A few hours later…
"Charmander, use Flamethrower!"
A burst of fire shot across the clearing, blasting a flock of Spearow out of the air. They hit the ground in a panic, flapping and screeching before going still.
Licht walked over and knelt beside them. A faint green aura wrapped around his hand as he pressed his palm over their burns. The wounds slowly closed, the red marks fading into smooth feathers again.
Charmander followed him, still breathing a little heavily from the attack.
"Char… charmander?" he mumbled, tilting his head. Will they chase us again?
Licht let out a small breath. "I don't think so. They only attacked because we got way too close to their nest," he said while continuing to heal the last of them.
A few moments later, the flock stirred awake. As soon as they saw the human and the same Charmander who had almost roasted them, panic flashed in their eyes. Without waiting another second, they shot into the sky and disappeared.
Licht chuckle as he stood up and glanced at the horizon. Dark storm clouds were gathering far in the distance. He knew exactly what scene was coming next. The moment Ash and Pikachu would finally bond. A necessary moment… but still painful.
He sighed softly. "Charmander, let's go. We'll train for a bit and then set up our camp." And in the back of his mind, he decided 'If things go too far, I'm stepping in.'
They eventually found a small open area beside a quiet lake, with a narrow cave entrance tucked just behind it. After exploring the cave and confirming no wild Pokémon lived inside, they decided it was the perfect place to rest.
Charmander went straight back to training, practicing the methods Licht had shown him for learning Iron Tail and Iron Claw. His weighted tail slammed into a thick tree over and over, each strike echoing through the clearing.
Meanwhile, Licht set up a small folding table inside the cave, laid out ingredients for curry, and placed the pot over the fire.
"Charmander, come here for a bit," Licht called.
Charmander froze mid-swing, looked over, and jogged toward him. He wore a training vest and the weighted tail brace both covered in scratches and dents from hours of practice.
"How do you feel, buddy?" Licht asked as he unstrapped the vest and tail weights. He placed them aside and started massaging Charmander's shoulders and back.
Charmander released a low, relaxed rumble his version of saying he felt lighter and a lot better.
"Good," Licht said with a small smile. "Now the next step is strengthening your body. Once your foundation is solid, you'll finally be able to connect with my aura."
Charmander's eyes widened slightly, excitement and determination mixing together.
Licht patted his head. "Let's keep working hard, okay? One step at a time."
Charmander nodded fiercely. "Char!"
Seeing his determination, Licht smiled a little. "Good. Since you're fired up, let me explain something important."
Charmander straightened up, listening closely.
"In battle, aura can be used in a lot of ways," Licht said. "Once you learn to sense and sync with my aura, you'll be able to boost your strength by a lot. And we'll also be able to form a telepathic link."
He continued massaging Charmander's tired shoulders and arms.
Charmander's eyes widened with excitement. He shot to his feet and let out a confident growl, fired up at the idea.
Licht chuckled. "Not yet, buddy. First, we strengthen your body remember. Only after that can you start syncing with me and sensing aura."
Charmander's head dipped for a second clearly disappointed but then he lifted it again, determination burning in his eyes.
After their short break, the two of them returned to training.
By late afternoon, Licht noticed the difference immediately. Charmander's movements were cleaner and more stable. His stance didn't wobble anymore, and his strikes were sharper than they'd been that morning.
"Alright," Licht said, brushing dirt off his hands, "let's put that progress to the test."
After a quick rest, Licht and Charmander left the camp and headed deeper into the forest. The Spearow incident had left Charmander more alert than usual; he scanned every shadow, every bush, eager to try his strength again. So the two moved quietly through the trees, eyes sharp for any sign of movement.
It didn't take long before they spotted their first opponent.
A small Rattata was sniffing around a fallen log. The moment it noticed them, it stiffened and lowered its body, baring its tiny teeth.
Licht nodded. "Let's do it. Stay calm and use what you've learned."
Charmander stepped forward with confidence.
The battle ended almost instantly.
Rattata shot forward in a straight-line tackle, fast but predictable. Charmander read the movement perfectly he sidestepped, and Tackle Rattata, knocking him back. Before it could recover, a controlled burst of Dragon Rage hit it squarely, sending the small Pokémon tumbling back and fainting on impact.
"That was clean," Licht said, genuinely impressed.
Charmander puffed out his chest, letting out a proud "Char!"
They continued searching through the forest and found a few more wild Pokémon nothing too strong, mostly small bug types and a lone Pidgey. Charmander handled each one with simple, precise moves. No wasted energy, no wild swings, just clean execution.
Licht could clearly see the improvement. He's growing faster than I expected…
Once each wild Pokémon fainted, Licht knelt beside them and placed a hand on their bodies. His Viridian energy spread in a gentle green glow, healing their bruises within seconds. One by one, they woke up confused but unharmed and wandered back into the forest.
With their training and battles done, Licht and Charmander returned to camp. The curry was ready by the time they settled down, and both of them ate quickly. Charmander's tail flame flickered in a happy rhythm as he enjoyed the warm meal after a long day.
But just as they finished, Licht's expression shifted.
Dark, heavy clouds were rolling across the sky with unnatural speed. The wind picked up, and the first drops of rain splashed against the lake, sending ripples across the surface.
"Looks like the storm's coming… and it's coming fast," Licht said, standing up.
Charmander looked up too, his tail flame burning brighter in alertness.
"Charmander, return to your Pokéball," Licht said quickly. There was no hesitation in his voice.
He recalled Charmander in one smooth motion, clipped the Pokéball to his belt, and immediately sprinted toward the forest road his heart tightening with worry.
Ash… Pikachu… please hold on.
----------
On the other side of the forest, Ash was riding a bicycle as fast as his legs could move. The wheels splashed through the mud, the frame rattling with every bump. Behind him, a massive flock of Spearow was closing in, screeching angrily as they chased him down without pause.
In the front basket lay Pikachu completely exhausted, body limp, eyes barely open. He could only let out weak sparks that fizzled out instantly.
The rain suddenly poured down, turning the dirt path into slippery mud. But the Spearow didn't stop. If anything, the storm only seemed to make them angrier.
Ash gritted his teeth and forced his legs to move faster.
"Don't worry, Pikachu! Just hold on a little longer we're almost at Viridian City!" he shouted over the storm.
For a moment, he believed they were safe. But he didn't notice the small rock right in front of their path.
The bike hit it hard.
The front wheel jerked sideways, and Ash lost control.
"Ah—!" Both Ash and Pikachu were thrown off the bike, crashing into the mud. The collision hit him hard, leaving him breathless as Pikachu rolled weakly to the side.
Ash pushed himself up immediately, ignoring the pain. The Spearow were getting closer only seconds away now.
Without a single moment of hesitation, Ash stood in front of Pikachu and spread his arms wide, shielding him with his entire body.
"I won't let you hurt him!" he yelled, voice shaking but firm.
Behind him, Pikachu watched with wide eyes. And something clicked inside Pikachu.
He forced himself to stand, electricity crackling faintly from his cheeks. Ash glanced back just as a Spearow lunged toward him but Pikachu climbed onto Ash's shoulder, then leaped forward with everything he had left.
His cheeks sparked violently lightning crackling louder than before.
A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, hitting Pikachu directly. The storm acted as a conductor, supercharging him far beyond his limit.
"Pikaaaaa…!!!"
A massive burst of electricity exploded outward in every direction, lighting up the sky. The entire clearing flashed white as the shockwave blasted through the flock.
When the light finally faded, the Spearow were scattered in fear, fleeing in every direction.
But Pikachu and Ash were at their limit.
Both of them fell into the mud bruised, soaked, barely conscious.
Their vision blurred, darkness slowly creeping in.
Just before their eyes closed completely, they saw a figure sprinting toward them through the rain.
Ash's lips trembled as he whispered, barely audible…
"Big… brother…"
And then he passed out.
--------------
Licht's POV
Licht sprinted through the forest, rain pattering against his face as he pushed his legs harder. The forest road came into view right as a blinding flash of light burst across the sky.
He shielded his eyes instinctively.
When the flash faded, he saw Ash and Pikachu were lying in the mud, barely conscious, their bodies soaked and trembling.
"ASH! PIKACHU!"
He rushed to them, sliding to his knees in the mud. Without wasting a second, he pressed his glowing Viridian-covered hands over them. The green energy flowed into their wounds, closing cuts and easing their pain. Their energy stabilized… but they didn't wake up.
"They're alright" Licht muttered in relief. "Just exhausted."
He gently picked Ash up, cradling him like he weighed nothing, and placed Pikachu on top of his chest so the little Pokémon wouldn't fall.
Then he ran back through the storm, back to the cave they were using as shelter.
Inside, he laid Ash and Pikachu on a dry spot near the back of the cave and released Charmander.
Charmander appeared in a flash of light, blinking before noticing Ash and Pikachu lying unconscious nearby. His eyes widened, and he hurried over, letting out a soft, worried cry.
"Char… char?"
"Don't worry," Licht assured him as he grabbed some dry wood from the corner. "I already healed them. They're fine now just tired."
He arranged the wood into a small pile.
"Charmander, light it."
Without hesitation, Charmander spat out a steady ember, igniting the logs and filling the cave with warm, flickering light.
Meanwhile, Licht moved over to the pot of curry from earlier. He added more ingredients and sliced Oran berries to cook another batch for Ash and Pikachu. Within minutes, the cave started smelling warm and comforting.
Ash and Pikachu, now warmed by the fire, twitched their noses as the aroma reached them. Slowly, both of them opened their eyes.
They looked around, confused.
A cave… a small fire crackling in the centre… and a Charmander quietly sitting beside it.
A tent was set up nearby, and Licht was at the fire, gently stirring a pot of curry.
Ash blinked, trying to process what he was seeing. Then his eyes widened in recognition.
He jumped to his feet and ran toward him.
"BIG BROTHER! It's really you!"
Licht, seeing Ash sprint toward him completely covered in mud, twitched slightly. As Ash got close, Licht calmly raised his hand…
…and dropped it on Ash's head.
BONK.
"OW! Hey!" Ash dropped to his knees, clutching his head. "What was that for?! I was happy to see you!"
"You idiot," Licht said with a tired sigh. "Look at yourself. You're covered in mud from head to toe."
Ash glanced down at his clothes soaked, muddy, and messy and just laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Pikachu squeaked weakly in agreement.
After a quick wash in the rain and drying themselves near the fire, Ash and Pikachu sat down just as Licht brought them two steaming bowls of curry.
The moment the bowls touched the ground, Ash and Pikachu pounced on the food like they hadn't eaten in days.
"Hey slow down before you choke," Licht muttered, though he knew it was pointless.
Charmander sat beside him, watching wide-eyed as the two devoured their curry in record time.
Both Licht and Charmander sweat-dropped at the sight.
Then they looked at each other…
…and quietly chuckled.
After eating until their stomachs finally stopped growling, Ash and Pikachu sat in front of the fire looking completely satisfied. Pikachu's tail wagged gently while Ash leaned back with a content sigh.
Licht sat beside them, warming his hands near the fire.
"Ash," he asked casually, "is this Pikachu your starter Pokémon?"
He already knew the answer, but he wanted to see how Ash reacted especially since his little brother never got the Bulbasaur he originally wanted.
Ash straightened up proudly.
"Hahaha yes! This is my partner, Pikachu!" He looked at Pikachu, then at Licht with a determined grin. "One day, we're gonna get so strong that we'll challenge you, big brother!"
Licht smiled, amused by Ash's confidence. "I'm looking forward to that day."
He extended his hand toward Pikachu.
Ash opened his mouth to warn him "Wait, big brother, Pikachu shocks anyone who gets too close..." But he froze mid-sentence. Because Pikachu… leaned forward. He lowered his head and allowed Licht to pat him.
"Huh…?" Ash stared, completely stunned.
Licht gently rubbed Pikachu's head. "You're a strong one, aren't you, Pikachu?"
Feeling a warm flow of Viridian energy seep into him, Pikachu's ears perked up and he let out a happy squeal.
"Pikaaa~!"
"Hey! That's not fair, Pikachu!" Ash complained dramatically, making a heartbroken face.
Licht laughed. Pikachu chirped happily. Charmander snickered beside them.
Soon, the entire cave filled with the sound of light-hearted chatter.
During the time they spent talking, Licht explained many things to Ash gym battles, the Indigo League, and a basic outline of the Kanto journey.
Ash listened seriously, nodding with every sentence. Growing up with Licht, he was already a little smarter and more aware than his anime counterpart ever was.
"Big brother… do you know any moves that can help for my first gym battle?" Ash asked.
Licht tapped his chin thoughtfully, then handed Ash a small training manual.
"This is a method for learning Iron Tail. It'll help Pikachu a lot. Also remember the aura fusion training I taught you before."
Ash held the manual like it was treasure. "Thanks!"
Eventually, the rain stopped. The sky cleared, revealing the soft glow of late afternoon sunlight. Licht, Ash, Pikachu, and Charmander walked out of the cave together.
"Big brother! Look a rainbow!" Ash shouted excitedly.
Licht followed his gaze. A beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky… but something else caught his eye.
A massive, majestic bird Pokémon was soaring straight toward the rainbow, its multicolored feathers glowing brilliantly.
"Hey guys look up there," Licht said, pointing.
Ash quickly pulled out his Pokédex.
"Maybe it's a new Pokémon!"
But the Pokédex could only respond: 'No data available.'
Meanwhile, Licht took out his own Pokédex updated by Professor Oak and managed to scan it. He even snapped a few photos as the bird glided through the sky like a living flame.
"Ash," Licht said, voice filled with awe, "we're really lucky. That's a legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh."
"What?! A legendary?!" Ash's jaw nearly hit the ground.
Licht nodded, still staring at Ho-Oh.
"It's said that whenever Ho-Oh appears before someone, it's a sign of great fortune. And those blessed by Ho-Oh are said to receive eternal happiness."
Ho-Oh passed by the rainbow… and then something unexpected happened.
It turned its head.
Its golden eyes met Ash's and Licht's.
Ho-Oh let out a majestic cry that echoed across the sky.
Then it glided into the rainbow and disappeared.
Just as they thought it was gone two bright lights shot downward from the sky, falling toward them like tiny meteors.
Ash and Licht instinctively reached out and each caught one.
The glowing lights transformed into feathers shining in seven different colors.
Ash held his up in awe. "W-woah… this is beautiful."
Licht's expression softened, a bit of surprise still lingering. "I… didn't think Ho-Oh would bless both of us," he admitted. He held up the feather and explain. "This is from Ho-Oh. When it chooses someone as a Rainbow Hero, it gives them a feather like this. It's not just symbolic, it can heal and cleanse almost anything."
"Rainbow… hero?" Ash repeated, still confused.
Licht chuckled. "Let's just say… when we're ready, this feather will guide us to Ho-Oh."
He looked at Charmander. "And when that day comes, we'll challenge Ho-Oh with everything we've got. Right, buddy?"
Charmander let out a quiet but determined growl, flames flickering strongly.
Ash puffed out his chest. "We'll get strong too! One day Pikachu and I will challenge Ho-Oh too!"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded fiercely from his shoulder.
Licht gently placed the feather into his bag.
"But Ash don't tell anyone except Mom or Professor Oak. Ho-Oh hasn't been seen in years. If the world finds out we saw it and have its feathers we'll become targets."
Ash nodded, seriousness replacing his earlier excitement. "I understand."
He was about to ask more questions when
A loud female voice echoed from the distance.
"THERE YOU ARE!"
They turned to see a girl running toward them, carrying a half-melted, completely ruined bicycle on her back.
------------------------------
Author's Note:Thanks a ton for reading this chapter! I really hope you enjoyed it.Feel free to share your thoughts your favorite moment, any ideas you want to see in future chapters, or just general feedback. I read every single comment, and they genuinely help me improve and shape the story.
Thank you again for the support, and I hope you'll stick with us as the journey continues!