Having concluded their fruitful journey through the Safari Zone, Ash and his companions continued toward their next destination.
Before them appeared a magnificent, massive bridge spanning a vast strait. According to the road signs, this twenty-kilometer-long bridge connected to Sunnytown on the opposite shore.
"What an incredibly long bridge!" Misty exclaimed, gazing at the bridge deck that seemed to stretch on forever.
"It's a shame. There's a sign standing next to it that says, 'Not yet fully open to traffic; bicycles only,'" Brock noted, pointing to the nearby notice.
This was undoubtedly bad news for Ash's group, who were on a tight budget and couldn't possibly afford three bicycles.
Would they have to take a long detour? With a "might as well try" attitude, they headed to the Pokemon Center near the bridge entrance to see if there was another way.
To their surprise, an opportunity landed right in their laps.
Nurse Joy at the Pokemon Center was fretting over a problem. "I need someone to deliver this batch of special medicine to the Sunnytown Pokemon Center as soon as possible. A Pokemon in critical condition is waiting for it. But this bridge..." She looked out the window at the long bridge, looking troubled.
"We can do it!" Ash immediately volunteered.
"But do you have bicycles?" Nurse Joy asked.
The three of them looked at each other and shook their heads.
Nurse Joy thought for a moment and said, "If you are willing to help deliver the medicine, the center can temporarily lend you three public bicycles. Once you finish the task, you can just leave them at the Sunnytown Pokemon Center."
This was exactly what they needed! "We guarantee we'll finish the mission!" the three of them promised in unison.
Riding the borrowed bicycles, Ash and his friends set off across the long cross-sea bridge. The sea breeze brushed against their faces and the scenery was spectacular; the ride was quite pleasant at first.
However, the good times didn't last long. When they reached the middle section of the bridge, a group of trainers wearing matching leather jackets and riding flashily modified bicycles blocked their path. Leading them was a cold, elegant woman with long green hair named Masa. They introduced themselves as the "Bikers" of this bridge.
"I built this bridge!" one biker lackey shouted.
"If you want to pass this way, leave a toll behind!" another added.
Masa raised her hand to stop her subordinates' clumsy opening lines. Her sharp gaze fixed on Ash. "I see you're trainers too. Let's do this by the rules: a Pokemon battle! If you win, I'll let you through. If you lose... leave the bikes and everything you have behind!"
"A battle? That suits me just fine!" Ash accepted the challenge without the slightest fear.
From the Bikers' side, a man named Chopper stepped forward. He took the lead by sending out a Golem with incredible defense.
After a moment's thought, Ash sent out Charmander.
"Charmander? That's a huge type disadvantage!" Misty cried out in worry.
"Have faith in Charmander, and have faith in Ash," Brock said, remaining relatively calm.
"Golem, use Rollout!"
"Charmander, don't try to overpower it! Use your speed to dodge! Then, find an opening to use Smokescreen!"
Charmander leaped nimbly, avoiding Golem's increasingly fast Rollout while exhaling a thick cloud of black smoke that obscured the battlefield.
Golem lost its bearings within the Smokescreen, and its rolling became chaotic.
"Now! Aim for the gaps in its rocky body and use Flamethrower!" Ash commanded, seizing the perfect moment.
The searing flames shot precisely into the vulnerable joints between Golem's arms and body! The effect was excellent.
Golem let out a cry of pain and stopped rolling. Black smoke rose from its body as it lost the ability to battle.
"To think you actually defeated Golem..." A flash of surprise crossed Masa's eyes. She personally stepped forward. "You've got some skill. Next up is my Cloyster!"
As soon as Cloyster appeared, it snapped its hard shell shut and used Withdraw. Its defense skyrocketed instantly. Simultaneously, it fired sharp needles from the gaps in its shell using Spike Cannon, a wide-range attack with impressive power.
"High defense and long-range attacks, huh..." Ash made an instant judgment and recalled Charmander. "In that case, Pikachu, I choose you! Close in with Quick Attack, then go straight into Thunderbolt!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu transformed into a bolt of light, weaving in a zigzag pattern to dodge the dense barrage of spikes. He closed the distance to Cloyster in an instant and released a powerful golden electric shock at point-blank range! The current conducted through the gaps in the shell, and the effect was super effective! Cloyster's shell became scorching hot from the electricity. Trembling, it opened its shell and fainted.
"Even Big Sis Masa's Cloyster was..." The Bikers were in an uproar.
Masa looked deeply at Ash and Pikachu, just about to say something. Suddenly, several familiar figures charging on ridiculous individual rocket unicycles rushed over.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"We are the Team Rocket that shuttles across the bridge! Hand over the medicine and the Pokemon, meow!"
Team Rocket's trio always made an "opportune" entrance. However, the moment Masa saw Jessie, she froze. She cried out, "Jessie... Big Sis? Is it really you?"
Jessie was also stunned. She looked closely at Masa, an uneasy expression flickering across her face. "Ma... Masa? Why are you here..." It turned out that before joining Team Rocket, Jessie had once been the "Big Sis" of these biker girls.
Just then, the sound of sirens drifted from the distance. It seemed the commotion on the bridge had drawn Officer Jenny.
"It's the police!"
"Let's get out of here!"
The Bikers panicked instantly. Forgetting about Ash and Team Rocket, they hopped on their bikes and beat a hasty retreat. Seeing things turn south, Team Rocket also made a quick getaway.
The trio sighed in relief and continued their journey.
However, the heavens were not kind. The originally clear sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, and a torrential downpour began. Fierce winds howled, making the bridge surface slippery and difficult to navigate. Even worse, due to the storm, a section of the drawbridge in the middle of the bridge began to rise slowly, looking as though it were about to disconnect!
"Oh no! the bridge is breaking!" Misty cried out.
At this critical moment, the sound of bicycle bells rang out again.
Masa led her Bikers as they returned. They weren't there to cause trouble; instead, braving the wind and rain, Masa shouted, "Hey! You delivery kids! Charge through with us! We'll clear the way for you!"
As it turned out, recognizing Jessie had stirred up old sentiments in Masa or perhaps a complex affection for her former "Big Sis." More importantly, she had been moved by Ash's strength and their determination to deliver the medicine, so she decided to help them just this once.
With the Bikers acting as an "escort" using their bike frames and shouting encouragement, Ash and his friends pedaled with all their might. At the very last second before the drawbridge rose completely, they made a thrilling leap across the gap!
"Thank you!" Ash shouted back.
Masa waved her hand through the wind and rain, yelling in response, "Just go! Don't be late with that medicine!"
Ultimately, Ash and his friends successfully delivered the medicine to the Sunnytown Pokemon Center just in time, saving the Shellder that was in critical condition.
Though they had endured the storm and many twists and turns, they had also gained unexpected friendship and help from the Bikers.
Their journey once again proved that beyond Pokemon battles, the understanding and goodwill between people even those considered "delinquents" is equally precious.
(Note: I'm trying to pick chapters with a bit of plot; if they don't have much of a visual narrative, I'll skip them.)
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