After getting the Dynamo Badge, Ash and Wattson went to the Pokémon Center together to restore their Pokémon.
As for May and Brock, they went to explore the big city of Mauville after the gym battle. The city had abundant goods and delicious food, and they couldn't wait to leave the gym. Once again, it was just Ash and Max.
After his Pokémon were healed, Ash went to swap them. He sent Donphan and Aggron back for independent training and brought back Eevee.
As soon as Ash walked out, Wattson came up and patted him on the shoulder. "Ash, you're done swapping?"
"Yes, I'm all set, Mr. Wattson!" Ash replied.
"Haha, Ash, how about you come with me to an abandoned power plant on a small island just outside of Mauville? There are a lot of Electric-type Pokémon there! I often go there to train!" Wattson invited.
"Really?! That's awesome!" Ash said excitedly. "Pikapi~" "Yeah! We get to see a bunch of Electric-type Pokémon," Max was also thrilled.
Wattson brought the two to the abandoned power plant, where they found that the area had become a haven for Voltorb and Magnemite.
"The magnetic field here is really special! This place could probably evolve a Nosepass into a Probopass!" Ash remarked.
"Haha, you're probably right!"
Wattson showed them around the abandoned power plant. The only Pokémon they saw were Magnemite and Voltorb, which gave Ash and Max a bit of visual fatigue. Pikachu, however, seemed to really enjoy the environment.
"Ugh, why are there only Magnemite and Voltorb here?!" Max said, disappointed.
Suddenly, a light green puppy appeared before them—a Electrike!
"Wow! An Electrike!" Max exclaimed, happy to finally see something other than Magnemite and Voltorb!
"Huh? There's an Electrike here! Is it wild?" Wattson also exclaimed, surprised.
Ash took out some Pokémon food and Electric-type Pokéblocks and offered them to Electrike. "Here, have a taste!"
"Woof!" Electrike happily ate the food and became much friendlier toward Ash.
Ash was very fond of Electric-type Electrike, a Pokémon that prided itself on speed!
"Electrike, how about a battle for a chance to be caught?" Ash asked.
"Woof!" Electrike looked at Ash with a sharp gaze and accepted the challenge.
[Electrike]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Electric]
[Ability: Lightning Rod (Priority in being attacked by Electric-type moves, unaffected by Electric-type moves, and Special Attack increases when hit by one)]
[Strength: Elite-level - Late stage]
[Moves: Discharge, Crunch, Headbutt, Thunder Wave...]
[Tera Type: Electric]
"Go, Corphish!" "Huh~ Ash is going for a type disadvantage!" Max said in surprise.
Ash heard this and thought, You're still too green. Let me show you what a master of disadvantage looks like!
Electrike released a blue electric arc and attacked Corphish. "Corphish, use Swords Dance!"
The swords around Corphish spun, dispersing the electric current and boosting its Attack!
"You can use Swords Dance like that?!" ⊙w⊙ Max's eyes widened.
"Corphish, Razor Shell!" "Heehee!" Water blades formed on Corphish's pincers, slashing Electrike!
"Woof! Woof!" Electric arcs appeared in Electrike's mouth and surged toward Corphish.
"That's Thunder Fang!" Wattson said enviously, looking at Ash. This Electrike is incredibly gifted!
"Corphish, finish this with one blow! Guillotine!" "Heehee!" The two Pokémon flashed past each other.
"Woof!" Electrike was the first to fall, unable to battle!
"Alright! Go, Poké Ball!" Ash turned his hat and threw the Poké Ball, successfully catching Electrike! His team was now full again.
Just then, BOOM!! "Wahaha, all the Electric-type Pokémon here are ours now!" The Team Rocket trio appeared in a giant mecha.
"It's you guys, Team Rocket, again!" Max pointed at them.
"Since you asked so nicely... this is the way it is, meow!" "Wobbuffet~"
"Corphish, Crabhammer! Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
"Go, Arbok, Poison Tail!" "Go, Cacnea, ah! It's that way! Pin Missile!"
Bang! Boom!
"I'm here too! Go, Magneton, use Flash Cannon!" The elderly man decided to forgo formalities and just blasted the mecha. Boom! The mecha exploded!
"What happened, Meowth?!" "We're low on funds, meow! An Electric-type move would have been no problem, but they didn't use a single one!"
"Darn it! Arbok, Poison Tail!" "Pin Missile!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Corphish, Bubble Beam!"
Boom! The electric current and bubbles sent them flying back, and Team Rocket went soaring into the sky. "We're blasting off again!" "Wobbuffet! (???)~"
"Oh! Electrike is so cute! Ash, you've caught so many Pokémon, and I only have two!" May said, feeling a little down.
Electrike sat obediently on the ground, being adorable!
"You're just starting out, so you need to take good care of the Pokémon you have. After all, they're our partners!" Ash said, smiling as he comforted her.
"That's true!" May nodded.
Next, the group began to discuss their plans, deciding to first go to Verdanturf Town for a Pokémon Contest, and then on to Lavaridge Town to challenge the gym!
However, Ash decided not to participate in this particular contest. "Oh, that's too bad, Ash. You're not going to enter. Well, in that case, the Verdanturf Ribbon is all mine!" May said excitedly.
Ash and his friends set out from Mauville City, once again entering the themed forests of their journey! All along the way, Ash continuously trained his Torchic. He decided he wanted it to participate in the next gym battle. May's Torchic also trained alongside it. Both Torchic soon learned Flame Charge, which was an excellent move for them. Ash's Torchic had now reached the "Normal-level - Late stage," which gave May's Torchic a sense of urgency, knowing that its junior was catching up!
As for Jigglypuff, Ash's main goal was to teach it how to separate its normal singing from its Sing move. After constant effort, Ash finally had to seek help from the system, spending 5000 points to successfully achieve it.
Ash and his friends arrived at a watermelon patch and met the watermelon farmer, Isao. Ash had a double battle with him, using a combination of Torchic and Corphish to battle his Slugma and Grovyle. Although it was a difficult battle, they won, and Isao invited them to eat some watermelon.
Just then, they once again encountered the Team Rocket trio, who were fantasizing about stealing watermelons for Giovanni to get a promotion. Ash and the others blasted them off again. After saying goodbye to Isao, they set out again.
To be continued...