*Ding!*
[B Rank: A Talking owth]
[Subject] owth
Natsu ignored the system's notification. After all, he'd have plenty of chances to et Team Rocket again.
He made a casual shrugging gesture toward the trio, looking completely nonchalant:
"Ah, just ca up here… that's it."
"I don't care who you are! Don't ruin our plan—get down here right now!"
"Go, Ekans!"
Without another word, Jessie threw out a Pokéball.
In an instant, a purple Ekans appeared in the hot air balloon, the already cramped space becoming even more confined.
"Ekans!"
Ekans eyed the shadowy figure before it warily.
"Ekans, use Wrap!"
At Jessie's command, Ekans roared and lunged toward Natsu, coiling to attack.
Just then, Natsu tossed a Pokéball.
"Ah!? Don't battle here, owth! The hot air balloon could explode!"
owth yelped in panic.
But contrary to expectations, the Pokémon Natsu's Pokéball contained didn't erge—it struck Ekans squarely on the head instead.
*Shhrrk—*
A flash of red light, and Ekans was sucked back into the Pokéball.
Jessie: "???????"
"Hey! Who are you? Don't you know you can't just CAPTURE SOONE ELSE'S Pokémon!?"
Jessie shouted angrily at Natsu. Sure enough, in less than five seconds, Ekans struggled out of the Pokéball, standing once more before him.
The snake's cold eyes locked on Natsu, only to be t by a second Pokéball hurled imdiately after.
*Plop!*
Seamlessly, Ekans was sucked back in—five seconds of hard control.
Of course, Natsu knew he couldn't actually capture soone else's Pokémon. But that didn't an the Pokéball was useless.
Five seconds—just five seconds!
Jessie: ???????
"Is this even a legal way to battle? I learned a lot, owth!"
"owth, what are you complinting him? This is our enemy!"
Jessie was on edge. She only had Ekans left. If Natsu kept cheating like this, she couldn't do anything.
"Jas, what are you staring at? Go, now!"
Jessie yelled at Jas, who was frozen in place.
"Ah, oh—oh!"
Jas reacted, reaching for a Pokéball at his side, but Natsu was faster.
"My Pokéball!"
Natsu snatched Jas's Pokéball.
"Ekans!"
*Plop!*
He threw another empty Pokéball at the struggling Ekans.
At that mont, Natsu stepped out of the shadows. Under the moonlight, Team Rocket froze as they saw his blue-and-white striped pajamas.
"Is… is that a ntal ward uniform?"
Jessie muttered dumbfounded.
"That's… a ntal ward uniform, right, owth?"
owth summarized.
Their discussion reached Natsu's ears, but he acted as if he hadn't heard.
Indeed, the pajamas were custom-made to resemble a ntal ward uniform.
In this world, while it was peaceful, evil organizations were everywhere. Natsu thought it wise to carry *intimidating* props—like his clothes and the brick he'd previously given Ash.
The effect was imdiate: the re sight of the ntal ward uniform made Team Rocket feel uneasy and restrained.
They were in midair, floating in the sky. If this person suddenly made a move, things could get disastrous.
Natsu ignored the panicked Team Rocket trio and, after tossing another Pokéball at Ekans, opened Jas's Pokéball.
"Co out, Koffing!"
*Koff—Koff??*
Koffing hovered in the air, staring at its *trainer*, confused.
"Yes, that's right. Your trainer abandoned you."
Natsu's face was serious.
*Koff—?*
Koffing began to feel down, but then a restrained voice ca from behind:
"Kid, don't go too far!"
Jas lowered his tone, trying to control his emotions and not provoke this person.
Hearing Jas, Koffing imdiately turned, its sadness gone.
Just as it floated toward Jas, it felt sothing pressing against it.
It was Natsu, holding a jar to cover one of Koffing's vents.
Soon, gray-black gas began to fill the jar.
Koffing tried to struggle but saw the controlled, restrained look from Jas.
Before long, Natsu had collected a full jar of gas.
P*erfect. Excellent.*
He reached into the night and grabbed his Rotom phone in flight mode.
Under Team Rocket's shocked gazes, Natsu *floated* up, leaving the hot air balloon and disappearing from sight.
*Ekans—*
Ekans's call ca one final ti, but there was no Pokéball smacking it in the face this ti.
"Co back, Ekans."
Jessie frowned and recalled Ekans.
"That guy… could he really be a ghost, owth?"
owth nervously muttered.
In the night, they couldn't see the Rotom; they only assud Natsu had floated away by raising his hand.
"Damn, I've never seen such a shaless ghost before."
Jessie ground her teeth, glaring at the empty Pokéballs on the floor.
"No, I don't think that's it," Jas said, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"He even knows that Koffing is in my Pokéball!"
At this, Jessie and owth froze.
"No way!"
"owth, no way!"
"Could it be that he's sent by Giovanni to inspect our work?!"
All three exclaid simultaneously.
"Yes, owth, that explains it! Earlier he did ntion Giovanni, owth!"
owth clasped his paws together, drawing a conclusion.
"Yeah, maybe he's watching us from so corner!"
Jas speculated.
"Maybe, maybe! And maybe he's live-streaming to Giovanni right now!"
Jessie said excitedly.
"Then tonight, we have to perform even better, owth!"
owth made the final conclusion.
"What are they cheering about?"
From below, Natsu faintly heard voices from the owth-head balloon overhead. He shrugged and ignored them.
He didn't know what Team Rocket was celebrating, but he did know one thing: soon he could bathe, change, burn incense, and enjoy his lucky ten-scratch streak.
Feeling elated and excited, Natsu returned to the Viridian City Pokémon Center.
The mont he stepped inside, he saw Ash and Misty anxiously gathered around a stretcher. On it lay Pikachu, sprawled out in all directions.
Raising an eyebrow, Natsu observed the scene.
It seed Ash and Misty had already explained everything, and Pikachu had been stabilized.
"Don't worry, your Pikachu is out of danger. His consciousness is just a bit fuzzy right now."
Approaching, Natsu heard Nurse Joy's reassuring words.
Ash noticed Natsu's arrival and couldn't help but ask,
"Natsu, what were you doing just now?!"
Natsu gently pried open Pikachu's slightly dazed mouth and pulled out his tongue.
*Hmm… now he looks even more like a neutered kitten.*
*Click!*
After taking a commorative photo, Natsu turned and headed upstairs, returning to his own room.
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