Ash's two Grass-type Starter Pokémon had already completed their final forms and achieved Bond Evolution. Just as Ash had predicted, once they reached their final stages, their Bond Values skyrocketed, improving at an incredible pace.
With that, among Ash's six Starter Pokémon, only the two Water-types remained unevolved. Looking at Wartortle's condition, it seemed its time was coming soon as well.
After finding the next Pokémon Center, Ash sent Venusaur back to the lab and withdrew Typhlosion. He intended to complete its Bond Evolution as quickly as possible.
"It's the twerps!"
Just as they stepped out of the Pokémon Center, Ash and his friends ran into some familiar faces. There was no need to guessit was the Team Rocket trio.
"Honestly, have you guys just gotten used to calling us that?" Ash couldn't even be bothered to roast them anymore.
"Team Rocket! What are you doing here so suddenly? Planning more mischief?" Misty questioned them sharply.
However, Team Rocket actually tried to defend themselves this time. Meowth stepped forward and declared, "We're here to participate in the Pokémon Balloon Race, meow!"
Ash remembered that when they entered the town, they had seen a large "X" inside a circle marked on the prairie outside the town limits.
"It's a competition where you ride a hot air balloon at an altitude of a thousand feet and try to drop a marker as accurately as possible onto the ground target!" Brock explained, having looked up the race details in his travel brochure.
"A balloon race?" Molly's interest was piqued. "Ash, can we join too?"
"But we don't have a hot air balloon," Ash said, rubbing Molly's head. The competition didn't seem to involve Pokémon much, so he wasn't particularly interested.
To his surprise, Molly pointed at Team Rocket. "Don't they have one?"
Team Rocket certainly had a balloon, and they were planning to use it for the race. Ash, the quintessential overprotective brother, looked toward the trio. "Well? It's up to you."
Misty nodded. "Actually, that works. Team Rocket, let us borrow your balloon. Ash helped you get Wobbuffet back last time, didn't he? Besides, if you guys enter alone, you'll just end up cheating anyway!"
Meowth's fur stood on end at that. "We were going to compete fair and square this time, meow!" It spoke with surprising righteousness. "This is about our dignity as balloon pilots! I'm going to win the championship, meow! Besides, do you twerps even know how to pilot a balloon, meow?"
Ash actually didn't. He still felt that riding Charizard was the most comfortable way to travel.
Suddenly, Ash's eyes lit up. "Wait, Meowth, you're usually the one piloting your balloon, right?"
"Of course I am, meow!"
"Then that's settled. Misty, Brock, tie up Jessie and James and keep an eye on them. Meowth, Molly and I are going with you to the race!"
The decision was made just like that. Team Rocket didn't even get a chance to refuse before Jessie and James were bound and hauled back to the Pokémon Center. Ash then took Meowth and Molly to sign up for the competition.
"Yay! We're going on a balloon!" Molly cheered.
Hearing her joy, Misty smiled. "Ash really dotes on her."
"A girl should be raised with the best of everything!" Brock added, understanding completely since he had younger siblings of his own.
The next day dawned with bright sunlight and a clear, gentle breezeperfect weather for a balloon race. A crowd of balloons gathered outside the town: some shaped like Hoppip, others like Voltorb or Wigglytuff. According to the rules, trainers could utilize the power of their Pokémon, so there were balloons being pulled by teams of six Hoppip, while various Flying-type Pokémon were gearing up for the start.
Ash, Molly, and Meowth boarded Team Rocket's Meowth-shaped balloon. In truth, Ash was just there to accompany Molly; Meowth was the real competitor.
"I choose you, Noctowl!" Ash called out. He had previously trained Noctowl in a valley of high winds, and this was a good chance for more practice.
"There's no need, twerp" Meowth started, but choked on his words under Ash's gaze. He quickly corrected himself, "Big Boss Ash!"
"Scram. Giovanni is your boss," Ash said, ignoring the cat. "I'm just letting Noctowl fly alongside us. You just worry about driving."
Meowth didn't dare say another word.
Misty and Brock watched from a distance with Jessie and James. The two were bound by Meganium's Vine Whips and couldn't move an inch, ensuring they wouldn't sabotage the race.
"Uh... Big Boss Ash? If we win, how do we split the prize, meow?" Meowth asked tentatively.
The reward was a newly developed steel burner, which held zero appeal for Ash.
"If you do the work, it's yours. Even if it's a steel burner, Pikachu could still blast it into charcoal anyway," Ash said with total confidence in Pikachu's current power.
"Oh... thank you!" Meowth muttered.
The race began shortly after. All the balloons took to the sky simultaneously. Meowth's skills were indeed top-notch; he quickly caught the wind, and the balloon gained speed. However, other balloons were being towed by Flying-type Pokémon and soon began to overtake them.
Meowth wasn't about to give up. "For the dignity of a pilot! Noctowl, I'm begging you, meow!" Meowth looked toward the accompanying Noctowl and pleaded for help.
Ash nodded to Noctowl; he had intended for it to help all along. With Noctowl towing them and Meowth's expert control, the balloon accelerated, overtaking one opponent after another.
"This is great! Go Noctowl!" Molly cheered in Ash's arms.
However, their joy was short-lived. A sudden thundercloud formed ahead of them. Many balloons lost their balance in the abrupt gale and began to fall. Ash's balloon was no exception.
"This is bad, Big Boss Ash!" Meowth screamed. The burner was sparking with electricity, and the flame was about to go out. "Our burners are cheap crap! They're prone to exploding and sending us flying, and this one is about to blow!"
"Please, Big Boss Ash, do something, meow!"
Seeing Meowth's genuine determination to win, Ash nodded. He reached out, ripped the burner right off the balloon, and tossed it away. A moment later, a bolt of lightning flashed through the clouds, and the burner exploded in mid-air.
Without a burner, the balloon naturally began to descend.
"I choose you, Typhlosion!"
As soon as Typhlosion appeared, Molly snuggled into its fur. Typhlosion's coat was soft and warm, making it her favorite.
"Typhlosion, Flamethrower!"
With Typhlosion providing the heat, Noctowl towing, and Meowth steering, they finally broke through the thunderclouds.
"Now!"
Ash seized the moment and dropped the marker from a thousand feet. It hit the very center of the "X" with perfect accuracy.
They had won!
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