Chapter 234: A Charge Must Be Made, Regardless
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
*Plop!*
Pikachu was headbutted into the icy river. Electric-type mice are most afraid of the cold; it sent a shiver through his whole body. He instantly leaped out of the icy water, hopping up and down on the bank like a flea. Only after a vigorous shake of his head did he manage to shake the water from his fur.
"Pika-pika!"
Pikachu stomped furiously over to the Cranidos, his expression indignant.
"Roar!"
The little Cranidos's expression was unchanged. It didn't even spare him a glance, instead scraping the ground with its thigh as if ready to launch another attack at any moment.
An electric mouse? What was that?
Back when its dinosaur clan ruled the planet, rodents were nothing but fodder. They wouldn't even look at them, especially one like this electric mouse. If it dared to approach, they would have simply crushed it underfoot.
Staring at the arrogant dinosaur before him, Pikachu finally snapped.
He, Pikachu, had never been outmatched in his entire life. How could he endure such humiliation? Instantly, a fierce, serpentine bolt of electricity shot forth from his cheeks. It was so fast that Cranidos had no time to dodge and was hit full-on, erupting in a cloud of black smoke.
*Boom!*
When the smoke and fierce electric light dissipated, the Cranidos was already swaying, entering a flickering state.
Although an Electric-type move wasn't very effective against its Rock-type, it couldn't withstand the sheer power. For a moment, Cranidos even thought it was going to die on the spot from that one Thunder Shock!
"Roar..."
This time, it didn't dare to be careless. It stuck its tongue out to dissipate the heat, understanding that this yellow mouse was not as easy to provoke as it looked.
It lowered its head.
This electric mouse... it couldn't defeat it.
"Haha, Pikachu, it's already admitted it was wrong. You're the bigger person, so just forgive it this once."
Ash quickly stepped in to smooth things over. Of all Pokémon to provoke, this Cranidos had to pick Pikachu. Although the Charmeleon and Gengar on his team were currently posturing impressively, as if vying for the number one spot…
Ash knew that there was, and always would be, only one true powerhouse on his team.
He had thought Cranidos's explosive temper would lead it to continue seeking its own demise and had even taken out a Poké Ball to recall it. He never expected it to concede so quickly.
"Pika."
Seeing the Cranidos lower its head, Pikachu nodded in satisfaction, turning back around to resume his role as a harmless little lightbulb for the group.
*Little brat. If you don't listen, a good beating will set you straight.*
He had even gone easy on it. That Thunder Shock had only been at thirty percent strength. Any more, and he could have blasted Cranidos to smithereens on the spot, shocking it back into a newly unearthed fossil.
*Hmph. In this house, I'm the only boss!*
"That's our Pikachu, as magnanimous as he is mighty!" Ash quickly added another compliment to defuse the situation.
"Pika."
Pikachu twitched his ears and re-entered his hibernation-like, energy-saving mode, lowering his bodily functions to conserve his subcutaneous fat.
"ROAR!!"
But before he could take more than a few steps, a low roar suddenly sounded from behind him again. The Cranidos was charging at him once more, this time with its power increased by thirty percent.
"BOOM!!"
Caught off guard, Pikachu's agility was low in his power-saving state. He was slammed in the lower back and sent flying. The sound of a bone cracking could even be heard from the point of impact, and the pain sent him rolling on the ground.
Pikachu's back was broken.
But his arms were too short to even reach his own lower back.
Tragedy and comedy unfolded simultaneously, making Ash, Misty, and Brock laugh even as they worried about Pikachu's old back.
"ROAR!!"
The little Cranidos roared again, making its attitude clear.
Lowering its head had not meant surrender in the slightest. It meant only one thing.
It was going to headbutt someone!
This electric mouse... it couldn't beat it.
But it had to charge regardless!
"PIKA!!"
Pikachu forcibly ignored the pain in his back and slowly stood up. Utterly enraged, he could no longer hold back. He instantly switched to his full-power state, cloaked himself in the white light of a Quick Attack, and in just half a breath, dashed in front of the Cranidos, fast as a phantom. He immediately unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, then flashed forward to land a Thunderbolt. The assault was vicious and cruel.
But the Cranidos didn't even try to defend itself. It just stood there, head held high, fearless, its eyes even carrying a trace of disdain.
In the face of such a vast disparity in strength, defending was meaningless, but the arrogant attitude had to be maintained.
This electric mouse dared to be stronger than it?
Losing was one thing, but it refused to accept it!
*Thwack-thwack-thwack!!*
*Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt!!*
*Smack-smack-smack!!*
Three minutes later, the Cranidos lay on the ground like a dead dog. Its body was covered in grievous wounds, and its tongue lolled out of its mouth. It had completely lost the ability to battle.
Meanwhile, Pikachu was also panting heavily, one paw holding his old back and the other propped against the wall.
He had to admit, that rock head was seriously hard. It made his own paws ache from hitting it.
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "..."
Another peaceful day for his team...
"I've caught a Seel!"
"I've caught a Diglett!"
The three of them continued to advance deeper into the Cave. They encountered many wild Pokémon along the way, and Misty and Brock were having a wonderful time with their catches.
"Focus! Focus! Our goal is Articuno, not to catch these wild Pokémon!" Ash frowned, unable to stop himself from telling the two to concentrate.
"That's *your* goal, not ours."
"You concentrate on finding traces of Articuno, and we'll concentrate on catching wild Pokémon. It's a win-win."
Misty and Brock replied matter-of-factly, their logic sound.
Their words left Ash speechless. He desperately wanted to roll up his sleeves and join in on the capture spree. There were so many Ground-type, Water-type, and Ice-type Pokémon in this Cave, and he was seriously tempted.
Damn!
Ash took a deep breath, forcing himself to be patient, and continued to search for traces of Articuno. However, the Cave's geographical structure was intricate and complex, with numerous forks in the road. Rocks and rivers frequently blocked the path, making the search incredibly difficult.
"Pikachu, you have a good nose. Sniff around for the scent of a bird," he said, struck by an idea.
"Pika."
Pikachu shook his head. Today, he was just a lightbulb. He wasn't participating in worldly affairs, and he certainly wasn't going to act like a dog.
Ash fell into deep thought. If Articuno was really hiding in this Cave, then it must be in the deepest part.
After a brainstorm, he arrived at this conclusion.
But how was he supposed to get to the deepest part?
"The source of a river in a cave is usually at its deepest point."
"You should be able to find it if you dive down."
Brock and Misty suggested.
Walking to the riverbank, Ash looked at the near-freezing river before him, with plenty of ice shards floating on its surface, and swallowed hard.
His body was indeed durable, but who could possibly withstand diving directly into ice water!
"I've got it!"
Ash suddenly thought of a great idea and threw out a Poké Ball.
"I choose you, Wartortle! Use your specialty, Dive!"
If you need to dive, why not just have a Water-type Pokémon do it?
*Thud!*
A medium-sized brown tortoise shell landed on the riverbank. The familiar, goofy Pokémon did not appear. This time, Wartortle's limbs, tail, and head were not extended.
One could even hear the sound of snoring.
*Beep. "Turtle-type Pokémon enter a state of hibernation in cold environments. Do not disturb unless necessary. Do not disturb even if it is necessary,"* the Pokédex advised.
Ash: "..."
(end of chapter)