Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . .
.


Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for
the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I
finish this already.
As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated!  And so would
suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever.  I kinda got writers
block on that one.



Ketchum: The Journey Continues
Season 2

The Warrior Of Fire
Chapter 1


(There's Cinnabar Satoshi!)  Rare Beauty said as she swam.  From my
position I could see it too.
"I see it!"
Over the last year all of my pokemon had thought of their names, I'll tell
you them as I use them.
We got off Rare Beauty and I scratched her neck.
"Thanks for the ride, return."  I recalled her and we set out for the
Pokemon Centre.  Embrana had wanted to stay with mom for awhile, she
said she'd join us when she felt like it.  I think she just likes getting
spoiled rotten.

"Whoa . . ."
The Centre was crammed!  I think there are even more trainers here than
there was in Lavender!
"Looks like we'll be here for awhile."  Musashi remarked as she made
herself comfortable.  I sat down beside her.
"Mom said that the Gym is inside that volcano and there's a secret
entrance somewhere at the bottom.  She can't quite remember where
though."
I stroked Pirow's feathers gently.  He and his other siblings had been the
real surprise.  He was one of Tananda's and Musashi's Pidgeot's six
hatchlings.  They looked like Pidgey's, but their eyes, beaks, colouring
and wings were like a Spearow's.  Because they were a new species
Professor Oak had one.  I'd given Uncle Brock, Taiki, Mom and Musashi
one once they were free to leave Tananda's nest in the attic.
Actually, Uncle Brock had the only girl in the whole nest.  Perhaps one
day Pirows and whatever their evolved forms might be will actually
become a registered and common species!
I'll tell you now it's hard to feed Pirow, I had to make a food that had a
lot of vitamins and tasted like Tananda's food.  Nurse Joy back home had
given the whole clutch their booster shots.  And trust me, they didn't like
that one bit.  The little chicks totally redefine the word 'Attitude'.
For example, when he was two months old I saw my Pirow actually
bossing the local Spearows around!
It wasn't that he was a bully no matter how it sounds, he just knew who
was boss and earned respect because of it.


Musashi and I were really close now, she was my girlfriend and I was her
boyfriend.  We were proud to admit it too.
We stayed in the Centre for most of the day until things slowed down. 
Then we handed our pokemon to Nurse Joy.
"What's with all the trainers?"  I asked, I was unbelievably curious. 
Nurse Joy sighed as she put our pokemon in the rejuvenator.
"The Warrior of Fire, that's what.  So many people are determined to
catch him but he's powerful.  I think he's in one of his rages again. 
That's the only reason to explain all the fainted pokemon I've cared for in
the past two days."
"What's his problem?"  Musashi asked.
"No one's really sure, but it's said he used to have a trainer that he
adored.  When his trainer was killed he went on a revenge streak.  People
have seen members of Team Rocket go in, but never come out.  Every
now and then he goes into a full out Rage and faints all challenging
pokemon.  He even fainted Blaine's Magmar a few times."
Musashi and I gave a low whistle, we'd heard Blaine's Magmar could
faint a Blastoise.
"It's probably best it we avoid him then.  Inferno's powerful, but I don't
think he could handle that."  I grimaced.  Musashi nodded.
We fed all our pokemon dinner, I'd improved the recipe a little.  Same
flavour, more nutrients.  All my pokemon didn't seem to taste the
difference.  I'd even tried making Meowth kibble, I failed with flying
colours.
"B.B . . .over here please."  I asked as soon as he was finished eating, he
hopped over.  I picked him up and put him on my lap.  From my bag I
pulled out a Leaf Stone.
"I've thought about it.  And my answer is yes, I will evolve you.  But are
you sure you want to do this?  Once it happens there's no going back."
(Yes!  I'm positive!  Thank you Satoshi!)
I'd been putting this off way too long.  It's just that as a Victreebell he'll
be able to fit almost my whole body in that mouth of his.
The tip of the Leaf Stone touched him.
He evolved.
B.B. gave a happy scream and my body down to my knees was suddenly
in his mouth.
"B.B.!  Get off!  I know you're happy but please!  You have the worst
breath!"
He got off.  I was wet with Victreebell drool.
"Ugh.  I'm taking a shower.  Inferno, please talk to him!"
I left for the bathroom, I'm just lucky his drool didn't transform me.

We stayed in the Pokemon Centre for the night.
Things were pretty boring in the morning, it seemed that the trainers gave
up on attempting to catch the Warrior of Fire.
For now anyway.

I gave Rare Beauty, Inferno and Tochi a light breakfast, they'd be the
ones battling today.  
"Good luck!"  Nurse Joy called as we headed for the volcano. Musashi
took my hand and gave it a little squeeze.  I smiled at her and Inferno
made gagging noises.  He was a fine one to talk!  I heard Meowth make
smooching sounds behind us, Musashi gave him a light whap with her
paper fan and we walked on.
That cat was getting as bad as Taiki!

Musashi leaned against the volcano, tired.
"We're never going to find it you know."  She sighed.
"Sure we will!  We've only circled half of the volcano!"
She shifted to her other foot, there was a click.  A boulder slid aside to
reveal a tunnel.
"See?"  I told her as I jumped down.  I heard Inferno, Musashi and
Meowth follow me.
Inferno stepped in front of me, using his tail to light the way.


~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~

This was silly.
Why hide the entrance to the Gym?  Oh well, according to Misty, Blaine
was a strange old man.
I heard the roar of another Charizard echo through the large tunnel.  I
hope that's my opponent!
We emerged in a cavern with a river of lava in it.
*More challengers?  So be it!*
We whirled, there was a lone Charizard.  He was muscular with three
scars on his face.  I think we just encountered the Warrior of Fire. 
Satoshi had wanted to avoid him.  I tried to talk to him.
*Look, we're just looking for the Gym.  We'll be on our way now . . .*
*Coward!  A true Charizard would never turn down a battle!* I stiffened
and handed my jacket to Satoshi.
*Then Brother Warrior of Fire, we will fight!*
*So we will Brother.* He nodded in acknowledgement.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double double!"
"To make the world a place of devastation!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To totally control all people within our nation!"
"To ignite all people within our nation!"
"To annihilate all law and love!"
"To renounce the goodness of truth and love!"
"To promote war and bring the devil above!"
"To expand our reach to the stars above!"
"Diana!"
"Natsume!"
"Apollo!"
"Kunzite!"
"Team Rocket will carve our destructive path!"
"Team Rocket circling the solar system day and night!"
"So surrender now or feel our wrath!"
"Surrender now or be beaten in the fight!"
"Cloyster!"
"Flare!"
"Go Poliwrath, Seadra and Arbok!"  Diana shouted. 
"Go Drowzee, Zubat and Sandslash!"  Apollo snarled.
"Go Golem!  Go Dewgong! Go Raichu!"  Kunzite yelled.
"Go Kadabra! Go Beedrill!  Go Scyther!"  Natsume screamed.
"Don't you four ever give up?"  Satoshi sighed, I echoed the sentiment.

As we launched into the battle, I looked at the Warrior of Fire coming up
behind Team Rocket.  Meowth saw this too and nodded at me, he'd
handle it.
"Meowth!  Pop quiz yous four!"  Meowth shouted over the din. 
Recognition flashed over the Warrior of Fire's face.  "What's five feet
high, weighs 200 pounds and don't like Team Rocket?"  Meowth asked
with a nasty grin on his face.  Satoshi, Musashi and I smiled.
"What?!"  Apollo asked.  We all pointed over their shoulders and
answered at the same time.
"*Him.*"
Slowly they turned and saw the Warrior's snarling face before his tail
connected and sent them into the wall.  He picked them up and turned to
me, giving me a level gaze as his eyes darted briefly to Satoshi and
Musashi.  I understood.
*Let's go over here and wait for the Warrior to return.* I mumbled to
them, shooting Meowth a look.  He understood too.
Their ears didn't pick up the screams of pain, but mine and Meowth's did.
Then there was silence.  A moment later the Warrior joined us.
"He probably sent them 'blasting off again' as they would say."  Satoshi
joked.
Yeah . . . a one way ticket this time.
*I've been waiting for you Satoshi.* He rumbled with laughter.
"You know . . . your voice sounds familiar . . ."  Meowth nodded to
Satoshi's statement.  I had no idea what they were talking about.
He looked Satoshi over with a critical yet kind eye.
*You resemble your father in more ways than one Satoshi.  Misty did a
good job of raising you.*
"The Warrior of Lightning said the same thing!  You did know my dad!" 
Satoshi exclaimed.  I was shocked, so was Meowth.  Satoshi stood up
and walked closer to him.  What was he doing?!  That was a Warrior!
"Charizard?"
Whaaaaat?!  
"Meowth, da kids right!  It is you!"
"What's going on Inferno?!"  Musashi hissed to me, I shrugged.  I didn't
have a clue.
"Charizard!  It is you!  But mom said you were dead!"  Satoshi said as he
hugged him.
My jaw dropped, so did Meowth's and Musashi's.
*That's what I wanted you to think.  The body you found wasn't me, it
was the old Warrior of Fire.  I'd been counting on your mother not
knowing me well enough to tell the difference.* He said with a smile on
his face.
"Charizard, this is my first pokemon Inferno!  You know Meowth, and
that's my girlfriend Musashi!  She's Jessie and James's daughter.
*I know.  When I heard Meowth talk it clicked.*
"I've really missed you Charizard, why did you leave?"
*Honour.  I made an oath and I will stay here until it's completed.*
At least he didn't say it outright that he was out to kill all Team Rocket
members.  He had honour, his didn't want to destroy Satoshi's innocence.
I let them have their moment, after all, they haven't seen each other for a
whole decade.
*So what's this I hear about you turning into a Charmeleon?*
"Argh!  Do all the Warriors know about our other forms?!"
*Actually, yes.  They do.  How about a quick sparring match?*
I chuckled at Satoshi's expression.
"Okay."  He splashed himself with water and transformed.  The Warrior
took the canteen and doused Musashi too.
*I was referring to the both of you after all.*

*Mega Punch!*
*Flamethrower!*
*Oh please!  Is that all you got?* He laughed as he danced around
Musashi's and Satoshi's attacks.
*Seismic Toss!* Musashi picked up the Warrior and began to spin him
around.  He just opened his wings and set Musashi off-balance.
*Fire Claw!* Satoshi shouted as he took advantage of the distraction. 
The Warrior of Fire looked at his nicked wing.
*My oh my!  That actually stung!* He teased.  I somehow got the feeling
that this was the first time in years he actually enjoyed himself.
Musashi Karate Chopped him, Satoshi used Fire Claw again.  He was
down.
*We win!* They shouted.  He pulled himself to a sitting position and
laughed.
*So you do!  The Warrior of Lighting wasn't kidding when he said that
attack was almost strong enough to take down a Warrior!* Satoshi
jumped him and they began to play wrestle.  I wasn't concerned that he
would hurt Satoshi.  I felt the happiness of our Angels.  I could
sometimes feel their emotions if they were emitted strongly.

While Satoshi and Musashi were changing in separated caverns.  I ambled
over to the Warrior of Fire.
*You are honourable Brother.  I'm glad to have met you.*
*You as well Brother.* He nodded.
*One question though.  You were deliberately pushing them, why?*
He shrugged before responding.
*I wanted to know just how complete their other forms are.*
My eyebrows shot up, he wanted to see if they could evolve!

*Follow that small tunnel, it will take you to the Gym.*
"Thanks Charizard!  I'll come visit whenever I can!"  Satoshi smiled as he
hugged him.  He returned the hug and sent us on our way.  Before I was
out of earshot, I heard him say two more things.
*I am Charizard, Warrior of Fire.  You now know my tale.*