Beyond Measure
By: ~Squeakers~

Disclaimer: If I owned Pokémon, do you seriously think I’d be 
wasting my time writing fanfiction? XD Maybe I would, actually… 


	Sweat dripped from my forehead and into my eyes as I steadily 
trod along the well beaten path. The sun blazed down on the three of 
us, yet only two of us showed any sign of weariness. The other ambled 
easily along as if he took it all in stride, and occasionally sneezed out 
small clouds of fire and smoke.
	
	Oh, I guess it’s explanation time.
	
     I’m Kyra, Pokémon-Master-in-training, and as a normal human 
being (though some would beg to differ), I was HOT. Shadowclaw, my 
Houndour, trotted limply alongside, panting and shooting dirty looks 
at Zippo, my larger than average Charizard. Kinda funny how things 
turn out.	
	
	When Zippo was born, he was one of the smallest Charmanders 
on record. As he grew and evolved, he more than made up for it. His 
wingspan was a foot longer and two feet wider than most Charizards, 
and he stood a little over six feet tall. The folks at the Pokémon 
Center, where he’d spent the first six months of his life, said that if it 
hadn’t been for me, he probably would’ve died. 

	So I saved his life. Lucky me.

	He could be extremely overprotective sometimes, which could 
be VERY annoying sometimes, but still, I loved him. He was my first 
Pokémon, and definitely my strongest. Plus, how freaking cool is 
travelling with a giant, fire-breathing dragon?

	Then there’s Shadowclaw. I usually don’t call him by his full 
name, because it’s a bit of a mouthful. Other than a small, crescent-
shaped scar under his right eye (which he still refused to explain), and 
the fact that he can climb trees, he’s pretty much a normal Houndour.
     Oh, and one thing I might wanna mention:  both can talk. Not 
so sure how, but they can. It’s pretty rare but nowhere near unheard 
of. Now, let’s get on with this wonderfully scorching adventure.
     
     
     Author’s note: Okay, so not too much happened in this chapter, 
but next one will have a bunch more stuff in it, plus a few of 
everyone’s favorite trainers…that’s right! The folks from the Battle 
Tower who pound you into oblivion every time you go there! Juuust 
kidding…maybe. Comments appreciated! 
     					
     							~Squeakers~