Just before midnight, Ash wiped the sweat from his face and returned to the room where the silver goblet was kept.
Brock was still sitting perfectly still.
"Hey, Brock, hungry?" Misty asked.
"I'm a Rock-type Pokémon!" came Brock's reply.
Bro, you didn't sit there like a statue for seven hours straight, did you?
Just then, the clock struck twelve. Everyone tensed.
But… nothing happened.
Could it be that the so-called "second Cat's Eye thief" got spooked by all the guards and didn't dare show up?
The wealthy homeowner relaxed and even sent more food for everyone.
"Perfect timing, I'm starving again!" Ash sat right down and dug in without hesitation.
Everyone else joined him enthusiastically—except Brock, who had been frozen in that position too long. His legs had gone completely numb, so he collapsed to the floor, forced to watch Ash and the others feast while he couldn't move.
Seeing this contrast, Officer Jenny commented, "I told you, this little guy here is the real professional."
After dinner, Ash wiped his mouth and looked up toward the ceiling. "Team Rocket, you awake yet?"
"Team Rocket?" Misty blinked, confused.
But Jenny and Spinarak immediately went on alert.
Sure enough, the lights in the room cut out. From the ceiling dropped none other than Team Rocket, landing directly in front of the silver goblet.
"Unbelievable! You guys were just stuffing your faces, while we haven't eaten all day!" Jessie whined.
She reached for the goblet—only for a flash of blue light to intercept her hand.
"Brat, this your doing again?" Team Rocket had long been baffled by the strange new power Ash had somehow gained.
Ash didn't bother answering. "Since you're here, why don't you stay awhile?"
Even before he spoke, Jenny had already ordered Spinarak to cast webs around them. As Ash had seen earlier in the garden, this little Spinarak was fast and precise.
In an instant, the net dropped, binding the three Rockets into one wriggling cocoon.
"History repeats itself—anyone calling themselves Cat's Eye in this town ends up tied up by Spinarak's web!" Jenny declared triumphantly.
The Rockets had been officially captured.
Even if they did break out of jail again someday, Ash and friends could at least enjoy a stretch of peace.
The treasures they'd stolen were all stashed above the ceiling where they'd been hiding, and were quickly recovered.
"You really are impressive, little brother—not bad at all for an expert thief-catcher!" Jenny praised Ash freely.
"Young man, thank you so much! Please, spend the night under my roof," the wealthy man added warmly.
Ash liked him too—the man didn't dismiss them for being kids, but treated them with real respect.
And indeed, the beds of the wealthy were as comfortable as expected. After such long travels, their fatigue melted away.
But they didn't slack. The next morning, they bid farewell and set out again.
After passing Tenmu Town, known for its luxury residences, and Shikakaku Town, famous for a massive central park, they reached the foothills of a mountain on the way to their first gym city—Violet City.
"It's getting chilly!"
"Look, the summit already has snow!"
The climates in the Pokémon world were bizarre—on the way to Violet City, they actually had to cross a snowcapped mountain.
"This is a great spot for training! Pikachu, let's get Iron Tail down pat as soon as possible!" Ash now seized every chance for special training. Pikachu and Charizard's growth was obvious.
"Great! I want to go skiing too!" Misty chimed in happily.
"And maybe the ski lodge will be full of beautiful young ladies!" Brock, as always, was lost in fantasy.
But then Ash's eyes lit up. Not far ahead, lying lazily on the grass, was a Pokémon he had always wanted—
A Chikorita!
It stretched out the large leaf atop its head, basking in the sun. Thanks to its natural ability, the air around it was filled with a faint sweet fragrance.
Grass-types loved sunbathing.
Chikorita was one of Johto's starter Pokémon—rarely seen in the wild. Yet Ash's luck had brought him face to face with one!
As Ash stepped closer, Chikorita stirred awake, its sharp eyes locking onto him.
"This one's got a way stronger spirit than Nana's Chikorita," Brock observed. Its gaze radiated willpower.
"That means it's a perfect match for me," Ash grinned. "It's decided—Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Ash, Grass-types resist Electric attacks," Brock reminded.
"Of course I know. That's why Pikachu learned that move!" Ash smiled confidently. "Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Pikachu darted forward, slamming into Chikorita and sending it rolling.
But it recovered smoothly, landing on its feet. With a sharp flick, it launched two Razor Leafs.
"Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's electricity shredded the leaves, but Chikorita charged fearlessly through the sparks. Its vines lashed out, whipping Pikachu and hurling it backward.
"What incredible fighting instinct!" Ash grew more impressed.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack again!"
Once more Pikachu rushed in. But this time Chikorita had learned—its vines snapped up in front, blocking the charge. In a fluid motion, it bound Pikachu tightly and lifted it more than two meters into the air.
"Not bad! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Electricity coursed down the vines and struck Chikorita. Grass might resist electricity, but damage was still done.
Chikorita yelped and released Pikachu. Sparks flickered around its body—it had been paralyzed!
Static, combined with Thunderbolt, had boosted the paralysis chance.
"Now's the moment! Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Pikachu twisted midair, tail gleaming silver, and slammed down. The force gouged into the ground, spraying dirt all over Chikorita's face.
"Haha! So, little one—ready to be my partner?"
Chikorita stared at Pikachu's tail embedded in the earth. It knew Ash and Pikachu had shown mercy.
Pikachu: 205/255