Viridian City Pokemon Center
The room was filled with tension when the grunts moved first.
"Zubat Supersonic!"
"Koffing Smog!"
"Rattata Bite!"
The lobby erupted into chaos. The air was filled with purple haze spewed by Koffing, Zubat's screech rattled the walls, and Rattata lunged at the nearest trainer.
"Treecko, Pound!" I shouted.
He darted forward, eyes gleaming. His tail whipped hard, smacking the Rattata mid-lunge and sending it rolling. He didn't stop, he leapt again, dodging a Zubat's dive and slamming it down with a sharp kick.
Misty threw her Pokeball. "Staryu, I need you!"
Staryu spun into existence with a metallic cry, instantly tackling another Zubat out of the air.
Ash stood frozen for a second, fists tight at his sides. Pikachu was still recovering, hooked to equipment at the back. His eyes burned. I can't just do nothing.
Around us, other trainers joined the fray. A Pidgey whipped up a Gust to scatter smoke, a Spearow rammed into Koffing, while a handful of Rattata squared off with their wild cousins. For a moment, it was nearly even.
But the Pokemon Center lobby wasn't built for battle. Walls shook. Glass cracked. Smoke clung heavy.
"Treecko, Rock Tomb!" I yelled.
He leapt high, tail flashing as chunks of conjured stone slammed into two Rattatas pinning them under rubble.
One grunt cursed. "Tch, we're getting overrun!"
Jessie sneered. "Pathetic. Do I have to do everything myself?"
James sighed dramatically. "It seems so. Oh, the indignity."
They tossed their Pokeballs forward in unison. "Go, Ekans!" Jessie cried.
"Take the stage, Koffing!" James chimed.
The two Pokemon burst into the fray, hissing and cackling as they slithered and floated forward.
"Bind that Treecko!" Jessie ordered.
Ekans shot forward, wrapping around Treecko. He hissed in pain, tail pinned tight.
"Treecko, Absorb!"
His body glowed green, energy siphoning from Ekans. The snake hissed, forced to loosen just enough for Treecko to slip free.
James pointed dramatically. "Koffing use Smokescreen!"
The lobby drowned in black smog. Trainers coughed, eyes watering.
"Not good," Misty muttered, shielding her face.
But Treecko's eyes gleamed even in the haze. "Use Leafage!" I called.
Leaves shot out like blades, slicing through smoke and striking Ekans across the head.
Treecko landed back by my side, panting but standing tall. The other trainers rallied. Pidgey flapped harder. Staryu's gem blazed, knocking Zubat after Zubat from the air. One grunt cursed under his breath. "We're losing?"
Jessie's lip curled. "Fine, time to get serious!"
"Ekans, Poison Sting!"
"Koffing, Tackle!"
Treecko dodged needle after needle, but a hit grazed his side. He staggered. My chest tightened.
"Hang in there! Rock Tomb again!"
Stones erupted, striking Koffing mid-charge, sending it reeling.
That was when a crackle of electricity filled the air. I turned around and saw.
Pikachu's body glowed faintly as sparks began building. Around him, the injured Electric-types resting in the Center Magnemite, Voltorb and even an Electabuzz all released small streams of power. The energy flowed into Pikachu, charging him like a storm gathering in one place.
Ash gasped. "Pikachu"
Pikachu's sparks grew brighter, stronger, until the air itself hummed with static.
Pikachu staggered forward, cheeks blazing with light.
"Piii…Kaaaa…CHUUUUUU!"
The Thunderbolt erupted, a blinding wave of electricity tore through Ekans and Koffing, arcing across the grunts' Pokemon, crackling through Jessie, James, and Meowth.
The Thunderbolt erupted, a blinding wave of electricity that slammed into Jessie, James, Meowth, Ekans, and Koffing all at once.
"Waaaaaahhh!"
The trio spun, screamed, and launched skyward blasting a hole in the ceiling.
Ding! A sparkle vanished with them into the distance.
The grunts, scorched and trembling, bolted for the doors, leaving their fainted Pokemons behind. Trainers collapsed into exhausted heaps, Pokemon panting at their sides.
I exhaled hard, my heart pounding. Treecko limped back to me, pride shining in his eyes despite the bruises.
Ash knelt beside Pikachu, tears of relief in his eyes. "That… was Pikachu."
Misty crossed her arms, eyes wide. "...What on earth was that?"
Pikachu just gave a weary, triumphant "Pika."
And just like that, the Pokemon Center was safe, for now.
The battle was over, but the silence afterward felt heavier. Smoke lingered in the rafters, glass crunched underfoot, and the Pokemon Center lobby was a wreck, chairs overturned, cracks spiderwebbing across the floor. Trainers were exhausted, their Pokemon even more so, but they were safe.
I sat on a bench with Treecko, my hand brushing his head as he stayed alert, eyes sharp.
Team Rocket.
Back in my old life, they had been comic relief—a running gag. But tonight, I'd seen their ruthlessness up close. Grunts flooding the room, the trio stepping in without hesitation, chaos breaking out in seconds. If Pikachu hadn't been powered up, if the trainers hadn't stood together, things could have gone much worse.
"This world isn't just the one I remember," I murmured under my breath. "It's alive. And dangerous."
After a while Nurse Joy, who had been rushed to safety right after the battle began, rushed in after the sounds of battle had faded.
She froze, shocked after seeing the wreckage and the help of fainted Pokemons. "Oh my goodness… what happened here?!"
Before anyone could answer, the doors slammed open. Officer Jenny stormed in, with Growlithe by her side, eyes sharp. "Viridian Police! Everyone stay where you are!"
A few trainers raised their hands instinctively. I had to bite back a laugh—it looked more like school kids caught stealing lunch than survivors of a fight.
Ash clutched Pikachu tighter, stepping forward. "It wasn't us! Team Rocket attacked!"
Officer Jenny's gaze swept across the unconscious Pokemon before landing on Nurse Joy who nodded. "Team Rocket again, huh? First time they've shown their faces here…" She shook her head, muttering under her breath.
Nurse Joy hurried to the injured Pokemon still on the field. "Oh dear, I'll need to treat them quickly." Then she looked at Pikachu, worry flashing across her face. "And you, back to the ward, now."
"Right!" Ash darted after her, Pikachu nestled in his arms.
I sighed and crouched, letting Treecko climb up my shoulder. He was scratched and bruised, but his little smirk told me he was proud of himself. I gave him a small smile. "Yeah, you did great."
Officer Jenny approached, sizing me up. "You were fighting too?"
"Yes, ma'am." I straightened up, trying to sound calm. "My Treecko helped push them back."
She frowned. "...Hmph. Brave kid. Still, this isn't something new trainers should be handling." She jotted notes in her pad, then snapped as Misty tried to slip past. "And you"
Misty nearly jumped. She must've been about to storm out, but Officer Jenny's glare froze her mid-step. Misty stammered "H-Hey, don't look at me! I just helped, that's all!"
Officer Jenny sighed, clearly unconvinced. "Fine. But all of you should be careful. Team Rocket won't stop here."
The warning settled like a stone in my chest. My journey had barely begun, and already it was reminding me: this wasn't a game.
The tension only broke when Misty's stomach growled loudly. Her face turned scarlet.
"I—I skipped dinner, okay?!" she snapped.
Ash scratched the back of his head. "Uh… maybe we could all eat together?"
Misty huffed but didn't argue further.
I couldn't help it, a laugh slipped out, breaking the lingering heaviness. "Sounds fair. After tonight, I think we all deserve a meal."
Even Officer Jenny cracked the faintest smile. "Fine. But don't wander too far until my officers finish clearing this place."
And so, despite the broken windows and lingering smoke, the Pokemon Center slowly buzzed back to life. Trainers checked on their partners, nurses rushed back and forth, and in the middle of it all… we were just three kids who'd been thrown into something bigger than ourselves.