Johto Saga

Chapter 17: Transformation of the Flame

As the group begins to rush Charonus back to the Reception Gate, Chase stays behind for a moment when something shiny catches his eye. He goes over to the source and finds two jewels laying on the snow covered ground. He picks the jewels up and places them with the Silver Wing he has in his bone like collar.

"Chase, are you coming?" Cynder yells out to the Houndoom nearby, coming back up to the summit when she didn't see Chase with the group.

Chase replies, "Y-yeah, I'm coming Cynder!" He runs over to join the dragoness and rejoin the group.

The group makes record time down Mount Silver, arriving at the Reception Gate. They head inside and rush over to the Pokecenter nurse that is there.

She looks at the group with a bit of surprize, "Ummm...why are you looking all flustered today. Has something happened?"

Bowser holds out his arms and shows Charonus, who is still asleep and running quite a high fever, "He collapsed at the mountaintop and we can't seem to wake him. He's also running a pretty high fever."

Draco frowns, "Is there anything that you can do?"

The Pokecenter nurse looks at Charonus, then back at the group, "He looks quite sick indeed, but the Reception Gate isn't quite equipped to handle this, but we can quickly get to a Pokecenter if we fly him to the Indigo Plateau. I will accompany you there."

Cynder reponds to this, "We will do what is needed to get him the help he needs."

The Pokecenter nurse replies back, "Then we must go quickly. The Indigo Plateau is just north of here."

Lance speaks up, "I will show you the way. Come with me."

The group follows Lance and his Dragonite, with Bowser and Chase riding upon Lugia to get there. Silver and Clair make their way with the group as well upon the back of Clair's Dragonite. Once at the Indigo Plateau, they head into the on-site Pokecenter. The Pokecenter nurse takes Charonus carefully and rushes him into a nearby room where she can monitor what is happening to him.

Meanwhile in Charonus' dreamscape, Charonus looks around and feels something off, "I feel kind of strange...I can't seem to wake up."

Charon looks over at Charonus, "I feel the same way...I have tried to come out when you exhausted yourself, but I can't get to the waking world as well."

Charonus worries a little, "Why can't I waken. What is holding me here?"

Charon tries to console his outer self, "Keep a calm head Charonus. This is no time to lose your cool."

Charonus paces back and forth in his dreamscape, "Did what we do use up too much power, and my body is telling me I need a lot of sleep? That has to be it. I just got to wait it out."

Charon nods at this, "That sounds like what is going on to me. Your body has to rebalance its energies I guess."

Charonus sits down next to Charon, "I sure hope the others are alright..."

Charon smiles a bit, "I bet they are fine. They are quite a strong bunch from what I have seen of them from in here."

Bowser and Chase pace around outside the ICU room of the Pokecenter while everyone waits to hear from the nurse that is tending to Charonus.

Cynder looks over at them, "Bowser, Chase, can you two please sit down. You are going to wear a groove in the floor with your pacing."

Bowser looks over at Cynder, "I'm just really worried about Charonus...It is hard to stay calm."

Chase frowns a bit as he stops pacing, "I really want him to be alright...he needs to be alright."

Draco sighs, "I'm worried about him too, but Cynder is right. We need to be calm in this moment, for Charonus' sake. He wouldn't want to see us pacing around with worry."

Chase and Bowser relent and take a seat near Cynder and Draco as they wait for any word.

Charonus looks around his dreamworld again as he continues to wonder what is happening in the outside world. Charon keeps an eye on him and watches as he gets more restless.

"Charonus, please calm yourself...you're worrying me." Charon says to his light side.

Charonus sighs and relents, "I guess my mind is too focused on the outside...I just need to know if the others are ok."

Charon sighs, "I keep going over this, but something seems to be changing in here, keeping us locked away for the time being. I'm not sure what it is, but I hope it's a good thing."

They continue to talk as they wait for any signs of what is happening.

The Pokecenter nurse looks over Charonus' vitals and sees quite the imbalance in the Charmanders power. She begins to try to keep Charonus comfortable while some Chansey begin to try to heal him. She exits the Pokemon ICU and meets with the group.

The nurse sighs a bit, "His power is spiking wildly, that is what is causing his fever and the reason he hasn't been able to waken. I have the Chansey here trying to help the best that they can, but the only one that can truly help out is himself."

Draco sighs, "So we just have to wait?"

The nurse simply nods.

Cynder looks at Draco, "As long as we stay by his side he will be alright..."

Draco turns to Cynder, "I really hope so, but I want to help him more so badly. He's our friend and we must do what we can for him."

Cynder takes a hold of Draco's paw in hers, "Please don't lose your cool. I'm just as worried as you are, but there really isn't much we can do. We just have to have hope and wait."

Draco turns away for a moment, then an idea comes to him, "I wonder if his grandfather is still at the valley. Maybe he knows how to help."

Clair looks over after listening in to the pairs discussion, "Wait, his grandfather? Could it be the old Charizard of Balance?"

Bowser gets into the conversation as well, "Charizard of Balance? What are you talking about Clair?"

Clair stands up and walks over to the group, "A very wise, courageous and powerful Charizard that sees over balance. He has been there for every major event that has happened to the lands of Johto and Kanto. I think Lance even saw him streak across the sky after the dark clouds were blown away. He happened to be with the Kantonian legend Mewtwo."

Lance smiles, "Yes, it was him Clair. As far as I know, he has left a long legacy behind him as well." He looks towards his Dragonite and nods, "He may still be in Johto at the Chariciffic Valley. I'll bring him here fast and see if he can help out your friend." Lance takes off with Dragonite and heads off to the valley.

Charon looks down at Charonus, who has now taken a resting position against his dark self, "Resting well Charonus?"

Charonus looks up, "I am still quite restless...but I'm trying to be optimistic. I wish I knew what was going on though."

A voice comes over to Charonus and Charon, "Don't be afraid, the time for your next step has come."

Charonus stands up with a jolt and looks around, "Huh? Who said that?"

The voice continues, "You are growing and changing. The next stage of your life will begin, but only if you want it to occur. You must make the decision to take that first step."

Charonus continues to look around, but still doesn't see where the voice is coming from, "Where are you. Please show yourself."

A Charizard shows up in the distance of the dreamscape and slowly comes into view.

Charonus instantly recognizes who it is, "M-mom? Please, tell me what is going on?" He runs over to her.

Charisa hugs her little boy and looks into his eyes, "Just as I said, the next stage in your life is about to begin. Your body is showing the first signs, but you are not quite balanced enough. You must balance your inner and outer self as well as your mind, body and soul and take your first step to the next stage."

Before the group even knows it, Lance has returned, and by his side the Charizard Caretaker stands.

The Caretaker sees everyone that is there and greets them before getting to the task at hand, "Can you tell me what has led to Charonus being in his current state?"

Draco speaks up, "We battled against another force of shadow in the form of a Lugia. Charonus took it upon himself to use our power in an all out attack that did put the shadow avian down, but after he did, he collapsed and we haven't ben able to wake him."

The Caretaker sighs, "I see...it is possible his balance wasn't quite enough to take that kind of power. Is there a chance that I can see him to confirm my suspicions?"

Lance turns to the Pokecenter nurse and asks for the Caretaker. The nurse nods and allows him into Charonus' room.

The Caretaker looks upon Charonus and places a paw upon his head. He feels the heat radiating from his grandson and sighs, "It looks like what they say is true. His body is trying to go to the next stage, but his mind and soul are not quite in tune with it."

The Caretaker walks out of the room and looks towards the group, "A change is beginning to take place within Charonus, but the change won't happen unless he balances his inner and outer selves. His body is ready, but his mind and soul are not. I have seen this happen in other Charmanders, but not to such an extent as this."

Draco looks over, "Is there any way to help him?"

The Caretaker smiles, "There is, the token I have given you has a strange power..."

Cynder cuts off the Caretaker, "The Token of Balance. We have seen it in action when Charonus used up his energy some time ago."

The Caretaker nods, "Yes, it can bring into balance any deviation in the mind, body or soul. Charonus' imbalance lies in the residual energy contained in his body. The balance has been thrown off by this. Come with me Draco, Bowser, and Cynder." The three follow the Caretaker and stand around Charonus.

"Now, Draco, hold the token above Charonus while standing on his left side. Bowser stand at the head of Charonus, and Cynder stand on his right while holding your hands on the token with Draco."

The three nod and feel a surge of energy from the token that shines over Charonus. The Chansey stand back and watch, wondering what is happening.

Charonus hugs closer into his mothers embrace, "I still don't quite understand. What is this next stage you are talking about?"

Charzen comes forward from the darkness in the dreamscape and smiles at his son, "She means that it is time for you to grow up son. Every Charmander goes through this change once their core tells them to, and your core is telling you that it is time. It is waiting for you to accept this change that will occur within you, but you must bring yourself into balance. Your body is not one with your mind or soul after the attack you used. Too much excess energy has been put into you and thrown off your equilibrium."

Charonus takes this all in and thinks for a moment, "How do I bring myself back to balance then?"

Charisa smiles, "It will come in time. Just concentrate on your past experiences and think about balance and keep thinking about that as you move into the future."

Charon watches on at the interaction, then feels something odd course through him. A light spot appears from his core and shoots out towards Charonus. The light enters Charonus' core and disappears into nothingness. Charonus looks at Charon without saying a word and wonders what just happened

Draco, Cynder, and Bowser fall to their knees after the light from the token subsides.

The Caretaker feels Charonus' head again and notices his fever has reduced, "We have done all we can now. The rest is up to Charonus."

Draco stands back up, "Will this work?"

The Caretaker replies, "Only time will tell my Charizard friend. Let us wait with the others."

The group returns to the others and tells them of Charonus' condition. They continue to wait and see if their Charmander friend will recover from this imbalance.

Charonus leaves the embrace of his mother and walks over to Charon. He looks up at his inner 'Zard self, "Do you have any idea what that was?"

Charon shakes his head, "None...but it felt warm, like a feeling of friendship."

Charonus thinks for a moment, "I wonder if the others are trying to help us figure this out as well."

Charon places a paw upon Charonus' shoulder, "It's possible. You have a good set of friends out there in the waking world. I hate to admit, but sometimes I feel a bit jealous being stuck in here while you are out there being around them, but their feelings do reach me too."

Charonus smiles, "I'll make sure to tell them that you consider them your friends as well."

Charon hugs his outer Charmander self and the strange light reappears from both of them. The light slowly gets brighter and encompasses the pair.

Chase looks into the window of the Pokemon ICU at Charonus. He watches as the Chansey monitor Charonus' progress. Suddenly Charonus' body starts to glow in a bright white light, shocking the Chansey and even shocking Chase.

"H-hey guys? Something is happening to Charonus!" Chase barks out.

The whole group turn to look towards the ICU window and get blinded by the immense light coming from it.

Bowser speaks up, "W-what is happening here?"

Cynder responds, "I really don't have an answer for it Bowser. Was it something we did?"

The Caretaker calmly walks over to the window and smiles, "Looks like that did the trick. His inner and outer selves are drawing closer together. Energies are rebalancing, and with that his body is changing to better suit that power."

Draco looks over towards the Caretaker, "His body is changing? You don't mean that he's evolving into a Charmeleon do you? It's only been three years since our journey began."

The Caretaker looks back at Draco, "Yes Draco, he is evolving. I do agree though with your statement. He is quite young, but his core has told him it is time."

The group continues to watch as the light begins to dim. They see what looks like a red hued scaled lizard with noticeable claws on his paws. Upon his head a single horn, centered in the middle of his head sweeps upward. His tail is now longer to accomodate the balance of his greater size and his tailflame burns bigger and brighter. This new lizard slowly stirs and wakes up from his slumber.

Charonus feels himself waken, and as he does, he groggily looks around and sees the Pokemon ICU room that he is in. As he is looking around, something catches his eye as he looks at his own paws, "H-huh...w-what is going on?" He begins to look himself over, noting quite a few changes that have taken place. He happens to find a nearby mirror and looks himself over in greater depth, "Is this what my mom and dad meant about my next step?" He looks over at the window and sees all of his friends staring back, even noticing his grandfather there as well. The Chansey make their way over to give him one last checkover to make sure that he is alright. Charonus doesn't complain and calmly waits.

The group is eventually waved in once the checkup is complete. They gather around their friend, smiling and hugging him.

The Caretaker kneels down and hugs Charonus tightly, "I'm so proud of you my grandson. You are now a Charmeleon."

Charonus looks up at his grandfather, "A Charmeleon? Is that what this new form is called?"

Draco laughs, "Yeah, and it is quite surprizing that you changed into one at such a young age."

The Caretaker nods, "It is a little strange to me as well. Your mother was age ten when she attained her Charmeleon state. I kind of wonder if this has something to do with Charisa and Charzen's power. They both were exceptionally powerful Charizards. Some of their power could of been transferred to you."

Charonus takes a little time to take this all in. He thinks in his mind for a moment that with this new body of his that he is going to have to work even harder to train in balance. He also wonders what happened to Charon inside him. Did this change him as well?

As he wonders this, the group decides to take a rest in the Indigo Plateau before deciding what their next plans are. From outside the building, Ho-oh and Lugia stand watch and smile at what has transpired today.

As the night arrives and the group sleeps in rooms provided for them, a soft glow of dark light can be seen radiating from Chase's collar crawling over to Charonus. The light wraps around him and dissipates, leaving no trace that it was ever there. If one were to listen closely though, the faintest of laughs can be heard. One feline in origin, the other avian.