Leaving the romantic atmosphere of Trovitopolis behind, Ash and his friends set out on the journey toward Trovita Gym. They passed through the town and stepped onto a vast, boundless great plain.
The open horizon was refreshing; a gentle breeze rippled through the knee-high grass like green waves, and in the distance, herds of Tauros could be seen grazing leisurely.
"This place is so open!" Misty spread her arms, feeling the breeze on her face.
"The ecology here must be very rich." Tracey took out his sketchbook and began recording the wild Pokémon he saw.
However, the weather was unpredictable. The once-clear sky was suddenly swallowed by a massive surge of dark clouds from afar, dyeing the heavens black like spilled ink. The wind picked up, flattening the grass, and the air filled with the earthy scent of approaching rain.
"A big storm is coming!" Ash looked up at the rapidly darkening sky and frowned. His Aura could sense the restless electrical ions in the air.
As soon as he finished speaking, bean-sized raindrops pelted down, instantly turning into a torrential downpour. Accompanied by deafening rolls of thunder and flashes of lightning that split the sky, a violent thunderstorm engulfed the entire plain.
"Quick, find somewhere to hide!" Ash shouted. The three of them struggled through the muddy grass against the howling wind and rain.
Fortunately, they didn't have to run far before they saw a wooden cabin with a light on inside. A middle-aged man with dark skin, wearing cowboy gear and a wide-brimmed hat, was standing under the eaves waving at them. "Hey! Over here! Come inside and get out of the rain!"
Feeling as though they had received a royal pardon, the three rushed into the cabin. The interior was warm and dry, a stark contrast to the storm outside.
"Thank you, sir!" Ash said, wiping the rain from his face.
"You're welcome. I'm the owner of this ranch; my name is Phil," the cowboy laughed heartily, revealing white teeth. "I mainly ranch some... well, a rather special kind of 'livestock'."
He pointed out the window. Through the glass blurred by rain, Ash and the others saw with surprise that the fenced-in areas of the ranch held not sheep or cattle, but swarms of floating Magnemite! They seemed exceptionally active in the thunderstorm, their bodies flickering with sparks of electricity that echoed the lightning in the sky.
"You're ranching Magnemite?" Misty asked in shock.
"That's right," Phil explained. "These Magnemite can absorb the energy from lightning, which is good for them and for the electrical balance of this land. Plus, the power they generate is very stable."
Just then, Phil's Pokémon phone rang. He picked it up; it was Officer Jenny from a nearby town.
"Mr. Phil! A lightning strike has caused a substation failure in town, and we have a massive blackout! It's an emergencycould you please bring your Magnemite over to help with temporary power?" Officer Jenny's voice was filled with anxiety.
"No problem! I'll get ready right away!" Phil hung up, his expression turning serious. "Everyone, it's an emergency. I have to take the Magnemite to town to support them. But in this weather, the road might not be safe..."
Ash's heart stirred as the original plot surfaced in his mindTeam Rocket would never let an opportunity like this pass! They would definitely try to steal these Magnemite!
"Mr. Phil, please let us help!" Ash said immediately. "There's strength in numbers, and we can help escort the Magnemite. Besides," he paused, a flash of insight in his eyes, "I have a premonition that someone might try to cause trouble. Let's make some preparations in advance."
Phil looked at Ash's steady gaze. Although he was a bit confused, he nodded. "Alright, then I'll leave it to you! Time is short, we have to move out now!"
Under Phil's command, the Magnemite gathered into a flickering "cloud" of electricity and began to move toward the town, with Ash and his friends following closely behind.
While Phil led the way, Ash quickly told Misty and Tracey his plan. "Team Rocket is definitely coming for the Magnemite. They'll most likely be lying in ambush in that rocky area up ahead.
Pikachu, when we get there, sneak up onto the high rocks. Use the storm to redirect the lightning at any time. Tracey, have your Venonat release some Sleep Powder around the edge of the rocks.
Don't make the area too big, just keep it hidden. Misty, have your Starmie use Water Gun to turn the ground into mud to slow them down."
Misty and Tracey were surprised by Ash's certain prediction, but based on their trust in him, they nodded immediately.
Sure enough, as the Magnemite swarm passed through the rugged rocky area, three familiar figures leaped out!
"Since you asked so sincerely!"
"We shall tell you in our great mercy!"
"To prevent the world from being destroyed..."
"To protect the world's peace!"
"To carry out the evil of love and truth!"
"A lovely and charming villainous duo!"
"Jessie!" "James!" "And Meowth, that's right!"
"We are Team Rocket, traveling across the galaxy! A white hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!"
"I knew they were coming!" Misty cried.
"Ash guessed perfectly!" Tracey said with admiration.
"Hahaha! All these Magnemite belong to us now!" Jessie laughed triumphantly.
"With these, we'll have endless power, Meowth!" Meowth's eyes sparkled.
"Now!" Ash barked.
Pikachu, already in position, pointed his tail toward the sky like a lightning rod! "Pikachu!"
He wasn't attacking directly; he was guiding! A brilliant bolt of lightning was drawn down, striking precisely in front of Team Rocket. The explosion charred the earth, forcing them back.
At the same time, Venonat's Sleep Powder drifted silently through the air. Jessie and James inhaled a bit of it, and their movements immediately became sluggish.
Starmie's Water Gun turned the ground beneath their feet into a muddy mess. Arbok and Weezing sank into the sludge the moment they emerged, making movement difficult.
"What's going on?! The ground is so slippery!"
"I feel... so sleepy..."
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded.
Pikachu redirected the lightning again. This time, the bolt struck right beside them, and the resulting electrical discharge left them completely paralyzed.
"Waaaah! Why is the lightning only hitting us?!"
"This feels like a total drag!"
Team Rocket tried to counter-attack, but between the mud, the Sleep Powder, and the threat of lightning falling at any second, they couldn't organize an effective offensive. As soon as they took out their capture device, Pikachu guided a third bolt of lightning that hit it dead-on, rendering it scrap metal!
"We can't take it anymore, Meowth!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
The Team Rocket trio was in a pathetic state, their bodies blackened and smoking. They scrambled and crawled back behind the rocks, no longer daring to think about stealing the Magnemite.
"Problem solved." Ash smiled slightly.
Phil watched the scene, dumbfounded. He was utterly impressed by Ash's foresight and command ability. "Young man, you're amazing! It was like you knew exactly what was going to happen!"
With Team Rocket no longer a threat, the Magnemite procession arrived smoothly at the town. Under Phil's direction, the swarms of Magnemite hovered around temporary conductive equipment. Their bodies hummed with stable electricity, providing a continuous output that quickly restored power to the town's vital facilities.
Residents poured out of their homes, offering thunderous applause and thanks to the Magnemite in the sky. Officer Jenny personally expressed her sincere gratitude to Phil and Ash's group. "Thank you all so much! If you hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
The rain stopped, the clouds dispersed, and sunlight bathed the earth once more. After completing their task, the Magnemite returned to the ranch with Phil, looking quite satisfied.
"Ash, we really owe it to you this time." Misty said sincerely, looking at Ash as he smiled in the sunlight.
"Yeah, your prediction was incredibly accurate." Tracey added.
Ash looked at the sky, which was now blue and clear. He felt the fresh air after the rain and smiled. "It's nothing. I just felt they wouldn't miss a chance like that. Let's keep going. Trovita Gym is waiting for us."
Having experienced this battle of protection in the thunderstorm, Ash and his friends set out once more toward Trovita Gym, filled with a sense of accomplishment.
(Author's note: I remember the Gym Leader of Trovita Gym had a crush on Misty in the original, right? Should the protagonist teach him a lesson? Not with his fists, of course, but the kind of lesson where he goes all out in a Pokémon battle...)
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