Pokémon: The Cheating Life

Chapter 36: Ash's Challenge

Three days had passed. Early in the morning, Ron stood on the beach in his casual beachwear, leisurely fishing while his main Pokémon trained intensely for the upcoming league battles.

Lillie had also released her Pokémon for training, letting Ron's Pokémon help guide them.

Charizard and the others had no choice but to oblige this girl who might very well become their future mistress.

Meanwhile, Dragonair and Gyarados swam freely in the ocean, occasionally ganging up on the newly caught Water Pokémon that Ron reeled in before he stored them away in Poké Balls.

These Poké Balls were then tossed into a nearby crate, which Machamp would later carry to the aquarium for release.

By now, Lorelei had already left Pallet Town—after all, she was one of the Elite Four and had plenty of responsibilities to attend to.

At that moment, a loud, passionate voice called out.

"Ron! I've finally found you! Let's have a battle!"

Ron turned around and saw Ash, Brock, and Misty standing before him.

With a helpless expression, Ron sighed.

"Ash, you're seriously slow. I've been back, resting for almost half a month, and you only just got here?"

"Hehe… well, I had a lot of stuff to do along the way," Ash scratched his head, embarrassed.

"That aside… excuse me." Misty, holding Togepi in her arms, looked at Ron curiously.

"You're Ron, right? I heard that Pokémon here can be taken home freely?"

Ron raised two fingers and explained,

"There are two conditions:

1. You must pay the proper adoption fee for the Pokémon.

2. The Pokémon must be willing to go with you.

If you meet both conditions, you can take one home."

Misty's eyes sparkled.

"That's amazing! As a future Water-type Pokémon Master, I'll easily win over one of these Pokémon!"

With that, she quickly excused herself and rushed toward the aquarium.

Ron then turned back to Ash.

"Ash, shouldn't you be training instead? The tournament is still a while away, but if you don't train properly, you'll get eliminated pretty quickly."

"That's exactly why I came to challenge you!" Ash clenched his fists. "Real battles are the best training!"

Ron rubbed his temples, already exhausted just hearing that.

"Before you challenge me, you should beat Lillie first."

At that moment, Lillie—who had overheard their conversation—walked over and smiled.

"Hello, I'm Lillie! You must be Ash and Brock—Ron mentioned you before. If you want a battle, I'm happy to accept. I'll be competing in the League too."

"Awesome! I'd love to battle you!" Ash's enthusiasm skyrocketed.

"Pikachu, I'm counting on you!"

"Pika!" Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder, sparks crackling in excitement.

Lillie smiled.

"I have a Pikachu too. But since Pikachu is your starter, I'll use my own starter as well. Snowy, come over!"

A beautiful, white-furred Alolan Vulpix pranced over and took its place on the battlefield, staring curiously at Pikachu.

Brock stepped up and volunteered as the referee.

---

Lillie vs. Ash

Ash took the first move.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Lillie remained calm.

"Snowy, use Ice Beam."

Electricity and ice collided midair, canceling each other out with a small explosion.

Ash grinned.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"

Lillie countered immediately.

"Snowy, Feint Attack."

Pikachu dashed forward, landing a clean hit on Snowy.

However, as Pikachu made contact, Snowy used Feint Attack, knocking Pikachu backward.

Unfortunately, small electric sparks flickered across Snowy's fur—it had been paralyzed!

Ron immediately frowned.

Status conditions were game-changers in battles, and Lillie had just fallen into Ash's hands.

Lillie realized this too and clenched her fists.

"Snowy, can you still fight?"

Snowy weakly nodded, and Lillie took a deep breath.

"Then let's try Powder Snow!"

Ash's eyes gleamed.

"This is my chance! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

A massive jolt of electricity surged forward, hitting Snowy directly before it could act.

Snowy cried out in pain, its body on the verge of collapse.

Ash refused to let up.

"Pikachu, finish this with Quick Attack!"

Before Snowy could move, Pikachu struck with a final hit, knocking it unconscious.

Brock raised his hand.

"Alolan Vulpix is unable to battle. The winner is Ash!"

Lillie rushed to Snowy's side, holding it gently while applying a Paralyze Heal.

Meanwhile, Ash pumped his fist, grinning confidently.

"Well, Ron? Now you have to battle me!"

Ron didn't even look up from his fishing rod.

"Mewtwo, go play with him."

A shadowy figure floated into the sky.

Ash's face twitched.

"Hey, come on!"

Brock, however, turned serious.

"Ash, be careful. That's no ordinary Pokémon."

Ron still didn't turn around.

"Ash, you're still too weak. You have potential, but you haven't tapped into it yet. Beat Mewtwo first, and then we'll talk."

The system had told Ron before—Ash was the chosen one of this world.

One day, he would rise to greatness.

But that was in the future.

Right now, he wasn't worth Ron's time.

Ash's eyes burned with determination.

"Fine! Then I'll defeat this Pokémon and show you!"

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu's electricity surged forward—

But Mewtwo calmly raised a hand, redirecting the attack back at Pikachu with ease.

Before Pikachu could react, Mewtwo used Psychic to lift it into the air and then tossed it into the ocean.

"Pikachu!" Ash panicked, watching Pikachu splash into the water.

He quickly pulled out his Pokédex, but Mewtwo's entry was missing.

Brock's face was grim.

"This Pokémon… it's beyond our level."

Still, Ash refused to give up.

He sent out all of his Pokémon, but Mewtwo defeated them one by one—without breaking a sweat.

His final hope was Charizard.

However, Charizard…

Didn't care.

It lay lazily on the sand, basking in the sun, completely ignoring Ash's commands.

Mewtwo shook its head in disappointment and returned to its training.

Ash fell to his knees.

"… Am I really this weak?"

Ron walked up to him, arms crossed.

"Only by recognizing your weakness can you grow stronger."

Ash clenched his fists, his determination rekindling.

"I won't lose! I will become a Pokémon Master!"

Ron smirked and extended his hand.

"Then let's make a deal—one of us will take that title."

Ash slammed his palm against Ron's, sealing their promise.

"You're on!"