Before midnight, Ash wiped the sweat from his face and returned to the room where the silver goblet was kept.
Brock still sat there, unmoving.
"Hey, Brock, aren't you hungry?" Misty called out.
"I'm a Rock-type Pokémon!" That was Brock's reply!
Dude, did you really just sit here like this for seven hours?
At that moment, the clock struck midnight and everyone grew tense.
However, nothing happened.
Could it be that the second-generation Black Arachnid knew there were so many people on guard and didn't dare show up?
The rich man suddenly relaxed, and even sent over more delicious food for everyone.
"Good timing, I'm starving!" Ash didn't hold back and immediately sat down to eat.
Everyone joined in, enjoying the feast—except for Brock, who had stayed in the same position for so long that his legs were numb and couldn't stand up.
He could only lie on the ground, watching helplessly as Ash and the others enjoyed the meal.
Compared to him, Jenny commented, "That's why I said, this little guy really is the most professional!"
After eating and drinking their fill, Ash wiped his mouth, looked up toward the ceiling, and spoke, "Team Rocket, time to wake up, don't you think?"
"Ash, what are you talking about, Team Rocket?" Misty was totally lost by Ash's words.
But Jenny and Spinarak became instantly alert.
Sure enough, the lights in the room flickered off and the Team Rocket trio appeared from a panel in the ceiling, landing right in front of the silver goblet.
"Unbelievable! You were all in here having a feast, while we haven't eaten all day!"
Jessie tried to reach for the silver goblet, but a flash of blue glow blocked her hand.
"Little devil, is this your doing again?"
The Team Rocket trio was confused. How did Ash and his friends develop such strange abilities?
"Since you're here, you might as well stay!" Ash, of course, didn't answer her question.
In that instant, Jenny had already ordered Spinarak to weave a web around them. You really had to hand it to Officer Jenny and her partner—quick and efficient.
Just as Ash finished speaking, the web dropped from above, tightly wrapping up the Team Rocket trio.
"History repeats itself. Anyone who calls themselves the Black Arachnid in this town ends up wrapped up by Spinarak's webs!" Jenny could already claim victory.
Now Team Rocket had been tied up like caterpillars, officially under arrest.
No matter if they'd escape again in the future, for now, Ash and the group could look forward to a little peace.
All the treasures Team Rocket had stolen were found hidden in the ceiling above, where they'd been hiding.
"Amazing, little guy, you really are an expert when it comes to dealing with thieves!" Officer Jenny didn't hold back on her praise for Ash.
"Young man, thank you so much! Why not stay here tonight as my guests?" The wealthy man was very gracious.
Ash had a good impression of him; he didn't look down on them just because they were kids.
The beds in a rich household really were comfortable; after the long journey, Ash and the group could finally rest and relax.
But Ash and friends didn't slack off, and set off again early the next morning.
After passing through Palm Hill, famous for its upscale residential areas, and Deerhorn Town, with its massive park in the center of the city, Ash and the group arrived at the base of a mountain near their first destination, Violet City.
"I'm starting to feel a little chilly!"
"Look, there's already snow on the top of the mountain!"
The geography and climate of the Pokémon world really were strange; they had to climb over a high mountain to reach Violet City.
"This is a perfect place for special training! Pikachu, you've got to master Iron Tail soon!" Ash seized every chance to start special training. The progress Pikachu and Charizard were making was plain to see.
"Sounds good, I'd love to try a little skiing!" Misty was happy to stop for a while.
"Great idea! Maybe we'll find lots of beautiful ladies vacationing at the ski resort!"
From the look on Brock's face, it was obvious he was lost in fantasy again.
But soon, Ash's eyes lit up. He clearly spotted a Pokémon up ahead that he'd always wanted!
It was a Chikorita!
It was lazily lying on the grass, spreading out the big leaf on its head, clearly sunbathing. Thanks to its special ability, the air was filled with a sweet fragrance.
Grass-type Pokémon loved soaking up sunlight.
Chikorita was the Grass-type starter Pokémon of the Johto Region, and it was actually quite hard to encounter one in the wild. But Ash's luck was just that good—he'd found a wild one!
As Ash approached, the Chikorita woke up and fixed him with a bright, intense gaze.
"Looks like this Chikorita has a much stronger personality than Casey's!" Brock could see its temperament from that look.
"That means its Compatibility with me must be really high!" Ash smiled. "All right, Pikachu, it's your turn!"
"Ash, Grass-types resist Electric attacks pretty well!" Brock reminded him.
"I know, that's why Pikachu learned that move!" Ash grinned confidently. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu shot forward and rammed Chikorita, sending it flying.
But Chikorita rolled as it hit the ground and quickly recovered, launching two Razor Leafs straight at Pikachu.
"Thunderbolt!"
A surge of electricity scorched the flying leaves, but Chikorita charged fearlessly forward, stretching out two Vine Whips and whipping Pikachu, sending it flying.
"That's some impressive battle instinct!" Ash liked this Chikorita more and more.
"Pikachu, one more Quick Attack!"
Once again Pikachu lunged, but this time Chikorita used the lesson from the last round and kept its Vine Whip raised in front for defense.
It actually blocked Pikachu's charge, then coiled up Pikachu and lifted him over two meters into the air.
"Nice! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Electricity flowed along the Vine Whip and zapped Chikorita. Even if it wasn't super effective, it still did damage.
Chikorita had to let Pikachu go, sparks crackling over its body—it was paralyzed.
Static ability plus Thunderbolt had really boosted that chance of paralysis.
"Now's your chance, Pikachu—Iron Tail!"
Pikachu did a 180-degree spin in midair, his lightning-bolt tail now gleaming metallic silver.
Iron Tail packed a serious punch, slamming into the ground in front of Chikorita and flinging dirt all over its face.
"Haha, what do you think, little one—ready to become my partner?"
Chikorita stared at Pikachu's tail buried in the ground. It understood that Ash and Pikachu had shown it mercy.
Pikachu: 205/255