"Midchu, use Fake Out!"
With a swish, Midchu vanished from where he stood and smacked Gloom with a sharp slap.
"Ugh—!" Gloom staggered back two steps.
"Midchu, Iron Tail!" Natsu commanded with a wave.
"Pika—!" Midchu's tail glead silver as he leapt high and smashed it down hard on Gloom.
"Wow, amazing!"
The surrounding children's eyes sparkled as they watched.
A cloud of dust rose from the field. When it cleared, Gloom was barely standing.
"Good, Sleep Powder!" Erika ordered decisively.
Pale yellow powder filled the arena, drifting toward Midchu.
"Cover your nose and mouth," Natsu instructed.
But Midchu ignored the command and took a huge inhale instead.
What a joke—free sleep aid? No way he'd pass that up.
Sleeping on the job ant a justified early rest—perfect excuse.
"Mid-chu—what are you doing?!" Natsu roared.
Defying his Trainer's death glare, Midchu collapsed.
"Hahaha, just switch him out, no need for the Pokémon Center," Erika advised, noticing his lack of fighting spirit.
*Switch Pokémon?*
From the sidelines, Misty and Giselle exchanged a pitying glance at Erika.
A Dragonite, a Rotom in a Great Ball… best not ntion those.
Among Natsu's team, Midchu was usually the most *cheerful*.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, the *sleeping* Pikachu slowly stood back up, confused.
*Pika?* He blinked. Why wasn't he asleep?
His fur bristled as Natsu's voice echoed in his mind:
"If you can fall asleep at will, doesn't that an you can also choose not to?"
Midchu hesitated, then nodded.
That's true—suddenly, all his drowsiness was gone.
"Iron Tail, again!"
*Pika!*
The glowing tail ca down—Gloom collapsed, knocked out.
"First round, Gloom is unable to battle. Natsu wins!" Brock declared loudly.
Cheering erupted, especially from the kids.
"Sleep Powder didn't hit? Impossible…" Erika frowned, suspecting Midchu was holding a Chesto Berry.
"Your intel is impressive, but this is as far as you go."
"Go, Weepinbell!"
Her second Pokémon, yellow with blue spots, resembling a pitcher plant, appeared.
"Midchu, use *Firestarter*!" Natsu shouted.
*Pika!* Midchu rushed at Weepinbell.
"Firestarter?" Erika blinked. *What move is that?*
To her shock, Midchu pulled out a lighter.
"Hey, hey, that's not a legal battle item!" Brock snapped angrily.
"Natsu, stop setting a bad example for kids!" Misty stomped from the stands.
"Hahaha…" Erika laughed, then gave her order:
"Perfect range—Sleep Powder!"
The yellow haze enveloped Midchu again. The lighter's fla snuffed out instantly.
*Pika?* He inhaled deeply once more, utterly unaffected.
"Iron Tail—keep going!" Natsu commanded.
This Weepinbell followed in Gloom's footsteps.
"Co back, Weepinbell." Erika recalled it, then fixed her gaze on Natsu.
"Your Pikachu… it's immune to sleep?"
"I just found out myself. I plan to test it later." Natsu's voice ca from behind. Midchu trembled.
No, if this kept up, he'd be badly hurt *later*.
"I see." Erika smiled faintly.
"In that case—go, Victreebel!"
*Victory!*
A large Pokémon, resembling Weepinbell but much bigger, appeared in the arena.
"Quick Attack!" Natsu ordered imdiately.
*Pika!* Midchu dashed forward at full speed.
*Bang!* He crashed headfirst into a transparent barrier.
"Protect?" Natsu blinked in surprise.
"Toxic!" Erika commanded. Purple venom sprayed from Victreebel's mouth, striking Midchu.
"…?"
A bad premonition stirred in Natsu's chest.
Sure enough, Victreebel's figure slowly faded.
"Victreebel, use Substitute!" In its place, a doll remained on the field.
Natsu: "???"
Using tactics like this in front of kids—was that really okay?
*Pika…* Midchu turned back, clutching his chest, staring at Natsu in pain.
*Trainer… I can't hold on much longer…*
"It's barely scratched you!"
Natsu had been ready to switch him out, but seeing that pitiful act, his temper flared—and suddenly he didn't want to swap anymore.
*Pika?*
Midchu tilted his head, puzzled why Natsu didn't recall him.
Forget it. Might as well nap.
He glanced at the Substitute in front of him, then shook his head.
Natsu often explained strategies to his Pokémon.
Aside from Dragonite, the rest had so understanding of tactics Trainers devised.
Midchu realized—Victreebel was using a Protect–Substitute–Toxic strategy.
No way he could win against that.
So, he flopped down and went to sleep.
*Zzz~*
Across the field, Erika was baffled.
She had just used Toxic—so why was Pikachu asleep instead?
Then it hit her. As Midchu slept, the poison vanished from his body.
"Your Pikachu… can use Rest?" Erika gasped.
"Giga Drain!" she ordered.
Victreebel's figure reappeared, countless green streams of energy surging out of Midchu's body.
Then—nothing.
"Huh?" Erika froze.
*Giga Drain had failed. Why?*
Across from her, Natsu noticed it too.
"Leaf Storm!"
The powerful Grass-type attack surged toward Midchu.
*Shhhh!* Yet the Leaf Storm strangely dissolved into nothing.
"What is this?" Natsu muttered in confusion.
"I should be asking you!" Erika frowned.
"Again—Giga Drain!"
The battle dragged on for nearly an hour. Victreebel's PP was completely exhausted, yet Midchu still hadn't woken up.
"I forfeit!" Erika sighed and recalled Victreebel.
"What's going on with that Pikachu of yours?"
"No idea." Natsu scooped up Midchu and rushed straight for the Pokémon Center.
Though Midchu hadn't taken any direct damage, every ti Victreebel used a move, his expression grew more twisted, as if trapped in a nightmare.
Even now, held in Natsu's arms, his body was ice-cold and trembling nonstop.
When Natsu pried open his eyelids, his eyeballs rolled erratically, as though sothing terrifying was chasing him in his dreams.
"Mr. Natsu… your Badge!"
"Give it to my sister Ashy first—she wants to challenge you too!"
His voice echoed from afar.
"Ashy?" Misty muttered in confusion.
"Ahem… I-I challenge you!"
Not far away, Ash pinched his throat, standing opposite Erika.
Misty glanced over—and burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahahaha!"
You can read more (around 100 free chapters) of Natsu's adventure ad-free here[sravenarchives/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a ss here, so updates here might be irregular.
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