Before the clock struck midnight, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow and returned to the room where the Silver Goblet was being kept.
Brock was still sitting in the exact same position as before—completely motionless.
"Hey, Brock, you hungry?" Misty asked, waving a hand in front of his face.
"I'm a Rock-type Pokémon!" Brock replied dramatically.
Dude... don't tell me you've been sitting like that for seven hours straight?!
Just then, the clock chimed midnight. Everyone tensed immediately.
But nothing happened.
Could it be that the infamous second-generation Phantom Thief, Nekomaru, got wind of the security and decided to back off?
The wealthy collector seemed to relax. He even had more food sent up for everyone.
"Perfect timing—I was getting hungry again!" Ash grinned, plopping down to eat without hesitation.
Everyone joined in, digging into the feast with joy. Well, everyone except Brock—his legs had gone completely numb after sitting still so long. He couldn't even stand and was forced to lie on the floor, helplessly watching the others enjoy their meal.
Comparing everyone's behavior, Officer Jenny couldn't help but comment, "Told you—this little guy here really does look like a pro!"
After they had their fill, Ash wiped his mouth and looked up at the ceiling. With a calm voice, he said, "Team Rocket, it's about time you woke up."
"What are you talking about, Ash?" Misty blinked in confusion.
But Officer Jenny and Spinarak were instantly on alert.
Sure enough, the lights dimmed—right on cue—and the Team Rocket trio dropped down from the ceiling, landing directly in front of the Silver Cup.
"This is so unfair! You guys were having a feast while we've been starving all day!" Jessie shouted.
She reached for the Silver Cup—but a blue light barrier flared to life, blocking her hand.
"You again, brat! This has gotta be your doing!"
The Team Rocket was dumbfounded. Somehow, the kids who had always been chasing after them had suddenly picked up strange, incredible tricks.
Ash smirked. "You showed up... now you're not leaving."
Right as he finished speaking, Officer Jenny had already signaled Spinarak to weave a web around them. The little Pokémon was quick and precise—Ash had already seen it in action earlier in the courtyard.
Within seconds, a thick web descended from all directions, wrapping the trio up like bugs in a net.
"History repeats itself," Jenny declared. "Anyone pretending to be Nekomaru in this place always ends up tied up by Spinarak's silk!"
The Team Rocket was completely cocooned—officially arrested.
Who knows if they'd escape again in the future, but for now, Ash and his friends could finally enjoy a bit of peace.
All the stolen treasures were found with them, stashed in the ceiling panel above where they had been hiding.
"You were amazing, little guy! You're a real expert when it comes to handling thieves!" Officer Jenny praised Ash generously.
"Thank you, young man. Please, spend the night at my estate," the collector said warmly.
Ash appreciated that the man didn't look down on them just because they were kids. That alone left a good impression.
And he had to admit—rich people's beds were incredibly comfy. The exhaustion from their long journey finally had a chance to melt away.
Still, Ash and his friends didn't let comfort slow them down. The very next morning, they said their goodbyes and hit the road again.
They passed through Willowmere Town, famous for its upscale residential neighborhoods, and then Maplepark Town, known for its enormous park built right in the city center. Soon, they found themselves at the foot of a mountain—just one step away from their next destination: Violet City.
"Is it just me, or is it getting cold?" Misty asked.
"Look over there—the mountaintop already has snow!" Brock pointed out.
The Pokémon world had its own strange climate system. Who would've thought they'd have to cross a snowy mountain just to reach Violet City?
"This place is perfect for training! Pikachu, let's get that Iron Tail move down perfectly!" Ash wasted no time setting his sights on training. Both Pikachu and Charizard had been improving rapidly under his guidance.
"I'm down to play in the snow too!" Misty said, clearly enjoying the change in scenery.
"Great idea! I bet the ski resorts are full of gorgeous girls on vacation!" Brock's eyes sparkled as he imagined the possibilities.
Ash rolled his eyes—but suddenly, something caught his attention.
Just ahead, lying lazily on the grass, was a Pokémon Ash had always wanted to meet.
It was a Chikorita!
The little Grass-type was basking in the sunlight, head tilted up, soaking in the warmth. Thanks to its unique ability, the air around it carried a sweet, pleasant aroma.
Grass-type Pokémon loved sunbathing.
And Chikorita? It was a starter Pokémon from the Johto region—and incredibly rare in the wild. Ash's luck really was something else.
The moment he stepped closer, Chikorita opened its eyes and stared directly at him. Its gaze was clear, intense, and filled with determination.
"This Chikorita's got a way tougher personality than Nene's," Brock observed, recognizing the confidence in its expression.
"Which means we'll be a perfect match!" Ash smiled. "You're up, Pikachu!"
"Ash, Grass-types resist Electric attacks!" Brock reminded him.
"I know," Ash said confidently, "That's why I taught Pikachu that move!"
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
In a flash, Pikachu dashed forward and slammed into Chikorita, knocking it back.
But Chikorita quickly rolled across the ground and bounced back to its feet. Without wasting a second, it launched two razor-sharp Razor Leafs at Pikachu.
"Thunderbolt!"
Lightning surged from Pikachu, scorching the incoming leaves to ash—but Chikorita charged through the smoke unfazed, lashing out with its Vine Whip. The vines smacked Pikachu hard, sending him flying.
"What an incredible battle instinct!" Ash was more impressed than ever.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack again!"
Pikachu darted forward once more—but this time, Chikorita was ready. It raised its vines as a shield, blocking the attack and wrapping them around Pikachu in one smooth motion. Then, it lifted Pikachu two meters into the air!
"Nice! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
The electric current surged through the vines and shocked Chikorita. Grass-types or not, electricity still hurt. The shock paralyzed Chikorita, static dancing across its body.
That was Static—Pikachu's passive ability—plus Thunderbolt. The combo increased the odds of paralysis significantly.
"Now's our chance! Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Spinning midair, Pikachu performed a perfect 180 twist, his tail now glowing with a sharp metallic gleam.
Boom! The Iron Tail slammed into the ground right in front of Chikorita, kicking up dirt and leaves. The blast of sand sprayed straight into Chikorita's face.
"Ha! What do you say, little one—want to be my partner?"
Chikorita stared at Pikachu, who stood tall with his tail embedded in the earth. It knew… Ash and Pikachu had gone easy on it.
Pikachu HP: 205/255