I keep running as countless trees fly past me. I clutch the fire lizard closer to me and increase my already fast speed. Spending time with a dragon as your partner has really made me much more faster then almost any human would be. I finally stop at the Pokemon Center and going into a rapid series of coughs. Ever since I had nearly been killed by my brother when he was possessed by a demonic spirit from thousands of years ago, I had been left with a gash that stretched from my lungs to near my heart.

It had nearly torn my right lung in half but of course my dragon had tried her hardest to heal it but I had refused, thinking it would heal on its own. I see now my mistake. I crumble to the ground still coughing. My breathing becomes quicker as I can't seem to find enough oxygen to fill my lungs. I still hold onto the tiny fire lizard, struggling to save its life, to fulfill my promise to Skarmory.

* * *

"Skarmory, skarmory. Skarmory!" (Take this Charmander and get out of here. I shall fight these birds to ensure that it stays safe!) Skarmory shrieks as I translate its words.

* * *

I must make it inside, I think as I attempt to stagger to my feet.

I slip back down to the ground and begin to waver between consciousness and unconsciousness. Unconscious finally wins and the world around me fades to black . . .

I awaken to the sound of someone calling my name. I open my eyes and look up into the beautiful face of my sister.

"Tronay?" I manage to mutter as I fight to stay awake.

"Yes brother, it's me," She replies. "Veer and Ruby found you outside the Pokemon Center, hanging onto a tiny Charmander with your life."

I nod, I was trying to save the little thing from dying after all.

"The nurse here told me to come and get you. She says that the little pokemon wants to see you," my sister continues.

I struggle to lift myself up but I end up falling back into the comfy white pillow behind me.

"Allow me brother," Tronay says as she picks me up.

Normally a male human would do this to a female but I don't mind it in my case. I doubt I could even get out of the room by myself. Tronay carries me down several floors before she stops at one door. A red cross hangs on it, lit up. The light on the cross fades and a tall, red-headed women steps out of the room.

"Good you brought him," she says in satisfaction as she motions for us to enter.

Tronay does as told and once we are inside, my eyes focus on the bed that is located on the far left of the room. The white sheets that lay draped across the fragile tiny fire pokemon. The lizard sleeps softly and I immediately remember the little thing. This lizard was the Charmander that I fought to save!

"Let me know if I can get anything for you," the nurse says before she leaves.

Tronay places me in a nearby red-leather chair and pulls it up to the bed. The lizard is awoken by our noise and it's black eyes lock with my purple ones.

"Char? Charmander?" (You? You saved me?)

I nod at the little lizard.

I did, I answer within its mind.

The Charmander stares at me in horror like I've just done the worst thing in the world.

You opened a connection to my mind, Charmander says.

I did? I ask.

Yes. When you answered my question it opened a connection between us, Charmander answers.

I blink in shock. Could that have been the case with Veer? The Charmander chuckles at my reaction.

I do not think that is how you gained your connection with the Riolu but I was wondering if maybe you might like to give me a nickname? The Charmander asks.

I think for a moment and then decide on one.

How about Flare? I question.

I like it, the Charmander, now known as Flare, replies as it crawls over to rest in my lap.

I smile at the fire lizard as it falls asleep in my lap, remembering my first few days with my dragon being the exact same as this.