After Ash followed Erika back to the Celadon Gym, the two parted ways.
Erika went off to sleep and rest in a leisurely manner. After all, since Giovanni had already come and gone, there was no need for Team Rocket to keep watching them. Matters that couldn't be managed should be handled by 'lying flat'!
Ash returned to the guest room arranged for him. The neon lights of the city outside the window had long since dimmed, leaving only the cold moonlight filtering through the window lattice, draping a layer of silver gauze over the room. The hustle and danger were shut out, leaving only a reassuring silence. On the whole, this world was still very peaceful; everyone had a tacit understanding to suppress the darker side into the shadows.
"Pika..." Pikachu crouched by the bedside, watching as Ash carefully placed the limp Misdreavus onto the soft bedding. The little thing had eaten too much and was drowsy, likely in a state between asleep and awake.
The red electric sacs on Pikachu's cheeks were still trembling slightly due to its earlier worry and rapid sprinting. Although it had received the signal that Ash was safe and sound, that vague sense of crisis didn't completely dissipate until it saw Ash and Misdreavus with its own eyes.
Ash took a deep breath and sat down next to Pikachu, placing his palm gently on its warm back. The texture of the yellow mouse felt quite nice...
"Partner."
Ash spoke, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
"Tonight... we met someone incredible."
He hid nothing. From the battle with Erika at the Game Corner, to Misdreavus's sudden disappearance, to flashing the Gym Leader Badge to enter the back area, and finally that chair facing away from them, as well as the man who turned around bringing a crushing pressure heavy as a mountain.
"It was the Leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni."
When mentioning this name, Ash felt a bit conflicted. He didn't know what it would be like when he met Giovanni again at the eighth Gym, the Viridian Gym.
"Pika?!" Pikachu raised its head abruptly, its ears standing straight up, its eyes instantly becoming sharp. Even though it hadn't faced him personally, the weight represented by the title "Team Rocket Leader," as well as the lingering gravity in Ash's tone, made it understand just how dangerous an encounter this had been.
Movie clips seen previously flashed through Pikachu's mind—the Great Demon King who destroys the world. Although Giovanni didn't have thoughts of destroying the world, in terms of positioning, he was about the same as a Great Demon King.
Ash described the scene in detail—the air that almost solidified, Erika's tense body, the manager's tears of fear, and Giovanni's unfathomable posture. Ash recounted how he had stepped forward, how he had spoken up to demand Misdreavus under that pressure, and also Giovanni's unexpected laughter and those ambiguous words of praise. Ash held nothing back.
"He said... he looks forward to seeing what step I can finally reach." Ash's voice carried some confusion, but also a bit of the excitement of being acknowledged by a powerhouse. "He also gave me this."
He took out the small box from the inner pocket of his clothes. After opening it, the rainbow-colored feather lay quietly under the moonlight, appearing unremarkable.
"...Pika?" Pikachu leaned in curiously.
Ash gently touched the feather with his finger. In the next moment, the feather radiated a seven-colored rainbow light, soft and holy, illuminating a corner of the room in a dreamlike manner. A feather of Ho-Oh was indeed miraculous.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu stepped back half a pace in surprise. It could feel the vast and warm life force contained within the feather; it was an existence far beyond its scope of understanding.
"This is a feather of our Kanto's God, Ho-Oh—the Rainbow Wing," Ash explained in a low voice, looking at this holy object with a complex gaze. "Giovanni said it once belonged to him, but later it lost its light... Now, it has chosen me."
To be honest... Ash found it quite baffling. According to the original anime movies, he should have picked up this feather the first time he saw Ho-Oh. Yet, not only did he not pick it up then... he had actually received this feather from Giovanni's hands.
If this was also being "chosen" by a God, what did this "selection" imply behind the scenes? Ash didn't know. But that heavy feeling had already quietly landed on his shoulders. After all, there really were Gods in this world. Gods standing on a higher plane of the world could see farther and would have their own thoughts.
Giovanni was rejected by this feather and finally chose to give it up... From this perspective, Ho-Oh was actually quite easy to talk to. At least it didn't get angry because of Giovanni's choice, right? It was a benevolent God~~
What? You say it's possible Ho-Oh just couldn't beat him? That possibility does exist, but let's give the shiny variant Fearow some face. Ho-Oh indeed wasn't a combat-type God like Giratina or the Order Pokémon, Zygarde. Even among regional chief Gods, combat power varied.
The narration finished, the room fell into silence again. Pikachu digested this astonishing information. Its paws clenched involuntarily.
Pikachu: POWER!
Pikachu: I NEED POWER!
At this moment, the other protagonist of the event finally made a little noise from its "slumber."
"Maa~~~~"
Misdreavus struggled to turn over on the bed, its belly still round and bulging. It looked at Ash aggrievedly with a pair of large, watery eyes and let out another small hiccup. Although it was blissful while eating, the heavy burden afterwards was truly uncomfortable for Misdreavus.
Ash sighed with a mix of helplessness and amusement, and began to gently rub its distended little belly. "That's what you get for being greedy. You know it's uncomfortable now, don't you?"
Misdreavus is so cute~
"Maa maa..." Misdreavus made comfortable humming sounds that carried a hint of acting spoiled. Feeling the warmth and moderate pressure from the tummy rub, its body slowly relaxed.
As he rubbed, Misdreavus seemed to remember something, and its mood suddenly became a bit downcast. Using telepathy, it intermittently added some details about its experience in the underground room, especially the trembling it felt when facing that terrifying Beedrill, and the embarrassment of being fed until it couldn't move.
*[ Ash... ]
Misdreavus's voice rang in the bottom of Ash's heart, carrying a trace of hesitation.
[ That very scary, very scary big guy... was so strong... If I could be that strong too, would I not be scared anymore? ]
[ And... ]
Its gaze drifted to the corner of the room, to the backpack Ash had placed there for easy access. Inside was the Dusk Stone given as a "dowry."
[ The stone the Boss gave... if I use it, I can evolve and become Mismagius. ]
Ash's hand paused slightly in its rubbing motion. "Isn't evolving into Mismagius good? You'll become even more powerful."
Judging from its behavior all along, Misdreavus didn't seem to want to evolve, and Ash had tacitly never brought it up.
[ But... ]
Misdreavus's voice became lower, filled with childish conflict.
[ Boss Gastly said that evolving means being an adult... I can't be willful like a child anymore. I can't pull pranks casually anymore. I have to become more reliable and steady... ]
It lifted its eyes, looking at Ash and Pikachu: [ I don't want to be an adult so soon... I still want to play with Ash, want to pull pranks with Pikachu, want to continue like this... ]
Emm... actually, it was always Misdreavus pulling pranks on Pikachu.
Pikachu: Don't you spread rumors about me with empty words!
Misdreavus worried that once it evolved, that innocence, mischievousness, and carefree nature belonging to a Misdreavus would fade away. This worry was not unreasonable. Pokémon evolution could be accompanied by drastic changes in body and mind. Although cases with huge differences like Magikarp evolving into Gyarados were the minority, it wasn't like there weren't others.
Misdreavus clung to the feeling of being carefully looked after and being able to act spoiled freely at this moment. The increase in power versus the passing of childhood became a multiple-choice question blocking its heart.
Misdreavus: Conflicted (｡･^･｡)
She had lived in Maiden's Peak for a long time, always taking care of other, younger Ghost-type Pokémon. Now, she really liked the feeling of being taken care of.
Ash understood Misdreavus's distress. He slowed down the rubbing of her belly and gently stroked Misdreavus's cold and smooth head.
"Mengmeng, evolution doesn't mean losing yourself," Ash's voice was very gentle. "Look at Pikachu; it evolved from a Pichu."
"Evolution is a way of growing up. It gives you the ability to protect the things you don't want to lose, including your 'innocence' and 'happiness'. True strength is being able to shoulder responsibility while also retaining your original heart."
"No matter when you choose to evolve, or if you choose not to evolve, you are always my Mengmeng."
Ash would not rush Misdreavus into making a choice. A bowl of water must be carried level. Since he could tolerate Pikachu making such a choice, he had to be able to endure other Pokémon making the same choice. Whether one is strong or not is a matter of ability. Whether one does it or not is a matter of attitude. The firmness of one's "mind" is the very reason for strength.
[ Really? ]* Misdreavus's eyes brightened a little.
"Of course." Ash smiled. "So, no need to rush. Just follow the thoughts in your heart."
These words were not only spoken to Misdreavus. Pikachu, standing aside, had heard Ash's exchange with Misdreavus and seen all the experiences of tonight with its eyes. It silently jumped onto the windowsill, gazing at the bright moon hanging in the high heavens.
Pikachu didn't want to evolve, but it wanted to become stronger. Especially considering the [Light Ball] Ash had originally given it... essentially, Pikachu still didn't know what that thing actually was. Pikachu only knew it was power given by Ash. It was a symbol of the bond of friendship between both parties.
So, in Pikachu's view, it could become stronger without needing to rely on evolution. Although it had been led astray, it wasn't exactly wrong. Laughs.
The power of Giovanni that Ash spoke of, the terrifying pressure of the Beedrill, the holiness of Ho-Oh's feather, Misdreavus's confusion about evolution and desire for power... all these things were like undercurrents impacting Pikachu's heart.
It thought of the Raichu it faced against Lt. Surge. Although it won through tactics, it was essentially a trick. If Raichu's trainer back then had been a figure like Giovanni, would its tactics still have worked? If it encountered an opponent more terrifying than that Beedrill in the future, would it have the ability to protect Ash, and to protect this little fellow who had just joined and was still worrying about growing up?
An unprecedented, urgent desire for power burned fiercely in Pikachu's heart. It couldn't be satisfied with the status quo; it couldn't rely solely on tactics and clever tricks. It needed to be faster, stronger, and tougher! It wanted to be able to confront those giant beasts in the shadows head-on, to be able to protect the dream and bond it pursued together with Ash!
Its tail straightened slightly, and the electric sacs flickered with minute arcs of electricity again. But this time, it wasn't due to worry, but due to determination. The God Pikachu's determination became even firmer here!
Ash soothed Misdreavus, who gradually began to doze off due to comfort, placing it gently on the pillow and covering it with a small blanket. Anyway—since it fell into my hands, no matter who it is, they must cover their tummy when sleeping!!!
Then he walked to the window and stood shoulder to shoulder with Pikachu, also looking towards that bright, immaculate moon. Ash saw the resolute light flickering in Pikachu's eyes and felt the restrained yet vigorous fighting spirit within it. He understood what his partner was thinking.
A warm hand was gently placed on top of Pikachu's head, stroking it tenderly. Pikachu didn't look back, but its body relaxed slightly, leaning towards Ash's palm.
"Partner..." Ash's voice rang out.
"There will be many opponents in the future."
"There will be more crises in the future."
"We can't be certain about the future at all."
Ash's voice gradually rose:
"What we are stepping onto is a journey filled with thorns and glory! But I know this is a Victory Road leading to strength."
Ash leaned down to be at eye level with Pikachu. His eyes shone brightly under the moonlight. Coming to this world for a trip, how could he not achieve something? Retreat? Non-existent!
His emotions were also a bit agitated today; this was stimulated by Giovanni.
"We will not fear the strong enemies ahead, nor will we be lost in temporary weakness! Turn this unwillingness and desire into the flame that tempers ourselves!"
"Our bond is the proof of being the strongest!"
"Our will can pierce through the stars!"
Ash stretched out his finger, pointing at the boundless night sky outside the window, like a certain drill that wants to break through the heavens—Tengen Toppa · Super Guren Magma.
"Pika—chu!!!"
Pikachu suddenly turned around and jumped into Ash's arms. Powerful electric currents burst out uncontrollably, and golden electric light instantly wrapped around the two of them.
Don't misunderstand, Pikachu certainly wasn't moved by Ash. It had heard similar nonsense more than once, twice, or thrice. Pikachu's ears were almost growing calluses from hearing it.
Pikachu: You bastard, don't ruin the atmosphere at a time like this!
Pikachu: I just wanted some quiet, I didn't want to listen to your pep talk!
That was Pikachu's true meaning. The two were now best friends, so there wasn't much they needed to mind between them. A bad friend is still a friend. Laughs.
Yet, in the shining electric light, Ash had no reaction. On one hand, he was used to being shocked; on the other hand, the lightning resistance from the Vermilion Gym Badge was quite useful. After all, Pikachu wasn't using its full power; it looked like a big scene, but the voltage wasn't high.
More importantly... there was a kind of closeness between heart and heart... appearing to be mutually transferable? This was mental synchronization... Thinking of his identity... was this Bond Phenomenon?
Ash had a feeling he could amplify Pikachu's electricity. This couldn't possibly be Magnetic Field Rotation, right!!
Considering this world indeed had psychics, and high-level Trainers also had special traits... For example, Elite Four Agatha's "Death Makeup."
Ash discovered that as a Trainer, he was also starting to become more and more strange. ...He suddenly remembered that in Pokémon Adventures, Trainers indeed had special talents, such as the Fighter, the Breeder, the Healer, and so on.
And behind the two of them. On the pillow. Awakened by the electric light and the sound of metal clashing, Misdreavus opened one eye a crack, watching the human and pet embracing in the lightning.
Ash's final words were a bit loud, so Misdreavus had vaguely heard some of it. Feeling that conviction which was almost overflowing... Misdreavus nuzzled the soft pillow and closed its eyes again.
____
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