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"So you ran here!"
The spacecraft descended slowly, its hatch opening as stairs unfolded. A man dressed in white stepped out.
He appeared to be about thirty years old, with short blue hair, a pale face, and a chilling smile. With his hands clasped behind his back, he maintained a calm demeanor. Slowly, he looked up at Zapdos in the sky.
Crackling!
Zapdos's eyes narrowed at the sight of the man, a flash of hostility igniting within. At the same time, several figures emerged from the spacecraft, aligning themselves beside the man.
Each of them wore a black uniform adorned with a red "R" emblem. The man in white bore the same symbol on his left shoulder, marking them unmistakably.
"They're Team Rocket!" Misty exclaimed, recognizing the insignia. Beside her, Brock nodded. Their encounters with the group had made the emblem impossible to forget.
Still, Misty noted the difference. "But they're not the same as Jessie and James."
"Huh?" The man in white turned his head at the sound of voices. His gaze locked on the group standing near the third-floor railing—Ash, Misty, and Brock.
His smile twisted slightly as his eyes narrowed. "And who might you be?" he asked, his tone calm yet icy.
Officer Jenny stepped forward. "I should be the one asking that! Why did you break into the power plant?" Her voice was firm, underlined with fury as she gestured at the damage they had caused.
Unbothered by her anger, the man chuckled. "Don't misunderstand. We're only here for that Zapdos," he replied, sneering. "I suggest you don't interfere."
His words barely veiled a threat, and the Team Rocket members at his sides mirrored his smug expression.
Crackling!!!
Zapdos screeched, electricity surging across its form before it unleashed a massive lightning bolt aimed directly at the group below.
As the crackling energy descended, the man smirked and turned away. "You never learn," he murmured.
With his words, the spacecraft emitted a burst of light, projecting a blue energy shield that formed a semicircular barrier around Team Rocket.
Boom!!!
The thunderous attack clashed against the barrier, erupting in a dazzling light.
When Zapdos's Thunderbolt struck the magnetic field, a deafening roar reverberated through the power plant. The shield flashed continuously as it absorbed the impact. Suddenly, the immense electrical force ricocheted off the barrier with an even louder noise, reversing its trajectory under the shield's resistance.
Boom!!!
Crackling!!!
The reflected lightning surged with greater strength and speed, striking Zapdos almost instantaneously. A pained roar erupted from the legendary Pokémon as the force hurled it backward into the metal wall behind it.
The collision dented the metal severely, and Zapdos collapsed, the wall now bearing the imprint of the powerful impact. Positioned directly opposite Ash and his friends on the third floor, the group stood frozen, their faces painted with shock.
"How is that possible? Zapdos actually..." Misty murmured in disbelief.
"It must be because it's injured!" Brock speculated, his brow furrowing deeply as he assessed the scene.
"But that injury was probably caused by them," Ash said grimly. Though Zapdos hadn't fully recovered, its current state likely stemmed from the machinations of the people before them.
"Hmph! That's correct," the man in white sneered, his tone laced with arrogance. "Even a legendary Pokémon like Zapdos is powerless against the brilliance of human ingenuity. Without the guidance of human orders, it's no better than an ordinary Pokémon."
His words sent a shiver through the three trainers, their expressions hardening. Ash clenched his fists. Capturing a Pokémon was one thing, but to exploit it like this was abhorrent.
"You can't escape this time!" the man declared coldly, oblivious to the disdain on the trainers' faces—or perhaps deliberately ignoring it. He raised a hand as a signal.
"!!"
One of his subordinates immediately responded, pulling out a rocket launcher equipped with a spherical device at the tip. Without hesitation, he aimed at the dazed Zapdos and pulled the trigger.
Whoosh!!!!
The device shot forward, a trail of sparks igniting as it streaked through the air. Zapdos, still disoriented and struggling to rise, had no time to react. The spherical device sped toward its target with unrelenting precision.
A burst of light emanated from the device, splitting its metallic casing open as a red glow enveloped Zapdos. The light materialized into a shield-like barrier, trapping the legendary Pokémon within and gently lifting it from the dented wall. Regaining its senses, Zapdos reacted instinctively, attempting to release its electric power in a desperate bid to escape. However, no matter how much energy it unleashed, the shield held firm.
Frustrated, Zapdos resorted to slamming its body against the barrier repeatedly, each impact producing a muffled sound. Yet the shield remained unscathed, an impenetrable prison.
"Hmph! This weapon was specifically designed to deal with you," the man in white sneered. "Escape is futile."
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted, determination lighting up his face.
"Pika~~~Chu!!!"
Electricity burst from Pikachu, striking the protective shield around Zapdos. The energy collided with the barrier, causing an explosion. Smoke billowed outward, momentarily obscuring the shield. As the air cleared, however, the shield was revealed to be completely intact, its surface unmarred. Inside, Zapdos glanced at Ash and the others, its fierce expression softening into something unreadable.
"Hm? Young Trainer, do you intend to oppose us?" the man asked coldly. He turned to face Ash, who had somehow made his way to the first floor without anyone noticing.
"Ah? Don't misunderstand," Ash replied, his tone nonchalant as he mimicked the man's earlier demeanor. He spread his hands and smirked. "I just happen to like Zapdos and want to capture it myself. I can't let you beat me to it."
Though his words appeared casual, they belied his true intentions. Like any Trainer, Ash had dreamed of capturing rare and powerful Pokémon. While it wasn't against the rules to seek out legendary Pokémon, it had to be done fairly and without cruelty. But Ash's primary goal now was to find any excuse to intervene. He knew the barrier was a significant obstacle, seemingly impervious to both internal and external forces.
Yet, despite the odds, he couldn't abandon Zapdos to its fate.