Chapter 19: Charmander in the Storm
"It's all your fault! Entei ran away—how are you going to compensate me?"
The little girl who had just been saved by Ash and the other trainer still carried an inexplicable confidence.
"Two mistakes." Ash raised two fingers. "First, you can challenge a Legendary Pokémon, but it's obvious you and I are both newbies on the same level. There was no chance of us defeating Entei.
So there is no such thing as me owing you an Entei.
Second, if not for me and that guy over there, you'd probably be in the hospital with serious injuries right now. Saying thank you is basic manners."
"Hmph… not fun at all."
The girl puffed her cheeks, then reluctantly lowered her head.
"Fine… thank you for saving me."
"No problem." Ash smiled gently.
"But thanking you is thanking you—the unfinished battle with Entei now counts against you."
The girl gave a sly grin, looking first at Ash, then at the brown-green-haired boy beside him.
"And you're the second one."
"Heh, I don't mind."
Ash couldn't help laughing. He didn't expect this girl to be even more of a battle-maniac than he was.
She seemed like the type to fight anyone she met~
"Hehehe! I'm Verity from Twinleaf Town! Battle me!"
She pointed at Ash, full of spirit.
[TL: For those who dont know, she's a companion that appeared in the 'I choose you' movie.]
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town. I accept your challenge."
Ash nodded.
The brown-green-haired boy rolled his eyes and started to leave.
"Hey! Don't run! You're next!" Verity shouted anxiously.
"Let me give you two a piece of advice."
The boy turned around.
"It's about to rain. You'd better find shelter soon.
And by the way, my name is Sorrel, not 'hey'."
Leaving those words behind, he walked away without looking back.
Ash and Verity exchanged a look.
"Still battling?" Ash shrugged.
"Of course! We'll finish before worrying about anything else!"
Her determination made Ash smile—she felt strangely familiar.
"All right then, let's go."
Ash nodded.
"I'll use Piplup!"
Verity waved, and the little penguin Pokémon strutted forward proudly.
"Wow, this little thing sure has a lot of attitude." Ash laughed.
"Then I won't bully you—Squirtle, I choose you!"
Ash threw a Poké Ball, and Squirtle marched forward energetically.
"Piiip!"
Piplup puffed out its chest confidently, stepping right up to Squirtle.
"Squirtle?!"
Squirtle wouldn't be outdone. He pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on, puffing his chest out to push back.
Ash stared in disbelief.
Were these two playing street-thug intimidation games?
Competing over whose chest stuck out more?
Ash pulled out a coin and looked at Makoto.
"Street rules?"
"No problem!" Makoto nodded.
Ash flicked the coin upward—
clink! It hit the ground.
The battle began.
"Piplup, Peck attack!"
Verity didn't hold back—she even used a Flying-type skill!
Piplup darted forward and stabbed its sharp beak right at Squirtle's forehead.
"Withdraw!"
Ash reacted instantly, Squirtle's instincts flaring.
Whoosh!
Squirtle pulled head and limbs fully into its hard shell.
Thump!
Piplup's beak hit the shell, and tears welled in its eyes from the pain.
"Hehe—Squirtle, Tackle!" Ash followed up brightly.
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle shot out of his shell, slamming Piplup hard and sending it tumbling.
"P-Piplup…"
The little penguin kicked its tiny legs and finally scrambled back to its feet.
"Piplup! Regroup, then use Bubble Beam!"
Verity pressed on aggressively.
Ash rubbed his forehead.
"This style… did I used to battle like this? Squirtle—Withdraw again!"
Whoosh!
Squirtle hid in his shell once more.
Pop pop pop!!
The Bubble Beam splashed harmlessly against the shell.
"Aaagh! I can't stand you, you cowardly turtle! Fight me head-on if you dare!"
Verity exploded in frustration.
"Oh, okay."
Ash answered with exaggerated cuteness.
"Squirtle—Water Gun."
"Squirtle… PFFFT!!"
A powerful blast of water shot out instantly, splashing right across Piplup's face.
"PIP!?!"
The damage wasn't high, but the humiliation was enormous!
Piplup shook violently, furious, charging again with its beak glowing white.
"You're letting your temper take over—that's bad."
Ash sighed.
"Squirtle, Rapid Spin!"
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle expertly withdrew and spun at high speed.
BAM!
Piplup couldn't dodge in time and was sent flying by the rotating shell.
"Now! Finish it!"
Ash extended his hand—
A drop of rain hit his palm.
Then—
A downpour crashed down all at once.
"Ah! It's really pouring!"
Verity covered her head with both hands.
"Let's pause the match. We'll finish later."
Ash tucked Pikachu inside his jacket and recalled Squirtle.
"Agreed!"
Makoto recalled Piplup, and the two immediately started running to find shelter.
As the rain worsened, Ash lifted his backpack above Verity's head.
"Here, use this to cover yourself."
Verity blinked in surprise, then pouted slightly.
Didn't expect him to have some gentlemanly manners.
Her opinion of him improved… a tiny bit.
"What?" Ash turned, puzzled.
"Nothing, hurry!" Verity shook her head.
They ran along the mountain path—
Suddenly Ash skidded to a stop.
On a rock ahead, curled beneath a leaf, was a shaking little figure.
Thunder and wind whipped around it.
The small Pokémon hugged its tail tightly, and Ash couldn't tell whether the moisture on its face was rain… or tears.
"That's—Charmander!" Verity gasped.
Rain pounded harder and harder.
The flame on Charmander's tail flickered weakly, nearly extinguished, but the little Pokémon still clutched its leaf and stared steadfastly down the path.
The two approached.
Ash crouched beside it gently.
"Charmander… are you okay…?"
"This isn't right."
Makoto frowned deeply.
"The tail flame—symbol of a Charmander's life—it's tiny… dangerously tiny."
Suddenly—
"Chaa!"
Charmander's eyes lit up, and it stumbled forward desperately.
Ash turned.
A trainer with a Lycanroc (Midnight Form) was walking away briskly.
Charmander latched onto the man's leg, calling affectionately.
Verity exhaled in relief.
"Oh, so it does have a trainer."
Ash's expression hardened.
"I'm afraid… that's not it."
Is this the person who abandoned Charmander in this timeline?
Sure enough—
"You're still here? So annoying! Why haven't you left yet?!"
The man kicked backward.
Charmander, already weak, was thrown straight into a puddle.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
Ash exploded in anger.
Verity, furious as well, charged up beside him.
"Aren't you Charmander's trainer!? How could you do that?"
Verity shouted in disbelief.
"His trainer?"
The young man smirked.
"I used to be."
"What do you mean?"
Ash narrowed his eyes—his instincts told him this guy was worse than he'd imagined.
"This Charmander used to be mine. But it's too weak, so I dumped it."
He shrugged uncaringly.
"Didn't expect it to stick around like glue. Couldn't shake it off. So I told it to stay here and wait for me forever."
"WHAT?!"
Verity's eyes widened in outrage.
"Do you have any idea? Pokémon take those words seriously—they'll wait until they die! "
"So what?"
The man scoffed.
"A weak little Charmander like this might as well die. No one needs it."
"Hey…"
Ash stepped forward slowly.
"Huh? What no—"
WHAM!
Ash's fist hit him square in the face.
(Ash: o(#￣▽￣)==O))￣0￣")o!)
"W-Wha—!!"
The Lycanroc snarled, leaping at Ash.
SLAP!
Before Verity or the man could react, Ash caught its claw—with one hand.
"You punk—!"
The man stared in shock.
"Tch… I thought your Lycanroc would be strong."
Ash flicked the Pokémon's paw aside dismissively.
Lycanroc, being shoved aside by a human, went berserk, baring its teeth as it prepared to lunge again.
Ash turned sharply, voice commanding:
"Pathetic creature. Stand down!"
His piercing glare cut through the air.
Lycanroc whimpered, tail tucked between its legs, and backed away.
"What do you want?!"
The man's hand hovered over his belt, ready to throw a Poké Ball at any moment.
Ash only smiled lightly.
He lifted Charmander from the puddle—
The little one was heartbroken, limp, unable even to resist.
"Relax. I just want to ask—
This Charmander… have you really abandoned it?"
Ash smiled confidently.
"I believe it'll be strong one day. I bet you'll regret this."
"Hah!"
The man regained his arrogance.
"You clearly haven't seen truly powerful Fire-types.
Even if it evolves into Charizard someday, it'll never amount to anything.
Mark my words—
Even if I die here, even if I jump off Mt. Silver, I won't regret it!"
Ash gestured politely.
"Then, have a nice life. Don't let me see you again."
"Psycho!"
The man cursed and stormed off with Lycanroc.
Ash held Charmander close, sighing softly.
"It's okay now… Rest.
You're safe."
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
As I thought this timeline is a mix of I Choos You + Adventures Manga..for now that is.