The air in the Pokémon Center crackled with an energy far more volatile than Pikachu's earlier outburst. Misty, with her hands on her hips, was a vibrant storm of orange fury aimed squarely at Ash.
"You!" she seethed. "You wrecked my bike! My custom-made bike! The one I've had since I was little! You're going to pay for this, you no-good thief!"
Ash, still dazed from his encounter with the Spearow flock and Ho-Oh, just stammered, "But... but I didn't mean to! Pikachu needed help! It was an emergency!"
Misty scoffed. "Emergency? What kind of emergency totals a perfectly good bike?!"
Alex, who had been observing with a calm, almost serene expression, stepped forward. He felt the tension, the raw frustration from Misty, and the bewildered innocence from Ash. His psychic intuition, subtle as it was, gave him a clearer picture of Misty's genuine attachment to her bike and Ash's accidental role in its demise. This was a classic meet-cute, only with more property damage.
He raised a hand, his voice a steady, soothing presence amidst the squabble. "Excuse me," he interjected, a charming smile gracing his lips. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding. My friend Ash here was in a dire situation, trying to save his Pokémon from a wild Spearow attack. I believe his actions, while regrettable for your bicycle, were in an act of desperation." He turned his gaze to Misty, his eyes holding a respectful, yet undeniably appreciative, glint. "It was quite brave, even if a bit... destructive. Perhaps we can discuss a way to compensate you?"
Misty paused, mid-tirade. She had been ready to tear into Ash, but the sudden intervention, the calm, deep voice, and the genuine concern from the handsome stranger caught her off guard. She took in Alex's appearance: his confident posture, intelligent eyes, and the easy charm in his smile. A faint blush touched her cheeks, momentarily eclipsing her anger. "Compensate?" she repeated, a little less vehemently. "What do you have to do with it?"
Alex chuckled lightly. "We just met, but I was there for the tail end of his predicament. As a fellow trainer, I feel a certain responsibility. My name is Alex, and this is my partner, Bulbasaur." He extended a hand politely.
Misty found herself taking it, her anger momentarily forgotten. "Misty," she managed, a slight softening in her tone. She quickly pulled her hand back, remembering her indignation. "Still, that doesn't excuse him!"
"No, it doesn't," Alex agreed, maintaining his composed demeanor. "But I assure you, we will make it right. Since it seems Ash is still waiting for Pikachu's full recovery, perhaps we could have dinner here at the Pokémon Center and discuss it? And you could tell me about this magnificent bike of yours." His eyes held a sincere, attractive curiosity.
Misty hesitated, glancing between the exasperating Ash and the undeniably charming Alex. Ash's Pikachu was still being attended to, and while it would be fine, it would indeed take some time before it was fully released. The thought of a quiet dinner, and the chance to vent to someone who seemed genuinely interested, was surprisingly appealing. And, well, he was quite handsome.
"Fine," she relented, crossing her arms but with significantly less hostility. "But he's still paying!" She gestured vaguely at Ash, who looked immensely relieved to be off the hook, even if temporarily.
With Pikachu resting comfortably in recovery, Alex and Misty settled into the Pokémon Center's communal dining area. Nurse Joy had already set out a simple but warm meal for the waiting trainers. Ash, meanwhile, was still anxiously waiting by the reception desk, too antsy to eat.
"So," Alex began, leaning forward slightly, "tell me about this bike. It must have been very special for you to be so upset." He listened intently, his psychic intuition subtly picking up on her true feelings – not just anger, but a deep sense of loss for a cherished possession, a symbol of her independence.
Misty, taken aback by his genuine interest, found herself opening up. She spoke about her bike's custom paint job, its speed, and how it was her escape from her overly dramatic sisters. Alex nodded, offering sympathetic comments and occasionally a wry, understanding smile that made her feel surprisingly at ease. He steered the conversation with practiced ease, his friendly yet shrewd nature helping him navigate her initial prickliness. He was attracted to her fiery spirit, her strong will, and her undeniable spunk. She, in turn, found herself disarmed by his attentiveness and charm, occasionally catching herself admiring his strong jawline or the intelligent sparkle in his eyes.
Suddenly, the Pokémon Center's automatic doors hissed open. Three figures, clad in distinctive white uniforms with a large red 'R' emblazoned on them, strode in with an air of theatrical arrogance.
"Prepare for trouble!" a woman with long red hair declared.
"And make it double!" a man with blue hair added.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!"
Alex's eyes narrowed. Team Rocket. Even in this new life, their ridiculousness was legendary. He sensed their intent – a quick raid, a grab for any Pokémon being healed, then a hasty retreat. They were a nuisance, but easily handled.
"Looks like we have company," Alex said calmly to Misty, who had instantly bristled at the sight of the trio.
Jessie's eyes scanned the room, landing on Bulbasaur casually sitting by Alex's feet, and the Poké Ball at his hip (containing Dragonite). "Ooh, a rare Bulbasaur! And look at all these Pokémon in recovery! Get them, Ekans, Koffing!"
Ekans and Koffing materialized in a flash of light, hissing and spewing gas.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip! Aim for their bodies, bind them!" Alex commanded, his voice firm.
Bulbasaur launched its vines. Ekans and Koffing hissed and coughed, but Bulbasaur's vines, subtly enhanced by Alex's psychic speed and precision, were too fast. They wrapped tightly around Ekans's serpentine body and coiled around Koffing's spherical form, yanking them off balance and holding them suspended.
"What?! They're too fast!" James yelped as Koffing wobbled precariously.
"Ekans, Wrap them!" Jessie screamed.
Ekans strained, trying to coil around Bulbasaur, but Alex's quick thinking kept his starter out of reach. "Bulbasaur, Leech Seed on Koffing! Make it lose energy!"
A Leech Seed flew, attaching itself to Koffing, which groaned as its energy began to drain.
"Koffing, Smog attack!" James ordered, desperate.
Koffing released a cloud of noxious fumes, but Alex quickly countered. "Bulbasaur, use Growth! Power up! Then, a rapid Vine Whip barrage!" Bulbasaur glowed faintly, increasing its internal energy, and its vines began to strike Ekans and Koffing with enhanced speed and force.
Suddenly, Ash, having noticed the commotion, skidded to a halt from the reception desk. He saw Jessie, James, and Meowth, and then his eyes landed on Bulbasaur, now actively overpowering their Pokémon.
"Team Rocket!" Ash yelled, his eyes blazing. "You won't get away with this! Pikachu, I choose you!"
Pikachu, having recovered enough from its rest to be feisty, leaped from Ash's shoulder. "Pika!" it roared, sparks already flying from its cheeks.
"Pikachu, Thunder Shock!" Ash commanded.
Pikachu unleashed a powerful electrical blast. The bolts of lightning hit Jessie, James, and Meowth squarely on, and then arced powerfully to Ekans and Koffing, who were still struggling against Bulbasaur's persistent vines. All five convulsed in unison, the combined assault proving too much.
"W-we're blasting off again!" Jessie shrieked.
"This is truly shocking!" James groaned.
"Meowth, that's right!"
Team Rocket, along with their thoroughly shocked Ekans and Koffing, spiraled out of the Pokémon Center and into the night sky, a familiar twinkle fading into the distance.
Alex calmly recalled Bulbasaur, who had already loosened its grip as the rockets blasted off. He looked at Ash, a knowing smile on his face. "Well, that handles that. And it seems your Pikachu's back to full power."
Ash grinned, pumping his fist. "Yeah! He's amazing!"
Misty, who had watched the entire spectacle unfold from her dining table seat, was wide-eyed. This Alex was not only handsome but incredibly capable. And that Pikachu...
After the ruckus, Nurse Joy thanked them profusely. Ash, having his fully recovered Pikachu back, was now brimming with renewed energy. Alex and Misty had finished their dinner, the earlier tension having given way to a comfortable quiet.
As the night deepened, they continued talking, sharing stories of their Pokémon and their aspirations. Misty spoke of her dream to become a Water Pokémon Master, and Alex spoke of his goal to become the world's strongest trainer. He carefully omitted the part about the legendaries and the harem, of course.
Eventually, tiredness caught up to them. They bid each other goodnight, all deciding to spend the night in the Pokémon Center's lodging.
The next morning, the Viridian City Pokémon Center was bustling with early rising trainers. Alex found Misty at the breakfast table, looking much less grumpy than the day before. Ash, however, was nowhere in sight, having slept late after his exhausting day.
Alex approached Misty, a confident, friendly smile on his face. He'd thought about it overnight. He knew her importance to Ash's journey, but also her own potential. And, he was genuinely attracted to her.
"Misty," he began, "my path takes me through various regions, exploring and training. A journey like this is always better with companions. So, I was wondering..."
He took a breath, letting a subtle hint of his psychic charm infuse his voice, making his words feel particularly inviting. "Would you consider traveling with me? Your bike might be out of commission for a while, and I could genuinely use a skilled Water-type trainer by my side. Perhaps it could offer a new perspective on your own journey." He offered a hand, an open invitation. "What do you say, Misty? Want to be my traveling companion?"
Misty looked at his outstretched hand, then at his handsome face. The idea of traveling alone, especially with a wrecked bike, had suddenly lost its appeal. Traveling with Alex, who was strong, smart, and genuinely appealing, seemed far more interesting than just heading straight home. And, she mused, it might be a good idea to ensure that bike-destroying twerp, Ash, didn't wander off without facing consequences later, though that wasn't her primary motivation for joining Alex.
A small smile played on her lips. "Well," she said, taking his hand, "I guess somebody has to make sure things don't get too boring." Her grip was firm, a spark of adventure in her eyes. "Alright, Alex. I'll travel with you."
With their decision made, Alex and Misty gathered their few belongings and headed out of the Pokémon Center, leaving Ash to sleep in, oblivious to the new duo who had just formed and departed on their own journey.
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