Chapter 78: The Red Lightning of Commerce City!

After their playful reunion, Ash turned to Lapras with a warm smile and asked, "Lapras, how is your pod doing these days?" His tone carried both curiosity and concern. Ash knew the decision to take Lapras back on his journey would be complicated if there wasn't another capable leader in its group. Lapras, understanding Ash's intentions, leaned forward and nuzzled his head gently, letting out soft, melodic cries. Ash closed his eyes, his Aura connecting to Lapras' emotions, allowing him to understand its thoughts clearly. He nodded and smiled, patting Lapras' smooth, cool head. "I see, I see. That's great to hear!" he said reassuringly. "Pikachu!" Pikachu chirped excitedly, leaping onto Lapras' back. Through his Aura communication, Ash discovered that a new leader had already emerged in the Lapras pod. This eased his concern, and he chuckled softly. "Then, Lapras, say goodbye to your companions. Don't worry—we'll visit Tangelo Island from time to time so you can meet them again." Lapras cried happily, its large eyes glistening. It turned to its pod, swimming toward the group. From within the pod, another Lapras emerged, displaying a confident and protective demeanor. This was the successor Lapras had mentioned. The two exchanged a series of harmonious cries, a farewell filled with mutual respect and understanding. Ash and his friends watched the touching scene unfold. Misty sighed, her heart warmed by the display. "They're saying their goodbyes. It's so heartwarming to see," she said, glancing at her Water Pokémon, who had also bonded with Lapras during their time on the island. May nodded, holding her Squirtle. "It's moments like this that make me love being a Trainer even more." Ash swapped Lapras' original Poké Ball for a Heal Ball, carefully recalling it. With Lapras officially back on his team, they boarded a passenger ferry departing Tangelo Island, heading toward the Kanto mainland. During the journey, Ash decided to make use of the time by teaching Misty and May some basic cooking skills. "If you want to eat delicious meals like the ones I made yesterday, you'll need to learn to cook," he teased. Though initially hesitant, the girls eventually joined in. They chopped vegetables under Ash's supervision, occasionally bursting into laughter at each other's mistakes. Pikachu watched from the side, offering enthusiastic encouragement. As the ferry cruised toward their destination, the hours flew by. By evening, they arrived at Commerce City, a bustling metropolis teeming with life. Once docked, May's eyes sparkled at the sight of the city's many shops and Pokémon stores. She dragged Misty off for a shopping spree, leaving Ash to handle the Pokémon Center visit alone. Meanwhile, Ash headed to the Pokémon Center to have Nurse Joy check his Pokémon's health. Midway, Brock called via video. He appeared on screen alongside Pike Queen Lucy, both looking content. After some casual conversation, Ash learned that both sets of parents already knew about their relationship. "Lightning fast, huh..." "Ash, haha! You better get moving too! Misty, May, and Elesa are all great options. As for me and Lucy, we've decided to take some time off to travel again as Pokémon Breeders. Who knows? We might even join you on your journey! Oh, by the way, Lucy said that the Pyramid King Brandon is a terrifyingly strong Trainer, even tougher than an average Elite Four member. Good luck conquering the Battle Frontier!" The call ended, leaving Ash genuinely happy for Brock. While Nurse Joy checked his Pokémon, Ash overheard commotion near the entrance. Three kids, around his age, burst in, their expressions filled with frustration. "Nurse Joy! The Red Lightning showed up again! It challenged me, and my Poliwag lost!" one boy exclaimed, cradling his graffiti-covered Pokémon. Ash blinked, then chuckled softly. "The Red Lightning? Let me guess—Scizor in a red cloak?" he said aloud, recalling a similar incident from the original series. The kids stared at him incredulously. "Scizor? No way! The Red Lightning is a legend here!" they protested. That Red Lightning Scizor belonged to a girl named Luna, whose parents were brilliant inventors and researchers. Thinking about Mega Evolution and Dynamax, Ash decided it was worth meeting Luna. Ash shrugged, leaving the kids to their argument. He stepped outside just in time to see Misty and May rushing toward him, their faces red with anger. "Ash!" Misty fumed. "Look at what happened to Starmie!" She pointed to her Pokémon, whose elegant gem had been defaced with crude doodles. "Squirtle too!" May wailed, holding her equally defaced Pokémon. Ash held back laughter, then explained his theory about the Red Lightning being a disguised Scizor. Upon hearing this, Misty and May immediately volunteered to join him in finding and confronting the culprit. "Let's handle this quickly," Ash said, releasing Charizard from its Poké Ball. The fiery Pokémon roared, eager for action. Ash patted its head. "Charizard, hold back a bit, okay? No knocking it out in one shot." Charizard snorted, exhaling a plume of smoke. It didn't take long to find their target. Near a park, a red-cloaked figure floated briefly on a strong gust of wind between two buildings, landing gracefully on the street below. "There it is!" May exclaimed, pointing. "Red Lightning, huh? More like Scizor playing dress-up," Ash said, smirking. The figure tilted its head, clearly taken aback. "What did you say? Scizor? I'm the legendary Red Lightning!" it retorted, its voice amplified through a hidden speaker. Ash stepped forward, crossing his arms. "If you're so legendary, prove it. Let's battle." Charizard roared in agreement, spreading its wings wide. The Red Lightning hesitated but then issued a command. "Hyper Beam, now!" Meanwhile, on a nearby rooftop, a young girl Luna watched the scene unfold on her laptop, visibly annoyed. The so-called Red Lightning was indeed her Scizor in disguise. But she hadn't expected someone to see through it. Luna, the mastermind behind the Red Lightning, had outfitted her Scizor with a red cloak, a camera, and a voice modulator to create the illusion of a mysterious challenger. For her, it was all harmless fun—until now. "Hmph! If that's how it is, I'll beat him and cover his Charizard in graffiti too!" -------------- T/N: Access 30 Chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals