1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 13: Charizard Gate

Route 32 should have carried us straight toward Union Cave, but the road had a way of bending around things Johto wanted us to see first. The river was behind us, Reisa's Croconaw was still walking with a new kind of pride, and East kept checking his newly caught Mareep's tail glow against the afternoon light.

I tried not to keep looking at the empty space beside me where Charizard usually walked when he was out of his Poké Ball. He had rested after the Falkner battle and the injured wing was fine, but I had kept him inside while we traveled so he would not push himself again.

Pikachu sat on my shoulder and flicked one ear against my cheek. His meaning came through gently: "You are thinking about him."

"I am always thinking about someone," I muttered.

Lillie heard enough to look over. "Charizard?"

I nodded. "Falkner's Pidgeotto hurt his wing, and Charizard still kept fighting. I know he chose to continue, but I keep wondering if I let him push too hard."

Chikorita walked near Lillie, pretending she was only staying close because the path was narrow. Her leaf turned toward me, and her meaning brushed against my thoughts: "The fire dragon wanted the sky. You listened to his wanting."

"That does not always make it easy," I said quietly.

Kris paused near a rocky slope ahead. "There is someone up there."

We all looked up toward the ridge.

A girl stood on the cliffside above the route, one hand shielding her eyes from the sun. She had a confident stance, like she was used to heights and did not think they belonged only to Flying-type Trainers.

"Did someone down there mention Charla?" she called.

My chest tightened before I could stop it. "Um, yeah. Who are you, and how do you know my Charizard?"

The girl climbed down with practiced balance, moving along the canyon path like she had walked it hundreds of times. "A few days ago, a girl with honey-blonde hair named Serena asked me to help train a Charizard named Charla."

Lillie's eyes widened. "Serena was here?"

"She came quickly and left quickly," the girl said. "She said there were things she had to handle elsewhere, but Charla needed stronger training than a normal road could give."

I looked toward the cliffs behind her. "So Charla is nearby?"

The girl smiled and turned toward the canyon. "Sound travels far here. Watch."

She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Charla!"

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, orange fire burst into the sky beyond the ridge, not like an attack aimed at us, but like a signal. The Flamethrower rose in a controlled column, bright enough to make Pikachu lean forward with recognition.

Lillie checked her Rotom Phone. "This area is marked as Charicific Valley. It says it is a well-known Charizard habitat and officially off-limits to tourists."

"That is right," the girl said. "My name is Liza. I train Charizard and help protect the valley. You must be Ash. Serena mentioned you."

"That is me," I said. "If Serena brought Charla here, she must have trusted you."

"She did," Liza replied. "And I heard a Trainer beat Falkner's Pidgeotto with a Charizard. I also smell Charizard on your Poké Balls."

Ethan blinked. "You can smell that?"

"When you live around Charizard every day, you learn," Liza said simply. "Would you like to visit the valley?"

I looked at Lillie. She did not answer for me, but her face softened. She knew this mattered.