After helping Ash sell the Big Pearl, Misty took him shopping, where Ash picked up a small accessory as a token of gratitude.
Misty's eyes lit up when she saw the hair tie Ash had bought her. Though inexpensive, it brought her immense joy.
Seeing the smile spread across Misty's face, Ash felt a sense of relief. It seemed that gifting her something had lifted her spirits, even if he was still puzzled by her earlier anger.
Back in their dormitory, the two sorted through their purchases.
Ash was surprised by how much preparation was required for their journey. If it hadn't been for Misty, he would have forgotten many essential items.
They stocked enough food to last a week in the wild, along with drinking water.
While they could find fruits and streams in nature, these resources weren't guaranteed everywhere, making it essential to be prepared.
Since Ash's backpack had limited space, some items were placed into Misty's bag. Once they finished organizing, the clock struck ten, signaling it was time for bed.
The dormitory had two beds, and Misty preferred the one near the balcony, leaving Ash to sleep by the bathroom.
"I'm challenging the Viridian Gym tomorrow, Misty. Any suggestions?" Ash asked as Misty emerged from the bathroom, now in her pajamas.
Pikachu had already curled up on the pillow, exhausted from the day's adventures.
"You're going to challenge the Viridian Gym?" Misty asked, surprised. She looked at Ash and Pikachu, then added, "Do you even have three Pokémon?"
"What do you mean?" Ash replied, confused.
"To challenge a gym, there are requirements. The Viridian Gym requires at least three Pokémon. Do you have any besides Pikachu?" Misty asked, her curiosity piqued since she only saw Pikachu.
"Actually, no..." Ash said, realization dawning on him.
He had just become a trainer that day and had been chased by Spearow, without the chance to catch or recover any Pokémon.
If he had healed the Pidgey he defeated earlier, he might have had two, but even that wouldn't meet the requirement.
"So... I guess we have to go to Pewter City first and challenge the Pewter Gym," Misty concluded.
She pulled out a map of the Kanto region and pointed to the northern city. "If we take this route, starting with the Pewter Gym, we can circle back to Viriidian City.
You can earn all eight Badges and then head to Indigo Plateau."
Ash considered Misty's suggestion, noting how it aligned with the route from the anime. It was indeed a convenient path.
"Thanks, Misty! Without you, I would've taken so many detours!" Ash expressed his gratitude sincerely.
"Honestly, we're friends now, so there's no need to thank me for small favors," Misty replied, pouting slightly. She felt that Ash was being overly polite.
"No matter how you say it, I still want to thank you. I'll just be less formal with you in the future," Ash smiled, assuring her.
"Oh, you're so annoying! I'm sleepy and need to rest..." Seeing Ash's smile made Misty blush, and she quickly lay down, pulling the quilt over her and turning away.
"Good night, Misty," Ash said, thinking that she was simply tired after a long day. He understood; it was only natural to feel drained after everything they'd experienced.
Before drifting off to sleep, Ash felt a nagging sensation that he had forgotten something important. But as drowsiness overtook him, he pushed it from his mind.
...
Meanwhile, high above Viridian City, a giant hot air balloon shaped like Meowth's head floated lazily in the sky. Below, two humans and one Pokémon occupied the basket.
The young man with short lavender hair and a handsome face appeared hesitant. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"What are you afraid of? If we pull this off, we'll be praised by the boss, promoted, and become important figures!" replied a young woman with long magenta hair and a striking appearance, her eyes sparkling with ambition.
"That's right! Meow! And this is Viridian City, our boss's territory. What could go wrong?" Meowth chimed in, his voice comically cheerful despite the seriousness of their mission.
"But..." the young man, James, hesitated, wanting to voice his concerns.
He had traveled extensively and knew how unpredictable the world could be. Despite Team Rocket's control over Viridian City, he felt uneasy about their plans.
His apprehension was quickly brushed aside by the young woman.
"James, if you keep this up, you won't get a share of the rewards when we impress the boss!"
"Okay, okay..." James relented, feeling cornered. As companions, they would have to face whatever came their way together.
"We'll cut the power supply to the Pokémon Center and steal all the Pokémon stored there during the chaos.
This plan is foolproof!" Meowth grinned slyly, clearly excited.
"Then... let's charge!" The young woman declared, raising her fist in determination.
"Yes!" James replied, and together with the young woman, he threw a Poké Ball toward the Pokémon Center below.
It smashed through the glass roof, dropping into the lobby amidst the startled trainers and staff.
With a loud bang, the two Poké Balls opened, and from the white light emerged two Pokémon.
One was round and purple, covered in various protrusions. Its sinister smile revealed sharp teeth, and a skull pattern adorned its belly.
The other was a snake-like creature, also purple with a yellow underbelly and menacingly narrow pupils.
As chaos erupted in the Pokémon Center, the true protagonists of this story were about to clash.
---
Adios