The morning after Scyther joined the team, Ash and the girls left the ancient forest behind and turned fully toward Azalea Town.
The Johto roads stretched ahead in gentle curves of green and gold, and for the next two and a half days the journey became a rolling training ground.
Ash worked his newest partners hard but fairly. Ursaring practiced controlled Hyper Beams against distant boulders, learning to rein in raw power. Heracross drilled Fury Attack and Megahorn until the Fighting-type's timing was razor sharp.
The young Chikorita focused on Razor Leaf accuracy and the beginnings of Solar Beam. Stantler refined Hypnosis and Extrasensory under Sabrina's quiet guidance. Skarmory cut through the air in repeated Steel Wing and Aerial Ace drills, while the newly caught Scyther spent every free hour under Ash's direct attention Swords Dance followed by precise Slash and Fury Cutter combinations. Pikachu and Eevee acted as patient sparring partners and cheerleaders, correcting footwork with gentle nudges and rewarding good form with soft sparks or affectionate nuzzles.
On the girls' side, Melody poured equal care into her own newest members. Her shiny Chikorita, still a little shy, practiced Vine Whip and Poison Powder under Erika's gentle coaching. Oddish now proudly Melody's second Pokémon worked on Absorb and the early stages of Mega Drain, often sitting in sunny patches while Giselle and Daisy offered quiet encouragement.
Misty kept Togepi safely occupied, and Sabrina occasionally lent a psychic barrier so the younger Grass-types could train without fear of overextending.
Laughter and the crackle of moves filled the days. By the time the trees thickened into the deeper greenery of Azalea Forest, every new Pokémon had grown noticeably sharper, and the bond between trainers and partners had settled into comfortable rhythm.
It was in a shaded stretch of that forest that an unwelcome voice cut across the path.
"You. Bunch of people. Did you see any Cyndaquil around here?"
A young man stepped out from between the trunks. He looked to be in his mid-teens, with messy purple-black hair that stuck out in uneven spikes, sharp narrowed eyes, and a permanent scowl. He wore a bright red sleeveless vest over a dark teal long-sleeve shirt, a black strap crossing his chest from shoulder to hip. His posture was pure arrogance as he planted himself in the middle of the trail.
"And listen here, you clowns," he continued, jabbing a finger toward the group. "You better stay out of my way when it comes to Cyndaquil. It's best for you."
The temperature around the girls seemed to drop several degrees.
Misty's eyes flashed. Daisy's usual playful smile vanished. Erika's polite expression tightened. Melody looked openly offended. Giselle's gaze turned cold. And Sabrina… Sabrina's fingers twitched once, a faint psychic shimmer already gathering at her fingertips as though she were seriously considering turning the rude boy into a voodo doll and leaving him stranded in the forest for the rest of his life.
Ash, however, barely glanced at the stranger. A familiar blue window had just appeared in his vision.
Ding!
Mission: Catch the Cyndaquil from the rocky cave before the trainer named Koji.
Reward: Top-quality Charcoal ×1 (boosts Fire-type moves by up to 50 %)
Ash read the message once, dismissed it with a mental nod, and turned to his companions as though the arrogant trainer did not exist.
"Girls, let's move. We have a Pokémon to catch."
The deathly looks the girls directed at Koji could have frozen lava. Pikachu and Eevee, standing at Ash's feet, both raised a tiny finger and pointed deliberately at their own eyes, then at Koji in perfect, silent imitation of a certain unforgettable meme.
( James Doakes meme from dexter )
The message was clear: We're watching you.
They walked past the sputtering boy without another word.
Once they had put a solid stretch of forest between themselves and the rude trainer, Ash stopped in a small clearing and released a particular Poké Ball.
Light flared, and a large, majestic Arcanine appeared its fur a striking shiny variation of deep metallic gold and rich crimson. The moment the Fire-type's paws touched the ground its entire demeanor changed. The powerful legendary-looking hound immediately began wagging its long tail at high speed, tongue lolling, eyes bright with pure affection as it pressed its massive head against Ash's chest and then trotted in happy circles around the girls.
"Aww, who's a big softie?" Misty cooed, scratching behind one fluffy ear.
Daisy laughed and rubbed its neck. "Look at those eyes. Absolute baby."
Erika smiled warmly. "Such a gentle giant."
Melody hugged one of its front legs. "You're so fluffy!"
Giselle stroked the glossy fur with quiet fondness.
Even Sabrina allowed a small, rare smile as she rested a hand on Arcanine's shoulder.
Ash chuckled and rubbed the big Pokémon's chin with both hands. "All right, big guy. I need your nose. There's a strong Fire-type scent somewhere in this forest ember, smoke, the kind of heat that belongs to a Cyndaquil. Can you find it?"
Arcanine's playful expression sharpened into focused intensity. It lowered its head, sniffed deeply in several directions, then let out a low, confident growl and started padding purposefully toward the northeast. The trail was clear to its senses.
Ash glanced back at the girls, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Looks like we have a lead. Stay close."
With the shiny Arcanine leading the way and the arrogant trainer already left behind, the group moved deeper into Azalea Forest.
Arcanine led them at a steady, confident pace through the denser trees until the forest floor began to rise. Before long the greenery thinned and a low rocky mountain shoulder emerged from the woodland.
Its face was a series of uneven stone walls riddled with small dark caves and narrow openings, perfect hiding places for a timid Fire-type.
The shiny Arcanine stopped at the base of the rocks and gave a low, directed growl. Ash raised a hand, signaling the others to stay quiet. A moment later a small, cream-colored head with a rounded snout and closed eyes peeked cautiously from one of the lower holes. The Pokémon's back carried the distinctive unlit flame vents of a Cyndaquil.
Giselle already had her Pokédex out. The device chimed softly.
"Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon. A Fire-type native to the Johto region. It has a timid nature and usually stays hunched over. When startled, angered, or attacked, it can flare up or shoot flames from the vents on its back."
The girls leaned in to read the entry, murmuring quiet surprise at how small and shy the Pokémon appeared.
Ash, however, paid the Pokédex little attention. He stepped forward a few paces, eyes glowing with a soft mix of Aura and psychic energy, and gently reached out with both.
The Cyndaquil's eyes opened. A hesitant, almost lazy mental voice brushed against Ash's mind.
…What do you want?
Ash kept his tone calm and respectful. "I want to catch you. I'll help you grow strong all the way to Typhlosion if that's the path you choose."
The little Fire-type let out a slow, reluctant huff that translated clearly.
Fighting… getting strong… sounds like a real drag.
The lazy, unenthusiastic reply tugged at a memory in Ash's mind some laid-back anime character who treated effort like a personal insult. He almost smiled.
"It's not safe for you to stay here," Ash continued.
"There's an arrogant trainer named Koji hunting for you right now. He doesn't care about you only about owning a Cyndaquil. I'd rather you come with someone who'll actually look after you."
Cyndaquil was silent for several long seconds. Finally it gave a small, resigned nod.
Fine. Better a reasonable trainer than that loud one.
Ash turned back to the girls with a bright grin. "He accepted. Cyndaquil's joining the team."
A ripple of happy excitement passed through the group Misty's cheer, Daisy's clap, Erika's warm smile, Melody's quiet squeal, Giselle's pleased nod, Sabrina's rare soft look. The joy lasted only a few seconds.
Heavy footsteps crashed through the underbrush, and Koji burst into the clearing, face red with anger.
"You again! Get out of this forest right now! That Cyndaquil is mine!"
The girls' patience snapped. A collective, dangerous aura rolled off them. Sabrina's psychic power began to leak visibly, faint violet energy coiling around her fingers. The air itself felt heavier.
Ash simply looked at the immature trainer and raised an eyebrow. "If I don't leave… what are you going to do? Attack me? Or cry to your mommy?"
Koji's face went purple. "You Pokémon thief! You think you can just take what you want? I'll report you! I'll .. I'll..!"
Ash had heard enough. His eyes flashed. Psychic power slammed outward. Koji's body locked in place mid-rant, then lifted cleanly off the ground until his boots dangled a full meter above the dirt.
Ash's expression had gone cold and murderous.
"Listen carefully, you imbecile. I am already fed up with your nonsense. I am warning you run from this forest for your own good. See the green-haired girl behind me?" He tilted his head slightly toward Sabrina. "That is one of my wives. Her name is Sabrina. In the Kanto region she is known as the Psychic Queen. She has been holding back her fury because you disrespected me. If I let her loose, she will turn you into a voodoo doll and bury you somewhere in this forest for the rest of your life. Choose carefully. Do you want to become a voodoo doll… or do you want to live the rest of your life normally?"
Koji's face had gone deathly pale. His mouth opened and closed without sound. The sheer dread in his eyes said everything.
"Good," Ash said. "Once I release you, I will count to ten. If you're still brave enough to face my wives after that, you're more than welcome to stay and challenge us."
He released the psychic grip. Koji hit the ground hard and immediately began hyperventilating.
Ash started counting in a calm, even voice.
"Ten…
Nine…
Eight…
Seven…"
Koji did not wait for the rest. The moment his legs worked again he spun and sprinted toward the forest exit with the desperate speed of an Olympic runner fleeing for his life. Within seconds he had vanished between the trees.
A satisfied silence settled over the clearing. The girls' dangerous auras faded into quiet approval. Sabrina stepped forward, rose onto her toes, and placed a soft, lingering kiss on Ash's lips.
"Thank you for the compliment, husband," she murmured, a rare warmth in her voice. "Psychic Queen… I rather like that."
Ash smiled and turned back to the cave entrance. Cyndaquil had fully emerged now, standing a little taller, eyes wide with newfound awe at the display of power and protection.
Ash took an empty Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it underhand. The ball struck Cyndaquil lightly, opened with a flash of red light, and pulled the Fire Mouse inside.
It shook once… twice… three times… and clicked shut with a solid, final sound.
At the same instant a familiar blue window appeared.
Ding!
Mission completed.
Reward issued: Top-quality Charcoal ×1.
Ash returned the new Poké Ball to his belt with quiet satisfaction. The group took a short break in the shade of the rocks, letting the tension of the confrontation drain away. When they felt ready, they decided to check the surrounding caves for anything useful before leaving.
Most of the openings were empty or held only old nesting material. In one deeper, cooler cave, however, Ash's foot brushed against something smooth and slightly warm. He crouched and carefully lifted a Pokémon egg, its shell patterned in soft blues and whites.
He focused on it with the system. The description was brief but clear: the egg belonged to a Water-type Pokémon line.
Ash released Cyndaquil, who appeared in a small burst of light and looked up curiously.
"Do you know anything about this egg?" Ash asked.
Cyndaquil's reply came in the same lazy mental tone, though it carried a hint of pride. Found it.
Some wild Pokémon was going to eat it. I took it. Figured it was better with me.
Ash studied the egg for a few seconds, then walked over to Misty and gently placed it in her hands.
Misty's eyes widened. "Ash…?"
He smiled. "You're the family's Water-type expert. I have full confidence you'll take perfect care of it."
The other girls immediately voiced their approval Daisy's cheerful agreement, Erika's warm nod, Melody's excited clap, Giselle's quiet smile, Sabrina's small affirming glance. Misty's expression melted into pure happiness. She leaned in and gave Ash a soft, grateful kiss as her personal thank-you.
With the Cyndaquil safely caught, the egg entrusted to Misty, and the arrogant trainer long gone, the group finally left the rocky mountain behind. The trees of Azalea Forest gradually thinned, and before the sun had dropped much lower the first rooftops of Azalea Town came into view.
Ash and Giselle exchanged a quiet look. Their second Johto League gym challenge waited just ahead.