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"What are you talking about, little girl? It's your own fault you're too weak, making that woman go on a power trip! Without the kid, you're useless!"
Hearing Misty's words, Jessie was naturally upset and immediately shot back. But as soon as Jessie spoke, Misty and Brock's expressions changed. They wished they could sew her mouth shut.
Unfortunately, it was too late. As the argument between the two continued, Ariana picked up on the crucial detail.
"Little kid? Sounds like there are more pests lurking around!"
A chilling smirk spread across Ariana's face. She had thought only the few people in front of her had broken in, but now it seemed like there were still others who had slipped through the cracks.
Misty and Brock were at a loss, hoping Ash would come to their rescue. But they worried he might not be able to handle it. Either way, it was better for Ash to stay hidden than for the enemy to know about him.
"You have more friends hiding, don't you?" Ariana asked, staring at Misty and Brock.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Misty replied, even though she knew Ariana had already figured it out. Still, she refused to admit anything.
"Heh! I like your spirit, but it's pointless to lie. Once someone starts looking, your friend will be caught eventually."
Ariana smiled at Misty's defiance, showing no concern about someone still being out there.
Misty didn't reply, but she silently disagreed with Jessie—this woman was really infuriating.
"Take them away. I'll deal with this loose end myself," Ariana ordered, signaling her subordinates to lead Misty and the others away.
Just then—
"Pi-ka-chuuuu!"
There was a rustling in the nearby bushes, and suddenly a bright, golden bolt of electricity shot out, racing toward Ariana. Her eyes widened slightly as she leapt back, hands hitting the ground to flip and land in a crouch, narrowly dodging the attack. The lightning surged past her, and the rest of Team Rocket quickly scrambled to avoid it.
Jessie and James, frozen in place, were caught off guard. The electricity hit them squarely.
"Ahh! Ma-ma-ma-ma!" they yelled in unison. With a loud crash, the lightning exploded, leaving the pair charred, smoke billowing from their mouths.
Swish, swish, swish!
The grass shook again, and Ariana turned toward the noise, frowning. Then, a figure emerged, pressing down on the brim of his hat as Pikachu stood by his side.
"No need to search for me—I'll come to you," Ash said calmly as he stepped into view.
"Ash!" Misty and Brock gasped, their faces lighting up with relief. He really had come to save them, but they still couldn't help feeling anxious. Ash couldn't take this on by himself; he shouldn't have charged in like that.
"So, you're the last bug? I like brave boys," Ariana said as she slowly stood up, eyeing Ash with a smirk.
Ash, however, remained focused. It didn't surprise him that his first attack had missed—after all, Ariana was a Rocket Executive. She had to have some skills.
"But I don't like rude women. You're Ariana, right?"
Ash's voice was steady as he tried to keep her distracted. He just needed to buy more time for his Pokémon to act.
"Hm?" Ariana raised an eyebrow at his comment. While her face didn't show much surprise, a flicker of curiosity sparked in her eyes.
Although Ariana's identity wasn't exactly a secret, the young trainers in front of her had no idea who she was. Even Jessie and James, from the same organization, didn't know her. So, Ariana was surprised that the boy standing before her recognized her.
"Well, well, little brother, you actually know my name. It seems you're more informed than I thought! Who exactly are you?"
It was rare for a young trainer to know her, especially in such detail. Since Ash knew her name, he probably knew more about her background. This made her curious about his identity.
Ash, on the other hand, was quietly thinking to himself. His guess had been right—this was Ariana, one of Team Rocket's four executives. In his memory, though, she never appeared in the anime, only in the special manga and the games. This situation seemed like a ripple effect, like a butterfly stirring up waves across the Pacific Ocean.
"I don't have to answer that, do I?" Ash replied calmly, maintaining his composure.
"Then I guess I'll just have to capture you and find out," Ariana said, not fazed by his response. She pulled out a Poké Ball, clearly ready to let her Pokémon do the talking.
"Fine! Are you all going to gang up on me?" Ash asked, using a taunting tone. He knew Ariana was proud and arrogant, and if they all attacked together, his chances of winning with only Pikachu were slim.
Meowth, hiding behind Jessie and James, wasn't going to be any help either, so Ash had to rely on a strategy to level the playing field.
"Hah, you've got guts, kid! Everyone, stand down!" Ariana ordered her team, falling for Ash's bait. She waved off the other members of Team Rocket who had been itching for a fight.
Misty and Brock watched nervously. Even if Ash managed to win this battle, they knew Team Rocket wouldn't just let them walk away. They couldn't understand why Ash was even engaging with them like this.
"Let's see what you've got, little brother! Arbok, go! Use **Poison Sting**!" Ariana commanded, throwing her Poké Ball.
"Ar-bokaaaa!" Arbok hissed as it emerged, its massive fangs bared. It unleashed a barrage of Poison Stings, the purple needles flying like a rainstorm toward Ash and Pikachu.
Ash, unfazed, raised his shoulder slightly. "Pikachu, use **Thunder Shock**!"
"Pikaaa-chuuuu!" Pikachu leapt from Ash's shoulder and unleashed a surge of electricity. The two attacks collided mid-air.
**Boom!**
A powerful explosion shook the battlefield as the Poison Stings and Thunder Shock met. Black smoke filled the area, obscuring everyone's view.
"Arbok, use **Poison Fang**!" Ariana called out immediately after the explosion. As the smoke lingered, Arbok dashed forward, its fangs glowing a dangerous purple.
Despite the smoke, Arbok locked onto Pikachu's position, relying on its keen sense of detecting body heat to track its prey through the cloud. It lunged toward Pikachu, ready to strike!