@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 109a: Great Bowls of Fire! (part 1)


Previously, on "Pokemon Moonlight Silver"...

"The Dragonite up there once belonged to the first Gym Leader of Blackthorn City, and was the same since her trainer passed on." Kaburagi explained. "Although very few know her name, she is the guardian of this place."

"Then, if she is the guardian of this place, why is she protecting the punk?" Clair mused. "I don't understand..."

A familiar roar snapped Ash to attention. "No way...could it be...?"

Ash's awed look turned to joy when he saw who was approaching them from the sky. "Blaze!" he cried joyfully as a familiar Charizard heaved a Flamethrower in the sky to announce his arrival.

[Surprise.] Blaze playfully growled as he gracefully landed near his master's feet.

Ash just laughed as Blaze licked his face. "Oh, Blaze... you haven't changed a bit since we parted at the Charific Valley."

[Speaking of which...] Blaze grinned as Charla landed by him some time later, with Liza, Ethan, and Lyra aboard her.

"Oh, hi!" Ash smiled as Liza helped Lyra onto the ground. "Has Blaze behaved himself for the tribe?"

"Very much--Pyroc says he has become a fine warrior." Liza replied. "Clair and I were best friends when we were kids, and even today, I'll occasionally bring the tribe to the Holy Land to train."

"Now that you mention it, I have seen Blaze before, but I never would've guessed that he belonged to you, Ash." Clair smiled, just as Misty and Brock returned.

"Well! I didn't know the Charizards of the Charific Valley came here." Misty smiled when she noticed Charla and Blaze.

"Even if they are not officially Dragon types, all dragon Pokemon are welcome here in the Holy Land." Clair assured Misty as Liza ran to help Ethan off of Charla.

Brock grinned when he saw Blaze nuzzling Charla. "Oh ho, it seems Blaze has fallen in love. Should we be expecting eggs and baby Charmanders soon?"

[I don't know about eggs and Charmanders, but Blaze is my knight in shining armor.] Charla giggled as Ethan and Lyra joined the group.

"Just say the word, and I'll be happy to write a song about Blaze's adventures." Brock offered.

["The Ballad of Blaze the Dragon Flame"...I like that!] Blaze smiled. [Don't forget to include verses about all the times I've helped Ash, Maestro.]

Everyone laughed at this. Once Liza had collected herself, she asked Ash "Have you had your Gym match with Clair yet?"

"We were, but then Kamon messed it up." Ash replied.

"Basically, Kamon stole the Dragon Fang, escaped into the Dragon's Holy Land, and tricked its guardian, a Dragonite, into assisting him." Misty explained. "We'll likely need all the help we can get trying to catch him before he does something really terrible."

[You want help? You got it.] Blaze purred. Liza, Ethan, Lyra, and Charla nodded in agreement.

---------

It was not long before the two Charizards circled above the Holy Land, looking for any sign of Kamon as they pulled their humans along in balloons. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Clair rode in the red balloon Blaze pulled, and Liza, Ethan, and Lyra, and Kaburagi rode in the gold balloon Charla pulled. "Our billion credit question at the moment...why would the guardian Dragonite assist Kamon?" Misty asked as Blaze made a wide left turn to survey a forest down below.

"What probably happened--and keep in mind this is just a theory on my part--is Kamon likely threatened to destroy the Dragon Fang, thereby forcing Dragonite to obey him." Brock suggested.

"You bring up an intriguing possibility, but I doubt that a Pokémon as intelligent and powerful as the Holy Land's Dragonite would fall for such a ruse." Clair cautioned as the two Charizards met in the sky, allowing each balloon's passengers to talk to each other for a few moments.

"The Dragonite originally belonged to the first Gym Leader of Blackthorn, who dedicated his life in protecting the Holy Land." Kaburagi reminded the group. "Even after he joined Arceus in heaven, his Dragonite still continues her vigil in memory of her trainer--something she will likely do for all eternity."

"Makes sense--dragon Pokemon do have way longer life spans than a human." Ash mused.

He motioned to Blaze. "Let's switch directions and check the canyons on the right." Blaze nodded, and made a wide right turn as Charla went left...

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"Not so hard, miss dragon queen..." Kamon protested as the Dragonite carried him into a forest somewhere in the Holy Land. "Where are we going, anyway?"

[You'll see when we get there.] the Dragonite replied. [I can assure you that our destination is somewhere good.]

"Okay..." Kamon was not so sure.

After a few moments, the Dragonite landed by a large lake, setting Kamon by one of the banks. [Here we are...you must be hungry after coming all this way.]

"That I am." Kamon admitted. "So, what are we going to eat all the way in the middle of nowhere?"

The Dragonite chuckled as she fluttered from tree to tree, picking Berries she knew were safe for human consumption. [Taste and see that nature's bounty is good.] she smiled, offering Kamon the many different Berries she had collected some time later.

"Wow...this actually looks delicious!" Kamon cried before popping an Oran Berry in his mouth.

[I do not know the foe you were running from, but you're safe here--no one will harm you now.] the Dragonite purred, a little bemused at Kamon enthusiastically eating the many Berries she had found.

"You don't even know all the bad things I have done, and yet you'd still help me?" Kamon asked as tears welled up in his eyes for the first time in a long time.

When the Dragonite answered his question with an affirming nod, he embraced the majestic orange dragon Pokemon. "Thank you..." he finally whispered as a grateful tear rolled down his cheek.

Just then, something dawned on Kamon. Wait a minute...Miss Dragonite didn't have to help me, and she did anyway, regardless of my past.

He thought long and hard as he did his best to remember all the times Ash had helped him or was otherwise nice to him, despite his attempts to steal Pokemon and cause trouble. That time we were separated running from Ursarings...Ash didn't have to welcome me to his campsite, feed me, and serenade me; but he did anyway. The time I got stranded on Snowtop Mountain--Ash didn't have to bring me in from the cold, but he did anyway. Both times, he did it because it was the right thing to do, regardless of all the annoyance, frustration, and trouble I've caused him during this journey.

Then he thought back to all the times he had battled Ash, or seen him battle. And yet, every time I've seen Ash--Wonder Boy--battle, I feel this light...a pure, bright, shining light. He has a deep love for his team and his companions...

His eyes widened. Could it be...that Ash was right all along?

A small structure on the side of the lake snapped him from his thoughts. But now's not the time to ponder the meaning of life, the universe, and why the toast lands butter side down...I wanna see what's inside that building over there!

To Be Continued...