ALTERNATE REALITY STORY 1 - WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE OF
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
© Copyright 2000 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these fanfiction.
^These things^ - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
TheseStrangeThings - Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, our heroes found the Hidden Village, home to Bulbasaur and Melanie. Ash caught Bulbasaur, and now they head to Vermillion City."
Ash: "Episode 11: Damien and the Misguided Charmander!"
Ash: "Hey Brock, where the heck are we?!"
Brock, looking at his map: "According to this, we're...completely lost."
Misty, yelling: "Brock, we're trying to get to Vermillion City!! How the heck could we get lost?!"
Ash, with a sweatdrop: "Brock, where do you think we are?"
Ash went to Brock's side and looked at the map. Brock pointed to a spot in the middle of an ocean.
Ash, yelling incredulously at the top of his lungs: "THIS ROAD IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST!"
Brock, nodding: "I know. That's why I think we're lost."
Ash looked at the map again and fell over in stupidity. Brock was holding it sideways. Ash grabbed the map, and turned it the right way.
Brock, with a sweat-drop: "Oops."
Ash and Misty sighed.
Ash: "Let me see."
Brock handed him the map.
Ash: "Let's see...we are currently right next to Route 24. A Pokémon Center marks the spot."
Misty: "Okay, let's go."
They rode on. Suddenly, a large thing loomed up in the road.
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "Aahh! A giant Pokémon!"
The skidded to a stop. It was in front of the sun, so it was clothed in shadow, and they couldn't see what it was. Ash jumped in front of the group, in his basic offensive stance. The sun came out from the clouds and they saw what it actually was. A Charmander on a rock. The party fell down in stupidity.
Ash, getting up: "A Charmander! Out here, on a rock in the forest!"
Misty, starry-eyed: "Wow, a Charmander! I want one!"
Brock: "YOU want a Charmander?! But you're a Water Pokémon Gym Leader!"
Misty, sticking her tongue out at Brock: "So?! I know of lots of Gym Leaders that train with more than one type of Pokémon! And ever since I saw Ash's, I've wanted one!"
Ash: "Go Charmander!"
Charmander popped out of its Pokéball. Ash's Charmander was bigger. Its eyes opened wide.
Charmander: "Char! Man dar!" 'Wow! She's beautiful!'
Ash: "So, its a female."
Misty, clenching her fist: "Cool! I wanta capture it!"
Brock, holding her from grabbing a Pokéball: "Misty, wait! Look at that Charmander!"
The Charmander's tail flame was half the usual size and its breathing was hard.
Charmander, concerned and jumping onto a rock beside the other Charmander: "Char? Charman?" 'Cousin? What's wrong?'
Ash dimly remembered from Professor Oak thought that all Pokémon thought others of their same type as family, because they were the same kind, even if they weren't directly related.
Other Charmander: "Mander, char. Char charmander." 'Sick, cousin. Waiting for Trainer.'
Ash: "So it has a Trainer. Too bad, Mist."
Misty, sighing: "Yeah. Oh, well."
Charmander: "Char char charmander, char." 'I hope your Trainer comes back soon, cousin.'
They walked along on their path. Ash recalled Charmander.
Other Charmander, looking back at the sky: "Der, charman. Der." 'Me too, handsome cousin. Me too.'
******
Brock: "Hey! The Pokémon Center!"
Ash: "Just like the one on the map! Route 24 can't be too far!"
Misty, sounding low: "...Yeahh..."
Ash, looking at her with concern: "Hey, Misty, are you all right?"
Misty, spreading her hands: "Its starting to rain. That Charmander we met was already low strength, and if the rain keeps up, its tail flame will go out in about an hour."
Brock: "You really wanted a Charmander, didn't you?"
Misty: "Yeaahh..."
Ash: "Sorry Mist, but it had a Trainer."
Misty: "I know. Let's go."
They rode on. Pikachu hopped out of Ash's backpack and onto the handlebars of Misty's bike.
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Misty, why did you want that Charmander so much?
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: I don't know. I like Ash's Charmander, and I thought I could give it a companion. And, I want some experience with a totally different type of Pokémon.^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Wow. You've got 'it' bad!^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^What do you mean by that?!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Well, to me, its pretty obvious that you are in love with my Trainer.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^WHAT??!!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: I know you are. Don't try to deny it.
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^I will deny it! He's just my...um...my best friend. That's all! (Thinking to herself) Not!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Misty, I heard that!^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^What?^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^I can tune into your thoughts.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^Oh, man! I should have known since you react to my nightmares!^
Pikachu, psychically reassuring Misty: ^I haven't told Ash, and he doesn't know. I do know more about your feelings than you do.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^So, you have known all of my emotions, and you tell me I am in love with Ash?^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^I know you are. Its not the deepest yet. It can go much deeper, but it will stop eventually if you never tell Ash.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^I can't! It would more than likely sacrifice our relationship right now!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Maybe Ash loves you, too. (Lying) I don't know anything about him. You'll have to figure it out for yourself. But I'd give him more time to get to know you.^
He jumped into Ash's backpack. Misty mulled over what Pikachu had said.
They arrived at the Pokémon Center. Ash gave his Pokémon to Nurse Joy and then went to get soup. He brought it back to find Brock and Misty staring out the window.
Ash, setting down the soup: "Here, guys. Have some soup."
Misty, not turning: "No, but thanks anyway, Ash."
Brock, also not changing his view from the window: "I think I'll pass."
Ash, disgruntled: "Why not?"
Misty: "Do you think Charmander ever left that rock?"
Ash, figuring it out: "I think so. I don't think that Charmander would wait that long for its Trainer in a rain storm."
Brock: "Yeah, you're probably right, Ash. Its Trainer must have gotten it by now."
Pikachu, warningly: "Pika pi pi pikachu." 'Don't underestimate the power of Pokémon loyalty.'
Misty, sounding distant: "Yeah. But what if the Trainer abandoned it?"
They all looked down and thought about that. Abandonment was a horrible part of Pokémon training. If the Trainer thought its Pokémon stupid or weak, he could release it, or abandon it. Releasing Pokemon was harmless, but abandonment might kill the Pokémon as it tried to get back to its Trainer. Pikachu winced. It had done through being abandoned.
A group of boys close to the fire started laughing. Pikachu's eyes narrowed to slits and its tail stood on end.
Pikachu, spitting the word: "Pik." 'Damien.'
Ash was surprised to hear Pikachu mutter the name of its first Trainer. Then he saw Damien in the middle of the group, with crossed arms, eyes closed, and a smile. Ash's eyes narrowed and he developed a look of pure hatred on his face.
Misty and Brock had never seen Ash or Pikachu like this before. Misty almost felt sorry for the teen they were looking at. Brock just wanted to know more.
Boy #1: "Wow, that's a pretty cool collection."
Boy #2: "Yo Damien. I thought you had a Charmander too."
Damien: "Yeah, Ay had one, but it was so weak it couldn't even beat the weakest opponents."
Ash, gritting his teeth: "My Charmander may be weak against Water, Ground, and Rock types. But its beaten Brock's Graveler!"
Damien: "That thing was so STUPID! No matter what Ay did, it just kept on following me! It was like that stupid, under-powered Pikachu Ay used ta have! Ay finally got rid of the Pikachu by returning it into the Pokéball and dumping it in some backwater town."
Brock and Misty started to get the picture as Pikachu's hairs stood on end and Ash looked ready to explode.
Damien: "Anyway, Ay got rid of the Charmander by leaving it on a rock somewhere in the woods, and promising Ay'd come back for it. It fell for it! Its probably still waitin foh me! Hah-hah-hah-hah!"
Boy #1: "Its probably still out there, waggin its tail!"
Damien: "Yeah, foh shoor!"
Group: "Wha hah hah aha ha!"
Ash, Pikachu, and Misty got up.
Brock: "Guys, what are you doing?!"
Ash and Pikachu marched over to Damien, followed after by an angry Misty.
Ash: "Damien, go and get it!!"
Damien: "Huh?!"
Ash, jabbing his finger at Damien: "You abandoned that Charmander out in a storm. Its still waiting there for you!"
Misty: "And if its tail flame goes out, it'll die!"
Damien: "What Ay do is none o yoor business!"
Ash came close to Damien, then grabbed Damien his shirt and lifted him off the couch and 2 feet off the ground with one hand.
Damien, struggling: "Yaahh!"
Ash, nodding at Pikachu: "Remember this, Damien?"
Pikachu climbed up Ash's arm and looked square in the eye of Damien.
Damien, shocked: "Its muy Pikachu!"
Ash, gritting his teeth: "Not yours anymore!"
Damien: "Let go of me!"
Ash suddenly dropped Damien, and Pikachu 'accidentally' fell off Ash's arm, and in the confusion gave Damien a minuscule thousand volts of Pika Power.
Damien, charred but getting up: "You want to fight with me?"
Boy #3: "You don't want to mess with Damien!"
Ash: "Let's go!"
A clapping noise. They all turned to it.
Nurse Joy: "Let's break it up! You know the rules!"
Everyone involved: "Huhn??!"
Nurse Joy: "Pokémon battles are not to be used to settle personal fights! Its disrespectful to the Pokémon League, the Trainers involved and the Pokémon themselves!"
Damien: "Well, tell 'em they were the ones what started it!"
Damien and his gang sauntered off. Nurse Joy turned to Ash, Brock, and Misty with a sorry smile.
Nurse Joy: "I don't think you want to get involved with Damien. He has a very bad reputation."
Brock, blushing: "Why, uh, thank you, miss."
The nurse smiled and went on about her business.
Brock: "She sure is pretty. I've never seen anyone as beautiful as her."
He waited for the usual reply and when he turned, the door slammed shut and Ash, Pikachu, and Misty were gone.
Brock: "Aah! Guys, wait for me!"
******
Ash and Misty were zooming on their bicycles, riding back to Charmander. Though Ash was usually faster on his bike than Misty, he was surprised to find she was pedaling even harder than he was, going slightly quicker.
Ash, calling ahead at her: "Misty, wait! We might need Brock!"
Misty, angrily: "He can catch up!"
Ash: "Misty, you're riding so fast, I can hardly catch up!"
Misty would have been pleasantly surprised that she was riding faster than Ash, but right now, she didn't care.
Misty: "We don't need his help! You carry Charmander, and I'll keep its tail flame lit!"
Ash: "What about our bikes?"
Misty: "Brock can get them! C'mon, go faster!"
Ash, with an inaudible sigh: "If you insist!"
He rode as hard as he could and was soon caught up to Misty. They finally reached Charmander's rock. They quickly got off their bikes. A group of Spearow were diving at Charmander. Ash was about to do something but Misty was quicker.
Misty: "Gyarados, go! Use Hydro Pump! Be careful not to hit Charmander!"
Gyarados sprayed a whole bunch of water from its mouth, drenching the Spearow and missing Charmander by entire feet. The Spearow fell to the ground, unable to use their heavy wings.
Misty, taking off her waterproof coat: "Ash, grab Charmander!"
Ash took off his coat and draped it around Charmander, protecting it from the rain. Misty lifted the Charmander's tail, under the coat, making sure the tail stayed lit. They started running.
On the way, Brock passed them. He was breathing hard.
Brock: "WHAT?! Now we're going this way??!"
Misty, in a commanding voice: "Brock, keep going! Get our bikes!"
Brock, exasperated: "Fine, whatever!"
He rode off. Ash and Misty kept running, for about 10 minutes, as fast as they could. By the time they reached the Pokémon Center, both weren't breathing extremely hard.
Ash, thinking: ^What the?!...But Misty can't...^
Pikachu, hopping out of Ash's backpack and running in with them: I^ think you've given her enough exercise over the past month or however long its been, Ash.^
Ash thought back to all the times he had dragged her along with him at his speed. He shrugged.
Nurse Joy was looking out the window when the trio burst in.
Nurse Joy: "What?"
Misty: "Nurse Joy! Please help this Charmander! Its in bad shape!"
Nurse Joy: "What's wrong?!"
Ash: "The flame on its tail..."
Nurse Joy, looking at Charmander and gasping: "There's not much time!"
******
Brock arrived at the Pokémon Center for the second time that night, around 11:00, dropping off Ash's bike. The first time, he had arrived with Misty's, dropped it off, and asked what had happened. They had told him everything as they watched Charmander from the ER window. Brock had watched for a while too, then had biked back to get Ash's bicycle. Now he dropped off the two bicycles and walked sluggishly in, pooped.
Brock, yawning: "How is she?"
Ash, yawning himself: "Last Nurse Joy told, Charmander was getting a little better. (Drawing close to Brock and whispering) Brock, I've never seen Misty this before."
Misty was just staring into the room at Charmander.
Brock, also whispering: "Hmm. I thought Water Gym Leaders only cared about Water Pokémon."
Ash, peering closely at his secret love: "Misty is...different. Ever since she has had a psychic connection with Pikachu, she has started growing a tolerance and now a liking towards all types. Its fascinating, really, her developing Pikachu's tastes. I thought she'd start liking just Electric types, but she likes the others more. Some kind of rivalry goes on between Electric types, so she likes Pikachu, but feels the same about Voltorb, Magnemite, etc. as she did before. Pikachu really likes Charmander as one of his four best friends, and because of the connection, Misty has this innate liking of Charmanders. Pikachu also likes Water Pokémon now, more than any other type, because Misty likes Pikachu."
Brock: "That means that since Misty at least likes and has a bond with Pikachu, and we know Pikachu loves you, and you love and have a bond with Pikachu, and we know Pikachu likes Misty, that..."
He trailed off suggestively. Ash distinctively, in a few milliseconds, turned redder than a Charmeleon.
Ash, glaring at Brock, whispering as forcefully as he could: "SHUT UP."
Brock chuckled and sat down in one of the waiting chairs. Ash looked at Pikachu.
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^Pikachu?^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^Yes?...^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^Pikachu, is that right? What Brock just suggested?^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^It could be with your emotion to Misty. (Lying) I don't know about Misty. You were closer than she was to me.^
[When I say Pikachu is (lying), you must understand that it is for the best, and he realizes that. So don't be mad or annoyed at me when I say he is. :O~~]
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^But, there IS a chance, right?!^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^Ash, calm down! You are really desperate. Wait a few months, at least. If she likes you, or even loves you by then, I suggest you take that chance.^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^I-I-I-I couldn't. It would so very ruin what we have now, or the friendship we might have then.^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^But it could be for the better! You could both be traveling on your Pokémon journey together! No barriers! Its better to find out sooner than later, and risk a broken friendship!^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^I won't be able to.^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^JUST WAIT AND SEE.^
Ash followed the command and went back to Misty's side, watching Charmander. After another half-hour, Nurse Joy came in, looking forlorn.
Misty: "Is Charmander going to make it, Nurse Joy?!"
Nurse Joy: "Calm down, young lady! Charmander is recovering, but it is still very weak. How could you let it get into that condition?!"
Ash, angrily: "Its not our fault! Damien's the one who abandoned it!"
Nurse Joy, surprised: "What??!"
Ash: "Well, Damien thought that Charmander was weak, so he decided to abandon her after she kept following him, even after I guess he released her. To get rid of her, he went into the forest and left her on a rock, telling her he would come back for her, but he never did. Then, a rainstorm came up, and..."
Nurse Joy, with great sympathy: "Oh, how awful! Poor Charmander."
Ash: "We overheard him bragging about it in front of his friends, and were demanding he get her, but then you broke us up. Probably for the better, too."
Nurse Joy, looking genuinely sorry for that: "I am sorry, but rules are rules. Otherwise, I would have battled the little snip and cut him down to size myself!"
Brock, admirably: "Way to go, Nurse Joy!"
Nurse Joy, smiling and blushing a little: "Thank you, Brock. Well, Ash or Misty, according to League rules, if Charmander is not picked up by Damien in 24 hours, you can keep her. I doubt he will though, if what you say is positively true."
Misty, clapping her hands together: "Really?! Oh, thank you, Nurse Joy!"
Nurse Joy smiled and went in to tend to Charmander.
Ash: "C'mon, let's get some sleep."
After what seemed like a long time, Ash got Misty to get some sleep. They all did. Ash and Brock slept gracefully in their sleeping bags, and let Misty have the bed.
Misty woke up earliest. She went to the ER to check on Charmander. She immediately noticed that something was wrong. She ran back to the room they were staying in.
Misty, at the top of her lungs: "CHARMANDER ESCAPED FROM THE ER!!!"
Ash, Pikachu, and Brock woke up in a flash.
Ash, jumping up: "WHAT?!"
Pikachu, jumping onto the floor: "PIKA?!" 'WHAT?!'
Brock, still half-asleep: "Charmander totaled your car??? This is awful!"
Misty slapped Brock awake.
Misty: "NO, Brock! I can't drive a car!"
They ran to the Emergency Room. Nurse Joy was looking at Charmander's bed, which was uninhabited. A window was open.
Ash: "Charmander must've escaped again! I bet it went back to that rock to look for Damien."
Brock: "C'mon guys, let's go get it back!"
Misty, sighing: "No. That wouldn't work."
Ash: "Misty's right. We can't force Charmander to abandon its Trainer, even if Damien's the biggest piece of crap I've ever
seen."
They said goodbye to Nurse Joy with heavy hearts and left down the path to Vermilion City.
******
The female Charmander was walking back to the rock, as Ash and co. had expected. Her tail was burning brightly.
As she walked, she overheard two voices conversing in the bushes. She went to investigate.
******
Jesse and James were finishing painting their new invention first saying their motto and then talking about their plan.
Jesse: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all people within our nation!"
Jesse: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jesse: "Jesse!"
James: "James!"
Jesse: "Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Jesse, pointing at what they were painting: "So. First we have this thing do its stuff..."
James: "...Then, we grab Pikachu with our Super Rubber Balloon Bazooka and steal all of the twerps' other Pokéballs with our high-power portable Pokéball Snatcher..."
Jesse: "...Finally, we make our getaway in the Team Rocket Balloon."
James: "A brilliant plan, if I do say so myself."
Jesse, pressing a button on her remote-control that controlled their invention: "Time for us to test out the Team Rocket
Super-Duper Whatchyamacallit!"
Meowth, appearing from out of the brush: "So, what does this thing do, anyway?"
Jesse: "Watch, and be amazed!"
They machine clicked and buzzed and started transforming. Pretty soon, a huge drill lowered to the ground and began making a hole.
Meowth: "NOT ANUDA HOLE PLAN! WE TRIED THAT ALREADY!"
Jesse: "If you fail and don't succeed, try, try again!"
James: "This time we'll remember where the hole is!"
They covered the new hole with sticks, dirt, and turf. Meowth couldn't see any difference between the covered trap and the rest of the ground.
Meowth: "Are ya sure your gonna remember where the trap is?!"
Jesse: "Meowth, don't you think we're smarter than that?"
Meowth fell over in stupidity. Charmander watched on.
******
Ash and friends slowly walked along the forest path.
Brock: "I thought Charmander knew WE were the ones that cared for it."
Ash: "Brock, Charmander knew we cared. But don't you see? Charmander HAS to go wait for Damien. Its still loyal to him."
Misty, depressed: "That was one loyal Pokémon, to be still tolerant of Damien, of all worms."
Ash: "Yeah. Hey, did you just feel the ground move?"
Brock: "I did."
Ash, Misty, Pikachu and Brock walked a little further, now wary. Pikachu stepped all the way out of Team Rocket's covered hole. They stepped one more step, and the covering collapsed, leaving them in the hole.
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "Waaaaah!!"
Pikachu looked down into the hole with surprise and worry. Ash, Misty, and Brock were sprawled out on the floor of
the hole, groaning.
Ash: "A hole?!"
Brock: "Who could have done this??!"
Misty: "Either Team Rocket, or just some stupid pranksters. I bet its Team Rocket."
There heard an evil laugh. Above them were Team Rocket in blue rubber suits.
Jesse, in a fake expression of sympathy: "Oh, my! Our old friends have fallen into a little hole! They always were quite cluuummssyy! What should we do, James??"
James, grinning wickedly: "This!!"
James pulled out his portable vacuum and sucked up Ash, Brock, and Misty's Pokéballs.
Brock: "HEY!"
Misty: "GIVE THOSE BACK RIGHT NOW!"
Jesse: "What are you going to do about it??!"
Pikachu, not really thinking: "CHU!!" 'WATCH!!'
Pikachu tried to fry Team Rocket with its Thunderbolt. But it didn't work.
James: "Rubber won't conduct electricity!"
Jesse, gesturing to their blue suits: "We call these out anti-Pikachu suits. We made them ourselves. I must admit, I don't think this is really my color at all, but-"
Meowth: "Quit your jabberin'! Just grab the Pikachu and let's get outta here!"
Jesse and James: "Right!"
Ash tried to flip onto one side of the wall, then to the other side, then out, but the ground was too unstable and he just fell down, back on Brock and Misty.
Ash: "Ow! Sorry, guys!"
Pikachu: "Pi pika!" 'I'll get you out!'
Ash: "No Pikachu! Run!"
Pikachu looked around to see Jesse and James, converging on him. He started running.
James: "You can't escape! We'll use the Team Rocket Rubber Balloon Bazooka! Ready!"
Meowth: "Aim!"
Jesse: "Fire!"
James fired and a rubber balloon blew up inside, then was fired by a rock at the end. The rock landed in front of Pikachu, and the balloon hit him, sucking Pikachu inside with some matter-transfer thingy. Pikachu tried to shock it open, but it just bounced off the rubber.
Jesse, James, and Meowth, making faces at Pikachu: "Pikachu! Pikachu!"
Pikachu, losing hope: "Ka piii!" 'Oh nooo!'
Jesse and James popped the balloon with a small pin, and James carried it over to the hole. They took off their suits, leaving their uniforms.
James: "We'll take care of this Pikachu for you! We won't lose it like YOU did!"
They turned around to leave when they saw Damien's Charmander, who had decided to play its part.
Charmander: "Charman! Char charmander!" 'Hey you guys! You'd better give Pikachu to those guys right now!'
Meowth: "Hey, its saying we'd better give Pikachu back to those guys, right now!"
Jesse: "That little thing?! It has GOT to be kidding!"
James: "Shove off, you little fire-bug!"
Charmander closed its eyes and appeared to concentrate. Then it let loose a Flamethrower attack. Jesse, James, and Meowth were toasted, and Pikachu's balloon disintegrated. The vacuum fell off of James' back because the straps disintegrated. Team Rocket started running.
James: "SEE?! Didn't I tell you we needed fire-proof uniforms?!"
Jesse: "Shut up and keep running!"
Damien watched from behind some bushes. He had wanted to challenge Ash, to embarrass him for hurting his own pride. He watched as his Charmander he had abandoned beat Team Rocket.
Damien: "Charmandah bet them??"
Ash jumped onto Brock's shoulders, then half-twisted out of the hole.
[Ash has sort of the moves Mario has in Super Mario 64. *]
Ash: "Thanks for the help, Charmander!"
Misty, eyes shining: "Yeah, you really came through!"
Brock was helped up by Ash, who had helped Misty. Brock grabbed the Portable Pokéball Snatcher and got their Pokéballs back.
Brock: "Hey, Charmander! How about you come along with one of us?"
Ash: "I'm afraid your 'Trainer' isn't going to be coming back."
Damien's voice: "There you ah, Charmandah! Been lookin all oveh for yah."
They looked to see Damien walking towards them.
Ash: "DAMIEN!"
Misty: "What are YOU doing back here?!"
Damien: "Ay came back foh Charmandah, jus like I promised. So, let's go!"
Brock: "Careful, Charmander. This Trainer has already abandoned you once before."
Charmander, head drooping: "Char..." 'Yeahh...'
Damien: "Charmander is mine. I'm the one who caught it, remembah?"
Misty, furious: "You bragged about how you abandoned it!"
Damien, nodding: "Good thing Ay did. That toughened it up a little. Besides, what's the problem with dumpin' ovah weak Pokemon? Ay wasn't gonna come back for it, but now that Ay've seen what it can do, Ay'm real lucky Ay ran into you guys. The best thing is, Ay didn't have to raise it meself."
Ash: "You're despicable!"
Brock: "Raising is the best part about being a Trainer!"
Damien: "You wish! Its the most boring part of the job!"
Ash: "How DARE you call yourself a Pokémon Trainer?!"
Misty, to Charmander: "See? He doesn't care about you, he just wants to use you to win matches!"
Ash: "Charmander!"
Misty: "Charmander!!"
Damien: "Charmander! Return!"
He threw Charmander's Pokéball at Charmander. At the last second, Charmander grimaced and whapped the ball back into Damien's face.
Ash: "Woaah..."
Misty, cheering: "Yeah!"
Damien, when the Pokéball fell off his face, leaving a huge red mark: "Owww! That's IT! I'LL CRUSH YOU WITH EVERY POKÉMON I'VE GOT!"
Damien pulled out about 72 Pokéballs.
[This is very weird, because Trainers are only allowed to carry 6 Pokémon at a time. In the show, he pulls out a whole lot. %|]
Charmander closed her eyes and used her Flamethrower. Pikachu added with a Thundershock, together which fried Damien extra-crispy.
Damien, scampering away in pain: "Mum-my!"
Ash: "Great work, Charmander! Do you want to come with us?"
Charmander: "Char char. Charmander char cha man." 'You can bet your socks on that. Unless you plan on releasing that other Charmander.'
The group laughed. Ash looked at Brock, who looked back at Ash, then both at Misty. They both nodded as they looked at Misty.
Ash and Brock: "Yours."
They started riding down the path.
Misty, astonished: "WHAT? HUH? REALLY?!?"
Pikachu, smiling and saying psychically to Misty: Misty, you deserve it more than anyone else in the world. And your best friends (at least I hope we're your best friends) know that.
Misty's eyes watered.
Charmander, grinning: "Charmander, char." 'Throw the ball already, Trainer.'
Misty smiled and threw one of her spare Pokéballs. Then her and Pikachu biked to catch up with Ash.
Narrator: "Well, a happy ending. Misty caught Charmander, and Pikachu got a little revenge on Damien. Now, they have one more town to go before Vermillion City. Will another adventure sneak up on them there, or will they have a peaceful rest?"
James, popping in: "That's IT Flareon! I'm going to take this physical abuse no longer!! I QUIT!!"
Flareon, sighing: "Sorry, you don't have a contract, so you can't quit. And I can make you say anything, so don't try to cross me."
James, dubious: "Yeah. Right. In your dreams."
Flareon, annoyed, typed on the universal keyboard with his mighty finger.
James, woozy: "Jesse...I love you so...where are you, honey-pooh?"
Flareon, disgusted: "Ugh! That's enough! End fic."
Yep, this is following the TV series too much, even if it is another version. Don't worry. It'll change when I add some new characters. Don't know when that's gonna be, though. They're gonna be mysterious, super-powered Trainers that help Ash out from a distance then leave with extremely high-leveled Pokémon. Don't know when I'm gonna put 'em in though.
Next eppy, its Squirtle!! Ash catches two new Pokémon, but wait! What if I told you...he never catches Squirtle??
{:FLAREON:}
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
© Copyright 2000 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these fanfiction.
^These things^ - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
TheseStrangeThings - Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, our heroes found the Hidden Village, home to Bulbasaur and Melanie. Ash caught Bulbasaur, and now they head to Vermillion City."
Ash: "Episode 11: Damien and the Misguided Charmander!"
Ash: "Hey Brock, where the heck are we?!"
Brock, looking at his map: "According to this, we're...completely lost."
Misty, yelling: "Brock, we're trying to get to Vermillion City!! How the heck could we get lost?!"
Ash, with a sweatdrop: "Brock, where do you think we are?"
Ash went to Brock's side and looked at the map. Brock pointed to a spot in the middle of an ocean.
Ash, yelling incredulously at the top of his lungs: "THIS ROAD IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST!"
Brock, nodding: "I know. That's why I think we're lost."
Ash looked at the map again and fell over in stupidity. Brock was holding it sideways. Ash grabbed the map, and turned it the right way.
Brock, with a sweat-drop: "Oops."
Ash and Misty sighed.
Ash: "Let me see."
Brock handed him the map.
Ash: "Let's see...we are currently right next to Route 24. A Pokémon Center marks the spot."
Misty: "Okay, let's go."
They rode on. Suddenly, a large thing loomed up in the road.
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "Aahh! A giant Pokémon!"
The skidded to a stop. It was in front of the sun, so it was clothed in shadow, and they couldn't see what it was. Ash jumped in front of the group, in his basic offensive stance. The sun came out from the clouds and they saw what it actually was. A Charmander on a rock. The party fell down in stupidity.
Ash, getting up: "A Charmander! Out here, on a rock in the forest!"
Misty, starry-eyed: "Wow, a Charmander! I want one!"
Brock: "YOU want a Charmander?! But you're a Water Pokémon Gym Leader!"
Misty, sticking her tongue out at Brock: "So?! I know of lots of Gym Leaders that train with more than one type of Pokémon! And ever since I saw Ash's, I've wanted one!"
Ash: "Go Charmander!"
Charmander popped out of its Pokéball. Ash's Charmander was bigger. Its eyes opened wide.
Charmander: "Char! Man dar!" 'Wow! She's beautiful!'
Ash: "So, its a female."
Misty, clenching her fist: "Cool! I wanta capture it!"
Brock, holding her from grabbing a Pokéball: "Misty, wait! Look at that Charmander!"
The Charmander's tail flame was half the usual size and its breathing was hard.
Charmander, concerned and jumping onto a rock beside the other Charmander: "Char? Charman?" 'Cousin? What's wrong?'
Ash dimly remembered from Professor Oak thought that all Pokémon thought others of their same type as family, because they were the same kind, even if they weren't directly related.
Other Charmander: "Mander, char. Char charmander." 'Sick, cousin. Waiting for Trainer.'
Ash: "So it has a Trainer. Too bad, Mist."
Misty, sighing: "Yeah. Oh, well."
Charmander: "Char char charmander, char." 'I hope your Trainer comes back soon, cousin.'
They walked along on their path. Ash recalled Charmander.
Other Charmander, looking back at the sky: "Der, charman. Der." 'Me too, handsome cousin. Me too.'
******
Brock: "Hey! The Pokémon Center!"
Ash: "Just like the one on the map! Route 24 can't be too far!"
Misty, sounding low: "...Yeahh..."
Ash, looking at her with concern: "Hey, Misty, are you all right?"
Misty, spreading her hands: "Its starting to rain. That Charmander we met was already low strength, and if the rain keeps up, its tail flame will go out in about an hour."
Brock: "You really wanted a Charmander, didn't you?"
Misty: "Yeaahh..."
Ash: "Sorry Mist, but it had a Trainer."
Misty: "I know. Let's go."
They rode on. Pikachu hopped out of Ash's backpack and onto the handlebars of Misty's bike.
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Misty, why did you want that Charmander so much?
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: I don't know. I like Ash's Charmander, and I thought I could give it a companion. And, I want some experience with a totally different type of Pokémon.^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Wow. You've got 'it' bad!^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^What do you mean by that?!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Well, to me, its pretty obvious that you are in love with my Trainer.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^WHAT??!!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: I know you are. Don't try to deny it.
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^I will deny it! He's just my...um...my best friend. That's all! (Thinking to herself) Not!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Misty, I heard that!^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^What?^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^I can tune into your thoughts.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^Oh, man! I should have known since you react to my nightmares!^
Pikachu, psychically reassuring Misty: ^I haven't told Ash, and he doesn't know. I do know more about your feelings than you do.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^So, you have known all of my emotions, and you tell me I am in love with Ash?^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^I know you are. Its not the deepest yet. It can go much deeper, but it will stop eventually if you never tell Ash.^
Misty, psychically to Pikachu: ^I can't! It would more than likely sacrifice our relationship right now!^
Pikachu, psychically to Misty: ^Maybe Ash loves you, too. (Lying) I don't know anything about him. You'll have to figure it out for yourself. But I'd give him more time to get to know you.^
He jumped into Ash's backpack. Misty mulled over what Pikachu had said.
They arrived at the Pokémon Center. Ash gave his Pokémon to Nurse Joy and then went to get soup. He brought it back to find Brock and Misty staring out the window.
Ash, setting down the soup: "Here, guys. Have some soup."
Misty, not turning: "No, but thanks anyway, Ash."
Brock, also not changing his view from the window: "I think I'll pass."
Ash, disgruntled: "Why not?"
Misty: "Do you think Charmander ever left that rock?"
Ash, figuring it out: "I think so. I don't think that Charmander would wait that long for its Trainer in a rain storm."
Brock: "Yeah, you're probably right, Ash. Its Trainer must have gotten it by now."
Pikachu, warningly: "Pika pi pi pikachu." 'Don't underestimate the power of Pokémon loyalty.'
Misty, sounding distant: "Yeah. But what if the Trainer abandoned it?"
They all looked down and thought about that. Abandonment was a horrible part of Pokémon training. If the Trainer thought its Pokémon stupid or weak, he could release it, or abandon it. Releasing Pokemon was harmless, but abandonment might kill the Pokémon as it tried to get back to its Trainer. Pikachu winced. It had done through being abandoned.
A group of boys close to the fire started laughing. Pikachu's eyes narrowed to slits and its tail stood on end.
Pikachu, spitting the word: "Pik." 'Damien.'
Ash was surprised to hear Pikachu mutter the name of its first Trainer. Then he saw Damien in the middle of the group, with crossed arms, eyes closed, and a smile. Ash's eyes narrowed and he developed a look of pure hatred on his face.
Misty and Brock had never seen Ash or Pikachu like this before. Misty almost felt sorry for the teen they were looking at. Brock just wanted to know more.
Boy #1: "Wow, that's a pretty cool collection."
Boy #2: "Yo Damien. I thought you had a Charmander too."
Damien: "Yeah, Ay had one, but it was so weak it couldn't even beat the weakest opponents."
Ash, gritting his teeth: "My Charmander may be weak against Water, Ground, and Rock types. But its beaten Brock's Graveler!"
Damien: "That thing was so STUPID! No matter what Ay did, it just kept on following me! It was like that stupid, under-powered Pikachu Ay used ta have! Ay finally got rid of the Pikachu by returning it into the Pokéball and dumping it in some backwater town."
Brock and Misty started to get the picture as Pikachu's hairs stood on end and Ash looked ready to explode.
Damien: "Anyway, Ay got rid of the Charmander by leaving it on a rock somewhere in the woods, and promising Ay'd come back for it. It fell for it! Its probably still waitin foh me! Hah-hah-hah-hah!"
Boy #1: "Its probably still out there, waggin its tail!"
Damien: "Yeah, foh shoor!"
Group: "Wha hah hah aha ha!"
Ash, Pikachu, and Misty got up.
Brock: "Guys, what are you doing?!"
Ash and Pikachu marched over to Damien, followed after by an angry Misty.
Ash: "Damien, go and get it!!"
Damien: "Huh?!"
Ash, jabbing his finger at Damien: "You abandoned that Charmander out in a storm. Its still waiting there for you!"
Misty: "And if its tail flame goes out, it'll die!"
Damien: "What Ay do is none o yoor business!"
Ash came close to Damien, then grabbed Damien his shirt and lifted him off the couch and 2 feet off the ground with one hand.
Damien, struggling: "Yaahh!"
Ash, nodding at Pikachu: "Remember this, Damien?"
Pikachu climbed up Ash's arm and looked square in the eye of Damien.
Damien, shocked: "Its muy Pikachu!"
Ash, gritting his teeth: "Not yours anymore!"
Damien: "Let go of me!"
Ash suddenly dropped Damien, and Pikachu 'accidentally' fell off Ash's arm, and in the confusion gave Damien a minuscule thousand volts of Pika Power.
Damien, charred but getting up: "You want to fight with me?"
Boy #3: "You don't want to mess with Damien!"
Ash: "Let's go!"
A clapping noise. They all turned to it.
Nurse Joy: "Let's break it up! You know the rules!"
Everyone involved: "Huhn??!"
Nurse Joy: "Pokémon battles are not to be used to settle personal fights! Its disrespectful to the Pokémon League, the Trainers involved and the Pokémon themselves!"
Damien: "Well, tell 'em they were the ones what started it!"
Damien and his gang sauntered off. Nurse Joy turned to Ash, Brock, and Misty with a sorry smile.
Nurse Joy: "I don't think you want to get involved with Damien. He has a very bad reputation."
Brock, blushing: "Why, uh, thank you, miss."
The nurse smiled and went on about her business.
Brock: "She sure is pretty. I've never seen anyone as beautiful as her."
He waited for the usual reply and when he turned, the door slammed shut and Ash, Pikachu, and Misty were gone.
Brock: "Aah! Guys, wait for me!"
******
Ash and Misty were zooming on their bicycles, riding back to Charmander. Though Ash was usually faster on his bike than Misty, he was surprised to find she was pedaling even harder than he was, going slightly quicker.
Ash, calling ahead at her: "Misty, wait! We might need Brock!"
Misty, angrily: "He can catch up!"
Ash: "Misty, you're riding so fast, I can hardly catch up!"
Misty would have been pleasantly surprised that she was riding faster than Ash, but right now, she didn't care.
Misty: "We don't need his help! You carry Charmander, and I'll keep its tail flame lit!"
Ash: "What about our bikes?"
Misty: "Brock can get them! C'mon, go faster!"
Ash, with an inaudible sigh: "If you insist!"
He rode as hard as he could and was soon caught up to Misty. They finally reached Charmander's rock. They quickly got off their bikes. A group of Spearow were diving at Charmander. Ash was about to do something but Misty was quicker.
Misty: "Gyarados, go! Use Hydro Pump! Be careful not to hit Charmander!"
Gyarados sprayed a whole bunch of water from its mouth, drenching the Spearow and missing Charmander by entire feet. The Spearow fell to the ground, unable to use their heavy wings.
Misty, taking off her waterproof coat: "Ash, grab Charmander!"
Ash took off his coat and draped it around Charmander, protecting it from the rain. Misty lifted the Charmander's tail, under the coat, making sure the tail stayed lit. They started running.
On the way, Brock passed them. He was breathing hard.
Brock: "WHAT?! Now we're going this way??!"
Misty, in a commanding voice: "Brock, keep going! Get our bikes!"
Brock, exasperated: "Fine, whatever!"
He rode off. Ash and Misty kept running, for about 10 minutes, as fast as they could. By the time they reached the Pokémon Center, both weren't breathing extremely hard.
Ash, thinking: ^What the?!...But Misty can't...^
Pikachu, hopping out of Ash's backpack and running in with them: I^ think you've given her enough exercise over the past month or however long its been, Ash.^
Ash thought back to all the times he had dragged her along with him at his speed. He shrugged.
Nurse Joy was looking out the window when the trio burst in.
Nurse Joy: "What?"
Misty: "Nurse Joy! Please help this Charmander! Its in bad shape!"
Nurse Joy: "What's wrong?!"
Ash: "The flame on its tail..."
Nurse Joy, looking at Charmander and gasping: "There's not much time!"
******
Brock arrived at the Pokémon Center for the second time that night, around 11:00, dropping off Ash's bike. The first time, he had arrived with Misty's, dropped it off, and asked what had happened. They had told him everything as they watched Charmander from the ER window. Brock had watched for a while too, then had biked back to get Ash's bicycle. Now he dropped off the two bicycles and walked sluggishly in, pooped.
Brock, yawning: "How is she?"
Ash, yawning himself: "Last Nurse Joy told, Charmander was getting a little better. (Drawing close to Brock and whispering) Brock, I've never seen Misty this before."
Misty was just staring into the room at Charmander.
Brock, also whispering: "Hmm. I thought Water Gym Leaders only cared about Water Pokémon."
Ash, peering closely at his secret love: "Misty is...different. Ever since she has had a psychic connection with Pikachu, she has started growing a tolerance and now a liking towards all types. Its fascinating, really, her developing Pikachu's tastes. I thought she'd start liking just Electric types, but she likes the others more. Some kind of rivalry goes on between Electric types, so she likes Pikachu, but feels the same about Voltorb, Magnemite, etc. as she did before. Pikachu really likes Charmander as one of his four best friends, and because of the connection, Misty has this innate liking of Charmanders. Pikachu also likes Water Pokémon now, more than any other type, because Misty likes Pikachu."
Brock: "That means that since Misty at least likes and has a bond with Pikachu, and we know Pikachu loves you, and you love and have a bond with Pikachu, and we know Pikachu likes Misty, that..."
He trailed off suggestively. Ash distinctively, in a few milliseconds, turned redder than a Charmeleon.
Ash, glaring at Brock, whispering as forcefully as he could: "SHUT UP."
Brock chuckled and sat down in one of the waiting chairs. Ash looked at Pikachu.
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^Pikachu?^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^Yes?...^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^Pikachu, is that right? What Brock just suggested?^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^It could be with your emotion to Misty. (Lying) I don't know about Misty. You were closer than she was to me.^
[When I say Pikachu is (lying), you must understand that it is for the best, and he realizes that. So don't be mad or annoyed at me when I say he is. :O~~]
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^But, there IS a chance, right?!^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^Ash, calm down! You are really desperate. Wait a few months, at least. If she likes you, or even loves you by then, I suggest you take that chance.^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^I-I-I-I couldn't. It would so very ruin what we have now, or the friendship we might have then.^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^But it could be for the better! You could both be traveling on your Pokémon journey together! No barriers! Its better to find out sooner than later, and risk a broken friendship!^
Ash, psychically to Pikachu: ^I won't be able to.^
Pikachu, psychically to Ash: ^JUST WAIT AND SEE.^
Ash followed the command and went back to Misty's side, watching Charmander. After another half-hour, Nurse Joy came in, looking forlorn.
Misty: "Is Charmander going to make it, Nurse Joy?!"
Nurse Joy: "Calm down, young lady! Charmander is recovering, but it is still very weak. How could you let it get into that condition?!"
Ash, angrily: "Its not our fault! Damien's the one who abandoned it!"
Nurse Joy, surprised: "What??!"
Ash: "Well, Damien thought that Charmander was weak, so he decided to abandon her after she kept following him, even after I guess he released her. To get rid of her, he went into the forest and left her on a rock, telling her he would come back for her, but he never did. Then, a rainstorm came up, and..."
Nurse Joy, with great sympathy: "Oh, how awful! Poor Charmander."
Ash: "We overheard him bragging about it in front of his friends, and were demanding he get her, but then you broke us up. Probably for the better, too."
Nurse Joy, looking genuinely sorry for that: "I am sorry, but rules are rules. Otherwise, I would have battled the little snip and cut him down to size myself!"
Brock, admirably: "Way to go, Nurse Joy!"
Nurse Joy, smiling and blushing a little: "Thank you, Brock. Well, Ash or Misty, according to League rules, if Charmander is not picked up by Damien in 24 hours, you can keep her. I doubt he will though, if what you say is positively true."
Misty, clapping her hands together: "Really?! Oh, thank you, Nurse Joy!"
Nurse Joy smiled and went in to tend to Charmander.
Ash: "C'mon, let's get some sleep."
After what seemed like a long time, Ash got Misty to get some sleep. They all did. Ash and Brock slept gracefully in their sleeping bags, and let Misty have the bed.
Misty woke up earliest. She went to the ER to check on Charmander. She immediately noticed that something was wrong. She ran back to the room they were staying in.
Misty, at the top of her lungs: "CHARMANDER ESCAPED FROM THE ER!!!"
Ash, Pikachu, and Brock woke up in a flash.
Ash, jumping up: "WHAT?!"
Pikachu, jumping onto the floor: "PIKA?!" 'WHAT?!'
Brock, still half-asleep: "Charmander totaled your car??? This is awful!"
Misty slapped Brock awake.
Misty: "NO, Brock! I can't drive a car!"
They ran to the Emergency Room. Nurse Joy was looking at Charmander's bed, which was uninhabited. A window was open.
Ash: "Charmander must've escaped again! I bet it went back to that rock to look for Damien."
Brock: "C'mon guys, let's go get it back!"
Misty, sighing: "No. That wouldn't work."
Ash: "Misty's right. We can't force Charmander to abandon its Trainer, even if Damien's the biggest piece of crap I've ever
seen."
They said goodbye to Nurse Joy with heavy hearts and left down the path to Vermilion City.
******
The female Charmander was walking back to the rock, as Ash and co. had expected. Her tail was burning brightly.
As she walked, she overheard two voices conversing in the bushes. She went to investigate.
******
Jesse and James were finishing painting their new invention first saying their motto and then talking about their plan.
Jesse: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all people within our nation!"
Jesse: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jesse: "Jesse!"
James: "James!"
Jesse: "Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Jesse, pointing at what they were painting: "So. First we have this thing do its stuff..."
James: "...Then, we grab Pikachu with our Super Rubber Balloon Bazooka and steal all of the twerps' other Pokéballs with our high-power portable Pokéball Snatcher..."
Jesse: "...Finally, we make our getaway in the Team Rocket Balloon."
James: "A brilliant plan, if I do say so myself."
Jesse, pressing a button on her remote-control that controlled their invention: "Time for us to test out the Team Rocket
Super-Duper Whatchyamacallit!"
Meowth, appearing from out of the brush: "So, what does this thing do, anyway?"
Jesse: "Watch, and be amazed!"
They machine clicked and buzzed and started transforming. Pretty soon, a huge drill lowered to the ground and began making a hole.
Meowth: "NOT ANUDA HOLE PLAN! WE TRIED THAT ALREADY!"
Jesse: "If you fail and don't succeed, try, try again!"
James: "This time we'll remember where the hole is!"
They covered the new hole with sticks, dirt, and turf. Meowth couldn't see any difference between the covered trap and the rest of the ground.
Meowth: "Are ya sure your gonna remember where the trap is?!"
Jesse: "Meowth, don't you think we're smarter than that?"
Meowth fell over in stupidity. Charmander watched on.
******
Ash and friends slowly walked along the forest path.
Brock: "I thought Charmander knew WE were the ones that cared for it."
Ash: "Brock, Charmander knew we cared. But don't you see? Charmander HAS to go wait for Damien. Its still loyal to him."
Misty, depressed: "That was one loyal Pokémon, to be still tolerant of Damien, of all worms."
Ash: "Yeah. Hey, did you just feel the ground move?"
Brock: "I did."
Ash, Misty, Pikachu and Brock walked a little further, now wary. Pikachu stepped all the way out of Team Rocket's covered hole. They stepped one more step, and the covering collapsed, leaving them in the hole.
Ash, Misty, and Brock: "Waaaaah!!"
Pikachu looked down into the hole with surprise and worry. Ash, Misty, and Brock were sprawled out on the floor of
the hole, groaning.
Ash: "A hole?!"
Brock: "Who could have done this??!"
Misty: "Either Team Rocket, or just some stupid pranksters. I bet its Team Rocket."
There heard an evil laugh. Above them were Team Rocket in blue rubber suits.
Jesse, in a fake expression of sympathy: "Oh, my! Our old friends have fallen into a little hole! They always were quite cluuummssyy! What should we do, James??"
James, grinning wickedly: "This!!"
James pulled out his portable vacuum and sucked up Ash, Brock, and Misty's Pokéballs.
Brock: "HEY!"
Misty: "GIVE THOSE BACK RIGHT NOW!"
Jesse: "What are you going to do about it??!"
Pikachu, not really thinking: "CHU!!" 'WATCH!!'
Pikachu tried to fry Team Rocket with its Thunderbolt. But it didn't work.
James: "Rubber won't conduct electricity!"
Jesse, gesturing to their blue suits: "We call these out anti-Pikachu suits. We made them ourselves. I must admit, I don't think this is really my color at all, but-"
Meowth: "Quit your jabberin'! Just grab the Pikachu and let's get outta here!"
Jesse and James: "Right!"
Ash tried to flip onto one side of the wall, then to the other side, then out, but the ground was too unstable and he just fell down, back on Brock and Misty.
Ash: "Ow! Sorry, guys!"
Pikachu: "Pi pika!" 'I'll get you out!'
Ash: "No Pikachu! Run!"
Pikachu looked around to see Jesse and James, converging on him. He started running.
James: "You can't escape! We'll use the Team Rocket Rubber Balloon Bazooka! Ready!"
Meowth: "Aim!"
Jesse: "Fire!"
James fired and a rubber balloon blew up inside, then was fired by a rock at the end. The rock landed in front of Pikachu, and the balloon hit him, sucking Pikachu inside with some matter-transfer thingy. Pikachu tried to shock it open, but it just bounced off the rubber.
Jesse, James, and Meowth, making faces at Pikachu: "Pikachu! Pikachu!"
Pikachu, losing hope: "Ka piii!" 'Oh nooo!'
Jesse and James popped the balloon with a small pin, and James carried it over to the hole. They took off their suits, leaving their uniforms.
James: "We'll take care of this Pikachu for you! We won't lose it like YOU did!"
They turned around to leave when they saw Damien's Charmander, who had decided to play its part.
Charmander: "Charman! Char charmander!" 'Hey you guys! You'd better give Pikachu to those guys right now!'
Meowth: "Hey, its saying we'd better give Pikachu back to those guys, right now!"
Jesse: "That little thing?! It has GOT to be kidding!"
James: "Shove off, you little fire-bug!"
Charmander closed its eyes and appeared to concentrate. Then it let loose a Flamethrower attack. Jesse, James, and Meowth were toasted, and Pikachu's balloon disintegrated. The vacuum fell off of James' back because the straps disintegrated. Team Rocket started running.
James: "SEE?! Didn't I tell you we needed fire-proof uniforms?!"
Jesse: "Shut up and keep running!"
Damien watched from behind some bushes. He had wanted to challenge Ash, to embarrass him for hurting his own pride. He watched as his Charmander he had abandoned beat Team Rocket.
Damien: "Charmandah bet them??"
Ash jumped onto Brock's shoulders, then half-twisted out of the hole.
[Ash has sort of the moves Mario has in Super Mario 64. *]
Ash: "Thanks for the help, Charmander!"
Misty, eyes shining: "Yeah, you really came through!"
Brock was helped up by Ash, who had helped Misty. Brock grabbed the Portable Pokéball Snatcher and got their Pokéballs back.
Brock: "Hey, Charmander! How about you come along with one of us?"
Ash: "I'm afraid your 'Trainer' isn't going to be coming back."
Damien's voice: "There you ah, Charmandah! Been lookin all oveh for yah."
They looked to see Damien walking towards them.
Ash: "DAMIEN!"
Misty: "What are YOU doing back here?!"
Damien: "Ay came back foh Charmandah, jus like I promised. So, let's go!"
Brock: "Careful, Charmander. This Trainer has already abandoned you once before."
Charmander, head drooping: "Char..." 'Yeahh...'
Damien: "Charmander is mine. I'm the one who caught it, remembah?"
Misty, furious: "You bragged about how you abandoned it!"
Damien, nodding: "Good thing Ay did. That toughened it up a little. Besides, what's the problem with dumpin' ovah weak Pokemon? Ay wasn't gonna come back for it, but now that Ay've seen what it can do, Ay'm real lucky Ay ran into you guys. The best thing is, Ay didn't have to raise it meself."
Ash: "You're despicable!"
Brock: "Raising is the best part about being a Trainer!"
Damien: "You wish! Its the most boring part of the job!"
Ash: "How DARE you call yourself a Pokémon Trainer?!"
Misty, to Charmander: "See? He doesn't care about you, he just wants to use you to win matches!"
Ash: "Charmander!"
Misty: "Charmander!!"
Damien: "Charmander! Return!"
He threw Charmander's Pokéball at Charmander. At the last second, Charmander grimaced and whapped the ball back into Damien's face.
Ash: "Woaah..."
Misty, cheering: "Yeah!"
Damien, when the Pokéball fell off his face, leaving a huge red mark: "Owww! That's IT! I'LL CRUSH YOU WITH EVERY POKÉMON I'VE GOT!"
Damien pulled out about 72 Pokéballs.
[This is very weird, because Trainers are only allowed to carry 6 Pokémon at a time. In the show, he pulls out a whole lot. %|]
Charmander closed her eyes and used her Flamethrower. Pikachu added with a Thundershock, together which fried Damien extra-crispy.
Damien, scampering away in pain: "Mum-my!"
Ash: "Great work, Charmander! Do you want to come with us?"
Charmander: "Char char. Charmander char cha man." 'You can bet your socks on that. Unless you plan on releasing that other Charmander.'
The group laughed. Ash looked at Brock, who looked back at Ash, then both at Misty. They both nodded as they looked at Misty.
Ash and Brock: "Yours."
They started riding down the path.
Misty, astonished: "WHAT? HUH? REALLY?!?"
Pikachu, smiling and saying psychically to Misty: Misty, you deserve it more than anyone else in the world. And your best friends (at least I hope we're your best friends) know that.
Misty's eyes watered.
Charmander, grinning: "Charmander, char." 'Throw the ball already, Trainer.'
Misty smiled and threw one of her spare Pokéballs. Then her and Pikachu biked to catch up with Ash.
Narrator: "Well, a happy ending. Misty caught Charmander, and Pikachu got a little revenge on Damien. Now, they have one more town to go before Vermillion City. Will another adventure sneak up on them there, or will they have a peaceful rest?"
James, popping in: "That's IT Flareon! I'm going to take this physical abuse no longer!! I QUIT!!"
Flareon, sighing: "Sorry, you don't have a contract, so you can't quit. And I can make you say anything, so don't try to cross me."
James, dubious: "Yeah. Right. In your dreams."
Flareon, annoyed, typed on the universal keyboard with his mighty finger.
James, woozy: "Jesse...I love you so...where are you, honey-pooh?"
Flareon, disgusted: "Ugh! That's enough! End fic."
Yep, this is following the TV series too much, even if it is another version. Don't worry. It'll change when I add some new characters. Don't know when that's gonna be, though. They're gonna be mysterious, super-powered Trainers that help Ash out from a distance then leave with extremely high-leveled Pokémon. Don't know when I'm gonna put 'em in though.
Next eppy, its Squirtle!! Ash catches two new Pokémon, but wait! What if I told you...he never catches Squirtle??
{:FLAREON:}