Chapter 25: Charmander

Chapter 25: Charmander

One day, Brock, Ash, Misty, Daisy, and Melanie's group had just emerged from the forest and were heading towards Vermilion City. They found themselves on an unnamed mountain. To be precise, Brock's group was lost again.

As they were walking, they spotted a huge silhouette and thought it was a giant Pokémon sleeping. Frightened by the enormous figure, Brock, Ash, Misty, Daisy, and Melanie approached it slowly and cautiously.

Reaching a small hilltop, they saw a reddish, very cute Charmander sitting there. Seeing it was a Charmander, Brock said, "Oh, it's just a Charmander!" Hearing Brock, the others also looked towards the Charmander.

Ash looked at the Charmander and asked, "Is that a wild Charmander? If it is, I'm going to catch it!" Just after saying this, he called to Pikachu at his leg, "Pikachu, let's start the battle!" Hearing Ash, Pikachu's cheeks sparked with small trickles of electricity, showing its readiness to battle.

Brock looked at the Charmander, then quickly turned to Ash and said, "Ash, wait a second! That might be a Pokémon that already has a trainer!" After speaking to Ash, Brock turned to Meowth at his feet and said, "Meowth, go ask that Charmander if it has a trainer!"

Hearing Brock, Meowth walked over beside the Charmander and spoke to it, "Meow~ Meow~". Charmander heard Meowth and replied weakly, in a small voice, "Char~ Mander~". Listening to Charmander, Meowth nodded and said, "I understand."

After hearing Charmander, Meowth walked back beside Brock and reported, "Brock! This Charmander does have a trainer."

Before Meowth could finish, Ash interrupted, "Aw, what a shame! I finally run into the Charmander I've always dreamed of, and it actually has a trainer!" Ash sighed, "Aghh."

Hearing Ash interrupt, Meowth said, "Ash! Can you not interrupt me? Meowth wasn't finished talking! I heard from Charmander that its trainer is a boy who wears a necktie. He left Charmander here, telling it to wait here for him, and that he would come back to get it. But Charmander said it's been waiting here for several days, and its trainer hasn't come back for it yet."

Hearing Meowth's explanation, Ash said, "Since it has a trainer, let's just keep going then!" Ash really did sling his backpack on and start walking, casually calling out, "Pikachu, let's go!"

Seeing Ash about to leave, Brock called out, "Wait a minute, Ash! Slow down! You might still be able to catch that Charmander!"

Hearing Brock, Ash stopped his already raised foot and walked back. He came up beside Brock and asked excitedly, "Brock, are you serious?!"

"Ash, calm down. Yes, I'm serious. Look at the flame on this Charmander's tail; it's very weak. It probably hasn't eaten in days, causing its stamina to become feeble. And its trainer hasn't come back for it after several days. It's likely been abandoned. If you don't believe me, you can try catching it," Brock explained from the side.

Hearing Brock, Ash really did take out a Poké Ball and threw it at the Charmander. As a result, Charmander was sucked inside. But the light on the Poké Ball only flashed a few times before Charmander popped back out. Seeing this, Ash said, "Brock, you were right! It seems it *was* abandoned! How should I catch it then?!"

Having just popped out of the Poké Ball, Charmander collapsed, panting heavily. Melanie looked at the Charmander and said, "Brock, this Charmander seems to be sick!"

Hearing Melanie, Brock also looked at the collapsed Charmander and said, "Melanie, you're right. This Charmander is sick, and quite seriously too."

Hearing Brock and Melanie's conversation, Misty asked worriedly, "Brock, what should we do about this Charmander then?"

Daisy also added with concern, "Yes, Brock! Please think of a way to help this Charmander!"

Hearing Melanie and the others, Ash asked uncertainly, "So... should I still try to catch Charmander or not?"

Hearing Ash, Brock said, "Ash, hold on. Let me think of a way to treat Charmander's illness first." Brock took out a map, looked at it, and said, "There's a Pokémon Center ahead. We can take Charmander there for treatment! But... how should we get Charmander there? Trying to capture it might make it resist, and that could worsen its condition."

After speaking, Brock started thinking again. Suddenly, he looked down at Meowth by his feet and got an idea. He crouched down and whispered a few words into Meowth's ear. Meowth listened while nodding and replied, "I understand." Brock then stood up.

Having heard Brock, Meowth walked over to Charmander's side and spoke to it for a moment, "Meow meow~ Meow meow~". Then, Charmander and Meowth walked together over to Brock's side.

Ash, Misty, Daisy, and Melanie watched this happen and asked together, "Brock, what did you have Meowth say to Charmander?"

Hearing their question, Brock pulled Ash and the others aside and answered quietly, "This is what I did: I had Meowth tell Charmander that its trainer is waiting at the Pokémon Center up ahead, and that I would take it there to find its trainer. I didn't expect that trick to work so well!" Just as Brock finished saying this, he thought, _Why does this feel a bit like luring a small child?..._

Hearing Brock's explanation, Ash and the others thought, _Damn it, even that works?! I give up!_ Then, Brock and the group, now accompanied by Charmander, headed towards the Pokémon Center ahead.

After walking for a while, Brock and the group spotted the Pokémon Center in the distance and quickly ran towards it and inside.

Just as they entered the Pokémon Center, they saw Nurse Joy standing behind the counter, asking other trainers if she could help them with anything. Seeing Nurse Joy, Brock and the others immediately rushed over. Brock said to Nurse Joy, "Nurse Joy, please treat this Charmander!"

Nurse Joy looked at the Charmander by Brock's side. Charmander's eyes were blurry and unfocused, and its whole body was burning hot. Seeing this, Nurse Joy immediately called for Chansey to take Charmander to an emergency room. Then she turned angrily towards Brock's group and scolded, "This Charmander is seriously ill! Why did you only bring it here now?! What kind of trainers are you?!"

Hearing Nurse Joy, Brock's group began explaining. Brock recounted the entire sequence of events. After hearing Brock's explanation, Nurse Joy apologized, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I misunderstood you all! I will definitely do my best to treat Charmander!" After speaking, Nurse Joy hurried into the treatment room to care for Charmander.

Seeing Nurse Joy go to treat Charmander, Brock and the others walked together into the Pokémon Center's lobby. There, they saw three young boys chatting.

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