As you may have noticed, the last chapter was quite long. It was a pleasure to write, but a butch to edit… I mean bitch. Chapters may be longer from now on. Or they may not. Depends.

(Chapter 7: A Flame Reignited)

Ash and John were sitting at a table. After Charizard had collapsed, Lance had arrived not only with a medical team, but Brock and Misty had tagged along with them after hearing what happened. They sat in silence as they waited for news on Ash's Charizard. Ash himself was covered in bandages, but he did not care. He was worried for his Charizard. The only one who was even near Ash was Pikachu, trying to comfort it's trainer.

Suddenly, the medical sign lit up. Everyone turned and saw Nurse Joy come out of the operation room. Tension went up as she walked towards them. Even Brock was still.

She flashed a smile and said, "Charizard will make a full recovery, but I must ask one question."

Ash still had an emotionless face, but replied. "What?"

Nurse Joy clearly saw the look on Ash's face but continued, "Have you ever abused Charizard?"

Ash's emotions returned immediately and with anger in his voice he replied, "Never. I don't abuse Pokemon."

Misty and Brock also had a look of shock. Misty cried, "Ash might not be the bright, but he is kind towards his Pokemon.

Brock sternly said, "His Pokemon followed him, he earned their trust through friendship more than battle."

John also spoke up, "From what I can tell, he is a great trainer and a friend towards his Pokemon."

Nurse Joy lost her smile and said, "Then explain this."

She showed the gang scars and marks deep within Charizard's skin. They were clearly not caused by the battle against Dragonite, they looked more like they were causes of constant and relentless abuse.

Misty and Brock looked in disgust. Ash quietly said, "Probably from his previous trainer. That bastard."

Nurse Joy suspiciously asked, "And who was this trainer may I ask?"

The three instantly and solemnly said, "Damien."

The look of suspicion left Nurse Joy's face, replaced with a face of shock and realization. "Oh my goodness, that was one of his Pokemon?"

Ash sighed and said, "Well Charizard used to be. When he was a Charmander, he was left to die on a rock. Damien tricked it into thinking that he would come back. If it wasn't for us, it would be dead."

Nurse Joy looked at the sadly. "That is not what I wanted to hear. I hoped when I heard you say Damien that you got him in a trade. Then, it can be traced back to him and he can finally be charged, but I guess not. I guess he continues to bury his evidence."

Ash looked up at Nurse Joy and asked, "So he hasn't been arrested for Pokemon abuse yet?"

Nurse Joy looked down. "Sadly, No. We can't find any evidence and I doubt he would reveal any."

Silence echoed in the building for a minute.

Suddenly, Chansey came out of the operation room with a brand new Pokeball.

Nurse Joy quickly returned to her normal, joyful persona. "Ah, This Pokeball will replace your broken one, just re-capture Charizard."

Ash quickly grabbed the ball and with Nurse Joy and Chansey, he entered the operation room. Charizard was awake and lying down. It looked at Ash.

Ash took a breath and looked back. He asked his question. "Charizard, as of now you are wild due to damage to your Pokeball. Do you want to come back and join me, or do you want to be released?

Charizard got up and walked towards Ash, no apparent emotion on his face. The two looked at eachother.

Then, Charizard used Flamethrower-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHDHWIUHDIWUDGHIWDOW"

-and entered the Pokeball, which signalled the re-capture.

Ash layed on the ground, burnt lightly and groaned. "Ow..."

Suddenly, Ash had an idea and asked Nurse Joy if he could leave through the back door. Nurse Joy saw the look on Ash's face and determined he was up to something, but nothing harmful. She let him out and Ash sent Charizard out. "Alright Charizard let's surprise everyone."

Charizard agreed. They took off into the air, Ash riding Charizard.

Meanwhile, Brock and Misty were still inside. John had left after receiving his Rhyhorn from the Chansey. Pikachu was lying down on Brock when he heard something.

Pikachu quickly dashed outside. Misty and Brock following Pikachu. What they saw shocked them.

"Hey guys! I'm up here!"

Ash was riding Charizard. Misty and Brock cheered, as Ash landed. "Alright, the league will start soon. We are registered already so let's get some training in before the ceremony begins!"

Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder and cried, "Pika Pikachu!" and they took off into the air, back towards Victory Road. Brock and Misty looked at them as they disappeared into the horizon.

Brock smiled and said. "He did it."

A familiar voice behind him replied, "I know from experience that Charizard are very stubborn, but loyal and fierce when you touch their heart. He fought not with Charizard, but at Charizard's side. That is something quite special if you ask me."

Brock and Misty turned around and saw Lance watching with them.

Lance smiled and held up something he was carrying. He told them, "Give this to Ash when he returns. I can tell he will be a good trainer for this Pokemon. It's not everyday you risk your life for someone else and those kind of people can be trusted in the most dire situations. Such an act deserves a reward, no?"

Brock and Misty looked at the small slender Pokemon that was sleeping in Lance's arms. Both of their jaws dropped. Lance was holding a Dratini, one that he would give to Ash. While people knew about this Pokemon, it was extremely rare, yet a member of the Elite 4 of Kanto was willing to give it to their friend. They couldn't believe it.

Lance looked amused at their shocked faces and said. "This Pokemon is the offspring of my Dragonite and was born quite recently, but it's old enough to live without its parents. While no use in battle now, Ash will raise it well."

Brock carefully and gently took the sleeping dragon from Lance. Soon after that, Lance left for the Indigo Stadium.

Evening came fast and Dratini continued to sleep. Ash was heading back towards the Indigo Plateau, the ceremony was starting in a few hours and he didn't want to be late. Soon, he spotted Misty and Brock waiting for him at the front of the Pokemon Center. He landed, returned Charizard and greeted them.

It wasn't long before he noticed the sleeping dragon on Misty's lap. He asked her about it. "Hey, where did you get that Dratini?"

Misty looked at Brock. Brock nodded. Misty took a deep breath and said, "Its yours."

Ash stifled a small laugh, took one look at Misty's face and realized she wasn't joking. "Wait. What?"

Brock carefully took the small serpentine Pokemon and gave it to Ash. Ash reached out for the sleeping dragon in shock.

Brock told him, "Lance gave it to you, it's the offspring of his own Dragonite."

Ash just held the dragon Pokemon in his arms, watching it sleep calmly and peacefully. It quietly cooed in Ash's arms, face with content. Ash smiled at the young dragon. Then, Dratini slowly woke up. It blinked a bit and yawned, then looked at what was holding it, Ash.

Ash looked at Dratini and said, "I guess I'm your trainer now. Do you trust me?"

He held out a Pokeball with his wrist. Dratini remembered what Lance had told her.

"Soon, me and Dragonite have to leave you, I want you to grow up with a good and trustful trainer. Now, I have found one, one who was willing to sacrifice his life for his Pokemon. You will be in good hands."

Dratini nodded and pressed the Pokeballs button. She vanished inside and the ball dinged, signalling a successful capture.

Ash couldn't hold back. "YEAH! I GOT A DRATINI!"

Then the Pokeball vanished. Ash quickly ran into the Pokemon center and called Professor Oak. He later came out of the center again with Dratini in his arms. He told his friends, "Since Dratini is new, I want to keep her out of her Pokeball."

Brock smiled and nodded, "I agree."

Suddenly Ash remembered why he was back, "Oh! The ceremony is going to start at any moment now! Pikachu! DratinI! Let's go!"

The two Pokemon cried their names as Ash ran off towards the Indigo Stadium with the two on his shoulders. Misty and Brock went towards the spectator stands.

Soon, Ash entered the stadium, presented ID and joined the large group of trainers. They waited for a bit, as the spectators began to increase and fill the stands. Ash spotted Gary and John, both looking ready. Unfortunately, he also saw someone he didn't want to see, Damien. Suddenly, a torch runner came through the stadium and ran up the steps towards the flame.

Ash quickly eyed the pink haired guard and the blue haired guard, but they didn't look suspicious and they did nothing as the torch runner passed them. He stopped at the torch, waiting for a signal. Then, a loud booming voice was heard.

"Light the torch!"

He lit the torch and nothing happened. He tried again and again, but nothing happened. Soon, the crowd began to mutter and converse in confusion. The trainers were wither annoyed or just as confused. The loud voice came back.

"There seems to be some technical difficulties with the torch, it seems that we may have to delay the ceremony."

The crowd groaned. The a girl screamed and pointed. Slowly people began to look in the direction she pointed and also began loudly screaming and cheering. Ash turned around and looked at the torch, the same direction that was pointed at. There stood Moltres.

Moltres looked at all of the people and blew a large flame at the torch, instantly setting it aflame. She then flew off in the horizon. The crowd roared in amazement, but was silenced by the loud voice again.

"Well, that works too. Anyways, I am Charles Goodshow, the head of the Pokemon League Committee, and I welcome you to this year's Indigo League. Every trainer here has earned their place to this prestigious event, so give them a round of applause."

The crowd applauded and cheered.

"Now, this year every trainer will give it them all. I ask that you fight a good fight, fair, strategic and with power. I ask that you show us all you and your Pokemon to your fullest potential. Let the battles begin!"

The crowd roared even louder.

"And remember. The winner will be able to challenge the Elite 4 of Kanto and will receive a trophy in their, and their Pokemon's names. But before that, we must get through the preliminaries. A trainer must win in each of the leagues 4 fields to pass. Only the top 32 will advance."

Every trainer looked at each other, they were all rivals now. Nobody wanted to lose, everyone was aiming for the top.

Ash looked at Pikachu and Dratini. His first and most recent Pokemon. It was the time for his to show everyone what he was made of.

He made it to the Indigo Plateau. The first stepping stone to becoming a Pokemon Master.

Shorter chapter, but still rich with story. For the next chapters, I will be writing Ash's battles for the most part. I can tell you that his opponents will be similar for the most part, but how the battle's end will be different for the most part. Next time, a certain unused Pokemon of Ash, will be crushing his way to victory. Also, on another note, I have a new computer so I might indulge in my other hobbies for a bit as now I have the processing power to do those. But I will still update the story.