Chapter 26: Quick Attack

"This Pikachu... why is it so powerful?!" Jessie exclaimed, watching in disbelief as Pikachu effortlessly defeated their Pokémon. An ordinary, cute Pikachu had just wiped out their entire team with ease.

"It seems I'm not the only one with surprises…" Meowth muttered weakly from the ground, staring up at the yellow Electric-type mouse. "Meow..." he added, a trace of admiration in his voice despite the defeat.

"Should we retreat now?" James asked cautiously. Given the current situation, he believed retreat was the best option.

"That's right, retreat!" Jessie responded with determination. Though they had been defeated by Pikachu, they could still escape with the stolen Poké Balls, making the mission not entirely a failure.

Thinking quickly, Jessie pulled out a remote control and pressed a button.

"What are they trying to do?!" Nurse Joy observed keenly, her face shifting to one of concern.

"We can't give them this chance!" Ash immediately stood up, his eyes narrowing. He shouted to Pikachu, "Pikachu, use Thunder Shock to stop their movements!"

Without hesitation, Pikachu launched another Thunder Shock, sending a burst of golden lightning toward the retreating Rocket trio.

"Too late!" Jessie's voice was full of smug confidence. As she finished speaking, there was a loud crash, and the ceiling above them suddenly collapsed. A massive amount of rubble fell, blocking the Thunder Shock's path and shielding Team Rocket from the attack.

A rope descended through the newly formed hole in the ceiling, and Meowth was the first to react. With impressive agility, he grabbed the rope and quickly climbed up. Jessie and James followed suit, clutching the bag containing the Poké Balls with one hand while holding the rope with the other.

Of course, they didn't forget to take Ekans and Koffing back into their Poké Balls before climbing. The rope slowly began to rise, and it was clear that Team Rocket was making their escape.

"We can't let them take those Pokémon!" Nurse Joy cried out in alarm. These Pokémon had been brought here for treatment, and many of them were in critical condition. They couldn't let them disappear so easily.

"Staryu, Starmie, use Water Gun!" Misty sprang into action, throwing two Poké Balls into the air. The two Water-type Pokémon materialized, and Misty commanded them to use Water Gun, aiming to intercept Team Rocket's escape.

The Water Gun combined into a powerful, thick stream of water, hurtling toward Team Rocket.

"How dare you, you nasty little girl!" Jessie growled, her face twisted with frustration. She had no backup plans for dealing with the Water Gun, and now she had to act quickly to stop it.

"Meowth is not a pushover! Don't underestimate me!" Meowth suddenly leapt off the rope, spreading his limbs wide as he faced the Water Gun head-on. His body was braced to take the full impact, his determination clear.

"Meowth!" James gasped, clearly surprised by Meowth's brave move. Even Jessie was taken aback by his selfless actions.

The Water Gun struck Meowth directly, sending him tumbling backward with a powerful impact. Despite the pain, Meowth used all his strength to redirect the water, deflecting it away from the rope and causing the stream to splatter off in another direction.

With the force of the Water Gun, Meowth was sent flying, but he managed to grab hold of James's arms as he was thrown backward. Despite his exhaustion, Meowth still held on, showing his dedication to Team Rocket.

"We won't let you down, Meowth! We'll get these Pokémon back!" James said with determination as he held Meowth in his arms, the Pokémon's body limp from the exertion. Meowth had fainted from the battle, losing the ability to fight.

Ash, Misty, and Nurse Joy watched helplessly as Team Rocket began their ascent. It seemed that Meowth's brave effort had bought them enough time to escape.

"Can we just let them go?" Ash clenched his fists, frustration building. Pikachu stood by his side, equally determined to stop Team Rocket.

"Is there any way to catch up?" Ash asked Misty, but she shook her head. They had no way of reaching them now. It seemed like Team Rocket would get away once again.

"Pikachu..." Pikachu suddenly sprinted ahead. A translucent light began to glow around his body, and his speed increased dramatically, making him appear as if he were running at lightning speed.

"This is... Quick Attack?!" Ash's eyes widened as he recognized the phenomenon. Pikachu was using Quick Attack, a move he hadn't seen his Pokémon use in a while. Could it be that Pikachu had learned Quick Attack?

With incredible precision, Pikachu raced up the tunnel, using the momentum of the collapsing gravel to propel himself further. He darted to the edge of the hole, launching himself upward and, with a mighty leap, caught hold of the rope.

"What?!" Jessie and James, who had thought they were about to escape, looked down in shock. They saw Pikachu gripping the rope below them, and a feeling of unease washed over them.

"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!" Ash called, his voice filled with urgency. He couldn't afford to let them escape.

"Pikachu—Pika... Pikachu!" Pikachu cried, unleashing the full force of his Thunder Shock. The electric energy crackled around him as the golden lightning shot upward, engulfing the rope and even striking the Hot Air Balloon overhead.

With a loud Boom!, the Hot Air Balloon exploded, sending shockwaves through the air and causing the rope to sway violently.

As Pikachu fell, Ash was already underneath, rushing forward. He caught Pikachu in mid-air without a second thought, cradling him carefully.

"Nooo!" Jessie and James screamed in frustration as the explosive power of the Thunder Shock disrupted their escape. They were tossed in the chaos, and despite their desperate attempts to hold on to the rope and bag, they were overpowered by the force.

The remaining air in the Hot Air Balloon sent them flying away, carried off by the wind.

"What a disgusting feeling..." Jessie muttered bitterly, her voice filled with defeat as they soared into the air. Their carefully laid plan had been shattered by Ash and Pikachu.

"Are they okay?" Misty asked, concern in her voice as she watched the Rocket trio drift away.

Ash shook his head slightly. "They should be fine. They've been through worse, and I'm sure their luck will keep them safe."

With the Rockets gone and the stolen Pokémon saved, Ash, Misty, and Nurse Joy took a moment to catch their breath. They had narrowly averted another disaster, but it was clear that Team Rocket would never give up. No matter how many times they were defeated, they would always be back for more.

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