[Light Ball: A Pikachu-exclusive item. When used, Pikachu's overall stats increase, and its electricity is doubled!]
The moment Ash received the Light Ball, its attributes appeared on the screen.
Seeing such outrageous effects, the audience could only react with one thought:
Unbelievable!!
Doubling all of a Pokémon's stats? That was already absurd.
And then on top of that—doubling the power of Electric-types?!
This wasn't just a cheat code. This was "no limits, no rules."
Ash himself stared at the glowing orb in his hand, his eyes sparkling like stars.
"Pikachu! Come try this Light Ball!"
He beckoned to Pikachu, who was still perched on Misty's shoulder.
Their bond was unspoken; Pikachu leapt down at once.
Ash crouched down, holding the orb between thumb and forefinger, and placed it into Pikachu's little paws.
But Pikachu's hands closed on empty air.
The instant the Light Ball touched its body, it dissolved into golden light and merged with Pikachu.
And then—an eruption.
Bolts of electricity burst from Pikachu's body in dazzling torrents.
"Pika—pikaaa!!"
The sudden surge left Pikachu trembling with excitement.
This wasn't yet the Pikachu who would reset itself every new region.
To it, new power meant pure joy.
But there was so much electricity it was almost too much.
Something big was about to happen.
And the only way to deal with excess electricity… was to release it.
Ash, Misty, and Brock watched in awe, oblivious to the danger about to hit them.
With a sharp cry, Pikachu unleashed the storm.
Lightning exploded outward.
Charred black x3!
The commotion drew the attention of the whole square.
Onlookers scattered, avoiding Ash's group like the plague.
"Are they insane?!" someone shouted, backing away.
On the screen—
After the reward distribution ended, the live feed resumed.
Ash had already left Professor Cerise's lab, sprinting full speed toward Vermilion's harbor.
Koharu followed close behind.
As she ran, flickers of memory stirred in her mind.
Why did this boy, Ash, feel so strangely familiar?
She couldn't place it.
After all, who would recall the kid who once left a "pile of charcoal" at her doorstep?
The harbor wasn't far, and they soon arrived.
But in the sky, a black vortex had formed—twisting tighter and tighter, morphing into a tornado.
Lugia. Revered as the Sea Guardian… yet its true authority lay in ocean currents.
It could command the flows of the sea above and below.
In moments, the entire harbor was wrapped in black, howling winds.
People gathered, faces lit with fanatic anticipation.
A shrill cry split the heavens.
The vortex ripped apart, revealing a vast white form—
a colossal bird with black markings along its head and back, pale blue belly, and brilliant white scales.
Its wings stretched wide, like arms that could embrace the world itself.
Lugia, not just a guardian of the sea, but the God of Currents.
Its appearance wasn't chance.
Rumors of a mysterious Pokémon at the harbor had spread days earlier.
The strange vortex had been swirling ever since.
Now, with it finally bursting open, trainers across the port went wild.
Poké Balls flew.
Wartortle! Jolteon!
And leading the charge, one trainer even sent out a Gengar.
They didn't know what they were facing.
They only thought: Rare Pokémon = must capture.
Ash knew better.
And both he and Pikachu froze at the sight of their reckless attempt.
Were these people out of their minds?!
[Paul: A true trainer knows their limits. These fools don't even know the strength of their own Pokémon, yet dare to challenge the unknown. It's suicide.]
[Lance: Are these really Kanto trainers? You don't recognize Lugia, a legendary Pokémon?!]
[Lorelei: The League's education system is failing. These rookies need to be sent back to Trainer School—three years of practice, five years of mock battles. No graduation until they pass!]
Both Lance and Lorelei, Kanto's Elite Four, shook their heads.
Kanto and Johto were neighboring regions, their myths intertwined—Ho-Oh and Lugia, yin and yang.
Yet these rookies couldn't even identify Lugia? Disgraceful.
They silently resolved: a new law must be proposed.
No trainer should be allowed to travel without passing a basic exam.
Otherwise, back to school they'd go.
What a shame. Using a Jolteon against Lugia?!
Unacceptable. This could never be allowed again.
(Ash: Good thing I left home early. Otherwise, I'd never have graduated!)
Onscreen—
Lugia didn't even spare the three Pokémon a glance.
But that very dismissal enraged them.
Ice Beam! Thunder! Shadow Ball!
The attacks shot forward together.
But Lugia only flapped its wings.
A single gust of wind shattered all three moves—and then swept away the Pokémon and their trainers in one blast, sending them flying into the distance.
As Ash watched, a faint voice seemed to echo in his ears:
"So annoying…"
Damn it… I'm getting PTSD all over again!
Even then, Lugia's show of power didn't deter the others.
If anything, it drew in more challengers.
Stronger trainers appeared—sending out Garchomp, Bisharp, Corviknight, and more.
Fully evolved Pokémon filled the field.
One even had a pseudo-legendary Garchomp.
The crowd's ambition only grew.
The stronger Lugia looked, the more they craved it.
But they didn't understand.
This wasn't just any Lugia.
This was the Sea God.
With another sweep of its wings, an even greater gale howled forth.
In an instant, the second wave of trainers shared the fate of the first—blown away like leaves in a storm.
At last, quiet returned to the harbor.
Lugia lowered itself to rest by the water's edge, at peace.
And then—
"Long time no see, Lugia."