In the Footage—
Matori's face was contorted beyond recognition. This was the physical result of her emotions shifting far too rapidly for her facial muscles to keep up.
She had initially dismissed Ash as just another brat with a misguided sense of justice. But now? This "brat" possessed power that wouldn't lose to a seasoned Gym Leader! And he did it with a Pikachu!
Who on earth trains a Pikachu to such a level? A Pikachu's natural ceiling was well-known; no matter how much you trained one, it was supposed to be mediocre at best.
If a Pikachu could be this strong, why would anyone bother hunting for Pseudo-Legendaries? They'd just catch a Pikachu—or its equivalent in the food chain, a Caterpie!
But now was not the time for shock. If they lingered any longer, Officer Jenny would surely arrive.
"Retreat!" Matori barked.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Don't you dare! Pika—"
Ash was ready to have Pikachu blast the entire unit into orbit. However, Team Rocket's Elite Unit came prepared.
They deployed a coordinated smoke screen, plunging the area into pitch-black darkness. By the time Ash used his Aura to scan the perimeter, they had already boarded a pre-staged helicopter and vanished.
"Dammit... they got away!!"
[Lance: That woman Matori has no eye for talent! She really thought Ash was just a common kid?]
[Volkner: Heh, she thought Pikachu was just a normal Pikachu. Her judgment is abysmal.]
[Wallace: Her final expression was truly hilarious. That shock-contorted face completely stripped her of any feminine elegance. Hahaha!]
[Flint: But... here's the problem. Ash made them look bad, but they still successfully escaped with the stolen Pokémon! The world is huge; how is he supposed to track them?]
[Diantha: It doesn't matter. Team Rocket "390" (The Trio) will make their move!]
[Cynthia: Heh, the camera just panned to Jessie and James watching the elites from a distance. I have a hunch they'll help Ash. After all... aren't they "partners" right now?]
[Will: Unlikely... no matter how you slice it, they're still Team Rocket. They wouldn't sabotage their own organization, would they?]
[Lorelei: You'd be surprised~]
The audience leaned in, curious. Would the Trio help Ash recover the stolen Pokémon, or would they revert to their villainous ways now that the "vacation" was ending?
In the Footage—
Ash and Chloe sat in the Resort Area's Pokémon Center. The atmosphere was heavy; almost everyone there had lost at least one Pokémon to the raid. Weak-hearted Trainers and young girls were openly weeping.
Seeing this, Ash clenched his fists. "I'm going to get those Pokémon back!!"
"But Ash... we don't know where they went. How can we find them?"
"I'll try using my Aura..." Ash replied, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.
Aura was powerful, but it wasn't omniscient. If his own Pokémon were among the stolen, he could track them via their soul-bond. But tracking hundreds of strangers' Pokémon across the vast Sinnoh region from a retreating helicopter was nearly impossible.
"Pika~"
Suddenly, Pikachu's ears perked up. He sniffed the air, sensing a familiar presence, and bolted toward the entrance.
Before Ash could call him back, a soft, melodic voice echoed from behind.
"Pikachu? Ash? What are you doing here?"
Ash spun around to see a sophisticated woman dressed in a flowing black coat. Her silky blonde hair cascaded down her back, adorned with two black, teardrop-shaped hair ornaments.
Though one of her eyes was partially obscured by her bangs, her stunning face wore an expression of genuine surprise.
It was... Sinnoh Champion Cynthia!!
Pikachu was already snuggling in Cynthia's arms. He had caught her scent long before she walked in!
"Cynthia!!" Ash cried out.
"Wait! The Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia?!" Chloe gasped, her eyes wide.
Unlike Ash, who was a relatively "low-profile" Champion in this future, Cynthia was a household name worldwide.
Not only was she a top-tier female Trainer, but she was ranked Second in the Master Class! Her "Ice Queen" beauty, peerless tactical mind, and terrifyingly strong team made her the idol of every aspiring Trainer in the world.
Even those who didn't care for battling couldn't help but admire her poise. Chloe was no exception; she loved watching Cynthia's battles—the way she controlled the field and dismantled opponents was nothing short of art.
"Hehe, it's been a long time, Ash. What brings you here? And who is this...?"
Cynthia looked at Chloe with a curious smile. A new face? Another traveling companion after Dawn and Iris?
[Alder: Wait? Ash's Pikachu is that close to Cynthia? He can pick her scent out of a crowd?]
[Diantha: My, my... it seems future Cynthia and Ash have a very "special" bond. If Pikachu can find her by scent alone, she's clearly a constant presence in their lives!]
[Catlin: Careful, Cynthia might kill you for saying that~ Though, I'm curious too! Cynthia and Ash... ooh, a "Big Sister/Little Brother" romance?]
[Cynthia: Hehe, it's best not to gossip about things you don't understand~ unless you want Garchomp to drop a Scale Shot from the sky...]
[Flint: How would that even happen?! That's a threat! A blatant threat!]
[Catlin: Our sister is blushing! Hahaha! Did I hit a nerve?]
[Cynthia: My expression in the video is perfectly normal for seeing a dear friend. At most, it's a senior looking after a junior. If it were what you're implying, I wouldn't look that calm.]
Cynthia explained firmly to quiet the crowd. She knew if she let them continue, the Sinnoh Champion's dignity would be shredded. However, after her explanation, she looked at the screen with a meaningful gaze.
In reality, she didn't have many male friends—or friends at all. Her life was consumed by battling and archaeology. Her only close confidants were Catlin and perhaps Diantha. The fact that she looked at Ash with such warmth did say something.
'Surely I won't end up in some "damsel in distress" situation where Ash has to save me?' she thought. 'I am the Champion, after all.'
A flag had been planted.
In the Footage—
"This is Chloe. She's the daughter of Professor Cerise, a student of Professor Oak!"
Ash quickly filled Cynthia in on their trip, the capture of the Totem Magikarp, and the subsequent raid by the Team Rocket Elite Unit. As he spoke, Cynthia's expression grew cold and stern.
"Team Rocket has become this brazen? And they actually succeeded..."
She wanted to ask where the local Officer Jenny was—the chaos lasted fifteen minutes and the station was right there—but blaming people now was useless. The priority was the Pokémon.
Cynthia looked at the weeping Trainers and felt a surge of irritation. The world was too big; where could they have gone?
"Ahem! It sounds like you little ones are in a bit of a pickle!"
Suddenly, the Team Rocket Trio appeared, dressed in their casual "vacation" clothes (Wobbuffet was tucked away).
"You guys! The big brothers and sisters who helped us earlier!" Ash and Chloe recognized them instantly. Cynthia didn't recognize them—she had seen them many times, but they were always in elaborate disguises. They just looked strangely familiar.
The Trio explained their "intentions." They claimed that during the smoke screen, they had managed to plant a tracking device on one of the stolen Pokémon!
Ash was overjoyed, calling them "wonderful people." Meanwhile, the Trio's true thoughts flashed on the screen:
'Operation: Make the Goggle-Eyed Goldfish Eat Dirt is a go!''We let the brats free the Pokémon, then we swoop in and catch them ourselves!''The Boss will definitely praise us then, nya!'
Whether they actually meant to keep the Pokémon or were just making excuses to help Ash was anyone's guess.
[Lance: Cynthia was right! The game-changers are the Team Rocket Trio!]
[Wallace: To beat Team Rocket, you need Team Rocket!]
[Cynthia: Hehe, like I said, as long as they are around, they always end up helping Ash somehow.]
[Karen: Giovanni must be fuming. He never expected his own "loyal" agents to be the ones sabotaging his elite unit.]
In the Footage—
Led by the Trio, Ash, Chloe, and Cynthia set out. Cynthia wasn't about to stand by while a crime was committed. As for the Trio... they knew this blonde woman looked familiar, but they couldn't quite place her as the strongest Trainer in Sinnoh. They were too busy dreaming of the promotion they'd get from "saving" the stolen Pokémon.
Soon, they arrived at a hidden camp in the forest, barely five kilometers from the Resort Area.
"They're playing 'hiding in plain sight'!" James whispered. They hadn't gone far at all. It made sense; transporting that many Pokémon by helicopter without cutting their Poké Ball links first was a logistical nightmare. They were here to "re-register" the Pokémon to Team Rocket.
The group of six crept up to the camp. They saw rows of cages filled with weakened Pokémon. The cages were specially reinforced to prevent move usage.
"Here's the plan," Jessie whispered. "One person goes to the front to draw their attention. The 'Twerp'—I mean, this young man—and the rest of us will sneak around to free the Pokémon!"
"Got it!" Ash agreed immediately. He stepped forward, but a hand caught his shoulder.
"I'll handle the distraction, Ash."
Cynthia's voice was soft but carried a razor-sharp edge. The "clumsy, gentle big sister" persona was gone. In its place stood the Champion of Sinnoh, radiating an overwhelming, regal pressure. Against villains, she showed no mercy.
"Right. We'll leave the front to you, Cynthia!"
Ash didn't argue. This was Sinnoh; surely Team Rocket would recognize their own Champion. With her drawing their fire, they'd have all the time they needed.
The operation began.
Cynthia stepped out into the clearing, releasing her Garchomp. She stood before the camp entrance like an immovable goddess.
"Team Rocket! I am the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia! You are under arrest for the illegal seizure of Pokémon! Surrender now, and you may receive a lighter sentence!"
Her "distraction" was simple: she walked to the front door and shouted.
Predictably, every Team Rocket member—including Matori—bolted outside at the mention of the Champion's name. Their faces turned pale as they saw the legendary Garchomp staring them down.
Meanwhile, Ash, Chloe, and James slipped toward the cages. Some Pokémon growled in fear as Ash approached, while others recognized him as the hero who fought Team Rocket earlier. Their eyes filled with hope.
Ash signaled them to stay quiet. If they made a sound now, the plan would fall apart. He reached for the lock and...
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