Johto Saga
Chapter 2: Chasing the Fires of a New Friendship
Several days earlier, a lone Pokemon stands within the underbrush of Route 30 in Johto during the chaos atop Mount Silver. His eyes never leave the mountain as the ground quakes around him. "Whatever is happening up there I hope that everything is ok." He watches as the ground suddenly stops shaking, and the once turblent airspace at the peak clears. The Pokemon lets out a smile as he sees this. He turns to head deeper into the route to try and resume his own quest to see if anyone can possibly help him in his plight.
The group, finished with packing their camp up, discusses their next objectives. "Looking at this map, if we continue up Route 30 we will eventually come to Violet City. After that, it's just a stones throw away to reach Ecruteak and the Three Sacred Beasts." Cynder says as she studies the map. Bowser, Charonus, and Draco nod as they prepare to set out on the route. As the group makes their way up the long route, they are continually watched by an unseen Pokemon. "Could this group of strange Pokemon be the ones that stopped thestrange occurance atop Mount Silver from several days ago? Maybe I can get their help in my own plight...nobody else seems willing to help..." The Pokemon hangs its head low for a moment, letting out a small wimper and a tear from its eye.
As the group reaches a third of the way up the route, they see a gathering of small Pidgey and Rattata. "Something has gotta be done about that Houndoom...he keeps riling up the locals every day." says one of the Pidgey. "I know what you mean, always coming out of nowhere and scaring those nearby. He's such a menace. Who cares if he says that he's something else. All I see is a nuisance." says one of the Rattata. One of the Pokemon gathered spots the group coming up the path. He gets the attention of the others gathered. The gathering eventually walks over to the group. "Hello travellers, good to see some other Pokemon travelling today." Charonus looks down at the Pidgey who is speaking and jumps off of Bowser's shell. "It is a good day to travel, but we must make haste to our destination before it gets late." The Pidgey nods, "Just a mere warning then. If you spot a strange Houndoom, it is best to stay away. He has been trying to get anyone that will listen to help him in his plight...or so he says. I really don't believe a word he says, and you shouldn't either." Charonus frowns, "I don't really know what it is you have against a simple Houndoom, but if there is a way I can help, I will. I think it might help me in my quest for balance to help out before I get to the Sacred Beasts in Ecruteak." The Pidgey is taken aback at this Charmander's words, thinking to himself that the Charmander must be crazy. Not only does he say that he will help the Houndoom, but also see the Sacred Beasts. "I...see, well, I wish you luck then. Not to be rude, but I think that you are crazy." The Pidgey looks down for a moment as suddenly something strikes his memory as he remembers his relatives in Kanto saying something about a group, matching the description of those in front of him. "Wait, are you the group that stopped the dark one on Mount Silver?" The Pidgey asks. Charonus simply nods. The Pidgey speaks again, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean anything bad by my words. I shouldn't keep you any longer. Safe travels."
Charonus jumps back onto Bowser's shell as they walk past the gathering and head further up the route. "So, a strange Houndoom. Do any of you know what one looks like?" Bowser, Cynder and Draco look at eachother and shrug. The group continues on thier way, conversing and wondering about the Houndoom, and the Sacred Beasts. They get to about the halfway point up the route when they spot another Pokemon darting around. This Pokemon is a quadrapedal, black dog like Pokemon and adorned with what appear to be bone like protrusions sprouting from its head and back. The Pokemon looks over and locks eyes with the group. Bowser looks over to Cynder and Draco, "Do you think that this could be the Houndoom that the Pidgey was talking about?" Draco nods, "I think it could be."
The Houndoom runs up to the group, clearly in some sort of panic. "Hey guys, do you think you can help me out? To get me out of the way from interfering in his plots, a dark skinned Lugia changed me into what you see before you. I'm not supposed to look like this." The Houndoom lowers his head. The group looks at eachother, unsure of what to say to this Houndoom, and even more unsure about if what he says is true. Charonus looks back over at the Houndoom and wonders about this dark Lugia he has spoken of, then he remembers the chant that he heard in his dream the night prior. "Beware the one of dark silvered wings, lest ye be put under its control. Free the one of light silver, and let balance regain its flow." Charonus jumps down from Bowser's shell and walks over to the Houndoom. "May I ask, what is your name?" The Houndoom looks at the small Charmander in front of him, "My name? My name is Chase. Does this mean that you believe my plight?" Charonus answers, "I'm not sure if I believe you yet Chase, but I believe that everyone deserves a chance to be heard. We are on our way to see the Sacred Beasts that reside in Ecruteak, maybe they can help you." Chase's face lights up in hearing this, "Thank you, you are the first one to listen to me and try to help." Draco, Bowser and Cynder seem unsure, but they smile at how Charonus handled this situation.
As the now larger group resumes their journey to Ecruteak, Chase begins to speak more about his plight. "My memory is a little foggy due to the magic at work putting me in this form, but I know I am not supposed to be a Houndoom. I forget what I am really though." Charonus continues to listen to Chase as he talks, trying to hear anything that could lead to what his true identity is. Chase describes some areas that he can remember in his mind, and as he tries to decribe a tower that resides in a far off region, Charonus' perks his head up. "Wait, a tower huh, can you describe it more for me Chase?" Chase stops for a moment and tries to remember, "Well...my mind is fuzzy, but it is said to be the oldest building in the region I come from, but that is all I know." Hearing this, Charonus searches his mind for a moment and catches a memory of an old tower with a strange black dragon like Pokemon at its peak with a blue, thunder like aura surrounding it. Chase looks up at Charonus, "Are you ok Charonus?" Charonus, snapping out of his memory, looks down at Chase, "Yeah, I think I have seen the tower in my memory, eventhough I have never been there. I have had strange dreams of areas and Pokemon that I think that I will be visiting soon and at the tower in my memory I have seen a black dragon type that has control over thunder." Chase thinks for a moment, then says only one word, "Zekrom."
Draco, Bowser, and Cynder, listening in to Charonus' and Chase's conversation wonders what 'Zekrom' actually means, but they keep it to themselves. The group continues, and eventually passes through Violet City, noting that some of the Pokemon there shy away as Chase walks by. "They really don't seem to care for you huh?" Charonus asks Chase. "Yeah...it's the same everywhere I go. Your group is really the only ones who didn't, and I thank you for that." Chase hangs his head low as he says this. Charonus climbs off of Bowser's shell and lands on Chase's back. "I think everyone deserves to be heard." Chase smiles somewhat at this. The group continues through and heads up the short Routes towards Ecruteak, eventually setting up a camp just outside of the cities outskirts. The group converses over Chase's story, and of what their next plans are once they meet the Sacred Beasts that are said to dwell within Ecruteak itself.