Holding Charmeleon in my arms I stroked his head, giving him his medicine as he groaned softly, trying to shake his head to refuse it but I prompted him to take it. "Come on Charmeleon, you need to get better." I told him softly. "If you take your medicine then I'll find you some berries to make you a chili soup, how does that sound?"
Opening his rhumy eyes to look at me, Charmeleon gave me a deep look of thought before opening his mouth slightly. I quickly poured the medicine onto his tongue, holding up his head as he swallowed then shuddered. I did not pull back the spoon in time, so as he clamped his teeth down I lost the head.
"Oh dear…oh well. I have plenty more." I smiled to him, fishing the other piece out of his mouth then began to sponge his head carefully, cleaning his eyes then made sure that his claws were sharp but not overgrown in case I needed to clip them back. "You see? You're already so much improved." I told him as I diligently took care of my poor Pokémon.
"Vee?" Eevee stood up on her hind legs and nuzzled into Charmeleon, trying to comfort him. Charmeleon looked to Eevee then gave a gentle smile, reaching out and rested his hand on her back, stroking her fur before he fell asleep in my arms. I guess I'll have to make that chili soup another time, all Charmeleon wants to do now is sleep.
Smiling I kissed his head. "Goodnight Charmeleon." I murmured then returned him to his Pokéball with a soft sigh. Pidgeotto then returned, landing beside me from her evening flight then nuzzled closer to me, sensing my upset at Charmeleon's illness. Eevee jumped into my lap and curled up there, trying to comfort me too.
"Hey, is Charmeleon okay?" Ash asked as he approached, holding a plate of food for me.
"He's getting better, I just worry about him." I answered with a sullen smile. "Even though we had a rough start, I really care about that hothead. We've been through a lot together and although it won't be long until he goes home, I enjoy having him on my team. He brings a certain spunk that I like." Misty and Brock joined me with smiles.
"Yeah, your team really is a great reflection of who you are." Brock said to me and I tilted my head, unsure of what he meant so he explained further. "Pidgeotto you've had the longest, so looks out for you closely like you do for others. Pidgeotto is strong and very loyal as a friend, like you are." Ash then held up his finger, adding his own analysis.
"Charmeleon is stubborn, hot headed, tempermental and spunky just like you can be sometimes, so you go great together!" I whacked him upside the head for that comment.
"I am not stubborn!" I knew this was a lie but still, he did technically just insult me. Misty laughed then gestured to Eevee.
"Eevee is really playful and upbeat, just like you are! You're always playing games with your Pokémon and tightening the bonds you have with them. Now with Dratini, you're both calm and sometimes shy, but extremely battle ready and very surprising considering your outward appearance." Instanstly she laughed guiltily and waved her hands. "Not that you look weak or anything…"
"I know what you mean." Giving a proper smile I nodded to my friends. "Thanks guys, I really needed that pick-me-up." They all beamed happily, glad to have lifted my spirits and we all settled into our amazing food which Brock had cooked for us.
We ate, talked, laughed and several times teased one another all in good spirit until finally, it was time to settle down for bed. I wriggled into some sleeping clothes, taking off my Pokéball belt also then set it beside me as I lay down close to the fire, looking across to see Misty and Togepi already asleep, Ash and Pikachu already settling down.
"Vee…" Eevee yawned then curled up beside me, turning her back towards the fire to keep herself warm. Yawning myself I turned and closed my eyes, looking up into the night sky, counting the stars and making shapes out of them. Several tiny specks shot across the sky, shooting stars and I smiled, closing my eyes then instantly made a wish.
Yawning one last time I snuggled into my sleeping bag then closed my eyes, happily falling into sleep. The next thing I was aware of, however, was one of my Pokéballs opening with a burst. Eevee's ear twitched but she didn't wake, being too tired from the games we had been playing all afternoon.
Groaning slightly I rolled over, lifting my head slightly and blinked in the dim darkness but couldn't see anything as the fire had gone out. Still slightly asleep I fumbled beside me for the torch I always put by my head then switched it on, turning it towards my belt to find that Charmeleon's Pokéball was empty. Oh no! Instantly I sat up with a gasp, running my torch across the treeline but still found nothing, so I turned it to the ground. Footprints!
"Guys! Guys wake up!" I called and everyone jerked slightly. "Hurry, Charmeleon is gone!" Instantly everyone was leaping to their feet.
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Misty asked, sitting up as Ash hurriedly pulled on his jacket.
"His Pokéball is empty and his footprints lead into the forest, you have to help me find him, please! He's still sick, I can't let him get worse!" Nodding their heads everyone rose up, ready for the search as they turned on their torches and I clipped on my belt again.
"Okay, let's go!" Ash called and I sighed with relief before leading the way.
"Charmeleon! Charmeleon come back! Please!" I called and the others all joined in.
"Charmeleon!"
"Hey Charmeleon! I have spiced cookies!" Brock tried, shaking a bag but still no joy. We followed his tracks as fast as we could but when they disappeared as the ground became rocky, we began to search manually, scouring the land before us but still, no sign of Charmeleon, not even his tail flame.
"We'd better split up and cover more ground." Brock said as we ran back to one another. "I'll take the higher ground, Ash, you head down that was with Misty back into the forest then split ways when we last found Charmeleon's footprints, Ruby, you carry on ahead and see what you can find."
"Right." I nodded as everyone chorused with me. "Come on Eevee, let's find Charmeleon!"
"Vee!" She sniffed the air, trying to get a scent before following after me as I headed forwards, turning my torch desperately over the ground to try and find him. I turned down a path and gasped as I came closer to a cliff which took me around the rocky trail above.
"Careful Eevee, here, grab on." I said to her then lifted her up into my arms, holding the torch in one and her in the other before making my way forwards. Although the path was fairly wide, I wasn't going to risk anything.
I rounded the corner then, just ahead of me, I saw a flickering flame. "Charmeleon!" I gasped then ran forwards, seeing him just ahead, facing the cliff edge with closed eyes. Was…was he sleepwalking? That's never happened before. "Charmeleon, snap out of it! You need to get back from the edge!" I shouted out to him but he still didn't wake.
"Vee…Vee…" Eevee began to tremble, looking around her fearfully and I instantly began to shine my torch around but we were alone.
"What is it Eevee? What's wrong?" I questioned but she merely hid herself in my arms, still trembling in fear of something. If Eevee was afraid then that meant there was definitely something out there.
"Gastly, a Ghost Pokémon. It is usually invisible. Its specialty is Hypnosis." Dexter suddenly said from within my jacket pocket, making me blink then frown. Gastly? There were Gastly around here? I turned and looked ahead of me only to meet a hideous face of withered black skin, large fangs and a flickering snake tongue, red eyes glaring and I screamed, dropping to the ground and Eevee gasped, looking behind her to the frightening picture before racing away.
"Eevee!" I called but let her go, turning back to see the gross and terrifying image to replaced by a ball of black enshrouded in gas, which laughed as it floated before me. Suddenly it was joined by numerous others, all of them joining together until their freakish laughter was all I could hear or think of.
Gasping again I turned to Charmeleon. They must have used Hypnosis on him because he was weak from his illness, thinking they could play a prank but this was just dangerous. "Wake him up!" I yelled at them angrily. "This is not funny, this is dangerous! He could fall!" They continued to laugh, however, so I jumped up and tried to run to him. "Charmeleon!"
The Gastly all moved in front of me, making me stop and take a step back, watching their gas forms glare at me before they turned to face Charmeleon, slowly swarming around him. Charmeleon grunted then lifted a foot, dangling it over the edge then began to to dance, striking weird moves which made all the Gastly laugh and me cry out with worry. "Stop it!"
Losing patience I grabbed Pidgeotto's Pokéball and called her out. "Pidgeotto! I choose you!" She arrived with a flash of light, making the Gastly all turn around with a blink of surprise.
"Pidgeo!" Pointing towards the Gastly I looked up at her.
"Quickly! Use Gust to blow these whisps of gas away!" Pidgeo instantly began to flap her wings, trilling with each strike to whip up a strong gale of wind which slammed into the Gastly, making them clench their oversized eyes shut as gradually, they were forced to dispearse, blown away by the strength of Pidgeotto's Gust attack. "Charmeleon!" I shouted over the wind, running towards him.
Charmeleon woke up with a start, putting his feet firmly back down on the ground then looked around him in confusion, eyes closed slightly in sleepiness. Sighing with relief as he turned I rushed towards him, holding my arms out to catch him as he began to sway.
He collapsed into my arms and I instantly pulled him further back from the edge, holding a hand to his head. "It's alright, I've got you now." I assured him, smiling softly as I tucked his head into my shoulder.
"Pidgeo!" Pidgeotto called out in warning and I looked up. Instantly I gasped, seeing the swarm of Gastly returning with an angry vengeance. Their eyes all glowed white with a flash before diving forwards, enveloping all of us and I cried out as their gas forms began to choke me, the lack of oxygen causing my lungs first to itch then burn.
Dark shadows began to flit across my vision, attacking at both Charmeleon and I as Pidgeotto was grounded by several more Gastly. "Pidgeotto!" I called out in fear, jerking backwards as a Gastly flew at us with a Shadow Ball attack, leaping out the way as it shot towards us.
Fear kickstarted my heart, making it work double time as I struggled to breathe, tears in my eyes as I turned to shield Charmeleon, tugging him away from the attacks of the Gastly which made me take another step back.
Only my foot hit open air and me, having already tried to put weight on it, felt myself slip and fall backwards. I screamed aloud, calling for Pidgeotto as fear now took control of my entire body. "Twister attack!" I screeched, feeling the rush of air as I began to fall downwards, Charmeleon in my arms. I hugged him close to me, trembling violently as a cyclone suddenly appeared overhead and Pidgeotto flew through it, escaping the Gastly then dived down straight for us.
Charmeleon opened his eyes and everything seemed to slow down as he looked at me, groaning weakly so I gave him the best smile I could. "It's going to be okay." I whispered to him and he blinked slowly, still locking his eyes with mine. "I'm going to save you." I promised then pushed him away from me, letting myself drop further as he rose upwards slightly. "Pidgeotto! Catch Charmeleon!" I commanded and she spread her wings, instantly latching onto his arms to keep him from falling. There was a long moment where our eyes remained connected, his deep brown orbs widening as he realised what was happening and what I had just done.
"Pidgeo!" She cried fearfully and I unclipped Dratini's Pokéball, kissing it gently then flung it upwards. Understanding Pidgeotto dived forwards and caught it in her beak easily, rising upwards as I then began to twist and turn, wind slapping into me as I stared downwards. I couldn't see the bottom and I just continued to fall, so it must have been an extremely deep crevasse though we had climbed part of a mountain to get here, so I guess I shouldn't be at all surprised.
I screamed loudly, flailing wildly as blood roared in my ears along with the wind, threatening to burst my eardrums as I was tossed and turned over before finally I faced upwards. Pidgeotto had already taken Charmeleon and Dratini to the top of the cliff, however when I saw a light, I realised someone must be evolving. Pidgeotto? She was turning into Pidgeot for me?
However when a shadow loomed up over the rise, I gasped aloud. A collosal roar shook the cliff and a plume of fire broke apart the Gastly as they continued to swarm. With a spread of his wings, my newly evolved Charizard dove down. "Charizard!" I yelled, reaching out for him and he narrowed his eyes, tucking in his wings as tightly as he could then extended his clawed hands towards me.
Suddenly he engulfed me in his warmth, hands pulling me close into his chest and his wings spread out into a wide berth as he angled himself upwards. I heard the hiss of his body glancing over the ground and I gasped. Just a second longer and I could have been a broken mess on the ground. I shuddered at the thought.
Charizard rose up and sailed up the cliff at incredible speed, rising as I climbed onto his back, standing easily as I beamed from ear to ear. "Alright! Nice catch Charizard!" I yelled, punching the air as I held onto his neck with one hand.
He roared as he hovered in the air, glaring at the Gastly who now turned on us, ignoring Pidgeotto who had tried to blow them away with Gust but they just kept on coming back for more. "Alright you guys, let's do this!" I yelled, glaring venomously at the Gastly. "Charizard, Flamethrower! Combine it with Pidgeotto's Twister to blow this gas balls away for good!"
Instantly a jet of fire burst out, Charizard obeying my command as Pidgeotto flapped her wings, creating a cyclone which lit up with fire as Charizard kept his flame going. The Pokéball in Pidgeotto's talons burst open and Dratini appeared, glaring as she called out, ready to join in as the others appeared.
"Ruby!" Brock called then they all stopped, staring in awe and shock as I stood on Charizard's back.
"Dratini! Dragon Rage!" I roared, enraged by these Gastly and their dangerous attack on us. Dratini opened her mouth and her own cyclone joined the other, whipping up all the Gastly who couldn't even break free, spinning around and around helplessly until finally, I shouted out. "Now!"
They all stopped their attack and the spinning fire cyclone rose up, lifting the trapped Gastly with it then rose up into the sky, spinning around and around before bursting into a bright explosion of fire which I instantly turned my face away from, though when I looked up after a moment I was showered with a rain of bright gold sparkles, which made me gasp then smile.
"Vee! Vee!" Eevee called, leading the others forward as Charizard landed and I jumped down, kneeling down and instantly hugged her too me.
"Good girl for bringing the others Eevee, you clever girl!" I praised then looked to my team as they came closer. "All of you, you were amazing. You saved my life tonight, I hope you all know that." I stroked their heads all in time, making Pidgeotto coo and Dratini call out happily before snuggling into Eevee as they greeted one another. "Especially you, Charizard." I said, turning and standing to face him.
He stood taller than most Charizard normally grew to be, easily seven or eight feet tall so I had to crane my neck to look into his face, but I was overjoyed to see warm affection shining in his eyes. He growled softly then lowered his head, rubbing against my cheek with a happy expression and I laughed, resting my hands on his face as he nuzzled me gently before I flung my arms around him. "Thank you." I whispered as I embraced him and I sensed him nod his head.
"Ruby, what happened?!" Ash asked in shock, staring at my newly evolved Charizard. "Where did all those Gastly come from?" So I turned to face them, though I knelt down to hold my team to me with pride.
"Charizard had been hypnotised by the Gastly when he was a Charmeleon, they led him to this cliff to play tricks and give me a fright, which Eevee ran away from to find you all. I used Pidgeotto's Gust to blow them away and woke Charmeleon up, but then they came back and started attacking." I explained, making Misty gasp.
"Oh no! Were you hurt?" I glanced over the cliff, looking down into the darkness as I shuddered.
"I was pushed over the edge with Charmeleon still in my arms." Everyone gasped. "But Pidgeotto broke free and dove after us, but I told her to save Dratini and Charmeleon first, but when she brought them back to the top she must have been trapped again, which is when Charmeleon evolved. He broke free, dove down and caught me which is when we then combined Pidgeotto's Twister, Charizard's Flamethrower and Dratini's Dragon Rage to get rid of those dangerous Pokémon for good." I stood with a proud look on my face, holding Dratini and Eevee in my arms with Charizard's head hanging over my shoulder and Pidgeotto at my side.
"That's…that's incredible!" Brock gasped in amazement. "And Charizard looks better! It looks like evolving helped his inner fire to relight, getting rid of the last of his cold." Charizard hummed happily as he rubbed his face into mine again, making me beam and giggle, nuzzling him back.
"And you two look great." Misty said to me with a smile. "Charizard is being really affectionate to you."
"I know, it's amazing. He's amazing." I agreed. Ash suddenly face planted the floor.
"Urgh…why won't my Charizard be like that?" I laughed, turning to face him.
"Because Ash, your Charizard is still waiting for you to prove yourself as a trainer. When Charmander evolved into Charmeleon and then into Charizard, its pride grew also, which means it expects only the best from its trainer. Luckily, I had it in reverse so now, Charizard and I are tight fisted buddies! Right Charizard?" He gave a soft rumbling sound in reply then licked my face, slathering me in saliva and I giggled. "That tickled!"
Suddenly Ash's Pokéball burst open and with a flash of bright light, his own Charizard burst free then roared, spreading his wings and my Charizard retaliated, instantly moving around and spread his wings to protect me. The two clashed heads and glared at one another, though for once my usually smaller Pokémon towered over Ash's, though neither seemed intimidated. Suddenly I had a thought.
"But hey, maybe your Charizard might be more inclined to fight." I said to Ash and he leaped up, clenching his fists excitedly.
"Really?" I nodded my head.
"Sure, with my Charizard fully evolved, their rivalry can really heat up. Maybe your Charizard will be more interested in proving himself in battle, so he'll fight more often and listen to you more." Ash blinked then punched the air.
"Alright!" Ash's Charizard growled and suddenly a tail wound around me and the rest of my team protectively, Charizard also spreading a wing to cover us so I laughed.
"Easy there Charizard, there's no need to be so protective." I told him, stroking Pidgeotto's feathers before stepping over his tail, put Eevee and Dratini down then went over to the smaller Charizard, reaching out and patting his arm. "You see?" Ash's Charizard looked dwon, drawing back from the contest stare to growl affectionately at me as I patted his shoulder. "He won't hurt us."
Charizard didn't look too happy as the other lowered his head and let me rub my fingers into his skin, massaging carefully to ease the tension there. It spat out an unimpressed flash of fire then folded his arms so I chuckled. "Okay, your turn now." I said then climbed up his back, making him look at me as Eevee and Dratini followed, calling out excitedly as they began to play on his back.
Pidgeotto landed on his shoulder and nudged him gently. "Pidgeo." She nodded her head once and he did the same, a silent conversation passing between them as I massaged his head and neck, making him relax.
"Okay everybody, I say we go to bed." Brock said with a stretch and a yawn and Ash instantly yawned also.
"Yeah, I'm beat." He's beat? He didn't just get tossed off a cliff! "Charizard, return!" Ash's Charizard went back to his Pokéball and everyone began to retreat, however I slumped against Charizard, my arms around him in a close hug.
"I'm glad you're all better Charizard." I murmured to him softly and he answered in a soft growl, turning to look at me before walking to the edge of the cliff, making me look up and blink. "Huh?" Pidgeotto spread her wings then flew forwards, turning to face us.
"Pidgeo!" When Charizard spread his wings, I understood his intention. Quickly beaming I pulled Eevee and Dratini close to me then placed my hand at the base of his neck to hold on.
"Okay, we're ready! Go Charizard!" He opened his mouth and roared, shooting a plume of fire into the sky then leaped up into the air, diving straight down. I yelled from the adrenaline rush, Eevee and Dratini both crying out in fear but then Charizard swooped back up, angling his body expertly to rise up into the sky then straightened himself out as I gasped for breath, grinning wildly as the wind whipped through my hair.
"You can look now." I whispered to the little Pokémon in my arms. "Look, look at the stars."
"Vee?" They both uncurled from one another and looked up, turning their eyes to the sky and instantly were transfixed. It was so beautiful it was almost as if I could reach out and touch them. They glimmered in their multitude, making the sky seem endless as we soared through it. I could stay up here forever.
Both Eevee and Dratini made sounds of awe and Eevee leaped forwards, standing close to the edge though I anchored her down with my hand as Dratini sat on my shoulder. I looked up as Pidgeotto flew over our heads, reaching up to brush her feathers and she looked at me before making a happy face. "Pidgeo!"
We all flew together, rising higher before flying towards the moon, which beamed in brilliance and I could not have felt happier in that one, perfect moment. And for once, there was nothing to spoil it. Not even Team Rocket.
