(Red-hat boy? Could it be that guy?!)
Damon's eyes widened instantly. It was obvious he had already guessed who the boy the Team Rocket trio mentioned was.
"I didn't expect to run into you here again. What a coincidence…" Damon murmured.
"Then Lord Damon, what about our mission?" James asked cautiously.
"Don't worry. I'll deal with that guy myself. You just focus on creating some commotion inside the Celadon Gym!" Damon said calmly, beginning to paint a big picture for the Team Rocket trio. As long as things succeeded, they would definitely be promoted to a special operations squad.
After saying that, Damon bid farewell to the Team Rocket trio and grabbed onto Crobat's wings before leaving.
"What a wonderful feeling~" X3
Clearly, the trio had already fallen into a beautiful fantasy, looking forward to the day they would rise to glory.
At this moment, on Red's side.
"Ten years ago, when I was little, I got lost and accidentally ran into a Grimer. I was so frightened that I didn't dare move at all. Gloom happened to pass by there. At that time, Gloom completely understood how I felt and helped scare the Grimer away. From that day on, I made up my mind to become a Grass-type Pokémon Trainer!"
Erika told everyone the story of how she met Gloom and why she had decided to become a Grass-type Pokémon Trainer.
"So that's the story of how Miss Erika met Gloom. It's so touching~" Brock said while wiping his tears.
"Hey, hey, that's a bit too emotional…" Misty said speechlessly.
"Wow! I really want to have a Pokémon battle!" Ash said impatiently, still stubbornly focused on his Gym challenge.
"Eevee~"
Eevee lay comfortably in Red's arms, rubbing against Red's chest while enjoying the warmth.
"I still can't stand seeing this scene…" Erika said pitifully, looking at Red with jealousy.
"Eevee, be good~ Erika is calling you." Red smiled and urged the Eevee in his arms to go comfort Erika's wounded heart.
Eevee huffed, jumping down from Red's arms unwillingly and slowly walking back to Erika's side.
"Red, how did you and Eevee meet?" Erika asked curiously. She didn't believe Eevee had fallen in love with Red at first sight. The two must have met earlier than she had.
"I met Eevee in Viridian Forest. At that time, I was trying to catch Scyther to strengthen my starting team, and I happened to run into Eevee being chased by Team Rocket."
Red briefly summarized how he had encountered Eevee, allowing everyone to learn about Eevee's origins and its ability to transform into three different forms.
"Changing into three forms? That sounds so cool!" Ash said excitedly.
"Eevee can't change forms freely. Transforming comes with the side effect of pain. Every evolution and reversion puts a heavy burden on Eevee's body. If possible, I'd rather this guy just be an ordinary Eevee."
Although the ability to change forms sounded novel, Red—who understood the process—felt it was actually Eevee's misfortune. This power was the result of Team Rocket's reckless modifications and was never something Eevee itself wished for.
"Then Erika, how did you meet Eevee?"
Red cleverly changed the topic, preventing the gloomy atmosphere from continuing.
After listening to Erika's explanation, Red learned what Eevee had experienced during this time. Erika had also encountered Eevee by chance. She had witnessed Eevee stealing bread and being chased and beaten by the shop owner. Unable to bear the sight, she took Eevee in, which led to the current situation.
While everyone was sharing their stories, the Team Rocket trio had already infiltrated the Celadon Gym.
"I heard this Gym can produce very expensive perfume. How about we take the opportunity to—"
Jessie gave James and Meowth a meaningful look. The two instantly understood what she meant. Since they were already here, could they still call themselves Team Rocket if they didn't "take" something?
After receiving treatment, Erika's Pokémon had recovered their condition, and Ash excitedly prepared for his Gym challenge.
"Now we will begin the official Gym challenge! The two sides are Gym Leader Erika and Ash from Pallet Town. Each side may use three Pokémon. The side whose Pokémon all lose their ability to battle first will lose! Only the challenger may switch Pokémon during the match, and there is no time limit!"
Following the referee's announcement, Ash and Erika simultaneously threw their Poké Balls.
"It's your turn, Charmander!"
"I'm counting on you, Tangela!"
Charmander and Tangela appeared on the battlefield at the same time. At first, Tangela was stunned when it saw Ash, remembering that it had already battled another Pokémon belonging to this human earlier. But seeing the smaller Charmander and Ash's fighting spirit, it realized the difference.
"Ash, you jerk! You actually sent out Charmander against Miss Erika!"
Brock instantly switched sides and angrily accused Ash of being shameless. Just to win the battle, he dared to send out a Fire-type Charmander in a garden battlefield.
"Who did I offend lately?" Ash said in despair. His good companions seemed to be drifting farther and farther away from him.
"The battle begins!" the referee announced.
"Charmander, use Flamethrower!" Ash ordered.
"Tangela, dodge it and use Stun Spore!"
After its previous defeat, Tangela had become much more cautious. It didn't recklessly expose any openings. It successfully avoided the flames and immediately shook its body, releasing Stun Spore!
"Charmander, use Flamethrower to burn away the Stun Spore!"
The powder was easily engulfed by the flames, which then struck Tangela directly.
"Great chance! Charmander, rush in and use Skull Bash!"
Charmander dashed forward to Tangela and slammed hard into its body, knocking it to the ground!
(It has to be said that Charmander's moveset in the original series was pretty good. It actually learned Skull Bash, which is basically a signature move of the Squirtle family.)
"Tangela has lost the ability to battle!" the referee announced.
"I didn't expect that guy to be this strong!" a store clerk watching the battle said in surprise.
"You really can't judge a person by their appearance!" another clerk agreed.
"Ash, your strength is truly impressive," Erika praised, her impression of Ash improving significantly. She threw another Poké Ball, and this time Gloom appeared.
"With Weepinbell's strength, it can't defeat Charmander anymore!" Erika explained, voluntarily giving up Weepinbell's turn and sending out Gloom directly.
The moment Gloom appeared, it released a foul odor. Charmander scratched its head in confusion and then suddenly inhaled a deep breath.
"Charmander, don't—!"
Ash hurriedly tried to stop it, but it was already too late. After inhaling the odor, Charmander's expression changed instantly. Its entire face turned dark as it desperately struggled while covering its nose. However, it still succumbed to the stench, and with spirals in its eyes, it sadly lost the ability to battle.