The amount of training at night should not be too large, so Paul stopped training after sweating a little.
"Okay, let's stop here for now. Eat this and have a good rest." He gave each Pokémon an Oran Berry to eat, and Paul returned them all to their Poké Balls.
Boom! Smoke and explosions burst through the halls of the Pokémon Center. Paul hurried back.
In the hall, Ash had already confronted two people in white uniforms.
"Who are you guys?!" Ash asked loudly.
Jessie: "Listen, is that a voice I hear?"
James: "It speaks to me loud and clear."
Paul: "Thunder Shock!"
James continued, "On the wind!" Paul: "Past the stars!" James: "In your ear! With Thunder Shock... eh? Thunder Shock?!!"
The violent electric shock from Elekid instantly struck Jessie, James, and Meowth.
"Wobbuffet! Brat! Who are you? Do you know I haven't finished reading the opening motto!" James said angrily, his hair singed and standing on end.
* Heh. I'm not interested, * Paul thought, his face cold. * If these three nuisances latched onto you, they would chase you to the ends of the earth. *
"You little brat! Don't you know how powerful Team Rocket is?" Meowth stretched out her sharp claws and approached viciously.
"Elekid, use Brick Break!"
Elekid rushed in front of Meowth with a stride and slashed down on Meowth's head with a hand chop.
"Meow?" Meowth's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
At this time, Jessie and James also reacted and sent out their Pokémon together.
"Go, Arbok!" "Go, Koffing!"
Ash couldn't stand this. "Stop! Attacking two on one isn't fair! I'll help!"
Paul asked, "Ash, can your Pikachu even battle right now?"
Ash smiled crookedly. "Of course! Pikachu!"
Pikachu was resting on the hospital bed, but hearing Ash's call, he could only shout: "Pika! Pika!"
A large group of Pikachu from the Pokémon Center's generator room poured into the hall, gathered around Ash's Pikachu, and started charging him up!
After the dazzling lightning, Pikachu jumped up and stood in front of Ash, seemingly fully recovered!
"Hmph, it's just a Pikachu!" Jessie said contemptuously.
"Koffing, use Smokescreen!"
"Arbok, use Bite!"
Paul's heart tightened when he saw Koffing's Smokescreen. * Didn't these idiots know Koffing's gas was flammable and explosive near electricity? *
He quickly recalled Elekid to its Poké Ball.
However, on the other side, Ash couldn't stand his Pokémon being insulted.
"Underestimate us? Pikachu, show them what we can do!" Ash dragged out the wreckage of Misty's bicycle and started pedaling quickly. The remaining bicycle light began to flash violently.
Pikachu jumped up and landed on the bicycle light, and the strong electricity stimulated Pikachu's electric sacs.
"Picka~Picka~Picka~Picka~CHUUUU!!!"
Paul covered his face. * It was over! *
Boom! A huge explosion and a powerful thunder strike burst out, blowing off half the roof of the Pokémon Center. The three Team Rocket members were sent blasting off into the sky.
Only one sentence was left floating behind: "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
The disgraced trainers looked at each other, covered in soot, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.
Fortunately, Officer Jenny arrived belatedly. After learning about the situation, Ash was recognized for his bravery in defending the Pokémon Center and wouldn't be held accountable for the damages. This made Ash heave a sigh of relief. If he had needed to pay for repairs, Ash probably would have had to work there until he was 20!
With the Pokémon Center damaged, there was nowhere to stay. Ash, Misty, and Paul took out their camping sleeping bags and spent the night on the floor.
Second day
"Paul, where should we go next?" Ash asked, a little confused.
"To register for the League, obviously!" Paul pointed helplessly at the dilapidated Indigo League conference poster.
After sheepishly asking Nurse Joy from Viridian City to help him and Ash register for the Indigo League competition, Paul quickly escaped the damaged Pokémon Center with the other two.
* What a mess! *
"So I still have to register? I didn't even know," Ash scratched the back of his head and said with a simple smile.
"Hmph, see? You still have a long way to go," Misty interjected.
"You're just tagging along," Ash looked at Misty with annoyance.
"You owe me a bike, remember?! I'm following you until you pay me back!" Misty immediately brought out her trump card!
Ash shut up instantly. * Paying her back was impossible; he barely had enough money to raise his Pokémon! *
"Okay, Ash, don't quarrel with Misty. It's your fault the bike got destroyed," Paul said, trying to mediate. "Next, I plan to go to Pewter City to challenge the Gym Leader and get a badge. What about you two?"
As soon as Ash heard about a Gym match, he was immediately excited. "Me too! I want to challenge the Gym!"
"By the way, isn't there a Gym in Viridian City?" Ash asked, having a moment of cleverness.
"Uh, the Gym Leader in this city is named Giovanni. He's quite strong. According to the regulations, only trainers who have obtained seven badges have the opportunity to challenge him!" Paul explained patiently.
"Oh, well then. I guess I'll wait until I get seven badges before I come back to challenge him!" Ash had no choice but to give up the idea of challenging Giovanni immediately.
Thinking of Giovanni, the shadow of Mewtwo appeared in Paul's mind. * He still had to hurry up and become stronger, otherwise, he would miss his chance. *
Thinking of this, Paul clapped his hands. "Then, let's go. Let's head to the Poké Mart to buy some supplies, then we'll go through the Viridian Forest to get to Pewter City."
Ash and Misty also nodded, and the three set off together.
As a Poké Mart officially operated by the league, high quality and reasonable prices were expected.
After spending about 2000 Poké Dollars, Paul bought a few Poké Balls, some Potions, camping food, canned Pokémon food, Protein supplements for Pidgeotto, and Insect Repellent spray.
Paul frowned at the Protein supplements that cost 1000 Poké Dollars a bottle. * If Pidgeotto continued eating like this, there would be problems with travel expenses. *
Although registered trainers could enjoy free board, lodging, and recovery services at Pokémon Centers, all kinds of daily food and medicine for Pokémon required funds. Not to mention various special held items for Pokémon. * The trainer subsidy of 3000 Poké Dollars per month is probably not enough. *
* Looks like I'll need to find a few roadside battles to earn some extra money, * Paul concluded, rubbing his chin.
In addition to trainer subsidies, prize money from various cups and winnings from roadside trainer battles were the main source of income for trainers. Of course, if you were confident in yourself, you could also go to a local Battle Club as a sparring partner. That way, you could not only train your Pokémon but also earn a good income.
Ash was even more economical, only buying a few Poké Balls and two cans of Pokémon food.
"Let's go, let's see if there are any trainers looking for a battle along the road first," Paul and Ash walked along the main road towards the forest after making up their minds.
Fortunately, along the way, they encountered a Bug Catcher boy looking for a gamble and some trainers from the Pokémon Academy.
In the end, all these trainers became easy experience for Paul's Elekid.
Paul's wallet also received a bounty of 800 Poké Dollars, averaging 200 Poké Dollars per person.
Ash also won two battles and seemed to have discovered a new world with the prize money he earned.
Immediately afterward, Ash and Paul, having tasted the sweetness of victory and prize money, went to register as sparring partners. With this status, they could go to the local Battle Club anytime to list their availability, and trainers wanting to battle would pay a fee to train with them.
However, it was too late today. After registering and receiving their sparring partner certificates, Paul, Ash, and Misty entered the Viridian Forest while it was still relatively early.
It was perpetually dim inside the forest, and if you didn't enter around noon, you could easily lose your way.
As soon as they entered the forest, Paul noticed Misty started to whine, reluctant to move forward.
"What's the matter, Misty?" Paul asked.
"Umm... Paul, will there be bugs here?" Misty asked tearfully, her usual aggressive demeanor gone.
"Haha, of course, there will be bugs in the forest! If you're so scared, why did you come?" Ash seized the opportunity to tease Misty fiercely.
"Hmph! Who said I'm scared!" Misty was determined not to let Ash see her fear, so she followed Paul closely, forcing herself forward despite her apprehension.
Paul reluctantly released all three of his Pokémon.
"Okay, let's start the special training in the forest. Your task is to battle freely. Except for Beedrill and Spearow that act in groups, you can't attack them, but other wild Pokémon are fair game," Paul instructed Elekid and his other ground-based Pokémon.
Then he raised his hand and called Pidgeotto over. "Remember what I taught you: Double Team, Quick Attack, Aerial Ace. You are not allowed to use with Brave Bird, understand?"
"Pidgeo!" Pidgeotto nodded seriously and started to scout for opponents from the air.
Seeing Paul's Pokémon ready for action, Ash also felt motivated. "Okay! I'm going to catch more Pokémon!"
"Cater?" Perhaps Ash's wish was answered; a plump green Caterpie slowly crawled past the three of them!
"Ah! Bug!!!" Misty screamed loudly and ran back at least 100 meters.
Ash looked at Paul excitedly. Paul spread his hands, "Go for it. He's all yours."
Paul wasn't interested. * Elekid had a type disadvantage, and frankly, he wasn't interested in such a weak-looking Pokémon. *
Ash commanded Pikachu excitedly, "Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!"
Pikachu turned his head away and refused to battle. * The opponent was so weak; battling it felt beneath him. *
Ash didn't care. "Go, Poké Ball!"
The thrown Poké Ball suddenly hit the Caterpie straight on the head. Paul watched the Caterpie's eyes roll back and couldn't help but shake his head. * Was it actually knocked out by Ash's throw? No wonder it could be captured so easily. *
Ash held his breath and stared at the Poké Ball on the ground. The warning light flashed twice, and click – it stopped!
"Alright! I caught a Pokémon!" Ash yelled out his classic line.
Paul smiled. * This brought back memories. *
Ash held the Poké Ball and started chattering excitedly.
"This is the first Pokémon I caught myself! It's in this Poké Ball! Misty! Look!"
Misty shrieked, "Don't come near me with that thing!"
"Hahaha, I'm going to catch lots of Bug-type Pokémon!" Ash took out a bug net and started looking for his next target.
Paul looked at Ash's retreating back and smiled faintly. * Catching lots of bugs? Misty would probably think he was the devil himself. *
But watching Ash having fun, Paul felt a little worried. * Did this guy even know how to navigate the forest? *
He shook his head. * Paul wouldn't get lost. * He led his Pokémon and followed Ash deeper into the forest.