Chapter 5: The Pokémon That Shouldn't Exist
They had barely stepped onto the road when Ben suddenly stopped again, like a thought had just clicked into place. Ashley noticed it immediately this time and turned toward him with a tired expression. "…Now what?"
Ben looked at her, eyes sharp with a strange kind of confidence. "Before today, you didn't have a Pokémon that could defeat everyone."
Ashley frowned. "…What are you talking about?"
"But now," he continued, ignoring her confusion, "you do."
That made her pause.
"…Explain."
Ben pointed at himself.
"You've got me."
For a second, Ashley just stared at him.
Then—
"…No."
"Yes."
"…No."
"Yes."
"…You're not a Pokémon."
Ben tilted his head slightly. "Says who?"
"…Reality?"
He smirked. "You said yourself there are thousands of Pokémon, right?"
"Yes."
"Then how do you know I'm not one of them?"
"Because you're human."
Ben's grin widened just a little. "Am I?"
That… made her hesitate.
Only for a second.
Then she shook her head. "…You're messing with me."
"I'm not."
"…You expect me to believe you're some kind of mysterious Pokémon?"
"Not just mysterious," Ben corrected. "Alien Pokémon."
Ashley pressed her fingers lightly against her forehead. "…I knew it. You're insane."
Pikachu gave a small, uncertain "Pika…"
Ben crossed his arms. "You don't believe me?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"Not at all."
Ben nodded once, like he expected that answer. "Alright then."
Ashley narrowed her eyes. "…Alright what?"
"I'll prove it."
"…How?"
Ben stepped back, creating some distance between them, his expression shifting into something more focused. "Battle me."
Ashley blinked.
"…What?"
"You heard me," he said. "If I'm not a Pokémon, you'll win easily, right?"
"That's not the point—"
"Or," Ben added, "you're afraid."
That did it.
Ashley's expression sharpened instantly. "…I'm not afraid."
"Then battle me."
A brief silence followed.
Pikachu looked between them, sensing the sudden tension.
Ashley exhaled slowly. "…Fine."
She stepped forward slightly, her voice steady again, the familiar tone of a trainer returning. "Pikachu."
"Pika."
"Battle stance."
Pikachu jumped down from her shoulder, landing lightly on the ground, cheeks beginning to spark with electricity.
Ashley looked at Ben one last time. "…Last chance to stop this."
Ben smirked.
"Nope."
He raised his hand toward his chest.
The Ultimatrix pulsed.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
It responded.
Green light flickered to life.
Ashley's eyes widened slightly.
"…What is that?"
Ben didn't answer.
He slammed his hand down.
FLASH.
A burst of green energy exploded outward, forcing Ashley to take a step back as the air itself seemed to ripple. Pikachu tensed, ready to attack.
When the light faded—
Ben was gone.
In his place stood something else.
A tall, plant-like figure with a lean but powerful frame, green and black body, vines coiling around its arms, and glowing eyes that carried a strange, alien sharpness.
Ashley froze.
"…What… is that?"
Pikachu's ears twitched. "Pika…?"
The creature straightened slightly, then spoke—
Ben's voice, but different.
"…Still think I'm not a Pokémon?"
Ashley took a step back unconsciously.
"…You—"
Her mind raced.
Transformation.
Instant.
No Pokéball.
No evolution.
No known species.
"…That's not possible."
Ben—no, the alien—tilted its head. "You said there are thousands of Pokémon. Guess I'm just one you haven't seen."
Ashley clenched her fist slightly.
"…Pikachu."
"Pika!"
Her hesitation vanished.
"Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu didn't hold back.
Electricity burst forward in a powerful surge, striking the alien directly.
CRACK—!
Smoke filled the space.
Ashley narrowed her eyes.
"Stay alert—"
The smoke cleared.
Ben stood there, completely unaffected, vines slowly retracting as if they had absorbed part of the impact.
"…That tickled."
Ashley's eyes widened.
"…Impossible."
"Your turn's done?" Ben asked casually. "Cool. My turn."
He raised one arm.
Vines shot forward—not fast enough to harm, but fast enough to test.
"Pikachu, dodge!"
Pikachu leapt aside, agile and precise.
The vines struck the ground where it had stood, leaving cracks in the earth.
Ashley's focus sharpened instantly.
"…It's strong."
Not just strong.
Controlled.
Precise.
"Quick Attack!"
Pikachu dashed forward in a blur, closing the distance instantly and striking.
The impact landed—
But Ben barely moved.
"Nice speed," he said.
Then, with a slight motion—
The ground beneath Pikachu shifted.
Vines erupted upward, not to trap, but to disrupt its movement, forcing it back.
Ashley's eyes tracked everything.
He wasn't attacking seriously.
He was testing.
"…Pikachu, Thunderbolt again—full power!"
"PIKACHU!"
A stronger surge of electricity blasted forward, brighter, louder, more intense than before.
This time—
Ben raised both arms.
The vines expanded outward, forming a layered barrier.
The electricity struck—
And spread across the surface, dispersing.
The ground around them cracked under the pressure.
Then—
Silence.
Ben lowered his arms slowly.
"…Better."
Ashley stared at him.
Her breathing had changed slightly.
Not from exhaustion—
But from realization.
This wasn't a normal battle.
This wasn't a normal opponent.
And this was definitely—
Not a normal Pokémon.
"…You're holding back," she said.
Ben tilted his head slightly. "Yeah."
"…Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because I'm not here to win."
A pause.
"I'm here to show you something."
Ashley's grip tightened.
"…What?"
Ben took a step forward.
"That you don't need a different Pokémon."
Another step.
"You don't need luck."
Another.
"And you're not lacking anything."
He stopped.
"You just needed to see what it looks like… to face something stronger—and not give up."
Silence filled the space.
Pikachu stood ready, but didn't move.
Ashley looked at him.
Then at Pikachu.
Then back at him.
Her voice came out quieter.
"…You're not a Pokémon."
Ben smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
A faint green glow flickered again—
And in the next moment, he returned to normal.
Ashley exhaled slowly, her thoughts still trying to catch up.
"…What are you?"
Ben shrugged lightly. "Told you. Alien."
She stared at him.
"…That doesn't explain anything."
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
Pikachu jumped back onto her shoulder, still watching Ben carefully.
Ashley didn't speak for a while.
Then finally—
"…You're cheating."
Ben grinned.
"Or," he said, "I'm your strongest Pokémon."
Ashley looked at him again.
This time—
She didn't immediately deny it.
End of Chapter 5