c139: Pokémon Abused—Xiao Hao Was Expelled! !
Xiao Hao never imagined that his jealousy-fueled remarks slandering Ash in front of the media wouldn't harm Ash at all but would end up backfiring catastrophically on himself.
Now, not only was Ash's reputation intact, but Xiao Hao had become the target of public outrage across the entire Kanto Region, branded openly as a "shameless villain." Even Xiaochun, his childhood friend who had always supported him and once stood by him during his hospitalization, had a serious argument with him and promptly cut ties.
Lying in a hospital bed at Tokiwa City Hospital, Xiao Hao watched TV as channels repeatedly aired condemnation reports. His phone buzzed with updates from media accounts and self-media influencers every headline ridiculing, insulting, or calling him out. Xiao Hao, mentally exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed, was on the verge of collapse.
From the moment he falsely blamed Xiaochun for his own tardiness on the summer camp's first day… to the injury he sustained during the Gyarados incident, which Ash kindly helped treat despite Xiao Hao's betrayal… every misdeed he'd hidden was now fully exposed to the public.
It turned out that during the fishing challenge, the reason the previously calm Gyarados went berserk was because Xiao Hao cheated forcing his Magikarp to thrash around using a powerful move in shallow waters, aggravating the Gyarados's territorial instincts.
As his actions came to light, Xiao Hao began noticing even the doctors and nurses at the hospital previously polite and gentle were now treating him coldly. Their expressions sometimes betrayed subtle contempt, their tone now noticeably more mechanical and detached.
Unlike in Pallet Town, where the summer camp was located and the lack of internet infrastructure shielded Ash from real-time gossip and cyberbullying, Xiao Hao confined to his hospital bed was fully immersed in the backlash. Through television, mobile apps, and the hospital's media system, he was exposed to every brutal word and every unforgiving post. He was now drowning in the bitter fruit of his own lies.
The second major incident of the summer camp one that shocked the entire region also revolved around Xiao Hao.
Perhaps unable to bear the pressure and thinking an emotional play might earn him redemption, Xiao Hao returned to the summer camp on the first weekend, still recovering, and with an obvious limp.
He claimed he had come to apologize to Ash and Professor Oak, hoping the public would see his young age and forgive him. It was a calculated move to play the "repentant child" card.
While Gary and Xiaolan looked at him with undisguised disdain and sneered under their breath, Ash's reaction was neutral neither warm nor condemning. But it wasn't out of kindness; Ash merely saw through Xiao Hao's act and understood that any direct confrontation would play into Xiao Hao's attempt to appear wronged.
So when Xiao Hao offered his apology, Ash responded indifferently but stated he would no longer pursue the matter. Later, when Yoko from Saffron TV interviewed Ash about it, Ash maintained a generous and composed demeanor, neither attacking nor belittling Xiao Hao.
Ash's calm and restraint didn't help Xiao Hao in the public eye, though. In contrast, Ash's reputation skyrocketed viewers praised his maturity, kindness, and humility.
But once Xiao Hao re-entered the internet-free bubble of the Pallet Town summer camp, he naïvely assumed his problems were over, believing the world had forgiven him. He thought the media storm had passed and resumed his usual smug and self-important demeanor.
However, this time, Xiao Hao refrained from attacking Ash directly. Instead, he shifted blame to Magikarp, blaming it for his previous Gyarados injury and for being the reason he ranked dead last in every challenge.
Harboring resentment toward his Pokémon, Xiao Hao took advantage of a time when most students were away at training activities and he was alone in the dorm. There, he physically abused his Magikarp kicking and punching it out of frustration.
Unfortunately for him, Xiaohu (Fat Fu) returned to the cabin to retrieve some items and caught Xiao Hao in the act.
Already disgusted by Xiao Hao's betrayal of Ash, Xiaohu now had concrete proof of his cruelty. Without hesitation, he ran to the open field where the day's triathlon event was underway and reported the abuse loudly in front of all the trainees and staff.
Saffron City TV's Yoko and her crew were live broadcasting the event. The cameras picked up Xiaohu's declaration, and the audio Xiaohu's booming voice full of righteous anger went straight into homes across the Kanto Region.
The audience watching the live stream from their homes was shocked and outraged what had started as a controversy over gossip had now turned into an actual Pokémon abuse scandal.
If spreading malicious rumors about friends behind their backs is a moral failing, then abusing Pokémon crosses a legal line a violation strictly forbidden under official Pokémon League regulations enforced by the Alliance.
After receiving a firsthand report from Xiaohu (Fat Fu), Professor Oak immediately halted the ongoing triathlon and returned to the camp without hesitation. Upon arrival, he confronted Xiao Hao and instructed Nurse Joy to examine the Magikarp in question. Her professional evaluation confirmed clear signs of trauma: bruises and contusions consistent with physical abuse.
Under Professor Oak's firm interrogation and his insistence on the League's "leniency through confession" principle Xiao Hao finally confessed that he had assaulted Magikarp out of frustration and personal resentment.
When Xiao Hao had previously slandered Ash by spreading false claims such as alleging that Ash's Froakie (Keromatsu) was unfairly assigned by Professor Oak—Oak had chosen restraint, recognizing that Xiao Hao was still a child. Instead of punishing him, the professor worked to clear Ash's name with evidence, such as footage showing Ash earning Froakie's trust through repeated rescue attempts.
But this time was different.
Abuse of a Pokémon a defenseless partner was a direct violation of the Pokémon League's Code of Trainer Conduct, a boundary that even Professor Oak could not overlook. He publicly announced Xiao Hao's expulsion from the summer camp on the spot and declared that he would no longer recognize Xiao Hao as a student of Pallet Town's official Pokémon Education Program. He also contacted Xiao Hao's parents and ordered them to remove him from camp immediately.
Though Oak did not revoke Xiao Hao's future eligibility to become a licensed Pokémon Trainer outright, he imposed disciplinary measures with long-term consequences:
Until Xiao Hao reaches the age of 10 the legal minimum for trainer registration he must report to the local Officer Jenny station three times a week for mandatory behavioral counseling.
In addition, he must serve at the local Pokémon Center as a community volunteer twice a week to learn how to care for Pokémon properly.
This disciplinary order will remain in effect until his 10th birthday.
If Xiao Hao fails to comply or does not pass the trainer ethics evaluation during League assessment, his official license as a Pokémon Trainer will be permanently revoked.
When this punishment was announced, Xiao Hao turned pale, his face drained of all color. He stood frozen, barely able to react as his parents arrived and escorted him away in silence.
Meanwhile, the general public across Kanto, having witnessed the abuse unfold in real-time through Saffron TV's live broadcast, responded with near-universal outrage. The backlash was immediate and overwhelming there was no sympathy left for Xiao Hao.
What began as a fishing incident targeting Ash had now fully reversed course, evolving into a far more severe fishing storm focused entirely on Xiao Hao.
Far away in Vermilion City's Sakuragi Institute, Professor Sakuragi saw the broadcast on the lab's monitor. Turning to his daughter, who was playing with Caller Zhu on the sofa, he sighed deeply and said:
"From now on, stay away from kids like that. They don't belong in your future."
Xiaochun, her expression calm but firm, replied,
"I already cut off ties with Xiao Hao. I won't speak to him ever again."
Though the summer camp was situated in Pallet Town, isolated from the broader media due to a lack of internet infrastructure, the intensity of the media storm caused by Xiao Hao's actions could still be felt even in the quiet woods and open fields of the camp.
Yet, while many students and Kanto citizens continued to criticize Xiao Hao in the following two weeks, Ash's attention had already shifted. He no longer concerned himself with Xiao Hao's downfall.
Today was the final day of the summer camp. Over the past two weeks, Ash had participated in nine formal camp challenges battles, skill assessments, field scouting, and team coordination tasks. The last evaluation would determine if Ash would be officially granted the right to keep Froakie as his own Pokémon.
"Once camp ends… Serena and the others will be heading back to Kalos.
I guess… it's time to say goodbye," Ash thought quietly to himself.
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