"This is Squad 11. Reporting the current status of Experiment Subject No. 1!"
In the darkness, a Team Rocket member in a black uniform held a communicator, reporting everything he had witnessed. The entire encounter between Red and the blood-red Gyarados had already been recorded. He transmitted the footage to the experimental base, awaiting instructions from the one behind the scenes—Professor Hemlock.
"It's already been captured? Could this boy be…?"
The member set down the small device, projecting a blurry image of Professor Hemlock. Lowering his head to examine the footage, Professor Hemlock froze the moment he saw Red's face. The previous plan to collect Mew's genes had been ruined by Red. He hadn't expected to cross paths with him again so soon.
"You don't need to concern yourselves with this boy for now. I secretly ordered some men to kidnap him before, but who would have thought he was Professor Oak's assistant—and that he also possesses powerful psychic abilities? Ordinary people simply can't harm him. Don't waste your efforts. Besides…" Professor Hemlock revealed a playful smile. "Giovanni seems quite interested in this boy."
"Understood…" The Team Rocket member was already used to Professor Hemlock directly calling Giovanni by name. Giovanni himself didn't seem to mind. As a low-ranking member, he wouldn't dare overstep his boundaries.
"I believe it won't be long before this boy heads to Viridian City to challenge Giovanni. Let Experiment Subject No. 1 be a gift for him. Have the other squads continue researching evolution wavelengths and forcibly evolve Magikarp. It's just a pity about that modified shiny Gyarados…"
Though he said that, Professor Hemlock showed not the slightest trace of regret, as if creations like that blood-red Gyarados were something he could produce in abundance.
"Report! Experiment Subject No. 2 has encountered an accident and escaped the laboratory. We are currently pursuing it at full force!"
A squad leader approached from behind Professor Hemlock, reporting the latest incident. Upon learning of Subject No. 2's escape, the squad leader was promptly scolded.
"You useless fools! Retrieve it immediately! I have no intention of remodeling the same Pokémon twice!"
The data from Experiment Subject No. 2 had not yet been collected, which was precisely why Professor Hemlock's expression darkened with irritation.
Without turning his head, he cut off the connection, leaving the Team Rocket member standing there at a loss.
"I'd better leave quickly…"
After learning of Red's strength, the member abandoned any thoughts of kidnapping him privately. He wasn't particularly strong himself—his only merit was obeying orders. Upon hearing that Professor Hemlock had given up on reclaiming the blood-red Gyarados, he let out a relieved sigh before disappearing into the depths of the forest.
...
At that moment, Red was using a healing spray on the blood-red Gyarados. For once, it remained quiet, enjoying the gentle strokes from Red.
Strangely enough, the Gyarados that had rampaged moments earlier now behaved like a calm child. The other Pokémon were astonished. Sensing their gazes, the blood-red Gyarados actually shyly turned its head away, completely lacking the presence of the "evil dragon of the lake" from before.
"Go, Poké Ball."
After treating it, Red tossed the Poké Ball in his hand, recalling the blood-red Gyarados inside. Fully acknowledging Red, it offered no resistance and was captured perfectly.
"Come out, Gyarados."
Red released it again to stack the Ability-Stacking System trait "Moxie" onto it. Gyarados immediately sensed the changes within its body and looked at Red in shock. If it hadn't known Red's character, it might have gone berserk again—it was already terrified of being modified by humans once more.
(Moxie: After defeating any opposing Pokémon, the Pokémon's Attack increases by one stage.)
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you," Red reassured softly. Using his Aura abilities and psychic power, he removed as many harmful genes from Gyarados' body as possible. Drops of black liquid seeped out, falling onto the lake's surface and rapidly corroding the water. The sheer toxicity was evident.
To prevent environmental damage, Red used his psychic power to isolate the polluted water and extracted the experimental fluid into a medicine bottle. He planned to send it from the Pokémon Center in Viridian City to Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town so Professor Oak could study its origins.
Once the black liquid was expelled, Gyarados let out a long breath, finally enjoying rare comfort. Although the experimental fluid had accelerated the growth of dark factors within its body and dramatically increased its strength, it had also affected its mind, gradually turning it into a beast driven solely by destruction.
Gyarados gratefully nuzzled against Red, its eyes conveying countless emotions. Red gently held its face, silently sharing its bitterness.
The other four Pokémon also gathered around, doing their best to ease their companion's pain. The touching scene moved Gyarados to quietly shed a tear.
The warmth of the moment was interrupted by the arrival of a girl. Gyarados glared at the newcomer in displeasure. Frightened by its terrifying appearance, the girl collapsed to the ground, too scared to move.
"I didn't mean any harm!" the girl hurriedly explained in fear.
Red froze when he saw her. The orange-haired girl with braids standing before him—wasn't she Misty, his younger brother Ash's future traveling companion?
"Gyarados, don't scare her."
At Red's words, Gyarados withdrew its gaze. However, Misty, who had a psychological shadow regarding Gyarados, still couldn't get up. Seeing this, Red stepped forward and extended his right hand, helping her to her feet.
"Sorry, I heard loud noises coming from here and got curious, so I ran over!" Misty explained her reason, then looked curiously at the Pokémon behind Red.
Her eyes widened. Every one of them was extraordinary. Even the Beedrill, which appeared the most ordinary, couldn't fool her. On her way here, she had accidentally witnessed Beedrill defeating the blood-red Gyarados. That taught her a lesson—never judge by appearances.
(Why are this guy's Pokémon all so strong? We look about the same age…)
After seeing Red's team, Misty couldn't help but feel inferior. She had left Cerulean Gym in a fit of determination to become the world's greatest Water-type Pokémon Master, yet she had achieved nothing so far. Even fishing nearby only yielded Magikarp.
Even if she encountered a Magikarp with decent potential, she had no desire to catch it. After all, its evolution was the ferocious Pokémon—Gyarados. Gyarados was her childhood nightmare. Naturally, she wouldn't capture Magikarp.
"Hello, I'm Red from Pallet Town. Nice to meet you."
Seeing her still observing his Pokémon, Red took the initiative to greet her.
"Hi, I'm Misty from Cerulean City. Nice to meet you too!" Upon learning that Red was a rookie trainer from Pallet Town, she looked at him in disbelief. After all, she seemed to have started traveling earlier than him—yet their strengths were so different…
"Misty, if you want to catch a good Water-type Pokémon, you might try the waterfall over there." Red pointed toward the distance—the very place where she would later fish Ash out of the water. Without timely guidance, their future journey together might never happen.
As Ash's older brother, Red naturally worried about his safety. Based on his estimation, Ash was probably dragging Pikachu out on his journey right about now.
...
Wearing a limited-edition Pokémon League cap and carrying a travel backpack, Ash was currently on a small path, forcefully dragging an unwilling Pikachu with a rope. He even wore insulated gloves—back in Pallet Town, he had received quite a bit of electric "treatment" from Pikachu.
A reckless rookie trainer dragging his reluctant starter Pokémon—it was oddly adorable, enough to make anyone want to capture the moment with a camera.
"Sigh!"
Perhaps realizing this wasn't right, Ash stopped and looked back at the struggling Pikachu.
"Hey, Pikachu! Do you really want things to stay like this?"
"Pika!" Pikachu huffed, turning its head arrogantly.
"Do you hate me?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.
"But I really like you. No matter what, you're the Pokémon I'm raising. So you should listen to me a little, right?" Ash tried patiently.
Pikachu gave him no pleasant response, yawning indifferently.
"You don't want to talk to me?"
"Pika!"
"But Pokémon are supposed to enter Poké Balls like Pokémon do. That's what this Pokédex says!"
Ash pulled out his Pokédex and pressed the explanation button.
"Pokémon raised by humans are usually kept inside Poké Balls!"
"See?" Ash said proudly.
However, the clever Pikachu immediately pressed another button, and the Pokédex continued:
"However, there are exceptions. Some Pokémon dislike confined spaces!"
"I get it. Let's make peace! I won't use it anymore!"
Ash realized Pikachu was different. He untied the rope and removed his insulated gloves.
"Alright, let's shake hands!"
Ash extended his index finger in a gesture of friendship, but Pikachu didn't appreciate it. It hadn't fully acknowledged him yet. Still, not being forced back into the Poké Ball earned Ash a tiny bit of recognition.
"Pikachu, I'll keep waiting for you! My big brother once said that as long as you love and care for Pokémon with passion, even the coldest Pokémon will one day open its heart to you. So…" Ash stood up. "I'll make you recognize me as your trainer, Pikachu!"