Chapter 13

Hell had come to Mt Moon today. The cavern where the rockets had set up their base camp became awash in hellfire flames, hot enough to slag the very stone of the walls and floor.

The angry Charizard, beaten and tortured nearly to death, his unconventional offspring taken from him and caged, loosed a torrent of flames from his mouth. At the same time, his Heatwave technique caused the very air itself to become hot dry and painful in the lungs.

The air became filled with the angry shriek of a fiery hell-beast, and the despairing cries of the dying rocket grunts.

But then, they rallied.

Pokeballs burst open in flashes of scarlet, and an army of Pokémon appeared to combat the fire dragon in their midst.

A single young man stood at the back, organizing the local Pokémon into cooperative units. Geodude used their geokinetic abilities to form stone spheres, eggshell thin, around clouds of flammable powder exuded by the paras. These makeshift bombs were hurled at the rockets, guided by the glow-eyed clefairy to hit their mark. Zubats used their SuperSonics to agitate the powders until they combusted, exploding amidst the ranks of grunts.

But then the grunts struck back. Identifying the Charizard as the biggest threat, they threw wave after wave of Pokémon at it, only for all of them to pass out from the heat.

Rage knew he was flagging. He wouldn't last much longer at this rate, and he knew if he didn't do something drastic, his girls would suffer for it. Herding the rocket grunts into a single group with his flamethrower attacks, he began to charge the attack for his final gambit.

I watched with fascinated horror as the Charizard directed his flames like a master musician of carnage and pain. I looked at the ranks of Pokémon behind me.

"Again!" The stone bombs flew through the air to impact around the rockets again. I knew the big Charizard was planning something, so I'd had my Pokémon help it corral the grunts, while the wild Pokémon pinned them down with the mortar fire.

The Charizard looked back at me, catching my eye. I could feel it. Something had changed. His massive tail flame was burning low, flickering so badly that I could make out the actual tip of his tail through the guttering flames. I sensed the resolution and acceptance from him, along with a glimmer of approval.

As the rockets prepared to send another wave of Pokémon against him, time seemed to stop. Hordes of koffing appeared, swarming the giant lizard. The Charizard's tail flame blazed, flaring out dramatically.

The Charizard wreathed itself in flames.

Then he shot forward at high speed, directly towards the rocket grunts. A Heat Crash attack.

The Charizard impacts with a resounding boom, and the cavern shudders. Just like that, the rockets are subdued. Most of them are dead, I notice numbly. A few of the ones on the outskirts of the impact are merely unconscious.

The Charizard is dying. I can sense the fading of his life force. My Pokémon gather around me as we move in to comfort the dragon. Two tiny squirtles follow behind, gripping onto my legs.

I drop to my knees next to the laboriously heaving sides of the Charizard. Absently, I notice his tail flame extinguishes. He croons at the two squirtles, a melodic singing. Then the eyes slip shut. Tears stream down my face as I hold my Pokémon and the squirtles, taking comfort from each other.

Rage-of-the-Heavens watched the human boy walk closer, his daughters and the boys team close behind. He spares a glance at the boys team, reconfirming what he already suspected. This boy was a caring and kind person. His Pokémon were healthy, strong and devoted. His daughters would be fine. Eventually.

"Daddy!"

"Don't cry my little loves. We will see each other again. Go with the human. Do as he says. Grow up big and strong and beautiful."

"W-we will daddy."

"We love you."

Rage smiled.

"Do you remember?

When we met?

That's the day,

I never will forget.

I wanna tell ya

Just how much

I love you."

As rage closed his eyes, he saw Mother standing behind his daughters. She was smiling and healthy again. She looked so young.

Rage rose to his feet. His pain was gone. His wings were whole again. His flame blazed and crackled merrily. He bent to hug his daughters, but passed through them.

"Oh."

"Come sunshine. Our time here is done. The story must go on."

"Th-they'll be ok right? He'll watch over them?"

"They will be fine. See? Already they take comfort from him." Indeed, the two blue turtles were tucked into the humans arms, asleep. "Come along sunshine. It's time."

"I missed you, mother."

"And I, you, my beautiful son."

Smiling, the two walked into the light of the hereafter, side by side.

Later

I lost track of how long we sat there before misty and the cops came. I sat in a daze as they investigated, documented and carted off the still living grunts. The wild Pokémon had dispersed, all but five. The Igglybuff, Cleffa, a geodude a paras, and a zubat all stayed near me. My Pokémon snuggled close, offering what comfort they could. The two squirtle lay in the crooks of my arms, sleeping from the tears they had cried out. Misty sat next to me, quietly.

Some time later, we walked out of the cave and into the sunlight. I turned to the miniature parade of Pokémon behind me. "Ok, last chance. Are you all sure about this?"

"Dude."

"Parssss."

"Zuuuuuuuuuu."

"Ig."

"Cleff."

I sighed. This was going to be one of the weirdest reports professor oak was ever likely to see. "Alright then. Well, each of you will be going to the oak ranch. Talk to the young-ish raticate there. She's mine. She and my Fearow will let you know what kind of workouts will get you into shape. Please don't cause too much trouble. I'll call on you soon, I try to keep a decent rotation schedule up." Finally, I smiled. "Welcome to the team."

Five pings later, five pokeballs teleported off to professor oak. Misty and I walked towards cerulean city, each carrying a squirtle. "So. Do you need to talk about it?"

I winced. "Can I have a little while? I'm still processing it. It's… hard."

She smiled sadly, holding the dozing squirtle closer to her bountiful chest. "Ok Scott, take your time. I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks misty." I smiled gratefully. Then I turned towards the horizon. Cerulean city awaited.

Scott's Pokédex:

Caught: Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Rattata, Raticate, Spearow, Fearow, Nidoran(F), Nidorina, Nidoran(M), Nidorino, Vulpix, zubat, paras, geodude, Pichu, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Ralts