Ash: A Pokémon Tale

Hey everyone, it's me. I want to apologize for not uploading the new chapter last month. I was in my village, and unfortunately, the network there is quite poor, plus there were frequent power outages. Now that I'm back in the city, I'll be uploading regularly again.

Thank you all for your understanding!

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Ash, Misty, and Brock approached a charming wooden cabin tucked away in the heart of the forest. Surrounding it were vibrant meadows where Pokémon roamed freely. Rattata darted between the grass blades, Butterfree danced gracefully in the air, and a pair of Oddish twirled near a patch of colorful flowers. In the midst of it all, a young woman sat peacefully, surrounded by the Pokémon as she fed and played with them.

Noticing the approaching trio, she stood up, her movements calm and measured, and walked toward them with a friendly yet composed demeanor.

"Hello," she greeted, her voice gentle but steady. "May I ask who you are and what brings you here?"

Before Misty could answer, Brock sprang into action. In an instant, he was at the woman's feet, kneeling as though summoned by fate, holding out a bouquet of flowers that seemed to appear from thin air.

"Are you a Pikachu? Because you're shockingly beautiful!" he declared, his tone dripping with theatrical sincerity.

Misty groaned, immediately grabbing Brock by the ear and dragging him back. "Cut it out, Romeo!" she scolded, her voice sharp but her expression apologetic as she turned to the woman. "Sorry about him. He's...persistent. What's your name?"

The woman chuckled softly, amused by the scene. "It's alright. My name is Melanie," she said. "I take care of the Pokémon here."

"Melanie," Brock sighed dreamily, his romantic enthusiasm undeterred. "Such a beautiful name for someone so—"

"Don't even start," Misty interrupted, shooting him a warning look before refocusing on Melanie. "So, are all these Pokémon wild?"

Melanie's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of quiet sadness. "Yes, they are. They've all been abandoned by their trainers."

Misty's eyes widened, and her fists clenched in frustration. "What? That's horrible! How could anyone do that to these poor Pokémon?"

Melanie nodded solemnly. "It happens more often than you'd think. Some trainers can't handle the responsibility, while others lose interest. I take them in, care for them, and help them heal. My hope is that they can eventually find happiness—whether it's here or with someone new who truly cares for them."

Brock, unusually serious for a moment, chimed in, "That's incredible, Melanie. You're giving them hope and a second chance." Then, with a grin, he couldn't resist adding, "Not to mention, you're as kind as you are beautiful!"

Melanie gave him a polite smile before turning back to Misty, clearly more focused on the conversation. "So, what brings you three to this part of the forest?"

Misty hesitated, glancing around at the Pokémon. "Well, we were hoping to catch some Pokémon...but after hearing their stories, I'm not so sure anymore."

Melanie's expression softened. "You can still try, as long as the Pokémon are willing. My goal is for them to find peace—whether that's here or with trainers who will truly care for them."

Misty nodded thoughtfully, her anger giving way to admiration for Melanie's compassion. She turned to ask Ash what he thought, only to realize he was no longer standing where he had been moments ago.

"Where's Ash?" she asked, glancing around.

Brock, now surrounded by a small group of Pidgey that he was feeding, looked up and shrugged. "He was right here. He probably wandered off again."

Misty sighed, her annoyance evident. "Of course, he did. Typical Ash!"

"Relax," Brock said with a grin, waving her off. "He'll turn up. You know how he is—always curious about everything."

"I'm not worried!" Misty snapped, though the faint edge of concern in her voice suggested otherwise. Huffing, she turned back to Melanie, determined to focus on the conversation.

Meanwhile, Ash wandered deeper into the forest, the rustle of leaves and the chirping of wild Pokémon surrounding him. His Aura sensing abilities picked up a disturbance nearby—a chaotic mix of fear, pain, and aggression.

Frowning, he quickened his pace, following the disturbance until he emerged into a small clearing. Before him was an intense standoff: a determined Bulbasaur stood protectively in front of an injured Machop, shielding it from a boy with a cruel sneer on his face. The boy, wielding two Pokémon—a Nidoking and a Fearow—was barking orders, commanding his Pokémon to attack the two defenseless creatures.

"You're just a stupid Pokémon!" the boy sneered, pointing at the trembling Machop. "You belong to me, and you'll listen whether you like it or not!"

Ash's frown deepened as he watched the boy, his arrogance grating on him. The voice, the attitude—it felt strangely familiar. As the boy's words echoed in his mind, Ash's eyes narrowed in recognition. This was the Charmander trainer from the anime.

Stepping forward, Ash called out, his voice steady and commanding. "Hey," he said, drawing the boy's attention. "What do you think you're doing?"

The boy whipped around, his face twisted in irritation. "Who are you, and why do you care? This is none of your business!" he snapped.

Ash's calm gaze swept over the scene, lingering on the injured Machop and the brave Bulbasaur shielding it. "It's my business when I see someone bullying Pokémon. If that Machop is really yours, why don't you just recall it to its Poké Ball?"

The boy's scowl deepened, and he kicked at the dirt. "I would, but the stupid ball broke! So now I have to teach it a lesson. Either way, it's mine!"

Ash's voice grew sharper. "That Machop doesn't look like it wants anything to do with you. Why don't you leave before this gets worse?"

The boy's lips curled into a sneer. "And who's going to stop me? You? Let's see how tough you really are. Nidoking! Fearow! Teach him a lesson!"

The towering Nidoking and Fearow lunged forward, roaring in unison. Ash didn't flinch. Pikachu, already perched on his shoulder, leapt down, sparks crackling from his cheeks.

"Let's show them how we handle bullies, Pikachu," Ash said firmly. "Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu unleashed a blinding surge of electricity, the bolt striking both Nidoking and Fearow with precision. The clearing lit up briefly before the two Pokémon collapsed to the ground, knocked out cold.

The boy stumbled back in shock, his bravado crumbling. "What the—?! You'll pay for this!" He fumbled for another Poké Ball, but Ash's icy voice froze him in his tracks.

"Hey," Ash said, his tone low and dangerous. "I heard you had a Charmander."

The boy paused, then smirked cruelly. "Oh, that little pest? I ditched it earlier. It was too weak and stubborn to listen, kept following me for miles. So, I told it I'd come back for it and left it there." He laughed mockingly. "Bet it's still sitting there like the pathetic runt it is."

The words barely left his mouth before Ash's fist connected with his face, sending him sprawling against a tree. The boy groaned, clutching his jaw as Ash stood over him, fists clenched and eyes blazing.

"You're a disgrace," Ash muttered, his voice cutting like ice. He turned away, exhaling deeply to calm himself, and knelt beside the Bulbasaur and Machop.

Bulbasaur was still tense, vines raised defensively. Ash held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "It's okay," he said gently. "I'm here to help."

Bulbasaur hesitated, its eyes searching his face. Slowly, it lowered its vines, letting out a cautious "Bulba?"

Ash smiled reassuringly. "You did great protecting your friend. Now, let me take care of both of you."

He pulled a potion from his bag and carefully sprayed it over Machop's wounds. The Fighting-type flinched but quickly began to relax as the potion took effect. Ash turned to Bulbasaur, who watched him warily but allowed him to treat a few scratches.

"There," Ash said softly, standing up once both Pokémon were patched up. "You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you anymore."

Bulbasaur and Machop exchanged glances, their expressions softening as they looked at Ash. Bulbasaur stepped forward, its gaze steady and filled with curiosity.

Ash knelt back down, meeting its eyes. "You're strong and brave," he said with a smile. "But you don't have to do this alone anymore."

Bulbasaur let out a low, thoughtful "Bulba..." while Machop nodded faintly. The forest seemed to grow quieter, as if holding its breath, as the two Pokémon considered Ash's words.

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I know it might sound a bit shameless, but if you could drop some power stones, I'd really appreciate it! Also, feel free to leave a review, suggestion, or anything else that could help improve the story. Your feedback means a lot!

Thanks again, everyone!