13.Ash's Rikoto Story

Chapter 23 Thundrome Pass Part 3

As the sun dips lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the river, the group is about to relax after a successful day of captures when Alice suddenly looks around, noticing something amiss. "But where is Pikachu?" she asks, concern creeping into her voice.

Ash glances around, realizing that his loyal companion is nowhere to be seen. Just as worry begins to settle in, they hear Pikachu's familiar voice calling out from nearby. "Ash, there is a Pikachu in the wild!"

"What? A Pikachu in the wild?" Ash repeats, astonishment clear in his voice. Without wasting a moment, they all rush toward the sound, only to find Pikachu standing face-to-face with another Pikachu.

"That is not possible," Delia says, shaking her head in disbelief. "From what I know, there aren't any Pikachu in this region."

Elena steps closer, her sharp eyes narrowing as she observes the other Pikachu. "Wait a second... those red eyes... it is a Formling!"

"A Formling?" Ash echoes, confusion evident. He quickly pulls out his Pokédex to scan the mysterious Pokémon.

Formling: The Form Changer Pokemon: Normal Type. A master shapeshifter, Formling are said to be able to take permanent form of other Pokémon at will. Due to this, they are theorized to have spread to other regions.

"So it's like a Ditto in this region..." Alice observes, her tone thoughtful. "I think it could be useful in the future, don't you think, Ash?"

"Sure," Ash agrees, recognizing the potential. Without hesitation, he tosses a Quick Ball at the Formling. The ball barely touches the ground before it clicks shut, signaling a successful capture. "And Quick Balls are really handy for situations like this."

Elena nods in agreement. "Yeah, they have a higher capture rate when used right after a Pokémon is spotted. Smart move, Ash."

Once they return to their training, Pikachu notices a Raizid nearby, its tail inserted into the ground. "What is that Raizid doing?" Ash asks his mother, curiosity evident in his voice.

Delia smiles, always happy to share her knowledge. "It's recharging its electricity from the electro-magnetic field underground. That's what Raizid does to maintain its power levels."

Pikachu, intrigued, decides to try the same thing. As he mimics Raizid's action, the wild Pokémon notices and watches Pikachu with interest. The two begin to communicate, exchanging thoughts and ideas.

After a few moments, Pikachu turns to Ash and says, "Ash, the Raizid is willing to come with us."

"Is that true?" Ash asks, turning his attention to the Raizid. The Pokémon nods back confidently. "It seems like he's such a strong Pokémon. I want to be like him," Raizid explains through Pikachu.

Ash smiles warmly. "Of course, I'll help you with that." With that, he tosses a Quick Ball, capturing Raizid with ease.

Raizid: The Punker Pokemon: Electric and Ground Type. Raizid draws its power from the Earth's electro-magnetic field. They recharge themselves of energy by stabbing their tail into the ground.

Elena looks up at the sky, her expression shifting to one of concern as she notices dark clouds rapidly approaching. "I think a thunderstorm is coming. Maybe we should head indoors."

Delia nods in agreement. "It's lucky there's a cave nearby," she says, leading the way as they hurry inside just as the first rumble of thunder echoes across the sky.

The cave is dark and foreboding, the only light coming from the faint glow of their flashlights. "This cave sure is dark," Ash remarks, his voice echoing slightly in the cavern. "But thanks to Rodney, we've got some light." He and Alice switch on their flashlights, illuminating the rough, stone walls.