Ignis

by Zarok63

The story follows the adventures of Ignis, a budding trainer from Cinnabar, as he sets off on his journey around Kanto hoping to become a pokémon master. However, before Ignis can even collect his starter it becomes clear that that path is not going to be an easy one...

4. Arthur Celer

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well! Hello all, it's been a while. Sorry about the delay but things have been a bit hectic at home so I had to put the fic on hold for a few weeks. Many thanks for the favs/ follows and particularly for the few messages of support to keep the fic going, I really appreciate it. As always I would encourage you all to review as this is my first fic and I really do value all feedback and will reply to you. Anyway, enough from me, hope you all enjoy the new chapter.

Chapter 4 – Arthur Celer

They turned as one and fled through the thick woodland oblivious to the branches and thorns that bruised and bloodied them as they burst through the dense undergrowth. Just behind them they could hear the frenzied cries of the mankeys crashing after them. Peter's graveller had withdrawn to a rollout position and was rolling at tremendous speed in a protective circle around them as they fled and every now and then Ignis could hear the crunch of rock on bone when one of the pursuing pokemon got too close. He knew that they would already have been caught was it not for the large rock-type but he was also quite sure that Graveller could not continue to endure this punishment for much longer. There was simply too many mankeys and every time one was tackled another two would be close behind ready to take its place. He looked a few steps ahead at Peter who, like he, was sweating profusely, glancing frantically around him trying to keep an eye on his pokemon, his friend and his pursuers all at once. This proved to be at the expense of watching where he was going as suddenly his leg got caught under the exposed roots of some nearby foliage and the teenager went flying through the air and crashed headfirst into the base of an old oak tree knocking him out instantly and he crumpled to the ground unmoving.

Graveller was by him in a second bursting out of its rollout position and standing over his unconscious trainer growling fiercely. Ignis also spun around to face his pursuers throwing his two pokeballs as he did and Growlithe and Nidoran emerged with a burst of white light. He wouldn't just leave Peter but even as he turned he knew that it was all futile. They were outnumbered too severely and he felt fear grip the inside of his chest. They were all going to die.

The mankeys that had caught up with him stood only a few feet away cautious enough of Graveller to wait for the weight of numbers to catch up. The first mankey that charged Graveller burst from the undergrowth screaming wildly and without stopping to size up the situation jumped screaming and snarling at Graveller. He was caught mid-air by all four of the rock pokemon's hands who proceeded to drive the pokemon headfirst into the hard sun-dried ground. Ignis winced as he heard the sound of breaking bones. The rock pokemon was fighting with a ferocity that Ignis had never witnessed even in a Pokemon League match. A type of ferocity and ruthless efficiency that seemed to overcome type advantage but even so Ignis knew it could not overcome the sheer weight of numbers against them, still increasing by the second as more and more mankeys emerged from the woodland and circled around the group waiting for their chance to strike, their eyes glowing red and their shrill voices baying through the forest. Three more charged directly at Graveller who caught the first with a rock throw attack that smashed against the pokemon's skull before the other two tackled him mercilessly.

"Growlithe, tackle!" roared Ignis pointing at one of Graveller's two attackers. Growlithe moved at lightning speed and blindsided the unsuspecting pokemon who was hurled into a nearby tree leaving Graveller to dispatch his own opponent one on one. He could tell that the rock pokemon did not have much more fight left in him, it had dropped to one knee and was breathing heavily.

"Nidoran, watch out!" screamed Ignis at the last second as he whirled to his left just in time to see two mankeys charging his small poison type. His warning just about made it in time. Nidoran whirled around and ducked under a fierce karate chop from a particularly big looking mankey and jumped into a tackle attack driving her poisonous barb into the belly of her attacker who fell back with a squeal, blood and poison gushing from the open wound in its midriff. Ignis barely had time to admire how quickly his newly acquired pokémon had reacted when the second mankey caught it on the side with a fury attack pummelling it into the ground punch after punch. Nidoran just about managed to jump free of the ferocious attack and squared up to meet her opponent when another mankey ran in from her side and karate chopped down on top of his pokémon's head knocking Nidoran out cold. Both mankeys jumped on the fallen pokemon and more mankeys rushed in, eyes glowing red, arms thrashing wildly, their screams piercing the silence of the forest.

Ignis just had time to recall Nidoran to the safety of the pokéball, much to the confusion of her attackers, when he heard a crash to the side of him and noticed Growlithe being flung back into the same large oak that Peter lay against. At the same moment Graveller crashed to the ground after finally losing consciousness battling numerous mankeys and with no trainer to recall him the mankeys continued to beat him relentlessly, completely overcome by their rage and bloodlust.

Ignis had no time to worry about Graveller before he felt a searing pain across his left shoulder as one of the mankeys that had been fighting Nidoran scratched fiercely at her now unprotected trainer. Ignis fell backwards feeling the wetness of his own blood flowing down his arm from the open wound. He pushed himself back to his feet and swung with his walking staff at the oncoming mankey's head but the pokémon sidestepped the thrust easily and broke the staff to pieces with a fiercely timed karate chop. He felt his hand smart in pain as the staff exploded from his grasp by the force of the chop and then a second mankey rushed him and tore at his leg opening up a large wound that sprayed his attacker with blood and Ignis screamed despite himself as he crumpled to the ground under his own weight. One of the larger mankeys jumped on top of him braying madly and placed two hairy hands around his throat and the forest started to swim and darken as the pressure of the grip overcame his senses and all faded to...

Fire.

Ignis felt the pressure release as a wave of blistering heat passed just feet over him and his senses rushed back to him. He looked to his right and saw his bruised and bloodied growlithe standing beside him, standing on top of Graveller's unmoving form, maw open, with a small but steady stream of fire erupting from it, spraying the mankeys forcing them to jump back from the flames and creating a fiery barrier between them and their aggressors. Ignis looked at his young companion in amazement. He recognized the attack instantly as ember but he would not have thought his growlithe developed enough to learn it. The stream of fire slowly petered out and Growlithe gasped for air, obviously exhausted from the effort it had taken.

The mankeys did not instantly charge when the attack abated and Ignis saw that one in particular had taken the brunt of the attack and lay on the ground infront of him, fur smouldering and smoking and the rancid smell of burning flesh filled the air. Ignis struggled to kneel upright on his good leg. The mankeys were obviously cautious of this new threat and Growlithe barked a warning at the first one who was brave enough to start towards them and it froze glaring fiercely at the dog pokemon. The two pokemon stared at eachother for a few moments, the other mankeys seemingly watching to see what would happen to their braver companion and he finally gave a blood-curdling cry and charged only to be hit squarely in the chest and blown backwards by another stream of fire.

This attack lasted far less time than the first ending in a trail of smoke and steam rather than fire and Ignis knew in his heart that Growlithe was spent. He was panting fiercely and did not have the energy for another attack. The mankeys at the other side of the clearing seemed to realise this aswell and they all charged together roaring madly and baying for blood and vengeance.

Ignis reached to his belt for Growlithe's ball. If this was the to be the end then they would not get his pokemon too. Growlithe could last for days safe in the suspended animation of the pokeball. He unclasped the ball when suddenly fire filled the clearing for the second time. But this was no ember attack, the fire circled and spun around the clearing blasting off several of the mankeys and obliterating foliage and branches in its path. Ignis felt the heat from the attack sucking the air from the clearing, an incredible heat, like that from a furnace. He watched the flames engulf all around but what he saw and what he was prepared to believe did not correlate. There was no way that his young pup could manage to produce this attack yet here it was. For he knew what attack he was witnessing even if he couldn't quite believe it.

Fire Spin.

Whatever rage was left in the remaining mankeys was quickly overtaken by fear and they retreated into the forest with flames licking behind them, shrieking wildly as they went. Ignis finally managed to make out Growlithe through the flames but rather than bellowing from his mouth Ignis saw that his pup looked as awestruck as he was at the flames that seemed to dance all around them.

Suddenly a large silhouette jumped clear over one of the fires left behind and Ignis finally understood the source of the attack. A large rapidash landed just ahead of him and on his back was a man in his fifties with wispy silver hair and a large moustache, dressed in the dark green of a pokemon ranger. The man swung down from his huge fire-type and surveyed the scene looking from Ignis's bloodied body to the barely conscious Growlithe to Peter and Graveller's unmoving forms.

"Mew's tail," he muttered shaking his head before unclipping a radio from his belt.

"Romeo Papa 2-4 to control. On scene at distress call, further assistance necessary. Four immediate causalities, two human, two pokemon with one of each in critical condition, request rapid extraction".

Someone on the other end signalled an affirmative and the ranger reclipped the radio to his belt drawing a pokeball with the same hand and summoning a starmie.

"Put out these fires before we burn the forest down Starmie," he said pointing at the areas of woodland that still blazed after the rapidash's powerful attack and the starmie set about blasting the flaming areas with water gun attacks causing large plumes of steam to rise from the doused areas. The ranger made his way over to Peter and reached down to take a pulse. Apparently satisfied he made his way over to Graveller and inspected the rock pokémon. He shook his head several times reaching to his belt and spraying the pokémon several times before rubbing some gel into cracks in the pokémon's body before finally returning the pokemon to the pokeball he had taken from Peter's belt. Only after all this did he finally turn and look at Ignis.

"Sit," he said gruffly pulling out some thick bandages and kneeling down started to dress Ignis's wounds in an effort to stop the blood that was flowing rapidly from the large scratch marks. "What the hell happened here," he asked sternly looking around the clearing.

So Ignis explained everything that had happened. From his decision to cut across country to Peter's battle and capture of the original mankey to their retreat and battle right up to the moment help had arrived. The ranger listened the whole time, never interrupting but continuing to tend to Ignis's wounds. When Ignis finally reached the end of the story the ranger stood back up and shook his head in amazement.

"You have no idea how lucky you all are," he said, eyes piercing Ignis's own with a stare. "There is only three rangers in a hundred kilometre radius of this area and of the other two neither has a pokemon as fast as my rapidash and I happened to be closest," he said never breaking eye contact with Ignis.

"Another few minutes and I'd have been arriving to two dead trainers and I've had too many of those calls in a long career as it is," he said but in a somewhat softer voice. "My God, why couldn't you go to Viridian forest or Safari like all the other rookies?"

Ignis never got to answer him because at that moment the ranger's radio crackled back to life with another ranger requesting their exact position.

"Give 'em our position Rapidash," he said and Rapidash cocked it's head towards the heavens and sent one ball of fire directly upwards into the sky.

"As good as any flare," said the ranger with the smallest of smiles.

A moment later a large pidgeot swooped out of the sky carrying another ranger on its back. This ranger was far younger, perhaps in his early thirties Ignis thought and immediately looked to the older ranger for orders.

"Go see to the unconscious lad, he seems to be stable but I want a full set of vitals and try and bring him round if you can," ordered the older ranger and the younger one rushed over to tend to Peter. The pidgeot took off into the sky and circled above them like a watchful guardian ensuring that no wild pokemon would sneak up on them.

"We're going to get you airlifted by helicopter to the ranger outpost nearby on route 17, just south of Celadon city where we have further medical assistance waiting for you and your pokémon," said the ranger. "It is probably best if you return your growlithe until then."

Ignis unclipped his pokeball and looked at his loyal companion. He was still utterly amazed that his Growlithe could have learned ember so quickly. He had read that extreme situations could sometimes trigger the learning of new moves or even evolutions but to see it happen had left him in amazement of his starter.

"Thanks for everything buddy, you saved us all," said Ignis. Growlithe gave one weak bark in reply before being cocooned in the red light of the pokeball and withdrawn.

The two rangers continued to work on the injured teenagers for a few minutes before above them the younger ranger's pidgeot shrieked a warning and Ignis could faintly hear the sound of a helicopter drawing ever nearer. The fact that they were actually safe finally seemed to kick in and what little adrenaline that had been keeping him going through his blood-loss and fear petered out to nothing and he felt the world start to swim. For the second time that day his vision started to blur and blackness started to envelope him. He felt the ranger catch him before he fainted and the older man's voice came through the quickly enveloping darkness, a gentle voice, far kinder than it had been before.

"You're alright lad, we've gotcha, you'll be alright."

And then there was darkness.

Ignis awoke feeling groggy. He looked around the room as his eyes focused and saw that it was mostly made of wood, like that of a log cabin and he realised he must be in the ranger's outpost. His shoulder was bandaged up tightly with clean white bandages and noticed an IV line going into the vein in his arm.

"Bout time you woke up," he heard a voice say and he looked to his right and saw Peter sitting up in the bed next to him grinning widely.

"How long was I out?" replied Ignis weakly, surprised at how dry his mouth was.

"Nearly a full day ya big snorlax!" said Peter getting out of bed and pouring Ignis some water which he handed him with a smile.

Ignis drank the cool liquid gratefully feeling it sooth his parched throat.

"They had to give you antibiotics because they were afraid of infection from those mankey attacks," continued Peter pointing to the IV line getting more serious. "I watched the doctor stitch you up, those were some nasty cuts man," he said shaking his head ruefully. "I nearly got us both killed capturing that mankey," said Peter, voice trailing off and eyes flicking to a pokéball on his bedside locker that Ignis knew must contain said mankey.

"You weren't to know," said Ignis. "Anyway it was my idea to go that way, you only tagged along and if you hadn't then I'd be dead for sure. Graveller fought like ten pokemon". Ignis's eyes flicked back to the single pokeball on Peter's locker and back to Peter. "How is Graveller?"

"Not good," said Peter, his face suddenly losing all of its cheer. "They say he has a good chance of recovering but even if he does he won't be doing any battling for a few weeks. Those mankeys damn near killed him and rock pokemon are particularly hard to kill," he said with a hint of venom coming into his voice when he mentioned the mankeys.

Before Ignis could reply a doctor swept into the room followed by the older ranger that had saved them.

"Good, you're awake, good, good," said the doctor starting to bustle about reading various monitors and picking up his chart from the end of the bed. "How do you feel?" he said in a booming cheerful voice.

"Not bad, bit weak," said Ignis.

"That's to be expected m'boy, only to be expected. You'll feel a lot better in a few hours and once you've had some food but even so I'd like to keep you in overnight just to observe you," said the doctor with a kind smile.

"Thank you," Ignis said to the doctor and then turned to face the ranger. "Growlithe?" he asked, looking at the ranger.

"Made a full recovery," said the ranger with a wide smile that was far from anything he had displayed in the forest. "He's with the nurse right now but you can see him soon, in fact I'll bring him in to see you myself in a few hours after you've had some food and some more rest."

The ranger came and sat in the seat alongside Ignis's bed and looked at him intently. "I'm Arthur by the way, Arthur Celer" he said extending a hand which Ignis shook. "I gotta tell you, I've seen a lot of pokemon in my time as ranger in these parts but that growlithe of yours is exceptional. Our scans tell us he knows ember which is quite possibly unheard of in one so young. Also the size of a growlithe's paws are usually a good indication of how big they will grow to be and it looks like your growlithe is going to be colossal". The ranger took a breath and laughed quietly to himself. "That's before I even ask how a rookie trainer ends up with such a rare pokemon as a starter?"

Ignis listened to the ranger with awe and pride in his partner pokemon. They sat and talked for a while and Ignis filled the ranger in on the circumstances and twist of fate that meant he had come to have Growlithe.

The ranger seemed to take particular interest in this. "So Growlithe is a descendant of Oak's famous Arcanine,"he muttered, as much to himself as to Ignis. "Well kid, you couldn't pay for better breeding than that, it explain's a lot about the pokémon's pedigree. However there may even be more to it than that," he continued. "It's possible that forming such a strong bond as early as you have has actually strengthened your Growlithe's development. They are a naturally loyal pokemon who need to have companionship but it generally takes a far longer time to get to the stage of complete trust that you seem to have in eachother" said the ranger thoughtfully. "That mixed together with the excellent breeding means that you've got a helluva pokemon by your side," he finished before rising from his seat and heading for the door as another ranger came in with a tray laden with food. "You better get some more rest and something to eat," he finished nodded at the food.

The ranger went to follow the doctor, who had finished checking on Peter, from the room but Ignis called him just as he was going.

"Thank you… for everything" he said, his voice still far too weak for his own liking.

The rangers looked from him to Peter and back again and gave another wide smile.

"Don't mention it kid, just doing my job" he said and stepped out as the other ranger brought over a tray laden with steaming hot soup.

Ignis ate gratefully and felt some of his old strength return as he filled Peter in on everything that had happened up to the rangers turning up including Graveller and Growlithe's heroics. He had just finished when there was a knock on the door and in bounded his faithful companion and jumped on the bed and began licking his face all over.

"Get him down quickly before Nurse Joy has me shot," whispered the ranger with the same kindly smile he had given earlier and Ignis forced Growlithe on to the ground next to him where he continued to rub him behind the ears.

The ranger walked to his bedside and placed his pokébelt on the locker. "Growlithe's ball and your Nidoran," he said. "Make sure you get some rest soon, it's getting late and you still have a good bit of recovering to do."

Ignis woke early the next morning feeling a lot more like his old self. He was still a little sore and stiff but his wounds were much better and the one on his thigh had almost healed up completely. Silently thanking the wonders of modern medicine he made his way out of bed pleased to see that he had no problems bearing weight on his injured leg. He got dressed and motioned silently for Growlithe to follow him, careful not to wake Peter and made his way outside to get some air. The sun was just up and the morning air was crisp and refreshing. He stood in the porch of the cabin looking out at the view. From here he could see the road stretching northbound towards Celadon and the forest that had nearly claimed all their lives off to the southeast. The view seemed so serene and peaceful from here that it was hard to believe the terror they had all gone through the day before. As he looked to the south he saw Ranger Celer who had rescued them yesterday feeding his rapidash from a small bucket and he made his way over to the pair.

He could feel Growlithe's awe at the magnificent fire pokemon as they got closer and closer. The flames on the pokémon's mane shimmered and danced in the sunlight and the sleek, well-groomed hair shone in the morning sun. The light red eyes of the pokemon noticed him before the ranger did staring directly into his own before moving its attention to his puppy companion who seemed cowed by the attention from the fire horse. Fire types are well known to naturally respect other fire types and Rapidash was a creature to behold and Ignis knew just by looking at it that it would not be out of place even in Blaine's team.

"Good morning Ignis," said the ranger who by now had noticed the pair. "You're looking a lot better this morning".

"I feel it too," replied Ignis with a smile before turning to face the rapidash who stared unblinking at him.

"Thank you for yesterday. If it was not for your speed and power we would not be here today," said Ignis with gratitude and Growlithe gave a soft bark as if in agreement.

Rapidash blinked once in acknowledgement before spraying a small harmless trickle of flame at Growlithe which seemed to delight the puppy before the two went bounding off across the field with Growlithe chasing the larger pokemon who was, Ignis knew, only moving at a canter compared to its true potential.

The ranger laughed deeply. "It's good for Growlithe to have some time with Rapidash. He can learn a lot even in a short time from her, particularly when he's still trying to completely master that ember attack".

"She's a fantastic pokemon," commented Ignis as they watched the pair bounding across the field together.

"We've been together a long time," said the ranger looking wistful. "I used Ponyta over thirty years ago when I was competing on the gym circuit and these days she's the perfect companion in order for me to be an effective ranger…as you discovered yesterday," he added with a little twinkle in his eye.

"You were a competitive trainer? Did you ever make it to the Pokemon League in Indigo Plateau?" asked Ignis with interest.

"I competed there once. I got to the last eight over thirty years ago. I was eventually knocked out by the eventual winner and was recruited soon after to the rangers where I've spent my life since" he said with a reminiscent look.

"Wow," said Ignis impressed. Last eight was a really big achievement especially for someone's first games and to be knocked out only by the eventual winner was an even bigger achievement.

"Peter said you have relatives in Celadon?" he asked turning away from the two pokemon who were by now both blowing plumes of fire into the air.

"Yeah my aunt and uncle live in the southern suburbs, we should get there by tomorrow if we leave after breakfast".

"Well I can do one better than that," continued the ranger. I have some business to conduct in the city today so I'll be leaving here by jeep in an hour and you're both welcome to come along. Tell you the truth I'd prefer that you didn't walk too much on that leg for at least another day and undo all our good word" he said kindly.

Ignis was delighted with the offer. They'd make the trip in a couple of hours by car and wonders of modern medicine or not his thigh still ached where the mankey had gouged him. He also felt a lot better knowing that he would see his family today particularly after the troubling start to his journey.

"That'd be great, I really can't thank you enough for everything you've done for us".

"I hope you understand," said the ranger his voice getting very serious. "Some rangers wait their whole career for a call like I got yesterday. Too many times have we arrived too late as usually when someone hits the panic button it is already too late. To arrive just in the nick of time like I did yesterday makes it all worth it, I'll treasure that call…so I'd rather you not collapse from exhaustion halfway to Celadon," he finished with a laugh before motioning for Ignis to follow him back to the cabin.

They arrived to the outskirts of Celadon later that evening about ten minutes walk from Ignis's aunt and uncle's house. Ranger Celer left them at a junction and bade them all good luck. He also left them his card and phone number in case they should ever need anything and continued on his way to Celadon city centre.

"This is where we must part ways too," said Peter as they watched the jeep roll out of sight. "The lift helped a lot but I'm still running behind schedule and it's important that I'm back in work on time".

"Can you not at least stay for dinner?" asked Ignis. "My family wouldn't mind, they'd love to have you".

"I'm afraid not Ignis," I've only got a short time left to work before I undertake my own journey. My employers have always been great to me and I don't want them thinking that I slacked off as soon as I knew I was leaving. If I get the night bus back to Pewter then I should make it in time" he finished. "I have your pokédex number though so I'm sure our paths will cross again very soon," he finished with a smile.

With that Peter clasped him on the shoulder and smiled before turning and heading the short distance down the road to the bus stop and Ignis too turned and headed into the maze of grassy suburbs that dotted the southern coastline south of Celadon. He had not visited his Aunt and Uncle for many years but he still found it quite easily, childhood memories proving more than enough to guide him to the large redbrick house.

He knocked on the front door and his aunt opened the it after a few moments pausing to take in the sight of her nephew-in-law before releasing a shrill cry directed up the stairs.

"Eli! He's here!" she yelled, loud enough to wake a sleeping snorlax before pulling Ignis into a hug that knocked much of the wind out of him.

Ignis saw his uncle emerge from upstairs from over his aunt's shoulder who was still crushing him to death. His uncle smiled widely as he came down the stairs two at a time with the agility and of a far younger man. "Alright, alright, let him breathe," he laughed clapping Ignis on the back as his aunt released him.

"Well that took you a bit longer than you estimated," said Eli, eyes twinkling. "I told you that you can't predict what'll happen on the road".

Eli was very tall with a light brown hair, and short beard that covered much of his face. He had twinkling blue eyes that shone with excitement and was very tanned from his constant travel to more exotic areas. Ignis's father had been quite a good trainer in his own right before he'd joined the army but it had always been his uncle Eli who had had the real talent for it. He had competed at the Pokemon League several times in his younger years before being recruited to an ambassadorial government job that required him to travel near and far, a job that perfectly suited his adventurous personality.

"You'd better come in and tell me what you've been up to," he said walking into the nearby kitchen. He poured the pair some lemonade while his aunt busied herself cooking dinner but still listening intently.

Ignis told his uncle everything from the team Rocket attack on the corral to how he came to have Growlithe to meeting Peter and finally their attack and rescue by Arthur Celer before finally sitting back in his chair out of breath.

"Wow," said his uncle with a blank stare. "You sure know how to start a journey. I don't think even in my heyday I would've managed to get in so much trouble in such a short space of time".

"First thing's first," he said with a look of incredulity. "You mean to tell me that you have a growlithe as a starter and that your growlithe's mother is Oak's Arcanine?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" laughed Ignis, drinking some more of his lemonade.

"Ignis, I don't think you get it. Oak's Arcanine was very famous back in the day when he was competing. Short of his dragonite, and hell, that should speak for itself it was without a doubt the number two on his team. So you've got the descendant of the number two pokemon of probably one of the greatest trainer's that ever lived. Usually a pokemon like that would be sold for a hefty price to the army or some government agency and you ended up with it as a starter," he finished trailing off with an amazed look on his face.

"Yeah, Ranger Celer said something similar although not in as many words," added Ignis.

Eli roared with laughter at this and Ignis look at him perplexed. "That particular penny hadn't even dropped with me kid," said Eli still chuckling. "Arthur Celer was, and still is a great trainer. I remember watching him in the Pokemon League when I was about your age. He caused quite a stir, coming into the competition a virtual unknown entity, he dispatched opponents like they weren't there and quickly became a fan favourite.

"Yeah he told me he got to the last eight," added Igis.

"Last eight?! Eli burst, booming with laughter once more. "Well that's technically true but no one was in any doubt that he was the second best trainer in that whole competition. He was the only one who gave the eventual winner a run for his money. I remember that match like it was yesterday. Celer even managed to knock out his opponents dragonite, the only trainer who managed that in the whole competition I might add, before eventually losing out to the trainer's Arcanine.

The penny finally dropped for Ignis and he saw Eli laugh at him again as comprehension dawned. "You mean to tell me..." Ignis started before his uncle finished the sentence for him.

"Yup, Celer lost to Oak in the last eight that year in one of the best matches in Pokemon League history in my opinion. It's no wonder that he took an interest in your growlithe. I would say he remembers Growlithe's mother very well indeed. To the best of my knowledge Celer was recruited by the rangers straight after and pretty much runs the ranger division in Kanto these days.

"Wow," said Ignis. "To be fair his Rapidash saw off nearly a dozen angry mankeys without breaking a sweat," he continued thinking back to the timely arrival and the burst of fire that had blazed through the woodland saving them all from certain death.

"Sounds about right," said Eli laughing brightly. He stood up from the table then draining the last of his lemonade. "I think it's about time I met these pokemon of yours and then I have something to show you that I think will hopefully help you on your journey".

Ignis gave him a quizzical look but his uncle simply replied that the quicker he introduced him to his pokemon the sooner he'd reveal his surprise so they made their way out to the spacious back garden that was surrounded on all sides by hip-high hedges that marked the boundaries. There was a small rock pool by the west side of the garden and Ignis spotted at least two magikarp swimming gently around its fringes. They strode out a little into the garden lawn and Ignis released his Nidoran that stood obediently ready for action, awaiting his orders and eyeing Eli suspiciously. Ignis realised that the last time Nidoran had been released had been under very different circumstances so he quickly assured the young pokemon that Eli was a friend and that there was nothing to worry about and saw her noticeably relax. The two treats the Eli took out of his pocket and threw to her didn't do any harm either.

"I see you've found her soft spot," said Ignis laughing as he watched the Nidoran greedily guzzle the food down and look expectantly to Eli for more.

"Ah that tends to be the case with most wild pokemon," Eli replied throwing another treat. "I must saw that's a big Nidoran, as big as I've seen," said Eli with a whistle.

"I think it may have been a loner or got separated from its herd." said Ignis, "because when I found her she was all alone."

"That makes a lot of sense," Eli continued with a nod. "In the wild on your own it's get strong quick or die quick. It seems your Nidoran chose the former option," Eli replied throwing the last treat. "Now, let's see this starter of yours," he said looking at Ignis expectantly. Ignis quickly complied releasing Growlithe from his pokeball. Growlithe had almost an opposite reaction to Nidoran bounding playfully over the Ignis and putting his two front paws on his chest, tongue wagging side to side.

Eli stood and looked at the pokemon for some time before eventually splitting into a massive grin. "Kid, the chances of finding a pokemon like that in the wild are practically zero. Growlithe are very rare to begin with and it's instantly apparent that this one is special, look at the size of his paws!" he gasped as his eyes finally flitted to the pokémon's large feet. "You know that's a pretty good indication..."

…Of how big they'll get," Ignis finished for him smiling proudly. "Yeah Arthur said so."

"And he's not wrong, this one is going to grow to be a powerful pokemon," Eli finished, addressing Growlithe as much as Ignis who barked playfully in response.

"They can stay out here and play if you like, it's quite safe," said Eli. "Come back into the house and I'll show you what I got for you," he said, eyes twinkling once again with excitement. Ignis followed him back into the house and Growlithe and Nidoran bounded happily around the lawn together. Eli led him upstairs and along the landing to a room at the end of the corridor.

"You know I was trying to think what would be the best thing to get you started on your journey. I remember how hard it can be trying to get a team together, train them and challenge gyms all the while travelling almost night and day. As you know I do a lot of travelling and I was in Johto a few weeks ago and managed to procure an item that I think you might be very interested in," he said smiling kindly.

This instantly doubled Ignis's interest. It was very difficult to procure any items from outside Kanto since the war had started and he knew that his uncle had probably had to pull a few strings to get so much as a custom pokéball through customs.

Eli opened the door to the room and Ignis was instantly hit by a blast of heat. The room was exceptionally warm. Despite the hot day outside the windows were shut tight and the curtains drawn and all the radiators were blasting out heat. Ignis gasped as the light from the corridor illuminated the bed. There, placed neatly on a pillow and gleaming against the encroaching slit of light, was a pokémon egg.