What was the biggest buzz recently?
Obviously, the evil organization Team Rocket changing hands, and the new Team Rocket boss is Damian, who was the Indigo Plateau Conference Champion last year!
Honestly, when they first heard the news, Ash and the others thought it was a rumor.
After all, they had met Damian in person, and Damian seemed like a pretty good guy!
But Misty looked up a lot of information, and someone even recorded a broadcast Damian gave at the time.
And then…
Then Ash and the three of them were silenced.
Especially Ash, who feels conflicted inside; he has a good impression of Damian and even views him as a future rival.
But he never expected Damian to become a Team Rocket member.
Most importantly, they actually ran into Damian, right there in Celadon City!
Celadon City is a training ground, but Damian, the lead of an evil organization, appearing so brazenly here—is that normal?
"Yo~ Ash and you lot, what a coincidence."
Damian was also quite surprised, grinning and greeting Ash and the others.
"Damian, are you the Team Rocket boss?"
Ash's eyes show both wariness and hope; perhaps it's just a coincidence of names?
"Who would have thought you'd know about this, Ash? Yes, that's right, I'm Team Rocket's boss."
Damian admitted it so casually.
"!!" Ash's face stiffens instantly.
This is crazy! He, who knows a boy by chance, turns out to be the Final Boss of Team Rocket!
TV dramas don't have plots like this.
"Then what about Gym Leader Erika? Why is Gym Leader Erika here with you?"
Misty watches Erika, who is following Damian.
Erika, Celadon Gym's Gym Leader.
Erika looks conflicted, as if she wants to say something.
"Miss Erika is a spoils of war I captured, fragrant Miss Erika is truly adorable."
Damian casually wraps Erika around his arm, pressing her body close to his.
This sudden move shocks Erika, who lets out a startled cry.
"Stop it!"
"How could you do this!"
"Damian, you're wrong!"
Ash and the others are shocked; isn't this a kidnapping? It's shameless.
"Oh? Then you coming to stop me? To rescue Miss Erika?"
Damian looks at them with great interest.
"If not, I'll take Erika away."
"We won't let you get away with it! Miss Erika, don't worry, we'll definitely rescue you!"
Ash grips his fists; he swore he would not let this happen in Celadon City, the city needs Erika, Celadon Gym needs her.
He must rescue her!
"… Erikas head is down, afraid Ash and the others will see her expression.
"Such courage, but I'm the Team Rocket boss, Ash, do you think three of you are my opponents?"
Damian still holds Erika, speaking with calm leisure.
He finds it amusing to watch Ash shout about "justice," "peace," "save people," and rush in.
"No matter what kind of opponent, as long as I and my Pokémon work together, we can defeat them!"
Ash's fist tightens; a clear sense of justice in his eyes, especially against Evil Team Rocket.
"Tsk~ "
Damian clicks his tongue.
"Let me help you face reality."
Damian thinks for a moment, pulls out a Ultra Ball and opens it. A cold, gorgeous embodiment of the north wind lands before him, calmly staring ahead.
But in the next moment, Suicune's eyes shift subtly.
Because this boy with the hat on carries Lord Ho-Oh's Rainbow Wing, upon closer look, isn't this the boy they observed with the Legendary Beasts?
Suicune freezes, but doesn't think too much.
After all, it is now Damian's Pokémon, and it has an arrangement with him to strive for a clear and blue world!
Even if the opponent is the boy favored by Ho-Oh, that's fine.
Damian can also summon Lord Ho-Oh for reinforcement!
But over on Ash's side, Misty and Brock are shocked.
"Suicune!"
Misty gasps; Suicune is one of Misty's favorite Pokémon.
"One of the Legendary Beasts, Suicune."
Brock gasps too; it's a legendary Pokémon!
Ash isn't sure what's happening, but he knows Misty and Brock think this Pokémon is powerful.
Ash pulls out his Pokédex and points it at Suicune.
"Suicune, Water type, Aurora Pokémon, has the power to purify polluted water, embodiment of the north wind."
The Pokédex gives a simple description of Suicune.
embodiment of the north wind? Sounds powerful.
"Why is Suicune following a Team Rocket?"
Misty still can't accept it. She liked Damian, and he's handsome and suits her style.
But learning Damian is the lead of Team Rocket and that he kidnapped Erika shatters her image.
And now Suicune endorses him? Misty finds that unbelievable.
"No matter what, as long as it's an opponent, just beat it!"
Ash's resolve to beat Damian remains, hoping to bring him back to the right path.
"And as for Water types, Pikachu! I Choose You!"
"Pika Pika!"
Pikachu leaps from Ash's shoulder to stand in front of Suicune, cheeks sparking with a few tiny arcs.
Ash has faith in Pikachu; the water is weak to electricity, the type advantage is his.
"I don't know why you joined Team Rocket, Damian! I will beat you back onto the right path!"
Ash doesn't say it outright, but he believes Damian isn't completely bad—beat him, he might wake up.
"You're confident, but Ash, I'm afraid you can't do it…"
Damian smiles lightly, beckoning Ash with a finger.
"Come, let me see how strong your Pikachu is."
Damian is curious about Ash's current level.
After all, this is the Rainbow Hero Ash from the movie template, with an exceptionally high talent.
And Damian's confident, unbothered pose makes Ash's blood surge.
"This arrogant guy!"
Ash mutters; he's still the impulsive hero from the journey arc, not as mature as in the anime.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
Ash orders decisively.
In fact, this isn't an official battle; Ash could send out more of his main roster as long as he could lead them.
But Ash isn't that kind of person; plus he thinks Damian has only used Suicune, while he could use several Pokémon.
That sounds unfair to him.
Pikachu sprints, jumps, and electric quills flash as it launches a Fast Thunderbolt.
"Extreme Speed."
Suicune lifts its head, eyes cold and calm as Pikachu's Thunderbolt comes.
A gust of wind blows, and Suicune's silhouette vanishes.
The Thunderbolt hits the ground, missing.
"Wow, so fast!"
Misty gasps.
"With First Strike Extreme Speed, Suicune is too fast."
Brock comments softly.
Thunderbolt ends, Pikachu lands.
But next moment—
Boom!
A pale blue silhouette crashes into Pikachu, causing it to cry out in pain and fall.
That's Suicune's Extreme Speed attack!
"Pikachu!"
Ash calls anxiously.
"Ice Beam."
Suicune opens its mouth, a cold blue aura coalesces and shoots toward Pikachu on the ground.
The pursuit comes fast.
"Pikachu, dodge quickly!"
Ash yells.
Hearing this, Misty and Damian both raise their eyebrows; Damian's expression is a bit smug.
Pikachu grits its teeth, rises, and dodges Ice Beam just in time.
Suicune doesn't stop; it controls the Ice Beam to keep chasing Pikachu, icicles appearing along the beam's path.
Pikachu dodges and retreats, incredibly agile.
Ice Beam ends, but a pale blue silhouette shoots again like lightning.
Boom! Suicune's Extreme Speed hits Pikachu again, blasting it across the ground.
Extreme Speed is so fast that even Ash's Pikachu can't react in time, given the huge power gap.
"Pikachu, damn it!"
Ash grinds his teeth; that Extreme Speed is unbelievably fast. Pikachu has no clear counter to it.
And then…
Watching Pikachu, who's already panting after two hits, it's clear Suicune's Extreme Speed is quite strong.
"Pikachu is really tough, two Extreme Speeds and still going."
Damian, with one arm around Erika's slender waist, one hand on his chin, thinks.
Anyone who's watched the anime can catch a hint: Ash's Pikachu is nearly flawless—physical attack, special attack, defense, burst, speed, stamina—almost perfect.
Especially Pikachu's willpower, often like a super unstoppable fortitude.
But unfortunately, in the face of Damian's Suicune, Pikachu isn't enough to counter.
Ash's brows furrow; should he switch to Charizard?
Well, in his team, Charizard and Pikachu are the strongest.
But Charizard is weak to water…
Ash is really torn.
~~
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