Team Rocket's Dilemma
"Hey, that little brat is gone," Meowth muttered, lowering the binoculars and turning toward Jessie and James, who were still deep in discussion.
"What? He left already? But we haven't even finished our plan yet!" Jessie groaned, crossing her arms in frustration.
It was almost as if Red had no respect for their villainous efforts. They had spent all that time scheming, and now their target was just walking away before they could even attempt their grand plan.
"So… should we go after him?" James hesitantly asked, raising his hand slightly as if seeking permission.
Jessie and Meowth exchanged glances, recalling the battle they had just witnessed between Red and his Charmeleon. A shiver ran down their spines at the mere thought of challenging such power. They quickly shook their heads in unison.
"Forget it. The kid got lucky today," Meowth decided, nodding to himself. "After we capture Pikachu, we'll make him catch Charmeleon for us."
"Yeah, yeah, let's just count it as his lucky day," Jessie agreed, trying to convince herself that it was strategy, not cowardice, that made them back off.
James opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it when he noticed the cold glares from his teammates. He sighed, accepting defeat.
---
Red's Departure
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Red turned to Ash, Brock, and Misty. "Well, I guess this is where we part ways. I'll be heading off now. Ash, I look forward to seeing how much you've improved by the time we meet again."
Ash grinned. "You got it! Next time, I'll be much stronger!"
"Goodbye, Red!" Misty said with a wave.
"Take care," Brock added.
Although their time together had been short, both Ash and Brock had learned a lot from Red. As for Misty, she had other things occupying her mind—namely, Ash's unresolved debt concerning her poor, ruined bicycle.
After saying his goodbyes, Red checked the system map on his Pokédex and adjusted his course toward Vermilion City. If he kept up his pace, he estimated he would reach his next destination by the day after tomorrow.
---
Ash's Challenge at the Pokémon Academy
Not long after Red's departure, the original events of Ash's journey continued to unfold as if guided by fate. Ash, being Ash, got into an argument with the Pokémon Academy over their strict, research-based training methods.
As in the original storyline, Ash ended up challenging one of the school's top students, Yuto Seidai, to a battle. Although it was a tough fight, Ash ultimately won, proving that practical experience in battles was just as valuable—if not more so—than theoretical knowledge.
By the end of it, the students at the academy came to a realization: despite all their advanced studies, their lack of real-world battle experience had made them weaker than even some rookie trainers.
With yet another adventure wrapped up, Ash, Misty, and Brock continued their journey toward Vermilion City, just like Red.
---
Squirtle's New Beginning
A few kilometers down the road, Red took out a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it into an open clearing.
"Come out, Squirtle!"
With a flash of light, the tiny Turtle Pokémon materialized before him.
"Squirtle?" It blinked in confusion, looking around.
It had been treated inside the Poké Ball, but it was still feeling weak. However, its confusion quickly turned to surprise when it noticed that the trainer before it wasn't its original master.
"Hey there, Squirtle," Red said, kneeling down. "From now on, I'll be your new trainer and partner. Your previous owner, Iwaki, lost you to me in a battle. I believe he must have explained that to you, right?"
"Squirtle…?"
The little Pokémon's eyes widened as it recalled what had happened. It vaguely remembered hearing Iwaki's words while it was still recovering in the Poké Ball, but at the time, it had thought he was just joking. Now, standing before a different trainer, reality hit—it had been abandoned.
Sadness flickered across Squirtle's face.
Seeing this, Red placed a gentle hand on its shell. "I know this is sudden, and it might not feel great right now, but trust me—I won't abandon you. I'll train you properly. You saw Charmeleon's strength, didn't you? If you stay with me, you'll have the chance to become just as powerful."
"Squirtle?"
Squirtle thought back to Charmeleon's overwhelming power and nodded slowly. Its previous trainer had given it good food and decent care but had never really trained it. Despite all the time spent together, Squirtle hadn't grown stronger.
But now, standing before Red, Squirtle felt something different—an opportunity.
Tears welled up in its eyes.
Red smiled. "I take that as a yes. But first, let's heal you properly. Even though the Poké Ball helped with basic treatment, you're still not fully recovered."
He placed both hands on Squirtle and activated the power of Tokiwa, which had recently leveled up to Level 2.
A soft green glow surrounded Squirtle's body.
"Squirtle…?"
A warm, comforting sensation spread through the tiny Pokémon, making it shiver slightly in pleasure. It felt as if all the pain and exhaustion had melted away, leaving it completely refreshed.
"Heh, feels good, doesn't it?" Red chuckled. "This isn't something just any Pokémon gets to experience. You're lucky to have a trainer with the power of Tokiwa."
After a few more moments, Red withdrew his hands, and the glow faded.
Squirtle jumped up excitedly, stretching its limbs and spinning its tail. The lingering soreness from its past battle was completely gone. In fact, it felt even better than before the fight had started!
"Squirtle!"
It turned to Red with newfound admiration and excitement.
Red smirked. "Looks like you're all healed up. What do you say, Squirtle? Ready to start a new journey with me?"
Without hesitation, Squirtle nodded eagerly.
"Alright then, welcome to the team." Red pulled out the Poké Ball, but before he could recall Squirtle, the little Pokémon ran up to him and hugged his leg.
"Squirtle!"
Red chuckled. "Heh, I guess you're already getting attached. Don't worry, we'll get stronger together."
He glanced down the path leading toward Vermilion City, his next destination. With his newly acquired Squirtle and Charmeleon by his side, his team was steadily growing stronger.
Now, the real journey continued.
---
Meanwhile…
Back at the Team Rocket hideout in the forest, Jessie, James, and Meowth were still sitting in the bushes, debating their next course of action.
"So, do we try catching Pikachu first, or do we go after that Charmeleon?" James asked.
Jessie smirked. "Why not both?"
Meowth sighed. "We should probably take things one step at a time. I don't wanna get fried by that overgrown lizard."
"Fair point," James admitted.
The trio continued scheming, completely unaware that they were destined for yet another spectacular failure.
---
To Be Continued…
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