The sun was high in the sky. Shafts of golden light pierced through the leaves of the dense canopy of the forest, illuminating the verdant world below. If one listened, one would hear a clash between two parties unfolding amidst the tranquility and beauty that the forest held.

High above, a spearow with glossy brown feathers that gleamed underneath the sparse sunlight, flapped its wings angrily. Its anger was directed at Cinder, the remnants of singed feathers on one of its wings served as a reminder of its previous engagement with fire type below. With a fierce shriek, the spearow glared down at Cinder, its beady black eyes reflecting a wild determination. Cinder stood before it with a snarl, the flames on her back rising dangerously. Blake stood with his face contorted into an exhilarated grin, reveling in the spectacle as the avian pokemon readied its assault.

Cinder, undaunted, remained ready, her lithe form crouched and ready for action. The two of them had been using the flying pokemon they encountered in the forest as practice. Though, Blake was sure to be sure of whether the pokemon they challenged were actively interested in battle. However, Cinder, ever the fiery spirit, occasionally disregarded this rule of theirs and launched impromptu attacks.

"Ember!" Blake cried out, the thrill of battle clear in his voice.

In a blur of feathers and fury, the spearow descended upon Cinder, its beak aglow with a bright white aura. Time seemed to slow as the impending clash drew near. With a quick, graceful movement, Cinder rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the menacing beak that would have pierced her otherwise.

As she recovered, the flames on her back, which cast an eerie glow across the forest floor, flickered with the use of her flames. Her crimson eyes locked onto the spearow who had done a graceful aerial maneuver to turn itself back toward her. With a fiery exhale, she spat several searing balls of fire, launching them toward the approaching flying type - some of the fiery projectiles were either dodged or veered off course before two found their mark.

The fireballs struck true, smashing into the spearow's remaining wing. An agonized screech filled the air as the wing was enveloped in flames, causing the bird to plummet. As it struck the ground, a bone-chilling crunch that made even Blake wince could be heard. The spearow lay still, unable to fight anymore.

Cinder stood victorious, her chest heaving with the exhilaration of battle. Feeling triumphant, she spat a small plume of fire into the sky, the victorious display of flames celebrating her hard-fought victory. The battle concluded rendering the forest quiet once more.

"Alright Cinder, way to go!" Cinder responded to the compliment with a contented churr. Blake couldn't help but smile as he looked at his loyal companion gloat over her win. One of the things he had come to appreciate most about Cinder was her unwavering spirit. During a fight, she would snarl and spit and fight back as if her very existence hinged on victory. But what set her apart was that none of this ferocity stemmed from anger; it was a pure, untamed passion for battling and pushing her limits.

Blake reached into his back, grabbing one of the pokeballs he'd brought with him. Blake chucked it at the flying type carefully - it would be annoying to go find if he missed. The ball opened, seeming to pause in the air as it sucked the spearow inside. It fell to the ground, shaking once, then twice, before finally going inert with a click, signaling a successful capture.

Blake retrieved the pokeball from the forest floor, his gaze fixed upon it for a moment as he contemplated the latest addition to his collection. With a thoughtful click of his tongue, he stowed the pokeball in his bag alongside the others. Just like the countless other Pokémon they had faced during their time in the forest, this Spearow wouldn't be joining his team. He didn't just want any old run-of-the-mill pokemon that decided to battle, he needed something strong that showed the same drive and potential Cinder did. Nevertheless, it seemed fitting to grant it some attention and care after such a hard-fought battle on its part.

He sighed before turning his attention back to Cinder. "Nice work. Maybe I should let you randomly attack more often, you actually managed to hit that one." He said with a giggle as she turned to look at him with a glare. "Oh, shush. You know I'm right, your aim's terrible, we're lucky you didn't hit any trees. But you're improving and that's all that matters."

They'd been on the road for about four days - traveling and training in the forest for two and he could already see some growth in the fire type. Sure, her aim still needed work, but her overall control over Ember was seeing improvement, so much improvement in fact, that he was starting to think that she was ready for the next phase in their training.

Cinder hissed at Blake but he waved her off. "None of that. You're doing really well despite your aim. I think you might be ready to learn a new move."

Cinder's eyes perked up in interest. "Tell you what, we'll move on to learning Fire Spin once you can hit something more than twice in a row." Blake challenged the fire type. She barked giddily, she had been rather bored in the forest fighting the odd spearow and pidgey they encountered on this end, learning a new move would surely entertain her for a bit. He hoped they'd encounter another trainer or something while they were inside.

He was itching for a good battle with another human being. The trainers they had encountered on Route 11 had offered a bit of competition, even if they weren't overly challenging. But the lack of action in the forest was beginning to gnaw at him. Watching Cinder easily defeat the wild Pokémon they had encountered so far was a testament to her strength, but the trainer in him longed for a test of skill against another trainer.

"Alright then, let's keep moving. I think Fuchsia's still a little over a week away," Blake said, stowing the pokeball containing the defeated Spearow in his bag. Cinder hissed her agreement and continued to walk alongside him. Despite the occasional boredom of the forest, he couldn't deny its allure. As Blake and Cinder continued their journey through the lush forest, the dappling sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of leaves above, creating a mesmerizing play of shadows on the forest floor. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and the soft symphony of chirping pidgey flying above them. Blake couldn't help but feel a sense of tranquility wash over him. Maybe the forest wasn't so bad.

xXx

As they walked deeper into the forest, after a few days Blake began to notice that their path was beginning to narrow, along with that even the leaves were beginning to grow larger and denser, making him wish he'd brought a machete or something with him. The forest seemed to be reclaiming the path, and it was becoming more challenging to move forward. Blake's steps grew more deliberate, and he carefully navigated around tangled roots and low-hanging branches attempting to break through to his destination.

Eventually, the dense thicket of trees began to open up further ahead, revealing a breathtaking sight. The opening in the greenery revealed that they were standing way farther up than he'd imagined - the cliff he was standing on top of gave him a clear view of the area where he could see what little he could make out of Fuschia. The trees were a tall veritable ocean of green with some appearing to have vines growing over them. Blake grinned, happy to see what the rest of the forest had in store.

"Cinder look," He said, pointing to their destination. Her keen eyes followed his finger, "That's Fuschia, we're getting pretty close yeah?"

The fire type hissed in agreement, looking over at the city up ahead of them with her scarlet eyes. Blake had always wanted to go to Fuschia, hearing about the famous 'Safari Zone' since he was a kid, however, he'd always been stuck exploring near Vermillion's wilderness with Trace. Vermillion was rather safe, the pokemon in the surrounding area were rather docile compared to the pokemon in other areas around the region. Though Blake did always make sure to be careful as while pokemon-related deaths had decreased greatly since the league's formation, any pokemon that decided to attack him likely could've. They had to sneak out every time but it had been worth it in his book, times like those fueled his desire to explore after all.

Now, seeing that the two of them were well on their way, Blake was left with one question while staring at the trees below them.

"How are we gonna get over there?" He asked out loud, playing with one of his locs in the front as he surveyed the area, not seeing any slope or place that he could try to climb down easily. Thankfully he remembered something he'd learned while studying to pass the test for his license - He thanked the legends that he'd packed plenty of rope with him. This would definitely be dangerous, but there was no way he'd be turning around. Besides, who knew what was down there? For all he knew, the Scyther he'd been keeping his eye out for could be down there, just waiting to go into a pokeball.

He recalled Cinder, promising to release her when he made it down safely. After securing her pokeball to his belt, Blake began searching for something heavy that he could use as an anchor. Before long, he found a thick tree near the edge. He grinned setting his backpack on the grass.

He set to work wrapping the tree in the rope, making sure that it was secure before wrapping some of it around his lower half in an array of knots that would keep him secure without him potentially going splat. He gave the rope a few hard tugs making absolutely sure that he'd be safe going down - from what he could gather from the distance he was standing at, it wasn't an insane drop but he still needed to be as safe as he could be regardless.

Taking a deep breath as the nerves began to take over, Blake began to rappel his way down. He did his utmost to not look down at the verdant expanse below him, simply remaining focused on the task at hand. As he climbed down, he felt his arms and legs begin to burn from the strain of keeping himself from falling. Eventually, he started to feel leaves tickling his legs as he made his way down to solid ground with his limbs screaming out for mercy. He unraveled the rope that held him up, wincing as he felt the burn from where his legs were being constricted by the rope.

He sat on the ground, leaning against a tree trying to catch his breath - taking his bag off and sitting to the side. He plucked Cinder's pokeball from his belt and released her in front of him, rubbing at his arm as he did so. The fire type appeared in a flash of light, churring a greeting to him. She surveyed the were in before looking back to him with a tilted head.

"Sorry Cinder, we'll get moving again in a bit. Just need to rest for a second." Blake said, feeling the strain in his legs lessen somewhat, "Tell you what, why don't we start working on Fire Spin a bit. I'm sure we can at least get the basics down. I'll warn you though it might not be easy, a lot of fire types struggle with the move." But Cinder hissed and shook her head, standing attentively. Blake smiled, amused at her insistence.

"Alright, can't say I didn't warn ya," Blake said with a wry grin. He pulled his pokegear out of his bag and began typing and scrolling until he found what he was looking for.

"Fire Spin," Blake said, pointing at the screen. Cinder watched intently as another cyndaquil stepped into frame….

xXx.

"Come on, I know you can do it," Blake cheered, watching the fire type attempt to use Fire Spin for the tenth time that day.

Cinder growled, her back blazing as she suspended an Ember in the air using her mind. The bolt of flame trembled more and more with every second that passed as she strained to make it move. The cyndaquil species held a remarkable amount of psychic potential. Perhaps not as much as the average ninetales and certainly not as much as the delphox species from Kalos, but similar to them they used their inborn psychic abilities to control their own flames.

However, Cinder just didn't have the control necessary to move her flames yet. Fire Spin required the user to animate their flames, wrapping their opponent within a ring of fire or even an entire vortex at the highest level. That would require finesse and fluidity she wasn't displaying yet.

Cinder continued to struggle on, the ember growing brighter and slightly larger against the darkness, before with a snarl, the flames expanded, exploding against her fur, leaving the area dark once more. Blake rubbed spots out of his eyes with a tsk. That had been a good try, certainly the best they'd had so far. However, his satisfaction with her improvement was cut short as caught a whiff of something burning.

Blake sat down in front of her with a frown, rubbing the patch of burnt fur that she now sported on her neck and chest. Her fur, normally thin and soft, was now rough and spiky, with flakes of black that clung to the cream.

"You're holding onto it well," Blake complimented her, trying to keep her spirits up - though he really did think she was doing better - just not good enough to achieve their goal. And it looked as though she felt the same way, "Look I told you it would be hard when we started, psychic manipulation isn't exactly easy."

Cinder's flames danced against the darkness that surrounded them. She hissed, stomping the ground in anger. Blake sighed - Cinder seemed frustrated, and he knew the feeling all too well. They'd been practicing tirelessly for days, but Cinder's control over her flames still fell short of what was needed for Fire Spin.

He leaned against the log he'd been using to lay on, feeling the warmth that flooded from his starter's mere presence. He glared into the flames of the campfire as he attempted to figure their problem out. He pulled his thick, black notebook out and scribbled, he closed the book looking at Cinder, who was holding her head with narrowed eyes filled with frustration.

"All right calm down," Blake said, rolling his eyes, "You're clearly on the right track - you've managed to catch the flame in your control after all - but you're brute forcing it, I can tell from the way you're straining yourself." He stopped her immediate protest, seeing the scowl on her face from the flickering light of their campfire. "Fire Spin is a move that takes finesse, you can't just force the flames to do what you want."

He let her stew in that for a moment, watching her visibly sag as she relented before continuing with his critiques, "You aren't a psychic type so of course this is hard, but throwing all your energy into the move and hoping it works isn't going to help. We need to try this from another angle, yeah?" He asked the fire type who nodded begrudgingly, grunting in question.

Blake pulled himself back up, looking at Cinder with a smile, "Let's give it another go, okay? We can figure this out."

The fire type nodded irritably, seemingly still ticked at her lack of progress.

"Fire manipulation is difficult for you and that's okay, your psychic prowess probably isn't very high and you probably won't develop everything you're capable of having until you evolve and your brain has more room to grow - but that doesn't mean you're limited. You just need to expand your range of control. If we can keep improving on your control and push you to control your flames without overloading them we'll have the move down pat. We can even use those backfires to our advantage when you evolve. Imagine that - your opponent thinks they have you, then boom!" He was practically drooling now, imagining all of the possibilities master Fire Spin would bring.

"Anyway, let's try it again," Blake said, coming out of his imagination, and taking a step back. "Just start with a small ember, see how high you can float it off your claws."

Blake watched the flames on Cinder's back dim as she reared her head back, gathering energy in her throat. She hissed as smoke steadily trickled through her nose before she spat a tiny ember into her paws. It glowed brightly, supported by nothing but her own energy. It shook in her claws for a moment before slowly rising up an inch, staying there as she put all of her focus into it.

"Good. Now, you need to move it. Take it slow, this isn't a race." Blake said, watching the small orange flame that burned bright against the dark. Cinder went rigid with effort, doing her best to move the flames without overloading them. He watched as the dancing fire began to glow and enlarge more and more steadily.

"Focus. Don't let it get out of your control. Remember, not power, finesse" Blake said sternly. Cinder snarled but relaxed somewhat, the strain on her body lessening with each passing moment, however, her eyes remained narrowed in focus.

As her breathing calmed, the flame in her control began to dance, moving to and fro in front of their eyes. Its movement was rigid and stiff, and the fire that illuminated its surroundings with its wild dance began to flicker. It was ugly work at best but it was progress.

"See," Blake said happily, feeling great pride in his friend, "Told you you can do it."

Cinder held on for a mere moment more before she gave out, sagging from the effort. The flames in her control dissipated, leaving their campfire as the only source of light in the clearing. However, Blake could see the fire lit in her red eyes. She'd master this move and Blake would be with her the whole way.

"One more time." He said red meeting amber under the fire's light.

And the two of them continued well into the night.

xXx

The rain seemed never-ending. The storm Blake and Cinder had been traveling through had been pouring down for nearly two days and it was making their journey take far longer than it had to. It had started as a light drizzle with a gray backdrop, however, it quickly became a torrential downpour overnight. With every passing hour, Blake began to regret taking the path. The mud from the rain made slopes dangerous to go down, he was soaked to the bone, the tall, green-vined trees that tower above blocked his path, and worst of all, he had to deal with it alone.

Cinder had tried to convince him to let her stay out and walk with him through the rain, but he shut it down immediately - though her flames came from within unlike most fire types, she was still ultimately susceptible to water and low temperatures just like any other.

Blake shivered as he took another sloshing step through the mud underneath the relentless downpour. His clothes clung to his body, and the weight of his soaked backpack made each step a struggle. He couldn't help but think about how much easier this journey would be if Cinder could be by his side.

Not having her by his side felt a bit off now, after all, she'd been practically glued to his side since their journey began. He missed the reassuring warmth of her flames and the sense of companionship that came with it.

However, he kept walking, trying to find himself some form of shelter amidst the downpour. The rain hammered down with relentless force, drenching him in its icy embrace. And he winced as the sound of thunder echoed in the distance, a warning of the imminent storm's fury.

Undeterred by the elements, Blake's determination propelled him onward, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes as he spotted a cave entrance in the distance.

He just had to hope there were no pokemon occupying it. Cinder was strong but she didn't quite have the arsenal for rock types or anything else that would resist her flames, not yet anyway.

Blake quickened his pace, the cave entrance drawing nearer with each determined step. The rain continued to pour, soaking him to the bone, but the thought of finding shelter and a moment's respite from the storm pushed him forward.

Approaching with his flashlight in hand, Blake surveyed the inside of the cave which was glowing a faint orange from where he was standing, from where he was standing he could feel a rush of heat from what he assumed to be a fire. Curious he pressed onward, fully entering the cave.

When he entered, Before he could react, a rush of displaced air cut through the cave's warmth, assaulting him with a chilling breeze. Panic surged through his veins as the sensation of cold steel pressed menacingly against his neck, stealing his breath away.

He looked down to see a large blood-red pincer lying atop his throat. The pincer pressed into his skin, causing him to wince as he felt the pressure on his neck. He looked up, feeling his skin pale as the weight of the situation crashed down upon him.

Two intense golden eyes with a bestial quality bored into his own from behind a blood-red metallic shell. They were sharp and cold, almost daring him to move. The three blunt horns that jutted from its head gleamed menacingly in the dim light of the cave. He looked at the claw holding him, seeing the eye-like markings on both ends.

He flinched as its eyes narrowed, sweat mingled with raindrops on his forehead as he braced himself for an uncertain fate, his mind racing to devise an escape plan, to free himself from the clutches of the scizor that now held him captive in the depths of the cave.

From behind the scizor, Blake could hear the sound of a pair of boots tapping against the uneven stone floor.

"Scizor, put it down," A masculine voice that was both sharp and youthful sighed, "I mean, honestly, one of these days you're gonna get me-" the voice paused as the figure behind it walked into view.

"Is that a kid?!" The figure questioned shrilly, sounding panicked, "You put him down, now!"

The scizor released him, turning to the figure reluctantly. Blake fell into a crouch, clutching his neck with a cough.

Blake squinted at the figure, attempting to make his features out in the dark as he chewed the scizor who was looking away in a look of embarrassment he didn't think something so intimidating could make. Sending the scizor off, the boy turned to Blake allowing him to see him in full.

He assumed that the boy was around fifteen to sixteen. He was definitely older than Blake, standing nearly four inches above him. He had a very sharp face that wore a weary expression complemented by unruly brown hair and piercing brown eyes that held an intensity behind them that made him feel like a caterpie beneath a Pidgeot's gaze. The boy's attire consisted of a slightly worn blue jacket, beige pants, and relatively new-looking brown boots.

Upon closer inspection, Blake couldn't help but notice that the boy seemed oddly familiar.

"Sorry about that kid, Scizor's been on edge since he evolved a few days ago. Hormones ya know?" The boy apologized, rubbing the back of his head, "I'm Blue, Blue Oak." Blake blinked at that before a giddy smile reached his face. He forgot all about the incredibly intimidating scizor he almost certainly was about to be beheaded by. After all, he was meeting THE Blue Oak.

The memory was incredibly clear to him. He'd been around eight when he witnessed the Indigo Conference of PL 956. On that day, Blake met Trace at his house to watch the heavily anticipated finals together. It was a subject that had consumed their conversations for weeks leading up to the event.

The finals pitted two legendary trainers, Red Ketchum and Blue Oak, against each other in a six-on-six battle to claim the coveted title of Indigo Conference Champion. They were hailed by the media as the "Boy Wonders," a label that only heightened the anticipation surrounding the duel. The two of them made history that day as the youngest trainers to ever make it to a finals match. The battle itself was nothing short of spectacular, etching itself into Blake's memory as one of the most awe-inspiring clashes he had ever witnessed. He could distinctly recall the exhilaration, the hair-raising moments, and the breathtaking exchange of moves between the two rookie trainers. The intensity of the confrontation was such that it resulted in large portions of the stadium, caught in the crossfire, being reduced to rubble.

Ultimately, the climax of the battle materialized in a riveting one-on-one showdown between Blue's Charizard and Red's Venusaur, a moment that sent shockwaves of excitement through the audience. In a surprising twist, it was Red who emerged victorious, etching his name into the annals of history as the Indigo Conference Champion.

Blue saw his star-struck expression and scoffed.

"Aw don't tell me you're another one of those fanboys! I thought I told you people to quit trying to find me and just leave me alone!" Blue said, clearly irritated. Blake paled as he saw Scizor's golden eyes shift toward him from the dark corner he was leaning into.

Blake put his hands up placatingly.

"Woah, nothing like that," Blake said, holding his hands up placatingly, "Sorry, I guess it's just cool meeting a trainer I've looked up to for so long in person. I've watched your conference run from 956 like 100 times."

Blue, still clearly annoyed by the encounter, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Blake's enthusiastic response. He had grown used to fans trying to meet him, but Blake's genuine admiration seemed to catch him off guard.

"Yeah, well, I appreciate the praise," Blue responded with a hint of begrudging acceptance. "But it doesn't mean I'm in the mood for a fan club meeting right now.

Blake nodded, understanding that he had intruded on Blue's space. He glanced around the cave, which now seemed like an even more mysterious place. "Sorry for barging in like this," he said. "I was just looking for shelter from the storm. I didn't expect to run into... well, you."

Blue's expression softened slightly as he noticed the genuine sincerity in Blake's words. "It's fine," he muttered. "Storms like these can catch anyone off guard. You're lucky you found this cave; it's not marked on any maps."

Blake nodded in agreement, grateful for the refuge the cave provided. "I suppose I owe you one for not letting your Scizor make a pincushion out of me," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Blue couldn't help but chuckle at that, his irritation dissipating a bit. "Yeah, he's a bit overprotective sometimes," he admitted. "But it's good to see you're not another one of those paparazzi types."

As the rain continued to pour outside, Blake and Blue found themselves sitting by a small, flickering campfire that Blue had managed to kindle. It provided a comforting warmth in the cave's otherwise cold and damp interior. They were passing the time talking, though it was mostly filled with Blake asking an endless sea of questions that Blue was almost too happy to entertain. However, the conversation eventually shifted around to Blue asking Blake some things.

"Alright dude, lemme ask you something. What's your goal out here? You plan on competing?" Blue asked, taking his jacket off.

"Yeah, I'm taking on the gym circuit. Me and-" Blake paused, suddenly looking at his belt, "You haven't met Cinder yet, one sec," He pulled the fire type's ball from his belt, releasing her next to himself.

The fire type stretched pawing at the ground in front of her churring a greeting to Blake before inclining her head toward Blue.

"Hey Cinder," Blake greeted her, "This is Blue Oak, Blue this is Cinder, my starter." Cinder looked at Blue churring a short greeting. Blue gave her a mock salute, sporting

Blue nodded, holding his chin. "Well that's a surprise, not often you see a Cyndaquil round' these parts. I'll assume you two are going for Koga yeah?"

Blake nodded, scratching Cinder's ears with a determined grin, "We didn't come all this way not to."

"I see," Blue said, looking like he was deep in thought, "And you don't have a second pokemon right?"

"No, I was planning to just take a one-on-one. I had a scyther in mind but I can't seem to find one for the life of me," Blake said with a scowl, "And I haven't managed to find anything else that I'm just itching to catch."

"Hmm, a scyther aye? I've taken a liking to you, and since one of my Pokémon kinda went after you, I'll lend you a hand," Blue offered, "I'm actually out here on business. You see there's been reports of a scyther around here going around attacking random trainers. I'm on a mission to catch it and send it off to the league's rehab program. But, if you think you're up for the challenge, I'll send you its location and you can make the capture yourself. Word is it's still quite young, so you should be alright."

Blake's eyes went wide, "Really? You're trusting me with something like that?"

"Well yeah man, I think you can handle it. Plus if you catch it, that's less work for me in the end." Blue explained, pulling a pokegear out, "Here, lemme see your pokegear."

Blake pulled his own out, giving it to Blue who began typing something in before handing it back.

Blake stared at the coordinates on his pokegear, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through him. This was an opportunity he hadn't anticipated when he set out on his journey. He thought he'd have to give up on his dream of having a scyther by his side, but here he was now, getting help with catching one from Blue Oak himself—it was almost too good to be true.

"Thank you, Blue," Blake said, a grin spreading across his face. "I really appreciate this. I won't let you down."

Blue nodded, his earlier annoyance now completely replaced with teacher-like wisdom. "Just remember, Scyther can be pretty tough opponents, I would know. They're fast and agile, so be prepared for a battle. And whatever you do, don't present yourself as a target Blake. Even if it's a younger one they're still fully capable of seriously harming you."

Cinder chittered in agreement as if to reassure Blake that she was ready for the challenge. She was eager to prove herself in battle.

Blake returned Cinder to her pokeball and turned his attention back to Blue. "I'll head out early tomorrow morning. Thanks again for the help. You didn't have to do that."

"No problem," Blue replied with a nod. "Just remember to be careful out there. The wilderness can be unforgiving, especially with wild pokemon on the loose. But I dunno, I feel like you'll be fine. You seem like a tough kid."

As the night wore on, Blake and Blue continued to chat by the campfire. Blake learned more about Blue's experiences as a trainer, his adventures in different regions, and the various Pokémon he had captured along the way. It was a rare and valuable opportunity to gain insights from a seasoned trainer like Blue, and Blake soaked up every word.

Eventually, fatigue crept in, and the two trainers decided to get some rest. Blue showed Blake a dry spot in the cave where he could set up his sleeping bag. As Blake lay there, staring up at the cave's rocky ceiling, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead. Meeting Blue had turned out to be an unexpected twist in his adventure, one that had opened up new possibilities and challenges.

With thoughts of the elusive scyther and his upcoming battle swirling in his mind, Blake eventually drifted off to sleep, grateful for the shelter and guidance he had found in the most unlikely of places.

xXx

The first light of dawn filtered into the cave, gently rousing Blake from his slumber. He stretched and yawned, the events of the previous night quickly flooding back into his consciousness. Today was the day he would set out to find and capture a scyther of his own, a task that filled him with both excitement and trepidation. Blue had given him some tips on capturing one last night he was sure he and Cinder wouldn't fail.

Blue was already awake, Scizor standing next to him protectively as he looked over a thick stack of papers that he looked incredibly annoyed by. He looked up, hearing Blake approach, and gave Blake a reassuring nod. "Ready to go, kid?"

Blake nodded, rubbing his hands together. He was filled with resolute determination. "For sure. I'm gonna catch me a scyther today."

The two trainers packed their gear, making sure they had enough supplies. With final words of advice and encouragement, Blake and Blue parted ways at the mouth of the cave. Blue wished him luck once more, and with Cinder by his side, Blake ventured into the dense forest, guided by the coordinates from his PokéGear marked on a map.

Blake continued walking through the forest, watching the forest change from a dense forest to more of a lush jungle with dense underbrush and towering trees that let in scarce amounts of sunlight. They were now somewhere around Route 14.

Blake's heart raced with anticipation as he followed the map approaching the scyther's supposed location. He was constantly checking his surroundings, Cinder, who was at his side did much the same. And for good reason, she was his only defense at the moment. He knew that this venture would be somewhat dangerous, after all, he was a rookie trainer hunting down a Class A pokemon that he likely wasn't ready for. But he wouldn't know if he didn't try, besides, the thrill behind hunting a dangerous predator in a jungle fueled his desire even more as he walked.

It felt hours passed by as they trekked deeper into the wilderness, both Blake and Cinder were beginning to grow bored. The pokemon they encountered as they walked weren't particularly interesting, though the Venonat he could see peering at him from under the shadows did give him pause after all they were somewhat rare but he kept walking, occasionally stopping to allow Cinder the random battle or two that she decided to engage in.

"Ugh, this is so lame. I'm sure Blue gave us the right location." Blake groaned, sitting on top of a fallen tree in the middle of a clearing they'd found, taking a swig from his canteen as he looked at the coordinates again.

Cinder hissed in agreement, lazily stretched out on the ground with her flames low. She had shown improvement with not having them up all the time. With a bit more practice she would be able to sit on furniture and enter buildings without needing to be stowed away in her pokeball.

"Maybe we should just turn back," Blake said with his head still tilted down, "We aren't that far from Fuschia, besides, I would've only been using you for the gym anyway."

Cinder yawned, blinking lazily at her trainer before her eyes widened. Blake heard it too.

A high-pitched buzz began to permeate the forest.

She barked a warning to Blake, who looked up quickly, "Wha-," Blake barely had time to question what was happening before being shoved to the ground roughly by Cinder with a low-powered Quick Attack that made him cough hard.

Just inches above Blake's head, a colossal, scythe-like appendage sliced through the space he had occupied just moments ago. A rush of fear coursed through him, his heart pounding like a drum. He clutched his chest in pain, wincing, and for a brief, agonizing moment, the fear held him captive.

However, the urgency of the situation overcame his physical discomfort. Ignoring the throbbing ache, though he had a nagging suspicion that something was bruised, he couldn't afford to stay put right now.

He rolled over quickly, Cinder stepping in front of him protectively. Though his stomach hurt a bit from the tackle she'd just given him, he stood up with grit teeth looking at his assailant with a wolfish grin that betrayed the immense level of panic he felt just moments earlier.

Hovering in front of him was his long sought-after bounty - a scyther. It stood tall and imposing, its scythe-like blades gleaming ominously in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the forest canopy. Its robust exoskeleton resembled a suit of verdant armor that belied the incredible speeds he knew its species was capable of moving at. The wings adorning its back fluttered with astonishing rapidity as it hovered above the ground, its eyes narrowed into an intimidating, piercing glare.

It let out a sharp, aggressive cry, scraping its blades together. This was not going to be an easy battle. He looked down, meeting Cinder's gaze as she looked back at him with an unspoken question. He nodded, steeling his eyes and looking forward.

Cinder stepped forward, flames flickering at the base of her back, she snarled at Scyther as they flared out intensely. She was ready for whatever it could throw at her. The scyther wasted no time, lunging forward with incredible speed, blades flashing as it aimed to strike Cinder.

"Ember!" Blake said, his voice loud and clear. Cinder released several balls of flame that were all dodged easily by the snarling bug type as it approached with a wild slash of its long blade.

Blake's heart pounded as he watched Cinder dart to the side, narrowly avoiding the scyther's attack, and retaliated with a burst of flames from her back. The scyther screeched in pain as it was hit, but it wasn't about to back down. With a snarl, it launched forward slashing at Cinder with a scythe wrapped in pale green energy. Cinder quickly weaved away, receiving a scratch across her chest that left a thin red line in her fur.

She spat several balls of fire at Scyther who dashed away, completely unharmed by the flames as they landed in the dirt.

"Quick Attack,. Try and score some Embers. Use Fire Spin when you're sure you can land it!" Blake commanded, his voice laced with concern that he couldn't quite conceal. He was confident in Cinder but he knew that fights in the wild could get rather dangerous when they were against such a tough opponent.

Wild battles were much different from fights with other trainers. Wild pokemon attacked with no indication of what they were doing and any moment of weakness could potentially mean your pokemon's death as well as your own if you weren't careful or strong enough.

But, seemingly as if she could feel this, Cinder looked up at him, nodding confidently as she was consumed in white light, dashing after Scyther. He nodded after her, watching the exchange unfold.

He'd trust Cinder to lead this fight.

She growled, slamming into its chest in a dark blur of fur and flames. It wasn't phased by the blow, immediately attempting to gore her with another slash that she dodged with Quick Attack creating space between them. She spat several balls of fire from her mouth, which it dodged with ease.

It blurred forward, wings glowing as it went to barrel into her using what Blake thought looked like Wing Attack.

Cinder ran away from it using Quick Attack, quickly becoming aware of their speed difference as it suddenly caught up with her with what Blake assumed to be a Quick Attack of its own. It sliced across her back with a glowing wing, screeching in pain as her flames burned its scythe.

It buzzed away taking a bit of space, allowing Cinder time to get away with Quick Attack. Blake looked at the state she was in with a furrowed brow, seeing the cuts that littered her hunched form. He knew that she was tough but she couldn't keep taking attacks like those, or else she might end up being sliced straight through.

Suddenly, Blake began to feel heat cut through the air around them. He looked at Cinder who was now standing much taller, watching as her flames grew in size and intensity. They grew bright, brighter than any she'd produced thus far. Blake was suddenly feeling much more confident as Cinder activated Blaze.

"Cinder, you good?" Blake asked. The fire type nodded, the dancing bonfire on her back flickering dangerously as she glared at their foe. It was done licking its wounds now and was seemingly raring to go as it rushed in again with glowing scythes.

Blake's eyes narrowed. He was certain now that Cinder could overpower it, but that speed would be a problem if left unchecked. Luckily he knew how to slow it down albeit temporarily.

"Smokescreen!" Blake snapped. Cinder's back flames receded, expelling a thick, oily haze directly into scythers face. He heard it cry out angrily, coughing roughly from inhaling the fumes. Using her opportunity, Cinder unleashed several large balls of flame that could be seen from outside of the cloud. They exploded against its armor doing immense damage as the flames licked away. It screeched in pain, slashing blindly as it felt the flames eat at its highly flammable body.

It blurred away from the smoke reappearing just outside the edge of it. Blake looked at it closely, seeing that the flames had been extinguished, however, it was left with multiple burns over its shell that couldn't have been comfortable. It looked utterly pissed with a grimace on its face, presumably as a result of its injuries.

Quickly, Cinder exploded through the smoke, spitting more flames after it. It kept its distance, doing its best to outpace her, zigging and zagging all the way. It succeeded for the most part, however, its luck was cut short as another ember hit its back. It hissed in pain and anger as it tumbled into the dirt. It quickly stood up wince a wince, darting backwards as Cinder unleashed more flames after it.

Eventually, Cinder stopped giving chase, content to track it with narrowed eyes, panting slightly. It continued running around the clearing before its body began to emit light, releasing two clones of itself, both running alongside it as they ran straight for her, seemingly unable to fly any longer.

Blake's eyes narrowed. A pokemon with Double Team would be nice, but dealing with it himself was annoying.

In a sudden burst of speed, it rushed forward again, slashing Cinder from three directions, however, only one strike managed to do anything, scoring a slash across her chest as she used a well-timed Quick Attack to dodge back into the smoke. Undeterred, it followed her inside with its scythes glowing. Its two clones faded into thin air as it did so.

"Cinder, now!" Within the smoke, Cinder spat a plume of fire that launched forward as if it had a life of its own. The scyther foolishly launched forward, slashing toward where it sensed the heat, thinking it was Cinder. Too bad for the scyther that it wound up slashing through the flames instead, burning its large scythe. The force of its slash split the smoke unveiling both combatants to the world again.

Blake smirked, watching as the flames began to spread, twisting and turning until they surrounded the Scyther in a large ring of fire. Cinder glared at Scyther, causing the flames to swirl around it a bit faster. Her body shook from the effort of moving that much fire but she didn't stop, awaiting Blake's command.

Though it had taken her some time to learn, Fire Spin was becoming easier for her to use every day. He was sure with more practice, she'd be able to use it with ease. But for now, this would do. Blake was proud of her, her efforts had clearly paid off.

He focused on the scyther. It was still attempting to put up a fight but the heat of the flames had forced it to its knees where it looked ready to faint at any moment. It was covered in many blackened spots on its armor that told of the battle it'd just lost.

"Alright, Cinder let it go," Blake said giddily with a bright grin. Cinder's taught frame loosened as her concentration dissolved and the flames faded into the air.

With a sense of pride and accomplishment, Blake threw the pokeball in his hand at the downed Scyther. As the red light enveloped the defeated Pokémon, it was drawn inside, and the ball wobbled once, twice, before finally emitting a satisfying click.

Blake had captured the wild scyther. This wasn't the first pokemon he'd caught on the road, but it filled him with great joy. After all, it'd be the first he'd be adding to his team.

With the Scyther safely contained in its Poké Ball, Blake took a moment to catch his breath. That had been tense. Scyther was faster and more physically inclined than Cinder, but their hit-and-run tactics worked out. However, Blake would be glad when she gained the power to simply overwhelm her foes. But in the moment, he felt like she was coming along as a fighter.

Apparently, she was feeling herself too as she roared, blasting a plume of flames into the air in a bright display of heat and light. She panted heavily afterward with a proud grin on her face.

Blake rolled his eyes with an amused grin. "Nice work, girl! That was an impressive battle; you're definitely prepared for Koga. And that save earlier? You're a lifesaver – it might've cost me my head if you hadn't stepped in," He praised her. She preened, padding over to his side so that he could scratch her head. He secured the pokeball in his hand onto his belt. He planned to have a conversation with Scyther later; he was sure it couldn't be as bad as it seemed, and if it was, Cinder would beat it again.

"You know what, girl? Because you did such an amazing job, I'll get you anything you want when we reach Fuchsia," He proposed, thoroughly impressed with her performance. Cinder responded with a contented purr, nuzzling her head further into his hand. He beamed down at her before retrieving his Pokegear.

He quickly activated the device and sent a message to Blue, discovering that he'd put his number into Blake's contact list at some point. He sent a simple message saying that he'd found Scyther and caught it, sending a picture of Scyther's pokeball alongside it.

Blue's reply came surprisingly fast. 'Great, I'm going to get that cleared. I'm glad I could help. Let me know if you need any tips on how to raise one I'd be more than happy to help. It was nice meeting you. Be safe out there, rookie!"

-B

Blake smiled at that before sending a message to a certain rival of his. Trace's reply came a little slow, but when he received it, Blake couldn't help but smile at the words of disbelief on the screen.

'Dude, you actually went?! Are you crazy?'

'I won't lie tho, that is badass. You're still insane for hunting after that thing. How did you even find it?'

'YOU MET BLUE OAK?'

xXx

The sun hung high in the sky as Blake entered Fuschia, the salty breeze from the nearby sea carrying with it a sense of excitement. He was finally here!

Nestled along the southeastern coast of the Kanto region, it was a place of wonder and mystery for trainers like Blake. The majority of the territory surrounding Fuschia was wild and untamed, and although it'd been a bit boring at times he'd enjoyed traveling through it. However, after nearly three weeks, civilization felt amazing.

Fuschia was far smaller than Vermillion, but Blake thought the more private city held its own special charm. The buildings were pretty small and had a very old feel. He almost felt as if he'd somehow wandered back into the Edo Period. Overall, the only outstanding thing about the place from what he could see was the massive Safari Zone which was gigantic in comparison to the small city that stewarded it.

Blake considered paying to enter the Safari Zone but decided against it. For one, he didn't have the cash to just throw around for something like that, he felt that it would be better spent on supplies. And for two, Blake already had one new member of his team. Kinda. He still needed to work that out.

Blake's first stop was the Pokemon Center. As he entered, he noticed Nurse Joy behind the counter, her signature pink uniform and gentle smile putting him at ease.

"Welcome to the Fuchsia City Pokémon Center," Nurse Joy greeted him. "How can I assist you today?"

Blake approached the counter, "Hi, I need a quick check-up for my Cyndaquil. And this Spearow and Scyther I caught a few days ago are both pretty banged up," He replied, placing the three pokeballs on the counter.

Nurse Joy accepted the pokeballs with a nod and a warm smile. She scanned his ID and got them signed in with a few clicks.

"They're perfectly healthy," Nurse Joy confirmed, returning the pokeballs to Blake. "Is there anything else you'd like, Mr. Larkin?"

"No thank you. How long will it be until I should come back?" He asked, checking the clock behind her which read 11:13.

Blake decided to pay a visit to the local Pokemart to stock up on supplies. He quickly grabbed himself a cart and made his way over to the food aisle. As Blake perused the food aisle of the Poké Mart, he couldn't help but be amazed by the wide variety of food choices available. When he'd bought his supplies he hadn't even thought to look into different flavors.

He remembered his promise to Cinder, seeing the sheer amount of treats on the shelf as well, but he didn't really know what she'd like. However, he did pick up a bag of food supposedly tailored toward fire types. The label said that there were dehydrated tomato berries and charcoal mixed inside. He walked around the aisle looking around, deciding that he'd just come back later.

Just as he was about to move on, a voice called out to him from the end of the aisle. "Hey kid, do you need any help?" Blake turned around to find a teenage girl with long brown hair, who he assumed was a shop assistant. She seemed friendly enough, so he spoke up.

"I actually do - Her name tag read: Lily - you wouldn't happen to know what a cyndaquil and scyther would like would you?" Blake asked, appreciating the assistance.

Lily's eyes lit up with excitement as she walked over to him. "Woah you have a cyndaquil? I heard they're super rare, I've never seen one in person. For a fire type I'd recommend…these," She said grabbing a bag of charcoal, "You probably should use these sparingly but I've heard cyndaquil love to chew on them."

Blake accepted the bag, taking note of the advice, "And what about Scyther?"

"For your scyther, I'd recommend these," she remarked, handing him a bag of...caterpie? Blake's complexion turned a shade of green as he caught sight of the contents, prompting a chuckle from Lily. "Oh, come on now. Afraid of bugs, are we? Aren't trainers supposed to be fearless?" she teased, amused by the scowl that appeared on his face as he took them, doing his best not to look.

Blake didn't have a problem with bugs per se but having several dead ones packaged up in a bag was gross - at least, to him. Blake hoped Scyther would enjoy them.

"I think I'm pretty brave, I caught myself a scyther didn't I?" Blake said cooly, brushing a loc out of his eye.

"O-kay tough guy whatever you say," Lily giggled, "Well, let me show you a few more options for your big bad scyther."

As Lily filled his cart with an assortment of items that she assured him would be good for his team, he couldn't help but feel grateful for Lily's knowledge and enthusiasm. Even if her sense of humor reminded him far too much of Trace.

Blake thanked her for her help, going around the rest of the store and restocking his supplies. He paled at the total, but he gave the clerk his ID anyway. He reasoned that he'd just have to make sure he got as many battles in as possible to make up for it. Most of a trainer's funds came from battles with others anyway. Besides, supplies were a necessity, he'd hate to run out mid-journey.

He left the Pokemart, immediately making his way back to the Pokemon Center to check on his team.

xXx

"Alright Cinder, I'm gonna release it. Be ready to defend me if it wants to fight alright?" Blake said, holding Scyther's pokeball tightly. The cyndaquil barked, settling into a crouch, ready for whatever came next. The flame on her back blazed brightly as she was full of energy after her stay in the Pokemon Center. They had left Fuschia after Blake decided to return to the forest for their formal introduction to their new teammate. He had already released the spearow he'd caught back into the wild. It seemed to recognize that he'd helped it and left without a fuss.

The sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the clearing they'd found. It was now around mid-day, and Blake was ready to get one last training session in before tomorrow - that'd be when he'd be earning his first badge after all. But before he could move on to doing that, he wanted to make sure Scyther would be staying as a member of his team. While he had no qualms with catching the pokemon he defeated, he didn't believe in holding them against their wills. After all, how could you work with someone who wanted nothing to do with you?

Blake took a breath, "Alright here goes nothing," He sighed, pressing the release button, nervous about what would take place after he did so. The pokeball in his hand opened, releasing its familiar occupant in a flash of dazzling light and the buzzing of quickly beating wings.

Scyther was immediately on edge, brandishing a large scythe-like claw at the both of them with a snarl from its place in the air. Cinder stepped forward, flames blazing. Blaze groaned though he'd known that it would likely go like this. The last meeting between the cyndaquil and scyther hadn't exactly been a friendly one.

"Hey, hey, hey, everybody just calm down," Blake said with raised hands, trying his best to keep the peace. Cinder calmed down begrudgingly, the flames on her back going down to normal size, though she still kept a firm glare leveled at Scyther. Scyther turned to him with a piercing glare that elicited a loud gulp from him. But he continued on undeterred, gripping its pokeball tightly, "Hi Scyther my name's Blake. We beat you and I captured you which means you're on my team now."

Scyther growled lowly at that, sharp eyes staring daggers through Blake. "Look, I know being captured probably makes you angry but this can be a good thing if you let it be." He said, meeting the bug type's eyes. "I heard about you from another trainer. He said you've been harassing trainers with battles, defeating them before running off. I can tell you like to fight."

Scyther looked surprised at his words but still kept its standoffish demeanor. "Look, you don't have to like me right now, all I ask is that you join me. In exchange for being on my team, you get free food, adventure, and the opportunity to face stronger opponents."

The bug type's eyes gleamed as it heard the words at the end of his sentence. Blake noticed this with a smirk, "Lucky for you, I like to battle too. I like it so much that I've made it my goal to battle until I'm the strongest around. If you come with me you'll face off against some of the strongest trainers in Kanto and eventually the world."

It looked conflicted, putting down its bladed arm but still not looking sure. Blake saw this and decided to come from a different angle with an offer.

"Why don't we make a deal? Tomorrow, Cinder and I are challenging the Fuchsia Gym. If you're willing to give me a chance, I'll have you join us in battle, and together, we'll show you that I'm worth having as your trainer. If you're not impressed I promise to take you back to where I found you and let you do your thing. What do ya say?" Blake proposed, hoping that this would win the bug type over for the time being.

Scyther looked to be weighing its options silently, slowly drifting back down onto the ground and taking a few steps closer. Cinder watched it cautiously but did nothing, allowing Blake to face the bug type on his own.

Blake met its eyes, noticing that it was only a bit taller than he was and the two stared at each other for a few moments, Blake silently hoping for an agreement to be formed between them, before finally after several tense moments, Scyther nodded.

Blake smiled wide, "Good, I'm glad. I promise I'll make it worth your while. In the meantime - he pulled his Pokedex out quickly - let me scan you in. I wanna see what I'm working with here."

Scyther merely looked to the side with a shrug, crossing its large scythes over its chest.

Blake just grinned, holding the pokedex in front of him and scanning Scyther in.

Scyther, the mantis pokemon. This species is known for its blinding speed. Their scythes are so sharp, they can slice through thick logs in one strike. If you find an area with many fallen trees just know that a scyther is nearby.

This Scyther is male with the ability Technician, which increases the power behind moves that typically require less energy. It knows the moves Quick Attack, Fury Cutter, Wing Attack, and Double Team.

With a newfound sense of camaraderie, Blake felt a rush of excitement. Scyther had agreed to join their team, at least temporarily, and that meant they had an even better chance to prove themselves in the upcoming gym battle.

"Alright Scyther, do you want to stay out with us? We've got some training planned if you wanna join us," Blake asked with a sincere smile. The bug type almost looked intrigued but ultimately he declined. This disappointed Blake but he felt as though he couldn't ask much more of the bug type at the moment. After all, they'd only just now become civil toward one another.

"Well alright then, I'll return you for now. We'll talk more tomorrow alright?" Blake asked, receiving a nod back.

He returned Scyther to its pokeball, feeling a sense of relief as the mantis Pokémon disappeared in a red beam of light. They may not be friends just yet but at least he got him to agree to work alongside him.

"Thanks, Scyther," Blake whispered to the pokeball before turning his attention to Cinder, who had been observing the entire exchange. The cyndaquil looked both curious and cautious.

"Cinder, it looks like we've got ourselves a new teammate, at least for now," Blake said with a smile. "Let's give it our best shot tomorrow, yeah. We can do this. I know we can."

Cinder responded with a determined nod, her flame burning brightly as if to signal her readiness for the challenge ahead.

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the upcoming gym battle. Blake and Cinder trained together, honing their skills and perfecting their battle strategies. Blake also did some further research on the Koga. It wasn't like he hadn't been doing his homework on the man before, but now the stakes were a bit different. He knew it wouldn't be an easy fight, but he was determined to win. Not only to prove it to himself but to his team too.

As the sun began to set, they set up camp in the forest, preparing for a good night's rest before the big day. Blake couldn't help but reflect on the events of the day and the unexpected addition to their team. He knew that Scyther might not stay with them permanently, but for now, they had a common goal and that was enough.

The night air was cool and filled with the sounds of the forest. Blake lay in his sleeping bag with Cinderbeside him. Together, they stared at the starry sky, neglecting to set up a tent. He couldn't help but think about the adventures ahead, the battles they would face, and the friends they would make along the way.

"Cinder," he whispered, reaching out to pat his loyal partner on the head, "tomorrow is a big day for us. But no matter what happens, I'm glad we're on this journey together."

Cinder responded with a soft purr, her flame flickering gently in the darkness. It was a silent reassurance that they were in this together, ready to face any challenge that came their way.

With determination and excitement filling his mind, Blake closed his eyes, ready to rest up for the battle that awaited them. Tomorrow was a new day, and with Scyther by their side, they were ready to take on the Fuchsia City Gym and prove that they had what it took to become the strongest in Kanto.