POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"I wonder how Charmander is doing..." Ash muttered anxiously as he sat in the Pokémon Center's lobby. Brock and Misty sat nearby, sharing his concern. Two hours had passed since Miss Joy took Charmander into the emergency room, but the torrential rain outside showed no signs of stopping.

Just as Ash spoke, the red light above the emergency room door went off. Moments later, Miss Joy, looking visibly tired, stepped out. The three Trainers rushed to her immediately.

"Miss Joy, how is Charmander? Is it okay?" Ash asked urgently.

Miss Joy gave a weary but reassuring smile. "Charmander will recover. It should be back to full health by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"Thank goodness!" Ash sighed in relief, but before he could say more, Brock stepped forward dramatically, grabbing Miss Joy's hands with a flirtatious grin.

"Miss Joy, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is—"

Before Brock could finish, one of Ash's Poké Balls burst open, releasing Bulbasaur in a flash of white light. The Grass Pokémon immediately used Vine Whip, delivering a swift slap to Brock's head before dragging him away like a scolding parent.

"Even Bulbasaur can't tolerate him," Ash muttered, shaking his head. Misty let out an exasperated sigh as she watched Brock being dragged off.

Miss Joy blinked in confusion, unsure how to respond. Misty quickly jumped in to smooth things over. "Don't mind him, Miss Joy. That's just how Brock is."

Miss Joy smiled awkwardly and nodded. "In any case, it's a good thing you found Charmander when you did. Any later, and I might not have been able to save it."

She stepped aside, revealing Chansey, who was pushing a small stretcher with Charmander lying on it. The little Pokémon's condition had improved significantly; the flame on its tail, while still faint, no longer looked like it would extinguish at any moment.

Ash, Misty, and Brock surrounded the stretcher, relief washing over them as they saw the improvement. However, Misty's expression quickly darkened as she recounted the earlier confrontation with Charmander's suspected Trainer. The Pokémon Center staff also chimed in, providing additional details.

Uncovering the Truth

"There's a Trainer like that here?" Miss Joy asked, her tone sharp. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced by a stern expression. She was clearly angered by what she had heard.

Such cases were becoming more common as the number of Trainers grew, and the Pokémon League had recently begun cracking down on abandonment and abuse. If the accusations against this Trainer were true, the consequences could be severe.

Miss Joy nodded firmly. "Once Charmander wakes up, we'll have it identify its Trainer. I'll also contact the Pokémon League patrol team to handle this matter."

"But if this turns out to be a false accusation..." Miss Joy paused, looking at Ash with a serious expression. "You understand the consequences, right?"

Ash met her gaze and nodded without hesitation. "I understand."

Satisfied, Miss Joy instructed Chansey to monitor Charmander closely. With its personality, Charmander might attempt to leave the center once it regained strength. She then left to make arrangements with the League.

Charmander's Awakening

At around seven in the evening, Charmander stirred on its stretcher. Slowly opening its eyes, it looked around in confusion. Its last memory was of standing in the rain, waiting for its Trainer.

Chansey, who was nearby, noticed immediately and pressed a button to alert Miss Joy. Then, it approached Charmander and began explaining the situation gently.

Charmander's initial confusion turned to disbelief as it listened to Chansey. It shook its head vehemently, refusing to accept that its Trainer had abandoned it. The flame on its tail flared slightly as its emotions surged.

"Charmander, calm down," Chansey pleaded, but the little Fire-type ignored her. It jumped off the stretcher and made a beeline for the door, determined to find its Trainer and hear the truth directly.

Just as it reached the door, it opened, and Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu entered. Charmander froze for a moment, startled by their sudden appearance.

"Charmander, you need to rest," Ash said gently, stepping forward.

But Charmander ignored him. It growled lowly, signaling that it wouldn't be stopped. Pikachu leapt off Ash's shoulder, placing itself between Charmander and the hallway. The two Pokémon locked eyes, their tension palpable.

"Charmander, please listen!" Ash pleaded again, but the Fire-type wasn't having it. It let out a sharp growl, the flame on its tail burning brighter as if preparing for a fight.

Realizing that words wouldn't reach it, Ash sighed and stepped aside. "If you're so determined, go ahead. Find your Trainer."

Charmander hesitated briefly, then bolted down the hallway.

The Confrontation

Charmander's small legs carried it as fast as they could. It ran through the Pokémon Center, ignoring the stares of other Trainers. Eventually, it reached the lobby, where a small commotion was taking place. Several League patrol officers were standing near the entrance, and among them was its Trainer.

The man was arguing with the officers, his face pale and his voice desperate. "I told you, I don't know that Charmander! You have no proof!"

Charmander stopped in its tracks, staring at the Trainer. For a moment, it hesitated. But as it took a step closer, memories of being left in the rain flooded its mind. The Trainer's words and actions began to align with what Chansey had told it.

"Charmander!" it cried, its voice filled with a mixture of longing and anger.

The Trainer froze, his eyes darting toward the sound. When he saw the little Fire-type standing there, his face twisted in a mix of panic and frustration. "No, you've got the wrong Pokémon! I've never seen it before!"

But Charmander wouldn't be swayed. It marched right up to the Trainer and let out a fierce growl, the flame on its tail blazing as if reflecting its emotions.

The officers looked at the Trainer, their expressions hardening. "You're coming with us," one of them said firmly.

"No! This is a mistake!" the Trainer protested, but his voice faltered as he saw the looks on everyone's faces. He was cornered, and he knew it.

Charmander watched silently as the officers escorted the Trainer out. Its flame flickered softly, a sign that its anger was subsiding.

Ash, Misty, and Brock arrived moments later, just in time to see the scene unfold. Ash crouched down next to Charmander, placing a comforting hand on its head.

"You've been through a lot," he said gently. "But you're safe now. You don't need to worry anymore."

Charmander looked up at Ash, its eyes glistening with a mix of relief and gratitude. For the first time in a long while, it felt like it truly belonged.

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