Ch 61. Trust before Pride

(Unedited)

Inwardly scolding Charizard for his stubbornness, Ares just went with it. Confusion generally didn't take took long to wear off. If Charizard just listened to him during this, it would even the odds of him fainting during this battle.

"Fine, confusion or not, you will remain willful. Let's do it your way."

Swiping his hands forward, Ares stared at the Magmar in front of him.

"Heat Wave."

Charizard grunted in acknowledgment, as he had been thinking much the same. No matter how many they numbered, he would take them out.

Cloaking himself in heat energy, Charizard blasted it outwards, as it spread in all directions. Yet while Charizard had the intention to injure all of the Magmar in front of him, Ares knew better.

Magmar was too heat resistant to take any damage from that. But what if Charizard could get a general feel of where his attack hit and where not? Then it would be another story.

As the heat collided the with Magmar, Ares could feel the confusion Charizard was feeling.

"Focus on where the attack collided."

Magmar moved forward, golden light shimmering around his fists. Magmar was charging up a Focus Punch. Even if Charizard was resistant to fighting-type moves, it would still deal damage if it hit hard and often enough.

"Charizard, Dragon Pulse, but spin around!"

With fire-type moves having minimal effect, he could only fall back on dragon and flying-type moves. Now he just needed to simulate the Fire Spin attack from Rapidash to increase the area of effect.

Charizard scoffed, but could see what Ares was planning. Since he wa already not sure of who to hit, it didn't matter if he got dizzy from spinning around. If matters became worse, he could always fly up and stay out of Magmar's reach till the confusion wore off.

Rushing in closer, Magmar was about to land its Focus Punch when Charizard blasted a Dragon Pulse at close range, though missed. That didn't miss completely though, as Charizards started to spin around, the Dragon Pulse forming a spiral around him.

Ducking under it, Magmar drew back its arm and landed a hit on Charizards shoulder. Grinning in satisfaction, Magmar continued to hit, even if the Dragon Pulse was now pointed at its face at point blank range.

"Dodge it, Magmar!"

Blaine yelled, but Magmar didn't dodge in time, as it had tried to land just one more hit on Charizard.

Being hit in the face by a Dragon Pulse, Magmar didn't escape without damage, as it was limping and scorched by the dragon energy.

It panted in exhaustion, yet was glad it dealt enough damage to Charizard, even if it wasn't its strongest attack.

Charizard shook his head, his vision clearing up as his gaze focussed on Magmar. It was angry, very angry! Its pride at being the strongest was damaged, earning Magmar Charizard's rage.

"Let's finish this Ares. Both Magmar and Charizard seem to want to try their strongest attacks."

Blaine had pointed out just what the two pokemon were thinking. They wanted to find out who between the both of them was the strongest.

"A thing we as trainers encourage, as well as discourage."

Ares replied, staring at Charizard's back, deciding which he should choose. Charizard hadn't been the best listener when he was up against Magmar. Maybe he should-

Charizard blasted a wave of fire out towards Ares, who easily blocked it, directing the fire to the side. This did get Charizard Ares's attention.

Making his feelings clear to Ares, Charizard once more glared at Magmar, ready to unleash hell on it.

"Allright then. Have it your way. Hyper Beam!"

Magmar, Fire Blast!"

As the two pokemon unleashed their strongest attacks, at least what would do the most damage to either of them, the moves collided mid-air, both struggling to get the better of the other.

Smoke rose up as the battlefield became clouded, geysers of lava sprouting upwards. An explosion took place as one of the attacks landed, sending a shockwave of air towards both Ares and Blaine, waiting to see which pokemon had fainted.

As the battlefield became clear again, both pokemon were standing upright, glaring at the other.

Roaring in defiance, one of them fell down.

Magmar had fainted.

Seems like the Hyper Beam broke through the Fire Blast after all.

Walking up to Charizard, who was waiting for the recoil to wear off, Ares patted him on the back, a show of praise Charizard was getting for the first time.

"Well fought. I didn't think you would manage two battles but you are as strong as you showed. Good work, Charizard."

Charizard remained silent, the words sinking in.

Then he roared in pride.

He was acknowledged!

He was truly one of the strongest pokemon, if not THE strongest in Ares's team.

He couldn't be happier at the prospect of fighting it out with Lucario to see who was better amongst them.

Glaring at Lucario, who had joined Ares after the battle, the two of them remained silent, followed by a fist bump between the two of them. The battle had been set. Only the time was a question that needed to be answered later.

"Well fought, Ares. You have earned your Volcano Badge."

Handing Ares the badge, a bright red flame shaped badge, Blaine looked down at the demolished battle field.

"It seems I need to repair it once again."

Blaine laughed, calling out his Rhydon to break the chains and let the remains of the battlefield sink into the volcano. It was easier to hang up a new battlefied than to repair it.

"So, where will you be going next? You should have only one badge left the get."

"That's right. The next gym will be Viridian city. I've heard their gymleader, Giovanni, is the strongest in the region."

Blaine frowned.

"He is one of the strongest, yes. Be warned though, as I've heard he has been defeating his challengers with an unkown pokemon. It would be best if you train your pokemon even more, maybe evolve some of them to handle the unexpected."

Giving his advice on the matter, Blaine led Ares out, Jenny silently following after them, as she had remained rather quiet as soon as the battle had begun.

Leaving the two of them be at the hotspring, Blaine left soon after to repair his gym.

There reigned silence between the both of them, Jenny wanting the say something but keeping it to herself, while Ares was wondering where he should train his pokemon next.

"Um, Ares?"

"What is it?"

Ares looked at Jenny, wondering what she wanted to say. She appeared to be nervous, fidgety even.

"I have come to realize something. While the two of us haven't been journeying together for a long time, I feel like I have come to know you a bit better over the last few weeks. From what I've seen, you enjoy traveling on your own a lot more than with someone else. Not that it is a problem, but it makes it a lot less fun for either of us."

Jenny felt like it was getting harder and harder to speak up.

"I think it is better if we each go our separate ways. I've found a place to stay here, to get stronger. Blaine agreed to train me up a bit, how to handle my pokemon and tricky situations. You should move on, go travel with only your pokemon. You seem to enjoy that a lot more than being with other people."

Nodding, Ares couldn't help but agree with Jenny. He had felt the same thing these last couple of days. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy spending time with her, hanging out and stuff. It just got tiring the longer and more often he did it. Something that felt wrong.

"I agree with you. This isn't working out. Both of us have other interests, which often collide."

"That's what I mean! So you get it. I'm so relieved."

Jenny patted her chest in relief, her lips curving upwards once more.

"Then let's spend the last few days together before we seperate. Let's make some good memories before we split up."

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

Ares's face mirrored Jenny's as both of them couldn't help smiling in relief.