Hello again, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to another chapter in A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey Time for the Charizific Valley chapter. This chapter is a long time coming, so let's get going.
Chapter 7: The Charizific Valley and Charizard's Choice
"Human speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes walking through the mountain area outside Violet City.
"Wow, the mountains are sure different here than it was in Kanto," Ash said as he took in the scenery.
"This must be the mountains that Faulkner mentioned to us," Brock said.
"You mean the one with the place for the Charizard line, right?" Ash asked. Brock nodded.
"Yeah, but according to the guidebook, it's a very protective preserve to the point that you either need permission to get into or know the owner of the place," Brock explained as the group understood. As they noticed, something was flying their way. It looked like a Charizard but had a ribbon on its head as it landed.
"Hey there, I'm surprised you're up here in this area of the mountains. I have taken you got a Charizard on one of you all's team, right?"The lady said. Ash nodded.
"I do, but how'd you know that one of us had one?" Ash asked the young lady, who chuckled.
"I've gotten wind from the local gym leader that his most recent trainer had battled him using a Charizard," she said.
"Yeah, that was me. My name is Ash Ketchem. I'm from Pallet Town, and these are my friends Brock and Misty. They are gym leaders of that region" Ash introduced the group to her.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Liza. I'm the owner of the Charizific Valley, and this is my partner Charla," She said as the Charizard nodded. Ash decided to let his Charizard out, which Charla instantly recognized.
"Well, you've returned to Johto after all these years. It has been a long time," Charla said that Ash's Charizard recognized her voice even when she evolved. He still remembered her.
"I nearly didn't recognize you there, Charla. It has been years since I see you're running the Valley now," Ash's Charizard said as Charla nodded.
"Yep, you haven't changed as much. Still, the same old Charmander that I grew up with," Charla said as Charizard chuckled, which caught Ash and Liza's attention as Liza instantly recognized Ash's Charizard.
"Well, it seems like Charla's childhood friend here has returned to Johto?" Liza said. Which caught everyone off guard as Charizard nodded. "So the former leader of the Charizard's son has returned, but I'm sure not to reclaim his family's title," Liza said, which caught Ash off guard.
"Leader's son?" Ash asked and looked at Charizard, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Oh right, sorry, you see, there were two leaders Charizard wise in the Charizific valley back when I was a kid, and you may have heard of them, Lance's Charizard and Red's Charizard," Liza said to the group, who nodded.
"Yeah, I'm more aware of Lance than Red, as he was out on his journey a few years before I became a trainer," Ash said to Liza nodded and pointed to Ash's Charizard.
"Well, if you're wondering, your Charizard is one of Lance's Charizard's kids, and Charla is one of two daughters of Red's Charizard." Charizard looked down in embarrassment, but the other was very surprised.
"Given who he is, you don't need my permission to visit the Valley. I'll take you there, but no one mentions the Valley's location. The only ones who know about it are mostly the gym leaders and the league," Liza said to Ash and the others, making them promise this.
The group nodded and said in unison, "We promised."
Luckily for the group, the Valley was close to where they were. It was in the revenue about halfway where they were as Pikachu was questioning Charizard.
"So what's this about Charizard? I've taken that this is why you dodged our questions almost a month ago?" Pikachu asked Charizard, as Charizard shook his head.
"No, not like that. Remember the Charizard Hierarchy I mentioned a while back? There were two Charizard that ran the Valley. My side of the family was second in command after my father lost to Charla's father in an official battle," Charizard explained to Pikachu, who sighed.
"You know that Pidgeot doesn't like keeping secrets from right Charizard, and was it a big pain for you and Charla? You two seemed like you are getting along well," Pikachu said to Charizard as Charla intervened.
"Not entirely. Our family may have different trainers, but we're technically family, not blood-related. We kinda had an honor agreement, not to mess with each other's family," Charla said to Pikachu as it was Charizard's turn to interrupt.
"In return, we can either be more than friends or train with each other I've trained under her father when my father was out under league stuff or something of that sort,'"Charizard said to Pikachu, who was now understanding what he meant earlier about him being trained with Charla.
Charla would continue her explanation about her and Charizard knowing each other. "As for our relationship with each other regarding boyfriend and girlfriend. That isn't an option as we're cousins," Charla explained. Charizard again interrupted her.
"Step-cousins, Charla. You see, our mothers were step-sisters, another reason our families are on good terms now. Still, we had no interest in a relationship or taking back the family hierarchy," Charizard said to Pikachu, who nodded.
"You know that you are going to have to explain this to Pidgeot sooner or later cause she's getting wearier about you two when you mentioned that you two trained with each other back then," Pikachu said to Charizard, who sighed and nodded.
Liza explained the same thing about Charizard and Charla's family to Ash and co well, what she knew from the original owner of the Valley before she became the owner.
The more Ash heard this, the more concerned he was for Charizard and worried that Charizard might choose to stay in the Valley, but he'd known Charizard enough that he's more of a laid-back Charizard unless another Pokemon tested him. Charizard noticed Ash's concern. He placed his claw on Ash's shoulder and shook his head, signaling that he had no intention of abandoning him. Ash smiled at this as the group arrived at the location, as it had a stone Charizard that made the group in awe.
"Welcome home, Charizard," Charla said as Charizard sighed as he looked at the Valley's entrance.
"I'd never thought I'd see this place again this soon and this early on my journey," Charizard said as Charla nodded.
"You know that you're always welcomed to return here for training any time, you know that, right I'm sure that many of the other Chars you knew might recognize you at some point," Charla said.
"There's one I don't want to see, and you know who I'm referring to, Charla," Charizard said. Charla nodded as she knew who Charizard was referring to.
"I'd figured you still have a grudge against Scar. Yeah, he's trying hard to get in second in command and be with me. Still, I'm rather picky with anyone who challenges my need. I remind you that I've beaten you in more battles than one Charizard," Charla said, hitting Charizard where it hurt a bit. Pikachu smiled upon hearing this.
"I know, I know, don't need to remind me there. Let's head inside, okay," Charizard said as the doors to the Valley opened. It was a massive valley as many forms of the Charmander line were there, many of whom saw Ash's Charizard as a new Charizard. And a few recognized him as many of them either smiled or bowed to him as he was one of the higher-ups Charizards, much to Ash's Charizard's dismay.
"I wished that they were more subtle and less formal with me. I'm not here to retake anything. I'm just here visiting again," Ash's Charizard said as Charla told them that even scolding them to respect his wishes made the group make a sweat drop.
"Well, I can see who is in charge of the valley and why she's this famous," Ash said. Charla chuckled upon hearing this. Even his own Charizard laughed at this.
"Well, as I said, she is the princess of the Charizards, and what she says goes," Liza said.
The group was chatting. Ash's Charizard caught the attention of a certain Charizard with a scar on his left eye as he was slightly taller than Ash's Charizard and looked to be one who wasn't one to be messed with and walked over to Ash's Charizard.
"Well, if it isn't, the former prince himself never thought you'd return here after that show you pulled back when you were chosen to be a starter," Scar said as Ash's Charizard sighed.
"Of all the Charizard, I don't want to see why it has to be him who instantly recognized me, Scar. I'm not here to fight nor," Charizard said as he was interrupted.
"Not here to fight. You show up with Charla, step into this Valley human who isn't allowed here, and say you're not here to fight. What type of fool do you think I am to think that you're not here to reclaim your family's throne," Scar growled at Charizard as Charla stepped in.
"That's enough, Scar. You're out of line. His trainer is here cause Liza permitted them to be here by our rules and said they're allowed here without permission on her order, not trespassing," Charla growled at him.
"Humph, you always had a soft spot for him, Charla. I don't know why you two are getting along, given who you're fathers are," Scar said to Charla.
"That's enough, Scar. You are out of line, as my relationship with him is none of your business," Charla said, but Scar pushed her off.
"Stay out of this, Charla. What he got is what I don't. Fight me our is the son of Lance's Charizard too scared to battle?" Scar said to Charizard.
Liza sensed what was going on once she stepped in.
"That's enough, Scar. These are the guest, not your punching bags. Another word from you, and I'll call your trainer and have you PERMANENTLY BANNED from the Valley FOREVER!" Liza said with the tone of she means business as he scoffs.
"Humph, fine. Still, you're the same Charizard I knew who always hides behind others for help and is always weak," Scar grumbles as that hits Charizard, where it hurts as Scar continues. "You're no Charizard, and you're not worthy of living here, let alone have the right to stay here. Consider this your option when you leave us. You'll be all alone again, some Charizard. "I'm going to be the best Charizard one day to be like my dad," Scar quoted and mocked Ash's Charizard as that made him tear up a bit. "Humph, some Charizard, you're as you were back when you left weak no wonder your former trainer abandoned you."
That caught Charla and Ash's Charizard off guard as Charizard asked, "H-How did you know that?" As Scar laughed.
"Because I'm your first replacement on your former trainer's team. I'd thought it was another Charmander, but your reaction and how he described you. It made it even more delightful to poke fun at. You're not worth a flamethrower nor my breath," Scar said as he walked off.
Charizard was in complete tears, as much as he was manly but was very sensitive as he ran out of the Valley as Charla was going to comfort him. Still, Liza stopped her.
"Let him go. Whatever happened? It is between them. Sadly I wished that I understood what they were saying," Liza said as Charla sighed and had to nod in agreement.
Later that night, Ash and the group were given a place to stay in the Valley, as they would leave the next day. Seeing what had happened, even Ash understood why Charizard was upset. His reaction looked like it had to do with his old trainer, but what he wished he could understand. As Pidgeot noticed what was happening with them, Charla watched him from afar, worried about him.
"So you must be the one who runs the place, I see? As well as the one that Charizard told me about?" Pidgeot asked Charla. As she noticed Pidgeot flying over to her, Charla nodded.
"Yes, and I am an old friend of his over there. You must be the Pidgeot Pikachu mentioned, right?" Charla asked, and she nodded.
"Before you tell me what happened, what relationship you have with him, and then you can ask to tell me what happened," Pidgeot asked, unaware that Charla wasn't responsible for what happened, questioning her like she was as Charla sighed.
"We're step-cousins. Our mothers are step-sisters," As Charla explained, everything about the two is related to each other. And everything, including up till what happened earlier, which made Pidgeot feel upset, as she was hearing about how Scar was the Valley's bully to the point that he hated weak Pokemon like Ash's Charizard and didn't see why she'd chosen him to train with him and such.
"I see that's what happened. His former trainer replaced him with another Charizard and one who picked on him as a Charmander, huh?" Pidgeot asked with an understanding look on her face as Charla nodded.
"Charizard was the one who gave him that Scar on his eye back then. When Scar pushed him too far, many other Charizard still looked up to him, but that was the straw that made Charizard there wanting to go out on his own I can see he's stronger than he seems, but he still has emotional scars from Scar," Charla said showing a massive concerned look on her face.
"I agree he rarely told us about his past before joining Ash, but I'll talk to him. You rest, and sorry for sounding rude to you," Pidgeot apologized.
"It's okay. I accept your apology but be careful of what you say to him, Pidgeot," Charla said. As Pidgeot nodded, Charla walked off, and Pidgeot started to fly over to where Charizard would be.
Charizard was still in a hurt position. "He's wrong. I still got a ways to go. Yes, I may be abandoned by Damien. Yes, I may have been disobedient to Ash," He was moping as Pidgeot, behind him, listened to this. "But I regretted what I've done during my time with Ash before he saved my life again, Scar. I don't know where you're getting all this information about me outside Damien. Still, my past is something you shouldn't get to," Charizard continued to cry as he said that.
"Then you should put him in his place in a battle one day, Charizard," Pidgeot said to Charizard as Charizard tried to wipe his tears with his claw.
"How long were you standing there, Pidgeot?" Charizard asked, still in tears, and didn't care if he was emotional.
"Long enough, Charla informed me about everything, including your relationship with her family-wise. I'm aware that fighting in the Valley that isn't training is forbidden, but that doesn't mean you can't get back at him outside of it," Pidgeot said. Charizard was silent as she continued,
"Look, he's wrong about you. Yes, you're stubborn, a pain to talk with at times, and a bit sensitive even now, but that's who you are, Charizard, and who I like. You can't just get stronger by training alone here. It would be best if you had your team," Pidgeot said as Charizard looked down.
"While I was back in the flock, there were times that I felt like I couldn't protect them and that one day Ash wouldn't come back for me or help my flock. I've been called weak in the past as well," Pidgeot said, looking down after mentioning her past as leader.
"You're not weak, not to me. I've seen you battle during our journey here," Char Pidgeot shook her head.
"I was also the weakest of my old flock when I was a young Pidgey. I couldn't even see myself as what I am today. I was rarely used in battle, even during my time with Ash thinking that I would stay a Pidgeotto and never evolve," Pidgeot said, upset. "When I saw my evolutionary line in danger, I had to do something that day. I evolved was the step in the direction I needed to be strong for a new flock and be like my father. The latter was very respected amongst his fellow flyers," Pidgeot said. She held her right wing, showing that she and Charizard were the same in more ways than one.
"P-Pidgeot, a sense of peace for you and a legacy like mine. But your father is a gym leader. Pokémon, I'm now Champion's child. There's a" Charizard said as Pidgeot interrupted.
"Difference? Are you sure about that, Charizard? What's the Difference? We have the same goal in mind. I left my new flock to get stronger one day, even with a feeling of peace between the Fearow and me. I knew that one day that something would happen. I will need to get stronger for them and myself," She said with a tear as Charizard wiped it from her beak with his claw.
"You know what? You're right, Pidgeot?" Charizard said as she was curious about what he had just said. "We may be from different families. But our goals are the same. To be stronger for ourselves and those we care about when I move on from my past. Damien may be out there, but I'm not the same as I was back then. I will get stronger not with the help of the Valley but on my own with all of your help," Charizard said with his claw gripped as his flame burst with determination.
"That's the Charizard that I knew talking," Charla said, walking towards the two, hearing the last part of the conversation. Both Pokemon did not realize it was morning, but Charizard didn't care.
"How much of that you caught on, Charla?" Charizard asked, even more embarrassed that she saw him like that.
"Just the last part, whatever Pidgeot said to you brought the Charmander I grew up with back in you," Charla said as that got Pidgeot, and Charizard smiled and nodded.
The three went back to Ash and the others. "Well, I'll still ask anyway. Do you still want to stay here, Charizard, and train to be stronger, or will you leave with Ash?" Liza asked as Ash looked at Charizard.
"It's up to you, Charizard, and note your decision. I won't stop you," Ash said. "But you'll still be a big part of the team no matter what?" Ash told Charizard. With what Ash had just said to Charizard, he turned to Liza and Charla and shook his head, showing that he didn't want to stay with them.
"I see you want to be with Ash, huh?"Liza asked. Charizard nodded.
"There's nothing I can say to convince you otherwise. I mean, we can still get Scar off your back," Charla said but was interrupted by Charizard.
"There's only one thing that I will admit that Scar said to me is true. My place isn't here in the Valley, not in my current state. I will train hard to surpass him one day and be as strong as you are, Charla, not even close to our father's power, hopefully, one day," Charizard said.
Liza could tell by how he gestured and spoke that Charizard's mind was made up. "You're still welcome back to the Valley anytime, Charizard. If you need more training or find what you're seeking, you'll be welcomed here with open arms and claws, of course," Liza said as Charla nodded. Ash nodded in agreement.
"Maybe one day, but it's his decision, not mine, and I accept any way to help him get there no matter what happens," Ash said to Charizard and Liza. Charizard was taken aback by this but smirked anyway.
"Well, I wish you luck with that and take care of yourself, okay Charizard," Liza said, placing her hand on his shoulder as Charizard nodded.
Ash and the gang were led out of the Valley by Liza and Charla, "Follow the path. You'll be heading to Azalea town in a month from now," Liza said, pointing to the path the group wasn't even close to when she met them.
"Thanks, Liza. We'll see you again someday," Ash said as Liza nodded.
"Well, we might see each other again. I'm close with one of the gym leaders, and she's someone who knows Lance as much as Charla does, but you're nowhere close to the city she's in," Liza said as Ash was curious.
"Where's it at, if you don't mind me asking?" Ash asked Liza.
"I won't go into much detail as part of the city is also a reservation like the Charizific Valley, but it is where the last gym of the region is located in Blackthorn City. Clair will tell you the rest if you ever meet her. Just a heads up, she is stubborn sometimes," Liza stated as the group nodded as they waved goodbye.
Charizard's spirit is now lifted, and a new goal is set for Charizard and Ash to get each other more potent as a team and help each other out as our heroes leave the canyon and head to Azalea town.
Stay tuned
And done, boy, was this a chapter to write. Yes, I added new things like who Charizard is related to, and if you think about it? It makes sense, given that Charizard is much stronger even before going to the Valley and how much stronger he has gotten when visiting Ash on Ash's journey throughout the Anime. I don't know; I'm just speculating here. Things will change for Charizard, and who knows how it'll turn out. And before "you changed his character" or "you ruined his development" in the reviews, remember what the synopsis reads. You know what you're getting into. The Chikorita episode is next. See you guys next time.