Shining Shadows

Will the Charizard

Chapter 7: Will

AN: Hey Hey! I'm back! Sorry for the huge wait, but I have the work ethic of a slug, plus I've been sick, and had a ton of work for school. Quick side note, flashbacks are in third person. Because I feel like it. Pokémon is Nintendo's, OC's are mine.

"What do you mean I can't heal my Pokémon here? It's a Pokémon hospital, isn't it? Isn't being able to heal here the entire point of this place?"

Sandgem's Nurse Joy answered calmly, as if this happened all the time. "I already told you, you need a trainer's license to heal your Pokémon, unless they're critically hurt. Your Umbreon will be fine, sir. Just give her some time to rest."

At this point Jet had had enough. She walked forward so she was next to me and stood right next to me and stuck her front leg out, bracing it against a counter. "What about a broken leg? Is that critical enough? Sam, step on my leg. Right there."

Nurse Joy looked very alarmed at the very thought of it. "If you do, I will have you thrown in jail for severe Pokémon abuse! You will have to become a trainer or buy potions to heal your Pokémon, I'm sorry. It's the rule."

"Jet, I'm not breaking your leg. Nurse, Joy, where can I get a trainer's license?" It'd probably be faster than reasoning with Nurse Joy, I don't have any money to buy potions, and it's better than Jet's methods. If they were far away, or needed to be paid for, we were screwed.

"You can get a trainer's license from Professor Rowan, who, lucky for you, happens to be in his lab today, right next door. Have a nice day." The last part appeared to be more of a command to leave than her actually hoping our day was nice. I could feel the eyes of everyone on my back as we left, most likely from the fact that I had held up the line for Nurse Joy for forty-five minutes, arguing with her about how serious an injury had to be to be considered severe, while Jet had a heated conversation with an unfortunate Magby about which type was better, dark or fire. Their talk had ended with the Magby getting knocked to the floor and Jet very angry. Nurse Joy had insisted I was wrong the entire time, and I was now officially one of the most disliked people in Sandgem.

Once we were back outside, I let Charlie out and looked for some sign of Rowan's lab, but all I saw was some houses and a beach. There weren't any buildings I could see that I would count as 'right next door', so we picked a direction and walked.

"Who is Professor Rowan anyway? I don't see why specific people are so well known. For us Pokémon, the only other Pokémon everyone knows are extremely powerful ones, like Arceus, Dialga, Mew, like that. Is Rowan really that powerful?" Jet had a puzzled look on her face. Trying to figure out how we humans work must be driving her insane, Pokémon and human societies are so different. They're based on 'survival of the fittest', and we're almost the exact opposite sometimes.

"Well, Rowan's a scientist that works on, umm, actually, I have no idea what he does." He could study trees for all I know. "I think he's a well-known Pokémon researcher."

"If he's well known, shouldn't you know about him? I mean, you're trying to be a trainer, you should know this. Unless, you're just a kid who doesn't know what he's doing. That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?" Sometimes I hated that Umbreon.

"I know exactly what I'm doing; I went to school to become a trainer." I replied, convincing nobody, but trying anyway.

"So did everyone else in your town, so that's not saying much." I swear, that is the most annoying Pokémon I've ever met. Probably ever will meet, too.

"What's school?" Charlie asked. "Is that like training for humans?"

"Sort of. People go there to learn things; it's sort of annoying and a little repetitive. I'll tell you more later, we're here." And indeed we were.

Professor Rowan's lab was a rather large building, three stories tall and probably 100 feet long. It was painted a harsh white, very different from the short dark trees behind it. Its brown roof, also in sharp contrast with the nature around it, looked newly re-done. It had three windows per floor, with one odd extra on each side. There was a simple printed paper sign nailed to a post in front, proclaiming HAROLD ROWAN: POKEMON PROFESSOR. Extremely loud banging noises could be heard coming from inside, with the occasional glimpse of a person running past the window.

"Well, at least we're in the right place." Jet managed to stop laughing at me and she and Charlie started toward the door, and I shortly followed suit. "Sam, can you get the door? Neither Charlie or me have thumbs, and, you know, it's a little difficult."

"Are you sure? It looks a little chaotic in there. Maybe we should wait for some other time…" I began, but Jet wasn't looking happy with my answer.

"Whatever, Sam. Just open the door," she said exasperatedly.

Because I am not always a smart person, I did as she asked, and inside I was met by an old, scraggly man that seemed almost too happy to see us.

"Ahh, yes! Please come in, come in! But shut the door behind you, quickly now!" Professor Rowan hurried us in, then slammed the door shut behind us and locked it. "You see, I recently received a Pokémon from Professor Oak from Kanto, and we're having a little trouble containing it. If you could assist us…"

Just then a fiery shape fell from the third floor and landed on the back of one of Rowan's aide's heads, knocking him to the floor. The fiery lizard then scampered up one of the supports, and disappeared into the rafters, occasionally spitting little plumes of flame at anything within range.

"If you could assist us in re-capturing it we would be very pleased with you. " Rowan finished, looking half crazed with his glasses falling off and hair in a tangled mess. I reached up and pinched out the fire from a few hairs.

"I just came for a trainer card, but I guess if I can help, I should, right?" I really didn't want to get involved, but it looked like I wasn't going to have a choice.

It's a wonder the thing hasn't set the whole building up in flames, with its entire tail on fire. As if on cue, a chunk of burning table crashed down from the upper floors and landed next to Rowan, sending burning splinters everywhere.

"Oh my!" Rowan didn't seem to have any idea what to do when things got dangerous, it looked like we weren't going to get much help. "Rowan, do you have any water types? It's going to light the whole building on fire soon, if you don't stop it."

His face grew a dull red in embarrassment. "Why didn't we think of that? Prinplup, go!" He threw his pokéball; there was a flash of red light, and the most idiotic looking penguin I have ever seen appeared. It turned toward the professor and doused him in water, as well as everything around him. It put the fire out, but it seemed to enrage the escaped kanto lizard.

Since I could see the situation was getting out of hand, I recalled Charlie and put her pokéball safely away in my backpack. Jet can take care of herself.

I acted just in time, too, as the Charmander chose right then to jump down from the rafters again, landing in front of the Prinplup, and proceeded to scratch the hell out of the Prinplup's face, yelling the entire time. "You stupid Sinnoh prick! You think you're so much better than us, but the Kanto region would destroy you!" Crazy bastard… I seriously doubt this would have stopped anytime in the near future, but Jet decided to step in at this point, and tackled the burning Pokémon off the Prinplup.

"Professor Rowan, what kind of Pokémon is that? I don't have a Pokèdex, and I've never seen one of those before."

"Well, that's a Charmander, the fire starter Pokémon from Kanto." While Rowan and I began a talk about the different regions and their different Pokémon, Jet was busy with fighting the Charmander. It blasted fireball after fireball after her, all of which she dodged by springing off tables, bookshelves, and walls. The Charmander chased her back into a separate back room full of rows and rows of laboratory equipment, shooting fire after Jet every chance it got, lighting papers and chemicals abaze, while Jet tried to get into a position to attack it. Jet disappeared from view with a faint attack, trying to sneak behind the Charmander. The Charmander saw through her plan, though, and began swinging it's flaming tail in a circle to stop Jet from getting close enough to strike, making her abandon her strategy, reappearing across the room. Then the Charmander connected, hitting Jet on the thigh. As it let out a laugh of success, it failed to notice the look of murderous rage that appeared on Jet's face. It did, however, see the wall of Shadow Balls hurtling towards it, which it desperately tried, and failed, to avoid.

Rowan was just beginning to explain how a Pokèdex works when the Charmander slammed into the front wall, followed shortly by the shadow ball, shaking the building's foundations. As the Charmander lay dazed against the wall, Jet came walking back over with a slight limp. "Do something about that thing, quick, or I'm going to kill it. You have twenty seconds."

I couldn't think of anything to do in that short amount of time, and since I had no doubt that Jet was serious with her threat, I pulled a pokéball out of my backpack and threw it at the Charmander, with the audible click confirming the catch. My hurried response made Jet look at me like I was a complete idiot, and Rowan looking at me like I had just done something heroic, which was slightly ruined by the fact that his left shoe was on fire.

"Can I get my Pokèdex and trainer card now?" That's all I ever cared about. That's the only reason I came here in the first place. "By the way, you're still on fire."

After another complete hose down by the otherwise useless Prinplup, Professor Rowan went to a filing cabinet. "Of course, your trainer card will be a file within the Pokèdex, so you only need to carry around the Pokèdex. This should get you into Pokémon centers, Pokémon contests, and Pokémon gyms. It will fill you in with information on the various subjects…"

At this point, I was tired of the Professor's rant, and I zoned out, thinking about the future. It was great that I got a Pokèdex, but I had other problems, like the Charmander. I didn't know what to do with it, it was dangerous, so I didn't really want it around Charlie. At the same time, I couldn't release it. I'll talk over with Jet and Charlie what we should do with it, I guess. If they're fine, I'll keep it. If not, I don't know what we'll do.

After Rowan finished instructing me on the uses of a Pokèdex, I began the long walk back to Sandgem, letting out Jet and Charlie for the company, and to ask them about the Charmander issue.

"I think you're an idiot for catching that thing, Sam. It's going to piss me off again, I can already tell." That was all Jet had to say on the subject, so I didn't have much to go off of.

"Charlie? What do you think about the Charmander? It's everybody's decision." I didn't think Charlie would have much to say at all, but then she surprised me.

"I thought he was cute." That was Charlie's response. Well, that's just great, isn't it? Jet might kill the thing but Charlie thinks he's cute.

"You thought he was cute? When he was attacking the laboratory, you thought he was cute? Charlie, you're like six." Unbelievable.

"Actually, she's probably about nine now. I told you Pokémon age weird. The more fights they're in, the faster they age" Jet informed me.

She was in the fight with the rattata, she took out that abra by herself, there were a few magicarp, is that really enough for her to age three years?

"He was probably scared" Charlie said. "They took him away from his home, and he doesn't know anything. It wasn't his fault." I'm pretty sure that's the exact same circumstances I got Charlie in, but ok. Now I feel horrible.

"Well, that pretty much settles it, I guess. We're keeping the Charmander." Now that we're keeping him, how am I going to train the guy without putting anyone in danger? Go out with nobody else and fight through a patch of grass?

"So is everyone ok with letting him out? We're going to have to eventually."

"Go ahead, let him out" Jet replied. "He better keep his mouth shut this time." Charlie just blushed.

I tossed up the Charmander's pokéball, and after the flash of light, we were faced with one angry Charmander. His eyes burned as bright as his tail, and he clenched his scaly fists tight.

The Charmander instantly began drawing in air, and I could see the beginning of a fire in his throat, until Jet fired a small shadow ball down his mouth, that is. He managed to swallow it, preventing any real damage, but after the attack he looked immensely tired and fell on his back. He was too tired to try anything, in fact, so I took the opportunity.

"Hey, little guy, my name's Sam. What's yours?" I might as well try to be friendly, right? Can't hurt, all we've ever done to him is attack.

"How… How do I know you won't try to kill me again?" The lizard questioned, breathing heavily.

"I never tried to kill you. I was hoping, since you're now my responsibility that you'd travel with us." Please say yes. I don't know what I'm going to do with him if he says no.

"Well…" He took another breath, and coughed up a dark piece of goop. "Ugh. Hate shadow balls. Taste like crap. Since it's either travel with you or be locked in a box for all eternity, I'm game. Name's Will." He held out a paw and I grabbed it, pulling him up. "Just keep the dog from hurting me."

'The dog' looked about ready to shadow ball Will again, and I didn't think that he could take it. Because I was a complete idiot, I thought it would be best to take Jet out of the picture. I swear, the look she gave me when the red beam returned her to the pokéball was worse than the one she gave Will when she was angry at him.

"You're probably going to pay for that later. Thanks" Will seemed relived, even a little frightened. Or maybe he was just playing us…

"Don't mention it. Hey, if you don't mind me asking, why'd you join us so quickly? I mean, that's great, but Jet already tried to knock you out, and I caught you while you were defenseless. Why didn't you try to escape?"

Will took a minute, his eyes taking a glazed look as he thought. "When I was in Kanto, I was in a fire type pack. Well, I hate to admit it, but it was more of a gang. Our pack, we were based off of trust and loyalty, not relation. You defend your own, and you don't leave anyone behind."

"How'd you get here then?" I winced, thinking Charlie just went too far, but Will just bit his lip and kept going.

"One day, a couple of humans found our little cavern. It was in the side of a mountain, and the entrance was surrounded by a clearing. Now, we managed to scare the humans off, being all fire types with sharp teeth and claws, but we knew we weren't safe there anymore. We had kits with us though, mothers, kits, elderly, they couldn't just run, and nobody would leave them for the humans. So when they came back, we were stuck. There were a bunch of researchers, some of the humans that first found the place, and even a cop. They came prepared, and we barely had a chance."

-Flashback-

Will stood with the rest of the fighters, the twenty or so other Pokémon that were strong enough to fight. There were several growlithe, five or so vulpix, two Ninetales, a single magmar, and a few others. Then, of course, there was Blaze, the pack leader. The Arcanine stood half a foot taller than most, rivaling the height of an aggron when on two legs. He was extremely powerful, using moves like eruption and fire blast with ease. He had always stayed secluded in times of peace, but when his leadership was needed, he was a strong leader and a powerful fighter, throwing himself in harm's way to protect fellow members of his pack.

The humans surrounded the clearing, water and rock types at their feet. They weren't taking any chances, using the fire type's weaknesses against them. It was smart, but the pack was ready. Blaze signaled to two of the vulpix, who burned through some of the vines the fire types had used to keep up dead trees. Two of the trees came crashing to the earth, the groaning and cracking echoing throughout the surrounding forest. All of the invaders hurried back, avoiding the huge trees. The trees blocked the entrance to the clearing in all sides, bar one opening barely large enough for two at a time. It had been the Magmar's idea; he was the only one smart enough to pull it off without killing someone.

After the dust cleared, there were already a few rock types piling in, creating a barrier for the water types to attack from. The fire types waited for a signal from their leader, prepared to fight for their peace. The Arcanine tensed, threw his head back, and roared. At the signal, Will, the Magmar, and the Ninetales rushed the wall of rocks. Will used his metal claw to tear through the rock's defenses, while the Magmar and Ninetales used fighting type moves to smash the wall of Geodude and Graveler unconscious. At first, the plan worked like a charm. That is, until the Gyarados and Blastoise showed up.

There was a mighty roar, heard throughout the clearing, as the giant water serpent erupted from the adjacent lake. All stopped, some of the younger Pokémon frozen in fear. Its eyes burning with rage, its jaws strong enough to break boulders, it inspired fear in any foe inexperienced against it.

The Magmar reacted instantly, being a hardened fighter as well as the pack brain, leaping onto the wall of now unconscious rock Pokémon and toward the greater threat. His fist sparking with the power electricity of a thunderpunch, he was well suited against the beast. Blaze directed the rest of the fighters to battle the Blastoise, unleashing a powerful eruption attack, defeating all weaker water types around the Blastoise. The water turtle, however, seemed unfazed. At Blazes command, the rest of the pack began to unleash a fiery inferno on the Blastoise. The two Ninetales used fire spins on the Blastoise's legs, preventing movement, while all others attacked the head. The battle was in the fire type's favor, until the Magmar was blasted unconscious by a hydro pump from the Gyarados. Blaze instructed the growlithe and vulpix to go into the caves with the others, taking Magmar to safety.

Even though the Gyarados was clearly injured from multiple thunderpunches, it was still an enormous threat, especially now that it was only Blaze, Will, and the two Ninetales. The four Pokémon made a half moon shape, facing both the powerful Pokémon at once. A bright ball of light grew in the Gyarados's mouth, and the Blastoise's cannons filled with water. Just as the fire types prepared for their last stand, a call was made to stop. One of the humans came forth, an older man in a white coat.

"We just want the Charmander" the old man told the four. "We have a Bulbasaur and Squirtle for the next trainers, but not a Charmander."

Blaze snarled at the human, there was no way that he was allowing any member of his pack to be taken away. Will stepped forward, however, telling Blaze to stand back.

"The kits need you here, Blaze" Will said. "They're more important than me, protect the rest of the pack."

"We fight together" Blaze said. "I won't let them take anyone. You're part of the group; we will all fight for you, just as you would fight for any of us."

"No. Protect the pack, Blaze. I'm going, don't stop me." Will turned to the humans, giving himself to protect his pack, his friends, his family. There was a red flash, a tugging sensation, and Will was pulled into the pokéball, knowing he would likely never see his pack again.

He hasn't.

-End Flashback-

AN: So, how did everyone like that? Do you like Will, the flashback, anything? Tell me what was good, what needs improvement, everything in a review or PM. I would like to thank RockeytheTyranitar for his OC, Blaze, and I encourage anyone who wishes to submit an OC to do so. Will the Charizard, out.