" PIKA ! "

Hearing Pikachu's cry, Austin's body subconsciously acted as he threw the contents of the table and immediately booked it towards his room.

Steven looked at the floating contents of the table which were covered by a blue aura as metagross had used psychic energy to save everything.

" Thank you, metagross ." Steven stone looked at his starter Pokemon before narrowing his eyes.

" What's wrong ?"

Metagross's eyes glowed as Steven received a telepathic message.

' I sensed the aura of a legendary Pokemon for a split second.'

Steven clenched his fists as he was reminded of Mewtwo. His mind was filled with so many questions.

Was it Mewtwo?

Was it some kind of other legendary?

Does he still sense the aura?

Being used to Steven's nature of overthinking Metagross calmly answered every question that Steven had before he commanded his starter to teleport them to the location where he sensed the aura.

Looking up to Ash's room, Steven just sighed as he knew that he has a responsibility to protect the people first and he can't let his desire to help someone else get in the way of that responsibility.

Plus Cynthia is here and she would Ash if needed.

[ Teleport us ]

Steven and metagross bodies warped into a spiral disappearing from the cafeteria.

.....

[ Austin's POV ]

Running through the stairs, not caring about anything I ran and ran as I gazed upon my door.

Swinging the door open, I found myself upon a particular scene as Pikachu was floating in the air alongside the light ball that Mewtwo gave us.

Steven suddenly appeared beside me. I noted a trace of shock flash past his eyes but I quickly ignored it.

" Ash, what is going on ?"

" I don't know but something is happening between Pikachu and the light orb."

" Light orb ?!"

" It's the yellow orb that is floating beside Pikachu."

" Got it, Metagross ."

" Meta !"

Metagross's eyes glowed blue as they released psychic energy to separate Pikachu from the light orb.

" PIKA ! "

Pikachu cried out in pain at Metagross's action causing Austin's eyes to glow red as he screamed out.

" Steven! Stop it's hurting Pikachu ."

" Metagross !" Metagross vanished and appeared in front of Austin and Steven as it erected a barrier between them and Pikachu whose body released a bolt of white lightning that tore apart everything in its path.

The entire room lit up in a flash of light as the sound of a thunderbolt rang throughout the island.

Inside the room, Austin ignored the loud ringing in his ears along with the sharp pains and the drops of blood dripping on the floor as his eardrums had burst from the thunder.

Austin slowly walked towards his starter that was knocked out on the floor of the charred room but mostly destroyed room.

But before Austin could reach out, he and Pikachu were enveloped by a blue light.

Austin tried to struggle but Steve's voice telepathically entered his mind.

" Ash, I know you are worried but let us get your starter checked by professionals."

Austin nodded without hesitation as the four were teleported directly towards Nurse Joy who was terrified.

Just what in name of Lugia was going on?

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

( ~ Tap ~ )

( ~ Tap ~ )

A worried Austin moved left to right as he waited outside the ICU along with Cynthia and Steven.

Cynthia looked to the side to see many of Ash's Pokémon intensely staring at the ICU door.

Steven meanwhile was being healed by a Chansey for his ruptured ear drums.

Suddenly the ICU door opened as nurse joy walked out.

Austin without hesitation went up to nurse joy.

" Nurse Joy! Is Pikachu alright ?"

" Ah! Mr. Ketchum, there is no need to worry your Pikachu is more than alright."

Austin released the breath he was subconsciously holding as he heard the news.

" But ..."

" But ?!"

" But there seems to be some kind of ..... how should I put this, the difference with Pikachu."

Austin hesitated for a few seconds before he pulled out the courage to ask," You can tell me, what's wrong with Pikachu?"

Nurse Joy took out a CT scan and showed it as Cynthia and Steven glanced at it.

The CT scan was that of Pikachu's entire body as Nurse Joy pointed at a particular spot near Pikachu's heart and said," Mr. Ketchum, Pikachu seems to have 3 electric cores ."

Austin frowned not yet understanding what Nurse joy was implying while Cynthia's eyes widened while Steven was deep in thought.

Seeing the confusion on the young trainer's face Nurse explained," Mr. Ketchum, a normal Pikachu has 2 electric cores in their cheeks but your Pikachu seems to have a core right next to his heart and this core is 100 times stronger than an adult Raichu's core."

Austin, Cynthia, and Steven froze as they heard Nurse Joy's words.

" B. But how is that possible?"

" I don't know ." Nurse joy replied to Steven's query.

" Will this affect Pikachu's health ?" Austin asked while his mind was racing thinking of how this could happen.

" I don't know Mr. Ketchum but from the current test we have done, you Pikachu seems to be much stronger and healthier than any Pikachu I have ever seen, his EUM reading is stronger than most Raichus. I don't know if this would affect Pikachu's health in the future but he is currently at his peak health so there is nothing to worry about I have to say Mr. Ketchum that you should forget about evolving your Pikachu."

Austin gulped at Nurse Joy's serious tone.

" Why ?!" Cynthia curiously asked.

" Because during evolution a Pikachu's core expands and since your Pikachu has his core right next to his heart, it may be fatal for Pikachu to undergo evolution. Now if you would excuse me I have other patients to attend to, you may visit Pikachu once nurse Chansey is done with her work."

" Thank you, nurse joy."

" I am just doing my joy, Champion Steven."

Austin sighed in relief as sat on the chair.

" Looks like Pikachu is just fine," Cynthia said with a smile.

" Yeah," Austin said tiredly as his heartbeat decreased a little.

A whip outstretched towards Austin who looked to see Bulbasaur looking at him.

" I am fine, buddy."

" Bulba !"

" Bulbasaur's right you know, you haven't eaten anything in the last 8 hours. I am going to go get something to eat, what do you want ?"

" I am not hungry, Cynthia ."

" Ash !"

Cringing at Cynthia's tone, Austin replied," A Sandwich is fine."

" Good " Cynthia smiled and left.

Austin sighed and turned to Bulbasaur," Bulbasaur, can you get my bag for me ?"

" Bulba !"

Bulbasaur nodded and left Steven and Austin alone.

" Ash, I am sorry but I have to leave for now."

" No worries, Steven you are a busy man. It means a lot that you stayed during this time."

" No, worries Ash but before I leave, can I ask you something? "

" Sure."

" That psychic Mewtwo was it, what did he want from you ?"

" Nothing." Austin looked away, not wanting to lie to Steven on his face.

"Ash? I have displayed my trust in you. Shouldn't you be returning the same?"

Austin looked back at Steven, feeling slightly guilty, comprehending the former Champion's words. "He… gave me an offer."

Steven arched an eyebrow. He sure hadn't seen that one coming. "Which is?"

"Join him."

"Join him…" Steven repeated blankly, "as in… Team Rocket?"

Austin looked up. "I… don't think so. He might be working with Team Rocket, for whatever reasons that might be. But… it feels like they are simply the means of an end to him. Nothing more."

"That's the valuable insight you have gathered," Steven observed. "What else?"

"He said… he said that it is my destiny to join him. That, he and I are… alike. Strange likenesses."

"Strange." The former Champion muttered his thoughts aloud. "For someone who is a pokémon, this psychic is certainly quite… complex."

"I… will have to disagree with that statement."

Steven looked at him challengingly. "Well, go ahead. You are the expert on all things, Mewtwo."

Austin chuckled at that description. For a moment, he wondered what the psychic's reaction would've been to that. Instantly vanishing away the nasty thought, he returned to the conversation. "I think that…. That he is a very powerful being, one that believes in his superiority. As long as you acknowledge that, he is ready to let you be."

"Interesting," Steven observed. "So, you did acknowledge his superiority?"

Austin laughed mirthlessly. " I acknowledge his power I guess."

Steven sighed," Just what is going on in the world ?"

" ..... "

Steven stood up," Well, I have to go, try not to get involved with Mewtwo."

" Trouble always seems to find me so I can't give any promises."

Steven muttered. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but before the…. Mewtwo appeared in front of SS. Anne, he fought Lance."

"Lance? He fought Mewtwo?"

"More like forced to fight." The deputy Champion answered solemnly. "From what he told me, he and his team had been ambushed by Executive Pierce of Team Rocket, but then this psychic… Mewtwo came in. He killed the entirety of Lance's team by snapping their heads off, and he did it without lifting a finger." Steven paused, "then, he challenged Lance to a battle, and killed his Charizard."

Austin's breath hitched as his mind went to Raticate's corpse. "Charizard? Lance's Charizard?"

"Lance said that Mewtwo… played with Charizard for a while, before forcing his tail flame to extinguish. Charizard…. He died a horrible death."

No one spoke a word, but the pain was shared between them in the silence.

"Lance wasn't…" Steven spoke after a while, "he was delirious, clinging to Charizard and screaming when we found him. Mewtwo believes in… reciprocation, as he did with you. He did the same with Lance."

"I… what do you mean?"

"Pierce had a draconic Pokémon known as Hydreigon. They are from a distant land known as Unova. Hydreigon is… very powerful, greater than Dragonite, and can be a powerful threat to Salamence most of the time."

"Yes," Steven answered. "He said that he would reciprocate, and so, captured Pierce's Hydreigon—it was illegally caught anyway- with the Pokeball that belonged to Charizard, as a replacement for the dead pokémon."

Austin had no words.

Steven grimly looked at Austin's shaky hands.

' It looks like my words brought back some bad memories.'

Placing a hand on Austin's shoulder, Steven said," Ash, if you need any help I am always just a call away."

" Thanks, Steven."

Steven smiled as he saw Bulbasaur coming towards them while carrying a bag.

" See you later and don't try to do something with Cynthia that I wouldn't do."

A little confused at what Steven meant before it hit him as a blush covered his face.

Steven smirked as he left with a chuckle leaving behind a crimson-faced Austin.

Calming himself down, Austin tried to look for the sleeping pills which were currently missing.

Sighing, Austin closed the bag as he looked at Pikachu's ICU room. His mind wandered towards the question.

How did Pikachu get the third core?

Closing his eyes for a second, he calmed himself down as only one answer came into his mind.

' Pikachu's third core was formed due to the light orb.'