As Ash stepped onto the main island, the salty breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the distant cries of Wingull overhead. The rhythmic crashing of waves against the docks filled the air, but his focus was elsewhere.
A sharp chime from his Arc Dex shattered the moment. He glanced down as a bright red notification flashed across the screen.
####
Emergency Quest:
Thunderous Rescue
Objective:Head to the old abandoned power station and help the Pokémon in need.
Time Limit:2 Hours.
Failure Consequence:Unknown.
####
Ash's eyes darkened. Emergency quests were rare, and when they appeared, they always meant trouble. The fact that the system hadn't even listed the consequences made his gut tighten. Whatever was happening at that power station—it wasn't something he could afford to ignore.
Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and sprinted toward the outskirts of Vermilion City, leaving Chloe behind. There was no time to explain—every second mattered.
The old power station loomed in the distance, its skeletal frame covered in rust and strangled by creeping vines. Once a crucial energy hub, it had long since been abandoned, a forgotten relic of a different era. But the moment Ash stepped closer, a heavy pressure filled the air. His Aura flared instinctively, sending a sharp warning through his senses.
He slowed his pace, dropping into a crouch as he peered through the overgrown foliage. At first, all he saw was the crumbling structure of the plant—until something clicked in his mind.
Zapdos.
The Legendary Pokémon was known to appear in this area, both in the games and the anime. If something was happening inside, there was a strong chance it was involved.
Ash exhaled slowly, steadying himself. Then, in a low voice, he called, "Gengar."
The shadows around him rippled before stretching upward, forming a wide, sinister grin. Gengar materialized with a silent chuckle, its crimson eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Gen-gar," it snickered, floating beside him.
Ash pointed toward the power station. "Scout ahead. See what's going on inside."
Gengar's grin widened. "Gen-gen!" With a nod, it melted into the darkness, vanishing without a sound.
Ash remained still, his breathing controlled, his heartbeat steady but alert.
Seconds ticked by. Then, Gengar reappeared, eyes flashing with urgency.
Ash's brow furrowed. "What did you see?"
Gengar's eyes glowed, and in an instant, Ash's vision blurred—
A flood of images hit him—
"Zapdos!!" The thunderbird screeched, its body crackling with suppressed energy, talons digging into the metal floor.
"M-Magnemite!" came the weak cries of smaller Pokémon trapped nearby, their bodies sparking from the unstable electricity.
"Hah! Keep the machine steady, boys!" A gruff voice echoed—Team Rocket.
They had captured Zapdos, using a strange machine to siphon its electricity. Sparks flickered and arced wildly, the air thick with static.
Ash's eyes snapped open. His fists clenched as his Aura flared around him, pulsing with determination.
No hesitation. No second thoughts.
"We're not letting this happen. Let's go."
Gengar grinned in agreement, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Gar-ghar!"
Moving swiftly, Ash reached the entrance of the power station but came to an abrupt stop. The faint hum of machinery inside mixed with the occasional crackle of electricity, sending a chill down his spine.
A direct fight would be suicide. He narrowed his eyes. I need a plan.
His mind raced through possibilities, weighing the risks and rewards. Then, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Pulling out his Arc Dex, he swiftly tapped into the emergency call function. A moment later, a crisp voice answered.
"Vermilion Police Department, what's your emergency?"
Ash kept his voice low but firm. "There's a Team Rocket operation at the old power station. They're up to something big—you need to send officers now."
A brief silence followed before the operator's voice returned, now sharper and more cautious.
"Are you certain about this?"
Ash's grip tightened on the device. "Yeah. Trust me, you don't want to wait."
There was another pause, then the voice became resolute. "Understood. Officers are being dispatched immediately. Please stay clear of the area for your safety."
Ash ended the call and tucked the Arc Dex away.
Stay clear? Yeah, right.
He turned to Gengar, who floated beside him, its eager grin stretching even wider in the dim light.
"That'll do perfectly." His voice was calm but laced with anticipation. He met Gengar's glowing eyes and nodded. "Let's move."
Gengar chuckled darkly. "Gen-gen!"
Without another word, Ash melted into the shadows, slipping inside like a silent predator.
Ash moved stealthily through the dimly lit corridors, his every step guided by Gengar's whispers from the shadows. The faint hum of old machinery filled the air, crackling with unstable electricity. Somewhere in the distance, a loose cable sparked, sending a sharp Zzzzt! echoing through the metallic walls.
His sharp eyes scanned the area, searching for where Zapdos was being held. Just ahead, he spotted a heavily secured chamber, faint arcs of golden electricity flickering from within. The energy in the air made his skin prickle.
Before he could move forward, the distant wail of police sirens pierced the tense silence. Wee-ooo! Wee-ooo! The sound grew louder by the second, followed by the heavy thud-thud-thud of boots storming the metal floors.
Ash tensed. They're here.
Gengar's voice murmured from the shadows beside him, low and amused. "Gen-gar…"
Reacting instantly, Ash slipped behind a nearby control panel just as a group of Team Rocket grunts rushed past him. Their heavy breathing mixed with the frantic beeping of their comm devices.
"How the hell did the cops end up here?!" one of them snarled, voice laced with panic.
Another grunt cursed under his breath. "Doesn't matter—contact the boss and assess the situation immediately!"
A loud mechanical hiss filled the air as the reinforced door to Zapdos' containment chamber slid open. Shhhk—Thunk! Bright white light spilled into the hallway as more Team Rocket scientists and grunts poured in, their voices overlapping in a chaotic mess.
"We need to move the experiment!""What's happening out there?!""Get the energy stabilizer running, NOW!"
Zapdos' enraged screech cut through the air like a dagger. "SKREEEEEHHH!" The sheer force of its cry sent another surge of electricity through the walls, causing a row of monitors to spark and explode. BZZT! KRRSH!
Ash smirked. Perfect.
As the chaos outside raged on, Ash took his chance. Moving with silent precision, he slipped inside the containment chamber just as the door SLAMMED shut behind him, sealing him in with the captured Legendary Pokémon.
A low, mechanical hum filled the air, accompanied by the occasional crackle of unstable electricity. The room was bathed in a sickly yellow glow, flickering as power surged through the cables binding Zapdos.
The mighty Electric-type thrashed against its restraints, but the thick metallic bindings held firm. Energy-dampening cuffs shackled its wings, suppressing the storms it commanded so effortlessly. Heavy cables wrapped around its body, siphoning its power into a massive containment unit that pulsed and crackled ominously.
Sparks danced wildly across the room, casting eerie flashes of light over the terrified Electric-type Pokémon trapped in reinforced glass-like cages along the walls.
A weak, pitiful buzz broke through the chaos.
"Mag...nemiiite..."
Ash's jaw tightened. His gaze swept over the imprisoned Pokémon—Magnemite, Voltorb, Electabuzz—all weakened, their energy forcibly drained. His fists clenched. This wasn't just about Zapdos.
He turned to Pikachu and Gengar, his expression like stone.
"Let's free them."
Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, twitched his ears, eyes narrowing. "Pika, pika-pi?"
Ash tilted his head. "You're asking how?"
Pikachu nodded.
A smirk played at Ash's lips. "We start by looking for a switch or control panel. If that doesn't work—" He cracked his knuckles. "We go with Plan B."
Gengar's grin stretched even wider, his crimson eyes gleaming with excitement. "Gengaaaaar…"
Without wasting another second, the trio fanned out across the dimly lit facility, scanning for anything that could deactivate the restraints.
Outside, the sounds of chaos swelled—shouting, sirens, and the unmistakable clash of Pokémon battling. From the sheer intensity of the noise, Ash could tell that the police were locked in an all-out fight against Team Rocket's forces.
Then, another sound cut through the air.
A low, rhythmic whomp-whomp-whomp.
Helicopter blades.
Ash's stomach clenched.
A helicopter meant two possibilities:
One—it was the police, bringing reinforcements.
Two—it was Giovanni.
And if it was the second option… they were in serious trouble.
His Pokémon weren't strong enough to take on Giovanni himself, let alone his Executives. If they showed up now, this mission would be all but lost.
His heartbeat quickened, urgency flooding his veins. There was no time to waste.
"Forget the switch," Ash ordered. "Destroy everything!"
Pikachu's fur bristled as he locked onto his target. His cheeks crackled with electricity.
"PIKAAA-CHUUU!"
A devastating Thunderbolt ripped through the control panels, sending a cascade of sparks flying. Screens shattered, circuits fried, and a deafening alarm blared through the facility.
Gengar let out a mischievous cackle before launching a barrage of Shadow Balls. Machinery exploded one by one, flames licking at the edges of the room as destruction consumed the Rocket technology.
The containment unit trembled violently before a final BZZZT-CRACK!
With a brilliant surge of electricity, the restraints shattered.
Zapdos let out an ear-splitting screech, collapsing to the ground, its majestic form trembling from exhaustion.
All around them, the other Electric-types—Magnemite, Voltorb, Electabuzz—fell from their cages, weak but finally free.
Ash exhaled sharply. They had done it.
But before relief could settle in, a chilling realization dawned.
The alarms were still screaming.
And now…
Team Rocket knew something was very, very wrong.