Chapter 22 – Ash's Burning Hope
Charla and Flare was told about Ash and Charizard being in each others bodies and what they had to do to break the curse that Zarkaruio placed on them both. They agreed to help and through out the day they been trying hard to get him to get there by training hard non-stop and during that period the Craft was in-route to the Palace. Ash was giving it a shot but as the day went on he still wasn't able to even use the wings on his back to fly or do much in the way of moves first able to do Flamethrower it became less and less till he wasn't able to do it. Charizard trying to help him in support saw Ash losing the will to go on as hours by hours went by and Charizard could see it in his own self stuck in Ash's own body he knew how long it took him to learn and knowing that the pressure was very high.
Tracy watched using his binoculars seeing it going down hill seeing the sun starting to set he look at the water "eight o'clock in the evening this is bad, from what I seen Professor Ash seem to be losing hope and so is Charizard." Tracy said looking very worried
Professor Oak sitting with Lady Eileen and Ginny looked over at Tracy "I can't really blame them, the pressure must be extreme for them even with all our support and the pokémon's it might not be enough to get the spirits up." Oak put his cup down getting up walking up beside Tracy looking over at Ash and Charizard sitting by a set of trees looking mentally drained. "Remember it took Charizard almost 2 years even to come close to learning Dragon Breath and that training with all those Wild Charizards" Professor Oak said to Tracy staring at the sight of them.
"I don't even think a battle would help the way they look" Ginny said holding Mime.Jr
Sir Aaron and Lucario came up to them "The power of Aura wouldn't be able to help them either, they must find a way to this"
"Yes Aaron is right" Lucario said stepping up to the view of them "I wish to help them but I have no ideas at this time"
"There must be some way of helping them out" Tracy said putting his fist in the palm of his hand.
Lady Eileen smiled "They will find a way I believe in them" they just hummed a little hoping them the best of luck.
Ash looked to his claws "I just don't have what it takes Charizard, I just can't get it down. I feel like a wash out and ashamed, I should be able to do this but knowing the hard truth that it took you years to do that attack really plague on my mind."
Charizard listened to the Charizard voice of Ash sighing a bit "I know and we don't have years only just 32 hours till the deadline and I am not willing to live the rest of my life pretending to be you"
"Same here, I am who I am" Ash sighed
Charla stomp a foot down in front of them they both turning their eyes on her "So you two just going to give up!?" Charla sneered
"Charla think about it, how long did it take for you to learn that attack?" Ash questioned "Even being very skilled with Liza's help" Charla felt a odd knot inside when Ash spoke about it and under her eyes red showing a little but she'd known the truth and felt hard going about it.
Charla turned away "The way things are it would be far too late before that deadline. I am out of ideas to help you out Ash and you Charizard. I know how much you two feel being back into each of your own bodies but we've been trying so hard and nothing coming out of it" Charla sighed
Flare step into few looking to the sky "There it is, home sweet home for the last 2 years" Flare grinned the three looked to the sky where Flare was looking then saw a craft coming in it was massive and Ash knew what it was in a second upping up on his claw feet.
"That Flare's space ship!" Ash roared out they both looked at each then said together "Space ship!?"
It come in but seem to come in a bit fast moving to the left then to the right "Just as I feared, this is going to be the last trip of the Semenic" Flare stared with a annoyance "Come on land" Flare gritted his fangs as the ship come in and land hard sliding to a stop right in front of Flare the door opened May and Max stepping out.
"Ash?" May said getting down "Where have you been?"
Charizard if in his body wouldn't mind it but he was in Ash's and kind of not sure how to speak "Hi, erm we been here"
"Ash are you feeling ok?" Max looked at him and Misty came up fast "his fine, just had a rough night, come with me you two" Misty said pushing them both away Ash and Charizard sighing in relief.
Flare went inside then came back out with a disappointed look on his face "The power core completely drained. It was a risk to help you two out but it failed" Flare sighed "Unless we have the right Thunder attack it won't power up any time soon"
"What type is that?" Charizard asked
Flare raise one claw up "Zapdos Thunder" Charla, Ash and Charizard fell over hard then Ash rose up "That near impossible!"
"I know" Flare sat on the wing of the craft with claw hands under his snout elbows on the legs "Sorry Ash but I am now out of ideas. It up to you and Charizard" Flare said not looking at them now they both feeling really down and Ash then roared out. "I don't want to be a Charizard forever! I want to be back to normal!" Ash ran off with each heavy footstep with tears falling running into the Palace.
"Ash" Charizard took off Ash hat off his head looking at it "Zarkaruio really get me boiled, doing this to us, he had no rights and it seem like we going to be doomed" Charizard sat down against the tree.
Pikachu patting Charizard on his back which being Ash own body that he been stuck in "You and Ash care a lot for each other as much I do for him but Ash his mentally not totally there, I gave him so such mental support that I can give and trying to do this training as he did is so hard. It looked like we both too experience over the years of our own way of life that this switch really having affect on us both." Charizard patted Pikachu on the head
"Charizard he care much about you as me, if we walk together maybe we can do something" Pikachu smiled "I wonder if that plan going to work now" Pikachu sighed then stood tall as possibly can "But we have to be tough, look what we all been through remember that and it will give us new hope!"
Charizard thought about it then look over at Charla then at Liza by the stairs "I think I just got the idea but this is going to need both of us to do it and something that I wouldn't want to do but it a chance for both of us to get our spirits back up" Charizard said with a hand on his chin. He placed the hat back on his head "Right Pikachu listen up" Charizard whispers to Pikachu the plan.
May and Max listened to what happened and both looking really down by this news "A evil pokémon did it to them?" May look to the table where they was sitting at with Misty
"Yes they been trying so hard all day but nothing really happened, it seem to be going down hill" Misty said quietly direction she looked at was at May. "I really hope they pull through"
"One thing with Ash he always do" Max said with closed eyes and crossed arms
Misty look to the windows as the stars start to show "I don't think it going to happen that how bad it is" Max was startled then hummed in deep thought looking into no where feeling really bad for Ash and Charizard also Pikachu.
As Night closed in and in the sky shining blue light come close being another bird arrives being Articuno the legendary bird coming to Zapdos and Moltres they all spoke in pokémon to each other then they nod flying down to the palace below to pay a visit unaware that another was on it way being Rayquaza but going to take till morning to get there. The Birds land in different areas of the gardens by the palace and it arena they waiting for the perfect time to give their own type of aid to Ash and Charizard they knowing what happened to them both.
Everyone seem to be asleep in the palace part from one Charizard being Ash who lay there on his Charizard side really depressed at this point feeling lower then he had been for ages thinking about all what he did today not able to fly or do a flamethrower now making it really hard and now doomed to fail to learn that Dragon Breath. He spoke in Charizard quietly "This time I am really out of suggestions and think a way out of this, that Zarkaruio got us beat"
"Really going to let a fur ball beat a Charizard like you?" Ash turned over to see Charla standing there with arms crossed with a frown. "I would expect more for someone that been in more dangers then I ever been, wasn't it you that saved the world more then once? And other places and saving legendary pokémon in the process?" Charla said to Ash as he sat up.
"Well I did do all that but I am not really a Charizard, just my mind stuck in one while Charizard mind stuck in my body" Ash said scratching his snout a little with his claw. "What are you getting at Charla?"
Charla grab him by the claw hand and pulled him up pulling him with her to the main hall then stop Ash pulled his claw hand free "Right now I want to do something with you" Ash just was blink at this not even sure what she'd met then with a claw hand up she clicked her thumb claw and inner finger together the lights lit up.
Charla took one of Ash's claws then put the other on her side he turning red under the eyes "Charla what are you doing?" Ash said nervously.
Liza saw this and went to the CD player pressing play "It show time Charla"
A soft music started to play and Charla started to move holding to Ash side he moving with her around and then they was danacing "You're a good dancer, Flare showed me a few Charizard dancing to even to human music and he said that would take me a month to learn it and look at us we doing it like we always knew" Charla spoke softly looking into his eyes Ash looking back with a partly open snout moving with her step by step.
Charizard watched with Flare from a door into the hall keeping it open by a little bit "Charizard you're a genies this is really working, how did you know that Charla would agree to it?" Flare said to Charizard "I saw Charla being shy to him which was surprising for me to see"
Charizard grinned turning the hat around putting it backwards "I guess it took a human being in a Charizard to being some feelings to the surface even though she was great I wasn't really interested but I saw that look with Ash even those are my own eyes that feeling" Charizard said then look at Pikachu
"This should give you both a big boost!" Pikachu said with a happy smile then they went on watching.
Ash carried on dancing with Charla he was starting to enjoy it feeling all the worries go away. "Charla this is amazing I feel, well I don't know what I am feeling since"
"Stop talking and enjoy it" Charla winked Ash turning even redder as they danced around with each other moving those Charizard feet of theirs gentle around their tails moving with the rhythm of the music.
Misty stood at the level above the main hall with Tracy and Professor Oak watching this "Wow who would of thought Charizards can move like that and Ash is a better dancer in Charizard's body then in his own"
"As they say, the tougher things are for people the better it brings out of them and for this case it for Charizards" Professor Oak said watching it. "This I am sure will burst Ash spirit to a whole new level"
Tracy watched with amazement "Wow they move so perfectly that it almost parallel movement" he used his binoculars to get a closer look. "If I didn't know better they look like they have feelings for each other."
"Let me have a look" Misty grab them and looked for herself "What are they playing at!? We trying to get Ash going again not make them fall in love!" Misty was about to jump down but May and Max held her back.
"Wow who would of thought Misty was jealous" Max said as they got Misty tied down and gagged who was trying to get free with a fury in her eyes.
"Yeah" May said then they went back to watching the dance "But those two do look amazing dancing like that"
Max looked through of the gaps "Yeah who would of thought Ash was a dancer"
Lucario and Aaron watched quietly from the same level just watching them dance then they saw Charizard's own body Ash was in the wings stretching out. Charla noticed and glad it was working "Ash how about we go out and have a fly?" she asked as they danced
Mew came into Ash view and now to Ash saying to his mind "You can do it, you have what it take" Mew told Ash "You been through worse then this enjoy the moment" Mew then flew up out of view.
"Alright come on" Ash took his claw hand off her waist and pulled her along then letting go he ran ahead the wings opened up and he flapped them without putting much effort in and took off into the sky Charla grinned and took off after him. "Wow this is amazing! Flying under these powerful wings I am now really jealous of Charizard"
Charla flew up alongside him "Let see how you handle a chase" Charla flew ahead
"Your on" Ash gave chase.
Everyone ran outside and watch them disappear into the distance "It really worked!" Misty said happily. "But I wish he wasn't head over tail with Charla" Misty said with a deep frown of annoyance.
Liza stood there with a smile "Even Ash in Charizard body it seem Charla found feelings for another Charizard and even if he return to his own body I am sure she'd going to have feelings for Ash" Liza said.
Latias came out with a real temper then flew down in front and screaming out something at Liza and Flare gulped "Erm I think Ash got competition"
"What do you mean?" May said then looked at Latias "You don't mean Latias"
"Yes that who" Flare then thought about something, Latidive a Eon pokémon that he knew didn't have anyone he was alone on Pokélonum looking for Latias species. "Latias" she looked at him as he pulled out a far sight device. "Come with me I think I know someone that you might like to meet" Flare walk back into the Palace
Latias give Liza the Soul Dew in the glass ball of water and went in after Flare "Why do I feel that he going to solve that problem" Max spoke then look to the sky "When do you think they be back?"
Charizard sat down on a step "A while" He replied they all sat down and waited and waited and waited, it was almost midnight when Ash and Charla got back to the gardens seeing everyone fallen asleep on the steps part from Lady Eileen and Ginny who was asleep in the palace.
Ash and Charla landed just at the base of the steps where the garden began "Wow that was amazing, I can't believe I did that, flying around and even doing those amazing Flamethrowers with such ease this been a great night" Ash said then look a bit down "But I hoped it wasn't that close to whatever Zarkaruio planning to do"
"Don't let that bother you, it will drag you down." Charla said placing her claw hands on his he looking down at them then her "Make him suffer show him that you can be the better Charizard then that Zarkaruio think you be" Charla then move close to his side of the snout and opening her mouth gave him a lick.
Ash froze with burning inside he felt amazing and let out a roar with a flamethrower blasting into the sky, Charla saw that look and it was most likely a first kiss close enough what humans would call it. "Thank you Charla you gave me new hope, I can't even begin to thank you enough" Ash said to her
"Just learn the Dragon Breath I know you can do it" Charla then let go turning to the steps and start to head up the steps, Ash turn to see his human body glowing faintly then remember those words of Zarkaruio 'It will take almost all my power to destroy him he reaching peak power so I got a plan to make sure he not a threat' Then he realised it.
Ash grab Charla by arm turning her around he gave her a lick on the side of her face and she'd really turned red "This is for everyone and you Charla" Ash stood aiming his head to the sky. "Time to do it!" Charla then saw it a massive green Dragon breath blasting to the sky.
"He did it" Charla said almost in a dream state now
Pikachu woke up seeing it "Pika Pi! Pikachu!!!" everyone waking up saw the attack they looking really amazed as the bell hit midnight when Ash did it.
Kid smiled from the door way with Aaron and Lucario "Ash really did it, been a Charizard day and already learnt Dragon Breath I guess Love is really powerful over all now they can return to their bodies.
Charizard smiled "You really did it Ash, I knew you had it inside" Charizard said with a thumb up a happy look on the human face of Ash being in the body of Ash. Legendary Birds come out of from they where and land in front of them speaking to Ash about the Curse then he grinned so did Charizard they looked at each other and nod with Pikachu laughing finding the plan a real crack up that it was a real bright idea and one thing that will get Zarkaruio fooled.
"What going on? Why don't you two switch back to your own bodies?" Misty asked looking at each of them.
"We choose to stay where we are for now, we and the legendary birds came up with a real plan that will well make Zarkaruio really blow his temper" Charizard gave a dark skimming grin on his human face.
Charla roared with a claw thumb up "If Charla like the idea then it worth whatever they got cooked up" Liza said
Flare step by Lucario with Latias, Liza about to give it back but Latias put a claw on here and shook her head a little "Latias trusting you with it, we will need your help when we make that move for the Eon Light Armour while Latias go get her friend from Pokélonum." Flare said to Liza.
"I think it time to talk and to plan out and get rest for the day ahead" Professor Oak said to them all "Let get to business and might I say you legendary birds are amazing" they all did bird cry like sounds out with a happy look on each of their faces.
Aaron step down the steps with Lucario "Let get starting" Sir Aaron spoke as they all got up and went down the steps gathering around with the three birds they start talking up a plan one that they are willing to do to get the better of Zarkaruio and now they was one up on him making a possible turn on events to create a positive outcome even Mew joining in on the talks for a battle plan.
