"Come on, Pikachu! What are you doing? We finally got a chance to meet Red, and you're playing around? Don't you want to battle? We haven't even started the fight yet, and you're already giving up?"
Ash ran over, trying to rally Pikachu and the others. Right now, Ash wasn't the seasoned, composed trainer he would eventually become. He was still a fiery, passionate rookie, eager to prove himself.
But Pikachu didn't respond to Ash's plea. Instead, it continued playing chase with Red's Pikachu. The two darted through the trees, underbrush, and across the open lawn like a couple of carefree kids on recess.
Although Pikachu ignored him, Ash's words did seem to stir something in the rest of his Pokémon. It was as if Ash's bond with them had grown deeper—so deep that they could sense his frustration and determination. They responded not with words, but with action.
Charmander stepped forward first.
He walked up to the Charizard lying on the grass with its eyes closed, seemingly napping. With a loud, determined cry, Charmander began shouting at it, calling out a challenge.
"Huh?" Charizard opened one eye lazily, glancing at the little lizard in front of him.
Charmander continued to yell, undeterred by the lack of attention. He was determined to make his voice heard.
Charizard understood the message—it was being challenged. But in Charizard's eyes, this young fire-type was barely more than a Caterpie. A weakling. Unworthy of its time.
With a dismissive yawn, Charizard closed its eye again and went back to resting, completely ignoring Charmander's bold attempt.
"Char! Char! Char!"
Charmander erupted in frustration. The blatant dismissal, the disrespect—he couldn't take it. A white glow began to emit from his small body. His anger had pushed him to his limits, and now, something inside him snapped.
He was evolving.
Red, watching from the sidelines, was hardly surprised. Just earlier, he had used his system to scan all of Ash's Pokémon. He had noted that Charmander was on the verge of evolution. But even he hadn't expected the evolution to be triggered this way—not by battle, but by sheer rage.
Ash's Pokémon never did things the normal way.
Still, Red knew that evolution wasn't about timing alone. For a Pokémon to evolve successfully, it needed to meet certain internal conditions. Aside from reaching the required level, it needed sufficient experience and nutrition. If those requirements weren't met, then evolution could leave the Pokémon stunted.
That's exactly what had happened with Ash's Charmander in the original timeline. Forced to evolve into Charmeleon prematurely, and then even further into Charizard under dangerous circumstances, it never had time to build up proper strength or stamina.
When it finally became a Charizard, it was visibly underdeveloped. A proper Charizard should stand at least 1.7 meters tall. Ash's Charizard fell short of that—physically and in power.
In truth, Ash's Charizard wasted much of its early potential. If not for the grueling training it later underwent at the Charicific Valley, it might never have reached the level it ultimately did.
Buzz!
Buzz!
Buzz!
The white light surrounding Charmander finally faded, and standing in his place was a new, more powerful form—Charmeleon.
Ash gasped in amazement. "Whoa! Charmander evolved! That's amazing! Alright, Charmeleon, let's show Red's Charizard what we're made of!"
Ash practically skipped over to his newly evolved Pokémon, brimming with pride and excitement. But Charmeleon didn't even glance at him.
Instead, Charmeleon's sharp eyes stayed locked on Red's Charizard, and he let out a snarl, continuing his earlier provocations.
"Tsk tsk," Red chuckled. "Ash's flame-lizard is really something. It's already rebellious and cocky—and it's not even a Charizard yet. When it does evolve, it's going to be a handful."
But Red knew there was more to it than just personality. This kind of attitude made sense, especially given how Ash's Pokémon had evolved.
Charmeleon's rebelliousness wasn't just a quirk; it was the result of a mismatch. A trainer's experience had to match the strength of their Pokémon. Ash, while passionate, was still a novice. In contrast, Charizard was an elite-level powerhouse. Why would such a mighty Pokémon obey a trainer who couldn't understand or guide it properly?
It wasn't rebellion. It was logic.
Red remembered how, after rescuing Ash from a wild Aerodactyl in the past, Charizard began ignoring Ash entirely. If not for the bond forged in later trials and the intervention of others, Charizard might have simply flown away, believing it had repaid its debt to Ash.
Let's face it—Charizard saw Ash as unworthy. Not cruelly, but truthfully. It's not that Charizard hated Ash; it's that Ash couldn't yet give it the leadership it needed.
Red turned his eyes back to the present. Watching Ash's Charmeleon bristle and challenge his Charizard, he knew what he had to do.
He would help Ash again.
Not just out of kindness, but because he believed in Ash's growth. After all, he had once protected Ash's Infernape when it was under threat. Helping Charmeleon grow into a strong, respectful Charizard was just another step in Ash's journey.
Besides, Red knew something Ash didn't: this Charmeleon had tremendous potential. Almost perfect stats—what trainers called a "5V" individual value rating. With proper training, this Pokémon could become one of Ash's strongest partners.
Maybe, just maybe, Red's Charizard could be the one to shape this stubborn Charmeleon into a disciplined fighter. Maybe he could be a sparring partner... or even a mentor.
Red crouched beside his Charizard, whispering a few words.
Charizard, who had been pretending to nap, opened his eyes again. This time, he stood up.
Towering at over two meters, Charizard rose like a dragon out of legend, casting a long shadow over Charmeleon.
His presence alone changed the atmosphere.
Charmeleon didn't back down. Instead, his claws dug into the grass, tail flame burning brighter as he stared up at his opponent with fearless defiance.
Ash stood to the side, both nervous and excited. He had no idea how this would end—but his gut told him that this moment would become a turning point.
Author's Note:
The relationship between Ash and his Charizard has always been complicated, and it makes sense why. A trainer who hasn't earned the respect of their powerful Pokémon is bound to face rebellion. Unlike Red—or Robert—who have both knowledge and experience, Ash had to learn everything the hard way. And maybe that's why we love him.
He grows, just like his Pokémon do.
So let's see what happens when fire meets fire.