The afterglow of the setting sun cast its light on the forest path leading to Saffron City.
Ash pulled down the brim of his hat, gazing at the distant, faintly visible outline of the city.
"At this rate, we'll reach Saffron City by noon tomorrow," Brock said, consulting a map, his Geodude on his shoulder purring in agreement.
"Sabrina of Saffron Gym is a Psychic expert," Xiao You said, pushing up her glasses.
"They say her Alakazam is terrifyingly strong.
Ash, is your Gardevoir ready?"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, waving its tiny fists to show its confidence.
Ash was about to reply when an unusual sound suddenly came from deep within the forest ahead.
It was the hum of machinery mixed with the faint whimpers of Pokémon.
The three exchanged glances, then quietly, by unspoken agreement, crept towards the source of the sound.
After pushing through a dense thicket, the sight before them made all three hold their breath simultaneously—a dozen Team Rockets members in black uniforms with a blood-red "R" emblem on their chests were loading a group of wild Pokémon, caged, onto a transport vehicle disguised as an ordinary truck.
"Hurry up! These test subjects must be delivered to the lab before sunset!" a Team Rockets squad leader in sunglasses barked in a low voice.
"Captain, can these wild Pokémon really adapt to Mew's genes?" a young team member muttered softly.
"Last week's test subjects almost all died…"
"Shut up!" The captain suddenly turned, grabbing the man by his collar.
"Apollo and the others aren't here.
If the Kanto League finds out, we're all in deep trouble!"
Hearing this, Ash felt a surge of anger rise from the bottom of his heart.
He turned to look at his companions; Brock and Xiao You's eyes also burned with angry flames.
Pikachu's cheeks were already sparking with dangerous electricity.
"We have to save them," Ash mouthed, receiving firm nods of agreement from the other two.
After the Team Rockets convoy left, the three quietly followed.
After traversing a hidden mountain path, the convoy stopped in front of a building disguised as an abandoned factory.
The heavy metal door silently slid open after a password was entered, revealing a brightly lit corridor inside.
"This place is too heavily guarded," Xiao You observed the surrounding surveillance cameras and patrolling guards.
"We need a plan."
Brock pondered for a moment: "The back door should also have guards, why don't we…"
"Pikachu," Ash interrupted him, his eyes glinting with determination, "use Quick Attack to rush us in!"
"Wait, Ash! That's too risky!" Xiao You exclaimed, but it was already too late.
Pikachu's entire body erupted with dazzling electricity, forming a spherical barrier that enveloped the three under the guidance of Ash's Aura.
"Pika—chu!" With a loud cry, a golden lightning bolt shot towards the side glass window of the building like an arrow from a bow.
The sound of shattering glass was drowned out by the roar of electricity, and the three, along with the Pokémon, stormed into the building like a whirlwind.
Alarms instantly blared throughout the laboratory, but Pikachu had already led them through several corridors, shaking off the first wave of pursuers.
"This… this is truly exhilarating…" Brock gasped, leaning against the wall, his Geodude circling at his feet, seemingly a bit dizzy.
"Split up," Ash said quickly.
"Brock, you and Geodude go cut the power; Xiao You, you and Pikachu go rescue the captive Pokémon; I'll go to the core experimental area."
"It's too dangerous!" Xiao You grabbed Ash's arm.
"We don't know what's inside!"
Ash gently broke free and took out a Poké Ball from his backpack: "Gardevoir will protect me.
And…" He pointed to the faintly glowing pendant on his chest—it was the azure flute bestowed by Arceus, "I have this."
Looking at Ash's determined gaze, Xiao You finally nodded: "Be careful."
As Brock and Geodude rushed towards the power switch, Xiao You and Pikachu also disappeared around the corridor corner.
Ash took a deep breath and followed the arrow marked "Experimental Area."
The deeper they went, the more pungent the smell of disinfectant in the air became, mixed with an indescribable, slightly fishy smell.
Turning the last corner, a heavy metal door blocked their way.
Ash was hesitating how to enter when the red light on the door suddenly turned green and it slowly opened.
Two researchers in white coats pushed a cart out, covered with a white cloth, vaguely revealing the outline of a Pokémon underneath.
"Another failed test subject," the older researcher sighed.
"This is the seventh one today."
"Professor said Mew's genes are too unstable," the younger researcher whispered in response.
"The DNA of ordinary Pokémon simply cannot withstand it…"
Their words stopped abruptly as the cart collided with Ash, who was standing at the doorway.
Two pairs of eyes widened in horror, but before they could raise an alarm, Gardevoir had already leaped out of her Poké Ball, her eyes glowing blue.
"Hypnosis," Ash commanded softly.
Two blue lights flashed, and the researchers collapsed limply to the ground.
Ash lifted the white cloth on the cart, and his stomach churned—it was a Nidoran♂ that had already lost its life signs, its body covered in terrifying purple spots, as if it had been corroded by something.
"These lunatics…" Ash gritted his teeth, his fists unconsciously clenching.
He carefully placed the Nidoran♂'s body aside and quickly walked into the experimental area.
The scene before him was like a nightmare—dozens of transparent culture tanks lined the spacious laboratory, most of them containing the floating bodies of deceased Pokémon.
Liquids of various colors were injected into the tanks through pipes, and unsettling data flickered on the monitoring screens.
At the control panel in the center of the laboratory, several Team Rockets scientists were intently adjusting parameters, completely oblivious to the intruder's arrival.
Ash closed his eyes, releasing his Aura.
Invisible energy waves swept through the entire laboratory, sensing every life sign.
Most of the tanks showed no reaction, but in a small culture tank in the furthest corner, a faint life fluctuation caught his attention.
It was an Eevee, its brown-yellow fur already dull and lifeless, its eyes tightly closed as it floated in a pale green liquid.
Unlike the other test subjects, a strange energy within it was fiercely resisting Mew's genes.
"It's still alive…" Ash's heart tightened.
Just as he was about to step forward, the alarm at the control panel suddenly blared sharply.
"Intruder!" A bald scientist spun around, spotting Ash.
"Security! Catch him!"
The sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, but Ash no longer cared about that.
He rushed towards the corner culture tank, Gardevoir close behind him, using Psychic to knock down two charging Team Rockets members.
"Stop! You can't touch that test subject!" The bald scientist roared, pressing a red button on the control panel, and a protective shield immediately rose around the culture tank.
Ash ignored him.
He raised his right hand, and the markings on his wrist began to emit a golden glow—that was the power of the Fist Plate bestowed by Arceus.
With a loud shout, his fist heavily slammed onto the protective shield.
"Break!"
The golden light spread like ripples, and the protective shield shattered with a crash.
Ash didn't stop, striking the reinforced glass of the culture tank with another punch.
Cracks spread like a spiderweb, and finally, the entire tank burst open, spilling pale green liquid.
Just as the liquid was about to engulf Ash, the azure flute on his chest glowed silver, forming an invisible barrier that kept the liquid out.
He carefully caught the falling Eevee, finding it barely clinging to life.
"Hold on…" Ash whispered, removing the azure flute and placing it on Eevee's forehead.
The silver light gradually changed into a rainbow of colors, flowing along Eevee's body.
Ash could feel two genes within Eevee fiercely clashing, and the power of the azure flute was harmonizing this conflict.
"What are you doing?!" The bald scientist shrieked, pulling out a Poké Ball.
"Alakazam, stop him!"
A red light flashed, and Alakazam, holding its spoons, appeared in the center of the laboratory, its eyes immediately Lock-On Ash.
But Gardevoir had already blocked her master's path, her skirt fluttering without a breeze.
"Gardevoir, Dazzling Gleam!" Ash commanded, while maintaining the energy output of the azure flute.
Pink light burst from Gardevoir, forcing Alakazam to raise its spoons to defend.
Seizing the opportunity, Gardevoir quickly closed in, delivering an Ice Punch directly to the opponent's abdomen.
Alakazam teleported away, appearing behind Gardevoir, its spoons raised high, ready to unleash a Psychic attack.
But Gardevoir seemed to have eyes in the back of her head; with an elegant turn, Moonblast condensed in her palm, colliding head-on with Alakazam's attack.
The shockwave of the two energies shattered half of the laboratory's culture tanks, sending liquid and glass shards flying everywhere.
Ash shielded Eevee in his arms, using his body to block the flying debris.
Ash could feel the azure flute's light growing stronger, and the genes within Eevee were achieving some kind of balance.
"Impossible!" The bald scientist's face turned pale as he looked at the data on the monitoring screen.
"Mew's genes are stable? How is this possible?!"
Just then, all the lights in the laboratory suddenly went out, leaving only the faint red glow of emergency lights.
Brock's voice came from the doorway: "Ash! We've cut the power, and Xiao You and Pikachu have rescued most of the Pokémon!"
In the darkness, Alakazam attacked again, but Gardevoir, relying on her Fairy-type resistance to Psychic, endured a Psyshock, while simultaneously condensing a dazzling Moonblast in her hand.
"Finish it, Moonblast!"
The silver-white energy orb accurately struck Alakazam's chest, sending it flying several meters to crash heavily against the wall and slide down.
Seeing this, the bald scientist turned to flee, but the suddenly restored lights revealed his every movement—Xiao You and Pikachu, along with a group of rescued Pokémon, had blocked the exit.
"The game's over," Ash said coldly.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Golden lightning poured down like a waterfall, knocking out all the remaining Team Rockets members.
At the same time, the Eevee in Ash's arms suddenly erupted in a dazzling rainbow light, illuminating the entire laboratory.
After the light dissipated, the previously dying Eevee was Refresh—its fur had turned into a brilliant rainbow of colors, shimmering with a dreamlike luster under the lights.
Even more surprisingly, it actively jumped up and touched an empty Poké Ball on Ash's waist with its nose.
"Wait, Eevee!" Ash exclaimed, but it was too late.
The Poké Ball opened, taking Eevee inside, and without even a shake, it emitted a soft "ding"—capture complete.
Ash picked up the Poké Ball, both laughing and crying: "At least let me finish my welcome speech…"
Outside the laboratory, the sound of helicopters and shouts of many people suddenly erupted.
Ash quickly took out his black and blue rotom phone: "Professor Oak, we've discovered a secret Team Rockets laboratory and have the situation under control, but we need League support."
"Well done, Ash!" Professor Oak's expression on the phone screen was serious.
"Lance is already on his way, hold on!"
Less than half an hour later, a red figure descended outside the laboratory on a Dragonite.
His cape flapped in the wind, and his iconic spiky hair made everyone recognize the Champion of the Kanto and Johto regions—Lance.
"I understand the situation," Lance surveyed the chaotic laboratory, his gaze lingering on the deceased Pokémon for a moment, his face terribly grim.
"These bastards…"
Ash handed the collected experimental data and the hypnotized Team Rockets members to Lance: "They were trying to implant Mew's genes into ordinary Pokémon, but most of them… didn't make it."
Lance nodded heavily: "I will personally handle this matter.
You all did very well, especially in rescuing this…" He looked at the Poké Ball containing the Rainbow Eevee on Ash's waist, "this special Eevee."
After bidding farewell to Lance, the three continued towards Saffron City.
As night fell, they set up camp by a small stream.
By the campfire, Ash released Rainbow Eevee and carefully checked its condition with the azure flute.
"How is it?" Xiao You leaned over curiously.
Ash frowned slightly: "The Mew's genes within it have given it incredible abilities… theoretically, it can adapt to all 18 evolutionary forms of types.
But currently, it can only freely switch between Water, Fire, and Electric."
"18 types?!" Brock almost spilled the soup he was cooking.
"That's astonishing!"
"But unlocking more forms requires corresponding ite," Ash continued, "and they are very rare special ite like 'Grassite.'
Even a large mine might not yield a single one…"
At this point, he suddenly remembered something and took out a stone emitting a faint pink glow from deep within his backpack: "But I happen to have a Fairy ite."
Those were spoils his Pokémon had obtained from challenging the Gigantamax Dens and Tera Raids in the personal space.
Ash handed the stone to Eevee, who was sniffing it curiously: "Want to try it?"
Eevee swallowed the stone without hesitation, and instantly, its entire body once again erupted in a rainbow of colors.
Under the astonished gazes of the three, its form gradually elongated, and ribbon-like pink streamers extended from its ears and neck—it had evolved, but unlike a regular Sylveon, its fur still retained its dreamlike rainbow colors.
"Rainbow Sylveon…" Xiao You whispered in admiration.
"It's so beautiful."
The newly evolved Sylveon affectionately rubbed Ash's cheek, emitting a melodious cry.
Ash smiled, stroking its smooth fur: "Welcome to our team officially, partner."
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's other shoulder, extending a friendly little paw to its new companion.
The tails of the two Pokémon gently intertwined under the moonlight, as if foreshadowing the beginning of a brand new adventure.
The campfire crackled, illuminating the warm smiles of the three and their Pokémon.
In the distance, the lights of Saffron City were faintly visible, and in the even more distant night sky, a pink figure seemed to flash by, observing it all…