Pokémon: Dreams Come True Starting in Sinnoh

"Tsk."

Shinji clicked his tongue in amazement. This situation should have happened to Electabuzz, but he didn't expect that Ash hadn't let Pikachu use Thunderbolt yet, and instead had used Electabuzz's Thunderbolt.

"Protect!"

Although the current situation is not what Shinji wanted, it is still within his control. As long as he can block this high-voltage electric shock, there will still be a chance to counterattack later.

"Keep using 100,000 volts like this!"

"Um?!"

Once again, surprisingly, even though he had given the command to protect very late, Ash seemed to have anticipated his actions and said Thunderbolt almost at the same time as he said protect.

"Pika~Qi!!"

A bolt of lightning struck the green barrier erected by Electabuzz before the high-voltage shock could reach it. The barrier, which could only withstand one attack, shattered instantly into specks of light after being hit by the Thunderbolt.

Before Electabuzz's incredulous eyes, Pikachu had already arrived in front of it, and the high-voltage electric shock, amplified by Electabuzz's Thunderbolt, struck its body without reservation.

"EL!"

After a scream, Electabuzz's body was sent flying backward by the impact of the high-voltage electric shock. However, Ash knew that one high-voltage electric shock was not enough to end the battle, so he immediately decided to press his advantage.

"Charge forward with 100,000 volts!"

Even though Thunderbolt is a long-range attack, Ash made Pikachu chase after Electabuzz in the direction it flew off. Was it because he wanted to use Thunderbolt at close range to maximize the damage?

"...A wall of light!"

After a brief hesitation, Shinji decided to let Electabuzz use Light Screen. Light Screen was supposed to be Electabuzz's trump card, meant for a surprise attack, but under the immense pressure of battling Ash, he decided to let Electabuzz use Light Screen as a temporary measure, since if it couldn't survive this turn, there wouldn't be a next turn.

This forced choice is the situation Shinji hates most in battle, because once he makes such a choice, it means he has no other way out, which is exactly what Ash wants to see.

Seeing that Pikachu and Electabuzz were getting closer and closer, and that most of the power of Pikachu's Thunderbolt was blocked by Light Screen, Ash finally spoke up again: "Quick Attack, then Iron Tail!"

"?! Tile splitting!"

“PI~ka!”

"EL?"

In a battle, the side that is on the defensive is often a step slower than its opponent in action, and this is the case now as well.

Although Shinji managed to react to and follow Ash's commands, Electabuzz, which had been in a passive state, was unable to continue to follow them. The Light Screen had been activated in an emergency, and Electabuzz hadn't even been able to stabilize itself yet.

As Pikachu used Quick Attack to close the distance and then unleashed Iron Tail, Electabuzz instinctively raised its right arm to block. However, with the boost from Quick Attack, Iron Tail's power was amplified. Iron Tail struck Electabuzz's raised right arm, then deflected it without hesitation, before striking Electabuzz's head.

"EL!"

With Quick Attack, Iron Tail left Electabuzz completely defenseless. After letting out a scream, Electabuzz collapsed to the ground, unable to get up again.

"..."

Shinji stared at the fallen Electro-Ghost in silence for a moment before closing his eyes and recalling it.

"Is it still a little lacking?"

Shinji murmured to himself as he looked at the Poké Ball in his hand, seemingly without any regret for losing the match.

"Well done, Pikachu."

Ash also came to Pikachu's side, squatted down, and patted its head to encourage it.

Watching Ash and Pikachu interact, Shinji didn't mock them as before, but his tone wasn't much better.

"I admit that your command skills are very strong, but the key to this battle is the quality of the Pokémon. Compared to Electabuzz, your Pikachu reacts much faster when executing commands. This is a difference in experience. I will be the one to win the next battle."

Shinji's calm tone seemed to be stating a fact, but in Hikari's eyes, it was just stubbornness. However, since Ash had already won, and Ash himself had only shrugged to indicate that he had heard Shinji's statement, Hikari naturally wouldn't say anything more. She just stood behind Ash and looked at him triumphantly, as if she were the one who had won the game.

The battle ended there. After seeing Dr. Yamanashi and the others walking towards them, Shinji left without saying goodbye, and no one knows what he was thinking.

"Is it over? It seems you won this match."

Dr. Yamanashi, watching Shinji leave without a word and Hikaru looking happy, probably guessed the outcome of the match.

"Although Shinji has a cold personality, it must be said that he does have remarkable talent in Pokémon battles. Since you two are going to participate in this league tournament, you should become great rivals."

How could that be? These two people are completely incompatible.

Hikaru silently complained to himself, but he dared not say these words in front of Professor Yamanashi. Although Professor Yamanashi noticed that Hikaru's expression was a little strange, he did not ask any questions. After all, it was not the first time that his personality had not been compatible with young people, and Professor Yamanashi was quite self-aware in this regard.

"Well, it's getting late, so why don't you stay here for the night? As a token of our gratitude for your help, I'll have the person in charge of cooking treat you to a good meal tonight."

"Really?!"

"Great!"

"I'm really looking forward to it..."

Upon hearing that there would be a big meal that night, Ash and the others became excited.

Hikari, in particular, seems to have forgotten how badly Shinji messed things up for her. Now, all she can think about is what delicious food Professor Yamanashi will prepare for them tonight.

"Okay, let's go then."

After Professor Yamanashi finished speaking, he turned and walked into the research institute. Ash and the others exchanged glances and followed him. As night fell, Ash and Dawn's first day of travel in the Sinnoh region came to a perfect end.

.......