"Pika?"
"Char~"
"Pika?"
"Char~"
Before long, the two Pokémon exchanged what could only be described as dragon-language–level communication.
The remaining three ordinary humans could only stare blankly from the side.
"Pika pika…"
After a while, Pikachu hopped down from the rocky ledge and began gesturing wildly at the three of them, waving its paws and tail as if desperately trying to explain something.
"Let me handle this."
Ash stepped forward confidently, planting himself in front of Brock and Misty.
"I have a destined bond with Pikachu. I'll definitely understand what it's saying."
He rubbed his eyes, stared seriously at Pikachu, and carefully analyzed its gestures, posture, and facial expressions.
Gradually, Ash felt something stir within him—
A mysterious bond, slowly connecting him to Pikachu's heart.
"Ohhh, I get it."
Ash nodded solemnly.
"This Charmander is cultivating in seclusion here and wants us irrelevant outsiders to leave. That's what it means."
Pikachu: "?"
Brock and Misty exchanged glances.
With no better interpretation—and lacking Ash's so-called destined bond—they could only reluctantly accept his conclusion.
Besides, if Charmander really was training on its own, then its exhausted state suddenly made sense.
Wild Pokémon had their own worlds.
Humans shouldn't casually interfere with someone else's training.
"What a shame…"
Ash sighed quietly and chose to leave.
Looks like catching it wasn't an option—Charmander had clearly told them to go.
Pikachu: "?"
Charmander: "?"
It was asking Ash to help it find its Trainer!!
Soon, the trio arrived at a mountain Pokémon Center cabin halfway up the slope.
Just as they pushed the door open—
BOOM!
A thunderclap exploded outside.
Tap tap tap—!
Within seconds, torrential rain poured down.
"Training even in a storm like this…"
Ash gazed out the window with admiration.
"That Charmander is truly worthy of respect."
Then he glanced down at Pikachu, who was shaking water off itself at the doorway.
Ash's expression immediately soured.
"Pikachu, how about you stand outside and get rained on too?
Maybe you'll evolve tomorrow."
Pikachu: "?"
"Pikachu doesn't evolve through harsh training," Misty said, unable to hold back.
"It evolves using a special item."
How did a Trainer not know something so basic about their own Pokémon?
"An item?"
Ash's interest was instantly piqued. He pulled out his Pokédex.
"Hey Pokédex, tell me—what item does Pikachu need to evolve?"
"Beep. Searching for Pikachu's evolution requirements…"
The Pokédex emitted a series of electronic sounds, its CPU audibly working overtime.
"Search complete. Time taken: 27 seconds. Performance exceeds 1% of Pokédex units nationwide. Excellent."
"Beep. Pikachu's evolution item: Thunder Stone."
Brock & Misty: "?"
Pikachu: "?"
"Thunder Stone, huh… sounds pretty high-end."
Ash lowered his head in thought.
He'd never heard of such an item in his life—but evolution meant power, and power was tempting.
Pikachu was still growing, sure, but preparing in advance didn't hurt.
"So… where do I get one of those?"
Ash walked inside the Pokémon Center.
Behind him, Brock and Misty exchanged deeply confused looks.
"Thunder Stone?"
"I swear it's supposed to be a Thunder Stone."
They whispered to each other.
The mountain Pokémon Center cabin was small but fully equipped—medical machines, lodging, and Nurse Joy with her Chansey, all present.
The three sat down at a table to eat and rest.
BOOM—!
Another thunderclap shook the sky.
Dark clouds rolled in, the atmosphere turning ominous—this storm was clearly no joke.
Ash frowned at his curry.
For once, food didn't taste good.
"Hey, Brock… if that keeps going," Ash asked quietly,
"won't someone actually die?"
Brock and Misty both froze.
They knew exactly who Ash was worried about.
"Pika!"
Pikachu finally snapped.
It jumped up and kicked Ash in the knee, protesting his earlier nonsense translation.
Your whole family is training in the rain.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash asked absentmindedly.
"Don't like today's Electric-Mouse-flavored food? Here, have my curry."
He pushed the plate toward Pikachu.
Pikachu: "?"
Confused—but food was food.
Pikachu buried its head and started eating first, deciding explanations could wait.
Tap tap tap.
Just then, another group entered the Pokémon Center.
They were a few years older than Ash's group—rowdy, loud, clearly troublemakers.
They sat at the neighboring table.
"This rain is bad luck!"
"Big Brother Daisuke, you're insane—caught so many Pokémon already!"
"I, Bug Catcher Kenjirō, officially recognize you as the strongest!"
The youth at the center—Daisuke—leaned back smugly, hands behind his head, legs crossed.
"Hah! I'm destined to be the future Pokémon League Champion.
Of course my starting point is high."
He dumped over twenty Poké Balls onto the table.
"But Big Bro, where's your Charmander?"
"Charmander? That weak thing couldn't even beat a Gyarados. I ditched it."
Daisuke waved dismissively.
Then he remembered something and burst out laughing.
"I even told it to wait for me in the mountains—that I'd come back!
And it actually believed me! Hahaha!"
The lackeys burst into laughter.
"Savage!"
"Too good!"
A shadow suddenly loomed over Daisuke.
A trembling, suppressed voice spoke behind him.
"So… you abandoned that Charmander?"
Ash stood there.
His usual cheerful expression was gone—replaced by raw anger.
"What's it to y—"
SLAP!
A sharp sound echoed.
Daisuke was flung sideways, crashing to the floor.
Ash had slapped him.
He'd said it before.
If he ever saw someone who abandoned their Pokémon—
he would hit them.
"You little freak!!"
Daisuke staggered up, clutching his face, veins bulging.
His lackeys froze.
They knew Pokémon battles.
Not fistfights.
"Stop fighting!" Brock and Misty rushed over.
Brock restrained Daisuke.
"Violence isn't the answer!"
"Let me go! I'll kill that country bumpkin!!" Daisuke roared.
Misty turned to Ash.
"Let me go! I'll knock out that city idiot!!" Ash roared back.
Misty released him.
Daisuke: "?"
Ash lunged forward like an unleashed Arcanine.
The first punch had hit the left side of Daisuke's face.
This time—
Right hook.
Daisuke tried to move—
—but his body felt locked in place, like it was bound by rock and steel.
WHAM!!
The punch landed squarely.
Daisuke's vision spun. He barely stayed upright.
Ash had beaten him down.
"Pokémon Centers are not places for fighting!"
Nurse Joy finally arrived, stern and composed.
"If this continues, your Trainer licenses will be revoked!"
"You're right. This was my fault."
Ash bowed deeply.
Then he grabbed a raincoat and sprinted outside.
Saving Charmander mattered more.
Brock and Misty followed immediately.
Behind them, Daisuke finally recovered enough to shout:
"Nurse Joy! They assaulted me! Revoke their licenses!"
"I'm sorry," Nurse Joy replied calmly.
"We require video evidence. This Pokémon Center doesn't have cameras."
She turned and walked toward the medical wing.
Daisuke stood there.
Alone.
Soaked in humiliation.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/FinalArcHero789