Chapter 5 – Evening Before Charicific Valley
Night time was slowly falling apron the forest in the Hoenn Region things being quiet and Max with May outside the craft next to the waters talking about how the day been going since they've met their new friend a Charizard called Flare. A kind and warm-hearted Charizard unlike any that seen before but brought attention to Max making him feel happy meeting a big pokémon like Flare.
They then notice Ash and Pikachu walking with Flare back towards the craft they talking to each other about something "I thought Ash was going to ask him tomorrow?" May said turning to face them
Max watched them coming up Flare nodding with a short grin on the snout "Looks like Flare agreed to what ever they talking about." Max said back both watching them come to a stop near them.
"Alright Ash, I will take you and Pikachu only tomorrow morning. But under one condition, I sit and wait outside the Valley, I know it sounds wonderful and a great place to see fellow Charizards" Flare spoke with Ash about to speak but Flare continues "But as you point out, my differences make me feel out of place with them" Flare finished.
"Alright I agree Flare" Ash nod with a smile "It will be great to see Charizard again." Ash then see May and Max
Flare turn to them "I would ask a favour for you, May, Max, Brock and Lurna to keep a eye on the ship while we gone" Flare spoke in request to them.
"Sure, we would be glad to look after it while you three are gone" May said with her hands together never had a dream to look after a real spacecraft from another planet.
"But do not over use any of the systems. It in grey mode, cause the power that left is really low. I haven't found a matching power source on this world yet. Maybe you four would have better luck" Flare put his middle claw up being a major point out to them.
"You can count on us" Max said with a warm happy smile liking this favour a lot "We will do our best and keep things together till you get back" Max smiled
"That's tomorrow when I leave with Ash and Pikachu" Flare spoke back.
"No problem you can count on us" May put her hands around one of Flare's claw hand and shook it a little with a happy look to him but keeping her eyes closed not wishing to look him in the eyes.
"I trust you two" May lets go and Flare walk by and unlatch a panel and lifts it open then taking his belt and jacket off then put a post bag over his shoulder going across and down is front and back. The bag resting by his waist level keeping his translate band on his upper part on the right arm.
Ash then dared to ask, "Why did you remove your stuff for a postbag?" Asking the question that Pikachu, May and Max had on their minds.
"Ash why don't you come with me and find out with Pikachu, call it a fare trade" Flare said turning around lowing forwards touching his claw hands on the ground so Ash and Pikachu can climb on.
"I guess that fair" Ash got to the side of Flare and climbed up on his back with Pikachu then Flare flapped his wings taking off making Ash yell a little in fright "Whoa you didn't tell me you can take off like that" Ash clanged on
"Now you do" Flare chuckled "Well for now this will talk will hold I am deactivating the device and placing it in the bag for safety." Flare told Ash and he nod seeing Flare remove the translator band and put it in the bag, with a Charizard roar Flare took flight towards the village May and Max hearing Ash crying out "Slow down!" in the distance and fades.
"Should we wait by the river?" Max asked May
"Why not" May said sitting down by the waterside with Max going back to their conversation watching the stars starting to come into view of the night sky the sun colours fading away.
Brock and Lurna was inside the craft in the room that had the large beds in it, they talking about how the day been going as well but Brock was talking about how Flare was much different to that of any Charizard he had seen how Flare look more understanding and content then a Charizard on Earth.
"You see Lurna when you've been around with Ash you get to see some sides of Pokémon that you never forget and Charizard might at first been a blasting flame pokémon at Ash but then turn to be a loyal and best friend" Brock said to Lurna explaining some differences "With Flare it totally different, he friendly a caring flame pokémon that has a child that he moans in his own way. He got all this, very intelligent, sharp and very moveable all that makes Flare compared to a Charizard I know of look way different" Brock finished explaining to Lurna sitting on his own bed looking over at her.
Lurna looking at her Pokéball then over at Brock "I agree with what your saying but this might be one of many things that a Charizard has from this Pokélonum. Being here on Earth puts Charizard into a whole new light for him since they act far differently then he and others on his world colliding the two could make things boil over." Lurna explained her view to this both of them sharing a similar view to it.
"I guess but I am sure Flare would be able to explain it" Brock said rubbing his chin a little
Lurna laid back on her bed putting the ball beside her "Yes seeing this fellow for myself I would say his got the guts to do it and the will to press on. Specially for that kind of his" Lurna said looking at the ceiling, Brock gave a gentle nod looking to the door and putting some thought into it thinking about how Flare had been coping all this time.
Then Brock turned and look at Lurna "How about giving your number?" Lurna sat up and pulled up her Pokéball, Brock looked scared at this point "I guess that a no"
"You got it in one" Lurna said putting it down on the bed "I heard about you from warnings of Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny." Brock heart sank "If you try your lady charms again on me or anyone else while I am around, this pokémon in here will soak you till you need to put yourself on the line. Do I make myself clear?" Lurna spoke directly at him raising her ball again giving a cold stare.
"Yes mam" Brock nods with sweat on his face then she put the ball down and lay back down Brock sighing in relief.
Flare fly down towards the Village and lands with Ash on impact flying over his head landing on his backside. "Ow… not so hard on the landing" Ash turn his head up at Flare "next time ok Flare?" Flare grinned and turn around a bit to show Pikachu still holding on with a grin of it own. "I guess it wasn't if Pikachu held without trouble." Ash got up looking around "We back in the village.
Flare nod and then walk over to a set of post boxes putting a claw hand in the mail bag pulling out soon after a key and put it in one of the boxes turning it the door open mail sitting in there including a package placing them in the mail bag. "Professor Dezard?" Ash read on the title below the door as it was closed and locked. "Is that to hind that you getting this stuff for yourself?" Flare nods "But why get this stuff?" Flare taps his claw hand palm twice with his claw tip on the other claw hand.
"Ok I will wait till we out of here" Flare turn and Ash does with Pikachu jumping on Ash shoulder looking over at the same direction the person was Officer Jenny. "Oh hi officer Jenny"
Jenny came up to them "Hello Flare, picking up the mail again for the Professor?" Flare nods with a charizard roar, Ash look over at Flare who gives a wink quickly to Ash and he got the message. "And are you visiting the Professor?"
"Erm… Yeah we are, me and my friends." Ash replied and Pikachu replied with a set of Pikas "I just giving Flare here a hand picking the mail"
"Alright, then I will let you go. Take care" Officer Jenny turned and walk back to the village police station.
"Thank you Officer Jenny" Ash waved and about to get on Flare then they heard something that made Flare freeze
"Hold it right there minister!" they look to see Nurse Joy standing outside the Pokémon centre with her arms crossed tapping her foot.
'Oh no not her' Flare mutters Ash only hearing a set of charizard roars but could see Flare not liking this
"Flare you come right here. You're not going to get away from another check up!" Nurse Joy said pointing to the spot in front of her tapping the foot as well.
Flare turn away about to take off soon as Ash gets up. "Don't you dare go again!" Pikachu jump off Ash onto Flare
Ash turn then quickly got on. "Flare don't you run!" Nurse Joy called out making a move towards them. Then Flare flapped taking off into the sky "That Charizard" Nurse Joy stomped her foot on the ground Officer Jenny standing beside her.
"That Flare for you" Jenny said to Joy
"Yes" Joy said back "a stubborn charizard that I will get to have a check up"
Jenny look at her "But haven't it be avoiding you for the last 2 years?"
Joy turn to face the Pokémon centre walking up to the doors then look back "Yes and one of these days I will get that stubborn fire pokémon to have one check up at least" Jenny nod and then head off back to her station and Joy returning inside the Centre.
Flare put back on the translator on his arm as he flew back to the craft "Flare why did we just run from Nurse Joy?"
"That nurse of a human is creepy and my stamina, health and all sorts are far more improved then normal pokémon on Earth cause of my home environment is slightly different" Flare explained to Ash his reason for avoiding Nurse Joy.
Ash put a finger on the bottom of his lip "So if she'd did a check up that would come up and your cover would be blown or become some record pokémon for being a well healthy pokémon?" Ash spoke with his own wonders
Flare turn his eyes to see Ash a little on his back "Yes that right. Now you see why I fled other then she been trying to get a check up for the last 2 years that creeping me out" Flare said to Ash who laughed
"Nurse Joy like to be some help to keep you in shape" Ash replied
"I can do it myself thank you very much" Flare grumbles and Ash with Pikachu laughs at the responds as Flare flew back to the camp side in the now night sky with the moon shining with all the small stars.
Ash calmed down and look up at the sky "Wow it a clear starry night" Ash said Flare slowing coming to a hovering stop flapping his wings look at the sky for himself
"Yes it is" Flare said looking at one point of the sky Ash and Pikachu looking at it as well
"Is that where Pokélonum is? Your world?" Ash asked Pikachu wondering as well
"Yes." Flare spoke and fell silent staring at the sky.
Ash looked and Pikachu then both nod "Flare lets go back to your home and rest up for the big day tomorrow and thanks" Ash suggested to head back to the craft and gave his thanks.
Flare turn his head to view Ash after a minute of silence then start flying again "yes a good idea" Flare spoke and kept quiet after that.
"Wow he must really miss home or miss his daughter" Ash whispers to Pikachu "I wish there was something we could do for him" Pikachu's ears dropped to the sides with a sad lower look showing Pikachu had no idea what to do as well.
They silently head back to the craft in the clear sky over the treetops below filled with many nighttime appearing pokémon. But in the sky the Charizard Flare head home with Ash and Pikachu, tomorrow would bring the day that Ash will see Charizard again after all this time, it would be great but now Ash was plagued with the wonders about Flare since this fire pokémon been unable to even go home only seeing it as a star in the sky like the other suns from Earth at night time. But this one was near impossible to get to cause of the Great Barrier Flare spoke of being between Earth and the world Pokélonum.