As Jessie, James, and Meowth were sent flying, Koffing finally stopped spewing poison gas. The toxic haze that had been choking the Pokémon Center began to thin.
"Ugh, what's with that brat? He's so weird!" Jessie growled, hair frazzled.
"And that Pikachu's no ordinary Pikachu either!" James added, twitching from leftover static.
"Exactly, nya!" Meowth agreed.
Ash froze mid-step. His eyes widened as he jabbed a finger at them. "W-wait a second! That Meowth… it just talked! Like, actually talked in human words!"
Earlier, during Team Rocket's motto, Ash hadn't noticed. Thanks to his Aura, Pokémon speech usually translated automatically in his mind. He had assumed Meowth's voice was just another illusion of that effect.
But now? He heard it clearly. This Meowth was speaking real human language!
Misty's jaw dropped. "A Pokémon that can talk…? No way…" But she quickly shook her head, snapping back to the moment. "Forget it for now! Ash, focus! Press the attack before they recover!"
"R-right!" Ash clenched his fist, his eyes burning with determination. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika… CHUUU!!!"
A dazzling storm of golden lightning erupted from Pikachu's body, brighter and fiercer than his earlier Thunder Shock. Bolts crackled across the lobby, filling the entire Pokémon Center with blinding light.
Jessie and James tried to order Ekans and Koffing to counterattack, but Pikachu's speed left them no chance. Tangled in each other's limbs, the trio could only shriek.
"Aaaaahhhh! I-it's too much! I'm numb! Numb!!"
BOOM!
Thunderbolt smashed through the trio and blasted them sky-high, ripping open the Pokémon Center's ceiling. The electric shockwave rattled every wall and window, showering debris from above.
"Look out!!"
Chunks of plaster and wood came tumbling down. Trainers tried to run, but their bodies were heavy with lingering poison. Some closed their eyes, bracing for impact....and nothing hit.
When they cracked their eyes open, the debris lay scattered harmlessly on the floor, as if pushed aside by a sudden gust of wind.
"Wh-what just happened?" one Trainer stammered.
"I dunno… maybe the wind blew it away?" another muttered, trembling.
"Man, I thought I was gonna get flattened!"
"Well, if you do, at least you can check in right here for treatment."
"Don't be ridiculous! Pokémon Centers are for Pokémon, not people!"
"Hahaha~~"
"…"
A few of the unlucky Trainers who had almost been crushed by falling debris now sat on the floor, trading jokes and laughing nervously to release the tension.
From a distance, Misty stared at Ash, her emerald eyes wide. Her expression practically shouted, 'you can do that?!'
That's right. The debris hadn't been blown aside by the wind at all, it had been blocked by Ash's Aura.
Misty had already seen Ash use some kind of barrier to fend off the Spearow flock, but she never imagined he could extend that protection over an entire crowd. Her understanding of Aura was refreshed yet again. This ability wasn't just comparable to Psychic powers… it might even surpass them.
As the chaos subsided, the azure glow faded from Ash's eyes, and Pikachu, who had been sparking with boundless energy moments ago, slumped weakly to the floor.
Ash crouched, lifting his partner into his arms. "You worked hard, Pikachu. You did amazing."
"Pika… Pi~ka…" Pikachu gave a wobbly grin and raised one tiny paw in a shaky V sign.
The crisis at the Pokémon Center was over. Aside from the poisonous mist and the hole blasted in the ceiling, there was no lasting damage. Nurse Joy and Chansey tended to those who had inhaled too much gas, while the crowd showered Ash with thanks.
No one knew how this boy had stood firm when everyone else was dizzy, but the fact remained, he had saved them. Some expressed gratitude with words, others with gifts.
"No, really, you don't have to. Protecting a Pokémon Center is every Trainer's duty, right?" Ash insisted.
"That may be so," said one middle-aged man with teary eyes, pressing money into Ash's hands, "but you saved me. Please, accept this."
Ash tried to refuse, but in the end he accepted the 1,000 Poke dollars, scratching his head awkwardly.
For a Trainer, 1,000 Poke dollars didn't stretch far. A regular Poké Ball cost 200, and specialized ones ran up to 1,000 each. But for a family's groceries, that was a week of food. It hit Ash then, raising Pokémon really was a money pit.
By the time Pikachu had recovered, Ash had been given over 10,000 Poke dollars in thanks. Not only had his earlier shopping expenses been covered, he even had extra left over.
"Well, well, look at you, the great hero of the Pokémon Center," Misty teased, propping her chin in her hand and smirking.
"Hehe, it wasn't that big a deal…" Ash rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed but clearly pleased with himself. He was only ten, of course the praise made him a little smug.
"By the way," Misty asked suddenly, "didn't the poison mist affect you at all? You don't feel dizzy or sick?"
Ash thought for a moment. "Hmm… At first, no. But after breathing in too much, I did feel a little off. Still, if I circulate Aura through my body, I can push the poison out."
Misty blinked. "Wait… Aura can even cure poison? That's way too convenient!"
Aura. The word was spoken like a simple term, but the power behind it was absurd, translation of Pokémon speech, barriers, attacks, and now purification of toxins.
Ash laughed, puffing up a little. "Haha, that's nothing. Aura has way more uses than just that."
Her eyes widened. "More uses?? Like what?"
"That…" Ash leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Is a secret. I'll only tell you when we battle!"
"What?! Tell me now!"
"Nope. Gotta save my secret weapon for our match."
"Hmph!" Misty pouted and turned away.