Chapter 34: The Top Ten Pokémon You'd Want to De-evolve After Evolving
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
After a short break, the trio arrived at the Vermilion Gym.
The path to the Gym had previously been blocked by dead trees and branches.
This was a small trial set up by the Gym Leader for challenging Trainers, a test to see if they could reach the main gate using their own abilities.
It was just that recently, a nameless tree-cutting madman had appeared in Vermilion City, chopping down any tree he saw.
He had even chopped down every last dead tree and branch in Vermilion City, completely exposing the Gym's main entrance.
The Vermilion City news media immediately seized the opportunity to promote the "green sustainable development" concept of "If you want to get rich, start by felling trees!"
"Rattata, hang in there! Don't you die on me! You've always been my best friend!!!"
Just then, a youth who looked like a Novice Trainer ran out of the Gym's main entrance.
His expression was a mixture of anxiety, resentment, and regret as he ran and roared.
In his arms, he clutched a Rattata that was Unable to Battle, a tragic sight that was charred on the outside and smelled faintly of cooked meat.
He didn't notice Ash and his two companions, simply encouraging his Rattata nonstop as he quickly brushed past them and disappeared from the Vermilion Gym entrance.
"You have to hold on until we reach the Pokémon Center! That way I can save a Revive!"
His cries could still be heard from a distance.
The three of them looked at the Rattata's miserable state and couldn't help but swallow hard.
It looked like it had been fainted and then endlessly beaten for good measure.
"Ash, I have a feeling this Gym Leader is no pushover."
"He's definitely more ruthless than the two of us."
Hearing this, Ash didn't dare to be complacent. He took a deep breath and then forcefully pushed open the doors to the Vermilion Gym.
As the future Pokémon Master, he feared nothing!
The moment he entered, a dazzling beam of light shone in his eyes, making him involuntarily squint like Brock beside him.
Having small eyes has its advantages.
A rather deep and gruff man's voice came from within, carrying the tone of a muttered complaint.
"How come there's another challenger..."
"I don't know who chopped down my trees, but now any old scrub thinks they can challenge me."
"Damn it."
The lights dimmed, and Ash and his friends regained their line of sight.
Unexpectedly, the interior of this Gym wasn't as flashy as the last two, with their rocks and large pools.
The Vermilion Gym was just a standard, empty Training Ground, with some Audience Seating around the perimeter.
A rugged man with a skin tone somewhere between Ash's and Brock's stood before him.
His muscles were bulging, and he was nearly two meters tall, like a small mountain.
"!"
A huge shadow fell over Ash. The immense aura forced him to take a step back.
"Ahaha, another little newbie kid? Go beat the weak Cerulean and Pewter Gyms next door before you come challenge me! I don't hold back! Ahahaha!"
The man burst into arrogant laughter.
Brock, Misty: "!"
They were offended.
The two of them immediately slapped their hands on Ash's shoulders, their voices heavy.
"Ash, you don't need to go easy on him for my sake."
"Ash, hurry up and borrow that Charizard from your friend and teach this guy a lesson!!"
Ash: "..."
He pushed their arms away, tipped his hat down slightly, and faced the man head-on.
"This is my battle. I won't borrow anyone else's power!"
Brother Red might be powerful, but that was ultimately an external force. Those Pokemon belonged to someone else.
Perhaps he would consider using those Pokemon on the day he finally managed to pull off a Body Possession on Brother Red.
Red: "..."
Or maybe, if Brother Red was one day exorcised by a monk, he could rightfully inherit his legacy.
Maybe in the future, if he ran into a monk, he could stage a Faked Accident and deliberately bump into him?
And then the guy could hit him with some kind of powerful exorcism chant?
He'd heard there were a lot of monks in the Johto Region...?
Red: "?"
*Can you at least wait until I'm asleep before you consider these schemes?*
Ash raised his head. The man before him had a blonde buzz cut and wore a dark green military uniform. *Do Trainers moonlight as soldiers now?* he wondered.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, the future Pokémon Master, and I'm here to challenge you!"
he declared spiritedly, showing no weakness.
The man nodded slightly, giving temporary approval for Ash's courage to face a challenge head-on.
"Better than the last few cowards, I guess. Since you're a challenger, then let's..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the tall man's eyes suddenly went wide.
He had spotted the Pikachu by Ash's leg, and he stared at it as if he'd just seen some rare, exotic beast.
"Let me see, let me see! You've actually got an Electric Mouse! Its fur is smooth, its Electric Sacs are full, and the steps on its tail have the standard four bends... You've raised this Pikachu quite well!"
"It's just a bit too fat. With a physique like that, can it even take a step, let alone use Tackle?"
Ash was not pleased to hear this. He quickly raised his hands to lift Pikachu, wanting to show that his Pikachu wasn't that heavy.
However, he had barely lifted it before his arms dipped slightly, not yet used to the weight.
*Yep, it's definitely gotten heavier.*
But that wasn't the point.
"My Pikachu's speed is extremely fast! Its Quick Attack is way faster than others'!"
he quickly retorted.
"Pika!"
Pikachu signaled that Ash was right, also raising a tiny fist.
"Not bad, not bad. I approve of you. My name is Lt. Surge, and I'm an honorary member of the Vermilion City Pokémon Club's Electric Mouse division!"
Lt. Surge suddenly extended a large hand, gesturing for a handshake.
Ash was stunned. He had indeed seen a Pokémon Club next to the Pokémon Center.
He had just assumed it was a front set up by Team Rocket to scam people.
Do all rugged guys have a soft spot these days?
"In that case, let's have a showdown to see who's better at raising an Electric Mouse."
Ash: "?"
*Why do I feel like the plot is heading in a weird direction?*
Next, Lt. Surge threw out his Poké Ball.
*Thump!*
It was an Electric Mouse several times larger than Pikachu. Its skin was a dark yellow-brown, and the stepped tail had become a long, thin, lightning-bolt-shaped tail.
It had a belligerent expression and was rubbing its fists together.
"Pokedex Beep. Raichu, the Evolved Form of Pikachu. Its Physical Strength and electric power are increased, but its aesthetic appeal is lowered. It ranks in the top three of this year's 'Top Ten Pokémon You'd Want to De-evolve After Evolving' list."
Ash's Pokedex announced automatically.
Lt. Surge: "?"
Raichu: "?"
Ash quickly shoved the Pokedex back into his pocket.
"Haha, this Pokedex is an old antique, it likes to spout nonsense. Don't mind it..."
He was genuinely afraid this Pokedex would get dismantled by someone one day.
Although... this Pokémon called Raichu... really wasn't as cute anymore.
Ash inexplicably imagined his own Pikachu evolving into a Raichu with an Electric Amplifier, then crushing his shoulder under its weight.
*Nope, no Evolution for you!*
*From now on, I have to stay far away from any Electric Amplifiers.*
Lt. Surge hurriedly tried to defend it:
"Ahem, although the official Vermilion City blog did rank Raichu in the top three of the 'Top Ten Pokémon You'd Want to De-evolve After Evolving' list, that's all just malicious review-bombing from miserable haters! There are actually lots of people who love Raichu!"
Ash's brow furrowed. So that list actually exists.
*I'll have to look it up properly when I get back. Don't want to blindly evolve something and step on a landmine...*
"Pika pika..."
Pikachu also noticed the suddenly-appeared Raichu. Its eyes narrowed, and pointing a small finger at the other Pokémon, it bent over laughing.
*What a fat Electric Mouse!*
*It's even fatter than me!?*
*And so dark!?*
"Pika-pi... mmmph..."
Ash quickly squatted down and covered Pikachu's mouth.
*That's a Raichu, that's its standard build! Don't you dare judge others by your own Pikachu physique!*
*For Farfetch'd's sake!*
*They're all talkers, how is it that each one is better at Taunting than the last!*
—
(Trivia: In the games, you need Slash to get to the Vermilion Gym entrance, and the Pokémon Club is right next door.)