"Pokémon's hearts are pure, but they aren't foolish. In fact, because of their purity, they are more sensitive to good and evil, able to distinguish right from wrong."
"Of course, there are some Pokémon who follow the path of evil, but it's not that they themselves are evil. It's their bond with their trainers—no matter how bad the trainer is, they're still willing to stay by their side."
"This guy still thinks he can succeed by sweet-talking him, but all it will do is make Charmander more arrogant."
Ash responded with a faint smile, and Brock nodded in agreement. Misty, though initially confused, began to understand more after hearing Ash's words.
"Charmander!"
Under the gaze of the crowd, Charmander turned and walked towards Ash, looking up at him with a low cry. To those watching, there seemed to be something indescribable between Ash and Charmander at that moment.
This was the bond!
Most of the onlookers were trainers, and they understood this connection with their own Pokémon. But people like Damian couldn't grasp such a concept.
"Want to come with me?" Ash asked as he looked at Charmander.
"Char!"
Charmander let out a joyful cry, clearly showing a much different attitude than it had with Damian.
"You little punk, how dare you steal my Charmander! I won't let you get away with this!" Damian shouted angrily. To him, Charmander still belonged to him, and Ash was robbing him.
"If you want to fight, I'm ready. You think you can beat me with Charmander? I don't mind using my own Pokémon." Ash looked at Damian coldly.
Hearing Ash's words, Damian felt a chill run down his spine. He had been trying to play dirty earlier, but if he had to face Ash in an actual battle, he wasn't so sure. Still, the thought of giving up such a strong Charmander gnawed at him, and he couldn't accept it.
"I don't care! What are you all standing there for? Help me get my Charmander back!"
Damian, desperate, called for his lackeys. Ash took out a Poké Ball, and Misty and Brock followed suit, ready to back him up. Damian's gang was stronger, but Ash wasn't intimidated.
He never feared anyone, not even back at Pokémon Academy.
Just as the three prepared for battle, several figures began closing in. Misty and Brock looked around in surprise, seeing that many trainers who had been watching earlier were now stepping forward, each pulling out a Poké Ball.
And it wasn't just a few; some trainers even joined up in larger groups, surrounding Damian and his lackeys.
"If you think you can gang up on them, we won't stand for it," one trainer said firmly.
"That's right! I've been wanting to put you in your place for a while. Trainers shouldn't fight just to cause trouble, but trying to steal someone else's Pokémon crosses the line!"
The trainers spoke out, emboldened by Damian's violation of the Trainer Code. Normally, Damian's group had numbers on their side, but now, the situation had shifted in Ash's favor. The other trainers had no hesitation about intervening, given Damian's behavior.
With so many trainers standing with Ash, Damian's crew, who were only used to bullying others, were terrified. They froze in place, unsure what to do.
Damian himself, seeing the cold, accusing stares of the crowd, began trembling. He felt utterly defeated as tears sprang to his eyes.
"Darn it! I won't forget this!" he cried, spitting out a threat before pushing through the crowd and fleeing.
The others didn't try to stop Damian as he ran off. After all, it wasn't worth fighting over. No one wanted their Pokémon to get injured because of something like this.
Damian's lackeys, seeing him flee, scattered quickly as well. The crowd ignored them, paying no attention to his harsh words. To everyone, Damian was just a clown, and no one took him seriously.
Ash also ignored Damian and focused on Charmander. At that moment, Charmander turned to face Ash, and Ash pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Come on, Charmander!" Ash said.
"Char!" Charmander nodded firmly, and Ash threw the Poké Ball. Charmander leaped up, tapped the Poké Ball with its paw, and in a flash, the ball opened with a snap, absorbing Charmander inside.
The Poké Ball wobbled slightly as it hit the ground.
Ding!
A soft sound indicated that the capture was successful. Moments later, the Poké Ball was engulfed in light and disappeared, signaling that Charmander had been sent to Professor Oak's lab.
The surrounding trainers weren't surprised by this and congratulated Ash on his successful capture. Ash, grateful for their support during the earlier confrontation, exchanged farewells with the trainers before heading to the Pokémon Center with Misty and Brock.
---
Meanwhile, at Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town…
"Hmm? Ash sent over another Pokémon," Professor Oak mused as he received the notification. "The day before yesterday it was Bulbasaur. I wonder what it is today? I'm curious!"
Professor Oak approached the transfer machine with a smile. He couldn't help but think about Ash's growing efficiency—perhaps his grandson Gary was driving him to catch up.
"Let's see what Pokémon Ash has sent this time." Picking up the newly arrived Poké Ball, Professor Oak tossed it in the air with anticipation.
Boom!
The ball opened, revealing a tail with flickering flames. Charmander appeared, looking a bit tired from its earlier battles, its body still covered in patches of dried mud.
"Oh! It's a Charmander! First Bulbasaur, and now a Charmander. Ash never disappoints!" Professor Oak examined Charmander carefully, noting the strength of the flames on its tail. "This Charmander looks full of energy! The flame on its tail is burning strong."
Professor Oak studied Charmander closely, even lifting its tail to inspect the fire. He was impressed—Ash's Pokémon might not match Gary's in quantity, but in quality, they were certainly extraordinary. Each one was rare, healthy, and brimming with potential.