Chapter 16: A Different Kind of Scenery
"Be your own light, it doesn't have to shine too bright~ just enough so you can look up and see hope…"
Humming a little tune, Ash and Pikachu stepped out of the Pewter City Pokémon Center.
Strolling casually along the shopping street, Ash felt unexpectedly cheerful—almost a little giddy.
Though he no longer had his two bickering companions by his side, his journey so far had gone well enough to make him proud.
Last time, he rushed headfirst toward gyms, badges, and the League Conference—
traveling in haste, battling in haste, never stopping to enjoy the world around him like he was doing now.
No surprise the result matched that rushed, frantic approach—
Top 16.
In simpler terms… a consolation prize.
A certificate from the League patting him on the shoulder, telling him,
"You've got potential, kid—just not much. Keep working on it."
Sometimes, when you stop looking only at your feet,
you really do see a different kind of scenery.
Evening sunlight warmed the street, illuminating the crowds moving back and forth.
Food stalls along the roadside were opening up, friends calling out to each other to grab a drink after a long day of work.
A father carried his daughter on his shoulders;
the little girl hugged a Pichu plushie tightly,
while her smiling mother walked beside them.
The family waited at a corner deli for freshly fried pork cutlets.
Vendors shouted, children laughed,
and adults called their loved ones home for dinner.
Ash bought some food and travel supplies.
Holding a stick of candied hawthorn in one hand, he competed with Pikachu to see who could lick theirs faster.
"Come, come—make money with money!"
A goofy-looking man waved toward Ash from a small stall made of makeshift aquarium tanks.
"Hmm? Me?"
Ash pointed to himself.
The man nodded eagerly, grin growing sly.
"Something wrong, mister?"
Ash asked with a mouthful of candied fruit, Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
The vendor's heart leapt.
Another sweet and clueless rookie trainer!
"Kid, lemme tell you—your lucky day's here."
The man cupped a hand beside his mouth conspiratorially.
"I've got rare Pokémon here."
Ash glanced into the tanks—
all he saw were fat, shiny Magikarp wearing golden paper crowns.
But the "wise" vacant eyes,
the floppy tail movements,
and that almost-eager attempt at leaping…
All pulled up a terrible memory.
Back before the timeline reset—
he'd gone fishing near Pallet Town.
And he hooked a Magikarp that proceeded to smack him repeatedly with its tail.
Worst part?
Gary saw the whole thing.
He got mocked for half a year.
"Mister, don't tell me these Magikarp—more common than stray dogs—are your 'rare treasures.'
Or are you going to scam me by saying they can produce gold?
Think carefully.
If you dare say something like that,
Pikachu will immediately give you a Thunderbolt,
and then I'll call Officer Jenny to pick you up."
Ash glared at the Magikarp seller.
"Damn… ran into trouble today."
The vendor froze, unable to brag anymore—
especially since Pikachu's cheeks were crackling with lightning already.
One zap and he'd be leaking tears—and maybe other fluids—on the spot.
"I give up! Fine! Friend, spare me, okay?"
Ash smiled again, cheerful and bright.
"Relax, I'm not here to make things hard for you.
Just a word of advice: honest goods bring long-term business."
"Ugh… figures I'd be unlucky.
Alright, alright, I'm packing up."
The vendor grumbled.
If he couldn't scam people, he didn't want to work at all.
"Don't be in such a hurry.
Wrap up that Magikarp for me."
Ash pointed at the biggest one in the tank.
Muscles bulging, eyes sharp.
A normal Magikarp: ●)o(●…
This Magikarp: (｀皿′）…
"Fine, a deal's a deal."
The vendor scooped it up and handed the large Magikarp to Ash.
"Kruk-kruk!"
The moment it entered Ash's arms, it thrashed violently—
almost slapping Pikachu off his shoulder with its powerful tail.
"Pika! (??v_v??:)!"
Pikachu was instantly furious.
"Oh no… bad idea!"
Ash flinched and tossed the Magikarp into the air.
"CHUUU!!!"
The moment it left his hands—
a bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky.
A full Thunder.
Ash shivered.
I taught him a high-level move so he could help me… not electro-boot me…
The Magikarp hit the ground completely charred, foam bubbling from its mouth.
Ash quickly threw a Poké Ball and captured it.
"Pikachu… next time wait until I let go before you zap it.
I almost went along with it…"
"Pika pika…"
Pikachu scratched its head awkwardly and played cute.
"Mister, here's five hundred. Good enough?"
Ash handed over the cash.
Terrified of Pikachu, the vendor snatched the money and immediately fled with his tanks.
One Thunder and he'd be ash himself…
Ash shrugged.
At least he got the Magikarp.
He scanned the Poké Ball with his Pokédex—
the data appeared.
"Oh~ it knows Tackle. Perfect!"
Ash nodded with satisfaction.
If it only knew Splash, training would be impossible.
But a Magikarp with Tackle had potential—
find the right opponents, build experience, and it would evolve.
A Gyarados.
A terrifying early-game powerhouse.
And he got it for just five hundred.
Ash hugged Pikachu excitedly.
"Hehe~ I'll find a fisherman to battle with later!"
After wandering a bit more, Ash saw the sky turning orange and decided it was time.
With the last rays of sunset, he left the city and headed toward the Mt. Moon trail.
Walking down the shadowed mountain path didn't scare him—
it thrilled him.
"Hehehe… nightfall in Mt. Moon~ wonder if I'll meet wild Gastly or Zubat that hunt by night."
Carrying Pikachu, Ash looked around eagerly.
His backpack held insect repellent;
with night as cover, he planned to cross Mt. Moon first,
then lay out a sleeping bag somewhere to rest.
He'd reach Cerulean City tomorrow.
"Hey! Stop! Who goes there, wandering around the mountains pretending to be a ghost in the middle of the night!?"
A man in a white dress shirt suddenly appeared ahead.
"You! How rude!"
The man turned around, pushing up his thick-rimmed glasses.
"I am Aki!
A scientist from the Pewter City Museum, devoted to field research!"
Ash grinned and raised a Poké Ball.
"Well, since we've run into each other—let's battle!"
The scientist adjusted his glasses, unimpressed.
"Hmph. You disturbed my fossil search.
It's only fitting that I teach you a lesson."
Bathed in moonlight, the two took their positions—
A wild battle,
about to begin!
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
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