章 36: Squirtle's and Trap
The sun shone brightly over Route 25, its warmth invigorating Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon as they journeyed along the winding path. Ash's rigorous training regimen over the past few days had yielded noticeable results, especially with the use of the Macho Brace enhancing his Pokémon's growth in Attack and Special Attack stats.
"Your Pokémon are incredible, Ash," Misty remarked, glancing at Pikachu, who was perched contentedly on Ash's shoulder. "I've never seen anyone train so intensely and still keep their team so happy."
Ash grinned, gently scratching Pikachu under the chin. "It's all about finding the right balance. They give their best during training, and I make sure they enjoy their downtime, too."
Brock nodded in approval. "And it shows. Even your Gyarados seems like it's grown taller. Its presence is getting more intimidating."
Ash chuckled. "Yeah, Gyarados has been putting in a lot of effort. Training against type disadvantages has been tough, but it's helping everyone improve. Their defense and adaptability are getting stronger, too."
As they walked, the group chatted about their plans for Vermilion City. Brock was eager to restock supplies, Misty was looking forward to the seaside views, and Ash was laser-focused on preparing for his next Gym Battle.
Their lively conversation was abruptly interrupted when Misty and Brock unknowingly stepped forward, triggering a hidden mechanism beneath their feet.
"Wait—what's—" Misty gasped as the ground beneath her and Brock began to give way.
Before either could react, Ash's instincts kicked in. With lightning-fast reflexes, he grabbed the back of their collars and pulled them away just as the ground collapsed into a hidden pitfall.
"You guys okay?" Ash asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern.
Misty and Brock caught their breath, shaken but unharmed. "What the heck was that?!" Misty exclaimed, brushing herself off.
Pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder, sniffing cautiously at the edge of the hole. "Pika…chuuu!" it squeaked, its ears twitching.
Ash crouched to examine the trap. "Looks like a cleverly disguised pitfall," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Someone set this up, probably to catch wild Pokémon—or unlucky travelers."
Brock frowned, crossing his arms. "That's reckless and dangerous. Someone could've gotten seriously hurt."
"No kidding!" Misty snapped, glaring at the pit. "People like that have no respect for anyone else. They're lucky it wasn't worse."
Ash stood up, his expression resolute. "We'll need to stay alert. If there's one trap, there might be more ahead."
The trio was just about to leave when the bushes ahead rustled loudly. A group of Squirtle emerged, chattering excitedly and cheering, clearly convinced that someone had fallen for their trap. Their smugness was short-lived, however, as they froze mid-celebration.
Their jaws dropped in unison when they saw Ash, Misty, and Brock standing unharmed and glaring at them with a mix of irritation and amusement. Pikachu stood ready at Ash's side, sparks flickering ominously from its cheeks.
The Squirtle exchanged panicked glances. It was at that moment they realized: they had fucked up.
Without wasting another second, the Squirtle tried to scatter, diving back toward the safety of the bushes. But Pikachu was faster.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded, his tone calm but decisive.
Pikachu leapt forward, unleashing a dazzling bolt of electricity that surged through the group. The Squirtle let out collective yelps before collapsing in a heap, their limbs twitching slightly before they fell unconscious.
"Well, that takes care of that," Brock said, brushing off his hands.
"They didn't even stand a chance," Misty remarked, shaking her head.
Ash stepped forward to check the Squirtle, ensuring they weren't seriously hurt. "They'll be fine. They just need some time to recover."
After some time, Ash, Misty, and Brock continued their journey along Route 25. The mood was light, but Misty couldn't help but mutter to herself.
"I can't believe they would do something like that. Trapping us like that, it's just... wrong," she grumbled, her arms crossed as she walked ahead of the group.
Brock, walking alongside her, gave a wry smile. "Why are you complaining? You got yourself a Squirtle out of it. You should be happy."
Misty blinked, a little flustered at the comment. "What do you mean? I am happy." Her voice was defensive, though her face showed a hint of embarrassment.
Ash, who had caught all the remaining Squirtle, had been walking a few steps ahead with Pikachu on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder at Brock. "So, Brock, you're sure you don't want a Squirtle too?"
Brock chuckled and shook his head, hands raised in mock surrender. "Nah, it's fine. I've got enough Pokémon to take care of already."
Ash nodded thoughtfully, understanding Brock's reasoning. "Alright, I guess that makes sense."
As the group continued their journey down Route 25, they were suddenly stopped by a familiar face—Officer Jenny, who appeared out of nowhere, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a slight urgency.
"Hey, have you guys seen a group of Squirtle around here?" she asked, glancing at them with concern.
Misty, quickly spoke up. "Actually, Officer Jenny, we did! We encountered a group of Squirtle earlier. They tried to trap us in a pitfall, but we managed to catch them." She motioned to the Squirtle that had joined her team, proudly showing it off.
Before Brock could make a move, Ash, noticing him trying to sneak away, quickly grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Don't even think about it, Brock," Ash said, laughing as Brock tried to wiggle out of Ash's grip.
Officer Jenny raised an eyebrow. She turned back to Misty and nodded gratefully. "Thank you for helping out. They've been causing a lot of trouble around here lately. We've been trying to catch them before they cause more chaos."
Misty smiled proudly, feeling accomplished. "Glad we could help," she said, giving the Officer a friendly wave.
After thanking them once more, Officer Jenny turned to leave. "I'll take it from here. You all stay safe and watch out for any more traps."
With that, she headed off, leaving Ash, Misty, and Brock to continue their journey toward Vermilion City.
***
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Team Rocket wandered aimlessly, their frustration growing with every step. The trees seemed to stretch on forever, and despite their best efforts, they couldn't find Ash and his group.
"How long is it going to take for us to get out of this goddamn forest?!" Jessie complained, her voice filled with irritation as she swatted at a branch.
Meowth, equally annoyed, grumbled in response. "I know, I know! James do somethin'!"
James sighed, wiping his brow as he looked around hopelessly. "Why are you guys asking me? I don't know either!"
The trio slumped down next to a tree, exhausted and discouraged. But just as they were about to rest, James' communication device suddenly beeped, cutting through the tension.
"Hey, boss is calling!" James shouted, his eyes lighting up with sudden energy.
Jessie and Meowth sprang to their feet at once, their fatigue forgotten as they gathered around. James quickly answered the call, holding the device up.
A hologram projection materialized, showing a man with short, flat dark hair and small dark eyes—none other than their boss, Giovanni, accompanied by his ever-present Persian.
"Boss!" they all exclaimed in unison, greeting him.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed in frustration as he looked at his bumbling team. "Where are you idiots?!" he demanded, his tone as cold and commanding as ever.
James quickly recovered, attempting to smooth things over. "Sir, we're in the process of capturing new Pokémon!" he lied quickly, glancing at Jessie and Meowth for support.
Jessie and Meowth nodded eagerly in agreement, hoping to appease their boss.
Giovanni didn't seem convinced, his gaze sharp as he listened. "Abandon whatever you're doing and meet up with the other Team Rocket group in Vermilion City," he ordered, clearly fed up with their lack of progress.
"Yes, sir!" the trio responded in unison
Giovanni gave a small, satisfied nod before the call ended. As the hologram faded, he began to stroke his Persian, who purred contentedly. The team was left staring at the device, now silent.
"Guess we're heading to Vermilion City," James said with a sigh, looking at Jessie and Meowth.
"Finally! Let's get out of here! But, uh, which direction is Vermilion City?" Jessie asked, her frustration evident.
Hearing her question, the trio paused, exchanging uncertain glances before they all replied in unison, "We're still lost."
###
I have added Blastoise's status to Ash's Pokémon, and Squirtle's status will appear in the next chapter.
Give me some power stone
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