"So, you are the famous Charizard." The Pupitar commented when he had finally been released by Pikachu and Ash. He was closely being followed by Jolteon, who adored the idea of having an older brother- even if he is of another species.

We've been on the road for around two weeks. Ash seems to be enjoying being able to hide from all the cameras, unlike his friends, as we've seen through BuzzNav. Still, it wasn't like nothing had happened to us while on the route, if anything we've had various adventures since we entered the forest. Then again, that's what normally happens when you are traveling with Ash. We've met and helped a Pokemornithologist, helped a Nuzleaf return to his herd and Starly had evolved into Staravia while in the Ranch after he perfectionated Aerial Ace. Not to mention that Ash finally got rid of the arm sling and I was finally deemed healed enough to start doing some light training, though I still needed to wait until we reach Oreburgh City for Nurse Joy to take my stitches and return to the Charizard Valley.

Talking about interesting things, it seems that the Larvitar Ash and Pikachu had helped all those years back had finally decided to join their group after finally evolving in the wild. He had it easy, all he had to do is approach the Ranger Headquarters on Mt. Silver and point to the news channel on the T.V. Everyone knows how Ash had gained his status as Honorary Ranger before joining the forces officially, so they rapidly understood that the Pupitar was the famous Larvitar of the story and sent someone to give Ash the newly caught pokemon.

It took them about a week to find them. Honestly, couldn't they just give Ash a fucking call?! But in the end, they finally found him and gave them Pupitar's Poke Ball. Let's just say that both Ash and Pikachu were ecstatic that the first pokemon they helped hatched had returned to their family. Now, it's good that they are happy and all that, but no one but them has been able to get close to the new member of our family or even greet Pupitar! Until now...

"You've heard about me?" I grunted, letting out some smoke.

"Yep," he replied. "Dad and Uncle Ash could not stop telling me stories about you, Butterfree, Uncle Primeape, Aunt Pidgeot, and Lapras. They missed all of you, but it seems that now the only ones that didn't return were Butterfree and Lapras. If only for a lack of methods to communicate with them."

Arceus help me! He had picked up Jolteon's nicknames! I moaned in my head.

"We missed them too," I replied. "But back then we had to take different paths. There will be times that one has to take a different path to fulfill their dream but that doesn't mean we stopped being family or that we will never see each other again... it just means that life had other plans for us at that moment and that one day it will be time to reunite." They all looked at me with stunned expressions. "What?!" I growled.

"Sorry, it's just... that sounds something Ash would say to us when... we are being unreasonable..." Turtwig said.

"You mean when we are being scolded." Bulbasaur, the traitor, sniggered. "Those were the same words Ash told Charizard after the training camp before he had returned to the Charizard Valley."

"Oh, thank Arceus!" Turtwig sighed. "For a moment I thought someone had replaced Charizard with an impostor," everyone laughed at that.

"Shut it!" I growled, keeping my blush at check- no need to give them any other reason to laugh at me.

"I know," Pupitar's admission had us all freezing. "Back then there was nothing more that I wanted than to stay with Dad and Uncle Ash. But I didn't want to leave mother either, not to mention I had to lot to learn from her... from living in the wild." He turned to look at Pikachu and Ash, who were helping Dawn train her pokemon. "However, here we are. Reunited once more after so many moons have passed. It is all about timing and patience."

"Surprisingly enough, Ash possesses both." Bulbasaur chuckled, sounding the fondest I've ever heard him. "How much would you like to bet that by the end of this journey both Butterfree and Lapras would be reunited with the family."

Someone, Honedge I believe, ended up scolding Bulbasaur for being improper and betting in front of children. Then the conversation turned into the evils of betting, mostly for the kids' wellbeing. But I didn't pay attention to any of that. My focus had changed to Quilava a long time ago. She was away from everyone else, but still visible, training hard on her fire attacks- which kept on leaving her winded.

Oh, how I had hated her at one time. She had been my replacement, the one who was able to keep Ash when I was 'abandoned' at the Charizard Valley. Yes, now I understand that I was never abandoned but that Ash had left me there for me to be happy with my mate and that I will always be his pokemon, as he had proven by calling me on various occasions. But that did not change the fact that as soon as he had left me there, he had saved another Fire Type Starter who was shy and had problems with his fire attacks... just like I had when I was still that bustard's Charmander.

One that didn't even evolve during her journey with Ash!

It made me boil with rage. Why does that weak Fire Type get to stay close to Ash as his replacement, when he wasn't able to! When he was so much more powerful than her!

I know that things are different now. That she was never my replacement and that Ash loves all his pokemon equally. That I was special to him, his strongest pokemon alongside Sceptile and Pikachu... even Altaria, she keeps one surprised us all. She'll be in our ranks soon enough.

Knowing that had allowed me to be able to help her during the training camp, without favoring the other Fire Types. I was able to help her perfect Flamethrower, Fire Wheel, and Eruption, and even teach her the bases of Fire Blast. However, she still has problems gathering enough firepower for that last attack. Which is what Ash had me helping her with while I was recuperating. That and help Chimchar with his own Fire Type attacks.

However, even with my help, she was still having issues. She just wasn't able to reach her internal fire. That flame that burns inside every Fire Type. I don't know if it is because of her shyness or because she felt like she was being left behind, but she had to snap out of it. In a couple of days, I was leaving for the Charizard Valley and she'll be left to practice on her own.

Growling I stood up, ignoring everyone's questioning looks, and walked towards Quilava to then pick her up and drag her away to get some privacy. Once we were far enough, I dropped her on the ground and glared at her.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" I growled. "I taught you what you needed to know, you have the power to pull it off and the goddamn emotional support you need. So, please tell me why the fuck you keep on failing?!"

"I keep on worrying everyone," Quilava sighed, looking down. "When Feraligatr came back from the mission everyone looked at me with the same worried eyes, concerned about how I would feel by being the only Johto Starter that has yet to achieve their last evolution stage. Then Ash called for me, worried about what I would do if left alone at the Ranch. Everyone has been walking on eggshells around me." Tears began to form in her eyes, but the fire on her back has also begun to burn hotter than I've ever seen. Frustration is a good fuel, I thought impressed. "I just hate it! Yes, I've not reached that stage yet and I want to. But that doesn't mean I'm made of glass!"

Oh, how I hate her. I thought for a moment. She doesn't get how lucky she is to have a trainer and a team worried about her. How I had wanted that when I was still back with that bastard... how I had not taken good care of it when I had evolved myself.

But I kept those thoughts to myself and growled: "You want to show them you are strong, and they don't need to worry about you. Then take that goddamn anger and frustration and let it burn you! Aim it all to that boulder!" I shouted.

She burned and burned, her flames becoming bigger with every breath and her posture more animalistic. It all finally reached a boiling point, in which she yelled: "Fire Blast!"

I had expected her to manage it, to succeed in her attack. What I had not been expecting was for her Fire Blast to melt the boulder... a big boulder at that!

I threw my head backward and laughed like a maniac. She had done it! She had truly done it! My laughter only increased when I saw a white light envelop her. She had fucking done it!

I smiled evilly at the newly evolved Typhlosion. There was no holding back any longer, the next time we have a battle I'll go all out and take all of my frustrations on that pretty face. I'll finally be able to move on from that chapter in my life.

I looked to the side to see Ash, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur standing hidden by the trees. I looked at my oldest friends, looking back with so much pride in their eyes, and thought: Maybe helping her was not such a nuisance.

A/N:

So, many have been commenting on how they would like an option that unites option A to C or have chosen more than one option. As such, I've decided to add another option. These are the options:

a) Ash accepts Scott's offer as the new Frontier Brain Leader. His building is based on Viridian with Gary working alongside him as the City's Gym Leader. Close to home and with the ability to travel to new regions whenever he wants to.

b) Ash keeps on raising his rank in the Ranger forces. He still gets to travel but will have more responsibilities.

c) Ash decides to become the newly made Orange League's Champion, with Drake and Lorelai as part of his Elite Four. He will get to travel but will have to return to the Archipelago various times to see if the changes he has made in the region were being followed. Like deciding their own Regional Starters, opening more Gyms over the region so that there would be eight, and creating a Lapras transportation system with the help of Lorelai so that trainers could go from island to island. If you choose this option, Gary might end up deciding to join Ash in the Archipelago and open his own Gym there.

d) Sinnoh League ends and Ash gets the offer to become the Orange Islands' Champion. He refuses saying he is too young yet for the responsibility, not mature enough for the position. Then Lorelai stops him and tells him that even though they are offering the position doesn't mean they'll make him Champion immediately, they still need to prepare and form the League (create the rest of the gyms, build an Orange Plateau, find the rest of the Elite Four members and build an Ace Force, advertise the new League, build various Ranger Headquarters on the different Islands, get the help of the Regional Profesor), which would take them at least two years (after he finishes his Kalos journey). That would end up giving him time to travel (not that would stop after he becomes Champion) and mature. Not to mention, that in the meanwhile he would have an input in how the League would proceed. Especially in the Rangers aspect, as the Ranger Commission would have given him full authority over the decision of their forces over the Orange Islands (Sarah and Josh became each a Head Ranger there). As for the Battle Frontier, Scott had always wanted to expand it, he could use Ash to publicize the experience over Unova and Kalos, having him battle various Master Trainers in a portable gym with public and news channels invited to observe and record. And then when he becomes Champion, instead of Scott building another Battle Frontier in Hoenn, he'll just build it at the Orange Islands with Ash as its leader. The Battle Frontier at Kanto stays the same.

Please tell me if and why you changed your choice.

Thank you!

Ladies and gentlemen! The contest is finally closed! And the winner is option D!