Chapter 275: Wanted! Pikachu the Egg Thief
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
Finally, after flipping through numerous photographs of female humans, it was the Pokémon's turn.
There were nature-themed ones, like a Rhyhorn drinking water with its head lowered, or a Snorlax dozing off. They were all incredibly natural and harmonious, instilling a sense of peace and relaxation in the viewer.
There were also battle-themed photos. One showed an Onix using Tackle, another a Cloyster using Clamp. The situations were intense, focusing the two Pokémon's fighting styles onto a single sheet of paper, allowing the viewer to experience the battle so vividly it was like a 3D experience.
"Whoa..."
The three were secretly shocked; it was as if their faces could feel the spray of water gushing from the Cloyster's violent shaking.
"Your photography is really something."
"Hehe."
Todd Snap savored the compliment for a moment, then picked out another photograph. From a distance, it looked very dark and fierce.
"Let me show you my most famous work. Last month, with this one photograph, I won last year's Ecruteak City Ho-Oh Award for Best Newcomer Photographer."
The Ecruteak City Ho-Oh Award—the highest honor in the world of photography.
The three quickly leaned in for a closer look. The photograph was very dark. The bottom seemed to be flowing water, and a thick fog hung over its surface.
In the very center of the photograph, a shadowy figure could be vaguely seen. Its face was indistinct, but it stood upright, with two antennae fluttering on its head and a pair of wings on its back.
"Damn, isn't that Bill's Lighthouse!?"
"So you were the guy who took the picture of the Lighthouse monster?!"
The three blurted out in unison, and Todd Snap, seeing their reaction, was utterly baffled.
"Whoa, so even an honest-looking guy like you plays the marketing account game."
The three looked at Todd Snap, their gazes filled with disbelief and disappointment. They recalled how the news had described the Lighthouse monster, which had disgusted them for days.
"What's the deal with the Lighthouse monster? Let your editor explain... The reason for its appearance... You might be surprised... but the fact is... your editor is also surprised. This is... Join the discussion with your editor..."
"Wait, I'm not a marketing account! I'm innocent!"
At this, Todd Snap hurriedly defended himself.
He was just a photographer, not a copy editor. He was only responsible for uploading the photograph; what was said next and what the headlines were had nothing to do with him.
This was the truly terrifying thing about marketing accounts, not to mention they had the strong support of the Vermilion City Official Media.
For example, the earlier scene of Pikachu saving Togepi—disregarding its own landing to hold the egg up—could be spun into countless different versions.
"Tears Were Shed! Even a Rodent Can Be Righteous!"
"Region-Wide Manhunt: The Culprit, Egg Thief Pikachu, Caught in the Act"
"Shocking! Faced With a Sniper, an Electric Mouse Uses a Pokémon Egg as a Shield!?"
"Look at the Tail, It's a Male Electric Mouse. What is This World Coming To?!"
"Trivia: The Possibility of an Electric Mouse and a Togepi Producing an Egg..."
"..."
After listening, the three fell silent. Then they patted Todd Snap's shoulder, presumably to comfort him.
"Misunderstanding cleared. We're still good bros."
Now that the air was cleared and since they were all of a similar age, there were no barriers between them. Ash directed Pikachu to stand on the High Platform.
"My Pikachu is an old pro," Ash said. "Come on, strike all your usual cool poses!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu nodded. He immediately turned his chubby body to the side, lowered his head slightly, crossed his arms, and struck the pose of a lone wanderer.
"So slick! Hold that pose!"
Todd Snap immediately raised his camera, about to press the shutter.
"Pika..."
But the moment the lens focused on him, Pikachu's expression changed, becoming unnatural. The resulting photograph made Todd Snap shake his head.
"This won't work. It completely fails to meet that grandmother's requirements."
"Huh? What grandmother?" Ash asked curiously.
Todd Snap gave a start and quickly tried to gloss over it.
"Nothing. I just meant this isn't working; it's not perfect enough."
Seeing this, Ash frowned. It was the first time he realized his Pikachu got nervous in front of a camera.
In that way, he was a bit like Blue. Her brain was already a mix of paste and water, but once surrounded by cameras, the paste and water would blend into an even bigger mess.
Misty suggested from the side:
"Why not have Pikachu dance? He might act more natural then."
Ash shook his head.
"He can't dance."
Brock also offered a suggestion:
"Then have Pikachu do the Kirin pose. I think that's his coolest move."
"The weather's no good. It's a sunny day right now. We need the white clouds to be like your skin to pull that off."
Brock: "?"
*I just said it casually, why the personal attack?*
*Besides, wake up! That move of yours is Toxic, not some Kirin that uses natural thunder! Why would it need dark clouds!?*
While everyone was still pondering, Ash's eyes suddenly lit up.
Battle!
"That's right! My Pikachu loves battling more than anything. Once he's in a battle, he'll completely ignore the camera and strike his coolest poses."
Pikachu: "?"
*I've already given up battling...*
Soon, Ash threw another Poké Ball. Out came a green, turtle-like creature with lush foliage on its back and a half-bloomed red flower at its center. It was his #002, Ivysaur.
"Wow, the petals on your Ivysaur are almost fully open. That's quite peculiar."
Todd Snap immediately snapped several shots, recording the Ivysaur—which seemed to have been blessed by some power—from every angle with his camera.
Soon, one turtle and one mouse stood at opposite ends, both assuming battle stances.
"Ivysaur, use Grassy Glide!"
"Saur!"
Ivysaur slid forward in a dash, its body becoming a green wave of energy. However, because the ground beneath it wasn't grass, its speed wasn't particularly high.
"Pikachu, let's use Quick Attack!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu dropped to all fours, cloaked in white light. Although it started a moment later, its speed was greater, and it shot forward with a *whoosh*.
Seeing the green light and white light about to collide, Todd Snap immediately raised his DSLR. Its powerful autofocus allowed it to capture a clear image even when tracking high-speed subjects.
However, feeling the camera's lens focus on it, Pikachu suddenly stumbled mid-charge, and the power of its Quick Attack dissipated.
*Pfft!!*
The next moment, the green shockwave arrived. Ivysaur's head slammed right into Pikachu's chin, sending the mouse flying backward, almost making it spit out the food it had just eaten.
Then it lay on the ground, face-down and motionless, in the shape of the oversized character for 'wood'.
Everyone: "..."
*Is this what an old pro is? His acting is terrible...*
"That's right, I have a *real* old pro!"
Ash suddenly thought of something, his eyes shining brightly as he reached for a Poké Ball on his belt.
Grasping the ball, he threw it out with a backhand motion. As the red light faded, the revealed Pokémon left Todd Snap slightly surprised.
"Hm? Another Pikachu?!"
(end of chapter)