Pokemon: A different Ash

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Charmeleon stared at the scorched pit left by Ember, his eyes burning with unyielding determination.

After encountering Team Rocket, it couldn't agree with what Jessie had said. But after they parted ways, it realized its mistake. Charmeleon understood it shouldn't have been complacent over gaining a bit of strength. At least part of what Jessie and the others had said wasn't wrong: it needed to prove it wasn't weak and strive to grow stronger.

Of course, it wasn't about revenge. Charmeleon wanted to grow stronger through its own efforts and regain Ash's recognition. It didn't even have the courage to return and ask for forgiveness yet, so it decided to rigorously hone its skills.

When it grew stronger, it would return to face its mistakes with pride. Charmeleon knew its companions were likely training hard as well. Even apart, everyone was working towards the same goal.

Five days later, training was progressing steadily. All the Pokémon had shown improvement, with five days passing almost unnoticed. Pikachu, Devileon, and Axew were making the fastest progress, nearing mastery of their unique moves. Squirtle had also made strides, managing to freeze the water's surface, though the power of Ice Beam still eluded it.

Pidgeotto faced challenges due to its weight training but had shown considerable improvement. It could now avoid obstacles more effectively. However, its speed was still hindered by the added weight, affecting its balance and aim. Ash's goal was to master these tasks with the weights still on.

By the afternoon of the sixth day, Ash hadn't set a specific time to complete their practice. They would continue once everyone had achieved their goals.

Bang!

"Huh?" While working with the Pokémon, Ash suddenly heard a loud noise and looked up at the sky. The forest, already dim, was now shrouded in dark clouds.

"It's going to rain! Let's wrap up practice for today!" Ash called out, noting the foreboding sky. There wasn't time for Pikachu's intense determination like last time, and it was getting late anyway.

"Pika-pi!"

"Axew!"

The Pokémon responded, dragging their tired bodies back to Ash. Together, they headed toward the camp.

On the way, they encountered Misty, who had come to bring them back, concerned it might rain soon. She sighed in relief upon seeing Ash returning on his own this time, unlike the incident at Professor Bill's.

Back at the camp, they managed to eat dinner just as the heavy rain began. Luckily, the Pokémon had eaten quickly, and Ash swiftly returned them to their Poké Balls. The three of them—Ash, Misty, and Brock—took shelter in the tent.

Brock turned on a small light, and they sat together, enduring the boredom of waiting out the storm.

"What a day of training," Ash muttered, taking off his coat and hat. He wrapped himself in a blanket and closed his eyes. "I'm turning in early."

Misty noticed the tent's zipper was slightly open, the sound of rain pattering louder. "It's raining," she remarked. When no one responded, she repeated, raising her voice, "I said, it's raining so hard!"

"I can hear it without you saying it," Ash replied, eyes still closed as he lay on his side.

"Can you? Then do you know Charmeleon is still outside? It's already the sixth day. Shouldn't you let go of your anger by now?" Misty snapped, her voice rising. "It's raining heavily, Ash!"

Her frustration grew as Ash remained indifferent, even though she knew he understood her meaning. For the past several days, he hadn't mentioned Charmeleon, burying himself in training instead. She had even checked the area herself—Charmeleon was gone, but its Poké Ball remained.

Misty's mind raced. How could Ash not be worried? What if something had happened? What if Charmeleon was truly gone for good?

Brock had said that Ash was likely hurting the most, yet he refused to say a word or go check on his Pokémon. His silence frustrated her deeply. Initially, Misty thought Charmeleon was being stubborn, but now she found herself sympathizing with it. And with the storm raging outside, Ash's seeming indifference only angered her further.

"Why do you always have to be so heartless?" Misty exclaimed, her tone wavering between anger and disappointment. But Ash only turned away, lying on his side with his back to her.

"Do you have to nag me every day? It's so noisy!" he muttered, his voice tinged with annoyance. He had anticipated her lecture and tried to sleep through it. Yet, even after he lay down, she persisted, repeating her concerns from the past few days.

"You… ugh!" Misty clenched her fists, ready to retort. But when she saw Ash's turned back, her words caught in her throat. Instead, she let out an exasperated huff and fell silent.

Pikachu, sitting nearby, lowered its ears with a helpless expression. It, too, had been worried about Charmeleon, and any hard feelings from before had long faded. For Pikachu, there was no such thing as a lasting grudge against its teammate. But Ash's stubbornness left it unsure of how to act, just like Misty and Brock.

Brock sighed softly, breaking the silence. He had initially assumed Ash had his own reasons for his behavior. But after days of avoiding the topic entirely, Brock couldn't help but feel doubt creeping in. It seemed as though Ash had locked Charmeleon out of his mind entirely, which left Brock questioning how well he truly understood his friend.

Brock's gaze shifted to the storm outside. Thunder rolled across the sky, and rain poured down in torrents, making the environment harsh and unforgiving. If Charmeleon hadn't found shelter, it would be in serious danger.

"Ash, what are you thinking?" Brock murmured, his eyes fixed on Ash's turned back, his thoughts as cloudy as the storm outside.