章 14: 14. Confused Charmander
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Northwest of Pewter City, near a mysterious, unnamed volcano.
Since leaving Viridian Forest, Kai had spent two long days exploring the vast area around this volcano.
His goal was initially to challenge the Pewter Gym, but when he overheard that there was a group of Charmander in the area, he changed his plans, making it his priority to track one down and capture it.
This urgency wasn't driven solely by Charmander's renowned final evolution, Charizard, known for its impressive power.
For Kai, Charmander's cool appearance and fiery nature had captivated him since his past life. To him, catching one felt like a calling.
However, after scouring half the volcano's slopes, he had only come across a few Diglett, Zubat, Geodude, and Cubone.
"F*ck, my luck" Kai cursed in frustration.
Frustration was beginning to set in no sign of Charmander anywhere.
As dusk fell and darkness crept over the land, Kai reluctantly set down his backpack, preparing to camp for the night.
But just as he started to unpack, Eevee, whom he had sent ahead to scout, came rushing back with an urgent expression.
"Eee...vee!" (I found Charmanders)
Seeing Kai, Eevee dashed up to him, vocalizing in an anxious tone.
Though he couldn't understand Eevee's exact words, Kai's heart raced as he recalled the mission he had given it.
"You found Charmander!?" he asked, excitement lacing his voice.
"Vee-vee!" (Follow me)
Eevee nodded vigorously, turning to lead the way, gesturing for Kai to follow.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kai grabbed his backpack and followed Eevee, crossing a rocky field.
Finally, he noticed a cluster of faint lights flickering in a narrow mountain crevice up ahead.
These lights, glowing against the evening shadows, immediately stood out.
As he moved closer, Kai could make out a gathering of Charmander and Charmeleon, their tails aglow with fire.
Looking up, he could even see a few charizards gliding in the sky; wings stretched wide against the night.
The glowing flames on their tails, the flames of life, were visible even from a distance.
"Char! Char-man-der!"(my father is flying with your mother) a young Charmander taunted a Charmander beside him.
"Char...?"(What?) Charmander, who got taunted, was confused.
"Chaar-MAN-DER!"(are you dumb or too innocent) Now the young Charmander was confused.
After hours of searching, Kai had finally found a whole group of Charmander!
"Chaaar-IZARD!!!!!" Charizard alerted others with a powerful, bellowing roar.
But capturing one would be tricky. He couldn't simply walk in and challenge a Charmander, not with Charmeleon and Charizard on high alert to protect their own.
While Charmander itself was known for its comparatively gentle nature, Charmeleon and Charizard were notorious for their fierce tempers and protective instincts.
Lying low within a patch of dense foliage, Kai observed the group carefully.
Then, glancing at his backpack, a strategy began forming in his mind.
He quietly opened his backpack, pulled out a flashlight, and covered the lens with a few strips of tape, leaving only a small, circular opening to create a narrow beam.
He then retrieved a can of Pokémon rations, opened it and placed it behind a large, concealing boulder nearby.
After setting up his bait, he gestured to his Pokémon to hide around him.
"We don't have time for a formal battle strategy this time," Kai whispered. "When I lure a Charmander over, everyone attacks together. Let's finish quickly before any Charizard takes notice. Understood?"
"Squirtle! Squirtle!" responded his Pokémon, nodding confidently.
Satisfied, Kai returned to his hiding spot and began watching the Charmander group closely.
Charmander resembled a small carnivorous dinosaur with a sleek, orange body, cream-coloured underside, and, of course, its iconic tail flame.
This flame was more than a physical trait; it was a gauge of Charmander's health and emotional state.
A bright, vigorous flame meant it was healthy and energetic, while a dim flame hinted at fatigue or low spirits.
According to legend, if a Charmander's tail flame ever went out, it would signify the end of its life.
However, as long as it was healthy, even heavy rain couldn't extinguish that flame.
Male Charmander: shy but trying to be confident "Char... Char-man-der! (Hey there! I noticed your flame burns bright!)"
Female Charmander: giggling softly "Charrr... charmander! (Oh, really? Yours is pretty bright, too!)"
Male Charmander: blushing "Char-man-der, char! (Aw, thanks! I, um… I've been practising my Flamethrower, you know. It's pretty impressive!)"
Female Charmander: playfully "Char-man-der! (Oh, is that so? Maybe I'll have to see it sometime!)"
Male Charmander: getting bolder. "Char-man-der, Charmander! (Only if I get to see yours, too!)"
Female Charmander: flicks her tail playfully "Charrrr, charmander! (Maybe I'll show you… if you can keep up!)"
Male Charmander: grinning "Char! Char-man-der! (Challenge accepted!)"
Female Charmander: smiling warmly "Charrrr, charmander... (Well, I'll be looking forward to it...)"
Male Charmander: blushing deeper "Char... charmander... (Me too...)"
At that moment, the Charmanders were still playfully interacting with one another, completely oblivious to Kai's presence.
After watching for a while, he noticed one Charmander that stood out.
Though it was playing with its companions, this Charmander had an energetic and slightly clumsy nature, often using more force than necessary.
This behaviour seemed to annoy its friends, who would scold it with playful nudges.
Kai couldn't help but smirk. Alright, you're the one.
Carefully aiming the flashlight at the Charmander, he switched it on, directing a focused beam toward it while keeping the light subtle enough to avoid alerting the rest of the group.
At first, the Charmander simply blinked, turning its head away to ignore the beam. But as the light persisted, following its face, it grew curious.
A puzzled expression crossed its face as Charmander glanced around and, unable to ignore the strange light, began moving cautiously in Kai's direction.
Seeing it take the bait, Kai slowly backed up, moving behind the large boulder.
Charmander soon arrived, only to find the light had vanished. In its place was a strange but invitingly fragrant food item in the open.
Charmander sniffed the air, taking a few tentative steps forward.
Suddenly, in a coordinated strike, Kai's Pokémon sprang from their hiding spots and attacked simultaneously.
Caught off guard, Charmander was hit by a Water Gun, Confusion, Vine Whip, and a Tackle, leaving it stunned and collapsing to the ground, its vision fading to black as it lost consciousness.
"Perfect!" Kai whispered, exhilarated.
With Charmander down, Kai leapt from behind the boulder, pulled out a Poké Ball, and tossed it over.
A flash of red light enveloped Charmander, and the capture was completed without even a single shake.
Squirtle watched, momentarily dazed. It had a strange sense of déjà vu as if it had seen this scene play out before.
"What are you waiting for?" Kai chuckled, playfully tapping Squirtle's head. His grin, bright even in the dark, was infectious. "We caught it. Before the others realize, let's get out of here!"
Late that night, at the Pokémon Center in Pewter City.
In the quiet dining area, Kai lounged on a chair with his feet propped up, sipping vegetable juice with a relaxed smile.
Today had marked a milestone: he had finally gathered all three of Kanto's starter Pokémon!
Nearby, his five Pokémon ate contentedly, while Charmander, newly captured, looked around the unfamiliar setting with a dazed expression.
"Char...?"(where am I?) Charmander, who got kidnapped was visibly confused.
Its memory of the recent events was fragmented as if waking from a strange dream to find the world had changed around it.
How did I get here?
Why is this human my trainer now?
And who are these other Pokémon?
I had a date!!
Noticing its confusion, Kai pushed some food toward Charmander with a warm smile.
"Eat up! Still feeling a bit out of sorts? Don't worry; you'll settle in soon enough."
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