Chapter 59: Charizard's Decision

"Man, I can't wait to get to a Pokémon Center so I can call over Riolu." After his most recent capture Ash had been looking forward to testing out his new Pokémon. For now they continued on their way towards Mineva Town, the location of Ash's next Gym battle.

"I'm sure he wants to be called over just as much as you want him to be," Nikki commented.

"I'm sure he does," Ash agreed. "I know we'll have a lot of work to do."

"Like what?" Nikki inquired.

"Well, for starters, I want to see what moves he knows. So far all I've seen is Force Palm and Counter. Those are good moves, but he'll need to know more than just Fighting type attacks," Ash explained. "I mean, you saw how things went against Shuppet."

"Yeah. He couldn't even hit her," Nikki said.

"Against types that resist or are immune to Fighting attacks those moves won't be good enough. He'll need to have a variety of moves in order to really be the powerhouse I know he can be," Ash told her. Their conversation was soon brought to a halt by the sound of beating wings. Looking up they were surprised to see a hot air balloon being pulled by a Charizard approaching them.

"That looks like Liza's balloon," Ash commented. As the balloon got closer they could make out someone in the basket.

"I think that is her balloon, Ash," Nikki said.

"Hey, down there!" There was no mistaking that voice. It was indeed the Charizard trainer from the Charisific Valley. Ash and Nikki both stepped back and made room as Charla and the balloon touched down in front of them.

"It's been a while, Liza," Ash greeted.

"That it has," Liza agreed. "How has everyone been doing?"

"We've been great. Nikki just won her second ribbon and we're on our way to Mineva Town for my next Gym battle," Ash explained.

"That's great," Liza said. "Congrats on winning your second ribbon."

"Thanks," Nikki replied.

"So Ash, do you happen to have Charizard with you right now?" Liza asked.

"Yeah, I do," Ash answered.

"Could you bring him out? Charla has something she wants to show him," Liza said. Ash was curious as to what Charla wanted, but rather than question it he just sent out Charizard.

"(What's up?)" the Flame Pokémon wondered.

"Liza said Charla wanted to see you," Ash explained. It was at that moment Charizard noticed that Liza and Charla had joined them. Immediately he walked over to his mate, the two sharing a loving nuzzle.

"(It's been too long,)" Charizard said.

"(That is has. It's good to see you again,)" Charla told him.

"(It's good to see you to,)" Charizard replied. "(So, what did you want to see me about?)" If possible Charizard could have sworn he saw Charla blushing before answering.

"(There's someone who wants to meet you.)" Before Charizard could ask Charla approached the balloon basket and reached inside. When she emerged she was holding a small Pokémon in her arms.

"That's a Charmander," Ash commented. Nikki took out her Pokécomm and scanned him.

Name: Charmander

Species: The Lizard Pokémon

Pokécomm Entry: The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If healthy, its tails burns intensely.

"He's cute," Nikki commented.

"But what's so important about this Charmander?" Ash inquired. Before Liza could answer Charla provided the answer for him.

"(Charizard… meet your son,)" she said. This revelation rendered everyone but Liza completely speechless. Charizard was the first to find his voice.

"(M-My son?)" he questioned.

"(Yes,)" Charla confirmed. "(He hatched not too long ago.)" Charizard was still in a bit of shock. He had no idea he a Charla had created life. He watched as Charla set the Charmander down. Immediately the Lizard Pokémon waddled up to Charizard, looking up at the much larger Flame Pokémon. Then, with a smile on his face, he hugged Charizard's leg.

"(Daddy!)" he exclaimed happily. That one word sent a wave of emotions flowing through Charizard. Pride, joy, happiness… all of them filled his heart as he looked down at his son. Slowly he reached down and picked him up. The Charmander looked into Charizard's eyes and hugged him once again, a smile still plastered on his face. That was all it took to let Charizard's emotions take over him as he gingerly returned his son's hug.

"You know, I think we should give them some privacy," Liza suggested. Ash and Nikki agreed as they left the three of them alone to enjoy this family moment.

Ash and Nikki decided to set up camp. Liza opted to join them so Charizard could spend time with his family. Soon night fell and everyone turned in for some sleep. Everyone that is, except for Charizard. The day's events had left him unable to sleep. He sat off to the side watching Charla and his son sleeping peacefully.

"(A son… I have a son,)" he mused. That thought alone was enough to fill him with pride once again. He began to wonder just how strong his son would be once he fully evolved. The thought of sparring with him, t\teaching him different battle strategies, it filled Charizard with the type of excitement he only got from battling.

"(I can't wait to start teaching him how to…)" Charizard paused, for a sudden realization struck him. As long as he was traveling with Ash in Legenda he wouldn't be able to be with his son. He'd miss out on so many moments with him. The thought of that brought him down off the high he was experiencing and left him wondering what he should do. He was so deep in thought he didn't hear Ash approaching him.

"Charizard? Is everything okay?" the Pallet Town trainer asked.

"(Yeah. I was just… thinking,)" Charizard answered.

"About your son?" Ash inquired. Charizard nodded in confirmation. Ash took a seat next to Charizard, wondering what was on the Flame Pokémon's mind. He would soon get his answer.

"(Ash… would it be okay with you if I went back with them?)" Charizard asked.

""Back to the Charisific Valley?" Ash inquired.

"(Yeah,)" Charizard replied. "(You see, now that I have a son I want to teach him to be the best he can be, even better than me. So, if it's okay with you, I want to be there for him.)" In truth once Charla had revealed that she and Charizard had a son Ash had expected this, but hearing it still left him a bit sad.

"I understand," Ash responded. "If that's what you really want I won't stop you."

"(Thank you, Ash. This means a lot to me,)" Charizard said.

"Just promise me you'll train him to be the strongest Charizard in the world," Ash told him.

"(You have my word,)" Charizard promised. With that Ash bid Charizard goodnight and went back to sleep, leaving the Flame Pokémon alone with his thoughts. He didn't really want to leave Ash again, especially after just being reunited again, but in his mind his son needed him more. He also wondered how the others would take the news of him leaving. These thoughts plagued his mind the entire night as he tried to get some sleep himself.

Morning soon came and, after a good breakfast prepared by Nikki, the group prepared to set off once again. Ash and Nikki still had to get to Mineva Town while Liza and Charla needed to return to the Charisific Valley.

"Guess this is goodbye again," Liza said. "It was great catching up with you guys again."

"Likewise," Nikki replied. "We need to do this more often." Just as Liza and Charla were about to set off Charizard approached them.

"(I'm going back with you,)" he announced. This caught them by surprise.

"You're what?! Why?!" Liza questioned. "You just reunited with Ash. Why give that up now?"

"(I think you know why.)" He looked over towards the balloon, where Charla and the young Charmander were standing. Liza followed his gaze and immediately understood where this was coming from.

"I should have known this would happen," she sighed. Nikki, on the other hand, wasn't as understanding as the others.

"But Charizard, you just got here. And Ash needs you," she argued.

"(I know, but my son needs me more,)" Charizard retorted. Seeing as she wasn't going to change his mind Nikki turned to Ash.

"Aren't you going to stop him?" she asked.

"He's made up his mind," Ash told her. "Besides, I know how important family is to Charizard."

"Yeah, but…"

"Nikki, it's alright," Ash interrupted. "We talked about this last night and I told him it's okay." As this conversation went on Charla was listening.

"(It may be okay with you, but not with me,)" she mused. Ash walked over to Liza, Charizard's Poké Ball in his hand.

"Liza, please take good care of…"

"(Wait!)" Everyone froze, surprised by Charla's sudden outburst.

"(What is it?)" Charizard wondered.

"(I want you to stay with Ash,)" she said. This was not the response Charizard was expecting.

"(But Charla… my son needs me. I have to go back with you,)" he argued.

"(Ash needs you too,)" Charla replied. "(It's not being fair to him.)"

"(He said it was okay,)" Charizard retorted.

"(I know what he said, but deep down I know he's hurting,)" Charla said. "(It's the same as the first time he left you in the valley to become stronger.)"

"(But…)"

"Hold on. I think I may have a solution for this," Liza announced.

"What is it?" Nikki inquired.

"Ash, you send Charizard back to Professor Oak's lab every now and then, right? Liza asked.

"Sure I do," Ash replied.

"Well, how about having Professor Oak send him to the Charisific Valley sometimes when you're not using him. That way he can spend time training his son like he wants and he can still travel with you here in Legenda when you need him," Liza suggested. "Would that work out for you two?"

"I think that could work out," Ash said. "What do you think, Charizard?" He only had to think on this for a brief while before coming to a decision.

"(That's fine by me, but are you sure this is what you want?)" he asked Charla.

"(It is,)" she replied. "(I want you to come back as a champion. Win the Legenda League alongside Ash and really be a Charizard you son can be proud of.)" Charizard wanted to argue, but one look at Charla's face told him it would be pointless.

"(Did I ever tell you how I hate that I could never tell you no?)" he said.

"(One of the perks of being the strongest Charizard in the valley,)" Charla bragged.

"(For now,)" Charizard stated. A sly look came over Charla's face.

"(For now? What, you plan on surpassing me in strength?)" she wondered. Charizard merely shook his head.

"(No, not me. That honor will belong to him,)" he said, motioning down towards their son.

"(Now that's something I can get behind,)" Charla said with a smile. With the conflict concluded it was time for the group to part ways. Liza put the Charmander in the balloon and climbed in,. taking off shortly after that.

"Bye Ash! Bye Nikki!" she called. "Good luck on the rest of your journey!" Ash and Nikki said their goodbyes as they waved at their friend.

"(Bye, Daddy! Go win the championship!)" Charmander shouted. Charizard responded with a thumbs-up and a brief Flamethrower burst. The two groups continued to wave until Liza's balloon was out of sight. Once it was gone Ash turned to Charizard.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

"(Yeah. I have a lot to live up to,)" Charizard stated. With a nod Ash recalled him to his Poké Ball. With that done the group continued on their way towards Mineva Town and Ash's next Gym battle.

A sur[rising development threatened to break the team up, but after a compromise Charizard decided to stay with Ash. With a new reason to become stronger will Charizard return the champion he promised? Find out in the next chapter of Search for Power!

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