Chapter 8: Green (3)
At the outskirts of Vermillion City laid an orange-haired boy fiddling with his PokéDex.
Alongside him were his team of Pokémon.
Resting from their victory against the Vermillion City's Gym Leader: Lt. Surge.
Around the boy's neck was a pendant gifted to him by his grandfather.
His Ratatta saw it and became curious.
And began biting it in his curiosity.
"Hey, don't bite it. It's gonna leave a scratch," Gary said, pulling it away.
"You like it?" he asked his purple rat who nodded at his question.
"…This thing here is special. It was Gramps' when he wore it in the Indigo Grand League. He became the first Champion of Kanto as a result."
"One day, I'm gonna surpass him and become a Champion with my own strength. Not as his grandson but as Gary Oak," he explained with a determined look.
Ratatta was amazed at his Trainer, staring at him with wide and sparkling eyes.
His body started to shiver.
Vwooom.
Gary was taken aback at Ratatta's evolution, wearing a surprised expression.
Ratatta has evolved into Raticate.
'Was it coincidence? No, he had a look in his eyes…' Gary thought.
'As if he understood my dreams and wanted to help.'
Gary Oak knew right there and then.
Pokémon and humans could work together, becoming even better than being alone.
Soon after, Gary found himself aboard the S.S. Anne.
A luxury cruise liner which sails across the world.
There, he would be reunited with a certain raven-haired boy.
Lightning-shaped birthmarks, red vest with a white shirt, Pikachu.
And a red and white cap.
'Yep, that's Red,' the orange haired boy confirmed.
Said raven-haired boy turned towards Gary.
Arrogant face, purple shirt with long sleeves, a sack for a bag.
And a pendant around his neck.
'Oh, Green's here,' Ash confirmed.
"Yo, Red. Seems like you're looking better than the last time I saw you," Gary started with a smirk.
"You betcha! Me and my crew been training like crazy. Oh, and we've beaten Surge," Ash replied excitedly.
"Hah, but you've still got a long way ahead to reach my level," Gary bragged, showing his own Thunder Badge to his rival.
"Yeah… especially since I'm two members down," Ash said with a sad smile.
Gary looked at Ash surprised.
"Pidgeot went back to her flock while we were at Viridian Forest training. Apparently, there's a super-strong Fearow and its flock there. The Pidgeys and Pidgeottos there were defenceless without Pidgeot," Ash continued.
"And Pidgeot wanted to help so who am I to say no, right? Besides, I told her she could come back when the flock is strong enough," Ash said with a weak grin.
"Hah… Red, that kindness is going to get you in trouble someday," Gary sighed.
"Then? Who's the second?" he continued asking.
"Butterfree found a mate," Ash answered simply.
With that, Gary needed no more explanation.
"You didn't catch any new Pokémon?" Gary asked again.
"Nope, I kinda forgot to. By the time I realized, I was already in battle," Ash chuckled, scratching his nose.
Gary Oak was stunned.
He knew his friend was an idiot but this was too dumb even for him.
But at the same time, he was impressed he fought a Gym Leader with one Pokémon down.
It was an unspoken rule that Trainers must match the amount of Pokémon faced against a Gym Leader.
2v2 or 3v3.
Nothing more, nothing less.
By the time a Trainer faced a Gym Leader with 3 Pokémon, they would already have caught more than enough to battle.
Thus, everyone thought of it as common sense.
And then came a boy with a Pikachu, asking for a 2v3 Gym Battle.
Which was technically legal since the Gym Rules never said anything against it.
"Surge got a good laugh though. Saying I was either the dumbest or the bravest kid he'd ever battled," Ash smiled sheepishly.
Curiosity invaded Gary's mind.
He wanted to know how strong his rival's Pokémon were to be able to win a 2v3.
"1v1 just like last time, you in?" Gary asked with a cocky smile.
"Say less!" Ash jumped up and called out Pikachu.
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Go, Raticate!"
A large brown rat with overgrown front teeth appeared from the Ball.
"Ratatta's evolved huh?" Ash grinned.
"Yeah, and he's even faster than before," Gary answered back.
The two boys smiled, signalling the start.
"[Quick Attack]!" the Trainers called out.
A blur of yellow and brown danced on the ship's deck.
Though it was clear that the brown one was faster.
"Looks like Green wasn't kidding… Pikachu!" Ash contemplated.
Immediately getting the message, the yellow mouse jumped onto the metallic wall of the ship.
'Hmm? Did he realize he can't win with speed?' Gary theorized in his mind.
'He's probably going for ranged attacks.'
'But even then, Raticate is still faster… What's Red doing?' Gary thought.
Although the orange-haired boy might call Ash an idiot or think of him as his lesser, he was still wary of his moves.
This stemmed from the day he declared himself his rival.
The fear and uneasiness he felt that day transformed into an internal warning.
A warning that Ash Ketchum must not be underestimated.
"Pikachu! [Thunderbolt] plus [Quick Attack]!" Ash called out.
Hearing this, Gary was already visualizing about what was going to happen.
'[Thunderbolt] plus [Quick Attack]? The first one has to be a distraction while the latter would be the real attack,' Gary theorized again.
'He still wants it to be a contest of [Quick Attack]? How very Red.'
But what happened next shocked him.
Raticate as well.
Instead of launching the [Thunderbolt] as his opponent, Pikachu stored it within his body, augmenting his physical capabilities before striking with [Quick Attack].
'Pika.' (Faster)
Faster than his rival.
'PikaPika.' (FAster)
The electricity coursing in his system.
'PikaPikaPika.' (FASter)
Beyond his limits.
'PIKAPikaPika!' (FASTer!)
Remembering his Trainer's promise when the boy saved him.
'PIKAPIKAPika!' (FASTEr!)
"You and me. We'll become the very best…"
'PIKAPIKAPIKA!' (FASTER!)
"… like no one ever was."
And a jet of lightning shot from the wall.
Redirecting its course towards its target.
As if using the air as a platform.
How fast was it?
Faster than sound?
Faster than light?
It did not matter.
All little Pikachu knew was,
At that moment…
He was the fastest.
Boom!
An explosion made.
Yellow sparks vibrate in the air.
Gary was overwhelmed.
His conjectures about Red's next move were spot on.
And yet, the raven-haired boy still exceeded his expectations.
He stared at his rival.
Ash stood there with a determined grin.
Those red eyes looked as if they would burn everything in its sight.
"You accumulated [Thunderbolt] within Pikachu and released it with [Quick Attack], huh? Pretty original coming from you," Gary grinned, a fire welling up within him.
"Yeah! I don't have a name for it yet though," Ash replied back.
As the dust settled, Raticate was seen still standing, visibly wounded from Pikachu's attack.
However, what the Trainers and Pikachu saw on the brown rat's face surprised them.
Raticate wore a smile on its face.
Ever since Ash and Pikachu met Raticate, it always had a bored expression on its face.
Now after seeing Pikachu's leap in improvement, things had changed.
Raticate was no longer looking down at them.
He was ecstatic.
Their final confrontation.
He was having a blast.
Speed vs Speed.
He had finally considered them as worthy rivals.
A new rivalry.
Especially Pikachu.
Gone too quick.
The two Pokémon grinned at each other.
Chapter 8: Green (3)
And the battle resumed.