Pichu and Kai locked eyes in a silent standoff. Slowly, with an expression as impassive as stone, Kai began his approach toward the tiny Pokémon, expecting it to remain unresponsive. However, Pichu's alert gaze shifted, and its small face darkened as it took a cautious step back, a soft "Pichu" escaping its trembling lips.
Kai's lips curled into an affable smile. "Awww, c'mon, don't be like this, Pichu," he coaxed, his hands rising in an inviting gesture as his fingers wiggled playfully. In a sudden burst of impulsive excitement, Kai leapt forward and scooped Pichu into his hands with an exultant cry of "Gotcha!"
Startled and terrified, Pichu retaliated instinctively. A surge of electricity burst forth from its cheeks, and with a high-pitched "Pi-chuuuuuu!!!!!" a crackling shock shot through Kai. His scream, a raw "Aahhhhhh!!!!!!" filled the air as the shock sent jolts of pain coursing through him.
The unexpected burst of electric energy forced Kai to release his grip on Pichu. His body fell to the ground, momentarily paralyzed—joints frozen and words escaping him in a strangled whisper, "O-oh man, it fucking hurts… now I understand how every Pokémon trainer must've felt…" Even as he lay there, sparks continued to flit from Pichu's cheeks, scattering into the sky and onto nearby bushes and trees. Startled Pidgeys and sparrows took flight from the commotion, their wings beating frantically against the disturbed air.
After what felt like an eternity, the paralysis subsided and Kai managed to push himself up. He saw Pichu still discharging small bursts of electricity into its surroundings. Guilt and concern laced his voice as he blurted out, "H-hey, you can stop now! I won't do anything to you!"
In response, Pichu ceased its electric display and slowly opened its eyes, which had been shut tight in alarm. Kai exhaled in relief. "Sigh, chill, man. I ain't doing anything to you," he reassured awkwardly. Yet, suspicion glimmered in Pichu's squinting eyes as it shot him a wary side-eye. Kai managed a sheepish grin and stammered, "R-really man, I'm not lying, believe m—"
Before he could finish, a colossal, rocky form emerged from the bushes behind Pichu, dwarfing both Kai and the trembling Pokémon—a massive Rhydon. Kai's eyes widened in crimson shock and his mouth fell open as he cried out, "Oh shit. What the hell is a Rhydon doing here?!"
Pichu, equally startled, shut its eyes tight and attempted to launch an electric attack. A few feeble sparks flickered from its cheeks, but the usual vigorous surge of high voltage was nowhere to be seen. The imposing Rhydon glared down at the tiny creature, its bulk looming as Pichu stood frozen in terror.
Realizing the imminent danger, Kai's forehead creased with determination as he yelled, "What the hell are you standing there for?! Move!!" directing his command at Pichu. At that very moment, Rhydon's attention snapped to Kai's shout. With a deep, powerful grunt, the massive Pokémon lifted a leg, preparing to charge. Yet, in a twist of cruel fate, Pichu was trapped beneath its enormous foot, teetering on the brink of being crushed.
In a surge of adrenaline and protective instinct, Kai charged forward with every ounce of strength in his legs. His target was the terrified Pichu, whose low, trembling cry of "Pi-pi-pi-pi…chuuuu…" resonated with raw fear as it hung in the balance between safety and imminent disaster.
Luck was on Kai's side. Rhydon, burdened by its own massive weight, moved slowly enough for Kai to seize the moment. With lightning agility that belied his 12‑year‑old frame, Kai dove forward, rolling and cradling the trembling Pichu in his arms. He scrambled behind a cluster of bushes just in time to escape the looming stomp of the Rhydon's foot.
Kai's youthful body gave him speed and nimbleness, a stark contrast to the mature mind of a 19‑year‑old. As he secured Pichu, the little Pokémon blinked in surprise, its wide eyes reflecting admiration and gratitude. "Pichu~?" it murmured softly, as if in wonder.
But there was no time for tenderness. Kai's mind snapped back to survival; he knew they had to flee the relentless Rhydon. Clutching Pichu close, he darted through the dense tangle of trees and underbrush. Urgency and frustration were etched on his youthful face as he navigated the labyrinthine forest, all the while glancing back to see the colossal Rhydon barreling through the trees, its massive limbs crushing everything in its path.
Between labored breaths, Kai muttered, "What the hell is a Rhydon doing here? It's so weird—they shouldn't be in the middle of a forest." His words were lost to the rustling wind as he pushed his tired legs to run faster.
In an instant, the forest gave way to an entirely different landscape—a vast, barren rocky plain dotted with towering structures of jagged stone. He slowed, catching his breath and scanning the unfamiliar terrain. His brows knit together as he whispered, "So, this is why the Rhydon appeared out of nowhere."
Turning back, he saw that the Rhydon was gaining on them, now emerging from the forest with nothing to slow its relentless charge. The creature's thunderous steps pounded against the hard ground, sending tremors through the rocky landscape. With desperation spurring him on, Kai sprinted again, his small legs propelling him as fast as they could. Yet his young body, though quick, was not built for endless endurance; every muscle in his legs screamed in protest as exhaustion crept in.
Huffing and puffing, he could feel the weakness in his limbs, and his inner monologue turned bitter. "Fuck. Huff…huff…this body is so weak…if only I had my previous strength…huff…" he cursed under his breath, fighting back tears of frustration and pain.
Though he dared not look back, the relentless sound of Rhydon's stomping filled his ears, a constant reminder of the danger behind him. His crimson eyes darted around wildly, searching for any chance of escape. And then, as if fate had finally lent a helping hand, something caught his eye—a glimmering ribbon of water winding through the barren land.
"A river!!" he exclaimed, hope igniting in his heart as the prospect of refuge emerged on the horizon.
Despite the distance—the river lay dozens of meters away—Kai refused to give up. His legs pumped furiously, each stride a battle against fatigue as sweat poured down his face. Pichu's wide, worried eyes mirrored his own desperation, while behind them the monstrous Rhydon thundered closer, its low, menacing growls vibrating through the ground.
"Please, just please!" Kai pleaded silently to himself as his heart hammered in his chest. The Rhydon's massive claws swiped at him; one brutal swing tore through his shirt, drawing blood from his back. Pain flared like wildfire, but Kai clenched his jaw and, summoning every last ounce of strength, he made a final, desperate leap and dove into the river.
The cool water enveloped him, and as exhaustion took over, consciousness slipped away. His arms went limp, and Pichu was released into the churning current. Yet, despite the opportunity to escape, Pichu lingered by his side. The little Pokémon gently batted at Kai's cheek with its tiny paws, a silent gesture of concern.
Time blurred. Slowly, Kai's crimson irises came into focus as his heavy eyelids fluttered open. The first vision that greeted him was a cascade of orange light—sunbeams filtering through the dense canopy of leaves above. Groaning, he murmured, "Argh, where am I?"
Before him, Pichu bounded into view, its eyes sparkling with relief and happiness. "Pichu!!!" Pichu exclaimed, it's voice shrill but filled with genuine warmth. Kai pushed himself up with his right hand from the soft, damp ground and looked at the tiny Pokémon. "Pichu, you okay?"
The little Pokémon bounced excitedly, chirping, "Pichu!" in response.
A fleeting smile tugged at Kai's lips as he replied, "Glad you're fine. But wait…" He brought his hand gingerly to his back, feeling the ragged tear where Rhydon had shredded his shirt and skin. His fingers traced over the torn fabric, expecting to feel the sting of fresh wounds—but instead, there was nothing there.
Before he could voice his surprise, an unfamiliar voice interjected, "I healed you, you're okay now, don't worry." Kai's head snapped toward the sound. Standing a few paces away was a girl with long, blonde hair tied neatly into a ponytail, her youthful face soft yet determined. She appeared to be in her mid-teens.
Squinting, Kai asked, "Who are you?" while an internal thought whispered, She seems familiar…
With a gentle smile, the girl replied, "My name is Yellow, from Viridian Forest."
Kai's eyes widened in astonishment as the realization began to sink in. Internally, he mused, I knew it—there'd be elements from the manga mixed in here. She isn't even in the game. And Red goes missing only in the game, not in the manga. This makes one thing clear… this world I'm in is a mixture of both the games and the manga!
Kai grinned warmly. "I'm Kai. Thank you for saving me—and Pichu."
With a hint of sternness in her tone, Yellow replied, "No problem. But I've heard everything from Pichu. You shouldn't have agitated him, or this wouldn't have happened."
Kai offered an awkward laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Ha…haha, sorry. I'll be more careful next time." Internally, he cursed silently, Oh crap, I forgot she can read the memories of Pokémon.
His eyes then widened as he glanced down at Pichu, who was gently nudging his hand. "Wait, he?"
In her usual playful tone, Yellow answered, "Yes. Pichu is a boy—you might not have known."
Kai looked deeply into Pichu's eyes, and for a brief, magical moment, they shared a silent understanding. Then, as quickly as it began, Pichu turned and dashed off into the bushes.
Kai opened his mouth to say something, but Yellow interjected softly, "Let him go, Kai. He's suffered enough for today."
Not turning back, Kai stared at the bushes where Pichu disappeared and replied, "Well, you're right." Yellow chuckled, her eyes dancing with amusement as she continued, "Besides, you need to get home, don't you?"
Kai turned his head towards her, just to see she was looking elsewhere. He followed her gaze and saw the sun beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows over the familiar rooftops of Pallet Town. Realizing he was somewhere between the entrance of Viridian Forest and Pallet Town, he stood up and brushed the dust from his torn shirt.
With a final, gentle smile, Yellow spoke again, "Then, until next time, Kai. Let's meet another day." Like Pichu, she vanished into the bushes, leaving him alone in the golden twilight.
A slight smile tugged at Kai's lips as he murmured to himself, "Yeah, let's meet next time. Also…" He let out a deep sigh and scratched his head, his obsidian hair falling into place as he reflected, "Maann, what a perilous day—got a reality check, too. It's not as easy as I thought. But what else can be done? Let's just bear with it, man." His voice was soft, yet laced with the wisdom of hard-earned experience, and a gentle smile lingered on his face.
With that, he set off toward Pallet Town. The ragged tear on his back—a silent testament to the day's wild adventures—moved with him in the fading light. In the distance, high on a sturdy tree branch, a lone figure with flowing blonde hair watched his retreat. Yellow sat there gracefully, a serene Pikachu perched on her shoulder, her eyes following Kai as the sun dipped low over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.
Kai stood before the door, his crimson eyes fixed on the doorknob. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as his mind wavered in indecision—should he open it or not? Gathering a deep reserve of courage, he finally turned the knob and pushed the door open. There, Charlotte stood with her hands folded, her expression tinged with mild anger.
"Is this the time you think you should be coming home?" she asked in a stern tone.
Kai offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Mom, hehe."
Charlotte sighed, shaking her head, and called out, "Celeste, bring him inside." At that moment, a graceful Ninetales emerged from behind Charlotte, its fur a soft cascade of silvery-white. With a gentle, otherworldly sound—"Wrrrowww"—it lifted Kai effortlessly, guiding him indoors as if by magic.
"Woah! Where did it come from?!" Kai exclaimed in astonishment.
Charlotte explained, "She just returned with the delivery agents today— they brought your Pokémon egg. Be sure to thank Celeste later—" Her words were abruptly cut off as she noticed the torn fabric on Kai's back. "What is that?! Celeste, put him down!"
A low, soothing purr from Celeste signaled that Kai was being carefully set down. As he landed softly on his feet, Charlotte rushed over to examine the ripped shirt. "How did this happen?!" she demanded.
Kai chuckled awkwardly, trying to mask his guilt. "I—I was playing in the bushes and got stuck. When I pulled, it tore. Hehehe."
Charlotte crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure?"
With a forced smile and a hint of remorse, Kai mumbled, "Y-yes, Mom."
Charlotte let out another resigned sigh. "Hmph, fine. I'll believe you for now."
Her expression softened, and she added, "Besides…" Her gaze drifted toward the living room, toward the tea table, silently urging him to follow. Kai turned and his eyes widened in astonishment at what he saw. In a flash, he bolted from his spot—so swiftly that even Celeste seemed surprised by his speed.
He stopped near the tea table, where his crimson eyes shone with excitement as he inquired, "Is this the egg you mentioned?"
Charlotte's smile remained gentle and reassuring as she replied, "Yes."
There, carefully cradled on a soft cushion within a glass case, rested the Pokémon egg—a large and delicate steel gray orb adorned with large and small blue spots, its surface shimmering under the warm glow of the room.