"BOOM!"
Just then, a violent sound suddenly came from the circus behind Red.
Red turned his head and saw Team Rocket in a hot air balloon kidnapping a 'Pokémon,' but this 'Pokémon' happened to be Ash disguised as Mr. Mime.
"That Ash guy really is cursed when it comes to Team Rocket," Red said teasingly.
Although Ash had been kidnapped, Red wasn't worried at all, since with Ash's current strength, dealing with Team Rocket was more than sufficient.
Moreover, Charizard had already reconciled with Ash completely, so there was no possibility of any more friction. This was enough to give Ash's strength another significant boost.
The most crucial thing right now was to properly handle the emotional issues between the two Pikachu brothers.
"Gengar, you've been watching the show long enough. Time to come out," Red said flatly, displeasedly stepping on the shadow beneath his feet.
The shadow beneath Red's feet awkwardly showed a smile, then the thousand-year-old Gengar emerged from the shadow, leisurely floating to Red's side.
"I'll leave the communication work to you."
With that, Red turned and left on his own, leaving the space alone for the two Pikachu brothers.
A moment later, after the thousand-year-old Gengar went back and forth analyzing both sides, it roughly understood what each Pikachu wanted to express.
The older brother on the left was feeling guilty about abandoning his brother, selectively ignoring the truth that he couldn't return because he had to battle with Pinsir.
The younger brother on the right could understand his brother's thoughts but was angry about his brother leaving without saying goodbye. If they had communicated properly, Ash's Pikachu wouldn't have been so furious.
According to Ash's Pikachu's thinking, he indeed should have reached the stage of independent growth. He had always felt guilty watching his brother Red's Pikachu go hungry while feeding him.
Ash's Pikachu had hoped for his brother's recognition, not this kind of forced growth through cold treatment.
'These two have so many issues.'
"Good thing Master and Ash don't have this many problems," the thousand-year-old Gengar muttered, looking speechlessly at the two Pikachu before him.
'With so many issues, we might as well just have a fight!'
At this time, Ash, having escaped from Team Rocket's restraints, returned home on Team Rocket's hot air balloon and accidentally encountered the Mr. Mime that had escaped earlier. Even more absurdly, Delia had mistaken this wild Mr. Mime for Ash and had prepared delicious curry rice for it.
But it was precisely because of Delia's actions that she completely won Mr. Mime's recognition and made Mr. Mime want to stay at home.
A moment later...
"Sure enough, having a fight is the best way to reconcile!" the thousand-year-old Gengar said leisurely, somehow having stolen popcorn from somewhere, watching expectantly at the two Pikachu brothers about to battle.
According to Ash's Pikachu, as long as he could defeat him, he would forgive his brother's previous departure without saying goodbye.
After all, Ash's Pikachu himself felt guilty toward his brother and didn't want him to continue going hungry while raising him. It was just that Red's Pikachu had been foolish enough to make the most alienating move.
Fortunately, Ash's Pikachu had a similar personality to Ash and didn't care about such details. Now he only hoped to reconcile with his brother.
High-voltage electricity was released simultaneously from both Pikachu's bodies, transforming into lightning snakes that devoured each other's power.
But within moments, Red's Pikachu, as the older brother, easily suppressed his younger brother with electricity. A fierce Thunderbolt hit Pikachu's body head-on.
Red's Pikachu didn't hold back but showed his true strength, because only this way wouldn't disappoint his younger brother.
Fighting with full effort was the most respectful behavior toward an opponent.
"Pika!"
Both Pikachu simultaneously used Iron Tail, competing with each other's strength, but under Red's strict training, Red's Pikachu's strength had increased dramatically and wasn't an opponent that the current Ash's Pikachu could defeat.
Within moments, Red's Pikachu's Iron Tail offensive knocked Ash's Pikachu to the ground, then smoothly used Electroweb to restrain Ash's Pikachu's movement.
Seeing this, Pikachu erupted with terrifying electricity, covering his entire body with current, then suddenly charged toward Ash's Pikachu's direction.
'Watch carefully, this is the ultimate technique that only talented individuals can master!'
Red's Pikachu, covered in high-voltage current, instantly reached Ash's Pikachu and used Volt Tackle.
"Wow, so intense!" the thousand-year-old Gengar said excitedly, frantically stuffing popcorn into his mouth.
Just as Red's Pikachu was about to use Volt Tackle to ram into Ash's Pikachu's body, Red's Pikachu chose to forcibly stop his offensive, taking some recoil damage.
Because the battle was already decided. Ash's Pikachu couldn't escape from the Electroweb, so Red's Pikachu didn't need to continue attacking his younger brother.
Through this battle, the relationship between the two brothers had indeed improved considerably. After all, both harbored guilt and misunderstandings toward each other. As long as they communicated properly, they would naturally gradually reconcile.
"Though a bit unsatisfying, it was still pretty good," the thousand-year-old Gengar said, feeling happy for the two brothers' gradual reconciliation.
In the distance, seeing this scene, Red also smiled and nodded approvingly.
Afterward, in order to regain Giovanni's 'favor,' Team Rocket set their sights on the circus's Pokémon.
Subsequently, Team Rocket drove their homemade rubber-coated tank toward the circus.
Because of Team Rocket's supportive attack on the circus, in order to protect his beloved Stella, the circus's Mr. Mime also ignited his fighting spirit, no longer lazy as he had been initially.
He then cooperated with Ash's family's Mr. Mime, using Light Screen to block Team Rocket's movements.
Finally, Ash decisively threw out Charizard's Poké Ball, ordering Charizard to use Flamethrower to destroy Team Rocket's tank.
Unable to withstand the high temperature, the tank exploded moments later, sending the Team Rocket trio flying into the sky like a shooting star.
After this incident ended, Delia was also 'forced' to take out a Poké Ball to capture Mr. Mime under its pestering, naming it 'Mr. Mime-Mime.'
However, Delia used Ash's Poké Ball, so strictly speaking, the 'copyright' ownership still belonged to Ash.
But Mr. Mime currently listened to Delia's instructions and was still indifferent toward Ash.
The Next Day
Battle-ready Ash stood at the long-awaited Indigo League venue, enjoying the cheers from everyone in the audience seats.
"I've finally arrived! I'm going to win all the way to the end at this Indigo League and become a Pokémon Master!"
With that, Ash threw the Poké Ball from his waist, only to find that the thrown Poké Ball immediately returned to him, eerily enlarged several times, then opened its 'mouth' trying to suck Ash inside.
"What's happening?!" Ash exclaimed in shock.
Just as Ash was about to be sucked into the Poké Ball, he found himself waking up from his dream, awakened by Mr. Mime, who had come to clean his room, using the most simple and brutal method of putting a vacuum cleaner to his face.
Seeing Ash still looked drowsy, Mr. Mime decisively put the vacuum cleaner to Ash's face again, causing Ash to cry out in pain, "Stop it! Mr. Mime!"