Chapter 44: Zapdos
Late at night, after Ash, Misty, and Brock were sound asleep, Ash told Gardevoir to use Teleport to take him and Pikachu away from the Pokémon Center.
After coming out, Ash headed towards the power plant Bill had mentioned.
A legendary Pokémon like Zapdos is coveted by countless people, and even a small piece of related information can make certain ambitious individuals stir.
Not to mention Team Rockets, the infamous evil organization in the Kanto region, so Ash didn't want Misty and the others to risk their lives with him.
Just as Ash had anticipated, Lt. Surge, a Team Rockets Elite with the strength of an Elite, had gathered no less than fifty Team Rockets members, their target naturally being the Zapdos hidden within the power plant.
"Boss, everyone is here, we can set off at any time," Lt. Surge's subordinate reported.
"This operation is extremely important; everyone must follow the battle plan and not make any mistakes, otherwise, if Giovanni blames us, none of you will escape," Lt. Surge said coldly.
The Team Rockets members stood ramrod straight and responded in unison, "Yes!"
Looking at the dozens of people in front of him, Lt. Surge was full of confidence this time.
He had gone to the abandoned power plant no less than twenty times and challenged Zapdos over a dozen times, all without exception ending in failure, in order to capture Zapdos.
Eventually, this news somehow reached Giovanni's ears; knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Lt. Surge changed his strategy and requested Giovanni's support, which led to the current scene.
But if he didn't succeed in this operation, losing face would be a minor issue; Giovanni's accountability would be a major one, and if he accidentally exposed his identity, it would be an even greater matter.
Just as Lt. Surge was on his way, Ash had already arrived at the outskirts of the abandoned power plant.
"Such a strong Aura reaction."
Ash frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the direction deep within the power plant.
He felt a high-level Aura deep within, surrounded by countless other Aura reactions, strong and weak in their multitude.
Pikachu also seemed to sense something, and the electric sacs on both sides of his cheeks emitted faint electric light.
"Pikachu, did you feel it too?"
"Pika!" (There's a strong electrical reaction inside.)
Pikachu nodded heavily.
"Gardevoir, please create a Teleport marker here, try to make it as stable as possible."
Ash said to Gardevoir beside him.
"Gardevoir." (Okay.)
Gardevoir extended her hand and pressed it against a nearby tree, a ball of pink energy gathering in her hand...
With a save point, the two people and one Pokémon walked in boldly. (Hmm... Gardevoir is humanoid, and can even marry humans, so no one would object to treating her as a person, right?)
Not long after walking, Ash saw a bolt of lightning shoot into the sky, and then the previously clear night sky gradually gathered thunderclouds.
"Indeed!"
Seeing this, Ash could almost certainly confirm that Bill's information was true: there really was a Zapdos inside this abandoned power plant.
"Pikachu, Gardevoir, let's go."
Ash immediately rushed into the power plant; time waits for no one, and once the thunderstorm forms, capturing Zapdos would be almost impossible, after all, it is an Electric-type legendary Pokémon, even without a divine position, the thunderstorm field is its home turf.
The only ones Ash could think of who could play their own BGM on someone else's home turf were Ancient Dragonite, or a bursting-with-power Pikachu.
Upon entering the power plant's door, Ash saw many Electric-type Pokémon: Magnemite, Magneton, Pichu, Pikachu, Raichu, Electabuzz, Voltorb, Jolteon... These Pokémon were all gathered together, waiting to absorb electrical energy.
Rumble rumble rumble~
The thunderclouds above the abandoned power plant grew darker, and rumbles of Thunder echoed through the sky.
Following the Aura's sensation, Ash arrived at the center of the abandoned power plant; he looked up, and the roof, which should have been concrete, now had a large hole, and above the large hole, a figure was soaring through the thunderclouds.
It was a large, yellow-feathered bird with a slender beak and sharp claws... Hmm... It looked like a frizzy bird, a bit ugly, and this large bird was wantonly absorbing electrical energy in the thunderclouds.
[Pokémon: Zapdos]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: Elite Early Stage (Quasi-Champion)]
[Divine Position: None]
[Ability: Static]
[Potential: Quasi-Legendary]
[Skills: Peck, Thunder Wave, Thunder Shock, Light Screen, Pluck, Agility, Ancient Power, Charge, Roost, Discharge, Rain Dance, Thunder, Magnetic Field Manipulation, Zap Cannon, Detect, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Electric Terrain, Lightning Strike, Wild Charge...]
[Description: This is a Pokémon that left its group to seek power after losing a group competition.]
Another legendary Pokémon that was heavily injured.
And an Elite Early Stage!
Seeing the system's description, Ash had already silently put his own label on Zapdos. "Pikachu, Gardevoir, it's up to you two later."
"Pika Pika!" (Ash, just leave this bird to me!)
Pikachu, seeing the Electric-type Zapdos, wanted to have a one-on-one battle with it.
Moreover, the last time he battled Ancient Dragonite, it ended up being Gardevoir's main stage, and Pikachu had been holding a grudge about it; he urgently wanted a stage to showcase his strength, and this foolish bird in front of him was a good target.
Ash looked deeply at Pikachu. "Alright, I'll leave it to you first. If it doesn't work, I'll let Gardevoir help you."
"Pika!" (I'll win, Ash!)
Ash's gaze turned to the Zapdos in the sky, and an Aura Sphere condensed in his hand.
"Get down here!"
With his lifelong ball-throwing skills as a foundation, Ash's Aura Sphere accurately hit Zapdos's wing in the sky.
Zapdos, engrossed in absorbing electrical energy, was thus knocked down by a child.
Outside the abandoned power plant.
Lt. Surge, seeing Zapdos being knocked down through his binoculars, immediately became anxious. He said to his driver subordinate beside him, "Someone else is also eyeing Zapdos. Quick, drive straight in."
"Yes, boss!"
The subordinate wasn't timid either; he steadied the steering wheel and floored the accelerator, crashing inside.
"Zapdos, come with me, I can help you heal and become stronger!"
Ash walked up to Zapdos, still holding an Aura Sphere in his hand.
(Another human!)
"Oh, by your tone, are there others interested in you too?" Ash asked.
(There's a human like you with an Electric-type Pokémon; he's come many times, wanting to catch me. Talk after you win the battle!)
Zapdos shook the dust off its wings; the Aura Sphere hadn't caused much damage. The reason it fell was that the Aura Sphere grazed an old injury, causing it to lose balance and fall.
"Electric-type Pokémon? It really seems to be Lt. Surge."
Ash secretly guessed.
He looked down at Pikachu and said, "Pikachu, go!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu, full of fighting spirit, came before Zapdos.
(Human, are you mocking me?)
Zapdos saw Ash letting a common Electric-type Pokémon battle it and felt that Ash was looking down on it.
"I'm not mocking you; Pikachu is different from other Electric-type Pokémon."
Are you kidding? Him letting Pikachu go was showing respect to this foolish bird; what's with the yelling? If Pikachu really burst with power, he could even shock a Legendary Pokémon.
However, Zapdos's questioning indeed made Pikachu angry; the electric sacs on both sides of his cheeks emitted faint electric light, and without waiting for Ash's command, Pikachu unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt.
Being hit in the face with Thunderbolt, Zapdos couldn't help but believe Ash's words a little; this electric mouse was different from the one that had challenged it before, this electric shock could numb it.
Zapdos let out a strange cry, its whole body surrounded by lightning.
Electric-type move, Discharge!
Unfortunately, it encountered Pikachu with the Lightning Rod ability; this powerful area-of-effect move was useless against Pikachu.
"Pika?" (Is that all you've got? You're much weaker than that big guy!)
Pikachu retorted.
"Pikachu, use Electric Net!"
Ash commanded.
Pikachu leaped high, Electric-type energy gathering at the tip of its tail, and with a flick of its tail, a giant, sky-covering lightning net enveloped Zapdos.
Seeing this, Zapdos gathered energy and unleashed a powerful Zap Cannon.
"Pikachu, Wild Charge!"
Ash knew Zapdos wouldn't be taken down that easily.
Boom!
Just then, a loud bang came from behind Ash.
He sighed helplessly, "They're here, as expected."
"Everyone, come out!"
Ash released all his battle-capable Pokémon; of course, Ancient Dragonite was not released, that guy was too big, releasing him would cause the entire power plant to collapse.
"Gardevoir, you take them to stop Team Rockets, and while ensuring your own safety, protect those wild Pokémon as much as possible. Pikachu and I will capture this big bird, then we'll come help you," Ash said to Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir!" (I understand, Ash!)
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