Chapter 50: Buddy, Ganoderma is growing over there
The two stared at each other for a long time before Red finally broke the silence.
“You came.”
Blue’s gaze was deep and meaningful.
“Because you came too.”
Their conversation was strange.
In the digital world, they started as rivals choosing from the original three starter Pokémon, competing fiercely until the end.
When they reached the pinnacle with nowhere higher to climb, they ceased their rivalry and acknowledged each other.
But now, in this world, everything seemed to reset to when they had just stepped out of Pallet Town.
This time, Blue refused to lose to Red.
Red absolutely would not be defeated by Blue.
“Hmph.”
Just as Ash and Gary, who were watching on excitedly, expected a battle between these two unparalleled masters, Blue suddenly snorted coldly and dispelled all the fighting spirit hanging in the air.
Both men looked at each other in confusion.
They’d stripped down their pants—was that it?
Blue turned his head and gently touched the surrounding walls. In his steady eyes flickered a trace of memory and regret that should never have surfaced.
Blue turned his back and spoke slowly, “I won’t fight here. Next time, I’ll make all your Pokémon unable to battle.”
In the past, Red would have retorted sharply, “Why do you always say that? My Pokémon are always lively and well.” But this time, surprisingly, he said nothing, only quietly watching Blue’s retreating figure.
He had vaguely suspected something in the previous world, but since Blue said nothing, he did not press further.
It seemed that during their desperate battle aboard the S.S. Anne in the game, something had happened that he was unaware of.
“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
Red said no more, taking a bewildered Brock with him as they headed toward the deck.
Proud as Blue was, he didn’t need to say anything more.
...
After they left, Gary’s soul, connected to Blue’s, couldn’t help but speak up to comfort him.
“Are you alright, Blue?”
For the first time, he sensed a side of Blue—the fearless one who treated everything like mere fleas—that was so unsettled.
Fragments of memories filled Blue’s mind: panic, regret, self-blame, tears quietly falling.
And blood smeared on his hands...
As if he had killed a Pokémon...
“It’s nothing. You keep investigating Team Rocket. My Suicune is with you. If you encounter anything you can’t handle, rely on it.”
Blue returned control of the body, and before the soul swap ended, he quietly added, “After we get off the ship, come with me to Violet City...”
“I will,” Gary nodded solemnly, adding with a smile, “Don’t worry, just apologize to my sister-in-law and forget it.”
Blue was speechless.
...
On the deck, though not as brightly lit as the hallway inside, the lights still shone, making those dressed in black stand out all the more.
The two hurried onto the deck, where a sea breeze blew, and Ash regained control of his body.
“Gotta catch ‘em, gotta catch ‘em.”
Under Brock’s serious questioning, Ash could only helplessly spill what he knew about Red.
Though not broad-faced or sharp-eyed, if someone was dark-skinned with small eyes, they probably weren’t bad people.
“It’s just Red, older brother Red, balabala...” Ash rambled on, but aside from saying that he had a strange creature with him, accompanied by a pack of odd Pokémon, he really didn’t know much else.
Origins? Purpose?
Was he here to conquer the world?
Ash was completely clueless.
...
Hearing this, Brock was silent for a long time. Considering Ash’s bizarre behavior before, it all made perfect sense.
No matter how strange things got, if it happened to Ash, it wasn’t that strange.
“By the way, ask that senior Red, what am I like in his world?”
Brock suddenly asked out of curiosity.
Since in this world Ash corresponded to Red and Gary to Blue, there should be a counterpart for him in that world too, right?
Could he be just an ordinary passerby there?
No way, no way, no way...
“Don’t worry, I’ll ask senior Red.”
“Gotta catch ‘em, gotta catch ‘em...”
After some inner communication, Ash slowly replied,
“There is. In that world, there’s also a Brock—fair-skinned, big Cassie Lan eyes, handsome and tall, with golden hair and emerald eyes. He’s the gym leader and idol trainee of Pewter City, adored by all the older sisters in the Kanto region.”
He repeated Red’s words.
Brock’s eyes went wide.
Then he threw one leg over the deck railing, pretending to jump into the sea.
“Ask senior Red if I die here today, can I cross over tomorrow?”
Ash was speechless.
No, you’d just peacefully rest at the bottom of the sea...
After their playfulness ended, they finally remembered their mission.
They walked to a less crowded part of the deck and happened upon two men dressed in sailor uniforms, smoking and chatting idly.
The two exchanged glances, both wearing sly smiles.
Perhaps Team Rocket didn’t exist in this world, or maybe everyone was Team Rocket.
...
“Damn! I heard someone at our company just got promoted from Stubborn Iron to Fearless Bronze.”
One gossiped.
The other took a deep drag and cursed,
“Damn it all, I’ve been Bronze for ten years. When will I get out of this pit and taste the lands of Unyielding Silver?”
They were complaining—not that they couldn’t rank up, but their teammates were so bad that it took fifteen losses to advance.
Just then, two figures walked by.
They looked young, so the two lowered their guard and resumed smoking.
Ash feigned shock and exclaimed,
“Oh my God, there’s a Lingzhi mushroom growing on that deck!”
Brock chimed in,
“Lingzhi! That’s a heavenly omen! This is incredible—I must tell my uncle at the Dark Club!”
The two Team Rocket sailors exchanged a glance, impressed but puzzled.
Visitors from the Unova region?
Brock’s complexion did resemble it.
But soon their eyes brightened.
Lingzhi was a divine blessing. If they could collect it and hand it to the boss, it would guarantee the success of the company’s team-building event. That would definitely be a great achievement.
They’d heard their boss Apollo was superstitious.
Maybe tomorrow they’d finally be promoted to Unyielding Silver!
Hearing this, the two smiled slyly and said to Ash and Brock:
“There are usually fierce Pokémon around the Lingzhi. You two stay back; we’ll go.”
“Very dangerous.”
Ash and Brock suppressed their laughter and followed behind as the two sailors puffed their cigarettes arrogantly, striding toward the deck where the Lingzhi grew.
...
As they neared and looked at the strange Lingzhi, confusion flickered in their eyes.
“Hm? Doesn’t look like Lingzhi to me...”
“Lingzhi is supposed to be green?”
“I think it looks more like... garlic?”
Just then, the green Lingzhi on the floor trembled violently, and from its center exploded a large cloud of dull yellow powder, instantly enveloping the two men.
The ensuing paralysis rendered them weak-limbed, collapsing helplessly to the ground.
“Good job, Ivysaur! Use Vine Whip—tie them up tighter!”
Ash waved his thumb confidently.
With that kind of intelligence, you still want to see Silver rank’s scenery?
Just stay trapped in Bronze for a few more years, haha.
Ash laughed smugly, sounding like a villain for a moment.
“Seed!”
The Ivysaur, disguised as the Lingzhi, whipped out its vines and bound the two men tightly, in a way that was clearly professional bondage play.
Paralyzed and suffocated, the two could only stammer,
“Damn it...”
“Who are you guys...?”
Brock gently plucked the cigarettes from the corners of their mouths and flicked them into the sea, showing his white teeth.
“We just want to tell you that smoking is harmful to your health.”
The two were speechless.
“Come on, time’s running out. Quickly strip off their clothes.”
Ash called as he recalled Ivysaur.
...
Half an hour later,
Even the usually composed Brock finally cursed out loud,
“Damn Psyduck, paralysis powder was enough! Why use your Psyduck’s Vine Whip!?”
Ash was speechless.
The two were still struggling to undo Ivysaur’s binding vines...
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