Chapter 50: Bro, There's a Ganoderma Growing Over There
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
The two stared at each other for a long time before Red finally broke the stalemate.
"You're here."
Green's gaze was profound, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
"Because you're here too."
The conversation was very strange.
In the game world, from the moment they first received their starter Pokémon, the two of them had competed all the way to the very end.
Only when they reached the pinnacle with no way to climb higher did their competition cease, and they acknowledged each other.
But now, in this world, everything felt as if it had returned to the moment they had just stepped out of Pallet Town.
This time, Green had no intention of losing to Red.
And Red had absolutely no intention of being defeated by Green.
"Hmph."
Just as the spectating Ash and Gary were getting excited, thinking they were finally about to witness a battle between two peerless experts, Green suddenly let out a cold snort, and the overwhelming battle intent that filled theair dispersed.
The two of them: "???"
All that hype, and this is it?
Shouldn't they be clashing fiercely right now?!
However, Green simply turned his head and gently caressed the nearby wall. In his usually unperturbed eyes, a trace of reminiscence and remorse that should not have been there flickered.
He turned his back to them and said slowly, "I won't battle here. Next time. Next time, I'll make sure all your Pokémon are unable to battle."
In the past, Red would have long since retorted with, "Why do you always say that? My Pokémon are still alive and kicking."
But this time, he was unusually silent, not offering a single rebuttal as he simply watched Green's retreating back.
In the previous world, he had already had a vague guess, but since Green didn't bring it up, he didn't press the matter.
It seemed that back then, in the game, something he didn't know about had indeed happened during their all-out battle on the S.S. Anne.
"..."
Red said no more. Grabbing a completely bewildered Brock, he headed toward the deck.
Someone as proud as Green needed no further words from him.
After the two had left, Gary, from within his soul, couldn't help but offer some comfort.
"Are you okay, Elder Brother Green...?"
His soul was linked to Green's, and this was the first time he had ever felt such a state of mind from the man who had always been fearless, who looked down on everyone as if they were fleas.
The memory fragments in Green's mind were a chaotic mess.
Panic, remorse, self-blame, tears falling drop by drop.
And his hands, stained with blood...
It was as if... he had killed a Pokémon?
"I'm fine. You continue investigating Team Rocket. My Suicune is with you. If you run into anything you can't handle, you can rely on it."
Green returned control of the body. At the end of the soul swap, he added softly.
"By the way, after we get off the ship, come with me to Lavender Town..."
"I'll go."
Gary nodded solemnly, not forgetting to add, "Everything will be fine. Just say sorry to your girl, and the matter will be over."
Green: "..."
Crap, I forgot about that part!
On the deck, although it wasn't as bright as the main hall corridor, it was still illuminated by lights. Wearing black would only make one stand out more.
The two hurried onto the deck. A sea breeze blew past, and Ash regained control of his body.
"Hurry, hurry."
Under Brock's serious and pressing questions, Ash could only helplessly blurt out the story about Red.
Although he didn't have thick brows and big eyes...
Dark-skinned people with small eyes shouldn't be bad guys.
"So, about Brother Red, blah blah blah..."
Ash laid it all out, but in truth, besides saying that there was a monster in his body and that the monster had a group of monster Pokémon with him, he didn't really know much of the inside story.
His origin, his purpose?
Could it be that he was here to take over the world?
Ash had no clue either.
"..."
Hearing this, Brock fell silent for a long time. Tying it together with all of Ash's recent miraculous feats, it all made perfect sense.
No matter how strange something was, if it happened to Ash, it wasn't particularly strange anymore.
"By the way, can you ask that Senior Red what I was like in his world?"
Having accepted the situation with inexplicable speed, Brock was now getting curious.
Since in this world, Ash was Red's counterpart and Gary was Green's, then there should be a counterpart for him in that world, right?
Don't tell me I was just some unremarkable passerby in that world?
No way, no way, no way?
"I know you're eager, but calm down first. Let me ask Brother Red..."
"Hurry, hurry."
While Brock urged him on from the outside, Ash communicated internally. After a moment, he slowly replied, "There is. In that world, there's also a person named Brock. He has fair skin, bright, doll-like eyes, a handsome and tall figure, and blond hair with blue eyes. He's the Pewter City Gym Leader and an idol trainee. All the older sisters in the Kanto Region are crazy about him."
He repeated Red's words verbatim.
It just sounded like Brother Red was messing with him.
Brock: "!!!"
Upon hearing this, he swung a leg over the deck's railing, posturing as if he were about to jump directly into the sea.
"Ask that Senior Red, if I, Brock, die here today, can I transmigrate over there tomorrow?"
Ash: "..."
No, you'll probably just die peacefully at the bottom of the sea...
In a certain corner of the deck, two sailors were squatting.
"Damn! I heard someone from our company just leveled up from Stubborn Iron to Fearless Bronze."
One of them gossiped.
Hearing this, the other man took a sharp drag from his cigarette and cursed, "For Farfetch'd's sake, I've been in Bronze for ten years! When will I finally get out of this pit and enjoy the view from the Unyielding Silver rank?"
Just then, two figures suddenly walked over from the side.
They didn't look very old, so the two men paid them no mind and continued smoking.
Ash, however, put on a shocked expression, deliberately taking a few steps closer and exclaiming, "Oh, my God, there's a Ganoderma growing on the deck over there."
Brock, next to him, played along. "A Ganoderma? That's a sign of heavenly fortune! This is truly shocking. I have to tell my uncle!"
The two Team Rocket sailors exchanged a look, impressed but not quite understanding.
Tourists from the Unova Region?
Brock's skin tone certainly fit.
But soon, a light gradually dawned in their eyes.
A Ganoderma was a sign of heavenly fortune! If they could harvest it and present it to their superior, it would signify that this corporate team-building event would be a complete success. It would be a great contribution no matter how you looked at it.
They heard that their superior, Archer, was also quite superstitious.
Maybe tomorrow they could be promoted to Unyielding Silver!
At this thought, sinister smiles appeared on the two Team Rocket members' faces. They said to Ash and his companion, "Friends from Unova, vicious Pokémon often linger around spirit plants. You two stand back, we'll handle it."
"It's very dangerous, you know~"
Ash and Brock suppressed their laughter and followed behind them, while the two crewmen, cigarettes dangling from their lips, swaggered towards the part of the deck where the "Ganoderma" was.
As the two got closer and looked at the strange Ganoderma, a flicker of doubt crossed their eyes simultaneously.
"Huh? Why doesn't this look like a Ganoderma to me?"
"Are there green Ganodermas...?"
"And why do I think it looks like... like garlic?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the green "Ganoderma" on the floor trembled violently. A large cloud of yellowish powder suddenly burst from its center, instantly enveloping the two men.
The ensuing wave of paralysis left them weak-limbed, and they could only collapse limply to the ground.
"Nice one, Bulbasaur! Now use Vine Whip, and bind them tight!"
Ash commanded with a grand wave of his hand.
With an IQ like that, you want to see the sights of the Silver rank?
Just stay in the Bronze pit for a few more years, haha.
Ash laughed smugly, his voice and expression momentarily making him seem more like a villain.
"Saur!"
The Bulbasaur, which had been disguised as a Ganoderma, instantly shot out its vines, trussing the two men up securely. The vines were wrapped so tightly there wasn't a single gap; it was clearly a professional-grade tie-up.
Restricted by both the Stun Spore and the suffocating bind, the two could only mumble, "For... Farfetch'd's sake..."
"Who are you people..."
Brock simply plucked the cigarettes from the corners of their mouths, casually tossed them into the sea, and flashed his white teeth.
"We just want to tell you that smoking is bad for your health."
The two of them: "?"
"Hurry up, it's getting late. We need to get their clothes," Ash urged, starting to pull off their uniforms as he recalled his Bulbasaur.
Half an hour later.
Even the usually composed Brock finally broke down and swore, "For Psyduck's sake, Stun Spore was enough! Why did you have to use Farfetch'd's Vine Whip!?"
Ash: "..."
Because the vines were tied too tightly, Ash and Brock were still struggling to undo Bulbasaur's bindings...
(end of chapter)