The Pokemon Center lay in ruins after the explosion.
Trainers who had been passing through huddled nearby, clutching their Pokemon, faces pale with relief at having survived.
Ash, covered head to toe in grime, held Pikachu tight and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, we're safe, Pikachu!"
"Hey, what was the deal with those people just now?!" Misty grumbled.
"If I'm not mistaken, that group is the same Pokemon thieves that have been operating around here lately. They specialize in stealing other people's Pokemon," Officer Jenny said, arriving with a frown.
"But thankfully, all the Pokemon from the Center have been safely transferred to the Pewter City Pokemon Center!" Nurse Joy said, her own relief clear on her face.
She then turned to the gathered Trainers with an apologetic look.
"I'm very sorry, everyone. Due to the sudden incident, the Viridian City Pokemon Center won't be operational for some time. Please check in at a nearby hotel to rest for the night."
There wasn't much anyone could do about it. The Trainers nodded and left one by one with their Pokemon.
"All right, Pikachu, let's get going too!" Ash said, cradling Pikachu as he prepared to leave.
"Hey! Where do you two think you're going?" Misty called out.
"To a hotel to rest, obviously!" Ash looked at her, confused.
Misty crossed her arms with a huff. "Until my bike is fixed... no, until you two pay me back for my bike, I'm sticking with you!"
Ash and Pikachu exchanged an awkward smile.
Still, Misty's strength really was something. She had lugged that bike all the way here from back there by herself.
Ash quickly agreed to let her travel with them.
"Fine, fine, do what you want. But don't worry, Pikachu and I will definitely get you a new bike!"
"Hmph, that's more like it!" Misty said, arms still crossed.
Just then, Officer Jenny seemed to spot something.
"Oh? Trainer, is that you? What are you doing here?"
"I saw an explosion over here, so I came to check it out," Fuyuki answered.
"I see!" Officer Jenny said. She didn't linger, bidding everyone farewell before riding off on her motorcycle to patrol the area in case the thieves tried anything again.
Hearing Fuyuki's voice, Ash, Pikachu, and Misty all turned to look.
The next second, all three froze.
The Pokemon following behind that Trainer was...
"A Pokemon I've never seen before!" Ash quickly pulled out his Pokedex and scanned it, but got a "not registered" result.
That meant this was a Pokemon that hadn't been documented by humans yet!
"What is that Pokemon...?" Misty, who hailed from the Cerulean Gym, was even more astonished. She could sense just how overwhelmingly powerful it was.
"Long time no see, Ash." Seeing those familiar faces, Fuyuki couldn't help but smile.
At the sound of his name, Ash and Pikachu's gazes simultaneously shifted from Entei to the boy beside it.
Ash blinked. "And you are...?"
"Pika pi!!" Pikachu suddenly grew excited. It's you!
It leaped off Ash's shoulder and raced over to Fuyuki and Entei, circling around them with glee before stopping in front and looking up happily.
It was Fuyuki and Entei!
Even now, Pikachu remembered that day clearly.
Back then, it had still been a little Pichu, passing through a mountain with its Kangaskhan mother, when Entei invited them back to its cave. There, they met Fuyuki. They played together for the longest time, and Fuyuki even gave them all sorts of delicious candy!
Pikachu had never imagined it would see its childhood friend again.
Its heart swelled with emotion, eyes glistening with tears of joy at the reunion.
Fuyuki remembered Pikachu, of course. He crouched down and patted its head.
"Long time no see, Pikachu."
"Pika~" Pikachu nuzzled against him affectionately.
"Huh?"
The others watched the scene unfold, baffled.
Misty poked Ash. "Ash, your Pikachu seems to know this Trainer!"
Ash was stunned too. Was his Pikachu about to become someone else's Pokemon?
Fortunately, Pikachu had only gone over to greet an old friend.
Fuyuki looked up at Ash.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu announced, gesturing back at Ash. This is my Trainer!
Fuyuki: "..."
Did Ash actually have memory problems? He really didn't recognize him?
"Uh... do we know each other?" Ash asked, catching Fuyuki's odd look.
"Fuyuki. I'm Fuyuki." Fuyuki said flatly. "Three years ago. Professor Oak's summer camp."
That jogged Ash's memory instantly.
"Fuyuki! What are you doing in Viridian City?!"
"Same as you. I got my starter Pokemon from Professor Oak, and now I'm traveling." Fuyuki smiled, glad that Ash had finally recognized him.
"But... where's Raikou? I don't see Raikou." Ash remembered that Raikou had always been glued to Fuyuki's side.
"Raikou had some things to take care of, so it's away. This is Entei. Just like Raikou, it's also my father," Fuyuki explained.
"Entei..." Ash murmured the name, then his eyes went wide. "Also your father?"
Misty beside him was even more shocked.
"A Pokemon is a human's father? How is that even possible?!"
"Right? I couldn't believe it either when I first heard!" Ash grinned.
His eyes lit up when he noticed the two Poke Balls at Fuyuki's waist.
"Fuyuki, you're a full-fledged Trainer now, right? How about it? Want to have a Pokemon battle with my Pikachu?"
Fuyuki hesitated. He had caught two Pokemon, sure, but everything had happened so fast that he hadn't had time to learn what moves Squirtle and Gastly even knew. He couldn't command them in a proper battle yet.
He shook his head. "Next time. When we run into each other again, we'll have a proper battle then."