CHAPTER TWO: RAUL 1

Don't Stop Moving Forward

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3rd February, 1998, Cinnabar Island…

-

"We have arrived at the port of Cinnabar Island. All passengers may disembark at their convenience. Thank you for traveling with S.S. Gigantomachia."

A teenager with spiky auburn hair stepped off the ship, a sling bag slung over his shoulder. Stretching to shake off the stiffness of the journey, he shielded his eyes against the intense Cinnabar sunlight and muttered to himself, "Time to prove myself… I'll earn that badge and gain the acknowledgement of the strongest Gym Leader in the Indigo League. After that, the league title awaits..."

Determined, he made his way towards the Pokémon Center.

The Cinnabar Gym was infamous in the trainer community. The entire archipelago was buzzing with visitors, and rumors had it that anyone hoping to battle the Gym Leader needed to schedule an appointment at least a week in advance.

With the Indigo Plateau League only three weeks away, trainers were flocking to Cinnabar—some still hoping to secure their final badges, while others sought a true test of their skills against the island's flame-wielding master.

As the saying in Indigo had gone for the past two years, "You aren't considered elite unless you've earned the badge from the Flame Master."

But challenging the Cinnabar Gym was about more than earning a badge. Gym Leader Blake only accepted battles from trainers with six badges or more—a standard few actually meet. His badge had become a symbol of excellence, one claimed by so few that it was almost a badge of honor just to survive a battle with him.

For Raul, even with his hard-won eight badges and his reputation as a Ground-type Specialist, this battle was more than a rite of passage. He had fought his way to the finals in three different conferences, and he'd even claimed a Battle Tower victory, which earned him a solid two-star Silver Elite ranking.

Still, he'd trained harder than ever for this moment. Battling Blake was a chance to prove his prowess against a true master and see firsthand the strength of a top-tier trainer.

[A/N: The star rankings will be discussed later, it's similar to the game trainer card mechanics but also different.]

As he wove through the bustling crowd, he finally reached the Pokémon Center, only to find it packed. With a resigned sigh, he joined the line—until something made him stop in his tracks.

Three people stood near a counter, one of them a boy he recognized from his previous life.

Raul's eyes narrowed as he took in the boy's trembling hands and downcast gaze. His friends stood beside him, faces etched with concern. The boy's voice shook as he addressed Nurse Joy.

"Please, Nurse Joy, can you make sure my Charizard is okay? He was… badly burned, and crashed through so many boulders…"

Nurse Joy offered the boy a sympathetic smile, reassuring him. "Your Charizard's in good hands. The battles at Cinnabar's Gym may be intense, but our stadiums are designed to protect the Pokémon with psychic fields. And remember, Pokémon are remarkably resilient on their own. So your Charizard will be good as new in no time."

She took his Pokéballs and, trying to lighten the mood, asked, "Did that idiot Blake go overboard again? Don't let it get to you—he's got a real… let's say 'structured' approach to battling. Too much, sometimes! Such a nice guy usually can also be a big bully… !!" She laughed awkwardly, as if recalling something embarrassing.

"So, which Pokémon did he use against you? Was it his Ninetales? Or maybe an Arcanine? Or was it a houndoom? He sure loves his canine fire-types!" Nurse joy changed the subject.

The boy clenched his fists, looking down. "No… Charizard. My Charizard… lost to his. It was too strong… Charizard couldn't even land a hit. It couldn't even fight back…"

Nurse Joy's eyes widened. "A Charizard?" She softened, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "Then Blake must have truly respected you as a trainer. He only brings out one of his Charizards for opponents he considers elite. Take pride in that, young man."

Nurse Joy knew well about Blake's formidable Charizard line—her cousin was one of the private Pokémon doctors at Blake's ranch after all. She was also very surprised because she knew Blake only used his Charziards against Gym leader level Elite trainers…

Raul's ears perked up. As a reincarnated soul, he recognized the boy immediately. This was Ash Ketchum, the very person who would one day become the champion of this world. But he was still a long till that day.

Then, Ash said something that made the entire room go still.

"Yeah… his Charizard was huge, at least three times the size of mine. It had these dark scales with strange markings all over them… like it was on a whole another level."

Nurse Joy froze mid-step, her face paling and her eyes widening. Even Raul felt his pulse quicken.

No way… It couldn't be…

Joy gulped, glancing nervously at Ash's friends, who only offered weak nods. "Did Blake really… send out Acnologia to battle against you?" Her voice quivered with disbelief. "Why would he…? That irresponsibly man!"

Brock and Misty exchanged uneasy glances, chuckling nervously. "It wasn't Blake's fault… It was Ash's idea… kind of..," Brock replied.

Raul pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated yet unsurprised. That was a classic Ash move.

But even Raul shuddered a bit… hearing the name…

Acnologia.

Blake's Alpha Charizard. A legendary beast known throughout the Poke community as…

The Disaster Dragon.

An icon of power, feared and respected by trainers worldwide. Even Raul didn't feel any confidence to face it yet, and he had the advantage of knowing this world's secrets and unknown strategies and skills.

Nurse Joy let out a deep sigh, crossing her arms and eyeing Ash sternly. "Listen, young man. It's good to have ambition, but it's just as important to know your limits. Acnologia is no ordinary Pokémon! Not even the Elite 4 feels comfortable battling it!"

Ash lowered his head, gritting his teeth. Raul watched the young trainer's fists clench and saw something he recognized: a fierce determination, shaken but unbroken. Something that brought a smile to his lips, as he remembered the kid from the Anime, that he loved so much… Raul had already made up his mind!

Taking a deep breath and fixing a smile, Raul stepped forward. "Hey there. Mind telling me about your Gym battle? Sounds like you gave it everything you had. I'm Raul, by the way."

Ash looked up, eyes still heavy with defeat, but he managed a small nod.

…

…

Outside the Pokémon Center, a series of small arenas lay open for casual battles, each one ringed with spectators and buzzing with the energy of trainers testing their teams. Raul and the group found a quiet spot in the gallery, sitting down to talk and get to know one another.

Brock and Ash listened intently, surprised to learn Raul had already competed in three Conferences and nearly clinched victory in the last one.

Ash's eyes lit up with excitement. "Can I see your Pokémon? I bet they're awesome!"

Raul chuckled. "They're with Nurse Joy for a checkup, remember?" Ash's excitement deflated at the reminder, drawing a laugh from Brock.

It was Brock who leaned in, intrigued. "So, you're a Ground-type specialist?"

"That's right," Raul replied with a grin. "Though my brother's more into Rock types. He's a Gym Leader, too."

Brock's eyes sparkled at this, but before he could ask more, Ash jumped in. "Wait—what's type specialization?"

Raul nearly facepalmed, laughter slipping out. This kid was every bit the Ash he remembered—impulsive, full of questions, and blissfully unaware of basic trainer principles.

Once he calmed down, Raul explained, "Well, once a trainer gets experienced enough, they usually find they have an affinity for a certain type of Pokémon. It just… clicks. Training them feels natural, like breathing. Focusing on one type also means you can streamline training—less time, less cost. Like Brock here, who trains Rock types," he said, nodding at Brock, "or Misty, whose family specializes in Water types."

Ash furrowed his brow. "That sounds dumb! Why stick to one type when you can train them all? Wouldn't you have more options in battle?"

Raul laughed, shaking his head. "You could, but mastering one type gives you an edge too. Take Blake, for instance. He's a Fire-type master, but his team includes a few other types as well. His control over Fire types is so precise, he can practically ignore match-ups. I've seen his Houndoom, TianGou shrug off Water attacks, like they're nothing. And then there's his Blaziken, Hestia… It's so fast that you'd need an area-wide attack to even touch it. And you've already had a run-in with Acnologia… his Charizard..." Raul's voice trailed off, glancing meaningfully at Ash.

The group fell silent. Ash's expression shifted, guilt flickering in his eyes as he clenched his fists.

Raul spoke gently. "Ash, what happened in that battle?"

Ash lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I messed up."

…

…

*FLASH BACK*

-

"Who do you think you are? I want to be the Pokémon Master, and I'll start by beating you!"

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu echoed, eyes sparking with determination.

Blake's grin widened, something like nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "I like your fire, kid. Pride and ambition—you'll need both to go far. So here's the deal. You can face any of my Pokémon. One-on-six. If you impress me, the badge is yours."

Ash's face reddened, fists clenched. "Stop looking down on me! I don't need six! I'll take down your strongest with one!"

"ASH!" Misty's voice cracked. "You don't even have six Pokémon at the moment!!"

Brock and Blaine exchanged uneasy looks. They knew Blake's reputation—calm on the surface, but with the explosive intensity that matched his Fire-types. Blaine, especially, sensed this wasn't going to end well.

But to everyone's surprise, Blake didn't snap. Instead, he let out a chuckle, a glint of amusement in his gaze. "You've got guts, kid. Alright, you know what I will give you what you want. My strongest, then." He gave Ash one last, almost dangerous smile. "Consider this a lesson and a gift."

Ash took his place, oblivious to Misty and Brock's frantic warnings. Blaine shook his head and muttered, "I hope you don't crush his spirit, Blake… That kid's father was a good man."

As the crowd leaned in, watching on the jumbo-tron, Ash threw out his Poké Ball, voice ringing with confidence. "Go, Bulbasaur!"

"Bulba!"

The announcer stammered, caught off guard. "And... Ash sends out a Bulbasaur?!"

Blake's lips twitched with amusement, and he tilted his head, eyes glinting with something like anticipation. "Very well," he murmured, stepping back, his voice low but carrying through the arena. "Burn like the Sun, Acnologia!"

A hush fell over the stadium, as if the very air was holding its breath.

Then, a shadow passed over them, growing darker with each second. High above, Acnologia's enormous wings sliced through the sky, and with a single, mighty wingbeat, a powerful gust swept across the stadium. The air churned, whipping around like the start of a storm, loose sand and dust spiraling up as spectators shielded their faces.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, or maybe it was the sound of Acnologia's wings beating as he descended. The ground trembled beneath them, and wing beat of the dragon-like Charizard brought tremors, the atmosphere thick with an ominous tension that left even seasoned trainers speechless.

The crowd barely breathed as the massive Charizard landed sending a magnitude around the stadium, his scales darkened like molten rocks, marked with fiery, jagged marks that seemed to seep in all light. His presence was overpowering, a firestorm incarnate, and his piercing gaze locked onto Ash, who stared back, confidence wavering, body shaking.

And then…

Ear piercing ROAR. The edict of a King.

Acnologia had arrived.

…

…

The audience was protected by Psychic screens, as were the trainers—the only reason Ash and Pikachu weren't sent flying by the force of Acnologia's arrival. But Bulbasaur wasn't so fortunate. Before the battle could even properly begin, the small Grass-type was knocked out by the sheer force of Acnologia's impact.

"BULBASAUR!" Ash's horrified cry echoed through the stadium as the referee declared his first Pokémon unable to battle. With trembling hands, Ash withdrew Bulbasaur, his heart sinking.

Acnologia landed with earth-shaking force, casting a long shadow over the battlefield. The massive Charizard eyed Ash with a brief moment of confusion, before turning toward Blake with an expression that seemed to ask, Why disturb my nap? And why am I battling this runt? Blake chuckled softly, shrugging, and Acnologia snorted, turning its menacing gaze back to Ash.

Ash's body locked up under the pressure of that glare, Pikachu trembling behind his head. For a moment, he could barely breathe. But then, in true Ash fashion, he slapped his face hard, pulling himself together. His eyes narrowed with fiery resolve, and he shot Blake a determined frown.

Acnologia paused, the fierce intimidation momentarily halted by Ash's unshaken determination. The legendary Charizard tilted its head, as if intrigued, and then lowered itself into a battle stance.

"Go, Squirtle! You can do it!" Ash shouted, calling out his second Pokémon.

"Squirtle!" The Water-type appeared with a burst of enthusiasm, but upon seeing the towering beast in front of him, his confidence melted into visible trembling.

Everything happened too quickly...

Before the referee had even finished announcing the start of the match, Squirtle was sent flying into the stadium wall, unconscious from a single casual flick of Acnologia's tail.

The pattern repeated mercilessly. Pidgeotto was knocked out by nothing more than a gust from Acnologia's wings, and even Pikachu, Ash's most trusted partner, couldn't withstand a single roar. Each defeat was a crushing blow, each Pokémon falling too fast, too easily.

Down to his last Pokémon, Ash clutched the final Poké Ball, his hand trembling but still firm. His confidence was shaken, but his spirit was not broken. Staring at the ball in his hand, he whispered, "It's just you and me, buddy... I believe in you. You're the best Charizard there is."

Ash's Charizard emerged with a roar of defiance, meeting Acnologia's gaze with an intensity that made even the massive Charizard pause. But Acnologia merely sighed, a low, dismissive sound, as if telling the younger Charizard to run along. As the leader of Cinnabar's Charizards, Acnologia was reluctant to harm one of its own kind.

This dismissal ignited something within Ash's Charizard. With a furious roar, it launched itself at Acnologia, wings flapping powerfully as it charged with a Slash attack. Acnologia barely moved, raising one massive wing to block the attack effortlessly. With a casual flick of its tail, it sent Ash's Charizard sprawling back, landing with a heavy thud.

Acnologia growled something in Pokémon language, a deep rumble that resonated like thunder. But Ash's Charizard, ever stubborn, pushed itself back up, fire blazing in its eyes, and launched a powerful Flamethrower.

Ash's heart raced as he watched. His Charizard fought with everything it had, but it was clear that this was a battle of leagues. The Flamethrower was powerful—impressive for any other Fire-type—but Acnologia didn't even flinch. The flames washed over the legendary Charizard as if they were nothing, leaving the behemoth completely unscathed.

Ash's heart sank as he watched his Charizard's strongest attack fail so completely. It was then that Blake's voice cut through the silence, carrying a weight that demanded attention:

"Ash. This is a lesson I want you to always remember: There are always higher mountains and deeper seas. Never be too arrogant, don't be too proud of your temporary successes. Always keep a calm mind and think carefully before you act… After all..." Blake's smile vanished, replaced by the cold, condescending look of a monarch.

"You never know… which Dragon you might poke."

What happened next defied understanding. A flash of light, followed by an overwhelming heat—an intensity that even the Psychic shields couldn't fully block. The audience, shielded by the barriers, broke into a sweat as if the very air was burning.

Time seemed to freeze, the world held in suspended animation until Blake's voice rang out, clear and deep:

"Enough! Acnologia. Stop the Heatwave."

Instantly, the heat dissipated, but the silence that followed was almost more oppressive. Many trainers only realized then that this had been Blake's first and only command throughout the entire battle.

As the air purifiers worked overtime to restore the oxygen levels, the arena lay in ruins. Blake and Acnologia were nowhere to be found. The only figure left was Ash's Charizard, twitching and charred—a haunting reminder of the vast gulf between a child and a king. The ground itself was a mess, scorched and melting, while the stadium's defense system struggled to cool it down, working in overdrive to prevent a catastrophic carbon dioxide buildup.

The lesson had been delivered. Not just to Ash, but to everyone who had witnessed it.

*PAINFUL ROAR*

Charizard's mournful cry pierced the stillness, the sound crashing back into the world with an unsettling force. Ash stood frozen, his face drained of color as the reality of what had just happened slowly sank in.

Blaine acted swiftly, his experienced voice cutting through the chaos as he barked orders to the medics. They rushed forward, stabilizing Charizard with practiced efficiency, but even their skilled hands couldn't hide their concern over the severity of the burns.

"Stupid boy!" Blaine snarled, his voice hoarse with both frustration and worry. "Withdraw your Pokémon, NOW! Get him to the Pokémon Center, STAT!" His anger was palpable, but there was something else beneath it—something that betrayed his concern. "What the hell was Blake thinking, using that beast on a rookie?" He stormed off, his coat whipping behind him. "Has he lost his mind? IDIOT!"

Ash, pale and shaken to the core, recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball, rushing to the Pokémon Center with Pikachu tightly clinging to his shoulder. Brock and Misty exchanged a glance, worry evident in their eyes, before following after him.

The crowd began to disperse slowly, an eerie quiet settling over the stadium. Whispers filled the air—some about Blake's immense strength, others about the brutal reality of the battle—but all agreed on one thing: the Volcano Badge was no mere trophy. It was a symbol of excellence.

…

*FLASHBACK ENDED*

…

…

The group sat in silence after Ash finished recounting the painful story of his encounter with Blake's strongest Pokémon. Raul was at a loss for words, his gaze distant for a moment, before he sighed deeply and gave Ash's shoulder a supportive squeeze.

"How are you holding up?" Raul asked quietly.

Ash took a shaky breath, his voice hoarse as he wiped at the moisture gathering in his eyes. "Honestly? I feel like crap… I… need more time to process all of it…"

Raul nodded in understanding, patting Ash's shoulder before rising to his feet. "What are your plans after this? Will you challenge him again?"

Ash stared blankly for a moment, the uncertainty clouding his expression. "I… don't know…"

Brock stepped in, trying to offer words of encouragement, but Ash shook his head, cutting him off. "No, Brock… I think I need to figure a few things out. I might even miss this year's league…"

Misty's voice broke in disbelief. "But Ash… it's all you've been working for!"

Raul sighed, weighing his words carefully before speaking up. "Look, it's none of my business, but… you've got 7 badges, right? This was your last one? Great. Then why not take on a B-tier Gym, get that eighth badge, and still enter the League? Blake isn't going anywhere… not for a few more years. You can always come back stronger, challenge him again. But until then… keep moving forward. Only you can change your destiny, Ash. That's a lesson a friend told me a long time ago, and I try my best to live by it every day." Raul smiled softly, a wistful look in his eyes as memories from another time flickered.

Ash's eyes softened, a faint, sad smile pulling at the corners of his lips. For the first time since his defeat, there was a glimmer of hope in his gaze.

Raul's tone lightened as he grinned. "If you're sticking around for a while, you've got a standing invitation to my match against Blake! Could always use a cheering squad, hahaha!"

The others chuckled, their spirits lifted by the shift in Raul's demeanor. They agreed to come support him, and as they said their goodbyes, Raul headed off, his mind already focused on the road ahead. He had training to do, Pokémon to swap around… and he was ready to give Blake his best shot.

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A/N: Lumi here!

Here's the second chapter, this time from Raul's perspective! Big shoutout to my friend Abyss, who inspired Raul's character. He's got that classic goodie-two-shoes vibe and the true shonen protagonist energy, haha. I really hope I do him justice… (And who knows, maybe I'll pair him up with someone? What do you think?)

The next chapter will be up on Saturday!

Here's the refined version of that:

Advanced chapters are available on my Patreon – the link is posted at the end of the synopsis. Also, feel free to join our Discord if you'd like to chat!

Also, for those of you waiting for my Naruto fic, I'll be posting a new chapter on Tuesday the 12th! Tschüss!