POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

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"Stop!" Ash stood up abruptly, shouting at the Trainer who was heading upstairs.

His sudden outburst startled Brock, Misty, and even the other Trainers and staff registering for the dormitories. All eyes turned toward Ash, wondering what had happened.

The Trainer, who had just reached the stairs, froze mid-step. He turned around and tried to mask his unease with a forced expression of irritation. "What's your problem? I'm going to rest. What does that have to do with you?"

Ash narrowed his eyes. "Why did you panic when you saw us?" His tone was sharp, leaving no room for evasion.

The Trainer faltered, his expression turning defensive. "Panic? What are you talking about? I just want to go rest. Don't make up things!" His voice was high-pitched, betraying his nerves.

The display only heightened the suspicions of everyone present. The Trainers and staff exchanged doubtful looks, whispering among themselves.

Ash stepped closer, his gaze piercing. "That Charmander earlier… it's your Pokémon, isn't it?"

The Trainer stiffened, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second before he quickly shook his head. "What Charmander? I've never caught a Charmander. Stop talking nonsense!"

But his flustered demeanor betrayed him. He couldn't stop the beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he realized the consequences of being exposed. If word got out that he had abandoned his Pokémon, he could be stripped of his Trainer license and banned from participating in any league. His reputation across all regions would be ruined.

Brock stepped forward, his voice firm and accusatory. "If you're not Charmander's Trainer, why are you so rattled right now?"

"I-I…" The Trainer stammered, clearly caught off guard by the question. He forced a smile and tried to recover his composure. "I was just startled by the shouting, that's all!"

His attempt to appear calm didn't convince anyone. Misty crossed her arms, her expression cold. The other Trainers exchanged skeptical glances, clearly not buying his excuses.

"I mean, wouldn't anyone be startled by someone suddenly yelling in a quiet place? I'm naturally a little timid, that's all." The Trainer managed to steady his voice, his words coming more fluently now. His smirk returned as he looked at Ash, Brock, and Misty mockingly.

Despite his bravado, the trio had already made up their minds. This man was definitely the one who abandoned Charmander in the rain.

Outside, the storm raged on. Thunder roared, and lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the interior of the Pokémon Center. The eerie glow deepened the shadows in the room, making Ash's intense, fiery gaze even more intimidating as it bore into the Trainer.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going to bed," the Trainer sneered. "I had a long day catching Pokémon and could use some rest." Turning on his heel, he started climbing the stairs.

"Hold it right there!" Misty's voice rang out, her anger evident.

The Trainer glanced back with a smirk. "I already explained myself. I'm not Charmander's Trainer. Let it go." With that, he continued up the stairs.

Misty turned to Ash, frustration evident on her face. "Ash, you're just going to let him go?"

Ash's fists clenched at his sides. "There's nothing we can do," he admitted reluctantly. "We don't have any evidence to prove that Charmander belongs to him."

The other Trainers in the lobby muttered among themselves, their expressions equally grim. They hated the idea of someone abandoning their Pokémon, but without solid proof, their hands were tied.

Ash looked at the group and took a deep breath. "We'll have to wait until Charmander wakes up. Only then can we confirm the truth. If I'm wrong, I'll personally apologize to that Trainer and everyone here."

His sincerity struck a chord with the Trainers. One of them, a young man named Ryo, stepped forward. "Don't worry, Ash. I'll stay here and make sure that guy doesn't leave."

"Same here," another Trainer chimed in. "I've memorized his face. He's not getting out of this Center until the truth comes out."

The other Trainers and staff voiced their agreement, vowing to keep an eye on the suspicious Trainer. Nurse Joy returned Ash's Pokédex with a reassuring smile. "I'll alert the nearest Pokémon League patrol as well. Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this."

Ash, Brock, and Misty bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you, everyone," Ash said earnestly. With that, the trio headed to their dormitory to change out of their soaked clothes.

---

In another room upstairs, the Trainer paced angrily. His face twisted into a snarl as he punched the bed in frustration. "Damn it! Why did they have to stick their noses into my business?" His voice was filled with venom. "And that worthless Charmander… why didn't it just die out there in the rain?"

He paused, a sinister glint appearing in his bloodshot eyes. "Wait… die…" His lips curled into a twisted smile. "If that Charmander dies, there won't be any proof. No one will ever know it was mine!"

The storm outside continued to rage, lightning flashing across the sky. The Trainer's mind raced as he concocted a plan. "Nurse Joy brought it to the emergency room, didn't she? If I cut the power, it'll be as good as dead."

He chuckled darkly, his laughter growing louder as his plan formed. "A power outage during a storm… perfectly believable. No one will suspect a thing."

Lost in his nefarious thoughts, the Trainer failed to notice the subtle movement of shadows behind him. A pair of fiery eyes emerged from the darkness, watching him silently.

The Trainer grabbed the door handle, ready to execute his plan. But before he could turn it, something moved. A blur of black shot toward him, striking his neck with precision.

"Ugh…" The Trainer gasped, his eyes widening in shock before collapsing to the floor, unconscious.

The shadowy figure lingered for a moment, its glowing eyes fixated on the fallen Trainer. Then, just as silently as it had appeared, it merged back into the shadows, disappearing without a trace.

---

Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Ash and his friends had just finished changing into dry clothes. Misty was still fuming. "That guy makes me so mad! How can someone treat their Pokémon like that?"

"I know," Brock said, his voice heavy with frustration. "But without evidence, there's nothing we can do right now. Let's just hope Charmander wakes up soon."

Ash stared out the window at the storm. His thoughts were filled with determination. "Charmander trusted that guy enough to stay in the rain, waiting for him. I won't let him get away with this."

Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating Ash's resolute expression. He wouldn't rest until justice was served.

---

Downstairs, the Trainers and staff remained vigilant, their eyes on the staircase and exits. Ryo sat by the main entrance, his arms crossed. "No one's leaving this place without answering to us first."

Aria, another Trainer, nodded in agreement. "If that guy even tries to sneak out, he'll regret it."

Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure moved silently along the walls, its fiery eyes glowing faintly before vanishing into the darkness.

In the emergency room, Nurse Joy worked tirelessly to stabilize Charmander. The little Pokémon's flame tail flickered weakly, but there was hope. "Hang in there," she whispered. "You're stronger than this."

Outside, the storm began to subside, the thunder growing quieter. But the battle for justice was far from over.

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