Pokemon system: strongest champion

"Gyarados, use Iron Tail!"

"Onix, you too!"

"Charmander, use Flamethrower to capture Pidgey!"

"Pidgey, keep using Quick Attack to dodge those flames!"

At that moment, Mason was fully immersed in training his Pokémon. Beedrill, having been with Mason for several years, no longer needed direct commands—he understood his trainer's intentions instinctively. Their bond had been forged through countless battles and practice sessions, allowing them to work in perfect sync.

Nearby, the blood-red Gyarados and the massive Onix were clashing, both using Iron Tail in a contest of pure strength. The force of their blows sent shockwaves through the ground, stirring up dust and debris. In Mason's view, these two Pokémon were both raw powerhouses, and pitting them against each other like this was the perfect way to refine their physical strength. Aside from any disadvantage due to type differences, this kind of direct power match was excellent for tempering their combat instincts.

Meanwhile, Charmander and Pidgey were undergoing more technical training. Charmander was working on increasing the speed of his Flamethrower attacks, aiming for greater precision and faster ignition. Pidgey, on the other hand, focused on sharpening his agility and reaction time, darting in and out of Charmander's flames with remarkable speed.

To intensify their training, Mason occasionally tossed small pebbles toward them—not to harm them, but to serve as sudden obstacles. This forced Charmander and Pidgey to react quickly, enhancing their reflexes and coordination under unexpected circumstances.

Training, when done right, can be deeply absorbing. Mason and his five Pokémon were so engrossed in their session that they failed to notice the ominous clouds slowly gathering on the horizon.

---

Meanwhile, with Ash…

Ash and Pikachu were still working on building their friendship. While they fumbled through that process, a nearby Pidgey was pecking around in the grass, looking for food. Ash's eyes lit up.

"Pidgey…" he whispered to himself, then raised his Pokédex to scan it.

"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Among flying Pokémon, it has the most docile personality and is easy to catch. It is well-suited for beginner trainers."

Encouraged by the Pokédex's description, Ash decided to make Pidgey his very first catch. He looked over at Pikachu, ready to issue a battle command—but Pikachu had already climbed up a nearby tree and was lounging on a branch, breathing heavily and showing no interest in fighting.

"Really? My brother said that most Pokémon need to be battled before you can catch them…" Ash muttered, scratching his head in confusion.

Still, determined to make something happen, Ash came up with an improvised plan. He decided to sneak up and toss his jacket over Pidgey to trap it, then throw a Poké Ball. But Pidgey, far from being naive, had already sensed the ambush. It blew Ash away with a strong gust of wind and followed up with a Sand Attack for good measure.

Ash sat up groaning, watching Pidgey disappear into the sky with a mix of frustration and awe.

Just then, a rustling sound caught his attention. A Rattata had snuck up and was devouring food from his backpack. Ash rushed over to stop it, but by the time he got there, most of the food had already been eaten.

His Pokédex chimed in helpfully: "Rattata, the Mouse Pokémon. It often lives in grasslands and forests. Its favorite foods are hard nuts and cheese."

"This isn't even a forest! It's just a meadow!" Ash snapped.

The Pokédex replied smugly, "Careless travelers often find their food stolen in grassy areas!"

Pikachu, still up in the tree, laughed so hard at the exchange that it clutched its belly, clearly enjoying Ash's misfortune. Humiliated but more determined than ever, Ash vowed to catch a Pokémon—any Pokémon—just to prove himself.

He spotted another group of Pidgeys and decided to try a new approach: using a stone to knock one out. Unfortunately, his aim was off. The stone struck a Spearow instead—one known to be much more aggressive toward humans.

Spearow attacked instantly, diving toward Ash with unrelenting fury. Pikachu, recognizing the danger, leapt down and used Thunder Shock to knock the Spearow to the ground. But Spearow wasn't done yet. It screeched loudly, summoning a massive flock of its kind from the trees.

Ash's eyes widened in terror as a swarm of Spearows approached. Grabbing Pikachu, he bolted in the opposite direction, running as fast as his legs would carry him. The wild Pokémon nearby barely paid attention—they'd seen this scene play out many times before. Rookie trainers learning a hard lesson: Don't mess with Spearow unless you're prepared to fight back.

Desperate to escape, Ash dove off a waterfall with Pikachu in his arms. As they plunged into the river below, a Gyarados emerged from the depths, nearly attacking them. Thankfully, Ash managed to avoid it and drift downstream.

---

Enter Misty

Misty was fishing peacefully by the riverside, daydreaming about a handsome stranger she'd met earlier.

"Ugh, why didn't I ask him for his number?" she grumbled.

Suddenly, her fishing rod bent violently. Misty's heart leapt. "This kind of resistance—could it be a legendary catch?!"

She yanked the line with all her strength… and pulled Ash out of the water instead.

Ash coughed and gasped, still cradling a badly wounded Pikachu. Misty's eyes widened with sympathy.

"Oh no… Poor thing," she whispered, then promptly slapped Ash across the face. "What were you thinking, putting your Pokémon in danger like this?!"

Ash, guilt-ridden, couldn't say a word.

"Stop standing around! You need to get Pikachu to the Pokémon Center immediately!" Misty barked, pointing toward Viridian City.

Encouraged by the possibility of saving Pikachu, Ash perked up again. He borrowed Misty's bike without asking, placed Pikachu in the basket, and sped off.

"Hey! That's my bike!" Misty shouted after him, hands on her hips in outrage.

---

Lightning, Thunder, and Resolve

The sky had turned completely dark, thunder rumbling overhead. As Ash biked furiously through the rain, Pikachu looked up at him with bleary eyes, moved by his determination. Ash didn't care about the mud, the wind, or the downpour—he had to get Pikachu to safety.

But on a steep downhill path, Ash slipped and fell. The bike crashed, and Ash tumbled to the ground, cradling Pikachu protectively.

The Spearow flock had arrived.

Ash stood up, soaked and trembling. Tears—or maybe just rain—ran down his cheeks.

"Pikachu… how did it come to this…"

He pulled out Pikachu's Poké Ball. "Please, get inside. I know you don't like it, but you'll be safe in here. I'll take care of the rest, I promise."

He placed the ball gently in front of Pikachu and turned to face the incoming Spearows alone.

"I'm Ash from Pallet Town! I'm going to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master! I won't lose to you!"

The rain intensified. Pikachu saw Ash standing bravely, shielding him from harm. With the last of his strength, Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder—then into the sky in front of the attacking Spearows.

A bolt of lightning struck Pikachu at that exact moment.

Charged with lightning, Pikachu released a massive Thunder attack. A blinding column of electricity soared into the sky, slamming into the Spearow flock and scattering them like leaves in the wind. The blast was so powerful it scorched the earth—and Ash's borrowed bike.

---

After the Storm

As the dark clouds cleared, sunlight gently bathed the forest once more. Mason arrived at the scene, rushing to Ash and Pikachu. He immediately used a healing spray from his backpack to treat their injuries. In his heart, he knew: this moment of crisis had solidified an unbreakable bond between Ash and Pikachu.

Ash and Pikachu slowly regained consciousness. Seeing Mason's face, Ash relaxed.

"I didn't embarrass you… did I, big bro?" he asked with a weak smile.

Mason smiled back. "Of course not. You've always been my pride."

Just then, a wounded Spearow tried to lunge at Ash one final time. But Mason stepped forward, unwilling to allow another attack.

"Charmander, finish this!"

He tossed a Poké Ball, and Charmander appeared, roaring defiantly. One look at Charmander's fiery expression was enough to make the Spearow hesitate—but it was too late. Charmander unleashed a powerful Flamethrower, scorching the ground in front of the flock. The Spearows retreated, defeated and humbled.

Ash stared in awe. "Wow… Charmander is amazing. No wonder you're such a strong Trainer, Mason!"

---

A Rainbow and a Legend

The skies cleared completely, and a beautiful rainbow arched across the heavens. Pokémon everywhere stopped what they were doing to gaze in wonder.

Suddenly, a glowing figure appeared at the top of the rainbow—a majestic Pokémon radiating divine light.

Ash stared at the sky in disbelief. "What… is that?"

His Pokédex chimed in: "No data available. There are still many undiscovered Pokémon in this world."

Mason raised his own Pokédex and snapped a photo before the creature vanished. Seeing Ash's puzzled expression, he gently explained.

"That's Ho-Oh, one of the mythical Pokémon from the Johto Region. It's said to appear only to kind-hearted people. Where it flies, a rainbow follows. And those who witness it… are said to receive eternal happiness."

Ash listened intently, eyes wide with wonder.

Just then, two glowing Rainbow Wings floated down from the sky, one landing in each brother's hand.

"Ash," Mason said with awe, "it looks like Ho-Oh has recognized us both as worthy Trainers."

Together, they gazed up at the sky, watching Ho-Oh disappear into the distance, a promise of greatness shimmering on the horizon.

---

More episodes are available on patreon

https://www.patreon.com/Atoki_29