Inventory of The Famous Scene: Starting from Emiya

Chapter 454 - 440: Follow Ash and You’ll See Legendary Beasts Everywhere!

[ The scene shifts; Ash and his companions arrive at a new town. Unable to sit still, he immediately challenges someone to a Pokémon battle, and as a result, Charmander evolves into Charmeleon!

Souji also uncovers information regarding the Rainbow Wing in this city: "Should it be touched by an evil heart, it will lose its luster!"

Ash hurriedly fishes out the Rainbow Wing to inspect it, only breathing a sigh of relief afterward: "Mine seems to be fine!"

Makoto takes the opportunity to tease him: "That’s because Ash is a simple-minded daredevil! Where would he find an evil heart?"

Hearing this, Ash proudly pats his chest: "That’s right, when it comes to being simple and reckless, I lose to no one!"

Amidst their laughter and chatter, they remain oblivious to the fact that their conversation has been overheard, clear as day, by Cross, who is lurking behind the door. ]

[ .....]

〜Projection of All Worlds〜

Wait... why are you proud of that?

That wasn’t a compliment, you know!

The viewers watch the self-important Ash, speechless. You’re really leaning into that recklessness, aren’t you?

.....

〜Pokémon World, Main Worldline〜

In a patch of grass in the Sinnoh region of the Pokémon world, the "evil" Team Rocket trio is gathered, tinkering with a robot to prepare for their next scheme.

Seeing this, Meowth stops his work: "Trouble, meow. Based on my years of intuition, this guy Cross is about to stir up some real chaos, meow!"

"What! Someone actually dares to steal the spotlight from Team Rocket?" Jessie slams her hammer onto the ground, instantly fuming.

James adds viciously: "Dirty deeds are supposed to be done by charming villains like us! Why should it be his turn?"

Especially when it comes to the brat—that’s always been our job, hasn’t it? Since when did someone else start stealing our gig?

"Just you wait!"

"Just you wait!"

"Just you wait!"

After throwing out their threats, James and the others speed up their robot construction; nothing to be done, even villains are caught in the rat race these days.

.....

[ The next day... Ash begins another round of battling. He sends out Pikachu, and this time, his opponent is a particularly massive Snorlax!

Snorlax nimbly dodges Pikachu’s attack, leaps into the sky, and spreads its limbs to unleash a Body Slam.

Like a cannonball, Snorlax descends upon Pikachu with incredible speed. Ash hurriedly calls out: "Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

WHOOSH—!]

[ .....]

〜Pokémon World, Main Worldline〜

The audience breathes a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Ash reacted in time. He truly is a trainer...

Hm?!! Wait, something’s wrong? Use Iron Tail?!

The onlookers finally process this and are stunned. What kind of boneheaded move is this? Using Iron Tail against a Snorlax of that tonnage? You should have used Quick Attack to dodge!

Are you kidding me? That’s a total non-sequitur!

Facing Snorlax’s Body Slam—the good news is Ash reacted; the bad news is he chose Iron Tail... My heart was racing, but now it’s dead. That’s a guaranteed loss, buddy!

.....

[ BOOM— The massive Snorlax lands heavily upon Pikachu with a thunderous crash!

As the dust settles, a brilliant white light erupts from beneath Snorlax.

BANG—!

The next moment, Snorlax is swatted into the sky like a rag doll by Pikachu’s Iron Tail!

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Brilliant golden electricity erupts from Pikachu, striking the airborne Snorlax with pinpoint accuracy, slamming it heavily into the ground, completely incapacitated! ]

[ .....]

〜Pokémon World, Main Worldline〜

"???"

Are you kidding me? That was Iron Tail? Did your Pikachu hack the game?

Everyone is in disbelief, or perhaps questioning reality. A Snorlax of that weight, and you swatted it that high with Iron Tail?

Steven Stone offers a strained smile:

"How should I put this... this Pikachu seems a bit intense..."

Lance points at the incapacitated Snorlax, laughing helplessly:

"But this is a bit too much, isn’t it!"

Leon laughs heartily:

"I didn’t believe it before, but now I do. He used this one Pikachu to sweep through the three previous Gyms..."

XY timeline—

"Ash, there’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for a while,"

Serena says, sounding hesitant.

"Why does Pikachu’s strength seem to fluctuate so much?"

Ash freezes upon hearing this, looking at Pikachu with suspicion:

"It shouldn’t... right?"

He wanted to say no, but after Serena pointed it out, he suddenly noticed a blind spot he’d always ignored. It actually does seem that way!

Come to think of it, from the start of the journey until now, it seems like Pikachu gets stronger when facing strong opponents and weaker against weak ones...

"Pika?"

Pikachu tilts its head, looking adorable, sensing everyone’s gaze. What are you guys talking about? I don’t understand.

"..."

Ash stares wordlessly at the adorable Pikachu. You aren’t actually playing me, are you?

.....

[ Later, Ash faces Cross once more, only to be left deeply rattled when Incineroar utterly outmatches his Charmeleon.

Even the Rainbow Wing once lost its luster, but fortunately, with Pikachu’s help, it rediscovered its original intent, and the Rainbow Wing began to glow with prismatic light once more.

"It’s all my fault, Charmeleon, I’m sorry!"

"Do you want to win every single battle?" Souji watches the returning-to-normal Ash and breathes a sigh of relief, then continues: "Only defeat is the true test for a Trainer! That is what I believe." ]

[ .....]

〜Projection of All Worlds〜

"If that’s the case, does that mean Ash hasn’t lost a single battle until now?"

Everyone is shocked by this thought. You go out looking for fights every day, and you haven’t lost once? Your combat power as a rookie trainer is way too high!

〜Pokémon World, Red Worldline〜

"Interesting!"

Red, the King of Mt. Silver, pulls down the brim of his hat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth:

"You’ve made me want to have a Pokémon battle with you!"

Never lost, huh? It seems we are actually quite similar. Though sometimes failure is also a part of growth!

.....

[ Subsequently, the group embarks on a new leg of their journey, following the direction indicated by the Rainbow Wing toward Mt. Tensei, the highest peak in the mountains!

Halfway there, they encounter a migrating flock of Butterfree, but Ash’s Butterfree meets a sweetheart and must fly south with its companions.

"What do you think, Butterfree?" Ash bows his head, hesitating again and again, filled with reluctance: "Are you going to say goodbye to us here and go south with that girl?"

Regarding this question, Butterfree is also torn. After taking one last look back at the pink Butterfree, it chooses Ash.

It hides directly behind Ash, no longer possessing the courage to glance at the pink Butterfree.

Watching Butterfree’s agony, Ash makes his choice, pushing Butterfree from behind into the air: "Go south with them! If you don’t hurry, everyone will fly away!"

Until Butterfree disappears, Ash can no longer hold back his tears: "Take care!" ]

[ .....]

〜Pokémon World, Main Worldline〜

"See that? That is what you call releasing a Pokémon... sniff!"

Many trainers are secretly wiping away tears after seeing this scene; who among them hasn’t had one or two companions they had to let go?

They also understand how much resolve Ash had to summon to force a smile and say goodbye...

"I really am getting old; I can’t stand to watch these things."

Alder wipes away his tears silently, which reminds him of his old partner, Volcarona.

And our Team Rocket trio is also infected by this sorrowful atmosphere; James breaks down into tears immediately:

"Waaah... Cacnea..."

"James, Meowth! What is this display? We are the evil Team Rocket!"

Jessie says aggressively, but her own tears haven’t stopped either.

.....

[ Not until Butterfree is nowhere to be seen do the three decide to turn and leave, embarking once more on the journey to find Ho-Oh.

It is at this very moment that a flash of electricity suddenly surges across Pikachu’s body, and as if sensing something, it turns its head to look back.

Following Pikachu’s gaze, the three are stunned in their tracks, seeing a Pokémon with golden fur and arcing lightning beneath its feet staring right at them!

Gazing at that figure, Souji says, looking somewhat dazed: "That is Raikou!"

Raikou does not linger; it lets out a roar toward the sky, transforms into a bolt of lightning, and vanishes from the spot. ]

[ .....]

〜Pokémon World, Main Worldline〜

"All three Legendary Beasts have appeared before Ash; what comes next... won’t it be Ho-Oh?"

Ash is truly a peculiar boy. The three Legendary Beasts seem to have come just for him, and even the rarest of them, Raikou, has appeared!

Everyone’s faces are filled with anticipation; many researchers have already taken out their cameras, quietly waiting for the moment Ho-Oh appears.

"Are Legendary Pokémon just wandering around everywhere now?"

Lance stares blankly at the screen. Good grief, seeing all three Legendary Beasts just like that—is it really that easy?

Cynthia thinks carefully about the previous details:

"The appearance of the three Legendary Beasts seems to have unusual significance; it’s more like three corresponding tests..."

And Entei appeared after Ash helped the injured Charmander, Suicune appeared during the time the trio was working together, and Raikou appeared at Ash’s separation from Butterfree!

"In other words, Entei acknowledged Ash’s passion for Pokémon, Suicune acknowledged the bond between them, and Raikou acknowledged Ash’s spirit..."

Having received these three trials along the way, Ash is finally qualified to climb to the summit of Mt. Tensei... Mt. Tensei, you say? I must go over and take a look later.

Setting aside the brainstorming, Cynthia, over at Professor Oak’s lab, Professor Oak says to the communication screen in front of him, looking very serious again:

"Are you really not considering taking me along on your journey..."

He has discovered that as long as one follows Ash, there are Legendary Pokémon to see! Not being able to witness it firsthand is truly a great pity!

.....