Me: Sorry this took so long to get out, but we were kinda busy.

Vurso: And the envelope… *Firethroat hands a sealed envelope to Vurso. * Thank you. And the verdict is… WE DON'T OWN POKEMON!

Firethroat: Just to let all my fans know, I will be appearing in this chapter as Pyro!

Vurso: -_-' What fans?

Firethroat: Those fans right… over… there… *Points to empty stands. *

Vurso: I thought so. Okay. Now, on with the fic!

*********************

Vurso sighed. *Can we please stop? I'm starting to get tired. *

"We stopped for a rest five minutes ago!"

*And your point is? * Hope blinked, and then started to laugh.

"Oh, all right. But only for a little bit." Vurso gave a small smile at having won the argument, and proceeded to plop himself down in the middle of the road. Hope merely sighed and stood next to the young Dragonite, waiting for him to recover.

After a few minutes, Vurso's head cocked to the side, and he had a funny look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

*Shh… I thought I heard something. Wait… there it is again… * Vurso whispered. This time, Hope though she heard a long, low moan of pain. It was hard to tell, though.

"Why don't we go see what's wrong?"

*But I'm not rested yet… * Vurso whimpered, putting on his best pitiful look. Hope sighed and held out Vurso's pokeball, the only one she had.

"You can rest in your pokeball, while I go look." Vurso didn't protest, so she managed to activate it, after a little trial and error, and he was sucked in with a flash of red light.

Hope sighed and hooked the pokeball to her belt, then walked off the road into the forest in the direction she thought the sound had come from.

After about an hour of searching, Hope literally stumbled across what was making the noise.

And found a Charizard.

Hope stumbled back with a scream bubbling in her throat, before realizing that the poor thing was in no condition to attack.

Wounds covered every part of his body, many of them still seeping blood, while the other, smaller ones were clotted over. It was much too thin, and its hide was a sickly yellow-white color. Its wings were much smaller than a normal Charizard's, and were crumpled to its back.

It moaned again, and Hope hesitantly knelt next to its head, and lifted it so that she could examine its face.

The Charizard's eyes were swollen shut, and multiple wounds covered his face and neck, some of them still bleeding.

Hope gently lay his head down again, and backed up a couple steps before releasing Vurso.

After Hope explained the situation and the extent of the Charizard's injuries, Vurso got a thoughtful look on his face.

*We certainly need to get this poor fellow to a Pokemon Center, but he's too heavy for us to carry… so… Put him in my pokeball, and we'll go from there. *

Hope looked at the Pokeball she still held in her hand. "I can do that?"

*Yeah. My… * Vurso grew quieter, *Previous… trainer… used to do it a lot… *

While privately wondering why, Hope gently tapped the pokeball against the Charizard, and watched at it was sucked in. It didn't even struggle, and Hope gently picked the pokeball up.

"So… how do we get there?"

*I'm working on it! * Vurso answered, irritated.

After a few more minutes of thought, Vurso sighed. *There's no help for it. We'll have to. *

"Have to what?"

In answer, Vurso turned his back, spread his wings, and said, *Climb on. *

Hope just stood there, frozen. When she managed to get her voice back, he reaction wasn't exactly what Vurso had been expecting.

"ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU CAN'T FLY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING! YOU'LL KILL ALL THREE OF US!"

Vurso sighed. *I thought it would be obvious. I fly with you guiding me. *

"AND THAT'S EVEN STUPIDER! REMEMBER HOW HARD IT WAS FOR US TO LEARN TO WALK TOGETHER! AND WE WON'T GET ANOTHER CHANCE IF WE FAIL ON THIS!"

Things were starting to click in Vurso's mind, though. *You're afraid of heights, aren't you? *

"That's besides the point…"

Vurso sighed. *Hope… please… if not for me, then for him… he won't last much longer… *

Hope paused, warring with herself. Finally, she ran forward and leapt up onto Vurso's back. "I'll just blame you if we crash and die."

Vurso laughed as Hope gently used her hands and knees to turn him to where they would have room to take off.

Vurso spread his wings wider, and felt the gentle breeze against them. It brought back fond memories, and he automatically flapped, making them all rise about a half a foot from the ground.

Another, stronger flap, and they shot up through the trees, into the air above them.

Vurso began circling for height, while Hope scanned the surrounding area for a Pokemon Center, or a city, or something.

Finally, in the distance, she saw a glint from the sun on something shiny. Hope gently turned Vurso in that direction, and said, "That way!"

Vurso smiled. *Okay. Hang on. * Hope thought he was joking, but thought it best to do so, anyways.

It was best she did. For all that he was out of practice, Vurso was still a Dragonite, with a Dragonite's inherent speed in flying, and in his prime, Vurso had been one of the fastest.

In less than five minutes, they were hovering over the city, while Hope scanned for a Pokemon Center. Finally spotting one in a corner of the city, she urged Vurso in that direction.

Hope sighed in relief when they were finally on the ground, and hopped off of Vurso's back.

"Nurse Joy!" She shouted as she ran through the doors. "Nurse Joy! It's an emergency!"

The Nurse came in, about to scold Hope, but stopped stock still when Hope released the Charizard.

"I found him like this in the woods. Please, you've got to help him…" After calling over her shoulder for a stretcher, the Nurse assured Hope that they would try their best.

Hope sighed as she walked outside and sat down next to Vurso, who was resting. "We're never doing that again, okay Vurso? No more flying."

Vurso merely nodded, and turned his head away so Hope wouldn't see the hurt look on his face. He had loved the feeling of being in the air again, and had loved even more the fact that it had been Hope directing him.

With anyone else, he would have been unsure, and that would have spelled disaster. He trusted Hope so much, that he had followed her directions without hesitation.

Is this what it feels like to have a good trainer? To trust them, and love them, and you would do anything for them? He mused. Another thought struck him. I wonder what it would be like to be directed in battle by her… Vurso turned his head until his nose gently touched his trainer's thigh. Hope absently petted him on his head, off in her own world.

I know that she could be the best, if she wished… she doesn't have to stay around with me… she could just catch a Pokemon, and abandon me… so why hasn't she?

Vurso sighed. I can't believe I'm so lucky to have a trainer like her… she deserves better…

Right then and there, Vurso came to a decision. I'll make sure she is the best. I'll help her get together the best team this side of Kanto. And we'll all make sure that she will be the best out there.

With that decided, Vurso drifted off to sleep.

***

Finally, Nurse Joy came outside, and walked over to Hope and Vurso, waking them both up.

"The Charizard you brought in is doing just fine. If you would like to go see him, it would be all right."

The both nodded, and stood, Hope automatically putting her hand on Vurso's head to guide him. In this manner, they both followed the Nurse.

The Charizard was awake, and turned his head to look at them as they came in. What surprised Hope, though, was that she could understand him.

*Are you the ones who saved me? *

They both nodded, and he smiled slightly. *Thanks. I would have died out there. I owe you one. *

"So…" Hope said, sitting in a chair beside the Charizard's bed. "Feeling better."

*Better than I was. *

Hope smiled, and hesitantly reached out to rub behind the Charizard's horns. "Why were you out there, anyways?"

The Charizard's expression grew grave. *My trainer left me there. I was of no use for him, because I can't fly. And that was his fault. I broke both of my wings in a battle, and he didn't take me to get them fixed until it was too late. From then on, I was a burden to him, and he finally left me in that forest. *

"I'm sorry…" Hope said softly.

The Charizard shook his head, like he was shaking out bad thoughts, and said, *It's not your fault. Like I said, I owe you one for helping me. *

The wheels in Vurso's head were turning, and he turned to Hope. *Could you please leave the room for a few minutes? I have something I want to discuss with him. *

Hope nodded and quietly left. Once he was sure she was gone, Vurso turned to the Charizard.

*Why don't you join up with us? I'm my trainer's only Pokemon, and she needs more, although she won't admit it. And she is a good trainer. She's the first and only person I trust ever since my last trainer. *

*What happened? * The Charizard's interest was piqued.

*I was abused, same as you, only I went blind. Still am, for a matter of fact. *

*Oh… I'm sorry… *

*Don't be. Hope helps me to get around, and she's a good person, like I said. You see, the thing is, she could easily be the best out there. Only, I can't exactly battle, and she needs more Pokemon. That's where you come in. *

*But I'm useless without my wings. *

*No you're not. You're just like a big Charmeleon or something. And, to be honest, I would prefer some backup, to help me protect Hope. *

*Hope… that's her name? *

*Yeah. *

The Charizard quietly murmured, *It suits her… * Before sticking out paw for Vurso to shake. *Your trainer has a Charizard on her team. *

Vurso smiled, and shouted that it was okay for Hope to come back in.

Once she came in, she asked, "You two have a good talk?"

Vurso smiled and nodded. *He said he'll come with us. * At the stunned look on Hope's face, he laughed.

"Okay…" Hope said slowly. She hesitantly started stroking the Charizard's neck. "You're sure you want to come with us? You won't be able to battle much, I'm afraid…"

*I'm sure. And the name's Pyro, in case you were wondering. *

Hope smiled. "Well, Pyro, I'll try to be a better trainer than your last one."

Pyro smiled, his first true smile in a long time. *I have a feeling you will be… *

*********************

Me: *Sighs. * That was a terror to write.

Vurso: Well, please review, everyone.

Firethroat: *Crying. *

Me: What's with him?

Vurso: He's crying because he doesn't have any fans.

Me: Oh… *Smiles and hugs Firethroat. * How about a trip to Braums?

Firethroat: *Sniffling. * Can I have a banana split?

Me: You can have as many as you want.

Firethroat: *Still sniffling. * Well… okay… I guess…

Me: Please review, if only just to try to cheer up Firethroat. Okay guys, let's go. *We all walk (or fly) off to get some ice cream. *