Join my p@treon for more chapters
[email protected]/Tempest_29
Using Onix's rocky body as a stairway, the three trainers quickly escaped the pitfall trap. By now, Pikachu and the other Electric-types had been hoisted high into the sky.
"They're already so high up!" Misty exclaimed, watching the hot air balloon rising steadily above them.
"Onix can't reach that height!" Brock frowned. Although the balloon shouldn't be able to rise with so much weight, it was now well beyond Onix's reach.
"Scyther, cut the rope!" Ash commanded the Bug-type Pokemon as it descended.
"Scyther!"
Though Scyther didn't fly often, its aerial speed was impressive. Hearing Ash's command, it immediately sprang into action. The double scythes on its forearms glowed with a green light as it soared upward.
"Ash, if they fall from that height, Pikachu and the others will get hurt!" Misty warned anxiously.
Freeing the Pikachu wasn't difficult, but a fall from such a height could seriously injure them.
"Don't worry, I have a plan!" Ash replied confidently. He had already considered how to handle the situation.
Scyther flew with remarkable speed, quickly reaching the balloon. With precise movements, it slashed its razor-sharp scythes through two ropes simultaneously. Ash's Pikachu and the smaller wild Pikachu were bundled together in one net, while the rest of the wild Pikachu were trapped in another. Both nets began plummeting toward the ground.
"What?!" Team Rocket's eyes widened in shock. They hadn't expected their carefully prepared trap to be overcome so easily.
The net containing the larger group of Pikachu was heavier and fell faster. Seeing this, Ash quickly grabbed another Poké Ball.
"Pidgeotto, use Hurricane!"
Ash threw the Poké Ball toward the falling Pikachu. Pidgeotto emerged in a flash of light, positioning itself beneath the falling nets. The Bird Pokemon turned its back to the ground and vigorously flapped its powerful wings upward.
"Pidgeoooo!"
Instantly, a powerful cyclone formed, the swirling winds blasting directly upward. The hurricane struck the cluster of falling Pikachu. While it couldn't completely stop their descent, it significantly slowed their fall.
"Scyther, cut the nets apart!" With the Pikachu's falling speed reduced, Ash signaled Scyther to attack again.
Scyther swooped down, slashing through the nets containing the larger group of Pikachu. The Electric-types scattered midair, looking like a Pikachu-shaped firework exploding in the night sky.
The numerous Pikachu tumbled from above, but thanks to Pidgeotto's Hurricane slowing their descent, they were falling at a manageable speed. For the agile Electric-types, this height was no longer dangerous, and they landed safely on the ground.
Meanwhile, Ash ran to catch his own Pikachu and the smaller wild Pikachu, quickly freeing them from their net.
"Great job!" Misty and Brock sighed with relief at the sight. Team Rocket, however, looked far from pleased with this turn of events.
"Pika! Pika!" "Pikachu! Pika!" "Pikapi!"
The wild Pikachu who had landed safely gathered around Ash and the others, their excited voices rising and falling as they expressed their gratitude. Ash smiled at the scene, then looked up toward the balloon.
Hearing Ash's Pikachu, the wild Pikachu followed his gaze upward. All the Electric-types stared at the balloon, their cheeks sparking as they assumed battle stances.
"Uh-oh... this doesn't look good!"
Team Rocket immediately realized they were in trouble. Normally, a single Pikachu's Thunderbolt was enough to send them blasting off. Now they faced dozens of angry Pikachu, and a wave of fear washed over them.
"Time for payback! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Ash tossed his Pikachu into the air. At Ash's command, Pikachu launched its attack, and remarkably, all the wild Pikachu joined in simultaneously, as if responding to Ash's order as well.
"Pika-CHUUUUU!"
The air crackled with electricity as the Pikachu launched their coordinated assault. Some used Thunderbolt while those who hadn't mastered the move used Thunder Shock instead. Even the smallest Pikachu contributed its power.
The combined electrical attacks merged into an astonishing bolt of lightning that illuminated the night sky. This was no ordinary Thunderbolt—it resembled a 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt in its intensity.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Team Rocket screamed in unison as the massive electrical surge struck them.
BOOM!
The hot air balloon couldn't withstand such tremendous power and exploded with a deafening bang. Through the smoke, the three Team Rocket members were catapulted into the sky.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" they wailed as they disappeared into the distance like shooting stars.
The Pikachu crisis was finally resolved. Ash stepped forward to catch his partner as Pikachu descended.
"Excellent work, Pikachu!"
"Pika-Pi!" Pikachu rubbed Ash's cheek affectionately. The smaller wild Pikachu watched this interaction, its eyes showing a glimmer of understanding about why Ash's Pikachu had suddenly run back earlier.
The little wild Pikachu finally understood that it would have to part ways with Ash's Pikachu. Though reluctant to say goodbye, seeing the bond between Ash and his partner helped it realize that Pikachu was happiest traveling with its trainer.
After cleaning up the battlefield, the wild Pikachu returned to their habitat to rest, while Ash, Misty, and Brock took Pikachu back to their camp.
Much time had been wasted, and it was getting very late. The evening's excitement had left both the trainers and Pikachu exhausted.
Upon returning to camp, the three trainers entered their tents and quickly fell asleep.
The night passed peacefully.
Early the next morning, Brock prepared breakfast while everyone was still waking up. After washing up and finishing their meal, Ash asked Pikachu if it wanted to say goodbye to its wild companions. Pikachu looked somewhat sad and seemed hesitant.
"Pika... Pikapi!"
Just then, a faint voice called out, drawing the attention of the three trainers and Pikachu.