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It is a sad fact that Scorch has never properly learned to fly. Despite the efforts of his mentor, the male Charizard just isn't used to his wings. While he may be able to fly to a degree, he is less than graceful in the air, his takeoffs are clumsy, and when he tries to land, he invariably ends up flattening something (or someone) by mistake.
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<Watch where you're going, you big oaf!> the Charmeleon cried, jumping hastily out of the way.
Yet again, an innocent bystander was almost crushed by the Charizard, although Scorch himself didn't seem to notice or care.
<Hey! Yes, I'm talking to you! Where on earth did you learn to fly?> the Charmeleon spluttered, an irritable female voice coming from her jaws. Folding her arms, she narrowed her eyes and glared at the larger reptile in front of her.
Scorch angled his head downwards, regarding the Charmeleon with a critical eye. <What's wrong with my flying?> he asked, clearly unaware of his lack of skill, or at least unwilling to acknowledge it.
<What's right with it, you mean! That's the second time you've nearly flattened me! For a start, try shouting 'Look out below' or something before you flop on people!> the female Charmeleon suggested, her tone clearly indicating her anger.
<Hmph, fine. I'm sorry. That better? I'm still learning, okay?> Scorch replied grumpily, unwilling to admit his faults in front of a stranger.
The Charmeleon nodded, her expression becoming one of exasperation. <I suggest you learn a bit more before you head into the wide world.>
Scorch nodded too, the corners of his mouth curling upwards slightly. The Charizard turned to leave, plodding away and dragging his gigantic tail behind him.
The Charmeleon's eyes widened at the sight of the Charizard's marked back, and her mouth opens to say something. <S...Scorch?!?> she spluttered, her mouth agape.
Scorch stopped midstep upon hearing his own name. Turning halfway, the Charizard regarded the Charmeleon with puzzlement. Who could know who he was, besides Dakshi, or... <Cinders?> He could see it perfectly now. Those same eyes, that same attitude. This was definitely his long-lost sister.
<Scorch... W-what happened to you?> Cinders spluttered, gaping up at the winged creature that was her brother.
Scorch didn't reply at first. Instead, he charged towards his sibling, scooping her up in his arms without so much as a warning. <I could ask the same thing,> he replied, holding her as close as he could manage.
What he didn't expect was hostility, especially from his own sister. But that was exactly what he got. The scarlet lizard twisted suddenly, opened her jaws and sank her sharp fangs deep into the Charizard's left forearm. Scorch roared in pain, releasing his grip on the smaller lizard while surpressing an instinctive urge to bite his attacker back.
<What the hell did you do that for?> he asked angrily, gripping his teeth-marked forearm with his right hand, trying to stem the flow of blood.
<Why do you think? Did you expect me to just jump into your arms as if nothing happened?> she replied, her face contorted into an expression of hate and anger. <You /left/ me, Scorch.>
<But that's no reason to bite me!>
<No? You have /no idea/ of the amount of pain I suffered since you left. What you're feeling now is just a fraction of that,> Cinders retorted, her eyes ablaze.
<Pain? What are you talking about? You know why I left, and if you'd come with me, we wouldn't have lost each other.> Scorch couldn't help but feel a little confused.
<I missed you for a while. I followed after you, as soon as I plucked up the courage to mingle with the humans as you did. But when I got to land again, I couldn't find a single sign of you. You had gone on ahead, and I began to despise you. You didn't care about me, or you wouldn't have left,> she explained, her sight focused on the floor instead of her brother.
<Of course I cared about you! As soon as I realized my quest was going nowhere, I looked for a way back to you!> Scorch replied, his eyes full of despair.
<But you took your sweet time. And if you had actually carried on with your 'quest', you would have found me quicker,> Cinders replied, cryptically.
<What do you mean?>
</I/ found her, Scorch. I found Inferna. Mother.>
It was Scorch's turn to gape in wonder. <You... found her?!?> The surprise of the revelation was enough to dull the pain of his throbbing arm.
<Yes, Scorch. Remember how she said she would return to her trainer? Well, I became part of his group, even though I fought against it. One of those blasted balls closed around me, and I was trapped. If I had known he was the one, I would've joined him willingly. I too wanted to see mother again, and to my surprise, the human I was caught by was her trainer too. When I was introduced to the rest of his team, we instantly recognised each other. I was surprised she remembered me, but she told me she never forgot a scent. We fought side by side, and that's how I evolved,> Cinders related, losing her expression of anger for a time.
<Did... Did she say anything about me? Did -you- say anything about me?> the Charizard asked.
<No, and no. Did you expect her to say anything about you? I contemplated mentioning that you were looking for her too, but then I remembered how much I hated you for abandoning me.>
<I'm sorry! I didn't mean to abandon you at all, I just... got caught up in my own ambitions, that's all. So... where is she now? Is she on the island?> Scorch asked excitedly.
<That's what I meant by pain, Scorch. She is /gone/, and you weren't there. For all your ambition, you failed miserably. You failed to find mother, and you failed to return, as you claimed.> Cinders' eyes narrowed once again, glaring up at Scorch as if he was some hated foe.
This news stunned Scorch. <Gone? You mean she's...> For all his fearsome looks, Scorch began to look like a lost puppy, literally drooping. <I should've been there...>
<Yes, you should! But you weren't. Look at you! You may have fully evolved, and you may be very proud of your fancy-shmancy wings, but all of that strength doesn't discount the fact that you /failed/! You aren't my brother, Scorch. You're pathetic.> The Charmeleon spared one last glance at the Charizard, before folding her arms and turning away.
<At least tell me where she lies. I must go and honour her,> Scorch practically begged.
<Do you deserve to honour her?> Cinders replied without even facing her brother. <I don't think so.>
<You can't deny me that!> Scorch growled, narrowing his eyes at the Charmeleon with her back to him. Clearly however, she can. <You claim that I've failed, yet you prevent me from succeeding.> Recieving no reply from his sister, the Charizard reluctantly turned away, facing his own distinctive scales towards the Charmeleon. <You've changed, Cinders, perhaps even more than I have. I don't think I even recognise you anymore...>
After a most discouraging meeting, Scorch plodded slowly away, glancing over his shoulders a few times at the Charmeleon. He continued to nurse his wounded arm, but he was hurt more than just physically. All the while, Cinders refused to move, remaining exactly where she stood with her arms folded. She waited until the lumbering dragon was out of sight before giving a despondent sigh.
<It's not me that's changed, Scorch. It's you.>
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