The Charmeleon's fiery fangs, wrapped in flames, were about to strike the Crobat.
But at the most crucial moment, it stopped.
The camera zoomed in, revealing Charmeleon's pained expression. A strange purple hue emerged on its scarlet face.
Poisoned!?
"You idiot! Crobat's speed far surpasses Charmeleon's. How could you let it 'dodge' in that situation!?”
Xiao Mao pointed at the Scyther flying in to aid, while also taking a jab at Xiao Zhi.
"Poison Jab!"
Lance, excited, yelled: "Let me tell you something, stinky brat, Poison Jab’s power doubles when used on a poisoned target!"
"Hahaha!"
Seeing Scyther and Charmeleon engulfed in the poison, Lance laughed triumphantly.
The next second, the camera shifted.
A shallow cut appeared on Crobat's throat.
A new Scyther emerged from behind the one "engulfed" in poison.
A "Slash" hit Crobat’s vital point!
The triumphant smile on Lance's face vanished.
He looked at the Scyther dissolved by "Poison Jab" with disbelief.
"Substitute move. It creates a near-identical substitute, using part of its user's stamina, to help deflect attacks."
Xiao Mao said coldly:
"You’re too cocky, you Team Rocket scum."
"You, you little brat… "
Lance gritted his teeth in anger. He turned and tried to escape by jumping off the balcony without even thinking of retrieving his fallen Crobat.
Once again demonstrating the cruelty of the higher echelon of Team Rocket.
They don’t care about other people's Pokémon, they don't even care about their own when faced with true danger!
But the next second, Lance's expression froze, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
An old woman with gray hair and a cane stood behind him.
"Kiku Champion!?”
Xiao Mao and Xiao Zhi simultaneously called out the name of the newcomer.
It was Kiku, who had disguised herself as an old woman, played by Jia Mei Niu.
Her elderly appearance had already been released in the previously published cast list.
But at this moment, the voiceover and the subtitles still provided a note:
《Kanto Four Elites·Kiku》
"There are many things to learn, young ones who can’t utilize their own Pokémon.”
Kiku Granny used one hand to support her cane, while the other tossed a poison antidote towards Xiao Zhi.
It was then that Xiao Zhi noticed Charmeleon had been poisoned and fainted.
"Also, Oak's grandson."
When she saw Xiao Mao, Kiku's eyes revealed a hint of displeasure and unwillingness.
Although it was quickly concealed, the close-up allowed the audience to catch it.
【Hua Zi】
【Wait, wait! Could it be I was wrong? Kiku isn't Xiao Mao's grandma?】
【No way? From the first episode’s development, how could it be anything but Professor Oak and Kiku falling in love during battle and living a shameless life? The script of 《The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber》is like that】
【Holy crap, The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber has come up. You're right, Su Yi Huan and Jia Jing Wen really played Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min, only Su Yi Huan played the kid version】
【Could it be that Kiku Granny didn't end up with Professor Oak, so she also hates his grandson?】
【Holy crap, not only The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, the plot of 《Flirting Scholar》also came up? Hua Fu Ren and Tang Bo Hu's father didn't end up together, so she put a spoke in Tang Bo Hu's wheel?】
…
Kiku Granny's unfamiliar, even slightly hostile, attitude toward Xiao Mao shocked the general audience while hurting the CP fan base.
They still thought Kiku was Xiao Mao’s grandma.
The scene shifted.
The town of Viridian, once shrouded in gloom, was now bathed in sunlight.
In the background, Team Rocket, led by Lance, were being handcuffed and taken away one by one.
The townspeople, who had regained their lost Pokémon, continuously thanked Kiku.
"If you want to thank someone, thank them."
Kiku gave Xiao Zhi, who was reunited with Misty and Brock, and Xiao Mao, who was flirting with his "girlfriends", a subtle glance.
"Humph, two immature brats, you're far from the you of the past, but… your attitude towards Pokémon, is quite similar."
Kiku Granny secretly commented in her heart.
On the surface, she was looking at Xiao Zhi and Xiao Mao, but inside her thoughts were all about Oak.
Hmm… she’s starting to lay the groundwork for the film.
…
Following the oppressive atmosphere of the S.S. Anne and Viridian, the series, 《Pokémon: Kanto Saga》, once again returned to the joyful mood of everyday adventure.
Students breathed a sigh of relief for now.
Although these two story arcs were incredibly brilliant, worthy of being called classics, they were about to go back to school, and they still wanted to see lighthearted content.
In the latter half of this episode, Xiao Zhi and the others encounter a group of Butterfree and discover one with a different eye color.
Xiao Zhi's Butterfree boldly seeks its affection, receiving a positive response from the different-colored Butterfree.
Hmm, taking this opportunity to explain the concept of "Shiny."
However, this episode was also considered a bug in the previous anime.
The Shiny Butterfree should only have pink hands and feet, not all pink as it was in the anime.
Ah, but it’s alright.
After all, they even created the Crystal Onix, so what's a pink Butterfree?
But the key changes are still to come —
After the two Butterfree successfully become a couple, Xiao Zhi tells the Shiny Butterfree:
"Butterfree, would you come with my Butterfree and me?"
Su Yi Huan, seeing this, slapped… Na Zha, her little assistant, on the thigh.
Su Yi Huan nodded with satisfaction, while the little assistant pouted.
That's right!
When he watched this part in the past, he cried a few tears.
Now, looking back, it was full of loopholes.
Why don't you just catch both of them?
You can't afford a new Poké Ball?