Chapter 1: Deep under water in the northern Johto region, exists a pokemon only heard about in legends. It swam at the bottom of the oceans, rivers, and lakes, gliding just as mystically as in flight over the lands. The legend is held in secrecy to the few who know it, and those few act as if it's a figment of their imaginations, horrorstruck by its power. And it is here, in such an unlikely place, where our story begins. "So if we passed the tree near the south end… Followed it to the path in that direction… And hiked up to the bottom of this waterfall… … I'd say we're completely lost." The threesome sighed. "Brock! How come you're always the one with the map? It would help if you looked at it sometimes, rather than getting us lost all the time," Misty complained. "Misty, you don't even know how to read the map. If you really want to get us lost, though, why don't I give the map to Ash? I haven't gotten us lost for three days straight, so give me some credit," Brock countered. "Woohoo. Is that your all-time record, Brock?" Misty teased. "Rrrgh…" "Will you two stop fighting? Normally it's Brock that stops us from fighting, Misty. And you'll always stop him from flirting with a pretty girl. Is this the first time I've ever stopped a fight between you two since I left Pallet Town?" Both Misty and Brock flushed with slight pride. It's true that they weren't known to have any arguments. Once that was settled, they kept walking. "We'll find a Pokemon Center soon, right? My legs hurt," Misty sighed. "Hopefully," Ash said, looking up at the golden sun which was slowly disappearing behind the mountains far ahead, "and if we don't, we'll just set up camp." "I'll make something with what remains of my ingredients when we get there. The no-chew stew might be possible if I can find some onions for the flavor…" Brock started, making the others hungry. "BrOoOcCkK! Don't make me hungry at a time like this! I need to get my next badge!" Ash whined, thinking of food. "Ash, you're always hungry!" Misty complained. "Any more complaining tonight, and you'll have to make your own dinner!" "And why is that?" Ash and Misty synchronized, staring at Brock accusingly. "Because I'll be sick to my stomach!" "Thinking of a special nurse or a certain police officer dumping you?" Misty smiled. "You shouldn't have any opinion in my love life!" "Brock, you don't even HAVE a love life!" Misty said, nearly laughing at Brock's sudden expression. Brock was boiling with rage from Misty's last comment, "Every girl you meet dumps you." "THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Brock yelled, fuming, "What about Susie? There are plenty of others! They just haven't confessed their inevitable love for me yet!" "That's because th-" Ash's electrical partner jumped up with fury at the argument that was going nowhere really fast and gave everyone a thunderbolt attack, hoping that would knock them to their senses. After a minute or so of static electricity, the three sat up. "Even Pikachu doesn't like the way you two have been acting lately. Now shake hands and make up." Pikachu nodded in agreement to what Ash just said. Misty and Brock shook hands sternly, still burning with rage, "You've got the whole night ahead of you, so… Brock, you start cooking and Misty and I will look for onions." Misty gave a look to Brock as if saying: did you manage to knock some sense into him? And Brock shrugged. "Pikachu has boosted Ash's brain before, hasn't it?" Brock added. Misty nodded silently, "I guess that's what happens when you have a pikachu with you for more than three years or so." "Maybe the hunger is getting to him." "That's obvious." "See you as soon as we get the onions, Brock." Just as soon as Ash turned around, Brock called back, noticing something on the ground. "There's no need, Ash! There just happens to be some right where we're setting up camp!" "Oh." Ash answered, slightly embarrassed. Suddenly, a cry sounded from not far away. "QUIIIIILLLA!!" "What was that?" Ash yelled, whipping around to the area the cry came from, then looking steadily into the thick forest. "It sounded like a pokemon," Misty commented. Ash looked at her with an expression saying plainly: what else would it be? Misty glared back. "You know… That sounded like a cyndaquil, Ash," Brock noted. "But cyndaquil is in its pokeball, Brock," Ash answered, slightly puzzled, checking to make sure it was, and, of course, it was, "That's odd. Cyndaquil are rare in the wild, aren't they?" The second he looked to Brock for an answer, a hedgehog that looked as if it was crossbred with a furret appeared, dodging attacks from the inner section of the forest. Two large pinsirs came out into the clearing that was Ash, Misty, and Brock's campsite ready to fight as if it was the perfect battle zone. Ash immediately pulled out his pokedex, hoping to get further information from Dexter, other than the pokemon looking remotely similar to a hedgehog. It started giving brief information on it, talking in an electrical monotone voice: "Quilava: the volcano pokemon. Height: 2'11" Weight: 42lb. This pokemon is fully covered by nonflammable fur. It can withstand any fire attack. The second evolution of cyndaquil…" "The second evolution of cyndaquil?" Ash echoed, shutting Dexter and putting it away, "That's the evolved form of cyndaquil?" "I think it's cute!" Misty commented, "For a fire type, that is." "Uh… Ash, shouldn't we help it?" "Ye-" "Oh, no you don't! I like water, but I'm going to make this cutie mine!" Misty said, pushing Ash to the side as she cried, "Starmie, I choose you!" "Misty—that's completely unfair to the quilava!" Ash yelled. Now the quilava had three enemies. There was no way it was going to last. Ash was very well mistaken. He thought too fast. The quilava started spinning rapidly. After spinning enough to make someone dizzy, it showed its resemblance to the smaller form of itself by a burst of flames from the lower portion of its back and the very tip of its head. It then emitted a flamethrower attack at the nearing-starry sky and lighting it up brightly. It created a large fire tornado. The quilava immediately stopped spinning, as it gained its firepower further by staying grounded. It stayed amazingly still, as if it was controlling where the tornado was going, as it headed directly for the two pinsirs, who stared, gaping, at the overpowering tornado made of nothing but fire. After a few seconds time in the spinning fire, the two pinsirs fainted, surrounded by the scorching firepower. Misty ordered her starmie's watergun attack at the base of the tornado, which slowly weakened until it evaporated in a mix between water and smoke. The watergun covered the campsite in a light rain, making the ground damp. The standoff lasted only a short matter of seconds. Misty smirked at the quilava's state, while the quilava was getting forcefully weaker by the minute from what was left over from the watergun. It was soaked wet as the fire on its back slowly decreased to a small amount of ember. Panting and struggling, it looked as though it wouldn't be able to last through another attack. "Starmie—spinning tackle attack!" Misty called out. As Starmie started spinning rapidly toward the helpless quilava, it barely managed to move out of the way, making Misty's Starmie cut right through the tree quilava had been right next to just seconds ago. As the tree fell, Ash noticed where it was falling. Unfortunately, it would be too late and he wouldn't make it to the tree fast enough to save it from landing directly on top of the hurt quilava. He fell ice cold, thinking dreadfully of what would happen. Too horrified to speak. "QUILAVA!" Ash immediately looked up. A trainer dived toward the tree, thrusting the quilava to the other side of the falling tree, which was edging closer to the ground by the second. The tree was falling too quickly with its weight. Ash, Misty and Brock shut their eyes in horror, thinking to themselves that they would wake up and it would only be a dream, but as they guessed, a thunderous sound shook the ground and at the same time they could all hear a loud crack as it sounded through the forest. Ash was shaking with fear. It was over, but… was it? A few minutes of silence passed. Ash was filling with rage. Finally he burst out to Misty, "I told you not to, but no! No one ever listens to Ash! The quilava could've…" Ash's words trailed off into the silence around him. Misty tried to stifle her tears. All of a sudden, Ash felt complete compassion mixed with sorrow for Misty. He wished he could have rewound time and stopped himself from what he did. He looked at her with a heartbroken expression, and then broke off again, thinking to himself. His head was spinning with horror once again. The quilava was safe because it had been pushed to the side of the falling tree, but only at the last second, so that meant… Ash rushed over to the tree. The trainer who saved the quilava was face down, barely breathing. The tree fallen over his left leg. Ash stooped up and tried to move the tree off the boy's leg. "Are you just going to stand there? Help me lift this!" Ash called out to Misty and Brock. The two immediately understood what had happened and rushed over to help Ash out. They all nodded and then Ash gave instructions, "On the count of three, we lift this. Alright… One… Two… Three." They struggled as hard as they could. Trying to lift a tree that weighted half the amount of a snorlax was more complicated then it seemed. Ash, Misty, and Brock were barely moving the tree out of the way. Pikachu came over to help as well, beckoning starmie and quilava to do the same. Quilava jumped up to the tree as quick as it could, helping the four lift eagerly. Starmie came a moment later. Everyone was putting in his or her best effort to lift the tree, which was now lifted much easier than before. After a short while, the group (who had successfully lifted the tree over) was placing the tree down carefully. The second it landed safely, Ash rushed to the trainer and pulled him into a sitting position. Slightly dizzy, the trainer clapped his hand to his head and started, "Nnn… Ohh… What on earth happened? Who are you?" The trainer looked up at Ash. He was slightly shaken as he noticed the pain in his leg. "I'm Ash. Just stay still for a second and I'll be back with a glass of water." Ash said, getting up and fetching a glass of water. The quilava bounded toward the trainer happily. "Quilavaa! Quil!" The trainer smiled brightly. "Firefriend!" The quilava's bright red eyes lit up as it got onto the trainer's lap to lick his face. The trainer laughed happily. Misty slumped down gloomily. The quilava already has a trainer… I was so close to catching it, too… "Firefriend… You're ice cold… We need to get you warmed up before your firepower dies down." The trainer quickly took off the gray backpack that he had, took out a small blanket, and wrapped it carefully around the quilava. Ash reappeared with a cup of fresh water. The trainer stood up to introduce himself properly, but found himself slipping with the pain in his left ankle. He winced slightly. Ash helped him back up and pushed the glass into his hand. "T-Thanks," said the trainer gratefully. "That was some stunt, there. Saving that-erm-your quilava like that." Ash commented in a small voice. "Well… It's my quilava—I couldn't just… just let it…" The trainer said, as it got harder to speak. Ash smiled weakly, reassuring him that he didn't have to continue. The trainer started again on a different subject, "C-Could you say your name again?" Ash looked slightly bewildered, but answered, "Ash. My name's Ash Ketchum." "Ash… So you're the one…" The trainer thought out loud, "Well… There's definitely no doubt. You're the kindest person I've met on my journey so far." He paused for a second, "I've been trying to follow your footsteps all my life. Everyone I've met tells me about you and how you've managed to beat Team Rocket. Every Gym Leader I've battled has told me that you're defiantly going to win in the pokemon league. You're really quite famous." Ash was speechless. The Team Rocket part may have been a fluke, but Ash? Famous? It made no sense. Misty and Brock looked at Ash for an explanation, but nothing came. Could he have really been that popular without even knowing it? And all that time he had been jealous of Gary's cheerleaders… Unless this person was just part of a big joke or something to make Ash look stupid… He looked back down at the trainer's face and could just tell by the look on it that he was telling the whole truth. Ash truly did have fans. "Oh, sorry…! All this and I forgot to introduce myself! My name's Kenta and it's a pleasure to meet you, Ash."