Chapter Eighty-Nine: Journey to the United Region

"Cheng Cheng, are you going too?"
"Yes, I'd like to see it for myself."
"That's wonderful!"
"Pika-pi~"
Ash and Pikachu were both delighted.

This time, Cheng Cheng had three reasons for deciding to travel to the Unova region. The first was the system's task—he wanted to give it a try. Next was the map he'd obtained earlier; judging from its markings, it was clearly of Unova, and it likely hid some treasure. Cheng Cheng was determined to search for it. As for the third reason... well, he'll reveal it when the time comes!

"All right, it's settled then. We'll set out together the morning after tomorrow."
"Okay, Professor Oak."

After lunch, Professor Oak took Cheng Cheng back to the lab. Since he'd decided to go to Unova the day after tomorrow, he handled urgent matters first and asked Jian to look after the Pokémon.

Cheng Cheng also called Lily, telling her he wouldn't be back for a while. Lily grumbled about Cheng Cheng shirking his duties, and all he could do was apologize with a smile.

Two mornings later.

"Ash, hurry and get up!"
Cheng Cheng and Professor Oak had just arrived downstairs at Ash's house when they heard Hanako calling him; it seemed Ash had overslept again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Ash burst out of his room, his clothes still a bit messy.

"Honestly, didn't we agree to leave early?" Hanako scolded Ash.

"Sorry, sorry, let's go."

"Good morning, Cheng Cheng."
"Good morning, Ash."
"Good morning, Pika...chu?"

Cheng Cheng stared, then rubbed his eyes and looked again. How could this be? Pikachu's stats...

Pokémon: Pikachu
Type: Electric
Level: 35
Rank: Deep Azure
Rarity: Common
Ability: Static
Hidden Ability: Lightning Rod
Special Ability: Protagonist Aura
...
Combat Power: 3010
Held Item: None
Moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Thunder Shock, Agility, Tackle, Growl, Volt Tackle, Iron Tail, Thunder.

What was going on? Pikachu's stats were almost the same as when Cheng Cheng first met it. That shouldn't be the case—after traveling through two regions, Pikachu should've grown much stronger. Could this be the legendary reset?

Pikachu had gained two new moves and its rank was slightly higher, but its combat power was still weak—even weaker than Cheng Cheng's Chimecho. What was happening? And Ash didn't seem to notice anything amiss, which was odd.

"Let's go," Professor Oak said.

He drove the group out of Pallet Town and into Viridian City. From there, the four boarded an airship bound for Unova.

On the airship, Cheng Cheng suddenly felt someone watching him. Using his psychic ability, he scanned around—ah, it was them. Of course, wherever Pikachu went, Team Rocket followed. Encountering them here was only natural. They seemed to have been promoted, too; it appeared they'd be crossing paths often in the coming days.

"Wow, it's beautiful!"

By now, the airship was flying over the ocean. Looking down, the sunlight made the water glitter beautifully.

Ash took out a guidebook for the Unova region and flipped through it eagerly, clearly intrigued.

"Unova! There must be Pokémon I've never seen before!"
"Of course. Unova is home to Pokémon not found in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, or Sinnoh."
"Really, Professor Oak? That's amazing!"

After several hours in the air, the ship landed at Unova's port. Everyone disembarked.

"This is great, we've finally arrived in Unova! Pikachu, let's go!"
"Pika-pi~"

Pikachu suddenly noticed something and looked toward the shore.

"What's wrong, Pikachu?"

"Huh, those are Pokémon I've never seen before!"

Ash spotted two pink Pokémon leaping in the water. He ran over, but by the time he arrived, they'd vanished.

"Where did they go?"

"Ka, pu!"

Suddenly, Pikachu was trapped inside an iron cage.

"What happened?"

"Since you asked what's going on,
I'll answer you tomorrow!
Future—the snowy white future is the color of evil,
Universe—the hammer of justice for the dark world,
Our names shall be recorded on this land—
Passionate destroyer, Jessie.
Dark innocence, James.
Boundless wisdom, Meowth.
Come, gather under Team Rocket's banner!"

"Team Rocket, it's you again! Why do we see you every time?"
"Wherever Pikachu is, Team Rocket will be there."
"This time, we're taking Pikachu!"

Cheng Cheng hadn't expected Team Rocket to act so quickly, and their catchphrase seemed to have changed—it sounded better than before.

At this moment, Hanako and Professor Oak had already entered the visitor center, leaving only Ash and Cheng Cheng outside.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu fired Thunderbolt along the iron cables toward Team Rocket, but Meowth deployed a shield, deflecting the attack.

"If we're going to catch Pikachu, of course we're prepared, nya!"

"Darn it, let Pikachu go!"

Cheng Cheng was about to help when he sensed a powerful presence approaching.

Everyone noticed the sky above suddenly shrouded in black clouds, with lightning flickering.

It had arrived. Cheng Cheng knew exactly what this black cloud signified.

Suddenly, a blue bolt of lightning struck down, blasting apart the device that trapped Pikachu with overwhelming force. Ash, Team Rocket, and Cheng Cheng were all thrown aside by the electrical burst.

"Chimecho, Protect!"

Cheng Cheng had Chimecho use Protect—he dared not take the attack head-on.

However, lightning enveloped everything, and Cheng Cheng could barely hold out.

Next, a gigantic black Pokémon appeared in the sky.

"Is that... a Pokémon?"

A bolt of lightning pierced through the clouds, clearing the sky, and the huge black Pokémon vanished.

"Pikachu!"

Ash picked up Pikachu, who was lying on the ground.

"Ash, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Cheng Cheng."

"Ash, Cheng Cheng."

"Ash, Cheng Cheng, are you okay?"

Hanako and Professor Oak rushed over.

"We're fine."

"Pika-pi~"

Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder, showing it was unharmed. But Cheng Cheng knew Pikachu was now in an abnormal state.

"By the way, where did that creature go?"

"That creature?"

"Yes, there was a huge Pokémon in the thunderclouds just now."

"A huge Pokémon? We didn't see anything."

Professor Oak and Hanako said they'd only seen a mass of thunderclouds and no Pokémon.

"It's true, there was a Pokémon inside. Right, Cheng Cheng?"

"Sorry, I didn't see anything. I only saw clouds and lightning, nothing else."

Cheng Cheng told a small lie; mentioning Zekrom now would only attract unnecessary attention.

"Is that so? But I really saw it," Ash said, gazing at the sky.

"All right, let's have Nurse Joy check Pikachu. After all, Pikachu was struck by lightning."

"Yes, good idea."

"Professor Oak."

A woman walked over.

"Ah, it's Professor Juniper!"

Professor Oak greeted her warmly.

"I'm sorry for being late, Professor Oak—the thunderclouds just now were astonishing."

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Professor Juniper, who became Unova's leading Pokémon researcher at a young age."

"This is Hanako, my good friend."
"Trainer Ash and breeder Cheng Cheng."

"Cheng Cheng? That name sounds familiar."

"Right, I recall seeing Cheng Cheng's name on the Fairy-type Pokémon research report Professor Oak released yesterday. Was that you?"

"Yes, that's me, Professor Juniper."

"You're impressive—so young and already part of such important research. I'm sure you'll achieve great things."

"Oh, it was just a small contribution."

"Still, that's excellent."

"All right, let's head out now."

"Wait, Professor Juniper—Pikachu seems a bit abnormal. We'd like to have it checked first."

"In that case, come to my lab. We have all the necessary instruments."

So, everyone got into Professor Juniper's car and drove to the lab. Along the way, they saw many Pokémon they'd never encountered before.

"Ash, these must all be new to you, right?"

"Yes, Professor Juniper."

"By the way, Professor Oak, Kanto Pokémon are rare here. You'll have to teach me all about them."

"Of course, I'd be glad to."

"Is my Pikachu rare too?"

"Definitely! Wild Pikachu have never been seen in Unova."

"Really? You're rare, Pikachu."

"Pika-pi~"

"Cheng Cheng, do you live in Kanto too?"

"No, I'm from Hoenn."

"I see. Then you'll have to tell me all about Hoenn Pokémon."

"No problem."

After driving for a while, Professor Juniper entered a town.

"This is Deerling Town; we're almost at the lab."

Soon, they arrived at Professor Juniper's research facility.

"This is my lab—come on in!"

Cheng Cheng and the others followed Professor Juniper inside. It wasn't much different from Professor Oak's, except Oak's was a bit messier.

"All right, bring Pikachu over and I'll run a full checkup."

"Thank you very much, Professor Juniper."

Everyone followed Professor Juniper into the examination room.