章 30: Pokemon Tech

As Ash, Misty, and Brock journeyed toward Vermillion City, the excitement for Ash's next gym challenge filled the air. The road stretched out before them, winding through a landscape that was both familiar and strange.

Surrounding them, a thick blanket of fog hung low, wrapping the trees and hills in an ethereal shroud. The muted sounds of their footsteps echoed softly, and the world felt a little more magical under the veil of mist.

They had been hiking for hours, the weight of their gear making each step feel a bit heavier. The sun filtered through the fog, casting an almost dreamlike glow on the path ahead. Birds flitted in and out of the trees, their songs muffled by the haze.

"Let's set up a little campfire meal! I'll whip up something delicious," Brock announced, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"Sounds great!" Ash replied, his eyes lighting up at the thought of a warm meal. "Let's grab some firewood so we can get started."

Misty crossed her arms, a pout forming on her lips. "Why do I have to help? You two can manage without me!"

Ash chuckled and gave her a playful nudge. "Come on, Misty! The sooner we gather the wood, the sooner we can eat. Plus, it'll be more fun if we all work together."

Misty let out a dramatic sigh but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Fine! But if Brock burns the food again, I'm not taking the blame!"

As they wandered deeper into the nearby trees to gather kindling, a ruckus caught their attention from a clearing up ahead. A group of kids had formed a semicircle around a boy on a treadmill, pelting him with rapid-fire questions and taunts. The boy, clearly exhausted and panting heavily, struggled to keep up, his face flushed and drenched in sweat.

"Which level does Pidgey evolve, and when does it learn new moves?" one boy taunted, leaning in closer with a smug grin plastered on his face.

Joe, visibly nervous, stammered out an answer, but it was wrong.

"C'mon, Joe! You don't even know that?" another boy sneered, his voice dripping with mockery, which only intensified the humiliation Joe felt.

"Yeah, at this rate, you're really gonna make Giselle angry! Better get it together!" a third chimed in, laughter echoing through the clearing, drowning out any chance Joe had of defending himself.

As Joe stumbled off the treadmill and collapsed onto the ground, the group erupted into raucous laughter, their mockery ringing in the air. Frowning at the scene, Ash instinctively moved forward, but before he could take a step, Misty was already there, her voice rising above the commotion. "Hey! Knock it off! Leave him alone!"

Her fierce tone caught the attention of the bullies, momentarily silencing them as they turned to face her, surprised by the sudden intervention.

The kids turned, taken aback by her sudden confidence. "Who do you think you are?" one of the boys demanded, stepping forward with a sneer. "And what are you doing on our school grounds?"

Caught off guard by their hostility, Misty hesitated for a moment, but quickly squared her shoulders. "Does it really matter? You're just standing around bullying him!"

Seeing Misty cornered and anxious, Ash turned to Brock. "Can you check on Joe?" he asked before stepping closer to Misty.

"Back off," he said, giving the kids a hard look. "You're making her uncomfortable."

He turned to Misty, his tone softening slightly. "Maybe next time, don't rush in alone," he advised.

Misty flushed, feeling both embarrassed and grateful. "Fine... but thanks for stepping in," she murmured under her breath.

Then Ash turned back to the group, his expression serious. "Is this what they teach you at Pokémon Tech? Ganging up on someone who's struggling?"

The lead boy sneered, crossing his arms defiantly. "What do you know about Pokémon Tech?"

Ash smirked, mirroring his stance. "Enough to recognize a bunch of rich snobs bullying someone just because they think they're better."

The boy's face turned red with anger. "Oh yeah? You think you're tough? I'll show you!" He clenched a Poké Ball, raising it threateningly.

Ash raised a hand calmly. "Honestly, I don't have time to waste on this. But if you want to try, be my guest—bring it on, all of you at once."

The kids exchanged nervous glances, clearly provoked. "You're gonna regret this!" the lead boy shouted as he and his friends tossed their Poké Balls into the air.

Ash turned to Pikachu, his expression determined. "Ready to show them what you've got, buddy?"

"Pika!" Pikachu replied with enthusiasm, its cheeks crackling with electricity.

"Then let's do this!" Ash called, sending Pikachu into action.

In a flash, the opposing Pokémon were sprawled out on the ground, fainted and defeated, while Ash's Pikachu stood confidently, sparks still dancing around its cheeks. The boys stared in shock, their mouths agape.

"How… how is his Pikachu this strong?" one of them whispered, disbelief in his voice.

Another, looking utterly defeated, muttered, "This guy's a monster…"

Ash, sensing the tension in the air, raised an eyebrow and asked sarcastically, "So, have you guys had enough, or do you want more?"

The group shifted nervously, exchanging glances before one of them stammered, "N-No, we're good!"

"Great," Ash replied, a smirk spreading across his face. "Now how about you apologize to Joe and scram?"

The boys exchanged reluctant looks but finally muttered, "Sorry, Joe…" Their voices barely above a whisper. Then they turned and bolted, shouting back, "You'll regret this!" as they ran off.

Once they were gone, Joe approached Ash, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you so much for standing up for me."

Misty frowned, crossing her arms. "But why are they bullying you in the first place?"

Joe hesitated, looking down. "It's because I can't memorize things as quickly as they can. They think it's funny to pick on me for it."

Misty's expression darkened. "That's just abuse, not training. You shouldn't have to put up with that."

Brock nodded thoughtfully. "Who's in charge around here?"

Joe pulled out a photo from his pocket, showing them a girl with long, flowing hair and an intense gaze. "This is Giselle. She's in charge of the beginners."

Brock's eyes widened. "Wow, she looks like an actress!"

Ash nodded in agreement, momentarily distracted by the image. Misty's brow furrowed in jealousy, and she lightly punched Ash on the arm, pouting. "What are you staring at her for?"

Before Ash could respond, the sound of footsteps drew their attention. Giselle approached, flanked by the same group of boys from earlier. Her presence commanded respect as she approached, a sharp look on her face.

Joe stepped back nervously. "Uh-oh."

Giselle stood before them, her gaze sharp and piercing. As soon as Brock caught sight of her, he immediately knelt, presenting a bouquet of flowers. "Even the stars pale in comparison to your beauty!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration.

Giselle turned away from him, her gaze locking onto the group of boys. "Which one of them took you down?" she demanded, her voice sharp and unyielding.

The boys pointed at Ash, clearly embarrassed.

She turned to Ash, scrutinizing him. "What's your name, and how many badges do you have?"

Ash replied casually, "I'm Ash Ketchum, and I have two badges."

Giselle's eyes narrowed as she turned back to the boys. "I'm disappointed in you all for losing to a rookie like him. This is not what the Tech Academy stands for! I'll show you how we fight here."

Then she shifted her attention back to Ash, her expression changing slightly. "Do you have a Pokémon you'd like to battle me with?"

Ash shook his head, a playful smile on his lips. "No, thanks. I'm not really interested."

Giselle frowned at his refusal, then smirked. "If you're scared, you don't have to battle," she taunted.

Ash smiled back, shaking his head. "That's not it at all. Why would I need to battle you when I've already defeated your class's top student?"

Her expression shifted as she processed his words. "What do you want, then?"

"Nothing much," Ash replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's make a bet."

Giselle raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of bet?"

Ash leaned in, a smirk spreading across his face. "If I lose, I'll kneel down and apologize. But if you lose, you have to give me a kiss."

Gasps erupted from the group of boys, who shouted, "Don't accept that, Giselle!"

Brock was equally shocked, his mouth hanging open.

Misty, however, looked furious, her expression darkening as if she could murder Ash on the spot. Ash, ignoring the chaos, focused on Giselle. "So, what do you say?"

After a moment of hesitation, Giselle's competitive spirit kicked in. "Fine! I won't lose to a rookie!" She tossed a Poké Ball, revealing her Cubone. "Prepare to lose!"

Ash's smirk widened as he reached for his own Poké Ball. Seeing the confident grin on his face, Giselle felt a twinge of unease.

With a flick of his wrist, Ash sent out his shiny Gyarados. As it emerged, it let out a powerful roar that echoed through the clearing, intimidating Cubone.

The little Pokémon trembled and, before anyone could react, returned to its Poké Ball on its own.

The silence that followed was palpable, only broken by Ash casually returning Gyarados to its Poké Ball. He stepped closer to Giselle, who was still processing what had just happened.

"I win," Ash stated simply.

Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips for thirty seconds. When he pulled away, he smirked. "This is your payment for the bet."

Giselle, her face flushed with embarrassment, tried to find her words, stammering as she attempted to speak. Just then, she heard a camera click and turned to see Ash holding his phone, having captured the moment.

"Hey! Delete that!" she shouted, flustered.

"Giselle, how about this: stop bullying the other students, and I'll consider it," Ash suggested, raising an eyebrow playfully. Giselle nodded eagerly, her eyes glinting with determination. "Delete it now!"

With a mischievous grin, Ash flashed a peace sign. "Sorry, can't do that!" He began to fade from view, almost becoming invisible.

As he disappear he heard boys around them dropped to their knees, fists pounding the ground in frustration. "Damn it, it should've been me, not him!" they grumbled.

Giselle, exasperated, shouted, "Ash Ketchum!"

As Ash disappeared, Misty fumed, her cheeks flushed with anger and jealousy, while Brock stood there, still stunned by what had just transpired.

-----------------------------

"Check out my new work, One Piece: The Call of Freedom!"