Don't Dig Too Deep, You Won't Like What You Find

[Rose Petals]

Nick held his map in his hands, all the while trying to decide where to go. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to stay on the route for a little while and train, or go straight to the nearest town, which he believed was called Centre Town. He didn't know how to read maps... they only frustrated him. And since he came from Entei City, he had no clue where he was. Taking a train here, he had no way of knowing his surroundings.

Char! Char! Blaze was trying to reach into a tree that was much taller than him, and he was unsuccessful no matter how he went about it. Nick laughed as his attention was stolen by his adventurous Charmander. "What's wrong Blaze, not big enough yet?" Blaze didn't like being called small, for he had seen larger Charmander of his own size, and he knew that he was tiny. Growling at his trainer, he continued to stretch. If only he was larger, or had wings...

"Blaze, knock it off!" Nick shouted as Blaze had ran away from the tree and back to it as fast as he could. Trying to shake up the branches with a form of a head butt, the only thing Blaze had accomplished was contracting a headache. The Charmander dizzily glanced back at Nick, then started to tremble. He hadn't heard anyone yelling before, and he didn't quite like it. In fact, it had scared him. His eyes noticeably watery with tears, Nick sighed and relaxed the muscles in his face and bent down. Scooping him up in his arms, Nick softly reassured his Pokemon, "Blaze, just stop trying to get those berries that way, okay? I'll think of something soon enough. You can't be that hungry, are you?" With a quick nod from his Charmander, Nick sighed yet again, this time with annoyance. He knew what he had to do... he just didn't feel like climbing at the moment.

[Anakin Sayo]

A Chimchar by the name of Tsu-yoi flew through the trees towards the commotion. He hadn’t been doing much as he and his trainer had just gotten back in the area after they had spent a couple of weeks away with Anakin’s parents. It had been so annoying there in Tsu-yoi’s opinion as he was forced to sleep with all of the newly hatched Pokemon and the moment Anakin’s mother had seen him she had pinched his cheeks like he was her five year old grandson or something. He stopped suddenly above Nick and the Charmander. "Blaze, just stop trying to get those berries that way, okay? I'll think of something soon enough. You can't be that hungry, are you?"

Meanwhile a blond haired boy ran after his starter Pokémon. “Tsu-yoi! Haven’t you learned anything from Richard’s Meowth when we were here several weeks ago?” He came to a complete stop by the boy and his Charmander. He had no idea what to say but he might as well apologise for anything his mischievous partner in crime had could have done. “Sorry for anything Tsu-yoi may have done. I’m Anakin Sayo, by the way.” He looked up at the small monkey pokemon up in the tree. He swung an arm out of the strap and pulled out a container. “Tsu-yoi, there’s berries up there. Can you fill this container up with them? It looks like this Charmander is hungry.” A smile played at the corner of his mouth as he threw the container up to Tsu-yoi who caught it and began filling it with berries. “So where ya headed?” When Tsu-yoi had filled the container to the brim with berries he carefully climbed down the tree and took it to the Charmander.

[Rose Petals]

Nick smiled, then set his Charmander down and stood up. "The name's Nick," he said. "Nick Taylor." Watching the Chimchar in awe, Nick smiled at it's ability to climb trees. Blaze, however, seeing the way his trainer was looking at the Chimchar, became frustrated with jealousy. He felt as if though his trainer was wishing he'd chose a Chimchar instead of him, a Charmander, which wasn't able to do much at the moment.

"Thanks so much. I would've most likely climbed myself, but I really appreciate it. That's a great Pokemon you've got there." Nick smiled as the Chimchar put berries into the container, then came down to give some to Blaze.

Char! Blaze screamed. As soon as the Chimchar was in front of him, he started scratching at him, as if he was performing the attack fury swipes. He seemed to have gone crazy. "Blaze! Knock it off! What's gotten into you!? Blaze!" Nick wasn't getting through to his Charmander, nothing was seeming to work. He had no clue why his Pokemon was acting this way, and especially in front of prospectively new friends. He couldn't get his little fire buddy to stop trying to attacking the Chimchar.

[Anakin Sayo]

“Nice to meet you Nick!” He was still hurting emotionally from his little brother’s betrayal several weeks ago. It didn’t help either that the reason for his visit was because his mother had told him that his father had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and his mother had forced both him and Richard’s pet to return to the hatchery and spend some time with his father before he passed away. He saw Nick watching Tsu-yoi in awe and when he looked at the Charmander he saw frustration and jealousy. These things were easy for him to notice so to the time he had spent on the hatchery as he practically grew up around very young Pokemon which often gave him that look when he was busy with another young one.

"Thanks so much. I would've most likely climbed myself, but I really appreciate it. That's a great Pokemon you've got there." His gaze returned to Nick as he spoke. “Yeah, he’s quite bright, but he sounded like he was a pain in the behind to Proffesor Sampson. He told me that Tsu-yoi threw a rock at his head when he caught him.” He smiled, but it soon changed to a frown when he heard the Charmander cry out he instantly said, “Tsu-yoi what’d-“ then as he turned he saw Tsu-yoi being attacked by the Charmander. He instantly ran in front of the attacking Charmander and got down to its height. “Hey, calm down. I bet you’re going to make him proud, so much prouder than a Chimchar would make him.” He knew this would be true, but needed Nick to confirm this so that Blaze would calm down.

[Rose Petals]

Nick was already a bit upset with his Charmander for running head-first into the tree, and now he had attacked the Chimchar that was instructed to help him. Though Nick wanted to reassure Blaze that what Anakin had said was true, Nick couldn't bring himself to do exactly that. He held his head down for a few seconds, then looked at his Pokemon.

"Blaze, he's right. You already make me proud, and you'll continue to do so." Nick paused, trying to control his anger. The tone of voice he had wasn't too reassuring in itself. In fact, it had a bit of annoyance in it. "But you need to stop acting like a damn little baby all the time." Nick wasn't sorry that he had said this, for he didn't want his Pokemon to be childish, as he wasn't. He accepted help every now and then, and when someone offered his Pokemon food, he would expect them to accept it, as well.

Blaze stared up at Nick, and could see that Nick was truly holding back his frustration. He wanted to cry, but he felt that this would only make things worse and maybe his trainer would be more mad at him than he already was. Glancing at Anakin, he forced a smile, then took the container gently out of the Chimchar's hands and a few of them. Char! Blaze thanked Tsu-yoi. He turned back to Nick to see if this would satisfy him, and he received a quick wink from his trainer. A real smile appeared on the Charmander's face, this time.

"Sorry about Tsu-yoi, Anakin. Is he alright?" Nick asked after everything seemed to be peaceful again.

[✓Digital™]

A Zigzagoon skipped across the route`s path and sat right in the middle of it to watch the two pokemon fight for what ever reason. She tilted her head left and right, trying to make sense of the sudden attack, she wasn`t much of a fighter herself so she didn`t understand.

"Zigza? Zagazoon?" She tilted her head back to the right. Slowly she trotted over to them, and rubbed up against the Charmander affectionately. There was a sudden uproar of growling, two male Zigzagoon leapt out and began to grow at the fire pokemon. They both leapt forward, the female Zigzagoon hid behind the trainers.

[Rose Petals]

Char? Blaze was completely puzzled by this. Nick, on the other hand, was ready for a real battle. "Hope you don't mind me taking this one, Anakin. Blaze, scratch!" Nick acted quickly, for he knew there was no time to waste. He was sure that the two Pokemon were likely just jealous, and he was sure that Anakin would most likely jump in the battle, for it was, currently, two against one.

The Charmander nodded, then ran forward to the Zigzagoon on the left. The one on the right was closer to Tsu-yoi, anyway. Blaze was expecting to hear Anakin tell his Chimchar to attack one of them soon. Blaze held out his tiny claws as he ran and he jumped towards the Zigzagoon when he was about two feet away. He was frantically going at the Zigzagoon as he had the Chimchar. It was his style of fighting - to give it all he had, going crazy if he must. He was waving his hands around rapidly, trying to get in a good hit. He was trying to prove to both Nick and the Zigzagoon that he was afraid of anything.

[✓Digital™]

The first Zigzagoon was scratched it let out a little growl filled with pain. The charmander`s claws dug in deep, despite the thick fur around its body. Meanwhile, the female had escaped from behind the trainers and their pokemon.

The second Zigzagoon went for a cheap shot and went for an attack while Blaze`s back was turned. But there was a loud, yet feminine roar, "Grrrowwwwwwlllllitttthhhhheeee!" <CHARGE!!!!!!!> and a large Growlithe leapt out from some tall grass and took down the Zigzagoon with ease, with his jaws clamped down on the pokemon. The Zigzagoon had fainted, and the Growlithe sat next to it, her tail wagging. Growlie trotted up to the trainers and sat in front of them. Her tail swished from side to side, and she had a playful look in her eyes. Growlie sniffed the air, then looked to the little monkey pokemon.

"Growl!" <Hi!> She seemed very interested in the trainers, Nick especially. Once again she got up and walked around them, making sure they were safe to be around.

(In the ""`s is what the humans hear, the <> are the actual words that other pokemon can understand)

[Anakin Sayo]

Anakin smiled at the charmander’s change of heart and turned towards his own fiery buddy. "Sorry about Tsu-yoi, Anakin. Is he alright?" He looked his pal over carefully there were a few visible scratches, but otherwise he was alright. “Yeah, he’ll be fine. Isn’t that right, bud?” He looked down at his partner in crime who had a smile on his small face. ”Chimchar!”

Then a Zigzagoon came down the route and rubbed against Nick’s Charmander. Almost immediately afterwards two more Zigzagoon appeared and launched themselves at their starter Pokémon. "Hope you don't mind me taking this one, Anakin. Blaze, scratch!" His smile grew, he had grown to miss battling when he was on the hatchery and was more than ready to join the fray. “Not at all. I’ve got your back if you need any help Nick.” He watched as the Charmander attacked, his hands all over the place and then saw the other Zigzagoon try to attack him. He was about to order Tsu-yoi to attack it when he heard something. "Grrrowwwwwwlllllitttthhhhheeee!" A growlithe appear and take down the growlithe that was trying to cheap shot blaze. The Zigzagoon was knocked out in one hit.

Anakin was not only amazed at the sight of this majestic guard dog but confused aswell. To his knowledge there was no Growlithe living in this area. He looked at Tsu-yoi who was temporarily distracted. "Growl!" His buddy then said in a very happy tone “Chim! Chimchar!” <”Hi. Thanks for the help!”>Anakin had no idea what the Chimchar or the growlithe were saying but he just wanted his friend to get back on track. “Hey Tsu-yoi pay attention! There’s still one left!”

[✓Digital™]

Growlie didn`t really seemed interested in the Charmander and the battle it was involved with anymore. She stood back up and stretched, her tail continued swishing back and forth as she trotted up to the Chimchar. Growlie looked up at Anakin when he spoke to the Chimchar, she tilted her head. The Growlithe completely understood the Human boy, but didn`t understand why he told the chimp pokemon to get focused when he hadn`t been doing anything in the first place.

"... Growl?" < You cant play right now? > Growlie seemed disheartened by this, she looked back to the Chimchar then licked him on the cheek. The Growlithe leapt back in a playful way, then paraded around him.

[Rose Petals]

Nick was a bit distracted by the Growlithe. After all, Arcanine was one of his favorite Pokemon. He wanted to catch it, but is was seriously strong. There was no possible way he could catch it right now. Though he still admired it so. He looked back to his Charmander, who had struck the Zigzagoon. He was excited. One more hit should finish it off - at least he hoped.

"Alright, Blaze. One more time, scratch it with all you've got." Nick sounded calm and collected. For some reason, he felt he needed to act like he was always calm in front of this Growlithe, even though he was not like that at all. He was easily frustrated when things didn't go right, whether or not he showed it.

The Charmander had noticed the Growlithe, and for some reason, he fell instantly in love. He barely noticed that Nick was telling him to attack again, but however vaguely he heard it, he reacted immediately. There was time for cooing later on. He ran double speed this time, not even waiting to swing his claws before he was close to the wild raccoon Pokemon. He couldn't fail now. There was no way he would let down Nick. Especially with the pretty Growlithe present.

[✓Digital™]

Growlie paused and turned around to watch the Charmander finish off the Zigzagoon with a final, fierce scratch attack. The fuzzy brown and tan creature drooped to the ground, the large scratch wounds in its sides. Growlie howled, cheering Blaze on happily, then pranced around until she ended up in front of the Charmander. She circled Blaze several times at a rapid pace, and sniffed him once she had come to a stop.

"Growllllllliiithhhheeee!" < Great job! > Growlithe brushed her tail against the little flame lizard and smiled happily at him. She seated herself in front of Blaze and wagged her tail, waiting to see what he would do.

< Blaze gained one level! You may capture the Zigzagoon if you wish >