acting as the perfect distraction. With a glance toward the shifting battlefield, Gary slipped into the chaos, his target clear: the room where Tobias had hidden the treasures.
Cassidy's blood ran cold. Her eyes locked onto Ash, her fury bubbling to the surface. "Is this your doing?!" she snarled, her voice thick with venom.
Ash's eyes sparked with defiance, his smirk barely hiding the fire beneath. "I'll tell you—if you beat me."
And then, like a flash of lightning, a small figure jumped from Ash's backpack and landed beside him with a firm stance.
Pichu stood tall, cheeks crackling with raw energy, its tiny body trembling with the same unshakable resolve coursing through Ash's veins.
Cassidy's hands clenched into fists, her rage rising, threatening to boil over. Under any other circumstances, she might have scoffed at the sight of a child and a Pichu daring to challenge her. But this was no ordinary moment. Her forces were crumbling. The villagers had nearly all escaped. The police and freed trainers were rallying, and their Pokémon were beginning to turn the tide.
She could feel the weight of defeat pressing down on her. She had to stop this—now.
With a ferocious snarl, Cassidy grabbed a Poké Ball from her belt and hurled it forward.
A flash of blinding light exploded from the sphere, and from it emerged Dragonite—massive, imposing, and ready to crush anything in its path. Its eyes, cold and merciless, locked onto Ash and Pichu with the promise of destruction.
The final battle had begun.