Another Friday, another chapter! Lucky I already have the next chapters written. I started school this week and I have so much reading to do! Five novels for one class, plus any essays the teacher assigns, two novels for another class, and a whole bunch of different documents for a third class. Looks like I won't be doing any personal reading for a while.

Oh, and I thought this might be helpful, sense I refer to Ember's Pokémon by nickname:

Nagi – Ember's Growlithe. He hatched from a Pokémon egg when Ember was little. His full nickname is Izanagi.

Nami – Ember's Vulpix. She hatched from a Pokémon egg when Ember was little. Her full nickname is Izanami.

Anyways, enough of my babbling, on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Never have, never will.


Pokémon Ember Saga Ch 3: Trouble in the Tunnel

A short while later, Ember and Professor Oak are standing in Rock Tunnel.

"This isn't so bad," Ember says, glancing around. "I can see… a little."

"This is only the entrance," Professor Oak says in an amused voice as he removes a Pokéball from his belt. "It gets much worse the farther you go. That's why I have my Stan."

The Pokéball opens and a Stantler, a Pokémon with yellow antlers pops out. And then the Professor freezes.

I should have used a different Pokémon! His mind screeches. Stan hates strangers!

Ember reaches out to pet Stan, and Professor Oak starts to call out a warning. But, before he can speak, Ember is stroking Stan between his antlers, giggling at the Deer Pokémon's happy cries.

"Is something wrong, Professor?" Ember asks.

"No," Professor Oak says, shaking his head, "not really. Now, we need to go this way. Stan, use Flash."

Stan's antlers begin to glow and Professor Oak leads them down a dark tunnel. In his mind, the Professor files what he has just seen under "to figure out later."


It has been about a half an hour, and Ember and Professor Oak have made their way deep into Rock Tunnel. It's so dark that Ember has recalled Nagi and Nami back to their Pokéballs out of fear of losing them in the darkness.

"I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to them," Ember explains.

"You're very close to those two then?" Professor Oak asks.

"Very," Ember replies. "I hatched them when I was still young. They've always been by my side."

In the glow of Stan's antlers, Professor Oak can see the flame-haired trainer holding up her two Pokéballs. Her expression is kind and gentle. Professor Oak takes out a Pokéball and starts to say something, but the ground suddenly begins to shake and a loud rumbling noise fills the air.

"Professor!" Ember exclaims over the growing noise. "What's happening?"

Professor Oak doesn't answer; he doesn't need to. A huge Onix bursts its way through a nearby wall and keeps barreling forward. Huge chunks of rock fall from the ceiling, landing on the ground with loud crashes and sending dust and debris flying into the air. Ember runs for her life, keeping her head and neck covered. Soon, the rumbling and shaking stop, and the rocks stop falling.

"Professor Oak?" Ember calls out. "Professor?"

As the dust clears, and everything remains pitch black, it becomes clear that Ember has lost Professor Oak.

"Professor!" Ember bellows, hoping that the man will hear her. "Profess-"

Without warning, Ember trips, cutting her shouting off short. Instinctively, she throws her hands out to catch herself. Her left hand lands hard, twisting until pain shoots through her wrist. Her right hand, however, contacts something round, hard, and familiar: a Pokéball. The ball opens in a flash of light, revealing the Pokémon inside.

"Charmander!"

The little orange lizard strikes a pose clearly meant to impress a new trainer, cute in its attempt to be menacing. Ember can't help but laugh a little. The Charmander breaks his pose, surprised by his surroundings. Alarm quickly turns to fear and panic.

"Hey there little guy," Ember says, cradling her throbbing wrist. "I know this is a strange place, but you don't have to be afraid. Come with me and I'll make sure you get back to Professor Oak."

"Char charmander!" the Charmander says, relaxing. He swings his tail happily, illuminating the area around them.

"That's a very bright tail you've got there," Ember says. "You mind helping me out? Could you light the way for us?"

"Char…," the Charmander says in an uncertain tone.

"Don't worry," Ember says, smiling. "If anything goes wrong, I'll protect you."

Encouraged, the Charmander nods, and he and Ember set off together.

The only thing is Ember's eyes dart about, observing her strange surroundings I have no idea where I'm going. That and I think my wrist is broken.

So they walk. They walk and walk and walk, climbing up and down ladders when they come to them. The light from Charmander's tail only goes so far, so the pair moves with caution. The lack of light seems to bring out more Wild Pokémon: Zubat, Golbat, Machop and Geodude. Fortunately, none of these Pokémon are in an attacking mood. Ember and Charmander pass without incident.

"We're making good progress," Ember says. I hope she adds mentally.

The pair pauses as a group of Geodude pass by. Ember watches the rocky Pokémon as they head down another tunnel.

"Wait a minute," Ember says, doing a double take. She looks around, realizing with a jolt that she can actually see farther than a few feet, and mentally slapping herself on the forehead for not realizing it sooner.

"We must be close to the exit!" she cheers. "Good job, little guy! You saw us through!"

"Char-mand-der!" Charmander cheers, pumping his little fists in the air.

"Now," Ember says, "where exactly is this exit?"

Charmander stares at the flame-haired girl as she looks around for an exit, and giggles. Ember glances down and grins.

"Are you laughing at me?" she asks.

"Char," Charmander says, nodding.

"Fair enough," Ember says. She and Charmander chuckle.

"Ember!" Professor Oak's voice echoes from above. "Ember!"

Ember glances up and spots the Professor on a ledge.

"Hey there, Professor!" Ember calls out. "I see you!"

"No, Ember!" Professor Oak shouts. "Behind you! Look out!"

Ember spins around just in time to see a large grey fist heading right at her. She and Charmander barely manage to jump out of the way, in opposite directions. Ember's back hits a wall. Debris flies out as the fist impacts the floor, but the attacking Pokémon can be seen clearly.

"A Machoke!" Ember exclaims. "Is it enraged?"

"Machoke!" the Machoke bellows, turning on Ember. It advances, fists raised. Ember reaches for Nagi and Nami's Pokéballs, but excruciating pain shoots through her wrist and up her arm."

Damn it! She struggles to keep from screaming. I forgot!

Ember scrambles to avoid the Machoke's oncoming fist, only to have her escape route blocked by the Machoke's other arm.

I'm going to die here Ember's brain screams and whispers at the same time. I'm really going to die here.

But then, out of nowhere, Charmander appears. He leaps into the face of the attacking Machoke, scratching furiously. The Machoke staggers back, roaring in anger and pain. Ember darts away from the wall and out of danger. She reaches for her Pokéballs again, making sure to use her right hand this time. The cries of the battling Pokémon distract her.

"Char char! Charmander!"

"Machoke ma!"

Ember looks up and sees the Machoke grabbing at Charmander, pulling at him. Charmander is hanging onto the Machoke's face as tightly as he can, but the Machoke pulls the little lizard off. The Machoke receives several deep gouges for his troubles.

"Choke!" the Machoke bellows in rage. In its fury, it throws Charmander as hard as it can, right towards a solid stone wall.

"No!" Ember yells. She throws herself forward in a desperate sprint.


Professor Oak rounds a corner just in time to see Ember slam into a wall, hard. She collapses in a heap.

"Ember!" Professor Oak exclaims. "Stan, use Stomp!"

Stan darts forward, but the Machoke slaps the Stantler away. The Professor starts to call out another attack when something catches his attention.

Ember is climbing to her feet, not obviously injured but grinding her teeth in pain, Nagi and Nami at her side. In her arms is Charmander, unharmed.

"I hope you can take as much as you can dish out," Ember says through gritted teeth. "Use Ember!"

Nagi and Nami exhale chunks of fire, which fly at the Machoke.

And then, Charmander opens his mouth, and embers fly out. The three streams of embers combine into one blast of fire that fries the Machoke. It drops to the ground, unconscious.

"That was amazing, Ember!" Professor Oak exclaims, rushing to Ember's side. "Are you all right?"

"My back hurts," Ember says, "and my wrist is trashed. But, other than that, I'm fine."

"I'm sorry you got hurt," Professor Oak says.

"It's not your fault," Ember says, bending over and putting Charmander on the ground. "In fact, you probably saved my life."

Ember reaches into her pocket and pulls out Charmander's Pokéball.

"I'm sorry I had to use your Charmander," she says. "In my defense, it was a desperate situation."

"Charmander?" Charmander says.

"It's time for you to go home, little guy," Ember says.

The Professor looks back and forth between Ember and Charmander, a smile crossing his face.

"Charmander?" Professor Oak asks. "Would you like to stay with Ember?"

"Char?" Charmander exclaims

"Really?" Ember echoes. "You'd let him come with me? But why?"

"You are a compassionate trainer," Professor Oak says. "You risked your life to save a Pokémon you had no connection to until today. Plus, Charmander is all ready showing loyalty to you. He used Ember by your command, a move that he has never used before. It's quite clear to me that you are this Charmander's trainer."

"What do you say, little guy?" Ember asks.

"Charmander!" Charmander exclaims, leaping into Ember's arms.

"Ow ow ow!" Ember exclaims. "Broken wrist!"

"Char," Charmander says, worried.

"Don't worry… Aston. I'll live," Ember says. She looks at Professor Oak. "Now, can we please get out of here?"


Chapter three, done! I told you the story would pick up. Make sure to tune in next Friday for another exciting installment! Sorry, I've always wanted to say that. Anyways, dewa kore de!