From the moment it was born, Pichu had been searching for its companions.
It had seen flocks of Butterfree flying together, watched Dodrio travel side by side while constantly bickering, encountered attacks from Ekans, and even met a kind Kangaskhan mother who had once handed it fresh fruit.
But none of them were its companions.
Until one day, it met that human—the one who kept muttering strange words as he walked, the one who, beneath the warm sunlight, extended a hand toward it.
Though there was a slight misunderstanding at first, Pichu ultimately accepted that human's invitation.
After all, being with him probably meant lots and lots of delicious food.
And so, Pichu began living with him, traveling together with him.
He really was just as gentle as he seemed.
Every day, he prepared tasty meals for it.
At night, he would thoughtfully tuck it in before resting himself.
When it felt down, he would softly stroke its little head to comfort it, taking the blame onto himself instead.
This must be what a companion was like.
This had to be what a companion was!
Pichu grew fonder and fonder of that human, and more and more unwilling to leave his side.
Because of him, Pichu saw sights it had never imagined and made countless new friends.
Magikarp, Combee, Vespiquen, Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Caterpie…
As the very first Pokémon to follow him, Pichu witnessed the team grow larger and also came to understand the ideals that human carried.
Though Pichu didn't really understand what ideals meant, it knew one thing clearly—
if it was something he wanted to do, then Pichu would definitely help him and protect him.
But…
As the journey went on, Pichu gradually realized something.
It was far too weak.
The helplessness it felt when facing Fearow—leading to little Pidgey being gravely injured—was something Pichu could never forget.
Though that person always comforted it, saying it was his own mistake in commanding, and though Pidgeotto eventually defeated Fearow, Pichu understood.
It was too weak.
"If this continues, you'll drift farther and farther away from him."
One day, Magikarp suddenly said something strange to Pichu.
"If you want to become stronger, go find that bird in the tree. It might be able to help you."
That was the first time Pichu had ever heard so many incomprehensible words come from the mouth of that companion who always played with it.
Even so, Pichu understood—Magikarp was worried about it.
And so, after secretly avoiding that person, Pichu's special training with its strict teacher, Pidgeotto, began.
To learn Quick Attack, Pichu ran endlessly, constantly dodging the obstacles created by Pidgeotto.
For a Pichu that had only been born a few months ago, this kind of experience was a first.
The training was exhausting.
But once it personally felt itself becoming stronger, it no longer felt that hard.
It could continue standing on that person's shoulder.
It could keep traveling alongside him.
It wouldn't become his burden.
Then came that night.
The secret training eventually came to light.
At first, he was angry—but when he saw the injuries on Pichu's body, that anger quickly turned into self-blame.
He was always like that.
But feeling that concern, Pichu thought—it really did love this version of him the most.
He understood Pichu.
He didn't scold it anymore.
Instead, he gave it a gift.
The very first gift Pichu had ever received.
A beautiful silver bell.
Its sound was just like his voice—warm, gentle, always bringing Pichu a sense of comfort.
Soon, the journey resumed.
Pichu thought that this time, having grown stronger, it would finally be able to help him.
But unexpectedly, it not only caused trouble again—
It lost another battle.
It really was… so weak.
If this continued, wouldn't it drift farther and farther away from him?
Even though Pichu knew he would never abandon it just for being weak,
if it kept living under his and Pidgeotto's protection—
No matter what, that was a life Pichu would never accept!
Within the dream.
High above, unnoticed by Pichu—
A purple-black figure, as if watching a movie, looked down at Pichu, who had turned all its unwillingness and its desperate wish to stay by that person's side into fuel for becoming stronger.
Tears burst forth like a broken dam, pouring down as a heavy rain within the dreamscape.
"Gheh-heh-heh!"
Gengar was deeply moved.
After watching all of this, even it felt like rushing out and beating up that Electabuzz—the one that had been saved, yet repaid kindness with hostility.
But when it remembered that Electabuzz was also a pitiful fellow…
Gengar hesitated.
What to do? What should it do…?
Feeling torn in every direction, Gengar anxiously darted around the dream.
Then—
It remembered something.
In Pichu's dream memories, Pidgeotto had first demonstrated Quick Attack several times before starting the actual training.
Now, Gengar didn't know how to train Pokémon, nor could it properly train Pichu.
However—
The moves that Pichu was obsessing over—Thunder Punch and Discharge—
those, Gengar could recreate in Pichu's dream through some special means.
"Gheh-heh-heh!"
Gengar couldn't help but marvel at its own genius for coming up with such a method.
And if Pichu learned those two Electric-type moves, then letting it go find Electabuzz and get its revenge would perfectly solve all of Gengar's worries!
Brilliant!
For Gengar, once an idea formed, it acted immediately.
There was no suppressing it.
Nightmare—activate!
"Pichu?"
At the very moment Gengar unleashed its move, the dream changed once more.
Pichu saw that detestable, nightmare-like figure again.
Standing not far away, just like before, it hooked its finger at Pichu in provocation.
"Pichu!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Pichu charged straight at it.
This time, it used Quick Attack again, its body turning into a streak of white light as it rushed toward Electabuzz.
But unlike last time, it didn't circle around to wear the opponent down—
It chose to clash head-on.
The result was obvious.
The lightning gathered in Electabuzz's fist smashed solidly into Pichu's body, and a painful cry echoed through the dream.
Gengar was startled.
Thinking this might be a bit too much, it was just about to swallow the nightmare—
When, from the corner of its eye, it saw Pichu, sprawled on the ground, slowly stand back up.
Determination burned in its gaze as it once again charged toward Electabuzz without hesitation.
At the same time—
In reality, Chen Mo looked at the Pichu in his arms, its face twisted in pain yet filled with unwillingness, and frowned deeply.
"Why hasn't it woken up yet…?"
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