Pokémon: Rebron as Red, The Strongest Champion

"Young lady, do you know why the robber stuffed all the stolen money into the police officer's pocket?"

The Millennium Gengar floated in front of Sabrina and began its performance.

(Is this guy really going to tell bad jokes?) Red wondered, looking speechlessly at the mischievous ghost.

Sabrina did not answer, but her eyes revealed a sliver of curiosity.

"Of course, the robber stuffed the money in the officer's pocket so he would die laughing!"

After speaking, Gengar couldn't help but cover its stomach and howl with laughter.

(So cold…)

Red, the Blood-Red Gyarados, and Sabrina's father, who was hiding in the shadows, all stared blankly at the cackling ghost. Seeing that the battle was over, the Gyarados released its hold on Kadabra, dropping it gently to the ground.

Sabrina didn't react, but Red keenly noticed the corners of her mouth twitch upward.

"Do you know why you shouldn't fight with the wind?" Gengar asked. This time, Sabrina reacted, shaking her head slightly.

"Because even if you are strong, and the wind doesn't hurt you, you'll still catch a cold!"

Gengar clutched its stomach and laughed again. Sabrina's expression softened, the icy wall around her beginning to crack.

"Do you know what Pikachu turns into when it stands up?" Gengar pressed on. This time, Sabrina actually spoke, her voice a quiet whisper. "What does it turn into?"

"Pikachu turns into a Pika-trooper when it stands up! Hahahaha…"

(So, so cold…)

The Blood-Red Gyarados looked helplessly at Red, its eyes pleading for permission to shut Gengar up with an Aqua Tail. The joke was so bad it was physically painful.

"So that's it… I'm so stupid," Sabrina said, a genuine, startling laugh escaping her lips.

"I'm truly touched," Sabrina's father whispered from the shadows, tears streaming down his face. "I never expected Sabrina, who has been obsessed with her powers since she was a child, to show such an innocent smile. It's the first time I've seen her so happy!"

"It's a pity," Red said coldly. "This wasn't my plan."

"Do you know why a trainer can't move an Arbok after putting a hat on it?" Gengar chuckled, going for one more.

"Hmm… is it a baseball cap?" Sabrina replied, a real smile now gracing her lips.

"That's right, that's right! You're a natural!" Gengar howled, ecstatic to have found a kindred spirit who understood its unique brand of humor.

"Alright. The foolish cold jokes are over," Red said lightly. He suddenly turned to Gyarados, his voice sharp. "Use Hyper Beam. On Sabrina."

"What?!" Her father looked at Red in horror, not understanding his intent. But his body moved on pure instinct. He rushed in front of his daughter without a second thought, determined to shield her with his own body.

"Dad…"

Sabrina's eyes widened as she recognized the man standing before her. Even after she had been so cold, so distant, her father still came forward to protect her. A warmth she hadn't felt in years began to melt the ice around her heart.

"Boss, what are you doing?!" Gengar demanded, furious. Hadn't it just made her laugh?

"I don't need others to tell me what to do," Red said coldly, signaling Gyarados to attack.

Golden energy particles gathered in the great beast's mouth, and a beam of pure destruction shot forward. Sabrina's father stood his ground, trying to summon a psychic shield, but his power was nullified by Red's interference.

"Damn it!" Gengar said angrily, preparing to use its own move to dissipate the blast.

Just as the Hyper Beam was about to connect, Red's eyes glowed blue. He used his own psychic power to swap their positions in an instant. The beam struck the spot where they had been standing, piercing a bottomless pit in the floor and shaking the entire gym.

"My father left home when I was little, so it's hard for me to understand what paternal love feels like," Red explained calmly to Sabrina. "Now you should understand the warmth of family, right? Psychic power is just a tool to protect yourself and your loved ones. It's not something to be addicted to."

The warmth of family memories, long abandoned, surged back into her mind. The enlightened Sabrina slowly put down the doll in her hands. It floated in mid-air, smiled at her, and waved goodbye. From the beginning, the doll had been a reflection of her lonely inner world. Now, seeing Sabrina find herself again, it gradually disappeared from sight.

At the same time, the doll that was Sabrina's mother transformed back into a human. Seeing her beloved daughter return to normal, she looked at Red with immense gratitude, then rushed to embrace Sabrina and her husband.

"Thank you, young man. It is your appearance that has allowed our family to be reunited," her father said gratefully, finally understanding what Red had meant by "act according to the situation."

"It's nothing. I'm used to being the bad guy," Red said calmly. But Gengar, floating beside him, sensed the loneliness in his master's heart—a loneliness that subconsciously manifested as cold arrogance.

(So that's it… no wonder every one of his Pokémon has that same hint of pride…)

Having seen the bonds between countless trainers and Pokémon, Gengar naturally understood that a Pokémon is often a reflection of its master.

(Perhaps I was wrong about him…)

Gengar floated obediently behind Red, its defiant attitude gone. The change significantly improved the Blood-Red Gyarados's impression of the newcomer.

"Thank you. If it weren't for your efforts, Sabrina wouldn't have recovered so quickly," Sabrina's mother said, holding her daughter's hand as she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Red. Although she couldn't speak as a doll, she had sensed everything that happened on the battlefield through her own psychic power.

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad…" Sabrina cried, regretting how selfish she had been, indulging in her powers to the point of driving away the warmth of her family.

"To know your mistakes is a great improvement," Red said unexpectedly. Gengar, ever the troublemaker, floated up beside him. "Yo! So our boss is a man of culture after all!"

BANG—

The teasing ghost was sent flying into a wall by Gyarados's Iron Tail, the impact spiderwebbing the concrete.

'Newbie, you're still too arrogant!' the Blood-Red Gyarados said with a snort, its good impression instantly plummeting. It had thought Gengar might have changed, but it was still the same.

"Seriously, can't you take a joke?" the injured Gengar grumbled. The scene made Sabrina's family laugh, their joy and relief filling the damaged gym. They were grateful for the ghost's terrible jokes; without them, Sabrina's icy heart might never have opened up.

"This is the Marsh Badge you deserve," Sabrina said, stepping forward to hand Red the golden badge. She glanced away, her face flushed. "If… if it's possible, I hope you can stay by my side…"

After speaking, she retreated behind her parents, blushing, but still occasionally peeking out to observe Red's expression.

"I still have my own journey to take," Red said, politely declining her request. He looked up through the shattered ceiling at the blue sky above. "My journey won't end in the Kanto region. There are still many unsolved mysteries in this world that I need to explore for myself."

"It's normal for a boy to have lofty ambitions!" her father chuckled, telling both Red and Sabrina not to take her words too seriously. "I will always remember your help to our family. In the future, I would like to gift you a Psychic-type Pokémon with exceptional talent. I hope you will like it. When the time is right, I will contact you myself."

He exchanged contact information with Red's Pokédex, promising that the gifted Pokémon would definitely satisfy him.

***

(End of Chapter)

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