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Brock was setting up camp while Ash and Misty went out to collect firewood. They didn't wander far since the fog was so thick, and they were worried about getting separated.
"Even though I said we'd find some firewood , where can we get firewood in this place?" Misty muttered. Despite the abundance of trees, freshly broken wood wouldn't be much help.
"Try looking on the ground; there should be some there!" Ash suggested, scanning the forest floor. He managed to spot a few pieces.
Suddenly, Misty let out a startled scream. "Ah!!!"
Ash, alarmed, turned quickly. "What's wrong?"
"Th-there's... there's Will-O-Wisp!" Misty stammered, closing her eyes and pointing ahead, too frightened to look.
Ash glanced in the direction she indicated and saw flickering lights through the mist. They stood out against the fog, floating eerily in the air. Squinting, Ash took a closer look.
"That's not Will-O-Wisp. There's someone over there!" he realized.
The sight of a shadowy figure among the trees made the atmosphere even more unsettling. The thick mist obscured details, making the figure appear as a dark silhouette. But Ash wasn't afraid—he knew this world was full of Ghost-type Pokémon, and they were simply another kind of energy that Pokémon could battle.
"Who would be out here in a place like this?" Misty asked, slightly reassured by Ash's calmness but still uneasy.
"We're out here, aren't we?" Ash replied, undeterred. "It's not that strange to run into others."
With that, he started toward the figure, and although Misty was reluctant, she followed him. As they got closer, they realized it wasn't a monster at all.
In the clearing ahead, they saw a group of boys, about the same age as Ash and Misty, all dressed in expensive-looking uniforms. Several of the boys were holding candles, surrounding another boy who looked younger and more vulnerable. The boy in the middle was on a treadmill that was speeding up, and he was struggling to keep up. He looked exhausted and embarrassed, panting heavily while the others watched with smug expressions.
Just as Ash and Misty arrived, the boy on the treadmill stumbled and fell, landing hard on the ground. Instead of crying out in pain, he quickly apologized, his voice trembling.
"Sorry, I forgot!" he said, keeping his head down, avoiding the others' gazes. The boys around him looked at him with disdain.
"Do you think a simple 'sorry' is enough?" sneered a boy with bright red hair. "How can someone as pathetic as you even be at Pokémon Academy? It's humiliating to be in the same class as you."
The boy on the ground continued to apologize, his voice growing weaker with each word. "Sorry..."
Misty, unable to stay silent any longer, stepped forward, her sense of justice flaring. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
Her voice cut through the tension, and Ash and Misty could both tell that this wasn't just teasing—it was bullying. Misty clenched her fists, anger rising at the sight of the unfair treatment.
"Huh? This is our business and has nothing to do with outsiders," one of the boys retorted.
"That's right," added another with green hair. "This is our Pokémon Academy's special training. A guy like this, who doesn't even know Pidgey's evolution, doesn't deserve to be our classmate."
"Pokémon Academy?" Misty echoed, slightly taken aback.
"So, you're from Pokémon Academy!" Brock suddenly appeared, holding a dessert preparation tool, still stirring as he joined the conversation. He had been drawn by Misty's sharp Growl earlier and was surprised by what he overheard from the boys.
"Come to think of it, I remember seeing their leaflets when I was in Cerulean City. I didn't expect it to be in such a remote place!" Misty said, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. She unfolded it to take a look.
"It's not surprising. Only in a secluded environment like this can you train with full focus!" Brock commented, taking the leaflet from Misty and glancing at it.
"The Pokémon Trainer Academy is a closed, residential school. Graduates don't need to take the actual combat test and can directly qualify for the Pokémon League competition," Brock explained, summarizing the leaflet.
"So that's how it is! You don't need to challenge different Gyms or collect Badges to qualify for the competition. It's a dream come true for anyone who wants to be a Pokémon Trainer!" Misty added, impressed by the idea.
Brock nodded, and Ash, remembering something, chimed in, "Oh yeah, I heard about this before. But to be honest, I almost forgot about it. I used to watch Pokémon battles when I was younger, but now it seems kind of boring."
"That's right, now you know how elite we are!" a long-haired boy said proudly after listening to Brock's explanation.
"Hmm? So you're saying it's like going through the back door?" Ash remarked, crossing his arms.
"Uh... Ash, you're not entirely wrong," Brock responded candidly, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were surrounded by students from the academy.
"You... what are you talking about? Pokémon Academy is certified by the Pokémon League! Every student here pays a high tuition fee to attend!" the long-haired boy protested angrily.
The other boys looked uncomfortable, clearly embarrassed. No matter the world, there's always a stigma attached to cutting corners.
"Emmm, so it really is going through the back door," Ash mused, rubbing his chin.
The boys around him collapsed in frustration, realizing that no matter how much they protested, they couldn't shake the implication. Even if you pay your way in, it still feels like taking a shortcut, and being called out for it was humiliating.
Join my Patreon for 40 more chapters and earlier updates for all members( For free members too):
patreon.com/Tempest_29
100 power stones=1bonus chapter
3 reviews=1bonus chapter( 1 more!!!! Come on!!!)
Next Bonus chapter at 700k views