In a Black World — the Johto region, at a scenic spot called Crystal Lake. The bright lake water shimmered with a faint golden light. A breeze rustled the grass, stirring up scattered blades of green. On the grassland, two young men and three women sat before a tent, eating delicious food and chatting…
If one of the beautiful women with an outstanding temperament and exaggerated figure didn't have such an awkward expression, perhaps this scene would look perfectly harmonious.
At this moment, Lorelei regretted it. Deeply.
Why had she asked Ash about Zapdos?! Asking led to… not only learning he was involved in that horrific Orange Islands incident years ago, but also discovering he had actually caught Articuno! Remembering her slightly excited tone and spirited expression when talking about her longing for Articuno, Lorelei almost wanted to crawl under her chair.
Actually, admiring Legendary Pokémon wasn't shameful. If that were the case, Lorelei wouldn't have mentioned it in front of Ash and the others. But… telling others about the Legendary you yearn for, only to find out someone else has already caught it… was a bit embarrassing.
But… embarrassment aside. After learning Ash had Articuno, Lorelei's second thought was whether she could visit Professor Oak's lab to see it. As for teleporting it here… this place was barren mountains and ridges. It would take at least half an hour to reach a nearby city. For her wish to see Articuno, it wasn't worth the trouble. Lorelei thought this, so she also dismissed Ash's idea of running to a nearby city to teleport Articuno here. Running back… although she'd heard about Ash's stamina, this method was too exaggerated! Anyway, the Silver Conference wasn't starting immediately. After going to Silver Town to handle Silver Conference preparations, she could return to Pallet Town to see Articuno. Maybe… she could even touch it? Lorelei thought to herself and laughed a little foolishly.
No matter how strong Articuno was, it was one of the world's rarest Pokémon. To touch Articuno, maybe even ride it… would be immensely satisfying for Lorelei.
Ash watched Lorelei laughing inexplicably. He didn't know what she was thinking, but… Lorelei now wasn't as calm and composed as before. Previously, her every move exuded nobility—elegant yet distant. But now… she no longer seemed like an unapproachable Elite Four member, but a normal woman.
Time passed. The next morning, dawn's light barely brightened the sky. A ray of sunlight entered the tent, and a sharp, piercing cry sounded from the lake's depths, immediately followed by the loud sound of something bursting from the water!
Ash, who was sleeping, instantly opened his eyes, immediately on alert. Two or three seconds passed before he realized… it wasn't an enemy attack. Zapdos had fully recovered!
He gently unzipped his sleeping bag, then walked out of the tent with Sabrina and Misty, who had just woken up beside him.
At this moment, Lorelei, wearing a knee-length skirt and a sleeveless shirt, stood by the lake. Her long burgundy hair, seemingly loosened upon waking, cascaded loosely. She wasn't wearing her intelligence-signifying glasses, and her orange-red eyes intently watched the giant yellow bird that looked like a spiky hedgehog in the sky.
Brock, who didn't know what to do, almost lost his soul upon emerging and seeing Lorelei. If Sabrina hadn't used her Psychic power to restrain Brock, he might have lost control of his instincts and knelt on one knee on this serious occasion.
"Ms. Lorelei, why are you out so early?" After a day of talking, the group had grown much closer, so Ash and the others had changed how they addressed Lorelei. No longer "Leader Lorelei" or "Miss Lorelei," but the more familiar "Ms. Lorelei."
Lorelei turned her pretty face slightly, glanced at Ash, then focused back on Zapdos. "I haven't camped outdoors in a long time, so I was a bit restless and woke up early. Didn't expect to run into Zapdos, fully recovered and flying out of the water."
Although Zapdos wasn't particularly handsome, it was still one of the Legendary Birds. Watching the golden bird radiating brilliant power in the sky was still a rare experience.
"I see… That works perfectly. Ms. Lorelei, watch me defeat Zapdos!" Saying this, Ash walked to Lorelei's side. Due to years of training, Ash, nearly eleven, was already about 1.6 meters tall—about the same height as Lorelei normally, maybe slightly shorter. The two standing side-by-side shocked Brock, who had just calmed down.
Could it be…? No, it couldn't be! If even Ash could attract her… that would be too much! And their age difference is huge! Although the age gap between him and Lorelei was also big, it was only about ten years. For Ash… at least fifteen years, right? Even if Ash was mature, that's still… No, no, it's definitely impossible. Can't think of Ash and Leader Lorelei that way! Brock shook off the messy thoughts in his head.
Sabrina looked at Brock a bit strangely. Wasn't this guy prone to losing it around attractive women?
On the other side, the recovered Zapdos looked down—specifically at Ash. The feather from the Zapdos clan leader was proof. Seeing it, Zapdos nodded. Then it waved its wing, meaning: Since you're recognized by our clan's leader, come and fight. If you defeat me, I will be yours. Also, you saved my life. Even if you lose to me, I'll give you another chance. You decide the time and place for the second chance; I'll come when called.
Ash replied with a weird expression. "Don't worry, you won't need a second chance. Once is enough."
"Skreee!!"
"Huh? Skreeee!!!" Even if you're recognized by our clan's leader, you can't insult me like this!! Do you mean you think you can defeat me 100%? Interesting, let's try!
Ash: … Hiss~ Is this Zapdos more hot-headed than Articuno? Although he didn't take Zapdos too seriously, it wasn't due to carelessness or looking down on it. It was just… Pikachu had already battled Champions multiple times. And yet… you're worried about a mid-tier Legendary? Isn't that a joke! So, it really wasn't that Ash was too arrogant, but that his opponent was… well.
"Then let's begin. How about right here?" Ash pointed to an open area nearby. It was quite far from their campsite. Even with battle aftermath, there was no worry of it affecting them.
Hearing this, Zapdos flapped its wings and flew to where Ash pointed. Clearly, it was eager to defeat Ash and teach him a lesson! Who asked Ash to look like he was underestimating it? Ash shook his head helplessly and walked over slowly, then patted his shoulder. Pikachu jumped down nimbly and neatly removed the weights from its body. These weights were nothing to it now—but only while fighting on the ground. Fighting in the air… over two hundred pounds was still troublesome.
"Skree? Skreeee!!!" You're just sending this little guy to fight me? And he's an Electric type?! There's a limit to looking down on a bird!! Zapdos was completely furious! What did this mean? Sending someone who looked weaker, and it was still an Electric type?! This was a provocation against its majesty! Zapdos was enraged!
"Haha, don't say that. You won't know until you fight~" Ash looked at Zapdos's furious appearance and couldn't help but laugh. This bird… was surprisingly simple! It didn't seem like a Legendary Pokémon at all—more like an angry child. But today… the child was going to take a fall.
"Skreee!!" Zapdos couldn't take it anymore. It let out a sharp, piercing cry, then bright electric light erupted from its body—Thunderbolt! Pikachu didn't dodge or evade, simply standing there and taking the opponent's brilliant electric burst! A slightly pained expression crossed Pikachu's face, but… after the Thunderbolt ended, Pikachu just waved its little paw, its expression normal.
"Pika, Pikachu~" Compared to your boss's power, the difference is so vast I don't feel any pressure at all.
"Skree?" Zapdos was dumbfounded. What… what was this? What was up with this Electric Mouse? A Thunderbolt, but it caused no damage at all? Also, what did it mean by 'ordinary'?! He was the Thunder God!
Snap!
"Pikachu, use Thunder, then follow with Volt Tackle!" Ash snapped his fingers, commanding Pikachu.
The next second, a golden thunderbolt as thick as a bucket erupted from Pikachu and shot straight into the sky! Dense dark clouds instantly gathered, and then, countless golden lightning bolts roared through the air like a thousand-horse army! The Thunder was so dense even Zapdos had trouble evading. However… it had no intention of dodging at all! Since your Pikachu can withstand my Thunderbolt, then I can withstand your Thunder! The Thunder God thought, and then… it was struck by several lightning bolts in the sky…
The majestic Thunder God instantly turned into a frazzled bird! Though it originally looked like one, now… it looked even more like it! Struck by Thunder, the terrifying voltage made Zapdos, with its dual Electric/Flying typing, unbearable. It shrieked, plummeting from the sky. The golden feathers, restored to beauty after healing in the lake, became messy again, even slightly scorched.
The Thunder God… shot down by Thunder?!
Ash: …
This guy… wasn't this a bit ironic?
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