"Pichu, relax your body and mind."
Seeing the clear signs of evolution appearing on Pichu's body, Ash immediately spoke up to guide it.
For Pichu to evolve into Pikachu, the requirement was simple yet profound—bond and affection with its Trainer. As long as its intimacy with its Trainer reached the threshold, evolution would naturally occur.
As a partner chosen by fate itself, from the very first meeting in the backyard of Professor Oak's laboratory, Pichu's base affection toward Ash had already been exceptionally high.
Add to that the two-week separation and reunion during the Pokémon Summer Camp, and then everything that followed—eating together, sleeping together, training side by side, adventuring together, and facing Team Rocket's repeated crises shoulder to shoulder.
And on top of all that, there was also Daisy Oak's gift to Ash—the Soothe Bell.
Pichu's affection had skyrocketed at an astonishing pace. Now, at LV.26, it finally showed signs of evolution. Though it came a little unexpectedly, it was also perfectly reasonable.
"Pichu~"
Hearing Ash's reminder, the glowing Pichu calmed itself, letting both its body and spirit relax completely.
Ash, Frogadier, Pidgeotto, Rotom inhabiting the phone, and even Charizard were all watching intently—nervous yet excited—as evolution light flickered over Pichu on the bed.
Aside from evolution through stones or special items, or sudden evolution triggered by intense combat stimulation or overwhelming desire, most Pokémon evolved gradually.
Normally, once a Pokémon met the conditions, evolution signs would appear multiple times over a period, before finally maturing naturally and completing the evolution.
That was how it had gone before—
At the end of the Pokémon Summer Camp, Froakie → Frogadier.
More recently, after a week of careful conditioning, Pidgey → Pidgeotto.
By all logic, this first appearance of evolution signs on Pichu should've been just that—a sign. It should've taken several more occurrences over the next few days before fully evolving.
"But… Pichu's evolution signs are lasting a bit too long," Ash muttered, watching as Pichu's body flashed again and again, the light never fading.
"Don't tell me… it's going to evolve directly?"
Hope and anticipation surged in Ash's chest.
Crack—!
The evolution light around Pichu suddenly intensified, flashing faster and faster—until it finally erupted like a miniature sun, releasing a dazzling brilliance.
"Pichu~?(?)?"
[Ding! Pichu's affection has met the evolution requirement. Pichu is evolving!!!]
The system notification rang out clearly in Ash's ears.
Ash's eyes went wide, his mouth falling open in pure shock.
"I can't believe it… Pichu really evolved!!"
Within the radiant evolution light, the small, delicate Pichu was undergoing transformation. Its body grew taller—slightly—and plumper… noticeably plumper.
Pichu stood at 0.3 meters, and after evolving into Pikachu, it only grew about ten centimeters taller, reaching 0.4 meters.
But its weight?
From 2.0 kg, it jumped straight to 6.0 kg.
The evolution didn't take long.
To the rhythm of Ash's imaginary "da—da—da—daaa" sound effects in his head, the transformation quickly concluded.
The brilliant evolution light shattered into countless glowing fragments before fading into the air.
Standing there was a Pokémon that looked seven or eight parts similar to Pichu—but taller, rounder, and unmistakably new.
Its fur was a deeper yellow than before. Two wide brown stripes crossed its back. A jagged lightning-bolt-shaped tail swayed behind it. Its ears were long, with black tips.
Small mouth. Dark eyes tinged with brown. And on its cheeks—two familiar red electric sacs.
Adorable to the extreme.
This Pokémon was none other than Pichu's evolution—the universally beloved, iconic mascot cherished by all ages across generations:
Pikachu.
"Pikachu… congratulations. You finally evolved."
Looking at the Pikachu whose appearance perfectly matched his memories, Ash couldn't stop a joyful smile from spreading across his face.
"Pika Pika (·??.)"
After inspecting its new body, Pikachu's own face lit up with excitement and delight.
"Pikachu, come here—let me hold you," Ash said.
"Pika Pika o((^v^))o"
Pikachu kicked off the blanket, took a short running start on the bed, and leapt straight into Ash's arms.
Thump—
"This silky smooth fur… this chubby face… belly… butt…"
"This softness—this is peak Pikachu."
Holding this newly evolved, triple-the-weight, six-kilogram bundle of joy, Ash was completely unable to let go.
"Pika Pika (^▽^)"
Feeling Ash's overwhelming affection, Pikachu was just as happy. Unlike the original storyline—where Pikachu initially kept its distance from its Trainer—this Pikachu had been with Ash since it was a Pichu.
It had been captured by Ash, grown alongside him, and had an affectionate, clingy personality from the very beginning.
Now that it had evolved, though it looked more mature, its feelings toward Ash hadn't weakened in the slightest.
After all—
This was a Pokémon that evolved through affection.
"Pikachu, who would've thought—Pidgeotto evolved just this morning, and now you've evolved this afternoon."
"But even though you've evolved, training can't slack off, okay? You need to work even harder from now on."
"Pika Pika"
"Then, Pikachu… let's keep working together from here on out."
"Pika—Pika—"
"…Heh."
With the Team Rocket crisis just resolved and Pichu evolving right after, it was truly a case of double blessings.
Setting aside everything else, Ash happily spent a long while hugging and doting on Pikachu.
Finally, once both Trainer and Pokémon were tired out—
"System, scan Pikachu's data."
Ash activated the system, eager to see how Pikachu's strength had changed after evolution.
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T/N:
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