Ivysaur rescued both Squirtle and Pikachu, while blocking Team Rocket's escape route.
"I have a very bad feeling!" Their hot air balloon was entangled by Ivysaur's Vine Whip, leaving no way to escape. Seeing this, Ash's eyes narrowed in determination, and he launched his attack.
"Charmander, use Flamethrower!" Ash seized the opportunity and gave the command.
"Charmander!"
Hearing the order, Charmander lifted its head, looked toward the sky, and opened its mouth wide. A searing breath condensed, and a burst of flames erupted from its mouth.
The flames shot directly into the air, and at the same time, Ivysaur retracted its Vine Whip. The flames hit the bottom of Team Rocket's hot air balloon, and the intense heat began to burn through the basket. The expressions on the faces of Team Rocket's trio changed instantly.
"Oops, Meowth!!"
As soon as Meowth cried out, the high temperature burned through the basket. Water evaporated immediately, and the shells stored in the basket were ignited by the flames.
Boom!! Boom Boom!!!
The flames ignited the shells, causing them to detonate. Luckily, the fire had already burned through the basket, causing the shells to fall and explode in midair.
The sky was suddenly filled with dazzling fireworks as the explosions spread. Team Rocket, being close to the blasts, were caught in the explosion's force and sent flying once again.
"What a nasty feeling!!!"
With the power of the explosion, Team Rocket once again experienced the familiar sensation of blasting off, as the flames continued to spread. Fortunately, Ash, his Pokémon, and his friends were all safe and unharmed.
Hearing the commotion, Misty and Brock rushed outside to check. Relieved, they saw that Pikachu and Squirtle had been rescued. Team Rocket was gone, and Misty and Brock quickly left the cave.
"Ash, are you okay?" The situation had been dangerous, and Misty was naturally worried about Ash.
"It's okay, don't worry!"
Ash shook his head slightly, assuring them he was fine. Pikachu immediately jumped onto Ash, while Squirtle gathered with its fellow Squirtles, exchanging words of relief. The Squirtles all looked at Ash gratefully.
Drip~woo~~drip~woo!!!
"You guys, what happened?"
Just then, the sound of a siren echoed, and Officer Jenny's voice was heard from a distance. Everyone turned to see Officer Jenny pulling up beside them.
Looking at the smoking pits on the ground, Officer Jenny immediately realized that something dangerous had just occurred. Noticing the recent explosion, she hurried over to investigate, also catching sight of the Squirtle Squad.
"Officer Jenny..."
As she approached, Ash, Misty, and Brock explained the situation. It was complicated, but they made sure to clarify that the Squirtle Squad wasn't to blame, despite the earlier kidnapping incident. Instead, they tactfully shifted the responsibility to Team Rocket.
After hearing the explanation, Officer Jenny was relieved to find that Ash and the others were unharmed. If anything had happened to them, it would have been a serious failure on her part.
The Squirtles, overhearing that Ash and his friends didn't mention the kidnapping, were deeply moved.
"That's right, it's great that you're all okay," Officer Jenny said, exhaling in relief.
"Ah!!" Just as everyone was starting to calm down, Misty's sudden scream drew their attention.
"What's wrong?"
"Over there!!" Misty shouted, pointing toward the nearby woods. Flames were visible where some of the fire from the earlier explosion had ignited the trees. The fire was quickly spreading.
"This is bad! If the fire keeps spreading, it could reach the town!" Officer Jenny said, clearly worried.
"Squirtle, Squirtle!!!"
Squirtle, sensing the urgency, put on its signature sunglasses and rallied its team. The five Squirtles lined up, ready to face the fire.
"What are they going to do?" Misty asked, watching the scene curiously.
"Squirtle, Squirtle!"
With a determined look, Squirtle pointed toward the fire. The five Squirtles dispersed, using their Water Gun attacks to douse the flames. Water sprayed in all directions, quickly covering the spreading fire.
Thanks to the efforts of the Squirtle Squad, the fire was brought under control and gradually extinguished. For nearly half an hour, the Squirtles worked tirelessly, refusing to rest until the flames were gone.
It wasn't clear if they were repaying Ash for his help or if they had grown attached to the town, but their determination to protect the area was undeniable. They didn't want to see it destroyed.
"Great, thanks to the Squirtle Squad," Officer Jenny said, visibly relieved. She hadn't expected these Squirtles, once known for causing trouble, to save the town in such a critical moment.
"Squirtle, Squirtle!"
Though clearly tired, Squirtle still managed its usual upbeat smile.
"Officer Jenny, maybe this is how the town and the Squirtle Squad can coexist," Ash said thoughtfully.
"Hmm... Ash, I think I understand what you're saying," Officer Jenny replied, reflecting on his words.
The Squirtles had a history of causing trouble, mostly by stealing food in order to survive. While their actions had been disruptive, their intentions weren't malicious. Perhaps now, after their efforts to save the town, there was a chance for peaceful coexistence. It was up to the Squirtles to decide.
In the past, the Squirtles never had the opportunity to communicate properly with the townspeople due to their mischief. But now, this might be their chance for a fresh start.
As Ash, his friends, and the Squirtle Squad returned to the town, the townspeople were still cautious, their previous fear of the Squirtle Squad lingering.