Pokémon: The Strongest Trainer (Ash SI)

"Who are you, and why are you hurting Clefairy?!" Rick shouted angrily at Meowth, seeing Clefairy's frightened expression.

"Since you're asking so sincerely…"

"We'll answer you with compassion!"

"To prevent the world from devastation!"

"To protect the world from ruin!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

As if summoned by Rick's outburst, a man and woman stepped out from behind Meowth, striking theatrical poses with exaggerated flair. The woman had long crimson hair, while the man sported short, neatly styled blue hair. Both wore the signature white uniforms with a bright red "R" emblazoned on their chests.

The instant Ash saw the Rocket logo, his gaze sharpened. He didn't even realize it himself, but in that flash of anger, a dangerous red glint flickered through his eyes like a warning signal firing through his optic nerves.

Ash and Team Rocket were like oil and water. Over the years, they had harassed not only him but also his mother Delia and even his grandmother. Yet despite their constant interference, Team Rocket was vast and far-reaching. Ash alone couldn't hope to uproot them.

Every region had criminal organizations like Team Rocket, and while each regional Pokémon League opposed them, those leagues were composed of officials from different regions—and not all of them saw eye to eye. Rivalries and conflicting interests often weakened their efforts against these syndicates.

As for the three standing before them—Jessie, James, and Meowth—Ash knew they weren't inherently evil. They each had their reasons for joining Team Rocket.

Jessie, an orphan, had grown up with no guidance and faced constant bullying. She'd always dreamed of becoming a star, but life took her down a darker path.

James, a runaway heir from a wealthy Kanto family, had suffered from parental neglect and an overbearing fiancée who left him emotionally shattered.

And Meowth? He had once fallen in love with a female Meowth. To impress her, he painstakingly taught himself human language and behavior. But instead of praise, he was met with rejection and mockery.

These three weren't wicked by nature—but they'd made bad choices. Though they'd stolen Pokémon and equipment before, they'd never succeeded in anything truly catastrophic.

"I knew it! The tunnel collapse behind this cave—it was your doing, wasn't it?" Brock pointed at the pair, recalling the figures they'd seen earlier.

"Do you realize how much damage you've caused to the Pokémon on Mt. Moon?"

"We don't care about that," Jessie said dismissively. "We're here for one reason only—to find the biggest Moon Stone meteorite!"

Ash stepped forward, calm but determined. "Tell Giovanni this: once I've collected all seven Gem Badge variants, I'm coming for him. Tell him to prepare himself."

These three were nothing more than peripheral operatives of Team Rocket. They weren't part of the inner circle.

"Pika—Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder to his face, electricity sparking on its cheeks. It was clear that with just one command, Pikachu was ready to act.

"Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.

Before Jessie, James, and Meowth could react, Pikachu's Thunderbolt struck, launching all three into the air with a dramatic scream. There was no doubt—they wouldn't be returning anytime soon.

Afterward, Brock turned to Ash. "Ash, who's this Giovanni you mentioned?"

Ash's eyes narrowed. "Giovanni is the boss of Team Rocket—the top villain organization in Kanto. Even the Pokémon League hasn't been able to bring them down. They've reached a stalemate."

He continued, "Giovanni… is also the man who killed my grandmother."

Brock's eyes widened. Ash didn't go into detail, but the weight behind his words was clear.

Many within the League knew Giovanni's true identity, but his influence was so powerful that the League couldn't make a move. In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that half of Kanto was under Giovanni's control.

His Tokiwa Gym—also known as the Viridian Gym—was one of the official Gem Badge Gyms. But Ash knew he wasn't strong enough yet to challenge it. Instead, he had chosen to travel first to Pewter City, setting his sights on building his strength.

As for how Giovanni got the rights to hand out an official Gem Badge… Ash didn't need anyone to tell him. It was obvious some shady deal had been made with the League.

"So the rumors were true… I'd heard about Team Rocket before, but I never realized how vast their influence really is," Brock said, nodding thoughtfully after hearing Ash's explanation. "No wonder they rarely show themselves in public. It's hard to understand the scope of the world when you're not out there yourself."

"Pipipi~!"

Clefairy clapped its tiny hands excitedly and gestured gratefully at Ash, clearly thrilled that he'd chased away its bullies.

"You want to come with us?" Ash asked, picking up on Clefairy's signals.

Clefairy nodded with a happy smile, then turned and led the group deeper into the cave. After following a winding tunnel, they emerged into a wide, majestic cavern. A soft, mystical light greeted their eyes.

At the center of the chamber stood an enormous stone, large enough that five people could barely surround it with arms outstretched. Around it, a group of Clefairy danced and worshipped in a ritual-like formation. This stone—this was the legendary Moon Stone.

It wasn't just any Moon Stone. Nearly all Moon Stones across Kanto were believed to have originated from this very meteorite. It was no exaggeration to say that this was the source of them all.

Of course, similar meteorites might exist in other regions too—how else would Moon Stones appear elsewhere? But none would be as massive as this. That's likely why Kanto boasts the highest number of Moon Stones among all regions.

"This is the origin of the Moon Stone… I didn't think we'd be lucky enough to see it with our own eyes," Brock whispered in awe. His gaze lingered on the huge green meteorite, eyes shining with fascination. Who knew what kind of hobby this would spark in him next?

Ding~!

[Congratulations, host! You've discovered the origin of the Moon Stone. Reward: +5 Attribute Points.]

A flicker of joy flashed in Ash's eyes when he heard the system's notification. Even after battling Garan, he hadn't received any points—yet just by witnessing a stone, he now gained five?

His luck was definitely on a roll today. With five attribute points in hand, he had a solid chance—at least five draws guaranteed!

As for assigning those points to boost his physical stats? Ash didn't even consider it. Sure, a single point could make a noticeable difference, but not enough to justify direct investment. The rewards from the gacha were far more appealing...

…

TN:

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