The sunlight streamed down on the path leading to Indigo Plateau, as Ash, Xiao You, and Brock walked side by side, Pikachu sitting energetically on Ash's shoulder. A gentle breeze swept through, bringing the fresh scent of the distant forest.
"Just thinking about the upcoming League Competition makes me too excited to sleep!" Ash clenched his fist, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Brock smiled and patted his backpack, "Don't forget to check your badge case. Don't almost lose your Gray Badge again like last time."
Pikachu happily chirped, "Pika Pika!"
Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows of the trees ahead. The person wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled low, revealing only a strong, resolute chin. He carried a bone club on his shoulder, and beside him stood a Marowak with sharp eyes.
"Stop." The man's voice was low and hoarse.
Ash and his companions stopped, warily observing the uninvited guest. Brock frowned slightly, his hand already moving to the Poké Ball at his waist.
"Is there something you need?" Ash stepped forward, and Pikachu jumped to the ground, the electric sacs on his cheeks beginning to flicker with faint electricity.
The man slowly raised his head, revealing a weathered face. His eyes were like two bottomless pools, holding countless untold stories. "I heard you are competitors heading to Indigo Plateau."
Xiao You nodded, "Yes, we are about to participate in the Pokémon League Competition."
"Then..." The man suddenly raised the bone club in his hand, pointing it directly at Ash, "I challenge you!"
Ash was momentarily stunned, then broke into an excited smile, "A battle? Of course!"
"Wait," the man interrupted him, "This isn't an ordinary battle. The loser must hand over all of their badges."
All three gasped simultaneously. Brock immediately objected, "That's too much! Badges are honors Trainers work hard to earn, how can they be used as a wager?"
The man sneered, "What, scared? Those without the courage to accept a challenge are unworthy of participating in the League Competition."
Ash's fists clenched tighter, but he forced himself to calm down, "Why are you making such a condition?"
"That's none of your business," the man said impatiently, "Accept or not?"
Pikachu jumped in front of Ash, his tail held high, clearly ready to battle. Ash took a deep breath and looked at his companions. Xiao You shook her head worriedly, while Brock's eyes urged him to reconsider.
"I accept," Ash finally said, "But not for your condition, but because as a Trainer, I cannot refuse any challenge."
The man showed a satisfied smile, "Very well. I am Saizo, and this is my partner Marowak."
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my partner Pikachu!" Ash responded loudly, "But this time, I want another partner to battle."
He took a Poké Ball from his waist and gently tossed it, "Go, Dratini!"
With a flash of pink light, Ash's Shinny Dratini appeared in the clearing. Its entire body was a rare pink, its scales shimmering with a pearly luster in the sunlight.
Saizo's eyes widened, "This... this is a Shinny Dratini?" His voice was filled with disbelief, "And such a special color..."
Xiao You proudly said, "This is the partner Ash met in Dragon Valley, a very precious Shinny Pokémon!"
Saizo quickly regained his composure, but the shock in his eyes had not completely faded, "Interesting. Marowak, prepare for battle!"
Marowak brandished its bone club, taking a battle stance. Dratini gracefully circled in the air, curiously observing its opponent.
"I'll go first!" Saizo shouted, "Marowak, use Bone Rush!"
Marowak quickly charged at Dratini, its bone club a blur of afterimages. Ash reacted immediately, "Dratini, use Dragon Dance to evade!"
The pink little dragon elegantly spun in the air, dodging every attack with incredible flexibility. The whistling wind from the bone club rushed past, but it could never touch it, and all its stats increased by one stage.
"So fast!" Xiao You exclaimed.
Brock analyzed the situation, "Dratini's Dragon-type and Marowak's Ground-type are not mutually exclusive. This will be a pure contest of skill and power."
Saizo frowned, "Don't get cocky! Marowak, use Bonemerang!"
Marowak forcefully threw its bone club, which spun as it flew towards Dratini. Ash's eyes lit up, "Now! Dratini, use Water Gun on the bone club!"
Dratini opened its mouth and shot out a powerful stream of water, precisely hitting the bone club in mid-air. The water-soaked bone club immediately became heavy, its trajectory completely deviated, and it finally fell weakly to the ground.
"What?" Saizo watched in shock, "A Water-type move?"
Ash showed a confident smile, "Although Dratini is primarily a Dragon-type, it has also mastered some Water-type moves. And water is precisely the weakness of Ground-types!"
Saizo's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, commanding, "Marowak, pick up the bone club, then use Earthquake!"
Marowak quickly picked up the wet bone club, then stomped forcefully on the ground. The earth began to tremble violently, and cracks spread like a spiderweb.
"Jump to dodge!" Ash shouted. Dratini immediately jumped, avoiding the shockwave of the Earthquake.
Brock explained from the side, "Earthquake is ineffective against Flying-type Pokémon. Ash's command is very correct."
Sweat beaded on Saizo's forehead; he clearly hadn't expected to encounter such a difficult opponent. He clenched his fist, "Marowak, use all your strength, use Double-Edge!"
Marowak's body glowed white as it charged at the airborne Dratini with astonishing speed. Ash knew the power of this attack and had to respond cautiously.
"Dratini, use Water Pulse to slow down its momentum! Then use Dragon Breath!"
Dratini immediately released rings of water ripples. Marowak charged into them, its speed noticeably decreasing. Immediately after, a emerald green Dragon Breath accurately hit, and Marowak was knocked back several meters, letting out a pained growl.
Saizo's face turned pale, "Impossible... My Marowak actually..."
Ash did not relax his guard, "Dratini, final blow, Water Gun!"
A powerful stream of water directly hit Marowak. It finally couldn't hold on and fell to the ground.
"Marowak is unable to battle, Dratini wins!" Xiao You announced, with a hint of reluctance in her voice.
Saizo knelt on the ground, his trembling hand caressing the unconscious Marowak. His shoulders slumped, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
Ash recalled Dratini and walked to Saizo's side, "Your Marowak is very strong, just a bit unlucky."
Saizo looked up, tears glistening in his eyes, "Take my badges. This is what I promised."
Ash shook his head, "I won't take your badges. I just want to know, why did you make such a condition?"
Saizo was silent for a long time, then finally spoke, "Because... I have no more badges to lose."
He pulled out an empty badge case from his pocket; the case was completely empty. "All eight of my badges... were stolen by Team Rockets."
The three looked at each other in shock. Brock knelt down, "When did this happen?"
"Three days ago," Saizo said painfully, "While I was resting at the Pokémon Center, someone stole my backpack. By the time I chased after them, I only saw Team Rockets' balloon disappearing in the distance."
Xiao You asked sympathetically, "So you wanted to regain badges by challenging other Trainers?"
Saizo nodded shamefully, "Without badges, I can't participate in the League Competition. It took me a whole year to collect them... I... I was so desperate."
Ash extended his hand, "Get up. We'll help you get your badges back."
Saizo looked at him in disbelief, "Why? I just tried to take your badges..."
"Because it's the right thing to do," Ash said firmly, "And Team Rockets are my old rivals too."
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder, nodding in agreement, "Pikachu!"
Brock patted Saizo's shoulder, "We need to help your Marowak recover its strength first. I have Potion here."
Under Brock's care, Marowak quickly woke up. Saizo looked at them gratefully, "Thank you... I'm ashamed of my previous actions."
Ash waved his hand, "Don't worry about it. Now, we need to make a plan. Where do Team Rockets usually go?"
Saizo thought for a moment, "I heard they've been active near Indigo Plateau recently, seems like they have a big plan."
Xiao You's eyes lit up, "That's perfect, it's on our way! We can head to the competition venue while looking for traces of Team Rockets."
The four packed their belongings and continued along the path. This time, a quiet Saizo had joined the team. His Marowak followed alongside, occasionally looking around warily.
After about an hour of walking, Brock suddenly stopped, "Wait, there are strange marks on the ground."
They looked down and found deep tire tracks in the mud. Saizo crouched down to examine them, "It's Team Rockets' tank! They always use those exaggerated vehicles."
Ash said excitedly, "Looks like we're on the right track! These marks are still fresh, they must have passed by not long ago."
They followed the tracks, and after passing through a thicket, their view suddenly opened up. On a distant hillside, Team Rockets' iconic hot air balloon was parked, and several figures in white uniforms were busy doing something.
"It's them!" Saizo said through gritted teeth, "That tall one, I'll never forget his face!"
Ash gestured for everyone to hide, "We need to observe their movements first. Brock, did you bring your binoculars?"
Brock took out the binoculars from his backpack and handed them to Ash. Through the lens, Ash saw Team Rockets members sorting through a pile of sparkling items—they were all kinds of badges!
"They're counting the stolen badges," Ash whispered, "At least dozens of different badges."
Saizo clenched his fist, "Those despicable thieves..."
Xiao You said worriedly, "But they outnumber us, how can we get the badges back?"
Brock thought for a moment, "Maybe we can create a diversion. Pikachu is the fastest, he can draw away some of them, and then the rest of us can approach the hot air balloon."
Ash nodded, "Good idea! Pikachu, are you ready?"
Pikachu perked up his ears and confidently patted his chest, "Pika!"
"Then, let's go!"
Pikachu darted out like a golden flash of lightning, deliberately weaving within Team Rockets' line of sight. As expected, several Team Rockets members immediately chased after him.
"It's that Pikachu!"
"Catch it quickly!"
"Don't let it get away this time!"
Taking advantage of the chaos, Ash and the others quietly approached the hot air balloon. Saizo pointed to one of the boxes, "Look, that one is full of badge cases!"
Brock quickly formulated a plan, "Ash and Xiao You are responsible for creating more chaos, Saizo and I will go find Saizo's badges."
Ash nodded in agreement, throwing out a Poké Ball, "Go, Charizard!"
A huge Charizard appeared in the air, letting out a deafening roar. Team Rockets members panicked, "It's a Trainer! We've been discovered!"
Xiao You also sent out her Pokémon, "Sylveon, use Dazzling Gleam!"
A dazzling light illuminated the entire hillside, and Team Rockets members covered their eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Saizo and Brock rushed towards the badge box.
"Hurry, we don't have much time!" Brock urged.
Saizo frantically searched, finally discovering his badge case in a corner. He trembled as he opened it, and eight familiar badges lay safely inside.
"Found them!" he shouted excitedly.
Just then, a cold voice came from behind, "Trying to take our spoils? Not so easy!"
Saizo turned and saw a Team Rockets executive wearing black sunglasses, sneering at them. Beside him was a fierce Weezing.
Brock immediately took a defensive stance, "Saizo, get back!"
The Team Rockets executive waved his hand and commanded, "Weezing, Sludge!"
A ball of Toxic Sludge flew towards the two. In the nick of time, a pink figure flashed past, and Dratini blocked the attack with its body.
"Dratini!" Ash exclaimed from not far away.
Although hit by the Sludge, Dratini still floated resiliently in the air. Saizo looked at Dratini, who had blocked the attack for him, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.
"Marowak, it's our turn!" he shouted, throwing out a Poké Ball, "Use Bone Rush!"
Marowak bravely charged at Weezing, its bone club swinging in a dense, impenetrable flurry. The Team Rockets executive clearly hadn't expected Saizo to suddenly counterattack, and hastily ordered Weezing to defend, but it was too late.
The bone club struck Weezing heavily, and it howled, retreating a few steps. Brock seized the opportunity, "Now! Dratini, use Dragon Breath!"
Despite being injured, Dratini still unleashed a powerful Dragon Breath, combining with Marowak's attack. Weezing finally couldn't hold on and fell to the ground, losing its ability to battle.
The Team Rockets executive's face changed dramatically, "You annoying brats! Retreat! Retreat!"
The remaining Team Rockets members scrambled into the hot air balloon, quickly ascending and fleeing. Ash wanted to pursue, but Brock stopped him, "Don't chase them. We got the badges back, that's what's most important."
Saizo tightly clutched his badge case, tears finally streaming down his face, "Thank you... If it weren't for your help..."
Ash patted his shoulder, "That's what friends are for."
Pikachu had returned at some point, and although a bit tired, seemed unharmed. Xiao You was cleaning the Sludge off Dratini.
Brock checked everyone's condition, "None of us are seriously hurt, but Dratini needs a good rest."
Saizo walked up to Dratini and bowed deeply, "Thank you for saving me. You are an amazing Pokémon."
Dratini chirped happily, gently nuzzling Saizo's hand.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the five people. Saizo looked at the badges in his hand, then at his newly made friends, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his face.
"I was wondering... if you don't mind, could I go to Indigo Plateau with you?"
Ash readily agreed, "Of course! There's strength in numbers, and we can also spar and improve together."
Pikachu jumped onto Saizo's shoulder, friendly patting his hat. Marowak also came over and got acquainted with Ash's Pokémon.
And so, a new team continued their journey towards Indigo Plateau under the setting sun. What they didn't know was that Team Rockets hadn't given up, and in the distant clouds, a sinister pair of eyes watched their every move...