Chapter Four: Life's Greatest Fear Is Having No Dreams

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Red casually reached into his pocket and pulled out Ash’s Pokémon Pokédex, scanning the Pikachu standing before him.
“Pikachu, moves: Tackle, Thunder Shock, Growl, Tail Whip.”
A rather plain and unremarkable set of moves.
Then he scanned his own round-faced Pikachu.
“Pikachu, moves: Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Thunder, Volt Tackle, Extreme Speed...”
The rapid listing of moves left Misty completely stunned.
Moves like “Thunder” are only learned by high-level Pokémon.
And the following moves, “Volt Tackle” and “Extreme Speed,” she had never even heard of.
A novice trainer just stumbled upon a max-level Pikachu?!
Or maybe this Pokédex was malfunctioning...?
Seeing that Red seemed ready to battle, Team Rocket threw out two Poké Balls in response.
“Weezing, the Gas Pokémon, kind-hearted and quite cute.”
“Arbok, the Poison-Free Pokémon, kind-hearted and even cuter.”
The Pokédex automatically announced again.
Misty: “...”
Sure enough, this Pokédex must have gotten water damage...
...
“Pika!”
Ash’s Pikachu lifted its head and called out, eager and ready.
Red: “...”
He chose not to send it out, after all, this was Ash’s Pikachu, not his.
And he guessed this Pikachu hadn’t experienced its first battle yet. Such a meaningful first battle shouldn’t be taken away; it belonged to its original trainer.
“Get ready to fight, Pikachu!”
“Pika...!”
With Red’s low command, the slightly bulkier round-faced Pikachu took a battle stance with sharp focus, eyes burning as it faced Team Rocket’s trio.
In an instant, a chill of being targeted by a top predator ran through the three, making them shudder and involuntarily step back.
“How terrifying, a little electric mouse can be so scary.”
Jessie shook her head and launched the first attack.
“Bluff! Arbok, use Bite!”
“Pikachu, Quick Attack!”
After giving the command, Red reminded Ash’s Pikachu:
“Watch its movements carefully, little Pikachu.”
He had personally witnessed the thunder and lightning this Pikachu unleashed, so powerful it ripped a vacuum hole through the clouds.
That was the power of nature itself, indicating its potential was no less than his own Pikachu’s.
No, it might even be stronger...
Helping to teach it a little wouldn’t be a problem.
...
Whoosh!
The round-faced Pikachu blurred into a streak of white light, moving so fast it left an afterimage behind, causing Arbok’s fangs to bite into empty air and crash into the ground.
“Such incredible speed...”
Misty couldn’t help but widen her eyes in admiration.
At that moment, the Pokédex announced:
“Beep beep, Ash’s Pikachu learned a new move: Quick Attack!”

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Hearing this, Red was slightly surprised, thinking that this Pikachu’s potential was indeed impressive — it grasped a new move instantly just by watching once.
“Then go even faster, Pikachu, use Extreme Speed.”
“Pika!”
With a fierce cry from the big Pikachu, the white streak of light shifted to an eerie blue glow, and its speed surged dramatically.
The afterimage that was barely visible before vanished completely.
Whoosh...!
In the modest-sized Pokémon Center lobby, only faint flashes of blue light remained.
“What the heck is this?!”
Jessie and Arbok were both shocked; the slightly bulkier Pikachu had completely disappeared.
“How’s that, little Pikachu? Can you keep up?”
Red looked back and asked slowly.
“Pika...”
Ash’s Pikachu shook its head, clearly “Extreme Speed” was still too difficult at its current level.
“That’s okay, just remember the movement.”
Planting this seed now, someday the radiance of “Extreme Speed” would bloom in this extraordinary Pikachu.
Meanwhile, seeing Jessie being toyed with, James quickly joined the fray.
“Weezing, use Toxic Gas!”
If you can’t see it, use an AOE attack!
Red calmly instructed:
“Don’t let it spread, Pikachu, use Electroweb.”
Pausing mid-air in the form of Extreme Speed, Pikachu reappeared.
It twisted its small body, and at the tip of its tail formed a sphere of electric energy.
Zzap!
The electric energy detached, forming a huge electric web that completely covered the not-yet-spread toxic gas.
Without losing strength, it surged forward toward Team Rocket’s trio.
“End this battle, use Thunderbolt.”
“Pika!”
The round-faced Pikachu slapped its cheek fiercely, unleashing a golden lightning bolt that shot forth like thunder and serpents of electricity. Combined with the toxic gas, it triggered a terrifying explosion.
“Boom!!”
Sparks and flames shot high into the sky, blasting Team Rocket’s trio and their two cute Pokémon into the air.
The ceiling of the Pokémon Center was blasted open, leaving a huge hole.
“Amazing Thunderbolt!”
“That Pikachu definitely isn’t an ordinary electric mouse!”
“If we can catch it for the boss first, we’ll surely get promoted and rich, meow!”
A great man named Rusty once said, the greatest fear in life is having no dreams.
The three, still midair, suddenly found a goal they hadn’t had for over a decade; their lives seemed to gain new purpose.
Yes, they must catch that strange Pikachu!
“Such an annoying feeling~!”
The three vanished like shooting stars into the sky above Fuchsia City...
...
Afterwards.
“Pika!!”
Ash’s Pikachu looked up at the round-faced Pikachu with admiration, clearly conquered by its flashy combo of moves.
“You’ll be able to show off like this someday.”
Red gently rubbed its head to comfort it.
The matter settled, Red recalled the round-faced Pikachu, quite satisfied with his first battle.
Yes, wherever he went, it must be a crushing victory.
Seeing the ceiling of the Pokémon Center had a big hole, Red asked Nurse Joy for some wooden boards and climbed onto the roof to make repairs.
After all, it was his damage, and he owed some compensation.
Leaving arrogantly would only reveal him as an ignorant outsider.
Misty, still stunned, stood there in disarray.
Damn!
Are new trainers nowadays really this terrifying...?
Too overwhelming!
That Pikachu could easily steamroll through their Cerulean Gym.
Totally demolish, renovate, and demolish again, that kind of steamrolling!
Seeing Red carrying boards and climbing nearly seven or eight meters up to the roof, Misty muttered:
“Still a responsible person after all...”
Wait, I feel like I’m forgetting something!
...
On the Pokémon Center roof.
Red gazed at the bright crescent moon hanging in the sky, eyes deep and contemplative, lost in thought.
“That kid Ash is really something else—strong like a Centaur, flipping up here after just a few somersaults...”
...
...
The next morning.
Misty opened her door.
Coincidentally, the room opposite also opened at the same time.
Half-asleep, she greeted:
“Morning, bike thief...”
“Ah, it’s you! Yesterday was all my fault, I’ll definitely find a way to return your bike!”
Ash immediately recognized Misty and apologized sincerely.
Misty: “?”
She suddenly lost her drowsiness, staring at Ash in confusion.
Did I open the door wrong?
Thinking this, she closed the door, took a deep breath, and opened it again.
“Morning, bike thief...?”
She tested the greeting cautiously.
“I told you I’ll take responsibility, stop calling me a bike thief!”
Ash was baffled—was this woman performing some kind of performance art?
“Besides, I have a name. I’m Ash, and my dream is to become a Pokémon Master!”
Misty: “?”
This boy seemed to have a split personality or something.

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