Chapter 2:

Life of a Chimchar

A/N: As this story is supposed to take place in the Pokemon society, there may be some terms that you will not be familiar with. Therefore, a glossary will be included with each chapter so that you will not be too confused.

Also, for those of you that do not know, you can check my profile section "Current Work" to see how the progress for the story is coming along.

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"Watch it, Feuer!"

The young Chimchar let himself fall but caught himself on the last branch about twenty hans from the ground. "Relax, Kron. He can't get me."

A Pichu ran up to the tree and jumped, uselessly trying to reach the dangling Chimchar. "Come on, guys. You know I hate it when you do this!"

"Then maybe you should stop suggesting this game," Kron the Treecko said from a higher branch.

Feuer stretched his foot lower. "Come on, Pech. Jump!" He pulled his leg up just out of the Pichu's reach.

"You're so mean, you know that?"

"No, you just can't keep up in a real game of Catch." Kron leaned back and reclined against the tree trunk.

"Oooo. You want me to get him for you, Pech?" This time, he let the small Pokemon reach up and slap his foot.

"That's not fair." The Treecko got up and jumped through the branches.

Feuer quickly gave chase. Because of the number of branches, Kron dropped to the lowest level, only a few trees ahead of his pursuer. Feuer jumped and swung as fast as he could, but he knew there was no way he could catch up with a Treecko in the trees. But he could still try.

Kron tried to throw him off by suddenly changing directions. But Feuer managed to grab a trunk and cut the corner, bringing him several hans closer.

The two burst through a thicker section of trees and came out into a larger area devoid of low branches. A large group of different shaiyas were walking around the space, going about various tasks. "Perfect," Feuer thought to himself. "The main village. Now he won't stand a chance."

Kron hit the ground and kept running. But instead of following, Feuer took to the left, ducking behind a large tree that acted as someone's house. With a quick leap and a roll, he moved around a Primeape and behind an improvised hut of branches and leaves.

Here he stopped and paused. He had lost his breath somewhere in the chase and forced himself to slow the breathing. If he wanted to be stealthy, he couldn't be making a sound. Once it dropped to an acceptable level, he peaked out around the dome.

Kron stood a good panstretch away keeping his back to a tree. That was unusually smart of him. No one could get to his back. But it cut off his gaze, a weakness Feuer could easily exploit.

He quickly ran behind a cluster of bushes and then gently crossed the gap to the tree. He was just around the corner from Kron. Kron's hand even stuck out around the edge. Feuer could have grabbed it if he wanted. But this would be much more fun.

He stepped back slightly, giving himself some room, and prepared for a powerful pounce. Kron would never know what hit him.

"GET HIM, FEUER!"

Feuer's gaze shot to the side. Pech was standing at the clearing's edge. "You idiot!" He had no choice. He jumped around the tree and threw his body.

But Kron had already seen him thanks to Pech's warning. He crouched and Feuer went right over him.

Feuer slid along the grass. Before he could push himself back up, Kron was on top of him, holding his shoulders into the ground. "Nice try. But you aren't fast enough."

"Oh really?" He reached his legs up and grabbed Kron's midsection. With a sudden pull, he threw Kron to the ground and flipped over, completely switching their positions. "Catch."

"Not yet." Kron pulled another move and Feuer suddenly tasted grass.

The two continued struggling, each trying to keep the other down. Pech got into the mix at some point and helped Feuer hold Kron down for good.

By now, they were all tired and sore. But they all laughed as they stood and leaned against each other.

"Excuse me, boys."

The three turned. A young Eevee stood waiting.

"Oh, sorry, Sam." Feuer pushed himself away from Kron, making a path. Sam nodded to him as she walked past.

For a moment, Feuer just watched her go. Kron stepped closer and just laughed. "How many times do we have to tell you, Feuer? You are never going to get together with her. She's an Eevee; you're a Chimchar. You haven't got a chance."

"Especially since I'm going to get her," another voice said behind her.

Feuer already knew who it was before he turned. Sor had hatched only five days before him, but he had already grown into a Monferno. He was also the bane of Feuer's life, always picking on him and showing him up in just about everything. Just behind him was Rorn, a Geodude from the nearby caves and Sor's general lacky.

Kron leaned back on one leg with a snicker. "Yeah? And what makes you think you have any better chance?"

"'Cause I'm better in every single way. That's why?" he said, taking one step closer.

"Oh yeah?" Kron stepped forward himself, bringing their faces less than a han away. The two glared into each other's eyes for a moment, both of them refusing to budge.

"Can you two please stop?" Feuer stepped in the middle, pushing the two apart.

"What's wrong? Life's little accident got a problem with fights?"

The Chimchar's fists tightened at the insult. It was one of his favorite insults; probably because it dug under Feuer's fur every time. "Shut it, Sor!"

Sor just grinned. "You want to do something? Then do it." He pushed Feuer on the shoulder, forcing him back a few steps.

Feuer just caught his feet and stood his ground. He wanted nothing more than to hit him right there.

"Come on. Why don't you stand up for yourself?" Sor pushed harder this time, nearly sending him to the ground.

An Infernape suddenly dropped to the ground between them. "That's enough, Sor."

Sor took a step back. "Huh. Mommy's come to save her precious accident." He looked over her shoulder at Feuer. "Catch you later." The Monferno and the Geodude turned and left the clearing quietly.

"Let's go, Feuer." She began to climb the tree next to her expertly, trusting that her son would follow.

He gave one last look at his friends. "I'll see you guys later."

"Sure." "Yep."

He started to follow after his mother, having slightly more difficulty. As his arms carried him higher, his gaze drifted back downwards. Just a panstretch away, Sam quickly turned and dashed out of the clearing, back into the heavy forest.

Feuer paused, looking after her. Had she heard the whole thing?

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Glossary

Han: short unit of measurement, several inches

Panstretch: medium unit of measurement, about 17.6 yards

Shaiya: in Pokemon language, the general term for all Pokemon; to humans, if refers to those that can change between human and Pokemon forms