13 Nope

Burning debris flew high up into the air, but they were instantly put out by the heavy rain.

With this tremendous explosion, Raiden perished.

Not.

In the middle of the cabin-

Ah. There was no more cabin here.

The roof and the walls were blasted apart and the floor was scorched.

But not even a minute passed by after the explosion, most traces of it were washed away by the rain.

In the middle of all the mess, Raiden sat there on the bed, hugging tightly onto Pikachu.

There were a few burns on Raiden's skin, but he was relatively fine compared to his surroundings.

At this point, Raiden was still digesting the memories that suddenly appeared in his mind.

He watched and marveled at the sequence of events of its entire life.

Like a movie, they cascaded into an array of images, showing him the world through the eyes of a Pikachu.

Raiden couldn't feel its pain nor what it felt, but he could guess what it was feeling.

It must have been painful, exhausting and lonely. Yet…

As the rain poured down on his face, Raiden opened his eyes.

Within his pupils, there were streaks of electricity flowi-

Nope.

When he opened his eyes, there was just serenity and calmness as he turned to look at Pikachu in his arms.

Pikachu was still awake, but just barely. It was proven that he had great willpower as it endured all that pain until the very end.

It was exhausted, but as it felt that Raiden was staring at him, it struggled to raise its head and turned to look at his reaction.

There was no pity in Raiden's gaze. None, null, nada.

Pity was feeling sad for the pain Pikachu felt. Pity was to sympathize with its tragic past.

Pity for its entire life of loneliness.

He had already done this while he was viewing its memories.

But pity was not what Pikachu wanted.

Instead, Raiden showed his happiness. And this was what he truly felt.

Happy that everything was over and happy that Pikachu survived the ordeal.

As Pikachu saw Raiden's bright smile through the curtain of rain, it felt that everything it had been through today was worth it.

Pikachu then fell asleep, with a satisfied smile on its face.

As Raiden collected his gaze, he finally thought about what happened.

His face turned pale.

It really was a close call.

At the second he was struck by the overflowing electricity, he had subconsciously pushed it away.

Yes, he could only control a few tendrils of it, but this few created a miracle.

These tendrils became stepped leaders that brought most of the charge towards the walls.

But was reducing most of the electricity enough? It was not.

It was because at the same time, Pikachu activated its Lightning Rod Ability, calling a bolt of lightning towards them.

It may look like it got even worse, but instead, it lessened the electricity to an endurable degree.

Lightning was not just from the sky. What you mostly see is negative charges coming down to the ground.

But for a circuit to form, there was also a need for positive charges, and this came from the ground.

As lightning lit up the sky, the positive charges on the ground neutralized the electricity at the place Raiden and Pikachu were sitting.

They were safe from the electricity, but not from the explosion.

When lightning strikes, it could cause the material it traveled through to vibrate according to its resistance and insulators become superheated.

The medium was usually the air, but this time, it was travelling through the electricity controlled by Raiden.

So, what exploded was the air, roof, and walls that were outside Raiden's range of power.

But the cold weather and heavy rain suppressed what was supposed to be devastating explosion to just a demolition.

In short, they survived the disaster.

It was not just because of Raiden's luck. It was also Pikachu's luck.

It wouldn't be a surprise if they used up their luck for the rest of their lives, as they should have died here quite a few times already.

Raiden saw that Pikachu's electricity levels have gone down. It decreased from nine Pikachu(plural) worth of electricity to one and a half, a bit lower than Boss Pikachu's.

But Raiden could see that this wasn't Pikachu's full capacity. It had flowed away together with the excess electricity.

But by tomorrow, Pikachu would be at full power. He could even feel that it would grow stronger in the future!

But this wasn't important now. What was more important was that they were safe.

Raiden felt Pikachu shivering in his arms. He felt like shivering too. It really was very cold just sitting in the middle of a storm.

As Raiden was about to seek a shelter from the rain, there was a flash of light in the distance.

He could see a bright pillar of light rise from within the forest towards the sky.

Then he just stood still and watched as the storm disperse in only a few seconds as if it never happened.

Raiden's pupils constricted.

That was Sunny Day!

Sunny Day was a very powerful move that could change the weather.

It was only a status move in the games, but not quite so in Elendel.

Sunny Day consumed a lot of energy and was something only strong Pokémon could activate.

It could also be used to attack. If it was concentrated and launched directly towards an opponent, it could be as strong as a Hyper Beam.

The sun shone brightly in the western skies.

Sunlight reflected on the raindrops in the wet trees and ground, making them glisten.

It was a breathtaking view.

Wild Pokémon that strong aren't allowed within the walls, so it must be a Trainer's.

Possibly a Senior Trainer.

As Raiden was thinking, he could hear the faint sound of an engine.

It was getting louder and getting closer fast.

A minute later, he saw a buggy flying out of the trail at a very fast speed.

As it stopped outside the ruins, a person got off the driver seat.

Raiden knew it was a police officer as he recognized the uniform.

The officer stopped for a moment when the scene of destruction was reflected before his eyes.

"My Arceus, what happened here?" He mumbled as he hurried over through the debris.

When he saw Raiden standing there in the middle of all this, he looked around confused.

The child looks a little worse for wear, but he was still fine and looked healthy.

Where was the dying child? Where was the blood?

Raiden felt awkward so he just greeted.

"Uhh… Hi, officer." He could vaguely guess the reason the officer was here.

"Were you the one who pressed the Emergency button? But you look fine. Don't you know that false alarms are punishable by law?" The officer was a little annoyed.

He rushed over and was constantly worried all the way, thinking he might only see a dead body if he arrived too late.

But all his efforts had now become a joke. Who wouldn't be a little angry?

"I didn't." Raiden smiled bitterly.

"Huh? Then who- ah, nevermind." When the officer pointed to where the Emergency button was at, he saw that there was nothing.

He completely forgot that the cabin became scraps of wood with only the bed remaining.

The officer just sighed and took out his phone. Walkie talkies and transceivers are things of the past.

"Officer Carter here… No, I'm not too late… Everything's fine, nothing bad happened… I didn't hide the body! There was no body in the first place… There's a kid here with his Pikachu… I meant no body, not nobody!... Nobody pressed the button… I'm not lying!... Sigh, just wait for the report. I'm going back soon."

The officer ended the call with resignation on his face.

Raiden heard everything and could imagine just how stupid the conversation was.

"Anyways, kid, can you tell me how all this happened?" The officer asked.

Raiden couldn't tell what really happened as it was long and unbelievable.

He would have to say he had powers.

But Raiden had already thought of an explanation.

"Lightning. We were hit by lightning." That was all Raiden had to say.

Too many details could lead to loopholes and find out he was lying.

But it wasn't a lie to say that he had been struck by lightning.

Officer Carter looked at the totally destroyed cabin. What kind of lightning was it?

The kid must have angered Arceus.

He asked for more details, but Raiden said that was all he knew.

The officer looked at Raiden. The kid must have been through a lot.

"Do you want a lift back to the outpost? You can then go to the Pokémon Center there. You can treat your wounds there for free, but you have to pay for Pikachu."

Officer Carter looked at Raiden's burns and Pikachu's wounds. He would be a monster if he let the kid walk for two hours in pain.

Lynier Fort had an excellent healthcare system, and everything was free for the residents. It was the same for all the other forts but limited to their registered citizens only.

But for Pokémon you need to pay. After all, there were dozens of Pokémon who would get hurt from battles every day.

"Thank you, officer. Can you wait for a while? I have to get my things and change clothes." Raiden asked politely and the officer nodded.

The officer still needed to take pictures as evidence for his report anyway.

Raiden put down Pikachu who was still out and quickly went to gather his things.

His bag was burnt and torn, but the storage boxes inside were safe. They were indeed durable.

When he first entered the cabin, he changes his wet clothes to only a shirt and shorts. After all, he didn't think that the roof above his head would vanish.

He quickly changed his clothes while slowly avoiding his burns.

Raiden got on the buggy while carrying Pikachu in his arms.

The ride was bumpy as there was only a rough and muddy trail in the forest. But Officer Carter was a good driver.

During the ride, Raiden remembered something.

"Officer, did you know who used that Sunny Day?" Raiden asked.

The officer furrowed his brows.

"I don't. We are also looking for who was responsible for it. If it was a wild Pokémon that strong, it may cause trouble if not kept in check."

Sunny Day only lasted for an hour as it forcefully dispersed the water in the clouds. But the humidity was still there, and it would gather again.

If it used Sunny Day again, they would quickly find it. But it wasn't too probable.

They arrived in front of the Pokémon Center in no time. Raiden thanked the officer and said his goodbye.

He walked through the automatic doors of the Pokémon Center and was greeted by the warm tone of the light orange furnishing.

Raiden walked over to the counter and called.

"Is Nurse Joy here?"

In Elendel, Nurse Joy was a title. It represented the lead doctor of the Pokémon Center.

A woman walked out from the back door. Slamming it shut.

"Another brat." This Nurse Joy was a grumpy old woman.

It made everyone wonder what Joy really meant or if she found joy in the misfortune of others.

Of course, reality would not allow 30 people to look exactly the same regardless of lineage.

"Umm… Could you check Pikachu for me please?" Raiden placed Pikachu on the Counter.

Pikachu was full of injuries and a few burns. He still hasn't woken up.

Nurse Grumpy just touched Pikachu a few times all over and checked the pulse.

"Done. I checked." She casually said.

"…" This Nurse Joy was really… It made one wonder how she could maintain her title.

"And how is his condition?" Raiden patiently asked.

"Its fine." Nurse Grumpy just looked at Raiden boredly.

Raiden was speechless. In what way was Pikachu fine?

Before he could say a word, Nurse Grumpy continued.

"Look kid, you already used a Potion. It's just exhausted, so just let it get some rest. Unless, you want to pay to just let it sleep here?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Ah. Okay. Thank you." As Raiden carried Pikachu and turned to leave, Nurse Joy called out to him.

"Oi. What about your burns?"

Raiden almost forgot. As he recalled that he too was wounded, his burns started to hurt.

Nurse Grumpy took out something from the backroom and tossed it to him.

Raiden hurriedly tried to catch it with one hand, almost dropping it in the process. His other hand was full carrying Pikachu.

"Use this Burn Heal. It's free for residents. It's too tiring and my back hurts, so apply it yourself. There may be some left, but you can have it." Nurse Grumpy was talking while looking at Pikachu.

She then turned around to leave.

Raiden understood what she meant.

"Thank you very much!" Raiden bowed to the retreating figure of Nurse Joy and left the Pokémon Center.

He checked into the Inn a dozen meters away from the Pokémon Center.

After getting a room, he took a long bath, carefully washing his injuries.

While Raiden was drying his hair, he opened the Burn Heal and applied it to his burns.

It stung, but it couldn't compare to having your heart gouged out or your veins burning.

He then applied the remaining Burn Heal on Pikachu, thanking Nurse Joy in his heart.

By the time he finished, it was already dark outside.

Raiden wore some clothes and ate some of his packed food.

He was exhausted from all the day's events and crawled towards the bed.

Raiden carefully hugged Pikachu in his embrace, then drifted into sleep.

======================================

The next day, the sun was already high in the sky, shining its light into the room.

Raiden was still lying in bed, when he suddenly couldn't breathe!

He woke up with a start.

When he found out what happened, he laughed.

The reason he couldn't breathe was that Pikachu covered his nose with its tail.

A tiny spark of electricity traveled from Pikachu to Raiden.

"Pika-pi!" Good Morning!

He could understand! Raiden could finally understand Pikachu, now that it could use electricity.

This was what Raiden had thought of back when he got Thunder Vision.

As Raiden turned to look at Pikachu, he could see it grinning at him mischievously.

Sticking out his tongue at Pikachu, he replied with a spark of his own.

"Good morning, Pikachu."

Pikachu was shocked for a while, before smiling happily.

Raiden then stretched his arms and back. He was still sore from yesterday, but it was endurable.

Pikachu imitated him and also stretched its body, with its tail poking his face.

Pikachu had already healed most of its injuries and burns.

There were only several gashes left, but it would be gone in a few hours.

This was the amazing regenerative ability of Pokémon coupled with advanced medicine.

Raiden's burns had also already faded, with new skin rapidly growing.

By lunch, it would have left no mark, as if it never happened.

After his assessment, he turned towards Pikachu.

Pikachu also sat upright looking at him happily with its tail swaying side to side.

Raiden then knew it was the right time.

Taking out a Pokéball, he presented it to Pikachu.

"Hey, Pikachu. Would you like to be my partner? Let's travel around the world, have battles and fight together! Anywhere we go, you'll be with me, and I'll be with you. What do you say?"

As Raiden was speaking, he controlled a spark of electricity and connected with Pikachu. He wanted to convey what he felt in the purest sense.

Now that Pikachu could use electricity, although vaguely, they could understand what the other's intentions were.

Raiden said with so much enthusiasm, as he waited for Pikachu to answer him.

Pikachu just stared at Raiden for a while, then at the Pokéball.

Raiden suddenly remembered something.

Pikachu then closed his eyes, before turning his back on him.

Raiden was filled with disappointment.

Not at Pikachu, but at himself.

Pikachu should have a fear of cages, yet he was telling it to go in the Pokéball.

He still didn't fully understand Pikachu, yet he wanted it to be his partner.

How despicable of him.

As he was sighing,

Click!

A yellow tail pushed the button on the Pokéball.

Before Pikachu disappeared into a red light, it smiled mischievously at him.

"You little-"

Wew-wew-wew…

Everytime the Pokéball swayed, he could feel his life force being used up.

But Raiden wasn't worried. Because, Pikachu had already accepted him.

Wew-wew-wew, Ping!

A halo of light lit up around the Pokéball, signifying the successful capture.

"Ahahaha. Well played, Pikachu." Raiden was too happy to be angry.

He never felt like this before.

It was like, he found the thing he had been looking for his entire life.

"Come out and face my wrath! Pikachu!" Raiden opened the Pokéball.

In a flash of light, Pikachu appeared with a battle pose.

"Pika-Pika!" Let's get it on!

They chased each other for minutes around the room, with of course Pikachu never been caught.

As they laid back on the bed while catching their breath, Raiden said.

"We're gonna have so much fun together, Pikachu."

"Pika-pi." It'd better be.

Two stomachs, one big and one small, suddenly grumbled.

Raiden stood up and then wore his bag and the hat he left on the table.

"Let's get something to eat. Come on."

He said while stretching out his arm towards Pikachu.

Pikachu, as if with great familiarity, climbed on it and sat on his shoulder.

Raiden then walked over and stood in front of a mirror.

"We really do look good together." Raiden struck a pose.

"Pika-pika-pi." It's because of me.

Pikachu also struck a pose.

They laughed as they went out of the room towards the Pokemon Center.

It was time for a hearty breakfast.

==================================

End of Volume 1 – Partner.

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