The setting sun's afterglow filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled light and shadows across the forest. Ash and his companions were resting on a flat rock, surrounded by tall trees and low bushes.
"We've been walking for so long, everyone must be tired, right?" Brock took out a water bottle from his backpack and handed it to Xiao You. "This forest looks perfect for camping."
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, twitched its ears, and curiously looked around.
Xiao You took the water bottle and took a small sip. "Thank you. Sylveon seems to really like the atmosphere here." The Sylveon beside her was gently touching the ground with its ribbon-like feelers, sensing the forest's energy.
Ash smiled and patted Pikachu's head. "Pikachu, you like it here too, don't you?"
"Pika Pika! (It's a great place!)" Pikachu responded cheerfully.
Just then, Pikachu's ears suddenly perked up, turning towards the bushes on the left. "Pika? (Who's there?)"
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash looked in the direction Pikachu was staring.
A faint rustling came from the bushes, and a pair of bright eyes flickered in the shadows. It was a wild Pikachu, cautiously observing them.
"Pika! (It's one of us!)" Ash's Pikachu exclaimed excitedly, its tail unconsciously standing upright.
Seeing that it had been discovered, the wild Pikachu immediately turned and darted deeper into the bushes.
"Pikachu! Wait!" Ash's Pikachu chased after it without hesitation, its yellow form quickly disappearing into the woods.
"Hey! Pikachu!" Ash stood up, intending to follow, but Brock stopped him.
"Don't rush, Ash," Brock said calmly. "Pikachu might have met its own kind. It's good to let it socialize."
Xiao You nodded. "Yes, if we follow rashly, we might scare the wild Pokémon."
Ash hesitated for a moment, then finally sat back down on the rock. "Alright... but if it doesn't come back too long, we'll go look for it."
"Pika Pika! (Wait for me!)" Ash's Pikachu agilely weaved through the forest, chasing the flickering silhouette ahead.
The wild Pikachu occasionally looked back, seemingly confirming whether its pursuer was still following. They passed through an open area and arrived at a clearing surrounded by tall trees.
Ash's Pikachu suddenly stopped – at least twenty Pikachu were gathered in the clearing, forming a circle around several faintly glowing Thunder Stones. The wild Pikachu all turned in unison to look at the unexpected guest.
"Pi... Pikachu... (Hello, everyone...)" Ash's Pikachu greeted them a bit nervously.
The wild Pikachu that had first spotted it walked forward, circled it once, and sniffed it carefully. "Pika Pika? (Where are you from? Why do you smell like humans?)"
"Pikachu, Pika Pika. (I'm traveling with my Trainer, Ash.)" It proudly puffed out its chest.
The wild Pikachu immediately stirred upon hearing the word "Trainer." Several even took a few steps back, showing wary expressions.
"Pika! Pikachu! (Humans are dangerous! They will capture us!)" An older Pikachu with a faint scar on its cheek stepped forward and said.
"Pika Pika, Pika! (Not all humans are like that! Ash is very good to me!)" Ash's Pikachu explained anxiously.
The wild Pikachu looked at each other, seemingly exchanging opinions. Finally, the leading Pikachu took a step forward. "Pika... Pikachu? (Can you prove it? Prove that humans and Pokémon can truly be friends?)"
Ash's Pikachu was about to answer when suddenly, Ash's voice called out from the forest: "Pikachu! Where are you?"
The wild Pikachu immediately panicked. "Pika! (It's a human!)" They scattered and fled, disappearing into the woods in a flash, leaving Ash's Pikachu standing alone in the clearing.
"Pika... (Wait...)" It watched its companions leave with a dejected look.
"Pikachu! So you were here!" Ash emerged from the bushes, his face filled with worry. "You suddenly ran off, and I was very worried."
"Pika... (I'm sorry...)" Pikachu lowered its head.
Ash squatted down and gently stroked its back. "What's wrong? Did something unpleasant happen?"
Pikachu looked up and told Ash what had just happened.
"So that's what happened..." Ash mused. "It's normal for wild Pokémon to be wary of humans. But we can try to make them understand that not all humans will harm Pokémon."
"Pika? (Really?)" Pikachu's eyes lit up.
Just then, Xiao You and Brock also arrived. "We found you," Xiao You said with a sigh of relief. "What happened?"
Ash stood up and explained, "Pikachu met a group of wild Pikachu, but they were scared away by us."
Brock nodded. "Wild Pokémon do remain cautious of humans. But since they live in this forest, we should respect their territory."
"But I hope to become friends with them," Ash said firmly. "At least make them not afraid of us."
Xiao You smiled and suggested, "Then we can camp here first and slowly let them get used to our presence. Sylveon can communicate with wild Pokémon."
"Great idea!" Ash said excitedly. "Pikachu, what do you think?"
"Pikachu! (That's great!)" Pikachu jumped up happily.
Night fell, and the three set up their tents and lit a campfire. Brock skillfully prepared dinner, and the aroma filled the forest.
"I made everyone's favorite curry," Brock said, distributing the food to everyone and their Pokémon. "I hope the wild Pokémon will be attracted too."
Ash's Metagross, Pidgeot, Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur all emerged from their Poké Balls and sat around the campfire. Xiao You's Ivysaur and Sylveon, as well as Brock's Onix, two Geodude, and Zubat, also joined them.
"Pika... (Will they come?)" Pikachu sat beside Ash, occasionally glancing towards the dark forest.
Suddenly, a slight rustling came from the bushes. Pairs of glowing eyes flickered in the darkness—it was the group of wild Pikachu, cautiously observing the camp.
"Pika! (They're here!)" Ash's Pikachu whispered.
Ash motioned for everyone to be quiet. "Don't scare them. Let them decide whether to approach on their own."
The wild Pikachu slowly drew closer, attracted by the aroma of the food and the warm campfire. The leading Pikachu was the first to step out, cautiously sniffing the air.
"Pika... (This is... curry?)" it asked curiously.
"Pika Pika! (Yes! Brock's curry is the best!)" Ash's Pikachu enthusiastically invited, "Pikachu! (Come eat with us!)"
The wild Pikachu hesitated for a while, but eventually, hunger overcame their wariness, and they slowly gathered around. Brock smiled and prepared a small portion of curry for each Pikachu.
"Pika... (So delicious...)" A young Pikachu said while eating, its face covered in curry sauce.
The atmosphere gradually became relaxed. The wild Pikachu began to interact with Ash's Pokémon, sharing stories from the forest. The older Pikachu walked up to Ash and carefully observed him.
"Pika... Pikachu? (You are its Trainer?)"
Ash nodded. "Yes, I'm Ash. Pikachu is my most important partner."
The older Pikachu pondered for a moment. "Pika Pika... (Few humans treat Pokémon this way...)"
Just then, a piercing laugh suddenly echoed from the sky. "Since all the Pikachu are gathered together, that saves us the trouble of catching them one by one!"
"It's Team Rockets!" Xiao You exclaimed.
A red and white hot air balloon descended from above the treetops, with Jessie, James, and Meowth standing in the basket, holding a giant metal net.
"To catch enough Pikachu to give to the Boss!" Jessie announced loudly.
"We specially made this shock-proof capture net!" James added.
"This time we definitely won't fail, Meow!" Meowth pressed a button, and the metal net was cast over the group of Pikachu.
"Everyone, watch out!" Ash shouted. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika---chu!" Pikachu leaped up and unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt, but the electricity was completely absorbed by the metal net.
"It's useless!" Jessie laughed triumphantly. "This was specially designed for Electric-type Pokémon!"
The wild Pikachu panicked, scattering and fleeing, but the metal net covered too large an area, and they had nowhere to escape.
"Metagross, use Psychic!" Ash quickly commanded.
Metagross's eyes glowed blue, trying to control the metal net with its Psychic powers, but the net was too heavy, only slowing its descent.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Ash continued to direct.
Charizard flew into the air and spewed scorching flames, but the metal net was heat-resistant, only turning slightly red.
"Darn it!" Ash clenched his fist. "Does anyone else have an idea?"
The wild Pikachu gathered together, and the older one stepped forward. "Pika Pika! (All Pikachu, use Thunderbolt together!)"
"Pika---chu!" Over a dozen wild Pikachu simultaneously released Thunderbolt, and the powerful currents converged into a dazzling beam of light, striking the metal net directly.
"It's useless, Meow!" Meowth shouted from the hot air balloon. "This net can absorb--waaah!"
Unexpectedly, the concentrated Thunderbolt's power far exceeded the net's tolerance limit. The metal net began to melt, and finally exploded with a "bang."
"What?!" The Team Rockets trio stared in disbelief.
"Good job!" Ash cheered. "Pidgeot, Hurricane! Blastoise, Hydro Pump!"
Pidgeot flapped its wings, creating strong gusts of wind, while Blastoise aimed and fired high-pressure water jets at the hot air balloon. Under the double attack, the hot air balloon lost control and began to sway.
"This isn't good!" James frantically operated the control stick.
"Failed again!" Jessie gritted her teeth.
"What a nasty feeling, Meow!" With a loud crash, the hot air balloon hit the treetops, and the Team Rockets trio were flung out, becoming shining stars in the night sky.
After the crisis was resolved, the wild Pikachu gathered around Ash and his Pokémon, their eyes filled with gratitude.
"Pika Pika! (Thank you all!)" The older Pikachu said sincerely. "Pikachu... (We misunderstood humans...)"
Ash squatted down, looking at it at eye level. "You're welcome. Protecting Pokémon is a Trainer's responsibility."
"Pika... (Your Pikachu is lucky to have a Trainer like you...)" The older Pikachu turned to Ash's Pikachu. "Pikachu? (Would you like to stay and live with us?)"
Ash's Pikachu froze. It looked at the wild group, then at Ash.
Although Ash felt reluctant, he still smiled and said, "If you want to stay, I will respect your decision."
"Pika..." Pikachu walked up to Ash and gently rubbed its cheek against his. "Pikachu Pika! (I want to continue traveling with Ash!)"
The older Pikachu nodded. "Pika Pika. (We understand. May the Electric God bless your journey.)"
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the leaves onto the campsite. Ash and his companions packed their bags, ready to move on. The wild Pikachu stood at the edge of the forest, watching them leave.
"Goodbye!" Ash waved farewell. "We'll come back to see you if we get the chance!"
"Pika Pika! (Have a safe journey!)" The wild Pikachu cried out in unison.
Ash's Pikachu sat on his shoulder, looking back at its former kind, with no regret in its eyes, only determination.
"Pikachu! (Next city, here we come!)"
The three embarked on a new journey with their Pokémon, leaving behind the warm sunshine and blessing calls of the Pikachu forest. In this brief encounter, they all learned a valuable lesson—about trust, bonds, and choices.