Pokemon: A different Ash

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Ash's group ate quietly after returning to camp. Misty and Brock were unsure of what to say, and even the Pokémon ate in silence, giving the camp a gloomy atmosphere.

"Do you think Charmeleon has found anything to eat?" Misty blurted out, trying to ease the tension. She glanced at Ash, hoping to gauge his reaction.

Ash continued eating his curry without a word. Misty felt disheartened seeing him like this. She had always known that Ash was stubborn, but now he seemed utterly unreachable. Brock shook his head at Misty, silently signaling that this wasn't the right time to push the topic.

"I'm done eating. I'm going to train now!" Ash declared abruptly, standing up. The Pokémon, having finished their meals, followed his lead.

Brock spoke up, "Ash, you should rest a bit after eating so much."

"I'll be fine. I'll find another training spot," Ash replied, waving as he walked off.

Misty sighed in frustration. She could tell Ash didn't want to return to the same training area—it was clear he didn't want to face Charmeleon. "What should we do?"

"Worrying won't help. Ash has to work this out himself," Brock said as he began tidying up their campsite.

"Fine…" Misty muttered. With no other options, she joined Brock in cleaning up.

Elsewhere, Charmeleon wandered aimlessly, uncertain of where to go. Its mind was clouded with memories of its former trainer, Damian, who had abandoned and lied to it. Charmeleon had foolishly hoped that Damian might change, only to be insulted instead.

Ash had given Charmeleon a home and helped it grow stronger, but now it had let its newfound power cloud its judgment. Regret filled Charmeleon's heart, and it wanted Ash's forgiveness. Yet, the image of Ash's cold eyes lingered in its mind, making it hesitate.

"Don't worry, Meowth is here to help!" a voice rang out suddenly. Charmeleon stopped and turned to find Team Rocket—Jessie, James, and Meowth—standing behind it.

Charmeleon instinctively growled and readied itself for a fight. It had faced Team Rocket many times while traveling with Ash, and its body reacted automatically.

"Relax, we're not here to cause trouble!" Meowth said, trying to sound soothing. "We just noticed you're all alone and thought you could use some company."

Jessie chimed in, "That kid doesn't understand your true potential. He's holding you back! Join us, and we'll help you grow stronger. You can prove to him that you're no weakling!"

James nodded eagerly, confident that Charmeleon, in its vulnerable state, would be easy to manipulate.

Charmeleon growled low, flames flickering in its eyes.

"What did it say?" James asked, looking at Meowth.

"It said…" Meowth hesitated, "we shouldn't badmouth the twerp!"

Jessie scowled. "He abandoned you! Why are you still defending him?"

"Char!" Charmeleon snarled, its fiery breath intensifying. It glared at Team Rocket, its stance firm.

Meowth translated nervously, "It said this doesn't concern us, but if we insult the twerp again, it'll teach us a lesson!"

Jessie, James, and Meowth exchanged uneasy glances, realizing their plan was failing spectacularly.

"What?! You're just a Pokémon abandoned by that kid. How dare you act so arrogant! I'll teach you a lesson today!" Jessie fumed, her temper flaring as soon as she heard Charmeleon's growl.

For Charmeleon, Jessie's words hit a raw nerve. Being abandoned was the most painful part of its past, and Jessie's harsh remarks were like stepping on a landmine.

Jessie's continuous emphasis on the word "abandoned" only ignited Charmeleon's fury further.

Roar! Boom!

Before Jessie could make a move, Charmeleon reacted. Letting out an enraged growl, it unleashed a fierce Flamethrower from its mouth.

The unexpected attack caught Team Rocket completely off guard.

"This Charmeleon doesn't even play fair! It attacked without warning!" James exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief as flames erupted around them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The flames engulfed the area, sending Jessie, James, and Meowth flying into the sky. As they became nothing more than a glittering speck, James wailed, "Why? We really just wanted to invite it with good intentions!"

"What a nasty feeling!" Jessie muttered, fuming even as they disappeared from sight.

The once lush patch of grass was left scorched and charred. Charmeleon snorted, a small Ember escaping its mouth, before it turned and trudged deeper into the forest, its flames still smoldering with rage.

Meanwhile, Ash, unaware of Charmeleon's predicament, had found another clearing near a waterfall to resume his training. The Pokémon around him seemed unusually focused, likely shaken by the earlier confrontation with Charmeleon. Their determination to perform well was palpable.

Ash, however, maintained his usual structured training regimen. He explained that the Pokémon's strength had improved significantly after their evolutions, and he emphasized mastering diverse combat strategies. In particular, he noted the unique and unpredictable fighting style of Ghost-type Pokémon.

Ash's next goal for training was clear—he intended to teach Devileon the move Dark Pulse. He explained the synergy between Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball, marveling at how Ghost-types often mastered Dark Pulse, while many Dark-types learned Shadow Ball. These moves seemed to bridge two distinct Attributes—Dark and Ghost.

He further elaborated that Dark-type moves like Dark Pulse were highly effective against both Ghost- and Psychic-types. Thus, training to master such a technique would give his team a critical edge.

Even though his current Devileon didn't have the Dark typing, its power and adaptability after evolution made Ash confident. He believed that with enough effort, learning Dark Pulse wouldn't be an insurmountable challenge.

This Pokémon, being the first of Ash's team to evolve, currently held a commanding advantage in both strength and Attribute coverage. It was undoubtedly the cornerstone of his lineup—a reliable mainstay he could always count on.