"So… Electric-type moves are completely off the table now."
Watching Electabuzz hop lightly in place, Ash couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Abilities like Flash Fire or Motor Drive were absolute nightmares in same-type matchups.
"In that case—Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
I don't care if you've got a Focus Sash or not—break it first!
"Pika!"
A layer of white light wrapped around Pikachu. Its little paws blurred as it shot forward like a streak of light, aiming straight for Electabuzz's chin with a headbutt.
"Buzz!"
At the last moment, Electabuzz grinned. Its body—still bathed in yellow light—shifted slightly to the side, letting Pikachu slip past its abdomen.
At the same time, one of Electabuzz's arms lit up with brilliant white light and came crashing down with terrifying force.
Brick Break!
Clang!
Caught completely off guard, Pikachu was smashed away and sent flying across the floor.
"Pika…"
After scrambling to a stop, Pikachu scratched its aching back—
only to realize its short little arms couldn't even reach the spot that hurt.
Damn it… it broke my back!
Fierce light flared in Pikachu's eyes as it bared its teeth.
But with Electric-type attacks sealed, the only option left was to keep chipping away with Quick Attack.
Ash suddenly remembered Brock's earlier use of Poison Fang.
Red's retired Pikachu also knew that move—maybe Pikachu could secretly copy it sometime?
Poison them, then kite with Quick Attack… sounds like a perfect strategy!
"Pika!"
Before Ash could finish fantasizing, Pikachu had already dashed forward again, cloaked in white light.
This time, Electabuzz didn't underestimate it.
With sharp, almost demonic footwork, it charged forward as well, yellow afterimages trailing behind it—
flashy, extravagant, like it had paid for premium skins.
Meanwhile, Pikachu's movement was far simpler:
plain white afterimages—the free default version.
Yellow light and white light crisscrossed through the abandoned power plant.
"Pikachu—don't lose to it!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two figures flickered through every corner of the facility.
In the end, speed gained through Motor Drive couldn't compare to speed honed through constant training.
The first few exchanges were evenly matched, but after several minutes, Electabuzz began to show fatigue. Its movements slowed.
"Pika!!"
Seizing the opening, Pikachu surged forward. Its speed suddenly jumped another level, slipping past Electabuzz's guard and slamming Quick Attack straight into its chin.
No one noticed it—
But within that white light, a faint, eerie green glow had begun to surface.
Tiny. Almost negligible.
But undeniably real.
Clang!!
The impact forced Electabuzz into a tactical backward lean.
Using the rebound force, Pikachu launched itself skyward. Its small body spun repeatedly in midair, momentum and power rapidly accumulating—
perfectly aligned with Newton's Second Law.
Ash's eyes lit up.
He recognized the opening stance instantly—
this was the ultimate move he had taught Pikachu aboard the S.S. Anne.
"Pika… pika…"
As Pikachu descended, the tip of its tail flared with sharp white light, gleaming with deadly edge, as if it could cut through anything.
Ash roared:
"Now—Iron Tail!"
Wait—
No.
"Now—Cut!"
Electabuzz was so shocked by the descending "sword strike" that it instinctively crossed both arms over its head.
In the blink of an eye, Cut came down hard on Electabuzz's arms.
And then—
A strange sound rang out.
"Tap."
No overwhelming force.
No explosive power.
Pikachu's tail bent like a spring—soft, floppy, harmless—and even bounced back, flinging Pikachu away instead.
The legendary sword strike…
had merely tickled Electabuzz.
Pikachu & Ash: "?"
Wasn't that supposed to be a finishing move?
Why was it so limp?
Was that Secret Technique actually a pirated DVD?!
Electabuzz: "?"
Is this… insurance fraud?!
Brock & Misty: "?"
Thank Arceus Blue wasn't here—
otherwise she'd probably be shaking with rage, bursting into tears.
Did you even file the paperwork before using Cut like that?!
Using it this badly demands an apology!
"BUZZ—!!"
After a few seconds of delay, Electabuzz's face turned red—
redder than an Infernape's backside.
Both arms flared with brilliant white light as it charged furiously.
How dare this Electric mouse toy with me?!
Seeing Pikachu still staring at its own tail in confusion, Ash shouted urgently:
"Pikachu—danger! Use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu's expression snapped serious.
It spun low to the ground in a breakdance-like motion—
a full 360-degree windmill.
This time, its tail was fully coated in thick, metallic luster.
"Pika—CHU!!"
Iron Tail collided head-on with Brick Break.
A burst of white light erupted at the center, shockwaves rippling outward.
The sheer force made everyone's bodies shudder.
Clang!
The ground beneath them collapsed into a crater.
Electric sparks and explosive sound waves echoed throughout the entire power plant.
RUMBLE—!!
Suddenly, the surrounding machines flickered to life.
Gears turned. Systems groaned.
This battle had somehow jump-started machinery that hadn't moved in decades.
And then—
A terrifying pressure descended upon the area.
Everyone felt a chill down their spines.
Even breathing became difficult.
What… was this?
It felt like they had awakened a slumbering titan.
"SKREEEEE!!"
A piercing cry rang out from one corner of the power plant.
All eyes turned toward the sound—
even Pikachu and Electabuzz stopped fighting and looked over.
Electabuzz's face instantly turned pale.
It knew.
There was a monster living here.
"SKREEEEE!!"
The cry grew louder.
The machines glowed blindingly as visible currents of electricity flowed toward the source.
Then—
A massive yellow bird burst into view, wings spread wide.
A sharp, hawk-like face. A long beak. An unmistakably hostile expression.
Its entire body was covered in jagged, spiked feathers.
Despite the ceiling overhead, storm clouds formed around it naturally, lightning dancing wildly.
The pressure was overwhelming.
"Z—Zapdos?!"
Misty and Brock were completely stunned—
especially Brock, whose eyes nearly popped out of his head.
A Legendary Pokémon… hiding in a broken-down factory?!
People could search their entire lives and never see one!
Beep. Zapdos, the Legendary Pokémon.
Its body is covered in sharp, spiked feathers.
It is revered as the God of Thunder in some regions—
though in reality, it is simply a tool bird.
The Pokédex announced calmly.
The aura of a true powerhouse slammed into Ash head-on.
He swallowed hard and asked quietly:
"Brother Red… this isn't the 'trash mob' you mentioned, is it…?"
"Mm-hmm," Red nodded in Ash's mind.
In another world, he had also encountered Zapdos here.
That meant the two worlds truly were connected in countless subtle ways.
Ash: "…"
Please use me as the benchmark next time.
Still…
Zapdos kind of looked like Gary.
That spiky head.
Those dark rings around its eyes—just like Gary's sleep-deprived look.
Seeing it made Ash's eyes sting.
But he quickly wiped away the tears, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
If that's the case—
Then fight!
This battle would be a memorial for Gary!
"Bulbasaur! Charmander! One of you—"
Before he could finish, both Pokémon turned into red light and returned to their Poké Balls on their own.
Next time.
Even Electabuzz had already slipped away without anyone noticing.
With no one else left, Ash could only look down at Pikachu.
Lowering his voice, he asked seriously:
"Pikachu… are you confident?"
"Pika!"
Pikachu nodded firmly.
It wasn't afraid just because the opponent was a Legendary Pokémon.
Even a hundred Zapdos wouldn't scare it.
Ash was instantly reassured.
As expected—Pikachu's always reliable when it counts!
"Then it's decided—go, Pikachu!"
Suddenly, Pikachu ran back toward Ash instead.
With a light hop, it snatched the luxury gold Poké Ball from Ash's belt and held it tightly.
That was its current home—
engraved with a crooked lightning symbol Ash had carved himself.
Holding it like this meant only one thing:
Pikachu had voluntarily entered a non-battle state.
It raised one little paw.
"Pika pika."
(I'm confident—but there's no need.)
Ash: "?"
"SKREEEEE!!"
Zapdos had long since run out of patience.
With a single powerful wingbeat, overwhelming thunder and lightning surged straight toward Ash's face.
Ash swallowed hard, scratched his head nervously, and looked up.
"Uh… how about we also do this next time…?"
Zapdos: "?"
Zapdos's electricity surged violently!
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