Y/N Narrates:

These past two weeks have been interesting by far. We continued our journey after I won the Cascade Badge. On the way to Vermillion City, we met AJ, a "Gym Leader" at an unsanctioned Gym who had 98 wins and zero losses. He said that he plans to start competing for Badges after his 100th consecutive win. We battled, and I was actually surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew easily beat my Flying-type Pokemon. We later saw that AJ puts his Pokemon through very tough training—he makes his Sandshrew, normally weak to Water-type attacks, train in a swimming pool! Although I don't approve of the intensive training session like that, I was still a little bit impressed. We talked for a bit, Aj challenged Misty to a battle and won. So now he is collecting Gym Badges. Then we discovered a bunch of prep-school kids bullying a classmate named Joe. They're all students at Pokemon Technical Institute, which offers classes that allow trainers to enter the Pokemon League without getting badges. But Joe told us the rough treatment is necessary so he'll be strong enough to graduate. Still, I didn't like the idea, and wanted to meet the person responsible for this "tutoring" program. We soon met this leader, who mind I add was actually really pretty, and of course Brock agreed with me. Misty wanted to battle her. To Misty's surprise, Giselle's Rock-type Graveler defeated her Water-type Starmie, proving that matching up types is only one of several factors that determine victory. I then challenged her, and Rattata faced her Cubone. To Giselle's surprise, my Rattata won. Giselle was taken aback by the loss and returned her crying Pokemon. She was amazed that Rattata won. She reflected on the day's events, noting that school cannot teach everything. Joe decided to leave Pokemon Tech and return home to start afresh like i did. And now, well. I think we are lost?!

Now back to story:

Y/N and friends are making their way triumphantly to Vermilion City. But they have apparently lost their route to said town, frustrating Misty. The group stops to consult Brock's map. Y/N is using his binoculars to look out potential Pokemon to catch. Misty is of course exhausted. They've been heading for Vermillion city for 17 days now and don't appear to be getting any closer. Y/N spots an entire flock of wild Spearow through his binoculars. 

Y/N: There's nothing but Spearow around here.

Misty: Well, that's the least of our worries, isn't it?

Y/N: Come on Misty. Just because we're a little lost doesn't mean we have to stop catching wild Pokemon, Right?

He continues looking around with his binoculars.

Y/N: Besides. I'm 100% sure that we'll find our way out of here. 

Misty: I just can't go one step further. We've been looking for Vermilion City for ten whole days!

Brock notices a bug on Misty and informs her. 

Brock: Uh, there's a bug right on your...

And she immediately freaks out. Leaping athletically through the air, she lands and braces herself on Y/N's shoulder, gasping in a panic.

Misty: (screams) Get it away!

Brock lifts up the culprit, it turned out to be nothing but a piece of grass, and he happily tells her so.

Brock: It was just a piece of grass. (Laughs)

Furious for losing her dignity, she once again leaps through the air, but this time to deliver a flying boot right into Brock's face! Down he goes, as Misty screeches that she is going crazy. 

Misty: I'm going crazy! Where are we?!?

The map settles down into Y/N's hands and he checks it out. 

Y/N: According to this, we're right in the middle of nowhere. But it looks like Route 24 leads to Vermilion City. 

Misty: All right! Then let's get this show on the road!

A pleased Misty sets off ahead, but quickly comes to a stop when she finds the way blocked by a huge, bulking creature. Cast in shadows, all we can tell is that it is tall and powerfully built.

Misty: Huh? (quietly) Hey, Y/N, take a look at this thing!

Y/N: It looks like some kind of giant Pokemon! Bulbasaur!

Bulbasaur then jumps in front of his trainer, ready to battle. Our heroes get a closer look, and soon the sunlight's intensity dims, revealing a Charmander sitting upon a rock.

Brock: A Charmander! 

Charmander: Char! (Hello!)

The group falls over in disbelief after realizing it's not a giant, and possibly dangerous, Pokemon. Y/N pulls out his Pokedex to scan Charmander. 

Charmander. A flame burns on the tip of its tail from birth. It is said that a Charmander dies if its flame ever goes out. 

Y/N puts away his Pokedex and thinks about catching Charmander, but then notices that it looks to be in a very bad shape. 

Y/N: Hey guys. That Charmander. It looks like it's in bad shape.

Brock: Yeah. Maybe you should catch it so we can take it to a Pokemon Center for help.

Y/N: Good idea. Poke Ball, go!

He throws his Poke Ball but Charmander knocks the ball away with its tail. 

Y/N: It looks pretty healthy to me. You think I should have one of my Pokemon battle it first to weaken it and make it easier to catch?

Brock: Hold on a minute! Take a look at the flame on its tail.

Misty: You're right. That Charmander's flame is pretty low.

Brock: There's no way it can still have the strength to battle. Y/N, try the Poke ball one more time.

Y/N: All right! I will! Poke ball, go!

He throws it again. This time it hits Charmander and it gets sucked inside the ball.

Y/N: Alright! 

Charmander breaks out from the ball, and the ball almost bonks Y/N on the head but he catches it before it does. 

Brock: Sure has a lot of spunk.

Y/N: Definitely.

Misty: I think this Charmander has an attitude problem.

Bulbasaur clambers up the rock and communicates with the nervous, timidly snarling Charmander to try and find out what is up. Getting back down onto the ground, Bulbasaur attempts to communicate with the kids. Only Y/N is able to translate that Charmander is waiting on the rock for somebody to come and get it.

Y/N: Now I get it. That Charmander is waiting for someone to come and get it.

Misty: You mean it belongs to somebody?

Brock: If it's waiting for someone, I think we better leave it. It's probably best if its own trainer takes care of it.

Y/N: I hope its trainer comes back soon. 

The group walks away, though Y/N takes one more look back. Soon, everyone spots a Pokemon Center along the road as the clouds gather up to signal the coming of a storm.  

Misty: Hey, you guys! Look over there! It's the Pokemon Center!

Y/N: The one on the map! Route 24 can't be too far!

Soon, the rain starts falling. Everyone starts running to get out of the rain. Later that night, Charmander tries to keep its flame from going out in the storm by using a leaf to over it like an umbrella. Inside the rustic, 70's snow lodge-esque Pokemon Center, Misty brings Y/N and Brock hot soup.

Misty: Here's some nice hot soup. Huh?

They aren't eating though, just staring out the window at the storm and probably wondering the same thing. 

Misty: What's wrong?

Brock: I wonder. Do you think anybody picked up that Charmander yet?

Y/N: I was thinking that too. I sure hope so, that storm out there could be too much for that little fella.

Brock: What if its trainer left it there?

Misty: You think that Charmander was, abandoned?

Brock: I don't know, guys. It's trainer must have went and gotten it by now.

Y/N: I sure hope so. 

Laughter is soon heard and the trio turns to see a trainer blue haired trainer laughing and talking with his friends. 

Trainer: Sure got a lot of em.

Trainer #2: For sure!

Trainer #3: Just look at em! It's a pretty cool collection.

Trainer #4: Way cool!

Trainer #5: You're the man, Damian.

Trainer #6: Yo! I thought you had a Charmander too.

Damian: Yeah, I had one. But that puny thing was so weak, it couldn't even beat the weakest opponents!

Misty: I don't like his attitude.

Y/N: Me neither. 

Brock: Charmander may be weak against water Pokemon, but if their trainers work hard, they can be strong.

Trainer #6: So what did you do with the Charmander?

Damian: Ah, I left it on some rock in the woods.

The trio gasps and their eyes widens when they realize it. 

Y/N: "No. Then that means... The poor thing is still out there. And doesn't have much time left!"

Damian: That thing is so stupid! No matter what I do to it, it keeps on following me! I finally got rid of it by promising I'd come back for it. It fell for it! It's probably still there waiting for me!

Damian and his gang just laugh. Y/N just glares at them and squeeze his hand to a fist.

Y/N: He's the one who abandoned that Charmander. 

Misty: Yeah, and it's still waiting for him on that rock.

Y/N stood up and went to talk with. Brock also gets up and follows Y/N. 

Misty: Guys, what are you doing?

Misty then gets up and follows them with Bulbasaur right behind her.

Trainer #5: I bet its still up there, wagging its tail.

Trainer #6: It'll probably wag it so long, it'll put the flame out.

Damian: Yeah, for sure! (laughs) 

Y/N overheard Damian's conversation and is infuriated by it. Y/N grabs Damian by his shirt collar. 

Y/N: Go and get it! NOW!!

Misty and Brock are taken back by Y/N's sudden outburst. They have never seen him this angry before. Damien is also scared but tries to hide it.  

Damian: H-Huh?

Y/N: That Charmander. Is still waiting for you! Go. And. Get. It. NOW!

Damian: Why should I?

Before Y/N could yell at Damien. Brock decides to speak up. 

Brock: You lied to your Pokemon and said you'd be back, now it's waiting out there in the rain for you! And if it's tail flame goes out, it'll die!

Damian: Oy! What I do is none of your business!

Y/N: Do as we say!

Damian: What'd you say, nerd?

Y/N: You heard what I said! And you want to be a Pokemon trainer! Then start acting like one and go and get it!

Damien then picks up a Poke Ball. 

Y/N: You wanna fight?!

Trainer #4: You better not mess with Damian.

Y/N: Let's go!

Our heroes prepare to face off with Damian and his gang, until Nurse Joy break things up. 

Nurse Joy: Stop quarreling, all of you!

Everyone turns to look at Nurse Joy. 

Nurse Joy: Pokemon are not meant to be used in personal fights! It's disrespectful to the Pokemon and their trainers!

Damian: Yeah. Well, tell them they're the one's what started it.

Damien and his gang walk away and one of Damien's friends grabs all of his Poke Balls. Y/N just keeps glaring at them as they walk away. 

Y/N: "Can't wait for the Pokemon League. I'm gonna mop the floor with that jerk."

Nurse Joy: I think you'd be better off not to get mixed up with them. They have a very bad reputation. 

Brock: Thanks for the advice.

Nurse Joy laughs and walks away. 

Brock: (Blushing) She sure is pretty. I've never seen anyone as pretty as her.

Misty: What are you talking about? She looks just like all the other Joys.

Y/N: Guys! We don't have time for this! What about Charmander?!

Misty and Brock: What? (Gasp)

Brock: That's right! We've got to help it!

The trio grab their raincoats and ran outside. Now our heroes race to the spot where they left Charmander. 

Misty: This is dangerous, going out in a storm like this to help a Pokemon! What if we all catch pneumonia?

Meanwhile, Charmander is still trying to stay alive when a flock of Spearows attack, only for Y/N to break it up by throwing a rock at them. 

Y/N: Knock it off!

The Spearows attack Y/N, but Brock forces them back with his raincoat. Y/N then takes of his raincoat and helps Brock force them back. The Spearows eventually flee away. 

Misty: Good thing that's taken care of.

Y/N: Come on, guys! We're running out of time! The flame on its tail is almost out!

Brock puts his rain coat over Charmander. 

Brock: Let's get it to the Pokemon Center!

Y/N takes off his rain coat. 

Y/N: I'll make sure its tail flame stays lit! 

Our heroes rush back to the Pokemon Center as the storm worsens. Y/N keeps his rain coat over Charmanders tail flame to make sure it doesn't go out. 

Brock: Hold on! You can make it, Charmander! 

At the Pokemon Center, the lights are almost all off and only Nurse Joy is left peering nervously out at the storm, just as our heroes burst in. 

Y/N: Nurse Joy! Please help us!

Nurse Joy: What is it? What's wrong?

Brock: This Charmander is in bad shape!

Y/N: The flame on its tail!

Nurse Joy: (gasps) There's not much time!

Nurse Joy is currently checking up Charmander with our heroes watching. 

Y/N: Nurse Joy, how is Charmander?

Brock: Will it survive?

Nurse Joy: Charmander is very weak. How could you let it get into this condition?

Y/N: It's not our fault, Damian was the one who abandoned it.

Nurse Joy: What?

Y/N: Well, Damian promised Charmander to come back for it, Charmander's loyal to Damian, so it believed him.

Nurse Joy: Poor Charmander. And Damian just left with the rest of them.

Brock: Joy, I'm begging you, please save it! Charmander has got to get better!

Nurse Joy: I'll do whatever I can. 

Nurse Joy tells our heroes to wait outside in the hallway. The red treatment light goes on, indicating that the treatment for Charmander is underway. Time passes and our heroes continue waiting. Y/N and Brock haven't moved from their spot at all. They just keep staring at the red treatment light. 

Brock: "Charmander, you've got to hold on! Please, keep your flame burning."

Soon, the treatment light goes off and Nurse Joy steps out.

Y/N: Well, Nurse Joy? Is Charmander okay?

Nurse Joy gives a peace sign, signaling that Charmander is all healed up, to our heroes' relief.

Nurse Joy: Charmander's recovering, it should be fine by morning.

Brock: "That's the spirit, Charmander."

Y/N: Hey Nurse Joy. Is it okay if i go see Charmander?

Nurse Joy: (Nods) Sure. 

Y/N walks in the treatment room, with Bulbasaur following him, and sees Charmander sleeping on the bed. He pulls up a chair and sits next to Charmander. Bulbasaur jumps on his trainers lap and sits there.

Y/N: Hey Charmander. I now you can't probably hear me, but still. I'm glad your okay. I don't get it why Damien would abandon a really cool Pokemon like you. I don't think your weak. I can see that you're really strong.

Y/N keeps talking to Charmander about everything that comes in mind, until he falls a sleep on his chair. Unknowing that Charmander was awake all this time and heard everything Y/N told it. After spending the night sleeping on the couches instead of in beds, Misty and Brock are woken up by a frantic Y/N. 

Y/N: Everyone, wake up!

Misty and Brock wake up, frantically looking around until they turn to see Ethan|Y/N. 

Misty: What's up, Y/N?

Brock: Yeah, what's the matter?!

Y/N: It's Charmander! Charmander has disappeared from the ER! 

All three rushes into the ER to see the window open. 

Brock: I bet it went back to that rock to wait for Damian.

Y/N: We gotta go back!

Misty: But that's no use! We can't force Charmander to come with us if it wants to wait for Damian, even if he is a lying creep. 

Nurse Joy: She's right, there's nothing you can do until Charmander realizes the truth.

With Charmander

Meanwhile, Charmander walks back to the rock where it was sitting on to wait for Damian. It turns back to look at the Pokemon center. It then thinks back about the trainers who rescued it. A specially the one with H/C hair. It then hears a familiar voice of it's old trainer. It hides in the bushes and listens to him talking with his friends. 

Damian: Let's head of fellas. 

Trainer #5: (Chuckles) Yo! Aren't you gonna go get that Charmander!

Damian: (Laughs) No way! Why would I need it? That weakling couldn't even defeat weakest opponents! That stupid Charmander actually thought i was gonna go get it! It's probably still there waiting for me there! Or died already!

Damien and his group of idiots walk away while laughing. Charmander, who was still hiding in the bushes, was shocked to hear this. Sure the guy with H/C hair told it that it's trainer abandoned it, but it didn't believe him. Charmander was crying now. It was alone and abandoned. But then he remembered the other humans, who rushed in to the danger to rescue it. A specially the guy with H/C hair. He called it strong. So with this new mind set, Charmander ran right back were it came from. And it was going to find the H/C haired trainer. 

As for our heroes, they begin walking away from the Pokemon Center, but Y/N and Brock can't get Charmander out of their minds. 

Y/N: I thought Charmander understood that we cared about it. 

Misty: Y/N, Charmander knew that we cared, but don't you see? It couldn't forget about Damian. It's still loyal to him. 

Brock: Well, loyalty is loyalty.

Misty: Come on! Route 24 is just ahead! Once we get to Vermilion City, there'll be plenty of Pokemon! 

Brock: (sighs) You're right. Come on, Y/N. Maybe Charmander will realize it sooner or later.

Y/N just sighs and turns to look at the Pokemon center for the final time while thinking about Charmander. He then turns back to the others and follows the others. But sops when he hears a familiar voice. 

???: Charmander! (Wait for me!)

Y/N: Huh?

Misty and Brock: Huh?

They turn around to see Charmander looking at them while smiling. 

Y/N: Charmander! Its you!

Misty: You didn't go back to that rock! 

Brock: I knew that you would realize that we cared about you. 

Charmander: Char Char mander. (You three were right all along.)

Y/N: Glad you realized that. So Charmander, would you like to join us? 

Charmander jumps into Y/N's arms. 

Charmander: Charmander! (Yes!)

Y/N: Well, in that case. Welcome to the team!

Y/N pulls out a Poke Ball for Charmander who taps it with its hand and gets sucked inside it. It wiggles for a few seconds, but soon pings, indicating that Charmander was caught. 

Misty: You got a Pokemon, and a new friend. 

Y/N: Yeah! Alright! Now