Don't know how to name this chapter, teehee

Mega Steelix let out an earth-shattering roar, causing numerous rocks to float in the air, obstructing Zapdos' flight path.

Zapdos swiftly changed direction to approach Steelix, only to be struck by its tail and sent crashing into a nearby wall.

"Good! Keep maintaining that distance!" Brock praised Steelix, which seemed pleased and prepared to continue the fight.

Lightning struck Zapdos directly as it ascended, glowing with an electric aura.

Uh oh... it looks like Zapdos is determined to finish this battle quickly.

Zapdos roared loudly, flapping its wings furiously and releasing waves of electricity in all directions.

As the electricity coursed through the ground, even more sparks surged.

Electricity, electricity, electricity! I'M GOING CRAZY WITH ALL THIS "ELECTRICITY"! PLEASE SPARE ME ALREADY!

Steelix, realizing the electricity on the ground could harm Brock, turned to him, prompting him to climb up for safety.

Zapdos flapped its wings wildly, then soared into the sky at high speed and disappeared.

...That's it? I thought the author would stretch the battle out a bit longer.

Fool, the author is too lazy to continue this dumb arc, so they decided to end it early.

Wait, really? Hang on, who are you?

The author's right brain.

Ohhhh, and I'm the left brain.

...ahem, back to the story.

Brock sighed in relief as he watched Zapdos disappear.

He wasn't worried about whether Steelix could defeat Zapdos; his concern was for his own life.

If he lost his life, who would take care of Red, Leaf, and Misty? His older brother instincts couldn't allow that!

Steelix then began to glow and reverted to its normal form.

"Alright, I won't use Mega Evolution for the next dozen chapters in the name of balance!" Brock said as he put away the Mega Stone and vanished into the shadow realm.

Suddenly, a light shone on his face, causing him to shield his eyes.

"Hey! Is someone there?"

It was a helicopter! And Officer Jenny was aboard!

Finally! After so many chapters, she made an appearance! Definitely not because the author forgot about her until now!

"Officer Jenny! It's me!"

"Me? I don't know anyone named 'Me.'"

"Your bank account details are—"

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry! Hello, Brock! Are you okay?" Jenny asked as the helicopter landed and she approached him.

"I'm fine, but I don't know about the kids! We need to save them immediately!"

"What?! Why are kids even here?!"

...Weren't you the one who approved Surge's expedition plan?

"Hurry up! I don't know their current condition. I'm worried they might have fallen, hurt themselves, and started crying. As their older brother figure, I can't stand the thought of that! HURRY!!!"

"Chill, dude."

And so, the police rushed in to carry out the rescue operation.

***

'Huh, where is this?'

I looked into the darkness engulfing everything.

How long have I been here? I just kept staring into the endless void.

Suddenly, a blinding light shone, threatening to blind me.

As the light faded, I realized I was back in my room.

When I turned to look in the mirror, the face staring back wasn't mine.

It was a boy with red eyes and black hair that oddly spiked upward. His face looked so innocent—completely unlike mine.

"Who's this? Wait, I can talk normally?"

Then, another light appeared out of nowhere, blinding me again.

What the hell is this? Is the author messing around again?

When I opened my eyes, I saw myself and my Charmander battling a Squirtle.

The opposing trainer resembled Blue, but he was wearing a green jacket and had a kinder face.

What the hell? A chaotic multiverse? Is the author trying to mimic Doctor Strange?

AGHHH!! ANOTHER BLINDING LIGHT!!

This time, I found myself standing on a snowy mountain, only to be interrupted by someone.

Turning around, I saw a guy in a red hoodie with a cap resembling an Ultra Ball. Behind him was a Typhlosion.

Ugh! Another light!

Now I was battling a guy wearing a white beanie(?) and a cool-looking green Pokémon.

UGAHHH!! STOP WITH THESE ANNOYING LIGHTS! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!

I kept seeing more things: battling a cute girl with twin buns, talking to a boy while standing next to Blue, and so on. Blah blah blah.

But the most striking vision was standing alongside Blue and Leaf, all of us dressed in the most stunning outfits I'd ever seen, facing three other trainers.

Too much… this is going to give me a headache...

Finally, I saw myself wearing a conical hat, dressed like a wandering ronin, walking along an ancient-looking road with two others. One was wearing white cloth over their head, and the other had a red hat.

'Okay, what's the meaning of all this?!'

As I returned to the darkness, a golden light appeared.

This time, it transformed into a massive creature.

'It's that Pokémon from earlier!'

It looked at me and transferred a small light into my hand.

'Huh?' I looked at my hand, now marked with a symbol resembling the one on the Pokémon's belly.

"Wake up. You have much to do," a divine voice echoed, and I started losing consciousness.

I closed my eyes as my awareness faded away.

***

It was the familiar ceiling...

'Wait, isn't this the ceiling of a Pokémon Center?'

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my stomach.

Looking around, I noticed several other people lying in hospital beds like me.

'Is it over?'

But wait, why does one of my thighs and my chest feel heavy?

I glanced down and froze in shock.

Leaf was asleep on my bed, her eyes swollen and red from crying.

Meanwhile, Pikachu was clinging tightly to my chest, holding on with all its might.

As I tried to make sense of it all, a sudden noise broke the silence.

I turned toward the sound and saw none other than Misty.

"...You're awake," she said softly.

"..."

The sound of Misty dropping something had stirred a few others, including Leaf and Pikachu.

Pika!!!! (Red!!!!)

Before I could react, Pikachu launched itself at my face, hugging me so tightly I could hardly breathe.

"REDDD!!"

Another hug hit me, this time around my stomach, sending waves of pain through my body.

And then, out of nowhere, another set of arms wrapped around me from behind.

These arms... they felt strong and familiar.

"Red... you're awake. You have no idea how worried I was!"

Oh, it was Brock.

Misty, seeing me being practically smothered by hugs, smiled through her tears, wiped them away.

And joined in.

'Help!! I can't breathe!!!'

That night became an unforgettable one for Red...