The peaceful sanctuary shuddered with a sudden explosion as smoke and debris burst into the air. Trees rustled, Pokémon scattered, and the once-calm haven was thrown into panic.
A loudspeaker crackled from above. "Prepare for trouble—"
"—and make it double!" came the follow-up, as Jessie and James descended dramatically from a battered Meowth-shaped balloon, with Meowth perched between them, arms crossed smugly.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted before they could even finish.
"PIKAAAA—CHUUUUU!!"
A blinding bolt of lightning surged through the air and slammed directly into Team Rocket's Meowth-shaped balloon, engulfing it in a crackling explosion mid-slogan.
Jessie, James, and Meowth screamed as the balloon burst, sending them tumbling skyward, charred and smoking.
"W-we didn't even finish the introooo—!"
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" DING
Ash dusted his hands off. " Talking is not a free action."
Misty blinked. "That was teh terrorist group team rocket?"
====
High above the canopy between Route 6 and Route 7, the skies were clear, the wind brisk, and the trees below rolled like an endless sea of green. A lone figure cut through the open air—clad in a dark green jacket, leather boots strapped tight, and a pair of flight goggles pulled snug over their eyes. Straddling the back of a large, majestic Pidgeotto, the ranger rode the currents like a leaf on the wind.
The ranger adjusted the strap on their satchel as they scanned the horizon. "Nothing unusual so far," they muttered, half to themselves, half to their Pokémon.
"Pid-goooh!" the bird cried out in response, its keen eyes darting across the treetops.
And then—boom.
A sharp flash of light and a thunderous explosion burst on the edge of the forest in the distance, sending up a plume of black smoke. The shockwave carried faintly through the wind, rustling the trees like a ripple in a pond.
The ranger's eyes widened. "What the hell was that?" They leaned forward, tightening their grip on the harness.
"Pidgeotto—full speed! Let's go!"
The flying-type screeched and surged forward, wings slicing the air as it banked toward the smoke trail. Trees blurred beneath them as they accelerated, the forest now racing by in a green blur below.
The ranger tapped the communicator on their wrist. "Ranger Juno, responding to an explosion sighted between Routes 6 and 7. Requesting backup en route. Investigating now."
The wind roared in their ears, but their focus never wavered. Whatever had caused that blast—it wasn't natural. And they were going to find out exactly what was going on.
"Hang on, buddy, Gym leader Misty is going to have to wait!" Juno called to Pidgeotto. "We're going in fast."
===
Smoke still curled in lazy tendrils from a small crater near a shattered tree, but what caught Juno's attention was the group nearby: a redheaded girl in travel gear, a black-haired boy with a yellow Pikachu perched on his shoulder, and a green-haired young woman standing protectively near a group of gathered Pokémon.
The sanctuary itself was peaceful now—too peaceful, like nature was still holding its breath.
Misty turned first, recognizing the green-and-brown uniform instantly. "Whoa—ranger."
Ash looked up as well, blinking. "Friend of yours?"
Juno approached, brushing windblown hair out of their face. "Ranger Juno. I was in the air when I saw the explosion. Are you three alright? This place looked like it took a hit."
"Team Rocket," Misty said with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "They showed up doing some sort of unsual dramatic intro—right up until Pikachu ended it with a thunderbolt."
"Didn't even finish their motto this time," Ash added with a grin.
Pikachu puffed up proudly. "Pika-chu!"
Juno glanced around, noting the black scorch marks, the faint scent of ozone, and a few startled wild Pokémon still peeking out from behind bushes and trees. "This place… this is a sanctuary, isn't it?" their voice dropped slightly, more respectful now.
Melanie stepped forward, brushing dirt from her apron. "Yes. It's unofficial, but I care for abandoned and injured Pokémon here. Or… I did."
Juno gave her a long look. "Unofficial or not, it looks like you've done a damn good job. Some stuff needs to be brought up to code an you need to take some classes, but we can get to that later."
The trio watch as Ranger Juno grabs his messenger bag pulling out some paperwork. "Lets get this filled out while I wait for the backup I called to arrive."
Melanie blinked in surprise. "You're… helping me register this place? Just like that?"
Juno gave a calm nod, already uncapping a pen and smoothing the first page against the bag. "Not just like that. But you've clearly been doing the work. The League's guidelines are meant to protect places like this, not shut them down. We'll get you recognized properly, and the next time someone like Team Rocket comes knocking, there'll be a lot more resistance than a thunderbolt and a wish."
Ash chuckled. "Thunderbolt worked pretty well, though."
Pikachu crossed his arms smugly. "Pika."
Misty stepped beside Melanie, her expression softening. "You've done a lot of good out here. It's time people knew about it—and that you got the help to keep it going."
Melanie hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Alright… yeah. Let's do it."
Juno passed the first set of forms to her. "We'll start with a general inventory of species under your care, then list any infrastructure improvements you might need—enclosures, med stations, that kind of thing. The backup rangers will be here in about twenty minutes. With team rocket already dealt with. They'll help assess the site and get you a provisional League seal."
"Wow…" Melanie breathed, looking down at the paperwork. "I never thought this place could be official."
"Well," Ash said, hands behind his head as he looked around the peaceful grove, "you've got the heart for it. Just needed someone to make the call."
====
The familiar buzz of city life drifted in through the automatic doors as Ash stepped into the Pokémon Center in Saffron City. Compared to the serenity of the forest sanctuary, the city felt like a completely different world—metallic, crowded, alive with noise and lights.
But here, inside the Pokémon Center, things were calm. Cool, sterile air washed over him, and the soft chime of the Center's healing machines hummed in the background. Trainers came and went, chatting or checking their Poké Balls at the counter, while the ever-reliable Nurse Joy worked efficiently behind the desk.
Ash approached the counter, Pikachu still riding comfortably on his shoulder. "Hey, Nurse Joy. Can you take a look at my team?"
"Of course!" she said with a cheerful smile, already reaching for a tray. "Let's give them a quick scan and make sure they're in perfect condition."
Ash handed over his Poké Balls, save for Pikachu, who gave a defiant shake of the head when Joy offered to check him too.
"Pika!"
"I'm fine, he says," Ash translated with a smirk.
Misty joined him a moment later, brushing her hair out of her face. "You know, you could've warned me Saffron was this busy. The crowd outside is insane."
"Yeah, I dont really expect your's to get any better once your sisters manage to build that contest hall of theirs." Ash said, glancing over his shoulder at the window. "Makes me wonder how Sabrina handles all this."
"Yo, you wanted Giovanni's contact info?" Misty asked as she leaned on the counter next to him.
Ash nodded. "Yeah. I think it's time I had a chat with him… network… and maybe poke into some League funding options for that sanctuary too."
Misty raised an eyebrow. "You're gonna call Gym Leader Giovanni and ask for money?"
"I'm gonna call businessman Giovanni and ask for a partnership," Ash replied casually, like he hadn't just zapped a crater into Pokémon Tech two days ago.
Pikachu gave a little approving nod. "Pika-chu."
As Nurse Joy returned his team—fully healed—Ash slipped the PokéBalls back onto his belt and walked toward the public video call stations lining the far wall of the Center.
Time to make a few moves.