Just giving you guys a quick warning that there's some cursing in this one, not a lot but some. Hopefully you won't mind. I'm may be bumping the rating up because of upcoming stories I will be producing, but I will let you know if there's anything you should be concerned about before each chapter.

Enjoy!

005. Charmeleon "Defender of Mankind"

I stretched out my arms and hung my head back, inhaling the smoke in the air. "Ah, what a sweet fragrance," I sighed.

Blades of dry grass and the leaves of bushes curled in on themselves as small flames slowly licked at them. Even the ground itself was scorched to where only dirt and pebbles were left, making the surrounding land seem barren other than the few trees that were still standing and anything else that hadn't yet become consumed by fire.

I blinked in the sunlight, watching three figures making their way across the plains towards me as I carefully played with a blank disc with my free hand, patiently waiting for the small group to come closer.

"What did you do?" a voice called out in anger.

My lips pulled back at the remark, revealing a toothy grin. "Do you like my work?"

A thin Dragonair, wearing a white skirt and shirt and had silver bracelets adorning her ankles and wrists, stood the closest, obviously being the 'leader.' She wore a disgusted expression and her eyes searched for my gaze. But I ignored her since my attention was currently drawn to her two companions.

A Squirtle stood to the Dragonair's right, his firm stance revealing his overconfidence. The Squirtle was obviously quite young, wearing a pair of shorts and a loose red shirt with a tan cap covering his head. The other Pokemon, whom I immediately recognized, was a Growlithe named, coincidently, Growly. He was only wearing a pair of pants, that had been ripped up to the knees, which was normal for his fire-based species.

"Aeron, you surprise me!" I exclaimed while standing up. "I always thought you were the type to refuse to bring others to join in on our fun."

"You sick bi-"

"You call this fun?" Aeron shrieked, interrupting Growly's angry remark. "This isn't a game, Zandra, you've hurt and even...you've even killed others!" she said, taking several steps towards me, her bracelets dancing against her smooth scales and glistening in the bright sunlight.

"Growly, you were about to say something naughty, weren't you?" I said smiling, completely disregarding Aeronwen's words. "You shouldn't talk like that, you just might make your dear old mum roll in her grave."

"AHHHHH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Growly screamed, his body being engulfed in fire as he leaped across the ground.

I didn't even flinch as a brightly-colored shield suddenly appeared around me, and Growly collided right into it, quickly being sent flying from the impact. I started laughing as Growly landed in the dirt probably around fifty feet away. I let the shield die as I shoved my fists into my jean's pockets.

"You should be more careful!" I shouted at the Growlithe who was still recovering from his stupid mistake.

"Growly!" Aeron's eyes went from her fallen comrade back to me. "Wave, go help him," she whispered through gritted teeth as she faced me again.

Her order was only met with the Squirtle launching a large orb that flew towards my head. I quickly leaped out of the way but once the orb went right past me it curved around and started to head right back at me. I heard Wave gasp when multiple images of myself stood across the path of the orb, and when it came into direct contact with one of my copies the orb vanished.

"Ooh, where did you learn to use Gyro Ball, little Wave?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest as my images moved around me in a protective formation. "Hey Aeron," I looked over at the Dragonair who was once again telling Wave to go help Growly," why did you bring such a low-leveled Pokemon with you to come after me? Even you should know that that was a stupid thing to do."

Aeron, after seeing that Wave went after the Growlithe, turned to face me. "Zandra, you don't remember do you?"

I blinked, a bit confused by her reply.

"You had no idea the impressions you made back then, how respected you were, how much everyone thought of you." Aeron's eyes glimmered with tears at every word she spoke.

"Oh, don't get all teary-eyed on me! Besides, am I supposed to remember everyone I've ever met?" I sneered. I looked down at the ground, flipping over a small rock with my foot, thinking to myself as Growly and Wave were headed back towards us.

"Oh... Oh!" My head snapped up and I pointed at the Squirtle. "Do you have a brother?"

"I had a brother" the boy replied. His hands curled up into fists. "But you...you..." Wave's voice choked as he tried to contain himself of his emotions.

"Zandra, you have no idea the damage you cause and how many are affected by it!" Aeronwen shouted, as she positioned herself to prepare to attack. But I was already one step ahead of her.

I leaped into the air and headed straight down, leaving my 'clones' behind to fade, digging at incredible speed into the ground's core. I pushed the soil easily out of my way with my long claws as I heard several shouts, one in particular was louder than others (I correctly assumed it being Growly's). I began to dig upward, heading toward the area Aeronwen had been standing. I inhaled deeply then burst through the ground, daylight hitting my orange scales as my claws began glowing and giving off a deep blue aura. I slashed at Aeronwen's back, her screaming bringing a deep pleasure that I drank in like wine.

The Dragonair, having been caught off guard, jumped away from me, almost landing on the ground. She shifted around, her lips wide open as a light blue wave headed torwards me, its waves distorting the air around it as it moved.

I summoned one last Protect, letting the Dragon Pulse die away and jumping to the side to avoid Wave's Ice Beam that crashed into the ground. Upon seeing Growly become, once again, enveloped in flame and head for me, I relaxed the muscles in my arm, patiently waiting as Growly only got closer and closer. And as Aeronwen shouted for the Growlithe to back off, I released my fist into Growly's chest when he was near, letting it collide into his rib cage where his heart resided.

I clutched the Growlithe's shoulder with my other hand, holding his damaged body close to mine. As he began to emit a bloodcurdling scream I gently let him sink to his knees, his hands grasping his chest while his body doubled over in pain. I just stood there, enjoying the Growlithe's anguish like a mother would enjoy the sight of her newborn child.

But, like all things, the lighthearted moment was ended abruptly when Aeron slammed her body into mine. But as our bodies soared through the air I grapped the Dragonair by her arm, and feeling my arms almost swell as my muscles were invigorated with strength, I twisted my lower body and pushed off the ground. While still holding Aeronwen I threw her down, and when I landed I approached the Dragonair, my claws glowing darkly.

"Hey, Aeron," I whispered, scratching her ankle with my foot's hooked nail. "I hope this hurts as much as they say it usually does." Before Aeronwen could glance up at me I raised my hand and sliced through her back, my claws not leaving a single mark as they turned transparent when touching her.

I walked away from Aeron, not staying to appreciate her agony since my attention immediately turned to the Squirtle who was still standing out in the field, completely unharmed and completely shocked by the turn of events.

"What? Did you think just because there was more of you that I couldn't win?" I shouted, my voice being carried across the empty plains.

Wave didn't even reply, he was looking past me at Aeronwen, who seemed to be trying to win back my attention by calling me. Ignoring her, I continued to stroll right past Growly who was still holding his chest.

"What was your bother's name, Wave?" I asked, gleefully watching the horror on Wave's expression grow more fiercely at every step I took.

The Squirtle stumbled over his own feet, almost falling backwards until I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back up, bringing his face close to mine. I could easily see how his confidence from before ceased to exist.

"Zandra!" Aeron shouted.

"Now, what was his name?" I asked again.

"Zandra!"

"I-I'm n-not g-g-gonna..." The Squirtle fumbled over his own words almost as badly as he did with his feet.

"Zandra!"

I could feel my own blood boil as my patience started to slip. "Hey," I patted Wave's cheek with the back of my hand, "what was his name?"

"Leave him alone!"

I looked away from the frightened face of the Squirtle and met the deadly gaze of Growly, who had managed to get on his feet but was still hunching over, still obviously hurting from the blow he received earlier.

"Now, you are in no state to be standing around, or for that matter threatening me," I warned waving my finger at him disapprovingly.

"Shut up," Growly snarled, slowly trying to make his way over to where I stood. "Just shut up you disgusting bitch!" He took another step before collapsing on his knees, Growly balanced himself with one paw while the other held his side.

I continued to watch Growly whimper as I strutted over, overshadowing him as I stood over the helpless Growlithe. "You see, as I mentioned just a moment ago you are in no position to be threatening me, okay?" I whispered. "Now, do you see this?" I asked, holding up a smooth, grey stone about the size of my palm that was tied around my neck. "Do you know what this is?"

When Growly didn't answer I began to approach Wave again, wiping off a smudge of dirt off of the stone and showing it to Wave.

"This is a very peculiar thing; it prevents any Pokemon from evolving if they keep it close. Do you know why I would hold such a thing?"

"Zandra, stop it!" the Dragonair pleaded, only standing a few feet away from me.

"I BET AERON KNOWS WHY!" I shrieked, causing the Squirtle to flinch away at my sudden outburst. "Oh you bet she does! And while she knows the reason why she ignores it because she's the type of person that likes to ignore problems!"

I walked over to Aeron, grabbing a hold of Wave's shell and dragging him with me. I sneered at Aeron with hatred, not even bothering anymore to hide my distaste for her. I hung my arm over Wave's neck, tapping my claws on his shell, listening quietly to his quickening heart beat as I stared at Aeron.

"Can I tell you a little story, Wave? Hm? I'm sure Aeronwen won't mind," I growled into the Squirtle's ear.

"Zandra-"

"Interrupting is rude, Aeron!" I snapped at her, letting my claws make their way to Wave's bare neck and gently grazing his smooth skin. "Now," I began, "once upon a time there was a daddy Charizard and a mommy Charizard, who decided to have a baby. That baby turned out to be a girl. Now, can you guess what they named her?"

Wave stared up at me in horror and looked over at Aeronwen, who could only stand there helplessly, which made it all the more enjoyable for myself.

"They named her Zandra! Do you know why? Well, because these certain Charizards were all about expecting a certain something from their baby, something they desperately wanted to be proud of. And that name...meant something to them." I sighed, resting my palm against the back of the Squirtle's neck, his thick sweat seeping through my fingers. "But it wasn't so bad for the little girl, for that name only started out as an idea to her mommy and daddy, something that they thought about but didn't take action on. So, the small family lived happily for a while, at least until a certain, stupid someone decided to show up."

I spat out my last few words like there was a bad taste lingering in the back of my throat, and you could say there was at a certain extent. When I saw that Aeron was about to say something I squeezed Wave's neck until she saw him flinch, making the Dragonair immediately shut her mouth. I continued on, easing my grasp on Wave when I was satisfied that Aeron wouldn't dare to interupt.

"Now that certain, stupid someone started to fill the heads of the daddy and mommy Charizards' with things like how their baby girl could fulfill their wishes. And that got them back to thinking about how much they expected from their baby girl, about how much they wanted, and how much they wished for!"

"This isn't my fault," Aeron hissed. "You had a choice-"

"There was no choice!" I screamed. "You took me and made me into what they wanted! You made me into their little hero, into something they could be proud of, into something I didn't want. But I didn't say anything when I saw how happy they were when they heard how their daughter was respected across lands, how my name brought joy to others and added pride to my PARENTS! And every time you took me away from my family to go on another 'rescue mission,' praising how important I was, you only fed their obsession...and my hatred."

Now shaking with fury, I slowly exhaled, trying to calm myself. And seeing as how Aeron was still standing there without saying another word, I chuckled, feeling more relaxed.

"You know, Wave, there's only so much a person can take," I said. "Can you guess how long it took me to go over the edge?" While smiling at Aeron, I whispered, "Well, once I found out about how much daddy and mommy couldn't wait for me to become a Charizard, since I was only one more step away, that was when I finally had enough."

"Zandra," Aeron pleaded, apparently once again on the brink of tears.

"Don't," I warned. "Don't fucking say my name ever again. And Aeronwen, this encounter may have been fun, but next time you decide to come after me I am going to fucking kill you."

I pushed the Squirtle away from me, and began to walk away from them. Taking in the fresh air that was now blowing across the burnt plains while I held the stone that was around my neck, stroking it as if it were more precious than the heart pumping blood throughout my body.

Wave put a hand to his throat as he watched the Charmeleon walk away, the Charmeleon who took away his brother and didn't even care to remember it. He stared up at Aeron, who seemed to be deep in thought. "What...what does 'Zandra' mean?"

Growly stumbled torwards them and stood next to Aeron, leaning on her shoulder for support. He was staring at the retreating figure, his expression easily giving away how much rage he was holding in.

"It means," Aeron whispered, "defender of mankind."

I am so happy with how this one turned out. I put a lot of effort into it and I really like it. Hopefully you all liked it, too. You can tell I'm playing with fighting and emotional scenes in this chapter. Hopefully I will get better as I progress even more.

By the way, in case you were wondering how Zandra took out Growly in one Focus Punch, I made Zandra level 67 while Growly was only level 29.

~ Quin

Pokemon Quiz!

Question: What one of the earliest Pokemon games was never released outside of Japan?

Answer: Pocket Monsters Green, or Pokemon Green.

New question!

In Pokemon Snap, what are the three areas where you find Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres?