"How did we survive that, Ash?" Pikachu asked bewildered.
"I have no idea Pikachu, I'm just grateful we did," Ash said standing up and looking up to the skies. "Look Pikachu!" he exclaimed. "Am I seeing this right?" Above them a rainbow had appeared after the storm had ended. Flying into it was a magnificent golden bird. Quickly taking out his Pokédex and Pokégear he snapped a picture of it. "It's Ho-Oh Pikachu."
"Ho-Oh, Pokédex number 250. The Legendary Rainbow Pokémon. A legend says that its body glows in seven colours. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies. It will reveal itself before a pure-hearted trainer."
Not realising how good hearing Ho-Oh had, she looked down at Ash. So, this was the chosen one? The one who would bring balance to the world? Making a decision she circled around and landed in the clearing surprising Ash.
"Greetings Chosen One," a musical voice said into his head. "So you are the destined child who will bring balance to our world once more?"
"Erm, yeah I guess," he stuttered as a reply. "Arceus told you about that? Sorry, I'm just stunned, no one will believe this."
"Does that matter to you?" she asked.
Shaking his head, he said "No, not at all. It's enough for me to know I'm telling the truth. The people who matter will believe me."
"Good answer young one," Ho-Oh said deeply impressed by his answer and began beating her massive wings rising back up into the sky. "Take care Ash. We will no doubt see each other again." With that she flew off at great speed into the distance. Turning back towards his tent he stopped as something landed on his shoulder. Grabbing it he saw that it was a feather. Not just any feather though. "A Rainbow Wing Pikachu," he muttered. "We truly are blessed." Placing the feather underneath his hat he packed up and they carried on with their journey.
The next day after their morning workout the two continued travelling. Occasionally Ash would instruct Pikachu to hit random berries with a Thundershock to improve his aim.
Coming to a stream he saw a young woman there fishing. She had orange hair, was wearing a yellow top with shorts held up by braces. She also looked to be a few years older than Ash. Observing for now he watched as her rod bent over and whatever she caught was clearly putting up a fight. With one massive heave she hauled whatever she caught out of the water and screamed. It was a clearly pissed off Gyarados who had opened its mouth and had begun charging an attack. Seeing it was a Hyper Beam and would kill her, Ash jumped out.
"Quickly Pikachu Thunder Wave followed by Thundershock," Ash called out.
Without hesitating Pikachu launched himself forwards and lit up the Gyarados with a Thunder Wave. As soon as the attack hit it screeched as it was temporarily paralysed. It was then blasted backwards by Pikachu's Thundershock. Ramping up the power it turned into a Thunderbolt. Crashing twenty feet away into the water the Gyarados knew it was beaten. It had only just evolved a few days ago so knew it wouldn't have a chance against a trained Pokémon just yet.
"Congratulations Pikachu, you just unlocked the basics for Thunderbolt," Ash said picking him up. "We'll have to start training more on its usage and we'll soon have you blasting rock types all over the place."
Hearing a snort of derision, he looked over at the trainer he had forgotten about. "Something funny?" he asked.
"Don't you know anything?" came the snide reply. "Rock types are immune to electric attacks. What else should I expect from a newbie though?"
"Well, I clearly know more than you do given it was me that just saved you from having your head separated from your shoulders from an angry Gyarados," he replied. "Come on Pikachu. We have places to be." Just as he was about to leave he saw her turn and shriek "My Bike!"
Looking over he saw that it was blackened and burned. It seemed Pikachu had destroyed her bike when he attacked the Gyarados. Shaking his head Ash began to walk away.
"Hey, not so fast!" she screamed. "You owe me a new bike!" At that she began charging at Ash with a mallet in her hand. Instinct took over and in an instant he had her pinned face down to the ground, the mallet a few feet away and her arm being twisted.
"Now is that any way to thank us for saving your life?" Ash asked.
"You destroyed my bike. You can't just leave," she screamed into the ground.
"What's your name missy? And don't lie," he asked twisting her arm further making her cry out.
"It's Misty of Cerulean City," she cried.
"Well Misty of Cerulean City, I would think that a destroyed bike is a small price to pay for me saving your life don't you?" Looking down he noticed a red Pokédex sticking out of her pocket. Grabbing it he pointed his own at it and said "Dexter, can you transfer 10,000 Poké dollars to the Pokédex with the serial number MW180688 please" hearing a beep to signify it had been done he placed it at the side of her head and said "Now this time I will let you walk away. The next time you won't be so lucky." Standing up Ash carried on walking away leaving her to clutch her arm in pain swearing she'd get revenge.
The middle of the third day Ash and Pikachu came up to Viridian City. This place did not hold very good memories for Ash. His father had disappeared here eleven years ago, and he had also spent a week in a coma here five years ago. So, he wanted to be in and out of here as quickly as possible. Walking into the Pokémon Centre he handed Pikachu over to the nurse Joy to be looked at while he made his way over to the telephone booth. Dialling Sam's number he waited for him to pick up.
"Hello Ash. Are you at Viridian City already?"
"Hi Professor," he replied. "Yes, I am. I got waylaid by those bloody Spearow though. I thought Dragonite had taken care of them like he usually does at this time of year?"
"Ah it slipped my mind this year Ash. Sorry about that. I'll send Dragonite tomorrow to deal with them," Sam replied sheepishly.
"There's no need professor," Ash said. "Pikachu and I took care of them. We may have fried a few though as his Thundershock attack was aided by a Thunderbolt from the storm yesterday."
"No worries, Ash. Was that all you rang to tell me?" Sam asked.
"No, I'm going to send you a picture on my Pokégear. You need to promise me you won't freak out," Ash said chuckling. Sending the picture of Ho-Oh Ash waited for Oak to receive it. Seeing Oak turn around to open the picture in his emails he heard "IS THAT HO-OH?" Cancelling the call Ash laughed as he called his mum and informed her of what had gone on, heavily edited of course. She was proud of what he'd achieved so far and was happy he paid for the bike. He did destroy it after all. Hearing his name being called he said goodbye to his mum, picked up Pikachu and went up to his room. It had been a long day.
Ash found it rather hard to unwind after the events of the day. Feeling a bit hungry he decided he'd go and see if there was a vending machine. He and Pikachu walked downstairs to the lobby. Just as he was about to enter the lobby, he heard raised voices coming from the other side of the door.
"Give us all your Pokémon or we'll burn this place to the ground," a voice of a woman said nastily.
"Yeah, you don't want to mess with Team Rocket," came a suave voice.
"Cough them up Nurse. We know this place is loaded," a third voice said with a Brooklyn accent.
"This place houses sick and injured Pokémon. They're of no value to you," Nurse Joy's distressed voice came.
"We'll decide whether they're valuable or not. Ekans, get ready to bite her if she's not more receptive," the woman's voice said cruelly.
Ash decided this would be the perfect time to act. Quietly he told Pikachu of the plan. Bursting through the door he saw two people dressed in Rocket uniforms and a Meowth at the desk, a small purple snake was poised on the floor ready to launch at the clearly terrified Nurse Joy. Ash launched an Aura sphere at the Ekans while Pikachu used a Thunder Wave at the trainers paralysing them. A Koffing came out of nowhere and bodily tackled Pikachu, but he was ready and rolled back onto all fours and launched a Thundershock at it knocking it out.
Going over to the trainers he searched them for their Poké Balls. Finding them he recalled the knocked out Pokémon and told Nurse Joy to call the police while he secured the Rocket members. Ash despised Team Rocket for what they had cost his family.
"Who are you twerp?" the man asked terrified. The trainer in front of him had been unbelievably efficient in taking them out. Ignoring them Ash looked around. "Where is the third person? And where is the Meowth? You better talk before I start breaking bones."
"Don't tell him James. Go ahead. Do your worst," the woman said as she came around. "We'll tell you nothing."
"But Jessie, he looks serious," James said earning a derisive snort from Jessie and a "tell him nothing James. He won't do a thing".
"Have it your way," Ash said as he grabbed the purple headed man's hand and yanked on a finger bending it backwards. Screaming from the pain James shouted "he has gone in the back looking for Pokémon. But he'll have heard this commotion and will have gone for back up" James was bluffing with that but the trainer didn't know that and would surely fear them now that more would be coming.
"Good, let him bring more people. And I'll beat the crap out of them too," Ash said breaking his finger causing James to howl. He wished this would have happened outdoors, he would have tortured these two for hours. Standing up he said "Pikachu keep an eye on these two and wait for the police. I will go see what's happening with the Pokémon in the back." Walking out and into the back area of the Pokémon Centre Ash quickly found where the intruder was. He could hear noises and mutterings from the ajar door. As he went to open it, he heard from inside "Jessie, James? Have you guys finally decided to do some work? Help me lift these balls down before someone hears us and calls the cops."
Opening the door Ash was shocked. Where he had thought it was a man it turned out to be a Meowth. And a talking one at that. "About time youse guys," Meowth said before turning around. Seeing Ash, it jumped back in shock. "You're not Jessie and James. What have you done to them?"
"Not as much as I'd have wanted to believe me," Ash said. "But right about now the police should be arriving to collect your friends. Shall we go and join them?"
"You'll never take me alive twerp," Meowth said jumping at Ash with his claws out. "Taste my Fury Swipes." Meowth was clearly untrained as he was unbelievably slow. Sidestepping Meowth he smacked the back of Meowth's head in mid-air and launched him into the wall stunning him. Ash quickly grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and Meowth went limp. He knew when he was beaten. "I'll go quietly twerp".
"Good choice," Ash said walking into the lobby where he saw Officer Jenny had turned up. She was in the middle of taking a statement off Nurse Joy when Ash arrived.
"Ah, and here's our hero," she said. "I am Officer Jenny. It seems thanks are in order for saving our Pokémon Centre from thieves."
"Think nothing of it," Ash said throwing Meowth at Jessie and James. "This guy is the third member of their inept little group. He's promised that he won't be any trouble, haven't you?" Ash said threateningly. Getting a whimper as a reply Ash nodded satisfied. Giving his statement to Jenny he helped her load them into her van, gave her his Pokégear number in case of anything else she needed and watched as she drove away. Walking back into the centre he wished Joy a goodnight and went to bed. He knew that Team Rocket was usually more lethal than the group tonight had been. His and Pikachu's training was clearly showing merits though and paying off. What a day he thought as he drifted off.
The next morning Ash awoke and made his way down to the canteen to get breakfast. Sitting down he began to dig in when another person sat opposite him. Looking up he was surprised to see it was Giovanni.
"Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to find my nephew had come to my city and not popped by to say hello. I feel a bit hurt Ash," Giovanni said, a smile belying his words.
"I only arrived late yesterday, Uncle, and last night was rather eventful," Ash said shaking his head.
"Yes, Jenny told me this morning about you stopping some thieves from robbing this place," Giovanni asked questioningly.
"Team Rocket members apparently," Ash said.
Immediately Giovanni straightened up. "Do you mean to tell me those scum came back to my city and tried to rob my Pokémon Centre? The absolute audacity! For eleven years I have meticulously kept this city crime free. Not even a wallet goes missing without me knowing about it and now Rocket is back and the first place they hit is here?"
"If it makes you feel better the three I captured were unbelievably inept," Ash said. "I had them beaten inside ten seconds."
"It does not Ash. Those bastards cost me a brother-in-law, you a father and my sister a husband. I must go, I have three criminals to deal with." Standing up Giovanni clapped Ash on the shoulder and left.
"Something is odd about him Ash," Pikachu said as he had been quietly observing them both. "Something is very strange about him. It's like he's trying to keep up an appearance."
"I know," Ash said. "I have felt the same for as long as I have known him, I just have no idea what it is. Now come on, we have shopping to do. I want to get you specialised food for electric types as well as vitamins. We'll change your training routine every two weeks to focus on different areas. After all what good is your speed and special attack if your defence is awful. Your Mild nature makes you quite the special powerhouse, but it has serious drawbacks defensively." Standing up they went about their business. After another night drawing up plans and training schedules Ash and Pikachu went to bed. Tomorrow they would brave the Viridian Forest and needed a good night's sleep.