Tof time again folks. Sorry about the delay, coursework really starting to pile on. I apolagise in advance for any further late Episodes.

Back to the point, if there ever was one for this, Flame leaves the Gym in defeat. And runs into an old aquaintance, who seems to have a hidden agenda.

I want more comments, pretty please with a chocolate syrup ontop.

Episode Sixty-Nine: Demons of the Past

"Flame!" Came the yells from behind as I limped out of the door. I reached beside me and latched onto the metal edge of the door before yanking it backwards, causing the Wall Demon to slam onto those that were following me.

"I need something to eat."

I staggered away, heading towards the city gates. Or at least, what direction I thought the city gates were in. After finding several dead ends, turning back and going in a random direction, I found myself in a different part of the city. It was cold, wet and I could tell that rain was coming by the shivers that ran through my body.

Lost and confused, alone and injured. Not a good combination really.

"This place is too big and hard to navigate," I muttered aloud, "nothing like Cerulean."

"You said it," was the reply.

I jumped at the sudden voices, glancing around and trying to spot the speakers. A small flickering light guided me to them and I nearly fainted at who I found.

"Welcome to hell, little brother."

I looked up at the same Charmander that I blamed for my sister's death. He was still taller then me but not by much. (Okay okay, I didn't even come up to his shoulders) He was skinnier than I remembered too but it had to be him, although something seemed different about him but I couldn't tell what.

"What? No hug?" He laughed.

"I don't give traitors hugs," I replied, coldly.

Flametooth (now, you can see why I didn't like the name 'Flame' to begin with) chuckled at me, "Things have changed now."

"I highly doubt that," I said, folding my arms and trying not to wince as the movement put pressure on my injured ribs.

"It has. New name, new life. I'm called Asmodeus now."

"People know me as Flame."

"Let's just hope you don't turn out like I did, eh Runt?" 'Asmodeus' chuckled.

I was considering punching him in the face (although I'd probably have to jump for it) but the rain clouds decided that now was a good time to pee on everyone. Asmodeus looked up at the sky and sighed, "this is going to be a big storm. We better get under cover and fast."

I frowned at this. I had every reason to hate him.

"Why would I trust you on this?" I snarled, my tail flame steaming as raindrops hit it.

"Because I am family."

"You're just making me hate you more."

"Whatever. Look, let's just get out of the rain before we catch a chill and we can continue this later."

I wanted to refuse but I was cold and injured, so I didn't really have a choice. I'm pretty sure that Asmodeus knew it too and had deliberatly backed me into a corner.

"Fine, but the moment the rain stops then I'm gone."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Asmodeus smirked, which gave me the creeps.

He turned away and marched into the shadows, leaving me to wonder what I had gotten into.

"What have I gotten myself into?" I muttered (believe me, I said that a lot over the course of the rain) as I followed him into an alleyway.

I spotted Asmodeus kick in a grating further ahead before climbing inside, with me following his tail flame's light. We must have been crawling along that narrow tunnel for a good ten minutes and I was getting sore(er). Eventually the passageway widened and we were able to stand.

Asmodeus glanced over his shoulder at me and grinned, making my heebiejeebies even worse, "we'll be at my little hideout soon."

"Just shut up and keep going."

He laughed at this before continuing. The walls around us were now steel instead of stone, the shiney surface bouncing the tail-flame light further ahead so I could actually see where we were going.

"Holy mother of Mew," I muttered to myself. When Asmodeus said that his hideout was small, he was kidding.

We stepped into what was essentially a huge steel basement. I could spot stairs leading above but what stood out the most was the huge machine in the center of the 'room'.

"It's a old power generator. Doesn't work anymore but you can get in the compartment at the back and it'll drown out any noise from the shipyard above.

Admitedly, I was impressed but I didn't show it. My stomach, however, decided to voice its approval in its very loud way.

"Guess you're hungry then," Asmodeus said, staring at me and trying to read my face.

"No, my stomach talks to me," I replied, sarcasm coating my words like cheese coats pizza.

"What's it saying then?" the bigger Charmander asked with a chuckle

"It's saying 'feed me or smack the annoying git in front of you'."

"I'll get us something to eat."

"Thought you would."

Asmodeus vanished up the stairs and left me to my thoughts, which were slow in coming.

'I wonder if he can find a cake?' Was the first thing that popped into my head, followed swiftly by, 'I hope it is a chocolate one.'

Eventually, my one track mind derailed and allowed my to mull over slightly more importent things than a creamy, delicious chocolate cake. I wiped the drool away and began to contamplate my decision in following my traitor of a brother.

'Why did I come here? I should have stayed out in the rain instead of following that bastard,' I thought, 'Sod it. I'm getting out of here before he betrays me again.'

I climbed back into the tunnel and started to walk away, when something grabbed onto my tail and hauled me back again. I tried to pull myself free but I couldn't get any grip on the steel floor. I looked over my shoulder to see a strange purple Pokémon, partially see through. What scared me the most were the eyes, those red eyes that seemed to pierce strait into my soul.

"Where do you think you are going? The party hasn't even gotten started yet," the Pokémon said, clenching my tail tighter in its hands and bringing tears to my eyes. I reacted to the pain with a small fireball, which made the thing let go and gave me the chance to crawl for safety.

"What the heck was that thing?" I said to myself as I shot through the tunnel in record time and burst out back into the alleyway. However, between me and the way out of the alleyway stood Asmodeus.

"I figured that Gengar wouldn't be able to hold you. Well, I'll fix that," he sneered while my temper flared up at the betrayal, even though I had seen it coming.