Having just unleashed a massive burst of electricity and entered cooldown, Zapdos's body stiffened.
At the same time, it was facing Gengar at point-blank range.
There was no room to dodge.
Zapdos's eyes widened in shock.
It hadn't expected Gengar to be hiding another move.
Earlier, Gengar's Thunder Punch had only consumed a tiny spark of energy—its true purpose had been to draw in the surrounding ocean of lightning. In reality, Gengar itself hadn't spent much power at all.
"Use Ice Punch!!"
"GENG!!"
Bone-chilling frost surged forth as Gengar slammed its fist straight into Zapdos's chest.
The combined impact—raw force followed by explosive cold—hit Zapdos while it was completely unguarded. A sharp cry rang out as the Legendary Bird was blasted backward through the air.
BOOM!!
Zapdos fell like a cannonball, crashing into the far corner of the Abandoned Power Plant.
A massive cloud of dust erupted. Nearby machinery shattered and exploded, black smoke rolling across the floor as thunderous echoes filled the hall.
Brock and Misty were completely stunned.
At most, they'd expected Ash to survive a few exchanges.
They had never imagined he'd actually slam Zapdos out of the sky.
Seeing that Ash himself was frozen in shock, Misty shouted urgently:
"Don't just stand there—throw a Poké Ball already!!"
"Yeah!" Brock chimed in enthusiastically.
"Have Gengar use Mean Look, then let Bulbasaur stack Poison Powder, Sleep Powder, and Stun Spore!"
Brock was already dreaming.
If Ash really caught Zapdos today, he'd be on Vermilion City headlines tomorrow—Top Ten Most Promising New Trainers of the Year!
And as his mentor, Brock's name might even get mentioned!
Beautiful.
"Ah—oh—are we… catching it?"
Ash snapped back to reality and instinctively reached for a Poké Ball.
But honestly, he hesitated.
Did he really want to catch Zapdos?
Before he could decide—
A violent gust erupted from the center of the dust cloud, blowing debris in all directions.
Zapdos burst back into the air, wings spread wide.
Its stern, thunder-god visage looked slightly worse for wear—but nothing serious.
Legendary Pokémon might not excel at everything, but one thing was certain:
Their stamina was absurd.
A single Ice Punch wasn't nearly enough to knock it out.
A chunk of ice clung to Zapdos's chest. With a single wingbeat, scorching air surged forth, instantly melting it away.
Heat Wave.
"GENG-GENG!!"
Gengar shifted stances again, icy energy gathering around both fists.
One Ice Punch wasn't enough?
Then it would just keep punching.
Today, it was going to smash this frizzy bird into the ground.
Gengar had always loved a good fight.
But just as it prepared to charge—
Zapdos suddenly beat its wings and let out a piercing cry. The overwhelming pressure froze Gengar in place mid-step, leaving it awkwardly stuck.
"SKREEEE!!"
Zapdos couldn't communicate telepathically like humans—
But that cry made its meaning unmistakably clear.
Enough. The battle ends here. I acknowledge you.
In other words:
I'm an NPC. Unless I choose to go with you, you cannot catch me.
Ash, Brock, and Misty: "..."
Arrogant to the extreme.
Ash could only give a helpless smile and lower his Poké Ball.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Pikachu, who was hugging its gold-plated Poké Ball and shamelessly pretending nothing had happened.
Fine.
He already had a Thunder God of his own anyway.
Catching Zapdos would honestly be redundant.
Maybe he'd go after a Fire God or Water God someday instead.
Besides—keeping a Pokémon that looked like Gary around him?
He'd probably have nightmares.
"SKREE!!"
Zapdos cried once more, then flicked its spiked wing—
A green stone shot through the air.
Ash reacted instantly, reaching out and catching it cleanly.
You idiot bird!
Ash cursed internally. With that throwing strength, anyone slower would've been knocked unconscious.
Opening his palm, he saw a semi-transparent green stone, lightning-shaped energy sealed inside. His palm tingled faintly with numbness.
"That's a Thunder Stone, right?" Misty said.
"A Thunder Stone?" Ash nodded.
"So it's an item that boosts Electric-type Pokémon?"
Dungeon cleared, no Pokémon captured—
but loot was loot.
Perfectly acceptable.
Without thinking, Ash tossed it toward Pikachu.
"Here, Thunder Stone. Go play with it."
Pikachu: "?"
It instantly leapt backward, fur standing on end.
OH HELL NO.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash asked innocently.
"Want to play dodgeball?"
Confused, he picked the Thunder Stone back up and weighed it in his hand.
Pikachu usually loved playing catch—Ash threw stones, Pikachu knocked them away with Iron Tail.
Smiling, Ash flexed his arm and hurled the Thunder Stone like a cannonball.
The stone tore through the air with sonic booms.
Pikachu: "!!!"
DANGER!!
It used Quick Attack to dodge just in time.
The Thunder Stone grazed past and smashed into a machine behind it, leaving a deep crater.
"PIKA PIKA PIKA!!"
Pikachu exploded in furious accusations, hopping and flailing.
It was fine now—
But what if one day Ash secretly pressed the Thunder Stone onto its forehead while it slept?
Wake up and suddenly become a fat Raichu, ten pounds heavier overnight?!
Ash: "?"
He scratched his head.
You slack off all fight and you're still this mad?
Don't you feel ashamed?
Brock & Misty: "..."
They both decided it was time to have a serious talk with Ash.
The image of a chubby Raichu perched on his shoulder was too terrifying.
"Uh… Ash," Brock said carefully,
"Thunder Stone is actually Pikachu's evolution item. If it touches it, it evolves immediately."
Ash frowned.
"That's not right. I remember the Pokédex saying something about an Electirizer?"
The Pokédex activated automatically:
Beep. Pikachu's evolution item: Thunder Stone.
Ash: "?"
Is my memory failing…?
"SKREE!!"
Zapdos cried again from the sky.
Dungeon's over. Leave already.
As a proud Legendary Pokémon, it had to stay airborne until the humans left.
Even if it was exhausting—
A Legendary that couldn't fly would be humiliating.
Ash pocketed the Thunder Stone.
Meanwhile, Gengar floated back down and landed heavily on the ground.
It glanced at Ash, then quickly turned away, hands clasped in front of its body.
Its dark purple face turned faintly red.
"Gengar—you did amazing!"
Ash grinned and launched into heartfelt talk-no-jutsu.
"I don't expect you to acknowledge me right away—but I'll always stand behind you and support you! You're my friend!"
Gengar's face went even redder.
Finally, it shyly turned around and raised its chubby hands.
"Geng-geng-geng-geng."
(If you find me a female Gengar, I'll acknowledge you.)
It raised one finger on its left hand, while curling two fingers on its right into a circle, staring intensely at Ash.
Brock's eyes suddenly sparkled with wisdom.
"This looks like a kind of… coded language," he said tentatively.
"It probably means: I'm a one—find me a zero."
Misty blinked. "What kind of group is that?"
Brock's dark face instantly flushed red. He waved his hands frantically.
"N-No idea! Just guessing!"
Damn it.
If he explained it, wouldn't that mean he was part of that group?!
"What are you guys talking about?" Ash interrupted confidently.
"I have a bond with Gengar—I understand it perfectly!"
He looked straight at the blushing, awkward Gengar and said with conviction:
"You want a new vacuum cleaner as your lair, right?!"
Gengar: "?"
Ash slapped his chest proudly.
"Deal! When we reach the next town, I'll buy you the latest HW-brand vacuum cleaner!"
"This is a promise from a future Pokémon Master!"
As he said it, Ash felt an odd sense of déjà vu.
Huh… I feel like I've said something like this before.
"Who was it to…?"
He shrugged and smiled.
Couldn't remember.
So he let it go.
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