Chapter 2: Who Are You?
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
"Who's there!?"
Ash was startled by the sudden voice, but as he looked around, he was the only one there.
A ghost?
Oh, next to him was a completely scorched Bicycle, its shape resembling a Salted Fish.
"Right, whose Bicycle was this?"
Ash only remembered that in his moment of desperation, he had grabbed a bike at random. As for the original owner...
He had no memory.
He seemed to recall being at the River and seeing a very cool blue Dragon. Maybe he should go back and take a look?
Meanwhile, Red had entered a very mysterious space.
His surroundings were a hazy gray, but he could perceive the thoughts of this strange Youth, a seamless connection.
However, the constant stream of wild ideas was a bit unnerving. Are all normal humans' thoughts this numerous?
If he didn't interrupt, there was no telling where this person's train of thought would derail. Red finally couldn't help but remind him:
"Pokémon Center."
This voice startled Ash once again.
The carefree boy finally came to his senses. Ho-Oh's healing wasn't omnipotent; the most important thing now was to get to a Pokémon Center.
It would be a serious problem if Pikachu developed some lasting issue like rheumatism in the future.
Ignoring whether he was possessed or not, Ash tucked the Rainbow Wing into his pocket, scooped up Pikachu, and started running in a random direction.
As for where he was going...
He had no idea. He just ran in the direction Ho-Oh had flown off in, and that was that.
***
Viridian City, Pokémon Center.
Ash handed Pikachu over to the Nurse Joy here.
He couldn't believe that after running around blindly, he had actually made it out of the Forest and into a big city.
Following Nurse Joy's instructions, Ash took out his Pokedex and registered as a Trainer. This allowed him to enjoy many of the benefits the Pokemon League provided to Trainers for free.
For example, free use of Pokémon Center facilities, free medical treatment, free lodging, and so on.
One had to know, the Pokémon Center was a chain of brand-name establishments across the country, and even the entire World.
*Ding~ding~dingdingding~*
Before long, Pikachu came out wrapped in a Bandage. Aside from a few minor injuries, it seemed to be fine.
According to Nurse Joy, the situation had been extremely critical. If he had brought Pikachu in any later, its wounds might have already healed on their own.
"Pika!"
Upon seeing Ash again, Pikachu's eyes lit up, and it leaped onto Ash's shoulder with considerable affection.
This gave Ash a sudden surge of pride, making him feel like a real Trainer. He couldn't help but grin as he rubbed Pikachu's head.
But looking at his own mud-caked clothes, Ash decided to head to the lodging rooms behind the Pokémon Center to take a good, long bath.
However, when Ash saw the Public Phone nearby, he couldn't resist walking over.
"Hello, this is Ash's mom."
The call connected, and Delia's voice came through.
Ash's mother was even more scatterbrained than he was.
Ash couldn't help but say proudly, "Mom, I've made it to Viridian City."
"Ah, Ash! Why are you covered in mud?"
Delia, however, noticed something else entirely.
"Oh, uh, there was a heavy downpour in Viridian City just now, and a passing car splashed me."
Ash didn't dare tell the truth. He quickly pushed the bandaged Pikachu down below his waist, out of sight. Otherwise, if she saw it, Delia would undoubtedly start nagging again.
"You're so reckless. Boys need to be careful when they're out on their own. Remember to wear..."
Even so, Delia began to lecture him endlessly.
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, and a proud expression appeared on her face.
"But it's amazing that you reached Viridian City in just one day! I remember it took your father many days to get there."
Ash was completely bewildered. Memories of his father hadn't surfaced in his mind for a long time.
"Anyway, you must become a stronger Trainer than your father and your Grandpa! You can do it, Ash!"
With that, Delia hung up the phone.
Ash put down the receiver, now finally ready to go take his bath.
As he turned, he happened to see a mural on the Pokémon Center wall, depicting totems of four Pokémon.
Three were Bird Pokemon, and one of them bore a striking resemblance to the seven-colored great bird he had encountered earlier.
Was Fearow really that famous out here?
He scratched his head, puzzled.
*Drip-drip-drip*
Just then, the phone next to him suddenly rang.
Ash looked around. Seeing no one else, he hesitantly answered the call.
On the video screen was an old man with gray hair, wearing a Lab Coat. His serious expression held a hint of goofiness.
This was none other than Professor Oak, the man who had given him Pikachu as his Starter Pokemon.
"Oh, Ash! I heard from your mother that you've already reached Viridian City, so I thought I'd give you a call."
Ash smiled proudly and nodded.
"Yep, yep. To be honest, I didn't have very high hopes for you, but if you cast a wide enough net, you're bound to catch a big fish. In short, the more outstanding your performance, the more glorious I become..."
Professor Oak rambled on, lost in his own world.
This made Ash frown, a strong urge to hang up rising within him.
"By the way, how many Pokémon have you caught?"
At these words, Ash flinched and took several steps back, not quite daring to face the screen directly.
But in the end, he could only bite the bullet and reply:
"Um... currently less than 30...?"
Professor Oak's expression changed in an instant, his face a mask of disappointment.
"As expected, when it comes to being a disappointment, you've never let me down."
Ash quickly tried to argue back:
"But I saw an amazing Fearow, and it looked a lot like the icon on this wall!"
"It's just a dime-a-dozen Fearow. Besides, the Pokémon on there are super special. A Newcomer like you couldn't possibly—"
Before he could finish, Professor Oak's mouth suddenly dropped open, his eyes widening.
His expression twisted, and his large eyes looked like they were about to pop right out of the screen.
Because Ash had taken out that seven-colored Feather, trying once again to prove himself:
"It was a really, really cool Fearow! It was just losing a bit of hair. See, see, this is the Feather it dropped."
Professor Oak: "!!!"
Even through the screen, he could feel a mysterious, divine Light.
The Rainbow Wing was suffused with a Seven-colored Light, possessing a natural filter that no ordinary Pokémon's Feather could ever hope to match.
Had this kid really hit the jackpot and encountered a Legendary Pokemon?!
Professor Oak's expression changed again in a flash, the Speed of the transformation a full thirty percent faster than before.
"Ash, my boy, you're a good kid. Why don't you mail that Feather over to me so I can take a look-see..."
"Hello? Hello? The signal is bad here, I'm hanging up now!"
Ash, however, just stared at the ceiling, pretended to talk over a bad connection for a few seconds, and then hung up directly.
*I'm no pushover!*
With that thought, he put away the Rainbow Wing and turned to go take his bath.
***
Not long after Ash left.
A girl with short orange hair tied in a small side ponytail walked in, sweating profusely as she carried a Salted Fish-shaped Bicycle.
She first scanned her surroundings, but not finding her target, she could only drop the ruined Bicycle on the floor.
She then walked straight toward the inner door, her face puffed up in anger.
To have one's Bicycle randomly stolen and then destroyed into the shape of a Salted Fish—even a peace-loving Slowpoke would be furious!
"The Trainer with the Pikachu... I'll never forgive you!" the girl named Misty vowed under her breath.
***
That night, Ash and Pikachu were sound asleep.
This was the first night of his journey as a Trainer, and he had fallen asleep almost the instant his head hit the pillow.
He slept soundly, his posture rather ungraceful.
The Pikachu beside him was the same. The boy and the Mouse, who had just begun to form a Bond, were now even in sync with their movements.
*Swoosh!*
Suddenly, like a zombie, Ash's upper body shot upright.
He stared blankly at his own hands.
"Pika!?"
Beside him, Pikachu lifted its small head, watching its Trainer with great vigilance. A few yellow sparks of Electric Current even began to crackle on its cheeks.
Pokemon were different from Humans; they possessed a special sense.
Although Ash's appearance hadn't changed, Pikachu had keenly sensed it.
This person was not its simple-minded Trainer!
Red: "..."
The one now controlling Ash's body was none other than Red, who had been inexplicably absorbed into him.
He closed his eyes, sensing everything around him, feeling the Air brush against his body. It was a completely new sensation, one that further convinced Red that his former self had been nothing more than a fictional, digital character.
"How ridiculous."
But perhaps, this Youth named Ash was also fictional, and he had merely arrived in a higher-level fictional world?
"Pika!"
The cry beside him pulled Red's thoughts back to reality.
He opened his eyes to see a Pikachu baring its teeth at him.
Red also had a Pikachu. He knew that when a Pikachu made this gesture, it was about to Attack.
"I mean no harm."
This wasn't a problem. A faint smile appeared on Red's face as he slowly extended his hand to touch Pikachu's cheek.
And under his touch, the latter's hostility gradually faded. It even began to gently lick Red's palm.
Pokemon have a special sense, able to distinguish between good and evil in Humans.
Red was an old hand at dealing with an Electric Mouse Pokémon, but this wondrous feeling of touching a real Pokémon was a novel experience for him.
"So this is a real Pokémon?"
Saying this, Red directly pulled Pikachu into an embrace.
If Ash were to suddenly wake up and see this, he'd probably cough up a mouthful of blood.
He had nearly given his life to earn Pikachu's trust.
And now a stranger had just swooped in and stolen Pikachu's loyalty?
"Let's go for a walk."
Red tickled Pikachu's chin. Understanding, Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder, and the two of them slowly walked out of the Room Door.
He didn't know how long this state would last. Seizing the opportunity, Red wanted to get a good look at this real World.
Unexpectedly, just as he stepped out of the room.
*Click!*
The door across from him opened at the same time, and a girl with short orange hair emerged.
Their eyes met.
"!"
Misty instantly exploded. Her eyes glaring, she let out a Snarl:
"You little bike thief! I've finally caught you!"
Then, Misty watched as the other person simply walked towards the Pokémon Center's main entrance, not even giving her a second glance.
"You...!?"
What was more infuriating than having your Bicycle stolen to your face was the thief brazenly ignoring you afterward.
Was this for real?
Misty quickly chased after him, reaching out to grab the hem of Red's clothes.
*Tap.*
But before she could touch Red, he had already moved first, extending a hand and seizing her wrist.
Only then did Red turn his head. His eyes held almost no emotional fluctuation, only radiating an intense Chill that warned strangers to keep away.
"Who are you?"
Misty: "???"
It hasn't even been 24 hours, and he's already wiped his mouth clean and is pretending not to know me?!
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