Ash looked at the screen with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
He reached out and rubbed Pikachu's head, and Pikachu affectionately nuzzled against him in return.
"Ah… that, huh? I stopped caring about it a long time ago."
Before Misty could let out a sigh of relief, Ash continued—
"But Misty, your grip strength is seriously strong!"
"It felt like my face was about to swell up from that slap!"
Misty: "…"
In an instant, all thoughts of apologizing vanished.
When dealing with someone as dense as Ash, there was simply no need for apologies.
Completely unaware of Misty's murderous glare, Ash kept going.
"Besides, it was thanks to your bike back then."
At the mention of her poor, tragically destroyed bicycle, the tiny bit of guilt Misty still had completely disappeared.
"You've got the nerve to bring that up?!"
"My brand-new bicycle turned into a pile of charcoal the moment I lent it to you!"
Misty stood with her hands on her hips, shouting angrily.
"Hehe… well, about that…"
Ash scratched his head and looked up at the sky, laughing awkwardly.
"Pika pika…"
Pikachu also looked up at the sky, laughing just as awkwardly.
…
On the screen—
Ash placed Pikachu in the bicycle basket.
Pedaling as fast as he could, he kept encouraging Pikachu.
"Hang in there, Pikachu!"
"We're almost there!"
Pikachu was covered in injuries, barely able to respond.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Heavy rain pounded down mercilessly on Ash's face!
But Pikachu's severe injuries and the terrible weather weren't even the worst part.
The worst part—
The relentless Spearow flock had already caught up!
Flapping their wings, they viciously pecked at Ash!
Unable to see clearly through the storm, Ash lost control and rode straight off a cliff!
He crashed heavily into the muddy ground below!
Pikachu was thrown out as well, lying motionless on the ground!
Under the gloomy sky, the Spearow descended like a storm!
Anyone could see it—
What awaited them next would undoubtedly be a fierce battle!
But in Pikachu's current condition, it stood no chance against the swarm!
Ash struggled to crawl toward Pikachu.
"Pikachu… get inside!"
He took out a Poké Ball and looked at Pikachu seriously.
"I know you hate going in there."
"But if you stay inside, you'll have a chance to survive!"
"Hurry!"
"Please, just go in!"
"I'll handle the rest!"
After saying that—
Ash placed the Poké Ball in front of Pikachu.
Then he stood up, turned around, and faced the endless swarm of Spearow.
With both arms spread wide, he firmly shielded Pikachu behind him.
"Do you even know who I am?!"
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town!"
"The future world's greatest Pokémon Master!"
"There's no way I'm losing to you!"
"I'll defeat every single one of you!"
Ash shouted without looking back.
"Pikachu, get in!"
"Get into the Poké Ball—now!"
The injured Pikachu looked at the Poké Ball in front of it—
Then at Ash standing before it.
At that moment—
Ash's figure seemed to grow infinitely larger in Pikachu's eyes.
Even the Champions and Elite Four watching the screen were deeply drawn into the scene by Ash's presence.
That overwhelming resolve!
That selfless determination!
Regardless of Ash's current strength—
Just based on this courage and conviction alone—
They believed that in ten or twenty years,
This boy, this rookie Trainer, would one day stand before them as an equal!
For an ordinary Trainer, such an evaluation was already incredibly high praise.
And yet—
Even as they thought this, they couldn't help but worry for Ash and Pikachu.
What would happen next?
And seriously—
These Spearow were way too vengeful!
It suddenly became very hard to like them at all!
Even knowing this might just be an exception—
After empathizing with Ash's situation, no one could bring themselves to feel any fondness for the flock.
The scene continued—
With provocative words, Ash drew all the Spearow's hatred onto himself!
All to create a safe space for Pikachu!
Watching Ash's back—
Pikachu did not choose to enter the Poké Ball.
Instead, it rushed toward him!
Leaping onto Ash's shoulder, Pikachu's eyes burned with determination as it charged toward the endless swarm of Spearow—
"Pika——!"
A massive surge of lightning engulfed the forest!
It pierced straight through the sky—
Shattering the storm clouds!
The rain and thunder vanished!
Brilliant sunlight poured down over Ash and Pikachu!
Every single Spearow was defeated in an instant!
At the end of the scene—
Lying on the ground, Ash and Pikachu looked at each other—
And smiled.