This is Chapter 20.
OMG I'm so sorry!
I had this chapter written, almost complete, and then the disk crashed. I tried to access it on my computer (I made two copies) and the file was corrupted. I've been trying to repair it, because I loved how it turned out, but now I've given up and rewritten it because I wanted to continue this story, and the reviews reminded me that people really did want to read it.
Thank you to everyone who added this story/me to their favorites/alerts. And a special thanks for reviewing to random bug, Bluewolfbat, Bptex, Kittykitty11, guest, Anatomy of Peace, Ace Trainer Jessie, merlinfrostG, guest, boomingmaster, PhoenixWillowsRox88, sage the mew, Darkwolfpup22, Lover of Fanfiction and Anime, tonksfan94, AZalmega, BlueMoonChaos, Sharp121shooter, Silver Latios, rocket killer, guest, pokedawnheart, Trainhart27, BlueFangirl4ever, Plusle's Minun, Joey, kaisonsheart, guest, Ddragon21, lizzy, Jibanyan with Komasan, Kingdon Hearts Slayer, guest, remisolleke, SaiyanPrincess, asterion1, Devil Wolf Girl, movielover8210, xxPeacefulAutumnxx, Sandyheart, guest, guest, orca3553, Shadeslayers of Chosen Ones, erindolphin91, LuminousMoonRay, HELLO, scaredofyou, LoneWolfsRage, Adrienne Dark, guest, doubledamn, guest, Stormfly1124, major wallace, deannamd, Biowind, Cato Yugi, duskrider, thor94, P1ka, Praise Helix, Pegasus Sword Master, daniboy95, Teddi 8347, SilverWhiteDragon, Pokemon Trainer Tom, Kiomori, Hogwarts-Wizard, xKimsel, KaliAnn, NinjaRang1221, and Samster687.
So, Charmander's appearance! Yay! There is angst, comfort, and shenanigans. No battles as such, but angry Pokémon using their abilities is still fun, right?
I don't really like this version, but it's okay. I hope you all enjoy it anyway. Over 40 pages, whoot!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. And they won't let me buy it with the $1.50 I had to offer. *sniffles*
Anyway, enjoy:
Misty, Brock, Ash, and Bulbasaur walked down the path, Pikachu in Ash's arms.
When they reached an old tree stump, Misty sank to her knees. "I'm so tired." She moaned.
"Me too." Pikachu jumped onto the stump and plopped down.
"There sure are a lot of Spearow around here." Ash commented. "Where are we, Brock?"
Brock studied the map. "Uh…" he glanced at Misty, and did a double-take. "Misty, there's a bug on your—" he started, pointing at her shirt.
Misty leapt up, flailing her arms and shrieking. "Get it away!"
Brock held something up, laughing sheepishly. "Oh, it was just a piece of grass."
Misty scowled at the laughing Brock and grabbed at the cattail in his hand. Brock jumped away and held it up over her head. Snickering, he danced just out of reach.
Ash grinned at his friends' antics.
Bulbasaur raised an eyeridge before turning to Ash. "I am exhausted. Are we going to rest soon?"
Ash bit his lip and bent down. "I'm not sure." He admitted. "Would you like to rest in your Pokéball for a while?"
Bulbasaur pondered this. He was tired, but could he risk letting Ash out of his sight?
"Fine." He decided. "But I want out in a few hours, and if anything happens, you release me immediately. Do you understand, hatchling?"
"Yes." Ash agreed. He pulled out Bulbasaur's Pokéball and recalled him. Replacing the Pokéball on his belt, he picked up the map from where Brock had dropped it.
Misty growled, tired of chasing Brock, and slammed her elbow into his stomach. Brock gasped, doubling over. Misty took the opportunity and snatched the cattail from his hand. She threw it on the ground, grinding it under her foot.
"Serves you right." She told Brock as he straightened up.
Brock made a face at her.
"Brock, are we anywhere near here?" Ash asked, pointing at a small area on the map.
Brock looked. "Yeah, actually. That's a Pokémon Center, and it's not that far from here."
Misty brightened. "We can ask them how to get to Vermillion City."
"Sounds like a plan." Brock said, folding the map up and sliding it into his backpack. "Let's go."
They began walking again. They came up to a massive rock, with a dark shape on the top.
Misty gasped. Ash shaded his eyes to see what it was.
"He's a Charmander." He announced.
"Go away." The Charmander cried.
"He doesn't look so good." Misty pointed out.
"Yeah, the flame on his tail is really low." Brock added.
Pikachu climbed up the rock to sit next to Charmander. "Are you okay?"
Ash stepped forward in concern, Misty and Brock falling back.
"I'm fine. I'm waiting." Charmander told the Pokémon.
"Waiting for what?" Pikachu asked.
"My trainer told me to stay here. He's coming back for me. So I gotta stay here." Charmander explained. "But I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" Ash asked, finally giving up and leaning forward under the pretense of picking Pikachu up.
Charmander started, turning wide blue eyes on Ash. "You can speak?" he asked incredulously.
"Everyone's always so surprised." Pikachu muttered.
Ash smiled at Charmander and gently rested a hand on Pikachu's head. "Yeah, I can. But you're sure you'll be all right here?"
Charmander nodded. "Yes. I'll be fine. My trainer will be back for me soon."
"If you're sure." Ash said, straightening up. "Good luck."
"I wonder why he's sitting there." Brock mused, startling Ash.
"Maybe you could find out Ash." Misty suggested.
Ash's eyes were wide. "Wh-what do you mean? How would I do that?" he stuttered.
Misty rolled her eyes and Brock coughed to cover up a laugh. "Well, Pikachu could find out, and tell you." Misty explained. "You understand him better than most trainers and their Pokémon."
"Oh. Right. Of course." Ash said, nodding quickly. He looked down at Pikachu, who'd jumped back to the ground.
"This is stupid." Pikachu grumbled, before making several gestures.
"A man." Ash fumbled for something that would sound normal. "Pikachu says that Charmander is waiting for his trainer to come and get it." He finally answered, giving up.
"Well, it's probably better if his own trainer comes to get him." Brock started back down the path. "We should get going."
"Yeah." Misty agreed, following Brock.
Ash hesitated, looking once more at Charmander, before going after his friends, Pikachu walking next to him.
As they left, Charmander released a warbling noise that raked at Ash's soul.
As the Pokémon Center came into view, rain began falling.
"Run for it!" Misty shouted, running down the small hill.
Pikachu leapt into Ash's arms and the friends ran to the Center. Misty threw open the door and they all filed in.
"I'll get us some food." Misty offered.
"And I'll find us a table." Brock said, observing around the cozy-looking center. It was made out of wood, and it had a nice fire at the far end, with benches and tables scattered around the room.
"You guys go ahead. I need to talk to Nurse Joy." Ash told them.
Misty frowned. "Is everything all right?"
"Yeah. But it's not fair to Zubat, traveling with me. She's always in her Pokéball. So, I'm sending her to Professor Oak." Ash explained.
"Go ahead, Ash." Brock said, heading for a table near the closed windows.
Ash walked up to the front desk. Nurse Joy looked up at him and smiled. "Yes? How can I help you?"
"I need to send a Pokémon to Pallet Town." Ash told her.
Nurse Joy's smile grew. "Of course. Come with me."
She led Ash to a room in the back, where the switching machine sat. "Who are you sending the Pokémon to?" she asked, starting up the computer."
"Professor Oak in Pallet Town." Ash answered, fingering Zubat's Pokéball. "Um, can I have a moment alone with Zubat? Before you send her?" he asked, fidgeting.
Nurse Joy nodded, and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Ash released Zubat, who fluttered around before landing on the back of Nurse Joy's chair. "What do you need?" she asked.
Ash sighed. "Keeping you in your Pokéball isn't fair to you." He told her, rubbing her head and wings. "So I want to send you to Professor Oak. Is that okay with you? He has a lot of Pokémon, and you can play with them, and you wouldn't be in your Pokéball all the time, and…"
Zubat butted her head against Ash's chest affectionately. "That sounds fine, Ash. And I was getting bored." She admitted. "But I'll miss you."
Ash wrapped her in a hug. "I'll miss you too." He whispered, Pikachu echoing his sentiments from Ash's shoulder.
They separated, and Zubat glanced around the small room. "Um, Ash, can Weedle come with me? I mean, if she wants to, that is. She doesn't have to." Zubat added quickly.
Ash pulled out Weedle's Pokéball. "Well, let's ask her and find out."
Weedle agreed to go with Zubat. They got along well, and Weedle didn't want Zubat to go alone.
"But I expect you to switch us out sometime soon." Weedle informed Ash.
Ash smiled. "Of course. I'll talk to the others and let you know when."
"So, how do we do this?" Zubat asked excitedly.
Nurse Joy looked up as the door opened and Ash peeked out. "Are you ready?" she asked the boy.
Ash nodded as he wiped his eyes. "Yes." He stepped back, allowing Nurse Joy to enter the room. "But I'm sending two Pokémon, not one like I thought."
Nurse Joy frowned in confusion, but didn't say anything. "Zubat and Weedle need to be in their Pokéballs for the transition." She remarked as she typed the address into the computer.
Ash recalled Zubat and Weedle and handed the Pokéballs to Nurse Joy. Nurse Joy put one into the compartment and a plastic covering slid over it. A red light encompassed the Pokéball for a moment, and then Nurse Joy pulled it out and handed it to him before repeating the process with the second.
"And here you are. Two fresh new Pokéballs for you. The transfers were a success." She said, beaming.
Ash smiled back and followed her back into the main room.
Misty and Brock were sitting at a table near the windows with bowls of soup in front of them, waiting for Ash.
"Sure got a lot of them." Someone said, and the laughter caught Misty and Brock's attention.
"Just look at 'em. It's a pretty cool collection." The blue-haired boy in the middle said smugly, nodding to the pile of Pokéballs in front of him.
"Way cool, Damian." Another agreed.
"I thought you had a Charmander too." One mentioned.
"Yeah, I had one. But that puny thing was so weak, it couldn't even beat the weakest opponents."
"I don't like his attitude." Misty commented. Brock hummed in agreement.
"So what did you do with the Charmander?" the boy asked.
"Eh, I left it on some rock in the woods." Damian answered, shrugging. "That thing is so stupid! No matter what I do to it, it keeps on following me. I finally got rid of it my promising I'd come back for it. It fell for it!" He and his friends laughed cruelly.
"It's probably still there waiting for me." He finished, wiping tears of amusement from his eyes.
"I bet it's still up there, wagging it's tail." A boy with a white headband snickered.
"It'll probably wag it so long it'll put the flame out." A boy in a blue vest added.
Brock stood up and stalked over to the boys, a scowl marring his features.
Misty saw Ash coming out of a room and beckoned him over.
"What's going on?" Ash asked, frowning, as he reached the table. Misty handed him a bowl of soup, eyes on Brock as he approached the group of boys.
Misty gasped as Brock grabbed the front of Damian's shirt, hauling the smaller boy up. "Go and get it." He snarled.
"What are you talking about?" Damian demanded, wrenching his shirt out of Brock's grasp.
"You lied to your Pokémon." Brock snapped. "Go and get it."
"What I do with my Pokémon is none of your business." Damian spat. "If I want to leave a useless Charmander behind, I will! It's not my fault if it's so stupid that it doesn't know I won't really be coming back for it."
A crash broke Brock out of his fury. He looked over to see Ash. Ash was staring at Damian, eyes wide. The bowl of soup was lying at his feet.
"Ash?" Misty asked, concerned. Brock stepped toward Ash.
The movement seemed to jar Ash out of his shock. He took one glance out of the window, at the rain falling down in sheets, and then bolted out the door.
"Ash!" Brock yelled, racing after him, Pikachu hot on his heels. Misty grabbed their raincoats and took off after her friends, struggling into her raincoat as she ran.
Ash pounded down the muddy path, his thoughts in disarray.
Pikachu caught up to him and demanded, "Carry me."
"Jump." Ash ordered, holding out his arms as he ran.
Pikachu jumped, landing in Ash's arms. He tightened his grip as he raced on, back to the boulder Charmander had been waiting on.
He just prayed he wasn't too late.
Charmander was holding a big leaf over himself, shivering and trying to stay dry, but the wind tore it from his grip.
As he lay there, a voice screamed, "Get out of our territory!"
A flock of Spearow were watching him with gleaming eyes.
"Have to…stay…" Charmander panted.
The Spearow shrieked in anger and the entire flock began dive-bombing the poor Pokémon. Charmander cried out weakly and curled in on himself, trying desperately to defend himself.
Ash caught sight of the scene a minute later. He skidded to a stop, setting Pikachu down and throwing a rock at the Spearow.
"Get away from him!" he roared.
"Tresspasser!" the Spearow cried as they ignored Ash and continued going after Charmander.
"Pikachu, Thundershock!" Ash yelled.
"GO!" Pikachu yelled, shocking the group of Spearow. They fell to the ground, winded, and they flew away, grumbling angrily.
"Ash!" Brock and Misty finally caught up as Ash leaned over the Charmander, hands held protectively over Charmander's weak tail flame.
Misty handed Ash the parka. Ash immediately wrapped it around the shaking Charmander.
Brock tried to give Ash his own parka, but Ash wouldn't take it.
"Protect his flame with it." He said instead, gently lifting the trembling Charmander into his arms.
Ash wasted no time. He took off back to the Pokémon Center, Brock running alongside.
Misty picked Pikachu up and high-tailed it after her friends.
Nurse Joy looked up in alarm as the door slammed open.
"Nurse Joy! Please help!" Brock gasped out.
Nurse Joy cried out in alarm when she caught sight of Charmander, limp in Ash's arms. "Follow me." She snapped, throwing open the doors to the medical section of the Pokémon Center.
Nurse Joy pointed to a stretcher. "Lay him on that." She ordered. She expertly check the Pokémon over. "How could you let it get into this condition?"
"It wasn't our fault." Misty snapped.
"That rat Damian told him to stay on a rock outside, that he'd come back. Charmander's loyal, so he believed him."
"Poor Charmander." Nurse Joy lamented. "And Damian just left with the rest of them."
"Please help him!" Ash begged.
"I'll do my best." Nurse Joy answered, ushering the children out into the hallway. "I have to work. There's not much time."
She closed the door in their faces, and the red emergency light above the door lit up.
Ash sank down onto the blue bench that lined the bright yellow hallway. Misty and Brock sat down on either side of him.
Ash was staring at the wall across from him, although he wasn't seeing it. He could still feel Charmander's cold, limp body in his arms, and it brought back memories from before, from when Mama found him.
Tears began to slide down his cheeks and he folded in on himself.
"Ash?" Misty asked, concerned, as Ash started shaking. Ash didn't respond.
"Ash?" Brock tried. Still no response.
"Ash." Pikachu patted his leg. Nothing.
Pikachu jumped into Ash's lap. Ash let out a sob and held Pikachu tightly, shoulders shaking as he cried into Pikachu's fur.
"Ash, let Bulbasaur out." Pikachu whispered, nuzzling Ash's chin, hoping that the other Pokémon could help Pikachu calm Ash down.
Ash let out a shuddery breath and pulled out the Pokéball.
Misty and Brock watched, confused and anxious, as Ash released Bulbasaur into the hallway.
Bulbasaur took one look at the scene and nudged at Ash's legs. "What happened, hatchling?" he demanded.
Ash couldn't answer, so Pikachu did. "There was a Charmander in the woods. His trainer just left him there, lied to him, and he's really sick. We brought him here to get help, but we don't know if he's gonna be okay."
Ash inhaled sharply at Pikachu's words and let out a whimpering cry.
Bulbasaur reacted immediately to the sound, extending his vines and wrapped them around Ash's shoulders and legs. He settled down at Ash's feet. "It will be okay, hatchling." He soothed, releasing a soft rumbling from deep inside his chest and pressing up against Ash's shins.
Ash released another tortured, keening noise. It trailed off into a whimper, and he sucked in a breath before doing it again and again. His tears trailed off, but the keening continued.
The painful sound tore at Brock and Misty's hearts. Misty released a sob of her own. Brock clenched his hands into fists.
Misty flung her arms around Ash's shoulders and hugged him to her, trying to comfort her friend, even if she didn't know exactly what was wrong. Ash rested his head against her shoulder and released another cry.
Brock wrapped his arms around them both, trying to ease pain in his friend that was causing this. The vocalizations of his friend's distress made his heart ache and set his teeth on edge.
The keening had tapered into an awful silence by the time the red emergency light winked off.
Ash was at the door immediately, Bulbasaur just barely having time to retract his vines before tripping the boy.
Nurse Joy opened the door, blinking in surprise as she came face-to-face with Ash.
"Is Charmander all right?" Brock demanded.
Nurse Joy turned to him. "Charmander's recovering. It should be fine my morning." She stepped aside so they could see Charmander. The Pokémon was lying on a bed, an oxygen mask over his face and a special hotplate under his flame.
Ash pushed past her to stand next to Charmander's bed. He gently touched Charmander's side, letting out a relieved sigh when he felt the warmth emanating from Charmander's orange scales.
Nurse Joy watched him with a soft look in her eyes. She put her hand on his shoulder. "He'll be fine." She reassured him. Ash nodded, swallowing down the lump in his throat.
"I'll get you all some blankets. It's not safe to be out in storms like this, so you can sleep on the benches in the main room. I'll meet you out there."
Misty and Brock thanked her and started back down the hallway. Ash didn't move.
Nurse Joy noticed. "Is there a problem?" she asked.
"I want to stay here. With Charmander." Ash admitted.
Nurse Joy smiled. "I'll bring in a chair."
Misty stuck her head in. "Ash? Aren't you coming?"
"He's staying in here with Charmander." Nurse Joy answered for Ash as she lugged two chairs into the room.
Misty hugged Ash. Brock, hearing Nurse Joy's words, came in and hugged the younger boy as well, before the two shot each other looks and headed to the main room, Nurse Joy with them.
Ash dragged both chairs closer to the bed. He sat down in one, and lifted Bulbasaur into the other, angling the chairs so that they more-or-less faced each other. Pikachu settled down into Ash's lap.
Ash wrapped his hand around Charmander's tail and held it loosely. The warmth of the scales against his skin reassured him.
"Ash, are you okay?" Pikachu finally asked.
"This is about the Charizard you mentioned before, isn't it?" Bubasaur questioned.
Ash nodded, the fingers of his free hand carding through Pikachu's soft yellow fur. Pikachu released a trill of pleasure.
"She held me. She protected me when the other humans came and attacked." Ash shook slightly, before he calmed down again. Bulbasaur hissed, and Pikachu cooed and twisted around to lick Ash's palm.
"Charmander will be fine." Pikachu comforted his best friend.
Together, Bulbasaur's mumbled growling and Pikachu's low crooning lulled Ash to sleep.
Nurse Joy entered the room a few minutes later. She smiled softly. Under Bulbasaur's watchful eye, removed the oxygen mask from Charmander's face and she draped the blanket in her hands over Ash's sleeping form before leaving them both to their rest.
After receiving their blankets, Misty and Brock laid down on the couches.
They were quiet for a little while, before Misty finally whispered, "Are you okay?"
Brock sighed. "No. Are you?"
"No." Misty admitted. "What was that? It was horrible." She shivered.
"I…don't know." Brock responded. "But I never want to hear anything like it again."
"Poor Ash." Misty murmured. "I hope he's okay."
"Yeah." Brock settled back against the couch. "We'll check on him in the morning, make sure he's okay."
"Of course."
They were quiet after that. There didn't seem to be anything else to say.
Around one in the morning, Charmander's eyelids fluttered. The Pokémon groaned and opened his eyes. He gazed around the room in confusion. Where was he? Why wasn't he on the rock in the woods?
He felt a pressure on his tail, and tried to buck it off.
The movement disturbed Ash, and the boy shifted in his chair. "Sleep." He grumbled. His hand tightened and then relaxed on Charmander's tail.
"Let me up." Charmander demanded.
"Hush. Do you want to wake up the hatchling?" Bulbasaur hissed. "He's been sitting here with you, and he rescued you from the woods."
"I need to go back there." Charmander insisted, twitching his tail as hard as he could.
Ash jerked awake. He looked around blearily for a moment. When his brown eyes settled on Charmander's blue ones, they brightened.
"You're awake." He said happily. "How are you feeling?"
Charmander frowned. "You are the human from before." He realized.
"He is a hatchling. He just looks human." Bulbasaur corrected.
"I'm not a hatchling." Ash grumbled, before asking, "Are you in pain?"
"No. Just tired. But I should get going." Charmander said, trying to get up.
Ash frowned. "Charmander, you're sick. You need to stay here and get better. You can't go back there."
"I need to go back. My trainer will be worried when he can't find me."
Ash sighed. "Is your trainer Damian?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Charmander, he left. He said he wasn't coming back for you." Ash informed the Charmander carefully.
Charmander shook his head. "No. You don't know Damian. He'll come back. You'll see."
"But he left you out there last night. You almost died!" Ash argued. He wasn't holding Charmander's tail anymore so much as absently tracing patterns on the scales. He knew from what others had said that it felt good.
"Ooh, right there." Charmander muttered, eyes crossing, before he shook himself and said defensively, "It doesn't matter. He was just trying to make me stronger. He's my trainer, and I'm loyal to him. You can't stop me."
Ash shook his head. "I won't force you to do anything. But please, at least stay here for the rest of the night. Please."
"I have nowhere else to go, if I don't do what Damian ordered." Charmander argued.
"You could come with me." Ash offered, begging. "Please. It's not safe out there. You'll get hurt; you could even die!"
"Why do you care so much?" Charmander asked suspiciously.
Pikachu, now awake, hugged Ash's free arm to his body and chirped sadly.
Ash lowered his eyes. "I was raised by Pokémon. But we were attacked. One of my kin was a Charizard. She protected me, hid me from the humans attacking us. My Mama found me and hid me, but they were still my kin. I couldn't see the same thing happen to you. Please."
Bulbasaur nudged at Ash's knee while Pikachu licked at his hand again.
"All right. Just for tonight." Charmander finally agreed.
Ash smiled weakly at the Pokémon. "Thank you."
Ash moved his hand to Charmander's side and continued tracing the soft scales. Charmander quickly dropped off to sleep, Ash not far behind.
The next morning, Charmander woke up again. He pushed himself to his feet and surveyed the room. Ash was slumped over in his chair, head bowed over Pikachu, who was conked out on his lap. Bulbasaur was quietly snoring on his chair.
"Thanks." Charmander whispered to the sleeping boy, before slipping out the window and walking back to the boulder Damian told him to wait at. The sun was shining and the sky was clear and blue, which was a relief to Charmander. He didn't want to be stuck in any more storms.
Nearing the top of the hill overlooking the Pokémon Center, Charmander looked back. He thought about Ash, and the offer to go with the boy. Ash would certainly be a better trainer than Damian. He certainly spoke clearer, and it was obvious that he cared more.
Charmander sighed and continued on. It didn't matter. Damian was his trainer, and he was coming back for Charmander. That's all there was to it.
Brock woke to Ash shaking his shoulder. The younger boy looked absolutely miserable.
"What's wrong?" Brock asked, gently kicking Misty to wake her up.
"Charmander's gone." Ash replied glumly. "He probably went back to that rock to wait for Damian."
Nurse Joy came over when she heard that.
"We've gotta go back!" Brock sat up quickly.
"But we can't force Charmander to come with us." Misty pointed out, sitting up.
"She's right." Nurse Joy cut it. "There's nothing you can do until Charmander realizes the truth."
Brock sighed. "You're right. Still, I wish we could help."
The group shared some fruit for breakfast before collecting their belongings. Nurse Joy pointed them in the direction of Vermillion City, and they thanked her before heading out.
"I thought Charmander would realize that we cared for him." Brock spoke up as they walked.
"Charmander knew. But he's still loyal to Damian, and he couldn't forget him." Ash replied softly.
"I hope he'll be okay." Misty looked down the path, before forcing a smile on her face. "Now come on. Vermillion City is this way."
Further down the path, Team Rocket were trying to prepare a trap.
James finished lugging the machine onto the path and Jesse pulled out the remote.
"I can't wait to test our new, automatic, high-speed, super-duper whatchamacallit." Jesse enthused.
"Start it up." James responded. They pressed the big red button on the remote.
The machine's parts began to move as it warmed up. "What does this thing do, anyway?" Meowth asked.
Before the two humans could answer, a large silver drill emerged from the machine and began drilling into the ground, displacing the dirt.
Meowth face-palmed. "Not another hole-driller! We tried that already!"
"If at first you don't succeed…" Jesse muttered.
"This time we'll remember where the hole is." James tried to reassure Meowth.
Meowth watched incredulously as James and Jesse worked to disguise the hole with dirt and branches.
"Are you sure you're gonna remember where the trap is?" Meowth demanded.
"Meowth, don't you think we're smarter than that?" Jesse snapped. Meowth groaned.
"Here." Jesse handed out blue rubber suits. "Put these on."
As he was sliding into the suit, Meowth kept his eyes peeled. Just as Jesse slipped the head-covering on him, he saw movement from way down the road. "Here they come now!"
Jesse and James couldn't see the brats, but they trusted Meowth's eyes and nose. They quickly grabbed the cat Pokémon and dragged him behind some trees next to the path.
After a moment, Jesse jumped back out with the remote and pressed several buttons. The machine whirred and shifted again. Legs sprouted from its bottom and it walked its way into the trees.
"That thing can move itself?" James demanded angrily, holding his helmet in his hands.
"Be quiet." Jesse directed the machine behind some bushes and trees and dropped down to watch the path from behind her own bushes. Meowth and James waited in eager anticipation next to her.
"They're getting warm." Jesse jeered under her breath as the twerps came into sight.
James laughed. "Warmer."
"They're burning up." Meowth crooned with glee.
Together, Team Rocket watched as Pikachu put a paw onto the dirt covering the hole…
…and kept right on walking.
Ash stepped onto the disguised hole and didn't cause it to fall either.
"It's too strong! You used too many branches." Jesse scolded James.
"Me? You're the one who covered it with too much dirt." James exclaimed.
Meowth saw Ash glance over and scratched them both. "Quiet." He shushed.
"Did you hear something?" Ash asked, furrowing his forehead as he stopped and looked around.
"Hear what?" Brock asked his friend, stepping up next to him. Pikachu turned back to see what the hold-up was.
"Guys?" Misty asked, coming up behind Brock.
"Hatchling?" Bulbasaur questioned from beside Brock.
A flash of metal in the woods caught Ash's eye, and he felt the ground give an almost imperceptible shudder.
Ash's eyes widened and he threw himself forward as the ground under the four caved in.
Ash landed lightly on the solid ground next to Pikachu in a crouch.
"What?" Jesse mouthed as she stared at the boy.
"How?" James was right behind her.
Meowth's eyes were wide as his mind struggled to understand what had just happened. He'd never seen reflexes like that on a human before. Never. They were slow, and most of them were stupid. They didn't react like that—couldn't react like that.
"Are you guys all right?" Pikachu called down to the three in the hole.
"Trap." Ash hissed furiously. He hated traps.
"Hush hatchling. We're fine. But watch yourself." Bulbasaur called up. He was angry. Pokémon traps were foul things, and from the hatchling's tone, Ash had had some experience with them.
Jesse and James shoved on their helmets and jumped out of the bushes.
"I can't believe they fell for it!" Jesse taunted.
"Our invention worked. We're geniuses." James grinned although it was hard to see under the plastic face guard.
Pikachu let loose a thundershock, but it didn't affect Team Rocket.
"Rubber doesn't conduct electricity." James sneered.
"We call them our anti-Pikachu suits." Jesse went on.
"You!" Ash snarled. "Did you dig that hole?"
Jesse blinked at his anger, then smirked. "Of course we did. And it worked."
Sort of, she thought to herself.
"And you let them?" Ash rounded on Meowth, stepping protectively in front of Pikachu. "You let them make a trap?"
"For Pikachu." Meowth admitted, watching with undisguised fascination.
Ash was disgusted. A Pokémon making a Pokémon trap. It was both absurd and terrible.
James took advantage of Ash's preoccupation with Meowth to pull out their anti-Pikachu rubber balloon bazooka and fire it at Pikachu.
The red blob shot out of the end of the bazooka and hit Pikachu. It enveloped the mouse Pokémon and Pikachu cried out as it created an oval around him.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried.
"Let me out!" Pikachu yelled, trying to shock his way out of the balloon. It didn't work.
Ash whirled around and dropped to his knees. His fingers scrabbled across the smooth surface of the red balloon as he tried to find an opening, an indent, anything, so that he could rip it off and set Pikachu free.
"Vile, rotten…" Bulbasaur roared at Team Rocket from inside the hole. "And you call yourself a Pokémon." That was aimed at Meowth, who he couldn't see, but he could hear.
"All right. Hand him over." Jesse ordered Ash.
Ash whipped his head around and bared his teeth at her, a low, warning growl rumbling up from deep in his chest. Jesse looked shocked.
"Hey, what's that?" James asked, pointing further down the path.
Ash glanced over to see Charmander stalking towards them, an angry scowl on his face.
"Let Pikachu go right now!" Charmander demanded, pointing a paw at the still-trapped Pokémon. "Then get lost."
"And stay lost." Ash mumbled, still searching for a way to get Pikachu out of the rubber balloon.
Meowth's head snapped over to Ash, but Charmander was still talking.
"Do it now!"
"What's it saying?" Jesse asked.
"It's saying that we better let Pikachu go right now, and then get lost." Meowth answered distractedly.
"He." Ash bit out. Had Meowth been with humans so long, been trapping his own kind for so long, that he'd taken to referring to them as it, as things?
"He's got to be kidding." Jesse snickered.
"Stay out of this, you insolent little firebug." James waved a hand. "We don't have time to play with you."
Charmander's eyes narrowed. He looked from Ash and Pikachu, one desperate and angry, and the other just plain angry, to the drop-off where the hole was.
Charmander took a deep breath, held it a moment, and then spat a wave of fire toward Team Rocket.
Ash wrapped his arms around Pikachu's bubble and dove out of the way just in time, having recognized the action for what it was.
The acrid smell of burning rubber filled the air. Team Rocket screamed and ran for it.
"That damn Charmander!" Jesse shrieked as she ran.
"It hurts, it hurts!" James howled.
"Get the aloe!" Meowth cried, ignoring the blue-haired kid they ran passed.
Damian stared at them, and then down the path. "Charmander beat them?" he muttered to himself.
Ash managed to cut the balloon off of Pikachu with his knife. A sharp pop later, and Pikachu was free.
Ash kneeled on the lip of the hole and extended his arms. "Pass Bulbasaur up, and then I'll help you guys up."
Misty and Brock saw the intelligence of that decision, and Brock lifted Bulbasaur up. Ash got a firm grip and hauled Bulbasaur out of the hole, setting him down next to him.
"Now you, Misty. Use the sides of the hole to kick off of." Ash instructed. Misty grabbed his hand, Brock boosting her from behind, and soon they were both dragging Brock out.
Ash turned to Charmander and hugged the startled Pokémon. "Thank you so much, Charmander." He whispered into Charmander's earhole. "Thank you."
"Yeah. Thanks." Pikachu patted Charmander on the shoulder.
"Thanks for the help, Charmander." Brock exclaimed.
"See Brock, Charmander knew we cared." Misty said, smiling brightly at the fire Pokémon.
"Is the offer still open?" Charmander asked Ash, wringing his hands together. "To come with you, I mean."
Ash's face lit up as he pulled away. "Really?"
He sounded so happy that it made Charmander feel warm inside. Ash really wanted him along!
"Hey Charmander." A voice said. They all looked over to see Damian striding over, his hands clasped behind his back. "Been looking all over for you."
"What do you want?" Ash asked irritably, not in the mood to deal with the trainer who would abandon a Pokémon.
"I came back for Charmander. Just like I promised."
"Really?" Charmander asked as Brock and Misty gasped.
"So let's go."
Charmander looked between Ash and Damian, a crooning whimper building in his chest.
"Careful, he's already abandoned you once." Brock cautioned.
"Charmander is mine. I'm the one who caught it, remember." Damian said, crossing his arms.
"Him." Ash glared.
Damian flapped a hand at him. "Whatever."
"You bragged about how you abandoned Charmander." Misty reminded the boy.
"Good thing I did. That toughened it up." Damian replied. "Besides, what's wrong with dumping off a weak Pokémon?"
"Weak?" Charmander whispered. Ash's hands clenched.
"I wasn't gonna come back for it, but now that I've seen what it can do, I'm real glad I ran into you guys." Damian said, pulling out a Pokéball. "The best thing is, I didn't have to raise it myself."
Ash took a step forward, ready to attack, but Brock grabbed his arm.
"No. This is Charmander's fight, his decision."
Charmander stared up at the obviously protective stance Ash had adopted in front of him, saw the fine trembles cause by anger in his body. He remembered the way Ash had fought to keep him alive but in the end, allowed him to make his own decision, even though it hurt him to do it.
"Charmander, return!" Damian got bored standing there waiting and threw the Pokéball.
Charmander's eyes narrowed as the Pokéball flew at him. Making his decision, he whipped out his tail and slammed the Pokéball back at Damian, hitting the trainer in the face.
Ash wasted no time. He had run forward and tackled Damian before the Pokéball hit the dirt.
He hand an arm across Damian's throat, his legs pinning Damian's pelvis to the ground and his other hand pinning Damian's wrists above his head..
Ash leaned in, hissing into Damian's ear, "You didn't know a good thing when you had it. Now, Charmander's not going with you, and if you try to take him, I'll make you regret it, understand?"
Damian struggled. Ash released his hold on the bigger boy's neck to slam his head into the ground.
"Understand?" his voice was low, threatening. The danger in it made Damian shivered involuntarily.
"I…I understand." He stuttered, unable to dredge up his usual arrogance.
Ash stared into his eyes for a moment longer. Damian shivered again. Those eyes—they weren't human. They were dark and pitiless.
Ash released Damian's head roughly, causing it to bounce. He got off of Damian and retreated back to his friends, who were watching with awe.
"Get lost." Ash ordered.
Damian scrambled to his feet. He was covered in a fine layer of dust, he had dirt streaks on his clothes, and he was horribly embarrassed. Face glowing red, he reached for a Pokéball on his belt.
Charmander noticed, and stepped forward. "Don't you dare." He yelled.
Pikachu saw the problem, and released a weak thundershcok. Damian cried out.
"That's for Charmander!" Pikachu said. He stopped the electricity, and Damian stood there, stunned.
Charmander let out a small flame. It broke Damian out of his stupor, and the boy took off running the opposite way, screaming in panic.
"Who do you want to go with?" Pikachu asked Charmander. "Any of them will take you."
"Ash." Charmander answered decisively, wrapping his arms around Ash's legs.
Ash smiled down at Charmander and pulled out one of his empty Pokéballs. He placed it in front of Charmander, who tapped it with his head and was sucked in in red light.
The Pokéball flew up into Ash's hands, and Ash's smile grew until it was breathtaking in its brilliance.
"Yay!" he cheered.
"You've got a new friend." Misty congratulated him. Brock clapped his hand on his shoulder. He was a little shocked at the violence his usually non-aggressive friend had shown, but he was also please that Ash stood up to Damian like that.
"Yeah." Ash said, hooking the Pokéball to his belt.
"That was very good, hatchling. Now, can you stay out of trouble long enough for me to nap?" Bulbasaur demanded.
Ash laughed and nodded. He returned Bulbasaur to his Pokéball and smiled at his friends. "So, should we get going?"
"Of course." Misty agreed. Pikachu jumped into Ash's arms, and the three friends continued down the path, hoping that this time they wouldn't get lost.
Yeah, so this is the end of the chapter. I hope it was okay.
Honestly, you guys' review were the only thing keeping me from completely losing hope and giving up on this story altogether. You guys are AWESOME! THANK YOU! Seriously, I was really depressed about this story, and your reviews pulled me out of my funk enough to get off my ass and rewrite this chapter and continue on with this story.
I honestly wasn't going to have Ash in a violent confrontation with Damian, but so many people asked for it, and so it sort of wrote itself into the scene. Hope you all enjoyed it.
And I didn't want to give away Zubat or Weedle, but I realized that they weren't really doing anything, and Ash had no free Pokéballs left, at least according to the rules I found about them. And that also meant I needed two. They'll probably make an appearance later, though.
Suggestions and ideas are great, reviews are amazing. Even one-word reviews are appreciated. Constructive criticism is good. Flames will be used to set fire to the houses of my enemies (who said violence doesn't fix anything?)
Thanks for reading. See you next chapter!