After freeing Celadon City from the clutches of Team Rocket, our heroes, Brayden and Trace, parted ways.
Upon returning to Saffron City, Brayden met a young martial artist named Zachary and his Pokémon partner, Timburr, who invited him to the Fighting Dojo. There, Brayden was shocked to discover his long lost Primeape battling Karate Master Koichi! Though Primeape initially panicked, he and Brayden sorted out their past trauma, and the Pig Monkey Pokémon has been welcomed back into our hero's team!
At the request of Elite Four member Bruno, Brayden has decided to train at the Fighting Dojo in preparation for his rematch with Saffron City Gym Leader Sabrina!
Meanwhile, Trace is battling Vermillion Gym Leader Lt. Surge…
"Arrrrrr!"
Arbok burst out of the floor under Electabuzz's feet, knocking the Electric Pokémon upwards.
"Now! Ice Fang!" Trace shouted.
Arbok immediately chomped Electabuzz's tail with his ice-infused fangs, leaving the latter Pokémon helplessly dangling. A sheet of ice formed on Electabuzz's tail and quickly began to expand to the rest of his body.
"Ice Fang is causing a freeze! Get out of there, Electabuzz!" Surge shouted.
"Don't let Electabuzz fight back! Spin it around and give it a good toss!" Trace urged.
Arbok did so, yanking Electabuzz around in a circle by the tail as the ice continued to surround the Electric-type's body. Just as Electabuzz froze completely solid, Arbok released his hold, sending Electabuzz's frozen body flying and slamming into a wall. The ice shattered and Electabuzz fell to the floor.
"Electabuzz cannot battle!" Tucker announced.
"Heh, not bad, kid! Not bad at all!" Surge said as he recalled Electabuzz. "You're a lot tougher than you were before! That's what I like to see!"
"Thanks, Lt. Surge! My Pokémon and I have been working really hard so we can win more badges!" Trace responded.
"Ar! Arbok!"
"Pikachu!"
Surge grinned fiercely and looked over at Raichu.
"Looks like we've got a serious challenge ahead of us, Raichu! Get in there and show them your power!"
"Rai Rai!"
Raichu ran into position, eager to begin battling. He grinned arrogantly at Pikachu, clearly to show that he was looking forward to beating him again.
"Pika…" Pikachu muttered irritably. The electric mouse was also looking forward to their imminent rematch, but this time things would end differently. He could never show his face to Primeape again if he lost a second time…
Saffron City, Fighting Dojo…
"Is that right? You found Primeape?!" Professor Oak cried with joyous bewilderment.
"Yeah! He's been training at the Fighting Dojo this whole time! And I've enrolled there, too! At least until Master Koichi and Master Bruno think I'm ready to face Sabrina."
"Prime! Primeape!" Primeape chimed in gleefully.
"Well now! That's certainly an excellent idea! I wish you luck, Brayden," Oak said.
"Oh, Professor? Have you found out where Moltres is?" Brayden asked.
"Not yet, Brayden. But I have a theory. I'm going to head to the Sevii Islands in person soon and investigate. Don't worry, I'll contact you once I figure things out."
"Alright then. But before you go, have you heard from my mom recently? I'd really like to talk to her more often. If only she had a P.C…"
Oak smiled knowingly.
"As a matter of fact, she did come by the other day. Turns out she's been thinking the same thing, and she's prepared something to solve that inconvenience. Be on the lookout for a package!"
"Huh. All right. Cool! See ya later, sir!"
"Goodbye!"
The computer screen shut off, and Brayden was startled to see Zachary's face reflected on the glass behind him.
"What was all that about 'Moltres'? You helping Professor Oak with some research or something? I thought you were aiming to conquer the local League."
"I am taking on the League, but… never mind."
Brayden walked past Zachary and headed out of the Pokémon Center. Zachary followed after him.
"What? C'mon, tell me! We're friends, aren't we?"
Brayden wasn't so sure just yet. Unlike Trace, he hadn't really clicked with Zachary when they met. That wasn't to say he didn't like Zachary, though.
"Well, sort of."
"Sort of? What's that supposed to mean?" Zachary asked with a slight chuckle.
"Well, we only just met. All I know is that you're a friendly guy from Unova—wherever that is—and that you have a hard time getting up in the morning."
"Fair enough, I don't know much about you either," Zachary replied. "But I can tell you and your Pokémon are really close, just like me and Timburr."
After some thinking, Brayden got an idea.
"You know what? When I met a potential friend for the first time, the first thing we did was battle! That gave us the opportunity to learn more about each other and our Pokémon. So let's do that! Battle us, Zachary!"
"All right! I'll accept your challenge!" Zachary replied. "We'll let Master Koichi know so he can schedule a time for our match. We better get ready for a serious fight, Timburr!"
"Tim burr!" the Muscular Pokémon shouted eagerly.
Primeape, though excited to battle a Pokémon he had never faced before, turned his thoughts to Trace's Pikachu.
Shortly after their reunion, Brayden told Primeape about everything that had happened during the time he had been away. Pikachu's imprisonment in the Pokémon Tower, the sudden encounter with Arbok, the battle for Celadon Department Store, earning the Rainbow Badge from Erika, and finally Trace's departure.
Considering the time that had passed, Primeape felt that Trace was likely battling Lt. Surge that very moment.
Though it had certainly been a while, Primeape could never forget the great strength Surge's Raichu possessed. Pikachu would have to give his all to win.
(Good luck, my rival…)
Vermillion City Gym…
"Pikachu, Mega Punch!"
"Raichu, Thunder Punch!"
The electric rodents ran to the center of the field and unleashed their respective punches. Pikachu's Normal-type energy collided with Raichu's Electric energy as they pushed forward with all their might. Though Pikachu's attack was technically stronger, Raichu's greater size and strength began to win out. Once again Raichu flashed that cocky grin that Pikachu loathed so much as Pikachu's Mega Punch fizzled out, allowing Raichu to slug the smaller Pokémon across the face.
"PIKACHU!" Trace shouted.
Pikachu helplessly rolled backwards and came to a rest at Trace's feet, facedown. For a moment Trace worried that they had lost, but Pikachu got back on his feet.
Pikachu's starting to tire out, Trace thought. Looks like we better use our new move now, while he still has a chance of withstanding the recoil!
"Time to show them our new move! Ready, Pikachu?"
"Pika Pikachu!"
"Use Volt Tackle!"
Surge and Raichu couldn't believe what they had just heard.
Volt Tackle?! Did they actually learn that move?!
As Pikachu charged towards Raichu, electricity surrounded his body, and Surge knew that Trace wasn't kidding. But there wasn't time to be shocked, he had to react before the attack struck.
"RAICHU, ZAP CANNON!"
Raichu hastily charged up a large electric orb and launched it at Pikachu, but the attack didn't faze Pikachu in the slightest. In fact, the electricity charged him up even further. Before Surge could react to what was happening, Pikachu crashed right into Raichu's belly.
Now scowling, Raichu pushed back with all his might. He refused to allow his pre-evolution defeat him!
Likewise, Pikachu kept running, heedless of the heavy recoil that was building up. Victory was within grasp.
Just… have to… keep… pushing…!
Trace knew this couldn't go on. Eventually Pikachu would tire out, and they would lose.
We gotta use all that extra electricity to its fullest!
"USE THUNDERBOLT, PIKACHU!"
Still shrouded with electricity, Pikachu unleashed a massive electric blast, pummeling Raichu with the extremely high voltage.
"RAI….!"
I miscalculated! Surge realized. Pikachu's Ability is Lightning Rod! That makes attacks like Zap Cannon raise Pikachu's power instead of damaging it! There's only one way to turn this around. It's risky, but we have to try!
"Don't give up, Raichu! Use Thunder Punch!" Surge bellowed.
Continuing to hold Pikachu back with one hand, Raichu pulled back his electrified fist and threw it into Pikachu's face.
Ka-BOOM!
The abundance of colliding electricity triggered a large explosion. Trace, Surge and Tucker all waited for the smoke to clear. Was it over?
Raichu was still standing. He stared down at Pikachu, who was breathing heavily and straining to stay on all fours.
"Pi…!" Pikachu gasped as he wobbled.
Come on, Pikachu! Hold on! Trace thought anxiously.
"Rai!" Raichu sneered triumphantly. He knew all along that little runt was a weakling compared to him. But as he raised his fist in victory…
"Raaaaaaaiiii…."
The rotund Mouse Pokémon's strength suddenly drained and he fell onto his back.
"That's it! The match is over!" Tucker declared. "The challengers win!"
"Ah! P-Pikachu! You did it!" Trace shouted joyously. He dashed over and scooped up the exhausted Pikachu into his arms, laughing all the while. All Pikachu could do was smile with relief.
"Well, what do you know?" Surge said to himself. "The kid really did it! Now I see why Oak took a liking to him."
After their Pokémon were healed, Surge handed the Thunder Badge to Trace.
"You and your Pokémon showed real guts, Trace! As the Gym Leader of your home city, I couldn't be more proud of how far you've come. Keep it up, and you're sure to become one of the finest Trainers around!"
"Thanks a lot, Surge!"
As Trace turned to leave, Surge smacked himself in the face.
"Aw, there I go again! I was so excited by that battle I nearly forgot something again!"
He handed Trace a Technical Machine. But this one didn't contain Thunderbolt.
"Thunder Punch?" Trace said.
"Well, Pikachu already knows Thunderbolt, so I figured you should get our favorite move, kid.
"RAI!"
Furious, Raichu smacked the TM out of Trace's hands with his tail and snatched it up from the floor.
"Raichu?! What are you DOING?!" Surge snapped. "He won it fair and square! Give it back!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu added.
"Rai! Raichu!" Raichu retorted.
Pikachu jumped for the TM, but Raichu stubbornly held it out of his reach.
"What's going on here?" Trace wondered.
Surge let out a long sigh.
"Let me tell you a story, Trace. A long time ago, I was an aspiring Pokémon Trainer like yourself. The day I caught my Raichu as a Pikachu, was one of the happiest of my life. Once we had become inseparable buddies, Pikachu and I embarked on a quest to to master a rare and powerful move. One you and your Pikachu know well."
"Volt Tackle?"
"Yes. Only very special Pichu and Pikachu have the potential to learn that legendary attack. We trained day in and day out to make our dream a reality. But then the war happened. I was called to serve in the army, and we had to put that training on hold. Then, that day came…"
Raichu's furious expression tightened.
"The plane we were in was badly damaged. Usually, I would've had my Electric-type Pokémon use their power to keep us steady until we could find a place to safely land, but they were all complete drained from the battle. Pikachu was still standing, but his power alone wasn't enough. And so, we had to choose. Use the Thunder Stone we had ready for such an occasion, ending our dream for good, or risk the chance of not walking away from that plane when it inevitably crashed…"
Trace and Pikachu spotted a single tear falling from Raichu's face before he turned away from them.
"I… I couldn't do it," Surge uttered, full of shame. "I couldn't bear to throw away all our hard work. And I would never force my friend and fellow soldier to evolve, so…"
Years ago, in a region far away…
"Don't worry, Pikachu! I'll get us out of this SOMEHOW!" Surge shouted desperately as he wrestled with the plane's controls.
Pikachu frantically looked back and forth between his beloved Trainer and the Thunder Stone that was held tightly in the same case they had received it in not long ago. Deep down, he knew the odds that Surge could land their plane safely were near zero without sufficient electrical power.
And the only way to get that power is…
With tears streaming down his face, Pikachu smashed the case with his tail.
Surge heard the glass shatter and knew exactly what that meant. He couldn't look back or let go of the controls for a moment, but he could certainly still talk to his little friend.
"Pikachu?! What are— DON'T DO IT! I CAN STILL—!"
"PIKA PI!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Surge saw Pikachu's reflection in the rear-view mirror. He saw the tears falling from a face full of conviction as the Mouse Pokémon touched the evolution stone and began glowing brightly.
There was no turning back now. Pikachu had made his choice.
Fighting back tears of his own, Surge shouted, "All right then, Pikachu— I mean, RAICHU! Full power! Let's get this plane down safely together, partner!"
"RAI!"
The cry reverberated throughout the vehicle as a strong electric blast was unleashed into the energy cell.
Present Day, Vermilion City…
"Thanks to Raichu, we were able to safely land the plane and eventually help end the war. I chose to dedicate my life to training Electric-type Pokémon, and that eventually led to me getting the Gym Leader job. Soon enough, people from everywhere began to look up to me, and I rose above our past heartache. But Raichu chose to handle his pain a different way, it seems," Surge said as he shook his head.
Trace was stunned. He could hardly believe that his hero had gone through such turmoil in the past. And now he felt bad for Raichu. Even Pikachu lowered his ears in sympathy. But then, Pikachu walked over to Raichu, who was still refusing to face them.
("Just… just go away! I don't want your pity!") Raichu said bitterly.
("Raichu, I might not have fought in whatever a 'war' is, but trust me, I know how it feels for your entire life to just fall apart,") Pikachu said slowly.
Trace couldn't understand what they were saying, but he paid close attention, hoping he might figure out what Pikachu was about to say. He felt like it might be very important.
("Shut up! You learned the move I wanted to learn! You don't know ANYTHING!") Raichu shouted.
("But I DO. Raichu, my parents were taken from me by a bad human when I was just a weak little Pichu!")
Raichu turned his head slightly, ears quivering.
("What…? Really?")
("Yes, really! Because of that human, I thought I could never trust other humans. But then I met that Erika lady, and she was so kind to me. And Trace was attacked by people similar to the one who got my mom and dad! We had something in common, so I had to stay by his side and protect him. Maybe that's why I learned Volt Tackle, because I need it to find my parents and protect my Trainer!")
Pikachu stepped closer to Raichu, who was now quivering.
("You know, when I met you, I thought you were an overconfident braggart who looked down on every Pokémon that seemed weaker than him. But now that I know you evolved to save your Trainer, even though it meant letting your dream die, I don't think we're so different after all!")
Raichu suddenly whirled around and hugged Pikachu very tightly, sobbing hysterically. Pikachu and Trace were dumbfounded. All of Raichu's tough guy attitude had completely disintegrated.
Surge watched, with an expression that bore both sympathy and relief.
"Sometimes, you just have to let it all out," he said. "Especially so if you served in a war."
Trace nodded slowly in understanding. He wondered if Pikachu might have to do this too one day, once they finally caught that bounty Hunter, Gideon.
Somewhere else entirely…
"All right then! Time to look for my next target!" Gideon said as he crackled his finger and booted up his personal computer.
The last thing he expected to see was an image of a man with short teal hair pop up on the screen.
"Wh-what the—?! Who are you?! Why did you hack into my computer?! How'd you even find my network?!" Gideon asked with stupefied fury.
"So many questions. So prideful, too, I see. But nothing is beyond Team Rocket's grasp, Gideon," the man on the screen replied calmly. "Not even a genius like yourself."
"Team Rocket…? Oh right, the super big-bad criminal organization. I remember you. You guys had me catch some rare Pokémon for you back in the day. Didn't you guys get broken up last year?"
Archer chuckled lightly, but Gideon could tell he was offended by the question.
"You might have heard such rumors, but they are false. We merely stepped away to prepare for our glorious leader's inevitable return to us. In fact, we've already made several steps towards regaining control of Kanto."
"Is that so? Well I suppose the fact that you contacted me means that you require services that only I can provide, yes?"
Archer nodded, prompting a smirk from Gideon.
"Heh! I knew it! What Pokémon do you need from me this time then?"
"Actually, we don't need any Pokémon from you," Archer said. "We have multiple plans in place to bolster our army and experiments. I have a special mission in mind for you, and you shall be rewarded handsomely for doing so."
"A special mission, eh? I'm listening…"
Archer smiled coldly and narrowed his eyes.
"I understand you're very skilled at hacking and analyzing. Sneak into the cottage of the one known as Bill, and send us all the data you find."
Gideon and his Metang burst into laughter upon hearing that.
"Are you kidding?! That's it?! Surely you high and mighty Rocketers don't need my talents to do that! That wannabe has no means of stopping you!"
"True enough. But one of my subordinates previously tried to capture him and divulge his secrets, but due to an… unforeseen setback, was unsuccessful. Undoubtedly the Cerulean Gym Leader suspects we might attack again, so she'll be expecting us. That's where you come in. You aren't as recognizable, and are more capable of subtlety than my subordinates. Will you accept this mission?"
After some thought, Gideon made his decision.
"A chance to get more loot from the infamous Team Rocket and humiliate that pathetic Bill at the same time?! Count me in!"
Trace has earned his third badge, and Brayden prepares for his match with Zachary. But Gideon has now set his sights on Bill! Will anyone be able to stop him? And what does Team Rocket want from Bill this time?! Stick around for Chapter 37, readers!
Trace's Current Team:
Charmeleon (Male)
Moves: Flamethrower, Metal Claw, Brick Break, Swords Dance
Ability: Blaze
Bashful Nature. Quick to Flee.
Eats Anything.
Pikachu (Male)
Moves: Thunderbolt, Mega Punch, Agility, Volt Tackle
Ability: Lightning Rod
Brace Nature. Likes To Fight.
Likes Spicy Food, Hates Sweet Food.
Poliwhirl (Male)
Moves: Surf, Double Slap, Mud Shot, Substitute
Ability: Damp
Gentle Nature. Takes plenty of Siestas.
Likes Bitter Food, Hates Sour Food.
Arbok (Male)
Moves: Sludge Bomb, Ice Fang, Dig, Glare
Ability: Shed Skin
Timid Nature. Scatters Things Often.
Likes Sweet Food, Hates Spicy Food.
Cubone (Male)
Moves: Bone Club, Growl, Headbutt
Ability: Rock Head
Lonely Nature. Often lost in thought.
Likes Spicy Food, Hates Sour Food.