Chương 110: Chapter 110: Misty's Shock Encounter

The night had wrapped Maiden's Peak in a heavy blanket of darkness. The mountains loomed, silent and jagged, beneath a sky punctuated by cold stars. My breath fogged in the air as I walked, my footsteps whispering through the stillness. Shadow, perched lazily on my head, had grown heavier in his lethargy. I glanced up, feeling the familiar crackle of static from his dark, sparking form.

"You're an Electric and Dark-type," I said, half to myself, half to the lazy Pokémon who wouldn't leave my head.

Without missing a beat, Shadow's voice came, low and mocking. "I don't want to learn any moves, even if I can learn them instantly. Don't ask me how I know that, my naive master."

I sighed, pushing aside the flicker of annoyance. Shadow was always like this—too powerful, too sharp for his own good, and never shy to remind me. I rounded the corner of the ancient temple, eyes narrowing as I spotted familiar silhouettes in the distance.

Ash. Pikachu. Misty. Brock. And Erin.

The sight of them, standing there with their backs turned, made the corner of my lips twitch in amusement. Erin stood a little further off, her body stiff, fear radiating from her like heat. Shadow, of course, didn't care. He yawned, crackling with electric energy but too lazy to even open his eyes.

I moved in silence, slipping up behind Misty, leaning in until my lips were near her ear.

"Misty," I whispered, my voice low. "Why do you always miss me?"

She jumped, a startled yelp escaping her. Instinctively, she spun around, hand raised to slap me, but before she could even swing, Shadow's blue Thundershock lashed out, wrapping her in a tight web of sparking electricity. Misty crumpled with a gasp, but I barely reacted.

"Shadow," I said, my voice calm. "Don't attack. They're friends."

Shadow's eyes, glowing red like embers, flickered. "I know moves," he muttered, still annoyed, "but I don't use them unless needed. No one touches my master."

Misty groaned, pushing herself up slowly. She chuckled, though there was a slight edge of pain in her voice. " I guess I…am getting used to Thundershocks, aren't I?"

I folded my arms, watching her. "It hurts, right? But this isn't just any Pikachu."

Her eyes darted to Shadow, who had resumed his place on my head, his dark form sparking faintly. "What the hell is that thing? And why does it talk? And why does it look so… terrifying?"

I lifted Shadow off my head, holding him out toward her. "He's cute, isn't he?"

Misty's eyes widened, her hand instinctively jerking back. Shadow's lazy voice drawled, "If you hurt my master again, I'll cut you to pieces."

Misty paled, stumbling back to hide behind Ash. "Ash! Your Pikachu is cute! This one's a devil!"

Ash stared at Shadow, his Pikachu mirroring his expression. The two Pokémon locked eyes, as if trying to make sense of one another. Ash scratched the back of his head. "Your Pikachu is… unique, I'll give you that."

Erin was lingering at the edge, her hazel eyes glued to Shadow, her entire body rigid with that familiar fear. She wanted to come closer, but I could see the hesitation eating at her. I turned to her, my voice soft but firm. "Erin, come here. Shadow won't do anything to you."

Shadow shifted, lazily climbing back up to my head. "Yes, master's wife, I won't hurt you."

Erin's face flushed slightly, her expression calm despite the obvious fear she was swallowing down. "I'm not… his wife. I'm his girlfriend," she said, her voice quiet but steady as she finally approached.

Shadow yawned again, settling into his usual lazy sprawl. "Future wife."

Misty peeked out from behind Ash. "Why don't you just put him in a Pokéball?"

"Do you want to be hit by Thunder again?" Shadow asked, his voice like a dangerous purr.

Misty shuddered. "No, no thanks."

Erin stepped closer, hugging me, though I could feel the tremble in her arms. Shadow watched her, but true to his word, he did nothing. I was about to say something when Shadow interrupted, voice dripping with boredom. "I'm not going to lick her face, master."

Ash chuckled, though his eyes were still wary. "It seems like he knows you pretty well. But why haven't you taken him out of his Pokéball before?"

"Lazy," Shadow muttered. "Didn't want to. Now that I'm out, I'm not going back."

I shifted my gaze to Brock, who was staring intently at the old statue of the ghost of Maiden's Peak, oblivious to the tension around him. I blinked, dumbfounded for a moment, then turned to Erin.

"Let's head back," I said. "I want to rest, and you all should, too."

They nodded, but as I started to walk away, I felt it—the presence. Faint but undeniably there. My steps slowed, my eyes narrowing as I glanced toward the invisible specter hovering just out of sight. I spoke, my voice still calm, but this time with an edge.

"On second thought, I've changed my mind."

Confusion flashed in Ash's eyes, but I didn't wait for an explanation. I moved in the direction of the presence, my hand reaching for Alakazam's Pokéball.

"Shadow," I asked, "interested?"

"Nope," came the lazy reply.

I shrugged, tossing Alakazam's Pokéball into the air. "Ghostly, or should I say 'old lady'? I'm here to catch you. Better behave—I don't have time to waste."

There was silence, then sudden dumbfounded expressions from everyone. Erin's grip tightened on my arm. Brock and Misty exchanged looks, and even Team Rocket, who had been lingering nearby, was frozen in shock.

A chuckle echoed through the air, ghostly and amused. "You're a psychic human, aren't you? Good. I was hoping to play a few more days, but it seems you don't want to leave without a fight. Defeat me, and I may just listen."

Shadow shifted on my head, his red eyes glowing. "Become my master's Pokémon, or I'll make sure you will."

I waited, the tension thick around us, knowing the real battle had only just begun.