Chapter 13 - First Kill

At night Ash and Party saw many other Pokemon coming and Playing with each other and some of them were even helping the villagers.

Brock spoke "This is what the Alliance wants to achieve" 'But Every coin has two sides."

Ash nodded.

Today, Brock especially made a feast for the village, Ash had a very hearty dinner that day and soon fell asleep.

....

Vermillion City.

Hunter 4551 was the one who accepted the task of capturing Bulbasaur.

He was C rank Hunter with some experience, he was also a Member of Muskets An Organization that specializes in the trade of Pokemon on the black market.

...

At midnight he came to the village marked on the map and was amazed a the number of Pokemon. He thought 'Even if you could take two Pokemon with good talents it would easily fetch four hundred thousand Pokedollars, Maybe even Zubat will Evolve.'

He only had one Pokemon as not everyone had Brock a walking Food machine who can make Pokemon Food at less cost.

"Zubat go and Make everyone sleep."

This was Zubat's specialty Hypnosis.

.....

Brock who was snoring suddenly opened his eyes 'Physic powers, as expected this place has compromised' he was not in a hurry because Geodude was guarding the village. He took his Pokedex and sent a message to the League, that they will send a Pokemon to Guard the Village.

Brock then woke Ash Up

"Hey, Ash wake up."

Ash didn't open his eyes but spoke with a yawn.

"What is it Brock, I didn't have enough sleep I will wake up in a while."

"Ash it's urgent we have an enemy attack."

Ash jumped from his bed when heard the attack, pushing Pikachu down who was sleeping on his chest.

"Pika" Pikachu rubbed his eyes but when he felt the sensation surrounding his ears perked up.

"Pikachu" he cried out to Ash and ran out.

Brock smiled and followed with Ash who was still wobbling.

"Wait Pikachu."

Ash took Pidgeotto's Pokeball and ran after them.

...

Outside Bulbasaur heard the fighting and woke up.

"Bulba"

He ran towards it.

...

By the time Ash and Brock reached Pikachu, he was already fighting a Zubat.

Brock "it is a C-rank pokemon and there must be his trainer nearby."

Ash nodded and looked at the fight.

Brock instructed "Ash only gives specific commands Pikachu will know what moves he needs to use he is smart.

"Okay."

"Pikachu harras him with a quick attack and iron tail"

Brock sighed.

....

Pikachu turned into a flash and hit Zubat who defended himself with psychic and back a little.

The battle continued as both Pokemons didn't have an advantage as Pikachu needed time to charge a thunderbolt and thundershock was defended by Zubat with psychic. But Pikachu was one with a little advantage.

...

In the woods, hunter 4551 frowned. "There seems to be a situation, even if I could defeat one there is still the other brat, there is only one chance to escape."

He took out small knives from his back and threw them at Ash.

And shouted, "Zubat run."

.....

Brock noticed the knives and pushed Ash out of the way, who narrowly escaped by only his arm getting scratched. But more knives came again.

"Ash Dodge."

Ash was not fully recovered from the situation, but he still tried to turn and protect his vital parts.

But none of the knives hit him as Pidgeotto came out and blew away the knives and rushed towards the man.

Brock and Pikachu rushed toward Ash.

"Ash are you okay."

"Pika pi"

If one could look closely a small rock disappeared from the ground in front of Ash.

Ash shuttered "I am Fine, but why did he attack me."

His eyes were red and fear was written on his face.

Soon crowd started to gather around as Brock's shout had woken them up.

Misty rushed towards Ash with a medical kit as she woke a little earlier and saw the situation.

But there was one silent spectator who had wines coming out to protect Ash, who looked at him and then rushed towards Zubat entangling him who was tired after a fight.

...

Further away Geodude relaxed and looked in one direction.

...

Hunter 4551 was running with his life and Pidgeotto was rapidly closing on him and launching attacks, but suddenly he tripped and before he could respond Pidgeot's wing went through his neck ending his life as attacking one's trainer was a blatant disrespect to his pokemon.

She then dragged him back with a trail of blood leaving an eerie silence.

.....

Ash calmed down after a few minutes, he knew the dangers of the Trainer Profession, but this happened too suddenly and he also had an idea of what will happen after Pidgeotto chased the attacker.

And as expected he saw Pidgeotto come back with the dead body whose neck was cut in half.

Ash couldn't control it and vomit.

Well, he was not the only one who felt uncomfortable, leaving Misty and Brock all the villagers had not killed a single person or even come close to it.

Ash again looked at the dead body and shuddered and got up and left.

"PikaPi."

Pikachu followed him.

Brock looked at his back and followed him too, and then Misty too.

.....

Ash came near a water field with Pikachu and Pidgeotto Each on his shoulder.

"Guys was this the first time you killed someone."

"chu"

"gyyy"

Both of them shook their head as they had to prey before just to feed themselves.

Ash sighed.

Brock's voice came.

"Ash are you alright."

Ash nodded "I am just thinking about him."

"Look Ash this is how the reality is, if you do not crush you will be crushed same if you couldn't have killed him may be more people would come after you, I have called the league they will handle this, you don't have to be stressed about it, more challenges will come after this."

Ash nodded.

Then he felt a nudged him.

He looked down and saw Bulbasaur smiling at him.

"Bluba."

"Thank you, Bulbasaur I will be fine."

"Bluba"

Then Bulbasaur looked at him with determination and touched his Pokeball and went into it.

"Huh"

Misty "Looks like Bulbasaur accepted you Ash congratulations."

Ash smiled and jumped and punched into the air "Yes, I caught Bulbasaur."

Brock and Misty smiled seeing him recover.

...

The Next Day

Ash and Party left the next day with the reluctance of Brock as they have to complete 8 Gym before the league.

The group was making great progress on the journey to Vermillion City. It had been about two days since they left Cerulean City, and needless to say, they were ready to get back to a populated area. However, Brock told them they still had another week until they reached the city. Ash had battled a few hobby trainers along the way to help his Pokemon grow. Ash had made sure to use his newly acquired Bulbasaur, to test out his battle strengths. Bulbasaur was very talented in battle and Ash's second C ranked pokemon.

As they came across the sea shore.

"Oh, we are finally getting close to Vermillion City. I can't wait to get a nice bed and pillow" Misty commented as the group walked along the forest path.

"Right. The route we are on right now intersects with Route 24 which will take us straight into Vermilion City,"

Brock agreed.

"That's where I'm going to receive my third gym badge!"

Ash declared.

It was then the group noticed an enormous rock right in the middle of the path, casting a huge shadow. It wasn't the rock that got the group's attention, however, t was the Pokemon that was on top of the rock. It was a Charmander.

"Oh wow! A Charmander!" Ash exclaimed.

And Ash threw a Pokeball at him but it just hit him and fell.

Brock nodded "As I thought he has a trainer, It is very rare to see a Pokemon from the Starter trio be in wild."

Ash nodded and looked at the Charmander and spoke "He seems to be waiting."

Misty nodded "He should be training in the Sun."

Charmander looked at them and then closed his eyes.

Misty "We should move on."

"Yeah" Ash agreed. "According to Brock's map, there is a Pokemon Center near here. Let's rest there. We can check here, later on, to make sure its trainer came back."

The group agreed to the plan as they made their way to the Pokemon Center. It was about eight o'clock in the evening right now, and the group had just finished eating supper at the Pokemon Center. Nightfall had fallen by now and a storm seemed to be coming on top of that. The group was really glad they were inside the Pokemon Center, but they couldn't help but think about the Charmander they had encountered earlier. Ash and Brock, in particular, were worried. They were staring out the window and appeared to be deep in thought.

"Hey, you two. I think Charmander is just fine. There is no way it would wait around on a rock this long,' Misty told them, trying to cheer them up.

Ash and Brock said nothing as they continued to stare out of the window.

Brock 'The Charmander surely had been starving as I have never seen a Charmander with such a weak flame."

'Charmander's trainer would surely have come fort by now. No decent human being would leave their Pokemon out in the rain like that' Ash said in his mind

As they started eating was then that they overheard a group of teenage boys talking and laughing in another part of the Pokemon Center. One of the boys, who was wearing stylish clothes and had Red hair, had a bunch of pokeballs set out on the table in front of him with an arrogant smirk on his face.

"Wow, Damian. That's an awesome collection of Pokemon you have there, one of the teenagers said."

"Of course."

"What happened to your Charmander? Where is he?"

"I left him saying that I will come he must me waiting there like a loyal dog."

Bang

Ash ran out while the rest of them followed him without listening to Nurse Joy shouting behind.

..................

TBC