Chapter 4: The Greatest Fear in Life is Having No Dream
Author: Samsung Charmander
Red casually pulled Ash's Pokédex from his pocket and scanned the Pikachu in front of him.
"Pikachu, Moves: Tackle, Thunder Shock, Growl, Tail Whip."
A very plain and simple set of moves.
He then scanned his own round-faced Pikachu.
"Pikachu, Moves: Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Thunder, Volt Tackle, Extreme Speed."
The string of move names left Misty, who was standing nearby, completely stunned.
An ultimate move like "Thunder" was something only a High Level Pokémon could learn.
And as for the "Volt Tackle" and "Extreme Speed" that followed, she had never even heard of them.
A Novice Trainer had just picked up a Max Level Pikachu?!
Or was this Pokédex broken?
Seeing that Red truly intended to fight them, Team Rocket threw out two Poké Balls in response.
"Koffing, the Clean Pokemon. Kind-hearted and very cute."
"Arbok, the Non-venomous Pokemon. Kind-hearted and even cuter."
The Pokédex automatically broadcasted again.
Misty: "..."
Yep, this Pokédex was definitely waterlogged.
"Pika!"
Ash's Pikachu lifted its head and cried out, looking eager to battle.
Red: "..."
He chose not to send it out. After all, this was the Pikachu belonging to the youth named Ash, not his own.
Besides, he guessed that this Pikachu hadn't experienced its first battle yet. Such a memorable first time shouldn't be taken away by him; it should be left to its original master.
"Get ready for battle, Pikachu!"
"Pika...!"
Following Red's low shout, the slightly sturdier, round-faced Pikachu beside him had already struck a charging pose with perfect coordination, its gaze burning as it stared at the Team Rocket trio.
In an instant, a chill, like being targeted by a top predator, made the three of them shudder.
The hair on their bodies stood on end, and they couldn't help but take a step back.
"Damn it, how can one Electric Mouse be so freakin' scary."
Jessie shook her head and was the first to attack.
"It's just a bluff! Arbok, use Bite!"
"Pikachu, Quick Attack."
After speaking, Red added a reminder for Ash's Pikachu:
"Watch its movements carefully, little Pikachu."
He had personally witnessed the lightning this Pikachu could unleash. Its power was so immense it had even torn a vacuum hole through the clouds in the sky.
That was the power of nature itself, which meant its latent Potential was by no means less than his own Pikachu's.
No, it might even be a cut above...
Helping to train it a bit shouldn't be a problem.
*Swoosh!*
The round-faced Pikachu's body transformed into a streak of white light, its speed was so fast that it left an afterimage in its place, causing Ekans's fangs to bite nothing but the ground.
"So fast..."
Misty, watching from the side, couldn't help but widen her eyes in admiration.
At that moment, a report came from the Pokédex.
"Pokedex Beep, Ash's Pikachu has learned a new Move: Quick Attack!"
Hearing this, Red was slightly surprised. He thought to himself that this Pikachu's potential was indeed impressive; it had comprehended a new move just by watching once.
"Then let's go a little faster. Pikachu, use Extreme Speed."
"Pika!"
With the larger Pikachu's sharp cry, the white light cloaking its body abruptly changed into a strange cyan glow, and its speed surged explosively.
The afterimage, which was barely visible to the naked eye before, vanished completely.
*Whoosh...!*
Within the not-so-large hall of the Pokémon Center, only the faint, occasional flash of cyan light remained.
"What the heck is this!"
Jessie and Ekans were both terrified. The slightly sturdier Pikachu had now completely disappeared from sight.
"How about it, little Pikachu? Can you still keep up?"
Red turned his head and asked slowly.
"Pika..."
Ash's Pikachu shook its head. Clearly, "Extreme Speed" was still too difficult for it at its current stage.
"It's okay. Just remember the motion."
A seed had been planted now. One day, the light of "Extreme Speed" would also bloom from this extraordinary Pikachu.
On the other side, seeing Jessie being toyed with, James quickly joined the battle as well.
"Koffing, use Poison Gas!"
If you can't see it, then use an AOE move!
Red instructed unhurriedly:
"Don't let it release it. Pikachu, use Electro Web."
Halting its Extreme Speed posture in mid-air, Pikachu reappeared.
Its small body spun in the air, and a ball of lightning energy had already formed at the tip of its tail.
*Whap!*
The lightning energy shot out, transforming into a large electric net that completely covered the Poison Gas before it could spread.
Without even losing momentum, it continued flying toward the Team Rocket trio.
"Let's end this. Use Thunderbolt."
"Pika!"
The round-faced Pikachu fiercely slapped its cheeks, and golden lightning instantly erupted, streaking forward like a thunderous electric snake. Combined with the Poison Gas, it triggered a terrifyingly large explosion.
"BOOM!!"
Lightning and fire shot into the sky, directly blasting the Team Rocket trio at the center of the explosion, plus their two cute Pokemon, high into the air.
A large pit was blasted right through the ceiling of the Pokémon Center.
"What an amazing Thunderbolt!"
"That Pikachu is definitely not an ordinary Electric Mouse!"
"If we offer it to the Boss, we're sure to get a promotion and a fortune, meowth!"
A great man named Lu Shuren once said that the greatest fear in life is having no dream.
The trio, still in mid-air, instantly established a goal they hadn't managed to set in over a decade. It was as if their lives finally had a dream.
That's right, they had to capture that Abnormal Variant Pikachu!
"What a terrible feeling~!"
The three of them turned into a meteor in the outer sky, disappearing from the skies of Viridian City.
Afterward.
"Pika!!"
Ash's Pikachu looked at the round-faced Pikachu with an expression of pure admiration, clearly won over by its dazzling combo of flashy moves.
"You'll be able to show off like that in the future, too."
Red simply rubbed its head gently and comforted it.
With the matter settled, Red recalled his round-faced Pikachu, quite satisfied with his first battle.
Mm, no matter where he went, it had to be an overwhelming victory.
Seeing the large pit in the Pokémon Center ceiling, Red asked Nurse Joy for a few wooden planks and climbed up to the roof, intending to do some repairs.
After all, he was the one who destroyed it, so he had to make amends.
If he just left arrogantly, he was afraid someone might point out that he was, in fact, just an ignorant outsider.
Misty was left behind on the ground, completely shocked and bewildered.
Damn!
Are all Rookie Trainers these days so terrifyingly strong?
The new generation is on a whole other level!
This single Pikachu could probably steamroll their Cerulean Gym.
The kind where it would knock it down, let them rebuild, and then steamroll it again!
Seeing Red already carrying planks and climbing up to the roof, which was nearly 7 or 8 meters high, Misty couldn't help but say:
"He's a responsible, good person, too..."
Wait, I think I forgot something!
On the roof of the Pokémon Center.
Red gazed at the bright crescent moon hanging in the sky, his eyes deep, his thoughts unknown.
"This boy named Ash is really ridiculous. His body is as sturdy as a Tauros. To think he could get up here with just a few somersaults..."
The next morning.
Misty pushed open her room door.
Coincidentally, the door to the room opposite hers opened at the same time.
So, she greeted him with sleepy eyes:
"Morning, bike thief..."
"Ah, it's you! I was completely in the wrong yesterday! I'll definitely find a way to pay you back for the Bicycle!!"
Ash instantly recognized Misty and hurriedly offered a sincere apology.
Misty: "?"
Her sleepiness vanished in an instant, and she stared at Ash with a completely bewildered expression.
Did I open the door wrong?
With that thought, Misty closed the room door, took a deep breath, and opened it again.
"Morning, bike thief...?" she greeted tentatively.
"I already said I'll take responsibility! Stop calling me a bike thief!"
Ash was also baffled. Was this woman engaged in some kind of performance art?
"Besides, I have a name! I'm Ash, and my dream is to become a Pokémon Master!"
Misty: "?"
Is this youth playing at having a personality split?
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(Please vote QAQ)