On the grassland, Pinsir charged again, using its remaining horn to ram straight at Charmander. Charmander roared and threw its final punch.
Suddenly, a figure appeared between them.
A powerful force blasted Pinsir backward in an instant.
"I don't know why you're so obsessed with gaining strength," the newcomer said calmly. "But if this is all you can do, you'll never become truly strong. Let me show you what real power looks like."
From Charmander's perspective, the Pikachu before it suddenly radiated such overwhelming pressure that its eyes widened to their limits.
As the enraged Pinsir lunged again, Ray Chu simply raised one hand. A visible shockwave tore through the air and slammed into Pinsir's head, blasting off its remaining horn.
Pinsir froze in shock.
Then it realized its head was suddenly bare.
With a terrified screech, it turned and fled without even daring to challenge Ray Chu.
"Do you want power like that?" Ray Chu asked, holding out a Poké Ball. "Follow me. I can teach you."
Charmander hesitated for a moment.
Then it pressed the button.
...
When Ray Chu returned and announced that he had captured the Charmander, Ivysaur muttered quietly to itself in a voice only it understood.
I knew it. I'm not surprised at all. Boss's trickery is getting more refined by the day.
Wartortle stroked its chin thoughtfully. If there was one more Pokémon on the team… would the training load decrease a bit?
Ray Chu glanced at it.
"The Charmander will train with the two of you from now on."
For some reason, both Ivysaur and Wartortle suddenly felt a chill crawl up the backs of their heads.
However, Charmander's injuries were too severe. Now wasn't the time to release it. They needed to reach the next city's Pokémon Center immediately for emergency treatment.
"Pikachu! (Return for now!)"
Ray Chu recalled the two Pokémon into their Poké Balls, then whistled toward the nearby Rapidash. The fiery horse galloped over eagerly, trying to rub its face against Ray Chu.
Ray Chu stopped it with one paw.
"Cut the flattery! Let's move!"
...
Hooves thundered across the road as Rapidash raced forward.
By the time they reached Vermilion City, night had completely fallen.
After parting ways with Rapidash, Ray Chu, Dapple, and Lala hurried toward the Pokémon Center.
The moment they stepped through the glass doors, a deafening clap of thunder erupted outside.
Rain poured down in sheets.
Cold air rushed in, raindrops striking the Pokémon Center's windows—two entirely different worlds separated by glass.
At this hour, very few Pokémon required treatment. Ray Chu hurried to the counter with Charmander in his arms and called out to Nurse Joy.
"This Charmander is badly injured. Little one, did you bring it here?" Nurse Joy exclaimed, rushing over with Chansey. "Quick, follow me!"
"Pika, pika!"
"Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to save it."
Nurse Joy and Chansey wheeled over a stretcher. After placing Charmander on it, they rushed into the operating room. Moments later, the emergency light flicked on.
While waiting, Ray Chu, Dapple, and Lala sat quietly in the Pokémon Center corridor, watching Trainers and their Pokémon coming and going.
Because of the heavy rain outside, the Pokémon Center had grown unusually lively.
Many people were eating dinner here, while others sat around chatting in small groups.
"Jiggly!"
Suddenly, Lala nudged Ray Chu and pointed at the television ahead, her cheeks puffed up in outrage.
"Welcome to Miss Lala's latest album—Ready Go! Let's all enjoy it together!"
The voice echoed from the TV.
Onscreen, a pink Jigglypuff appeared under dazzling lights, singing passionately into a microphone. Aside from a star-shaped hair clip on its head, it looked exactly the same as before.
As for the song…
Ray Chu thought it actually sounded pretty good.
Lala immediately began loudly denouncing the broadcast as a fraud meant to deceive the audience, declaring that she was the true Pink Diva.
"Pikachu!" Ray Chu chimed in supportively.
But in his mind he was thinking: That company really has guts. After Lala left, they somehow found another Jigglypuff to impersonate her and keep performing. And from the looks of it, the disguise was working extremely well.
After all, what the audience wanted was simply the Pink Diva.
As for whether she was genuine…
How many people would really care?
Dapple tried to comfort the fuming Lala, though the effort clearly didn't help much.
Ray Chu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Then he noticed an advertisement inserted midway through the program.
A Pokémon Contest would soon be held aboard the luxury cruise ship—the S.S. Anne.
The event had supposedly originated in the Hoenn region. Vermilion City was only hosting a beginner-level stage, but even so, a huge number of Trainers and Pokémon had already registered.
After all, everyone dreamed of becoming famous overnight and debuting as a Pokémon star.
Ray Chu glanced at Lala, who was still pouting beside him.
An idea suddenly formed.
"Enter the Pokémon Contest?" Lala tilted her head. "Will that expose the impostor?"
Whether it would expose the impostor, Ray Chu wasn't sure.
But it would definitely be interesting.
"Of course it will," Ray Chu said, patting his chest confidently. "Once the audience sees your performance, they'll know you're the real Pink Diva."
Dapple glanced suspiciously at Ray Chu.
When had he become so kindhearted?
But when Lala invited her to join the contest too, Dapple considered it for a moment before nodding in agreement.
They would enter the Pokémon Contest.
Just then, several loud young men pushed through the Pokémon Center entrance.
What drew attention was the one leading them—he was carrying an armful of Poké Balls.
The group swaggered over and sat at a nearby table. The leader casually dumped the Poké Balls onto the tabletop.
"See? Beat them up, throw a ball, and boom—caught! Capturing Pokémon is that easy!"
"So awesome! As expected of Daisuke!"
"Catching so many different Pokémon… you've really taught a bug-catching kid like me a lesson!"
The man basking in their praise—Daisuke—had curly blue hair and leaned back arrogantly on the sofa.
"Hahaha! I'm going to become the League Champion someday," he boasted. "Catching ordinary Pokémon like these is nothing. As long as you're strong enough, you just keep winning."
"Hey Daisuke, where's that starter Charmander of yours?"
"Tch! What starter Pokémon? It was so weak it couldn't even beat a Poliwhirl. I let it out back in Pewter City and told it to train on its own to get stronger. Then I left the city and let it fend for itself."
He laughed.
"By now it's probably realized it was tricked. Maybe it's hiding somewhere crying!"
"Haha! That's so harsh, Daisuke!"
"So that's the secret to getting stronger? Amazing!"
Their laughter rang out loudly.
Several people nearby frowned, clearly displeased.
But the group didn't look like the sort anyone wanted to provoke.
Though their behavior was rude, no one stepped forward to challenge them.
---
T/N: this little brat is damian/daisuke damn i wonder if ash is gonna get any of the starter trios
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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