Although Pikachu slapping away the stabilizer during the fusion process was a surprise, fortunately, the final result turned out well.
Afterwards, even Ash, who usually wasn't the most cautious person, felt a chill run down his spine whenever he recalled the moment Pikachu slapped away the stabilizer.
So now, he teamed up with Misty and Brock to give the audacious Pikachu a good talking-to.
"Pika pi..." Pikachu scratched its head in distress, not knowing how to explain itself and could only humbly accept the criticism.
"All right, Ash, it worked out in the end. But Pikachu, why did you hit away the stabilizer? Was it getting in the way of you merging with the Light Ball?"
Researcher Nero, holding the now-useless Light Ball, asked in confusion.
"Pika!" Pikachu shook its head, indicating that it didn't know either. It just had a special feeling that made it do that.
Instinct, huh...
"Well then..." Researcher Nero shook his head helplessly. Even though they now had a successful Light Ball fusion case, he somehow felt even more confused.
"Um..."
Meanwhile, Ash scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, gesturing at the area around them, "Researcher Nero, um, Pikachu kind of wrecked this place. I'm really sorry about that."
"Haha." At that, Terrance, standing nearby, laughed and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Leave the reconstruction of the laboratory to me."
"Ah, but that's not right!" Ash exclaimed in shock.
"But can you afford it?" Terrance smiled slightly. "The construction materials and some of the equipment in this public laboratory aren't exactly top-of-the-line, but it'd still take at least hundreds of thousands to restore everything."
"H-hundreds of thousands?!" Ash's eyes widened as he started counting on his fingers.
"No!!" Researcher Nero suddenly shouted, "I'll take care of it. But Ash, can you let me record Pikachu's physical changes? I'll only need you to stay for two more days."
"Uh?" Ash was stunned, not understanding what Nero meant.
But after Researcher Nero explained, Ash and the others finally understood: Nero wanted to give Pikachu a thorough checkup. Ash wasn't unfamiliar with this. Professor Oak often did similar checkups on his Pokémon.
"If we can publish a research report on the Light Ball, the Pokémon League's Research Association will definitely reimburse the laboratory for its losses, and we'll also get an extra research grant," Researcher Nero said confidently.
"Ash, Researcher Terrance, this experiment succeeded thanks to you two. If we get any research funding, it's all yours. But, please make sure to include my name as a contributor on Light Ball's research report..."
"Well..." Terrance laughed, "You can work that out with Ash. The Light Ball was my gift to him, and Pikachu is his Pokémon, so I won't be involved in this one."
Terrance's words clearly surprised Researcher Nero. He had never met a researcher who cared so little about reputation...
"Research funds? What's that?" Ash asked in confusion.
"It's basically a reward from the Pokémon League for researchers who produce results," Brock explained.
"That's right! If we can publish the research report on Light Ball, I believe a reward of this amount is possible." Researcher Nero smiled mysteriously and held up a few fingers.
"Could it be..." Ash's eyes sparkled as he guessed the amount, and then he grinned goofily, saying, "Okay, I'll cooperate! For travel... and big meals..."
Of course...
Watching Nero and Ash, Terrance could only shrug helplessly. One was after fame, the other after money; the two really hit it off...
"Hahaha, then Ash, why don't you just stay here as a guest? I have lots of food that Pikachu really loves, and also…"
Watching Nero and Ash get so caught up in their heated discussion, Terrance suddenly remembered something and called out to Ash, saying, "Ash, don't you want to test Pikachu's strength now?"
"Since Pikachu fused with the Light Ball, its strength might have increased a lot."
"That's right. Once Pikachu's had some rest, let's have a real battle! A research report like this definitely needs some actual combat performance!"
"No problem." Ash burst out laughing, then said to Misty and Brock, "Misty, Brock, let's have a good time here in Pewter City! Oh, and this time, I'm paying for everything."
"Are you some kind of nouveau riche…" Misty sighed, patting her forehead helplessly.
"Ah!" As for Brock, when he heard that, he started fantasizing about using Ash's money to treat beautiful ladies to a meal, then slowly started drooling.
The research report was completed in just two days and was published by Researcher Nero on an academic forum.
With Professor Oak's promotion, the Light Ball and Pikachu fusion caused a minor stir in the academic community. But soon after, things quieted down; after all, the fusion requirements were too strict, and the actual breeding value of Pikachu wasn't very high.
Even so, the project brought Nero a sizable research fund.
He gave the entire funds to Ash, but Ash declined and the two split the money fairly. Of course, they also wanted to give some to Terrance, but Terrance refused.
After receiving the money, Ash was overjoyed. But before he could celebrate for long, Delia—Ash's mom, having somehow caught wind of the news—took all the money away, saying it was for safekeeping until Ash grew up...
"I knew this would happen, Ash! This is hilarious." After Delia took all the money from Ash, Misty clutched her stomach and burst out laughing.
"My beautiful ladies…" Brock was instantly petrified.
"Come on…" Ash complained, his face turning glum. But with his mom having taken all the money, there was nothing he could do. Now all Ash could do was comfort himself with the thought that at least Pikachu had gotten stronger.
On the fourth day after the successful Light Ball fusion, Terrance had fully absorbed the contents of the research report. He had stayed in Pewter City all this time just to observe the changes in Pikachu after fusing with the Light Ball, and to prepare for his own attempt to fuse with the Flame of Life.
Pikachu's power boost was decent, but Terrance could tell that, limited by Pikachu's current strength, that power hadn't yet been fully unleashed. It was hidden within Pikachu's body, and only when Pikachu grew even stronger would Ash and Pikachu be able to unleash its full potential.
It was on this day that Terrance bid farewell to Ash's group and Researcher Nero.
Researcher Nero had more research to do, Ash and the others were off to challenge the Orange League, and as for Terrance himself…
He was heading to his next destination to attempt another fusion with the Flame of Life.
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