Type: Fire
Shipping: NumelHerdShipping

One-Shot 11: Numel to Pain

The herd of Numel were returning to the cottage as Julie stepped out with a tray carrying bowls of Pokémon food. "Everyone knew it was lunch time," she laughed. Her Furret helped with passing the bowls to the herd of Numb Pokémon. The Numels were happy with getting fed. Suddenly, there was a quaking. Everyone turned to see a Camerupt charging after the Numel herd. "Look out!" All but one Numel cleared as it stood its ground. Camerupt wasn't stopping before it barreled into Numel. It flew back for a few feet and Camerupt barreled into the cottage wall. It stopped and fell in a heap. Julie raced over to Numel to check on its condition. "Numel, are you okay?" Numel groaned in some pain. "Stay down… You took a huge Tackle attack from that Camerupt." She turned to Camerupt who shook its head and seemed unaware of where it was. "Are you okay?" Camerupt moaned to the rage-induced charge, apologizing for its behavior. "Did you get separated from your trainer? Or your ranch?" Camerupt wasn't sure what to say. "I know… let's go to the Pokémon Center to see if someone lost you. That way, they can also treat you for any injuries you might have suffered." Camerupt and Numel agreed. They were boarded up and transported to the nearby Pokémon Center. There, Ash and his friends saw Julie enter.

"Julie?" he spoke up. Julie turned to find Ash and his friends approaching.

"Hey, guys!" she greeted.

"This is a coincidence for sure," Max giggled. "Did Furret get a little too exhausted?"

"No, one of my Numel got hurt by a runaway Camerupt," Julie corrected. This rose an eyebrow with Ash.

"Camerupt attacked your Numel?" repeated Brock. Ash had a thought.

"You don't think it's Vicky's Camerupt that went missing a couple of days ago, could it?" he suspected. Brock cupped his chin and thought.

"Maybe…" he pondered. Julie's eyes lit up.

"You mean the Winstrate family in Mauville City?" she believed.

"Yeah, you know them?" asked May.

"Who hasn't!?" shrugged Julie. "That family's known for being so battle hungry."

"Believe us, we all had to battle them," Max remembered. Julie blinked.

"You, too?" she questioned.

"Max was challenged by Vivi with my Corphish and…" Ash briefed while trying to stifle a laugh. "It didn't pan out well." Julie patted Max's head when the Pokémon Center chimed through the speakers. Nurse Joy emerged with Numel and Camerupt.

"Julie, I'm glad to tell you that your Numel and Camerupt are back to full strength," she reported. While Julie was glad to know about her Numel's condition, Brock was happy to see Joy.

"NURSE JOY!" he called out with glee. "The soft hands know what it is to deal with Fire Pokémon like these two! Perhaps a Numel ride would Camerupt romance to-" Camerupt charged at Brock with Take Down and blasted him out of the Center. The kids stood by in some shock but also disbelief.

"After that Camerupt Take Down, Brock's gonna feel Numel for awhile," Max scoffed.

"That joke was so cold, it belongs in the freezer," May mulled.

"Even I could come up with a better one than that," Ash muttered.

("Don't do it, Ash,") Pikachu lowly squeaked. He came to Camerupt with everyone's question. ("Are you Vicky's Camerupt?") The Eruption Pokémon grumbled in agreement. Pikachu looked in awe. ("I see… I guess we can bring you back, right?") Camerupt nodded.

"So, is it Vicky's Camerupt?" asked Ash.

("It is,") Pikachu confirmed. The others now believed they know where to go.

"So, we can go to Mauville City and return Camerupt to the Winstrate family?" guessed May. Julie nodded, ready to escort Camerupt home.

"Hey, it's a great opportunity to see more people," she thought. The group made their ways to Mauville City with a truck. When they arrived at Mauville City, the Winstrate family came out of their house. Vito, Victor, Victoria, Vicky and Vivi came out with their Pokémon as the trainers exited the truck.

"It's those trainers from before!" noticed Victor. Julie came to the back where Numel and Camerupt hopped out.

"How's everyone doing?" asked May.

"We'd be fine if…" spoke Vicky before Camerupt emerged. The trainer and Pokémon gasped and raced to each other. Within reach, Vicky hugged Camerupt with the two crying tears of joy. "You're back! Oh, I miss you, Camerupt!" Her Pokémon happily grunted. Vivi gasped to the sight of Julie.

"It's… It's Julie!" she gasped. Julie giggled to the notice.

"And it's the Winstrate family that I wanted to meet for sometime since I've heard about you over the years," she replied.

"You have?" gawked Victoria. "Then you've heard of our reputation. At least, Mother and her Camerupt are back together." Vivi saw Max, only to puff her cheeks in anger.

'She's still mad about Corphish not listening to me?' he minded. Victor cleared his throat while turning to Julie.

"We're thankful that you brought home one of our Pokémon," he praised. "Would you join us for dinner?" Julie awed the offer.

"Of course!" she thanked. As the sun began to set, the Winstrates got to know more about Julie over dinner.

"I watch a lot of Pokémon Contests, and some with you in it," Vivi mentioned. "But what happened? Why did you stop entering?" Julie has a timid smile.

"You see, Vivi," she started. "Pokémon Coordinator was never a thing for me. I tried it out since it looked fun, but then I couldn't feel the joy so I retired. Now, I have a ranch where I raise Numel and make PokéBlock."

"I know the feeling of being burned out, Julie," Victoria comforted. "Some people will have that endless drive but when the feeling leaves us… what would you do next?"

"That's what I had to think about when these Numel needed someone to watch over," Julie pointed out. May heard the discussion, suddenly thinking about her own future.

'Could… I also be burned out doing Pokémon Contests?' she thought. 'I mean… what if I'm wrong about doing them? The only reason I became a Pokémon Trainer is because I want to travel the world.' The rest finished their meals as the sun's last minutes hanging around began to end. Julie saw Ash training with his Pokémon outside with some of the family's Pokémon watching on the sidelines.

"Ash?" she voiced. Ash and the Pokémon turned to find Julie approaching.

"Julie?" he noticed. "What's up?" Julie looked over her shoulder.

"Can we talk a little ways away? It's embarrassing if I told May and Vivi." Agreeing, Ash joined Julie as the Pokémon watched in curiosity. Far enough that the house was visible, Ash and Julie could talk.

"I know that you lost your passion to be a Pokémon Coordinator. Are you worried about me?"

"Kinda… Can I ask… what keeps you going?" The question made Ash blink.

"I know there are tough Pokémon Trainers out there who have new Pokémon and new moves to try. On top of that, my goal is to be the greatest Pokémon Master." Humbled, Julie sat on a rock.

"It must be easy to have such a huge goal set." The reply made Ash scoff.

"If it was, I'd already be the Pokémon Master." It made Julie look up. "Let me clear something up: I beat my rival, Gary, in the Silver Conference. When I did, he retired since his dream faded and knew my dream could keep going. It might be because of what kind of a trainer I've become." To Julie, Ash constantly reworks his Pokémon Training. She twiddled her thumbs nervously.

"You find new ways to be great." To Ash, Julie was jealous.

"I'm not… upsetting you, right?"

"No, I'm just… I don't know… It sounds like you're the Pokémon, not the trainer." The response made Ash irk.

"Excuse me!?" There was a giggle from Julie.

"You constantly evolve. You're like a Pidgey, new to the world and ready to see what it has. Then, you spread your wings to a Pidgeotto, ready to fly faster to see what you want to do and have. Finally, you soar to new heights as a Pidgeot before settling down and having Pidgey of your own to tell them of the world you explored." Ash snickered to Julie's analogy.

"Funny enough, I had a Pidgeot. He's now guiding Pidgey and Pidgeotto flocks around."

"Exactly!" The snap reply made Ash jump. "You understand what I mean. Besides, I think you're already a Pidgeotto." She removed Ash's cap and placed a hand under his chin. "Perhaps a Pidgeotto that I would like to fly back home." Pikachu and Furret arrived in time to catch Julie giving Ash a long kiss with a foot kicked in the air. Vicky looked over a rock to find the youngsters in a loving moment.

"Oh my goodness," she whispered, keeping quiet and hiding her excitement. "That boy may evolve into the greatest man since my late husband."

("Hit the brakes, Vicky,") Pikachu lowly squeaked. ("Give Ash time to understand.") It seemed Ash would be flying as high as his old Pidgeot and Julie had given her Assist to push the new love out from under the sand. The Winstrate Family will keep the new pairing Numel, because if Brock finds out, he'd Camerupt badly.

END of FIRE
Last up: WATER

(Thanks for all the votes for the 10th volume of this series. I know a lot of you have suggested repeats of characters I've done, but that's not how it works. Imagine 120 One-Shots to ask which has been your favorite of them all. Also, everyone… take care of yourselves. We have been through a roller coaster that is 2020, but don't let it overtake you. All to look forward to is starting 2021 strong.)