章 23: Chapter 23: The Battle for Pikachu

The air in Viridian Forest hummed with tension. I stood still, my body stiff with focus, as Pidgeotto circled above, his shadow casting a wavering outline over the forest floor. Beside me, Ivysaur's roots dug into the ground, sturdy and poised. In front of us, the Pikachu I'd been tracking for three days crouched low, its bright yellow fur dull with exhaustion from the Poison Powder Ivysaur had unleashed earlier.

But I wasn't the only one with my sights set on it.

To my left, she stood. The girl I'd crossed paths with earlier at the Pokémon Center—She was smirking like she owned the place, and from the way her Jolteon's fur bristled with static, maybe she did. Her Squirtle, whom she called Splash, bounced eagerly at her feet, clearly feeding off her excitement. Frustration gnawed at my patience.

"At least tell me your name" I snapped, my voice a low growl.

Her smirk widened, a playful glint dancing in her large, expressive eyes. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

I exhaled sharply, more out of habit than necessity. She was wasting my time. "Punit Setia," I said, my gaze never leaving hers.

"And I'm Alisha Arora," she said, almost as if I should've known that already.

I felt the weight of the last three days gnaw at me, like an itch I couldn't scratch. This forest had been a labyrinth, and now, she stood between me and my prize. I wasn't going to let it happen. "Look," I said, trying to sound reasonable, "I've been after that Pikachu for days. I need it. Find another."

Her laughter was light, but it carried a bite of challenge. "Did you catch it already? No? Then it's still anyone's game. Let's see who's faster."

Without another word, she moved. "Jolteon, ready stance. Splash, let's show him how it's done."

The battle ignited in the blink of an eye. Jolteon tensed, her sleek form shimmering with sparks, while Squirtle spun on his tail, a grin plastered on his face.

I couldn't help but feel a smirk of my own tug at my lips. She didn't know what she was in for. "Pidgeotto, Ivysaur—get ready."

The forest wind stirred as Pidgeotto beat his wings, sending gusts whipping through the trees. Ivysaur's vines twitched, sensing the impending fight.

"Pidgeotto, Whirlwind! Ivysaur, Poison Powder into the gust!"

Pidgeotto flapped harder, generating a small tornado that kicked up leaves and dirt, and Ivysaur unleashed another cloud of Poison Powder, sending it swirling toward Alisha's team like a toxic storm.

Alisha reacted fast. "Splash, Withdraw! Jolteon, Sand Attack!"

Squirtle pulled into his shell, the poison spores skittering harmlessly off its hard surface, while Jolteon darted forward, her paws kicking up a blinding cloud of sand. Some of the whirlwind caught it, but enough of the sand reached Pidgeotto, and I could see him blink hard, his accuracy faltering.

"Splash, Water Gun! Jolteon, Quick Attack!"

Squirtle spun back out of his shell and launched a torrent of water across the battlefield. At the same moment, Jolteon became a blur of yellow, her form darting through the spray. Her fur crackled with electricity as she slammed into Ivysaur, sending a shockwave through the water that hit harder than I'd anticipated.

"Ivysaur, Leech Seed! Pidgeotto, use Gust to lift it!" I commanded, my mind racing to adapt.

Ivysaur launched a volley of seeds toward Alisha's team, and despite his impaired vision, Pidgeotto flapped his wings wildly, lifting the seeds higher into the air. The seeds found their mark, wrapping around Jolteon, slowly sapping her energy.

The Pikachu, sensing an opportunity, darted toward the underbrush. But neither of us had time to care. This was about more than just a catch now.

"Razor Leaf, now!" I barked. "Pidgeotto, Twister!"

Ivysaur's leaves shot through the air, sharp as razors, and Pidgeotto, wings flapping furiously, caught them in a spinning vortex of wind, sending a leafy tornado barreling toward Squirtle and Jolteon.

Alisha didn't flinch. "Splash, Rapid Spin! Jolteon, Thundershock!"

Squirtle spun into the tornado, his shell deflecting the leaves as he plowed through the attack, though I could see a few cuts had made it through. Jolteon, meanwhile, leapt into the air, dodging the worst of the storm, and sent a bolt of lightning directly at Pidgeotto.

Pidgeotto screeched, his feathers singed from the attack.

"Jolteon, Swift! Splash, keep up the Water Gun!"

Jolteon, quick as ever, fired a barrage of glowing stars that homed in on Pidgeotto and Ivysaur. Squirtle let out another blast of water, soaking the ground as Ivysaur struggled to keep his footing.

I grit my teeth. "Feather Dance, Pidgeotto! Ivysaur, Vine Whip!"

Pidgeotto flapped his wings once more, sending a flurry of soft, downy feathers across the battlefield, sapping Jolteon and Squirtle's strength. Ivysaur's vines shot forward, catching Squirtle and wrapping tightly around him, pulling him toward the ground.

For a moment, it looked like we had the upper hand. Alisha's grin faltered, but it didn't disappear.

"Splash, Water Gun on Ivysaur! Jolteon, Thunderbolt!" she shouted.

Squirtle sprayed a torrent of water at point-blank range, the force of it knocking Ivysaur off balance. At the same time, Jolteon sent another surge of electricity crackling through the air. The shock hit hard, leaving Ivysaur stunned, his vines going slack.

"Now, Quick Attack!" she added, eyes sharp with determination.

Jolteon charged forward, a blur of yellow fur and crackling electricity, ready to land the final blow. But I wasn't done yet.

"Ivysaur, Takedown!" I ordered, voice hard with urgency.

Ivysaur, shaking off the water and electricity, surged forward with all the strength he had left. He collided with Jolteon head-on, the impact sending both Pokémon skidding across the wet, leaf-strewn forest floor.

Both teams were battered, bruised, and breathless. Neither side was ready to give in. Alisha and I locked eyes—this battle was far from over. The outcome teetered on a knife's edge, and neither of us was backing down.

The Pikachu watched from the shadows, forgotten, as the storm of battle raged on.