Happy holidays and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. I appreciate the reviews and requests. I have one slot open now. With that said, let's get this chapter started.

Chapter 13: Good Quil Hunting

"Human Speech"

"Pokemon Speech"

We joined our heroes on their Journey to Azalea Town as they were in a forest near the mountains.

"We're in more of the forest, but if we pass this, we should be a day away from Azalea Town," Brock said while looking at the guidebook. On the other hand, Ash was more concerned as he noticed someone was watching the group nearby.

"Come on out. I know that you are watching us?" Ash said to the person who was watching the group. A young adult who looked like a very serious person who might cause some trouble came out of the forest.

"Hey, have you seen some Cyndaquil around here or have one on you?" The guy said to Ash and the others, who shook their heads as the young man smirked at this. "Good, stay away from the mountains. As all of the Cyndaquil, there is mine to catch," the young man said with a snarl.

Ash was about to say something but ran off before Ash could.

"What is up with that guy? He can't just claim an entire mountain for himself?" Misty said to Ash, who nodded at this. Brock was looking at the guidebook and confirmed what the man said about Cyndaquil living on the side of the mountain.

"From what the guidebook said, the Cydaquil are the type who likes to be with a trainer or two, but they are very territorial if threatened by poachers. According to the guidebook, this is where most of the Cyndaquils chosen for starters are from?" Brock said to Misty and Ash.

Those shocked by this knew that that guy had to be either a poacher or selfish about them. Ash lets out Charizard Pidgeot and Murkrow.

"There's some Cyndaquil in the side of the mountains nearby. Can you try to help us find where they are so we can keep what possibly be a poacher from taking them?" Ash asked the three flying-type Pokemon, who nodded at this. Charizard, in particular, was interested in the Cyndaquil as they are fellow fire starters. The three flying types flew off as Murkrow was flying with Pidgeot. She was still interested in learning from Pidgeot, who was more interested in what was on Charizard's mind for once.

"Hey, Charizard, what's up? You perked up when you heard Cyndaquil?" Pidgeot said to Charizard.

"I don't know what it is, but given that Cyndaquil is a fellow starter, I don't want anything bad to happen to them. I'm surprised you aren't acting up from the mention of poachers, Pidgeot?" Charizard said to Pidgeot as Murkrow listened to this while looking.

"Trust me, Charizard. I feel you on this one, and a good eye has given my history with my flock and poachers," Pidgeot said to Charizard. Murkrow was curious about this and perked up.

"I, too, have had run-ins with poachers as well. Given that this forest is known as a paradise for poachers more than trainers," Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who was surprised by hearing this. "I knew a few friends taken by a couple of poachers, and at the time, I couldn't help them, but being with Ash could help me get better at helping others. I may be stubborn, but I'm not heartless, Pidgeot?" Murkrow said to Pidgeot and Charizard. Pidgeot had her interest in Murkrow somewhat peaked. Charizard already liked this new inclusion, though he's more interested in Pidgeot than another prideful bird.

"Do you know where the Cyndaquil is? There are a lot of mountains? And we are not from here. Well, I am not from here?" Pidgeot asked Murkrow as that statement took Charizard aback.

"Hey, I may have grown up here, but I have never gotten to go past the Charizific Valley Pidgeot," Charizard was about to say something else as Murkrow interrupted.

"Sorry to interrupt your trip down memory lane Charizard but yes, I do know a few Cyndaquil that live nearby. Quilava, their middle stage, is raising a few nearby that is always open to trainers, and she was the one who's been in contact with me about these poachers," Murkrow said to Charizard and mad that she was interrupted by him. "I can show you, but one of us might want to stay behind just in case said person is following us. I say, Charizard," Murkrow suggested.

"For once, I have to agree with you, Murkrow," Pidgeot said to Murkrow, given what Charizard did earlier, who felt left out but knew that he had put his foot in his mouth.

"Make sure that we are not being followed by anyone other than Ash and the others. I did promise Quilava that no poacher would reach her nest," Murkrow said to Charizard, who nodded at this. The two flying types flew in the direction where Murkow was talking. '"I swear, Pidgeot, why do you put up with him? That was very rude of him to interrupt me like that. I was going to explain my connections here in the forest area," Murkrow asked Pidgeot, who shook her head but had to admit that Murkrow had a point.

"As much as I like the guy, he does know how not to treat a lady well and manners as well; you may not know it, but you two are similar to pride-wise Murkrow. Please take that as a compliment rather than an insult," Pidgeot said to Murkrow, who puffed her chest out, not to annoy Pidgeot but as a compliment.

"I will agree with you on that, Pidgeot, but at least I know when to speak and when not to speak, and Charizard just rubbed me the wrong way," Murkrow said as they arrived at what looked to be a hill with a peculiar hole that is very hard to spot unless you are a flying type. "There it is, it's not that hard for Cyndaquil to get up there, but it's out of range of humans," Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who also noticed this. "I was trusted by Quilava, a friend of mine who lives here, to keep this place safe for her, but she'd allow it if I knew a trainer or two. I'll talk to her if you want to bring Ash here?" Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who nodded at this and flew back to Charizard Murkrow flew to the hole itself and see's a young Quilava tending to what looked to be one Cyndaquil left. Little did she know it, but that person from before was indeed scouting the area before her arrival. Pidgeot arrived where Charizard was and headed back to Ash and the others.

"You know, Pidgeot. I think you might want to reconsider her offer to let you train her. She seems very keen on it?" Charizard said to Pidgeot, who sighed at this.

"I don't know, Charizard. On the one hand, I see her potential; she seems mature since joining us. On the other hand, I don't know her motive for asking me to teach my ways, and how she knows my father is still a mystery?" Pidgeot was beside herself when she answered Charizards question.

"Maybe she's a relative of yours? Many flying types have family members among their flocks growing up?" Charizard said to Pidgeot, who shook her head though that was one option she thought of at first. "Or maybe she or her family has a history with your family. Your father is infamous amongst the flying types, after all? And she did mention that she wanted to be like her father after all," Charizard said to Pidgeot, who smiled at this. Pidgeot was about to say something like an explosion from where Murkrow was caught their attention.

"That's not good, Charizard. Did you let someone slip through your sight during our trip there?" Pidgeot scolded Charizard, who shook his head at this.

"Don't look at me. I was low in the forest to see who was coming this way. Go to Murkrow," Charizard was interrupted by Pidgeot.

"No, you get Murkrow and help her. It's a mountain with only one hole seen by flying types; hopefully, that's enough information for you to understand. I'll go and get Ash. I'm fast enough to get to him before something bad should happen," Pidgeot said to Charizard. He was taken aback but knew that he would have trouble if Pidgeot had gone to get Ash and flew off toward where Murkrow was at Pidgeot went to Ash was.

Meanwhile, Murkrow was fighting a Sandslash protecting the cave area. "Is that all you got? I can do this all day?" Murkrow said as a Shadow ball was launched at the Sandslash, knocking it out. Its trainer returned the Sandslash fuming at this.

"I've heard stories about this; Murkrow never thought you would give me this many problems. She'll make a fine addition to many sellers," The young man said as he pulled out another ball, no two of them. As he sent out a Golem and Steelix. Golem Murkrow can handle she has no experience with Steel-types. "Do whatever you can to knock this Murkrow out, and I'll claim her for another prize for my investments," the young Poacher said.

The two Pokemon ganged up on Murkrow, who managed to fight back with a steel wing at the Golem, who was sent back hard. Murkrow wasn't going to go out without a fight. Only to be met with an iron tail by Steelix, sending her to the ground hard. Things were looking bleak for Murkrow as she struggled to get up the steel snake Pokemon was about to grab Murkrow, only to be met with a flamethrower from Charizard.

"Good timing, Charizard; maybe you aren't as stubborn as Pidgeot said you could be?" Murkrow said while thanking Charizard the only way she could.

"Save it for later, Murkrow. Can you stand?" Charizard asked Murkrow, who was barely standing and winced in pain. Not since her battle against Pidgeot has she been this hurt this badly. She was about to faint. "Hey, kid, don't go out on me now. What would Pidgeot think or say?" Charizard said to Murkrow, who just got enough strength to stand back up.

"I didn't know that a Charizard lived nearby. That'll be even more perfect," the Poacher said as Ash interrupted him.

"HEY, LEAVE THEM ALONE," Ash said as Misty and Brock ran towards them while Pidgeot was in tow. "Charizard fire spin, get rid of that Steelix now," Ash commands Charizard while Ash is going to Murkrow, placing himself in front of Murkrow, meaning business. The fire spin attack hits Steelix hard. "Finish it with it with Flamethrower," Ash commands Charizard as the Poacher is about to command Steelix, only for the flamethrower to hit the Steelix sending it down on the Poacher, hard-knocking both out.

Brock was tending to Murkrow's wounds as Pidgeot was now more concerned about Murkrow than ever, as what Charizard said to Pidgeot was now in the back of her mind.

"Murkow is brave. That's for sure she took out two Pokemon before taking on that oversized Onix-looking Pokemon," Charizard said to Pidgeot, who nodded in agreement. Murkrow passed out after being fully healed by Brock. The Quilava that Murkrow was talking to had noticed all this.

The police were called shortly after all of this. The young Poacher was wanted in a few regions and was part of a group that took many Pokemon from this forest. Officer Jenny carted off the Poacher away. Ash was more concerned about Murkrow and the Cyndaquils than catching one, and the Quilava noticed this, as did the Cyndaquil with her, who was more interested in Charizard than a trainer. Quilava went down the hill with Cyndquil on her back.

"So this is the human that Murkrow told me about? He seems nice?" Quilava said Ash scanned the Quilava and noticed that it was Cyndaquils middle stage of evolution.

"Yes, he is. That's Ash? He's my trainer who took me in on his team recently," Murkrow said while trying to keep a chin-up on what happened. "I know he arrived late, but he owns the Charizard that helped me?" Murkrow explained as the Cyndaquil rubbed its head on Charizard, barely speaking, which caught Charizard's attention. Her acting made Charizard suspicious about Cyndaquil's age and turned to Quilava.

"Is this Cyndaquil what I think she is?" Charizard asked the Quilava, who nodded at this Charizard picked up the Cyndaquil and acted differently than usual. Ash noticed this and, at first, was oblivious to this as well as Pidgeot.

"If you are okay with me catching this Cyndaquil, I mean, after what you've gone through, I don't blame you for not trusting humans," Ash said to Quilava, who nodded and nodded, showing that she was okay with it. Ash finally caught what was going on with Charizard. He acted fatherly towards Cyndaquil, even though she was not related to him, who was now sleeping in his claws which caught Ash's attention, and he turned to Charizard.

"Charizard, I'm going to take a wild guess that this Cyndaquil is a baby?" Ash asked Charizard. This caught Pidgeot off guard. Now that explains what was going on. Charizard nodded at this as Ash turned to her mother. "You sure? Because I don't want to take it from you?" Ash asked Quilava. Quilava shook her head and agreed to this. Ash sighed at this.

"Okay, I'll take her, but I'll take good care of her, not to mention for Charizards sake?" Ash said as Ash pulled out a Pokeball and caught it just as it dinged. Charizard lets Cydaquil out before being sent to Professor Oaks' lab. It worked, as the ball was sent but not Cyndaquil. "That's a first well, she'll be out of her ball, but I'll have to tell Professor Oak about this Charizard. I'll raise her, but she is still your responsibility too?" Ash directed Charizard, who humphed and nodded that he was planning on it.

Quilava was waving goodbye as Murkrow, Ash, and the others waved goodbye as they left while Ash was holding the Cyndaquil in his arms as Charizard was in his ball.

With a new teammate and one Poacher gone from this region Ash and his friend's Journey to Azalea town is getting interesting. What else is in store for them as the Journey continues?

Stay Tuned

Done. Another chapter is finished. Cyndaquil is female in this story, and yes, it's just a baby. I wanted to give a good reason for never getting its flames going, as it was never explained in the anime. Before I get the reviews saying that Quilava doesn't care for her kids, remember that most of the Cyndaquils in this area were chosen to be starters, and most of them are raised to be starters anyway. I have plans later on in the story with Cyndaquil for its evolutions. Cyndaquil will evolve to its middle stage later in the story, while it evolves entirely once the BF saga hits later down the road of this trilogy. The Slowpoke Well episode is next to catch you guys later.