In the end, Giovanni still didn't punish the Rocket trio in the live broadcast room. It didn't make much sense. He knew they hadn't betrayed Team Rocket—it was just that those three had kindness in their hearts. They… really weren't cut out to be villains. But… Giovanni couldn't let them run off to the League either! He'd now seen firsthand the troublemaking skills of these three! If they really joined the League, Team Rocket might be played to death by them… This wasn't an exaggeration. Don't let their weak appearance fool you—they were like a causality weapon against Team Rocket! Regardless of strength, they could screw over the team in ways you wouldn't believe! If they were embedded in the League, who knew if Team Rocket would survive another three years…
As everyone was lost in thought, the image on the Black World screen slowly began—
...
In the Black World—
The Crystal Tower incident ended happily. Molly's mother also finally returned to her side. Of course, Ash didn't know where she'd been—that was a family matter. Anyway, she was back.
But… Ash wasn't feeling happy.
Just as he was leaving Molly's residence, ready to say goodbye to his mother and Professor Oak and continue his journey, Delia's expression darkened slightly as she began questioning him.
"Ash… that explosion at the Crystal Tower just now was your doing, right?"
"I heard… explosions like that are commonplace during your travels, is that right?"
Ash: (╯°□°)╯
Crap! Who told her?!
Then, during the car ride to Goldenrod City with Professor Oak, Ash was lectured nonstop by Delia the entire way! By the time they arrived in Goldenrod, he finally escaped her grasp! Watching the car drive away, Ash's head turned slowly like an unoiled machine, a terrifying red light in his eyes—
"WHO. WAS. IT?!"
Sabrina and Misty pointed at Brock in unison. Cold sweat broke out on Brock's forehead as he raised his hands in surrender.
"I… I can explain, believe me?"
"Sure, explain away. If your explanation isn't good, I'll call Professor Ivy every single day!"
Brock: …
You monster!
In the end, the matter went nowhere. Ash was just joking with Brock—he'd never do such a devilish thing. Of course, this joke was now seared into Brock's young mind, dealing significant psychological damage!
Now then—Goldenrod City was the largest metropolis in Johto, equivalent to Saffron City's status in Kanto! It had the biggest department store, selling all kinds of items, and the most complete selection of restaurants in the region!
Naturally, Ash's group of four wasn't in a hurry to challenge the Gym first. As per custom when arriving in a new city, they went to experience the local culture first. But… Goldenrod was so massive they almost got lost! Then they met a bold, energetic girl—Whitney.
Whitney said she was a native of Goldenrod City, having grown up there, and could recite the city map by heart! She could guide them anywhere they wanted! And then—the group got lost for another half hour!
Finally, Sabrina had enough. Using her psychic powers, she levitated everyone and flew through the air! Walk through the underground tunnels? No way! The tunnels were more complicated than a maze, with no fewer than twenty exits! Trying to walk from the tunnel to the department store without a guide familiar with them was a fool's errand!
What, you say Whitney? She was a terrible guide!
After seeing Sabrina could use psychic powers, Whitney's eyes also lit up.
"Wow! You can use it too! That psychic power! I want to fly once too!"
Sabrina looked at Whitney with a cold, speechless gaze. This girl… was so presumptuous. Most people would back off under such a look, but Whitney showed no fear. After getting no response from Sabrina, she directly grabbed Sabrina's arm and began dragging her on a shopping spree through the department store.
Brock watched, tears of envy in his eyes. He wanted to be dragged around shopping by Whitney too!
And Ash could only scratch his cheek helplessly. Honestly… he wanted to enjoy shopping with his two girlfriends. Since the Indigo Plateau celebration, though they'd been together, they'd had relatively few leisure activities like this. Occasionally… Ash wanted to enjoy some couple time too!
Finally, at the department store, Ash's group bought a lot of things: materials for making Pokéblocks, Berries, some training equipment, various Poké Balls, and human food. They bought so much that Ash converted his Aura power into psychic energy to levitate all their purchases behind him.
It's worth mentioning that Ash had already explained his new Aura transformation ability to Misty and the others in the car. In response, besides amazement, they were at a loss for words. Professor Oak even said he'd love to study Ash as if he were a Pokémon. Ash respectfully declined.
Since Ash was levitating all the items behind him, he looked like a conspicuous pack mule, drawing stares from everyone in the department store. Psychics did exist in the world, but they were still rare. Seeing one in a department store naturally attracted curious and novel attention.
And Whitney, upon seeing Ash could also use "psychic" powers, immediately abandoned Sabrina and ran to Ash's side. She began chattering, asking him to take her flying sometime—she wanted to experience flying with psychic powers too! She was promptly yanked back by Sabrina using her psychic powers.
"I'll take you flying. Don't pester Ash." Sabrina's tone was even colder than before. Whitney pestering her was just a bit annoying—after all, it was slightly irritating not being able to go to the store with her boyfriend. But… Whitney pestering Ash? That was more than just "a bit" annoying! If not for the fact that traveling with Ash had greatly improved Sabrina's patience, she might have turned Whitney into a doll and stuffed her in her pocket temporarily! Why were there always these brazen hussies trying to steal the one she liked?!
In response, Ash and the others could only smile wryly. Meeting someone as uniquely forward as Whitney… must be fate.
After shopping, everyone planned to find a hotel. With so many purchases—Ash alone was levitating over thirty items!—staying at a Pokémon Center would make organizing everything difficult. Better to get a large hotel room.
It's worth noting… this shopping spree made a significant dent in Ash's funds again. If this continued, the money from selling the crystals would run out soon. He needed to find another way to make money!
"Where do you live? I'll take you back," Sabrina said coldly to Whitney. Since she'd promised to take her flying once, she wouldn't go back on her word.
"Really? Heehee~ I was just thinking carrying all this would be hard! Thanks, Sabrina~"
"Mhm… Take me back to the Goldenrod Gym. Most of this stuff was bought for the Gym. I'll drop it there, then walk home~" Whitney replied, speaking in a distinctive Johto (Kansai) dialect.
"Huh?! The Goldenrod Gym?!" Ash and the others exclaimed in unison, shocked.
"Whitney… the Goldenrod Gym Leader… So you're the Goldenrod Gym Leader?!"
After the initial shock, Ash quickly recalled the intel he'd gathered earlier. The intel contained the names of Johto Gym Leaders but not their appearances—otherwise, he'd have memorized them. When he first heard the name "Whitney," he hadn't connected her to the Gym Leader. But after her reminder, it clicked immediately.
After some conversation, Whitney also learned that Ash and the others had come to challenge the Goldenrod Gym.
"What a coincidence~ Let's go together then!"
"Even though today's my day off, I can make an exception and accept your challenge~"
Hearing this, Ash thought for a moment and decided to challenge the Gym directly. Usually, he'd gather intel on the Gym Leader first, but this was a special case. After all, they'd just happened to run into the Gym Leader while shopping, and she was willing to make an exception on her day off—a rare opportunity.
Subsequently, Sabrina used her psychic powers to levitate herself and Whitney through the air back to the Goldenrod Gym, with Ash following. Upon arriving, Ash and Whitney didn't waste time and began their battle immediately.
Whitney's first Pokémon was a Nidorina. Ash sent out Quilava, who defeated it. Her second was Clefairy—the very Pokémon that had led to Whitney and Ash's first meeting—which was easily taken down by Bayleef.
For a moment, Ash was suspicious… Was she really the Gym Leader? Based on the first two, at best they were slightly better than a rookie Trainer's. Was she going easy on him?
When she sent out her third Pokémon, Ash understood. She wasn't going easy—she'd poured all her effort into that Miltank! The other two were just filler. As a result, Ash suffered his first defeat in Johto—Quilava lost, overwhelmed by Miltank's relentless Rollout attack. Moreover, Miltank was still rolling across the field, its Rollout power increasing further!
"The move Rollout grows more powerful the longer it's used continuously. If it keeps going… its power might even surpass super-powered moves like Hyper Beam and Frenzy Plant!" Ash muttered, taking out another Poké Ball.
Miltank had already hit Quilava twice, and with its continuous rolling, its power had likely increased to Hyper Beam levels! The best counter now would be Pikachu, using its level advantage to swiftly take it down. But… that would defeat the purpose of a Gym challenge!
"It's your turn, Heracross!"
"Heracross!" The Bug-type powerhouse arrived!
"If it's a contest of pure power, my Heracross won't lose! Heracross, remove your weights!"
"Heracross!"
Upon hearing the command, Heracross first removed the red ring from its large horn, then the rings from its limbs and body one by one.
Misty and Brock watching from the sidelines couldn't help but wipe cold sweat from their brows.
"Ash is still so reckless!"
"Won't removing Heracross's weights before battle drain its stamina?"
"It shouldn't consume much. Heracross is used to the weight. Without strenuous exercise, it's fine."
Meanwhile, Whitney's cherry-red lips parted in surprise, her eyes wide.
"Wh-what is this? Weights???"
After Heracross removed all its weights, Ash grinned at Whitney.
"Yep, training weights."
"Whitney, have you heard of Star Pieces? Don't let the small size fool you—these weights add up to nearly sixty pounds! Heracross, Swords Dance!"
After casually mentioning Heracross's training regimen, Ash immediately gave the order. To face that Rollout, which had who-knows-how-many power boosts, they needed a stat boost!
"Heracross!" Heracross spun rapidly in place, its physical power steadily rising!
"Hey! Using a stat-boosting move while your opponent is shocked? That's cheating! Miltank, keep using Rollout!"
One trick, used to perfection! Miltank continued its rolling charge. As its rolling time increased, so did its speed!
"Take to the air!"
Upon Ash's command, Heracross suddenly spread its wings and flew high into the air! The biggest weakness of Rollout was that it could only be used on the ground. If the opponent was airborne…
"Too naive! Miltank, chase it!"
"Mil!!"
The Miltank rolling on the ground screeched to a halt, then frantically scraped against the floor before launching itself like a tennis ball, bouncing high into the air!
"Look out, Ash!" Misty couldn't help but shout.
"Don't worry, I expected this! Heracross, use Miltank's momentum to send it flying!"
A conspiratorial smile appeared on the boy's lips. He'd deliberately lured the opponent into the air! True, Miltank could bounce using Rollout, but… it couldn't match Heracross's free aerial mobility! Heracross tracked the attack trajectory and slammed its large horn forward!
Miltank was sent flying along Heracross's horn straight toward the ceiling!
BOOM!!
A tremendous crash echoed through the Gym. Miltank… had smashed a large hole in the Gym's ceiling! The referee nearby facepalmed, already mentally calculating the repair costs he'd have to request from the League.
After crashing into the ceiling, Miltank's Rollout still hadn't stopped. It kept scraping against the ceiling, then shot toward Heracross like a falling meteor—even faster than before!
"Hah! Now you can't dodge!"
"Heracross, Close Combat!"
Ash's command sounded almost simultaneously with Whitney's taunt. Just as Miltank was about to crash into Heracross, Heracross's Close Combat struck!
BOOM!!
Another deafening crash! Mid-air, Rollout collided with Heracross's large horn! Heracross frantically swung its horn and fists in a fierce melee. The two were deadlocked in mid-air, but… Miltank's rolling momentum seemed to be slowly decreasing.
In less than ten seconds, Miltank could no longer compete with Heracross's Close Combat! Subsequently, it was blasted away by Heracross's secondary force, smashing directly into the wall beside Whitney!
A cloud of dust erupted around Whitney. As she anxiously called out Miltank's name, all that answered was the image of Miltank lying quietly in the rubble, unable to get up.
In the head-on clash of raw power, Heracross was the victor!!
...
PS 1: In the original anime, Ash met Whitney because it was her day off. Here… it just happens to be her day off too.
Also, Whitney's Japanese VA is the same as Kazuha's in Case Closed—no wonder her Kansai dialect sounded so familiar!
PS 2: I've been consistently releasing chapters for many days now, and If you want to support my work and read the 70 chapters ahead you can check out
my P@treon. -> patreon.com/Sagamaster789
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