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"I won't let you pass!" Green frowned, observing the situation before her as she grasped her Poké Ball.
It was clear to her now—knowing the plight of the Digletts, she couldn't let anyone harm them. Even if it meant standing against so many people, she was ready to protect them.
Seeing this unfold, Ash, as a friend from the same town, naturally wouldn't stand idle. He stepped forward, joining Green, his gaze focused on the group of Trainers ahead.
"Ash?" Green turned her head in surprise when she noticed him approaching.
"We Trainers from Pallet Town don't bully others, but we won't allow ourselves to be bullied either," Ash said with a calm smile, positioning himself beside her.
"Thank you," Green replied with a soft smile, offering her gratitude without further elaboration. There was no need for excessive words—this was the bond of Trainers from Pallet Town.
"Darn it! He's stealing the spotlight again!" Gary muttered sourly from behind. His moment of hesitation had cost him. No way could Ash take all the glory.
"Even though I hate to admit it, Ash, you're right," Gary said, stepping forward to stand on the other side of Green. Now, the three Trainers from Pallet Town stood side by side, resolutely facing the numerous Trainers ahead.
"Don't forget about us!" Brock and Misty called out, moving to join the group. Despite being outnumbered, none of them wanted to abandon their friends.
"Go on! Defeat them!" shouted the older man leading the opposing Trainers, his voice ringing with anger.
One of the Trainers on his side quickly threw a Poké Ball. Ash and his group were prepared to respond when the Poké Ball landed on the ground with a thud. It opened with a flash of red light, but instead of releasing a Pokémon, the light retracted back into the ball, which closed again, lying motionless on the ground.
"What? How is that possible?" the opposing Trainer exclaimed in shock.
Ash and his friends exchanged puzzled looks. They had no idea what was happening.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the Poké Ball began to shift. A mound of earth rose, lifting the ball, and a Diglett emerged, balancing the ball on its head. Its harmless smile seemed almost cheeky as it gazed up at the startled Trainer.
"Whisper!"
The figure standing before them was none other than a Diglett. With its harmless smile and its quick action of retrieving the Poké Ball, even the Trainer who had dropped it stood momentarily stunned.
"Uh... thank you!" he muttered, reaching out to take the Poké Ball from Diglett. Scratching his head in embarrassment, he couldn't help but chuckle nervously.
"Diglett! It's a Diglett!" the older man exclaimed, his voice rising in surprise as though he'd seen a ghost. He clutched his head, his disbelief plain on his face.
"What are you all standing around for? Deal with that Diglett already!" he bellowed, snapping the other Trainers out of their stupor.
Spurred into action by the man's panicked shout, the Trainers began tossing their Poké Balls. One by one, the Poké Balls hit the ground and opened, but no battles commenced. Instead, Pokémon appeared briefly before retreating back into their Poké Balls.
The number of Trainers was overwhelming, and soon the Poké Balls piled up into a small mountain. Yet, no Pokémon seemed willing to fight.
"What's going on? Are all the Pokémon asleep?" one Trainer muttered, his confusion mirrored by the others.
"What is happening?" Misty asked aloud, glancing at Ash and Brock, her face filled with puzzlement.
"Whispering... whispering!"
More Digletts began emerging from the ground, their small figures deftly navigating the chaos. With surprising speed, they picked up the fallen Poké Balls and returned them to their respective Trainers, quickly clearing the pile.
"Why is this happening?" the older man groaned, rubbing his head in frustration. He had brought so many Trainers together, yet they still couldn't manage to confront the Digletts.
"Don't you understand?" Ash spoke firmly, his gaze steady as he addressed the Trainers. "Even your own Pokémon refuse to harm Diglett and the others. As Trainers, don't you recognize the hearts of your own Pokémon?"
The Trainers froze, Ash's words cutting through the tension.
Though their Pokémon were inside their Poké Balls, the Trainers seemed to feel a shift—an undeniable sensation of resistance from within. It was as though their Pokémon were silently affirming the truth of Ash's words.
Staring at their Poké Balls, the Trainers realized the bond they shared with their Pokémon, and the reason they couldn't act against the Digletts became clear.
After sensing their Pokémon's reluctance and hearing Ash's heartfelt words, a wave of shame swept over the crowd of Trainers. Many quietly retrieved their Poké Balls, their guilt mirrored in their expressions.
The older man, observing this shift, grew visibly anxious.
"Wh-what are you doing? Don't you want the reward?" he shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
Yet, his pleas fell on deaf ears. The Trainers, burdened by shame and aware of their Pokémon's defiance, couldn't bring themselves to act. Even if they had wanted to, their Pokémon's refusal left them powerless.
"Damn it!" The man clenched his fists, his frustration mounting.
"Hahaha! So, these so-called Trainers are utterly useless. Allow us to lend a hand!"
A sneering voice echoed from behind, drawing everyone's attention. Turning toward the sound, they spotted two figures standing on the skeletal structure of a construction site overlooking the square.
"Who are you?" the man demanded, his tone sharp.
"Hmph! Since you asked the question sincerely!"
"We'll tell you with great mercy!"
Before the figures even came into full view, Ash and his friends immediately recognized the voices.
Jessie: "Prepare for trouble!"
James: "And make it double!"
Jessie: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all peoples within our nation!"
Jessie: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jessie!
James!
Jessie: "Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
James: "Give up now or prepare to fight!"
Meowth: "Meowth, that's right!"
Their dramatic entrance left the crowd in stunned silence, but Ash and his friends were hardly surprised.
"No matter who you are," the man interrupted impatiently, waving his hand dismissively, "if you can get rid of these Digletts, I don't care how much you charge!"
Clearly, the man had been pushed to his limit. Desperation had blinded him to the dangers of trusting Team Rocket, and he was willing to pay any price for their assistance.