287. The Battle Of Breeder's Lane (Part 1)

Ash smiled confidently and addressed the two of them, but Jessie and James' expressions darkened upon hearing him.

"Why is the little devil here?" Jessie hissed.

"Yeah, he's here to ruin our plans again!" James groaned.

"What do we do? He's always so hard to deal with!" The two secretly realized they were in trouble. Over time, they'd learned the outcome of head-on confrontations with Ash—they never turned out in their favor.

"What's the matter? Afraid?" Ash, who had long recognized them, decided not to expose them outright.

To be honest, no matter what Team Rocket did, things always seemed to go awry for them. They were undeniably talented, but their skills were misplaced. If they channeled their abilities elsewhere, they might excel. Then again, being in Team Rocket provided them with unique experiences they might not find anywhere else.

"Afraid? Us? No way! Ekans, go!" Jessie snapped, her anger rising as she signaled for her Pokémon. 

Out of the crowd, an Ekans leaped forward, its coiled body gleaming purple as it hissed threateningly.

"Come on…" Ash began to respond but was interrupted.

"Wait a moment, Ash!" Suzie interjected, her expression turning serious. She walked forward, determination shining in her eyes. "This is about the dignity of a Pokémon Breeder. Please, let me handle this!"

Ash hesitated, then nodded. "Alright," he said, stepping aside.

Brock chimed in, concern evident on his face. "Miss Suzie, are you sure? If you need help, I'm a breeder too. I can take this one for you!"

"No," Suzie replied firmly, shaking her head. "This lecture was organized because of me. I'll take responsibility." Her voice, though gentle, carried unwavering resolve.

"Vulpix, I'm counting on you!" Suzie called. Her Vulpix stepped forward confidently, positioning itself between her and the Ekans.

Seeing their opponent was Suzie, Jessie and James sighed with relief, underestimating her as just another child.

Although Suzie seemed to be well-known, Jessie thought to herself that a breeder's strength shouldn't be too formidable. "Defeating her should be a piece of cake," she muttered.

"Come on, little girl, let me show you how powerful I am!" Jessie taunted.

"For the dignity of a breeder, I won't lose!" Suzie declared. Her demeanor shifted dramatically, and with a wave of her hand, she commanded, "Vulpix, use Ember!"

Vulpix stood poised, its six curled tails fanning out gracefully. With a deep breath, it opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of glowing Ember particles.

Jessie smirked confidently. "Hmph! Let me show you a real battle. Ekans, let's dazzle them!" she ordered.

Ekans spun in place, its long body coiling into a spiral as its "skirt" flared outward. It moved like a spinning tire, the rotation deflecting Vulpix's Ember effortlessly.

"What?!" Suzie gasped, surprised by how effective the flamboyant outfit had been. She frowned, questioning if the over-the-top look might genuinely improve a Pokémon's performance. However, she quickly shook off the thought—this was no time to hesitate.

"Ekans, go!" Jessie commanded, sending Ekans spinning straight toward Vulpix.

"Dodge it!" Suzie yelled.

Vulpix nimbly sidestepped, evading the attack with ease. Despite its limited battle experience, Vulpix's physical fitness and reflexes, honed through Suzie's diligent care, proved exceptional.

"Quick Attack!" Suzie called out without missing a beat.

Responding instantly, Vulpix glowed with a silver aura and dashed toward Ekans in a blur of speed.

Boom!

The impact was solid. Vulpix's Quick Attack collided with Ekans, halting its rotation and forcing it to skid back slightly. Jessie clenched her fists in frustration as she realized the battle was far from over.

"Darn it! Ekans, use Bite!" Jessie shouted angrily, her frustration evident as she watched the scene unfold.

Ekans lunged forward at Vulpix, jaws wide open, but as it pounced, its body snagged on the wide skirt it was wearing.

Rip!

A loud tearing sound echoed as the skirt tore apart. Caught off guard, Ekans stumbled in panic and collapsed to the ground. The crowd gasped at the sight, while Jessie's expression twisted in embarrassment.

"Ahhhh! The dress I worked so hard to design!" James wailed, clutching his head in despair.

"What are you doing, Ekans?! Get up, now!" Jessie bellowed at her Pokémon.

"Vulpix, Quick Attack!" Suzie seized the moment. With Ekans vulnerable and tangled, she wasted no time.

Vulpix glowed brightly, dashing forward in a flash of speed. The hit connected perfectly, sending Ekans tumbling across the battlefield.

"Now, finish it off with Fire Spin!" Suzie called out, maintaining her momentum. Flames swirled around Vulpix as it unleashed a fiery vortex at the downed Ekans.

Still struggling with the remains of the skirt, Ekans was unable to rise. The Fire Spin struck true, leaving Jessie grinding her teeth in frustration.

"You fool! Stop standing around and help me!" Meowth snapped at James, his tail lashing angrily.

"I know, I know!" James stammered, snapping out of his sulking. "Koffing, use Mud-Slap!" he commanded.

Koffing floated forward, adorned in a comically short skirt and bright lipstick, and unleashed a stream of dark mud, aiming directly at Vulpix.