"Alright you three, step away from the Charizard and no one gets hurt!" A woman said, stepping off of a Charizard with a pink bow.
"Wait what?" Ash asked.
"You heard me you poachers, I don't know how you convinced that Charizard to come with you but however you did it, I will get him back from your villainous clutches!" The woman said angrily. "Now step away before things get ugly."
Two of the woman's Charizard stepped forward at that comment, with Ash's Charizard taking position between them and his trainer.
"Okay hold on, this is just a big misunderstanding, we're not poachers or members of Team Rocket." Molly said cautiously.
"So you're telling me you are just three random trainers who happened to come across a Charizard?" The woman questioned.
"We didn't this is actually his Charizard!" Casey said angrily. "Show her Ash!"
"Casey, really glad you're on my side here, but I don't think putting Charizard in his Pokeball is the best idea right now." Ash said cautiously, still seeing the two larger Charizard in front of them.
"Fine, back up." The woman said, the two Charizard confused for a moment before stepping back. "If that really is your Charizard, recall it."
"Charizard, return!" Ash said, holding out his Pokeball.
Charizard was returned to his Pokeball in an instant, before Ash sent him back out.
"Is that enough proof for you?" Ash asked cautiously.
"Yeah, sorry about the rude introduction, just there have been a lot of problems around here lately and I'd hate if one of my Charizard were to get hurt or stolen because of it." The girl Elaine's, taking off her helmet. "I'm Liza."
"I'm Ash, and these are my friends Casey, and Molly." Ash said. "And of course you've already met my Charizard."
"So Liza, are you a Charizard trainer?" Molly asked.
"No, most of these Charizard are actually wild, I just watch over and protect them." Liza explained.
"That sounds complicated." Casey admitted. "Also dangerous, how do you protect them?"
"Oh there's an entire sanctuary specifically for Charizard to live and grow stronger." Liza explained.
"Are you serious, can we come see it!" Ash exclaimed.
"Ash, she just threatened us not even five minutes ago." Molly reminded.
"But an entire sanctuary full of Charizard, I could show them just how strong Charizard really is!" Ash said excitedly.
"Sure, I can show you it, but the only way to get there is by flying." Liza said.
"I don't think Ash's Charizard can carry all of us." Molly said, doing the math.
"Don't worry, we'll take you two, Ash you and your Charizard can keep up, right?" Liza asked.
"Just try not to fall behind!" Ash taunted.
"Ash, remember you don't know where you're going." Casey reminded.
"Right, yeah we'll keep up, no problem!" Ash said, as the girls took off. "Alright Charizard, let's fly!"
Ash hopped on Charizard's back as the fire type leapt into the air… about a foot before falling back to the ground.
"Charizard, are you alright? I know you can fly, you do it all the time." Ash said, as Charizard tried to take off again.
"Let me guess, Ash and his Charizard have never flown together before, have they?" Liza asked, watching the spectacle.
"I've seen Charizard fly a few times, but I don't think he's ever had a passenger." Molly admitted.
"Alright, hold on." Liza said, flying back down to Ash.
"Don't worry, we're just getting warmed up." Ash said confidently.
"Here, have this map, it will lead you right to the Charicific Valley." Liza said, handing Ash a sheet of paper. "Try to work on your flying along the way."
"Alright Charizard, let's get going, last thing we want to do is get left behind!" Ash said, rushing down the path.
Nearby, hidden
"Did you hear that, an entire valley filled with Charizard!" Jessie squealed.
"Yes, but Jess, don't you think it will be a little hard to capture that many, I mean we can't even beat the twerps Charizard." James said.
"Then what if we do the opposite?" Meowth offered.
"What do you mean chum?" James asked.
"Think about it, Charizard is the twerps numero uno primo powerful Pokemon." Meowth said. "If we can get it to stay, then that will be one less problem for us."
"But the boss would want a powerful Pokemon like that Charizard." Jessie argued.
"And we'll get it in time, but think about it, with Charizard out of the picture, the rest of the twerps Pokemon'll be easy pickings!" Meowth pointed out.
"Plenty of rare and powerful Pokemon ripe for the picking! You're a genius Meowth!" James cheered.
"So all we have to do, is make it so they have to take Charizard! Let's follow and make sure he gets in!" Jessie cheered.
Back with Ash, Pikachu, and Charizard
"Phew, looks like we still have a ways to go before we get there." Ash said, grabbing a water bottle and seeing Charizard a bit dismayed. "Hey don't worry about it, sure they can fly with people, but I bet that when it comes to power, they've got nothing on you!"
"Grawrgh!" Charizard roared, pumped up.
"You ready to try again?" Ash asked, seeing Charizard nod.
"Alright, let's do this!" Ash said, leaping onto Charizards back as the fire type got a running start before leaping a few feet.
"Sorry buddy, guess it was funny to think we could do that suddenly, come on if we keep up this pace we should be there in no time!" Ash said enthusiastically.
At the Characific Valley
"Liza, how long do you think it will take Ash and Charizard to get here?" Molly asked, walking over.
"Considering where you were and how fast they can run, they should be here any…". Liza said thinking.
"We made it!" Ash yelled, running up to the front gates.
"About time." Casey taunted.
"Ash, welcome to the Characific Valley." Liza said.
"I! Want! A! Battle!" Ash said between breaths.
"What?" Liza asked in confusion.
"You think your Charizard are so great just because they can carry you, well I want a battle to prove you wrong!" Ash said. "Charizard vs Charizard, right. Buddy!"
"GRAWRGH!" Charizard called out.
"Alright, I guess so." Liza said. "I think that Charizard right ahead of you would match your speed.
"Alright then Charizard use Flamethrower!"
Charizard let out his strongest stream of flames at the wild Charizard only for it to be engulfed by an opposing stream of flames that engulfed him.
"That's… wow." Molly said in shock.
"Alright, Charizard use Seismic Toss!" Ash called out,
Charizard leapt into the air, flying forward at the other Charizard, only to be grabbed and tossed back, right out the gates of the valley.
"Charizard!" Ash exclaimed, running over to his fire type.
"Pika!" Pikachu said, running to Charizard as well.
As Ash and Pikachu got near their friends side, Charizard pushed himself back up out of the shallow water.
"Charizard lost." Casey said in surprise.
"Charizard as a species are strong, but from what I can tell in the world of Charizard, your's isn't strong." Liza commented.
"Wait, let us train with them!" Ash exclaimed.
"Ash, the Charizard you just faced is one of our weakest Charizard, you aren't nearly strong enough to train here." Liza said. "You're welcome to stay the night if you'd like though."
A few hours later
"It's okay Charizard, you are plenty strong enough in my book." Ash said, cheering up his partner as they'd set up camp outside of the Charicific Valley.
"PiPika."
"Bulba!"
"Squirtle-Squirt!"
Charizard was still down, having been used to being the strongest around for a while, and now having lost a battle to a fellow Charizard very quickly.
"Poor Charizard." James commented from their mech.
"Not to worry with this plan, we'll be certain to bring his spirits back up!" Meowth said, piloting the mech forward.
"What is that thing?!" Ash exclaimed, seeing a large shadow covering the area.
"Prepare for trouble, we're finally here!" Jessie called out.
"And make it double while you quake down in fear!" James said smugly.
"To protect the world from devastation." Jessie said.
"To unite all peoples within our nation!" James exclaimed.
"Jessie."
"And it's James."
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!" Jessie proclaimed.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight fight fight!" James taunted.
"Meowth that's right!" Meowth chimed in.
"Team Rocket! What are you doing here!" Ash yelled angrily.
"Isn't it obvious, we're here for the Charizard!" Jessie exclaimed, as a large vacuum came out of the machine.
"Uh, Jess, I thought we weren't going to capture the Charizard, isn't it a bad idea." James reminded.
"Relax, we're just putting on a show, remember." Meowth said.
"Charla no!" Liza called out as the Charizard with a pink bow was sucked into the mech, several other Charizard following shortly after.
"Hey Meowth, how tuff is this cage?" James asked, seeing several Charizard now inside.
"Well I made sure to get it Charizard proof of course, how else we's supposed to show the twerps is a hero?" Meowth commented.
"You idiot! Rather than remove his Charizard scoop it up with the rest and we can give them all to the boss!" Jessie argued.
"Now that's an idea!" Meowth called out, turning the vacuum towards Ash and his Pokemon.
"EVERYONE RUN!" Ash called out as Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle were quickly picked up by the vacuum.
"Grawrgh?" Charizard asked, seeing his trainer wasn't with him as Ash lost his grip, flying towards the mech.
"CHARIZARD HELP!" Ash called out.
Charizard immediately took flight, grabbing Ash from the vacuum and flying away before the mech could take both of them.
"Charizard you did it!" Ash cheered, seeing his Pokemon fly with him.
"Grawrgh!" Charizard roared.
"Alright, now let's save the others! Use Flamethrower!"
Charizard flew around the mech, letting loose a stream of flames at Team Rocket's machine.
"Hey Meowth, you did make sure to Charizard proof the rest of the mech, right?" James asked.
"Well, I mean the plan was always for the twerp to win, and that level of heat proofing is expensive." Meowth admitted as the chamber got warmer and warmer.
"Charizard keep up the heat!" Ash called out, the face of the robot melting open.
"The Twerp!" Team Rocket exclaimed in pseudo freight.
"Charizard use Flamethrower, full power!" Ash called out.
Charizards flames short circuited the mech, causing a series of micro explosions, freeing the other Charizard as Ash's Charizard picked up Ash's other Pokemon.
"Pikachu let's send them flying, use Thunder!" Ash called out.
Pikachu hopped from in front of Ash to the head of Charizard unleashing a massive blast of electricity, sending Team Rocket flying off.
"Well, our plan to catch all the Charizard might not have succeeded." James admitted.
"But with any luck our original plan will!" Meowth said. "But until next time."
"We're blasting off again!" The Trio called out.
"Ash, Charizard!" Molly cheered running over to them. "That was incredible!"
"I have to admit, even if he doesn't have the greatest strength, he has more to him that even these Charizard don't have." Liza said. "I think that if you'd still like, Charizard would be more than welcome here at the valley."
Charizard looked at the two options he had, on one side his friends and trainer that he'd do anything for, and on the other, dozens of his own kind that could teach him so much more than he already knows.
"Gwargh." Charizard said unsure
"So stay here." Ash said, turning around. "This is goodbye. You've got a lot to learn, so get started. They waiting!" Ash said, pointing to the Charizard without looking at his own.
The Charizard of the valley roared out at this.
"So see you around, maybe sometime." Ash said before running off.
"Ash!" Molly and Casey called out running after him.
'I don't want to leave you, but you have to stay. Train hard, we'll meet again, goodbye. Don't forget me.' Ash thought to himself as he cried, running to make sure Charizard never saw the tears. Behind him, his Charizard letting out a massive flamethrower, assuring his trainer they would meet again one day.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Thunder - Agility
Bulbasaur: Vine Whip - Razor Leaf - Solar Beam - Leech Seed
Squirtle: Hydro Pump - Skull Bash - Water Gun - Withdraw
Gligar: Poison Sting - Sand Attack - Double Team