Chapter 420: A Trip to the Anime Timeline!
~Azure S. POV~
[Anime Canon – Sinnoh Region, Weeks Later, Unnamed Mountain Forest]
The sensation of time travel is something you never quite get used to. It's like being pulled through a straw while the universe rearranges itself around you.
I said calmly, steadying myself as the green vortex dissipated, "Thanks for the lift, Celebi. Really needed this."
The Time Travel Pokémon giggled, doing a playful loop-de-loop before tapping the GS Ball on my belt and vanishing inside to rest. The air here was crisp, smelling of pine needles and damp earth.
I muttered, adjusting my jacket, checking the Arc Phone of my location, "Sinnoh. The anime timeline, to be specific."
It had been a few weeks since I left Akari back in Hisui. My airship was comfortable, but I felt a restless itch to stretch my legs in a familiar setting. Plus, I had a specific goal in mind. I looked down at the egg-shaped Pokémon waddling near my feet.
Togepi chirped, the [Soothe Bell] around its neck chiming softly, "Toge prriii!"
I smiled, picking her up in my arms, babying her, "We're just here to relax, little gal. Get some fresh air, maybe do some light training."
Pikachu, perched on my shoulder, twitched his ears. On my head, Eevee let out a low growl. Inside my jacket, Pichu (Mew) poked its head out, sensing the shift in tension. I asked tensely, "What is it?"
Then I heard it. The screeching.
"ZANGOOSE!"
"Cha!!"
My Aura spiked. I knew that sound.
And I knew this location. A dense forest near a cliff edge...
I whispered, eyes widening, "No way… Is it that moment?"
Snapping me out of my daze was the sounds that reached me first: the frantic, high-pitched cries of a Pokémon in distress, followed by the vicious, guttural snarls of predators. I moved to the edge of the cliff, peering down.
Below, a small Chimchar was sprinting for its life. Its breath came in ragged gasps, its small limbs trembling with exhaustion. Pursuit was a pack of Zangoose—at least four of them—their claws extended and glowing with the metallic sheen of Crush Claw.
They weren't hunting for food; they were relentless, driven by some territorial aggression that seemed far more intense than usual. I activated my telepathy, expanding my senses. And watching them from the shadows, with cold, calculating eyes, was a boy with purple hair and a jacket that screamed 'bad attitude'.
Paul.
He was watching a Chimchar.
Pikachu shifted, his ears swiveling as he asked, "Pika? (Do we help?)"
I stopped him with a hand, saying, "Wait and watch."
In the original story, this was the moment Paul saw the potential in this Chimchar. He watched as the Chimp Pokémon was backed against a sheer rock wall. The Zangoose closed in, their shadows lengthening over the terrified fire-type.
Chimchar looked up, eyes wide with the realization that there was nowhere left to run. I watched through my psychic link as the small Fire-type, battered and terrified, was cornered against the cliff edge.
The Zangoose lunged. It should have been the end…
Then, it happened. The air ignited.
*SSSSSS*
"FOOOOSH!"
A spiral of blue and red fire erupted from the small monkey. The famous over hyped Blaze Ability from the anime.
It wasn't just a power boost; it was a trauma response, a raw, uncontrolled explosion of survival instinct. The Flame Wheel consumed the area, driving the Zangoose back in sheer terror.
The air around Chimchar didn't just heat up—it ignited. A massive pillar of crimson-gold flame erupted from its tail, fueled by the sheer terror and the desperate will to survive. This wasn't a standard Blaze ability activation; it was a volcanic explosion of latent power.
Chimchar curled into a ball, spinning into a Flame Wheel that didn't just roll—it roared. A spiral of incinerating heat blasted outward, catching the Zangoose in a whirlwind of fire. The predators, sensing the sudden shift from prey to predator, turned and fled into the woods, yelping in pain.
As the flames died down, Chimchar collapsed, panting, its body smoking from the sheer output of energy it had just released. In the distance, I saw Paul's eyes narrow. He took a step forward, a Poké Ball in hand.
He was going to catch it. He had seen what he wanted: raw, unbridled power.
I murmured, "Not today, Paul."
*Flash*
My eyes glowed blue. Teleport.
*Swf*
Space warped. In a blink, the forest floor disappeared, replaced by the scorched earth of the cliff edge.
I materialized directly between the retreating Zangoose and the hyperventilating Chimchar. Paul was still in the treeline, hidden by the smoke. He froze, seeing someone appear out of thin air.
Chimchar was shaking violently. The flames on its back were sputtering, its eyes wide with panic. It hissed at me, seeing another threat.
I said softly, "Easy."
*Shiii*
I didn't raise a hand in aggression. Instead, I channeled my energy. A warm, golden-green aura radiated from my body.
Viridian Force.
The soothing energy washed over the clearing like a gentle tide. It bypassed the fear, the adrenaline, and the pain, speaking directly to the Chimchar's heart. Chimchar blinked. The hissing stopped.
The tension in its small shoulders melted away. It looked at me, confused as I read his thought, 'Why wasn't I attacking? Why did I feel... safe?'
My voice calm, gesturing to the charred earth, "Look around you."
Chimchar looked. It saw the scorched grass, the blackened rocks, the fleeing Zangoose. Its eyes widened in horror as I listened to his thoughts, 'Had... Had I done this?'
Chimchar shook as if it were afraid of its own power. I told him, crouching down to his level, "You have a fire inside you that burns brighter than the sun."
Togepi chirped happily from my arms, adding to the calming atmosphere as I continued, "But right now, it controls you. It hurts you."
I pulled an Ultra Ball from my belt. I said calmly, locking eyes with the Fire-type, "I know you're tired of running. I know you're tired of being bullied. Come with me. I won't just make you strong. I'll teach you how to master that fire so it never burns you again."
Chimchar stared at the ball. Then he looked at the treeline where he sensed another presence—Paul—lurking. He looked back at me, at the kindness in my eyes, backed by the undeniable strength of the Viridian Force.
He made his choice. Chimchar reached out and slapped the button on the Ultra Ball. The monkey vanished inside.
*BON*
The ball shook once. Click.
I held the ball up. Through the transparent top casing of the Ultra Ball, I could see Chimchar shrunk down in stasis. I placed my hand over it, channeling the Viridian Force again. Green light pulsed through the device, knitting together the scratches and bites from the Zangoose instantly.
I whispered, "Rest now. You're safe."
*Crunch*
A footstep broke the silence. The smoke cleared, revealing Paul standing there. His hands were in his pockets, his face a mask of indifference, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of annoyance. He had been seconds away from acquiring a powerhouse, and I had snatched it right out from under him.
I would be pissed too if anyone saw this, only for someone else to snatch it away. I stood up, clipping Chimchar's ball to my belt. Pikachu sparked on my shoulder, staring the rival down.
I said simply, a confident smirk playing on my lips, "Sorry, but you're late."
Paul's expression didn't change, but I could see the irritation simmering beneath the surface. He looked at Pikachu on my shoulder, then at the Eevee, and finally at the Pichu (Mew) peeking out of my jacket.
He was scanning me, trying to gauge my level. To him, I probably looked like just another flamboyant trainer, but the fact that I had teleported and used an unknown healing ability kept him cautious.
Paul said bluntly, his voice dripping with disdain, "That Pokémon has a pathetic base level. But its Blaze ability showed promise. You're going to regret catching it if you intend to coddle it. Power like that only responds to pressure."
I smiled, a small, knowing smirk as I replied, almost lecturing him, "I've seen your style before, Paul. You think strength is a product of suffering. You think you can forge a sword by just hitting the metal harder. But if you don't know the quality of the steel, you'll just end up breaking it."
Paul's eyes flashed as he narrowed them, stating bluntly, "And who are you to lecture me? You look like you're barely my age."
I replied casually, adjusting Togepi in my arms, "My name is Azure Sky. And as for who I am... let's just say I've graduated from a much harsher school than the one you're currently attending."
I took a step forward, the sheer aura leaking out despite my attempts to stay relaxed. The atmospheric pressure seemed to drop.
Pikachu's cheeks sparked aggressively, and Eevee stood tall on my head, her eyes sharp. Even Pichu (Mew) let out a tiny, pressurized chirp that carried more weight than any baby Pokémon should possess.
Paul took a half-step back, his hand twitching toward the Poké Balls on his belt. He was an elitist, sure, but he wasn't stupid.
He could feel the sheer 'weight' of the Pokémon I carried. I continued, the tension easing as I intentionally pulled back my aura, "Sinnoh is a big region, Paul. I'm sure we'll see each other again. Maybe by then, you'll have learned that there's more to a Pokémon than its hidden ability."
Paul turned away, his cape-like jacket fluttering in the wind as he dismissively said, "Hmph. A waste of time. Ninjask, let's go."
He didn't look back as he disappeared into the treeline, his gait stiff with wounded pride. I let out a long breath, the adrenaline fading.
Pikachu nuzzled my ear, and Eevee hopped down to my shoulder, rubbing her head against mine. I whispered to the Ultra Ball in my hand, "Well… That was a bit more dramatic than I planned for a 'relaxation' trip. Then again, I did get a Sinnoh Starter Pokémon."
*Pop*
I released Chimchar. The little chimp appeared on the grass, looking around tentatively. It saw that the Zangoose were gone and that the cold boy with the purple hair was nowhere to be seen.
It looked up at me, its eyes searching. I asked curiously, "Hungry?"
I reached into my bag and pulled out a high-grade Pokéblock I'd crafted back in Hoenn—a blend of spicy Tamato and sweet Magost berries, designed specifically to boost the inner fire of a Pokémon while soothing its nerves.
This was made for my Blaziken. It should work the same for Chimchar as it gets the fighting typing down the line.
Chimchar took it cautiously, sniffing the treat before taking a bite. Its eyes lit up, and it let out a happy cry as it began to scarf it down, "Chim! Char! (This is so good!)"
I said calmly, sitting down on a nearby log to my newest team member, "We've got a lot of work to do, buddy. I know a guy named Ash who was supposed to be your trainer in another life. He's a great kid—passionate, kind, a bit dense. But in this timeline? You're with me. And I promise you, we're going to show the world what you can really do."
Chimchar finished its snack and hopped onto my knee, its tail flame wagging like a dog's tail. It looked at Pikachu, who gave it a welcoming "Pika-pi!" and Togepi, who offered a joyful "Togi-togi!"
I looked out over the Sinnoh horizon. The sun was beginning to set, casting long, purple shadows across the mountain range.
I had come here to relax, yes, but seeing the raw potential in this Chimchar had awakened that old spark in me—the drive of a trainer who couldn't stand to see talent wasted or spirits broken.
The Pichu (Mew) in my jacket climbed out and hovered for a split second—forgetting its disguise—before landing on Chimchar's head and patting it with a tiny paw. Chimchar looked confused at the Pichu (Mew) that seemed to defy gravity, but it didn't mind. It felt safe.
I muttered to the GS Ball, accusing Celebi bluntly, "Alright, Celebi… You knew exactly what you were doing, didn't you?"
There was no answer, but I could swear I heard a faint, tinkling laugh in the back of my mind. I sighed helplessly at my Pokémon's response, but checked Chimchar's status to see if there was anything different about him from the rest.
[Chimchar the Chimp Pokémon. Its rear has a small, round, red patch that is usually obscured by flames produced by burning gas in its stomach. These flames cannot be put out by rain, although they go out when Chimchar goes to sleep, and burn weakly when it feels ill.
In the past, this flame on its rear has caused people to mistake it for an apparition, dubbed the Lantern-Tail. Chimchar is very agile, being able to climb the rocky ledges of tall mountains where it lives.]
|Name: Chimchar (Chimp Pokémon)
|Type: Fire
|Level: 10
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Blaze EX (Activates upon command. Boost Fire Moves by 100%)
|Nature: Serious
|Moves: Leer, Taunt, Flame Wheel, Ember, Scratch, Dig, Fake Out (EM) (4 Moves Left to learn)
I raised an eyebrow mentally, reading it. Blaze EX?
Basically, the same, but can activate it whenever it feels like it, boosting its Fire Moves by 100%. But seeing that Chimchar has literal trouble activating it, or goes out of control, that's something we'll definitely need to work on.
Still, I have the time till my Togepi evolves. In the meantime, some sightseeing would do me some good, and waiting for that Riolu to bond with would be worthwhile.
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A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!