Kapitel 44: Chapter 44: Evolving Pidgeotoo And Raichu's Battle Rescue

The air around me thrummed with tension, like the world held its breath for what was about to happen. My fingers hovered just above the holographic display, the light from it casting a cold glow on my face. Pidgeotto stood in front of me, his wings twitching, sharp eyes scanning the forest line. The tension wasn't just in the air; it was in him too, a quiet anticipation that mirrored my own. He knew what was coming.

"Pidgeotto," I said, my voice firm, though excitement bubbled beneath it. "You ready for this?"

A sharp cry escaped his beak, a sound of pure determination. He was ready. He'd been by my side since day one—loyal and brave. I hadn't realized it before, but we were both evolving, and this moment, this decision, was as much mine as it was his.

I pressed the final command on the display, my thumb hesitating for the briefest second before committing to it. And then it happened. The world lit up around us as a blinding white cocoon of energy exploded from Pidgeotto. The wind, as if reacting to the raw power, whipped up around us, swirling leaves and dirt in a wild frenzy. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Hold on, Pidgeotto…" I whispered. His form inside the light was changing—growing, becoming something more. The light burned brighter and brighter, almost too intense to watch, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. Not now.

His cry shifted, deepening, resonating through the air as his wings stretched wider, longer. Feathers shimmered in the light, each one sharp and elegant, building him into something stronger. The light pulsed one final time and then began to fade, leaving a figure standing taller, more majestic.

In front of me, Pidgeot stood, wings spreading wide with a silent power, his plumage gleaming in the soft, fading light. But his eyes—they were still the same. Fierce, brave, loyal. Only now, there was something more behind them. Power. Raw, untapped power.

I couldn't stop the grin that crept onto my face. "We did it," I breathed, stepping forward. My hand reached out, brushing against his sleek feathers. They were soft but thrummed with strength beneath.

The wind died down, and for a moment, everything was still. Pidgeot let out a low, triumphant cry, shaking his wings before lifting off the ground with ease, testing his newfound strength. He hovered for a second, then swooped down gracefully, landing beside me like he'd done it a thousand times before.

"You're stronger now," I said, my voice low. "But you're still the same Pidgeotto. Still my Pidgeotto."

Pidgeot nuzzled against me, the warmth of him reassuring. But I wasn't done. I opened the holographic display again, navigating to the moves section. "Let's teach you some new tricks, shall we?"

He nodded, eager. I scrolled through the list of moves, fingers swiping past lesser choices. "Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Tailwind…" I muttered to myself, eyes narrowing with each selection. "Air Cutter, Air Slash… Steel Wing." As expected, no flashy light show this time. The moves slid into his repertoire quietly, efficiently.

I patted his side, my lips twitching in satisfaction. "Now you're ready."

Pidgeot gave a short, determined nod, his wings twitching with anticipation. But we had one more thing to do.

"Now, let's fly and find our lost Raichu."

Pidgeot bent down, allowing me to climb onto his back. The moment I grabbed his feathers, a surge of excitement and power pulsed through me. This wasn't like anything I'd experienced before. This wasn't just me anymore; this was us.

"This is your first time flying with me, so go slow," I muttered, though even as I said it, I knew there was no turning back. We were flying—soaring into the unknown.

With a single powerful beat of his wings, we were airborne, the ground falling away beneath us. I gripped tightly to his feathers as the tops of trees blurred into a sea of green. The wind whipped against my face, sharp and cool, but I didn't mind. We were above it all—free.

"Let's find them now," I murmured, eyes narrowing as we flew. Below us, the forest sprawled out like a maze, dark shadows stretching across the ground. Somewhere out there, Raichu was waiting.

Pidgeot's wings sliced through the air, sharp as blades, carrying me higher and higher above the trees. I leaned forward, eyes narrowing as I scanned the thick forest below. The canopy stretched endlessly, the occasional rustling betraying some wild Pokémon darting through the undergrowth. We had been at this for hours—too many hours, and my patience was thinning by the minute. I gripped Pidgeot's feathers tighter, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"Get a little closer," I muttered, leaning in closer to his ear, my voice barely audible over the rush of wind.

Pidgeot obeyed without hesitation, dipping lower as we skimmed just above the treetops. My eyes sharpened, searching for anything out of place. And then, I saw it. A flash of orange fur darting through the underbrush. My heart skipped, adrenaline surging.

"There!" I pointed, and Pidgeot angled his body, heading straight toward the commotion below. As we descended, the scene became clearer—Alisha's Squirtle lay battered, almost motionless, while my Raichu stood protectively over him, his cheeks sparking with raw, barely-contained energy.

"Dammit." I clenched my teeth. Raichu was injured—his body shuddered, but the fire in his eyes told me he wasn't giving up. My eyes darted to the enemy, and I froze. A Kadabra. Of all things, a Psychic-type. They didn't belong here.

I glared at the creature, a cold chill creeping up my spine. "Psychic Pokémon… that explains why I've got this pounding headache," I muttered under my breath. "That Kadabra's got some nerve."

"Let's land and protect Raichu and Squirtle," I said firmly to Pidgeot. He gave a sharp nod, wings angling downward as we swooped in fast. The moment his talons touched the ground, I leaped off, hitting the earth in a crouch before sprinting toward Raichu.

Raichu's eyes lit up as he saw me, his body crackling with electricity, excitement battling exhaustion. I knelt beside him, placing a hand on his head. "You've still got fight left in you, huh, buddy?"

Raichu grinned, though the flicker of pain in his eyes was hard to miss. Sparks flared from his cheeks, a jolt of defiance.

"Good," I said, rising to my feet. "Take care of Squirtle while Pidgeot and I handle Kadabra."

I didn't wait for a response—Raichu understood me well enough. He limped toward the fallen Squirtle while I quickly pulled a potion from my bag, spraying it over the injured Pokémon. His breathing eased almost immediately, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. I'd have to finish this fight fast.

Kadabra floated ominously, its eyes glowing with a cold, calculating intensity. The spoon in its hand twisted in the air, bending unnaturally as psychic energy swirled around him like a storm. I straightened, wiping the sweat from my brow, my mind racing.

"Where's your trainer?" I demanded, stepping forward. "You've hurt my Pokémon, and I don't let anyone get away with that."

A sharp, biting voice echoed in my head. "I have no trainer."

I blinked, taken aback. I wasn't used to hearing voices in my head—this had to be Kadabra. "Wait… you can speak in my mind?"

Kadabra's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Are you psychic, human?"

Psychic? Me? The thought lingered for a moment, but I pushed it aside. "I don't know… and it doesn't matter. You hurt my Pokémon, and now you're going to pay for it."

Kadabra's spoon twisted again, his eyes narrowing. "If you wish to challenge me, human, defeat me with your Pokémon. If you win, I'll join you." His voice was laced with cold mockery. "But you'll have to use two. Let's see if you're worthy."

Anger flared, hot and fast. I wasn't some trainer to be toyed with. "Pidgeot, Raichu!" I barked, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Let's show this Kadabra what happens when you mess with my team."

Raichu, though battered, limped forward, electricity crackling in the air around him. Pidgeot's sharp gaze locked onto Kadabra, his wings flexing with restrained power. I could feel the anticipation radiating off them both.

Kadabra moved first, his eyes glowing bright as he launched a Psybeam straight at Raichu. The attack cut through the air like a knife.

"Raichu, dodge and use Double Team!" I shouted.

Raichu leaped out of the way, barely avoiding the beam as his form split into multiple afterimages, surrounding Kadabra from all sides. Kadabra hesitated, his spoon twitching as he tried to figure out which was real.

"Pidgeot, Tailwind!" I called out.

Pidgeot flapped his wings hard, whipping up a powerful gust that swirled around the battlefield, boosting both Raichu and his speed. The wind tore at the leaves and branches around us, the force of it making it hard for Kadabra to focus.

But Kadabra wasn't fazed. His spoon twisted once more, and the space around Raichu distorted with Kinesis, throwing off his aim. The clones flickered, faded, leaving Raichu exposed.

"Stay sharp, Raichu! Pidgeot, Feather Dance! Raichu, charge up Thunderbolt!"

Pidgeot dove down, releasing a flurry of glowing feathers that surrounded Kadabra, sapping his attack power. Kadabra's eyes gleamed in response, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent a Psycho Cut flying through the air, razor-sharp blades of psychic energy aimed at Pidgeot.

"Pidgeot, bank left!"

He veered just in time, the blades slicing through the air where he had been moments before. Meanwhile, Raichu was charging, electricity building around him like a storm.

"Now!" I shouted. "Lightning Gale! Raichu, Thunderbolt!"

The battlefield erupted into chaos. Pidgeot intensified the wind, creating a swirling vortex as Raichu unleashed a devastating Thunderbolt. The electricity tore through the gale, striking Kadabra with relentless force. Kadabra grunted, his psychic shield flickering, but he wasn't done. He immediately used Recover, healing some of the damage, and summoned a shimmering Reflect to bolster his defenses.

I grinned, eyes narrowing. "A wall won't save you. Pidgeot, Steel Wing! Raichu, Thunder Punch!"

Pidgeot's wings glowed silver as he dived, smashing into the Reflect barrier while Raichu's electrified fist struck with raw power. The barrier trembled under the combined assault, but it held. Kadabra winced from the force but retaliated, his eyes glowing with eerie light.

"Confusion!" Kadabra's voice echoed coldly as Raichu was lifted into the air, helpless in Kadabra's psychic grip before being slammed into the ground with a sickening thud. Raichu groaned, but he rolled back onto his feet, bruised but determined.

"Pidgeot, Twister! Raichu, Volt Switch!"

Pidgeot flapped his wings, summoning a swirling Twister that trapped Kadabra in its grasp. Raichu charged forward, smashing into Kadabra with Volt Switch, electricity crackling through the air. The Twister intensified, hammering Kadabra relentlessly, and with a final crack, the Reflect barrier shattered.

Kadabra's eyes flared with desperation as he tried to launch a final Psybeam, but Pidgeot was faster. He dove with a powerful Brave Bird, the impact sending Kadabra crashing to the ground, his psychic energy flickering out.

The dust settled. The battle was over.

I approached cautiously, my pulse still racing. Kadabra stirred, his eyes meeting mine. "You are strong," his voice echoed in my mind. "I would like to join you."

I knelt beside him, pulling out a Pokéball. "Then let's make it official." With a tap, the red light swallowed Kadabra.

I stood, the tension finally easing. "Good work, both of you." I patted Raichu before recalling him to his ball, then turned toward Squirtle, still resting peacefully. I scooped him up gently, smiling down at his small, sleeping form. "You only look cute when you're out cold."

Climbing back onto Pidgeot's back, I held Squirtle close. "Let's fly."

With a powerful beat of his wings, Pidgeot soared into the sky, and we left the battlefield behind, the winds carrying us forward.