Notes: This chapter is based on episode 2, again with obvious changes.

5: Team Rocket vs. Viridian Gym

Giovanni frowned as he read the sign up for the day's battles. On it, several trainers he'd seen before, back yet again. He wasn't sure if they'd gotten any better, but even if they hadn't, at least they'd keep his win ratio up. The first two were defeated quickly enough. The third seemed like he was getting too old to constantly fail, though he still seemed a child. Maybe he'd show surprising improvement.

"This will be a one to one battle," Giovanni explained as the boy took his place on the field. He didn't have time for anything more substantial. His opponent nodded, but then seemed confused before taking out a pokeball, throwing it at the same time as Giovanni.

"Oh," Giovanni said, impressed as the golem appeared on the field. "I see you've managed to evolve it again."

The kid grinned. "Yeah, um, a little training with someone else was all it needed."

"Interesting," Giovanni said. His rhydon defeated the pokemon without incident. "You've improved," Giovanni said, despite not remembering this trainer enough to really recall. His pokemon was a final level evolution, anyway.

"Yeah, I'll get enough badges this year, I hope," the boy mumbled.

"Good luck with that," Giovanni said, before glancing at his roster. "Zack," he added the name. "Yes, I think you might. Fortitude is necessary for success."

The kid nodded before shaking Giovanni's hand and leaving. There was only one challenger left. "Hello, sir," a very young child greeted as he hopped onto the challenger's plate. Giovanni grinned. Perhaps today would be a complete win for him, which would be good as half his challengers had managed to win a badge the last time he'd accepted any. The boy bowed slightly, smiling. "My name's Ritchie, I'm a local of Viridian City. Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise," Giovanni said, not bothering to introduce himself. Most knew him well enough already. "Are you a new trainer?" the rocket boss asked.

"I just started," the boy admitted.

"Well then, I hope you're not here to waste my time," Giovanni said. He should have just gotten on with it and tallied another win, but getting someone so inexperienced was annoying in its own way. "You're not yet leaving your hometown? I'm not the best challenge for a beginner, you realize."

The boy briefly raised his eyebrows, but didn't let the man faze him for the most part. "I've been training hard. I have three capable pokemon I might use. If you accept my challenge, I'll appreciate it for the opportunity."

This kid had decorum down at least, which wasn't a given for the challengers that Giovanni regularly received. "I'll accept all challengers, of course," the man said coolly. "Let's go. This will be a one on one battle."

"Got it," Ritchie said, adjusting his hat as he took out a single pokeball. They threw out their pokeballs at once.

The opponent had sent out a butterfree. The same as the last challenger, it was a final stage evolution, which was impressive for a trainer that had just gotten started. Even so, it shouldn't stand a chance. "Rhydon, fury attack," Giovanni ordered.

"Happy, sleep powder!" Ritchie immediately followed with his own direction.

Giovanni's pokemon missed while the butterfree landed it attack. Rhydon's eyes closed, though it still stood.

"Tch. Rhydon, wake up and continue," Giovanni shouted.

"Alright. Happy, whirlwind!" Ritchie called, a smile on his face. The butterfree attacked, and Rhydon winced as if something was interrupting its pleasant dream. "Again, Happy! You can do it!"

"Free." Ritchie's pokemon unleashed the whirlwind.

This time Rhydon woke up, its gaze turning sharply toward the butterfree. "Rock slide," Giovanni said, and his pokemon complied. Multiple rocks appeared, falling on the butterfree, which was easily knocked out.

"Happy!" Ritchie exclaimed, quickly returning his pokemon. He sighed as he held the pokemon close. He then walked up to Giovanni and shook his head. "Thank you for the battle. I learned some."

"Your pokemon was at a major disadvantage," Giovanni pointed out.

"I know... I thought since it could fly, it would be good against your ground type pokemon, not like my charmander and pikachu. But ground types are often dual rock type, and know those kinds of moves. I should have remembered that."

"Right," Giovanni said. "In any case, it's impressive you evolved your pokemon so quickly. Did it start as a caterpie?"

"Yes," Ritchie confirmed. "Bug types evolve really fast."

"True," Giovanni said. "With the right trainer. You're the type to be sure to go to the pokemon center, hm?"

"Of course!" Ritchie confirmed. He went toward the door, turning back again once more as he reached it. "Thank you again, sir," he said before heading out.

Giovanni said nothing as the boy left. Butterfree was one thing, but there was also that golem, as well as those that the other trainers had brought out. All of them would be valuable additions to Team Rocket. And who knew what else they might have on top of that. Viridian City's pokemon center was often crowded, especially on days that Giovanni took challengers. Even with the small roster, there had to be at least a few others taking refuge. How many powerful pokemon would be taken away from the 'officially' licensed trainers who thought they could hoard them away? Giovanni nodded to the grunts who had been waiting to clean the place up, then left.

Inside the Parisian-style café nearby Viridian gym, Jessie and James sat in their best plain clothes, enjoying the atmosphere. "Would you like another coffee?" the waitress asked with a smile as she took their empty cups.

"Yes, please," James said.

"Just a water for me," Jessie said.

"Meowth!" the pokemon said as it hopped on the seat next to them, glaring from one of its human partners to the other.

"Oh, and Meowth would like a café au lait," James asked.

The waitress put a hand to her mouth, stifling a giggle. However, the two customers looked back at her with perfectly calm expressions. "Oh... I've never had that ordered for a pokemon. Are you sure it will like it?"

"Certain," James said, smiling Meowth's way.

"Well then, the order will be right up!" the waitress said, then going on her way.

Jessie looked the waitress's way, waiting until their server was a ways out of the way before she continued the conversation. "Do we have to come here all the time?" she said.

"Heck yeah," Meowth said. "It's right by the boss's gym, and allows pokemon to hang out too. You wanna leave me out?"

"There's no use in having you if we get caught," Jessie said.

"That's right," James said, keeping his voice low. "The talking meowth gives us away."

"I'm just another cute pokemon, like the rest of those here. Meowth, meowth," Meowth said, motioning toward the guests who also had pokemon out that were small enough to be allowed. "But forget that, let's get back to talking business. Check this out!"

Meowth put a newspaper on the table. Jessie and James grabbed it and looked at it together. As they saw the picture, their mouths widened. "We look great!" James exclaimed.

"But it hides our faces," Jessie pointed out.

"As masters of the shadows, that's what we prefer. It's a perfect shot!" James exclaimed at the picture of himself and Jessie posing.

"That's true. But why is it only page three?" Jessie asked.

Meowth waved its paw. "Better not to be right on the cover, especially with what we've got planned. But don't just look at the picture, read the story!"

"Wait - 'Counterfeit Team Rocket'?" Jessie said, reading the headline.

"Let me see," James said, reading through the story. "They're saying we're just some pretenders? What made them think that?"

"We're the real deal," Jessie asserted.

"Shh." Meowth frowned, glancing at the patrons around them, as well as the waitress across the room. No one seemed that concerned about their conversation. "Hey," Meowth continued. "Don't get an ego about this. Of course-"

James let out a noise of shock as he read further. "Even the boss says we have nothing to do with them?!"

"Of course he did!" Meowth continued, trying to keep its voice low. "You think the boss wants trouble for stealing pokemon?"

"But all pokemon belong to Team Rocket already," Jessie said.

"Yeah, but until we've got more power, we can't assert that," Meowth explained. It looked up, and they became silent as the waitress came and put down their drinks.

"Thank you," James said. He and Jessie waited until she was far enough away before looking back at Meowth.

"Did the boss know about this when you talked to him?" Jessie said, slapping her hand on the newspaper.

Meowth nodded. "And he couldn't be happier. It was a misunderstanding, since you two wear white uniforms while people know the black ones better, but this kind of thing helps. That way, when people complain about pokemon being 'stolen', the boss can say, that was just the counterfeits."

"Oh!" James exclaimed. "That is a good idea." He nodded with a satisfied smile.

"That's fine and all," Jessie said. "But when we're going out tonight, I'll let everyone know why we're there, and for who. I live for that truth."

"The truth can be an evil unto itself," James added.

"Some people are too stupid for the truth, so say what you want." Meowth smiled as it took a sip of its drink. "Me-yow! That's too hot!"

"You shouldn't have ordered it then," Jessie said with a sigh, looking away.

"Just let it cool down," James suggested.

Meowth rested its head on the table. It eventually looked up. "You two are ready for tonight, aren't you?"

"We've been over and over the plan already," Jessie said, using the straw to push the ice around her cup as it melted.

"I wouldn't slack. This should be our biggest heist yet," James said.

"They might call us 'counterfeit', but we're the boss's top field agents. Tonight should cement that." Jessie smiled at her teammates, who nodded back.

"No need to rush," James said, leaning back and stretching out his legs. "Let's be on our way after we finish up here."

As he reached Viridian City, Ash found himself lost. "Are you alright?" a woman he almost ran into asked.

"Yes... Sorry, no. Where's the pokemon center?" Ash asked, his eyes darting around as he tried to find it on his own.

"Just two blocks down, make a left and you'll find it easily, can't miss it," the woman said.

"Thank you!" Ash said, running off immediately.

"Wait - You should really put that pokemon in a pokeball!" the lady called after him.

"Pi," Pikachu whined as it thought of being locked away again

"Don't worry, Pikachu. We're almost there," Ash assured.

As they went along, Ash almost missed their destination. The large building surrounded by landscaping seemed too fancy for a pokemon center, but signs confirmed it was one. Ash ran up the too long pathway, running in the door. "Hello? Is anyone here? Help please!"

The nurse came out, seeming a bit drained, though her eyes widened as she observed the pokemon in Ash's arms. "Oh no! Wait right here," she said, running out before coming back with a pikachu-sized gurney. Ash followed as she took the pokemon back. "How did this happen?" Joy asked.

"There were-" Ash began.

"Never mind. Just leave, we'll take care of it," Joy said.

"No, I'll help," Ash insisted.

"Take care of yourself first! You're also a mess!" the nurse chided.

Ash stopped, looking at himself in a mirror as Joy continued down the hall. He really was. He was scraped up, covered in dirt, his appearance mussed. This wasn't much like the master trainer he'd imagined himself becoming, even without considering the state of his poor sole pokemon. And even if he wanted to, he really couldn't do anything for Pikachu, could he? That was why he'd come running there. Following the nurse, Ash saw her working diligently as Pikachu grimaced in pain. There really was no point to him being there.

Ash walked back to the lobby, then followed the signs to the dorms. He heard other trainers talking nearby, but ignored them as he went into the showers. He took off his jacket and spot cleaned it. Though he'd seen his mother doing so several times before, his own attempts weren't as successful. He worked at it in his frustration, eventually getting the dirt out to his satisfaction. He did the same with his jeans before deciding to take a shower. Though he let the water run a while, it stayed cold. He went in the stream anyway, allowing a few hot tears to fall in his frustration before getting out and drying off, getting dressed, and looking presentable in some fashion.

After that, Ash wandered back to the lobby, empty at this late time of day. He sat down, considering the events of the day. Before long, the squeak of the door opening distracted him. A girl entered, and he looked toward the back, before glancing back toward the girl and realizing she was approaching him. "Um." Ash eventually recognized her. "You're, um-"

"Excuse me." The girl spoke sharply and purposefully. She held up an object she was carrying, easily recognizable as a wheel to a bike, popped with its spokes severed. "Mind telling me what happened?"

"Uh, well, these spearow attacked me. Sorry about your bike," Ash said.

"Oh, those spearow. I've been hanging out a few days and went by them a few times. They just mind their own business. So what did you do to provoke them?" the girl asked poignantly.

Ash thought back on events, how he'd challenged, provoked the pokemon. Then they'd ganged up, not even on Ash himself, but poor Pikachu. Ash looked back toward where his pokemon had gone, pursing his lip.

"Never mind," the girl said, backing off at Ash's obvious upset. "As long as you pay for it to be replaced, fine."

Ash glanced back toward the girl speaking to him. "Oh, well, how much?" he asked.

"I just bought it recently. We could probably find another in town," Misty said, looking through her bag before taking out a piece of paper. "Here it is! The receipt."

Ash looked at it before shaking his head and handing it back. "I don't have that much money," he said.

Misty clenched the paper and scowled. "You should have thought of that before then! Why do they let kids like you go out before they're ready, anyway?"

Ash stood up. "I'm no kid! Not unless you are too," he said.

"I'm not. I'm eleven years old, a seasoned trainer," the girl bragged, smiling to herself. "My name's Misty, remember that. I'll be famous soon."

"I'm Ash," Ash said, about to boast himself about his future goals and probable fame before he recalled the state of the pokemon in back. "Forget this, I've got to see Pikachu." He stood up, going down the hall before he looked in the open door at his sleeping, bandaged pokemon from the front door. He didn't notice Misty had followed him until she made a comment.

"Poor thing! As a trainer, you need to realize your pokemon's limits, you know. Consider things more before something like this happens again."

Ash clenched his fists and scowled as Misty lectured to him, but didn't say anything. He had no room to. Even if this girl didn't know the whole situation, she was overall correct that Ash hadn't really considered things properly, though he wasn't about to admit it. Instead, he went into the room, gently putting his hand on Pikachu's head.

"Pi?" Pikachu opened its eyes, but didn't move from its resting position.

"Are you any better?" Ash asked.

"Pika," Pikachu responded quietly.

"Oh?" Misty peered down at Pikachu as she walked in. "Is this why you had to be in such a hurry?"

"Yeah," Ash confirmed.

"I guess it couldn't be helped. A pikachu, so cute! I can't hate them, even when they're beating me, hehe." Misty tittered. "But they can be kind of low level and weak. You should use one of your others when this little one is tired."

"I know what to do," Ash snapped. The girl's interloping was getting annoying. He frowned as he thought of the options. "Pikachu's my only pokemon though."

"No way! Pikachu isn't good as a starting pokemon at all. Who gave it to you, anyway?" Misty asked, then shook her head and continued before Ash could respond. "Never mind. Sorry for your situation here, Pikachu."

Pikachu closed its eyes again. It was beyond caring what other people thought. With what the nurse had done, it was starting to heal even faster than usual, but still didn't want to be bothered with anything.

After a brief lull, the lights suddenly went out. "Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed as Ash accidentally bumped against it.

"Sorry..." Ash closed his eyes and opened them, his eyes adjusting to the limited remaining lighting. He went to the door and flipped the switch several times, seeing no change. "What happened? What's up with this?" he asked.

Misty went to the exit, looking down the hall and seeing the emergency lighting, though dim, was enough to find her way around. "It's just a power outage, but I don't have the best feeling about it," she said. "You stay here, I'll go see what's wrong."

Ash frowned. If he was going to be a master trainer, why was he depending on a random girl like this? Ash looked down at Pikachu, noting the equipment that had taped two wires to its electric cheeks. It seemed okay, but he wasn't sure if the equipment was important. The power should probably be back on, just in case. Ash went toward the hall himself. "Don't worry, Pikachu, I'm gonna fix this for you!"

As Ash left, Pikachu got up in its bed. It recalled the boy standing in front of it when the spearow had attacked, recklessly putting himself in danger. It also recalled the warm home the boy had taken him to, where the lady had given it treats as well as a comfy spot to nap. Not that this hospital bed was uncomfortable, but that little spot in that small home was different. Pikachu had been welcomed, treated like part of the family, if only for that brief moment. Even knowing it was just a bribe, Pikachu still found itself feeling guilty.

That girl had said she had a bad feeling about what was going on. Pikachu did as well, especially letting that brash boy go out on his own. It hopped down from the bed, one of the taped wires being pulled off its cheeks as it did. It scratched the other one off, and then ran in the direction the two humans had gone.

Outside of the Viridian pokemon center, the rockets watched the lobby, hiding in the plentiful foliage. "Let's go," Meowth said. "Wait, wait!" it warned as it saw movement from the hall. Sure enough, a boy came into the lobby, lounging around. "What's he doing? It's way too late, time for little twerps to go to bed!"

"Should we wait?" James asked, shifting to make sure he was still hidden from the center's point of view.

"I say we just go," Jessie said.

"Shush!" Meowth warned again. They all made sure they were well-hidden in the shadows as another kid came through. She walked quickly, not noticing the hidden thieves before she forcefully pulled the door open and walked in, broken bike wheel in hand.

"How annoying. Any other day there's been no little brats in the lobby this late!" Jessie snapped.

"Can't plan for everything," Meowth lamented.

"Perhaps we should just go in before that nurse locks the doors," James suggested, pokeball in hand.

"We've still got an hour or so. Let's wait for the kids to leave," Meowth ordered.

"You don't think we can take two kids?" Jessie said, glancing down at the pokemon.

"You never know at a place like this," James pointed out.

Meowth nodded. "Yeah. The whole reason we're robbing this place is because some powerful trainers come here," it pointed out. "They might even be twerps like them."

"That twerpy? I'm not scared of them at all," Jessie said.

"We're just gonna wait a bit," Meowth ordered.

That ended the discussion. Jessie turned away, seeming to sulk, while James took out a pair of binoculars and watched the inside lobby intently. Eventually, he spoke. "Oh, there they go."

"Finally!" Jessie said, gripping her pokeball at the ready as she approached the door of the pokemon center with the now empty lobby. James followed her lead as they approached the door of the completely vulnerable pokemon center.

"Let's get ourselves a haul!" Meowth declared, happily hopping up as it followed its human partners.

Jessie touched the door handle first, then James grabbed the adjacent one on the double door. They exchanged glances. James giggled first before Jessie laughed, leaving both of them laughing before they went inside.

"Can it and let's go," Meowth ordered, pushing the back of their legs.

They went inside quietly this time, then down to the closet with the circuit breakers, quickly cutting the power. Going to the back, they found the room that held the pokeballs for the night. James pulled at it, feeling resistance. "Let me try," Jessie said, pushing him out of the way as she tried to open it herself. "It's still locked!" she said.

"So there's a manual lock along with the electric lock, surprise, surprise," Meowth said, waving a paw dismissively at Jessie's concerns. "I thought I saw her with an extra key. Hey, give me a boost." James lifted Meowth up as it took out a single claw, placing it in the keyhole. It moved around, just a little experienced at picking this kind of lock. "Just give me a sec," Meowth muttered as it worked.

"And what are you all doing?"

James shuddered at the voice. As the rockets turned toward its source, they noticed it was the girl that had barged in before they themselves did. Jessie chuckled. "Well, it looks like someone thinks they're tough."

"I suggest you answer my question, now. You're looking more and more suspicious." Misty spoke firmly.

"Hmph. She really is rather bossy," Jessie said.

"Got it," Meowth said as the lock clicked open and it hopped down. James opened the door and took out a bag, filling it up with the pokeballs inside as Meowth approached their accuser. "Hey kid, you'd better get out of here if you know what's good for you. You can play hero some other time. Shoo!"

As Misty was about to reply, she heard footsteps behind her. "Hey!" she shouted as Ash entered, stepping in front of her.

"Who's that?" Ash asked.

"If you're asking who, you'd better prepare for trouble," Jessie said, throwing out her pokeball and causing Ekans to appear.

"Oh!" And make it double!" James added, releasing Koffing before he continued to fill up the bag.

"I'm Jessie, and we're Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light," Jessie explained, tossing her hair as Ekans slithered in front of her.

"James here. If you're looking for a fight, you'd do better to surrender now," James advised. "No one can stand up to Team Rocket."

"Yeah, what they said," Meowth smirked, standing up and posing next to the humans.

Ash furrowed his brow. "What's all that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"You don't get it?" Misty shouted. "They're from Team Rocket! They just said it! And if not, look at the giant 'R' on their uniforms!"

"Oh." Ash looked down before looking back up at the adults and tensing. "Oh! I mean, I think I heard of them. Who are they?"

"They're a nasty gang. They must be here stealing pokemon!" Misty accused.

"Impossible," Jessie said.

"Right. After all, all pokemon belong to Team Rocket," James added.

"That's not true!" Ash said.

"Hm. Is Giovanni really causing this kind of trouble in his own city?" Misty asked.

Meowth paused from filling up the bag. "She knows who the boss is," it noted.

"Who cares." Jessie shrugged, still staring Misty's way. "Before long, everyone will know who he is."

"Though with that talking meowth, and those white uniforms... I guess you're the fake, counterfeit Team Rocket group," Misty concluded.

Ash turned her way. "So - you mean they're not really part of this Team Rocket?"

"I wonder if that's really the case," James said.

"Either way, you've got a bag full of stolen pokemon," Misty said.

"They do?" Ash exclaimed, then focusing on the bag James carried.

"Anyone who's not part of Team Rocket would want to be," Jessie said. "Well then, little twerp girl, don't you think it's time for you to get running?"

As Jessie spoke, her and James's pokemon approached the two children. "I don't think so," Misty said. "You think you can push me around? You don't have my pokemon, I'll stop you myself. Let's go!"

As Misty reached for the familiar spot her pokeball would be in the pocket of her drawstring bag, she realized she had lost the weight of carrying it. Instead, Meowth was doing so, smiling wide as it held Misty's possession up, quickly running back to where Jessie and James were. "More pokemon? Don't mind if I do!" it said.

Jessie took the bag from her pokemon teammate. "Even if they come from a kid, the boss said any trainer's pokemon is better than just some wild ones," the woman noted.

"Give it back!" Instead of Misty, Ash shouted the words, lunging toward the two rockets as he raised his fist to punch them. The rockets dodged, and Ash tripped on the floor. "Hmph." James smirked. "Can't you see we have pokemon? Try fighting us if you can. Oh, that's right, we must have your pokemon along with the rest," he mocked, smirking to himself as they went out the door. Misty tried to grab at the bag herself, quickly pushed away by Jessie as the group left. The girl stumbled to the ground as the thieves walked away.

"Wait!" Ash shouted again as he stood up.

"Later, suckers," Meowth said, laughing at the kids as they went down the hall, not noticing the other pokemon until they both collided.

"Pika," Pikachu called in surprise. It pounced back up, taking a read of the situation. It had heard Ash's cries and shouts before, along with Misty whimpering on the ground while the two adult humans chuckled to themselves. "Pikachu!" Pikachu stared Meowth's way as it called out.

Meowth laughed. "What did it say?" James asked.

"This little twerp of a pokemon is threatening us. It said it's going to beat us all up if we don't leave them alone," Meowth explained.

"Pika," Pikachu gasped in surprise. It had never heard its message spoken again in a human language for it, neither by a human nor a pokemon. It had also never heard a pokemon speaking like a human before. This silly meowth even stood on two legs as if it were human itself. "Pikachu," Pikachu called to the pokemon that had mocked it.

Meowth frowned, bristling at the insult. "Even if you think that, I'm the one with the power here. Weaklings should back off if they know what's good for them."

"Pikachu!" Pikachu arched its back, sparks starting to appear by its cheeks as it got into battle mode.

"Stop!" Ash interrupted. Pikachu's tension disappeared somewhat as the boy picked it up, hugging it close. "You can't take Pikachu too," he declared.

"One we missed?" Jessie said, studying the pokemon in the kid's arms.

"A pikachu. Aren't those mice some kind of infestation in Viridian Forest?" James said.

"Yeah, one of those weak things. It's no better than a little bug, let's not bother. Come on." Jessie motioned her shoulder toward the exit.

The Team Rocket agents went past the kid that cringed and embraced his pokemon, still heading toward the door. "Where's the phone?" Misty asked, approaching Ash as she looked around for one. "We should call the police."

"Have fun. We'll be gone by then." Jessie waved a single hand over her shoulder, not even turning around as she strolled out at a casual pace. She twirled Misty's bag as if to mock her.

Ash held Pikachu closer, trembling as he watched them leave. "You're gonna just let them go?" he said to Misty.

"They've got my pokemon, and their own pokemon," Misty pointed out. "It's no match."

"Well, I've still got my pokemon," Ash said, looking down at Pikachu. "We've got to do something. We can't just let them get away. They shouldn't have those pokemon. Are you with me, Pikachu?"

Pikachu stared sharply at the arrogant humans before looking back up at Ash. "Pika!" it agreed.

In an instant, it hopped out of Ash's arms, running toward the criminals. "Pikachu!" it said, shooting a thundershock attack at the meowth, shocking it off guard.

"Ah!" Meowth fell down. "Ouch! Hey! That really hurt," it complained as it stood back up. "I'm not the battling type! You two, get your pokemon to deal with this thing before it keeps bugging us."

Jessie and James turned around, pointing forward. "You want two on one against your pest? Fine!" Jessie said. "Ekans, bite!"

"Koffing, sludge attack!" James said.

Pikachu hopped into the air, catching some of the sludge attack though it missed Ekans's attack completely. "Chu!" it called as it released its attack toward its snake-like opponent, hitting the pokemon narrowly.

"Ekans! Get a hold of yourself!" Jessie ordered, and her pokemon shook off the effects of the attack, turning around to attack again.

"Koffing, tackle," James ordered.

"Pika!" Pikachu cried as it was hit.

"That's enough," Misty said, shaking her head. "That poor pikachu. Why put it in this situation, again? You might as well give up being a trainer right now."

"No." Normally, the insult might affect Ash, but he'd already seen how he could win. "Pikachu, you learned another attack technique today, right? I've heard it's even better than thundershock, with the power of 100,000 volts. Try it, now! Thunderbolt!"

"Pika." Pikachu's eyes widened as it heard Ash's words, and recalled its attack against the spearow. Yes, that hadn't been the normal thundershock. It had felt completely different. Apparently it was called thunderbolt. Pikachu wasn't going to waste time thinking about it more, and immediately got ready to attack, leaping into the air. "Pi, ka, CHUU!" it shouted, releasing the attack toward both pokemon that had been attacking it. As it fired, the lights came back on, illuminating the entire area around them, including the shocked faces of the rocket agents.

Koffing and Ekans both cried before they were completely knocked out. Ekans slumped on the ground, Koffing fell and bounced briefly. "Koffing!" James exclaimed, dropping the bag he'd been carrying as he got out his own pokeball to return his pokemon. The bag spilled, pokeballs spilling out and rolling all over the ground.

"Ekans!" Jessie was similarly distraught. As she returned it, she was distracted, not noticed as Pikachu rammed the bag she'd been holding, causing her to drop it.

"What the heck is this?" Meowth said, disdainfully observing the creature that had defeated them so easily, done such a powerful attack that had seemed so impossible for a little 'pest' like itself. Pikachu stepped gingerly through the spilled pokeballs, staring at Meowth head on as its apparent next chosen target. "Time to retreat!" Meowth said, running toward the exit, kicking the pokeballs aside as it went. The two humans that had been accompanying it soon followed.

"Pika," Pikachu sighed, relaxing as Misty moved past it to get her bag.

"You did it! Great job, Pikachu." Ash leaned down and pat it on the head.

Misty soon rushed over as well. "You were really amazing, Pikachu! Thank you so much. I'll thank you for my pokemon as well." Misty looked in her bag to be sure the pokeballs were all there before hugging it close. "Starmie, Staryu! You're alright!" Misty turned back to Pikachu, patting it herself. "Who would have thought there was so much power in such a little pokemon. You're so impressive, Pikachu."

"Yeah! You got so far, so fast. You're the best." Ash picked up the pokemon before he stood up, hugging it.

A flashlight shone their way. "What's going on?" the nurse asked.

As Misty explained, Pikachu relaxed as the boy held it. Just for doing what it had felt like, Pikachu got more praise from the nurse, followed by even more affection from its would-be trainer as well as the girl it had helped. Sure, it had learned one more technique, which was pretty flashy, but Pikachu had been trying its best for years without much acknowledgement at all when even just a nod from its trainer might do. It was all overwhelming, really more than Pikachu had ever wanted.

All together, it was definitely more than it could trust.

End note:
This is part of a string of chapters fairly closely following the original episode plots, with many changes that hint that this story is ultimately going in a different direction than the series did. Hope you enjoyed it!

Next chapter: Caterpie vs. Pidgey