Red, who was preparing to go out, encountered Delia, who had just returned home to prepare meals.
Seeing this scene, Red immediately went over to help Delia carry the shopping bags in her hands.
"Red, you're finally back! Mommy missed you so much!"
With that, the excited Delia went up and hugged her child.
Although she supported Red and Ash's adventure travels, as a mother, Delia still hoped the two brothers could find time to stay by her side.
"Yes, Mom. I'm back."
After a moment, having calmed Delia's emotions, Red also separated from Delia's embrace.
"Pika pi!"
At this time, the Pikachu on Red's shoulder waved to greet Delia, wanting to get closer to the 'mother figure' before him.
"Isn't this a Pikachu!" Delia said in surprise, looking at Pikachu several times before realizing that the Pikachu on Red's shoulder was not Ash's Pikachu.
But the careful Delia noticed the similarities between the two Pikachu, looking at Red with puzzled eyes. After getting Red's confirming nod, Delia showed a surprised expression.
Delia hadn't expected that the Pikachu captured by the two brothers were actually also two brothers.
As for whether they were twin brothers, Delia couldn't tell for the moment.
After taking care of things at home, Red accompanied Delia to the circus where Ash was, explaining on the way why Ash hadn't come home yet.
"That's good too, after all, Ash is helping others," Delia praised.
Pallet Town - Circus
"Welcome everyone to the Pokémon Circus. Now, the Pokémon Circus officially begins!"
Stella, as the troupe leader, was now dressed as a circus clown, standing in the center of the ring, grandly introducing to the audience who had come here.
Under the cheers and applause of countless spectators, the lights above lit up, illuminating the staff and Pokémon appearing on stage one after another. The most eye-catching were Stella and Ash dressed as Mr. Mime.
However, after watching the opening show, Red chose to leave hastily, because Red's purpose this time was Ash's Pikachu, not the so-called circus performance.
"Pika!"
Seeing Red's arrival, Pikachu also greeted him excitedly. Misty and Brock nearby were also surprised by Red's arrival, as they thought Red had gone to train.
"Misty, Brock, if it's convenient, please let me take care of Pikachu temporarily."
With that, Red patted his shoulder, signaling for Pikachu to jump up.
After seeing Red's instruction, Pikachu didn't hesitate at all and immediately came to Red's shoulder.
Besides Ash, with whom he had the best relationship, Pikachu also trusted Red greatly as his elder brother, so naturally he wouldn't doubt Red's instructions.
Red touched the Poké Ball at his waist, turned, and left the circus, heading to an open area not far away.
"Come out, Pikachu!"
"Pika?"
The Pikachu on Red's shoulder was puzzled for a moment. Wasn't he already on Red's shoulder?
Red threw the Poké Ball he had prepared, and as the white light faded, another slightly larger Pikachu appeared.
"Pika!"
The Pikachu emerging from the Poké Ball turned excitedly toward Red, about to jump onto Red's shoulder, but discovered another member of his species on the other shoulder.
Thinking he had fallen out of favor, this Pikachu almost broke down, but after detecting the scent emanating from Ash's Pikachu, he was stunned for a moment and actually fell to the ground ridiculously without being able to react.
The nervous Red's Pikachu lay on the ground in silence, not daring to meet Ash's Pikachu's puzzled gaze directly.
Although Red's Pikachu had learned from Red long ago that he would find his twin brother, Red's Pikachu initially thought Red was just comforting him, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
But now, Red's Pikachu hadn't expected that Red's promises were all true. His twin brother really appeared before him, even affectionately staying on Red's shoulder.
After long-term interaction with his companions, Red's Pikachu had finally gradually emerged from his guilty inner world, but at this moment Red's Pikachu still didn't have the courage to forgive his past self.
After all, abandoning his twin brother and choosing to live alone was such a regrettable thing that other members of his species would despise, even if it was for unavoidable reasons.
"Pikachu, say hello to your big brother," Red said gently, shaking his shoulder to let Ash's Pikachu and Red's Pikachu recognize each other.
"Pika?"
Ash's Pikachu puzzledly twitched his ears, not understanding the meaning in Red's words, but still followed Red's instruction and came before Red's Pikachu.
Although his brother had evolved from Pichu to Pikachu, how could Red's Pikachu, as the elder brother, not recognize his own brother?
When Ash's Pikachu slowly walked in front of him, Red's Pikachu could no longer suppress his emotions, embracing his brother with tears, resting his head on his brother's shoulder in silence, with only prolonged crying.
"Pika pi!"
Ash's Pikachu panicked immediately, not understanding why this member of his species would be so excited to see him.
Seeing that his brother didn't recognize him, Red's Pikachu was also sadly hanging his head, unable to say a word.
Seeing this scene, Red silently released his Viridian Power to soothe Red's Pikachu's agitated emotions.
Upon feeling the power of Viridian Force, Ash's Pikachu gradually recalled his true hometown. Compared to his life with the Kangaskhan mother and child, Ash's Pikachu had even deeper memories of Viridian Forest.
'That's right, my real hometown should be Viridian Forest, not Pallet Town!'
Ash's Pikachu's eyes lit up as he gradually recalled his origins, a memory he had selectively forgotten due to too much sadness. A joyful time he once spent playing with his brother in Viridian Forest.
'Brother? Is it really you?'
Ash's Pikachu said softly, not daring to confirm whether the Red's Pikachu before him was really his brother, but the familiar scent made Ash's Pikachu firm in his heart.
'I've always been here, even in the future...'
Red's Pikachu replied. This sentence completely triggered Ash's Pikachu's past memories.
Whenever he used to fear enemy attacks, Red's Pikachu would always say this to Ash's Pikachu to soothe his uneasy heart.
'Why did you choose to leave without saying goodbye that time!'
Ash's Pikachu pushed away his brother forcefully and angrily slapped Red's Pikachu's cheek, but seeing the hurt in Red's Pikachu, he still showed apologetic eyes with heartache.
'It's all my fault, it's all because I was too weak then!'
Red's Pikachu said apologetically, not making any excuses for his past, willing to accept Ash's Pikachu's venting.
But the fact that the two brothers were separated wasn't as simple as imagined.
Red's Pikachu was just too guilty and chose to selectively ignore many factors that favored him.
The briefly departed Red's Pikachu immediately regretted his previous decision and planned to return to his brother's side but was forced to stay and fight due to a sudden appearance of Pinsir.
Red's Pikachu also recognized that the Pinsir before him was the opponent he had barely defeated. At that time, because Ash's Pikachu was really starving, Pikachu had no choice but to enter Pinsir's territory and force a duel with Pinsir to obtain the berries in its territory.
The starving Red's Pikachu almost lost to Pinsir but fortunately broke through his limits in time, releasing his own high-voltage current and mastering Thunderbolt.