Chapter 242: Pokedex Beep! The Turncoat Pikachu Has Joined the Friendly Faction!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Swoosh!"
A flash of red light covered Articuno, and then the Poké Ball completely drew it inside.
"BOOM!!"
But in just an instant, before it could even shake, the red-and-white ball completely burst open. Articuno's elegant form reappeared before everyone.
"Skreeee!!"
Articuno, quite annoyed, screeched complainingly at Ash. At this moment, a red bump had even formed and swollen up on its forehead from the impact, which was extremely unsightly.
"Didn't I already say I'm just a neutral NPC? You can't catch me, so what the hell are you throwing?!"
"My Pikachu is a neutral NPC right now too, and I don't mind."
Ash said, as if it were a matter of course. "Even though I didn't win, I still completed the Trial, at least. Why shouldn't I be allowed to catch you? What if I get lucky with one ball? I'd hit the jackpot."
Ash held Articuno's Token in his hand. That ice-blue Feather felt smooth and cool to the touch, like carrying a portable air conditioner around. It was very comfortable.
He carefully tucked the Feather into his clothes, then turned his gaze to Articuno.
"Why don't you join my Team? I'm Ash from Pallet Town, a future Pokémon Master. You definitely won't regret it," he said sincerely.
The hard approach wasn't working. He planned to take the Talk-no-jutsu capture route.
Articuno: "..."
Legendary Pokemon have high intelligence, not much lower than a human's. Talk-no-jutsu was useless against it; it even wanted to laugh.
But it didn't laugh.
Don't be fooled by Articuno's formidable appearance. In reality, its Stamina was already running low, and its stomach was rumbling with hunger. If this human sent out three or four more Pokemon on par with Pidgeot's Strength, it might really meet its end here today.
But being caught by a human was also impossible. As proud as it was, he hadn't even defeated it. On what grounds could he catch it?
"Smack!"
As it was pondering, Articuno swatted away another Poké Ball thrown from a tricky angle.
"Damn it. A Sucker Punch, while it was thinking?"
"Tsk, his strength is surprisingly great. My wing hurts a little..."
"Too bad, so close."
Ash was greatly disappointed. Seeing Articuno's pensive expression, he had wanted to try again, but he didn't expect the now-wary Pokémon to react so quickly.
"Skreee!!"
Articuno cried out loudly, stating its terms.
Perhaps because he now possessed its Feather, Ash was able to vaguely understand its bird-like speech.
"You cannot catch me unless you defeat me."
Seeing Ash pull out four or five Poké Balls from his waist in succession, Articuno quickly cried out again, stopping his action.
"You only have one chance. You cannot send out any new Pokemon."
Articuno stretched out one of its Wings, pointing to the fainted Pidgeot still in an Unable to Battle state, indicating that only the Pokemon still on the field could attempt a battle capture.
In reality, it was being clever, all but outright saying it didn't want to be caught. But by taking the moral high ground, it left Ash with no way to refute it.
Articuno could tell at a glance that this Trainer was the hot-blooded, kind-hearted type. As long as it struck on a moral level, the other party wouldn't act recklessly.
"Oh? So if I defeat you with what's on the field, I can catch you?"
However, Ash's gaze only grew brighter. He licked his lips and rolled up his sleeves, looking eager for a fight. The way he looked at Articuno was like looking at a sow ready for slaughter.
"..."
Articuno couldn't help but shudder. The god of ice and snow once again felt a chill.
"Could it be that this human planned to fight it himself?"
Although his Poké Ball throws did have some brute force behind them, to challenge a Deity in a human body was simply laughable!
"Hmm."
Just to be safe, Articuno rose half a meter higher in Mid-air, moving closer to the only Cave entrance. It planned to make a run for it.
"By the way, don't you think it's gotten a lot brighter in here since we arrived?"
Just then, Ash suddenly threw out a question.
Articuno, who was about to flee, frowned. This was a deep Cave with no light source. Even with the faint reflection from the ice-blue icicles and flowing water, the visibility was actually very poor.
But since this group of people entered, the Cave had indeed seemed to become much brighter.
"Wait, humans shouldn't have the ability to come with a built-in lighting bug, right?"
"You heard it, right? Your future teammate already said that as long as it's defeated, you can be caught."
Ash spoke again, his eyes shining. As if fearing the other party wasn't motivated enough, he added another sentence.
"You'd also like to have a personal air conditioner on standby, right? Just imagine, on a hot day, you're sleeping soundly under your Lightning Quilt/Blanket, and right next to you is an AC blowing cool air on you..."
"?"
Articuno was baffled. Who was this human Youth talking to?
After a moment, a crisp cry suddenly came from a corner of the Cave, as if in response to Ash's words.
"Pika!"
Sleeping under a Quilt/Blanket with the AC on in the middle of summer... it was tempted.
Pokedex Beep. Your turncoat Pikachu has switched from a neutral NPC to the friendly faction!
"?"
Articuno turned its head again to survey its surroundings, but it still couldn't see anyone. Just who was that little squirt who spoke?
Suddenly, Ash roared loudly:
"Pikachu, use Thunder directly above you!!"
Articuno finally understood. It subconsciously lowered its head and looked down.
What met its eyes was a small-bodied, yellow-skinned Mouse. Its first reaction was disdain. An Electric Mouse Pokémon like this... it could kill a whole nest of them just by spitting an ice loogie.
On second glance, it couldn't help but gasp.
At this moment, a terrifying Electric Current Energy was gathering in the Electric Mouse's red cheeks. The entire Cave was filled with a heavy and oppressive Aura. Just as it was about to move, its movements froze for a moment due to the shock.
Articuno was paralyzed with fear, unable to move.
As the Electric Mouse revealed a deceptively harmless, lopsided grin, the terrifying Energy of Thunder and Lightning instantly shot up from its body, scoring a direct hit on Articuno!
"BZZZT-BOOOOM!!"
A golden pulse of Electric Current erupted, filled with an unstoppable might like a natural, ten-thousand-volt thunderbolt, powerful enough to annihilate anything.
"Skree..."
The Power of the Thunder reached its peak. Having been starving for half a month and just finished a major Battle, Articuno finally couldn't withstand the immense pressure and the Lightning Energy. It let out a tragic Wail of Pain in Mid-air, and the Lightning Energy triggered a powerful Explosion in Mid-air!!
It's Super Effective!!
"Now's the time! Go, my Ultra Ball!!"
Ash's eyes shone with unprecedented brilliance. He stared at his target and fiercely threw a black, gold-trimmed Poké Ball. He even added three layers of force to his throw. As the Ultra Ball shot through the air, it even produced a series of sonic booms.
This time he had switched to an Ultra Ball, increasing the capture rate by a factor of pi.
"CLANG!!"
The Ultra Ball once again squarely struck Articuno on the forehead. A red Light, pi times more intense than before, instantly sucked the thoroughly zapped Articuno inside.
*Click*
It shook for the first Turn. No problem.
*Click*
It shook for the second Turn. Ash gulped, staring intently at the Ultra Ball, his heart in his throat.
*Wobble, wobble, wobble*
On the third Turn, the Ultra Ball began to tremble violently, as if it was about to burst from the pressure.
"Stay shut!!"
Ash threw his entire body forward, his Qilin Arm gripping the Ultra Ball tightly. His whole body trembled from the excessive force, and the Ultra Ball trembled violently along with him.
This move was the Physical capture technique that Brother Red had used when catching the giant from the Lighthouse. Back then, he had been completely amazed by this almost cheat-like Capture Method, thinking it was the work of a god.
"But sorry, this move is mine now, Ash's!"
*Click.*
Half a second later, the Ultra Ball stopped shaking in his hands, even emitting the sparkling Light effect of little stars.
Articuno, capture successful.
(end of chapter)