After capturing Charmander, Ash and his group continued on toward Vermilion City.
While passing through a quiet town along the way, Brock suggested restocking some supplies.
However, as they were walking down the street, Ash's wave-guiding aura keenly sensed a slight irregularity in the road ahead, along with several mischievous, prank-filled energy fluctuations coming from the bushes nearby.
"Everyone be careful. There's a trap ahead."
Then, following Ash's plan, the group pretended to keep walking forward.
"Ouch—who has no sense of public decency, digging a trap right in the middle of the road?!"
Several Squirtle wearing sunglasses swaggered out. Leading them was a slightly larger Squirtle with an especially arrogant expression—clearly the boss of this Squirtle squad.
The five Squirtle looked into the trap, only to find that there was nothing inside.
Just as confusion crossed their faces, a voice sounded from behind them.
"Squirtle, setting traps on a public road to mess with people isn't very nice behavior, you know!"
The five Squirtle instantly spun around and saw Ash and his companions standing behind them, watching them with scrutinizing gazes.
"Squirtle? Squirtle?"
"What, you thought we'd fall into your trap?" Ash let out a cold chuckle. "We already detoured into the bushes, then used a heavy rock to trigger the trap. Add in our voices to sell the illusion—how about it? Gave you a scare, didn't it?"
At that moment, Officer Jenny, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, explained, "Ah, it's these kids again. They originally had Trainers and were very smart. But later, for various reasons, their Trainers abandoned them. Since then, they've become mischievous, often pulling harmless but annoying pranks around town. We've educated them many times, but they just won't listen."
The moment Brock saw Officer Jenny, he immediately acted up. "Officer Jenny, if falling into a trap meant meeting you, I'd be willing to fall into the trap of your love—"
Misty couldn't take it anymore and twisted Brock's ear hard. "That's enough! Don't interfere with her work!"
Ash nodded and walked toward the group of Squirtle, especially their leader.
He didn't lose his temper right away. Instead, he carefully sensed them with his aura. Beyond their mischief, he could feel traces of loss and confusion—like they had lost their sense of purpose and belonging.
He knew well that these Squirtle weren't bad by nature. Being abandoned by their Trainers had left them disheartened, and these pranks were their way of filling the emptiness and loneliness inside.
"You're very smart," Ash said, looking at the leader Squirtle, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable authority. "You know how to set traps. You understand teamwork. But don't you think it's a waste to use your intelligence just to scare and trick people?"
The leader Squirtle was intimidated by Ash's presence, but still forced itself to put on an indifferent front.
Ash suddenly shifted his tone, his voice turning stern. "If your pranks caused serious consequences—like if we'd been injured falling into your trap just now—would you still be able to laugh? By then, it wouldn't be the gentle Officer Jenny coming, but much harsher punishment. Is that really what you want?"
The Squirtle exchanged looks with one another. The leader lowered its head, clearly shaken. Ash's mix of firmness and compassion had taken effect.
However, at that very moment, a familiar sinister laugh rang out once again!
"Since you're asking so sincerely!"
"We'll kindly tell you!"
...
Team Rocket appeared aboard Meowth's hot-air balloon, bombs in hand. "So it was these guys who set the trap—how dare they make Team Rocket suffer!"
"Let's show them what we're made of!"
With that, the trio began dropping bombs nonstop, viciously retaliating against the Squirtle.
"It's you again!" Ash immediately directed the counterattack. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf!"
In the chaos, explosions from Team Rocket's bombs accidentally ignited a forest fire. The flames spread instantly, closing in on an old house nearby. An elderly person's cries for help came from inside!
"Oh no! It's on fire!" Officer Jenny exclaimed in alarm.
"Pikachu, Bulbasaur—forget Team Rocket for now! Find a way to put out the fire!" Ash remained calm under pressure and changed his orders at once, releasing Charmander as well to help.
At the same time, he turned to the stunned Squirtle and shouted, "Squirtle! Now's the time to prove your worth! You're Water-type Pokémon—putting out fires is your specialty! Forget the pranks, unite, and use your power to help others!"
The leader Squirtle stared at the raging flames and the panicked townspeople, its eyes instantly hardening with resolve. It turned to its companions, swung its claw decisively, and let out a commanding cry!
All the Squirtle sprang into action!
No longer panicked, they quickly formed neat lines. Under their leader's command, they aimed at the fire and unleashed their strongest Water Gun attacks in unison!
Columns of water shot forth with the precision of a well-trained firefighting squad.
They worked in perfect coordination—some suppressing the main blaze, others preventing the spread, and still others cooling nearby objects.
The might of their Water-type power was displayed to its fullest!
With Charmander using smoke to cut off oxygen, Pikachu cutting the power supply, Bulbasaur rescuing the elderly person with Vine Whip, and the Squirtle squad's concentrated Water Gun assaults, the fire was swiftly brought under control and extinguished.
The elderly person was safely rescued, and the house was saved.
Warm applause erupted at the scene. The townspeople looked at these "reformed" Squirtle with gratitude, while Officer Jenny wore a relieved smile.
Team Rocket had already slipped away during the chaos.
After the fire was out, the leader Squirtle walked up to Ash. It removed its sunglasses, its eyes filled with admiration and resolve.
It looked back at its companions, then at the town they had protected, before turning firmly toward Ash. It patted its own chest hard, then pointed at Ash's Poké Ball.
The meaning was clear—it wanted to follow this Trainer who had guided them in a crisis, acknowledged their potential, and helped them find their true value.
Ash understood its intent. He crouched down, smiled, and took out a Poké Ball. "Welcome aboard, Squirtle. Let's use this power together to help more people and Pokémon in need."
Squirtle took the initiative and touched the Poké Ball and was successfully captured.
The other four Squirtle, after Officer Jenny made a promise to establish a Squirtle Firefighting Squad, bid farewell to their leader.
[Ding! Host has captured Squirtle (Leader). Reward: 100 World Points.]
[Current World Points: 7000.]
Ash's team gained another capable member, one filled with a strong sense of justice and leadership.
With the complete "starter family portrait" of the Kanto region at last assembled, they finally arrived at the port city of Vermilion City.
Only afterward did Ash realize the timeline was slightly off—the Lighthouse arc should have come after capturing the starters—but at this point, all he could do was roll with it and fill in the gaps as they came.