After leaving the dramatic Meowth Island behind, Ash and his group continued their journey through the Orange Archipelago.
Riding on Lapras, they arrived at an island with exceptionally dense vegetation, filled with the constant hum of Bug-type Pokémon, Murcott Island.
According to the Pokédex, this was a habitat for many Bug-type Pokémon.
"So this is Murcott Island… it feels like the air itself is full of life." Tracey took a deep breath of the fresh, plant-scented air. As a Pokémon watcher, he found this kind of environment especially fascinating.
The three walked along a forest path, with Tracey's Marill and Venonat scouting ahead.
Suddenly, Venonat let out a warning cry, and everyone immediately rushed forward to check.
In a clearing, a Scyther lay collapsed on the ground. Its signature scythe-like arms were covered in cuts of varying depth, and there were multiple wounds across its body. Its green exoskeleton had dulled, clearly showing signs of an intense battle and serious injury.
"It's a Scyther! It's hurt!" Misty exclaimed.
Ash scanned the Scyther with his Aura and could clearly sense its weakness, as well as a deep-seated unwillingness and loneliness hidden within.
He noticed that this Scyther was slightly larger than average, and the edges of its blades showed signs of wear. It was clearly older. Combined with his memories, Ash quickly understood that this was likely an elderly Scyther that had lost in a struggle within its group, perhaps for leadership, and had been driven out.
"It looks like it's in a lot of pain. We have to help it!" Tracey said anxiously, immediately taking out medicine and bandages as he stepped forward.
"Be careful," Ash warned. "Wild Pokémon are very alert when they're injured."
Sure enough, when Tracey approached, the weakened Scyther still struggled to raise its blades and let out a threatening growl.
"Venonat, please, use Sleep Powder!" Tracey commanded.
Venonat shook its body, releasing a fine blue powder that slowly drifted toward Scyther.
In its injured state, Scyther's reactions were sluggish. After inhaling some of the powder, its eyes began to glaze over. Its resistance weakened until it finally fell into a deep sleep.
"Alright, now's our chance!" Tracey and Ash carefully lifted the fairly large Scyther. Guided by Marill, they quickly transported it to the Pokémon Center on Murcott Island.
After careful treatment by Nurse Joy and Chansey, Scyther's condition stabilized, though it still needed time to recover.
Tracey took it upon himself to care for it, gently cleaning its body and feeding it Pokémon food. At first, Scyther remained wary of Tracey, but under his gentle care and consistent attention, it gradually lowered its guard, and a trace of gratitude appeared in its eyes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest, Team Rocket's duo, with Meowth still sulking and unwilling to speak, encountered a sudden disaster.
Jessie's carefully styled red hair was sliced unevenly by the wind generated from several Scyther flying past at high speed.
"Aaaah! My hair!" Jessie stared at her unevenly cut ends and let out an ear-piercing scream. "Unforgivable! Those damn Scyther!"
"Calm down, Jessie…" James tried to soothe her.
"Shut up! How can I stay calm! We're going to capture every single one of those bugs!" Enraged and irrational, Jessie lost all composure. Together with James, they used their trap devices to capture a large group of migrating Scyther, trapping them inside a specially designed energy net.
The news quickly reached the Pokémon Center. The elderly Scyther, which had only just regained some strength, became agitated upon hearing that its group had been captured. It struggled to stand, its eyes filled with urgency and determination.
It struck the ground with its blades, letting out a series of insistent cries.
"You want to go save them? But your injuries haven't healed yet…" Tracey said worriedly.
Ash looked at the elderly Scyther. Although it had been cast out by its group, at the moment of crisis, it still stepped forward without hesitation. That protective instinct moved him deeply.
"We'll help too."
"Ash is right," Misty agreed. "We can't just stand by and let Team Rocket do whatever they want!"
The elderly Scyther looked at Ash gratefully, then turned its determined gaze toward Tracey.
Tracey understood its resolve and nodded solemnly. "Alright! We'll go together! From today on, you're my partner! Let's save your group together!"
He took out an empty Poké Ball and gently tapped it against Scyther's forehead.
Scyther did not resist. It willingly entered the Poké Ball, symbolizing its acceptance of Tracey as its trainer.
"Great! I caught Scyther!" Tracey cheered as he held up the Poké Ball, but his expression quickly turned serious. "Now, it's time to carry out our first mission together!"
Led by Tracey's Scyther, the group quickly found the place where Team Rocket was holding the captured Scyther.
"Hahaha! So many Scyther, they'll fetch a great price!" Jessie laughed smugly.
"Yeah, yeah!" James echoed.
"Team Rocket! Let them go!" Ash shouted.
"You pests again!" Jessie snapped angrily.
"Enough talk! Arbok, use Poison Sting!"
"Weezing, use Sludge!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt, scatter their attacks!"
"Staryu, use Rapid Spin for defense!"
Ash and Misty immediately engaged, holding off Team Rocket's Pokémon.
"Scyther, it's up to you!" Tracey called out to his partner.
The elderly Scyther's eyes were sharp. Though its wounds had not fully healed, its presence remained imposing. It knew it didn't have the strength to break the energy net head-on, but it had its own wisdom and deep understanding of its kind.
Instead of attacking the net directly, it circled around it at high speed. With its slightly worn but still razor-sharp blades, it precisely struck several key connection points and energy nodes of the net. Its movements were swift and experienced, each strike landing exactly where it mattered most, sending out bursts of crackling sparks.
The trapped Scyther saw hope and coordinated their efforts, striking the net from within.
"Damn it! That old Scyther is sabotaging the device!" James realized.
"Stop it!" Jessie shouted.
But Ash's Pikachu and Misty's Staryu firmly held Arbok and Weezing at bay. Tracey's Marill and Venonat also joined in, disrupting Team Rocket's attempts to interfere.
Finally, under the relentless efforts of the elderly Scyther and the combined force of the trapped group, the energy net emitted an overloaded hum, flickered a few times, and then suddenly failed.
"We did it!" Tracey cheered.
The Scyther were freed in great numbers. They glared angrily at Team Rocket, but under the commanding cry of the elderly Scyther, they did not linger. Instead, they quickly regrouped and flew away in an orderly formation, demonstrating remarkable discipline.
The elderly Scyther watched its group leave safely, a look of relief in its eyes. It flew back to Tracey's side. Though exhausted, it stood tall.
"You did amazing, Scyther!" Tracey said, gently patting its hardened shell with heartfelt admiration.
On the other side, realizing the situation was hopeless, Team Rocket was once again sent blasting off, escorted by an angry swarm of Scyther and Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
"Why do even bugs bully us?!"
"What a terrible feeling!"
Watching Team Rocket disappear, then looking at the aging yet still majestic Scyther beside him, with a renewed light in its eyes, Tracey felt deeply fulfilled.
Not only had he caught a Pokémon worthy of respect, but he had also protected something important together with it.
"Thank you, Ash, Misty," Tracey said sincerely.
"No need. This was the result of you and Scyther working together," Ash replied with a smile.
Under the setting sun, Tracey's Scyther stood proudly, as if it had regained its former glory.
Its journey, in a different way, had begun anew at Tracey's side.
Maybe we should include more iconic moments. This Scyther really leaves a strong impression.
Oh right, in the next chapter they'll meet Lorelei. Faced with this elegant and intellectual beauty, what will Ash choose…
...
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