Emberwilde Comes: Cerulean City - The Trainer

 I took a breath. No point starting in a blind run in an unknown area with unknown hazards and an unknown number of guards. Being in the interior of the building this area must be smaller than the other's I've seen so far, which honestly wasn't saying much thinking back on the huge spaces I'd seen thus far. Emberwilde had other ideas, however, emerging from his pokeball. "Where is the whelp?" he roared, nose sniffing the air.

"Char," I said still hunched down, "Lord we are not supposed to be here. I was just about to start searching for the runt, quietly."

The Charizard let out a snort, black smoke pouring from his nose. "I've found his scent," he said stomping down one of the hallways. "And a Lord can go wherever a Lord pleases. Best you remember that."

Hearing the shouts and footfalls coming toward me, I picked myself up and hurried after the fire pokemon. Running after Emberwilde, I realized the Charizard could really move when he wanted to. I always knew they were fast in the air but on the ground they typically relied on their brute strength of overwhelm their opponents. Seeing Emberwilde run on its two legs though made me wonder just how fast the pokemon could actually be.

After one more turn, Emberwilde stopped in front of a door with Ruby's name written on a piece of paper stuck to it. At the same time, a couple of guards turned a corner and spotted us. Before they could do anything, I ducked under Emberwilde's wings and pounded a fist on the door.

"Hey, what are you two doing back here?" shouted one of the guards just as the door swung open to reveal the green-haired trainer and several pokemon behind her, including the runt.

Quietly, I said, "Professor Oak asked me to introduce your Charmander to its father." The Charmander tilted its head quizzically, eyes darting back and forth between myself and Emberwilde while the Charizard's glare burned a hole in the back of my head. I kept my gaze upon Ruby, hoping that whether or not she believed my lie that at least she would let us into the room before either the guards grabbed me or my Lord set me aflame for the sleight upon his name.

After a minute, Ruby gave me a subtle nod, stepped around me and said to the gym security guards, "Sorry about the confusion. Thank you for doing your jobs so well but this is my travel companion and adviser. Just running late as he always is." She gave me a soft slap to the back of my head after the last part, and the guards shrugged their shoulders and walked back to their posts.

I felt a little insulted being shoved into the room while Ruby simply held the door for Emberwilde, allowing him to strut inside, but it was a far better outcome than being escorted out of the gym so I really couldn't complain. "So, you want to tell me why you really snuck down here, or should I call security back here? I'm sure they haven't gotten too far just yet," said Ruby, her arms crossed. Behind me, the Charmander let out a growl though after traveling with Emberwilde for several days, it might as well have been a tiny yip.

On edge after the last few tense moments without a minute to catch my breath, I whipped around to growl back at the tinier fire pokemon. "Char, Char," I said in its tongue, "Knock it off you little runt. Your betters are speaking now." The combination of my words, tone, and the glare in my eyes forced the smaller pokemon and its companions to cower back a step or two.

I didn't see Emberwilde move so much as felt the world around me shift. One moment I was staring down Ruby's pokemon, the next I was sideways and falling to the floor after Emberwilde's tail whip swept me off the ground. Once the shock wore off, I opened my eyes to find Emberwilde's face just an inch from my own. A low growl rumbled past his exposed and glistening teeth. Slowly, cautiously, I brought myself to kneel before the Charizard. "I apologize for the outburst, Lord Emberwilde. It has been a trying day. I promise to conduct myself better as one in service to your status."

Emberwilde's rage-filled eyes stared into mine long enough that I truly believed this would be my last day. After a long, long time staring into those eyes and those teeth, the Charizard's eyes finally softened. Grunting, he nodded his head toward the smaller pokemon before walking back to the corner of the room.

Still on my knees and head lowered to the floor, I turned to Ruby's pokemon. "Please excuse my earlier outburst. I meant no disrespect toward either your selves or your master." With my head bowed lower than all of their own (a difficult task considering Ruby traveled with not only a Raticate but a Pikachu as well), I then met each of their eyes to offer each a chance to reprimand me with either tail or tooth or claw.

"Okay, that's enough of that," said Ruby, yanking me to my feet by my shirt collar, "Who are you two? And what are you doing back here? And, most importantly, what the hell did you say to my pokemon that made yours attack you?"

Fighting the urge to knock the dirt and dust and whatever else happened to get onto my clothes from the floor (as the Inferno Clan tradition stated that shame should be worn as well as felt until the offender could be redeemed) I quickly explained about the Tartarus Isles, and wanting to scout the gym leader for Emberwilde's battle tomorrow. "Then seeing that look upon both of your faces after the last match, that hard look of determination unfortunately mixed with desperation, we knew we needed to speak with you and the runt -"

The slap connected with my cheek before I could finish the sentence, jarring my head to the side. Behind me, Emberwilde, as a Lord witnessing his vassal be struck unprovoked, let out a warning growl. "His name is Matches, not 'runt'," said Ruby, sternly looking at myself and then, less sternly, at Emberwilde and his teeth.

"I am sorry, Ms. Ruby, I meant no disrespect. I was merely stating what Matches would be referred to if not taken in first by Professor Oak, and then adopted by yourself." Behind me, Emberwilde's growl faded. Still, I waited until Ruby's face softened before continuing. "And that's why we needed to speak with you and Matches before the next match. You see, Matches still has the fire of one from the Inferno Clan in him, and I can see that you two are a formidable fighter. Those qualities, while helpful out in the world where fights are almost always matters of survival, in the arena, they could prove deadly to not only opponent but yourselves as well."

"If you came to tell us to back down from the next fight, you're wasting your breath," said Ruby turning her back to me.

I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not here to talk you out of the next match. I'm just saying not to take it too far. When the time comes, and against Misty's water pokemon, trust me it will, that you two won't resort to desperation. This is just a battle for some piece of jewelry and pride, it isn't life or death."

Ruby turned on me, close enough to smell the most recent battle on her, eyes wide and full of fury. "This might just be a game for a small trinket for you, but to us, this is life and death," Ruby snarled, droplets of spittle landing on my face. Her Charmander stepped next to her, letting out its own growl in acknowledgment.

I felt as well as heard Emberwilde's stomps as he moved from his spot against the wall to right behind me before letting out his own roar. Once the room fell into a hush, he spoke, "Char Char Charizard Char Zard Char."

Though Ruby's Charmander understood Emberwilde's wisdom and guidance, I could see the confusion on the other trainer's face. "Lord Emberwilde asks why, if this was truly a life or death battle, why did Matches merely scratch at its opponent's hard shell? Why not wrench the shell open with its claws and fill its maw with the Shellder's innards? Leave it's carcass as a trophy to mark its victory as well as its territory against other challengers? This is what a fight to the death is, after all?" Seeing Ruby's face change from rage to disgust to visibly queasy as she perhaps imagined her Charmander feasting upon another pokemon, I added, "And that's why we had to speak with you both, because that wild rage still exists within your Charmander, and if your can't tame it, then it will come out, unexpectedly and very, very violently."

Covering her mouth and with averted eyes, Ruby nodded. "Thank you. I think I understand now." Swallowing her pride, and perhaps a little bit of something else, she looked at me and Emberwidle and asked, "But without Charmander's rage, it won't be able to defeat Misty. What are we supposed to do?"

 We stood in silence for a while. Eventually, Charmander spoke, tugging on Ruby's shirt as it did so. "I'll lose," it said, somberly. Though she may not speak Char, Ruby certainly understood her Charmander, dropping to a knee and embracing the fire pokemon.

And just then, it was time for the final match to start. Emberwilde and I accompanied Ruby to the trainer box, me as an "advisor" and Emberwilde as Ruby's Charmander's "father," which Emberwilde was not happy about. I think his exact words were, "No one will believe one of my blood could be so small," and yet no one questioned it. Seeing the arena up close with the roar of the crowd around me really gave perspective that this was a much bigger stage than Pewter City, and it would only get bigger.

True to their strategy, Charmander lost. It managed to put up quite a fight against Misty's Starmie after defeating her Staryu, but we all knew defeating two of the gym's water pokemon was too big of a task. Knowing it was doomed once the Starmie entered the water, Charmander instead kept to weakening the other pokemon's defenses every time the water pokemon broke the surfacewith a barrage of tail whips and leers. It got in a couple of scratches before Misty's pokemon ultimately knocked it unconscious.

Rather than watch the rest of the watch, Emberwilde and I sat comforting the defeated fire pokemon. After all, we foresaw how the rest of the match would go: knowing it didn't stand a chance alone, Charmander did its best to weaken Misty's pokemon for the rest of its team. It took the remainder of Ruby's pookemon but in the end, she was victorious!

"And that's the game folks!" boomed the announcer's voice over the loud speakers. "Congratulations to Ruby and her pokemon in their hard fought victory against the best of the Cerulean gym."

Both trainer and gym leader returned their pokemon to their respective pokeballs before meeting in the middle of the arena. Emberwilde and I watched as Ruby wiped tears of joy from her face as Misty presented her with the Cascade Badge, a "shiny trinket" we'd soon win ourselves.

"Good luck on the rest of your journey and take care of yourself," I said as Ruby and I parted ways outside the gym, me back to the pokemon center for the night and Ruby onto the next town, "as well as your Charmander. I see now that its spirit would make it a fine member of the Inferno Clan."

"Thanks," Ruby said, looking over at her Charmander a couple steps away speaking with Lord Emberwilde, "I'll be sure to raise it right and provide it with the strongest companions I can." Then, leaning closer to me, she added, "And make sure to take care of yourself too. Your Charizard seems like it could kill you if he wanted to."

I laughed, nervously. "Yeah, he probably will." Hoping my smile would ease the look of horror on Ruby's face, I walked over to Emberwilde's side.

"Char Charizard," Emberwilde said passing along words of advice given to all new members of the Inferno Clan when the come of age. Charmander listened intently and nodded aggressively with a big smile on his face. Noticing me standing near, he turned and headed back to his own trainer. We gave each other one last wave before parting ways. Turning down the street, Emberwilde let out a grunt and a puff of smoke from his nostrils.

"Yeah, I saw her too," I replied, "and I'm sure she saw us too." I closed my eyes for a moment, bringing up the image of Ruby and Charmander waving to us. Then, focusing on the alley just behind the two stood Misty and a hooded figure. Misty was listening and didn't look happy. She glared at Emberwilde, just for an instant, before reluctantly taking something from the unknown person.

"You think whatever she got is meant for you tomorrow?" I asked redundantly, not even needing to turn my head to sense Emberwilde's affirmation.

"The next match may become a fight to the death," Emberwilde replied. I turned my head quizzically as the fire pokemon continued, "A scent lingering on the other person. I recognized it from back home. Back from the Tartarus Isles." Then, he vanished back into his pokeball, leaving me alone to contemplate who else from back home could be in town.

I know, right, I'm still writing this thing! Yes, one practice Reddit post from years ago is still at it, bothering me, nagging me to be worked upon. So, if somehow you made it all the way to the end of these posts (however many I split it into) or just the end of this one without having read any of the other "Emberwilde Comes" stories and are wondering, "what the hell is this?" well the short answer is simply Pokemon Fanfic. And, for a more detailed explanation: The Bearer, our main protagonist, comes from a land (The Tartarus Isles) where not only are all the pokemon naturally at a high level, but they're also the dominant species. Every year, each clan sends their Champion to the Kanto Region and, transported by their Bearer, must defeat each gym leader to earn the right to compete against the other Clan Champions for the right to rule the isles for the next year (or something like that, I haven't given that part too much thought ... yet). So far, we've chosen the Inferno Clan's Bearer, traveled from the Tartarus Isles, though Pallet Town, challenged Brock at Pewter City, encountered Team Rocket while traversing Mt Moon, and even defeated Misty, a part I wrote a while back out of boredom.

I did try to do some research (the bare minimum of course) into Pokemon Red and Blue, thinking I could perhaps use that walkthrough as a mirror/ guide to this series. In an effort to not add too much, I did cut out the idea of introducing another Bearer from the Tartarus Isles as a sort of "rival scene" (I'll do it later). I do feel a little proud of putting in the other Kanto trainer who took the Charmander, not only because I always chose Charmander but because I always wondered what happened to the other three trainers out of Pallet Town (they only every showed Ash and Gary in the show).

And yes, as much as I'm trying to get away from this series (because, hey, unless Nintendo is willing to cut me a check, no way is any of this profitable), I do have more scenes planned (no, not what happens next unfortunately ... or fortunately?) but not the next scene so it isn't something to be worked on soon, just to end on a happy thought for the three of you who still read this trash.

Emberwilde Comes: Cerulean City - The Welcome

Previously on Emberwilde Comes, our heroes survived their trek through Mt Moon as well as an encounter with the evil Team Rocket. Now, emerging in Cerulean City, a new challenge awaits them.

Upon entering Cerulean City, I felt the instinctive fear all fire types feel when confronted with water. It was overwhelming as my vision filled with more water than I'd seen for the past couple of days. In addition to a natural flowing river surrounding the city, pokemon and humans splashed and swam in a multitude of deep pools while a giant waterpark threatened to flood five blocks in all directions. The worst were the variety of signs and billboards depicting oceans or rainstorms for water-themed businesses that appeared themselves to blot out the sky. Having lived my entire life on an island, I managed to wall off the fear fairly quickly but not before spending a full-minute taking it all in, my body giving an involuntary shudder. I wanted to leave Cerulean City as soon as I set foot in it.

I took an step back, wondering if Emberwilde and I could skip this city, that perhaps he may earn a badge at another, more obscure gym. After all, The Champion merely needs to win eight badges to participate in the End of Year Tournament, not necessarily from the same gyms mapped out every year. I froze, remembering the message, no, the taunt waiting for Emberwilde just outside the gates. An Atreolpeaf tree, native to the Tartarus Isles, stood amongst a small grove of native Kanto trees, its usually bright orange flowers already fading to an ashy gray. Carved into the tree was a raindrop with three rings wrapped around it's bottom. The Forest Clan had already passed through here at least four days ago judging by the rate of decay of the Atreolpeaf tree struggling to survive without the Tartarus Isle's volcanic soil. The Rainmaker clan then passed through, perhaps right after them, though stopping briefly to carve into the tree. Neither of the two would've had a problem against the Rock Pokemon at the previous gym, nor run into as much trouble as I had in crossing under Mt. Moon.

The anger recovered my desire to bear the Inferno Clan Champion across Kanto, and if that path forced us to confront our most difficult opponent so early in our travels, then so be it. Emberwilde would crush all challengers put before him. My fire restored, I strode into Cerulean City with my head held high.

I discussed with Emberwilde what our next step should be outside the caves of Mt. Moon especially with half of our party exhausted, injured, or both. Emberwilde, as any warrior of the Inferno Clan would, argued that we simply needed a couple days of rest before continuing onward. Reminding him of the head start the other clans had, I suggested the use of a "Pokemon Center," a place we were told housed machines that could heal pokemon in minutes. As much as he hated the idea, Emberwilde eventually accepted my suggestion, grudgingly, and simply returned to his pokeball.

Alone and unprepared at what I might find, I walked hesitantly into the Pokemon Center. Immediately, my senses were overwhelmed: bright florescent lights reflecting off of clean white linoleum floors, the overpowering smell of antiseptics so heavy in its use I could taste its bitterness and feel it on my skin, and, most of all, the eerie quietness of it all as people and pokemon alike waited patiently while a pink-haired woman (perhaps a relative of the Nurse Joy from back home) simply smiled politely from the other side of a desk. Back home, healers were always patching someone up whether from a hunt or battle or simply an accident. There were always two or three Pokemon or people waiting to be seen, the air filled with their groans and whines, the stench of blood a constant.

Hesitantly, I walked through the waiting room to the woman sitting behind the desk. The nurse's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, as she said, "Welcome to the Cerulean City Pokemon Center. I'm Nurse Joy. How can I help you today?"

Panic set in briefly as all the information I received with the other prospective Bearers about the workings of the Kanto healers vanished from my mind. "Umm," I stammered, "I'd like to use your machine?"

Nurse Joy's smile disappeared, turning to confusion. "Sorry, I don't quite understand."

"Chansey?" came another voice from the other side of the table. Looking over, standing next to Nurse Joy, was a pink Chansey wearing a similar hat. "Are you here to heal your pokemon?" the Chansey repeated.

My panic faded to relief upon seeing the pokemon in a familiar setting. "Chansey," I said in greeting, "Yes, but I don't understand this place." After admitting confusion, the Chansey grabbed a tray with six cut-outs, each the size of a pokeball, then pointed at a machine off to the side. Nurse Joy looked from the Chansey to myself in confusion for another second until she simply shrugged her shoulders.

I placed five red-and-white pokeballs and a black-and-red one into the tray. Simultaneously, Nurse Joy and I grabbed the tray. Swiftly, I released the tray and then snatched Emberwilde's ball back. Apologizing, I said, "Sorry, but as Emberwilde's Bearer, I cannot allow anyone else to handle his dwelling, especially not with The Lord inside."

Again, confusion appeared on Nurse Joy's face for a moment until her eyes widened in understanding. "Ahh, another from the Tartarus Isles. My cousin told me that you all would be starting your journey soon. I also should've guessed once I saw you were able to converse with Chansey." Taking the tray, Nurse Joy motioned for me to come around the desk to the Kanto healing machine with Emberwilde's ball. "Yes, your ... rivals, as the kids call them, were here several days ago, and were just as adamant about holding onto one particular pokemon. A .... Champion, I think they were referred to as."

Nurse Joy placed my tray of pokemon into the machine and I dropped Emberwilde's ball back into the empty spot. A glass lid covered the pokeballs as the machine began a series of whirls and beeps, lights flashing. "You can have a seat with the others," Nurse Joy said, pointing back to a set of chairs, "It could take a little while to make sure all your pokemon are up to full health."

I sat and watched people walk in and out of the Pokemon Center, some pokemon in need of healing after a battle while others were just in need of a check-up as if they were pets. The relationship between Pokemon and people continued to astound me the more I traveled the region. Could it work this way back home in the Tartarus Isles? Could Lord Emberwilde and I truly become equals?

A series of loud mechanical chimes awakened me from my daydream. Nurse Joy waved to me as she said, "Your Pokemon are fully healed." After placing each ball back onto my belt, I caught her giving me a quick glance up and down. "Um, in case you were interested, we do have some bunks available if you needed a rest, as well as a shower and laundry service."

I caught a glimpse of my dirt-stained face reflected in the countertop and took a subtle whiff of my clothes. I nodded in agreement with Nurse Joy as Professor Oak's bathing comments once again played in my mind. "Thank you. But first I believe Emberwilde would like to win the Cascade Badge from your city's gym leader. We're already a couple days behind our Tartarus Isle rivals."

"Oh my," Nurse Joy said before I could head out the door, "Well, I believe another challenge is already underway, but I'm sure Misty could make time for you after her battle. A young woman from Pallet Town if I remember correctly."

I shook my head. "Oh, if that's the case, then perhaps we should wait until tomorrow. It wouldn't be in the Tartarus Isle way to challenge someone right after they've dueled another. Maybe I'll head over though just to watch the battle."

As if simply thinking aloud, Nurse Joy said, "Interesting. We rarely treat fire-type pokemon here, much less two in a single day."

Instead of going directly to the gym, I spent a good part of an hour wandering the city before realizing I'd passed it twice, mistaking it for a giant aquarium instead. The building was massive, much bigger than the Pewter City gym, complete with a towering five-story glass tank filled with almost every known water pokemon: schools of Goldeen, clusters of Shellder, and even a Gyarados serpentining the entire enclosure. My focus on the incredible sight, I almost didn't hear the cheers and jeers echoing from inside on my third pass, the unmistakable sounds of a crowd entertained by competition.

Pushing open the door, I found myself in a hallway lined with glass cases and frames containing all manner of memento and memorabilia celebrating the Cerulean City gym: trophies and medals celebrating previous victories and achievements; pictures, statues, and articles honoring pokemon and trainers. Filled with equal parts terror and amazement, my footsteps echoed as I crept deeper into my enemy's den afraid that not even Emberwilde's flame could protect us here.

Through the doors at the other end of the hall, I finally entered the arena just as the battle ended. Bright lights shone on an enormous above ground glass pool probably close to thirty feet deep. Separated by a hundred feet on opposite ends of the pool were two raised platforms where the pokemon trainers stood. Several pillars raising just above the waterline and platforms floating upon the water gave a place for non-swimming pokemon to stand.

My eyes though immediately focused on the pokemon standing atop one of the floating platforms - a Charmander, breathing heavily and tail-flame waning. I gasped, and finding Emberwilde's pokeball in my hand, had to restrain myself from releasing a Lord of the Inferno Clan into the arena to rescue a fellow fire-type pokemon surrounded on all sides by water. Taking a moment to compose myself, I pondered why a Charmander would be battling in a water gym in the first place, especially, according to my previous conversation with Professor Oak, they were considered rare in the Kanto region.

Focusing my gaze upon the giant screen above the arena, I saw that Charmander belonged to the Trainer, Ruby, the girl with green hair on one side of the pool. It looked as if four of her pokemon had already been knocked out of the match, leaving her with just two left. Was this a desperate gambit, a show of pride, or did she actually have a good reason for sending out the fire pokemon? Then I noticed the screen also displayed where Ruby hailed from, "Pallet Town."

I returned my eyes to the Charmander, staring hard for any tell-tale clue. Professor Oak said that the Inferno Clan sends its runts away as a mercy but also to help bolster their population in the Kanto Region. If this girl was from Pallet Town, could that Charmander be one of ours, from our clan? I pitied the poor thing having to grow so far from home yet knew it was for the best. Seeing the determination in its eyes though filled me with a pride that even though one may be raised and coddled in a softer world, the natural predator instinct still remained.

Through the glass, a Shellder swam circles around the platform, though far slower than it should. After three laps, it sprang from the water, seeking to tackle the fire pokemon and knock it into the pool.

"Charmander, behind you!" warned Ruby. Turning at the last moment, the Charmander took the full force of the tackle, the Shellder hitting his chest. I gasped, watching Charmander slide backwards as the Shellder drove them both to the edge of the platform. Claws digging into the floating block, the Charmander halted their momentum inches from the water. Then, it switched from defense to offense.

Seeing the tables turned, the green-haired trainer didn't hesitate. "Now's your chance. Use scratch attack!" she shouted. Gripping his opponent with both clawed hands, Charmander threw the water pokemon down onto the platform. Out of water and its speed reduced, Shellder could do nothing but sit motionless as Charmander laid into it continuously with both claws. Although many of the strikes simply sounded like nails raking against stone, several sounded closer to a butcher's cleaver chopping into a slab of beef. After a few seconds of perhaps two dozen strikes, the Shellder flipped onto its back, and, not a second later, the judge's bell rang out through the stadium.

"Let's hear it for the challenger, Ruby, in a well fought battle against Cerulean City's own Brooke. We will now take a fifteen minute break to allow our trainers and their pokemon a short rest and to reset the stage before our final bout of the day, the challenger Ruby against your very own Ccrulean City gym leader, Misty! Food and drinks can be bought at the concession stands, and a reminder that the second and third floor restrooms have been opened for use. We'll see you all back here in fifteen minutes for the start of our last match."

The crowds parted around me giving me a wide berth though I'm unsure if it was due to my focused, unbroken gaze upon the green-haired trainer, or (recounting earlier remarks) perhaps I really did need a bath. Through the crowd, I watched as Charmander finally returned to its trainer's side. Seeing her look the pokemon over for major injuries before pulling him into a hug assured me the runt would be properly cared for in Kanto. As she sprayed a medicine from a potion vial, her mouth moved and I saw the fire pokemon respond simply with a nod of his head. No doubt praising the pokemon on the hard won fight, or talking strategy for their next fight. As they spoke though, I noticed something in their eyes, the looks of determination changing, hardening into something else entirely. Something more primal, a look I'd seen too many times in the Tartarus Isles, and one I never expected to see here amongst children vying for shiny trinkets. As I shook in fear, the two of them made their way down a tunnel and out of view.

Following a person is similar to stalking prey, the basics of which are taught to all in the Inferno Clan at a young age. Falling in with the herd of people, I slipped around the concession filled with smells that made my stomach growl, and the long, snaking lines of people with uncomfortable faces and oddly-dancing children. I needed to speak with Ruby and the runt before the next match or else something terrible may occur. Though I could easily let Emberwilde loose to knock down doors, because I planned to be back tomorrow (and remembering the trouble caused when he burned down one gym), I decided this search would instead focus on stealth and subtlety.

Though I'd never navigated a jungle like this one, the basics should still remain the same. I stayed mixed with the crowd, always right behind a group as my eyes scanned for an opening. After a few minutes, I finally caught a break when I overheard a man at the concession stand order another to take a tray of food for "the challenger." Following right behind, I quickly grabbed at the door marked "Restricted Access," feigning courtesy as I held the door for the man with the tray. Then, I slipped in and took cover behind a stack of crates as the door closed. A new maze where I clearly didn't belong, this new section would require speed more than anything.

Emberwilde Comes: Mt Moon - Emberwilde Bites Back

When the webbing covered my chest, I began to panic. Maybe I hadn't quite thought this through. If the cocoon was strong enough that I couldn't set myself free, strong enough to withstand a ton of rocks crashing down on it, then would Emberwilde still have enough strength to set me free? Panicking, my eyes darted around wildly until they met Emberwilde's. Despite the obvious strain on his face, the determination in his eyes quelled my fears. He was a Lord and I was his vassal, he was duty-bound to protect me.

Once I felt the webbing on my neck, I said, "Give it a minute to harden before you move." Then I took a deep breath and my world plunged into further darkness. Isolated, I did the only thing I could - I counted.

A minute passed, then a minute and a half. The panic again began to rise in me multiplied by this new darkness and claustrophobia. Before I could really start to struggle, the ground shook and a great cacophony echoed as my world plunged into another, deeper layer of darkness. Then came an all too familiar roar, one that rose above even the avalanche of boulders finally falling to the ground. A roar that froze the battle between Emberwilde's underlings and the Rocket grunt, one that even quelled my fears as my cocoon was buried deeper under rocks and darkness.

In the darkness I felt the cocoon lift safely through the debris before being set down. Scrape, scrape, scrape a sound like a knife on a ceramic plate that made my ears feel like they were going to start bleeding. The noise stopped suddenly and I was left alone again in the void. A single claw cracked cracked through the cocoon, ending just inches from my face, then ripping down the rest of the cocoon.

Finally pulled from the safety of the cocoon into the dimly lit tunnels of Mt Moon, I quickly took in the situation around me. Next to me stood Emberwilde and Metapod, both exhausted - Emberwilde from the last several minutes of the Atlas feat of holding up a ton of rock, and Metapod being called to battle after just coming off a previously intense one. Ahead waited Spearow and Rattata having done their parts distracting the Rocket grunt. Finally, on a ledge above us a man dressed in all white except for a large red "R" on his shirt and a Graveler looking slightly beaten, several pieces noticeably missing from its rocky skin.

Though exhausted, a rage still consumed Emberwilde's face, smoke pouring from his nose and his tail fire burning large and bright. I lifted three pokeballs, returning the other three to protect them from what was about to come.

The man I assumed must be Patty the Rocket laughed. "Seriously kid. I don't care that you've got a fully-evolved Charizard. Scary tattoos aren't going to help it against my rock pokemon."

I simply turned to Emberwilde and nodded. The Charizard flapped its wings once, twice, then lifted itself off the ground and above his opponents in one more final flap.

Instead of ordering his Graveler to attack, Patty pulled a small chrome device from his pocket. "I guess you're not familiar with Team Rocket, kid. And this time, the boss gave orders not to steal your pokemon but to make sure you and it are never seen again."

Before he could press the button on the device, Emberwilde let loose a powerful gust with its wings. The ensuing sandstorm froze both the man and pokemon for a brief second, long enough for Emberwilde to make his move. He swooped down and landed hard directly in front of the Graveler, towering over it, his feet crushing into the rocky floor. The Rocket looked on with shock while Emberwilde took a deep breath and unleashed a torrent of fire on the rock pokemon. In just a couple seconds, the Charizard engulfed the other pokemon with its flames. In a minute, bits of molten rock began to melt off the Graveler onto the already vitrified cave floor. The heat, from where I stood, brought back memories of the Choosing Ceremony and the flames set upon my custom pokeball. Before the flames dissipated, Emberwilde delivered a kick that launched what was left of the still smouldering Graveler into the stone wall. Then he turned to the man.

Hand shaking, Patty raised the device. "I can still press the button and send another ton of rock crashing down on your trainer."

"I'm not his trainer," I replied, finally pulling myself up onto the ledge.

"How did you get here so quickly?" the Rocket stammered.

I simply shrugged my shoulders trying to hide my exhaustion. "Last one to the prey doesn't eat. That's just one of the rules in the Tartarus Isles."

"Tartarus Isles?" Patty repeated, eyes widening, "No, that's where -"

We didn't get the chance to hear the rest of his realization as Emberwilde chose that moment to bite down on the man's hand, jaws clamping down hard. I watched with dulled horror as the Charizard jerked his head left, the sound of tearing flesh and snapping bones almost as loud as Patty's screams. Then he swung his head right and rendered the man harmless by severing his arm just above the elbow. The Rocket grunt collapsed to his knees holding a bleeding stump of an arm while Emberwilde greedily gulped down his prize.

While the man was still in shock, I turned to the Charizard. "Lord Emberwilde, if you would be so merciful, a message can only be delivered to his boss if this man survives."

Emberwilde stared at me for an uncomfortable second as if contemplating taking a bite from me too. In the end, he simply grunted in acknowledgment and swung his tail around to cauterize the wound. Satisfied, he returned himself to his pokeball at my hip.

Pulling a flashlight from my bag, I looked Patty over, eyes wide and gripping his arm. "Surviving is a choice. If you do choose to live, let your boss know that what happened to his gym was for the insult dealt to my Lord. A champion should always be available to a challenger. Oh, and there are two more Tartarus Isle natives in the region at the moment, so he may want to reconsider attacking those 'trainers' as you call them, because they could be one of us."

Before I could turn to continue my trek through the caves of Mt Moon, the Rocket appeared to recover enough from his injury. "Four. Four of you. And the boss will be sending his own against you and your champions," he said before again falling unconscious.

I smiled what I hoped appeared wolfish. "Let them come."

 

For those of you with nothing better to do than follow this blog, I'm sure you're surprised to see another "Emberwilde Comes" story. Don't worry, I am too. If you're new here, run, everything here is horrible and a waste of your time. If for some reason you stuck around (you made it through three parts of this so you've no one to blame but yourself), "Emberwilde Comes" is my Pokemon fanfic about an island where Pokemon are the dominant predators and every year each clan sends a champion to traverse the Kanto region before returning to the island to challenge the other champions in battle. So, I finally got around to writing the next part after Emberwilde's battle with Brock in Pewter City. I can tell you that if you're hoping for more regular updates (to either this story or even this blog) I can tell you your hopes are sorely misplaced. This series would honestly be the easiest thing to research for (just look for a Red/Blue version playthough) and I still haven't done that yet. Just to show how little I've actually done, I still haven't even decided what Pokemon the Bearer has canonically caught yet. So far, we know about the Metapod (evolved from the Caterpie caught when Emberwilde burned down part of the Viridian forest), and the Ratata (because everyone has one) and a Spearow (because I always chose Spearow over Pidgey). I know there's several other pokemon we could've encountered since then, but I also still haven't figured out how the capture system should work (there's no Pokebox for the Tartarus Isle Bearers, after all). Anyways, I fell off last year after that big "Healer's Gambit" story (one that I'd actually been sitting on for years). Plus I got overly ambitious on some other projects that hopefully I'll get around to starting up again too. As always, it's my yearly resolution (yeah, I know it is already February) to bother you with at least one of these posts per week so let's see how this goes.

Emberwilde Comes: Mt Moon - The Vassal

 The smile evaporated from my face as I imagined being not only buried alive, but the first Bearer in history to keep the Clan's Champion from completing its quest. Careful not to shift too much out from under the safety of the Charizard's wings, I stretched my left arm to grab for Emberwilde's pokeball. Perhaps, like with other pokemon, if I could point it at him, I could force the Inferno Clan's champion into safety. Just inches from the ball, I froze as Emberwilde strained to lift a single clawed hand. While it hovered in the air, I heard the boulders balanced upon his back and wings begin to shift. Fear held me tight for a moment, enough time for Emberwilde to pin my left arm to the ground. "I don't understand why you won't save yourself? The clan champion can still complete the tasks without The Bearer's help," I said.

 A single claw slowly inched its way up my arm until it reached the top of my bandaged arm. In a single, smooth motion the claw cut away the bandage to reveal the charred flesh underneath. Perhaps seeing the anger starting to appear on my face, Emberwilde let out a warning growl of his own. A single snort of hot, arid desert wind kicked away enough dirt and gravel into my face that it took me a minute before I could see clearly again.

"What the fuck was that for?" I said, spitting dirt from my mouth. Once I could see again, I locked a glare with Emberwilde's own eyes, knowing that doing so could have fatal consequences. Then again, the only ways I saw out of our situation ended with my death.

Surprisingly, Emberwilde turned away first, his snout nudging my now bare arm. Realizing that I wasn't withdrawing from my challenge, the Charizard growled and gave my arm a nudge. More out of curiosity than anger, I turned my eyes from Emberwilde to my arm, now seeing my arm, really seeing my arm for the first time since plunging it into Emberwilde's flames at the Bearer Ceremony. 

Perhaps it just needed a little extra heat to clean off the burnt-on flakes of ash. Without the caked on layers of char I'd been unable, or perhaps merely unwilling, to clean from my arm, the remaining charred bits appeared smoother, more like ink as it wrapped a pattern around my arm, wrist, and ending on a couple of my fingers and palm. The rest of my arm now free of the crusted burnt flesh, now looked relatively unscathed, as if the incident might've never happened. 

It took me another minute of staring at the swirling markings before I figured it out. "You marked me," I said looking from the Charizard to the tattoo and then back again. "You've marked me as your vassal." That's why he couldn't abandon me as I asked, because if he was responsible for creating the situation we found ourselves, as a Lord he would bear responsibility for getting us out of the situation. Though this was also the first I'd heard of a Pokemon Lord taking on a human vassal, and what that would mean for my role. I nodded. "Okay, let's figure out a way out of this," I said, putting Emberwilde's pokeball back onto my belt. "But we're definitely going to need help."

"Char," Emberwilde agreed, nodding at my newfound courage and attempting to shift his body to get out from under the rubble.

In return, I shook my head. "It goes against the Inferno Clan's way, but we can't simply use our strength. We'll need a distraction. And speed," I said, reaching for a pokeball at my belt while Emberwilde growled his reluctance.

I released Spearow, its small body allowing it to slip and squeeze through the boulders pinning Emberwilde and I to the cave floor.

"Hahahaha, a tiny birdie," Patty laughed and snorted, "I guess you're even dumber than the boss thought, kid. First you burn down half his gym, then you send a flying Pokemon against me and my rock pokemon in a cave."

From under the pile of rocks, I shouted, "Spearow, use Sand Attack! Blind the entire cave!" Spearow answered with a caw! then the sound of its wings flapping as it kicked up a storm of sand and gravel and dirt. Some of it even slipped through the rocks and ended up in my own eyes and nose.

"Do you really think this is enough to stand against us?" coughed the Rocket grunt. "Graveler, use Rock Throw and knock that bird out of the sky."

"I guess the sand must really be in your eyes if you didn't notice my other pokemon," I said from the darkness with a wide smile, "Rattata, use Swift!" Unable to see through the mountain of boulders atop us, I turned my head to Emberwilde's face. Though typically a visual hunter after evolving wings, Charizards still hold onto the skills that made the fearsome predators on the ground. Ears that once tracked prey through tall grass now focused on our Rattata streaking under cover of sand, little feet scampering this way and that to throw off any echos that might give away its position. Though not necessarily one of Rattata's most powerful attacks, the thing that makes Swift really special is that it always connects with its target, even when the user can barely see itself. I could tell when Rattata struck by the fanged smile spreading on Emberwilde's face.

"Two against one! That's against the League rules," the man complained in-between coughs.

"Consider it 'pack tactics'. After all, you just attacked the champion of the Tartarus Isle's Inferno clan." Seeing the smile on Emberwilde's face I could imagine Rattata continuing its attack. Though it might not appear to be doing a lot of damage to the Rocket's rock-type pokemon, those small bits would eventually add up to a big chunk, especially if the Graveler couldn't strike back.

I grabbed another pokeball from my belt. "Okay, Metapod, I know you just battled, but we need your help now," I said, releasing Metapod under the cover of Emberwilde's outstretched wings. Seeing Metapod's eyes go from me to the rocks balanced on Emberwilde's wings and back threatening to crush us, I shook my head. "It's too heavy for even your String Shot to hold up. No, I need you to instead use your String Shot on me. Wrap me up in a cocoon so that I'm protected and Lord Emberwilde can escape and join the fight."

Knowing who was actually in charge, Metapod turned to the Charizard who simply nodded his head. Metapod turned back to me and, starting at my feet, began covering me in webbing. By the time Metapod got to my waist the webbing around my feet had already hardened to the point that I couldn't break it no matter how much I struggled. 

Emberwilde Comes: Mt Moon - Rocket Strike!

When we last left our heroes, they'd just defeated Brock for the Boulder Badge. Now they find themselves trekking through the tunnels of Mt. Moon on their way to Cerulean City.

Emberwilde and I walked through the caves of Mt. Moon guided by my flashlight and kept warm by his tail fire. The Charizard burst forth from his pokeball as I entered the tunnel through the mountain, refusing to return to it through our journey so far. Emberwilde was clearly unhappy walking through the seemingly endless maze, his hot breath huffing on the back of my neck and every step shaking loose gravel from the walls. Shadows darted from our path, disappearing into cracks and crevices in the stone walls, clearly more afraid of us than we were of them. Fearful to turn around, I nervously asked, "Lord Emberwilde, would you not be more comfortable in your pokeball while I traverse these tunnels for us both?"

Emberwilde simply growled. "Charizard," was all he said as he continued following close behind me. Protection, though from what he didn't elaborate.

"Lord, I am certain that I am faster than anything in these caves. And if I do find trouble, I could quickly call upon yourself or one of your vassals to attend to the situation," I replied hesitantly. Part of me appreciated Emberwilde accompanying me through the darkness, but part of me dreaded the attention the predator was giving me, as if perhaps I might not be leaving these caves.

The Charizard growled again and pushed ahead of me, his wing briefly pinning me to the tunnel wall. "Lord, I'm not sure that's a good idea. I can't get the light around you to illuminate the way," I said trying to shine the light around the clan champion's frame.

Emberwilde took a deep breath and let loose a jet of flame that brushed away the darkness in front of us for several feet, as well as fainting some Zubats and a couple Geodudes too slow to get out the the way. "Char," he harrumphed and continued ahead, letting loose flames whenever he felt necessary.

The steady trudge through the darkness and hypnotic sway of Lord Emberwilde's tail flame entranced me until the world became simply a haze of one step after the next. The cave-in jolted me out of it. One moment all was calm, then the ground, the walls, the ceiling, everything started shaking.

"Lord Emberwilde, it's a cave-in! Please return to your ball?" I pulled the pokeball from my belt in an attempt to save the regal Charizard. Instead of retreating back inside the ball, however, Emberwilde leapt back, landing aside me. Two massive wings raised, protecting me from the falling stones as I curled myself under them. Boulders and stalactites fell toward us and I watched the strain on Emberwilde's face grow as more and more weight piled upon him. After a few seconds, the rumbling stopped and the two of us were left in a void: the only sound, our breathing, and the only light coming from Emberwilde's tail.

"Lord, you need to retreat now. If you'd simply return to the safety within the pokeball, you can resume your mission once someone recovers my body from the rubble." Again, I extended the black-and-red pokeball out toward the Charizard.

Emberwilde growled in contempt and sent a puff of smoke into my eyes, hindering my efforts as I dropped the ball. Blinded, hacking and wheezing, I almost missed the voice puncturing the emptiness. I wiped the tears from my eyes and regained my breath. "Excuse me, is someone out there? There's been a cave-in and we're trapped. Can you help us?" I called out to whomever might be on the other side of the obstruction.

Silence. Then, the cough of a throat clearing. "Well that's a little disheartening, replied a voice low and unhurried, "I guess you didn't hear me earlier, though I'm not surprised as the entire world crashed around you. I'll do you the courtesy of repeating myself just this once."

Again, Emberwilde and I were thrust back into the empty void. Before I could say anything though, the voice returned - loud, booming, and theatrical. "Prepare for trouble. Watch your hopes crumble," he said, the whooshing of loose fabric moving rapidly and gravel shifting as if he were also moving to a choreographed routine. "To conquer all people within this region, -" The man stopped abruptly, letting out a huff. "You know, nevermind. It just isn't the same without an audience." I heard him whisper muffled words to another individual or perhaps his pokemon before continuing with us. "I'm just going to give it to you straight, kid. You and your partner there burned down part of the boss's gym. Sure we got the cash to fix it right up, but that's not the point. Boss said no one messes with Team Rocket like that."

A memory popped into my head, a story told by one of the returning Bearers about their travels through the Kanto region. "Team Rocket, you said? Don't you folks usually steal pokemon?" A slight smirk cracked on my face as I imagined Emberwilde tearing through hot-air balloons while goons in matching uniforms tried to tie him down.

The Rocket laughed. "Sorry kid, not this time. Boss said an example is to be made of you two, and when an example is to be made, Boss calls Patty to get the job done right." I heard an echo of something small and metallic being tapped. "I'm going to let you two stew for a bit, maybe until your oxygen gets low or the panic and despair sets in. Then I'm going to drop another ton of rock on you both, burying you under the mountain for good."

Emberwilde Comes: Boulder Badge Preliminary

Brock's subordinate, a man dressed in hiking gear, blocked my way as I stepped through the Pewter City gym doors. "Back for another beating so soon? I'd thought by now you learned your lesson and went back to wherever you came from," he said with a smirk.

I ignored his comments and issued my challenge. Again. "Emberwilde comes to challenge the Pewter City gym leader for the Boulder Badge," I said loud enough for everyone in the gym to hear.

The Hiker laughed and stepped away from the group stationed near the doorway. Anytime someone entered one of them immediately challenged the newcomer, ensuring that only those worthy trainers get the chance to challenge the master of the gym. As we walked further into the gym, rock-type pokemon and their partners trained and honed their skills. Giant Onyx crushed boulders with their snake-like bodies and several Graveler tossed rocks through the air with ease. The constant crashing and crushing pounded in my ears and caused my teeth to grind.

Finally we got to the back of the gym and the arena floor. I walked over to the challenger's square on one end and the Hiker made his way to the opposite side. Between us lay 150 feet of gravel and sand with enormous boulders littered sparsely along the field. Ideal conditions for any rock-type pokemon.

"So, Bearer," shouted the Hiker, "am I going to get to see the famous Emberwilde you keep bragging about this time? Or just another weakling?" The small crowd around us laughed. Some of the pokemon and their trainers stopped their workouts and joined to watch the upcoming battle.

"Emberwilde refuses to waste his time playing with you and your pokemon, and will only battle the master of the gym. You will have to contend yourself with one of his subordinates who I'm sure will be a match for any pokemon you have" I said as I grabbed a pokeball from my belt.

The Hiker stood ready with his own pokeball in hand. "It wasn't a match for me the last several times. I doubt this time will be any different," he said. Then he threw his pokeball into the arena. As it flew, the Hiker shouted, "Go, Geodude!" In a flash of red light, a geodude appeared in the middle of the field. The pokemon stood almost a foot and a half tall and resembled a gray rock with arms.

I tossed my pokeball and a red flash revealed my Caterpie. Though it stood almost as tall, the green worm weighed a fifth that of its opponent. This would be like a heavyweight boxer fighting a child, and based on some of our previous battles it could turn out that way again.

Still, I couldn't help but smile. "Okay, Caterpie," I said directing it at the opponent, "just like we trained for."

The Hiker was just as confident, his laugh now giving his belly a jiggle. "Look Geodude, it's your favorite punching bag. Now, just like the last time. Use Tackle!" The geodude launched itself forward in an attempt to slam its entire mass against Caterpie.

Countering with a String Shot attack, Caterpie blinded Geodude for a split-second giving the bug-pokemon enough time to scuttle out of the way. The geodude missed by inches and instead slammed into one of the rocks on the field. The rock exploded as the pokemon's momentum carried it through the obstacle.

Geodude wiped the webbing from its face and re-oriented itself on Caterpie, though obviously a little dazed. The pokemon charged again, and again the caterpie countered with a String Shot attack. Geodude managed to halt its attack this time instead of slamming into another boulder and injuring itself in the process.

"Change of tactics, Geodude," said the Hiker, "let's try Rock Throw."

There's no way geodude could lift one of those boulders, let alone throw one, I thought. Then the geodude launched itself high into the air above us. Oh, it's throwing itself at us, I realized. "Caterpie," I said attempting to get my pokemon's attention, "keep at it. Use String Shot to keep slowing down Geodude's speed." Caterpie obeyed, coating the geodude in more webbing. It wouldn't slow the rock-pokemon's plummet but hopefully it would start to weigh the pokemon down for its future attacks.

Unfortunately we misjudged the geodude's rate of fall. By the time I noticed and ordered Caterpie to dodge, Geodude was almost upon it. Caterpie managed to dodge the brunt of the attack but the shockwave from the geodude slamming into the ground sent my pokemon flying several feet.

"Damn, I hadn't planned for that," I said as my pokemon righted itself. But, right now, there was nothing else I could to. "Stick with the strategy, Caterpie."

Caterpie launched another String Shot attack before Geodude jumped back into the air. The rock-pokemon didn't go as high as the last time but it still came down hard, leaving a crater upon impact. Again, Caterpie dodged but was still hit by the force of his opponent's impact on the field. 

By the time Caterpie got back up, Geodude was already airborne. From the look on its face and how it wobbled, I could tell my pokemon was still stunned from the last strike. This time, Caterpie couldn't dodge in time. The rock pokemon came down like a meteor upon the green worm. A cloud of sand and gravel filled the air, blocking everyone's view of the battle. Suddenly, Geodude hopped out of the debris cloud but Caterpie's fate still remained uncertain.

"Get back in there Geodude. One more hit. Leave no doubt," the Hiker said. Geodude nodded to its trainer and launched itself back into the fog for another blow.

I flashbacked to one of Emberwilde's more extreme training days. The charizard attacked and all of the subordinates I'd caught in the Viridian Forest would do nothing except dodge and evade. Though Caterpie could launch itself a foot with some quickness, it still wasn't enough to get out of the way and it ended up stomped and smashed and burned all day. Eventually, out of sheer frustration, Caterpie fired a String Shot attack at Emberwilde's face, violating the rules and upsetting his lord. Emberwilde burned the gunk off his snout and then whipped his tail around, sending Caterpie through a tree. The charizard took to the air, landing heavy in front of the downed worm. Then he reached out a clawed hand and congratulated Caterpie. While other pokemon could dodge around their opponent's attacks until they found an opening to exploit, Caterpie realized it couldn't do that and struck back, attempting to blind its attacker instead. Besides, the Celestial Fire clan prided itself on offense and anything you did to set yourself up to be in a position of attack was commended. That's when I knew Caterpie would not only be a perfect addition to our team but would fit in just fine in the Tartarus Isles.

"Caterpie!" I shouted, as much as a warning as for encouragement. Suddenly there was a flash of light within the unsettled dust. Then came an impact though instead of the familiar sound of a boulder pounding upon the ground, it sounded closer to a rock striking an anvil. The Clang! echoed throughout the gym. Geodude flew back out of the haze and landed hard on the ground, obviously dazed. The entire gym went silent: the Hiker, the crowd, the other pokemon training, everyone.

The dust finally settled and sitting in the middle of it was a shiny green cocoon. I looked over at the Hiker. "Now this match is over," I said.

The Hiker just grunted. "So what, your Caterpie evolved to a Metapod. This changes nothing. Geodude, use Rock Throw."

Geodude started to launch itself into the air. "Metapod, use String Shot," I said, utilizing the same strategy. Webbing jetted from the green cocoon and coated the other pokemon. What the Hiker failed to realize was that though it was the same strategy, now that Caterpie evolved to Metapod, its attacks were stronger and more effective. The string shot that just added some extra weight now weighed the opponent down until it could barely move. The rock pokemon managed to show a short hop but wasn't able to launch itself into the air as it had before.

"Metapod use Harden," I said. Metapod shot the webbing upward, letting it fall and coat its cocoon. Unlike the string shot that stayed somewhat loose and sticky, Metapod was able to solidify it quickly making its shell even tougher and more defensible.

The Hiker growled, frustrated. "Ok Geodude, we'll just have to use the basics. Get over there and hit that Metapod with a Tackle attack," he said. The Geodude started toward my pokemon though much, much slower than before, almost a crawling pace. Seconds dragged by as the rock pokemon labored toward my new Metapod, its speed hindered significantly by the string shot holding it back and weighing it down. "You're done for now kid," said the Hiker as Geodude finally dragged itself in range of use its attack. "Your Metapod is just a sitting duck."

I smiled as his geodude put itself exactly where I needed it to be, in range for our own counterattack. Metapods, being typically stationary in the wild, are easy to overlook as a threat. Its predecessor Caterpie is even less threatening as just a tiny green worm scuttling slowly along the forest floor. What those that don't respect bug pokemon often overlook is that Caterpie's first attack is Tackle, a relatively weak attack that launches itself a short distance with very little mass to back it up.

However it doesn't just forget the move when it evolves to a Metapod and now it had a lot more weight to deliver, like a featherweight boxer wearing loaded gloves. Hardening the cocoon only added to the power of the attack. Our only issue now that Metapod was a cocoon was range as it couldn't launch itself as far. Luckily the geodude solved the issue for us by dragging itself closer, and, thanks to the previous continuous string shot, doing so at a relatively slow pace.

As if thinking the same thing, both the Hiker and I shouted simultaneously, "Now Tackle attack!" and our pokemon launched themselves forward. Force is equal to Mass multiplied by Acceleration. I was sure the geodude still weighed more than Metapod, but I hoped my recent efforts would give my pokemon the advantage in acceleration. The two pokemon collided and the impact was felt around the gym. They broke apart, both landing relatively on their feet and unfazed but everyone knew that last attack decided the battle. The seconds dragged by and neither pokemon moved, hesitantly watching the other for a show of weakness.

Uncertainly I called out, "Metapod, use String Shot," I said, hoping the simple attack was enough to not only tip the health of the opponent but also a show of strength as well. Metapod remained motionless. One second. Two. Three. Four. Finally a thin thread shot forth and it was enough. Once it touched Geodude the pokemon faltered and collapsed. The crowd erupted and I barely heard the referee declare Metapod the victor.

Both the Hiker and I returned our pokemon to their respective pokeballs. They offered me the chance to have Metapod healed prior to the face off with the gym leader but I declined. Much like Metapod who he trained so vigorously, Emberwilde would need no second to assist him in victory.

Slowly continuing along with my Pokemon Fanfic, "Emberwilde Comes." If you've somehow managed to keep track of this series after so much time between chapters (which I hope you have as it's the only thing here I'm proud of) you know that we are now caught up to the first chapter I ever wrote for this series, the Pewter City Gym battle. I do have some sort of plan going forward but this is a pretty major milestone, getting back to where I originally started. Also, if this story somehow feels both planned and rushed at the same time, well I guess it kind of is. I've been sitting on this idea for a while (as well as what I'm planning to be the next two chapters) but just never got around to writing it, instead focusing on other stories off of Reddit Writing Prompts. In my attempts to get one story a week (actually I was really trying for a new story every Tuesday), I realized I'd gotten stuck on the superhero story I'd started last week and just didn't know how to go forward with it. So, I was looking for a sort of palette-cleaner, something I could quickly work on that wouldn't (hopefully) be utter garbage in such a short period of time. And so, here we are.

Emberwilde Comes: Viridian Forest

 I tossed a pokeball at another Caterpie only to watch the ball shake once before the green worm broke out and scurried away.

"Dammit," I said to myself as I wiped the sweat from my brow. I left Pallet Town for Viridian City at dawn hoping to take down the gym leader that morning and make my way through the Viridian Forest by the afternoon. Instead Emberwilde and I found the gym closed and the gym leader gone. Deciding it best to move on to the next town, we headed into the Viridian Forest. Based on the map given to me by Professor Oak's neighbor, it appeared we were only halfway through. A middle-aged woman about the same age as my parents, she caught me just before I left Pallet Town and handed me a map and some supplies. She said her son was on his way to become a Pokemon Master, whatever that was. Back in the Tartarus Isles Pokemon were the masters and we lived under their rule.

"Nice try, moron," said a voice hidden in the trees. I turned back to see another boy with a straw hat and net walk into the clearing. "You can't just throw a pokeball at a pokemon and hope to catch it. You need to weaken it first."

I nodded and turned to walk away. "I know but Lord Emberwilde refuses to assist me in this task. I'll just have to keep trying to catch pokemon this way."

The bug catcher sprinted in front of me, cutting off my escape. "Sounds like your pokemon is a little full of itself. My super bug pokemon will show him the smallest fighter can have the strongest sting," he said as he pulled a pokeball from his belt.

I shook my head and turned again to leave in another direction. "No thanks. Emberwilde doesn't waste his time with weaklings, and I wouldn't want you or your pokemon to get hurt."

"Is that what happened to your arm? Your pokemon decided to bite the hand that feeds? If you battle me, I'll be sure to put him in his place." The bug catcher tossed the pokeball in front of me. "Weedle, I choose you."

The Weedle appeared in the grass in front of me waving the single spike on its head menacingly. Before I could remark that back home even newly hatched weedle are twice that size, Emberwilde emerged from the pokeball on my belt. The Charizard put himself between me and the other boy, completely ignoring the stinging worm. Then he let out a roar that shook the leaves off of the trees around us.

The bug catcher fell over in shock. "Oh jeez, a Charizard. Are you kidding me!" He pointed his pokeball and reabsorbed his weedle as Emberwilde stalked toward him. "Hey man, I didn't mean nothing by it. You can do whatever you want." Then he turned and ran, a few coins falling out of his pockets as he fled.

I stooped over to pick up the coins, perhaps enough to buy me a room and a meal in the next city. "Unfortunately we can't go back to Viridian City right now, in case the authorities are still looking for whoever burned down part of the Viridian City gym," I said to Emberwilde.

Emberwilde let out a snort, black smoke drifting from his nose. "A champion should always be available for when a challenger knocks," he said.

I just shrugged my shoulders knowing it was pointless to argue with our clan champion. "Well most people remarked on how immaculately dressed Mr. Giovanni always is. I hope he can afford to rebuild the damage."

The two of us continued walking along the path toward Pewter City. We spotted a couple more bug catchers hiding in the trees, boys and girls with bug nets, but they took off running once they noticed Emberwilde. As welcome as it was not to be confronted by children every few feet, it was also a little unnerving for the Fire Lord to be walking with me.

"Lord Emberwilde, if I may ask, you typically don't leave the pokeball except to fight other pokemon. Would you not be more comfortable riding in the pokeball while I traverse the rest of the forest for the two of us?" I turned to Emberwilde but did my best not to meet his gaze. Nervously I reached with my right hand to rub at my bandaged left arm.

"That boy challenged you, taunted you. A challenge and insult against one goes against the rest of the clan as well." I looked up as Emberwilde spoke, his fangs mesmerizing. Then I caught his eyes looking down at my bandages, and he stiffened slightly before turning away and starting back along the path. "And you've been marked as one of the clan. I shall not allow those weaklings to challenge us."

Marked, I thought, stunned at his words. I looked down at the dirty white wrapping covering the burns suffered when I tried to save both of our honor at the Choosing Ceremony. Markings bestowed by the Clan chief or a lesser lord was usually a sign of great honor, only given to those deemed worthy or who have completed a great task or trial. Is that what Emberwilde thought this was? I saw it as a mark of shame against the two of us, disgusted every time I gazed upon my seared flesh when I changed the bandages.

I was broken out of my brooding by a caterpie dropping off a branch, bouncing off my head, and landing on the ground in front of me. I took another empty pokeball from my belt and tossed it at the pokemon. I watched it shake once, twice. Then it jumped up and opened again to release the pokemon. The caterpie crawled quickly away. Frustrated, I kicked at the dirt. Several paces ahead of me, Emberwilde let out a snort of amusement.

My anger surged up and got the better of me. "Well how about some damn help! You talk about the honor of our clan to not suffer these challenges yet you also refuse to battle anyone you deem not worthy of your time. Well if we're going to make it through the Kanto region we'll need to work together with other pokemon."

I glared into Emberwilde's eyes for a second or two before remembering my place. Immediately I dropped to my knees and bowed my head. "I'm sorry Lord, forgive my words spoken in haste. I merely meant to convey that if you would assist me in capturing a few of these Kanto pokemon, they can assist you as underlings to battle in those challenges you deem beneath you. And I personally will see to it that they are trained up to our clan standards."

I waited for a second or two if perhaps today would be the day my Lord took my head into his jaws. His talonned feet filled my view as I waited, terrified. Inch by inch, I raised my head and took in the full beast. His knees, his belly, his his tattooed chest, his fangs, then finally his eyes. They stared at me with a fury I'd only seen once before, at the Choosing are Ceremony. Then, abruptly, he turned, knocking me aside with his wings. The flame of his tail grew slightly. Emberwilde let loose a jet of fire igniting a half acre of the forest directly in front of us. Then he turned to me, let out a huff and disappeared back into his pokeball on my belt.

I stared in awe at the inferno blazing in front of me, feeling the heat on my face. I stood back in the trees, watching the fires until eventually they burned themselves out. As soon as it was safe to enter, I picked my way though the ashes, doing my best to avoid any hotspots or flare-ups.

In the ashes, I knocked over a charred log to expose a nest of caterpie. Almost all of them had fainted from the fire attack. One of them looked up at me and shot me in the chest with a string shot attack. I picked up the caterpie and placed it on my shoulder.

"Do you see the power, the raw destructive force that Emberwilde of the Celestial Inferno clan has brought upon your home?" I said as I spun myself so the Caterpie could look at the scorched earth. "Do you want this kind of power too?" I grabbed an empty pokeball from my belt and held it up to the green worm's face. I watched as its eyes looked from the devastation of the forest then back to the pokeball. It lurched forward, tapping the ball with its head. The ball activated, capturing the caterpie inside it.

With one pokemon captured, I scoured the forest remains in search of other pokemon that survived Emberwilde's attack and willing to fight. I found a few more and hoped they would be enough for now to get me though to Emberwilde's first gym battle in Pewter City.

 

Ugh, research is boring. So, obviously I fell behind again in writing this ongoing fan fic. Also, if you made it to the end, and why wouldn't you unless for some reason you skipped to the last part where I write about the behind-the-scenes stuff, you realize that I just couldn't decide what other pokemon The Bearer (I really need a name for the main character) should catch in the forest and for multiple reasons. Since I'm not doing any planning, what I write should basically be considered canon as I go along since it would be weird for me to start a chapter months later with "Hey remember when I said ___ several chapters ago? Well, I changed that so now believe this new thing." Though that is something that may happen anyways now that the next chapter should be the battle against Brock. Also, I couldn't remember what other pokemon are found in the Viridian Forest. Obviously there's Pidgey but I was always a bigger fan of Spearow. And I don't want him to catch pokemon just to have them. There should be something significant about them. And yes, I do have some sort of plot line thought up involving Caterpie. There's also the problem that The Bearer isn't a normal trainer. Is he still limited to the 6 pokemon rule? Do his pokemon go to Professor Oak or should he still hold onto every single one of them (and thus be a bit stingier about catching pokemon), or during this whole story only be allowed to hold onto 5 other pokemon and release them as he goes along? These are other stupid questions I'm trying to answer for something that isn't even marketable. Unless someone from Nintendo is reading this, then give me a call, I'll work for cheap though I also work really, really slow. And finally, if reading this felt a bit choppy, it's because I had a whole chapter written and then found out that the Viridian Forest actually comes AFTER Viridian City, so I had to go back and redo it. Ugh research is so hard.

Emberwilde Comes: Pallet Town (part two)

The temperature dropped at least twenty degrees from the hot, humid air outside yet I couldn't see an ice pokemon anywhere. All around me, metal boxes lined the walls , each giving off their own distinct high-pitched buzz. People dressed in similar white coats to the older man bustled back and forth, some carrying stacks of paper, others with smaller metal buzzing boxes, some with trays of pokeballs.

"You have a very large family." I said, looking at all the busy people, "Do they all live here?"

The older man let out a small laugh and shook his head. "No, these folks are all scientists like myself. And this isn't a house, it's a laboratory. Here we do research projects related to the study of pokemon." He gestured for me to follow and together we went to the very back of the lab. "You can call me Professor Oak. I'm in charge of the lab and pokemon research in the Kanto region. I also help to guide the new pokemon trainers on their journey, as well as provide them with their very own starter pokemon." He gestured to a small table in the center of the room. On the table were three tiny stands, each one big enough to hold one pokeball.

"Pokemon trainers?" I asked, not understanding the words. In the villages of the Tartarus Isles, the older pokemon taught the younger ones. The only role humans played was the occasional target practice.

Professor Oak nodded his head. "Here in Kanto and many other region, a young person like yourself will set out into the world to learn and discover and follow their dream of becoming the greatest pokemon trainer. The human and pokemon work together to become stronger battlers. Unlike the task given to a Bearer, the trainer and their pokemon start off weak and seek to grow together into strong partners."

"It seems cruel to send ones so weak into the world on their own," I replied.

The professor shook his head. "Not at all. In fact it's the best way for the trainer and pokemon to bond, by becoming stronger together," he said. Professor Oak motioned to the empty stands. "In fact you just missed seeing one of your own kin begin his very own pokemon journey."

I looked at the older man, confused. "I thought you said that the other other Bearers were here a couple days ago."

"Not your human kin, but other pokemon from the Tartarus Isles. Certain pokemon native to the Kanto region are harder to find roaming free in the wild than in the days of my youth. My team is currently researching the cause of these dwindling numbers. Until then, I would like to thank your isle's clans for parting with their own."

I looked at the three stands recently emptied of their pokeballs. "The runts," I said, looking back at Professor Oak, "This is where they end up? Battling side by side with young humans?" I thought on the idea, of Pokemon and humans working as a team, each of them growing and learning from one another. It was a new concept as I knew Emberwilde would not seek counsel from me, nor was I free to give it without reason. Still though, I thought, looking at the empty stands, imagining three pokeballs being picked up by three children, all six of them naive to the world and the dangers they faced, yet full of hope and the opportunities before them.

I nodded. "It's a better life than they could expect on the island," I said, thinking of the young Charmander awakening from its pokeball to find a young, wide-eyed human to watch over it, and protect it. Then I thought about the encounter with the arrogant boy outside. What was his name? "Gary," I said vehemently, turning back to the doorway. I felt my body tense and my heart start to race. Anger filled my being. No one from our clan would suffer being paired with that boy, not when I was close enough to stop it. I wouldn't allow it!

Before I could start toward the door to catch up with Gary so Emberwilde could unleash fury upon him, I felt a strong hand grasp my shoulder. Instinctively I turned and let out a snarl, my hand going to Emberwilde's pokeball. Then I saw the old man's kind face, his head shaking. "No, it's fine. Your kin didn't end up with my grandson. I paired a very special pokemon with Gary, one that I hope will teach him about partnership and trust."

I felt my rage subside, my heartbeat slow and breathing calm. I counted to ten before nodding to the professor and he took his hand off of my shoulder. "Thank you for showing me this," I said, "but I think I'd better be going now. My own rivals already have a couple days headstart."

The professor again shook his head. "It's going to be dark soon. You might as well stay here for the night. Besides, I still haven't told you anything about your tasks as a Bearer yet." He opened a drawer and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper and a small plastic card. "A map to help you navigate the Kanto region. There's some money in an account already set up for you, payment to your clan for the adoption of their young. You can use the money to buy food, items such as pokeballs and potions, and secure shelter."

He had me follow him to a small couch set up in the corner. "As I said, you can stay here for the night, and I'll explain more about Kanto in the morning and the Bearer's tasks." Then he wrinkled his nose. "My last piece of advice for the night is to shower and shower often. Feel free to use the emergency shower in the corner. In Kanto, we generally try to cover-up distasteful smells. You'll find others more approachable if you aren't so smelly." With that, the Professor departed, leaving me in the room alone.

I grabbed one of the stands and brought it into the back room, setting it up on a low table. I placed Emberwilde's pokeball upon it. "We shall begin your quest tomorrow, after the Professor has provided the rest of his information." The ball shook slightly in acknowledgement.

I headed to the shower and scrubbed myself clean, unclear about why humans would want to smell like anything other than human. Our scent let the pokemon know we were around, helping us to avoid being stepped on by the unsuspecting, or mauled by the startled. I rinsed my clothes in the shower too after pulling another set from my bag.

I lay down to sleep after rifling through the contents of the lab fridge for food. Staring at Emberwilde's still pokeball, I thought about what Professor Oak told me: about partnership and growth and trust, and dreamed about what that would look like back home - and I couldn't. I really was a long way from home.

Emberwilde Comes: Pallet Town (part one)

I arrived in Pallet Town two days after we departed the Tartarus Isles. With just the clothes on my back, one bag packed in a hurry, and Emberwilde in my pokeball at my hip, I got off the docks and entered into the town. In school, they showed us images of human cities with towering buildings rising to the clouds, the hordes of people bustling here and there, the only Pokemon running free being the rodent-types scrapping by to survive. Pallet Town looked a lot closer to my village back home, just with less Pokemon walking amongst the people. It was still a human village, after all. I assumed a majority of the structures to be houses with perhaps one of them being a general store.

It was too bad I couldn't stay longer and get my bearings. This was the furthest I'd ever been from home and despite the excitement of traveling through a new land, it was still an intimidating challenge. But the Fire King entrusted me to bear Emberwilde through this foreign land as the champion of our village and we were already behind the others.

I made my way to the opposite end of the village toward the woods, passing a giant building two or three times the size of the average home. As I got to the village exit my eyes naturally darted to the movement on my right as someone exited the giant structure. A brown-haired boy around my age walked out the doors and down the pathway with a shiny pokeball in his hands. Every couple of month poachers and hunters looking to steal Pokemon either as trophies or slaves in their battles arrive in our islands. I saw in his eyes and the smile on his face the same look those grunts wore when they first land on our beaches, right before our Fire King and his lords descended upon them.

I made no effort to move, letting the other boy walk into me. He stumbled backwards and planted his butt in the gravel road. Surprisingly, he kept the pokeball braced in his hands rather than let it fall into the dirt. I decided that perhaps he wasn't a bad person, maybe just a little rude. I offered him a hand up. He took it and got to his feet, dusting himself off.

"How about you watch were you're going, new guy," the other boy said, glaring at me. I stood still and silent feeling it to be undignified for our clan's champion to be provoked by mockery. "What's your name anyways?" Still I said nothing. I saw his eyes scan over my dirty clothing and eventually settle on the black and red pokeball at my hip. His smile returned. "Well no name. I see you've got a pokeball there. And I just got a brand new one from Gramps in there. How about we break them in with a little battle?" He held up his pokeball in front of him as he spoke as if trying to show me where pokemon came from.

I shook my head. "That would be neither wise nor fair, unless you've somehow stumbled across a gym leader level pokemon, in which case I doubt you'd be able to control it."

The other boy snarled and backed away, pokeball still in hand. "Oh yeah. Let's see whose pokemon is stronger."

I just shrugged my shoulders and reached for Emberwilde's pokeball. As the kid reared back to throw, an older man stepped out of the giant building, arms crossed.

"Gary stop what you're doing right now," the older man said, his voice stern and authoritative. Gary lowered his arm and turned to the older man. Before the boy could say anything though, the older man spoke again. "Please stop bothering our visitor and run along. You've got a long ways to go if you want to be a Pokemon master."

Gary sneered and put the ball back onto his belt. "Okay Gramps, I'll be leaving now." Then he turned to me. "The next time we meet, Gramps won't be around to protect you."

I just shook my head. "You've got that backwards, Gary. Run along and play now before Emberwilde eats you."

Gary gave me one last sneer before shouldering passed me and disappearing off onto the forest trail. I let out the breath I'd been holding once he was out of sight. If all people in this region were as hot-headed as that boy, Emberwilde might return to the Tartarus Isles at nearly double his weight. I wasn't sure if he'd be able to fly at that size, and I definitely wasn't going to ask him.

"Young man," the older man called to me, waving a hand, "would you mind coming inside for a bit. Your rivals passed through here a couple days ago. They mentioned you'd been held up for your injury" He nodded his head toward my bandaged arm.

Instinctively, I stuck my left hand behind my back pretending to scratch an itch. Raised amongst the strongest and deadliest of pokemon teaches one to not make a weakness known to one's enemies. I didn't like it but I would probably need some information to navigate this new world. Since he spoke with the other two Bearers, perhaps he would also have information for me as well. I nodded and walked into the older man's home.

Emberwilde Comes: The Cascade Badge part 2

"Wait" said Misty as Emberwilde turned his back to her, his flaming tail swinging, "I've got one more Pokemon." She pulled another pokeball from behind her back, this one colored blue and white, polished to a shine. "That is, if you want a real challenge."

Emberwilde turned back to the gym leader. Curious, I stood up to get a better view of the arena which was basically just a giant pool with several floating platforms, Emberwilde on the center-most one. Misty's other pokemon floated lifeless in the water, knocked out by Emberwilde in a five against one fight. Just fighting five Pokemon at the same time, even for a Lord of the Inferno Clan should still be tiring. I bet the average trainer didn't need to fight this many opponents to prove their strength. But what Pokemon was she holding back that could take on Emberwilde one on one when her other pokemon combined couldn't?

Before I could say anything in protest, the match started. Misty's defeated pokemon disappeared from the pool. Emberwilde readied himself, letting loose a roar that shook the building and sent a tremor through the water. "I choose you," said Misty as the pokeball flew from her hand, "Golduck!" Relieved, I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Another Water Pokemon. Sure, it might have a little psychic abilities but nothing Emberwilde couldn't handle with pure brute strength. No pokemon out here in Kanto should even come close to the psychic attacks the Tartarus Isles pokemon train to defend against.

The red light solidified and the Golduck emerged. My body stiffened as I gasped, fear petrifying my body. The Golduck was a head taller than most, its skin a slightly darker shade of blue. It was the upper half of its body and the left half of its face that startled me though. Black lines of ash tattooed the upper-half of its torso and the left-side of its face. A marking of the Inferno Clan. "Char!" I shouted in warning, but it was already too late. Emberwilde was squared up and ready to fight.

"Golduck, use Water Gun!" Misty said, pointing at the Charizard, as if her pokemon needed any direction on who to attack. Instead, the water pokemon unleashed a beam of psychic energy, the red jewel on its forehead lighting up bright. A bright beam connected the two pokemon and Emberwilde roared in pain. The sight sent a shiver of fear through my spine, not only the sight of Emberwilde injured, but to see a typically invisible psychic attack in the Kanto region was unnatural.

"What are you doing, Golduck? I said use Water Gun!" Misty repeated. The Golduck's psychic attack continued. The beam intensified and the residual psychic energy radiating from the attack pierced into my skull like an ice pick. I clenched my teeth to try to fight it. I tried my best to stay focused by analyzing the situation. For a pokemon to openly defy its trainer, especially if they are a gym leader, it had to mean that the pokemon itself was too high a level, too powerful for the trainer to control. Powerful pokemon too strong for a gym leader to control with black tattoos covering its body. Yeah, it was definitely one of ours.

Emberwilde took the assault full-force, dropping to a knee and folding his wings over instinctively as if it would protect him. It was useless though, as if any physical defense could protect him from a psychic attack, especially from a pokemon of his own clan. How it got to Kanto was still a mystery, but one that we needed to solve later. Right now, we needed to win the match. I looked to the Golduck to find a weakness. The Golduck itself focused only on Emberwilde, its eyes never blinking as it continued the attack. Eyesight, or more importantly, Line of Sight.

In English, I shouted to Emberwilde, "Emberwilde, the water! Torch the water!" Emberwilde didn't move, continuing to cower to the psychic attack. I shouted again, "Flamethrower, now! Hit the pool!" Still nothing. Emberwilde dropped to both knees. It might be over. "Get up you stupid lizard and do what I say!" I didn't realize I spoke those words until they'd left my mouth. Bordering on blasphemous, not only to insult a Lord of the Inferno Clan, but the Champion I was chosen to bear across this land. Back home, I'd heard rumors that you could be eaten for saying such things.

My brazen words must've reached Emberwilde's ears. Either emboldened by my own courage, or enraged by my insults, he unfurled his wings and let loose a roar that rattled the arena and startled the Golduck for a second. With just enough time to lift himself into the air, he burst upward toward the ceiling and let loose a torrent of fire into the pool. In an instant, all the water in the pool emptied, filling the air with a thick steam. Several loud Booms! echoed throughout the stadium as the floating platforms hit the bottom of the pool. I stumbled and spent a second or two regaining my balance as the floor shook. I had no idea the platforms were that heavy. I could barely see my hand in front of my face through the fog, but more importantly, it should be impossible for the Golduck to establish line of sight with Emberwilde. Part of me hoped that its legs might break upon dropping 15 feet into an empty pool, but I knew we wouldn't be that lucky. The Golduck would search with its psychic powers. Without line of sight, it couldn't use its direct psychic beams or risk giving away its position. It would need to search with low-level psychic waves, sending out invisible psychic pulses like radar into the arena, waves of psychic energy to find their target. Though weakened, I knew Emberwilde could still win this fight with brute force. He still needed to see his enemy and I feared that the Golduck might find him before the steam cleared.

Soon enough, I felt a wave of psychic energy pass over me. Assuming the Golduck was at the bottom of the pool and Emberwilde was in the air, it was only natural that the psychic waves should find me first. I guess what I did next would be considered cheating if anyone else really understood what I was doing. I began to chant in my head an old battle prayer no one used anymore except as a training tool to teach us humans the language of the Chars. As mentally loud as I could manage, I shouted the words, dangling them like a lure. It worked! As I chanted, I felt the slightest of touches brush against my brain, an invisible hand gently passing over my mind. The psychic sensation made a couple passes, each a gentle brush as it locked onto its target. Then the Golduck struck. As if someone shoved my head in a vice and clamped it down in less than a second. Pressure began to build, but I continued the chant, holding its attention as tears started filling my eyes and streaming down my face. After all, as far as it knew, the only thing in this arena that could think like a Charizard was a Charizard. Technically now I could call for a disqualification as pokemon aren't allowed to attack trainers, but then Emberwilde would waste his time fighting another fight over again. No, I would hold its attention until Emberwilde could strike.

The psychic attack squeezed, pressure building on all sides of my mind as I dropped to all fours. Then came the fire, a burning sensation that worked its way through the inside of my skull. I ground my own fists into the sides of my head, a useless attempt to drive out the psychic fire. Blood dripped from my nose onto the tile floor. Every second of burning pain felt like an eternity, every moment ticked by slower and slower as I waited for Emberwilde to attack. Finally, unable to resist, I let out a scream, a high-pitched small child cry, a very human sound.

Realizing its mistake, the Golduck immediately released its attack. However, as were were taught in class, nothing hits that hard without letting the receiver of the blow know which direction the attack came from. It's true with punches, elemental blasts, and even psychic attacks. And, when you know the direction your enemy hit you from, then you can hit them back. After all, how can you sink your fangs or claws into an enemy if you don't know where his throat is? The Inferno Clan after all doesn't emphasize a lot of defense. If you want that lesson, go talk to a Blastoise. So as the pain eased, I reached out toward the direction it retreated. No way, I thought, as I realized I pointed directly in front of me, right were Misty released it. My only guess was that without water to submerge itself, it didn't feel comfortable it could escape in case Emberwilde caught it at close-range. "Emberwilde," I shouted, "it's in the same spot. Burn it away!"

In the next instant, hurricane winds gusted through the arena, blowing away the fog revealing the Golduck exactly where I predicted and Emberwilde still in the air, wings flapping. Showoff, I thought to myself as Emberwilde paused for a second, a fanged smile forming on its face while the Golduck's face turned to one of dread. Then the Charizard let loose and bathed the entire platform in fire.

Satisfied the match was over, Emberwilde swooped down and landed next to the defeated Golduck. "Char!" he roared, eyes shifting between Misty and the defeated Golduck as fire formed in his mouth as he spoke, "Char charizard chari!" He looked over to me and I made my way to the other side of the arena. By the time I'd reached the other side of the ring, Misty moved slowly back to the wall, the Golduck's pokeball still in her hand.

"Sorry, we've got some questions first," I said as I snatched the pokeball from her hand.

Putting up a brave front, Misty stepped forward, hands shaking. "What the hell do you think you're doing? I'll make sure the Kanto Pokemon League hears about this!" she said.

"Shut up, or I'll have Emberwilde eat you," I said as I moved toward the unconscious pokemon, "We're not from Kanto. The rules are different in Tartarus and we want some answers." I nodded to Emberwilde and he picked up the Golduck and shook him, roaring for answers. The Golduck just flopped in Emberwilde's claws, unconscious.

I headed over to the other side of the arena and filled a bucket of water. "Maybe this will help," I said when I returned. Emberwilde nodded and put the Golduck down, hard. I dumped the entire bucket onto the pokemon. It didn't move. Emberwilde must've really knocked it out. In the water though, black tendrils of ink swirled off the Golduck's skin and into a pool on the floor. I bent down and touched the ink.

"It's fake," I said, showing Emberwilde my blackened fingers, "not one of ours." Satisfied, Emberwilde nodded and pushed passed me, scratching my face with a single claw. Before I could say anything in protest, I remembered the "stupid lizard" comment. Instead I just lowered my head in silence and Emberwilde returned himself back to his pokeball. He understood that it wasn't our clan that sent another pokemon after him and that was all that mattered. I, however, was curious as it meant someone was brave enough to break the rules to actively work against a Clan Champion and its Bearer. I looked over the Golduck. The tattoos covered part of its face, chest and arms. Looking at those spots, I picked out small pockmarks, scared over as if something was violently torn out.

I put the Golduck back into its pokeball. Turning to Misty, her back against the wall but still holding that look of defiance in her eyes. "You got this in a trade. Tell me who gave it to you."

She glared at me for a couple of seconds, I guess deciding just how much information to give me, especially with Emberwilde returned to his pokeball and no longer threatening her in her own gym. "Some kid, about your age," she said, "same tactic as you, challenging all of my pokemon at once with just that Golduck. Then she offered to trade it to me for a Goldeen, just any random Goldeen I happened to have. Of course I was going to make the trade, seeing how strong that Golduck was."

I nodded, positive she wasn't lying. The point of course, wasn't to trade for a Goldeen, but to put that Golduck in our path. However, no subject of the Tartarus Isles was supposed to leave the island without consent from the leader of its clan. "I'm going to take this pokemon with me, back home," I said.

Misty nodded. "Fine with me. Honestly, that one gave me the creeps. Like it knew more than a pokemon should. I swear, at times it felt like it was trying its psychic attacks on myself." She then pulled something from her pocket. "Catch," she said as she tossed a shimmering blue pin toward me. The Cascade Badge. In all the excitement, I'd almost forgotten about the badge. I pinned it to the inside of my jacket as I turned to leave.

"Also," she said when I got to the door, "could we also forget about this Golduck thing? As an unwritten rule, more of a matter of pride really, Gym Leaders are only supposed to battle with Pokemon we've caught and raised ourselves."

I just shrugged my shoulders and walked through the door. "I don't care," I called back, my voice echoing in the almost empty gym, "Your pokemon, someone else's pokemon. The results will be the same. Emberwilde wins." Then I left the gym.




Welcome back to the longest running thing I've got here (currently at 5 episodes? though some do need rewrites). So, first off, no, you didn't miss a part. I was working on the next part, the arrival into Kanto (Pallet Town in near the ocean, right?) but then I got bored so I just skipped ahead to this fun idea. Actually, I seem to have a problem working linearly especially on something like this where I have so much I want to do, so I'm actually working on a bunch of different ... chapters? yeah, let's call them chapters at once. I have bits and pieces of different chapters being written at the same time because, when I'm writing one section, I'll have an idea I want to use later on pop-up and then all of a sudden I'm writing that part. Meeting Prof. Oak, Viridian forest, Brock rewrite, Team Rocket battle, etc. On a side note, I've been thinking about putting in some sort of picture to use, just so when I post this it'll have a picture associated with it, just in case you couldn't tell what it was from "Emberwilde Comes" but mostly to feed my ever-growing narcissism . The main issue is I can't draw and don't have the motivation to learn to draw, so that option is out. Also, I missed the Charmander Community Day for a chance at the Black Charizard so use as a picture. I meant to consult one of those artists booths at Kawaii Kon for some commissioned work. And I guess I should've gone to the NEET convention the other week. Oh well, I think there's still Comic-con or something coming up later this year, so I guess I'll try then.