Hello and blessings to you all. I put in some extra time this week to get this chapter out quicker. This begins a small stretch of familiar but necessary chapters. Enjoy!
"Come on Misty, make a move already!" Complained Ash.
"Shut up, Ash." Growled Misty as she stared forward intently. Her three friends watched over her shoulder as the redhead and her partner, Starmie, stared forward at their opponent. It was a small, blue, bipedal pokemon with no arms and a black and white swirl on its chest. The pokemon stared back alertly at the larger star pokemon. Finally, it was time.
"Starmie, use bubble beam!" Misty ordered.
Her pokemon took a step forward before launching a volley of bright blue bubbles that shot towards its target like bullets. The small Poliwag pushed off its tail to propel itself high into the air and avoid the attack. As it began to descend the pokemon spit a small but strong stream of water from its mouth at Starmie.
"Oh no you don't, use psybeam!" Misty called.
Her partner released a purple ray of energy from the center jewel of its chest. The attack was much stronger than Poliwag's water gun and easily tore through the attack before landing a direct hit. As Poliwag crashed into the ground Misty shouted, "Don't let up! Finish this with rapid spin!"
Her star pokemon began spinning aggressively as it propelled itself at the weakened wild pokemon. With one swift strike Poliwag was out for the count.
"Now, go pokeball!" Misty shouted as she tossed her pokeball forward. The pokeball struck directly with its target and absorbed the pokemon. It began to shake rapidly as the Poliwag fought ferociously for its freedom.
"Tough little guy" Misty said to herself as she watched the pokeball continue to shake and beep. Finally, with one last click the battle was over and Poliwag was caught.
"Alright!" Misty cheered as she hugged Starmie before going to retrieve her new pokemon.
"Way to go, Misty!" Serena cheered.
"Yes, very impressive." Brock added.
"I would've caught it quicker." Ash teased as the redhead stuck her tongue out at him.
After the excitement the group continued their journey. It had been over a week since Lavender Town and they were still a ways off from their next town. With each passing day Ash seemed to want to move faster and faster to get to his next gym battle. It had been over a month since his battle with Misty at Cerulean City and the boy was getting more and more anxious to jump back into the fold. It also didn't help that Misty kept pointing out that Gary had likely got another badge by now.
"Relax Ash, the walk from Cerulean to Vermillion City is one of the longest stretches in Kanto without gyms around. After Vermillion City you'll be able to get badges at a pretty quick rate." Brock explained.
"It's not even August yet." Serena added, "You'll have plenty of time to get the rest of your badges before the league starts in the spring."
"Honestly you should see this time away from gym battles as a good thing." Misty added seriously, "Gym battles are about to get way harder after Vermillion City."
"Why's that?" Serena asked.
"Gym leaders are required to go easier on trainers who haven't obtained three badges yet." Brock explained, "It's to give new trainers a chance to improve against gym leaders without getting crushed and putting their pokemon at risk. Once that milestone is complete though things go a step up. Usually you have to battle three or four pokemon that are much tougher."
"So you had stronger pokemon than Onyx at the Pewter City gym?" Asked Serena.
"Oh definitely." Brock replied, "Onyx was my actual starter pokemon so I used him often. But against a trainer with four or more badges I had a Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Graveler, and Golem. I'd usually combine two of those with Onyx for my gym battles."
"The jump from three to four badges can be a bit overwhelming. It's rare for a trainer to collect three badges, but four is an entirely different level." Misty added, "That's why it's really good that Ash has had so much time to train. His pokemon are way stronger than when we battled a month ago so that gap won't be anywhere near as daunting."
"Gary made the jump without any fear so I will too." Ash responded confidently, "I just wish I could have more than 4 pokemon. You're supposed to have a full team by the time you get your third badge."
"Unfortunately besides my Poliwag the only pokemon we've seen recently are Spearow." Misty replied.
"And we're not interested in catching one of those." Serena sweat dropped as she thought back to the Spearow flock on their first day as trainers.
"That's why you should've let me catch that Poliwag." Ash groaned.
"Hey I saw it first! Besides, you aren't the only one on a pokemon journey here!" Misty shot back.
Ash prepared a retort when his eyes widened in shock. The trainer froze as he stared in front of him. Serena, Brock, and Misty soon did the same as they noticed what he was looking at. In front of the group sat a massive boulder on the side of the trail they were walking down. On top of the rock sat some type of pokemon, at least it looked like a pokemon. The sun sat directly behind the beast so it was hard to see exactly what it was. All the group could see for certain was the hulking black shadow, a pair of sinister eyes, and a flame bursting behind it. Serena and Misty instinctively stepped behind Ash as the raven haired boy stood down the creature defiantly. Finally the creature came into view and the group fell over in shock at what it was. It was not a monstrous beast but instead a small orange lizard with a fire on its tail.
"A Charmander?" Misty gaped.
"So cool!" Ash cheered.
Just then a couple of Spearow burst through the trees towards the fire type. The Charmander took a deep breath before releasing a powerful burst of fire that quickly scared the Spearow away.
"What was that about?" Serena asked skeptically.
"Hmmm, I'm guessing this is those Sparrow's territory." Brock hypothesized, "That would explain why we haven't seen any pokemon around here."
"They're probably scared to get close to Charmander because of that fire attack." Misty added.
"Did you see that? That Charmander used flamethrower! I didn't even know Charmander could learn that move!" Ash exclaimed.
"That is odd." Brock agreed, "In theory Charmander can learn it but it takes tough training."
"You should catch it, Ash!" Serena encouraged, "Didn't you always say you wanted one as your starter?"
Ash nodded, "That's right it was always my dream starter… just like my da-" Ash stopped himself for a moment as if he said something he shouldn't. Misty and Brock gave the boy a quizzical look but Ash pushed forward, "Anyway I think I'll battle it. Maybe I'll use Krabby to have the type advantage."
"Hold on a moment, Ash." Brock cut in, "Look closely at that Charmander. Notice it's tail?"
Ash squinted his eyes to observe the pokemon more closely. The fire type's tail was barely flickering with fire. Also, Ash now noticed that Charmander looked a bit skinny and seemed to be covered with wounds.
"Its hurt." Serena noted sadly.
Brock nodded, "I don't know the specifics, but this Charmander is in bad shape. Battling it could be very risky for its health."
Ash sighed, "Well maybe I'll get lucky and it won't put up a fight."
He then pulled out a spare pokeball and tossed it towards the fire type. Charmander watched the pokeball fly across the sky before letting loose a powerful flamethrower. The burst of fire scorched the pokeball and destroyed it before it had the opportunity to pull the pokemon in. Ash tried a few more times to capture the Charmander but each time ended with the same result.
"You're going to run out of pokeballs before you catch it." Misty noted.
Ash growled, "What's with this Charmander anyway? It's just sitting there."
"I think it's waiting for someone." Brock said. The group gave him a confused look so he continued, "It's clear this Charmander has been trained, it wouldn't be able to use flamethrower if it wasn't. Also it appears to have been battling Spearow all day. Why would it be sitting out in the open doing that? Instincts would tell it to go to a different resting spot."
"So you think it has a trainer, Brock?" Serena asked.
Brock nodded, "I think it's very likely that it has a good reason to be sitting on that rock. And I also think it has to have had some kind of training with a human. Put two and two together and it's my best guess."
Ash sighed as he put away his pokeball, "Well if it has a trainer already then I don't want to catch it and separate them. I guess this just isn't meant to be."
"I'm sure you'll find another fire type out there." Misty encouraged.
Ash smiled in appreciation, "Yea and between Pikachu and Bulbasaur I'm already pretty lucky in the starter pokemon department."
Ash gave one last look at Charmander before smiling at it. The lizard pokemon eyed him confusion but relaxed as it watched the four trainers walk away.
It had been about 30 minutes since the group had met Charmander. It was getting late in the day as the sun was now slowly dipping down below the trees. What was concerning for the group though was the rolling storm clouds closing in on them. The gang had been pretty lucky with the weather since their journey began. Outside of that first day they'd experienced only the slightest bit of rain. The clouds looked fearsome though and Serena quietly resigned herself to sleeping in a tent through the storm. They were saved though as, passing over a hill, they spotted a pokemon center below.
"Thank God!" Misty exclaimed as she rushed towards the pokemon center with the others hot on her heels.
The pokemon center was unique to others they had visited so far. It was slightly smaller and had a log cabin feel to it. Upon entry the group quickly checked their pokemon into a blonde nurse and went to the cafeteria. The cafeteria was very small and intimate. It had many large booths all circling a fireplace in the center. The center was not very crowded, save for a boy with shaggy blue hair who sat next to the fire with a small group of boys surrounding him. After grabbing some dinner the four sunk into a booth to relax, or at least, tried to relax. Ash could only stare absentmindedly out a nearby window.
"Ash, I know you're worried but there's nothing we can do now about Charmander." Serena said.
"Maybe I should've tried harder to catch it. Or have had Butterfree use sleep powder." Ash thought aloud.
"Even if you did, pokemon can still resist pokeballs while asleep. And that Charmander seemed like a fighter." Misty said, "Besides remember what Brock said? It could have been waiting on someone. Did you really want to split it from it's trainer?"
"No, of course not." Ash said sadly, "I just wish it wasn't stuck out in the storm."
"Is this storm dangerous for Charmander?" Serena asked Brock, "I mean, what if the rain puts out its flame?"
"It doesn't work quite like that." Brock explained, "It's a myth that a Charmander dies if its flame goes out. The flame does represent how healthy the pokemon is. But if you were to put the flame under water or something and it went out it wouldn't kill the pokemon. The flame would just start again when the tail dried."
"Think about it: Charmander are wild pokemon." Misty added, "So they need to be able to survive storms."
"Still though, that Charmander was in bad shape. I really hope whoever it was waiting on came back." Brock said thoughtfully.
By now rain was starting to sprinkle down on the pokemon center, in the far distance bursts of thunder could be heard.
The group's thoughts were interrupted by vivacious laughter in the center of the room.
"Wow Damien, I can't believe you've already got six badges." A boy said.
"Hah this has been a walk in the park. This is my second region I'm challenging and these Kanto gym leaders are pathetic." An arrogant voice came.
Misty scowled at the boy's comment but the group stayed quiet.
"And you have what, 12 pokemon?" Another boy asked adoringly, "I only have 5."
"Oh don't worry about that. Pokemon are easy to catch. You just need to make sure you catch strong ones so you don't waste your time and end up having to release them." Damien explained.
"How many pokemon have you released?" Another boy asked.
"It just became four today. I had to release a Charmander." Damien replied.
All four tensed up at this.
"A Charmander? But it's such a rare pokemon?" A boy questioned.
"Yea but it was such a weakling, it could even evolve." Damien said dismissively, "I tried training it for months. I even taught it flamethrower. But the dumb lizard wouldn't evolve. I don't waste my time on pokemon like that so I let it go."
"What does a pokemon do when it's released?" Someone asked.
Damien laughed cruelly, "Well usually they just wander away sadly. But this Charmander was even more pathetic. It just kept following me like I'd take it back or something. Eventually I told it to stay on a big rock. I promised that if it stayed there long enough I'd come back and get him. What an idiot!"
The entire group burst into laughter.
"Go get it." A new voice cut in. The group turned to see Brock glaring at them, "That Charmander is hurt and still waiting on you. Get it now!"
"And who the heck do you think you are telling me what to do?" Damien sneered, "I'm not getting out in the rain for some stupid liz-"
Ash appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Damien by the shirt, "You heard him, go get it!"
The raven haired boy's face was now bright red with anger. His eyes showed a fire Serena rarely saw in her crush. She and Misty quickly joined Ash and Brock as backup.
Damien scoffed at the group as he swiped Ash's hands away, "If you think I'm going to listen to you losers you have another thing coming. Now get lost. Before I make you."
With those last words he began cracking his knuckles threateningly. A few of his "friends" stood up to back him up. Ash and Brock merely stared at the group coldly. For a long moment there was nothing but the standoff. Finally, right before Ash was going to pounce a voice rang out, "Enough!" It called fiercely.
The group all turned to see the nurse standing there. Pikachu was perched on her shoulder and she carried a tray of pokeballs.
"We have zero tolerance for any kind of fighting here." She scolded, "Anyone wanting to fight can sleep out in the rain tonight."
Damiens growled at this but turned and walked away, "Whatever, not like I need to waste my time with you losers anyway."
The nurse approached the four trainers, "That boy has been nothing but trouble since he's been here. Still I'm going to ask you four to steer clear of him till you leave."
"We understand and are very sorry, ma'am." Serena said apologetically.
The nurse smiled warmly as she returned the group's pokemon. As she walked away Ash could still only stare out the window.
"Charmander is still out there. Waiting on Damien." He said to Brock.
"He was incredibly weak when we saw him." Brock said grimly, "I don't know if he can make it through this storm."
"Then what are we waiting on? Let's go!" Serena exclaimed. The group looked at her with mild surprise, "We can't leave a pokemon out there to die, right?"
Ash took another moment before smiling confidently, "You're right Serena. Let's do this!"
The rain was pounding as the grew ran towards the rock. Water smashed into them sideways as the storm refused to let up. Night was now in full force and the only light, save the group's flashlights, was from bursts of lightning crackling across the sky. The four were now wearing ponchos to protect themselves but it had little effect against the elements. The walk from the rock to the pokemon center had been just over half an hour but running there and the group was able to get there in just over 10 minutes. Through the rain and darkness they finally saw the rock and Charmander. But the fire type wasn't alone though. The pokemon was crouched in a ball scowling in pain as close to a dozen Spearow circled around it. Charmander weakly fired off flamethrowers, desperate to fight off the numerous foes. It was clear that his condition had deteriorated though and the attack had lost much of its juice from earlier in the day. A Spearow dove down from behind the fire type and slammed into it. Charmander gave a weak cry before collapsing over. The Spearow didn't back off though. They continued circling, ready to finish off the intruder of their territory once and for all.
Ash grit his teeth. Memories of his first day as a trainer danced through his head, "Not this time." He whispered.
Pikachu needed no instructions. The yellow mouse leapt from his shoulder and released a powerful burst of electricity. The thundershock smashed into the various Spearow. A great burst of yellow momentarily blinded the group but when it passed the flying types were slumped on the ground. Ash rushed up to the rock and tore off his poncho to wrap around the barely breathing fire type.
"We need to move, NOW!" Brock said as he checked the pokemon's pulse. The group rushed as fast as they could back to the pokemon center. Ash soon found himself running faster and faster until his friends couldn't keep up.
"H-how?" Brock breathed in shock as he watched the raven haired teen move at an incredible speed.
"We'll catch up, keep going!" Misty shouted.
As Ash rushed through the doors, he called out desperately, "NURSE! NURSE!"
The nurse from earlier came out in a night robe, "What is it?" She asked groggily. When she saw the Charmander though she turned pale, "What?"
"Damien… he left it out in the storm." Ash panted.
"I'll need to wake up our doctor. Take it to the first operating room. I'll be back in a moment."
True to her word, the nurse was back only a few minutes later with a doctor in his late 30's. After examining the pokemon for a few minutes he asked Ash to step out of the room while he operated.
As Ash stepped out he heard Serena call, "Ash!"
The group rush forward before slumping over in panting.
"How. Did you. Go so fast?" Misty wheezed between breaths.
"I didn't really think about it." Ash responded honestly.
The group waited for close to an hour before finally the doctor stepped out, "Everything will be ok. Charmander was terribly malnourished but I was able to get him nutrients and warm him up. All he needs now is a full night's rest." He said warmly, "Tricia told me about the situation. You kids were very brave. You should get some sleep now."
In truth, Ash wanted to spend the night with Charmander but he could tell that wouldn't be an option. Also exhaustion had finally taken hold of him and he wanted nothing more to do than sleep.
The next day the group was up bright and early.
"Nurse Tricia, how's Charmander?" Ash asked they rushed towards the front desk.
Tricia smiled warmly, "He made a full recovery."
"Awesome!" Misty cheered, "So can we see him?"
Tricia's smile turned sad, "Unfortunately he just left. I tried to stop the poor thing but unfortunately he seems determined to return to that rock."
"We can't let him." Ash said resolutely.
The group rushed towards the door and out the building. In the distance they saw the flame of Charmander wandering away.
"Charmander!" Ash called as he ran over.
The small pokemon turned back to them. Recognition seemed to flash in his eyes at the group.
"Please don't." Ash begged, "He's not coming back."
Ash had no clue if the pokemon understood what he was saying. It merely stared at him in… sadness? Finally the pokemon turned away from the group and kept walking. Ash fell to his knees in sadness, "Why?" he asked to no one in particular.
"Pokemon are mysterious creatures." Brock said sadly, "Their loyalty to humans may be what makes them most unique."
As the group stood there they couldn't see behind them. But now dozens of Spearow were flying towards them. The vindictive pokemon remembered last night and were back in force for revenge. Before they could attack though Charmander snapped it's head back around, "CHAR-MANDER!" it cried.
A torrent of flames burst forth and engulfed the Spearow. Many collapsed right there but those left quickly retreated back into the forest.
"Charmander!" Ash shouted with joy as the pokemon smiled at him.
The moment was ruined though when a familiar voice called out, "There you are Charmander. I've been looking all over for ya."
Walking towards the group was none other than Damien.
"What are you doing here, Damien?" Serena sneered.
"Coming back for my beloved pokemon of course." Damien responded casually.
"Cut the bull." Misty growled, "We know you don't care about him."
Damien grinned evilly, "True, but then I saw that fire attack. Maybe I can still get this pokemon to be strong after all."
"Charmander already is strong." Brock responded, "You just aren't a good enough trainer to see that."
"That's right evolution isn't everything!" Serena added.
Damien smirked, "Like I care what you lot have to say. Do you really think you can keep Charmander from me? The dumb lizard only knows that I'm it's rightful master. Now come on Charmander!"
Ash looked at the fire type with pleading eyes, "Please don't do this."
The fire type looked at Ash before turning to Damien and finally Ash once more. It sighed and started walking towards the blue haired boy.
Damien smiled wickedly while Serena shed a tear and Misty scowled. But when Charmander was about 5 feet from Damien it stopped. Staring at its former trainer the fire type gave a burst of flame. The boy yelped in shock before sprinting away as Charmander continued to blow fire at him. Finally when Damien was out of sight it turned back to the group and with a wide smile squeaked, "Char!"
"Charmander!" Ash cheered.
"You should capture him, Ash." Brock said, "He'll make a great teammate."
"But, you all helped him too." Ash began.
"You cared about him the most. And you'll need a good fire type." Misty cut in as Serena nodded.
With a smile Ash nodded and held out a pokeball saying, "Welcome to the team buddy!"
The Charmander dove head first into the pokeball. Ash smiled as he looked down at the pokeball. His team had grown. Only time would tell what an important member he had just added.
And that's a wrap for today. I haven't decided yet if Damien will return to the story or not but if he does it'll be far down the line. In the meantime, both Ash and Misty have a new pokemon. That is two pokemon for Misty with a couple more in the future. Anyway, thank you all for reading and have a terrific weekend!