Chapter One

Friends Again

...

After the show at the Indigo Plateau Charizard relaxed in his pokeball, satisfied that he'd gotten his message across to Ash. Charizard wasn't going to obey, not even when it meant costing Ash an important battle. That should wipe that smug look from the boy's face.

When he heard his name Charizard stirred, wanting to hear the aftermath of refusing to obey his trainer.

'-izard! I won't let you take him!' What? Was team rocket after him this time? That could be fun, it was always satisfying to see them go flying.

'Ash, your charizard obviously won't obey you. It would be best if it is rehomed with someone who can control him, before someone gets hurt.' That wasn't any of the team rocket people, it didn't sound like anyone Charizard knew. Him, controlled? They'd have a better chance of controlling a forest fire!

…but what was this about being rehomed?

Charizard could feel Ash pick his pokeball from his belt, the little machine warming up ready to release him. Was this it? After months of waiting?

'Please! Give me another chance!' Was…was the boy fighting to keep him? Charizard felt a creeping sensation of something and quickly squashed it. No. He couldn't want to keep a disobedient pokemon on his team. He was probably just pretending.

'That is enough. You have had your warnings. You will either hand over the pokemon or we will suspend your licence.' The creep collapsed into disappointment. Ash wouldn't give up being a trainer. Not for Charizard. He'd been waiting to be abandoned, and now he would be.

'No! you're right, I haven't trained as hard as I could have. But I can do it, I can be a better trainer for my charizard!'

…What?

He was still refusing to back down? After all the trouble Charizard had caused him? After all the flamethrowers, throwing his chance at winning the league?

'Ash, part of being a good trainer is knowing when you are beaten. You should do as the league representative says.' Charizard scoffed. Ash never knew when he was beaten. He never gave up. Not even on a charizard that wouldn't listen. (being called out again and again, spitting fire in Ash's face again and again.)

'Brock!'

'I'm serious Ash. Enough.' Even Ash's flock-mates were arguing for him to give up. Charizard stated to feel something new. Worry.

'No! Look, it was a mistake to send out Charizard, but it was just one mistake! And, and no one got hurt! All that happened was I lost a battle.' Ash's voice sounded oddly wet.

'Ash, every time you let him out he attacks you!' That was the water girl, Misty. Never liked her (soft hands feeding him treats…)

'Yeah, me! I can take it. He's never hurt anyone else! Look!'

And one very confused charizard found himself being released from his pokeball. On automatic, he roared and blasted a flamethrower into the sky, feeling himself calm with it. It was dark now, and he was standing in the street by the stadium, lit by some of the metal light-trees. His flamethrower was taller twice over, he saw with satisfaction. Charizard stomped and looked for Ash's reaction.

Ash wasn't even looking at him! Instead he was crying. His head down and shadowed. He was cringing away from him, Charizard realised with a shock. Ash had never flinched from him before!

Professor Oak, Misty and Brock were standing opposite Ash on the darkened street. They had a handful of strangers in fancy looking clothes with them. Charizard guessed this must be the league representatives that Brock had mentioned. These were the people demanding Ash surrender him. Charizard snorted, and the groups as a whole took a step back. They were afraid. Of him. Next to Charizard Ash was sobbing hard enough to make his shoulders shake.

'See!' Said one of the strange men, waving his hand towards the embers floating in the air and Charizard. What? It wasn't like he had torched anyone, not even Ash!

'It is for the best young man,' said another, more soft spoken one 'your charizard would benefit more from an experienced trainer.' But Ash didn't move to hand over his pokeball, instead he hugged it to his chest and curled around it. Shaking.

Charizard starts to growl without meaning to. Pikachu had had enough too, and let loose a thunderbolt that stuck the street in front of the strangers and cracked the stone. They all jumped, a satisfying amount of fear on their faces. Now they would back down in the face of their strength!

But the first league man quickly recovered from the fear, looking somehow triumphant. Like someone had just walked into his flamethrower.

'Oak, I told you I wasn't sure about this boys team. That Pikachu is already too powerful, what happens when it evolves and stops listening to the boy? It could kill someone with attacks like that. I think we need to review his whole team.'

Ash's head jerked up, horrified, his eyes begging and face wet. Professor Oak glared at the stranger, but Ash's companions said nothing. They looked away.

Charizard felt any remains of his self-riochous rage disperse. Separate Ash and Pikachu? That was just.. wrong!

Charizard turned to Ash and bent to look the boy in the face. He is sobbing like his heart was breaking, face wet and dripping. Charizard hadn't wanted this.

He wasn't sure what he had wanted. But this wasn't it. The stranger stepped towards Ash, reaching for his pokeball and the fire pokemon snapped his fangs at him. Hands off! Immediately someone released a blastoise that stomped and growled and tried to intimidate Charizard.

He just snorted at her, and stepped closer to Ash completely dwarfing the young boy. Ash looked up, tearful and terrified and so very very young. Charizard looked at him and felt ashamed.

This was the same boy who had helped save him after he'd been abandoned. (He'd whispered sorry over and over, had cried, had promised he'd do better if Damien would just give him a chance!) Ash had run into a storm for him, before he even knew him. How had he forgotten? The memory seemed distant and foggy, but he remembered warm hands and worried eyes, a jacket tented over his tail. Keeping him alive.

And he had turned around and abandoned that boy. The person who had pulled him out of the cold and given him a home and a team.

Charizard breathes in deep, and Ash flinches. Charizard's heart sinks, and he blows out as gently as he can drying his boys face. Ash gulps down his tears and looks up at his pokemon standing above him with wide sad eyes.

Charizard rumbles gently at him, and it's like dawn break. For the first time in months Ash can see his friend plainly, not hidden behind contempt and anger. The boy throws his arms around the dragon, clinging like a Mankey and sobs all the harder.

'I'm so sorry Charizard, I'm so sorry.' The pokemon rumbles gently again, guilt filling him and the trainer, his friend, apologises desperately. (come back Damian, I'm sorry)

The night is cold, and Ash is warm against him, except for the place where his face is dripping all over him. That's the reason why Charizard stand there and doesn't pull back. Maybe even curls an arm around Ash. The other humans are still watching. They all look a bit sad, although the leader looks frustrated. Charizard wishes he could tell them all to buzz off.

Ash steps back to smile at Charizard, and the lead stranger clears his throat in the silly awkward way humans do when they want attention. Why couldn't they roar like a normal mon? Ash jumps and looks at him.

'Look, Ash, a hug doesn't change anything. You just aren't ready for a pokemon like charizard.' Charizard bends his head over Ash's shoulder and, knowing all about annoying people, yawns in the man's face, before draping himself over Ash. It wasn't comfortable, Ash's bony shoulder was digging into his neck and the boy was really too short (when had the boy gotten so small?) but it got the message across.

I don't care what you have to say. I'm not going anywhere.

Ash stands tall with his pokemon leaning on him and looks the lead stranger in the eye, radiating determination, rather than fear or sadness. Charizard feels Pikachu climb over him to get to his usual spot on Ash's shoulder, and sees the mouse grinning at him. It's been a while since any of his team mates had looked happy to see him. Ash's hand comes up and smooths down his neck and Charizard feels as tall as a mountain.

'Maybe I'm not ready right now. But I can learn. I won't just let you take any of my team from me.' Charizard huffs in agreement, blowing smoke towards the stranger who coughs and scowls at them.

Ash keeps going 'It was stupid to use Charizard in that match. But that is one mistake. No one got hurt' and he pauses. Charizard carefully doesn't think of the tantrums he'd thrown over the last few weeks, power itching to get out, rage in his belly and fire in his head. 'And no one will. I'll train hard and work with Charizard so that we can battle together. We can't do that if you take him away.'

The strange man takes in Ash's 'you can't make me' face, Charizard draped over him like a lazy Persian and turns to the other humans. Someone murmurs 'It hardly looks out of control now' and the man gives in with a huff.

'You are going to be on our watch list, young man. If you don't improve than we will revoke your licence and rehome your pokemon. Is that understood?'

Charizard huffs and returns himself to his pokeball. His mind is troubled and his skin is itching from all the emotions he's had to deal with today. But he sure of one thing. Ash would never let that happen.

...

AN

Rewritten to fit a longer story in the works.

Stay tuned to see Ash to take things seriously, deal with the trauma of almost having his whole dream taken from him, and forge friendships along the way.