Celebi had been injured by the hunter's pursuit, leaving it feeling deeply insecure and fearful of humans. However, the kindness shown by Ash and Sam finally allowed Celebi to open its heart and accept them.
Sam cradled Celebi gently. Its injuries were severe and required immediate attention.
"Ash, what should we do?"
Brock examined Celebi's wounds. "The injuries of a Mythical Pokémon aren't something that can be fixed with simple medicine. It forced itself to travel forty years through time while carrying these heavy wounds to reach the present day."
Ash used his remaining Exchange Points to trade for a Revival Herb. He fed it to Celebi; though the taste was incredibly bitter, it managed to restore some of the little Pokémon's strengthenough for them to make it to the nearest Pokémon Center.
If he'd had enough Exchange Points, Ash would have traded for Sacred Ash. With the power of Ho-Oh, Sacred Ash could have healed Celebi's injuries instantly.
"Celebi, you're going to be okay!" Sam comforted the Pokémon as he ran alongside Ash.
Suddenly, Ash cried out, "Stop!"
"Team Rocket, I don't have time for you right now. Get out of the way!" Ash's voice was ice-cold. He truly had no patience for the trio today.
His eyes shifted to a massive mechanical spider emerging from behind them. Four mechanical arms suspended a burly man in the air. He looked down at Ash's group with a predatory gaze. "Leave that Celebi behind!"
Ash stepped forward. "Brock, Misty, take Sam and get out of here. I'll handle him!"
Brock nodded, trusting Ash's strength. "Be careful, Ash! Meganium, let's move!"
Brock and Misty also had the vital task of protecting Molly. "No, Meganium, we aren't leaving!" Molly cried, clinging to Meganium's neck. "Meganium is strong! we want to stay and help big brother Ash!"
The burly man wasn't about to let them leave so easily. Seeing them turn to flee, he swung one of the mechanical spider legs toward Sam to snatch him.
"Meganium, Petal Dance!"
Vibrant petals drifted from Meganium, swirling around the man and his machine. Under the cover of the interference, Brock, Misty, and Sam successfully escaped. Meganium shot Ash one last look before following the others; its primary mission now was to protect Celebi.
"Dammit!" the man snarled, glaring at Ash. "Kid, you've got guts."
Ash chuckled easily. "Judging by that uniform, you're Team Rocket, aren't you? Even that idiot Giovanni couldn't take me down. You're welcome to try."
The man froze for a moment at Ash's words, but his face quickly contorted into a cruel grin. "I'd like to see just how much 'guts' you really have!"
With a flick of his wrist, he threw three Dark Balls at once. A Sneasel, a Scizor, and a Tyranitar appeared.
"You two, go after those kids!" the man ordered. The Sneasel and Scizor vanished instantly to give chase.
Seeing the specialized Poké Balls, Jessie and James gasped from behind Ash. "That mask..."
"You recognize him?" Ash asked.
Jessie and James nodded weakly. "He's a top executive of Team Rocket... Vicious, the Iron-Masked Marauder! He's a master of evil Pokémon! Kid, those Dark Balls... they can turn a Pokémon evil and push their power to the absolute limit. It's Team Rocket's highest technology!"
Ash nodded. No wonder this Tyranitar felt different. It was nearly three meters tall, radiating an oppressive aura. By comparison, the Sneasel and Scizor were far inferiortheir bodies looked withered and their eyes were hollow, almost like robots.
Ash believed Brock and Misty could handle those two, especially with Meganium backing them up.
"So, is this Tyranitar my opponent?" Ash smiled and tossed a Poké Ball. "Typhlosion, let's go!"
"Hooo!"
A magnificently raised Typhlosion appeared, its body wrapped in restrictive bands as it stood before Tyranitar. Ash's eyes flickered with a blue light as he unfastened the restraints, tucking the Macho Brace into his pocket.
[Typhlosion: Level 24]
"Hmph. Tyranitar, destroy everything!" Vicious didn't seem to care about Ash or Typhlosion at all. Once Tyranitar was engaged, he prepared to leave. Nothing was more important than Celebi.
The Team Rocket trio immediately scurried after Vicious, hoping to curry favor. Ash didn't stop them; he wanted to see exactly how strong this evil-ized Tyranitar was. Furthermore, he judged Vicious to be a coward who relied entirely on his Dark Balls to act tough. His actual level as a Trainer was likely lower than Molly's.
Vicious was a fanatic, a violent man obsessed with power. Such people were dangerous, but also easy to defeat.
Following Vicious's command, Tyranitar's slit-like pupils locked onto Ash. Gold energy crackled before erupting into a devastating beam aimed directly at him.
A foul! Who attacks the Trainer directly?
"Eruption!"
Typhlosion leaped in front of Ash. The flames on its back flared out like a blazing cloak, erupting into a terrifying pillar of fire. Eruption was far more powerful than Flamethrower, and its strength was maximized when the user was at full health.
Since the battle had just begun and Typhlosion was unscathed, the Eruption reached its absolute peak. The pillar of fire tore through Tyranitar's Hyper Beam and slammed into its chest.
"ROAR!"
Even though Fire-type moves were not very effective against Tyranitar, the sheer intensity of the flames forced a pained howl from the massive beast.
[Typhlosion: Level 24]
Thump-thump! Ash felt a warm current surge through him. The flames on Typhlosion's back seemed to turn liquid, flowing down to envelop its entire body in a massive egg of fire.
Unlike Charizard or Houndoom, Typhlosion was a pure Fire-type. Its Bond Evolution was the sublimation of flame itself.
A Pokémon without a Trainer's command is entirely different from one being directed. This was even more true for the evil-ized Tyranitar; despite its physical power, it only knew how to spam Hyper Beam as if the move cost nothing.
"Dodge with Flame Charge, then circle around with Eruption!"
The ball of fire vanished from its position instantly. Ash lightly leaped out of the way as the Hyper Beam scorched the earth where he had stood. In the next moment, a full-power Eruption blasted Tyranitar from the side, striking a critical spot.
Tyranitar collapsed, unable to stand.
"Finish it! Solar Beam!"
Sunlight converged into a brilliant sphere of energy. As a Grass-type move, it was super effective against Tyranitar.
BOOM!
Tyranitar was defeated.
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