Chapter Ninety: Pikachu's Anomaly

Everyone went into the examination room.

"Put Pikachu on this platform."

"Okay."

Ash placed Pikachu on the platform, and Professor Juniper began the examination.

"From Ash's description, Pikachu should have taken in too much electricity. But according to the data, there's nothing abnormal. I'll run a few more thorough checks in a moment."

"Okay, Professor Juniper."

"Pikachu, hang in there a little longer. It should be fine soon."

"Professor Juniper."

At that moment, someone came in from outside; it seemed to be one of the researchers here.

"Professor Juniper, the new Trainer who came today to receive a Pokemon has arrived."

"Oh? I didn't realize it was already this late. Then let's go take a look first!"

Everyone went with Professor Juniper to the lobby, and there they saw a boy taking photographs with a camera.

"Shu-Ti, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Hello, Professor Juniper."

Shu-Ti? So this was Ash's fated rival in the Unova region. But for someone who has already competed in four League Conferences to pick a fight with a novice Trainer, isn't that a little bullying?

At that moment, Professor Juniper's assistant pushed over a cart with six Pokeballs on it.

"You're the new Trainer?"

"You are?"

"This is Ash. He's a Trainer from the Kanto region."

"Hello."

"Hello. My name is Shu-Ti."

"All right, Shu-Ti, now choose your first Pokemon."

"First, the Fire-type Tepig."

A small pig in red and black appeared before them, looking very lively.

"Then the Water-type Oshawott."

As soon as Oshawott appeared, it bounced about with a mischievous air.

"Finally, the Grass-type Snivy."

Snivy stood there with its arms folded, not moving at all, looking rather aloof.

"All right, Shu-Ti, which one will you choose?"

Shu-Ti studied the three Pokemon carefully, choosing with great deliberation.

"Wow, this is really hard. Every Pokemon is so good. Which one should I pick?"

Ash stared at the three Pokemon from the side, looking very conflicted.

"Hey, I'm the one choosing a Pokemon, okay?"

"Got it, got it. But it's really hard to choose."

"Cheng Cheng, which one would you choose?"

"Me? Snivy, I guess."

"Why?"

"Just because I like it."

Of course, Cheng Cheng would not say that among these three Pokemon, Snivy's rank was a little higher than the other two. And in truth, Snivy really did have the greatest value for training.

"All right, I'll choose this Snivy."

Shu-Ti chose Snivy.

"Very good. Here is Snivy's Pokeball and a Pokedex. There are also five empty Pokeballs. A Pokemon can carry at most six, you know."

"Okay, thank you, Professor Juniper."

"Return, Snivy."

"Well then, Professor Juniper, I'll take my leave."

With that, Shu-Ti walked out of the laboratory.

After Shu-Ti left, Ash followed after him, and Cheng Cheng decided to go too. Knowing Ash's personality, the two of them would probably have a battle.

"Wait, Shu-Ti."

Shu-Ti stopped and turned around, seeing Ash catching up.

"Oh? What is it?"

"Shu-Ti, are you going to challenge gyms?"

"Of course. Isn't that obvious? If you successfully challenge eight gyms, you'll qualify to enter the Unova League."

"I see. That's pretty much like the Kanto region."

"Pika... Pika-pi!"

At that moment, Pikachu ran over and jumped into Ash's arms.

"Pikachu, is your examination finished?"

"Cheng Cheng, you're here too."

"Yeah, I came to take a look."

Cheng Cheng smiled faintly.

"It's Pikachu!"

Shu-Ti took out his camera and snapped many photos of Pikachu.

"What are you doing?"

"It's Pikachu. Pikachu are quite rare in Unova, after all."

"Pikachu is my best partner."

"Is that so? Then it's strong?"

"Of course."

Ash was full of confidence in Pikachu.

"Why don't we have a battle?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Then come on, Snivy."

"Please, Pikachu."

What was wrong with this world? Cheng Cheng could not quite make sense of it. A Pokemon under level ten was actually challenging the Electric Mouse Pokemon. Where did he get the courage?

Cheng Cheng checked Snivy's data. Damn, level sixteen. Aren't novice Trainers supposed to receive Pokemon between level five and ten only? What was going on with this Snivy? With such a high level, it should be about to evolve, shouldn't it? Was there some hidden arrangement here?

"All right, Pikachu, let's go."

"Quick Attack."

"Pika!"

Pikachu was, after all, a veteran Pokemon. Snivy had no way to avoid Pikachu's attack and was sent flying at once. Still, the fact that this Snivy was not knocked out in one hit surprised Cheng Cheng.

"Good, then use Thunderbolt."

"Pika... Pi, Pika?"

"Pikachu, what's wrong?"

Pikachu did not use Thunderbolt.

Then Snivy used Vine Whip.

"Pikachu, dodge."

Pikachu easily avoided the Vine Whip attack.

"Again. Pikachu, use Thunderbolt."

"Pikachu... Pika?"

Pikachu still failed to use Thunderbolt.

"What is going on? Ash, are you really taking this battle seriously?"

Shu-Ti was somewhat dissatisfied with Pikachu's performance.

"Of course. Pikachu, use Volt Tackle!"

"Pika, Pika, Pi, Pi!"

Pikachu charged forward, yet even Volt Tackle failed to take effect.

What was happening? Why couldn't Pikachu use Electric-type moves?

"In that case, let's try Iron Tail."

"Pika!"

Pikachu's Iron Tail worked perfectly, and it struck toward Snivy.

"Snivy, quickly dodge."

Snivy avoided the Iron Tail attack.

"Use Grass Mixer."

A powerful vortex of grass immediately engulfed Pikachu, trapping it within the swirling mass.

"Throw it out."

Snivy tried to hurl the vortex, Pikachu and all, outward.

"Stop."

Just as Pikachu was about to be slammed to the ground, Cheng Cheng used his psychic powers to shatter the entire Grass Mixer. Even Cheng Cheng had not expected that he would be able to break that move. Then he caught Pikachu.

"Are you all right, Pikachu?"

Ash picked Pikachu up.

"Pikachu only took a little damage. It is not in much danger, but the energy within its body is very unstable."

Cheng Cheng examined Pikachu's condition.

"Hey, why did you step in?"

Cheng Cheng looked at Shu-Ti.

"Your Snivy is far too weak compared with Pikachu. That alone makes this unfair to you. And Pikachu is in an abnormal state, unable to use Electric-type moves, which is why you were able to fight so easily. Since this battle is unfair to both sides, it means nothing."

"All right, Ash, hurry and take Pikachu to Professor Juniper to have a look!"

Ash immediately picked up Pikachu and ran back to the laboratory. Cheng Cheng also headed back.

"Wait."

"What is it? Something wrong?"

"Who are you?"

"I am the Pokemon Breeder Kijima Cheng Cheng. You can call me Cheng Cheng."

"You just said my Snivy is weaker than Pikachu?"

"That is true. I don't know why Professor Juniper gave you a Snivy at such a high level, but it really is weak, and you're not using it well either."

"Is that so? If you say it like that, then you must be very strong. Let's battle!"

"A battle? There's no need."

Cheng Cheng directly used his psychic power to make Snivy float backward, then threw it away. Snivy slammed straight into a tree trunk.

"Snivy!"

Shu-Ti ran over to check on Snivy.

"Relax, it's fine. It only suffered a minor injury. It won't affect your journey."

With that, Cheng Cheng left.

Shu-Ti was stunned by Cheng Cheng's actions. How had he done that?

Cheng Cheng left the area, leaving Shu-Ti alone.

As he walked, Cheng Cheng thought about it.

Was that a bit too harsh? After all, he was a novice Trainer. Doing that might crush his confidence. Well, never mind. It would at least teach him that being a Trainer is not so easy.

Cheng Cheng returned to the examination room, where Professor Juniper had already begun examining Pikachu.

"Professor Juniper, what exactly is going on?" Ash asked.

"Pikachu should be in an overloaded state."

Professor Juniper looked at the data on the computer.

"An overloaded state?"

"That's right. Pikachu must have absorbed too much lightning energy from that thundercloud, and as a result it has fallen into an abnormal condition."

"Then what should we do?"

"Kachk... crackle..."

"What's wrong?"

Professor Juniper noticed that one of the instruments seemed to have malfunctioned, and then the entire laboratory lost power.

Cheng Cheng felt that same powerful force from before appear again.

"This is..."

Then everyone saw the thundercloud outside.

"It's the same thundercloud as before."

Everyone was a little shocked. They had not expected that thundercloud to come here.

"Could that thundercloud be..."

"What is it?"

Ash was extremely curious.

"Inside that thundercloud should be the legendary Pokemon of the Unova region, Zekrom."

"Zekrom?"

"Yes. A legendary Pokemon. A mythical Pokemon that can control lightning."

"Control lightning!"

Ash was somewhat astonished. He had not expected this thundercloud to have been caused by a Pokemon.

"So it really is that one."

"Cheng Cheng, you knew too?"

"I had actually suspected it a little before. I didn't expect it to be Zekrom after all. Since I was coming to Unova, I naturally made preparations in advance. In Unova, there are many legendary Pokemon. Among them are Zekrom, the Pokemon that can control lightning, and Reshiram, the Pokemon that can control flames."

"Zekrom and Reshiram?"

"Yes. They should be roughly equivalent to Groudon and Kyogre in the Hoenn region, and Dialga and Palkia in the Sinnoh region."

"I see! Then why would it appear here?"

"Boom!"

"Pika!!"