Chapter 26: Catching Charmander - Part 1
Chapter 26: Catching Charmander - Part 1
"Brother Damian, you're really amazing! You have so many Pokémon!" the boy on the far left said, looking enviously at the many Poké Balls on the table.
Then, the boy on the far right asked doubtfully, "Brother Damian, but you don't have a Charmander!"
The boy in the middle (Damian) heard them and replied, "Of course I had one! I just abandoned it. It couldn't even beat a Water-type Poliwag! Utterly pathetic!"
The boy on the far right asked curiously, "Brother Damian, where did you abandon that Charmander?"
The boy in the middle answered, "I dumped that Charmander on a mountain somewhere. I told it to wait there for me, that I'd come back. It even foolishly wagged its tail seeing me off!" After saying this, the boy started laughing scornfully. Seeing the middle boy laugh, the boys on the left and right joined in, laughing loudly too.
Hearing their conversation, Brock furiously stormed over, intending to grab the boy in the middle. He tugged at the boy's clothes and demanded, "What kind of trainer are you?! Do you have any idea that because of your words, a Pokémon almost died?! Luckily, I brought that Charmander here for treatment! When Charmander recovers, you are going to apologize to it!"
The boy pushed Brock's hand away and arrogantly declared, "This is my business! It's none of your concern! You want me to apologize to Charmander? No way! I am the dignified grandson of an elder from the Oak clan! Damian Oak, apologizing to a Pokémon? What a joke! You just grabbed my clothes and looked like you wanted to hit me! You're dead meat!" After speaking, the boy stormed out of the Pokémon Center. Seeing Damian leave, the other two boys quickly followed him out.
Brock watched the boys leave the Pokémon Center, then thought, _Ooh, the grandson of an Oak clan elder? So scary! I'd like to see what he can actually do to me._
Ash and the others witnessed this scene and walked over beside Brock.
"Brock, those guys are horrible! Abandoning Charmander like that... It's a good thing we brought Charmander back," Misty said, looking towards the Pokémon Center entrance.
"Brock, what will happen when Charmander finds out its trainer abandoned it?" Ash asked worriedly.
Hearing Ash and Misty, Brock replied, "Ash, don't worry. Let's wait until Charmander wakes up before saying anything. Why don't you guys go check if Charmander has woken up yet? I need to go make a phone call." After speaking, Brock went to find a paid telephone booth in the Pokémon Center. Hearing Brock, Ash and the others went together to the recovery room to check on Charmander.
---
In a manor somewhere in the Sinnoh region, a woman in her twenties held a package, muttering, "I wonder... what kind of apology gift did Uncle Flint send?" Indeed, the young woman was the Champion of the Sinnoh region, Cynthia.
Cynthia opened the package and found a Pokémon Egg and a Poké Ball containing a Pokémon. Looking at the egg, Cynthia recognized it as a Larvitar egg. Then, she took the Poké Ball and released the Pokémon inside. An Aerodactyl emerged from the Poké Ball! Seeing the Aerodactyl before her, Cynthia thought, _Uncle Flint... this gift certainly didn't disappoint me._ Cynthia recalled the Aerodactyl and put both the Poké Ball and the Pokémon Egg away safely.
---
In the lobby of the Vermilion City Pokémon Center, a teenage girl sat on a sofa, idly tapping the sofa with her small hand while muttering under her breath, "I've been waiting for days, and I haven't even seen a shadow of that bastard Brock! When I finally see him, I'll definitely make him pay!" Yes, the girl was Giselle, waiting for Brock in Vermilion City.
---
On a certain mountain nearby, three boys were gathered. One of them was on a cellphone, making a call.
"Grandpa! Someone bullied me! You have to get revenge for me!" the boy on the phone said, exaggerating the story to the person on the other end. Indeed, these were the same three boys who had just left the Pokémon Center.
The person on the other end of the phone heard the boy's words and said angrily, "Who dares bully my grandson?! I'll make them pay! Damian! Tell me the location! I'll send people over immediately to help you!"
After hearing his grandfather, Damian Oak hung up the phone. Then he laughed menacingly and said to the other two boys, "Just wait! My grandpa is sending people over! Let's go get our revenge and settle the score! I'll definitely make that guy kowtow and apologize to me! And then... I'll kill him! Who told him to grab my clothes?!" Damian Oak finished speaking and burst into maniacal laughter.
Hearing Damian, the other two boys started flattering him, "Brother Damian is brilliant!" After saying this, they also joined in the laughter.
Inside a paid telephone booth at the Pokémon Center, only one young man was on the phone. Yes, this young man was our protagonist, Brock. Brock still had no idea that because he had grabbed that boy's clothes, a conspiracy was now waiting for him!
Brock dialed the number and placed the call. It connected after just a few rings. A middle-aged man in a suit appeared on the phone's screen. It was Brock's father, Flint.
Seeing Flint on the screen, Brock said, "Dad! Long time no talk! How's the person I sent over doing?"
Flint on the other end replied, "You mean AJ? Not bad. Hardworking and endures hardship. I just don't know about his loyalty yet. Son, is this kid AJ reliable?"
Brock told Flint everything about meeting AJ. "...That's all I know."
Hearing Brock, Flint thought for a moment and said, "Then let's give that kid AJ a little test. If he passes, we can try entrusting him with more responsibility. How does that sound, son? Oh, right! I almost forgot! Son, didn't you meet a girl named Giselle at Pokémon Tech? And you told her about a certain secret training method?"
Hearing Flint, Brock nodded repeatedly and replied, "Yeah, that's right! What's wrong, Dad? Is something the matter?"
Hearing Brock confirm, Flint told Brock everything (about Cynthia's call), then asked doubtfully, "Brock... you didn't use that method yourself, did you?!"
"I didn't use it," Brock answered.
Flint on the screen heard Brock's reply, sighed with relief, and said, "Good, as long as you didn't use it. The weight in my heart can finally be put down." Flint also thought, _Since Brock didn't use that method, I can rest assured. I already told the clan elders I intend to compete for the position of clan head. Now that Brock is fine, I can go to Mt. Elite Four with peace of mind, raise my level and strength there, and then properly compete for clan head._
"Dad? Dad? What's wrong?" Brock called out, seeing his dad spacing out on the screen.
Hearing Brock, Flint snapped back to reality and replied, "I'm fine, Brock. Do you need anything else? If not, I'm hanging up. I have things to attend to!"
"Dad, do you know Damian Oak from the Oak clan? He annoyed me today," Brock quickly said, looking at Flint on the screen.
Hearing Brock, Flint thought for a moment and replied, "Brock, there's been too much going on lately... I forget. Let me check some information first, then I'll tell you!" After saying this, Flint walked away from the screen again.
Seeing his dad walk away again, Brock hung up the phone. Then he went to find Ash and the others.
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