And we start Arc Ten. I really like this Episode, mainly because it is Flame in the spotlight again. And it even has some more of a past revealer. Well, the arc has only just begun and already all hell as been let loose. This is going to be a fun thing to write.

Arc Ten: Rocky Terrain

Episode 114: Firey Determination

"Yeesh, when Moron said it would be a challange to go this way," I muttered as I pulled myself up ontop of a boulder that was blocking the path up the mountain, "he wasn't kidding."

"Well he decided that it would be less dangerous than taking the underground path, especially if you recall the last mountain you went underground in," Scout said as he hovered overhead, lucky bastard. I wished that I could fly right then.

"You have a point," I grunted as I lept over the boulder and legged up along the rocky path, trying to catch up with the others.

"Next time, make sure I don't stop my evolution," I grumbled, "longer legs would come in handy here."

"Why did you stop it in the first place?" Scout asked, a little confused. I had to think for a few seconds.

"It just didn't feel right I guess," I replied, "I just didn't want to change just yet. I like being me."

The ground was getting even rockier, I was really starting to struggle to keep up with Moron. If my feet were not covered in hard scales, they would have been torn to pieces. Of course, that didn't stop my getting grumpier and grumpier as the day wore on.

We finally reached some flat, unrocky, ground and Moron and Joanne decided that it was the place to stay for the night. There was a small stream running past this stone clearing, allowing me to take a nice long drink.

"To think, that I used to live ontop of a mountain like this," I muttered as I walked back other to the others and plonked myself down on the ground.

Blacky and Scyther were released out of their Pokéballs and took a look around.

"Well, this sure is a change of scenery," Scyther muttered while Blacky procceded to try and dig a hole in the floor.

"This place sure is hard to dig in," he muttered after a few minutes off that.

"It is solid rock, most of the topsoil would have been washed away," Squirt muttered, still with that depressed tone.

I snapped, I couldn't take him being like that anymore.

"For Mew's sake!" I said as loud as I could, "I've had enough of this."

"Enough of what?" Squirt asked, looking a little put off.

"You moping around. It's really starting to annoy me. It's like someone's died or something."

"What would you know?" He replied, just as loudly, "you don't know what relationships are like!"

Scyther told Blacky to get back, sensing that things could get nasty. Squirt stared at me and I stared back before replying in a calm voice, "you're right. I don't."

"Then shut the hell up!"

I was so tempted to reveal who Cresent really was, but I fought back the urge and let it go. I turned away and walked off, trying as hard as I could to keep myself from snapping back.

"Flame," Squirt muttered as I headed off, "I'm sorry."

"No you're not sorry," I replied over my shoulder, "after all, I'm just the ignorant little Charmander."

I headed away from the rest of the group, heading uphill untill I was out of their sight. When I had gone far enough, I sat down on a piece of flat rock and looked up at the red sky.

"I've been wild for so long, I don't know anything about dealing with problems," I muttered to myself, "violence won't fix this."

There was a breeze picking up, running over my scales. The wind caused the nido-horn to bounce on my chest and I took hold of it in my claws, remembering the night when I had been given it. Then my memory went back six years earlier.

I had been walking along a dirt path, small compaired to the Rattata that watched as I headed past. I was covered in dirt, tired and hungry. My small frame wasn't used to traveling at all, let alone for several days without stopping. But I didn't want to stop, the Arbok that had killed my sister could be right behind me.

I was driving my body as hard as I could, having long since left the Human boat I had stowed away on to cross the seas. If I hadn't been so exausted, then I might have looked around at the new sights and smells. But I kept going, I had too. Eventually my legs couldn't take the punishment that I was inflicting anymore and gave way, taking me down with them. I lay in the center of the road, too tired to even crawl towards shelter.

I remembered asking myself if it was even worth living like that, always on the run from danger. All alone. I hated the feeling of being helpless and used that hatred to fuel myself. Just as I pushed myself back up onto my feet, there was this strange feeling of warmth overtake me.

It was coming from my tail, so I glanced back and saw a small flame dancing on its tip. It had finally happened, I'd finally gotten my fire. The tiny flame flickered in the darkening light and the sight of it gave me the resolve to go on, no matter what, and I struggled onwards. I was safe in the knowlage that I would never be alone, I had my fire.

I shifted slightly on the rock and glanced back at my tail flame. I couldn't help but smile as it flickered as though it was saying hello.

"That was the first time you stopped me giving up," I told it, watching it flicker in the sunset, "and let's hope that this is the last."

I turned away from my flame, just in time to see the sun vanish behind one of the mountains in the distance.

"Who needs relationships?" I muttered to myself, my flame listening as it flickered away, "I managed to survive on my own."

Suddenly a strange chill filled the air, which shouldn't have affected me at all thanks to my fire. I heard the sound of screams coming from the campsite and lept up, running towards the noise.

Two Onix had appeared and had used their bodies to surround the others, Squirt was pounding them with water and trying to stop them getting closer. Scyther and Scout were both hacking away with blades and talons but didn't seem to be doing much to the rock snakes.

I was still afraid of them, having been thrashed so easily in the past. But that didn't stop me jumping ontop of a loose boulder and using my weight to send it shooting downhill. I was riding it like a sled, aiming for another rock that was a little way ahead.

My makeshift sled shot over the, just as makeshift, ramp and became airborne. I'd timed it perfectly and the sled arced through the air, impacting with the back on an Onix's head. It reared up and spun round, to see what had hit it. The movement meant that my landing spot was strait on it's nose.

"Hello," I said as I ran along its muzzle and slammed my claws strait into its eye.

The Onix screamed and bucked it's head, throwing me off. I went soaring through the air and landed strait in Moron's arms. Which was marginaly better than hitting the rocks. I climbed free and watched as the injured Onix vanished into a massive tunnel it had dug.

I turned round just in time to see the other Onix heading strait for me, looking very pissed off. I starting running to the side, the Onix chasing, and led it away from the others. As I ran, I ripped the Nido-horn off from around my neck and lobbed it to the side. I didn't want to end up stabbing myself during the mad sprint down hill.

Then, a massive shadow loomed over me as the Onix reared up over head. I managed to skid to a halt and dive clear as it slammed into the ground, creating a tunnel and vanishing into it. When the dust settled and all was silent, I got back to my feet as quietly as possible.

I turned away as Blacky ran towards me.

"You showed them!" He yelled, bounding over rocks and boulders. Squirt followed behind, carrying the Nido-horn that I had discarded.

I smiled and was about to head towards, untill the sound of cracking stopped me dead. I held up my paw and Blacky halted, looking as confused as I must have been. I glanced down at the ground and noticed cracks in the rocks. Slowly moving to glance back, I noticed the entrance to the tunnel that the Onix had made was growing bigger by the second.

I turned back to the others, they all had noticed the cracks and were looking worried. I could feel the floor beneath me begin to crumble.

"Squirt," I said, staying as calm as I could.

"Yeah?"

"Keep hold of that," I said, glancing at the Nido-horn, "I'm going to want it back."

Then the ground gave way and I was pulled into the darkness. There was nothing to grab onto in order to slow my decent and the light from the sky rapidly vanished, along with the other's yells.

"Well tail flame," I yelled over the whistling that filled my ears as I hurtled through the darkness, "guess we're on our own again."