Pokemon : Rewind

"R-Richardon, what's going on?!" Liza stammered, breaking the tense silence. Both Ash and his companions looked stunned, and even Liza, who had grown up in Charicific Valley, seemed at a loss. 

She turned to the massive Charizard, the king of the valley, and quickly asked, "Why are you acting like this?"

Richardon, the towering Totem Charizard, glanced at Liza and gave a slight shake of his head, signaling that everything was fine. Then, his fiery gaze returned to Pikachu, his eyes narrowing as if examining an enigma.

Even standing still, Pikachu emanated an extraordinary aura—one that Richardon, with all his years of wisdom and strength, could feel clearly. 

It wasn't the aura of an ordinary Pokémon; it was something far greater, almost divine.

"This Pikachu…" Richardon's instincts, honed through countless battles, told him there was something special here. 

It was as though Pikachu carried the presence of a god, despite its smaller stature and lower inherent power. 

For Richardon, who had long sought to push past the boundaries of his own strength, this was a spark of opportunity.

As the ruler of Charicific Valley, Richardon had reached and remained at the champion level for what felt like an eternity. 

He had lost count of the years, but he was certain of one thing—this Pikachu might hold the key to breaking through his limitations.

"This Charizard… it's massive!" Misty exclaimed. While it wasn't as colossal as a Gyarados, its immense size and commanding presence made her uneasy. Even Ash's Charizard, formidable in its own right, seemed diminutive in comparison.

"Not just its size," Brock added, his voice tinged with awe. "It's surrounded by a dark golden aura. I've never seen anything like it before."

Ash narrowed his eyes, observing the Charizard intently. "This is a Totem Pokémon," he murmured.

Liza blinked in surprise, looking at Ash. "You… you can tell it's a Totem Pokémon?"

"Totem Pokémon?!" Brock exclaimed, stepping back to take in the sight of Richardon. While he had read about these rare, legendary Pokémon in books, he had never encountered one in person.

Misty, though impressed, remained wary. "Totem or not, we're guests here. Isn't this kind of hostility unnecessary?"

Liza stepped forward, attempting to calm Richardon. "Richardon, please! They're here as my guests. This isn't how we treat visitors!"

But Richardon let out a powerful roar, commanding a nearby Charizard to escort Liza away. 

The gesture was firm but not aggressive, showing that while he respected her, this matter was beyond her influence.

Liza was stunned. She had grown up among these Charizard, forging bonds with them stronger than most could imagine. Yet, here was Richardon, behaving as though her words carried no weight.

Ash stepped forward, breaking the tension. "It's okay, Liza. I understand what he wants," he said calmly. His voice carried a tone of certainty that caused Liza to pause.

"You… understand?" Liza asked, confused.

Ash nodded. "He wants a battle with Pikachu. He must have sensed the aura of the Legendary Pokémon we encountered and believes it holds the key to surpassing his limits."

Richardon's gaze shifted to Ash for the first time. There was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes—this human was Pikachu's Trainer.

Ash met Richardon's gaze, his expression steady. "It's an honor to meet you, Totem of Charicific Valley. I am Ash, Pikachu's Trainer."

Richardon's eyes narrowed, and he let out a low, rumbling roar that carried a teasing, almost taunting tone. If Ash was Pikachu's Trainer, then surely Ash would let Pikachu battle him.

But Ash simply smiled. "I understand your challenge, but I have a better idea." He turned to Pikachu, who had been standing firm, sparks crackling faintly from its cheeks. "Pikachu, stand down for now."

Pikachu looked at Ash, then at Richardon, as if weighing its options. Finally, it let out a warning spark toward Richardon before leaping back on Ash's shoulder.

Richardon's expression twisted in frustration. He let out a sharp roar, clearly displeased that Ash had refused his challenge.

"Don't worry," Ash said, his voice calm but firm. "I have someone better suited for this battle. Trust me."

For a moment, the valley seemed to hold its breath. Richardon, despite his initial anger, found himself drawn to Ash's confidence. Slowly, his roaring subsided, and he stood still, waiting.

Liza stared at Ash in disbelief. "You… you calmed him down?" she whispered. Even she hadn't been able to settle Richardon, yet this Trainer, who had only just entered the valley, managed to do so with a few words.

Ash turned to Liza. "Where's the nearest Pokémon Center? I need to bring my Charizard here."

Liza hesitated. "The closest one is far. Even with Charla flying you there, it would take a full day to go back and forth."

Ash frowned. "A day is too long… If that's the case, I'll have to use either Pikachu or Snorlax for the battle."

Liza suddenly lit up. "Wait! There's no need for that. My home has a teleportation machine. You can use it to bring your Charizard here!"

Ash's eyes widened. "A teleportation machine? That's perfect! Can you take me there, Liza?"

Liza nodded eagerly. "Of course! I can't wait to see your Charizard in action!"

Ash turned back to Richardon. "I promise you won't be disappointed. I'll give you the battle you're looking for."

Richardon's eyes glimmered with excitement, and he let out a thunderous roar that echoed across the valley, signaling his readiness.

The battle between Ash's Charizard and the Totem of Charicific Valley was about to begin.

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