Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the forest path. Ash tugged at the brim of his cap, a confident smile on his face. Pikachu sat steadily on his shoulder, its cheek pouches occasionally sparking with electricity.
"Pikachu, we're one step closer to Vermilion City!" Ash exclaimed excitedly, two Gym Badges glinting in the sun.
"Pika (That's right)!" Pikachu chirped in response, its tail held high.
Brock, walking behind them, smiled as he watched the duo, while Xiao You flipped through her Pokédex, occasionally looking up to observe their surroundings.
"At this rate, we'll reach Vermilion City tomorrow," Brock said, looking at the map on his rotom phone.
Just then, a young Trainer with a backpack approached from the opposite direction. His eyes lit up when he saw Ash and his friends. "Hey! You're that Trainer with the giant Pidgey, aren't you?"
Ash stopped, nodding in surprise. "Yeah, how did you know?"
"It's all over this area!" the boy said excitedly. "I heard your Pidgey isn't just huge, it's also a Shinny variant, and it's already defeated ten Trainers in a row!"
Ash scratched his head sheepishly, while Pikachu puffed out its chest proudly. Xiao You closed her Pokédex and asked curiously, "So, are you here to challenge Ash?"
The boy quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no, I'm not strong enough for that. But…" He lowered his voice mysteriously. "Since you're so strong, I suggest you challenge Xiao Ming's unofficial Gym."
"Unofficial Gym?" Ash's eyes lit up. "What's that?"
"It's an arena Xiao Ming built himself on an open space not far from here. He's already won 98 battles in a row, and his goal is to reach 100 wins before starting his real journey," the boy explained. "His Pokémon are all very strong, but I think your Pidgey might be able to beat him."
The flame of determination ignited in Ash's eyes. "98 consecutive wins? Sounds like a good opponent! Pikachu, let's go!"
"Wait, Ash!" Brock tried to stop him, but Ash was already running. He and Xiao You could only follow helplessly.
After pushing through a patch of bushes, they arrived at a cleared open space. A simple wooden ring stood in the center, with a banner hanging nearby that read, "98 Consecutive Wins! Challengers, Please Line Up!"
A boy with a red bandana was sitting by the ring, grooming the scales on his Sandshrew's back. Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
"New challengers?" He stood up, brushing dust off his pants. "I'm Xiao Ming, the Gym Leader here. The rules are 3v3. Are you ready?"
Ash stepped forward. "I'm Ash from Pallet Town! I heard you've won 98 battles in a row?"
Xiao Ming puffed out his chest proudly. "That's right! Two more wins and I'll achieve my goal of 100 consecutive victories, then I'll begin my training journey." He eyed Ash. "But I have to warn you, my Pokémon aren't easy to deal with."
"Perfect!" Ash said excitedly. "I accept your challenge!"
Brock and Xiao You stood to the side. Xiao You quietly asked, "Do you think Ash can win?"
Brock stroked his chin. "Xiao Ming's winning streak isn't fake, but Ash's Pidgey is indeed very strong… and their teamwork is getting better and better."
In the ring, Xiao Ming had already taken his position. "The rules are simple: 3v3, until all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle. There are no time limits or move restrictions."
Ash nodded, taking a Poké Ball from his belt. "I understand. Then… Go, Pidgey!"
A flash of red light, and the giant Shinny Pidgey appeared in the air. Its body was almost twice the size of a normal Pidgey, its golden feathers shimmering in the sunlight, and the shadow cast by its open wings covered almost half the ring.
Xiao Ming's eyes widened. "Wow… the rumors are true. But being big doesn't mean being strong! Go, Rattata!"
A spirited Rattata leaped onto the ring, its whiskers twitching, ready for battle.
"Pidgey, use Quick Attack!" Ash commanded first.
Pidgey swooped down like a golden lightning bolt. Rattata didn't even have time to react before it was knocked flying.
"Rattata, get up! Use Tackle!" Xiao Ming shouted.
Rattata barely managed to get up and charged at Pidgey. Ash's lips curled into a slight smile. "Dodge, then use Wing Attack!"
Pidgey deftly dodged, its wings glowing white, and struck Rattata hard. Rattata whimpered and fell to the ground, spinning in circles.
"Rattata is unable to battle!" Brock, temporarily acting as referee, announced.
Xiao Ming recalled Rattata, his expression a bit grim. "You've got some skill… but don't get cocky! Go, Beedrill!"
A large Beedrill appeared in the air, its twin stingers glinting coldly. Xiao You opened her Pokédex. "Beedrill, the Poison Bee Pokémon. It's very fast, be careful, Ash!"
"Pidgey, keep your distance!" Ash shouted.
"Beedrill, use Poison Sting!" Xiao Ming commanded.
Beedrill fired dozens of purple Poison Stingers from its twin stingers. Pidgey deftly weaved and dodged in the air, but a few stingers still grazed its wings.
"Pidgey!" Ash called out worriedly.
Pidgey let out a cry, indicating it was fine. Ash sighed in relief. "Good, use Twister!"
Pidgey suddenly flapped its giant wings, and a powerful gust of wind formed a small Twister, sweeping Beedrill into it. Beedrill struggled in the wind, unable to stabilize itself.
"Beedrill, break free!" Xiao Ming shouted anxiously.
But it was too late. Pidgey seized the opportunity to swoop down, delivering another Wing Attack that slammed Beedrill directly to the ground.
"Beedrill is unable to battle!" Brock announced again.
Sweat beaded on Xiao Ming's forehead. He gritted his teeth. "Only one left… Sandshrew, it's up to you!"
Sandshrew leaped onto the ring, vigilantly staring at Pidgey in the air. Xiao Ming whispered, "Sandshrew, use Defense Curl then Rollout!"
Sandshrew immediately curled into a ball and began rolling rapidly across the arena, gaining speed.
"Pidgey, be careful!" Ash shouted. "Use Twister to interfere with its path!"
Pidgey flapped its wings again, but this time Sandshrew's rolling trajectory was unpredictable, and Twister couldn't effectively stop it. Sandshrew suddenly changed direction and slammed into Pidgey.
"Bang!" Pidgey was knocked tumbling a few times in the air, but quickly regained its balance.
"Sandshrew, keep using Rollout Attack!" Xiao Ming shouted.
A look of determination flashed in Ash's eyes. "Pidgey, when it gets close, meet it head-on with Quick Attack!"
Sandshrew rolled in again at high speed. Just as it was about to hit Pidgey, the golden figure shot down like lightning. The two forces collided in the air with a loud crash.
After the dust settled, Sandshrew lay on the ground, while Pidgey, though breathing heavily, still held its position in the air.
"Sandshrew is unable to battle! The winner is Ash!" Brock announced loudly.
Xiao Ming stood frozen, unable to believe that all three of his Pokémon had been defeated. He slowly knelt on the ground. "98 consecutive wins… it just ended like this…"
Ash recalled Pidgey and walked over to Xiao Ming. "Your Pokémon are all very strong, it's just that your tactics are a bit one-dimensional."
Xiao Ming looked up, tears glistening in his eyes. "I spent so long to reach 98 wins… now everything has to start over…"
Just then, a strange cackle came from the sky. "Since you're so sad, why don't we, Team Rockets, take your Pokémon!"
Everyone looked up to see a red hot air balloon hovering in the air. Jessie, James, and Meowth stood in the basket, looking down at them smugly.
"Team Rockets!" Ash clenched his fist.
"That's right! It's us!" Jessie laughed. "Seeing the battle just now, these Pokémon, though they lost, have good potential. Perfect to offer to the Boss!"
"Launch the capture net!" James pressed a button, and three large nets descended from the sky, precisely covering Xiao Ming's three fainted Pokémon.
"No!" Xiao Ming cried out in despair.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!" Ash immediately commanded.
Pikachu leaped up, electricity sparking on its cheeks, but Team Rockets were prepared. The hot air balloon quickly ascended, avoiding the attack.
"Hahahaha, useless!" Meowth said smugly. "We've improved our anti-electric device!"
Ash suddenly thought of something and took out a Poké Ball from his belt. "Pidgey, can you still battle?"
Pidgey reappeared. Though tired, its eyes were still resolute.
"Use Twister to attack the top of the hot air balloon!" Ash shouted.
Pidgey flapped its wings with all its might, and a Twister even stronger than before shot towards the top of the hot air balloon. The balloon shook violently, and the three Team Rockets members lost their footing.
"Waaah! What's happening!" Jessie shrieked.
"The capture nets are loose!" James discovered in horror.
The three nets fell from the sky. Ash shouted, "Pidgey, catch them!"
Pidgey quickly swooped down, grabbed the three nets with its claws, and safely brought the three Pokémon back to the ground. Xiao Ming rushed forward and hugged his partners tightly.
"You annoying brats!" Meowth fumed. "Use a smoke bomb and retreat!"
After a thick cloud of smoke, Team Rockets' hot air balloon had disappeared into the sky.
Ash let out a long breath and turned to Xiao Ming. "Are you okay?"
Xiao Ming held his Pokémon, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you… if it weren't for you…"
Ash crouched down and said earnestly, "Winning streaks aren't important. What's important is the bond between you and your Pokémon. See, they fought so hard to protect you."
Xiao Ming looked at the Pokémon in his arms. Rattata weakly licked his hand, Sandshrew rubbed its head against his leg, and Beedrill let out a comforting buzz.
"I understand…" Xiao Ming wiped away his tears and stood up. "The goal of 100 consecutive wins… maybe it was wrong from the start. A true Trainer should grow with their Pokémon, not chase after numerical records."
Ash gave a bright smile. "That's right! Want to travel with us? We're heading to Vermilion City."
Xiao Ming shook his head, smiling. "Thank you for the invitation, but I think I need to start a new journey on my own." He looked into the distance. "It's time to let go of my obsession and truly understand this world and my Pokémon."
Brock stepped forward. "That's a wise decision. On the path of a Trainer, wins and losses are important, but even more important is every moment you experience with your Pokémon."
Xiao You also nodded in agreement. "And your Pokémon truly trust you. That's more precious than any winning streak."
Xiao Ming looked at everyone gratefully. "Thank you all… especially you, Ash. You not only defeated me but also helped me see what's truly important."
Ash scratched his head sheepishly. "Oh, it was nothing… we just got lucky."
"No, it was your strength and your teamwork with Pidgey," Xiao Ming said firmly. "I'll remember today's lesson. Maybe one day, we'll battle again."
"I look forward to it!" Ash extended his hand.
Their hands clasped, symbolizing the beginning of a new friendship.
As the sun set, Ash and his friends waved goodbye to Xiao Ming, who was embarking on a new journey, and continued towards Vermilion City.
"Pikachu, today was a truly fulfilling day!" Ash said, looking at the evening glow in the sky.
"That's right, that's right!" Pikachu chirped happily.
Brock smiled and said, "Your Pidgey performed excellently. It seems your training hasn't been in vain."
Xiao You looked through her Pokédex. "And we helped another Trainer find the right direction. That's more meaningful than winning a Gym Badge."
Ash nodded, his gaze firm. "Yeah… but we can't let our guard down for the Vermilion City Gym battle either! Pikachu, are you ready?"
"Always ready!" Pikachu cried out, full of fighting spirit.
The golden sunset cast long, long shadows of the three of them. The path ahead stretched into the distance, and new adventures awaited them.