Chapter 39. The Abandoned Charmander
Route 24, the group hurried along.
Rumble—
A crash of thunder dragged a wavering, gigantic silhouette across their path.
"It appeared! It's the giant Pokémon Natsume wants to study!"
Ash stopped, staring in shock at the flickering shadow.
"Idiot, over there!"
Misty patted Ash on the head and pointed ahead.
There was a tree stump there, and on top of it lay a Pokémon with a burning tail, all red and round-headed.
"It's a wild Charmander!" Brock blurted, a little stunned.
"Great, a Charmander!"
Ash looked excitedly at the Charmander lying on the dead wood and threw a Poké Ball.
"Grah—"
Charmander swept its tail and batted Ash's Poké Ball away.
"At least battle first, would you?"
The Honora walked over carrying big bags, and behind her Natsume yawned, looking relaxed and at ease.
"Fine, let's battle, Pikachu!"
Ash threw out his arm grandly, but Charmander just turned its head and stuck its rear toward him.
"This Charmander doesn't seem to want to battle," Brock said thoughtfully.
"Diplomat, go!"
Misty gripped Ash's Pikachu and center-parted by the scruffs of their necks and set the two Pikachu on the stump.
"Pikachu?"
"What are you doing?"
"Pikachu—"
"Is it comfortable sleeping here—"
"Charmander!"
"Waiting for my Trainer."
"Charmander—"
"It's pretty comfy."
"Pikachu?"
"Waiting for your Trainer?"
"Pikachu—"
"Get up and let me sleep."
"Pikachu!"
Ash's Pikachu tapped center-parted on the head, and center-parted hopped off the stump clutching his head, aggrieved.
Watching the two little ones start "talking," Natsume rubbed his chin.
Mm… he had considered making a universal Pokémon translation–transcription program.
But there are too many species of Pokémon, and translating each one would take enormous effort.
Unless there were a being fluent in all Pokémon languages as well as human speech to assist him.
Natsume suddenly thought of Meowth—come to think of it, there was still a B-rank project on him.
After a moment, Ash's Pikachu hopped down from the stump and began gesturing to everyone.
"Oh, you're saying it's waiting here for its Trainer!"
"So this Charmander has an owner."
Natsume couldn't understand how Ash and the others got the gist of the conversation just from Pikachu's gestures.
He reached around behind Charmander in silence.
"Natsume, put down your brick, it belongs to someone!"
Ash suddenly wrapped his arms around Natsume's forearm.
"What if its Trainer abandoned it? It's about to rain."
Natsume glanced at Ash, who had stopped him.
"Natsume makes a lot of sense. That's possible," Brock nodded, somewhat agreeing.
"But… taking someone else's Pokémon like this isn't very good after all. If its owner comes back and can't find Charmander, they'll be anxious."
A worried look crossed Misty's face.
"Forget it. Let's do this."
Natsume spoke as he took two small pills from his pocket and set them before Charmander.
"Char…?"
Charmander looked at Natsume curiously.
"Listen up."
Natsume pointed at the blue pill.
"Follow this road and there's a Pokémon Center."
"If you want to live, swallow this blue pill and then come find us there."
"If you don't want to live…"
Natsume's eyes darkened; his delicate features looked distinctly persuasive.
"Then swallow this red pill."
"Char…?"
Charmander stared at Natsume, puzzled.
"All right, let's go. It'll choose on its own."
Natsume clapped his hands, stood up, and prepared to head for the Pokémon Center on Route 24.
"What, Natsume, you're making it sound so serious."
Misty couldn't help grumbling on the side.
Natsume waved his hand and walked ahead.
On the principle that if an "experiment" can succeed, he absolutely, absolutely must not suddenly improvise, Natsume ultimately chose not to forcefully take this Charmander away.
Route 24, Pokémon Center.
The group sat at a table, all taking a breather.
"Your dinners."
Natsume carried several set meals and handed them out one by one.
"Brock, what's wrong? You've looked preoccupied ever since we came in."
"I'm worried about that Charmander. From what I saw, it seemed to be injured."
Brock's face was heavy as he absent-mindedly sipped the soup in his bowl.
"And it looks like it's about to rain."
Natsume pointed outside, adding to the point.
"Right. The flame on a Charmander's tail mustn't go out. If it does, its life is in danger."
The Honora lifted her teacup gracefully, took a sip, and explained unhurriedly.
"Well, maybe we don't need to be so pessimistic. Maybe Charmander's Trainer already came to pick it up."
Misty took a sip of orange juice, though worry flickered faintly in her eyes.
"Hahahaha!"
From a table not far away came a burst of wild laughter.
They turned to see a group of young men dressed like rowdy punks, making a ruckus without caring about anyone else.
"Hey, Daisuke, you caught so many Pokémon. You're amazing!"
"Hmph, of course. Rattata, Pidgeotto… I've got them all!"
Before the flattered Daisuke sat a plate piled high with Poké Balls.
"Daisuke, where's your Charmander? Why isn't it with you?"
Someone seemed to realize something and asked curiously.
"That Charmander…"
Daisuke's face turned disdainful.
"A Charmander with talent that awful? I don't want a Pokémon like that!"
"But Daisuke, wasn't that Charmander pretty obedient?" someone said, a little regretfully moved.
"Hahaha, it was obedient!"
Daisuke seemed to recall something funny, a smug look crossing his face.
"Let me tell you, I tricked that Charmander. I told it if it waited at one place, I'd come get it. I figure, I figure—"
Daisuke laughed so hard he was gasping, and only after a while did he catch his breath.
"I figure it'll wait there until it dies. Hahahaha— Uh, what are you doing!"
Before he could finish, Brock grabbed him by the collar and yanked him up.
"You bastard! Charmander really could die!"
"What's that got to do with me?"
Daisuke slapped Brock's hand away—only to be hoisted up again the next second.
"Scum like you don't deserve to have Pokémon!"
This time it was Ash.
He lifted Daisuke one-handed, and because he used too much force, the sound of tearing cloth followed a second later.
Riiip—
Daisuke's collar tore clean off in Ash's hand, and he fell flat on the floor.
"You wanna fight?"
Daisuke sprang up in a rage and reached for the Poké Balls on the table.
"Huh?"
His hand grabbed at air.
He looked down at the tabletop.
"Who stole my Pokémon!!!"
Daisuke shrieked.
The plate that had been piled high with Poké Balls was completely empty.
"Pikachu!"
Ash's Pikachu hopped to his side, and Daisuke—who lacked the nerve—blanched.
"You just wait!"
He spat a threat and scrambled out of the Pokémon Center on hands and feet.
Not far away, Nurse Joy looked troubled as the cool-eyed Honora blocked her path.
"Miss Honora, there can't be any disturbances at the Pokémon Center. I should stop this kind of thing."
"It's not like I could really stop you," the Honora said, giving Joy a glance.
"Heh-heh."
Joy covered her mouth, then added:
"And don't forget, Miss Honora—don't short me on the medicine reimbursement you mentioned."
Joy was in a great mood now.
Those punks leeching off League treatment subsidies under the title of "Trainer" had always annoyed her.
Now that someone had taught him a lesson, it was perfect—and the Honora had even promised her a year's worth of free medicine.
"I think you should hurry and save that Charmander," Joy said from behind the Honora, reminding the group.
"Right, let's head out!"
"Okay—Natsume, could you… Natsume?"
Ash froze for a beat and realized Natsume was gone.
"I'll go find Mr. Natsume. You go on ahead," the Honora waved to the others.
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