135. I am the villain

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"Squirtle!!!"

Squirtle quickly reacted, greeting its fellow Squirtle, and hurriedly led Brock and Misty—who were still tied up—out of the cave. Jessie and James also swiftly followed them outside.

When they reached the cave entrance, they saw Ash standing not far ahead, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder. Charmander stood in front of Ash, spewing thick black smoke—clearly a result of Ash's handiwork.

"Little twerp!!" Jessie and James were surprised to see Ash. They had assumed that a gangster had sent him there.

"Ash!" Brock and Misty both let out a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of calm at the sight of their friend.

"How did you find this place? And where's Meowth?" Jessie demanded, still unsure of the situation.

"We're here, meow!"

Just as Jessie finished speaking, Meowth's voice rang out. Jessie, James, and the others looked behind Ash, where they saw Meowth and two Squirtles tied up and hanging from a tree by ropes.

Jessie and James were shocked, while the three Squirtles in front yelled frantically at their captured companions. 

Meowth was clearly the worst off—its fur was scorched and frizzy from the battle.

"Little twerp, we've got your friends. How dare you mess with us?" Jessie snarled through gritted teeth.

"I know! That's why I caught yours, too! How about it? We'll both lose if this keeps up," Ash replied calmly, pointing his thumb behind him toward the tied-up Meowth and Squirtles.

"Darn it, this kid is really clever," Jessie and James muttered, not expecting Ash, whom they had always treated as just a brat, to pull such a move.

"You little punk, that's a dirty trick!" Jessie shouted, furious.

"You're not in any position to talk about dirty tricks!" Misty, still tied up, yelled back at the Rockets.

"Thanks for the compliment. I'll do whatever it takes to deal with people who break the rules," Ash responded coolly. With hostages on both sides, he didn't seem worried.

"Alright, kid. How about a trade? You hand over Meowth and the Squirtles, and we'll give you back the girl." Jessie tried to negotiate, but it was clear from her tone and expression that they were planning something underhanded.

"Don't treat me like a child. Pikachu!" Ash wasn't fooled by their words and decided not to waste any more time.

!~~~~E!!!

Pikachu nodded slightly, then leaped from Ash's shoulder. The Rockets and the Squirtle Squad didn't know what was coming, but they soon found out when Pikachu unleashed a Thunder Shock. 

Electricity surged from Pikachu straight toward Meowth, who instantly panicked.

"Meowth meow! I'm done for, meow!!!"

The Thunder Shock left Meowth speechless, its body scorched black as smoke puffed from its mouth, trembling from the intense shock.

"I don't have time to play games with you. Let my friends go!" Ash demanded, his voice firm.

Ash had no intention of playing hostage-exchange games with Team Rocket. In fact, his actions were surprising, as he didn't really aim to target the Squirtle Squad. Their pranks were simple and not rooted in true malice.

As for Team Rocket, despite their quick schemes, Jessie and James were timid at heart. At most, they stole Pokémon; they weren't capable of darker deeds like harming others. And the Squirtle Squad—while mischievous—never actually hurt anyone. But Ash didn't like unnecessary trouble.

He chose to make an example of Meowth. The Squirtle Squad watched in shock, especially their leader, who didn't want his comrades to get hurt. The real fear, however, came from Jessie and James. They couldn't believe how ruthless Ash seemed. Was this kid really only ten years old? The way he acted so decisively reminded them of their own organization, Team Rocket.

Despite being members of Team Rocket, Jessie and James weren't truly bad people. Beneath their antics, they had good hearts. And their bond with each other, especially their friendship with Meowth, was something admirable. Over the years, the protagonist team in the anime had seen many companions come and go, but Team Rocket remained together, facing countless challenges without splitting up. If it had been anyone else from Team Rocket, Ash's tactics might not have worked as well.

"What are you waiting for? Save me, meow!!" Meowth, slowly regaining some strength while still hanging from the tree, shouted angrily at Jessie and James.

"Squirtle Squirtle !"

The leader of the Squirtle Squad didn't want his friends to be harmed further. He quickly signaled to his comrades, who hurried behind Brock and Misty to untie their ropes.

Seeing this, Jessie and James knew they had lost. With Meowth in Ash's hands, they couldn't fight back. Brock and Misty were freed, and Squirtle didn't interfere. As Brock and Misty walked toward Ash, Squirtle turned to face him, watching closely. It seemed to be waiting for Ash's next move, observing whether Ash would keep his word.

For so long, Squirtle and his squad had caused trouble, likely out of disappointment and abandonment by humans. But now, there was a flicker of hope in Squirtle's eyes—perhaps Ash would prove that not all humans were the same.

"Pikachu!" Ash called softly.

Pikachu nodded and leapt toward the tree, using Iron Tail to slice through the ropes binding Meowth and the two Squirtles. They fell to the ground—Squirtle safely protected by its shell, but Meowth wasn't so lucky and hit the ground hard. Meowth grumbled in pain, but no one paid much attention.

Ash didn't stop them, and their legs were free, so they could walk away on their own.