Chapter 6

Ash's looked down at his fire starter and felt him growing warm as he was engulfed with the aura from blaze. Three things rushed into Ash's mind, the first being concern, the second was a sense of awe at how easily the ability had suddenly appeared, and the final was wonder as he tried to figure out what caused it. Charmeleon pushed himself up and listened again for that sickening voice that belonged to his former trainer and heard it laughing again on the path heading towards them.

Sure enough after a two minute wait the identity was reconfirmed when the group of people that was walking towards them came into view and Damien was at the front. He looked as arrogant as ever and had a massive bag over his shoulder that seemed to be bulging with pokeballs. Ash saw him and instantly felt a chill go down his spine and knew that this was someone he would become annoyed with very quickly.

Charmeleon growled deep in his throat and flames flared from his nostrils.

Misty walked over after she had heard the people and saw Charmeleon, "Ash what is wrong with him?"

Looking at his pokemon he shrugged, "I'm not sure Misty, but I know that whatever it is…that group over there has something to do with it.

*PSOR*

Damien and his group of friends continued on walking before they stopped when Damien felt his eyes widen at the sight of Misty. He puffed up his chest and strutted over, "Hey there beautiful, what is your name."

Misty looked at him with a blank expression, "What?"

He flicked his blue hair and then fixed the sunglasses upon his forehead. "I asked your name and while I'm at it I might as well ask you to dinner."

Misty sighed and gave an apologetic look to Ash, "Look buddy I already have a boyfriend."

Damien didn't take the hint, "Well come with me anyway, I'm sure he is a loser with weak pokemon."

Before Ash or Misty could respond a massive flame rushed at Damien who jumped back and shrieked like a girl. Ash looked down to see Charmeleon growling and a look of pure malice upon his face.

Damien glared at Ash, "What the bleeding hell is wrong with you? Can't you control your…pokemon…"

Damien's rant trailed off as he looked at Charmeleon for a moment before his eyes widened at the sight of the scar running along Charmeleon's eye, "Charmander?"

Charmeleon growled at the aura around him flared some more. Ash looked at his pokemon and then to Damien before he connected the dots, "He was your trainer." It came out as a statement instead of a question and Charmeleon slowly nodded.

Damien's lips tilted up slightly into a forced smiled, "Well Charmander…or Charmeleon I'm glad I finally found you. I have been looking all over for you."

Ash chuckled, "You really think that Charmeleon is that gullible? He hasn't forgotten what you did to him."

Damien waved it off, "Please, it is a good thing I did it. It forced that weakly to become stronger and look at the results. He evolved didn't he? That is proof enough for me."

Damien pulled out a pokeball, "So let's go Charmeleon." The fire type growled some more as his fang were bared and the ground around him started to hiss from the heat his body was giving off.

Ash put Misty behind him just in case of a battle, "Charmeleon isn't going with you. It was through hard work and determination that he evolved and it was because we worked together as a team. Trainers like you make me sick."

Damien's eyes twitched, "Trainers like me? Why should I bother with a weak pokemon when it is strength that gets trainers to the big leagues."

Damien's friends chuckled, "Yeah."

"You better be careful around Damien."

"You don't want to mess with him."

Ash shook his head and put a hand on his Pokémon's shoulder, ignoring the heat coming from him. "He isn't worth it buddy." Charmeleon looked to Ash with a look of question but looked deep down into himself and knew his trainer was right. If he had been a different pokemon he would have wanted revenge and heck…he might have even forced his evolution to prove a point.

Damien set down his bag and pulled out a bunch of pokeballs, "You want to fight?"

Ash shook his head, "It would be a waste of our time."

Charmeleon's former trainer growled, "It isn't an option. If I win the battle, Charmeleon becomes my pokemon again and if you win…you can have another weakling that I have been planning to release."

Ash's eyes hardened, "One on one." Before the battle could begin two pokeballs on Ash's belt burst open to reveal Ivysaur and Wartortle standing with similar glares on their faces.

Ivysaur growled at Damien before looking at Charmeleon and nodded. Ivysaur and Wartortle both took a deep breath before yelling and becoming enveloped in green and blue auras respectively. Ash felt his eyes widen at this before making a mental note to talk to his starters later.

Damien smirked, "So it looks like you have two more weaklings. Doesn't help your chances of winning…let's get on with it…you should remember this one Charmeleon…Nidoking destroy him!" From the ball appeared a massive purple pokemon with a powerful body. Upon its head was a long pointed horn and it had two large purple and blue ears. The pokemon reared its head back and roared in an attempt to show off its power.

Charmeleon's vision became read at the sight of the same pokemon that injured him so badly the last time he saw Damien. The aura around him flared again and he felt power surge forward through his veins.

Ash smirked coldly at Damien, "You have already lost. Charmeleon let's show Damien what real power is about…activate blaze!" Charmeleon roared the aura around him flared to full power and the flame on his tail roared to three times its normal size.

Damien stepped back in shock, "What the?"

Ash shrugged, "I'm just as confused as you but with what Ivysaur and Wartortle just did I'm assumed Charmeleon could do the same thing. And seeing as I was correct this battle is already over. Charmeleon use flamethrower, full power!"

His pokemon opened his maw and launched a super powered stream of fire that rushed forward with a roar and slammed into the fully evolved pokemon. The heat was so intense that the grass under the stream of fire dried up and burnt to a crisp without directly touching it.

Damien's Nidoking slowly pushed himself up and hissed as he was seriously burned. "Nidoking blast this weakling with hyper beam!" His pokemon roared and fired a beam of energy at his former teammate.

"Protect." A massive hiss was heard as the ultimate defensive move snapped into place and took the powerful normal attack.

"Charmeleon use another flamethrower." His fire type roared and the aura around him flared savagely before it turned into powerful flames. Charmeleon roared and rushed forward as streaks of power flashed within the flames. He slammed full force into his target and a massive explosion filled the area with black smoke.

Ash brought out Pidgeotto to get rid of the smoke only to find Nidoking unconscious and Charmeleon hunched over with small sparks of lightning coursing over his body.

Bringing up his pokedex Ash scanned his pokemon, "Flare Blitz, one of the most powerful physical fire attacks. The user is enveloped in a powerful flame before crashing into the target for massive damage. The user of the move takes 1/3 of damage inflicted as recoil. Use with extreme caution."

Ash rushed over to his pokemon and brought him into a big hug, "You are amazing buddy."

Charmeleon called out softly and rubbed his head against Ash's neck and grimaced as the last of the recoil damage took place. His trainer pulled back and smiled, "Don't worry Charmeleon we will take care of that recoil in no time." The fire type looked at him with a tilted head but his trainer never responded because Damien was yelling.

"You weak and worthless pokemon. You lost to the same blasted thing you use to destroy. Now in your evolved form you can't do anything right!" His eyes were filled with hate as he dropped Nidoking's ball to the ground and stomped on it.

"Get lost you weakling."

He looked to Ash and then tossed him another ball. "This thing is weaker than Charmander was when I got rid of him. Have fun with these worthless pokemon."

He turned with his group and walked away still seething over his loss. Misty rushed over with a shocked expression as she looked from the unconscious Nidoking to the pokeball in Ash's hands.

"Did that really just happen?"

Ash sadly nodded and walked over to the poison type. He looked at it and saw that it was very weak and was significantly smaller than one that was raised properly. The pokemon opened a sad eye and looked at Ash, "He evolved you right away didn't he?"

Nidoking slowly nodded and gritted his teeth when pain coursed through his body. Ash pulled out a super potion and sprayed along the worst of the wounds and gently patted the fully evolved pokemon.

"I can help you." He pulled out a pokeball and offered it to Nidoking, "You see how powerful Charmeleon has become. I can promise you that through hard work we will become the most powerful team ever to grace the Pokemon League. And the next time we see Damien…we will crush him into the dust."

Nidoking gently reached out and touched the ball with his hand before being sucked in and not giving any resistance to the capture.

Charmeleon walked over with Ivysaur and Wartortle and looked at the ball sadly, "Don't worry guys. Nidoking may be weak but we will make him stronger. What I would like to know is what your little display of power was all about?"

The three Kanto starters smiled at each other before taking a deep breath and becoming enveloped with powerful auras.

Ash's eyes widened, "You guys can call upon your abilities?"

When the three pokemon nodded Ash couldn't help but make a loud yell of happiness.

"This is AWESOME! I can't believe the effort you three have put in. I didn't even know that was possible."

Charmeleon made several gestures with his hands, "Cha, Charmel, Charmeleon, Char, Cha..CHARMELEON!" The last one was yelled with him bringing his locked claws apart in a sign that looked like he was making an explosion.

Ash seemed to get it, "So what you are saying is that you searched yourself for your hidden powers and once you found it you took time to find a way for it to explode out of you?"

Charmeleon nodded with a cocky smile before bringing up his claw and saluting Ash. Wartortle chuckled and put on his glasses while Ivysaur gave a toothy grin. The three starters stood next to each other with their auras flowing around them and looked like three victorious heroes posing for a crowd.

Misty giggled at the display, "You three are so cute."

Wartortle fell over anime style and rubbed the back of his head while mumbling. Their trainer shook his head and looked to the two pokeballs in his hand.

"We need to get to the Pokémon center; I want to get Nidoking checked on and find out if the other one needs any healing."

*PSOR*

Ash and Misty arrived at the local pokemon center and walked into the lodge like building. The nurse was humming to herself as she read a book but stopped and smiled when she saw the young couple, "Welcome to our pokemon center, how may I help you today?"

Ash looked grim, "Nurse Joy I need some help. I just acquired a Nidoking that was abandoned after a battle. It looks as if he was also evolved right after becoming a Nidorino so I'm not sure what his structure is like. There is also another pokemon in this ball that was given up because it was 'too weak'.

Nurse Joy's eyes flashed with anger as she collected Ash's pokeballs. "Thank you for coming in. I will be back in a little while. Please help yourself to our menus and let Chansey know if there is anything you want."

Ash and Misty walked over to a table and placed an order with Chansey before sitting in silence. Their food came to them ten minutes later and they slowly ate as they waited.

"Why do people act the way they do sometimes?"

Misty put her fork down and looked at Ash, "What do you mean?"

Ash poked at his meal, "I mean people like Damien. I just don't get how you can refer to yourself as a pokemon trainer and be so despicable. Pokemon are living creatures who deserve our respect. I don't understand how you can simply abandon something just because it is considered weak."

Misty smiled sadly and put her hand over Ash's, "Not everyone can be as caring as us. But that is what separates us from them as people and trainers. And that simple difference will show when it comes down to it in the pokemon league. I guarantee you that when everything is said and done that you will be standing victoriously while Damien and trainers like him are in the shadows."

"I couldn't have said it better myself miss."

Ash and Misty turned to see Nurse Joy standing there with a smile on her face, "It is obvious to me that the two pokemon were abused by their trainers. Nidoking was forced to evolve before he had gotten use to his new body and since then his growth has been greatly hindered. By my calculations he is just over three years old but his body and health suggest that he is younger."

Ash spoke softly, "Is there anything we can do?"

Nurse Joy nodded, "With time and training Nidoking should regain his strength and be as healthy as others of his species but I won't promise it. The other pokemon was much worse."

Misty spoke up, "What was it?"

Nurse Joy looked towards the E.R., "It was an Eevee…the poor thing can't be a month old yet."

Ash gritted his teeth as anger started to rush over him. Misty gasped when she felt a slight pressure fill the room and Ash's eyes flashed a glowing blue before he closed them and took a deep breath.

"He was going to release it because it was too weak."

Nurse Joy shook her head, "If I had my way I would revoke his training license and have his pokemon taken away."

Ash silently agreed and made a mental note to call Professor Oak. The nurse spoke up again, "I want Eevee to stay with me over night but in the morning you can take her with you if you wish. Otherwise I will be contacting one of the local pokemon preserves."

Ash shook his head, "I will take Eevee with me. Between her and Nidoking I'm will make sure they are cared for."

Nurse Joy nodded in thanks, "That is a relief. I hate having pokemon released into the wild; most that are released have a very difficult time surviving." Nurse Joy smiled weakly at the two trainers and turned to go back to her duties. Ash and Misty finished their meals before requesting a room and retiring for the night.

*PSOR*

The following morning, Ash was sitting in front of a video phone talking to Professor Oak. "So that is the situation Professor."

The elderly man sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I will see what I can do Ash, but unfortunately I can't suspend his training license without the approval of the Pokemon League Board. They need to have absolute evidence of abuse so I may need Nidoking and Eevee at the lab."

Ash thought a moment, "What if I sent them over to you? I can't use them in battle anytime soon and it would be less stressful on them if they were at the lab with you. The board members can come and see for themselves what the pokemon are like and you can show them the pictures of Charmander you have from when I first brought him in."

The pokemon Professor thought about it and nodded, "Alright Ash. I would suggest you talk to your new members and let them know what is happening. I would rather have them know beforehand than to have a rampaging Nidoking."

Ash agreed and ended the phone call before going outside to talk with his new pokemon. Nidoking and Eevee appeared and looked around. The small normal type flinched at seeing Nidoking but noticed the sad look upon his face.

"Eevee…Damien abandoned both you and Nidoking. I brought you both to the pokemon center to get healed and while you two can't battle yet I'm going to send you to a friend of mine who takes care of pokemon. He has plenty of land for you to play on and just have fun while you get better."

Eevee looked at Ash with a shocked expression. Her former human had forced her to continually battle stronger opponents to try and force her to evolve. Now this human was telling her that she could spend time playing and resting. She looked to Nidoking and the bigger pokemon nodded slowly. Eevee looked at Ash and nodded before they both were returned and Ash went to transfer them.

*PSOR*

After his new pokemon were transferred to the Professor's lab, Ash and Misty decided to finish their journey to Vermillion City. The couple was making great time and were currently walking down a dirt road while holding hands. Luxio was walking outside of his pokeball and was purring loudly at being in the sunlight.

Misty gently squeezed Ash's hand and smiled at him as they walked but stopped when she thought she heard something. "Ash did you hear that?"

Her boyfriend looked at her and then off into the distance as if to try and figure out what she had heard.

"I don't hear anything Misty I don't know…" Ash was cut off when the ground beneath them gave way and they fell down a pit and landed on top of each other. Ash groaned and looked up to see Misty's face just above his and realized that she was on top of him.

He blushed when he felt her chest pushing against him and gulped, "Hey Mist…could you get up."

His girlfriend groaned and realized their predicament but found she had extra weight on top of her. "I'd love to Ash but something is on top of me."

Luxio was on his back and quickly flipped up onto all fours. Misty got up with a deep blush on her face before helping Ash.

"I wonder who put this hole here." The answer to the question came in the form of laughter. The occupants of the hole looked up to see three Squirtle with glasses laughing at them along with a Wartortle that also had glasses.

Misty glared at them, "What kind of joke is this!" The four water types laughed louder and started mocking them. Luxio hissed loudly and fired a bolt of electricity at the Wartortle. The pokemon moved out of the way and shot a powerful water gun at them.

Ash and Misty cried out at being drenched but Luxio growled. He charged up another shockwave and fired it. "Wait Luxio DON'T!"

The bolt of electricity engulfed them and left Ash and Misty twitching on the ground. The electric type put his head down low in embarrassment before growling at the laughing water pokemon. Ash shook his head and helped Misty up.

They looked up to see the water pokemon laughing at them but then one of them gapped and pointed behind them. The sound of a siren filled their ears and the four pokemon rushed away. Misty started yelling for help only for a rope to be tossed down to them. An officer with blue hair and a very attractive figure helped pull them out of the hole. Ash recognized the officer as one of the Officer Jenny that made up the famous Police Family.

"Are you two alight?"

Ash nodded, "A little wet but other than that I think so."

Jenny shook her head, "That darn Squirtle Squad…they are causing trouble again."

Misty groaned, "Squirtle Squad?"

Officer Jenny nodded as she walked alongside her bike towards the Police Station. "It is a pokemon gang that has been causing trouble for quite a while. They are all pokemon that were abandoned by their trainers and formed a group. They have been playing pranks on the local towns and villages for close to four years now. At one time there were five members but the leader suddenly disappeared after the current leader evolved."

Ash thought a moment, "What is the deal with the sunglasses?"

Jenny chuckled, "They have worn those things for as long as I can recall. It seems to be a symbol of sorts."

Ash pulled out a ball and threw it and brought out his Wartortle. The pokemon smiled and put on his sunglasses only for Officer Jenny to gasp, "Those are the same glasses as the leader use to wear."

Wartortle looked at the officer with a funny look and Ash took over, "Wartortle, we were just attacked by a group known as the Squirtle Squad. It consists of three Squirtle and a Wartortle as the leader."

The moment Ash finish speaking, his Wartortle tensed up and took off his glasses to reveal cold eyes.

"So you captured the leader of the pokemon gang?"

Ash slowly nodded, "It would appear so. In truth, I found him and two other of my pokemon caring for each other in the wild near Pallet Town. All I know is that each of my starters have been abandoned by their previous trainers. I didn't know that Wartortle was the former leader of a pokemon gang."

Jenny thought for a moment, "He…isn't like what he use to be is he?"

Ash glared at the woman, "No he isn't. Wartortle is one of my best friends and nothing like those renegade pokemon."

Ash's pokemon punched his right fist into his left palm before addressing Ash.

"Wartortle…War…Trotle..Wartortle."

Ash nodded his approval, "Wartortle wants to find the Squirtle Squad and challenge the leader to a battle. Now that things are on equal terms he is positive he can beat him."

Officer Jenny thought about it, "I can't say no to any help…but will you capture them?"

Ash's mouth opened slightly before shrugging, "I don't know. I'm not opposed to it but I already have Wartortle…I guess I could capture them for Professor Oak but I would have to think about it."

Misty smiled, "I could always capture one. I love water pokemon and have always wanted a Squirtle."

Ash smirked at his girlfriend before looking at Jenny, "Do you know where the squad is?"

Officer Jenny thought for a moment, "It is almost noon so I would say that they are most likely around the local farm. The berries are in bloom and the Squirtle Squad has taken to raiding the trees daily."

Ash nodded and turned towards the farm as he, Misty, and Wartortle quickly rushed off.

*PSOR*

At the farm, the Squirtle Squad was sitting against several trees and gorging themselves on the berries they had knocked off with water gun. The farmer had given up trying to force them away since they had attacked his equipment one night. The leader of the group took a big bit of an oran berry before burping which caused the squad to start laughing. He leaned his head back against his arms and sighed happily as another day of running the town proved to be rewarding. His happy thoughts were cut off when a powerful blast of water slammed into him and sent him flying.

Wartortle groaned and called out to his fellow gang members to help him up off of his shell. When they pushed him up, they all looked to see two humans and a Wartortle standing before them. The Squirtle Squad did a double take at the Wartortle when they saw he had glasses similar to their former leaders. The Squad leader sniffed the air and dropped his jaw in shock when he realized that this was their former leader.

Ash's Wartortle smirked as he saw his former team mates realize who he was before he flexed and taunted the leader. The Squad leader glared at him and started to yell but Ash's pokemon only yawned and prepared for battle. Wartortle growled and fired a blast of water and Ash's sent up a protect to counter.

Ash's Wartortle formed an orb of glowing water and sent a large water pulse at his target. The moment the orb left his hands, Wartortle jumped up and surrounded himself with aqua jet and rushed forward. The rival Wartortle wasn't expecting the sudden change and was caught by both attacks and sent back.

Ash's Wartortle glared at his former team members before calling out and activating Torrent. He then jumped up and summoned a massive wave with surf that glowed with power added from his ability. Surging forward, Wartortle slammed down on his former friends and sent them flying into rocks and trees.

Ash's water pokemon landed on his feet and dusted his shoulder off at his former group before turning to Ash.

His trainer looked at the fainted pokemon and looked to Misty. "You going to capture one?"

Misty looked excited for a moment but then looked at Wartortle, "Would it be alright with you?"

Ash's pokemon thought for a second before nodding. Misty smiled and tossed a pokeball at the closest of the group…one of the Squirtle.

The remaining three pokemon got up weakly and looked at Ash. He debated for a moment before pulling out three pokeballs and tossing them. The remaining members of the Squirtle Squad were captured and Ash put the balls in his backpack.

"Why did you capture them Ash?"

He looked at Misty and Wartortle, "They were causing too much trouble to be left wild. I'm going to give them to Officer Jenny and see if she can do anything with them. I would keep them but I already have Wartortle and really don't see the need for three more of the family."

Misty nodded in acceptance before she followed Ash back to the police station. They arrived and Officer Jenny was only too happy to accept the three water types, "We actually could use them. Our local volunteer Fire Department was forced to close down so we have been looking for an alternative. If these three are willing to work and train then we will make sure that they will be well fed and cared for."

Ash nodded, "That's all I can ask for."

Jenny smiled, "I can't thank you enough for the help you have given. I will make sure to tell my family members that you are not to be bothered unless it is absolutely necessary."

Ash and Misty smiled in thanks and turned towards Vermillion City and their future.

*PSOR*

Unknown Island, Orange Archipelago

A set of powerful purple eyes weakly opened up and tried to survey the area around him. Shadows moved quickly around him but he was unable to make out anything.

"Where am I?" He felt something weakly inside of him and his eyes closed again. Muffled voices could be heard and he tried to open his eyes again but found it too difficult of a task.

His mind held one final thought before falling asleep, "Who am I?"

BOOM! Another chapter done my friends. A little Easter egg for you guys there at the end…I wonder whose voice that is.

For those of you wondering about the movie I mentioned last chapter…go to YouTube and look up Mewtwo's Awakening and it should be one of the first couple of videos. Be prepared to relive your childhood…I have been playing my Yellow version all week because I remembered how awesome Mewtwo is. Lol

Keep sending in ideas and detailed reasoning for pokemon you want Ash to capture. Also for the pairings. I'm going to let you guys start including other region pokemon as well as legendaries. I want to see what you guys think.

As always….send in ideas and reviews

KingFatMan25

Ash's Team

Ivysaur: Tackle, Growl, Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Magical Leaf, Razor Leaf, Energy Ball

Charmeleon: Scratch, Growl, Flamethrower, Ember, Dragon Rage, Metal Claw, Protect, Flare Blitz

Wartortle: Tackle, Tail Whip, Bubble, Water Gun, Aqua Jet, Protect, Water Pulse, Surf

Luxio: Tackle, Growl, Charge, Spark, Night Slash, Shock Wave, Protect, Iron Tail
Spearow: Peck, Leer, Aerial Ace, Agility, Fury Attack, Protect, Mirror Move

Gyarados: Splash, Tackle, Hyper Beam

Butterfree: Confusion, String Shot, Sleep Powder, Gust, Poison Powder, Psybeam, Silver Wind

Pidgeotto: Quick Attack, Twister, Gust, Tackle, Sand Attack, Steel Wing

Scyther: Quick Attack, Pursuit, Wing Attack, Bug Buzz, Slash

Kadabra: Psycho Cut, Confusion, Psybeam, Teleport, Disable

Nidoking: Horn Attack, Hyper Beam, Take Down, Earthquake, Mega Punch, Mega Kick

Eevee: unknown

Cranidos: Unknown, still a fossil

Kabuto: Unknown, still a fossil