Chapter 52: Lessons Beyond the Battlefield

As I made my way downstairs, the faint sound of Pokémon battling drifted in from outside, muffled but unmistakable. Voices carried through the halls, too—sharper. Curious, I wandered over to the window. Sure enough, there was Giselle, that smug know-it-all, locked in conversation with Ash. From the way they were standing, I knew it wasn't just friendly banter. 

Ash, ever the hothead, looked ready to throw down. 

I pulled away from the window, muttering to myself as I rummaged through my bag. "I'm sure I've got some popcorn in here somewhere." 

A short while later, I reached the edge of the battlefield just in time to hear Ash's challenge.

"Let's battle," he said, voice full of confidence. That kid never learned.

I slid up to Brock and Misty, taking position beside them. Brock noticed me first and gave a small nod. Misty spotted me next, opening her mouth to call out. With Quick reflexes, I clamped a hand over her lips, shaking my head. She blinked at me, confused for a second, but then nodded in understanding. She relaxed, albeit shyly, and I let her go, leaving me a little dumbfounded. 

I didn't dwell on it. The fight was starting.

Ash called out first. "Go, Pikachu!" 

Pikachu darted forward, ready for action. Across the field, Giselle barely reacted, just a smug little smirk creeping over her lips.

"Let's show them they're just losers. Go, Cubone!"

Cubone stepped forward, its skull helmet casting a long shadow across the ground, the bone club in its hand thudding ominously against the dirt. Giselle's smirk deepened. "This won't take long. Cubone is a Ground-type, so your Pikachu's electric attacks are useless. You should just forfeit."

I leaned back against the nearest tree, tossing a piece of popcorn into my mouth. "She's not entirely wrong," I muttered to Brock and Misty, my voice sharp but casual. "But it's not always about the type advantage. What really matters is the training."

They both nodded, though their eyes never left the battle.

Ash, meanwhile, was gritting his teeth. He didn't take well to being talked down to. "We'll see about that! Pikachu, let's show them what we can do!"

Pikachu tensed, his small body coiled like a spring, eyes flicking to Cubone. Cubone stood still, an eerie calm behind its mask. Its bone club hit the ground again with a dull thud, like a countdown to something brutal.

"Cubone, Leer!" Giselle ordered.

Cubone's eyes gleamed from under the skull helmet, locking onto Pikachu with a cold, dangerous intensity. Pikachu's muscles froze, visibly tightening as he stood rigid, momentarily paralyzed.

"Pikachu, shake it off!" Ash called out, his voice edged with desperation. "You can do this!"

Giselle wasn't about to let up. "Bone Club!"

Cubone lunged forward, swinging the bone with deadly accuracy. Pikachu barely dodged, the club slamming into the ground where he stood just a moment ago, dirt and dust flying into the air. The crowd murmured in awe, and I could see Ash's frustration deepening.

"Come on, Pikachu!" he yelled, his fists clenched at his sides.

Pikachu stumbled back, rattled. His gaze darted between Cubone and Ash, as if seeking reassurance.

"Forget the type advantage!" Ash shouted, his voice breaking through Pikachu's fear. "Focus on your speed!"

Giselle smirked, her confidence unwavering. "Bonemerang!"

Cubone hurled its bone club into the air, the weapon spinning viciously as it cut through the air towards Pikachu. 

Ash's voice cracked with urgency. "Pikachu, jump!"

Pikachu leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the spinning bone as it passed beneath him. But it wasn't over. The bonemerang was coming back.

"Dodge it again!" Ash shouted, his voice strained.

Pikachu twisted mid-air, just barely avoiding the returning weapon. The bonemerang missed him by inches and struck Cubone square in the chest, knocking the Pokémon out cold. The entire crowd fell silent, eyes wide with disbelief.

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing, popcorn scattering across the ground as Giselle recalled her fallen Cubone, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"You won by luck," she muttered, her tone dripping with irritation.

Ash, still catching his breath, was too stunned to respond.

Casually, I pulled out my Pokégear, sending Erin a quick message: 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.

A moment later, a reply buzzed back: 𝘏𝘮𝘮.

Before I could fully process it, there was a loud crash—Team Rocket. Of course.

Meowth sauntered forward with that usual smirk of his, Jessie and James flanking him. I glanced over and quipped, "So, that offer still stands if you're interested in becoming my Pokémon."

Meowth scowled. "I'm not becoming anyone's Pokémon."

I shrugged. "Your loss."

Jessie and James looked confused, exchanging glances before James asked, "Who are you again?"

Meowth slapped a paw to his face. "He's Punit, you fools."

Giselle stepped forward, a scowl twisting her features. "I've heard of Team Rocket. You're the ones who failed the entrance exams." She sneered, her disdain palpable. "How about your team versus ours?"

I chuckled under my breath. "Villains aren't born. They're created."

Jessie crossed her arms, unimpressed. "The two of us against all of them?"

James, less confident, muttered, "But the rules say one-on-one…"

Giselle just smirked. "Bad guys don't play by the rules. Get 'em."

Team Rocket tensed, clearly unsure of their next move.

Watching Giselle, I couldn't help but shake my head. "There are some things you just can't learn at school," she mused to herself, almost absentmindedly. "And that's a valuable lesson."

I turned back to Misty, Brock, and Ash, still standing in the chaos. "What a pity," I remarked dryly. "This day just keeps getting better."