"After all, I'll step in."
The moment he said it, Ash and Pikachu brimmed with confidence, as if some unknown surge kept welling up inside them.
They felt stronger.
"Pikachu!"
"Pika!"
Boy and mouse faced forward in unison.
Ash cupped his hands like a megaphone and shouted, "Quit hiding! If you've got guts, come out and fight me one-on-one!"
"Gen—gar?"
A pudgy, purple Gengar popped up behind Ash, poking out its head, baffled as to why he was yelling at the empty space ahead.
"Pika!"
A chill ran down Pikachu's neck. It whirled around.
Twin bolts burst from its electric sacs, lancing toward Gengar!
Lightning split the darkness. Seeing Pikachu attack without a word, Gengar tanked the hit, then gathered two uneven orbs in its hands.
Deep violet light flared. Shadow Ball left Gengar's palms like bowling balls hurled at Pikachu!
"Pikachu, dodge!"
Ash locked in, feeling absurdly strong.
"Pika!"
A burst of white light flashed around Pikachu.
It sprinted for the wall, skimming past the Shadow Balls.
Then it planted a foot high on the wall and sprinted along the surface at speed.
Gengar's gaze tightened; it flicked its arms and slung two fuller Shadow Balls backhanded.
Fwoosh—!
They were blisteringly fast; the big spheres stretched into narrow bolts in flight, like they'd pin Pikachu to the wall.
"Pika pika!"
Pikachu stepped and sprang; the Shadow Ball scraped past its side, leaving only a faint dark smear to mark it had been there.
As soon as it cleared the danger, Pikachu pressed its forepaws to its sides and shot for Gengar like an arrow off the string.
"Gen—gar?!"
Startled, Gengar threw its hands up to shield its eyes from the incoming hit.
Except...
Thud!
Pikachu passed straight through Gengar—and face-planted.
Ash, Pikachu, and Gengar: "..."
Six eyes met. Dead silence.
"Fun fact: Normal-type moves don't affect Ghost-type Pokémon," Grey explained.
"Ohhh, I get it!"
Enlightened, Ash called to Gengar, "Then how about we run it back?"
Gengar: ???
Bullying a ghost too far!
Did he think Gengar was as easy to push around as some Rattata by the roadside?!
Its crimson eyes locked onto Pikachu. The short, stubby arms whipped out, and a wave of cold spilled forth!
The chill spread; even the wall frosted over.
"Tss!"
Ash sucked in a sharp breath. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pi—ka… CHUU!!"
Pikachu's fur stood on end. Arcs burst off its body and fused into a roaring torrent that hammered the incoming Gengar fist!
The two forces met; the blast scattered dust and smoke, cloaking everyone in a dense cloud.
Grey, though, felt it all clearly.
On first contact, Thunderbolt was blown apart by Ice Punch.
Pikachu reacted fast and retreated from the spot.
Gengar's swing missed; it swept the haze, searching for its target.
For now, both sides were still feeling each other out.
"That last call wasn't great," Grey said suddenly.
"Huh?"
Ash tilted his head, confused.
"This Gengar's stronger than Lt. Surge's Raichu. In raw power, Pikachu won't beat it," Grey went on, glancing at the frozen wall. "If that hadn't been Ice Punch, Pikachu might not even have had the chance to dodge."
"I see..." Ash half-understood, then snapped his fingers. "Pikachu, Quick Attack again!"
"Pika? Pika!"
A bit puzzled, but orders were orders—Pikachu obeyed!
In a blink, it turned into a streak of white and darted through the smoke!
As it ran, it caught Gengar's position—up in the air, palms gathering another Shadow Ball!
"Gen, gen!"
Gengar found Pikachu as well. Its short hands snapped; Shadow Ball flew!
But at Pikachu's top speed, the Shadow Ball still couldn't catch it.
Violet haze burst as the ball hit; Pikachu zipped straight through Gengar again—still no effect at all.
"Pikachu, now!"
Ash grinned and jabbed a thumb down. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"CHUU!!"
Thunderbolt roared out of Pikachu's small body like a serpent of thunder, wrapping Gengar's round frame completely.
"Gen—gar…!"
Gengar swept a hand. Its crimson eyes turned blue, and a terrifying psychic force rippled out, dispersing Pikachu's Thunderbolt to nothing.
Ash: "..."
Against absolute strength, Pikachu's proud offense was little more than a tickle...
"Pikachu's power is actually fine. The opponent's just strong. If you can battle steady without rushing, beating Lt. Surge won't be a problem," Grey said as he walked over, pointing to a scorched patch on the floor.
"Alright!"
Praised by Grey, Ash lit up, dancing with Pikachu at his feet.
"Okay. There's still a little problem to fix over there," Grey said, looking at the Gengar drifting out of the smoke.
Primeape took half a step forward beside him, its fists wreathed in a menacing, umbral afterimage.
"Gen—gar..." (So I'm still too weak…)
Gengar tilted its head back, voice unwilling.
From the pressure rolling off Primeape, this clearly wasn't something it could handle.
"You're really strong, Gengar!"
Ash jogged up and blurted the praise without a filter.
Pikachu followed and gave a small nod.
"Gen—gar..." (I… I'm strong?)
Gengar flushed.
But remembering what it had just gone through kept it from trusting these humans.
And yet,
the boy in front of it looked completely sincere.
"Thing is, I can't stay in Vermilion City long. Who knows when we'll meet again..." Ash said, dimming a bit, then turned to Grey. "Mr. Grey, thanks for the coaching! Let's hit Vermilion Gym together!"
"You're welcome. It's what a Gym Leader should do," Grey said with a small shake of his head.
Ash headed out of the villa first.
Grey looked to Gengar and said softly:
"Trainers aren't all the same.
If you want a brand-new life, that boy might be a good choice.
But it's your call."
"Gen—gar..."
Gengar watched Grey's back.
Then its eyes hardened.
...
"Mr. Grey, doesn't the wind feel colder once we're outside Vermilion City?" Ash laced his hands behind his head, feeling the dip in temperature.
"Mhm."
Grey glanced at the pair of crimson eyes peeking from Ash's shadow and nodded slightly.
"Hey, Ash."
"What is it, Mr. Grey?"
"If you swing by the Fighting Dojo later, have a two-on-two with me."
"Eh—?! Okay!"
Ash's eyes flared with fighting spirit.
He scooped up Pikachu and called, "Mr. Grey, I'll make sure you see how much I've improved!"
"Pika pika!"
The setting sun poured over the two of them.
They arrived at Vermilion Gym together.
"Yo, Lt. Surge—you look pretty down. Something happen?"
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