"Pika—chu (lost again)!"
Pikachu's cry was exceptionally clear in the quiet mountain forest.
Ash stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked up at the sky, which was obscured by dense tree canopies.
"Did we take a wrong turn again?" Xiao You frowned, clutching the crumpled map in her hand.
"According to the map, we should have arrived in Viridian City two hours ago."
Brock knelt down, examining the tracks on the ground.
"The magnetic field in this area seems to be a bit unusual; the compass has been spinning wildly."
He patted the Onix beside him.
"Even Onix feels uneasy."
Ash looked around, dappled sunlight filtering through the dense shadows of the trees.
"Don't worry, we'll definitely find our way out.
Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder, its tail gently swaying.
Just then, a deafening explosion came from a distance, startling a flock of Pidgey in the forest.
The four looked at each other.
"What was that sound?" Xiao You nervously clutched Ivysaur's Vine Whip.
Brock quickly put away his compass: "It sounds like blasting work.
There might be a construction site nearby."
"Let's go check it out!" Ash ran towards the source of the sound without hesitation, Pikachu gripping his shoulder tightly to prevent falling.
After pushing through a thicket, the sight before them made all four stop simultaneously—a massive dam construction site appeared.
Heavy machinery roared, and workers bustled about.
A huge gap had been blasted open in the distant mountain.
"Wow," Ash's eyes widened, "this project is huge!"
"This is the Viridian Reservoir Project," Brock recognized the sign at the site.
"It's said that once completed, it will provide electricity to the entire Kanto region."
Just as they were observing, a middle-aged man with a hard hat and a stubbled face noticed them and strode over.
"Hey! You kids! This is a restricted construction area, no unauthorized entry!" the foreman-like man shouted gruffly.
Ash stepped forward: "Excuse me, we are Trainers who got lost in the mountains.
We only found this place after hearing the explosion."
The foreman sized them up, his gaze lingering on Pikachu and Xiao You's Ivysaur for a moment.
"Trainers." He suddenly brightened.
"Do you have strong Pokémon?"
"Of course!" Ash proudly patted his chest, "My Pikachu is very strong!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu cooperatively puffed out its cheeks, electricity crackling.
The foreman showed a delighted expression: "Excellent! We're recruiting Trainers to help drive away the Diglett that are interfering with construction.
The pay is generous, interested?"
"Diglett?" Xiao You asked, puzzled, "Why would they interfere with construction?"
"Who knows," the foreman impatiently waved his hand, "Since last week, Diglett and Dugtrio have been emerging from underground every day, damaging our equipment and clogging drainage pipes.
We've already suffered heavy losses."
Ash was about to agree when a familiar voice came from behind him:
"Hmph, can your electric-shocking yellow mouse really deal with swarms of Diglett?"
Ash spun around abruptly, and sure enough, saw the figure he both loved and hated—Gary, his rival, standing there with his arms crossed, a characteristic mocking smile on his lips.
"Gary!" Ash frowned, "What are you doing here?"
"I heard there was a challenge here, so of course I came to see." Gary cast a disdainful glance at Pikachu, "Didn't expect to run into you, what a letdown."
The foreman, seeing the tension between the two, became even happier: "Excellent! Both of you seem to be excellent Trainers.
How about this, whoever can drive away the most Diglett today will receive a special reward!"
A flicker of excitement crossed Gary's eyes: "Just what I wanted.
Ash, dare to compete?"
Ash deliberately turned his head, pretending to ignore Gary, and spoke directly to the foreman: "Take us to see where the Diglett are appearing."
Gary's face darkened: "Hey! I'm talking to you!"
"Pikachu, let's go." Ash still ignored Gary and followed the foreman deeper into the construction site.
Pikachu turned back and made a face at Gary.
Xiao You and Brock exchanged glances, then helplessly followed.
Gary clenched his fists, muttered a curse, and quickly caught up.
The foreman led them to a newly excavated foundation pit, the ground covered with fresh holes.
"It's right here," the foreman pointed to the holes, "Diglett emerge every hour to cause trouble.
We've tried everything, but nothing works."
Gary rushed forward: "Watch me! Go, Arcanine!"
He threw a Poké Ball, but nothing happened.
Gary froze, then tried again: "Arcanine, come out!"
The Poké Ball remained unresponsive.
"What's going on?" Gary checked the Poké Ball, confused.
Ash also tried to summon his Pokémon: "Charizard, it's your turn!"
Similarly, Charizard refused to come out.
Other Trainers also arrived one after another, and everyone encountered the same problem—their Pokémon refused to fight the Diglett.
"This is too strange," Brock frowned, "The Pokémon seem to... be unwilling to harm the Diglett."
The foreman shook his head in disappointment: "Looks like today was another wasted effort.
Never mind, everyone can go home."
As dusk fell, the Trainers left one after another.
Gary gave Ash one last glare: "This doesn't count, next time I'll definitely beat you!" He then turned and left.
Ash looked at Gary's retreating back, deep in thought.
"Pikachu, why do you think our Pokémon are unwilling to fight?"
"Pika Pika..." Pikachu shook its head, indicating it didn't understand either.
Xiao You suggested: "It's getting dark, shouldn't we find a place to camp?"
Brock nodded: "I saw a small grove on the other side of the mountain, it should be suitable for camping."
The four left the construction site and walked deeper into the mountain forest.
Night fell, and a mysterious atmosphere filled the forest.
Just as they were about to set up their tents, Pikachu suddenly perked up its ears.
"Pika!" It pointed deeper into the woods.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash followed its direction and vaguely saw something moving.
Brock lowered his voice: "Let's go quietly and see."
They crept closer, and the sight before them stunned them—dozens of Diglett and Dugtrio were lined up in neat rows, each carrying a sapling or seed, carefully planting them in the clearing.
"They're... planting trees?" Xiao You gasped, covering her mouth.
Ash knelt down, slowly approaching a Diglett that was burying a seed.
"Hello, can you tell me what you're doing?"
The Diglett looked up, clearly startled when it saw Ash, but quickly realized he could understand its language.
"You... you can understand me?" the Diglett asked in surprise.
Ash nodded: "Yes.
My name is Ash, and these are my friends.
We want to know why you're damaging the dam project, and why you're planting trees here late at night."
The Diglett hesitated for a moment, then gestured for them to follow.
"Come, I'll show you."
The Diglett led them to a high ground, from where they could overlook the entire reservoir construction area and the distant forest.
"You see that forest," the Diglett pointed into the distance, "hundreds of Pokémon live there; it's our home.
If the dam is built, the entire forest will be flooded."
Brock gasped: "I see... That's why the Pokémon refused to fight.
They all know the truth."
Tears welled up in Xiao You's eyes: "Those Diglett were damaging the construction... to protect their home."
Pikachu sadly lowered its head: "Pika..."
Just then, a harsh laugh came from behind them:
"Since you've discovered this secret, you won't be leaving easily!"
The four turned around and saw the familiar trio—Team Rockets' Jessie, James, and Meowth standing in the moonlight, beside them the newly evolved Arbok and Weezing.
"Team Rockets!" Ash immediately took a fighting stance, "What do you want?"
Jessie laughed triumphantly: "We heard there were Diglett causing trouble here, so we specially came to 'help'.
If we catch these Diglett and offer them to the boss, we'll definitely get promoted and get rich!"
James added: "And we found something even more interesting—the soil here is soft and completely unsuitable for building a dam!
If we blast open a part of it, create an 'accident'..."
"Then pretend to be a rescue team and make a fortune!" Meowth excitedly rubbed its paws.
Ash's face changed drastically: "You're crazy! That will cause a flood, and the downstream villages will suffer!"
"So what?" Jessie said indifferently, "Go, Arbok! Weezing!"
The two Pokémon immediately attacked.
The Diglett panicked and scattered.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.
"Ivysaur, Vine Whip!" Xiao You ordered simultaneously.
However, Team Rockets was prepared; Arbok blocked the electric attack with Acid, while Weezing released smoke for cover.
"Hahahaha! Useless!" James pressed the remote control in his hand, "Detonate!"
With a loud bang, a large breach was blasted in the temporary dam in the distance, and torrents of water immediately gushed out.
"No!" Xiao You watched in despair as the flood began to rage.
Team Rockets escaped in the chaos, leaving them to face the impending disaster.
The flood rapidly rushed downstream, threatening the entire forest and the villages further away.
The foreman and workers, hearing the explosion, rushed over and were stunned by the sight before them.
"This... how is this possible!" The foreman's face was pale.
Ash rushed to the foreman: "You must stop the project immediately!
The soil here is completely unsuitable for building a dam!
The Diglett have been trying to warn you!"
The foreman looked at the group of Diglett planting trees and finally understood something.
"I... I didn't know it would be like this..."
The flood was getting closer, Ash gritted his teeth: "No time to explain!
We must find a way to stop the flood!"
He took out all his Poké Balls: "Gardevoir, Metang, Charizard, Ivysaur, Wartortle, I'm counting on all of you!"
With flashes of light, all of Ash's Pokémon appeared, seemingly ready to fight to protect the forest.
Xiao You and Brock also immediately released their Pokémon: "Ivysaur!" "Geodude, Onix, Zubat!"
Seeing this, other Trainers who had not yet left also released their Pokémon to join the rescue.
Just at this critical moment, Gary suddenly arrived riding Arcanine.
"Looks like I missed a good show." He looked around and immediately understood the situation.
"Gary!" Ash shouted, "Help!"
Unexpectedly, Gary did not act arrogantly, but nodded seriously: "Arcanine, use Flamethrower to evaporate some of the water!
Nidoking, use Earthquake to change the riverbed!"
For the first time, the two teams truly cooperated, and the Pokémon displayed their unique abilities.
Gardevoir used Confusion to block the water flow, Metang and Charizard moved rocks to reinforce the embankment, the Ivysaur wove their Vine Whip into nets to slow the water, while Onix and Geodude blocked the breach with their bodies.
The Diglett and Dugtrio also joined the rescue, rapidly digging diversion channels underground to guide some of the floodwaters to safe areas.
After several hours of intense fighting, the flood was finally brought under control.
Everyone sat exhausted on the ground, and the Pokémon were also panting.
The foreman walked up to Ash and bowed deeply: "Thank you, young man.
If it weren't for you... the consequences would have been unimaginable."
Ash shook his head: "You should thank the Diglett.
They have been trying to protect this forest."
The foreman turned to the group of Diglett: "On behalf of all the workers, I apologize to you.
We will immediately stop the project and help restore the forest."
The Diglett cheered, and Dugtrio poked their heads out from underground, looking at Ash and his companions with gratitude.
Gary walked over, uncharacteristically without provocation: "It seems... you won again this time."
Ash smiled: "No, this time we won together."
Gary snorted lightly, but there was no longer the usual hostility in his eyes.
"Next time, I'll truly defeat you."
"I'll be waiting." Ash said sincerely.
Under the moonlight, humans and Pokémon celebrated the salvation of the forest together.
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder, affectionately rubbing his cheek.
"Pikachu, we have another new story to tell others." Ash said with a smile.
In the distance, the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, shining on the rescued forest, and a new day began.