Tale 172: Chimchar Returns the Favor (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 63, story 1)

"There was once a certain seaside village in Shinou that was so poor, the people had to live on Clamperls, Shellders, and seaweed." Ash begins.

"Didn't Dawn teach you this one?" Brock recognizes the tale's beginning.

"On the way to Sunyshore, if memory serves." Ash replies. "Anyway, one day a woman noticed a Chimchar struggling to free its hand, which was stuck in a small hole. Despite warnings not to, the woman helps the Chimchar out. But then, the Chimchar snatched the woman's Pichu!"

"But, Chimchars don't normally take other Pokemon..." Misty is confused rather than shocked at the turn of events

"After chasing both Pokemon for a while, the woman caught up to the Chimchar, who ran up into a tree with the Pichu." Ash goes on. "As if that wasn't enough, the Pichu's fearful cries attracted a Braviary, who figured the Pichu was food."

Happini swallows hard, worried for the Pichu. "But just before the Braviary could attack, the Chimchar whacked it with a branch." Ash continues. "More Braviaries came, but they too got whacked by branches."

"I see! The Chimchar must've seen the Braviaries coming and took the Pichu somewhere safe as thanks for the woman helping it." Misty muses.

"What Braviaries that didn't get whacked by branches fled in terror after most of the flock got whacked away." Ash continues. "When the coast was clear, the Chimchar set the Pichu on the ground before returning to the brush."

He then confirms Misty's prediction. "It dawned on the woman that the Chimchar saved her Pichu in return for her helping it before. The townsfolk used the Braviary feathers to make arrows, and the town soon became world famous for its Braviary arrows, which are said never miss. Each time someone from the town fires one of these arrows, the townsfolk remember the brave Chimchar that saved a Pichu."

"Pika pika pikachu pi Pichu." Pikachu notes as the others applaud.

"Yeah, shocking them all at once with a Thunderbolt would be faster than whacking them away one by one." Brock agrees...