After three days of nonstop battles in the busiest part of Pewter City, word had spread of a rare Bulbasaur and an absurdly powerful Pikachu. Trainers rushed in excitedly, only to leave crestfallen, generously donating heaps of experience.
Incidentally, the capture rate of wild Pikachu and Pichu in the forest had spiked dramatically, as trainers beaten into existential crises decided to raise a Pikachu of their own.
With Pewter City milked dry, Ray Chu decided it was time to move on. But before leaving, he returned to the forest one last time, planning to ask the shiny Farfetch'd if it was willing to join him.
After all, a rare, good-looking, battle-ready duck who could cook was priceless no matter where you went.
Yet, as soon as Ray Chu entered the forest, he sensed something wrong.
Signs of combat littered the woods—fallen trees lay everywhere, and even the Pidgeot family who nested atop the branches and the Vileplume family who lounged in the grass had vanished.
Taking no chances, Ray Chu immediately put on his Hamon Amplifier—the Red Stone of Aja—then raced forward, swiftly leaping from branch to branch.
A streak of lightning shot through the trees. The normally vibrant forest now felt eerie, with countless wild Pokémon nowhere to be seen.
Soon, Ray Chu found the culprits: a dozen trainers in uniforms bearing the iconic "R," each commanding high-level Pokémon. Powerful moves like Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, and Thunderbolt swept the forest, devastating the environment, while mechanical collection devices behind them fired Poké Balls, capturing unconscious Pokémon one after another.
At the forest's heart, a familiar figure faced off against three strong opponents at once.
"Machoke, use [KNOCK OFF]!" shouted a Rocket team leader. A muscular Machoke lunged at Farfetch'd, its glowing palm aiming to disarm the duck of its leek.
Farfetch'd's eyes flashed sharply as it sidestepped gracefully, evading the attack.
"Kingler, slow it down with [ICY WIND]!"
Another Rocket grunt's water-type Pokémon opened its clawed mouth, blowing an icy gale that engulfed Farfetch'd.
White frost quickly covered Farfetch'd's feathers, its movements slowing dramatically.
"Now, Haunter! Use [HYPNOSIS]!"
A ghostly purple figure emerged from Farfetch'd's shadow, floating ominously before it. Haunter grinned wickedly, eyes forming crescent moons as it unleashed its hypnotic power.
Farfetch'd struggled visibly against the psychic assault, its grip loosening as the leek drooped toward the ground.
"It was supposed to be a routine collection mission, but catching a rare shiny Farfetch'd… Seems today's my lucky day." A Rocket executive wearing a distinctive hat stepped forward confidently.
"Executive Proton!" The surrounding Rocket members bowed immediately.
"Heh." Proton's eyes narrowed slyly as he threw a Poké Ball toward Farfetch'd—but at that instant, Farfetch'd snapped to attention, swiftly swatting the ball away with its leek.
"What?!"
"It resisted the hypnosis!"
Farfetch'd had feigned weakness precisely for this moment. Its leek sliced through the air with a perfect Aerial Ace, knocking back both Machoke and Kingler simultaneously. Haunter shrieked and vanished instantly.
Charging forward, Farfetch'd fired off an Air Slash aimed directly at the Rocket executive.
CRACK!
Proton's figure shattered like a mirror—it was merely an illusion.
His real voice came calmly from the side. "Golbat, [DOUBLE TEAM] and [AIR SLASH]."
A Golbat shot upward, splitting into dozens of identical copies, each conjuring crescent blades of air.
Whoosh!
Air Slashes rained down, slicing through the air and forcing Farfetch'd into frantic dodges. Blades struck the ground relentlessly, explosions churning earth as Farfetch'd became increasingly cornered.
At last, unable to evade completely, an Air Slash slammed directly into Farfetch'd, throwing it violently through the air. It barely stood afterward, clearly weakened.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause echoed mockingly from behind a tree. Proton had reappeared, accompanied by a Weezing steadily spewing toxic gas.
"Impressive. I'm liking you more and more. Surrender—you don't stand a chance."
"Fetch!" Farfetch'd cried defiantly. Its blue-and-white feathers might've been battered, but its determined gaze—and that proud tuft of yellow feathers—remained unyielding.
"Hmph." Proton snorted, ready to command Weezing into battle—but suddenly, his expression changed. "Weezing, [HYPER BEAM]—now!"
A bolt of thunder sliced from the trees, colliding violently with Weezing's Hyper Beam. An immense sphere of energy erupted from the clash, triggering a thunderous explosion.
White smoke rose as a massive crater opened at the battlefield's center, a testament to the devastating power involved.
Proton stared warily at the figure stepping forward through the smoke. The new challenger was… a Pikachu?
"Pika… chu!" Ray Chu flashed a thumbs-up at Farfetch'd, whose duck face brightened visibly, enthusiastically waving its leek.
"All Rocket members, prepare to attack!" Proton shouted. In his eyes, this Pikachu must have a powerful trainer lurking in the shadows, orchestrating a hidden ambush.
Ray Chu yelled suddenly, morphing into a bolt of lightning as he sprinted across the field, so fast the Rockets couldn't track his movements.
"Quick Attack—no, even faster… Agility!" Proton instantly assessed the situation, snapping orders to his men. "All Pokémon, use defensive moves!"
Immediately, various moves flashed brightly on the battlefield, and Proton commanded Weezing to use Protect, surrounding itself with a defensive white barrier.
Meanwhile, as Ray Chu surged at blistering speeds, everything around him slowed to a standstill. Every cell in his body pulsed fiercely, pushing him toward a sudden realization of a new, thrilling move.
As his excitement peaked, Ray Chu leaped high into the air, spreading his tiny arms dramatically. One claw pointed down sharply, roaring, "Pika—!"
Positive and negative ions violently collided, gathering into a storm of fierce lightning. Directed by Ray Chu's outstretched paw, the bolts cascaded downward like divine judgment.
[THUNDER]
Each Rocket grunt received a personal bolt, their Pokémon collapsing instantly, smoldering and unconscious.
Only Proton remained standing, barely shielded by Protect. But seeing his subordinates sprawled out helplessly, cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Such overwhelming power… Proton had never seen an attack this devastating before.
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T/N: PROTON