Pokemon : Rewind

By five o'clock in the afternoon, Ash and his friends returned to the river where they encountered the old man. 

After explaining that they hadn't been able to capture Sudowoodo, the old man sighed with disappointment before rowing away. Ash and the others decided to camp by the river for the night.

The next day, they crossed the river and resumed their journey. A few days later, they found themselves about halfway to Ecruteak City. By their estimation, they'd reach their destination within a week.

"What's that sound?" Pikachu's ears perked up as he picked up a noise from behind. Tugging at Ash's hair, he quickly alerted his Trainer.

"Huh?" Ash turned, listening carefully.

Misty and Brock were slower to react, but soon they heard it too—the sound of thundering hooves rapidly approaching.

"It's a Tauros!" Ash exclaimed as a massive figure emerged from the forest behind them, charging at full speed. 

His eyes narrowed in confusion. "What's a Tauros doing in this kind of terrain? It's completely out of place!"

Brock agreed. "It must belong to a Trainer. There's no way a wild Tauros would be here."

"Help! Somebody stop it!" A young man came running down the trail, trailing far behind the out-of-control Tauros. 

His voice carried desperation. He was lucky to have encountered someone in these remote mountains—especially Ash and his team.

"Pikachu…" Ash began, glancing at the electric Pokémon perched on his shoulder. Pikachu nodded in understanding and leaped into action, positioning himself on the trail to intercept Tauros.

Nearby, an elderly man stepped out from the forest. His sharp eyes and commanding presence were impossible to ignore. 

Clad in dark green training robes, his gray hair and neatly combed beard gave him a dignified appearance.

The old man's eyes locked onto Pikachu. "Letting a Pikachu handle an out-of-control Tauros? Interesting," he muttered to himself, crossing his arms.

As he observed, his expression shifted. Though Pikachu appeared no stronger than an Silver-level Pokémon, he sensed an immense aura radiating from it. This Pikachu… its strength far exceeds the norm.

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to strike Tauros on the head and calm it down!" Ash commanded, his voice firm.

"Pika-CHU!" Pikachu's tail glowed with Steel-type energy, transforming into a metallic sheen. 

Twisting his body mid-air, Pikachu brought his tail down in a powerful arc, slamming it into Tauros' head with precision.

"Bang!" The impact was so forceful that Tauros was flung sideways, colliding with a nearby tree. 

Leaves rained down as the mighty Pokémon let out a pained bellow. Stunned, it stopped moving, its wild rampage subdued.

The young Trainer chasing Tauros finally caught up, doubling over and gasping for air. His face was flushed with exhaustion, and sweat dripped from his chin.

"Here, have some water," Brock said, pulling a bottle from his pack and handing it to the Trainer.

"Thank you…" the young man managed, taking careful sips to rehydrate.

Meanwhile, the old man's gaze lingered on Pikachu, his expression intense. This Pikachu's strength and endurance are beyond what's expected, even of Pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

"You're… you're Ash Ketchum, aren't you?!" the Trainer suddenly exclaimed, recognizing Ash. His eyes widened in surprise and admiration.

"That's me," Ash said modestly, lifting his hand to let Pikachu hop back onto his shoulder.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Ketchum! If you hadn't been here, I don't know what might've happened to my Tauros," the Trainer said gratefully.

Ash smiled. "It's no problem. I'm sure any Trainer would've helped you out."

After exchanging a few more words of thanks, the Trainer recalled Tauros into its Poké Ball and departed. 

Ash and his friends prepared to continue their journey, but the old man suddenly stepped forward, blocking their path.

Pikachu, sensing the intensity in the old man's gaze, hid behind Ash's head, clearly uneasy.

"Hello, sir. Can we help you with something?" Ash asked cautiously.

The old man finally spoke. "Your Pikachu is extraordinary. It's been trained exceptionally well," he said, his voice filled with admiration.

"I like you and your Pikachu very much. Would you do me the honor of visiting my home?" he continued, stroking his beard with a warm smile.

Ash, Misty, and Brock exchanged glances. While wary of accepting such an invitation from a stranger, they trusted Ash's strength and the protective presence of Marshadow. After a brief discussion, they nodded in agreement.

"Good, good!" the old man exclaimed, pleased with their decision. "It's rare to meet young Trainers with such courage and skill."

The old man led them deeper into the forest, eventually stopping in front of a large, traditional structure nestled among the trees.

"This is my martial arts gym," he announced proudly.

The group stared in awe. "A martial arts gym… out here in the wilderness?" Brock said, his curiosity piqued.

Above the entrance was a wooden plaque inscribed with the words Kenzo-ryu. Brock squinted at the sign, trying to recall where he'd heard the name before, but the memory eluded him.

"Kenzo-ryu…" he murmured, repeating the name.

Neither Ash nor Misty recognized it either, but they were all eager to find out what awaited them inside.

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