Max immediately stood up. "Dad actually lost!"
Ash stepped forward and helped Annihilape up. "Thank you, Annihilape!" "Haa-cha~" Annihilape thumped its chest with its hand!
"Ash, that was truly a brilliant match! Here! This is your proof of defeating me—the Balance Badge!" Norman recalled Slaking, stepped forward, and handed the Badge to Ash.
"Thank you, Mr. Norman!" Ash took the Badge, struck a pose, and held it up. "I got the Balance Badge!" "Pika" "Haa-cha"
Max showed no resentment, just disbelief that his father had lost all three matches!
[Ding~ Acquired Balance Badge, Reward: 1000 points]
A Stop in Littleroot Town
In Petalburg City, Ash made a rotation of his Pokémon. This time, however, Professor Oak was not at the lab; Tracey handled the transfer for Ash.
Ash's current team: Pikachu, Eevee, Bulbasaur, Lairon, Torkoal, Grovyle, Feraligatr, Beautifly.
The returning Pokémon rushed into Ash's arms. "It's been a long time, everyone!" "Da-na" "Wani" "Lairon~"
With his fifth badge secured, Ash and his friends said goodbye to Norman and Caroline and planned to head toward Mauville City. However, before that, they took a detour to Littleroot Town to visit Professor Birch.
Just as the group was about to exit the forest and reach Littleroot Town, CRASH! A pickup truck sped down a hill, executing a perfect drift right in front of Ash and the others. The driver was none other than Professor Birch himself! "Hi, everyone! Long time no see! What brings you here?"
"Ash just got the Balance Badge from my Dad!" May answered enthusiastically. "So we wanted to visit you before we set off!"
Professor Birch nodded at the news. "I see! Well, I'm actually on my way to the port to pick up Professor Oak!"
"Professor Oak?!" (Gasps of surprise)
"So Professor Oak is in Hoenn! No wonder he wasn't at the lab before!"
"But I got too absorbed in field research and lost track of time! I'm taking a shortcut right now to make it!" Professor Birch scratched his head awkwardly. "Alright, I can't chat anymore. This is my first time meeting Professor Oak, so I need to hurry!"
Ash and Brock decided to ride with Professor Birch to pick up Professor Oak, while May and Max went ahead to Professor Birch's lab!
At a cliffside, Professor Birch's professional habit kicked in, and he actually stopped to greet a Skarmory! Ash quickly reminded him, "Watch out, Professor Birch! There's a cart up ahead!"
They were about to crash, but the old man pulling the cart didn't panic at all—he must have been a hidden master! Professor Birch, however, panicked! He quickly took a sharp turn, swerving around the cart.
Ash looked back and saw Professor Oak fast asleep on a pile of straw, wearing a cowboy hat. "Wait, Professor Birch! Isn't that Professor Oak?"
"Huh?! It really is!" Brock confirmed with a glance.
Professor Birch quickly slammed the brakes, turned the truck around, and drove toward the cart. "Professor Oak" "Professor Oak"
"Hmm~" Professor Oak opened his eyes and saw Professor Birch's truck. "Oh! So you came to pick me up!"
Professor Oak quickly motioned for the old man to stop the cart and waited for Professor Birch's truck on the roadside. "I'm so sorry, Professor Oak! I got too engrossed in my research and lost track of time!" Professor Birch apologized.
"Haha~ I understand, I understand you!" Professor Oak replied, then greeted Ash and Brock. "Long time no see, Ash, Brock! Pikachu and Eevee look well too!"
"Long time no see, Professor Oak!" "Pika" "Eevee"
Professor Oak then got into Professor Birch's truck and headed to Professor Birch's lab!
May and Max were helping Professor Birch's assistant look after the Hoenn starter Pokémon. They were so excited by Professor Oak's arrival that they were speechless!
Max fumbled through his bag and pulled out several photos, eagerly asking Professor Oak for an autograph, which Professor Oak happily obliged.
Professor Oak was visiting Professor Birch for an academic exchange and brought the Kanto starters: Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle!
Starters from different regions are rare even in their own regions, let alone others! However, Ash now had the starter Pokémon from three different regions!
Max was thrilled and immediately started playing with the six starter Pokémon, and May also seemed to be getting along well with Bulbasaur!
As for Professor Oak, he was busy chasing Pikachu and Eevee around the yard. "Oh, Pikachu, Eevee, let me take a look!" "Pika" "Eevee" He wanted to thoroughly study the differences between partner Pokémon.
This scene was naturally spotted by the Team Rocket trio. They fantasized about Giovanni, angry at his incompetent subordinates, seeing the six starter Pokémon they presented. He would be reminded of his youthful ambition, reward them handsomely, and a promotion and a raise wouldn't just be a dream!
They immediately took action, appearing in a giant Jumpluff Mecha that they had built with all their savings!
BOOM! "Is that a Jumpluff? It's huge!" May exclaimed.
"No, it's Team Rocket!"
"Waa haa haa Since you asked so sincerely... it is our policy to tell you! Meowth!" "Wobbuffet"
"Team Rocket, you guys are persistent!"
"Haha, twerp, let me tell you! This time, it's made of highly durable alloy, resistant to electricity, fire, and water! We are invincible!!"
"Is that so? Torkoal, Overheat! Feraligatr, Ice Beam! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Torkoal unleashed scorching flames, turning the robot red. Feraligatr's icy-blue beam froze it. Finally, Pikachu's Thunderbolt blasted the machine into pieces!
KABOOM!!! "Argh! All the money we saved up and scraped together!" "It's all gone, meow!" "We'll be eating dirt again tomorrow!"
"This is really annoying!" "Wobbuffet (???)~"
Ash watched Team Rocket fly off like a shooting star. Sigh. What a waste of a massive robot. Team Rocket's potential as top-tier researchers in my past life was definitely wasted!
Ash and his friends stayed at Professor Birch's lab for the rest of the afternoon. Professor Oak only managed to briefly study Eevee and Pikachu's partner moves.
In the evening, Ash and his friends said goodbye to Professor Oak and boarded the last ferry from Littleroot Town's port, heading in the direction of Mauville City.
Ash and his friends disembarked and immediately plunged back into the forest. After resting for a night at a forest Pokémon Center, they continued their journey toward Mauville City!
Along the way, May asked Ash for help with practicing Quiver Dance. Ever since May saw Ash's Beautifly perform Quiver Dance, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it!