Chapter 89: Face My Jeep!
"Great Ball Rotom, Healing Ball!"
A beam of light absorbed the dazed Midchu, and before long, a refreshed and energized Midchu was released.
*Pika!* Don't!
Midchu was strapped to the Seventh Gradient's Enhancement chair. He didn't struggle, just quickly held his head, as if that could block Natsume's psychic invasion.
Compared to the Enhancement chair, he feared Natsume's mental link even more. Yet Midchu's actions had no effect.
Inside Midchu's mind, a jeep built of psychic power appeared once again.
"Don't be afraid, Midchu, face me!"
Natsume sat in the driver's seat, flooring the gas pedal, waiting for Midchu's counterattack.
*Pika pi*
Midchu glanced fearfully at the jeep charging toward him and bolted.
"Don't be afraid, Midchu. Remember, this is only your mind; just a nightmare. Face your fear!"
"Pikachu! Your *will*, show your willpower!"
The jeep roared, Natsume's voice mixed in, pounding into Midchu's ears, making his short legs scramble faster.
Yes, for the first time Midchu trusted Natsume's words, exhaled toward the jeep speeding at him—
Then—pain, *unbearable pain*!
His body was flung away, his will torn apart, his entire mind aching like needles stabbing.
The agony pierced his very soul. Midchu never wanted to feel that again.
*Pika!* he cried.
Ahead, a ghostly blue light emerged, and a heavy truck was slowly built out of psychic power.
Caught between two crushing forces!
*Boom!*
Midchu leapt out sharply, and Natsume's jeep crashed head-on.
*Pika pi?* Midchu turned back, worriedly looking at Natsume.
Natsume's head was split, his consciousness squeezed apart, his insides spilling everywhere.
But the spilled remains dissolved into blue psychic particles, floating back into him, repairing him slowly.
"Oh, that stings a bit," Natsume muttered, glancing at himself.
Suddenly he noticed something, picked up an organ glowing faint blue before it faded, and studied it.
"My liver doesn't look good. I should stop staying up so late." He nodded to himself.
Midchu: "…"
Many times, he wondered if his Trainer was truly human.
After a while, Natsume withdrew his psychic link and returned to reality.
"Ugh, dizzy. I need some rest." He rubbed his temples.
Even with strong psychic power, suffering the shattering of his consciousness was draining.
*Pika-heehee!* Midchu snickered.
"What are you laughing at? Your Divine Authority is incomplete. Rotom's Healing Ball still works on you."
"So you don't need rest." Natsume suddenly leaned close, startling Midchu.
"I'll go sleep a while. You stay here and keep training with electricity."
Stretching, Natsume headed back to his room.
After facing Gigantamax Dragonite and Gigantamax Tentacruel, he had discovered a limitation of Great Ball Rotom.
ITS move seemed useless against Pokémon with Divine Authority.
Maybe its power wasn't enough. Would a Master Ball Rotom break that shackle?
*Wait!*
Natsume paused. The *Rob the Rich, Aid the Poor Ball* had worked against Gigantamax Dragonite and Tentacruel.
Was the Divine Authority some kind of energy, like Mega Evolution, Gigantamaxing, or Terastallization?
He rubbed his temples, jotted the idea into his notebook, then pulled up his blanket and fell asleep.
...
In the backyard, Midchu pondered Natsume's words seriously.
*Pika*
He changed his mind.
From now on, if he ever found one of those strange big stones, he wouldn't give it to Natsume right away.
He would eat it first, complete his Divine Authority, and make Rotom's Healing Ball useless on itself.
That way, Natsume could only torment him once a day at most!
Natsume slept straight through until the next day.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
Outside the room came a soft knocking sound.
"Mr. Natsume, are you awake? Breakfast is ready."
The voice of the honor student, Giselle, called out.
"Coming."
Before long, Natsume got ready and went down to the first floor of the Pokémon Center.
There, everyone had already bought breakfast, ready to eat together.
"Natsume, Giselle, come quick! These are all specialties we picked up yesterday at the food street!"
As soon as he entered the dining area, Brock waved to them.
Natsume and Giselle walked over.
"Natsume, I already got my badge!" Ash proudly pulled out a colorful petal-shaped badge and held it up with fighting spirit.
"Now I'm a Trainer with five badges!"
"Ah, very good. By the way, where's Midchu?" Natsume yawned, asking absentmindedly.
"Didn't Midchu follow you yesterday?" Ash asked, puzzled.
"Oh no!" Natsume slapped his forehead and rushed to the backyard.
There he found Midchu already sound asleep.
"Figures. After any kind of stimulus, he just sleeps it off."
Seeing Midchu unharmed, Natsume's thoughts drifted back.
Back then, during electric current training—and every time he gave Midchu his so-called *lessons of love*—he would always respond by falling asleep.
It was very possible Midchu had long since gained the Divine Authority: Realm of Eternal Sleep.
"Hiding it well, aren't you." Natsume pinched Midchu by the scruff and lifted him up.
*Phew~* Midchu still slept on.
A ghostly blue light flashed in Natsume's eyes as he effortlessly invaded Midchu's mental world.
*Beep!*
*Beep beep!*
In his spiritual world, a noisy sound echoed.
Midchu opened his eyes in confusion, only to see two massive headlights before it.
*Pika!!*
...
Meanwhile at the breakfast table—
"Everyone, this was an award-winning piece from the food street's creative contest yesterday. Try it!"
Ash mysteriously brought out a bizarre-looking cake.
The cake was shaped like a small car.
Caramel doors curled, revealing blood-orange chiffon. Chocolate bumpers crumbled, strawberry syrup poured like blood, and trembling mango headlights were embedded in cracked sugar frosting.
"What is this, why does it look like a car crash?" Misty frowned at the cake Ash served.
"This is what I was lucky enough to draw in the raffle—it's the third prize winner!"
Seeing everyone hesitate to eat, Ash pushed the cake in front of the usually greedy Midchu.
"Here, Midchu, try it and tell them it tastes great!"
*PIKAAA!*
But at the sight of the cake, the dazed Midchu panicked and leapt onto another table.
"Hahaha, see? Even Midchu doesn't want to eat it." Misty mocked.
"Ah? Then let's eat him instead."
Natsume's eyes slowly shifted toward Midchu in the distance.
His body trembled in fear, yet his eyes darted secretly to observe Natsume.
A cake had scared him into panic—surely his Trainer would feel sorry now?
"Sigh."
As expected, Natsume let out a sigh and shook his head.
*It seemed Midchu's training still wasn't intense enough, otherwise he wouldn't have been scared by just a little cake.*
"You still need more practice," Natsume's voice echoed faintly.
*Pika?*
You can read more (around 100+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.