272 Charmeleon Returns To The Team

Thinking of his previous behavior and seeing his companions around him, Charmeleon lowered his head unconsciously.

"Pika pi!!"

Upon seeing this, Pikachu turned to Ash and growled softly. Ash glanced at Pikachu, then back at Charmeleon, and stepped forward to approach the Pokémon.

"Charmeleon, thank you for saving everyone!" Ash said sincerely as he stood in front of Charmeleon, who looked up at him in surprise.

The memory of Ash rescuing it resurfaced in Charmeleon's mind, causing its eyes to tremble slightly. Noticing this, Ash squatted down and pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. Charmeleon's expression shifted as it recognized its own Poké Ball.

"Are you still willing to join us?" Ash asked, enlarging the Poké Ball and holding it out to Charmeleon.

Although Ash wanted to train Charmeleon, he knew the final decision was not his to make. The choice rested entirely with Charmeleon.

"Pika pika!!" 

"Chaa!!" 

"Jen-ny jen-ny!!"

At that moment, Pikachu and the other Pokémon made encouraging sounds, as if urging Charmeleon to rejoin the team. Looking at Ash and his companions, Charmeleon felt deeply moved. Its eyes grew misty with emotion.

Charmeleon had longed for Ash and his friends to accept it again, but it hadn't expected such a heartfelt gesture from them. This realization strengthened Charmeleon's resolve, and its moist eyes began to gleam with determination.

"Roaaar!!"

Charmeleon let out a low roar and tapped the Poké Ball in Ash's hand. The button activated, and a red light flashed, drawing Charmeleon inside.

Previously, Ash had not released Charmeleon from its Poké Ball like Paul often did with his Pokémon, so there was no rejection when Charmeleon was captured again. This Poké Ball had always been Charmander's.

"Even though I've said this before, I'll say it again: please take care of me, Charmeleon!" Ash declared with a smile as he held up the Poké Ball. He pressed the button to release Charmeleon. With a flash, Charmeleon reappeared, and the Pokémon eagerly crowded around it, welcoming it back to the team.

"This is wonderful!" Misty exclaimed, deeply moved by the scene. Though she hadn't experienced the journey herself, she could feel the bond between Pokémon and Trainer.

"I told you before—Ash would never give up on his Pokémon," Brock said with a knowing smile. He had doubted before but now fully understood Ash's steadfastness.

"Alright! To celebrate Charmeleon's return, I'm making a hearty breakfast today!" Brock declared enthusiastically, flexing his arm.

"I'll help too!" Misty chimed in, clearly excited.

"Everyone, let's pitch in!" Ash said, turning to the Pokémon.

"Pika pii!"

"Axew!"

"Squirtle!"

The Pokémon responded eagerly.

The camp became a hub of activity as the three Trainers and their Pokémon worked together to prepare breakfast. It was hard to believe they had recently been through a tough battle. The peaceful atmosphere now seemed like a reward.

After breakfast, Ash resumed training with his Pokémon.

Perhaps inspired by Charmeleon's return, the other Pokémon trained with renewed enthusiasm. They reflected on how they could improve, remembering how Charmeleon, despite its past doubts about their strength, had developed a new move during their absence. This realization spurred them to push themselves even harder, motivated by Charmeleon's talent and determination.

As for Charmeleon, although it had already mastered Fire Pledge, it eagerly sought Ash's help to train and grow even stronger upon rejoining the team. It was clear that the recent events had deeply influenced Charmeleon, driving it to surpass its limits.

Charmeleon's training exceeded expectations as it quickly learned new moves. However, Ash ensured it didn't focus on acquiring too many skills at once, instead emphasizing strategic growth. One of the techniques Ash aimed for Charmeleon to learn was Thunder Punch, a melee Electric-type move. Despite not being an Electric-type Pokémon, Ash knew that Charmeleon could master this skill. 

Currently, Charmeleon's inability to fly posed a disadvantage against Flying-type Pokémon. While this disadvantage wasn't due to a type mismatch, it was physical—similar to the dynamics of survival in the ancient dinosaur era. Even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex had natural enemies, whereas pterosaurs, with their ability to fly, remained dominant for millions of years until their extinction. Flying gave Pokémon a natural advantage, even against those without type weaknesses. 

For Charmeleon, mastering an Electric-type move like Thunder Punch would help neutralize Flying-type adversaries and also provide an edge against Water-types, which are a significant threat to Fire-types. Ash's strategic thinking mirrored his training of Gyarados to use Flamethrower—a skill outside its usual type.

Ash started Charmeleon's training by asking Pikachu to demonstrate and help Charmeleon sense the power of thunder and lightning. He guided Charmeleon to channel this energy into its palm. The initial challenge was for Charmeleon to understand and control the Discharge of electricity. This process was particularly demanding since Charmeleon wasn't naturally aligned with Electric energy. The training involved comprehending Discharge mechanics and learning to generate power through electricity gradually.

The training progressed smoothly, albeit with considerable effort. By the end of the day, Ash and his Pokémon returned to camp, exhausted but satisfied with their achievements. Charmeleon's progress was promising, and other Pokémon had significant breakthroughs as well. 

The dark Pokémon and Pikachu both perfected their moves—Dark Pulse and Thunderbolt, respectively. Squirtle, Axew, and Pidgeotto also showed notable improvements. Squirtle was now able to release a beam of light, though its strength still needed enhancement. Axew had made progress with its Double Claw technique, a rapid version of Dragon Claw executed with both hands. Pidgeotto improved its aerial balance, especially during sharp turns, though its accuracy still required work.

Ash decided not to push Charmeleon to fully master Thunder punch immediately. Instead, he considered the progress made as sufficient for the day, especially given Charmeleon's achievement in learning Fire Pledge—a move that would play a critical role in future strategies. Training would continue, ensuring Charmeleon was prepared for the challenges ahead.